The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-11

wanted yesterday, because he could md
no record Of where they we're He had been
extremely anxious to ind policeman named
jeremiah Moran. and the last record he
could find Of him was that he was In ia
maica. After considerable difnculty he To-
Gated his uan In Long Island City
Moran y, called TO the stand. He stated
that sim, January 1, 1885, he had been
transferrc ON One Hundred and Twenty
NTH Sire o Oak Street, to Astoria TO
Flushing, sal finally TO Whitestone. He
said that be Fad built him home in Kings
bridge. while he was in the One Hundred and
Twenty-fifth Street station, and was pay
Ing of the mortgage on It fast when the
commissioners began transferring him about.
Nowadays, he said, he keeps his furniture
constantly packed so as to be ready for the
next move.
Q. why are they doing this to your A.
don't know.
Q. Ever had any charges? A. Yes.
have been repeatedly attacked but / have
always managed to come out all right
Q. Have you ever been asked to con-
tribute money to certain funds? A. Yes.
Last March patrolman called and demand
ed one dollar from me for the Patrolmen's
Benevolent Association. which l refused to
pay. few days later Roundsman Lang
try asked me why had refused to pay the
money I said no one had right to demand
a dollar from me for anything, and he
told me that l would be sorry. For a
month after that he followed me around
a complaint against me. On the night Of
March 23d last was on the first tour, which
ends at midnight. I am supposed to walt on
post for my relief waited until ten
minutes after midnight and then saw relief
coming but block away. walked UP the
block to meet him, as l was anxious to
catch train to Kingsbrdge. The rounds
man came up to me, accused me Of being
on post and made charges against me,
and was fined three days pay.
y. Were asked IN contribute
money agaia7 A. Yes, last April. was
asked to give 25 cents TO help defray the ex-
| penses Of four men who went to Albany
to work for an eight hour day for police
men. refused to give this
q. Did you ever find out what they wanted
that dollar from you for. A. No; the other
policemen are careful to keep things OF
that kind from me. as have a record at
police headquarters as the man who won't
pay assessments OF that character.
The witness said that he had had al
most constant trouble with his superiors
who were constantly seeking an oppor-
tunity to complain. He had nice a
home as any man could have. he said. and
was doing his duty faithfully. but for some
reason his superiors drove him out OF the
precinct. breaking up his home. and making
girls out OF their school. While he was In
| Oak Street, Detective Hahn was constantly
trumping up charges against him
Q. What does this man Hahn do? A.
don't know.
Q. Does anybody know? A. I guess so.
Q. Have you any idea what he does? A.
| Oh, have my own notion, but don't like
| to say what I don't know. I will say.
| though. that all liquor sellers who want to
| open up places in that precinct go and see
| Hahn first. I knew that because many
| OF them have come to me to direct them
| to Hahn.
O. Have you ever had explicit directions
| from your superors about the excise law?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you carry them out? A. No;
| wouldn't dare to. No policeman would
| think OF such thing. II man did his duty
in this direction he would be put on trial
mighty quick.
@. How can man be put trial for
doing his duty? A. Oh they will trump
up charges against him.
Q. And you say all policemen feel this
way? A. Yes: 1t is generally understood
| among policemen that they are not to heed
orders that they get in relation to the ex-
| else law.
| The witness said that the policemen of
the city OF New York were as fne body
| OF men as could be found In the world. and
| that there was scarcely man who would
mt willingly die in his tracks in doing HIS
duty 1t would be just as easy, he said
| to get the police force to do good work
| as TO demoralizc It, Mr.. Moss asked him
| II It wasn't fact that all the blame for
| the conditions he described lay with the
| heads OF the department. and Moran SAID
| he thought II did. Moran said he dldn't
| blame policemen for drinking once In
| while because what with keeping In line
| with the conflicting interests OF the rounds
| men, the sergeant, the captain. the com
| missioner, and the district '1lder. the lot
| Of the patrolman is a hard one.
| O. Do you expect to be punished for tes-
| tifyina as you have for this committee to-
day. A. Yes
Q. Then you are pretty brave man? A.
| am.
O. II you expect to be punished, why have
| Won testified? A. am depending upon this
| committee to protect me and to look out
| for my interests. l have spoken the truth.
| and am prepared to stand by what | have
| said.
| Both Mr. Moss and Chairman Mazet as
| sured Moran that he would be looked out
! for, and Mr.. Moss said that 1t would be int
| resting to watch the action OF the Police
| Commissioners in Moran's case. There were
| over hundred policemen who had been sub
| pnnaed by Mr.. Moss In court, and they
| fairly gasped at Moran's testimony.
Mr. Moss spent the rest OF the day getting
| on the record the results Of police trials,
| particularly cases where intoxicated police
| men MANY Of them. he said. old offenders
had been let off by the Commissioners with
fines OF two and three days pay. Before ad-
journment, Chairman Mazet made brief
speech, In which he said that the COMMITTEES
was much impressed with the testimony
given by Officer Moran. and that It regarded
II OF great value. as showing the condition
OF affairs in the Police Department. MT
Moss responded in speech. In which he
lauded the men Of the force highly, and said
that the blame for all the evils In the de-
partment Law with the Police Commissioners