The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
ART OF GRAFT in SPAIN
MADRID HAS A TAMMANY OF WHICH
EVEN DEyERY MIGHT LEARN.
The Government Charged with Pro-
tectinG the observation-disclosures
and Their Tricks.

States. the story of police graft in old
Madrid. that has just came to an unheard OF
conclusion. is doubly interesting. When the
scandal first became known the Spaniards
shouted: Just like America "Devery.'
Tweed" etc. and it cannot be denied that
there was United States flavor about some
of the revelations. at least. but the result OF
the official inquiry is certainly wholly un-
American. The government has just de-
clared that the accusations OF fraud, con-
spiracy with criminals. levying tribute on
vice, wholesale corruption and grating in
general. made against the police of the capt.
tai, are absolutely without foundation in
fact. At the same time the Governor Gen
eral ordered the peremptory retirement OF
10 minor officials ''for physical debility"
while the states attorney nabbed' three
inspectors for crimes committed out OF Of
fee"
This, then, is the end of the scandal the
substitutes fer the heroic measures prom
Used and announced all over the world in
fiamboyant cable dispatches. namely. that
the whole Madrid police force would be sum-
marily bounced and army men, officers and
old soldiers of clean record placed into the
positions now held by criminals and promot-
ers of crime.
/ attended to-day a meeting of the dis
charged police officers. OF the l12 two were
missing. Their wives and daughters re-
ported that chagrin and despair had driven
them to suicide. These men had never seen a
penny outside of their very meagre pay
and, being suddenly relieved OF their posi-
items, did not know where to turn for the
next meal. Speeches were delivered by some
of the men and noted cc,.nsel setting forth
that they were made scapegoats for the real
culprits. The latter were named and a list
of their crimes, however incomplete. was
hung I'D in the hall From this record
quote at random.
GRAFTERS AND THEIR GRAFT.
Diaz, chief of detectives, who instigated
and carried out the fake dynamite plot
against the King on the day when Alphonso
was declared OF age Tin this pretended plot
an innocent man lost his life): Diaz got So
900 pesetas out of certain check and bond
swindle which cost the notorious Madrid
usurer Gutierrez a cool million.
Bisedo. police captain. got 10. 900 pesetas out
of the same transaction, and by his perjury
railroaded two bank officials to prison in or
der TO shield the real culprits. himself
among them. Divers other captains. inspect
20, 900 pesetas of the Gutierrez swag Three
police captains. who pay taxes on real es-
tate valued between quarter and half a
million pesetas. though their salary amounts
to less than four thousand pesetas year.
Like Devery, they say friends put them on
| to good things
Police Commissioner serano, accused OF
stealing pupilary funds. amounting TO $1,000
pesetas, whose case has been on the calen-
dar for three years without being called.
Police Inspector Ayala. whose portrait is
in the rogues gallery, where he is described
as a highway robber. having several afro
cious murders to his credit. AyaIa drove
robbers from the streets OF Madrid only
| himself to assume their part. The states at
torney and Governor are In possession OF
evidence, showing that Ayala had hand in
most OF the robberies committed in Madrid
during the last five or six years.
Chief of police taxes every form OF crime
within his jurisdiction under a system that
covers officials as well as private citizens.
criminals and supposed respectable bust
ness men. Ayala had to pay his chief trib-
utes like the poor, half-starved street,
walker.
Seventeen police captains and lieutenants.
respectively. are pilloried as owners OF gam
bling houses (names and locations given),
while fifteen other high officials figure as
owners OF the best paying dsorderly houses
in the capital, where the scum OF both sexes
congregates-veritable breeding spots OF
crime and vice.
The detective force seems to have divided
up the spoils OF crime as follows: One body
of detectives licensed pickpockets. another
got a rake-off from the burglaries COM
mitted, another winked at counterfeiting. q
fourth favored three-card monte men, a
fifth bicycle and horse thieves. etc. or
course their captains and lieutenants re-
ceived percentage OF the vice taxes coll
lected Professional thieves had 10 give up
from 80 10 60 per cent. of their talkings 10 the
high officials and detectives set 20 catch
them.
FENCE FOR STOLEN PROPERTY.
Every captain, inspector and detective
with very few exceptions that are named)
acted as fence" receiving stolen goods.
preferably Immediately after the deed IN
that case, they told thieves and robbers de-
lection with the goods on them <the orig
inal culprits) was impossible. This method
also secured the police its percentage, for
until that was handed in the stolen goods
were not offered for sale. while the threat OF
exposure held the thief. In this
way the thieves were themselves robbed and
/ squeezed TO the extent that many. in dis
gust. gave up the business.
All houses Of ill-famc, as far as not owned
. by police officials. disorderly saloons, gam
bling bells, fighting cock resorts. ETC.. paid
and are paying, two kinds OF taxes to the
police, a general tax, going 20 the chiefs OF
, departments. inspectors. etc. and local
| tax. the pcrquisite OF the captains. patrols
, men and detectives.
The chief OF police and various captains
(names given furthermore added TO thcIl
; income by refusing to locate persons against
whom warrants had been issued. and by al.
, lowing prisoners 10 escape who paid Ger.
tain amount for the privilege. Sometimes
, too, when big rogue had TO be arrested II
obedience TO public clamor. substitute wa,
, nabbed and held in prison until the day o.
the trial. when 1t was suddenly 'discov.
cred" that the police had hold OF the wrons
, party.
The meeting reGfhrrned that the abov'
facts and others. that are unfit for pubIica
ton in a respectable newspaper. were lais