Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-22
A ABOMBSHELL.
Schmittberger Before
LexoW Committee.
Gives Details of How Police
Made Assessments" I"
Says Inspector Williams Got
His Share of Doodle.
Patronage" ''Protection," and
"PuII" Were the Watchwords.
Thinks Supt. Byrnes is Honest But
His Hands Are Tied.
The Committee Getting Nearer and
Nearer Core of Rottenness.
Nothing Even in the Days Of Tweed That Sur
! passes This Story.
Thinks Supt. Byrnes is Honest But
His Hands Are Tied.
The Committee Getting Nearer and
Nearer Core of Rottenness.
Nothing Even in the Days Of Tweed That Sur
} passes This Story.

New York, Dec. 21-Before the Lexow
committee, today, Capt Max Schmittber-
ger was called, formerly captain of the
18th precinct. Capt. Schmittberger said
he Joined the police force, January 2S,
1874, and was 22 years old.
"Did you pay anything for appoint
ment?''
''No. sir. There was no civil service
then.
He was sent to the Tenderloin and re
manned on patrol there three years and
got to know the precinct very well. Some
policemen there then We're favorites, he
said. Such were excused from duty from
time to time. He was not prepared to
answer what caused the favoritism, but
the interference of political leaders had
something to do with it.
Witness was asked to join the Pequod
Club, and was told that it would be for
his benefit, because Commissioner Shee-
han was president. He Joined because
he believed it would further his interests,
and 1 would not have Joined but for that
reason He said that Captains Price,
Devery and Schultz We're members of the
Tequod Club.
"Can you state why, under Special
Officer Price, so many disorderly houses
were allowed to run?
Because they paid for protection. -
Mr.. Golf named Tom Goulds, the Star
and Garter, Fashion and other once famous
Tenderloin places.
"These places, said the captain, were
the resort of the criminals of the whole
city, who came there to meet women"
bn ha tn whom the
lection money went directly"
Captain Williams.
''Would it be possible for these places
to run openly without the liberation OF
the captain?"
''No, sir it would not"
The witness said that if the wardman
gave an officer on a post instructions not
to interfere with these houses, the officer
would not interfere with them.
''And if the officer did interfere?"
"He would be changed Immediately
"Were you instructed by the captain
when special patrolman, to exact tributey'
"No, sir. :"
Witness was made rounds man by
Commissioner Wheeler. 81 was pro
NOTED, - said the captain, with smile
"because found Commissioner Wheeler
dog
Witness said that thieves and burglars
from all over the country flocked into the
disorderly houses. He did not think there
was any understanding with the police
officials to allow them to remain in the
precinct. Witness stated that he was
made sergeant of the same precinct,
March 6, 1888.
"What commissioner appointed you
captain?"
Commissioner Voorhis.
"Did you pay anything
"Not a cent. / made tine highest per
contage in the examination and had not
five minutes talk with the commissioner. "
"You were appointed solely on your
merits?''
ayes. sir; / believe Commissioner
Voorhis thoroughly an honorable man
and do not believe the stories about
him.
Witness took charge of the 37th pre-
cinct steamboat squad He stated that
Bob Vail brought him about $50 month
for two months. Witness gave Vail ~
per cent. ''Vail lied" remarked the
witness. "when he said l wanted all the
money from the men," Witness said it
was a common custom for a captain TO
make money out of his own precinct.
ssDid you pay any part of the money to
any other police official"
"No, sir Inspector Steers told me there
was hardly anything in the precinct, and
he did not expect anything from me,
The captain then said he asked Com
missioner Voorhis to transfer him up
town. II was transferred, said he, Ito
the 9th street station house, near Sd
avenue, in the 25th precinct.
''Did you pay any money:
mot cent; no such thing was ever
suggested" When he went TO the 2oth
precinct. he made Cannon his conf
Dental man, to make collections IN the
precinct. The captain said the only sources
of revenue in the precinct were the policy
shops and Bohemian Liquor Dealers AS
s,ciation. 'sThere We're 10 policy shops IN
the precinct, said he, land | told Gan
non that they should each be assessed so