Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-12
POLICE PLAY POLICY
And Project Game Was the Sta.emen. Of Wit
nesses Before Committee.

New YORK, Oct. 1l.-Before the Lexow
committee, this afternoon, Joseph II.
Brown, clerk in the court of common pleas
in the naturalization apartment was called.
He said the fall season was busy time in
his department.
How many persons were naturalized IN
your court, yesterday"
"Sixty-three persons, yesterday, and G2
the day before"
He said 80 cents was charged for citizen
ship certificates and 20 cents for declars-
tons. Certain political organizations sent
che cks against which fees are charged. Il
think the German-American organization
sent check for 500 and the Tammany
organization a check for $50" Witness
described the process of naturslizing q citi-
zen ia detail. He said he and his fellow
clerks always put questions to the candi-
date for citizenship, and if the latter failed
10 answer, they rejected him.
80, that without your permission" said
Mr.. Gof, 'the candidate can go no fur
ther!"
eyes, sir"
This is an important piece of evidence,
Mr.. Chairman that the clerk can exercise
ministerial power without such power being
delegated to him. said Mr.. GOff.
"Yes, indeed it is said Chairman
Lexow.
Thomas Beesa of the superior court took
the stand with his books. He said upon
consulting the record that since July to
the present time 2230 persons were natur-
alized. There were 10 Daturalized, yes
terday, and 1913 the day before. The wit
ness said he thought il mistake for politi
cal parties to pay the 50 cents naturaliza-
ton fee. Il must say" said he, "tbe class
of men who are bsing naturalzed this year
are great improvement on what we had
in other years.
Lawrence Carney, the next witness, said
that for the last two years he had been en-
gagged in the policy business. Draw ings, be
stated, were supposed to be made in Gov
ington and Frankfort, Ky, and came over
the Western Union telegraph wires in
cipher twice a day. Witness exhibited
cipher message. 1t was addressed to P. j.
Conlon, Jersey City, who was the head
secret agent
Conlon, he said, translated the cipher,
and gave it to the three big hackers, who
live in Jersey City. The hackers in New
YORK city numbered Is. Some hackers,
witness said, were Al Adams, the King; c.
p. Parker, Billy Meyers, Jake Shepard
Dick Gamen, Ed Hogan, Charles Lindau
and Billy Morton.
Witness stated that all classes of people
played policy. Poor people played penny,
and down town brokers put 500 on the gig.
He had seen school children play in safe
ward, which was in Capt. Sieberts precinct;
policeman used to keep guard for the
policy men there. Witness told how the
city was divided up among policy hackers.
He admitted the hackers paid the police.
He said Billy Meyers wanted to make
him open policy shop and went
to Capt. Martins to get permission,
but did not succeed as there was another
policy shop already in the neighborhood.
Witness stated that the average receipts of
the policy shop in Harlem, before hard
times, were often 500 day. Police had
knowledge of all policy shops in the city.
They played themselves. One owed wit
ness Sl7. If there was going to be raid
the wsrdman notified the policy shop. The
captain sometimes sent an officer around in
citizens clothes TO zee if he could set in.
If the officer got in he was ordered to arrest
the writer, because he sal If bis man could
get in a Parkhurst man or a reporter
committee had the effect of decreasing The
policy shops so per cent. in the city. Bus
iness was very bad now but would be ss
good as ever when the committee 'is-
banded. Witness produced let of 600
policy shops which he said were running
up to few days sgo. Capt. Selvin, Wit
ness said, was very good
C, plain for the policy shops. He
came around to the witness policy chop
and told the donrks eper to tell witness 10
ge, up story hi.hpr. Capt. Steven after
ward reported TO the police commlssio
that there was no policy shop there. Wit
ress said that in September every one of
the policy shoss he listed was running in
full blast. Witness stated he had heard
Jim O'Toole. confidential policy man Of
Billy Myers, tell Richard PhelaD,