New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-05
DEVERY ECHOES CROKER.
INCITES HIS SUBoRDINATES TO ATTACK
MCULLAGH DEPUTIES.

THE ELECTIONS SUPERINTENDENT WARNS
THE POLICE OF SCHEMES FOR ORGAN
IzED INTIMIDATION OF LEGAL VOTERS.
Chief Devery, Of the Tammany Police Depart
ment. Is evidently carrying out the spirit of
Richard Croker's recent instructions to Demo-
Gratis, whom he advised to use violence at the
polls If they did not like the way in which
they supposed the secret ballots were being cast
by the voters. Devery issued instructions yes
terday to his captains which practically orders
them to ignore the supervision of the State
the voting Tomorrow II the action of the States
officers do not suit the policemen's taste. Here
Is the language of this insolent order:
To All: Tactics and methods of intimidation
perpetrated upon respectable citizens who have
been one year in the State. four months in any
of the four counties of New-York City. namely,
NeW-York, Kings, Queens and Richmond who
have resided thirty days in election district
and who legal voters, by John McCullagh,
Superintendent of Elections, WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED. OR PERMITTED BY THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT. and the commanding
officers of the Department will give all COM
plants touching such matters their special
attention and will instruct the members of
their commands to use all means within their
power to protect the honest right and franchise
(signed5 WILLIAM s. DEvERY.
MCULLAGHs WARNING TO THE POLICE.
Reissuing of this order preceded by a few
hours the mailing of a letter written by John
McCullagh, State Superintendent of Elections
for tae Metropolitan District, and addressed
the Board of Police, the Chief of Police the
Deputy Chiefs of Police the Inspectors of Police
and to the Mayor.
In it Mr.. McCulagh says he knows of plots
made by the lawess element in many election
districts to intimidate legal voters at the polls.
and to harass them In various violent ways in
exercising the franchise. He calls on the police
therefore, to enforce the law concerning the
closing Of liquor saloons Election Day, as
these places form rallytng grounds for these ruff
fans. He also calls on the police to defend the
voters from rowdyism. and in doing Mr.. Nc
Culagh uses plain and vigorous language point
ing Enthusiastically at Richard Croker the
courager of this premeditated violence. The
letter says:
Recently 1 have received information from
sources which 1 consider reliable to the effect
that concerted and organized attempts will be
made in many Of the election districts In this
city by the lawless element of the community
to interfere with and intmidate the legal voters
of this city Election Day when they appear at
the polls to vote. While 1 charge no particular
person at this time with being responsible for
the contemplated invasion of the rights of citi-
zenship. do not hesitate to state that the ele-
ment engaged IN this contemplated violation or
law has been greatly encouraged and fortified
by the open advocacy of violence at the polls
reported in the daily prints by persons promi-
nent in political activity.
The interference with the voters indicated in
my information win be the blocking of the polls
by organized gangs Immediately after the open
ing thereof by forming in line ostensibly as
voters and applying for ballots under fictitious
names, and, after being rejected, to reform
again in the Of the line. In this manner
it is expected so to occupy the time of the Board
of Inspectors to prevent the polling or the
ballots of the legal voters Of the district. The
intimidation of voters is to be accomplished
either by direct assault or by the lnaug VI % all1n
of fights in the prosecution of which the quall,
fed voters to be hustled out OF the line ana
out of the polling place.
Herewith l desire to state that open threaIs
have been made that my deputies VIII oe as
saulted and interfered with on the day or cleo
tion if they attempt to perform their duty. L
more readily believe that these threats will be
put into execution from the fact that similar
threats, to which your attention was called IN
1898 and 1S99 were carried out. and my depu-
ties assaulted and abused without securing from
the police the aid and assistance demanded Dy
them and myself and guaranteed by stature
CASES FOR THE GRAND JURY.
Owing to circumstances beyond my control. 1t
has been impossible until recently for me 10
present these cases of assault and interference
with my deputies to the proper tribunal; l am
now, however, in a position to do so. ana peg 10
call your attention to the 1act thaI aire@1S Ire a.,
two members of the police force OF the CITY Oh
New-York are under indictment for felony Tor
failing to render the aid and assistance required
place in the Eleventh Election District of the
With Assembly District in 1899 in executing
the warrants for the arrest Of colonizers VINO
attempted to vote on which occasion my depu-
ties were assaulted and the prisoners rescued by
a gang led by Max Hochstim' sonny oH'iIn tn
Abe Silvernan and others. in the presence OF tne
police who permitted the colonizers TO cast their
ballots and escape from the polling place al
though they knew that the deputies had war
rants for their arrest. I propose as soon as pos
sible to present all other cases of similar
nature for the consideration of the Grand jury
of the assaults made upon and interference Win Win
my deputies by certain persons in the 1ld Win
and With Assembly districts. including the
interference by the police with myself ana
deputies last year in the election districts IN the
XVIIIth and xXth Assembly districts, In which
are located Bellevue Hospital and the City Lodg-
ing House.
As / have indicated in previous communlca-
tions. the. source of nearly all schemes and con-
spiracies against the purity OF the elective fran
chise are found In the dives run under the suise
OF saloons hotels poolrooms. gambling houses
and disorderly places. and the conspiracy above
referred to is exception to the rule as the
base of operations of the people engaged in the
conspiracy is found to be the saloons and So
called hotels In which the plans are laid and
from which the conspirators are sent forth TO
execute the plans agreed upon.
In my communication TO the CHIEF or Police
of October 8, I submitted a long list of these
dives poolrooms. gambling houses and disorderly
places, but up to the present time no action has
been taken looking to the suppression of them