Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-01
DR.. Parkhurst Ctitidises the Lexow Investi-
gathhgs5committee.
Says That 1t erred in Handling Supt.
Byrnes So 'TenderIy-Action
OF the Seventy.

Its appointment, but was supported by the
Society for the Prevention of Crime to the
fullest extent. AS it became apparent that
the committee was pushing its work vigor-
ously and impartially it gained the public
confidence. This. continued until Byrnes
came under investigation.
Then the committee finched. The pur-
suit of lines that might easily have con-
Quoted to the real inwardness of Byrnes'
character and conduct was discouraged. AS
the head of a rotten department., the pre-
sumption the side of his being as
criminal as any other me timber of the force.
The hesitancy to handle him Inspector
Williams was handled could not proceed
from any prior conviction of his innocence.
but 1t was because Byrnes had put the
committee under obligations to him by
consenting to help defeat Tammany Hall
and by furnishing the committees counsel
with information.
DR.. Parkhurst says this was a blunder.
He charges that Byrnes has omitted no
effort to crush the Society for the Proven
tion of Crime, and If the head of the police
department could have had his way there
would have been no LeXoW committee and
Grant would have been mayor instead of
Strong.
Stunt. Byrnes Quoted.
In the course of the statement the fol-
lowing occurs:
'It will be proper to Introduce at this
point, by way of indicating more fully Mr..
Byrnes' attitude toward us, the following
extracts from formal statements by him
made i'll December, 1892.
"A society for the prevention of crime
that is fine title for an association of
men who have from their leader down pro-
voked about every crime they denounced.
Not only have they blackmailers among
them, but they have men who have been
guilty of the most abominable practices.
OF acts, which, when they are made pub
lie, you will find the utmost difficulty in
describing in print. l cannot I'M
derstand how men who are presumably
decent, respectable members of society can
tolerate the idea of putting forth number
of spies to practice on the fears Of these
most unfortunate women. The cruelty of it
amaZes me. Are not these poor things Suffi
GENTLY cursed as it is? Is their condition
sufficiently pitiable without its being neces
sary further to abuse and rob them? In
Gardeners case the threat of an indict-
ment was held over them like club. and
they were forced to pay (Mr. Byrnes well
knew that Clifton was a police agent TO
trap Gardner), and this, mind you, was
made possible by the formation of this ir-
responsible society. THE members of it are
the guilty persens. without their backing
these scoundrels OF agents would have
been poWerless.' However let them wait
little while Let them wait until the
public knows what has been done There
is law. fortunately, and the victims are not
friendess as long as that law exists.
II have read over very carefully the
statements made by LDr. Parkhurst, and as
far as 1 could perhaps expect they corrob-
crate what have Said about him and his
methods. l have TO thank DR.. Parkhurst
for making the issue he has raised at last
sharp and clear; L had given him credit
before, as it now appears, simply for being
In the field to help suppress vice and crime
That was what his society was organized
for and what his predecessor labored for
Nr RI .1rc faf1 hot hat tss yN.Nf
his aim. He is pot trying to suppress gam
bling or to reprasS the social evil. He is
in the field Ia attack the police. DIR. How
ard Crosby saw stother opportunities and
other ends, and lie found occasion more
than once fraaklynte thank the police.
True charity begins at home. l shall
be prepared, when Br. Parkhurst comes
to me in a proper spirit of inquiry, to show
him a well-trodden path that leads from
the very, door of his church, as it were,
to a brothel, within gunshot away, upon
which his Shadows might exploit them
selves, with advantage to the security and
good repute Of his congregation, and with
better success than they have achieved in
their present vain hunt
Our agents, acting in the legitimate dis
charge Of their duties as representatives of
a society chartered by the state, were
mobbed year or more ago by the toughs
and thugs that sprang to the relief of
Byrnes and his department when we
pressed them uncomfortably at the Essex
morning were 1ull of the details of the out
rage, but Mr.. Byrnes, on examination, was
unable to discover that any outrage had
been committed necessitating action on his
part, and in that way official announce
ment was made that the agents of our So
ciety need not look for official protection,
and were to be considered as legitimate
prey.
Now, that is Byrnes He Is the man
that we have mad steadily in our eye for
three years. and he has had us just as
steadily in his eye. The community knows
our work has meant nothing but the over
throw of misrule in this city. Byrnes has
known that as well as the public, and yet
he has fought us. Now, why has not the
senatorial committee. through its counsel,
made itself familiar with these mat
tiers? We have urged that Mr.. Byrnes
should be asked whether prior to the sena-
torial. investigation he was knowing of the
rottenness Of the police force He either
was or he was not. If he was and still
kept his mouth shut, he was unspeakably
vile; and If he was not, he was unspeak-
ably imbecile
Nov. why did not the committee insist
that Mr.. Golf. in his characteristic manner.
should bro'1 Mr.. Byrnes on that bfurcated
dilemma? I am nothing but minister;
but if 1 had been lawyer of Mr.. COTS
ability 1 would have put Mr.. Byrnes on
that toasting iron, and would have guar
cial reputablity inside of one days ses-
sion, provided, of course. the committee
would have allowed me to do SO.
The committee of seventy of New York
adopted vote of confidence in Senator
Lexow yesterday. The seventy's meeting
was the first they have held since election.
The committee has not been idle however,
as the reported action of it's subcommittee,
to whom much CT its authority has been
delegated, has shown from time to time.
Foremost in Importance among its under
takings was the preparations and provid-
ing for public hearings before the mayor
on special city, legislation. These meas
ures were reported by VIM. B. Hornblower,
committee had. selected Senator Lexow,
chairman of the LeAow investigating COM