New-York tribune., 1901-10-14
YORK MIGHT BE POLICE HEAD
SAID TO BE sHEPARD's CHOICE. IF
HE'S ELECTED-HIS "FITNESs."

Bernard J. York. president OF the old Board OF
Police Commissioners. legtslated out OF ONCE
when the single headed police commission was
created, and now Deputy Police Commissioner
IN charge Of the Borough of Brooklyn, is said by
many TO be the logical candidate of the Demo-
cratic administration in case Edward NJ. Shep
ard is elected, for the office of Police Commits
soner. The Kings County organization has
featured, in its campaign book, the work of
York when member of the old board in fight
ing the attempt to ''DeVeryize' Brooklyn. York
is said to be exceptionally close to Shepard. He
is also said to be in line for the post because he
is an enemy of Devery, and would not tolerate
DeYery or his methods for one moment in office
This is the gossip in Kings County 1t is even
hinted that Mr.. Shepard has sounded Mr. York
upon the subject of accepting the police commits
sionership in case the Democratic ticket is elect
ed, and has found "Barkis wiln."
Deputy Police Commissioner York, II was
said, when he put in charge Of the Brook
lyn Police Department, would do great things
in the way of ridding that borough OF vice OF
I'll descriptions Brooklyn has never been over
run with vice in the same way that Manhattan
has. largely on account Of its proximity to that
centre, but there are poorooms. policy shops.
street walkers and saloons which wantonly vio-
late every provision of the excise law. These
we're in existence when York took charge of
Brooklyn, and he has done little to suppress
them
Moreover, York has shown a disposition to
uphold brutal and inefficient members of the
force who had a pull" The most marked
example of this in the case of Nicholas f.
CalIan, Of the Grand-ave. station. who brutally
clubbed Captain Michael F. O'Rourke. of the
Spanish War Veterans.
The captain was going home early on the
morning of March i, 1901. Callan who was
EHifh i lgiy1l-in inC hat
O'ROurke looking at him too sharply,
struck him with his club, breaking O'Rourke's
Jaw IN two places ORourke was IN the Seney
Hospital for fifty days. Callan was called for
trial on charges preferred by ORourke. The
trial lasted three days ending May n. The evil
dence against the accused man seemed to be
conclusive but Callan had strong influence in
the department, all of which was brought TO
bear on Deputy Commissioner York.
York reserved his decision for hundred
days. and then announced that he had dismissed
the charges When a committee of Spanish war
veterans visited Mr.. York on behalf of Captain
O'ROurkes complaint Mr.. York treated them
curtly and afterWard said he did not give
d for that or any other organization which
might attempt to secure justice for Captain
O'Rourke. He refused TO consider the case any
more. Only yesterday Captain O'Rourke got out
a warrant for Callan's arrest The warrant was
issued by Magistrate Steers. after consultation
with District Attorney Clarke and will prob
ably be served to-day.
Last summer various gambling enterprises
were openly conducted at Coney Island. and the
excise law was openly and fagrantly violated,
MS NtiS til dIlCNeC 10 80 on pS Commissioner
York, who apparently was blind to the cond-
tions, because he continually said that Coney
Island was never clean or law abiding
The newspapers have repeatedly given lists of
gambling places and policy shops. but Commits
siOEer YOrk's men have never been able 10 find
them. Many books on the racetracks are made
within radius of one-Quarter Of a mile from
the headquarters In Smith-st., and the propri-
etors rest under the assurance that Deputy
Commissioner York will not disturb them.
Mr.. York's record as president OF the old Police
Board does not exactly entitle him 10 the name
OF refOrmer. His perfidy 10 John McCullagh was
rather early in his term. but 1t IS still fresh In
public memory. He confessed before the Mazet
word 10 Chief McCuagh that he should not be
removed while Mr. York held Office. he could
not resist the corrupt political influences which
forced the retirement of McCullash and the
elevation OF DeVery
Mr.. York practically admitted that he had
violated his oath Of Office IN the promotion Of
captains whose advancement the State Civil
Service Board recently adiudged in contraVen-
tion OF the law He dismissed the charges
against policemen who brutally maltreated
negroes in the riots the West Side
about n year ago and refused fair hearing TO
Frank Moss. who appeared counsel for sew
eral of the complainants
Mr.. York, though he posed while president Of
the old board the opponent of Devery,
showed that he had become "Deveryized'-to
use the Mclaughlin veruacular-when he tried
the big Chiefs" complaint OF characterization
against Patrolman O'Nell allowed Devery TO
be prosecutor and practically judge and then
reported in favor OF the conviction OF the man
who had dared TO protest against the shake
down" system.