Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-21
HARRY HILL TESTIFIES.
Paid Large Sums to New York Police
for Protection"
when They Got Down % Him His Business
Was Som Ruined.

NEW YORK, June 20.-At the police in
vesugation, today, Harry Hill took the
stand. He told Mr.. Golf that he was an
unwilling witness.
What time did you open q house in
Houston street?"
'.In 1854. l always kept an orderly
house. If rough came there to start q
| fight he was thrown down stairs and the
police took charge of him. kept house
81 years"
1.-THE police always treated you well?"
| "Yes, sir, we got on well together"
| "You had trouble with an officer named
Murphy"
! Yes, sir. Captain Murphy"
| Harry sail Murphy pretended to be a
friend of his, hut he was only a few days in
the ward when Murphy began to blackmsil
him. He got Murphy into the ward aud
had spoken about him to the police COM
missioners.
Il thought he was my best FRIEND" said
the witness, she drank my wine and was
not particular as to the number of bottles
opened. He always brought friends and
they, too, took my wine. l had no trouble
with Captain Byrnes or any other captains.
| Murphy brought friends, who, he said,
wanted to see the sights of New York, like
the committee here. He said he would pay
| for the wine but never did"
"What did he give your"
ooh, good shake of the hand"
what time did he strike you just for
money!"
"a good many times. Detective Moran
was the man who collected the money. He
| told me one day that l was not paying as
much money as other houses. He wanted
$500, and said would not give it as |
was keeping a straight house. When
gave up the place in Houston street tried
to make living in Harlem. They tried
to blackmail me there and annoyed me con-
stantly. There were gambling houses and
bed houses all around, but they did not in
terfere with them. They bounded me con
stantly. My barkeeper was arrested and
had no peace" -..
"Afttr your trouble with Captain Muir.
ply the police interfered with you con-
stantly?' .-..--
Eyes. sir, they did. When refused to
pay $500 to Moran, they constantly an
noyed me-" Harry told how Supt. Murray
and Inspector Steere sent for him. There
was suspicion at headquarters that some
thing was wrong. murray and Steers
told me" said Harry, THAT they would pro
tect me if | told them the amount l pait
Murphy. They promised they would no
give me away and told. Notwithstanding
their promise l was brought before the
police commissioners and then was called
'squealer.' Murphy was removed soor
afterwards and Moran resigned.
"Did you pay money to the police wher
You held sparring matches in your placer
mo, sir, did not"
GLOW much did you pay the police alto
gether?"
II could not tell exactly. A short time
before closed gave $780,"
did not you give up money to Other
police captains?"
II might have done so''-hesitatingly-
'Mutphy was the man who struck me the
hardest. The other captains treated me
WE'LL" Witness told how he applied for &
license in Green point.
"You had talk with Capt. French?"
eyes sir. He told me l would get ne
license. as / went back on the buttons il
New York."
wherever you applied for license you
have been deprived of it by the New Yorl
police?" ..
"That's what have been told. l have
license now in my own name in Rocaway.
Judge Ransom cross-examined the wit
ness. "Have you ever paid money to any
other policeman but Moran?"
"Not to my knowledge. l don't recollect
doing So" ..-.-
Chairman Lexow asked the witness if he
was sure he had not paid any other officer
money.
~ frequently lent money to officers.
Moran was the only man l paved regu.
larly."
''Is not it a fact that when roundsmen
wanted to be promoted they went to you
for money?'
Il don't think so. They tried to put
money in my hand, but refused it,
Friends would do me kindness without
money" ....
"You know that policeman could not
be made captain without putting money
up?"
policemen used to tell me So"
Witness could not remember whether he
had been asked to put up money to make a
man captain of police. He said he was
not screening any captain, because they
were Masons like himself.
Joseph Stein said he lent money to man
who said he wanted it to get on the police
force. Henry Nichols, stock broker, testi
fed that he saw policeman recently take
money from licensed vender after an ap.
parently excited conversation between the
two. Court adjourned until tomorrow,