The evening world., 1894-08-30
LAST EDITION.
FRUIT FOR
STEPHENSON.
Merchant Edwards Says He
Shipped Lots Of It to
the Captain.
PAID BRIDE MONEY BESIDES.
Says He Gave 1t as He Would to
a Higawsyman with
a Pistol.
n. TO ca GO OUT OF BUSINESS.
~een in Business Twenty Years
and PAID Every Year
but Ibis.
H, , TO ca GO OUT OF BUSINESS.

After many days of waiting. Police
Captain John Thomas Stephenson was
to-day placed ON trial before the Com
missioners at Police Headquarters on
several charges of bribery.
The evidence upon which the charges
were preferred was furnished by sew
eral business men of the produce dis
trict. and is In effect that he extorted
blood money from them in exchange
for the privilege Of violating the mu-
nicipal laws regarding the obstruction
of the sidewalks with goods, packing
cases, skids, trucks and the like, in the
course of business.
The alleged bribery took place away
back in 1891 and 1892, when the tall
handsome Captain was in command
OF the Fifth Precinct. or Leonard street
station.
The complaints are as follows:
Feb. g. 1891. according to the state
nent of Thomas p. Wallace. Of 1877
Rcade street, Stephenson got a SIS bride
from him.
That, on Jan. 16. 1892. he received SIS
from the same merchant.
That on Jan. Ii. 1892, he received from
That on Oct. 10, 1891. he received from
Charles W. Maxfield, of 1872 Reade street,
SIS.
That on July !. 1891, he received from
E ssreet, 81, q. Lyon of S7' Washington
tn Thai on Jan; 1sss he received from
has on MaS id 1857 81 h. received from
Robert 3. Sinner. Of 1856 Washington
That on Sept. II, 1891, he received from
$3S in cash and $l2 worth of fruit. max
Ing the $50 agreed upon for a years i'm
munity from arrest for ordinance viola
That on Oct. 25. 1891, he received from
George Allison. 29S Washington street.
That on Feb. &c, 1891, he received from
Louis F. Bernholtz. 1856 Greenwich street.
$50 for permitting an awning that was
not constructed according to law to re-
main.
Besides these charges of bribery there
are other charges of neglect of duty in
permitting the violation Of the ordi-
nances and of acts unbecoming an off,
Ger and injuries TO the welfare Of the
stephenson's counsel made the usual
cations had been waived by Stephenson.
The motion was for the dismissal of the
first ten charges. on the ground that
and the Commissioners had no power OF
Jurisdiction to try him for such alleged
crimes. the Constitution guaranteeing
to every man the right to be tried by a
This is the same ground on which all
. the other defendants have demanded q
here, as in the other cases. the decisions
Of tae Court of Appeals in the case OF
Capt. Siebert and OF the General Term
in the case of Patrolman Fitzpatrick
Capt. sebert was tried and broken
years ago on a charge of perjury COM
mitted in the trial Of another officer be,
Appeals reinstated Siebert on the ground
that the Board had no right to try any
officer on criminal charge.
Davis, then the Presiding Justice Of the
General Term of the Supreme Court
said:
ut is ridiculous to assume that the
Police Board has Jurisdiction to try a
charge of criminal acts, like a court"
Ira Shafer who again adroitly CALLED
to as edt he hs as s the Pr
vate special counsel Of the Police Board
by mock apology to the reporters foi
90 lettering to MI Welm m NJ Yesterday
charges of the neglect Of duty, acts
injurious. to public peace and welfare
Department" ON the ground that there
charges, and no defendant could b
forced to defend charges that do moi
specify the acts charged.
Mr.. Wellman said that the acts o.
bribery and the wilful failure OF thu
Captain to enforce the lar were In,
specifications that covered all thu
charges.
The motion was denied, and then Mr.
Shafer said that the Captain PLEADED
mot guilty"
Then he asked for an adjournment
and made speech so lengthy ant
So vehement that his fiorid. fat fac
became as red as a peony.
Mr. Shafer, said that the truth would b
that the bride money had been paid I,
Ward Man James Kelly. who Is now IL
Europe, having retired from the Depart
gent last January, and not to Capt
Stephenson.
The Board designates an ordinanc
man in each precinct" said Mr.. ShafeI
This Board designated Kelly as sucl
ordinance man in Capt. Stephenson
precinct. 1t was his duty to repor
violations OF the ordinances, and tn
rules of the Department do not ca
upon the Captain to look after sue
Kelly - now in Europe. as the an
davits which l now offeT, the affidavit
OF kelly's wife and son, will show.
They say he will be back In
All we ask is an adjournment of
month. We invite The instigator q
these charges. and all We ask Is tina