Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-17


The mayor said he had dismissed Chief
McCullagh because he thought he was not
fit man for the head of the police force
Police Commissioners Phillips and Hamilton
were also removed because he believed they
were unfit. Phillips had been indicted and
the mayor wrote to him that he must seek
speedy trial or be removed. The latter
happened Hamilton had told the mayor
that he would consent to no transfer Of
any member of the force without previously
consulting with Senator Platt.
II told him." testified the mayor, "that
the police department would not be run from
Washington"
The mayor also said that Hamilton "black-
mailed the Casino" Hamiltons firm, ac-
cording to the mayors testimony, had a
claim against that theater and Hamilton as
a police commissioner, had refused to grant
the Casino q license until the bill was paid
The mayor said, however, that he had only
hearsay evidence against Hamilton.
The mayor said that from rumors he be-
lieved that just before Hamilton was re-
moved combination was being formed be-
tween Hamilton, Quigg Gibbs and McCul-
agh to sell positions on the police force.
That was just previous to Hamltons re-
moval. In an interview with McCulagh
w
a liar when the latter stated that he knew
nothing about the politics of any police in
spector or captain. Any chief of police, said
the mayor, must know the politics of the
officers.
The mayor said that II Devery was as bad
as McCullagh he ought to "be kicked out,
too" Whether Devery was better than Nc
Cullagh the mayor did not know. He had
tried to find out but all he knew was that
the city was in a more orderly condition
than 1t ever had been in his memory and
that the laws were better enforced. The
mayor was questioned about his personal ex-
periences regarding the immortality in this
city and retorted that Mr.. Moss was NOR
bid about vice.
Have you eny idea how many pool rooms
there are in the city of New York;" asked
Mr. Moss.
81 don't know that there is a single ona"
was the reply.
The mayor said he knew James A. Ma
honey and that he had business dealings
with him ten or twelve years ago in Texas.
He had seen him several times lately.
Have you ever heard that your friend,
Mahoney, is the chief of the greatest pool
room syndicate in this city?" asked Mr.
Moss,
II know he made books on the race
tracks," replied the mayor.
did you know that he was running rooms
and receiving bets in those rooms in New
York city,"
The mayor had never heard that Mr.
MahUney, Mr.. Carroll and Mr.. Sexton were
Jointly interested in the pool rooms.
Have you never heard" sneered Mr.
Moss, that a gentleman named VanWyck
was interested in them
For the first time the mayor was aroused
That Is absolutely false" he shouted.
He wanted to know who told Mr. Moss
anything of the kind.
These things are not easily proved" re-
torted the counsel.
Mayor Pleads Innocence.
81 never had any connection with any il
legal calling anywhere in the world, shouted
the mayor. you know that was not inter-
ested in pools when YOU asked that question
You knew that and you wanted to bring il
out for the purpose of creating the impress
sion that l was, / demand that You bring
out the evidence here and show that | am
connected with pool rooms anywhere in the
world or with anything else q an Illegal
character and ! think the chairman OF this
committee ought to enforce that request"
Mr.. Moss told the mayor TO walt day or