Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-22
Captain Sohmittberger Makes a Sen
sational Confession.
NEW YORK'S CORRUPT POLICE FORCE
Money Paid Inspectors Williams
and McAvoy.
PROTECTED BY JUDGES

yesterday afternoon with the speed Of a
whirlwind, and drew to the committee
room q vast throng of citizens, who
clamored and struggled for admission. In
political and official circles this intelligence
created a furore.
As schmittberger testified dark circles
appeared under his eyes. his face assumed
Q sickly pallor. an air of utter WEAKNESS
and detection possessed him, and he ap-
peared, as he was, In extreme mental tor
ture and agony. But no spirit of sympathy
moved the throng OF spectators. Sneers
and sarcastic laughter instead answered
his acknowledgment of WEAKNESS when at
last Counsel Con- permitted him to vacate
the witness stand.
Capt schmittberger resumed his testi-
mcny after recess at 3 o'clock. Referring
to INSTRUMENTATION by patrolmen. Mr.. Golf
inquired: These men practically defied
you. did they not?"
Yes; at times"
"Was that thro ugh political infiuence?"
Yes. a great many men unler ME be-
long tc different organizations"
And have you any knowledge of any
Influence brought to bear to support these
men liz their stand"'
YES"
"Who was it?"
"a Tammany Hall club of which Com
did you belong to this clUb?' @
Yes: for my own protection"
do you know any other captains who
belong to it?''
"Devery Price and Strauss are all that
j know who DelonS to IL. A great many
sergeants belonged to It, but 1 do not
know their names.
During your three years as patrolman in
the nineteenth, who was your captain?"
Mccullough and Steers"
And you We're ward detective Under
Steers, too, / believe? Now, during this
time, was there any understanding as to
the protection of fast houses and law
breakers?'
There was a tacit understanding" he ad-
mitted. He went on to explain that he had
for n partner at that time another ward
man named Dunlap. and this understand
ing was between them.
"Who succeeded Dunlap"
Price now also a captain"
Now. captain, you know what the Pc
Quod Club is, do you not?''
.Oh. yes
And do you know Munzinger the min
eral water manufacturer, who is the Secre
tary?
Yes"
"And did you ever hear that the police
brought their influence to bear saloon
keepers and made them buy this water
from Munzinger by threats%'
Yes"
Did you ever do such thing?"
mo. l spoke to one saloonkeeper about
II. and afterward he began using it. 1 did
not threaten him, though"
The captain went on to tell what he
knew of several dives in his precinct which
were frequented by all the criminals of
Now York. He said further that no pre-
teI.se of Observing the excise law at these
places was ever made, and the fast women
and CRIMINALS did as they pleased.
would il have been possible for these
places to run open without special ar
engagements with the police?'
Certainly not"
And how were the police given instruc
lions about these pliceS?''
Through the wardman OF the district,
They all understood that these instructions
were from the captain"
And what was the punishment il an
officer disobeyed these orders?"
lie was transferred to another round"
DO you know of any case where a po-
liceman was instructed to cooperate with
the keepers of these dives to crush out
facts about small crimes?"
Not personally, but it was understood
that this was fact
Mr.. Golf then called the attention of the
committee to the Coleman case, which is
an old story in the city.
This Is a case where special officer was
killed and no investigation made and not
even an inquest was held. This happened
in 1879.
well. captain" Mr.. Golf continued, 'Hn
your duties as a special officer were you
ever required TO collect any tribute from
the disorderly houses in your precinct?'
NO: 4 never was. / was I'm the legiti-
mate business Of the precinct. Another
man did the collecting"
You were made a roundsman in 1882"
"Yes"
Did you pay anything for this promo
tion?"
mo, did not
"Who appointed you to this position?"
Commissioner Wheeler"
why did he do it?''
Because / found a dog he had lost
AT this there was a general laugh, but
the witness was firm in his statement that
this was the primary cause of his promo
ton.
"You say. believe. that the tenderloin at
that time was gathering place for GRIM
inalS. Do you know III any arrangement
vas ever made between any burglars
robbers and the police?"
We'll, 1 hardly think it went as far as
that"
DO you remember about this time that
there was a complaint made by several
citizens to suppress the fast houses
there?'
"Oh. yes, there were a great many COM
plants. 1t was fight against the French
houses particularly. These women used to
stand out in front of their houses and pull
men in as they were passing
"A person could not cross the street
without being insulted, could they?'
Hardly"
Did you ever receive orders from any
of the captains of the precinct to close
any Of these houses?''
mo. Capt. Williams, at that time told
me to try to keep the women off the
street"
THAT was not to suppress the business?"
mo, it was merely to keep it down
little. IL was too conspicuous"
Mr.. Golf asked about the famous Clio
telle, and art gallery attached thereto
which became so notorious before IL was
suppressed. Witness acknowledged that
the dive had rot been closed before, be-
cause ii was under police protection.
Witness reviewed his services as a SER
geant briefly, and came to his appointment
rs a captain.
Who appointed you captain" Mr.. Golf
inquired.
Commissioner Voorhis.''
And how much did you pay for your
lppontment?'
mot one red cent"
DO you mean to say that you did not
pay anything at all for it?'
Yes when / was made captain / had
Just passed an examination, and stood
highest in the list. / did not pay anybody,
and l would like to state now that 1 be-
Heve Judge Voorhis is perfectly honest
and that the charges against him are all
false"
Now, captain, about the time you were
In command of the steamboat squad, you
learned. of course. that the men on the
docks had to give up half their salaries?"
Yes. Wardman Vail told of IL. /
told him did not want to keep II up, and