The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-18
Evidence Going to thow the Police
Throw Obstacles I'm the Way Of
Prosecuting Law yiolators.
MANY Po0LR0oMS RUNNING
FORMER COMMISSIONER HAMILTON
REPLIES To MIR. VAN WICK.
Declares the Mayors Testimony False
--Why Hess Voted to Remove Me-
CullaEh-Chicsgo's" "Lexow."

NEW YORK, May 17-At to-day's ses-
sions of the Mazet investigating COMMITTEES
James A. Mahoney. with whom Mayor Van
Wyck admitted he had had some business
transactions. was put through a long series
of questions. Mahoney admitted being .
bookmaker, but declined TO answer the
question as to whether he is conducting
poolrooms here. Former Police Commissions
er Hamilton. whom Mayor Van wyck yes
terday designated 'blackmailer." declared
that what the mayor had said was abso-
lutely false. Several witnesses. who within
the past few weeks have been doing detec-
tive work for Counsel Moss testified that a
large number of poolrooms are now being
run in New York city. The hearing VIII be
continued tomorrow.
Thomas L. Hamilton, formerly a police
commissioner, and who was yesterday de-
nounced by Mayor Van Wyck as a black
mailer. was the first witness to-day. He
| testified that no political reason was as
| signed for the retirement Of Chief McCul-
| lagh, nor was there any accusation or sug-
gestion of inefficiency made against him at
| the meetings Of the board. Mr.. Hamilton
| had insisted on McCullagh being retained.
| He denied the statement by Mayor Van
| wyck yesterday that he has used his ofn-
| cial position TO coerce the Casino into the
payment of bill. Hamilton also denied
| the mayors statement that he. the witness.
| had refused to vote for the transfer OF any
police officer unless Mr.. Quigg or Senator
/ Platt were agreeab;e. He had told the
mayor that he wished to consult with the
leaders of his party and had mentioned
| Senator Piatt as one. but the consultation
| he desired was in regard to passing on
| resolution which defined the powers Of the
| chief to make transfers.
| Police Captain Herlihy. whose transfer
| from a downtown station to Kings bridge
| was said TO have been made because ne
| had made raids on poolrooms. was sworn
| He said he had no fault TO find with his
| transfer by Chief Devery. but. on the other
hand, was much pleased at the change
| POLICE STOOD IN THE WAY.
Phiiip Cohen VINO had lost money In pool
| rooms and made complaint to the police
| first TO the sergeant and then TO an in
| spector, told the committee OF the trouble
| he had In procuring warrant Tor the ar
| rest of the keeper OF one OF the rooms, ano
| that when the warrant was finally issued
| the police claimed 10 have no power TO enter
the place by force. so that when the pro-
1 prietcr was arrested there was no evidence
| on which to convict him.
T.
PRODUCING such witnesses as Cohen was to
show the falsity of the pretense by the po-
lice that they did not know of the existeEca
of the poolrooms in the city and to demon
| strate the fact that obstacles were put In
| the way of those who wished to prosecute
| poolroom keepers.
| John r. Wood testified that as an agent
| for Counsel Moss he had been in l25 pool
| rooms in this city and had procured evi-
| dence against all of them In many OF tho
| places all kinds of gambling games were in
| progress, such as faro. poker and craps.
| This witness swore also that while Cohen
| was testifying he heard Chief OF Police
Deye-y speak contemptuously OF that wit
ness and tell man whom he addressed as
| English to look UP his record and ascer-
tain if he had ever been arrested
Joel s. Harris, another agent OF Mr. Moss
gave testimony similar to that OF Wood
Mr.. Moss called James A. Mahoney. with
whom Mayor Van Wyck testified yesterday
he had had business transactions and was
intimate Mr.. Mahoney said he was in the
building and real estate business. He had
been a bookmaker on the race tracks. He
admitted bookmaking had been and stiI was
his principal business. When asked IL he
had an office anywhere in New York. Ma
| honey said: Il decline 10 answer because.
as a private citizen and not being an Office
holder or connected with any departmene
of the city Of New York. don't think you
have a right TO inquire into my private busi-
| ness" He stuck TO his declination. though
he acknowledged he was a member Of the
Democratic Club. friend OF Mr.. Carroll.
of Mr.. Sexton and OF the mayor. When
asked Ii he was interested in any OF the
poorooms described by witnesses Wood and
Harris, Mahoney absolutely refused to an
swer. He said he knew Chief Devery. but
Deyery has never asked him anything about
poolrooms.
IN THE BUILDING" BUSINESS.
Mr. Moss went over the address Of every
poolroom mentioned by Wood to Harris and
asked I'm each case IL Mahoney was inter-
ested I'm 1t. Mahoney refused to answer.
He admitted he had said he was IN the
building business because IL looked better
than to have no business"
Mr.. Mazet directed Mahoney to answer IL
he had or had not any connection with tha
poolrooms here. and he again declined To
answer on the ground that it was "a private
matter"
Mr. Moss asked IL he learned that ..pri-
yate business answer at the Democratic
Club and Mahoney said he did not. He ap-
parently Inadvertently answered mo- In re-
ply TO the question: Have you been per-
mitted by any city authority 10 carry on the
business OF amy OF these poolrooms that
have mentioned without interference?"
Mahoney got nervous and played vigorous
ly with his watch chain. He said he would
not admit having poolrooms In New York.
won't answer"
n. ~faa 81