Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-22
LEXOW COMMITTEE.
MEMORABLE DAY IN THE HISTORY OF
ITS INVESTIGATION.
Captain scbmittbcrger Says tho New York
Police Department IL Rotten
TO the Core.


so many words his conclusion, drawn
from experience, that the Police Depart
ment OF New York is rotten to the core.
He made one exception to this general
condemnation. He expressed the opinion
that Superintendent Byrnes Is an honest
man. and means to do right when he is
permitted to do so.
One OF the minor Incidents OF the day.
previous TO Captain Schmittberger's
taking the stand, was the discovery that
bogus subpoenas have been sent TO peo-
pie who were not wanted by the COM
mittee. Lawyer Goff also stated that he
had received many scurrilous letters re-
fiecting on the character Of private indi-
viduals, to which he had paid no atten-
tion.
When Captain Schmittberger took the
stand, all the other witnesses were ex-
cuse1.
Schmlttberger said he began his career
on the police force as q patrolman under
Captain Williams. He paid nothing for
his appointment, but said he knew that
political pull was more effective in getting
men on the force than merit and that
the men who were appointed through
political influence were the worst men on
the force. He could not tell where the
money went for appointments, but he
could tell as to promotions. 1t went TO
go-betweens, one of whom he named as
Charlie Grant, x-Commissioner McClaye's
private secretary. While in Captain Will
liamss precinct the disorderly-house
branch of the business was looked after
by Detective Price, who is now captain.
Schmittberger was asked: Can you
state why. under Special-Ofiicer Price. 80
many disorderly houses were allowed 10
rum
Because they paid for protection"
Mr. Goff then named Tom Goulds. the
Star and Garter. the Fashion. and other
once famous Tenderloin places.
"These places" said the Captain. were
the resort Of the criminals of the whole
city"
"Who was the man to whom the protec-
tion money went directly?
Captain Williams"
"Woud 1t be possible for these places
to run openly without the liberation OF
the captainY'
mo, sir; il would not"
The witness said that If the wardman
gave the officer on the post instructions
not TO interfere with these houses the
officers would not interfere with them"
"And If the officer did interfere"
''He would be changed Immediately"
"Dld you ever hear tnat the officer on
post was instructed TO cooperate with
the keeper of these disOrderly placesY'
Il do not know OF any special instruc-
tions issued to officers; the officers are
selected specially for the posts. and
l., taI of
"Those places were to be protected, in
other words?"
Eyes. sir; that's So"
Schrnittberger said. with smile. that
he had been made roundsman by Com
missioner Wheeler, because he had found
Wheeler's lost dog.
What commissioner appointed you
captain"
commissioner Voorhs."
"Did you pay anything?"
mot a cent. l made the highest per-
centage in the examination, and | had
not five minutes talk with the commis-
sloner. / did not know | was appointed
until the very same morning.
"And you were appointed solely on your
n1erits?"
eyes. sir: and may say here believe
Commissioner Voorhis is thoroughly
honorable man, and do not believe the
stories about him"
BLACKMAIL.
Schmittberger confirmed all that has
been told by policemen, wardmen, etc, as
TO collections from business-houses policy
shops. and gambling-houses for the behe-
fit of the captains, inspectors, and' per-
haps. higher officials. He personally paid
considerable sums TO Captain Williams:
That was not the usual custom, but
Schmittberger said he knew Williams well
and he did not see the need Of an inter
mediary between them. He always paid
in money, and in part Of the same money
received as blackmail. He collected about
$500 per month from three pool-rooms and
ten policy-shops The pool-rooms paid 500
per month each. The liquor saloons he
did not touch. 1t was understood that
their money went direct TO Tammany
Hall. He paid Williams within the nine
months he was in command of the
Twenty-seventh Precinct about $3.50, and
1t was the custom Of captains to pay the
inspectors of their districts.
The Captain said he was transferred
because of a row he had with liquor
dealers. Superintendent Byrnes instructed
the captains to make no excise arrests
for exposure.
'He told us to make arrests for selling
drink. and not make fake arrests. made
twenty-five arrests the first Sunday The
president Of the local liquor-dealers' as
socation told the officers who made the
arrest he would have them transferred"
Were they transferred?"
Yes sir They were transferred by
President Martin. and / was transferred,
too. The liquor-dealers complained that
/ made too many bona fide arrests and
/ was transferred to the Fifth Precinct
where there were very few saloons"
Schmittberger renamed but a short
time in the Fifth Precinct, when he
was transferred TO the Ninth. and shortly
afterwards to the Twenty-second Precinct
Forty-seventh street. There the COL
lection business fiourished. Policy-snops
paid so n month and disorderly houses
from so to so.
Had you any special order regarding
the protection OF certain disorderly
houses?'
Eyes, sir. When I was appointed
called upon Commissioner Martin at
headquart ers. He mentioned houses on
Forty-siXth street, and said / might let
them alone until the schools were built.
When the schools were built he said to
put them out. On another occasion Mar
tin sent for me TO come to headquarters.
1 had sent officer Casey TO the house Of
west Flfty-flrst street The citizens had
complained about the house. When Casey
went to the door the woman told him
she was friend of Commissioner Mar
tins, and II was better to see him be-
fore he should do anything. The officer
told me, and the next day l received
message from headquarters from Martin.
/ went to see him, and he asked me did
| send a an around 10 Sadie Vests.
said / did, as had received a complaint
about the house. Martin said l should
warn the officer and apologize to the
woman the next day. / protested. but
he said 1 should do as l was tod.
sent around Casey and he had to apollo
gize TO the woman the following day for
Iaiding the house"
buzz of astonishment passed through
the courtroom at this testimony.
The Captain said that the houses IN
west Forty-sixth street were in the Twen-
ty-first Assembly District, Of which Com
missioner Martin was leader
COMMISSIONER sHEEHAN.
Witness then said man named Proctor
wanted to open a gambling-house. Proc
tor came to him with a letter from Com
missioner Sheehan, asking him to give