New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-19

Headquarters Henry " Steers, who was CHIEF
Inspector Of the department when he retired on
an annual pension of 81 500 about two years ago.
was directly implicated ard the testimony also
indicated that Inspector Thomas F. McAvoy.
in command of the Second Inspection Dis
trict. has received some of the money. although
IL not traced directly TO his hands
THE SYSTEM IN THE STEAMBOAT SQUAD.
number Of policemen who have been detailed
at piers the North River members Of the
Steamboat Squad testified that they have been
obliged for years to give up large part or the
whole Of the money which they received for
working overtime for the steamship companies.
The practice began when George W. Gastn was
in command OF the squad. but Gastin's ward
man made the men give rp only one-half Of their
extra earnings. Gastlin has since retired on
pension and the ward man is dead. Sergeant
John J. Taylor collected the ill-gOtten revenue
after Gastlin was retired unit, Captain Schmtt-
berger took command II the squad. Then
Schmttberger was not content with one-haf Of
the mems extra earnings. He wanted the whole
amount and he went far to transfer some
OF the men who refused to give UP all, but the
testimony yesterday showed that he had 10 be
content with about two-thirds In most cases
After he was transferred from the squad the
duty or collecting the revenue again fell TO Ser
geant Taylor. who continued TO be the collector
after Captain Aare took charge Of the squad.
Sergeant Taylor. when called To the witness
chair admitted that he had collected the money
from the policemen. both before and after
Schmittbergers time. and when he asked
what he had done with the money he caused .
sensation by declaring that he had paid so per
cent Of the money to Inspector Steers at first and
had kept the rest for his trouble He had acted
under the orders OF the Inspector. he declared.
and at first he had carried the money directly to
the Inspector at the Central Office Then, at the
suggestion Of the Inspector. he had placed the
money In an envelope marked street Cleaning
Report" and had allowed the envelope to be car
rled to the Central Office by the precinct mes
senger Since Inspector McAvoy had been In
charge OF the Second Inspection District, Taylor
declared. the envelopes with money had gone to
the Central Office in the same way, but he could
not swear that McAvoy had received the money.
because he never had spoken with McAyoy on the
subject
There was nothing in the testimony to show tha$
Captain Allare had received any OF the money.
Captain Allare not called TO testify regard
ing a guilty knowledge which he might have had
as to the transaction. He may testify on that
subject to-day. Mr.. Goff declared his intention -
trace the money further
WORSE FOR SCHMITTBERGER.
There was some mysterious questioning or Cap.
tain Strauss yesterday and when he had denied
that he had any visible wealth subpoena was
served on his wife. but she did not testify. The
case against Captain Schmittberger was made
stronger by the testimony OF the freight agent OF
the French Lire to the effect that friend OF the
Captain had wanted to prevent the Lexow Com
mittee from getting the facts about the paymene
of $500 to the Captain. declaring that Schmitt'
berger was willing to pay back the $500 to the
steamship company, with interest, and much
larger sum. for keeping the company's books out
of the hands Of the committees counsel An ex-
ward man testified to giving Schmttberger money
obtained from patrolmen
The committee declared that Captain Creeden
had been protected from punishment at the hands
Of the Police Commissioners for his confession 70
the committee that he had paid $4,000 for MS
office John r. Voorhis was before the commit.
tee ready to testify that he had not received any
OF Creeden's money and the committee sent
physician to examine John Martin the man who
was declared to have received $4,000 Of the sum-
Ex-Alderman Philip BENJAMIN. who is now 2
clerk in the County Clerks office, was implicated
by the testimony Of a man who declared that Ne
had received IS from the Tammany politician