Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-10-21
CRIMINALS ON
POLICE FORCE
Sensational Evidence at Investigation
Of Philadelphia Offices.
MAYOR WEAVER TURNED DOWN

PhilaueIphia. Oct. l6.-Ine special
committee OF seven Of select councils
70 Investigate the affairs OF the various
departments OF the city as conducted
by Mayor Weaver and his directors
began the taking Of testimony The
meeting OF the committee was not
without Its sensations. chief OF which
was the request to Mayor Weaver and
three OF his directors TO leave the hear
ing room. and the statement Of John
u. Taylor, superintendent OF police.
that David J Smyth. former director
OF public safety. had told him not TO
molest election repeaters. Superinten.
dent Taylor's statement was made des.
pite the vigorous efforts Of Milton c.
to confine him to the questions pro-
pounded by the committees attorneys.
The committee brought out statements
from witnesses that policemen attend.
ed a meeting Of political club when
they should have been on duty. Mayor
Weaver and the City party Insist that
the police are not In politics. while the
leaders OF the Republican organization
claim the policemen are as much 10
politics now as ever they we're.
The hfst witness called was Superin.
tendent Taylor. He testified that he
was president of the cath Ward Repub.
lican club and that the greater number
OF the policemen Of the district In
which the club Is located were mem.
bcrs Of the organization In answer to
questions he said on the last meeting
night Of the club 40 or 30 policemen at.
tended the meeting, some OF them leav.
Ing their beats 10 do so. lie said the
absent poliremen's heats were covered.
but refused TO answer In what manner
The policemen attended the meeting
by permission Of the lieutenant OF the
district. who had received orders from
former Director OF Public Safety
Smyth that policemen were TO be per.
mltted TO attend political meetings Il
they wanted to. This order. he said
had not been rescinded by the present
director.
The superintendent was pressed sc
hard by counsel regarding police ir
politics that he became angry anc
started to make statements that startl.
ed the committeeman. He said II the
committee wanted TO know the whole
truth about the police business he
could tell them how Director Smytf
told him TO take care OF repeaters anc
how he had to take from the rogue's
gallery the photographs OF men who
were on the police force.
In vain the chairman tried to check
him and threatened to eject him. but
he kept right on.
One Of the attorneys said the com.
mittce did not want to know anything
about that. but wanted to know how
the homes OF the people were protected
"I'll tell YOU" exclaimed the wit.
ness. by men who have spent three
and four years In the penitentiary. and
whose pictures were taken from the
rogue's gallery by Director Smyth."
Lieutenant Thomas Campbell con.
hrmed Superintendent Taylor's state.
ment that the men we're permitted te
leave their beats under an order OF
Director Smyth.
After the hearing Superintendent
Taylor In explanation OF his statement
on the witness stand regarding repeat.
ers said that Director Smyth when In
Office told him not 10 let the policemen
molest repeaters on election day.
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