The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-18
STOP POLICE
interference.
Steps Taken to Prevent the
Intimidation Of Posi-.
bic Witnesses.
PRES. MARTINS RESOLUTION.
Members of the Uniformed Force
Found Guilty Will Be
Dismissed.
AN END PUT TO RETIREMENTS.
The Board Votes to Permit
None Pending the In
vestigatIon.
AN END PUT TO RETIREMENTS.

That the Police Commissioners are
worked up over the many stories told of
he attempted intimidations OF persons
who appeared before the Lexow Com
mittee by members of the Police Depart
ment is evident from the action taken at
to-day's meeting OF tho Board. All four
Commissioners were present, and when
President Martin offered the following
resolutions they were adopted unani-
mously:
Resolved. That any member of this Department
irrespective or rank, who shall intimidate. ad-
wise. suggest or In any way interfere with any
person who has been or who is to be subpoenaed
upon any investigation before the Board OF Police
commissioners, shall be regarded as guilty OF In.
snsordination and conduct unbecomins an officer.
and ard shall upon conviction, be dismissed from the
Resolved, That the superintendent forthwith
premulgate the foresony resolution as a specia,
order OF the Department, and that the same be
read by the commanding oficer Of each and every
precinct and squad OF the o'clock P. NJ. and the
IL midnight roll call for three successive days.
A few days ago, as told in THE Even
ing World" three ward men, who had
been charged with intimidation, were
put back to patrol duty and sent up to
"Goatville." Among the ward men dis
ciplined was a cousin of Senator r. d.
Sullivan, who was attached to the Null
perry street STATION.
Police Commissioner Sheehan also ap-
pears to have been struck by the wave
of reform. He introduced resolution
to the effect that the commanders of all
precincts must permit prisoners in their
charge to communicate with their
friends by letter providing such a course
shall not defeat justice.
Many stories of alleged extortion prac-
tised on prisoners in police stations
under this head have been published
from time to time.
The Police Commissioners also re-
solved, on the suggestion of Commits
sioner Murray. to defer action on
the application of police officers for
retirement under the Twenty Years Ser
vice law, until after the close of the
police trials. which begin tomorrow.
There were three applications to be
acted upon to-day. The petitioners were
Sergt. William Kass. of the Seventh
Precinct; Detective-sergt. Edgar s.
Slaufon and Sergt Charles II. Pless,
of the Second Precinct.
The law applying to the retirement of
policemen states that the Beard shall
retire any officer who has served twenty
years on the force on his application,
provided there are no charges pending
against him.
1t was decided that the law does not
make 1t mandatory upon the Board to
retire the applicant at once. although,
according to the recent opinion of the
Corporation Counsel the Board IL obliged
TO act upon such application, provided
there are no charges of violation of the
police rules pending.
Mr. Murray declared that It would be
injudicious to retire any officer on his
own application at the present time.
There might be some development in
the coming trials" he said, duplicating
some Of the men desiring to add their
names to the present list"
He thought also that no one should be
retired and be thus placed beyond the
power OF the Board to punish him IL he
be found guilty of corrupt practices.
President Martin expressed ractically
the same views. Commissioners Sheehan
and Kerwin remained silent. but voted
for the resolution nevertheless II Is ru-
mored that the applicants for retirement
will resort to the courts to compel the
Board 10 retire them forthwith.
Police Capts. Gallagher and Slevn
sence by the Police Board this after
noon.
Capt. Pickett OF the Twenty-seventh
Precinct, asked for the transfer OF
Sergt. Wall and Patrolmeu 6imm and
Biennas to some other precinct. The
matter was referred to the Superinten-
dent.