New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-11
THE QUESTION OF COUNSEL
NO CHOICE YET MADE FOR THE SEN
ATE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
WHAT THE SELECTION OF MR. NIcoLL TO DE-
FEND THE CHIEF POLICE OFFICIALS MAY
PoRTEND-CAPTAIN PRICES IN
UNHAPPY PLIGHT

UNHAPPY PLIGHT
No decision had been reached yesterday regarding
the choice OF a counsel for the Committee OF the
State Senate I'm the investigator of the Police De-
partment II was known that Joseph H. Choatc had
declared that his engagements would not permit MIN
10 take the laboring oar IN the investigation Inc
Committee Of the Chamber of Commerce and the
Rev. Dr. Parkhurst have talked OF John e. Par
sons. James c. Carter, Joel Il. Erhardt and John
w. Con. and Simon Sterne's name was suggested
by Darwin K james of the Board or Trade ana
Transportation. II was understood. at the confer
the Hotel Metropoe on Friday, that II Mr.
Choa;e could not be induced. under the promise
Of delay In the investigation. TO act as the senior
counsel in the inquiry. effort would be made
TO induce either Mr.. Parsons Mr. Carter 10 take
charge of the investigation. Mr.. Golf was talked
OF at the same time as lawyer who might NIL
the position acceptab.y but would be valuable
Junior counsel DR. Parkhurst said Yesterday:
II think Mr. Gor will take part in the invest-
cation. either senior counsel or as junior coun-
sell but have had no consultation with any Of the
gentlemen interested In the matter since yester-
day"
Speaking OF the choice of De Lancy Nicoll to rep
resent the Police Commissioners, Superintendent
Byrnes and the four inspectors at the investigation
DR. Parlhurst said it surprising that one law
yer could be expected to look out for the conflict
ing interests the officials who had been quarrel
ling among themselves and setting traps for each
other, according to recent reports.
UNITED IN COMMON FEAR.
What has happened in Mulberry st. ?" he asked
Have they stopped quarrelng. and have they
united I'm the common cause of self-defence? We
would not expect men to fight IN a boat that was
about TO sink. II would be more reasonable to ex-
pect them to unite In trying TO prevent shipwreck
Fear will draw men together as strongly as love
can In some cases"
officials at the Central Office expressed sorrow
over the decision of the Senate Committee to ask
for unlimited time for the investigation and TO walt
until counsel could be selected and have time for
preparation before beginning the taking Of testi-
mony. a long drawn-out investigat ton. they said.
would keep alive the reports affecting the good
name Of the Police Department and would tend to
dsorganize the force. 1t said that the cap
tains had not decided upon counsel to represent
them at the investigation. and they might walt for
developments II any particular captain WAS at
tackled by the testimony before the Senate Commit
tee. 1t SAID he would want to be defended by
his own counsel. The choice of Mr.. Nco to rep
resent only the officials at the Central Office has
led to a report that the captains have been given
10 understand that they must look out for them
selves. and that the Commissioners. Superintendent
Byrnes and the inspectors will not permit them
selves to be held responsible for any alleged cor
rupton on the part Of captains or their subordinaes
A BAD SHOWING FOR CAPTAIN PRICE
Thirty -seventh-st. squad. has been mentioned as
one that shows which way the wind Is blowing
now. After a number OF complaints had been sent
to the Central Office about the Alhambra con-
cert hall. at No. 1852 Eigh. and Captain Price
had been warned repeatedly by Superintendent
Byrnes and Inspector McAvoy TO stop the dis
graceful scenes which were said to be witnessed
nightly at that place. detectives were sent from
the Central Office to get the evidence upon which
a raid was made on the place recently. Du-
mont G. Lewis, OF proprietorS OF the
place, placed under after his return to
before Justices Grady Smith and Meade, in the
Court of Special Sessions last Thursday. he was
discharged. At the trial Captain Price and his de-
tectives gave testimony in favor Of Lewis and in
opposition to the testimony Of the Central Office
men, superintendent Byrnes has procured a copy
Of the testimony. and a, the next meeting Of the
Commissioners Tuesday he ask 10 have
Captain Price transferred or placed trial.
Lewis and Captain Price both members of
the PeQuOd Club which is the stronghold OF the
Tammany organization IN the XIIIth Assembly
District and of which Police Commissioner Shee-
han is the president and supreme SIS Detectives
of the Central Office testified the trial OF Lewis
that they had seen women Of evil name and fame
drinking and acting dIsgracefully in the Alham-
bra. and also had seen thieves in the place. Price
and his detectives declared that they had seen
nothing of a dsordery character there