Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-12-20
ByRNES WILL EXPLAIN.
Witnesses Again Reach New
York's Police Superintendent
THE INSPECTORS ARE TO TESTIFY.
a Parkhurst Detective Tells of an Exciting
Scene with Mr.. Byrnes In the Iatter's
House-sIfSs Ross Says She Paid Money
For Protection to Byrnes' wardmen.

For Protection to Byrnes' wardmen.
NEW YORK, Dec. 20-Supcrintendent
Byrnes figured conspicuously in the testi-
mony of two witnesses before the Lexow ,
committees. John Marrett, formerly an ,
agent of the Society For the Prevention or
Crime. testified that Superintendent
Byrnes had bulldozed him, with threats
and force, into divulging the secrets OF
his society and had aftcrward relented
when he learned that the witness was n,
brother Mason.
Hattie Ross, n colored woman who some
years ago conducted two disorderly houses
in this city, sworc that she paid protection
money to wardmcn men under Captain
Byrncs, now superintendent of police
Gradually and by successive stages
Counsel Golf has gone up higher" He
has addueed testimony that throws n pc
culiarly questionable mir around proceed
ings of the highest official in the police de.
partmcnt. Superintendent Byrnes denies
the allegations against him, but the be-
smirching statements were made under
oath, and the popular sentiment demands
from him full explanation.
Other incidents of interest occurred be-
fore the senate investigating committees,
but none of them caused such excitement
as did the mention of Superintendent
Byrnes. Sergeant Taylor who had testi-
lieu tnit nc nau IuFileu over 10 inspector
Steers moneys collected from patrolmen
which they had received from steamboat
and railroad companies. swore again that
Steers had accepted the money rs brides
to permit the patrolmen to remain on
their respective beats. Talyor did not,
know what Steers did with the money
but to him it appeared that some of the.
doodle was divided with some one else.
The sergeant also denied Steers state
.h,, 81.
been given in spite. Taylor acknowledged
that he had called ON the ex-inspector sat
urday night, but had merely told his for
mcr superior that he intended to tell the
truth to the Lcxow committee
steers Wants vindication.
Ex-Inspector Steers was in the court,
room. He announced a readiness to go on
the stand and deny Taylor's accusations.
Inspectors McAvoy, Williams and Me
I4aughlin were subpnnacd to appear be-
fore the committee but Williams was
temporarily excused. and the other two.
were not called during the day.
DIR. Owen J. Ward reported that Honest
John Martin. the man who handled Cap
tain Creeden's SIS, 000 was too i'll to tcs-
tify.
Counsel Golf announced that Thomas.
Bradley. formerly of the Twenty ninth
precinct was retired on half pay rs
roundsman. but Is now acting As chief of
police at Norwalk. Conn.
"I merely WISH said Mr.. Goff, ito
call attention to the police pension sys-
TEN, which is absurd and deserving of
the attention of the legislature. -
Policeman Herman Interman swore
that he did not testify truthfully Tuesday
when he said that he had never paid oyer
any of the money given him by the Amer
lean steamship line to his superior officers.
He had given up half OF his extra earn
ings to Captain GastIin and then S25 out
of $40 a month tt Captain Schmittbergcr.
Intcrmnn also acknowledged that police
men were afraid To testify before the Lex
ow COMMITTEES because they feared the dis
pleasure of their superior officers.
Sergcants Byrne and Cornelius Reid of
the steamboat squad testified that it was
very improbable that Sergeant Taylor had
sent money to Inspector Steers in the
manner he described before the committee
yesterday. Byrnc said he had heard ru-
mors of money being collected by the cap
tainS from policemen, but Reid said Tay
lor's statement was absurd.
Captain Allairc. commander of the
| steamboat squad. denied all knowledge of
the collection of money from the steam
boat and railroad lines. Mr.. Golf qucS-
toned him long and earnestly, but AL
laire's entire testimony was liquidation
and denial OF all allegations made against
him by other witnesses
Allaire said he owned n house valued at
SCI, 900 and had money in bank not ex
ceeding 1000 The captain sworc that
he had always done all in his power tc.
suppress gambling. tlisordcrly houses and
other crime in his precincts
He knew nothing nf Sergeant Taylor =
alleged payment Of money TO Inspector
Steers. Rumors had come to him that
policemen had illicitly collected moneys
| from citizens, but he had positively for
| hidden such doings.
Mr.. Golf attempted tai draw various
statements from Allairc. but failed, and
the witness left the stand apparently we'll
| satisfied.
Paid Money to Byrnes' wardmen.
Hattie Ross (colored) swore that in 1875
| she opened two disorderly houses in the
| Fifteenth precinct. She paid $50 month
| as protection money for each house to
wardmen Roland and Slcvin. Captain
Byrnes, now superintendent was in COM
mand of the precinct at the time. She also
paid similar sums of money to wardmen
under Captain Brogan, who succeeded
| Byrncs.
Incidentally Hattie testified that in
eight years Al Adams, n policy dealer.
had victimized her out of SI7,OO She
also ran n disordcrly house in the Tender
loin district when Captain McAvoy was
in command, but she didn't have to pay
protection money there.
Superintendent Byrncs heard of the tes-
timony given against him by John Mar
rett few minutes after that witness tes-
titled He Immediately locked himself in
his Office ut police headquarters, and for
an hour examined papers bearing ON the
matter referred TO by Marrett
| Afterward the superintendent said OF
Marrett: "All he says is untrue except
that he came to my house under false pre-
lenses. When the proper time comes, ]
shall tell my story in the proper place -
Futher than this the superintendent abso-
lutely refused to say anything,
Marrett said before the committee that
he had gone to the home of Superintendent
Byrnes with letter for Mrs. Byrnes which
had been given him by another Parkhurst
agent; that the superintendent had taken
the letter. read it, took him by the collar
threw him into the parlor and forcibly de
tanned him there; that Byrnes threatened
To have him imprisoned for ten years, and
by force and threats forced him to reveal
all he knew of the case of Charles W
Gardner, another Parkhurst detective, who
had been accused of cxtorting blackmai
from one Lille Clifton. Marrett also SAID
that Superintendent Byrnes had trumpes
up the case against Gardner
Senator LcxOw expressed his opinion
that Superintendent Byrnes had right :,
extract information from Marrett
Then the witness said: He would hav
sent me to prison except for one reason
We were both Masons.'
schmittberger Again Arrested.
Police Captain Schmittberger, who's
trial on n charge Of bribcrg was set 10