Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-30
sHEEHAN SHIFTS THE blame.
The Police Commissioner Before the
LexOw Committee.

The Police Commissioner Before the
LexOw Committee.
During the examination of Police Com
missioner Sheehan before the Lexow inves-
tigating committee in New York yesterday
Chairman Lexow brought up the subject OF
police blackmail. and asked II Mr.. Sheehan
had not actually been aware that this trib-
ute was being paid by the keepers of dis
orderly houses, gambling houses and others
engaged in illegal or criminal business.
He denied this. but said he had heard 1t
occasionally said that such things existed.
He had never been able to run the stories
down, however.
did you ever investigate them person.
ally? continued Chairman Lexow.
Il referred them to the superintendent
for his investigation. The board relies on
the superintendent in all these things"
After some more sparring Mr.. Golf said:
with falsehood. He said that he had sent
special officers to the alleged disorderly
houses and could get no evidence. The
courts convicted the men: Is not that prov
ing Williams an official nar?'
Mr.. Sheehan did not think SO. He said
that it was possible that some Of the dis
orderly houses were started by the Society
for the Prevention of Crime in order to
light of an official liar" THE Society for
the Prevention Of Crime would like to do
it, he sneered.
do you wish to go on record as saying
that the society of which DR.. Parkhurst Is
president would organize disorderly houses
a falsifier?"
II did not say that" cried Mr.. Sheehan,
vention Of Crime would do anything to run
down Inspector Williams"
Have you ever heard IT said that every
police commissioner was corrupt and a
birth fol xar ,tccin n
The witness became angry at that. Il
won't say whether / heard 1t said or not"
he said. II have read that some republican
stump speakers had expressed themselves
in such manner, and probably every one
Of them are bribe-takers themselves. They
lied"
Ibid you ever make demand for a re-
TRACTION by any newspaper
HIS the statute of limitations expired
YETI"
mo"
'How do you know?'
why, know 1t has not"
What is the time; ask you as law
yer?"
'Tt is none of your business
A murmur of disapproval and a hiss or
two were heard in the court room wnen the
witness permitted his temper to get the bet
ter of him thus.
Mr. Con- was unruffied.
II came here to tell what know about
the police department and nothing else"
said the commissioner.
1t was shown by Mr.. Golf from the rules
Of the police department that the superin-
tendent was under orders of the commits
sioners at all times. despite MIR. Sheehan's
statements to the contrary.
The witness, however, objected 10 this In
depreciation OF the rules, claiming that II
was the duty of the superintendent to Sup
press disorderly and gambling houses with
out specific instructions from the commits
sioners.
II don't see how the commissioner can
excuse himself" said Senator Lexow. "for
his allowing the superintendent to take no
action at all in these matters, of which he
says he had knowledge, or at least the sus-
picion that wrong-doing was going on"
Regarding pool selling. the commissioner
said he was satisfied the sellers paid the
police for protection" but that he could
not trace the money. He had heard that
Superintendent Byrnes got 1t, but doubted
the truth Of this report
The committee took an adjournment until
today.