New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-01
PRICE VENTS HIS SPLEEN
INSLLTS MR.. MOSS AND CALLS
HIM A COWARD.
ANGRY CHARGES AGAINST MAzET COM
MFTTEE CoUNsEL--ovERBEARING
CONDUCT OF THE TENDER
LOIN CAPTAIN-wOMEN
IN THE TOMBS.

Carroll and Freedman Richard Crokers chief
leutenants many of the Tammany witnesses
who have been called before the Mazet COM
nnittee so far have been more or less contuma-
elous but there has been none so openly defiant
and downright insulting as Captain James X
Price. who was one Of the witnesses called yes
terday. when the committee resumed its inves-
legations Captain Prices overbearing and ar
rogant manner is we'll known in the precincts
Of which he has had charge from time to time
II has been made evident in the investigation
that ne rules the Tenderloin district where he Is
now situated, by the fear - physical force. One
witness In fact has declared that he never
attempted 10 argue with the Captain, because
the only reply he would receive would be q
blow. II had been expected that when Captain
Price was called ne would display on the stand
some OF the ferocious characteristics for which
he 10 noted. and such was the case With thick
herce-looking brows overhansng pair Of small
eyes deeply sunken. a receding forehead and a
pfotruding lower jaw. his appearance is thor
ouehly in keeping with his reputation a man
of ugly propensities His spleen was almost en-
tirely directed to Frank Moss. against whom he
did not hesitate TO say that he had held a
grudge for many years His first remark to
Mr.. Mose insult. pawnbroker named
Paul Kaskel was being examined by Mr.. Moss
broker who was mentioned in the blotter Of the
West Thirtieth-st station as having applied
for permission to supply bal, 'for considera-
tion" for women arrested in the streets, when
Price called ont That's not the man; you've
get the wrong man" who is the right man?"
Mr. Moss asked. 60 fnd him." was Prices
sprly rejoinder
In the effort TO find the right Haskell Mr.
Moss at once put Price on the stand. Through
out his examination that official maintained an
impudent attitude toward the counsel In turn
ne either insolent or addressed Mr. Moss
with presumptuous familiarity. Frequently he
called the former president of the Police Board
by his Christian name. and once he went to the
length OF calling him coward. His vindctive-
ness was so apparent that once Mr.. Moss re-
marked You need not glare at me and stick
your chin out in that way" and few minutes
later ne said. Il will say frankly to you. Cap
tain Price. that I would not care to meet you
outside of the courtroom"
CALLED MOSS A COWARD.
why. Frank Moss?" the captain snarled.
"why, because saved your life once? That
was my duty as officer and 1 would do II
again anywhere: and then in lower tone. he
added you coward" In the course of his ex-
animation Mr.. Moss drew his attention to a
swhite Elephant" a notorious resort in Sixth
ave. :
II don't care what he says" Price exclaimed;
II am tired Of that -" using the vilest cpl
thet that could be applied TO man. The won
der OF the whole thing was that Captain Price
was not reproved with greater force by Mr.
Mazet. For far less offensive behavior George
!. Kraus. OF the Dewey Theatre. was threatened
with the sergeant-at-arms.
From Captain Price II ELECTED that out Of
134 prisoners bailed between July 1893. and
April of this year. W. r. Nelson, Samuel Mel
son and Frank j. Farrell. who have frequently
been mentioned as being in high favor with the
Tammany leaders. between them supplied no
fewer than 613 bonds. 1t has been testified
that the recipients Of this accommodation pay
from $5 to SIS EACH according to the degree Of
the charge. Most of the 734 bonds were given
for women arrested in the street. The witness
testified TO the number of disorderly places he
had closed. but was obliged to admit that he
had not attempted to abolish such resorts in his
precinct as the Haymarket. the Columbia, the
Tivoli and the Cairo. Those places. he con-
tended. were properly conducted. and turning
moralist. he said such houses should be allowed
to exist in a city like New-York II properly
supervised by the police. They were visited by
respectable people. by church deacons "and your
friends" he said 10 Mr.. Moss.
Between August OF last year and May Of this
year he had arrested twenty-seven hundred
women. most of whom were fined and then let
out to the streets again. Receiving permission
from Mr.. &azet to make a statement he denied
the truth of Simon Buttner's allegations of per-
secution at the hands OF the police Captain
Price said he had driven Buttner's Broadway
Garden out Of existence because Of the thieves
and bad characters who gathered there. and.
working himself into a rage. accused Mr. Moss
OF receiving the evidence of Buttner when he
knew II was false "I want TO tell you. too"
he said to Mr.. Mazet, that Frank Moss got
witness TO commit perjury against me before the
Grand Jury. want to show you Frank Mosss
true character" And TO Mr., Moss himself he
shouted with staggering effrontery. This is the
first time have spoken to you In many years.
had It on my stomach. and have given 1t TO
you and given II right"
Mr. Moss made no attempt to restrain the
witness. He is by means through with him
yet. and for the moment It suited the purpose
OF the counsel to allow Captain Price to give
an exhibition more befttng a swashbuokler
than high police ofhcial OF the Empire city.
PRESIDENT YORK's TESTIMONY.
The first witness called when the committee
resumed yesterday morning was Bernard J.
York. president OF the Police Board. Mr.. York
said that the police were now paying special at
tention 10 music halls and vicious places gener-
ally. Just what this special attention amounted
TO was shown by the evidence of two private de-
tectivcs who followed Mr.. York They enumer-
ated many concert halls where drink was served
to them last Sunday and told OF visits to halls
in the Bowery where they were urged by the
walters to go and sit with the women In the
boxes and then charged extravagant prices for
the drinks that were served.
In the last few days reports have been pub
llshed intimating that Mr.. Moss would bring
out sorne startling revelations of the treatment