Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-31
LEXOW ISTHROUGH
Revelations of Gotham Police
Corruption at an End.
sUPT. BYRNEs THE FINAL WITNESS.

He Admits the Whole Indlctment -
Against the Force. Charges it TO Local
Politics, Declares His Own Innocsnce u
and HIS Attempts 10 Stop II, and Closes
by Announcing His Resignation.
NEW YORK, Dec. 3l.-What will 60 down
in the history of this city as the Lexow
committee, but which technically is the sem
ate committee for the investigation of the
police and other departments of New
York, has at last closed its protracted and
successful sessions. 1t is doubtful if any
other like body appointed by the legisla-
ture of this state ever accomplished so
much good work in the time that this
committee has consumed, or for that mat
ter in any length of time; for the results
of this investigation have been more far
reaching and conclusive of utter and ap-
palling corruption than was ever before
demonstrated here The reports printed
in these dispatches have given a good idea
of the trend Of the revelations.
Who Has PICTURED Himself.
But to the moralist there Is a feature Of
all this swearing that is the saddest of ALL
and it is one that should engage the attcn-
ton of the publicist, and that is the
amount of perjury that has been done,
and the ease with which it has been done
without blush or stammcr For
somebody is pcrjured. The direct contra
dictions under oath are not differences of
opinion; they are issues of fact, and such
also as bad memory cannot excuse.
Some of the perjury has been acknowl-
edged later, but most of it stands just as
given. But the case is closed and the re-
port Of the committee is the next thing in
order, and New York city, at least, will
await this with Impotence.
Byrnes Announc es His Resignation.
Superintendent Byrnes was the last
witness examined. just before he was
through answering COTS questions
the superintendent handed letter to
Chairman Lcxow and said that it was a
copy of one that he had sent to Mayor
elect Strong early this month. 1t was his
resignation from the force, of which he
has been a member for the last thirty-twC
years. The SUPERB ntendent said that on
two occasions since he was appointed in
Superintendent Miurray's place he was
on the point of resigning, owing to the
sioners and himself. Tie superintendent
he said, should have absolute charge OF
the discipline of the department, but tina;
all his efforts in that direction wert
frustrated by the commissioners. The de
partnent was honey combed with abuses
which had been growing for thirty years
| and they could only be remedied by radica
Legislation.
Local Politicians to Blame for All.
Local politicians, he claimed, were tn,
curse of the department, and rs long a.
politics was factor in the force such
state of things would exist. Although ht
had done his utmost to procure substan
tial information as to corruption ant
bribery he was unable to get it, and tn,
whole department was impregnated Will
the belief that promotion had to be bought
and merit was of no avail. He claimed t,
have done a good deal towards helpin,
to bring about the exposures. He paid
tribute to DIR. Parkhurst, who, he said
manufactured public sentiment, without
which it would have been impossible fo
the committee to have acquired the infor
nation it did.
DAY Gould Was His Very Good Friend.
His wealth, which he estimated at $3.50.
900, was made by speculation, he said, in
Wall street, through the instrumentalit,
of Jay Gould and his son George. Hi
purchases Of real estate were also yer,
profitable, and he claimed not to have ;
bank account.