Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-03

Examination Unsatisfactory
Estate DealS-CallS SchmittbergcI
a Liar-EN-Captain Stephenson Get
Three Years.
New York, Dec. 27.-Before the Lex
ow committee eN-Warden Shelby
again took the stand and said that the
collection since the committee com
menced its investigation was not con
Quoted on the same plan as before
He himself spoke to Capt Schultz of
the ACCESSIBILITY of being more eau
tious. Capt. Schultz accepted all tie
money as a bride. The amount paid
Schultz was about $4,000.
And the people who paid these
brides were not interfered with?"
Yes" said the witness, because
We wanted to drive the disorderly
housekeepers out of the district We
collected from policy shops and sa-
looms as usual
In the afternoon Inspector Williams
took the stand and all other witnesses
We're excused.
''When did you join the police force?''
asked Mr.. Golf.
in 1866. l was then "A years of
age. | was a ship carpenter. l have
been employed in China and Japan l
had charge of the dock yards in
Shar ghai''
'When you joined the forces were
you poor or in good circumstances?
"Fairly we'll off, think l was worth
$4,000 or $4,000"
Had you any other property?'
Eyes, some lots in Japan"
GAS a matter of information, how do
they measure building lots there?''
81 think 2OOX35 feet; don't remem-
ber."
Witness sold his home in Brooklyn
for about $1,000, receiving the pay in
bills Of exchange on English banks;
these he converted into currency,
which he deposited in a safe belonging
to a man named Terry.
He accounted for his transactions in
real estate and swore positively that
he was never directly or indirectly
connected with the sale of Hollywood
whiskey. The inspector was fire.
quently accused of having an interest
in the company which handled this
brand of liquor, and it is stated, by
displaying the company'S sign in a
prominent place, the prOprietOrS of Sa-
looms were protected from arrest or
annoyance for violation of excise laws
Williams denounced Schmittberger as
a liar and his testimony as false, say
ing that he was prompted to lie by
promise of immunity given by the
LeXow committee. The inspector met
Mr.. Goff's attacks stubbornly and fire.
quently aroused merriment by an
swers which nettled Mr.. Golf.
Williams was questioned at length
regarding all allegations of corruption,
bribery and misconduct made against
him and denied them all specifically.
1t is thought that Williams will re-
sumo the stand today
New York. Dec. 27.-EX-Police Capt.
John l.. Stevenson, the first of the pO-
lice officials tried and convicted as an
outcome of the exposures brought
sentenced by Judge Ingraham to three
years and nine months imprisonment
in Sing Sing and to pay $1,000 fine.
On Dec la fter a trial which last
ed three days, the eX-captain was
found guilty of bribery, he having,
while in charge of the Fifth precinct,
received four baskets of peaches from
Martin n. Edwards, a produce dealer
of 153 Duane street.
stephenson, you have been con-
victed of bribery by a jury On evi-
dence that was absolutely convincing,
and no man after hearing it could
have come to any other conclusion.
The amount you got (S6 worth of
peaches) is Of no consequence in fixing
the penalty for your crime. You were
a public officer invested with great
powers and you used them for your
own benefit.
"The law gives me great discretion
in fixing your punishment. Innocent
people, namely, your wife and chill
dren, will suffer and regret it. l con-
slider yours to be a most serious Of
mendation from some of the jurymen
to which I must give great weight. l
have also received several letters
from merchants who know you, and
they say that you never attempted to
extort money from them or a bride.
con the other hand, [ have re-
ceived communications which show
that the complaint on which you were
convicted was not an isolated case.
81 will endeavor to fix punishment
not excessive Or severe, but which, to
my mind will show that this Offense
is a serious one, and that public Of
ficials must perform their duties with
out being Influenced one way or the
other by bribery.
"The sentence of the court is that
you be confined in states prison for
three years and nine months and to
pay fine CT $1,000"
The eX-captain took his sentence
very cody and as he Vas crossing the
street to the Tombs prison, being
saved the ignominy of going over the
new bridge of sighs,' he said to one
of his friends: Il may as well go up
and begin serving my tern at once,