Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-12-26
ONE MORE "SQUEALER.
Gotham Police Officers Break Down
Before the LexoW Com
mittee.


ample of Capt Creedon, who recently
broke down and, with tears in his eyes,
told the Lexow committee all he knew
about police corruption, Capt. Schmitt-
berger, when called to the stand, assured
the committee that he would make a
clean breast of things. Just as the wit
ness was getting down to the most inter
esting part of his revelations. Chairman
LeXow suddenly announced an adjourn
ment. 1t was expected that the proceed
ings this afternoon would be of q highly
sensational character.
1t was late when the first witness of
the day, Adolph Reinhart, was called.
He had last night been served with a
subpoena signed John w. Goff." The
signature proved to be forged. Mr.. Golf
said this was only one of the many an
noyances suffered by him. He remarked
that the work of the committee did not
deal with personal affairs.
Policeman Charles Holland owned a
private residence at 1889 Amsterdam
avenue, eight lots on FOrty-siXth street,
six lots on One Hundred and Forty-sec-
Ond street and fiat house valued at SO,
500. He had been fifteen years a police
man.
And you bought all this property out
of your salary?"
Certainly not. I have dealt in real
estate with A M Bradley of the Bloom
ingdale asylum and made all my money
that way"
Capt. Schmittberger was recalled.
You are captain in the Nineteenth
precinct?" began Mr.. Golf.
YES"
'You recognize the binding character
of your oath?"
II do. l have come to tell the whole
truth"
This answer caused a sensation. Then
Senator LeXow warned the witness of
the danger of perjury. Mr.. Golf ex-
cused all the other witnesses in the court.
Schmittberger said he joined the force
in 1874, and was before that time con-
fectioner. He paid nothing to be a pa
trolman. He was first assigned to the
''Tenderloin" precinct. Ea was there
two years, and knew the precinct we'll
His duties at first were on account of q
pull he had with the sergeant at the desk
''It has been said that ward politics
have something to do with promotions, is
that SOP"
Eyes, it is"
''WelL what influence can these politi-
clans eXertW
'They can exert an influence through
the commissioners and the sergeants for
fear of removal"
Captain, have you ever heard of a case
where a patrolman paid a sergeant any
money to be assigned to light work.
''Yes, / have heard of them"
In answer to further questions Capt.
Schmittberger gave it as his opinion that
the policemen appointed fifteen years ago
make better policemen in every respect
than the recent appointments.
Now, captain, testimony has been
taken here that there are a number of
men in this city who are known as go
betweens.' They are really not connected
with the department, but in order to get
an appointment is it necessary to go to
them Do you know any OF these men?"
There is Charley Grant, Commissioner
McClave's secretary, and q man named
Never, a tailor on Broadway"
1t was at this point Mr.. Golf suddenly
announced recess.
Senator O'Connor today denied that he
had asserted, as has been alleged, that
Mr. Golf had bulldozed and inundated
witnesses before the Lexow committee.
In speaking of the proposed continuation
of the committee, Senator OConnor said:
1.-The police department of New York is
rotten to the very foundation, and
should be the last to oppose the contnu-
ance of this committee.
That there is some discord between COun-
sci Golf and the committee, however, is
a conceded fact, and this dissension is over
the question as to why Supt. Byrnes and
other officials have not been called to testi-
fy, is not denied It is also believed that
a MISUNDERSTANDING oAlSlS DeIWeeu LIZ.
Parkhurst and Mr.. Golf with relation to
the propriety Of summoning Supt. Byrnes
before the committee. With reference to
this matter, Counsel Goff's assistant, Mr..
Jerome said that it was one thing to
put a man in the witness chair and anoth-
er to get sufficient proof against him
to attain any good results. He thought,
however, that Byrnes and Commissioner
Martin will be called next week, If the
committee does not reach an adjournment
today. Senator Lexow thinks that the
committee will probably adjourn today
for the holidays, but if anything sensation
al develops before adjournment another
session will be held tomorrow. Father
Ducey was present this morning.
Capt. Schmittberger resumed the stand
after the recess. He said officers openly
defed rules Of the department and were
sustained in it by Tammany Hall club,
Of which Commissioner Sheehan was the
president Witness is member Of the
club, as are also Capts. Devery, Price and
Strauss.
Schmittberger admitted that in his pre-
einct the excise law was openly violated
and that disreputable women and Grim
inals did as they pleased. They could not
have done this he said without special ar
rangement with the police.