New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-04
AFTER THE CAPTAINS.
TAMMANY POLICE COMMISSIONERS TO
"OUST' MEN GUILTY OF BLACKMA1L.
RUMoRs IN THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BETWEEN FRANCIS l.. WEILMAN AND


SUPERINTENDENT BYRNES.
Throughout the entire Police Department yester-
day ran the cry that the Tammany Commissioners
had openly declared on the captains ana o'her
members OF the force who had been inphCa'eu ny
the testimony Of witnesses before the LeNo" NoN'-
mittee. No mercy 10 any Of those men wouu De
shown. ii was declared. but they would be as
missed from the force as quickly as the machinery
Of the Central one. could be moved for mat pur-
pose. The selection OF Francis l. Wellman aS the
prosecuting officer 10 take the laborng oar III '"e
Investigation within the department put an end TO
the hope of Of the captains ana ward me-" INA.
the Commissioners only meant to apply coat o.
whitewash to them. Mr. Wellman is not the knd
Of a man to weid a brush when ne can handle
broom
In the gossip OF the department there was also
rumor that Mr. Wellman's appointment 10 the post
Of chief investigator and prosecutor meant that IL
would not be safe for any captains who were dis
missed from the force for backmsn 10 squeaI
after they were dismissed In captain inti-
mated. by way OF defence. that he could tell some
thing of interest 10 the LeXow Committee ABOUT 'he
Commissioners IL he dismissed. the captain
might be made 10 understand that Mr.. Welman' as
one of the Assistant Dstrct-Attorneys, could also
proceed against him crIninay. With a threat or
Indictment and Imprisonment for blackmah heId
over him. It said. captain would care 10
volunteer testimony before the LeXow Committee
after he was dismissed. even II he had paid tnou-
sands of do.,ars for his promotion.
As to the motives Of the Tammany Commissioners
for making such deadly onslaught upon the cap
tains accused Of blcckmaN the opinions in the de-
partment were somewhat at variance. Not rev
of the members Of the department who were heard
TO talk the subject yesterday said that Com
missioners Martin ana Shechan simply doing
their duty fearlessy. Others said tina; the Commits
sioners In position where they must sacrifice
somebody to themselves and Tammany from
political destruction. There were some who thought
Orlar
given by somebody high in the councils of the Tam
many organization. Something had TO be done to
queer the Lexow investigation" said one such per-
son. cor there would be no hope for Tammany
this fall"
MR.. WELLMAN AND MIR BYRNEs.
Mr. wellman went to Police Headquarters yester-
day and had a consultation with Superintendent
Byrnes before noon. They afterward rode down.
town together in a cab carrying along the copy of
the testimony taken before the Lexow Committee.
They TO have short talk with Corporation
went back 10 the Central Office. while Mr.. Wellman
had the big bundle OF testimony carried into his
reporter Mr Weiiman said: '''''e '''"'''
i am going down TO the seashore this afternoon,
and am going to take along that mass Of testi-
mony shall not return to the city until Monday.
testimony sufficiently to be able to make up cases
ag Ss several of the police CAPTAINS am not
captains on trial and expect to break several Of
several years TO build up reputation only to spon
eu of H. Sd ne d men b. hns shown
10 be guilty they will be dismissed from the force
], expect to proceed in these cases just as did in
the election cases. shall prepare number Of
plants against captains and have all of the accused
know which one OF them viii be called first and it
will be impossible for them to keep witnesses out
Have you taken sole charge of the investigation.
or will Superintendent Byrnes also have hand In
III Mr.. Nellman was asked.
TO MAKE THE CHARGES
superintendent Pyrnes's cooperation is absolute
ly Indispensable" Mr. Weman replied. land want
to that he and 1 in perfect accord and are
working in harmony in the Investigation The SUI
perintendent is to make the charges in each case.
while am TO conduct the prosecution before the
will the evidence against the accused captains
be about the same as the testimony before the Lex
There will also be new testimony. either direct
corroborative. 1t will be necessary for the Super
intendent who makes the charges TO procure evil
dence to substantial I've charges"
men in the Police Department in getting new wit
Not entirely. l already have some men at work
in that direction. They men / can trust but
nobody Will know who they are before the are
Mr.. Weyman 10 Southampton yesterday az
Srnoon on the same train with De.ancey NicoI.
W men asked II he was to have anything 10 do with
the investigation within the Police Department Mir.
sent the Police Department in the Lexow investiga-
ton and have nothing to do with this inves,lga-
ton. going down 10 Southampton 10 spend
the Fourth and then have to get my own law
practice in shape SO that can attend to my duties
Superintendent Byrnes has refused 10 talk about
the investigation within the department, and be
would not break his silence yesterday Commits
siner Sheehan. In conversation with Tribune
reporter, repeated what Commissioner Martin had
said on the previous day. that they thought their
duty as public officials compelled them to rid the
force OF men who had been guilty Of blackmai:
and to do II as speedily as possible. When asked
II the threat OF criminal prosecution might be he'd
over some Of the captains who were 20 be dismissed
rom ne Torce 10 Keep from appearing as wit
said:
I'VE have nothing 10 do with criminal proeecu-
tions That will be for the District-Attorney TO de-
termine. do not think that thought OF In the
selection of Mr. Welman d the prosecutor OF cases
before the Commissioners. We DO not care what be-
comes OF guilty captains 20 long they OF
the police force. They welcome 70 appear be-
have anything to tell"
missed from the force were inclined TO tel what
they knew about paying for promOtiOnT the Com
missioner was asked.
Neither Of the Tammany Commissioners are
was Mr.. Sbeehans reply. 1T cannot be shown that
we have ever received money for appointments
promotions"
Commissioner Murray when he was asked about
the investiga ton answered several inquiries with
the declarations 81 do not know" Weary Of the
unchanging reply, the reporter said: You seem to
be outside Of the investigation. Commissioner"
am"
1t was asserted at the Central ONCE yesterday
that Commissioner McClave would not 20 10
Europe for the benefit of his health. but he proba-
by would not be able TO attend the trials Of any
OF the police captains.
THE ACCUSED POLICEMAN FINED.
Patroman Henry Smith OF the Steamboat Squad
! Vh0 wa ICadh ofa fha