Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-04-10
l|AZET PROBES DEVER\
Legislative Investigating Committee
Questions Chief of Police.
MOSS SPRINGS A SURPRISE.
Questions Devery ns to Meaning of
"Widc Open" TOwn-Other ViO-
latiOns of the Law Inquired
Into by the Committee.

New York, April 1O.-The seven menu
bers of the Mazet Legislative Investigate
Ing committee have begun their work
of prying into the records of the police
department and other local admins
trative Offices here. Those who sat for
the inquiry We're Robert Mazet, chair
man; Edward Fl. Fallows, Thomas M.
Costello, Harris Wilson, James F. Nc
Evan, Anthony j. 3oland and Benja
min Hoffman. Frank Moss and John
Proctor Clarke We're the counsel.
After several minor witnesses had
been called, number of whom failed
to make their appearance. Chief OF Po-
lice William S. Devery was called to
the stand and his testimony was the
most important of the day, as it signl-
fled the launching of the attack upon the
police department. After telling about
his various promotions the witness ad-
mitted that there was charge against
him when he was made chief in Feb
ruary. 1897. The chief was compelled
to admit that the charge had been held
up on temporary stay and then sala
he had never been required to pass
civil service examination.
Mr.. Moss then sprnhg 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 w!p-
ed out, either by dismissal or proof of
innocence. These charges We're for neg
lect of duty. for taking bride of 800
and for neglecting to close disorderly
houses when their existence had been
brought to his attention. In the latter
charge Mr.. Moss was particularly pre-
else in his cross examination and APP
peared to have his dates we'll and fully
prepared as to all of the alleged Of
lenses He put Chief Devery on record
when it 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 expression, ever since he had
been boy.
Everything Wide open.
Mr.. Moss asked the chief if it We're
not true that he had stood for hours on
a street corner while the law was being
violated behind his back. while pool
~
the street and questionable resorts near
by. The chief answered that he had no
evidence of any houses running in vio-
laton of law, and that if he had ne
would have given them police atten-
ton" long ago. The counsel then went
into a rather detailed list of establish
ments that are known to be kept run
ming at all hours of the night and asked
the chief why he had not closed them
ur .sefore. Not receiving any partlcu-
lar satisfactory answer Mr.. Moss then
asked Chief Devery why he allowed a
certain house in the upper Broadway
district to continue it's existence, al
though there was almost daily conf
plant from persons of refinement nv
ing in the immediate neighborhood the
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 inter-
ference until proof positive was secur-
! ed. Then Mr.. Moss pertinently asked
the witness if 1t were not because OF
the political influence of the woman
proprietor that the police We're held
back. Devery denied that this was so.
The question of allowing two peri
odicals which circulate around the
Tenderloin district to continue pubica'
ton was then put to Devery Mr. Moss
asked the chief what had been done to-
ward suppressing them and why some
| action had not been taken. The CHIEF
said that these papers had been toned
down considerably and that he haC
called the attention of Anthony Com
stock to them, but he was slightly mix
| ed as to the particular occasions or
which he reminded Mr.. Comstock OF
their circulation.
No other witnesses of Importance
were examined, but Frank Croker:
name was called. He was not present
but later Mrs. Richard Croker called a
the courthouse and informed Mr.. Maze
that her son Frank was out of the city
German Empress Hs Pht1anthrOptSt
Berlin, April l0.-A poor Berlin faml,