Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-19
Sensational Testimony Regarding
the New York Police.
PROFITED BY THE ROBBING OF MEN
Saloon Keepers Who Paid for
Protection.
CHARGES AGAINST DIVER


ii of the superior court. Lawyer Moss Of
DR.. Parkhurst's society opened the proceed
fngs by reading the reports OF certain cap
tains made TO Superintendent Byrnes In the
spring Of 1892. These included lists of
policy and gambling shops. pool rooms and
houses OF prostitution. The names Of the
proprietors of these places were given.
Counsel said that when the Parkhurst So
ciety brought these lists UP before the grand
jury the fact was brought out that Superin-
tendent Byrnes had II In his power to issue
warrants.
Immediately after that" said Lawyer
Moss. the captains. In their reports, said
that the bad houses were closed"
He read from the successive reports OF
Capts. Doherty and Cross. which showed
that up to the last report made this year
there were no gambling places. pool rooms.
policy shops or opium joints In their pre-
cincts.
"As soon as the responsibility was shown
70 rest on Superintendent Byrnes the cap
tains suppressed reporting the places" de-
clsred counsel.
Then the famous report Of Inspector Will
Hams attacking the Parkhurst Society was
read and with all the other reports were
offered IN evidence. They have all been
published from time to time ia the news
papers.
What Is your object. Mr.. Moss. In In
PRODUCING this testimony said Chairman
lexow.
IT desire 20 bring out why. on the 31.t
Of March last. the police stopped reporting
those places. although they still existed"
Rev. Dr. Emile Hamilton was the first
witness called He said that there were
many brothels open In Captain Devery's
precinct after he reported them closed. He
said he complained to Captain Devery on
the station house steps. He quoted the cap
saving lfpk
ing for that sort OF thing can find plenty"
The witness said he told the captain that
he did not come there to be insulted. Gree
he called on a policeman to close saloons
open on Sunday and said the officer replied
that he dared not.
The minister ascertained the character OF
the houses by going into them to distribute
tracts He did not go. like DIR. Parkhurst,
70 secure evidence. He was often solicited
on the street. as were members of his acck.
The witness now has charge in Brooklyn.
Counsel Con- then called Paddy Crow
the policeman who warned the president OF
the Bohemian Saloon Keepers Association,
that the excise law would be strictly en-
forced by the "Pantata' Cthe police oft1cials)
The policeman. who Is attached to the East
9th street station admitted that he had
given the warning. but could not explain
why.
IF you saw a burglar about to break in
q house. would you warn him that he would
be arrestedT' asked Mr.. Con.
NO. hardly think would do that" an
swered the witness.
Counsel sought to bring out that the
policeman arrested only the saloon keepers
who were not members of the association
bu@ was not successful.
The next witness was Nicola Kobar He
Is a member OF the association. and testi-
fed. through an interpreter. that 1t was
organized to sell beer at cents a pint and
pay police blackmaiL
Was there any talk in the precinct that
Capt Schmittberger required more money
IL ant
Yes. sir, there was. The organization
arranged to have a committee wait on Mr
Delmor. the Tammany Hall leader Of the
district. to ask him to use his influence with
Capt Schmittberger to accept the same
amount as Capt. Gunner received The
everything"
The witness further stated that the or
ganization had paid Capt Strauss 500 as
Christmas present, and his wardman SIS
He said the captain was referred to as the
''pantata-"
To whom did you give the money to
turn over to the captain?"
To Pospisil. Zerrerdof and Herrofsky,
members OF the organization"
What did they reportr'
That IL had reached the right pIace"
The witness said that the police arrested
some members of the association and when
reminded that arrests were inconsistent
I'm. lin protection" they answered that the
tribute did not go to the right place
The witness said in May 1892 he rave
Wsrdman Cannon IS. No one was presen.
when the money changed hands.
sion. followed He said he gave t Isso s1eo
90 Capt. Strauss personally in an enyelone
at the station house
This created sensation. which was some
what duiied when he told that Happy
New Year" was written on the ENVELOPE
Capt Strauss several days later desired to
return the 500. but he refused. The witness
Lang
Frank Clark, a former gambler, came
next He was a dealer in a faro game In
P Prince street called The Old General"
mony showed that the police have exacted
biackmail for years past
Were you visited by oficers?"
Xelso, Dusenberg and Tilley came around
from headquarters once a week"
What was the amount paid?"
I'VE paid 800 each week. The money
was paid from 1859 to 1865"
policer'
Yes. sir"
The witness told with a wealth of detail
how victims were feeced. When thew
complained to the police the wardman
would warn the gamblers to lie low. Then
the victim would be brought to the premises
70 nentfy the gamblers, but they never
The police" said the gambler, received
nan the money. II the victim lost 1000
tHS ponce received toOO OF IL. We had to
give half or go out Of business"
linen came sensational disclosure i'm
plicating Police Justice Patrick Diver,
who then used to keep a saloon. The wit
ness said that Diver set his fclerks) en-
pioyes Up In business. and that the money
from the robbed countrymen poured over
his bar. Diver got half the proceeds, be-
sides the money spent for drinks.
Inc witness had taken money from his
employer to Diver. and sometimes Il
reached Diver through outside channels
Wnen q victim went to headquarters the
detectives there would have to be bought
on. detective Sergeant Heidelberg, he
said. had received money this way. The
detective In now at headquarters. The Sta
tion house people felt the money belonged
70 them and not to headquarters
The witness mentioned the name of De-
tecuye Wall OF the first precinct. now de-
ceased. and Capt Murray. who was after
ward made superintendent of police as
having done business" with the rascaIs.
Then recess was taken.