New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-27
PRICE THREE. CENTS
TEKULSKY DIDN'T TELL.
HE GAVE EVASITE ANSWERS.
A WITNESS BEFORE THE SENATE CON-
MITTEE ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HIS RELATIONS WITH RICHARD CROKER - OF.
PRESTON BY POLICEMEN AT THE LAST
ELECTIoN-CAPTAIN DEvERY AGAIN
DE LANCEY NIcoLL AS
COURT JESTER.


COURT JESTER.
Morris Tekulsky, president OF the State Liquor
Dealers Association, interesting witness
before the Senate Police Investigating Commit
tee yesterday. 1t Is true that w. A. Sutherland,
counsel for the committee was unable to get
much positive evidence out OF Mr.. Tekulsky. A
more unsatisfactory witness has not appeared
before the committee. He gave every one the
impression that he was keeping something back.
He intimated that the proper question was not
put to him to elicit the Information which the
committee wanted, but squrmed out Of Mr.. Suth-
erand's grasp when 1t came to telling just what
the right question
Mr. Sutherland evidently had been told that
Tekulsky had talked various persons about q
promise. which Tekulsky apparently attributed
to Richard Croker. chat the police should receive
orders from the Tammany Hall leaders about ar
rests for violation Of the Excise law. The witness
denied having said anything Of the kind, but his
answers often hating and evasive to an
annoying degree Senator Bradley has through
out the session asked questions tending to aid
the side of the police. but when Tekulsky had
finished testifying the Senator leaned and
asked him Significantly:
You a very Intelligent man. are you not?"
The witness assented to this, and the Senator
went on:
do you know the meaning Of the term mental
reservation" Tekulsky answered yes again.
TEKULsKY AND CROKER.
OF course, Tekulsky has been of Tammany's
most efficient slaves and tools. He admitted
| that he was nominated delegate to the Consu-
tutional Convention by asking Mr.. Croker The
| committee may call on Tekulsky again II It
| does 1t will probably learn great deal more
| than it did yesterday
| AS usual. Police CaptaA Devery cropped I'D
! In the proceedings. 1t is an off day in the hear
| ings when some testimony is not given as to
orders issued by him on last Election Day which
should aid the cause Of Maynard and Tammany
Hall. One witness heard him instruct his men
| to stand silk stockings on their heads II they
said anything at the polling-places. These silk
stockings" were watchers sent to the lid AS
sembly District by the Bar Association and the
Republican Club. Apparently all the policemen
in that Assembly District had orders not to allow
| Bartlett watchers behind the rail, although this
| right is given by the law.
Yesterday particularly interesting story about
the indicted police captain told. A Republic
can watcher caused the arrest Of an illegal voter.
The three went to the address given by the voter.
| but he was not known there At the station
| house. as soon as Captain Devery heard the
watchers mission. he caused his arrest on q
charge Of drunkenness and disorderly conduct
| In the police court Justice Ryan heard not Q
word of testimony. but fined the watcher =
| at once.
AN INCIDENT IN THE IxrH DISTRICT.
An incident showing that the police were ACTIVE
against Walter W. Bahan wh@n he ran for the
Assembly as an Independent Democratic candi-
date brought out A shoe dealer who had
| signed Mr.. Bahan's certificate Of nomination was
urged by several persons including liquor seller.
| to withdraw his name He refused to do so. Ten
| minutes after the last caller had gone a police
N prpd ha IN
his show from the sidewalk.
De Lancey Nicol who holds a commission
made out by himself court jester to the COM
mittee. did not wear the motley with his former
grace. His humOr was not always spontaneous
1t did not bubble forth as on former days. Poor
Mr.. Nicoll was under a disadvantage Every ono
in the courtroom knew his tactics. Every one
knew that his scheme was TO ridicule the COM
mittee and to turn Its work into joke His
little game had been laid bare, and its effective
ness was therefore nearly gone. 1t is hard TO be
funny when every one Is aware that you are
getting big fee for M And Sco Is on the lookout
subdued yesterday. He managed TO drag out
two on three feeble jokes by purposely msrepre-
senting the testimony. and at such instance
| Senator LexOw brought him up with short
turn
Still, Mr. Ncoll for man who has won repu-
tation a serious minded politician and lawyer,
has played the role Of low comedian pretty well
in the investigation. He may, however. be doing
himself rreparable injury by thus winning fame
| as a humorst. Proctor Knott of Kentucky. can
| tell him what a blight It is on public mans
| career to become known maker Of comic ad-
dresses II is understood that Mr.. Knott
CARDS his famous speech Duluth. which set
the whole country to laughing, the most
fortunate incident Of his life.
William A. Sutherland. counsel for the COM
mittee was asked how long the investigation
OF police interference in elections would continue.
THAT is for the committee TO say was his
reply II have enough testimony TO keep 1t up
all summer"
Mr.. Nicoll said that he had not yet spoken
10 the committee about being allowed to intro
duce testimony in behalf of the police. He had
considered the subject, but did not know how
much work the committee had already laid out
for itself