The morning news., 1894-10-10
PROFITS OF DOODLE POLICE.
The LeEOV Committee Again Works Its
Probe.

Tells OF the Annual Fee of 5000 Paid
the Policeman on It's Dook-The oAieer
Discharged Because He Refused to
Turn the Whole Amount Over to His
Capuain.
New York, Oct. 9.--The Lexow police in
vestigaung committee resumed work to-
day. Among the crowd that gathered
early in the court room were several po-
lice captains whose faces had not been
seen there before. host of fresh wit
nesses were also on hand, including a
man who had wanted to be a policeman.
and was swindled in the attempt; an iron
momder who says he was robbed by a
policeman, and an amateur detective who
will have lots TO say about scandal In the
Essex market police court
Warden Ledwith of the police court
prisons, told the committee about GER
tain abuses in those Institutions which he
was investigating.
Agent T. Forget Of the French steam
ship line, testified that his company paid
$500 TO the police for extra services.
The policeman on the pier was paid $40
week, and $500 went to other police Off
eials. One Of the companys books which
was produced, showed that i'm November,
1891, $500 had been paid for special sur
veillance on the pier" Mr.. FORGET could
not remember to whom the money was
paid.
Con- asked Mr.. Forget If Policeman
Degan had been removed from the pier
because he refused to divide with the
captain the money he received from the
company. Policeman Degan was pres
ent In court and Mr. Forget identified
MN. Mr.. Forgets memory again failed
him, and Mr. Con- probed without avail.
Policeman Degan was the next witness.
HE is the first policeman who has accused
a captain. He is a Frenchman. He tes-
tihed that he was stationed on the French
line pier for eleven years. He said he re-
ceived $40 a week for working overtime
and on his days off. He was sent there
In 1880 The uperintendent Of the line
offered him $40 for extra services He
never had charge made against him and
got along very well. In 1891 Wardman
Vail came to him and said: Capt.
Schmitberger wants this $40 you re-
eeive." Il told him" said Degan, that
I was no serf, and would not give up the
$40 earned by hard work after my regular
hours | was already giving S5 q week.
and the captain wanted every cent l
told him that Capt schmitberger would
next want my salary"
Vail said: You had better, as the
captain can make you trouble"
Let Capt. Schmitberger do his worst
/ replied. 4 wont be a serf A few
days afterward Capt Schmitberger
called me into his room and said: DO
you know where your post is? It is
over among the canal boats and the fish
markets He said this in a taunting
tone, and I was subsequently shifted
from one point to another. One day the
paptafT1 CalIa6 M nd gaTg
Your friends are going to have you
made Foundsman. Now, ! want you
to pick out the best post in the precinct
until you are made roundsman' / re-
piled: You are my captain, and should
assign me 10 my duty, / refuse to pick
out any particular post The captain said
hastily: we wont discuss that All the
policemen shared their extra money with
the captain"
Supt. West Of the company followed and
testified TO Officer Degan's efficiency
When Degan was transferred Wardman
Cannon called and demanded the $40
formerly paid to Degan. Supt. West
said If a receipt would be given he would
give the money. receipt was refused.
Mr.. Goff asked IL he knew $500 had been
raised by the steamship companies as
purse TO Capt Schmtberger,
The witness had heard a rumor TO that
effect. He said that he protested 10 Capt.
Schmitberger against Officer Degan's re-
moval. The captain said that the officer
had been removed for insubordination.
The captain also said that the officer was
in league with smugglers. Superintend-
ent West said ne told Capt. Schmitber-
ger that such a charge was ridiculous.
Mr.. Forget was recalled, and under
adroit questioning by Mr.. GoR, admitted
that friends Of Capt. Schmitberger had
approached him and begged him not to
testify that Capt. Schmitberger got $500
or II would ruin him. He professed not
10 remember who had interceded for the
captain. II was represented TO him that
Capt. schmitberger would be dismissed
II the $500 story came out, and for the
sake Of the captains family Mr.. Forget
was urged TO keep 1t dark
Mr.. Forget, apologizing for his irnper-
feet knowledge OF the English language,
said he did not want TO go on record as
saying that he had been approached only
IN Capt Schmltberger's behalf. Some one,
whom he said he could not remember,
had I'm the last two weeks asked him not
TO testify against any police official. A
man named Wolf. two weeks ago, In the
Hotel Martin, asked him not to testify
against Capt. Schmitberger. Mr.. GoR and
Mr. Lexow wanted to CLEAN further par
ticulars about Wolf but they failed. Mr..
Forget only kEew Wolf had spoken to
him on several occasions.
Among Mr. Forgets Impressions" was
one 10 the effect that seven men had
shared In the $500 There his "inpres-
sion" faded. Mr.. Cor logged the Witness
memory and brought 10 mind the fact
that be had written private letter TO
tho directors Of the company regarding
the expenditure OF the $500. He had NOT
kept a copy Of the letter and the exact
contents had escaped his memory
Senator LeXow asked the witness to ca
bic for the return OF the letter.
That would cost too much, % cents a
word, D." said Mr. Forget.
Counsel Gon then got the witness 10 ad-
NIT he had written list of seven names.
and told his cashier 10 divide the $500.
Then Mr.. Con laid a cable message
blank before the witness. Now write
the instructions for the return Of the let
ter, We will pay the tolls" said Mr.. Con.
Mr.. Forget begged 10 be excused.
WIN you say you don't know who got
this S500|' was Mr.. Cons last question.
"NO."
Come here Tomorrow after you have
slept over the Testimony" was Counsel
Goff's parting shot as the witness was
leaving the stand.
Nellie Weinberg was another witness
She testified that she offered Alderman
uglIyar ToIlaru smith fggO fov rr,t.ott....