The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-12-22
ROTTEN TO THE CORE.
Blackmail and Bribery. Among
New York Police.
WHOLE DEPARTMENT TAINTED.
Captain Schmittberger's Confession
the Sleeves Murder Trial
Other News.
Associated Press.

Associated Press
New York, Dec. 21.-M. C.. Schmitt-
berger, captain of police, and now in
command of the tender-loin district,
made a confession before the Lexow
committee today to the effect that the
entire police system of New York, with
tine exception of Supt. Byrnes and a
few others was rotten to the core; that
blaeloruail and bribery, eXtortion and
corruption, were common crimes in the
department. and lbhalt mercenary meth
DDS actuaEed his fellow-oflcers. His
charges implicated Inspectors Williams
and McAer, eX-lnspector Steers, Police
Commissioners James B. Martin and
John C. Sheehan, Captains Price, Cast
lin and Mait,ens, eX-Captain John Gum
ner, and Wardmen Dunlap, Robert
Vail and James Cannon. Without
question this has been the most i'm,
portant day in the history of luhe COM
mAbtee. SchmtlAtberger's confession is |
prolific of not only a sensation, but of
evidence which confirms and veHlfles
what has been considered an eXagger-
alted case of police and official corrup>
idlon 1t deals with more individual
cases; 1T shows criminality that has
prevailed in the police department.
CApd9in SchrnIIttberger is under in
dicitment for bribery. He had previous
| ly refused Ito testify before the senate
committee. Yesterday, however, he was
re-arrss,ed and HIS bail increased. To-
day he took advantage of the offer of
immunity from punishment held out
to him by Mr.. Goff, and agreed to make
a clean breast OF II.
'nhe pillars of the church are fallen"
said he ON the witness stand this after.
noon, ''and deem it due my conscience,
my wife and my children, to tell what
I know
Maanwfrle, dark circles had crept
under his eyes, his face assumed a
sicSly rallor, ain air of utter weariness
and deiedticn held him, and he appear 1.
ed as he was, In extreme mental tor
I5ure and agony. But no spirIt of SYM
p7I1hy moved the Hhrong of spectators.
In oflclsl circles mo attempt ia n1lde :
I'm QoDtradinliion or 6eroraltion of Cars
tain SoillmttH1srger's allegations. ard
everv where is heard the comment: "It
could not have been worse; it must
end"
Captain Schmlt,becger was called to 4
the Shamd
'"Now CAPTAIN, about the fine YOU
were in command of the steamboat.
you learned, of course, that the men on {
the docks had ITO give up half their
salaries?"
yes, Wardnan Vail told me of 1T.
l told him I did not want to keen it
up, and he told me I was a damn fool: {
that he would Just as soon give IT up t
as not, and ] rnicht as well get It," 4
And you agreed to tllis?'
yes" t
And Vail was your collector be. I
lieve."
Eyes, for about two months. end then !
Arflon waE anpotnted I would like now Q
to brand Vail as p liar for sowing ON h
this sll'nd th7t 7 wanted all of the mon S
ey from the men" II
.How much did Vail colle1t for you :.
each n'lonth?"
"Ahout $780," d
"And Gid you never have Ito give Up
any of this money to amy other police
of1irers?"
mo, I did not" L
Mr Goff led the witness to saw that
re did ncl. like the precinct, and was
transferred ait his own request to THE
ssh street eitaltion.
What was THE source of your reve- y,
nue. t,here?' n
Policy shops, and nothing else" N
How many were there in the pre- 4, ~
cfnct?" - :,
''About ten of them =
"Ard how much did you get from =
e7rh of these shops?"
Twenty dollars each. The Bohemian
LIQUOR Dealers Association paid me
ifbout $50 per month" y
"And how much of this did you get?' II
"Ei lightly per cent" -
"Wail, captain, in your collections In y. y,
iyat District, was it divided with any :,
body at all? Amy police official?" -
"Ht was"
"WTho was it?" -
"Inspeotor Williams" ~
How much did you pay him each
month";"
$50"
The fact was developed that Schmitt,
,erger had been transferred in the d,
,enerai sTnsfze-up from the 18th to the =
7tIh precinct. - y,
How much did the collections "
Imount from the policy shops?' ~ y,
About 5000" o. o.
How much did you collect from the W
,ool roo1ns?"
Two hundred dollars each per
month";"
my 'batweens?'" =.
~ gave Cannon, my collector, 20 per ~ ~
eDt and gave Williams 5000 per ~ ~
MONTH" =. -
I'm view Of these facts You knew IT Nj
vas the inspectors duty to prefer
ha rp'ss against you?'
Certainly
"And you paid him this money TO -,
eep him from making such chargesY " ~
Certainly" ~
"And were any charges ever made ~ ~
gst1st you by him?" ~
Never" a.,
"Tfave Won env knowledge about any -
ther captain who paid money TO VIII
ams?"
mo, have not. brit Il was the cue
on Of all the captoins to pay this ".
money" -
did you pay sny part OF voaIr coi - -
sctior4 IN 'ehe 47th precinct TO any po- ~ ~
re oflcfsl?' -
HYes." p
"vThO w7s h2''
''Ineraotor 3fc4vDv" )
How ml5oii did yoH nav him?"
ABOUT go per month" -
did he ever mention the matter 10 w
cu at s1i2" 70
Yes, once he said he would not like an
.m.-IIm I. IL