Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-22
.SCHMITTBERGER TELLS
ali BE Knows About Police COrrup-
tion in New York.
he WAS TENDERLOIN CAPTAIN,
And was in the Midst Of the Rot
tenest Part of the City-His
Testimony Shows that Inspect
ors Williams, McAyoy and
Steers Received the Blood
Money from the Policy Shops
and Disorderly Houses.

NEW YORK, December Ex-senator
0'Connor to-day denied that be had as
serted, as has been alleged, that Mr..
Goff had bulldozed and intimidated wit
nesses before the Lexow committee. In
speaking OF the proposed continuation
| OF the committee, Senator O'Connor
said: "The police department OF New
York is rotten to the very foundation,
| and l should be the last TO
oppose the continuance OF this
| committee. That there is discoro
between Counsel Goff and the Com
mittee, however, is a conceded fact;
| and that this dissension is over the
question as to why Supt Byrnes and
other officials have not been called TO
testify is not denied. 1t is also believed
that a misunderstanding exists be-
tween Dr. Parkhurst and Mr.. Gof with
relation to the propriety OF summoning
Supt. Byrnes before the COMMITTEES.
With reference 10 this matter couh-
sci Goff's assistant. Mr.. Jerome,
| said that il was one thing
TO put uan in the witness
chair and another to get sufficient proof
against him 10 attain aIT good results.
| He thought, however, that Superin-
tsndent Byrnes and Commissioner Mar
| tin would be called next week.
Macmillan c. Schmittberger, captain
of police and now In command OF the
Tenderloin district, made q confession
before the Lexow Committee, and 10 the
effect that the entire police system OF
| New York City, with the exception OF
Supt. Byrnes and few others, were
rotten to the core; that olackmail and
bribery, extortiou and corruption were
common crimes in the department; and
that mercenary matters alone actuated
! his fellow officers. His charges plicat-
! ed INSPECTORS Williams and McAVoy, eX-
Inspector Steers. Police Commissioners
James B. Martin and John {. Sheehan,
Captains Price, George Gsstiln and
Frederick w. Martens, ex-Captain John
Gunner and Wardmen Dunlap, Robert
! Vail and James Cannon.
The greater part OF Schnittbergers
testimony was against Inspectors WIZ
liams and McAvoy.
Without question this has been the
most Important day in the history OF the
| Lexow Committee. Schmittoerger's
! confession Is prolific OF not only sensa-
tion, but Of evidence which confirms
and verifes what have been hitherto
considered the most exaggerated cases
Of police aud official corruption. 1t
deals with more individual cases; 1t
shows the criminslty that has pervaded
the police department
CAPTAIN Schmittberger Is under in
| 6ictment for bribery. He had pre-
yiously refused TO testify before the
senate committee. Yesterday, how
ever, he was re-arrssted and his bail in
creased. To-day be took advantage Of
an offer OF immunity from punishment
held out to him by Counsel Con and
agreed 20 make clean breast OF IL.
The pillars OF the church are fallen, Z"
said he on the witness stand this after
noon, and deem Is due my
! conscience, my wife aud my chill
| dren to tell what I know" Mean
while dark circles had crept under his
ewes. his face assumed 5 sickly pallor,
an air of utter WEAKNESS and detection
possessed him and he appeared, as he
/ was. In extreme mental torture and
| agony.
But no spirit Of sympathy moved the
| throng OF spectators. Sneers and sar-
castle laughter instead answered bis
acknowledgment OF WEAKNESS, when 81
! last Counsel Gof permitted him to
| vacate the witness staad.
The city tonight is not turbulent
with excitement as It was just week
| ago or the occasion OF Captain Creedon's
confession. Instead 90 atmosphere Of
suppressed indignation prevails. In
official circles no attempt Is made 10
contradiction of Captain Schmittber-
| gers allegations, and everywhere heard
| the comment is: 1T could not have
been worse; it must end"
The news that Schmittberger had
consented TO tell all he knew spread
| through the city with the speed OF 3
whirlWind, and drew 10 the com mittee
room a vast throng OF citizens who
clauored and struggled for admission.
In political and Official circles this In
| telligenc0 created furore.
Captain SchmittberRer's testimony
| shows that be and other captains col
Iected, through their Wardmeh, several
| thousand dollars . mouth from the
I houses OF prostitution. policy shops and
saloon keepers, and divided this money
among themselves and the men over
! them. There were some houses
that had special pulls on
| account OF high police off,
cials, judges. etc, visiting them aud
/ befFisndiug the inmates. These were
not called upon to pay tribute. The
evidence also showed that no effort was
ever made to break up any kind Of law
| Iessness, and that tribute was levied on
all.