Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-27
WILLIAMS STOUTLY DENIES
Counsel Golf Finds Him an Improbable
Witness
Yesterday Afternoons Session OF the
Ing of n Sensational Nature.

when did you Join the police force!
asked Mr.. Gof.
"In 1866. was then twenty-four years
of age. 1 was a ship carpenter. 1 have
been employed in China and Japan. I had
charge Of a dock yard in Shanghai"
when you Joined the force were you
poor or in good circumstances"
Fairly we'll off. l think / was worth
SIS, 900 or $4,000"
"Had you any other property"
yes. Some lots in Japan"
LAS a matter of Information, how do
they measure building lots there?
Il think 200 by IS feet, / don't remem-
ber."
Witness sold his home in Brooklyn for
about 5000 receiving the pay in bills OF
exchange English banks; these he con-
verted into currency, which he deposited in
| a safe belonging to a man named Terry.
At the time gold was at a premium, 2S3
or 2S5. so that the proceeds of the sale of
bills of exchange enabled him to put in
the safe $4,000 in greenbacks.
You have thought carefully over your
evidence?"
well. not specially. have thought
over it,"
You remember Commissioner McClaves
and Commissioner Sheehan's testimony
Yes; l read their evidence in the pa
pers."
You don't intend to refuse to disclose
your affairs. as some Of your officials have
done?"
II don't intend to criticise the opinions
of my superiors" said the witness. testify.
Il didn't mention that the officials were
your superiors"
well, you mentioned Commissioners Nc
Clave and Sheehan."
Have you ever, since you Joined the
police force, been engaged In outside busi-
ness?"
mo"
Ibid you ever swear you were not"
Yes. according to an act of legislature"
And you were the last man who made
an affidavit to that effect?"
mo, that is untrue, said Williams,
angrily. There were others after me-"
Had you ever any interest in the Holly
wood distillery?'
Did you know of its officials?"
Yes. George Norton"
HE was a thief, wasn't he?"
mo. A friend of my brothers,
His father was thief"
He was not. He kept a saloon at the
corner Of Dover and Water streets. George
Norton often gave me information about
thieves when l was captain of the fourth
precinct"
HE was a stool-pigeon for you thenr'
He was not a stool-pigeon. Stool-pigeons
are paid. He gave me Information as
great many citizens do to the police He
gave my successor, Capt. Murray, similar
Information
And you desired to assist MN IN pusi-
ness"
II never did So"
Did YOU hear Of a memorial being pre-
scented to the legislature against interior
ence by the police Ill favor of Hollywood
whisky?"
Yes"
And in the face Of that memorial hav-
ing been signed by reputable merchants
and trades, do you say ii was false?"
False far as / am concerned"
During this portion of the witness testi-
| mony Mr.. GOff's temper appeared to he
rising, while the inspector seemed to be
determined to battle counsers efforts.
DO you know a man named FleeceT
What is heT' queried the witness.
THAT makes no difference. Do you know
a man of that Manner
Yes"
He is a whisky dealer?"
yes"
And very good fellowr'
Il am glad to hear you call any one a
good fellow. Mr.. Goff." said Williams. and
some laughed.
Did you ever try to get him appointed
NO"
There have been number of charges
against your
II think / have been charged with every
offense on the calendar. In spite of that
feel rather healthy"
How many times have you been brought
before the police boardT'
Eighteen"
How many times have you been charg-
ed with violation of the law Of the landr'
Il never violated the laws"
when did you first buy real estate in
New York;"
I'm 1876 1 gave it to my wife,"
I'm 1873 Nine years ago 1 bought a
house at 403 East 10th street for ST. 900
and sold it for $4,000. 1 bought another
house for 5000"
Does anybody hold any real estate for
your
For your wife?"
only a little house, for which I paid
SLIGO, and the house in 10th street 1t has
been stated that I was interested in a
hotel; that is lie."
The witness then said that evidence given
by kirkland that he had to pay 500 to
him in 1879. when he was in charge of the
STRENGTHENING squad, for allowing Kirk
lands books to De audited, was lie.
Mr.. Goff then read from a number Of
bills from Howell & Perkins for scows,
and asked: rs there any reason why this
man Perkins should have come on the
stand end testified against your
None. l don't know the man."
And the merchants and traders who
signed the memorial to the legislature lied
about your
Yes. they did, perhaps unwittingly."
They, perjured themselves"
During the inspectors testimony there
was considerable laughter, which seemed
to provoke Mr. Goff Who said i'm an anurl,
tone: You should know, as a police Of
tcer, that 1t is not PROPER for you by your
answers to excite laughter in this room
Il am not trying to do So" answered Will
liams.
Mr.. Golf then wanted to know IL one bill
for the payment of scows in emergency
was signed by the inspector. He said that
he supposed IL came before him in the
usual course.
'Mr. Perkins and Mr.. Howell are both
positive as to your acceptance of $780,
Il don't think Mr.. Howell said anything
of the kind"
rs that the only charge of corruption
brought against your
Il think So"
Didn't Schmittberger testify that he
save you money!"
Yes, and he testified falsely"
What reason had he for coming here
and perjuring HIMSELF"
To avoid going to states prison."
You know that?
Yes saw IT in the newspapers I saw
that he had been promised immunity for 30
doing"
Tell me a single newspaper that has
stated So"
Il cannot say. 1t is my impression that
it was in some of them"
Did you ever do anything calculated to
make Schmittberger desire to injure you?"