The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-12-22
ROTTEN TO THE CORE
Capt. sehmlttberger, OF the New York
Police, Says the Whole Force 10
Criminal.
sYRNEsANo SOME OTHERS EXCEPTED
Vice and Crime Rampant Because Of the
Payment Of Protection Money 10
the Police.

now III tuhitnhuu OF tue ltnuttlulu us
trict. made confession before the
LcXow committee to-day to the effect
that the entire police system Of New
York, with the exception Of Superb.
tendrnt Byrnes and few otnefs. Wan
rotten Ia the core; that blarkmail and
bribery. cNtortion and corruption. were
common crimes In the department: and
that mcrconary methods alone aotuated
his follow officers. Ills charges impli-
Gated Inspectors Williams and McAyoy.
EX-lnspector Steers, Police Commits
sioners James B, Martin and John G.
Shc,'han, Captains Price. Gastlin ana
Martens, Ex-Captain John Gunner. and
Wardmen Dunlap, Robert VAN and
James Cannon.
Without question. this has been the
most important day In the history of the
committee. Schmittbergers confession
is prolific Of not only sensation, but OF
evidence which confirms and ycriiies
what has been hitherto considered the
most exaggerated case of police and
official corruption. Capt Schmittberger
is under indictment for bribery. lie
had previously refused to testify be-
fore the senate committee. Yesterday,
however. he was rearrested and his bail
increased. To-day he took advantage
Of an offer of immunity from punish
ment held out to him by Con, and
agreed To make a clean breast OF II.
| THE pillars OF the church are fallen -
said he on the witness stand this after
noon, "and | deem Il due to my con-
science. my wife and my children. to
tell what | know"
But no spirit of sympathy moved the
throng Of spectators. Sneers and sar-
castle laughter instead answered that
acknowledgment Of his WEAKNESS when
at last counsel permitted him to vacate
the witness stand.
In official circles no attempt is made
in contradiction or derogation OF Capt.
Schmittberger' allegations and every
where is heard the comment: "It could
not have been worse" The news that
Schmittberger had consented to tell
all ne knew spread through the city
with the speed of a whiriwind, and drew
to the committee room vast throng OF
citizens who clamored and struggled for
admission.
Father Ducey was present before Sen
ator Lexow. OConnor and others ar
rived this morning. Police Captains
Schroendon and Westerly also occupied
spectators seats. Justice Noorhis held
"A consultation with Con. In response
to questions Justice Noorhis said he
expected to go on the witness stand to-
day.
Capt. Schmittberger was recalled.
you are n captain In the Nineteenth
precinct?' began Goff.
"Yes"
You recognize the binding character
OF your oath?"
II do; l have come to tell the whole
truth
Schmittberger said he Joined the force
in 1874 and was before that confec.
toner. He paid nothing 90 be made a
patrolman He was first assigned to
the tenderloin precinct. lie was there
two years and knew the precinct well
His duties at first were light, on ac'
count Of a pull he had with the sergeant
at the desk.
ut has been said that ward politics
have something to do with promotion, is
that so?"
''Yes. 1t is"
"Well. what influence can those poll.
ticians eXert2"
"They can exert an influence through
the commissioners and the sergeants
for fear of removal"
Captain, have you ever heard of q
case where patrOlman paid sergeant
any money to be assigned light work.
YES"
Now. captain. testimony has beer
taken here that there are "A number o
men i'm this city who are known a,
'go-betweens, They are really not con
nected with the department, but II
order To get an appointment II is neces
sary to go to them, Do you know any
OF these men,"
"There is Charley Grant, Commits
sloner McClaVe's secretary. and a mar
named Mercer, a tailor on Broadway.
Capt. Schmittberger admitted that
owing to political influence, many u
his subordinates We're able 10 defy him
They belonged TO Tammany club o.
, which Commissioner Sheehan wa
president Many captains belonged /,
this club. There was a tacit under
standing for the protection OF fas
houses and law BROKERS. The captaii
went on 10 tell what he knew OF scv
cral dives In his precinct which wcr
freuueuted by all the criminals Of New
= York. lie said further that no prc,cns
! Of observing the excise law at dhos'
places WAS ever made, and the fns
women and criminals did os thcl
would Il have been possible 10
thpsp places tO run open without spc
cinl arrangement with the police
Certainly not
90 YOU know of any ease where
porcemnn was instructed 10 co-npcrail
with the Keepers of these dives to crusl
/ ont the facts about small crimes"
mot personally hut Il was under
stood that this was y fact"
CON asked about the famous Ciotcll
land art gallery attached thereto, whicl
X became 80 notorious before u was sun
prcased. Witness acknowledged thN
ihn dive had not been closed before hc
,snusp ID was under police protection.
Now. cuptaiu, about thr time yol
worn In command OF the stcumbun
I gnuad. YOU learned. of course. that IN
men ON the dorks had Ia give up hal
OF their samid,s''
3 eyes, Wnrdmau YAH told m" of II
| | told him dld not want 20 Keep II M
and he tnll me I WAS ID inuL Au'
thnt the mon had lust aH soon give u al
= na not. and / might us well got IT.
And you finally agreed 10 hlsF'
And VAN was your collector I be
''Yca. for about two months, and the
Cannon was appointed"
How much dld YAH COLLECT for yo
! each muuth1'
d About $3.50
u and did YOU never have 10 give M
y any of this money du any other pol.c
4 oulcial2'
- No"
r Witness then went un to say that d
d had IA conNpraatiou with tnapcctl
steers. who told him thnt there wa