The sun., 1894-02-20
CAPT. pRICEON HIS DEFENCE.
HE ExcHzNsEs QUESTIONS wrrH So
PkRINTKHDENT BYRNEs.

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SD That sf Hts Betse,ives Separated
TIE CeU-tsstonerr Mediate n secret.
Capt James X. Price Of the West Thirty
seventh street police station and Detectives
Patrick Curry and Allan Hay OF his command
were tried By the Police Commissioners ysster-
day on charges made by Superintenden
Byrnes, aud growing out OF the raid made on
Warren Levis's Alhambra. at 352 Eighth ave-
nue.. on Jan. "a. The proof that the Alhsmbra
was a resort OF disorderly persons was OBJ
tanned by Central ONCE men. and superin-
tsndent Byrnes ordered Inspector McAvoy to
make the raid. Capt Price swore before Po-
lice Justice Ryan In Jefferson Market Po-
lice Court that he had been informed
by Detectives Frank N. Evauhoe and James P.
Valley. the Headquarters men. as we'll as By
Hay and Curry. that Lewis maintained dis
orderly house. and that men and women OF
evil name and fame were permitted TO fire.
auent there. On the examination before Judge
Ryan Capt. Price testified that so far as he
personally knew the place Was orderly. and
Hay and Curry testified that they so be-
lieved. At Lewis's trial in specisl Sessions
they testified to the same effect, aud the prose-
cutlon failed.
When the case OF Capt Price was called yes
terday before the full Board. Lawyer Charles
W. Brooke. for Capt. Price. said that so far as
the complaint against Capt. Price was con-
cerned. no oral testimony was required. Tho
ipsue was on the record OF the case. It was
charged that the Captain made affidavit. on
information and belief. charging Dumont c.
Lewis. son OF Warren. with keeping q disor-
derly house. and that at the examination OF
Lewis. and subsequently at his trial. he testi-
fed that OF his own knowledge he had nothing
against the place
Superintendent Dyrnes put in the records
and rested. and Mr.. Brooke then said that as
the evidence given by the Captain was from
personal knowledge. while the affidavit he
swore to was upon information. his evidence
was not contradictory to tho affidavit at ALL
His arfidavit was in accord with the informa-
tion given him by the Central ONCE men.
While IL might be Just to investigate this mat
ter. there was only one conclusion that could
bs arrived at, and that was to dismiss the
complaint
The Commissioners asked Capt Price to tell
Just what he knew about the concert hall and
what information he had received about the
place. He said his attention was called to the
Alhambra By the Society for the Prevention OF
Crime. Inspector McAvoy also spoke to him
about the place He personally visited the
place and found that the same class frequent
cd Il IS may be found In all concert halls, ex-
cept they were not so we'll dressed as the
persons who attend some others. His
own detectives told him the women were
prostitutes. Detective Sergeants Evanhoe and
Valley also told him SO. and that crooks made
. resort OF the place. People living In the
neighborhood com planned Of the noise. He In
structed Detectives Hay and Curry to mako an
Investigation. Both reported that they had
never arrested any OF the women who fire.
Quentsd the concert hail. but believed that
they were Of question able character.
President Martin asked priee II any an M \, &c
chad s ha. 20 %
legged" said Mr. Martin.
ThsTG is no! word Gi truth IN IL tss sSd
ment ever spoke to me about the matter. or
has any one tried to influence me one way or
'ns supsIintend.n. Gsaf1i B,rn.s wa. asked II h.
BSrnes asked:
.y.nusi Yes sir. You nave . number of times
8Ho1 hnvs ,on two S s.. ~ ASs; ,oSr str
that isi:1.. I" iS"s Place -i aoSs ssins
wouldn't they naturally and GU. in selns around
ins ns eus assr.i A"PsssibIy so, Vi HAns
Superintendent Byrnss said that tho Captain
SHOULD have had Enowi;sdgs 60 OF the character
,he S.n 10 ~ ne M
times about the plase. said the Superin-
McAvoy to get evidence against the place"
Brooks.Dd your men get svidenes and was lie wis
eonvictsdf A-so. No was no. because ne was &C
Inspector McAvoy testified that the Superin-
tsndent called his attention to the AlhAmbra,
and he in turn spoke to Capt Price. He told
tine Captain that his impression was that Lew:
Isl was a disorderly place. but the Captain did
not seem to find out anything. From letters
and complaints he received he cd that
Lewis's was disorderly house. The letters.
excep ut one were anonymous.
Al this point Capt. Price asked Superintsnd-
ent Byrnss II he knew any man In his recollsc-
tion In the Police Department for twenty years
newspapers than he had. Tho Board ruled
out the question
I'VE are not governed by Newspaper COM
m ments" remark ed Com mmissioner MacLean.
Price then asked the. super intsndent how he
had found him since he had been detective
and Captain. faithful and attentive. or negli-
CENT?
Your record will answer that" Mr.. Byrnes
responded.
The case against Capt. Price wasthen closed
with the understanding that II any evidence
came out at the trial OF Hay and Curry Affect
Detective Curry testified that he was In
Sniry about the xlhambra He did so. Central
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