New-York tribune., 1901-03-02


A bureau for the dissemination of police rumors
in operation ir Police Headquarters. in Null
berry-st. yesterday. and was working overtime.
Some of the reports turned out by the bureau were
contradicted fatty by Commissioner Murphy, and
were apparently untrue. Others were at first con-
tradicted by Commissioner Murphy. and then ad-
mitted TO be true. The bureau seemed to be under
the control Of Deputy Commissioner Devery, but
he refused 10 talk to newspaper men, Commissioner
Murphy seemed 4 DE annoyed by the reports He
said to the newspaper men that he would tell them
what was going and advised them not to believe
the reports that were being brought to him.
You know there is committee Of rumOrs in ses-
sion down stairs all the time" he said. smiling.
Deputy Commissioner Devery. who overheard
the commissioners remark, did not smile There
seemed 10 be reason for belief that Devery was
ordering transfers without consulting Commissioner
Murphy in some cases, and il awkward for
Mr.. Murphy 10 contradict report and then have 10
acknowledge that II was true. There was report
from the bureau early in the day that Captain
Hogan had been transferred from Jamaica 10 New
town. exchanging commands with Captain White.
When the reporters asked Commissioner Murphy
about this he sad he had ordered any trans
fers in Queens. Later. he apparently discovered
that Deyery had ordered the transfers for him, and
he told the reporters that he had ordered them.
There was another report that Captain Tredenburg
had been transferred from the Oak-st. station.
changing places with Captain Dean, of the East
Twenty-second-st station. Commissioner DeVery
said he had stopped the transfer for the present,
but would not explain why such transfer had been
thought of or Why it had been delayed.
one report that interested Mulberry-st. early yes
terday was that Congressman Z. II. briggs, Of
Brooklyn, had been selected by Commissioner
Murphy second deputy commissioner. Mr.
Murphy cOntradicted it as soon as il was brought
20 his notice. He said he did not know Congress
man briggs. and had no thought of appointing him.
Later in the day there was rumor that Bernard
J. York, the former Police Commissioner and open
enemy OF Deyery, was 10 be made second deputy
commissioner and placed in charge Of the Brook
lyn police Commissioner Murphy denied that, too,
and said there was no truth in talk that he had
consulted with James Shevlin about the appoint
of Mr. York. At the same time there was an
expression of belief among politicians that the
Democratic organization in Brooklyn would be per-
mitted 10 select a deputy commissioner of police.
and that Mr.. Murphy would appoint the man
agreed upon by the Brooklyn leaders. Mr..
Murphy declared late yesterday afternoon that he
had not chosen any man for second deputy COM
missioner.
Commissioner Murphy said in the afternoon that
he had received from the police captains the reports
which he called for two days ago, containing lists
OF suspected gambling houses poolrooms and dens
OF vice. The reports sent TO Police Headquar-
tiers, according 10 orders, at 10 a. Devery took
charge OF them soon as they arrived. He looked
over me Ists ana cohIeffeo WIN Mr- huFphy aDout
had not found time TO make personal examina ton
OF them Devery, it was said by some OF the know
ing ones al headquarters Inclined 10 treat the
making of the reports to the commissioner as
good joke, not having the slightest faith in their
accuracy.
Mr. Murphy, the contrary, seemed to think
that the reports would Toe accurate. Il have
knowledge OF the facts regarding gambling and vice
in the city he said, but mean have The
newspapers have been saying that there We're many
gambling houses open. Then they have said they
closed. ] TO know the TRUTH and
] ordered the captains 10 send in reports. When
] have looked over the reports l will know the
facts"
An indication Of the real value Of the reports
which the captains made yesterday morning
furnished by the sudden closing Of many gambling
houses and houses OF vice in West Forty y-ffth
and West Forty-sXth SITS. late on Thursday night.
A tip" which the prOprietors of the houses be-
heVed had been direct from the police station
In West FOrty-seVenth-st, brought about the shut
ting OF the houses about midnight. Lights were
turned out and visitors at the houses were warned
get away quickly If they wanted to escape
raid. For a time the sidewalks in Two blocks were
crowded with and women who had departed in
haste from the houses No police appeared, and
of the gamblers remained at Etghth-aYe.
corners for nearly hour discussing the cause of
the sudden closing
The explanation simple enough. The captain
OF the precinct had 20 make report 10 Comnlis
sioner Murphy in the morning. and there was
rumor that the commissioner had sent out one
hundred in plain clothes through the precincts
TO make Investigations and reports as checks on
the captains. The rumOT apparently was Incorrect.
Mr. Murphy said yesterday that ne did not have
his hundred special detectives out making in
vestigations on Thursday night