Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-03-21
Blue COATS Indicted
Grand Jury Hot After New
York Police.

Seven Names Wcrc Presented and
That Five Indictments Wero Re
turned Against One Oh1cer.
New York, March Reconsideration
again reigns in the police department a:
result of the latest developments in the
war against that body, known far and
wide for its corrupt practices The pre-
sentiment of the extraordinary grand
jury is the cause of the present excite
ment. OF course there was great secrecy
regarding the names of those indicted,
until after the warrants could be served,
but rumor at once selected the following
as among the twenty-seven names re-
ported to have been handed in:
Alexander S. Williams, inspector; VIII
liam Mclaughlin, inspector; Jacob Sic
bert, captain; William Meakin, captain;
james K. Price, captain, and William
Schultze, captain.
The indictments charge the men with
bribery and corruption.
There were five indictments filed
against Inspector Mclaughlin.
The presentment is in part as follows;
Court of Oyer and Terminer Of the
city and county of New York, to the
Hon George L. 1ngraham.
1T is now two years since former
grand jury filed in the court of general
sessions a presentment calling attention
to facts which show widespread corrup-
tion in the department of police.
Circumstances and testimony offered
have tended to show financial considera-
tions in some cases for lax administra-
ton. Indeed, the publicity with which
the law Is violated and the immunity
from arrest enjoyed by the law-breakers,
Is inconsistent with any other theory. 1t
Is obvious that when confession by a
lawbreaker Of payment for protection
would subject him to penalties, not only
to punishment for his acknowledged
crime, but also for bribe giving, it is ex-
tremely difficult to collect trustworthy
evidence In direct proof of such charges
"At the outset of our labors we recog-
nized the many difficulties with which
we were beset and to which our prede-
cessors referred, and we anticipated the
obstacles which we would be likely to en-
counter, and in pursuing our inquiries
we found these difficulties most embar-
RAISING and the obstacles at times SEEM
tngly unsurmountable.
ITO many members of the force, ofti-
GERS and men, much credit is due that in
time of general corruption and degreda-
tion they have remained faithful.
"In our opinion the great body Of sub
ordinate police officers are honest and
capable mon, and their assistance In our
investigation would doubtless have
proved valuable had we been able to
command 1t; but without proper orders
accompanied by honest and willing sug-
gestions from their superiors, no aid of
this character was practicable.
No such orders were given, although
at the beginning of our session the CO.
operation of the executive officers of the
department was not only invited but
directly requested,
"Not only has this inactivity of the
force itself proved source of difficulty,
but its attitude throughout has hindered
us far more. The impression was crea-
ted and supported by convincing facts
that our labors in ferreting out and en-
abling the prosecution Of unfaithful
officers instead Of being approved by the
department, was an attack upon it."
The presontment, In referring to Su-
perintendent Byrnes, says:
THE enjoyment by the executive head
OF the force Of the considerable fortune
accumulated as result of favors granted
In the performance of official duty may
we'll have caused Generalization of the
force under his command. The dis
tinction between such favors and direct
gratuities is not one that his subordi-
mates are likely to appreciate.
The jury further scores the police for
It's hostility to the investigation.