Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-19
NEW YORK POLICE
Scored Without Mercy by the
Special Grand Jury.
Many indictments Found-- None Made
PubIic--Byrnes Not Forgotten.
Entire Department, Accused Of Endcavoring 10
Hinder The investigation.

New York, March 1S.-Thc cxtraordi-
nary grand jury sworn in, January =
which has been investigating the polics
department and the testimony taken be
| fore the Lcxow Senate committee, came
into court, today, and handed n big
bundle of indictments to Justice George
l.. Ingraham. Ii Is believed that there
were 25 indictments In the package, but
Judge Ingraham refused to toll who they
| were against. The following Is the con-
| clusion of the prcscntment handed in:
''In our opinion, the great body of tho
subordinate police officers are honest and
capable men, and their assistance IN our
investigation would doubtless have proved
valuable lad we been able To comm and;
but without proper orders, accompanied
by honest and willing suggestions from
their superiors, no aid Of this character
was practicable. No such orders were
given, although at the beginning Of our
session, the cooperation OF the executive
officers of the department was not only In
vitcd but directly requested.
mot only has the inactivity Of the
force itself proved a source of difficulty,
but its attitude throughout hns hindcred
us far more. The impression was created
and supported by convincing facts, that
our labors in ferreting out and enabling
tho prosecution of unfaithful officers in
stead of being approved by the department,
was an attack upon II.
The presentment, In referring to Supt.
Byrnes, says: The enjoyment by the
executive head Of tho force Of n consider
able fortune accumulated ms the result of
favors granted in the performance Of his
official duty may well have caused de-
moralization of tho force under his com.
mand. The distinction between such
favors and direct gratuities Is not one that
his subortiinates are likely to appreciate. -
The jury further scores the police for
hostility to the investigation.
Another portion Of tho presentment
reads: "We have kept in mind your hon.
or's injunction to weigh with caution the
testimony of witnesses of disreputable
character, and where we have felt a doubt
of the trustworthiness of the evidence, we
deemed it in the public interest to reject
it in its entirely. The evidence left no
doubt in our minds that for years IL has
been the practice Of many police captains
in their respective precincts to receive
money as brides for protecting
violators OF the law and
cxtort money from the law abiding
citizens as the price Of exemption from
police interference and annoyance. We
believe that this practice was carried 10
an extent unprecedented in the history Of
the city. Clear cases were presented In
which, by reason alone Of the lapse III
time. the law precluded us from finding
indictments"
II was said on authority Of the assistant
district attorney, this afternoon, that all
the indictments handed down were against
members Of the police force. Five in
dictmcnts were found against Inspector
Mclaughlin.
The extraordinary grand jury dismissed
the charges of conspiracy brought against
Agents Whitney and bennett Of the
Parkhurst Society by Detective Sergeant
Jacob. Similar charges against Chss.
Liss and Samuel Cohen were also dis
missed.