The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-22
Capt. Schmittberger COnfesses
Before Lexow Committee.
The Entire New York Police
Force is Rotten.
MERCENARY MOTIVES.
These Alone Actuated Officers
in Their Actions.

New YORK, Dec 22,-Maximilian @.
Schmittberger, captain of police and
now in command of the Tenderloin
district, made a confession before the
Lexow committee yesterday to the
effect that the entire police system of
New York City, with the exception Of
superintendent Byrnes and a few
others, was rotten to the core; that
blackmail and bribery. extortion and
corruption were common crimes in
the department and that mercenary
methods alone actuated his fellow
officers. His charges implicated In
spectors Williams and McAvOy, eX-
Inspector Steers, Police Commissioners
James B. Martin and John C. Sheehans
Captains Price, Gastlin and Martens,
eX-Captain John Gunner and Wardmen
Dunlap, Robert Vail and James Can
non
Without question it was the most
important day in the history of the
LexOW committee. Sehmittberger' )
confession is prolific Of not only SEN
sation, but OF evidence which con-
firms and verities what have been
heretofore considered the most ex-
aggerated cases of police and official
corruption. 1t deals with more in
dividual cases; it shows the criminality
that has prevailed in the police de-
partmenu.
Captain Schmittberger is under in
dictInent for bribery. He had pre-
viOusly refused to testify before the
senate comm ittee. Yesterday he took
advantage of offer OF immunity
from punishment held out to him by
Counsel Golf and agreed to make
clean breast OF it. The pillars of the
church are fallen, "a q he on the wit
ness stand. and l deem it due my
conscience, my wife ana my children,
to tell what 1 know Meanwhile
dark circles crept under his eyes, his
face assumed a sickIy pallor. an air Of
utter WEAKNESS and detection pos
sessed 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 sarcastic laughter instead
answered the acknowledgment of
his WEAKNESS when at last Counsel
Golf permitted him to vacate the wit
ness stand.
The city is not turbulent with ex-
element. as it was just a week ago,
on tie occasion of Captain Creeden's
OnfeSsIOn. Instead, an atmosphere
Of suppressed indignation prevails. IN
official circles no attempt is made ia
contradiction or derOgation Of Captain
Schmitt be ger's allegations, and
everywhere is heard the comment: 1t
could not have been worse; it must
end"
Senator O'Connor denied that he
had asserted as has been alleged. that
Mr. Golf had bulldozed and intim-
idated witnesses before the Lexow
committee. In speaking Of the pro
posed continuation of the commission,
OCOnnor said: 1.-THE police depart
ment is rotten to the very foundation
and should be the last to oppose an
investigation. That there is some
discord between Counsel Golf and the
committee. however, IS a conceded
- -, a hsa
question as to why Superintend-
emf Bvrnes and other officers
have not been called to testify is not
denied. 1t is also believed that a
misunderstanding exists between DR..
Parl1hurst and Mr.. Golf with relation
to the propriety Of summoning Super
intendent Byrncs. With reference to
this matter Counsel COTS assistant,
Mr.. jerome, said that it was one
thing 10 put man in the witness
chair and another to get suffice mt
proof against him to attain any good
results He thought. however that
Superintendent Byrnes and COmmls-
sioner Martin would be called next