Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-20
LOTS Of DOODLE
Seems to Have Gone Into Pockets Of
New York Police.
SiarilisS ENHANCE Given Before The lexew
Investigating Committee.

4 :"
vestigations this morning. Lawyer Moss
began by reading reports of certain police
captains to Superintendent Byrnes in the
spring of 1892. The reports contained
lists of policy shops, pool rooms, gambling
houses and bunco places.
He read the report of Capt. Cross, l4th
precinct, which stated that there were no
gambling houses, disorderly houses, policy
shops, etc., in his precinct. January 1894
The report from the same captain 10 the
following April stated that Capt. Cross de-
.ectives had raided half dozen gambling
houses, showing that such places did exist
in the precinct. Lawyer Moss called the
attention of the committee to the fact that
the body of the reports from the 18th and
18th precincts was in the same handwriting
and the signatures of the captains different.
"This looks" said Lawyer Moss, "as il
the reports were compiled by someone at
headquarters and sent to the precincts for
the signatures of the captains" The re-
ports had been made at the request of the
superintendent on receipt of a complaint
from Rev. DIR. Parkhurst containing list
of so disorderly houses. Bessie Butler S
house was on the list, said Mr.. Moss, "and
she testified sheswa, never called upon by
the police officers"
The report of Inspector Williams in re-
reply to the Parkhurst letter, was read.
This report said there were no disorderly
houses in Capt. Deverys precinct, and the
charges against the latter had no founda-
ton.
Senator Lsxow asked Mr.. Moss if be
meant to insinuate that Supt. Byrnes re-
ceived previous reports of the location of
all these houses, and conveniently forgot
them when the reports were handed in.
"iou can put it that way, if you like" re-
piled Mr.. Moss.
Rev. DIR. Emile Hamilton, formerly pas
tor of the Allen Street Memorial church,
was the first witness. He testified that
women solicited in streets near his church.
He called on Capt. Devery and asked him
to stop the soliciting and the disorderly
house. The captain said, Oh,
any person can find that
class of things if looking for it.
If drive them out of these houses they
will go among private families, and that
will be worse The witness stated that a
short time afterward he told the police
that the saloons were selling Sundays, and
asked him to shut them. The officer re-
piled that he knew they were open but
dared not TO close them.
Policeman Patrick Grove of the 25th
precinct, under Captain Strauss, was the
next witness. The witness said he knew
William Pospisil, president of the Bohemian
Liquor Dealers Association. He had not
told Mr.. Pospisil to send around circular
warning saloon keepers to be careful on
Sunday He told HIM that Sunday would
be strict. Said nobody gave him orders to
tell Pospisil.
The next witness was Nicola Kobar.
Testified thas he kept a saloon and was Il
member or the Bohemian Liquor Dealers
Association. The object of the association
was to sell beer for eight cents a pint and
be protected by the police. He said: 1.-The
organization arranged to have committee
wait on Mr.. Delmore, the Tammany Hall
leader, to ask him to use his influence with
Captain Schmittberger to accept the same
amount that Captain Gunner had received.
The committee reported soon after that is
was all right" Witness said he and others
were arrested for violation of the excise
law. There was trouble with the police
owing to this as the members of the organ
ization were paying for protection. Kobar
said he gave money to the policeman who
arrested him and when the case came up
for trial. he was discharged.
Mr.. Pospisil was recalled. Regarding
giving the captain 500 he said II brought
it to the station house and laid it on the
desk before the sergeant. The money was
in an envt lope, marked "A New Years
present for Capt. Strauss l gave 800 or
S25 to Detective Long at the same time.
Captain Strauss wanted to return it, but
money was not returned"
Frank Clark, the next witness, testified
that in 1873 he went into the employ of
Palmlee Jones, who ran a bunco and
monte game. Sometimes the victims
"squealed.' Then the wardman came
around and gave notice that somebody had
"squealed." This gave time to get out of
the place.
If the victim lost $1,000, the police got
$500. The wardmen sometimes sent word
to us to buy the victim ticket to go home.
Bunco men were permitted to do business
provided they did not bunco priests, minis
tiers or citizens of New York. Bunco
steerers had to pay 500 to the station
house of the Fourth ward. When they
started the business $500 had to be paid.
1.-The money was put in an envelope"
said he, land brought TO Patrick DIVERS
saloon. Diver is police justice now.
The gang spent money at DIVERS. Some
days it had as many as 20 victims and often
took in $500. Palmlee Jones was often in
DIVERS saloon. Diver started Pslmlee
in the business"
Witness stated that they were never
troubled much from headquarters. He
said Detective Heidelberg was the man who
brought "squealers" from headquarters.
The "squealing" money then went TO head
quarters, said the witness. He remembered
Wardman Carr of the 4th precinct was one
that he did business with. Sergeant Mea-
kin, too, and either Inspector or Captain
Murray.
Judge Ransom asked CLARK why he came
as witness.
Because replied Clark, 81 was beat
out of a lot of money"
And you want to get event."
"Well, they tried to send me to state
prison and ill-treated me-"
Witness said he could not say whether
Diver got his share Of the spoils.
odd you see Palmlee give up money to
the police oiiicials?''
Eyes, sir; he always gave them an en-
velope."
"Did you ever personally see him give
money!"
II saw him nut an enyelope in his p6tEet