The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-02
CHESTNUT LEAF COUGH BALSAM
PAID FOR PROTECTION
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE LExOw IN
vEsTIGATING COMMITTEE.
A Railroad Contractor Says 1t Cost
Him $40 Month for the Good Will
of the Tammany Police.

NEW YORK, Oct 1.-The Lexow COM
mittee resumed its Investigations into the
police department to-day after a two
weeks vacation to allow the members of
the committee to attend the State con-
ventions of the Republican and Democratic
parties. 1t is evident that matters are
rapidly reaching a climax. The beginning
of the end is apparently in sight. Com
mencing with the criminals, the very worst
men and women in New York city as wit
nesses, Mr.. Goff, the attorney who has
been conducting the investigation, has been
steadily moving upward in the scale of
humanity. The testimony of ex-officers and
former policemen having been taken just
before adjournment, the prosecution took
another step nearer the throne to-day
when Major William H. Kipp, chief clerk
at the police headquarters, was called as
the first witness of the day. His testi-
mony referred largely to matters appear
ing in the records and to some extent
of a routine nature. Then came ex-Police
Commissioner Charles F. MacLean. He
thought the power exercised by the police
courts over the police depart
ment was in the main injuri-
Gus. He believed that a single head
to the department would eventually be an
Improvement The civil-service law had
proved of little benefit TO the department.
because many of the inspectors were
incompetent. He could recall only one in
stance in which formal investigation was
made by the board touching the scale of
captaincies. The witness gave it out as
his opinion that the present system with its
bad application of the civil-service laws
ing place on the police force than under
the old system.
There was an unusually large attendance
of attorneys and ministers when the
sion commenced to-day. The interest in the
proceedings continued unabated Among
the witnesses called was Corporation Coun-
sci Clarke. He was asked why he had des-
ignated Mr. Welman to appear as special
counsel for the police board during the re-
cent historic trial of a number of officers,
since Mr.. Wellman was already drawing
salary as assistant district attorney. Mr..
Clarke said he selected Mr.. Wellman be-
cause he was familiar with criminal law.
and that the appointment was neither
wrong nor illegal.
Clerk Kipp of the board, was present
subpoenaed to produce the papers in the
cases of Captain Doherty and others dis
missed from the force in the last two
Mr.. Goff wanted to know why the cases
against Levy, Mallon and Meyer. the pa
pers in which are marked Not served"
had not been pushed.
'I understood" replied Mr.. Kipp, that
Mr. Wellman was not ready to proceed in
Mr.. Goff asked why Sergeant Hugh
Clarke had been permitted to retire from
the force when Sergeants McKenna, Par
kerSon. Jordan and Ilebers were dismissed.
Il understood that Clarke had made ap-
plication for retirement before any charges
had been made against him." was the re-
''But was it not unusual to permit man
to retire with charges pending against
him?'
.'Yes it was unusual"
''In fact. now" asked Mr.. Goff, was Ii
not against a rule of the department to per-
nit such retirement?'
Mr.. Kpp replied that he knew of no rule
prohibiting such action as was taken in
Sergeant Clarke's case. Mr.. Kipp was then
~ passed by the police commissioners abol-
shing the office of wardmen. Mr.. Kipp re-
piled that the resolution was not passed
themselves that many wardmen had been
used by their captains to collect blackmail
Mr.. Goff established the fact that all the
members of the police force found guilty
of immoral practices were retained on the
force. the charges in some instances hav-
ing been dismissed with a mild reprimand
Here Clerk Kipp's testimony was sus-
pended so that George w. Carpenter,
West Chester county railroad contractor,
might testify. Mr.. Carpenter has already
sworn before the grand jury of this county
that while his firm was engaged in blast
ing rock at Fordham he paid a regular
Mr.. Carpenter was not half so ready 10
tell of his relation, If any, with the police.
1t was not until Mr. Gon cautioned him of
the consequences of committing perjury
that the witness was ready to tell what he
knew. The witness admitted that an entry
Capt s." in his books stood for Captain
Stevenson: that he paid the Captain $50
monthly tor his good will'' and 'protec-
ton" Most of this money was paid through
policeman Robert Hlgginbotham. IL tran
spired that after Mr. Carpenters positive
Identification OF Higginbotham in the pres
ence of Assistant District Attorney Well
man and Osborne he failed to swear to the
pOiicemans identity when brodght before
the grand jury latef After the examina-
tion of several minor witnesses the COM
mittee adjourned for the day.