The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-15
POLICE WITNESSES ROASTED.
GRUELLING QUERIES FIRED AT
SCHMITTBERGER ACCUSERS.
Serst. non MeNsusht Tells Mr.. LittIetoa
% His Career ~ q POolreom Worker
policeman FAubeI's shady cheeks
Tn Velvet PoOt IN the Tendcrlein.

Tn Velvet Foot In the Temderlelm.
Sergt. Bob Mcknight and Patrolman
Philip Faubel, who we're members OF Com
missioner ~BinKham's street cleaning
squad. were the principal witnesses at the
trial OF Inspector Max SchmlttberGer at
Police Headquarters yesterday. Martin W.
Littleton, 6chmittberRer's counsel, tried to
show that the two were hostile to the in
spector ever since he had them brought up
on charges. Both the sergeant AMI the
patrolman we're subjected to q scorching
oross-examinAtion at the and OF Mr..
Littleton and past performances which
they might have liked to remain hidden
were brought to light.
Sergt. Mcknight in the excitement OF
testifying under fire by Mr.. Littleton vol
unteered the information that he had been
employed in a poolroom before he became
a policeman, fifteen years ago. He said no
worked in two poolrooms in this city for
nearly q year and that the experience
proved an invaluable asset when he joined
the -etreet cleaning squad that was sent
out to raid ~poolrooms.
Policeman Faubel admitted certain
check transactions that he vas mixed up
in since he was q member OF the force.
The witness made il known that he didn't
in the least enjoy Mr.. Littleton's delving
into the check matters and appealed to
COMMISSIONS Bingham. The lawyer de-
clared he was attacking the credibility OF
the witness. Gen. Bingham instructed
Faubel to answer the questions unless the
answers would degrade or incriminate him.
When the case was called at ? o'clock
yesterday the monthly reports OF the
fourteen inspectors in the department,
--..--s-- A. --A 49, 0-A-sAA---A.
is charged with being derelict in his duties,
were offered in evidence. Mr.. Littleton
read a sample report Of every inspector,
with a view to showing the variety n
form Of the reports. He also read one Of
Schmittberger's reports. There was little
or no difference In them.
Sergt. Mcknight was then recalled TO
the stand and again questioned about
the raid on the West Forty-frst street pool
room. He denied that he had known that
Policemen Brown, Mcdonald and We'll OF
S~chmittberger's stan had raided the place
Eve days before. Neither did he know
that the case which Schmittberger's mon
had made against the place was pending
in a police court while his own case was
before the Grand Jury.
Mr.. Littleton then started in to have
1 AhRIN bASNh OA ~ EA1sASN' WV
Mcknight and Roundsman Becker, who.
the witness testified, was the first to ap-
proach him with the proposition as to being
assigned to the Street Cleaning d apartment.
isn't IL rather queer that a roundsman
should offer a sergeant a detail?' asked Mr..
Littleton.
He didn't offer me the detail, Mcknight
replied: 'he just asked me il l would like it.
and l said it would be fine"
why did you yield to Beckerf'.
Il don't know"
The sergeant reiterated that he had re-
| ceived his instructions to proceed against
| poolrooms and gambling houses from FIRST
Deputy Commissioner Waldo, and that up
to the time he met Waldo he thought his
duties would be restricted to the Street
| Cleaning Department. he denied yester-
day that the places raided were those that
had been suggested by the Rev. DR.. Cort-
land Myers.
what made you think you would have a
fruitful field in your operations in the Third
inspection district?" asked Mr.. Littleton.
Because l was pretty we'll acquainted
with pOolroom men in the Tenderloin,"
replied the witness. Il was employed in a
poolroom before l went on the police"
Mcknight then said he worked in a pool
room on East Eighth street and in another
on Cortlandt street and was pretty wise
as to how they were run to-day.
Did Becker tell you to go through the
Tenderloin with a velvet foot-that il, not to
let Schmittberger or Capt. Hodgins know
that you were working in the Nineteenth
precinct
He suggested that we 60 quietly
The witness said that he, Becker and
Faubel had made raids in the districts OF
inspectors Smith, Grant and McClusky, n
had not let the inspectors or the captains
men in on the raids. He also testified that
charges had not been preferred against any
commander as a result OF the raids, with the
single exception Of Schmittberger.
Policeman Eaubel. who is now attache ed
to the Central Park squad, was put on the
rack and asked about charges that had been
preferred against him by Inspector Schnitt-
found guilty and reprimanded, but despite
that he was not u~nfriendly toward Schmitt-
berger. He also testified that when he
heard OF his detail to the street cleaning
squad il was Mcknight and Becker who
told him that they were to proceed against
gambling houses and poolrooms.
inspector Sweeney had you fined fifteen
DAYS pay for cashing checks when your
deposits in the. bank did not cover them?'
asked Mr.. LittIeton.
Il was then that Faubel appealed to Com
missioner Bingham. declaring that he had
Strengthened those matters out n didn't
see why the lawyer should bring the atfair
up. Third Deputy Commissioner Mathot
| NOOk uD tuC CuAkCho " A@uDDl ~
war ensued between the opposing counsel.
Keep your shirt on" said Mr.. Littleton
to the Third Deputy.
-IIl keep it OF and you a take il or
retorted Mathot. -
Il might il we were on the outside, " said
Littleton.
Gen. Bingham raped hard for order
and hostilities ceased, but not before Lit
Teton got in Q parting shot.
Il am amazed at the stupidity OF my
friend on the other side OF the table, be
said.
Mathot didn't reply.
Mr.. Mathot, when tho examination was
resumed, objected formally to Faubels
check transactions going on record. Mr..
LittIeton appealed to Commissioner Bing-
ham AZ the trial judge and said he wanted
to attack the credibility OF the witness.
Gen. Bingham conferred with Assistant
Corporation Counsel Butts, who decided that
Faubel could only refuse to answer on the
ground that the answers would degrade OF
incriminRte him. q.
Mr.. Littleton told the Court the defense
had evidence that bowed Faubel was
guilty Of a felony as a result OF his check
tranaacfiOna