The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-08
NAMED BY THE CLAICHE GIRL.
THREE POLICEMEN on HER PAY
ROLL AT So A WEEK.
II Is Understood That h Named Others
whom Other Women Pay to Let Them
AlOne-Tenderioin Transfer After Con-
ference OF Bingham and Prosecutor Ely

WnOm Other women ray 10 Let Tnem
AlOne-Tenderioin 7 transfers After Con-
ference OF Bingham and Prosecutor Ely
At lesst part OF the story Berthe Claiche
has to tell about her relations n the rela-
tons Of other women OF the Tenderloin
with the Tenderloin police and the mem
bers Of the vice squad. now defunct, was
communicated to Assistant District At
torney Ely yesterday afternoon. The girl
talked with him and Assistant District
Attorney Vandiver for nearly two hours.
A stenographer was present.
1t Is known that ahe named three police
men, former members Of the vice squad,
as men to whom she paid money not to be
molested, except at stated intervals, while
walking the streets. The weekly tribute
was 81 a week to each policeman. She
is also said to have named other police
mon who make a practice OF collecting
money from women Of her class. In some
instances she has named women who are
ready to ~corroborate her story. 1t Is
known that several Tenderloin women
have been summoned to the District At
torney's office.
Mr.. Jerome has instructed Mr.. Ely and
Mr.. Vandiver to make a thorough inves-
tigatlon and has told the girl not to have
any interviews with n one, nor to state
what she has told the District Attorney.
No one is allowed to see her in the Tombs.
Mr.. Jerome's investigation is being aided
by Police Commissioner Bingham. who is
just as anxious as Mr.. Jerome to got to the
bottom Of the situation. He had a con-
ference yesterday morning with Mr.. Ely
and Abe Levy, who was counsel for the girl.
Then, late in the afternoon he signed an
order transferring twenty-three patrolmen
and one roundsman out Of the Tenderldin
district and distributed them around other
precincts, most Of them far removed. Most
of the men transferred were old timers in
the Tenderloin, and had been on post there
for years. Some Of them had don plain
clothes duty.
Although the transfers followed the con-
ference with Assistant District Attorney
Ely, it was denied that they had resulted
from that conference. Steps were taken
some time ago to bring about a general
shifting of men from the Tenderloin, follow
ing the appointment Of Acting Inspector
Hodgins to take the place Of Inspector
Schmittberger, now on sick leave. There
was an indication in the changes made
yesterday that Inspector Hodgins will
remain in command aver after Inspector
Schmittberger reports back for duty.
One of the patrolmen transferred was
William c.. Hamilton, whom Capt. Dooley
kept in plain clothes for eight days in viola
ton Of a rule OF the department, thereby
getting himself into trouble. Hamilton was
sent to Eldridge street. OF the new men
who will do duty in the Tenderloin eight
come from the Mercer street station and
four from the Oak street station, which
Hodgins has commanded. Roundsman
Peter Byrnes, who was one Of Hodgius's
men in the Oak street station, was sent from
there to take the place of Roundsman
Kenny Of the Tenderloin, who was shifted.
Annie Green and Mary NJ. Begins. the
two matrons at the Tenderloin station
who care for the women prisoners, were
also transferred in the shake up. Della
Birgell and Mary E. Murphy will be the
new matrons.
Should the District Attorneys investi-
cation in the Claiche affair not produce
enough evidence to warrant the indicting
of any policemen. but bring out enough to
base charges on, the policemen involved
will Immediately be put on trial.
Berthe was brought over from the Tombs
to Mr.. Ely's Office at $50 o'clock yester-
day afternoon. 1t was after 8 o'clock
before Mr.. Ely got through talking with
her. 1t is understood that she told many
things about her six years Of life in the Ten
derloin which are Of nc use to the Dis
trict Attorney. What the District Attor-
ney's Office is anxious to get is corrobora-
ton Of certain evidence it has already.
1t Was not to be learned yesterday whether
the girl helped out or not.
Mr.. Levy said yesterday; Il have told
the girl to tell the truth. II her story Is
true, she has paid tribute to the police in
her six years on the streets. ! believe that
she will tell the truth. l don't see why she
should do otherwise"
Some of the jurors who would have had the
job of deciding on Berthe's guilt or inno-
cence, if she hadn't pleaded guilty, are
talking Of appealing to the Judge for Glenn
ency for her. 1t is not expected that she
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