Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-12-30

denee is that bus for the efforts Of Or.
Parkhurt and the public effect OF the
action o. this committee, you Woulo De
powerless % put an end % this state OF
things. Only for these things would
this corruption have continued?"
mo. Is would 20 some extent"
"Wby9"
Because was so tied up. have
no power 20 detail special men 10 any
precinct j could DOT move a man from
here 20 Fourteentn street without an
order from the police commissioners.
"But two commissioners have sworn
that YOU exercise al the poWer?'
That Is not so"
''WelI, a. 20 blsckmailing OF mer-
chants aud stOrekeepers?'
'Ohl 10 ] was 20 attempt 20 detail cor
poratiOn ordinance man / would not Do
superintendent OF police a week"
Mr. COT then read an extract from an
interview 10 which Mr.. ByrneS was re-
ported 20 have said that agents Of the
Parkhurst society were living on and
fostering crime De at the same time
said be would not DO all 10 his power 10
purge the police department.
II never" said the perintendent,
"mads the statement attributed TO me
In that interview. I reported several
captains for not carrying out their duty,
and asked that a rule be made rendeg-
ing the inspectors liable for their dis
trlcts, but this the commissioners re-
fused.
"Have you ever accepted money for
nOt carving Out the laR?'
AZ never accepted dollar in my life
unless honestly"
Witness went on to say that II he had
been dishonest be would not have held
his job as long as be has.
II wanted 70 resign but l did not
think would be doing my duty 20 the
citizens by so doing"
The audience here broke into ap-
plause.
Witness then stated that as long as
politics governed appointments the po-
lice would never be efficient
Superintendent Byrnes then dis
cussed the Excise law, and said that 1t
was impossible to detect violations II
men went in uniforms, but that the
Commissioners would not allow them to
do otherwise. REGARDING the pool sell
ers, no said that his hands were tied
until the Mayor Instructed the magis-
trates to convict pool sellers. When
this was done be broke up their ousl-
ness.
The interference Of Commissioner
Martin with the captains az the tame OF
the 1892 election was then referred 10,
aud Superintendent Byrnes described
the meeting as follows:
Commissioner Martin told me he
was going 20 attend the meeting OF po-
lice captains had called on the Sunday
before election 10 instruct them as 10
their duties. told him l thought u
better for him not 10 come there. lie
insisted, and / asked Mr.. McClave, the
Republican commissioner, 10 come, but
he refused. Mr.. Martin came and in
sisted on addressing the captains, and
told them not to allow the United
States marshals TO interfere with them.
/ objected TO this, aud instructed them
as 10 their duties"
"But Commissioner Martin swore that
he went there at your request?'
"He sWOre 10 what was false.
"And that you asked him to address
the men?"
THAT is also false. When l refused
20 let his instructions 90 TO the captains
they were so pleased that two OF them
came aud kissed my hand"
Witness denied that be had ever in
terfered with DR.. Parkhurst in his re-
searches in the Eleventh precinct.
Superintendent Byrnes then said that
be had written letter TO Mayor-elect
Strong rendering his resignation.
He handed the letter to Chairman
LexOw, who transferred IL 20 MIR. Cot.
Mr.. Goff requested Mr.. Moss to read
the letter, which was as follows:
"PoL1cE HEADQUARTERS,
500 MULBERRY ST.
New YORK, December, Is, 1894
To Cononel W. L. Strong.
DEAR SIR; | appreciate as fully as any
man can, the tremendous responsibility
that will come upon you when you assume
the duties Of Mayor and undertake the re-
form Of the various departments OF the
governfhent
/ desire not 70 be an obstacle or any en-
barrassment % you Ia anything that you
NAV propose 20 DO with the police depart
ment On the contrary, / wish 20 ala you
in any way hat i can. assume that you
are row considering what action you ought
10 take az the outset of your administra-
ton aud what legislation viii be required
10 make such action practical
/, therefore, now place n your hand nv
request 20 be- retired from the post Of sup
erintendent, % be used oy you or not al
any time after she first of January, as you
see IT.
Aud let me further say that you NAV be
entirely free % command my services, ad-
vice and informstiOn at any time in regard
% the affairs Of the police department
with which have been so long connected.
Your faithful servant
[Siguejl Thomas BYRNEs."
There was considerable applause
when tue letter was concluded. As the
witness was leaving the stand be said
10 reply 10 Senator Lewow: "rhe po-
lice force must be reorganized. The
present system is all wrong"
Resolutions were then passed thaok-
ing all who had beeu concerned in the
investigation for the facilities extended
20 the committee.
Chairman Lexow, on behalf Of the
committee, expressed the hope that the
Commissioners would deal fsirlY with
Captain Creedon.
Mr. Goff said that he desired to make
q few remarks. he presented his re-
spects 20 the numerous channels
through which he had received infor-
nation, and TO the gentlemen who had
gone 90 the expense OF hiring private
detectives 10 watch him. lest be might
be subjected 90 assault or injury.
II have never been a moral censor"
be continued, "for am no better than
the average mSn. I have come here
sofelv f, nv conarftv - lauvar and