Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-27
HIGH OFFICIALS IMPLICATED
Captain Schnfittherger's Sur
prising Confession.
HOW PROMOTIONS ARE MADE
Blackmail Money Paid Regu-
larly to Inspectors.
Police Commissioners Martin and SNee-
han Accused of Protecting Disorderly
Honses-- Captain Schmittbergrr Tells
About the Scandals in the Department
"a StartlIn. Confession.

houses--thpthih Schm1ttbarHtr Tells
About the Scandals in the Department
IA Startling Confession.
New YoRK. Dec. 2l.-The panic in the
police department Is fast turning into n
disorderly rout with the former snoilsmen
going over to the enemy, coniessng their
part in the infamous system of
blackmailing andsprotected vice and impi-
eating their responsible stlperiors. Another
Of the cunspirators. Captain Schmitt-
berger, weakened to-day under the pres
sureof accunulating evidence against him
self and told all that he knew, giving
sworn testimony against two inspectors,
Williams and Mc.Avoy, TO whom he per-
sonally paid revenues from blackmail, and
showing that President James j. Martin
and Commissioner ,lohu Sheehan, Of the
police board, had extended protection to
houses OF ill-repute.
Neither of the latter were shown to have
accepted money. however. though the
Pequod Club, Srammauy institution
managed by SheehAn. was again shown
to have profted largely each year by the
sale of tickets for its excursions, which
policemen disposed to divekcepers at ex-
orbitant prices. Captain Price, who has
been frequently accused before, was also
accused OF collecting from disorderly
houses.
BYRSEs NOT INVOLVED.
Captain Schmittberger' testimony en-
bodied several statements which excul-
pated Superintendent Brrnes of any par
ticipation in the offences of the rest of the
force. 1t WAS on ByrneS' orders, the cap
tain declares that he attempted on several
occasions to suppress disorderly resorts,
but was prevented by direct orders from
Byrnes' superiors the Tammany Commits
sioners, Martin and Sheehan. Martin even
compelled the captain to send patrolman
to Sadie West, "a notorious character, whose
establishment he had attempted to ex.
terminate, and to apologize. Schmitt-
berger is under indictment and heavy bail,
charged with receiving $500 briDe. which
he demanded from the managers OF the
French steamship line. Previous to
Schmittbergers confession on the stand.
Senator Lexow and Mr.. Goff consulted
with the district attorney and other mem
bers OF the committee and it was under
stood that the arrangement concluded was
that.if Captain Schnittberger testified I'M
reseryedly AS to the system of police cor
ruption and made a full confession of the
facts upon which he has been indicted the
indictment would be dismissed.
As it is believed that the money paid to
the inspectors went higher, there is a de-
mand that these officials, four in number,
be placed on the stand and urged to tell
who was the real head of the system. This
individual, whoever he is will, it is be-
lieved, be found to be high in authority in
Tammany Hall. The committee has ;ld-
journed until next Wednesday and no
action will be taken before that time, if at
all. Schmittberger, in his confession, said
that while he was wardnlan III the Ten.
derloin all the notorious dives, including
Tom Could s. paid Captain (now Inspectorj
| Price for protection.
REGULAR COLLECTIONS.
The witness said that officers on post
| were instructed by the wardinan not to
interfere with these places, and they were
always given to understand that the orders
came from the captain.
Ii officers on post did interfere they were
| Immediately transferred to some other
post. one policeman, named Coleman,
was killed i'll one of these places and no
investigation was ever made. Schmitt-
berger said he was promoted to roundsman
for finding commissioners dog. and to
sergeant on his record. He denied having
paid money for his appointment to the
captaincy Of the steamboat squat, but said
he knew that at that time all the police
men received gratuity from the steamboat
men.
detective Vail told me it was the Gus
tom and that the captain usually got one
half of what he collected. said the witness.
Vail collected about $50 or Sl9Oa month.
be said, and gave him 20 per cent for col
Letting The rest of it was kept by
Schmttberger.
When Schmittberger got command Of
another precinct nearer his home uptown
Wardman Cannon 'organized" or held
up the policy shops. which paid SO Il
month each, and the Bohemian Liquor
Dealers Association paid $50 per month.
PART TO INSPECTOR WILLIAMS.
81 gave part of the money | got to In
speCtor Williams because it was his dis
trCt," said Schmittberger "and because
when succeeded Captain Gunner | had u
talk with him and he said that was the
arrangement he had with the inspector.
Gunner told me he had sent between S5n
and S75 a month to Williams. / sent down
500 one month because thought $50 was
rather small and that it was due him."
You thought it prudent%' Schmitt-
berger was asked.
'.Yes."
"Why T'
"Because Williams could send up men to
raid the policy shops in the precinct right
over me-"
Ibid you fear that?"
"Ges. l didn't want to have any
trouble?'
When transferred in 1892, after Byrnes
became superintendent, Schmittberger
got into more profitable district, where
he collected $500 Il month from pool
rooms. lie sent np about SOC Il month
to Inspector Williams in the same way
as he had in the other precinct he con-
fessed, after giving Cannon ~ per cent OF
what he collected Sometimes he called ut
the station house and got it.
What did he say when you gave it to
him 2' asked Mr.. Goff.
II simply said Here's something for
you,' and gave him the envelope. He
Ennw bat u f,,l J.
paid Williams money so that he would
not interfere with me. Altogether while
! was in that precinct / paid him about
81, 500. had no knowledge that other
captains were paying him anything. All |
did was to look out for My own precinct.
PAID TAMMANY HALL.
Schmittberger said he never attempted
to collect from saloonkeepers, having
heard that they paid directly TO Iammany
Hall.
when Superintendent Byrnes insisted
that the excise laws be enforced to the let
tel" said the witness, II made about
tweilty-six arrests of liquor dealers the
following Sunday.
President Roche of the Liquor Dealers
Association, said lie would have the oili-
! GERS transferred on this account and he
carried out his threat. The men were
trta sferred, and followed very soon after.
The order for my transfer came from the
Board OF Police,and Commissioner Sheeby
of the Department of Charities and Correc-
tion, told ME that Commissioner Martin
had transferred me because had been too
free in making excise arrests. In the
Leonard street station, where was located
only seven weeks, collected 800 month
from two pool rooms in the precinct.
Here paid Inspector McAvoy. lput
800 in an envelope and laid it on his desk
in front Of him.
A funny phase of the payments to Nc