Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-12-29
A TALE OF INFAMY.
Startling Revelations Of New York
Police Corruption.
Capt. schmittborger Makes n Clean Breast
to the Lexow Committoe-vasts sums
Accepted for Protection to
LnMbrenlkera.

berger was recalled as witness be-
fore the Lexow committee on Friday.
He created q sensation by his answer
to the second question asked him,
which was: "Do you recognize the
binding character of an oathP" He re-
piled: Il do; / have come to tell the
whole truth"
Capt. Schmittberger said he was
wardman under Inspector, then Capt,
Williams, in the Tenderloin precinct
Inspector Steers detailed him as pre-
cinct detective under Capt Williams
Patrolmau Price, who is now n cap
tain, looked after the disorderly
houses Under Price these houses
were allowed to run because they
paid for protection.
Mr.. Golf then named Tom Gould's,
the Star and Garter, the Fashion, and
other once famous Tenderloin places.
"These places" said the captain,
"were the resort of criminals of the
whole city who came there to meet
women"
'Who was the man to whom the
protection money went directly?"
Captain, now Inspector Williams"
Would it be possible for these
places to run openly without the toll
Grafton of the captain?"
mo sir, it would not"
He was made captain later on, talk
ing charge of the thirty-seventh pre-
cinct, the steamboat squad He was
aware of the practice of collecting mon
ey from steamboatmen. Bob Vail told
him that he had collected for Capt
Gastlin, and that he (Schmittberger)
was a fool IL he did not con-
tinue the practice. He assigned
Vail to the task of making these col
lections, and received from him $3.50
a month for two months. He gave
Vail 20 per cent, and said the latter
lied when he testified that he insisted
on having all of the money collected.
1t was the common custom for the
captain to make money out of his pre-
cinct. He had list of those from
whom collections were to be made,
together with the amounts.
He gave part of his collections TO
Inspector Williams. He continued
when Capt. Gunner left the precinct.
asked how much he paid the inspector. Gun
ner told me he gave Williams between $50 and
S75 month. He said he placed it in an en-
velope and gave 1t to Wardman Campbell, who
gave 1t to Price at headquarters, for the in
spector. knew Williams we'll, and did not
think 1t necessary to have an intermediary, so
handed him the money myself IA an envel-
ope at headquarters. L paid him money during
the three months was in charge OF the pre-
cinct, from $50 to SlOO each time Thought it
prudent to pay him. because it was in his
power to send men to raid the policy shops.
The money was paid to enable the law to be
violated paid no one but Williams. The
liquor dealers paid to be allowed to sell liquor
on Sunday. Some of the identical money re-
ceived was given 10 Inspector Williams. pre-
sumo the inspector knew OF tho existence of
policy shops outside OF my information. The
shops were never raided Had / not been In
terested l could have driven the policy shops
from place to place. 1t was understood
thing that was not to enforce the law. felt
safe as long as paid Williams"
Witness next took charge of the
Twenty-seventh precinct, on Eighty
eighth street, near Avenue A. He col
lected there about $500 month from
three pool.rooms and ten policy shops.
He did not pay any attention to the
liquor dealers. 1t was understood
that the liquor dealers paid Tammany
Hall instead of the police. They were
to give support to Tammany Hail. po-
litcally or by other means instead of
paying the police.
While at the Twenty-seventh pre-
cinct witness paid Williams 5000 a
month out of the money collected.
Williams was aware of the existence
of the poolrooms. He gave Williams
daring the nine months he spent in
the Twenty seventh precinct about
Sl,so0. 1t was the custom of the
captains of precincts to pay the in
spector of their districts.
He received orders from Commits
sioner Martin to let certain houses
alone. On one occasion witness re-
,ceived complaint about house run
by woman named Sadie West. He
sent an officer there. The West
woman told him she was a friend of
Commissioner Martin. The next day
Martin sent for witness, and told him
to send the officer to apologize to the
West woman for raiding the house.
Witness protested. but Martin was OBJ
-durate, and he then did as he was told.
and the officer apologized.
Witness was transferred to the Ten
derloin district in December, 1893.
Georgiana Hastings ran house of i'll
fame there. She did not pay for pro-
lSCOlOL, Dup nc WIS Ludt IL
he interfered with her he would be
worsted, as certain public officials,
some of whom graced the judicial
bench, were visitors there.
Mr.. Goff asked the witness If there
was anything further he wished to
tell He replied: 81 have told all
know about the police department and
have made clean breast of every
thing. / felt that for the sake of my
wife and children 1 was justified in
coming forward and telling what
knew"
The captain then made an impor-
tant statement. II think" said he,
THAT Superintendent Byrnes is an
honest man and means to do what is
right if he was permitted to do sop
The captain was then excused for
the present. An adjournment was
then taken until next Wednesday.
MASKED MEN ROB a TRAIN