New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-29
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DENIAL FOLLOWS DENIAL.
WILLIAMS ADMITS NOTHING.
PRESIDENT MARTIN COULD NOT MAKE
THE SAME STAND.

lie coXFEssEs THAT POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS
RULED HIS COURSE As coMMIssIoNER-THAT
SADIE WEST INCIDENT-SEvERAL CAP
TANs CAILED-THE LEXoW COM
.iITrEE LIKELY TO END IT'S
PUBLIC SESSIONS TO-DAY
AFTER HEARING SUPER
INTENDrNT BYRNEs
Police Inspector Alexander 5. Williams rae been
known as the champion clu5Der of the force. and
there has been "A long-standng belief among In
telligent OF this city that he Is the most cor
rupt and graspng official Of the Police Depart
ment On account Of his examination before the
Lexow Committee ne may be known hereafter
also as the champion denier. His examination
was nearly if not quite, closed yesterday. and to
the last ne defiant In his denials Of the
charges of corruption which have been made
against him. He did not hesitate more than once
to give the lie direct 10 John W. GOlf, who exam
ined him. He was free in denouncing liars
and periurers everybody, high or low who had
made charges against him. He denied that he had
taken a cent for blac<mail in the "Tenderloin'
when he was the aptain In command of that pre-
cinct and allowed disorderly houses, gambling
houses and other dens Of vice to flourish there,
and he denied that he had received tribute as an
Inspector. He went so far as 10 deny that ne
knew what a dive" was, and he appeared to be
unmoved By the effect which such an cxtraordi-
nary denial created.
1T MUST HAVE BEEN CORRUPTION MONEY.
\ most remarkable part Of the testimony which
williams gave Yesterday was his declaration that
William VI. Fliess had paid to him about $4,000
for nothing He had denied under oath that he
had been interested in the whskey concern of
which Mr. Fliess Is the president. but he declared
that out Of friendship Mr. Fliess had carried
stocks for him and had paid t. him what had been
derived from the stock transactions. Williams
said he never haa invested a dollar in specula-
ton and had had no account w..h Mr. Fliess. tie
denied that the alleged stock transactions were
intended to cover corrupt transactions. but ne Ut
terly failed to give any other reason for such ex-
traordnary payments Of money. II has been
charged that Williams used mis- authority 70 COM
pei liquor-dealcrs in the city to buy the whiskey
sold by Mr. Fliess's company. When asked yes
terday % tell what ne thought OF a transaction
bv which he was able 70 get $4,000 for nothing.
Williams said:
Il thorght IL was a good thing.
Inspector williams has been believed to be
wealthy He told the committee yesterday ABOUT
his yacht. his summer home at Cos Cob ana MS
accounts in several banks and then declared that
he was worth not more than $4,000, not counting
his city home IN Tenth-st.. which is In the name
OF his wife He admitted that he had private
safe but denied that ne had any oonds IN H.
With audacious frankness the inspector ao-
mtted that he had begun TO prepare ms ueienee
for an expected fight In the criminal courts OF pc
fore the Police Commissioners lie means 10 hsn'
and deny TO the last ditch.
MARTIN AS DENIER.
Police Commissioner James ]. Martin also
made some d.nials before the committee yes'er-
day. lie declared that he never had received
money FOR the appointment Of policemen. lie de-
MED that he had caused pOAce apoioss ~
sadie West as testified by Captain Schmltt-
berger. although he saii he had TAXED win
Schmittberger about the woman. lie dehleu that
he had taken any part IN Tammany ne-oIiauJns .,
with lqu,r dealers 10y when money ot"."a.iy
paid To- the polio, for protection was 'uineu
into the Golfers Of the Wiswam. ne au.,lsesa lss
that he had made appointments anu 'IanlD,I 'IansieIy
%: ptlcelncn On the recommendations oi PoIit.,a.I
friends and that political interference WIN
uoiicemon was likely II 40 harm 10 the service.
lie also confessed with a show Of sadness mat
Il the committee had not exposed the corruptl9n
In the Police Department the corruption might
have gone on Indefinitely. The 'ommlSsiohe,
allowed an examination ~ MS pahh DlohS' anu anu
said rn had about $4,000. and house in the city
on which he had paid $1,000. His examination
Will bc continued to-day.
thov had been corrupt and Ryan was ordered TO
bring his bankbooks for examination.
Tho committee decided to strike from the rec
ord H.. testimony when was taken on Thurs-
day about Anthony Comstock. He had DE-
manded an opportunity 20 vindicate himSef IN
,b ,ritr.ss-,hair AMI the committee thought
that the testimony had not been in line with the
resolution # the State Senate directing the in
Vest.gatiOn. ia.
Ths investigation il Likely TO end TO-DAY with
tho examination Of Police superintendent Byrnes.
dor details Of the testimony. see page IL