New-York tribune., 1906-07-03
VIEW TENDERLOIN HEADS
INSPECTOR AND CAPTAIN.
Schmittberger and Hodgins Trans
ferred after Gambling Raids.

AS result Of raids on several gambling places
in the Tenderloin last Friday by outside" de-
tectives Police Commissioner Bingham an
nounced yesterday the transfer of Inspector
Schmittberger from the Sd District, which in
cludes the Tenderloin, clear down to the 18th
District on Staten Island. and sent Captain
Hodgins from the station in West 3Oth street
up to City Island. For new brooms in the
Tenderloin he selected Inspector Druhan, who
was retired last year against his will by Com
missioner McAdoo, and recently was put back
by the courts, and Captain Steve O'Brien, who
was one Of Mr.. McAdoo's pets and was made an
acting inspector in command of the Detective
Bureau after ne had organized the Traffic
Squad.
Druhan lately has been in command OF the
11th District When he was transferred to the
Sd District his place in the 11th was taken by
Inspector Donald Grant, who had been on Staten
Island. Captain O'Brien was ordered TO the
West 30th street station near the beginning of
General Binghams rule in Mulberry street. but
he obtained transfer to City Island on account
Of Illness after undergoing an operation. 1t
was said at the time that General Bingham was
trying to drive Captain O'Brien into retirement.
There was talk at Headquarters yesterday TO
the effect that both Inspector Druhan and Cap
tain O'Brien had been sent into the Tenderloin
for retirement.
Inspector Max Schmittberger began his service
as policeman in the Tenderloin under Alexan-
der S. Williams, who gave the precinct it's name
by boasting that he had the tenderloin while
other police captains had only the rump Schmitt-
berger was a sergeant at the West 30th street
station when he arrested Robert A. Van Wyck.
later Mayor of the city, at a French ball in
Madison Square Garden. AS a captain. before
the Lexow committee, Schmittberger incurred
further Tammany displeasure by 'squealins," :"
and for years he was kept out of the annual
police parade and relegated to goat district.
His promotion TO the rank OF inspector was op-
posed openly by District Attorney Jerome, but
as a district inspector he cleaned up the red
light precincts east of the Bowery in way
that won Mr.. McAdoo's praise.
Schmittberger was off duty at the time OF the
raids last Friday, and Captain Hodgins had
been summoned to Police Headquarters to be an
acting inspector for few hours. Captain Hod-
gins is the eligible list for promotion.
General Bingham would not say yesterday
afternoon whether charges were to be preferred
against Inspector Schmittberger and Captain
Hodgins. He would say only that the transfers
were "for the good Of the service"
A dozen patrolmen who had been detailed as
members of the street cleaning squad. acting un-
der the direction of Commissioner Woodbury. in
enforcing street cleaning regulations, were sent
to precincts for patrol duty YESTERDAY
have more men on PATROL General Bingham
said.
AS the rumor got around that Captain
Hodgins had been transferred, the on
whom he had made swaTmed into Broadway
especially around the big hotels The plain clothes
men were nowhere TO be seen, and the Tenderloin
began to assume free and easy aspect.
Captain Hodgins got large floral horseshoe from
the policemen attached to the the Tsnderloin police
The esteem in which the captain was held
told in verse by the poet of the squad.
The shake-up was no surprise to the Tenderloin
It regards the numerous transfers as prelude
to wide open town. which, IL Is said Is not far
distant
Captain OBrien is not expected to tarry long.
The Tenderloin sharps say that he sent up
there to ''be broke: and that the breaking is not
far Off There will be few private raids they say,
then the carefully laid plans for the permanent re-
firing of OBrien will be put in operation.
Captain Hodgns last evening, in speaking Of his
transfer said: II cleaned up the Oak street sta
ton precinct, which included the Cherry Hill gang
and closed up Paul Kellys place; ] cleaned up
the Madison street and Mercer street precincts
as I did the Tenderloin. and am glad that the ad-
mnstration has rewarded me by transferring me
a quiet place where can have vacation.
glad ] am transferred.