The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-22

schmittberger, captain OF police and
now in command OF the tenderloin dis
t,ict made a confession before the
1sxow committee and to the effect that
the entire police system of New York
city, with the exception OF Super
iulendent Byrnes and a few
others was rotten to the core;
tba. blackmail and bribery, extor-
tion and corruption were common
crimes in the department; and that
msrcenary alone actuated his fellow
officers His charge, impli Gated In.
spectors Williams and McAvoy, ex'
Inspector Steers, Police Commissioners
James B. Martin aud John @. sheehau,
CAPTAINS Price, George Gastlin and
F,ederick ". Martens, ex.Captains
John Gunner and Wardmen Dunlap,
Robert Vail and James Cannon.
Without question this has been the
most important day in thehistory of the
Iexow committee. Schmittberger's
confession ia prolific oil not only sensa'
lion, but OF evidence which confirms
and yer:fes what have been hitherto
considered the most exaggerated cases
Of police and official corruption.
Il was late when the first witness OF
the day, Adolph Rheinhart, was called.
he had last night been served with
subpoena signed John w. GoG. The
Signature proved to be forged. This,
Mr. Gof said, was only one OF the many
annoyances suffered by him. He re-
marked that the work Of the committee
did not deal with personal affairs.
Policeman Edward Shelvey was the
next witness. He swore that he owns
Two houses and has no bank account.
Mrs Amelia Holland, wife OF Police
man Charles Holland, testified that she
owned no real estate. Her husband was
then called, and said he owned a private
residence at 1889 Amsterdam avenue,
eight lots in Forty.sixth street. six lots
in One hundred and forty-second street,
and Flat house valued at $4,000. de
had been fifteen years policeman.
"And you bought all this property
ous Of your sataryfa :,
Certainly not. l have dealt in real
estate with A. NJ. Bradley, OF the Bloom
iusdale asylum, and made all my money
that way"
CAPTAIN Schmittberger was recalled.
"You are o captain in the Twelfth
precinct2" began Mr.. Goff.
"Yes."
"And you recognize the binding char
acter OF your oath?"
"Ido, and I have come here to tell
the whole truth"
This answer created sensation in
court.
Then Senator Lexow warned witness
Of the danger OF perjury.
Mr. Goff excused all the other wit
nssses in the court schmittberger
said be Joined the force in 1874, and was
before that confectioner. Hs paid
nothing TO be made patrolman. He
was frst assigned to the Tenderioin
precinct. He was there two years and
knew the precinct well. His duties at
first we're on account OF pull he had
with the sergeant at the desk.
ut has been said that ward p olitlc.
ilns have something to do with promo
tions, is that soP"
"Yes, ii is"
"weii, what influence can these poll
ticians exertP"
They can exert an influence through
the commissioners and sergeants for
fear OF removal"
What is the more powerful in tho de-
partment, good record or q political
pullP
"A political pull, by far"
Captain, have you ever heard OF
case where patroIman paid sergeant
any money to be assigned to light
work."
"Yes, have heard OF them"
In answer TO further questions, Cap
tain Schmittberger gave it as his opin-
ion that the policemen appointed tit-
teen years ago make better policemen
in every respect than the recent ap.
pointments.
Now. captain, testimony has been
hEen here that there are number Of
men In this city who are known as go
betWeens.' They are really not con-
nnecled with the department. but in Or
der to get an appointment it is necessa-
EtoGo to them. Do you know any OF
these men2"
There is Charley Grant, Commits.
sioner McC!ayes' secretary, and a man
named Meyer, a tailor on Broadway"
Those are all you know%
Mt. Gof then returned to the ques.
uon Of the old policemen being more
eonclentious than the recent additions
70 the force, and again gave 1t as his
opinion that they were far .abcvo the
new officers.
Referring to insubordination by
psItlrIo,imen, MIR. Con inquired:
A., These men practically de6ed you;
did they notP"
,ies, at limes."
49,, Was "a that through political inau.
Yes, great many mon uader me
polonE 10 different organizations"
la and have you any knowledge Of any
,Snhco ,SSnuehco brought to bear to support
Yea"
Who wa, it?"
r. a TammaRy Hall club. Of which
commissioner Shechan was presidont."
.11hd did you belong TO this club"
.bbes, for my own protection"
10 you know any other captains
'n1 belong to III"
II. psyory, Price aud Strauss are all
.at know who belong to 1t. A great
sn, s"y 'orgeants belonged toit, but do
~ w Mkuow their names"
Il UnflnD HnnH AhEnn .rnnEn m tnnAEnl.