The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-19

to him about being retained by the present
administration.
MR.. ABELL's TESTIMONY.
Police Commissioner Abel was the first
witness called TO the stand at the afternoon
session He testified that he was a Repub-
lican; that he went into the police board
first to perform his duty and secondly TO
protect the Republicans on the force.
Mr.. Moss kept asking Mr.. Abel II he
was satisfied with Devery as chief of police.
In view Of the testimony which had been
adduced by the committee. Mr.. Abel said
he was satisfied with Devery until he was
sure he had been derelict in his duty. He
had his doubts about it and wanted more
confederation OF testimony before he came
TO a decision. The commissioner said his
not influenced by the mayors wishes.
Mr.. Moss went over at length various &C.
cusations appearing within the last year
in the city and asked Mr.. Abel what ac-
ton he had taken. Some of these state
ments the witness knew nothing of. others
subsequent action was detailed. matters
that have been published from time to time.
such as Captain Chapman's raids, The
name OF the late Police Captain OKeefe
came up and Mr.. Moss sprung a genuine
sensation by asking Mr.. Abel If the police
had ever investigated O'Keefe's death. Mr..
Abel said ne thought Okeefe died from
accident.
Don't you know" said Mr.. Moss, that
at this day that neighborhood is full OF
rumor that has never been properly investi-
O'Keefe was killed because he had knowl-
edge of a guilty plot TO remove another
let him live with that knowledge?"
Commissioner Abel had never heard Of 1t.
Mr.. Moss said there might be no tangible
evidence to base the rumors on, but he
added. You don't PYnacf Tangible evidence
in the Molineux or other similar cases"
to which Mr.. Abel agreed.
Mr.; Moss referred to McGurk's place on
the Bowery, sometimes called the suicide
dive" because so many young girls killed
themselves there. Mr.. Abel said it was shut
up now. Mr.. Moss intimated that it was
still running in another guise. Mr.. Abel
said they were trying to suppress immoral
concert halls. and Mr.. Moss named several
places now running where. he alleged. there
girls to commit immoralities. Mr.. Abel said
he was responsible for his acts and thought
he could safely be responsible for the acts
OF his associates on the board.
Mr.. Abel was handed a list Of the pool
rooms testified to yesterday. Mr.. Moss told
him that the orders were going out that all
these rooms should remove a short distance,
and Mr.. Abel said he would try and find
out where they had removed to. If that was
the case. Mr. Abel said he had appointed
his own son as his private secretary at a
salary of s., 800. The position was not under
civil-service examination.
Sherln Dunn was called and testified that
he employed Peter F. Meyer & Co.. the firm
in which Richard Croker is a partner, to
conduct all auction sales Of real estate
which came into his office. He denied that
he had been approached and asked to give
the sales to Mr.. Meyer. TIL sheriff sub
mftted a list of the bonds put in by himself
and subordinates, a~ggregating about 500, 900,
all of them in Mr.. Freedman company.
He had left the matter of the selection of
the bond company to his counsel, Mr.. Britt.
The sheriff was excused and Mr.. Britt put
on the stand. He said that when, at any OPP
portunity he had to recommend a surety
company, he had no hesitation in advising
that Mr.. Freedman's company be patron
lied. Mr.. Moss intimated hat the Freed
man concern was patroniZed at a higher
rate than asked by the other companies,
but Mr.. Britt said he knew nothing about
that. He had never heard that a COMMITTEES
of Sheriff Dunn's employees went to Mr..
Croker TO protest against paying such a
large sum for their bonds.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Britt's testimony
Chief Devery complained to Mr.. MaZet that
he had been here for the last two days and
had not been put on the stand. He said il
was keeping him away from his business.
Don't you think you have learned some
thing while being here?" asked Mr.. Mazet.
Il don't think L have" said the chief en-
phatically.
Devery agreed to keep himself within
twenty minutes call of the committee and
was excused from further attendance at the
session. The committee then adjourned until
1920 tomorrow morning.