The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-03
GOTHAM'S GIDDY GUARDIANS
Mrs. Hermann Tells How They Aided
in a Girls Ruin.


the Police $26, 900 Since 1882, and Is
Virtually Pennilsss - The Witness
Shielding Captain.
New York, Nov. 2.-The long looked for
witness whom the general public has ex-
pected to make sensational disclosures
In regard to the recent po-
lice exposures was the tes-
tifying witness to-day. Mrs Matilda Her
mann is rather large woman, with not an
unkindly expression on her rather mascu-
line features, black hair and swapping
black eyes. She was very willing witness
with one exception Qn the case of Police
man Cooney). and seemed determined to
tell all she knew BY her evidence three
new police captains were added to the list
of alleged blackmailers, and also several
wardmen. Lawyer Price was also named
as go-between, but the most interesting
statement made by the witness, was the
ruin of her niece, whom she had been
trying to save from a disreputable life.
The girl was led astray by her own moth
er, who was the proprietress of a disor-
derly house. Mrs Hermann said she made
several attempts to save the girl through
the police and even implicated a police
justice who helped to shield a police cap
tain by refusing to act in the matter. The
days session as whole was not prolific
Of sensational features, but was more In
the way OF corroborative evidence of the
features brought to light.
Before Mrs. Hermann was sworn Street
| Cleaning Commissioner Andrews who
was accused in the testimony yesterday
OF receiving "a $500 brlbe while an excise
commissioner demanded an explanation.
His demand was noted on the record,
but Mr.. Goff said he was not prepared to
go on with the examination.
Then Mrs. Hermann was sworn Sh5
came to New York in 1892, she said, and
opened a disorderly house in West Twen-
ty-thlrd street
Il had had some twenty-odd girls
there she said
Did you have 17-year-old niece whom
you brought from France2"
Yes, but she was a good girl, and
tried to keep her So l kept her away
from the house Her parents were at
odds, and the girls father, not trusting
the mother sent the girl to me. After
awhile the mother got her and took her
to a disorderly house she was keeping,
where she was ruined. / threatened to
make trouble for her mother but Can't
Haughey told me / could not take the
girl away from her mother. / begged
him to take her from her mothers house.
The girls mother was paying SIS a
! week IOf pfOLecuOn ana 4 Ouered to pay
that $l5 II the captain would take the girl
away, The captain abused me, threat
end to give me five years in state prison
II did not leave the mother alone.
then threatened to shoot the girl rather
| than see her live life of shame"
| The witness testified further that she
had had her sisters house raided, but
when the case came up before Judge Ho-
gan he shielded the captain and had her
lawyer and herself charged with conspir-
acy. He has never given decision in the
case.
"Who was captain when you were In the
preclnct7' Mr.. Golf asked.
Capt Brogan."
"Who was the wardman?"
| Reynolds"
"How much did you payT
Il paid SIS month at first and alters
ward $100."
How much rent did you pay?'
"Seventy-fve dollars"
what was it worth as a residence?'
mot more than $25 a month"
The woman told how she rented the five
houses at big rents because she intended
to run them for immoral purposes.
For one house she paid $3.50 rental, and
was told that $50 of it went to the po-
lice.
"How much did you pay wardman
Reynolds when you opened the first
| house,"
ITO open the house, $780, and $50 a month.
A lady friend paid him for the first three
months. / gave her the money to give to
him"
After three months he came persons
ally and gave him $50 for the captain
and $5 for himself"
How much did you pay to open the
second house?"
"Oh, $500, and s25 month for protec-
ton"
The witness said she had paid almost
every policeman on the post. She termed
her payments presents"
did you ever send money to saratoga?"
"No, sir"
The witness said policemen would stand
before her door until they received a 50
bill to move on. Men would not come In
while the officers stood outside.
Mr.. Gon made several efforts to induce
the witness to take a certain direction I'm
her evidence, but she adroitly evaded his
| questions
At last Mr. Goff said Now. there is
a certain police captain who you wish TO
protect?
yes, sir" was the frank answer.
"You might as well tell the truth. be-
cause we know all the police officials
names" persuasively said Mr.. Goff
The witness studied, was silent but
under urgent questioning adopted the
| time-worn excuse, II don't remember"
After recess the witness continued her
| story OF backmail by policemen, police
captains and lawyers. The lawyers ex-
acted exorbitant fees, and told her thew
had TO divide with the police. She could
not or would not tell the amount she had
paid In the aggregate, but placed Il above
/ $4,000 since 1882, and said that she had not
| 500 to call her own now. The three po-
] lice captains she mentioned as having
! bled her were Brogan, Haughey and Ryan.
/ A purse OF Sl,7OO was raised by the police
/ to send her away. She took II and went
/ TO Chicago. There she met a number OF
/ former keepers Of disorderly houses in
/ this city, all keeping out OF the way OF tho
/ Lexow committee At intervals during
/ her examination Mr.. Con renewed his
/ efforts 20 ascertain the name OF the can
| tain the witness was trying to shield, but
1 iu thts ne failed.