Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-20


committee inquiry in a measure to-day
met the public demand that it go
higher. II reached police headquarters
and dragged down to disgrace and
almost certain indictment and prosecu.
ton two officials, one all inspector, the
other an ex.inspector.
1t is now tho time either of Superin-
tendent Byrnes or the commissioners IN
the succession Of steps by which John
w. Golf has traced the transfer OF black
mail from hand to hand, beginning with
the unfortunate criminals and citizens
on whom the burden fell through the
itching palms Of ordinary patrolmen,
ward detectives and sergeants, captains
and inspectors.
To-day's most important testimony
WAS that of witness who confessed
that while acting as precinct captain,
following the usual custom OF the de-
partment and the orders of his superior,
ex.Inspector Henry V. Steers, lie con
tinued the collection Of blackmail under
the system already established, turning
over to the inspector 50 per cent of the
illegal revenue and keeping the rest for
his trouble. When Steers retired from
office-a wealthy man-his successor,
Inspector Thomas +. McAvoy, continued
to received the payments.
BLACKMAILED BUSINESS FIRMS.
The money in this particular instance
amounted to $500 per month, and was
levied upon the corporations and bust
ness firms occupying piers on the North
river front, and upon the patrolmen
themselves, who drew it on the pretense
nT Iynrlintr For thn 1Atnr locennc fIhiu
damaging evidence was furnished by
Sergeant John j. Taylor, of the steam
boat squad, and was corroboratcd to
some extent by that of patrolmen who
collected the money and turned it over
to him. Captain Allalre, who succeeded
Taylor in command Of the precinct, was
also accused of continuing the same sys-
tenn, while ex.Captains Gastlin and
Schmittberger were again involved in
the same disgraceful transactions.
Taylor and all the other witnesses
swore that they had no knowledge as TO
whom the money may have gone after
passing through the inspectors hands.
Their testimony is being translated for
the district attorneys benefit.
Taylor when first questioned denied
the statements to which half dozen of
his subordinales had sworn, to the effect
that they had paid him money while ne
was acting captain.
After being assured by Senator Lexow
that he would be fully protected by the
| committee from the resentment OF his
superior, Taylor admitted the truth of
the patrolmen's statements. He took
command of the precinct for four
months in the spring of 1899. 1t was at
that time that the business Of collecting
tribute devolved upon him. He found
that the contributions varied, but aver.
aged about 5000 per month. OF this
Patrolman O'Neill collected $40 per
month from the White Star Line, keep
ing SIS for himself, as he testified;
Patrolman John O'Mahony, $40 from
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, giving up
half; Patrolman Charles A. Beck, $40
from the Providence Line, of which
he was compelled to give up every cent
to the various collectors, who included
Wardman Cannon and afterwards
Wardman Vail, who turned over the
money to the precinct commanders,
Taylor, Gastlin and Schmittbeiger
Patrolman Eugene Beglan got So from
the Baltimore 81 Ohio, he testified, and
gave up half; Patrolman George Con-
ner, $40 per month from the Stonington
Line, giving up So; Patrolman Arthur
ID. McGeorge, Thomas s. Brady and
Patrick Murphy, each, $25 from the
Pennsylvania railroad, dividing evenly
with their superiors. One patrolman,
Peter Moran, testified that he was re.
moved from the White Star Line pier
for refusing to give up $40 a month to
| n I'm
.crrn ,s..,y.rcuvrxn
c.oaI 49,. &C 49, a,aa,,,..;r ,;r..
1eNot"i ~, ~ - a w .h , ,iin.,
Got il ,i,. t ,to r,iioaar fon o M
pau wotcE W ~ Wardman " VAL iii ' aisS
aJmitteI that he collected from the
natrolmen for TAYLOR and the Others
who had commanded the precincts.
TAYLOR rehearsed the instructions he
received from Inspector Steers. ale
ordered the men to continue the regu.
lar custom under Captain Gastlin and
come 10 him every month";" said TAYLOR
al rot about 20 per cent and gave up
about 80 per cent.
For nv trouble in getting the money
| took 20 per cent and he seemed tc
think it was all right. There was d
regular understanding about it,"
''Did you tell him how much you had
collected every month 7" asked Mr. Golf
ayes. But he knew how much il
ought to be, for he had II list"
When Captain Alluirc was appointed
the sergeant said he still continued L
do the collecting.
Inspector Steers then instructed him
to put the money in an envelope marked
"Street Cleaning Report" in a particular
drawer on the left hand side of tn,
captains desk. There were other papers
slcb as reports. which were ALWAYS pu