Evening journal., 1894-12-20

fnrkhurst Detective Tells of an Exciting
Scene With MT. Byrnos In the Latter's
House-Miss Ross Says She Paid Arsney
For Protection to Byrnes' wardmen.
NEW YORK, Dec eO.-superintendent
Byrnes figured conspiouously in the testi-
mony Of two witnesses before the Lexow
committee, John Marrott, formerly an
agent Of the Society For the Prevention OF
Crime, testified that Superintendent
Byrnes bad bulldoied him, With threats
and force, into dlvulglng the secrets Of
his society and had afceEYard relented
when he learned that tho witness was a
brother Mason.
Hattie Ross, n colorod woman who some
years ago conducted two dlsorderly houses
In this city, swore that she paid protection
money 20 wardmen men under Captain
Byrnes, now superintendent Of police.
Gradually and by successive stages
Counsel Con has gone up higher He
has adquoed testimony that throws a pc
cbliarlS questionable cir around proceed
ings Of the highest official in the police do.
partment Superintendent Byrnes doules
the allegations against him, but the be-
smirching statements were made under
oath, and tho popular sentiment demands
from him full explanation.
Other Incidents Of interest occurred be-
fore the senate investigating committee
but none Of them caused suob exoiteKidnt
as did the mention of Superintendent
Byrnes. Sergeant Taylor who had testi-
fed that he had turned over TO Inspector
Steers moneys collected from patroImen
which thcy had received from steamboat
and railroad companies, swore again that
Steers had accepted the money as brlbes
to permit the patrolmen TO remain on
their respective boats Talyor did not
know what Steers did with the money,
but to him II appeared that some OF the
Doodle was divided with some one elso
The sergeant also denied Steers state
ment that bis testimony was false and had
boon given in spite Taylor acknowledged
that be bad called on the ox-inspector Sat
urdAy INT, but had merely told his for
mer superior that ho Intended to tell tho
truth 70 the Lexow committee.
Steers Wants yindIcatIon.
Ex-Inspeotor Steers was in the court
room. He announced a readiness TO 20 on
the stand and deny Taylor's accusations.
Inspectors MoAvoy, Williams and Nc
Iaughln were snbpenaea TO appear be-
fore tbp coinmittee, but Williams was
temporarily EXCUSED, and the other two
were not called during the day.
DIR. Owen j. Ward reported that Honest
John Martin the man who handled Cap
tain Crceden's sl5, 600, was too III to tes-
tify.
Counsel Goff announced that Thomas
Bradley formerly Of tho Twcnty-ninth
precinct, was retired on half pay as a
roundHnan, but Is now acting as chief of
police at Norwalk, Conn.
II merely wish, ;" said Mr.. Goff, ito
call attention TO the police pension sys-
tenn, which Is absurd and deserving Of
the attention Of the legislature "
Policeman Herman Intcrman swore
that he did not testify truthfully Tuesday
when he said that be had never paid over
any Of the money givcn him by the Amer
ican steamship line TO his superior officers.
He had given up half Of his extra earn
ings TO Captain Gastlin and then S25 out
Of $40 o month TO Captain Sohmittberger.
Interman also acknowledged that police
men were afraid to testify before the Lex-
ow committee because they feared the dis
pleasure of their superior officers
Sergeants Byrne and Cornelius Reid OF
the steamboat squad testified that It was
very improbable that Sergeant Taylor had
sent money TO Inspector Steers in the
mapHer he described before the committee
yesterday. Byrno said he had heard ru-
mors Of money being collected by the cap
tains from policemen, but Reid said Tay-
lor's statement was absurd.
Captain Allaire, commander Of the
steamboat squad, denied all knowledge Of
the collection OF money from the steam
boat and railroad lines. Mr. Goff ques-
toned him long and earnestly, but AL
laire's entire testimony was a rcpudiation
and denial Of all allegations made against
him by other witnesses.
Allaire said he owned house valued at
S27, 900 and had money in bank not ex-
ceeding 81, 000 The captain sworo that
he had always done all In his power to
suppress gambling, disorderly houses and
other crime in his precincts.
He knew nothing of Sergeant Taylor's
alleged payment Of money to Inspector
Steers Rumors had come to him that
policemen had illicitly collected moneys
from citizens, but he had positively for
hidden such doings.
Mr. Goff attempted to draw various
statements from Allaire, but failed, and
the witness left the stand apparently well
satisfied.
Paid Money TO Byrnes wardmen.
Hattie Ross (colored) swore that in 1879
she opened two disorderly houses IN the
Fifteenth precinct. She paid $50 a month
as protection money for each house to
Wardmen Roland and Slevin. Captain
Byrnes, now superintendent was in com
mand Of the precinct at the time. She also
paid similar sums Of money to wardmen
under Captain Brogan, who succeeded
Byrnes.
Incidentally Hattie testified 5hat in
eight years Al Adams, a policy dealer,
had victimized her out Of S47, 900. She
also ran disorderly house in the Tender
loin district when Captain McAyoy was
in command, but she didn't have to pay
protection money there.
Superintendent Byrnes heard Of the tes-
timony given against him by John Mar
rett few minutes after that witness tes-
titled. He Immediately locked himself in
his Office at police headquarters, and for
On hour examined papers bearing on the
matter referred to by Marrett
Afterward the superintendent said Of
Marrett: IAN he says is untrue except
that he came to my house under false pre-
lenses When the proper time comes,
shall tell my story in the proper place.
Futher than this the superintendent abso-
lutelv refused To say ANYTHING