New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-11
v,rnrICH'S PLAIN WORDS.
MAGISTRATE TO THE POLICE
BOARD.
s,vs TT Is HIS IMPRESSION THAT o0''"'
ox AND DISHONESTY ARE AGAIN RAM
PANT IN THE roncE-Hr HOLDS
THE COMMISSIONERS RE
SPONStBLl

SPoNSIBLE
,u.u commissioners at their meeting yester-
I'D before them letter from magistrate H.
%" yau,h but they aid not have II reao' ana
- referred it to committee so az 10 prevent
INC! a, the meeting from reading IT. The evil
'epo' noe % hayo II kept from publication,
oe.' ., tho commissioners spoke OF 1t as silly
az. a,,c Ike "a pipe dream" Magistrate kud-
~ sroved reporters TO take copies OF the letter
~, evening HIS letter 10 the Commissioners was
. ,,,,y 10 an official communication OF FEBRUARY
u ~ ro,orAnce 10 his complaint that warrant
Issued by him had not been proper! executed ny
s.m,o,,en Winchell and Mcmahon, Of the Twenty
s.ond Precinct, and IN the neEi"n"E u HIS '''c'
~ made these statements:
The result OF your investigation as set forth in
-, letter is that there was no cause Tor COM
sirt and | am iree TO say that | am no. sur
ps.sS AZ the same. Hereafter | shall take The
yssr;y o, doing my own investigating. and Il the
iact in any slVen caSt Ms'.' a Cd -
'or Sccm il nv duty however. 20 here state pub
..,v ira, It Is ny Arm impression that dishonesty
81 corruption are again rampant In the force.
Sosi, ina, | cannot prove this assertion by the
s,s:e1cni OF facts. As . Magistrate. however.
watching and studying the conduct OF officers in
ne presentation Of complaints in nquor tax dis
orderly house end policy cases. the manner IN
%hch ,es;inony is sivcn by Them in matters OF
mat class have come to the conclusion that there
i large body o! men In the force to-day who
are given over 10 dishonest practice.
The magistrate : lcitcr contained some lll(sUd-
lions 10 show that policemen frequently give sus-
ricous testimony IN the court. Indicating CONN.,
vance 70 shield Nquor-dealers and other persons
who have been arrested for alleged violations OF
law or have paid service fer shys;er lawyers The
Magistrate also asserted that such conduct could
he .topred II the police officials hent on stop
r.r. dishonesty In the service. IN connection with
this nc wrote:
But how Yery anxious the police force is 10 weed
og. he dishonest clements from within its own
rsr X was made apparent during the LcXow inVes
,sa:ion low they tumblcd over each other TO be
~ assistance 20 INC committee. How Jealous were
,tsy these 5000 and honest men. 20 disclose 10
mai body awful sink OF corruption in which
,hov were compelled by their awfully bad associ-
stes 10 wallow' And yet. with the many facts be-
so-4 The p"np@. how raeaRrc were Inc results OF
cerred DOCS that prove that II" charges were I'M
founded By means.
The Magistrate said that he held the Commits
orers responsible for the dishonesty in the force.
declaring tsai the Commissioners are held 'in ut
ter contempt" ana tha: policemen with itching
pa!ms VINO were afraid OF the Commissioners for
-erlv. have fallen back into their ante-Lexow
hsh!,." Irtimat.nG his belief that by their quar-
-els the Commissioners have ceased 10 be feared
b. the police because the police longer be-
leve in their honesty. the Magistrate closed his
Letter as fellows:
After YOU shall have rested from the arduous
mental strain involved in deciding nomentous ques-
lions Of ethics arising out of your mutual pleasant
reriied reward in devoting small portion OF your
valuable tine 10 my humble plant