New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-02
BYRNES READY TO TESTIFY.
HE MAY MAKE SOME REVELATIONS TO
THE SENATE POLICE COMMITTEE
THE FIRST SESSION OF IT'S INVESTIGATION THIS
AFTERNOON - COMMISSIONER MARTIN SAYS
HOW GLAD HE Is-IMPORTANT DIsCLos-
I-prs AEOTT THE DEPARTMENT
WHICH THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL

WHICH THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL
MAKE IF HE Is PRESSED
The announcement that the Senate committee
10 investigate the police department would begin
operations at the Hotel Mcropoe in this city
to-day did not take the officials at the Central
Office by surprise They said yesterday that
they haG expected the investigation to begin
before the close Of this week. Their chei
anxiety yesterday was in regard to the hnes
OF investigation which the committee intended
t. follow Not a hint of the committees purpose
i'm that respect had been conveyed To the oih-
cials Neither to the Commissioners nor to
Chief Clerk Kipp had there been sent any
official notice Of the investigation. or any
subpoenas for witnesses. and none were eN-
pectcd until to-day. The Commissioners had
consulted on Wednesday regarding the choice
Of 4 LAWYER to act as counsel for the Depart
ment and cross-examine witnesses before the
committee. but they had not reached decision
among two or three prominent lawyers whose
names had been suggested. They did not know
whether either Of the lawyers whom they had
talked of would consent to act as counsel for
the Department. and therefore they kept the
names Of the lawyers to themselves
II would be easier to make a choice Of counsel
they said yesterday. If they knew who the COM
mttce's counsel was to be- If the committee So
ected n man of prominence, whose known char-
acter would be kind of guarantee that the
object Of the investigation was To get at the
truth the counsel for the Department should be
n man Of the same character If 1t was merely
the intention Of the committee to throw mud at
the Department for partisan purposes. the fact
might be shown In the selection of the commit
tees counsel In any case, It was said the COM
nittee's choice Of counsel probably would in
~. 10 cIlpl he
CATION.
MIR CHOATE AND MR ERUARDT AS COUNSEL
At the meeting Of the Chamber of Commerce
Yesterday Charles Stewart Smith. president of
the Chamber. read telegram he had received
from the chairman of the Senate Committee. re-
questing Mr. Smith u he present prepared to
name special counsel Mr. Smith announced
that Joseph IT, Choate had been appointed coun-
sci by the Chambers special committee, and
that Joel Il. Erhardt would be retained as as
sOciate counsel. II was known at the Central
Office that SIR. Choate was out Of the city. and
was not expected to return before tomorrow.
Several of the officials there said yesterday they
would be- pleased 10 have Mr.. Choate. or a man
~ the same character selected as the commit
tees counsel
There has been no general investigation Of
the Police Department in this city by a COM
/
tlon bv the Roosevelt Committee in 1854. The
Fassctt Committee later made only a partial
inquiry into police methods. When the
mittee headed by Theodore Roosevelt held ses-
'laus AZ the Metropolitan Hotel ten years ago,
the counsel of the Police Department cx-
Judge Horace Russell. and he ably sec
onded by the late Seth c. Hawley. who was
trained lawyer ana cx-Asscmblyman. and had
been the chef clerk of the Police Department
for many years.
READY At HEADQUARTERS.
chief Clerk Kip said yesterday that h would
be- ready az = moments notice to produce any
records of thu department which the committee
might desire &, make use OF in the invesiiga-
uon. Superintendent Hyrnes may bc called upon
10 produce before the committee some Of the
cret records which are never in the keeping Of the
chief clerk. Those records include the reports Of
inspectors and captains about disorlory houses
and gambling houses in the city. and about the
rOboerics which the police keep from the knOwl-
edge OF tn" public
Mr.. Byrncs would not talk about the lnvestlga-
pdssV" fac" revealed neither anxiety nor eXul-
tation at the approach OF the ordea.
nYENEs WILL STIR THINGS Up.
one Of his closest friends in the department
said 10 Tribune reporter:
The Superintendent X not afraid. although he
expects to be- placed In an embarrassing position
when h. Is called as witness before the com
mttce. as hc doubtless Will be-. If he Is forced
10 tell under OATH anything about the inter
ference Of Commissioners to prevent him from rn-
forcing the laws fairly there is sure 10 be
trouble for somebody in the department.
1T is more than likely. also. that an attempt
Will BE- made to east blame upon him for the
blundrrs of inspectors and captains. and h. Is too
Of .,ff, af-
tacks without striking back. lie knew the in
spcctors and captains perfectly well when he
became Superintendent. and he was too clever "A
detective not to protect himself against them.
He has compelled them to make written reports
IN every case where there could bc any doubt as
To responsibility. and he could lay his hands on
the right reports at a minutes notice. He may
"' asked also about the bill which has been
introduced into the Legislature to Increase the
poM"r' or IN" Superintendent. ana II he is re-
'uired 10 give his opinions that subject he
may say things that Will bring him into conflict
with the commissioners"
THEY WILL WELCOME IT
President James J Martin Of the Police Board
said late In the afternoon: "Now that the Sem
ate committee has been selected. | have no hcsi- !
tation i'm saying that "A a Police Commissioner |
VIII do all in my power to aid in honest |
investigation Of the department. The news
papers for many months have been spreading all |
kinds Of reports and charges affecting the char
act"r Of the Commissioners and shall have
an opportunity AZ length to answer some of these |
false reports and charges"
Commissioner John McClaVe said: II am glad |
there Is going to be- an investigation. and be-
lleNe 1t Will clear the air of many OF the false
ana scandaOus reports which have been I'm cir
cuIaton about the department for months 1t |
must be remembered that Dr Parkhurst has had
Il scar Night turned on the department for many
months. and has been spending thousands Of |
uoilars and employing many persons i'm the ef-
tort To get evidence To- substantate his charges |
oi corruption and blackmail. The department
therefore has been virtually under investigation
Tor long time. Does anybody suppose that, il |
Dr. Parkhurst had been able to get any direct
PROOF that Il member of the department had
cNtoited money from liquor dealer, a gambler
or Il Keeper of "A disorderly house I'm the city. he
hll c.Ll-- IL. IL. c.-.