The Portland daily press., 1894-12-22
"ROTTEN TO THE CORE" :"
An Experts opinion Of The New
York Police.
STARTLING ACCUSATIONS CON.
CERNING PUBLIC OFFICIALS


Served Because Judge Was There
Inspector Williams and Commissioners
Martin Accused-Captain Schmitt-
berger Makes a Full Confession of the
Crookedness He Has Seen.
New York, Decemb ber 21.-Before the
Lexow Commission today, Adolph Rein
hardt identified the paper served on h i'm
which purporJed to be su bpoena from
the committee. The subpoena, which
was bogus, said ReiDhardt must appear
before the Lexow committee in the case
of Officer Townsend VS.. the people. He
was excused.
Howard Mcdonald said he knew Po-
liceman McGill, who arrested Hattie
Rosenthal on charge of soliciting.
"McGill came to me Monday, said he,
"and asked me to come heresand get him
clear. He told me if would do SO he
would pay me we'll. y
Captain Max Schmittberg or was
called. He was captain of the 18th pre-
cinct. Captain Scmhittberger said he
Joined the police force January 28, 1874,
when he was % years old.
"Did you pay anything for the appoint
ment?"
aNo sir; there was no civil service
then"
He was sent to the tenderloin district,
and remained on patrol. there for three
years, and got to know the precinct very
well.
Captain Scbmittberger thought that
civil servicesnot been beneficial to the
force, as the men who passed this exam
ination are moi. strong nor fit for duty.
The new men are polt1c1ans.r .ratherdtEa
policemen, he said.
The witness was asked to join the Pe-
quod Club. and wasItold.it would be for
his benefit, because Commissioner Shee-
han was the president. He joined be-
cause he believed it would further his
interests. He would not have Joined
but for that reason. he said Captains
Price, Dewey and Schultz were members
of the Pequod Club.
"Can you state why. under Special
Officer Price, SO many disorderly places
were allowed to runfn
aBecause they paid for protection"
Mr.. .Goff named Tom Gould's, the Star
and Garter, the Fashion. and other once
famous tenderloin places.
"These places,o said the captain,
awere the resort of criminals of the
whole city, who came there to meet
women"
sWho was the man towhom the pro-
lection money went dIreobly?"
"Captain Williams"
would it be possible for these places
to run openly without the toleration OF
the captain?" -
"No, sir; it would not"
The witness said it wardman gave
the officer on the post instructions not
to*interfere with these houses the officer
would not interfere with them"
And il the officer did interfere?"
"He would bs changed Immediately"
"Were you instructed by the captain
when a special patrelman to exact tri-
bute?n
"No, sir"
The witness took charge of the 37th
precinct steambo squad. The captain
stated that Bob Vail brought him about
$3.50 month for two months. The
witness gave Vail 30 per cent.
. "vail. lied" remarked the witness,
"when he said I wanted all the money
a common. custom for captain to make
money out of his own precinct.
"Did you pay any part OF the money
to any other police ofhcial?"
No, sir. Inspector Steers told me there
was hardly anything inthe precinct. and
he did not expect anything from me:
The captain then said he asked Com
town. II was transferred" said he, "to
the 9th street station house, near Third
avenue, the 25th precinct"
"Did you pay any money!"
"Not cent. No such thing was ever
suggested" -
When he went to the 25th precinct he
made Cannon confidential man, to make
collections in the precinct. The cap
tain said the only sources of revenue in
the precinct were policy shops and the
Bohemian Liquor Dealers Association.
"There were ten policy shops in she pre-
oinct.n said he, "and / told Cannon
they should each oe assessed $40
month. The Bohemian liquor dealers
paid $50 month.
"Did you give part OF that money to
anyiother police oficial?"
Eyes, sir, To Inspector Williams"
When Captain Gunner left the pre-
cinct. 7 asked him how much he paid
the inspector. Gunner told me he gave
williams between $50 and $75 a month.
He said he placed it in an envelope and
gave it to Ward Man Campbell, ~who
aaverit to Price at headquarters for the
INSPECTOR. / knew Williams we'll, and
did not think it necessary..to have fan
intermediary. handed him the money
myself in an envelope at headquarters"
The captain said he paid Williams dur
ing the three months the was in charge
of the 25th precinct.
"Did Williams. .knowsthe poolrooms ex-
isted?"
"He did, and knew the number, too"
The captain said he gave Williams dur
ing the nine months hesspent in the 27th
precinct aboutssS1s00, and wassstransferred
because of a row he had with the liquor
dealers.
1 told Superintendent Byrnes it was
shame, and he said to keep quiet and
things would right themselves lin time.
I went to theH22d, and collected. from poll
icy shops and some disorderly houses.
A bout $500 or 5000 month was collec-
ted from all sources. When I was ap-
pointed, Commissioner Martin mentioned
houses on 46th street, and said / might
let them alone unless schools were built.
When the schools were built he said to
nut them out. I sent Officer Casey to
the house of woman named Sadie
West. on West 5lst street. Citizens had
complained about the house. The wom-
an told Casey sheswas friend of Com
missioner Martin, and he better 20 and
see him before he did anything. Next
day received message from Martin.
T went to see him, and Martin said that
I should wnrnsthe officer, and apologize
to the woman next day. protested,