Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-18
Further Testimony Before the Le1ow
Committee.
DISCUSSING THE COMMISSIONERS ACT
Reppenhagen Makes More ReveIa-
tons of Corruption.
GIFT FOR A DEAD MAN

NEW YORK. December 1S.-When the
Lexow investigating committee began Its
work today there were present In the court
room Police Captains Cross, Allaire and
Creeden, all in full uniform. Father Nc
Donald OF Brooklyn was an interested spec
tator.
In opening, Senator Lexow said he had
been officially informed that the suspen-
sion OF Captain Creeden by the police board
had been revoked.
Mr. Gon remarked that, in his mind.
there was some doubt as to whether or not
1t is an indictable offense for anybody, even
the police board, to bring an action against
a person who has given evidence before
the committee. The fact that they had
given testimony guaranteed them i'm
munity.
"A person who does testify against him
SELF" continued Mr. Gon, lis absolutely
exempt from any indictment, and from
prosecution based on that testimony. You
cannot force a man to give testimony
against himself. In this case it is a ques-
ton ii the board OF police commissioners
have not violated the law in taking action
against Captain Creeden."
Did they not know they violated the law
when they took such action?" asked SEN
ator OConnor.
mo; L suppose not.
There are two lawyers on the board,
believe, observed Senator bradley. Are
they not supposed to know the law?'
Not necessarily" answered Mr.. Gof.
Capt. Strauss was the first witness of the
day. He testified that his wife's name was
Barbara, and that neither he nor his wife
had bank account. He also said there
was real estate or mortgages in his
wifeS name. In response to questions he
tC Cstified that he lived at 100 East 10th
street, but did not own the house, and that
reither he nor his wife were interested in
any savings companies of any kind what
ever
John w. Reppenhagen, the man who
handled Capt. Creeden's $4,000 bribe for
his position as captain. was the next wit
ness.
''Did you see Martin on the night of the
day of Capt Creeden's appointment ask
ed Mr. Goff.
Yes"
"And what arrangements had been made
about paying the money to Martini
'It was simply to be paid to him.
Witness reiterated his testimony of Fri
check for the $4,000. and that Martin
knew he had this check Then he deposit
ed the check and afterward drew it out on
January 16. 1892.
could have the 5000 of the S15,00O?''
when 1 went to pay the $4,000 over to
Martin"
got one-third of the whole amount, after
Sergeant Weigand had offered $1,000 for
the captaincy?'
'I did not think about that at the time.
..You did not object to taking the
money!
"Oh, no."
well now, as a matter Of fact. wasn't
this 5000 paid to you as bripe 1or your
influence in the matter?
'WelI, / guess 1t was .,.,
"Where was the money paid to Martln:
''In the bank, just after drew 1t out.
.And was anything said about any par PAL,
of this money being paid to third party!
Reppenhagen then went on to state that
the 81. 600 which had been paid to him ne
used in paying pressing depts..
''Who is Con Sheehan"
And why did you loan shechan $3.50"
because he asked me for 1t.
"Is 1t not custom Tor tne saIoonheep1s t.s
in your vicinity to give small loans TO the
polce?"
And as a result the police are not SO
strict about the enforcement Oh 'he eAcise
law are they?"
mo, they are not.
"And do you ever get these small loans
back?"
as 1t not a fact that the saloonkeepers
In your neighborhood are assessed to make
a Christmas present for the captain"
"Yes, it is, every year"
The witness said he had been assessed
only once, and then for Capt. Cassidy, since
dead This was in 1891"
But Cassidy was dead at that time ana
Mclaughlin was there?'
II believe he was" the witness admitted.
Mr.. Goff then showed that from Decem-
Der 1, 1891, to February /, 1892, Reppen-
hagen had paid out an aggregate of $3.50
in loans to policemen, and used s492 in pay
ing old debts. The witness stated that the
police paid back soma Of the loans.
Reppenhagen said he was a member of
the executive committee of Voorhis de-
mocracy at the time Commissioner Voorhis
was it's head. The question of patronage
often came up at their sessions.
"And Commissioner Voorhis contributed
the lions share of it?'
'Was it generally understood that Voor-
his could be reached only through Martini
Yes: that was the reason l saw Martin
about the Creeden matter"
MIR. Goff then led the witness into an ac-
acknowledgement that he had kept gam
bling machine in his place after 1t was for
hidden, but that the police made no OBJ
lection.
Policeman O'Neill was then called to the
stand. Sergeant Taylor and Capt Allaire
were also called and sworn and requested
to leave the room while ONell testified.
The tiwness was then told that no action
could be brought against him for his testi-
mony and was warned of the danger of
perjuring himself.
The witness was then told that no action
Der of the steamboat squad, having been
assigned to that service in 1882 when Capt.
Cassidy was in command.
while you were on the steamboat squad
did you ever receive any money from the
White Star liner
Eyes"
How much?'
Ten dollars a week and my meals
"Out of the $40 per week did you have to
pay anything?"
.'Yes; SO a month to Wardman Michael
Cannon"
"Who was this money for?'
1.-The captain"
What captain was in charge at that
timer
Capt Schmittberger."
The first money he ever paid out Of this
extra compensation was to Cspt. Schmitt-
berger.
officer Beck, another member of the
steamboat squad. testified that some
time ago he paid Sergt. Taylor of the same
squad $40, which he had received for
extra work for a steamship company.
Did you have to pay any money out of
your salary?"
yes"
How much?"
"Ten dollars a month"
How much did you get?'
"Only $1OO."
Witress said tha< Wardman Ball had
asked him whether he received any extra
money When he replied affirmatively,
Ball said he wanted 1t all for Capt. Schmitt-
berger. Then witness had turned the