The times., 1899-04-25
x-RAYS ON NEW YORKs POLICE
cro<er Excused by the Mnxet COM
mittce Until August,

tro<er Excused by the Maxet COM
mittce Until August.
New York. April 24-Richard Croker
has reconsidered his announced determina-
tion to remain in the city all summer II
the Assembly investigating committee had
any business to transact with him. He has
pleaded illness and has prevailed upon the
committee to excuse him for a few months.
He will sail for Europe Immediately, car
rying with him subpoena to appear
again before the committee on August 90.
Mr.. Croker appeared in the ante-room
OF the committees meeting place at 1880
o'clock this morning and sent word in to
Chairman MaZet that he would like to see
him. The examination of Police Inspec or
Kane was under way, and Mr.. Mazet,
without interrupting it. left his seat and
went out to confer with Mr.. Croker. The
big boss said it would be matter of much
physical discomfort to him If he were sub
Jected at present to any further examina-
ton. Mr.. Moss was called out.
Mr.. Croker insisted that his health would
suffer materially If he remained in New
York this summer and testified at the in
vestigation. Chairman Mazet, after speak
ing to the other members of the commit
tee, told Mr.. Croker that he could go to
Europe. Mr.. Moss hastily made out sub
poena for August 20 and Mr.. Croker ac-
cepted it smilingly and left with jaun-
tier air than he had when he came in.
The committee devoted todays session
to police matters. Police Inspector Kane,
Captains Kirschner, Sheehan, Haughey,
Knipe Hardy, Eason, and Burford, and
Sergeants Flood. Timms, and O'Brien were
present under subpoena. John Proctor
Clarke conducted the examination of the
police officers. His efforts were made main
ly to elicit some Information regarding
the funds currently supposed to have been
raised by the police last winter to block
police legislation at Albany. The wit
nesses, however, were very wary, and Mr..
Clarke had hard Shedding.
The committee will return to Albany
and will present preliminary report TO
the Assembly tomorrow. The Assembly
will instruct the committee to resume its
labors, and the investigation will begin
again week or ten days after the Legis-
lature's adjournment.
The committees preliminary report will
contain much of interest to the public of
this city. In presenting it the committee.
will sum up its work and point out the
necessity of continuing the investigation
until the rottenness in the police and o h er
departments is probed to the bottcm.
The committee will announce its conclu-
sions as to municipal crookedness, and wi |
direct attention to the many incomplete }
points in the investigation, such as the
unfinished examination of Richard Croker,
John F. Carroll, Chief Devery. and others.
In fact. the main object of the enquiry ha;
not been touched upon-the collection o!
the corruption fund in the Police Depart
ment- Mr.. Moss has been laying his lines
with unusual thoroughness with reference
TO this matter and he has delayed touch
ing upon IT until he is fully prepared.
The alleged police crookedness in tie
TenderloiI is considered to be another
fruitful subject for enquiry, and properly
to delve into the devious methods of p1
lice administration there will take ion Z
time. 1t Is expected that the first fruit OF
the investigation will be the passage By the
Assembly this week of some one of tie
pending measures with relation to the
building and fireprooing laws OF New York
city.
Police Captain John W. Eason was the
first witness called today. John Proctor
Clarke conducted the examination. Captain
Eason said that before consolidation he
was captain of the Thirteenth precinct OF
Brooklyn. He is now in command OF the
bridge, police.
Ilt CidI At lUOh lEs captain III uiHu very
vigorously. He fred questions at him con-
cerning an address which Captain Eason
was said TO have made to his men at roll
call on March l.
Did you not ask your men to help you
pay your assessment TO the endowment as
sociation2''
mo. SIR" said Captain Eason.
did you not tell them that you could
not pay your assessments because there
were no saloons, pool rooms or disreputabie
houses in your precinct
NO. SIR" Captain Eason replied.
WAS your assessment S500?'
mo, SIR"
What was it?"
Nothing"
Captain Eason could not explain how it
was that the formation of the New York
Officers Endowment Association was COIN
cident with the origin of police legislation
at Albany. Neither could he explain how
it was that the Association was not formed
until February, when police legislation was
pending, and the Senate was close. He
did not explain why the Endowment Asso-
citation was formed at all when the Met
ropolitan Burial Association appeared to
cover the same grounds pretty well. His
examination was suspended and Inspector
Kane was called.
Kane who is in command of the Fifth
Inspection district. was ask-d about meet
ing of the captains of his district on Feb
ruary 20. He remembered that he had
called this morning but he declared that
he did not remember the purpose Of the
meeting Chairman Mazet took Kane in
hand, but the Inspectors memory refused
to work He declared that he took abso-
lutely no interest in police legislation at
Albany. His lack of memory on this point
seemed remarkable. to say the least OF it.
Don't you know that there is a pool
room at the corner of Third Avenue aud
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street,"
asked MIR. Clarke.
No, sir.
Mr.. Clarke had better luck with Fourth
Avenue and One Hundred and Twenty
fifth Street Kane admitted that he was
having the matter investigated. He said
there was a club there. Mr.. Clarke then
moved over to Seventh Avenue and One
Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street. and
asked if there was not poolroom over
The Drive Kane had lolsed into this place
also and said il was club.
Inspector Kane said that he had never
heard of gambling place in a certain
house on upper Third Avenue. Mr.. Moss
offered to give him card of admission
and Kane said he would lock up the place.
Capt. William r. Haughey, of the West
One Hundredth Street police station, was
next called to the stand. He proved to be
an old friend of Mr. Clarke. having been a
witness in the case of Police Captain
O'Connor when charges We're pressed
against the latter by Mr.. Clarke. This
occurred in 1891
There was a laugh when Mr.. Clarke en-
quired as TO what precinct Captain
Haughey had been last transferred from.
THE Thirty second he said with a laugh.
When asked why he laughed he said it
was because it was Mr. Moss district
ooh ha,s oil rlrht - Snid unnnhnu lonl.-