The evening world., 1894-08-30
STEPHENSON
ON TRIAL.
Case OF Accused Captain
Called To-Day Before
the Board.
FOR bLACKMAIL AND BRIBERY.
Six Merchants Who Paid the
Money to Be Called
Against Him.
MAKES A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY.
Will Try to Prove that Ward Man
Kelly Took the Cash and
Kept It.
MAKES A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY.

After many days of waiting, Police
Captain John Thomas Stephenson was
to-day placed on trial before the Com
missioners at Police Headquarters on
several charges of bribery.
The evidence upon which the charges
were preferred was furnished by sew
eral business men of the produce dis
t.rct, and is In effect that he extorted
bl3od money from them in exchange
far the privilege Of violating the mu-
n.cipai laws regarding the obstruction
OF ..,s sidewalks with goods, packing
CO fes sEids. trucks and the like. in the
cSurss o. business.
Ihe alleged bribery took place away
bach In 1891 and tlss2. when the tall,
hendsome Captain was in command
Cstne Fifth Precinct, or Leonard street
station.
The complaints are as follows:
Feb. 20. 1891, according to the state
ment of Thomas p. Wallace, of 1877
Reade street, Stephenson got SIS bride
rom him.
That ON Jan. l6. 1892. he received SIS
from the same merchant.
That on Jan. 16, 1892, he received from
Enos C. Palmer. of l66 Reade street. SIS.
That on Oct. 10. 1891. he received from
Charles W. Maxfield, of 1872 Reade street.
go.
That on July /. 1891. he received from
Leroy NJ Lyon. of Sn Washington
street. SIS.
That on Jan. l. 1892. he received from
the same merchant s25
That on May TO- 1891, he received from
Robert B. Sinner. OF 1886 Washington
street. SIS.
That on Sept. u, 1891. he received from
NJ n; Edwards, Of 1913 Duane street,
ing the 800 agreed upon for years inn
munity from arrest for ordinance VIOLA
tion.
That on Oct 25 1891. he received from
George Allison. 2sS Washington street.
That on Feb. 20. 1891, he received from
Louis II. Bernholtz. 355 Greenwich street,
SIS for permitting an awning that was
not constructed according to law to re-
main.
Besides these charges of bribery there
are other charges of neglect of duty in
permitting the violation OF the ordl-
nances and Of acts unbecoming an off,
Ger and Injuries to the welfare of the
community.
Stephenson's counsel made the usual
moiion, after the reading Of the speciii-
The motion was for the dismissal of the
first ten charges, on the ground that
the a, h bribery was IA penal 0nens or
jurisdiction to try him for such alleged
crimes, the Constitution guaranteeing
to every man the right to be tried by a
jury of his peers.
This Is the same ground on which all
the other defendants have demanded a
dismissal Of the bribery charge. and
here, as in the other cases, the decisions
Of tle Court OF Appeals In the case OF
Capt, Siebert and of the General Term
in the. case OF Patrolman Fitzpatrick
Cant. Siebert was tried and broken
years ago on charge or perjury COM
mitted In the trial Of another officer be-
Appeals relnstated Siebert on the ground
that the Board had no right to try any
officer on criminal charge.
Davis, then the presiding Justice OF the
General Term of the Supreme Court.
said:
Police Board has jurisdiction to try a
charge of criminal acts, like court"
Ira Shafer, who again adroitly CALLED
Prosecutor 3 Appeared a AIRED here as as the pr-
yate special counsel Of the Police Board,
by mock apology to the reporters tiers, for
raised another demurrer to the charge.
He moved the striking out from the
charges OF the neglect OF duty, acts
and aets n oeer IN
department." on the ground that there
was no specification covering these
ShdIBeS, ana no ueTenuunt cOulu De
forced to defend charges that do not
specify the acts charged.
Mr.. Wellman said that the acts OF
bribery and the wilful failure OF tn,
captain to enforce the lav were tnt
specification that covered all th'
The motion was denied, and then Mr.
shaier said that the Captain pleaded
mot guilty"
Then he askedf or an adjournment
ana made a long speech so lengthy anC
SO vehement that his ftorid, fat fac
became as red as q peony.
Mr Shater said that the truth would b.
tnat the bride money had been paid I,
ward Man James Kelly, who Is now II
Europe, having retired from the Depart
Stevens on.
The Board designates an ordinanc
..itan IN each precinct" said Mr.. ShafeT
This Board designated Kelly as sucl
ordnance man In Capt Stephenson
Violations Of the ordinances. and III