New-York tribune., 1903-04-14
CROSS SHIFTS BLAME.
Depended on Captains Pad
dock Testifes.
THE MINISTER ATTACKS ENGEL.

Inspector Adam A. Cross, who is being tried at
Police Headquarters on charges of neglect of duty
for failing close poorooms and dens of vice IN
the district east of the Bowery in the two years
and of his command of The district went on
the witness stand in his own defence yesterday
Abram ]. Elkus. his counsel, led him on by ques-
tions to tell his police history before he was ap-
pointed Inspector and placed in charge OF Tue
red light district. Then he was allowed py Dep
uty Commissioner Ebstein, presiding at the trlal'
to tell all the details of his duties an inspector
while Assistant District Attorney Morgan. con-
ducting the prosecution raised some objections 10
the wearisome description 1t was plain that tAe
plan of the defence was show that Cross had
so many routine duties to perform as inspector
that he could not be held responsible for the con-
dition of the district.
Cross produced reports which he had received,
showing that in month he had to investigate
204 complaints. He said he obliged to depend
upon the captains of precincts in the district for
suppression of vice in the district. and he held
them responsible. At the beginning Of 1900. he
said when the condition of the Twelfth Precinct
under Acting Captain Churchill, had become in
toerable he obtained forty policemen from other
precincts to get evidence against places in that
precinct
Cross had not finished his story when Mr.. Nor
gan asked for adjournment. and it was decided
to spend the rest Of the day in hearing the esti-
mony of the Rev. Robert L. Paddock, who was
excused from testifying for the prosecution on a"-
count of his engagements during the week before
Easter Mr.. Paddock described the conditions
which existed in the district when he in charge
Of the Pro-Cathedral in Stanton-st. repeating the
story he has told before at the trials Of Captain
Herihy. the former commander of the police in
Eldridge-st. In the cross examination Mr.. Pad
dock said the conditions In the district some
what better after forty detectives had been sent
from distant precincts 10 get evidence against the
numerous dens Of vice. The cross-examinatton con-
tinued in part:
o:-You have made some effort to have charges
made against Cross, have you not? Al was in
junction with Bishop Potter
Q-Did you ever make threat against Inspector
and told him that I had made a complaint against
Captain Herlihy The inspector gave me no sat
Q-Was the. inspector ever impolte to you? A.
Yes various occasions. and especially when
!. called at Police Headquarters to see him. He
then told me I wouldn't be satisfied If had
o-Did he say anything else? Ale treated me
discourteoqsly. and would not advise me what
ditions. He would not hear my story. and pro
tected Captain Herlihy before he heard any part
witnesses, he replied that he had witnesses. too.
Q-Dd you ask the policeman to arrest woman
who solicited you? Al did and he only laughed
Mr. Paddock said he met Inspector Cross In his
office. sitting at his desk. and Captain Herlihy was
sitting him. when he asked the inspector
o a talk with him alone, Cross replied. in
dicating Herlihy: 'If it is anything about the Ell
dridge-st. precinct. you must talk TO me before
him.
When he was telling of the conditions in the FL
dridge-st. precinct before and after he went away
for two months in the summer of 1900 the witness
asked:
How long did these conditions continue
"As long as Martin Engel wanted them TO con-
Mr. Ekus asked that this reply be stricken from
was the Tammany leader in the district for years.
Ex-Commissioner Partridge was present at the
might be called witness for the defence