The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-09
CHIEF DtVERY CALLED
AND CHARGED WITH HAVING
ACCEPTED A BRIBE.
Town WIDE OPEN UNCER HIS k0>E
But the Chief Had Not Seen Anything Wrong
Tenderloin Publications that Had Been
Toned Gown " Mrs Croker
tho Coana
on the Scsne.

New York, April S.-The seven mem
bers of the Mazet Legislative investi-
CATION committee began their work OF
prying into the records of the police
department and other local administra
tive offices today.
After several minor witnesses had b2en
called. a number OF them failing to
make their appearance. Chief of Police
VIM. s. Devery, was called TO the stand.
and his testimony was the most impor-
tant cf the day, as it signified the
launching of the attack upon the police
department. After telling about his va
rious promotions. the witness admitted
that there was an untried charge aga INST
him when he was made chief in Feb
ruary, 1897. The chief was compelled
to admit that the charge had been held
up en- a temporary stay and then said
he had never been required TO pass Il
civil service examination.
Mr.. Moss then sprang something of a
surprise on the witness by announcing
that he offered in evidence three charges
which had been standing against the
chief of police for some time, none of
which had ever been wiped out, either
by dismissal or proof of innocence. These
charges Were for neglect Of duty. for
taking bride of $780, and for neglect
ing to close disorderly houses when their
existence had been brought to his at
tention.
Mr.. Moss put Chief Devery on record
when it came to an Interpretation of the
expression "a wide open town. for the
chief said that New York had been
wide cpen' in the general acceptance
of the expression ever since he had been
boy.
| Mr.. Moss asked the chief if it was not
true that he had stood for hours on
street corner while the law was being
violated behind his back. while pool
rooms we're flourishing on one side OF
the street and questionable resorts near
by. The chief answered that he had no
evidence eff any house running in viola
tion of law, and that if he had he wcud
have given them police attention long
ago. Mr.. Moss then went into detail
ed list of establishments that are known
to be kept running at all hours of the
night and asked the chief why he had not
closed them up before.
Not receiving n satisfactory answer,
Mr.. Moss then asked Chief Devery WHY
he allowed a certain house in the upper
Broadway district to continus it's exist
ence. although there was almost daily
complaints from persons OF refinement
living in the immediate neighborhood.
The reply was that never had there
been obtained sufficient evidence to war
rant the arrest of the woman who runs
the house. There could be no police in
reference until proof positive was secur-
ed. Then Mr.. Moss pertinently asked
the witness if it was not because of the
political influence of the woman proprie-
tor that the polics were held back.
Devery denied that this was so.
The question of allowing two periodi-
calls which circulate around the Tender
loin district to continue publication, was
then put to Devery. Mr.. Moss asked
the chief what had been done toward
suppressing them, and why some action
had not been taken. The chief said that
these papers had been toned down con-
siderably and that he had called the at
tention of Anthony Comstock to them,
but he was slightly mixed as to the par
ticular occasions on which he reminded
Mr.. Comstock of their circulation
NO other witnesses of Importance We're
examined but Frank Croker's name was
called. He was not present, but after
Mrs. Richard Croker called at the court
house and informed Mr.. Mazet that her
SON was out of the city