St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-12-22
ROTTEN TO THE CORE.
CAPT. BERGER MAKES
Sen SATIONAL DISCLOSURES
Regarding the New York Police
DepartInent-Sup Byrnes
Alone UnScathed.

New YORK, Dec. 21.-MixilIan G.
Schmittberger, captain of police, and
now in command of the Tenderloin dis
trict, made confession before the
LeXOw committee today 10 the effect
that the entire police system of New
York city. with the exception of Supt.
ByrneS and few others, was rotten to
the core; that blackmail and bribery,
eXtOrtiOn and corruption, were common
crimes in the department. and that
mercenary motives alone actuated his
fellow officers. His charges implicated
Inspectors Williams and McAvoy, ex-
Inspector Steers, Police Commissioners
James B. Martin and John G. Sheehan,
CaptS. Price, GaStlin and Martens, ex-
Capt. John Gunner aud Wardmen Dun
lap, Robert Vail and james Cannon.
Without question this has been the
most important day i'll the history of the
LeXow committee. Schmittberger's
confession is prolific of not only sensa-
tion but Of evidence which confirms and
voices what have been hitherto con-
Sidered the most exaggerated cases of
police and
Official Corruption.
1t deals with more individual cases: 1t
shows The criminalIty that has prevailed
in the police department.
When called TO the stand Capt.
Schmlttberger said officers openly defied
rules Of the department. and were sus-
tained by the Tammany Hall club, of
which Commissioner Sheehan was the
president. Witness is a member of the
club, as are also Capts, Devery, Price
and Strauss.
Scmittberger admitted that in his
precinct the excise law was openly
violated, and that disreputable women
and criminals did as they pleased. They
could not, he said, have done this with
out special arrangement with the police
Police Captain Schnittberger testified
that he divided money collected from
policy shops with Inspector Williams.
When asked how much he paid him, he
replied 500 per month. He said it was
the custom OF all captains to divide up
with Inspector Williams. When he was
transferred to another precinct he paid
Inspector McAvoy $3.50 per month.
When questioned he said he never col
tingS, as he had received a hint that he
must keep his hands off or he would get
his fingers burned.
Mr.. Coil then explained to the COM
mIttee that the true reason she mad
never been moleSted was because
Several Judges
in New York were IN the habit of visit
ing her house and had thrown the man
tie Of their protection around her. He
further stated that the names of these
judges were iii his possession but that
he would not use them unless forced to
do So
Schmittberger stated that Capt. Mar
tin had paid Williams $4,000 for his
commission. "It was common talk. !"
he said, "that any one could get on the
force by the payment of $780,"
"Then you think the department is
rotten to the cOre"
Yes, sir, do, and acknowledge the
part l have played in il"
"Do you think this rOttenness per-
vades the whole department, without
| exception"
81 want to say that ! think Supt.
| BYrneS is all honest man and means "a
do right, and If lie was not hampered
he could run things properly"
Before adjOurnlng, Chairman Lexow
said he thought that next weeks ses-
| sion should be executive, but Mr. Gof
| said that a few more witnesses must be
examined publicly,
de said h9 w0Hiid sit up nights with
the e0Innittee if hecessafy.
Senator OConnOr also wanted exeeu.
tive sessions next week Adjournmept
was then taken until Wednesday.