The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-30
BYRNESMAY SHED THE Blue
His Resignation in the Hands Of MayCT
Strong.

He Tells Mr.. GoH That Reorganization
ofthe Police Force Il Neoessary-The
superintendent at Loggsrheads With
the Commissioners Over the Policy OF
the Department The Superintendent
Testiaes That he Is Worth $3.50, 900,
Mostly Made for Him by Friends in
Stock Speeulaions.
New York. Dec. THE Lexow commit
tee concluded its hearings to-day and ad-
iourned subject to the can of the chair
man.
The day was fun OF sensations. and the
climax was reached when Superintendent
Byrnes announced that he had rendered
his resignation from the police force. The
announcement came at the conclusion OF
a series Of questions by Mr.. Con as to dis.
agreement between Mr.. Byrnes and the
/ police board.
! Mr.. Con asked: Have there been any
occasions in which any of the police COM
missioners interfered with you regarding
your orders to the captains in the elec-
ton of ls92?'
! There was a serious difference OF opin-
| ion"
The witness then said that President
I Martin came to the meeting Of the cap
talns and made a speech to the men re.
! garding their election duties. Il did not
Ike what he said as l thought / had ex-
plalned myself sufficiently lie spoke in
the meeting would he say what was true
/ or untrue?"
! "If Mr. Martin said YOU invited him TO
/ regard TO federal officials"
'tle said what was untrue. when the
| meeting was over two of the captains
came back and kissed my hands for the
stand had taken in the matter l simply
| wanted to protect our citizens in vot-
| ing
! "Can you tell us why the police remained
/ passive IN the elections of 1892"
( Il believe something OF the kind was
| brought before the board. but l don't
/ know what was done with IL"
You found you could enforce orders
without the use of clubs2"
YES sir"
And policemen can enforce orders
/ without the use of clubs2"
They can, sir"
do you say the police department at
the present time Is in a good or bad con
dition?"
III IS IN a pad cOnOltlOn.
And can you, rs superintendent. ef-
feet any change for the better at pres
ent?"
NO sir II a man was not strong
man as superintendent his Office would be
a nonentity."
/ And If he is a strong man he is con-
stantly fighting with the board?'
That's my case"
He said the superintendent of police
should have charge Of the disciplining Of
/ the police.
Did you knowingly oppose DR.. Park
/ hurst when he was trying to suppress dis
orderly houses In the Eleventh precinct?'
/ Il never opposed anybody trying to sup
/ press dlsordery houses"
Mr.. Con- then asked the superintendent
/ how II was that the five special officers
/ ne had sent to the Eleventh precinct to
/ get evidence against dlsorderly houses
/ did not report a single house. while the
agents of DR.. Parkhurst secured evidence
which convicted five keepers of dsorderly
| houses. He asked the superintendent If
that did not show ineflency in his men.
Il confess it does in that specific case"
replied Mr.. Byrnes..
Supt. Byrnes then made his startling
| statement II feel assured" said he that
! the commissioners wanted to get rid OF
| me, and l wanted TO retire, but refrained
from sense of duty to the citizens of
/ New York The views of the commits
! sioners do not agree with mine. What
! ever the incoming mayor and authorl-
! ties want to do, / will not interfere with
them. have been thirty-two years IN the
department and am willing to retire"
/ Tim superintendent then handed Mr..
! Goff n letter which he had sent to Mayor
elect Strong on Dec. 10, 1894. 1t ran:
Dear Sir: l appreciate as fully as any
man can the tremendous responsibilities
/ that will come upon you when you assume
! the duties of mayor and undertake the re-
form of the various departments of the
city government. / desire not to be an
embarrassment In anything you propose
| to do with the police department On the
contrary, 1 wish to aid you in any way
that j can. l assume you are now cOnsid-
ering what action you are going TO take
at the outset Of your administration and
| what legislation viii be required to make
such practicable 1 therefore, now place
In your hands my request to be retired
from the post Of superintendent. to be
used by you or not, at any time after the
LIST of January as you see fit.
Let me further say that you may be en-
tirely free to command by services, advice
and information at any time in regard to
the affairs of the police department with
which / have been so long connected
Your obedient servant
Thomas Byrnes
The reading Of the letter caused SEN
sation I'm court. The big superintendent
sat back in his chair smilingly as Mr..
Goff read his letter of resignation.
There was another long discussion as TO
the police force, the superintendent giving
1t as his opinion that 1t was necessary
to reorganize II.
This closed the story Of the superintend-
ent, and the hearing of the Lexow COM
rnittee was practically ct an end.
Preceding this sensational climax Mr..
Byrnes underwent searching examina-
ton az to how much he is worth and how
he acquired his fortune. He admitted that
he Is worth in real estate and personal
property $SJO000. all excepting few thou
sand dollars acquired in stock speculations
conducted by his friends. Jay Gould had
made $50, 900 for him and since Jay Gould's
death his son George had added $4,000 to
Mr.. Byrnes' wealth. He started from a
small beginning, and from his savings,
and a small Inheritance received in 1869,
and 5000 made for him by Commodore
vanderbilt Mr.. Byrnes found himself in
1880 worth SIS, 600 to $4,000. Mr.. Vanderbilt
rad invested 81, 900 for Mr.. Byrnes and re-
turned 5000. He had gained Mr.. Gould's
good will by riddlng him of a writer Of
threatening letters.