The record-union., 1899-04-25

NEW YORK, April 24.-To- days seq
sion of the Mazet Investigating Com
mittee proved far less interesting than
any previous sitting. The day was en-
tirely devoted to probing the various
benevolent and other societies which
are supported by members of the police
force. John Proctor Clarke conducted
the greater part of the examination.
Mr.. Croker was not called as a witness,
and on his promise to return to this
country, was excused from further at
tendance on the Mazet Committee un-
til August 10Th. 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
Mazet announced that the committee
would not meet until May 9th, by which
time it is expected that the investigat-
ing body will have presented a prelim-
mary report to the Legislature.
The first witness was Captain Eason,
who has done duty in Brooklyn for j
good many years. The witness said
the New York City officers Endowment
Association was formed in April this
year. The Captains, Inspectors, Deputy
Chiefs and Chiefs belonged to it, The
witness said the police force took an
interest in the bill providing for a sim
gle-headed police force while it was
pending at Albany. The endowment
association, Captain Eason said, was a
mutual benefit association, by which
members would receive 81 GOO on retir-
ing or dismissal from the police force.
Captain Eason denied that in March
Ia ct ba addressed hiC off nd fo1d
them that they had been assessed by
this new endowment association, and
that as there were no saloons or pool
rooms to be taxed in his precinct, which
consists almost entirely of the Brook
lyn bridge, 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 Association.
Captain Eason said that upon the re-
cent death. of Police Captain Worth,
the Endowment Association had charg-
ed all its members $13.75 which went
to make up the $1,000 to Captain
Worth's heirs. That was the only mon
ey, except a small amount paid for
stationery, that he had paid to the as
sociation. Captain Eason said also
that he had made no assessment such
as intimated by Mr.. Clark
The witness denied that the endow-
ment association was a secret organiza-
tion or that it had any political sig
nificance.
Police Inspector Kane was the next
witness He admitted that he sent a
telephone call for a conference of the
Captains of his precinct on the night
of February Goth, for what purpose he
could not remember, but whatever was
the cause of the call was assigned on
the official books He had not the
books there
Inspector Kane said he took not the
slightest interest in the pending police
legislation at Albany.
Mr.. Clarke's efforts to get the witness
to acknowledge that the conference OF
the Captains was to discuss the En-
dowment Association or matters politi-
cal were not successful.
While Inspector Kane was being ex-
amined, Mr.. Croker arrived. Mr.. Moss
told him that he would not be needed
to-day.
Mr.. Croker said he was anxious to go
to Europe, as he had important busl-
ness there that would suffer from his
absence.
Mr.. Moss had a consultation with Mr..
Maple, and they gave Mr.. Croker per-
mission to go to Europe, if 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 ap-
pear before the committee August 10Th.
Inspector Kane was questioned re-
garding several alleged poolrooms rum
ming in his precinct. He denied knowl-
edge of their existence. The location
of these resorts was given to the wit
ness by Mr. Moss. and the Inspector
said he would look them up.
Police Captain Haughey was then
called. He said that at the conference
called by Inspector Kane on February
Doth the Captains, including himself,
were given instructions something
about excise, something about Sunday
law"
The witness denied that the Endow-
ment Association was for the purposes
of influencing legislation in favor of the
police department
Police Captain Sheehan followed. He
knew of no poolrooms, and was ham
pered by no one in the enforcement Of
the law.
Police Sergeant O'Brien was subject
ed to a lengthy examination, but failed
in any way to connect the Endowment
Association with political motives.
Sergeant Times followed, but his tes-
timony was uninteresting.
McLoud Act to be Tested in Courts.
DETROIT, April PA committee OF
sixty-two citizens, by their attorneys,
filed this afternoon bill of complaint
in the Circuit Court asking that Gov
a,ssa.a. and the hers Of the