New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-15
POLICE MOTIVE REVENGE.
MANY PEOPLE ARE CONVINCED SINCE
RAIDS on SHOPKEEPERS


JEROME SAYS LAW RELIEVING HE
BREws SHOULD HAVE BEEN PASSED.
Trornadia-elv after the patrolnen of the city
fegan 20 enforce the Sunday law against the
saloons a Tribune reporter was told by nigh
officers of the police force that the main reason
for such action desire to attack Commits
sioner Partridge and Mayor Low because the
three platoon system had been abolished The
,,a+roluaen il was said. believed that the Mayor
and Police Commissioner were pledged to a
liberal enforcement Of the laws, and thought
they could be forced to take back the three
r1aroon system if the laws We're enforced Of
rensiyelv against the saIoonkeepers-
Police officials and politicians in all parts of
che CITY believe now that revenge was the con-
trolling motive of the patrolmen- The per-
forrnances OF the patrolmen in the district east
of the Bowery on Sunday have convinced many
soubters that the men are determined to DO
their utmost TO get the administration OF Mayor
Low in bad repute with voters Of the city un-
less the three platoon system of patrol duty
is restored. On Sunday the patrolmen OF cap
tain Walsh's command. at the Eldridge-st sta
ton. went through the Hebrew quarter in the
n-ecinct and arrested every shopkeeper they
could find attending TO business. They per-
ruitted saloons in the precinct TO remain open
1nmolested and spent all their energies in pry
ing into the small shops Of grocers. butchers.
tapors Jewellers and other tradesmen.
They brought a crowd Of prisoners before
Magistrate BRAIN in the Essex Market Court
Yesterday morning. When the amazed magis-
trate asked why they had made such an eXhi-
hilton Of activity ct the expense of the small
tradesrsen. they said: We'll, we only did our
d1ty. Commissioner Partridge accused us or
discriminating against the saloonkeepers last
Sunday.
PkRTRIDGES WORDS DISTORTED.
ry-hat Commissioner Partridge said was: II
mink . policeman who arrests the keeper Of Il
aa,at,i.7g house, an optur7 Gen a den Of vice
is much better officer than a policeman VINO
.,r-ests a butcher for selling food on sunday.
ITS funny that you only saw your duty yes
terday." said Magistrate Brann. Il hope God
will reward you if Commissioner Partridge
doesn't"
The magistrate imposed 50 fine on each of
sorty-seven small tradesnen arrested in the dis
trict on Sunday. and dismissed ten other cases
in which the police apparently had trumpet up
charges Of Sunday selling in order to make ar
rests Some OF the persons arrested appeared 10
be entirely ignorant Of the reasons for arrest.
Police Commissioner Partridge declined yes
terday 10 talk about the wholesale arrests OF
small tradesmen in the district east OF the
Bowery He said he wanted to get more light
on the situation before making any comments
1t was suggested that it might be a good plan
70 transfer to goat districts the patrolmen of
that precinct who have been trained for years
TO protect many dens of vice there and levy
blackmail on poor and ignorant vendors. Colo
mel Partridge had talks with Captain Walsh
and the inspector of the district. Speaking Of
the general police activity Sunday, he said:
I've been informed that there has been so
much talk-so much is alleged TO have been said
by the District Attorney and the agents OF va
rious societies Interested in Sunday reform
that the patronen are a little anxious, and
have gone to extremes in this matter.
How do you account for the falling off in
excise arrests?" was asked
81 gave no special orders on Saturday" the
Commissioner said but 1 think very probably
there were fewer arrests because there was less
cause for them. l think the work of the sun
day before caused general closing OF the
saloons"
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OPINION
District Attorney jerome had talk with
Commissioner Partridge Later he said; l
have nc desire 10 interfere so long the police
are doing their duty If l found that the police
were pounding these small shopkeepers, would
but il would not be a nice spectacle for a Dis
trict Attorney to interfere when the law is be
ing enforced"
The District Attorney then described trade
conditions as they exist in neighborhoods where
the inhabitants are principally Hebrews. saying
that they observed Saturday their Sabbath
and closed their places Of business on that day.
Particularly Hebrews Of the older generation
who were more orthodox in their belief. If they
were obliged to keep closed on Sundays as
well they had left only five days in the week
on which TO conduct business. which inflicted
The District Attorney said he believed tIlal aS
long as the small shopkeepers Of the Hebrew
fsnh observed one day in the week, and closed
their stores on that day. they should be allowed
to keep their places open on Sunday and ne
added thai If he had been friendler footng
with the last legislature he might have mad
laws enacted granting that privilege.
The charges Of neglect Of duty against three
police captains which being prepared IN
District Attorney Jerome's office include charges
against Captain Cannon. II is said, ana lhe9
VIII be presented TO the Police Commissioner IN
few days
in the police courts yesterday the magistrates
held for trial most of the saloonkeepers VINO
We're arrested for Sunday selling.
IN the Supreme Court Justice Blanchard DIS
missed writ Of habeas corpus obtained by
David Friedman, a saloonkeeper Of Park Row,
VINO had been arrested John Doe" war
rant Tor Sunday selling Justice Blanchard held
that the Identification of the prisoner subse-
quent 10 his arrest was sufficient to warrant the
magistrate in holding him, and he, therefore
dismissed the writ On the question OF the sufi1-
clency Of the designation John Doe" without a
INSCRIPTION Of the man wanted, Justice Blanch-
arc hods with his colleague, Justice Freed
man who, in q recent decision, upheld these
warrants
fooLROOMS THREATEN REPRISAL.