The record-union., 1894-06-16

lOrger aDu scamp. he naQ uOne vie
things himself, but ne had helped Nc
Clave do worse things, SO his confession
was taken in a bunch. Mr.. Goff, counsel
for the committee, tcld the reporters the
mans testimony could be verified.
w hen that is accomplished, the source
will be overlooked.
The really sensational disclosures were
those OF women who confessed them
selves keepers OF ofdisorderly houses. Some
OF them were darkly ignorant persons,
and their unconscious statements were TO
the observer the most damaging of all.
Thus woman named Cohen, after say
ing she had agreed to pay $500 down for
opening her place and $50 thereafter each
week, showed plainly when proved by
the police counsel that her motive was
revenge. But she excused herself by
that the police broke their bar
gains, raided her house, arrested her and
the other inmates, apparently to make
her pay fees for bail and lawyers. Till she
finally had not cent left and had to go
to Jail for want of funds TO pay the men
who bled her. 1t was a horrible tale
told, with malice to provoke the
she thought damaging, but
to prompt the pleas that
made her story hideous exposure.
SO vile, indeed, were some OF these
tales and so convincing, that the Sun, the
most constant of the Ianmany defend
ers, the only newspaper Of standing that
has persistently defended the police, came
out one morning with a Scathing denun-
citation OF the department, more violent
than any other paper in town. This was
a telling blow to the officials of the Ge-
partment and they took the same view
themselves. They began at once to pass
resolutions offering their aid TO the
''LeXow Committee" as the Senate COM
mitlee is called from the name OF Its
Chairman. This help the committee
promptly declined. But the Commits
sioners had accomplished their purpose.
They had put themselves on record as
ready to punish the offenders and were
glad enough not to have to carry out their
threat.
For they already had affronted the
feelings of their subordinates, who de-
clare TO me that whatever rottenness
there is in the department is really, II not
officially, known to the board. Officers
of the upper grade, like Superintendent
Byrnes. will not permit the Commission
ers to SHIFT the responsibility upon them,
as they tried to do, or upon the executive
as whole. There are many
facts known to Byrnes and his Captains.
which will show where the subordinates
learned their tricks and got their cue.
This | know from these officers them
selves.
1t is quite probable that the rupture ex-
istlng in the department between the ad-
and the executive branches
will break out openly some day not far
of and reveal the whole filthy mess.
That it is vile, no officer pretends to deny.
1t is only certain base esprit de corps
that keeps some mouths closed. Others
are silent because they themselves are not
free to speak. The extent and the sys-
method of the corruption has not
yet been laid bare. That will come soon.
The committee will sit, Mr.. Gotf said,
till the end of this month before resting,
unless his or some other essential per
sons strength gives out.
The details OF the testimony are not
worth repeating. The witnesses in sue
cession tell the same story. 1t is 500 to
open, SO to $50 a month to continue dis
orderly house, and it is we'll, indeed,
necessary, TO pay many extra fees, and
have q Police Court lawyer, who is
Tammany district hack, like Judge
Roesch. That person volunteered his
testimony, and implicated himself, unin-
in some scandalous business
as an attorney for disreputable people i'll
with the police and the Ex-
else Board. 1t costs So month to keep
slaoon open on Sunday; So and pull to
come a policeman costs from $3.50 to $500.
All the evidence, from which | have
culled these few facts, will lead to a re-
form of the police department, whether
individuals are convicted or not. The
Democratic party, through Tammany
Hall, will have to suffer for II, too. There
are signs to show that that organization
will leave the police to shift for them
selves, but that will do no good. Byrnes
hri, fn Nd
he will probably be the man to whom
will be assigned the task of publication.
Reconstruction in Democratic affairs
being the fashion, it is iestingly said that
Ed Stokes, the proprietor of the Hoffman
House, the headquarters of out-of-town
Democrats, intends to be in style. He
notified all his guests Thursday that they
must leave to-day, IN order that the IA
miliar old landmark may be torn down.
The day before the notice one of the first
guests that ever came to the house, in
1864 old Israel Saunders-died. Ben
Butler was the first man ever given a
room in the house, and General Winfield
Scott lived there in the first year.
| have not space to give as / intended
an account OF some of the great political
movements that were started in this
hotel. Suffice it to say that, as the Fifth
Avenue Hotel is often the central office of
DdllODdl ItepuD1lCdu politics. So tHG I1Ou-
man House has been that for the Demo-
cratic party. The two buildings are only
a block apart. The Hoffman House has
the distinction, also, Of being the first
structure in this country that aimed to
make hotels magnificent in style, luxury
and elegance. 1t was surpassed long ago
by other hotels here and everywhere in
the large American cities, and now, as
it stands about to fall, it is rather mean
i
much that is beautiful. The banquet
nall is very imposing. Mr.. Stokes added
to its attractions some valuable works of
art. and one of them, IA large painting by
BouZerrou, is that masters greatest work
and the most perfect work of art i'll
America 1t is characteristic of the pro-
prietor that he should concentrate his
many art possessions in the barroom. 1t
is hardly recompense to know that they
make the 'tH otf'man bar" as it is called,
tho richest and most famous in the
world.
Stokes himself has some notoriety
He shot and killed Jim Fisk, one of The
"Napoleons of Finance" He did it de-
liberately after practising for weeks be-
forehand, and ought to have been hung,
but he was sentenced only to few years.
IMPRISONMENT. These he served. despite
his political influence. having exhausted
the power of that, TO withstand the popu-
lar outcry against his murder. He is a
white haired man, one OF those Of whom
it is said untruly, that he grew white in a
night, the night of his crime. He is a
man of no caliber. apparently, despite
his prediction for art, but of strong
friendship. He has had to turn out in
the streets, men whom he has kept free
of charge for years, in order TO put up the
twelve-story building which he has
planned. ). Il. ).
Lemons and Widowers.
Among the passengers on Brush
street ear the other day was middle-aged
man with fresh weed on his hat, and
quite a number OF people must have