The morning news., 1899-04-09
CHARGES AGAINST THE CHIEF.
MAzET COMMITTEE HAD DEVERY
IN PRETTY HOT WATER.

His Expression That New York Had
Always Been n Wide Open Town
RecRlIed-Had to Admit Places
Were Open That Ought TO he Clos
ed-SRid There Was Not Sufficient
Evidence Against Thsm-some No
tOriOus Publications.
New York, April S-The seven members
of the Mazet legislative investigating COM
mittee began their work of prying into
the records of the police department and
other local administrative offices to-day.
After several minor witnesses had been
called, a number of them falling to make
their appearance, Chief of Police William
S. Devery was called to the stand, and
his testimony was the most important of
the day, as it sgnifed the launching Of
the attack upon the police department.
After telling about his various promo
tions, the witness admitted that there
was an untried charge against him when
he was made chief in February, 1897. The
chief was compelled to admit that the
charge had been held up on a temporary
stay, and then said he had never been
required TO pass a civil service examina-
ton.
Sprung Charges ON Him.
Mr.. Moss then sprang something of
surprise on the witness by announcing that
he offered in evidence three charges,
which had been standing against the chief
of police for some time, none of which
had ever been wiped out. either by dis
mssal or proof of innocence. These
charges were for neglect of duty, for talk
ing a bribe of 800. and for neglecting to
close disorderly houses when their exist
ence had been brought to his attention.
Mr. Moss put Chief Devery on record
when IL came to an Interpretation of the
expression "a wide open town" for the
chief said that New York had been wide
open" in the general acceptance of the ex-
preston, ever since he had been boy.
Mr.. Moss asked the chief IL it was not
true that he had stood for hours on a
street corner while the law was being vio-
lated behind his back, while pool rooms
we're hourishing on one side of the street
and questionable resorts near by.
The chief answered that he had no evil
dence of any houses running in violation
of law. and that IL he had he would have
given them police attention" long ago.
Places That should BE Shut Up.
Mr.. Moss then went into detailed list
of establishments that are known to be
kept running az all hours OF the night.
and asked the chief why he had NOT
closed them up before.
Not receiving any satisfactory answer,
Mr. Moss then asked Chief Devery why
he allowed a certain house in the Upper
Broadway district to continue its exist
ence, although there were almost daily
complaints from persons of refinement
living in the immediate neighborhood. Tho
reply was that never had there been OBJ
tanned sufficient evidence to warrant the
arrest of the woman who runs the house.
There could be no police interference un-
| til proof positive was secured.
| Then Mr. Moss pertinently asked the
witness II it was not because of the pollti-
cal influence of the woman proprietor that
the police were held back Devery de
MED that this was so.
Papers Were Toned Down.
The question of allowing two periodicals
| which circulate around the Tenderloin dis
| trict to continue publication, was then
| put TO Devery. Mr.. Moss asked the chief
what had been done toward suppressng
them, and why some action had not been
| taken.
The chief said that these papers had
| been toned down considerably and that
he had called the attention of Anthony
| Comstock 10 them, but he was slightly
mixed as to the particular occasions on
which he reminded Mr. Comstock of their
| circulation.
No other witnesses of Importance were
| examined but Frank Croker's name was
| called. He was not present, but later
| Mrs. Richard Croker called at the court
| house and informed Mr.. Mazet that her
son was out of the city