New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-19
WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED.


WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED.
The investigation Of bribery and corruption IN
the Police Department which was begun by the
Grand Jury of the Court Of Oyer and Terminer "
order Of Judge Ingraham early in January hao
not been concluded yesterday when the jury pre-
sented a number of indictments These indict-
ments were handed to Judge Ingraham early In
the afternoon District-Attorney Fellows was In
court at the time, and he probably had the neces-
sary warrants ready then, but it was decided not
to make any arrests on the indictments until this
morning. and the greatest care was taken to pre-
vent the names Of the indicted persons from be-
ing made public.
There Were rumors that Police Inspectors Alex
ander s. Williams and William Mclaughlin, and
Captains William Meakim, Frederick Martens.
Richard O'Connor, James X. Price William
Schultz and Jacob Seibert were among those in
dicted but II was impossible to obtain any ver-
fcation Of such reports. Assistant District-At-
torney Weeks went to Police Headquarters late
in the afternoon and had short consultation
with Superintendent Byrnes. and 1t was supposed
that he carried TO the Superintendent the war
rants for arrests, but before he left his Office
the Superintendent made the announcement that
no arrests would be made before this morning.
Ii was understood at the Central Office last
night that the indicted members OF the depart
ment would be sent to the Criminal Courts Build
ing to give BAH, and that none OF them would be
locked up. one reason for preventing the names
of indicted persons from being made public was
said to be that the publication of the names
might cause some OF the persons 10 run away. AT
the same time It was declared that no member
OF the police force would run away and that in
dicated that some Of the indicted persons were
1hers ~ no There
authority for the statement that at least twenty
seven indictments had been found by the Grand
Jury
BYRNES PROBABLY NOT INDICTED.
The jury also made presentment in which
there some significant passages Superin-
tendent Byrnes was scored account Of the ex-
ample ne had set for his subordinates in the ac-
cumuaton OF fortune. and the blame given
in that manner indicated that he had not been
indicted. The jury also declared that the officials
of the Police Department had declined to aid
in the investigation although invited. and that
the influence Of the police had been against the In
vestlgation from the start.
Superintendent Byrnes. when he heard OF the
Iresentment. said that 1t his business
how he had made his money. and he had nothing
to conceal but ne had nothing 10 say in expana-
ton of his failure 10 aid jury in its investga-
ton Of the department.
The jury ais said that indictments had
not been found in some cases where the proof
OF corruption was plain. because the offences
were committed several years ago In other
cases II was stated the evidence had not been
corroborated sufficiently to warrant indctmentA
but the investigation in such cases had not been
finished.
The Grand Jury made its long expected re-
port at p m yesterday. At that hour Justice
Ingraham opened court. and the jurors, headed
by Francis II. Leggett entered the room. Mr.
Leggett had in his hand a number of indictments
and a large typewritten manuscript. After the
jrcrs lad taken seats. and Clerk Carroll had
called their names Justice Ingraham stated that
he understood they had other matters to invests
gate and that they could retire. Mr. Leggett
said that he thought they had finished for the
day and that they would not resume until they
had had nights rest.
You my, OF course, DO as you wish" replied
the Justice
Mr.. Ieggett then handed to the Justice the
typewriter manuscript. which proved TO be
presentment. This the Justice read in company
with Dstrict-Attorney Fellows. after which 1t
was read TO the members of the press, OF whom
there were nearly half hundred present.
THE PREsENTMENT.
The presentment made by the Grand Jury -
appended:
Court of oyer and Terminer Of the city and
county of New-York. 10 the Hon. George l.
Ingraham:
1t is two years since a former Grand
Jury filed in the Court OF General Sessions a
presentment calling attention TO facts which
show widespread corruption In the Department
of Police. The Grand Jury closed Its present.
ment follows:
circumstances and testimony offered have
al. t1arof ftrna in
cases for lax administration. Indeed, the pub
licty with which the law is violated and the
immunity from arrest enjoyed by the law
breakers are inconsistent with any other theory.
II is obvious that when confession by law
breaker of payment for protection would sub
ject him To penalties. not only to punishment
for his acknowledged crime but also for bribe-
giving II is extremely difficult To collect trust
worthy evidence In direct proof OF such charges
1t has been thought best at the present time
To go further than To make this general
presentment. 80 that the courts and residents
of our city may be properly informed and
warned against the dangerous evil that Is In
our midst
Since this presentment was made an investi-
eating committee of the Senate has spent many
months in collecting evidence. which, while am
pie to satisfy the public OF the existence OF the
corruption. fell short In most cases of that
which the law requires to establish guilt
This Grand Jury is the first body that has
been charged with the duty OF conducting an
investigation in order to ascertain whether
there a basis for criminal prosecution,
and began our sessions on January Z, 1895.
and were continuously at work until February
Il. We resumed our labors on March IL, and
have examined several hundred witnesses.
While our labors are not yet concluded and
other matters are still before us which may be
productive of results we have deemed II our duty,
in presenting the indictments which accompany
this report to express such conclusions upon such
matters arising out Of the evidence before us as.
In opinion. the public interests demand should
not be placed under the ban of secrecy which
ordinarily attaches to Grand Jury proceedings.
AT the outset of our labors we recognized the
many difficulties with which We were beset and 10
which predecessors referred, and we antici-
pated the obstacles which would be likely to
encounter. and In pursuing our inquiries we found
these difficulties most embarrassing and the OBJ
stacles at times seemingly insurmountable. To
many members Of the force, officers and men,