New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-20
TROUBLES OF O'KEEFFE.
Says Whole Department Ought 10
Be an School of Instruction.

More comment was made on Coney Island graft
and the conspiracy" to get his official head by
Acting Commissioner O'Keeffe yesterday, on re-
turning from a brief call on Mayor Mcclellan
When he came to talk about the conspiracy
which is said exist in Brooklyn against him, the
Acting Commissioner mentioned the Of Pa
trolman Steinway. who was Hamberger's partner
in the Coney Island investigation The attention or
the Commissioner called TO the attempt 10
cover up the Mercer station scandal and the
way In which the police have been conducting
themselves Of late when information has been
sought.
The Acting Commissioner said that he had had
his troubles from the discourtesy of desk Heuten-
ants, and that he knew that the police cards signed
by the Commissioner were being ignored by the
men. After citing other examples of discourtesy
and negligence which had been brought TO his at
tenton. he said: The Police Department, from the
heads down. ought TO be back in the scaool OF In
structon.''
Patrolman Steinway, Mr.. O'Keeffe SAID was IN
Inspector Baldwin's office when the latter was re-
duced partly the evidence of Patrolmen CHI
and Powers of the First Deputy Commissioner .
office. After losing his easy berth Steinway went
back 10 patrol duty and then to Headquarters.
When Hamburger started his investigation OF al
legged graft he made a special request for Steinway
a partner.
When they brought in their evidence to the Com
missioner against Clifford and Powers II was seen
that their witnesses were those whom the two men
had arrested at various times. The Commissioner
pronounced the graft charges false and dropped the
investigation" Hamburger has been threatening
suit against the Deputy Commissioner. but Mr..
OKeeffe said yesterday that that was the least
of his troubles.
Jacob G. Hamburger, the Brooklyn private de-
tective whose license as special policeman was
revoked by Acting Police Commissioner O'keeffe
Saturday the recommendation of Borough
Inspector Flood. issued a statement yesterday de-
nying the charges made against him in Inspector
Floods letter and criticsing Mr. OKeeffe for not
preferring charges against certain policemen who,
Il is alleged, received money from keepers of dis
orderly houses in certain Brooklyn precincts, evil
dence Of which, Il is alleged. was submitted In re-
ports TO Commissioner Bingham.
Mr.. Hamburger also said that the 'half-dOllar'
graft cases the East Side have given Mr.
O'KeeTe A good opportunity to come into the lime
light but nothing has been done in Brooklyn with
the cases, where thousands Of dollars We're paid
for protection.
Hamburger also asks O'Keere why he did not
prefer charges against Captain DriscoI or the act
ing captain of the Hamilton avenue precinct for
permitting disorderly houses to exist In that pre-
ainct and why two his officers arrested Fuski, OF
No. 81 Carroll street, the night before he was TO
testify against the OF his personal staff
for accepting money for protection.
'Fuski has been arrested three times since maxi
ing his statement. Why? His answer will be a
novel one. The only sufferer under O'Keefe 8
administration has been the under dog. VIZ, the
plain policeman" Hamburger said
hearing will be given by Deputy State Con-
troller p. c. Dugan Thursday at Albany on tho
application OF O'Keeffe for the revocation of the
detective license Of Hamburger.