The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-12-29
SENT TO PRISON.
Ex-Police Capt. Stephenson. Convicted of
bribery. G. Given "a Term Ia Prison
and Heavily Williams
on the Rack.

NEW York. Dec. 27.-The Lexow
committee, scorned, laughed at aud
considered huge joke when 1t first
began its work, has secured its first
great victory in the criminal courts.
Ex-Police Capt John l.. Stephenson has
been sentenced To three years and nine
months in the penitentiary at Sing
Sing and 10 pay fine of $1,000.
The laughter that first greeted the
Lcxow committee ceased long ago. but
Wednesday marked an epoch in the
history OF It's labors. nevertheless IL
was the contamination OF its first
great case, and now no one can
doubt that an almost endless num-
Der OF convictions, with their ac-
companying sentences, will follow.
The jury found Capt. Stephenson
guilty after trial ending December
IL. The crime charged against him
was accepting brides from street MGR
chants and peddlers, although the
only case conclusively proved was
that he had accepted four bas-
kets of peaches from fruit
merchant named Martin u Edwards.
IT was Of this that he was convicted,
but there were SO many other matters
that looked suspicious that the con-
viction was generally regarded ms one
for general "boodling" and bribe-tak-
ing.
Stephenson, after sentence was
passed, was at once taken back TO the
Toombs. He took the matter very
coolly, but did not care 10 discuss II at
any length. II may as we'll go up"
he said, 'and begin serving my term
at once, as / deem IL useless 10 fight
the case in the courts" For good be-
havior he may earn Communication OF
eleven months thus making the actual
time OF imprisonment two years and
ten months.
The courtroom was crowded when
the LeXow committee resumed its ses-
sions on Wednesday. ExWardman
Shabby was recalled To the stand. lie
said lie had served as wardman in
the Twelfth precinct under Capts
Webb. Doherty, Eakins and Schultz,
and had collected money monthly
from disorderly houses, poolrooms.
policy-shops and saloons. He gave
money 10 Capt Webb and never re-
tanned any OF IT, The captain. how
ever, returned portion TO him. lie
had collected as high as 5000 in one
month. During 1883 he collected about
IS, 900 which he gave to Capt Webb.
The procedure was practically the
same under the other captains mem
toned.
Witness said that this money was
paid as bride The police never i'm
terfered with any OF those houses un-
less there were charges Of assault or
robbery or something of that kind
coming from them In reply TO the
chairman the witness said that the
proprietor OF a house who did not pay
had 10 close. He said that the collec-
tions since the committee commenced
its investigation were not conducted
on the same plan as before. He spoke
20 Capt, schultz OF the advisahility OF
being more cautious. Capt Schultz
accepted all the money as bride.
The amount paid Schultz was about
81, 800
After recess Inspector Williams was
called 70 the stand. lie has been a
member OF the police force Since Au
gust 3. 1866. He was worth SIS, 600 or
$50. 600 when he joined the force. This
was the fifth committee. he said, that
had examined him since he became
member. lie denied emphatic
ally statements which had been made
TO the effect that he had been engaged
In any outside business since he became
policeman.
The inspector said that he had heard
-. oil hu ha
would not be surprised 20 be accused
OF any crime. His shoulders were
broad and heavy. He admitted that
he had been before the police commits
sioners eighteen times 20 answer To
complaints. The witness then denied
the testimony OF the witness Perkins,
who testified that when Inspector
Williams was in the street cleaning
department. he received a bride OF $500
for indorsing department bills He
thought Perkins had lied deliberately.
why, he had no idea.
The inspector said IL was not neces-
sary for him 90 indorse the street de-
partment bills as the department could
do SO. lie had never heard OF any
charges OF corruption being brought
against him. Being reminded that
Capt Schmittberger had sworn that
he had paid the witness money. the
latter said IL was untrue. lie could
not state any fact which he thought
would induce Schmittberger TO testify
falsely against him. He believed he
did IL TO save himself from states pris-
on. lie had read In some newspapers
that Capt. Schmittberger had been
promised immunity II he would testify.
rhe witness said that Schmittberger
had reported TO him as closed the pool
rooms which he had testified flourished
In his district. He did not attempt 10
verify Schmittberger's reports because
he believed them 20 be correct He (the
witness) had closed many disorderly
houses while in charge OF the Tender
loin district but when asked 20 give
the name OF one SO closed, said, after
pause, that he cou d not remember
At this point the session adjourned