The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-12
For Fifteen Months the New York
Police Official Received
His Share.
EMPLOYED NO GO-BETWEENs.
Some Sensational Testimony That Was
Withheld From the LeXow
Committee.

W. Schaeffer testified before the Commits
sioner of Accounts this afternoon that he
had given ex-Superintendent of Police
Thomas Byrnes quarter of the receipts
of keno game which he ran at 723 Broad
way. The witness also swore under oath
that his partner had informed him that he
had paid blackmail to ex-Fire Commits
sioner Scannell, who at the time, it was
said by the witness, had just been let out
of prison and went around to gambling
houses collecting tribute from the proprie-
tors.
The name of ex-Police Inspector Nc
Laughlin was also dragged in by the wit
ness, who swore that he had paid him pro-
lection money. Schaeffer did not testify
readily. At one time he caused scene by
remarking, "Why, Byrnes came as regu-
larly after his money as the landlord"
He first met Byrnes about 1872 or 1873.
He had just been made captain of the Fiji
teenth Precinct. The witness said: "He
passed by one night when L was on the
stoop and said: You seem to be presump-
tuous. You're keeping open here in way
that don't like. want to let you know
that am king here"
Then he told Byrnes he would see him
in day sr two. Schaeffer went to see
Police Commissioner Nichols, whom he
knew, and Nichols told him that he would
tell Byrnes that if he closed Schaeffer up
he would have to close up every house in
the precinct. He did not tell Byrnes what
Nichols said. Later he saw Byrnes and
told him that he would give him a quarter
of the profits from a keno game that he
was running. Byrnes made no objections
and he gave him his quarter. He met
Byrnes personally and paid him. He gave
him between $1,000 and $4,000. He paid him
as long as he ran the keno game, which
was not so very many months.
did he come regularly?"
"Well, said the witness, "he came as
regularly as the landlord
There was no go-between, and he
thought that Byrnes was the only police
official with whom there was no go-be-
tween. He ran the keno game fifteen
months and paid Byrnes regularly When
he stopped the keno game he had to pay
the police for allowing him to run his
other games. He was in the gambling
business twenty or twenty-five years and
he paid the captains in nearly all the pre-
cincts in which he ran games. The police
captain who did not want money was a
rarity. He mentioned the names of three
police captains who did not send to him
for money. Witness gave the names of
couple of wardmen who had collected
money from him for their captains.
Ex-Inspector Mclaughlin had sent for
him one time and told him he wanted
money. Mclaughlin got a check for $500
and 500 besides. The police often got half
of what he made. Witness said that his
partner, Jackman, told him he had paid
ex-Fire Commissioner Scannell 500, as
collector for police blackmail.
Commissioner of Accounts Terry then
read letter addressed to Schaeffer dated
December Is, 1894, asking him as friend
not to give his testimony, as it would be
bad for the writer, and to leave the city
until matters were settled. The letter also
says: "Do not hesitate to ask for money
if you are in need" The letter was signed
"H. S. Pr, 2. o. box LAG.
The witness said that he had received
the letter about the time the Lexow COM
mlttee was at work. He said that he had
acted on the suggestion and gone out of
town. When he returned he tried to dis
cover who had sent it. He used every
means consistent with quiet inquiry, but
failed TO find the author. The witness said
that he had trouble at 1166 Broadway.
man who had run up against his game quit
1920 loser, and complained to Williams.
Williams sent for the witness and he turned
over 500 of the 1920 to the captain. That
was the only time he had ever paid any
money direct to Williams. He said that
when the police wanted to make believe
that the gambling joint was called he got
the tip in advance and put the parapher-
malta on the roof, and when they called the
the rooms were vacant. The Jordan to
whom he referred in his testimony was
Superintendent Jordan. He said that
Byrnes' share of the keno game was be-
tween 5000 and $400 month.
The investigation then adjourned.