New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-30
TO JOHN W. GOFF.

TO JOHN ". GOFF.
The Investigation Of the Police Department by
the Lexow Committee closed last evening with
long and highly interesting examination Of Police
Superintendent Thomas Byrncs who declared
that the department needed thorough re
organization. both in its rersonnel and in its sys-
tenn. and announced tha he had offered TO re-
tire from the department and still give his best
aid in the work OF reorganzation. His readi-
ness to leave the department had been stated in
letter to Mayor-elect Strong on December l3.
and Mr.. Strong will decide how long the Super
intendent can best serve the police force by
naming at It's head.
John W Gon, tho Recorder-clect. who con-
Quoted the examination Of the superintendent,
was thanked publicly by the committee for his
brilliant services a. counsel and he made
public acknowledgment of :hc answering sup
port which ne had received from the committee
In the long investigation.
THE stPERINTENDENTs FORTUNE.
The examination 4 Superintendent Byrnes was
begun late yesterday afternoon. At a time when
Il had been customary to cosc a days session.
and II was continued for nearly four hours. IN
the beginning Of his testimony the Superin-
tendent admitted that he had acquired fortune
of nearly 100000 largely by the aid Of the late
Jay Could In stock speculatons. and that the
money had been chiefly invested in real estate
In this city In the name u his wife He ex-
plalned that his acquaintance with the Goulds.
and with other wealthy and influential men.
who had aided him IN ventures In Wall street.
had been formed account OF some extraordi-
nary services which he had rendered 10 them.
and he had not hesitated 10 avail himself OF
their friendship.
He insisted that he had not been a dishonest
police Official. and that he had worked hard AS
an official to maintain the discipline ~ the police
and 10 enforce the laws and protect life and
property In the city. He hal heard of corruption
In the department; and when he became Super
intendcnt Of the force he had given positive
orders to the inspectors and captains to close
disoro.rly houses and other haunts ~ vice. and
to make specific reports about such places in
writing every week. When he had reason 10 be-
licvc that false reports had been made 10 him
he had made complaints against inspectors Will
iams and McAvoy and several captains. who
were tried by the Commissioners. and let on
captains on trial. but the captains had escaped
punishment by the Commissioners before the in
vestlgatlor had disclosed the extent Of corrup-
ton In tn. department.
CREDIT TO DR.. PARKHrRST
Superintendent Byrnes said he wanted 10 give
all possible credit to the Rev. DE-. Parkhurst for
his work and he denied that he had said some
harsh things about Er Parkhurst that had been
imputed 10 him lie also declared that he had
been a factor in preparing the way for the in
vcstigltior by making II possible Cor the COM
mittee to get the testimony Of number OF i'm
portant witnesses.
There was much interesting testimony by ehe
Superintendent regarding the difficulties In the
way OF enforcing the Excise law and suppressing
policy shops ana poolrooms In the city. He told
how he hfd secured the aid OF Richard Croker
in closing tie poolrooms In the city in 1899. Mr..
Croker saw the Mayor. and the Mayor laid
down tn, law to the police Justices. who had
been refusing to hold the proprictors OF the pool
rooms who we're arrested.
MARTINS ELECTION INSTRUCTIONS.
Mr. Byrnes told how he had called down Presi-
dent Martin of the Police Board when Mr.. Martin
had undertaken 10 give orders to police captains
about the conduct OF the police In the election Of
1892 and he declared that he had not invited Mr..
Martin to the meeting with the captains on that
occasion.
Superintendent Byrnes has been a member OF
the department for nearly thirty-three years.
and he declared last evening that he had per-
formed moro hard work as an officer of the force
than had been performed by any police official OF
his rank in the world In announcing his offer TO
retire from the department he said he was chiefly
concern.I for the welfare OF the force.
MLAUGHLIN'S BIG PILE
Police Inspector William Mclaughlin was
the witness-stand during great part Of the ses
SION and was dragged through a severe examina-
ton by Mr. Gon. Much of the inquiry was de-
voted to asceEtaining how much property the In
spector had acquired, and he was forced to ad-
mit at length that he had accumulated property
worth over 100000. His explanations as to the
manner In which such "A fortune had been made
while he was receiving a salary not greatly in ex
cess Of his living expenses also took much time He
declared that he had earned and saved $4,000 be-
fore ne became policeman and that he had al
lowed the money to be cared for by the woman
who later became his wife. Then he had Invested
less than s. 900 in IA patent switch. and had got
about $4,000 cut OF the investment. He con-
tended that most OF his fortune had been gained
nv business conducted by his wife. but he re-
fused to tell the nature Of her business. although
declaring that II was respectable. He mentioned
a number OF real estate transactions by which ne
claimed he had made about $4,000.
Then began n long series OF denIals. AS a
captain Of police in the First Precinct the
witness declared, he had not known Of the al