New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-03
BLACKMAIL BY POLICEMEN
EVIDENCE GATHERED BY THE CITY
CLUB
LOWED TO STORE BOXES AND BARRELS
on THE SIDEWALK.

The Senate committee 10 Investigate the Police
Department ma good field for inquiry in the
systematic cXtortlon practlscd by policemen on SHOP
Keepers and merchants whom they allow 10 store
boxes barrels and bales on TIE sidewalk. The COM
mlitee would have easy work here. for the ucedful
evidence has been gathered and is n perfect shape
FOR presentation. For some time the city club has
been carrying on an Investigation into the subject,
which just been finished. The results will be laid
before the trustees OF tne club on Monday.
The report embodyng this testimony throws
amazing light the methods Of certain police
men The evidence was drawn up under the super
vision Of lawyers and Is. therefore. not OF mere
hearsay character. but is of a kind which would be
accepted In court az OF legal value The club has
gone into ITS investigation on SO large scale that
IL has proofs OF hfty In which policemen de-
manded and obtained money from merchants The
Instances thus multiplied 10 show that this
kind OF blackmall not merely occasional. but
was carried systematically. II the club could get
Atty witnesses to declare that they paid money to
policemen II fair to infer that the extortlon has
been practised most extensively.
VIOLATIONS OF CITY ORDINANCE
city ordinance forbds shopkeepers and
chants to stack boxes etc. on the sidewalk. except
temporarily In the course OF sending or receiving
shipments. Often It Is great convenience to leave
the goods on the sidewalk all day or for several
days. either because the store warehouse is
shipped shortly
There is OF course no exact line TO be drawn be-
tween legal storage on the sidewalk and Illegal. and
this Increases the policeman's opportunity to add
llshment and suggests that the boxes and barrels
be moved ito avoid trouble" New York merchants
know the officers game. and he generally opens
negotiations which end In the handing over of
cash. Then the goods remain the side
walk undlsturbed.
Another fact which goes to show that the cxtor-
ton is carried Systematically Is that there Is a
regular schedule Of payments The firms occupy
ing a corner store are asked TO contribute 500
those In the middle OF the block are told that SIS
Is their assessment 1t hardly be mere coin
cidence that the ngures are always the same. The
Investigations OF the clubs agents. however. show
10 with strctness. II the victim pleads poverty or
declares that his pile OF goods Is much smaller
than his neighbor's. the policeman. likely as not.
VIII accept smaller sum than that which he
CARDS his due.
SEVERAL CASES AGAINST SOME OFFICERS.
In some OF the prepared by the City Club
the OF the policeman is given. but in others
the merchants did not know II. 1t will OF course
be easy TO identify the criminals as their beat is
known Against some policemen there are several
complaints
The club has also evidence of the fact that any
merchant who has sufficient influence in Tammany
Hall may leave his articles on the sidewalk as
long as he p,eases. Doubtless this is without pay
ment to the police. There Is one fragrant example
OF this. A certain boxmaker, member of Tam
many Hall, has his sidewalk blocked with boxes n
large part OF the time The distractions are great
Inconvenience to the public, and Complaints have
often been made about them. But the boXmaker
has never been compelled to put an END to the
nuisance.
The city Club has not yet been asked to lay Its
evidence before the Senate COMMITTEES. but would
doubtless be glad to do