Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-30
COMMISSIONER SHEEhAN AGAIN.
He IL Further Examined by Counsel Con
Of the Lcxow Committed.

of the Lcxow Committed.
NEW YORK, October 2s.-Commlssion-
er Sheehan was again on the witness
stand before the Lexow Committee to-
day. He made some corrections In pre-
ceding portions Of his testimony. One was
with reference to his partnership with
Mr.. Brown. He produced a printed notice
Of prospective partnership which had
been mailed to friends early in February,
1892. He was not appointed police COM
missioner until March OF that year
The Commissioner, referring to the TACT
brought out by Mr. Goff, that no judge
had ever rendered a decision declaring
pool-selling Illegal, cited a decision by
Judge Van Brunt in the case Of Thomas
F. Wynne. The Court OF Appeals had up
held the decision.
I'm glad you mentioned that case"
said Mr.. Goff. That's the case of the
Barclay street bookseller who said he
was q common carrier. I'm glad to hear
that You based your action on that
case"
Mr.. Golf asked the Commissioner II
he had been present at the trial Of Cap
tain OConnor by the police board. Mr..
sheehan replied affirmatively.
Has there been any decision in that
case?"
mo"
why not?"
well. the board has changed since
then. Commissioners Mclean and Nc
Clave have left. and the papers in the
case have been sent to Commissioners
Murray and Kerwin. ] believe they have
them yet-the testimony and some other
papers"
Murray and Kerwin are the Republican
members of the board.
Have YOU ever taken any action look
ing toward a settlement Of Captain O'Con-
nor's case?'
Il have been ready to vote myself"
did you tell anybody sou
II did in an interview and personally
10 my colleagues"
Then Mr.. Goff entered into a long ex-
animation concerning a number of cases
which the records of the department
showed had never been decided The
first was that Of Captain O'Connor. who
was under complaint Of assault on March
20, 1891. The Commissioner said he had
never heard of this charge. He said the
same of a number Of other cases which
Mr.. Con- cited.
Mr. Sheehan admitted that the Slavin
trial had not been decided as promptly
as II should have been He thought Com
sible for the delay.
The witness said of number of cases
mentioned by Mr.. Golf that the charges
antedated his appointment as Commits
sioner.
A long discussion ensued as to whether
the Police Board had the authority to
consider the question as to whether or
not a person had committed felony
when he is being tried for a breach Of
discipline.
The Commissioner said that cases were
on record where the msdeeds of police
men had been brought to the attention
of the district attorneys, but he could
cite no particular case.
Mr.. Goff mentioned the case Of William
Dwyer, who was charged with assaulting
Henry Kress because the latter would
not give him s25. The witness did not
remember the case. He then thought no.
thing had been done 10 the policeman
though the court had found him guilty
OF assault and of oppression.
Commissioner Sheehan could give no
reason why the cases Of OConnor and
Slavin had not been disposed Of
Then the attorney asked the Commits
sioner If he had not power to direct the
superintendent to prefer charges against
the officers.
why didn't you direct him to formu-
late charges against them. as you did
against other officials or captains?'
Il didn't do il. The board did"
do you consider the Superintendent
under your orders?" asked the chairman.
HE is the executive head of the Police
Department"
But don't you consider you have con-
troll over him?'
'No. sir, we never try to control him:
and never interfere with him." answered
Mr. Sheehan.
How many times during the two years
that you have been commissioner have
you heard that protection money was
being paid to the police for various forms
OF vice." asked Mr.. Lexow.
"Oh. l can't say" was the reply. 81
have heard II less while 1 have been on
the board"
After some more sparring, Mr.. Con
said: inspector Williams charged DR.
Parkhurst with falsehood. He said tina,
he had sent special officers to alleged
disorderly houses and could get no evi.
dence The courts convicted the men,
Ii not that proving Williams an official
llar?"
Mr.. Sheehan did not think so. He said
n was possible that some of the disor-
derby houses were started by the Society
for the Prevention of Crime In order "a
make Inspector Williams appear In the
light of an official liar" 1.-The Society
for the Prevention OF Crime would like
10 do it," he sneered
do you wish 10 20 on record as saying
that the society of which Or. Parkhurst
Is president would organize dsorderly
houses for the purpose of proving a 20.
lice officer a fasiner?'
II did not say that" cried Mr. Shee-
han. boldly; "but ! think that the So.
Getty for the Prevention Of Crime would
do anything TO run down Inspector WI.
Hams"
Have you ever heard II said" asked
Mr.. Goff with a smile, that every po-
lice commissioner Is corrupt and bride.
taker. except Commissioner McLean?
The witness became angry at that. 81
won't say whether have heard II said or
not" he said. Il have read that some
Republican stump-speakers had expressed
themselves in such a manner, and proba-
bly, every one of them Is q bribe.takeY
himself. They Id"
"You said on Friday" observed Mr..
Goff. that the people OF New York were
indebted 10 Richard Croker for closing the
pooI-rooms." continued Mr.. Goff
Il said he was always digging them, -
geld 6heehan.
'And 20 the fact remains that Richard
Croker, q private citizen. had to force the
commissioners TO do their duty" sneered
Mr.. Go6.
II didn't admit that" said Sheehan.
The Commissioner testified that he had