The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-25
MAZET COMMITTEE INQUIRY
POLICE CAPTAINS. SERGEANTS AND
ROUNDSMEN EXAMINED.
Effort to show that Levies Were Made
for the Purpose of Influencing
Legislation at Albany.

societies which are supported solely by
members of the police force. John Proctor
Clarke, who conducted the greater part Of
the examination, intimated by his questions
that while the single-headed police bill was
pending at Albany levies were made on all
ranks of the force for funds to oppose it,
but his witnesses failed TO give any confir-
nation to the implied allegation of legisla-
tive corruption. Mr.. Croker was not called
as a witness, and on his promise to return
TO this country was excused from further
attendance on the MaZet until
Aug. 29. Mr.. Croker will sail for England
on Wednesday. All the witnesses called to-
day were policemen of various grades. At
the conclusion of the single session, which
was long and uninteresting, Chairman Ma
yet announced that the committee would
not meet until May 9, by which time it is
expected that the investigating body will
have presented a preliminary report to the
Legislature.
The first witness to-day was Police Cap
tain Eason, who has done duty IN
Brooklyn for a good many years. The wit
ness said the New York City Officers En-
dowment Association was formed in March
or April this year. All the police captains,
inspectors. deputy chiefs and chiefs be-
longed to it. The witness said all the police
force took an interest in the bill proVid-
ing for a single-headed police force while
it was pending at Albany. The
association. Captain Eason said, was a
mutual benefit organization, by which MEM
bers would receive $1,000 upon retiring or
dismissal from the police force. Captain
EasOn denied that in March last he told his
officers he had been assessed by this new
endowment association ard that as there
were no saloons or pool rooms to be taxed
in his precinct, which consists almost en-
tirely of the Brooklyn bridge. that they
must chip in and help him out. Captain
Eason alleged that he had not yet been
assessed. Chief Devery, Captain Eason said.
was the president of the endowment asso-
citation.
ASSESSED 1870 EACH.
Captain Eason stated that upon the re-
cent death of Police Captain Worth the en-
dowment association had charged all its
members 3d. 20, which went 10 make up the
$1,000 paid TO Captain Worth's heirs. That
was the only money, except a small amount
paid for stationery, that he had paid TO the
association. Captain Easoa said, he had paid
no large assessment, such as 500, as init
mated by Mr.. Clark. The witness denied
that the endowment association was a
secret order or that it had any desire for
political influence
Police Inspector Kane was the next wit
ness. He admitted that he sent a telephone
call for a conference OF the captains OF MS
precinct on the night of Feb. ~, for what
purpose he could not remember, but what
ever was the cause of the call II was as
signed on the official books. He had not
While Inspector Kane was being exam
ined Mr.. Croker arrived. Mr.. Moss told
him that he would not be needed to-day.
Mr.. Croker said he was anxious 10 go 10
Europe, as he had important business there
that would suffer from his absence. he said
he had hoped that the c9mInittee Wound
finish with him at once. Mr.. Moss had a
consultation with Mr.. MaZet and they gave
Mr.. Croker permission TO go to Europe II
he would promise to return before the end
of August. Mr.. Croker said he was Will
ing TO accept the conditions and Mr.. Moss
served him with a subpoena TO appear be-
fore the on Aug. %
Police Captain HavenSay was then called.
He said that at the conference called by In
spector Kane on Feb. 20 the captains, in
Guiding himself, were given instructions
Sunday law" The witness denied that the
endowment association was for the purpose
OF influencing legislation In FAVOR Oh the po-
Police Captain Sheehan followed. He
knew of no pool rooms. he was hampered
by no one in the enforcement OF the law.
OllC oCA 6tdhl ~ "oo ~
a lengthy examination, but ne failed in any
way to connect the endowment association
with political legislation.
Sergeant Tins, the next witness, mad an
assortment of papers in his pocket wnlch
he handed TO Mr.. Fallows. Most OF them
dealt with the Police Sergeants' Endowment
Benevolent Society. The value as evidence
of any Of the papers secured from the Wit
ness did not transpire. Sergeant Tins de-
MED bi@1t that aa e i 8 p from a bre seTgean fsse end
roundsmen that no bills at Albany leopard
ized their interests was read at a meeting
of the Sergeants' Benevolent Association.
Afterward witness qualified this by saying
he did not remember such a letter being
read. Witness denied that Police Sergean
O'Brien was present at the meeting or the
Sergeants' Benevolent Association already
referred to.
REFUSED TO LEAVE THE ROOM.
Chairman Mazet asked if O'Brien was in
the room. That officer stood up and Mr..
Fallows asked: Won't you go out OF the
room. Sergeant O'Brien?'
mo, sir" said the policeman promptly.
Then will you stop making signs to the
witness?' asked Mr.. Fallows.
Il amt making any signs" rejoined the
policeman.
Tins denied that O'Brien had made any
sign 10 him, and insisted that he. the wit
ness. was a plain. unvarnished individual"
This was q rejoinder 10 the remark OF Mr..
-IOSS lIdl ser SGdHl Ills d NSA NNAy
smooth" Tins denied that he had ever
heard anybody say that ii was better TO pay
the assessment TO the Sergeants' Benevo-
lent Association than be transferred. The
most any one paid, witness said, was u.
Sergt. John Flood was called. Mr.. clark
asked him If he had not been talking 70 the
witness as they came off the stand. Flood
said he had spoken to only one witness ana
that was Sergeant O'Brien. All OBrien had
said 10 him was that he had got on very
well while he was on the witness stand
Roundsman Thomas f. Gilhooly was
called. He said the roundsmen at their
meeting appointed a committee 10 call on
Chief Devery to try TO get an increase of
salaries. Gilhooly said he had previously
asked chief Devery what he thought OF the
idea OF having a bill introduced in Albany TO
that effect, and the chief had told him not TO
do IL just now as the mayor would not APP
prove OF II. Chief DeVery had told the COM
mittee that IL was a bad time 10 try 10 get
such an increase. Gilhooly denied that
Devery had told the roundsmen 10 raise Sl5
a piece TO defeat the S~ingle-headed police
bill then pending at Albany and he also de-
MED that the chief had promised to make
their positions permanent should they sub
scribe that sum.
Gilhooly knew Of no money having been
purposes. All he knew OF such a matter
was that the Roundsmen's Association Rad
what was known as a counSe fund. TO which
all members had paid s. since the organiZa-
ton or the society last year. This fund, ne
said. was 10 be used in cases where rounds
men were reduced to patrolmen. on the
ground that the roundsmen did have per-
manent rank.
Gilhooly had never heard that roundsmen
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