New-York tribune., 1907-03-27
JEROME DROPS INQUIRY
POLICE CASE STOPPED.
FMnd Called a Legitimate Collection
for Insurance Purposes.

District Attorney Jerome yesterday failed 10
follow Up the lead 10 investigation Ct the
methods Of the Petrolmen's Benevolent Assoeia-
ton that was obtained Monday night. when he
and Police Commissioner Bingham found a fund
OF $4,000 already collected Both the District
Attorney and the Police Commissioner seemed to
take jt for granted that the money had been
gathered for legitimate insurance object. and
not for influencing legislation at Albany.
Assistant District Attorney Ely, who was as
signed by Mr Jerome TO the task Of making an
inquiry. did not call witnesses. He said he
might at some future time ask PatrOiulan Mar
tin Cahin 10 explain what he meant by report
ing that Patrolman George Wiett had failed
N make good for the salary bill. the defeat of
the reorganization bill" and other assessments,
but was '.vveH taken care Of by the superior
officers OF his precinct" Mr.. Ely said he might
call WllIett as a witness.
The books of the association which Mr.. Ely
examined contained entries showing that an
assessment of $50 on each member had been
authorized as long ago as last November with
the avowed object OF creating a fund by whicn
the death benefit could be increased TO $1,000.
There is nothing to show. II is said, how 1t
would be possible for patrolman to Insure his
life for $1,000 by tho mere payment OF S2O. and
the resolution authorizing the assessment ala
a
The regular assessment Of the ASSOCIATION IS -
cents month for each member
A report for six months ended June 30. 1906
showed that there were 7.747 members. and that
one inspector five captains. twenty sergeants
and 4O4 roundsmen had remained in the associa-
lion after being promoted. The higher officers.
according to gossip at Police Headquarters have
remained members of the association in order
10 be of use in promoting the raising OF funds
for influencing legislation
The power Of the Patrolmen's Benevolent AS
sociation 10 take care of its officers has inter-
ested Commissioner Bingham. Peter McEhtee'
one OF the secretaries of the association, mas
been detailed 10 duty at Police Headquarters
His post has been in the corridor leading TO
General Binghams Office, where he coutd see
visitors 10 the Commissioner. Genera G Pilie1 ie
ham seemed 70 be astOnished yesterday Wnen
the fact OF McEnttees detail as a posslple spy
on his movements came TO his attention =.
PatFolman Cahill, who reported ABOUT net
is detailed TO an easy berth in the Corpora@Lloh @
Counsel's Office. When asked yesterday now
CahilI came to be transferred TO Mr. Eiiisons =
Office General Bingham said:
II really can't say. They wanted five men
down there, and he was one of the five trans
ferred by Deputy Commissioner Bugher. Mt.
Bugher made the transfers. kno" hoIhih6
about them
President Thomas Mclaughlin. OF the asso-
citation. recently was transferred to an easy
berth at the West Side court. General Bingham
would not say yesterday II he thought OF re.
manding any officer OF the association to patrol
duty. He declined 10 talk about the reports
thaf the patrolmen had been working secretly
to defeat his reform biil. The feeling at Police
Headquarters yesterday was that since the po-
lice fund had been spotted" the passage Of
General Bingham's bin at Albany was certain
The raising of the fund Of $4,000, II was said
a. Police Headquarters. had no connection with
the borrowings of James l.. Mock the executive
clerk who was turned ont Of Office by General
bingham some days ago. MocK had borrowed
money from about three hundred policemen, II
T7-ag said
la4ive purpose any insurance purpose. IN
many cases, il was said, the policemen who lent
che money thought they were placing them
selves in a position to ask favors from General
Bingham.