New-York tribune., 1894-10-30
BYRNES TO BLAME.
SHEEHAN DECLARES IT.
THE COMMISSIONER THROWS HIS LOAD
ON THE SUPERINTENDENT

GIVE DECISION IN THE TRIAL OF
POLICEMEN FOR OUTRAGEOUS
OFFENCES THE WITNESS
LOSES HIS TEMPER
MORE THAN ONCE
In the course Of his continued examination
before the Lexow Committee yesterday, Police
Commissioner John c. Sheehan declared that
the duty Of enforcing the laws in this city lay
with Police Superintendent Byrnes and not with
the Board OF Police, apparently being willing to
have the committee and the public believe that
when there had been failure 10 enforce the laws
the Commissioners were in way to be blamed.
The Tammany Commissioner went so far as to
declare that there had been no friction between
the Superintendent and the Commissioners, and
that the Commissioners had in no way hampered
Mr. Byrnes in the performance Of his duties He
also declared that the Superintendent with the
means for getting information at mis- command,
should have discovered tn bribery and corrup-
ton in the department and In fact that this cor.
ruption would not have been possible had the
superintendent done his duty The statements
Of the witness led sen itor OCOnnor TO declare
that there an attempt to unload RESPONSE
b.lity upon Super.nten endent Byrnes, and that the
superintendent would have to be called .
witness before the committee.
Commissioner Sheehan tried to break the force
Of the admissions which he made last week rela-
tive to the sudden closing Of the poolrooms In
the city after Richard Croker had given the
word to have them closed He declared that he did
not know that Mr. Croker had had anything to
do with the closing OF the poolrooms. Then he
reiterated his statement that he believed money
had beer paid by the booksellers for protection.
and he said ne had heard report that the money
had been paid 10 Superintendent Byrnes. When
questioned to what steps he had taken TO
investigate tha, report. n declared that ne had
never received any Information to support Q
charge that the Superintendent had received the
money. and that he had come to the conclusion
that the report unfounded He said he also
mad heard a report that the Commissioners had
deceived some of the money paid by the pool
sellers. but he knew that false far he
himself concerned.
John w GoT Of counsel for the committee,
called the attention Of the witness 70 number
Of cases in which policemen accused OF grave
offences had been tried by the Commissioners
many months ago and there had been de-
cisons Yet as to the guilt or innocence OF the
accused men. In some cases Mr.. Sheehan
pleaded ignorance, and IN others he said ne had
been ready To pass upon the cases, bu, there
had been delay because other Commissioners
had not been ready to act. In the case Of Cap.
had been delayed becau-e Commissioners Muir
ray and Kerwin. who had been appointed since
the trial of the Captain. had not read the tes-
timony When ii was shown by the record .hat
Captain OConnor had been tried upon charge
Of assaultng . citizen in 1891. and that there
had been no decision by the Commissioners III
that case at the time Of his trial in April las,
for maintaining a poolroom in his precinct, tee
witness said ne was not a Commissioner at the
time of OConnors former trial and could not
explain the delay in getting decision.
The witness when questioned about the reports
made by Police Inspector Williams IN the CONF
paints by the Rev. DIR Parkhurst and others
that there were disorderly houses in the Elev.
enth Precinct in Captain Dcvery's time. said
that Dr. Psrkhurst had declared that his OBJ
iect in making the complaints not to close
up disorderly houses. but to attack the Police
Board For thai reason. the Commissioner de-
clared. Re had ceased tc regard the charges Of
d. Parkhurst worthy Of much notice at one
time. lie admitted that in reports by Inspector
Williams to the Commissioners there had been
explicit den'als Of the tharges made by Or.
Parkhursr that there certain disorderly
houses in DeVery's precinct and that later tho
proprietors of those houses had been arrested
and convicted upon evidence obtained by agents
Of Dr. Parkhurst's society. When he was asked
II that did not prove that Inspector Williams
whom he wanted 10 have appointed Commits
sioncr had made falls. reports Mr.. Sheehan
fhowed his rage by ntimating that Dr. Park
hursts agents had started the dsorderly houses
for the purpose OF making Williams out an OIL
cial liar"
While the Commissioner was still in a rage. he
was asked If he had heard a report that Mr.
MacLean the only honest member OF the
Police Board and he said he had heard such
a report but did not o"Iieve II. He refused to
say II he had heard that the Commissioners
with the exception of Mr. MacLean. were cor
rupt and brIhe-takcrs and although he admitted
that there might have been such a statement
published in newspapers. he said he had not
begun any suit for libel on account OF such pub
lications.
Lieutenant Governor Sheehan. the brother Of
the witness. was present part Of the day 10 hear
the testin ony. and apparently TO give aid and
supp0rt 10 the witness The testimony Of Conn
missioner Sheehan will be continued to-day
\ Tribune reporter called on Superintendent
Byrnes last night. but the officer would neither
reply to nor discuss the implied charge OF neglect
II duty made by Commissioner Sheehan. All he
woull say that h could not talk on the
matter until he appeared before the committee
A with