The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-25
KANE SAYS MASON
REFUSED To GIVE
OFFENDERS NAMES
Defends Police Captains for Not
Closing Saloons Sheriff
Recently Raided.
SOUGHT INFORMATION
IN PRESENCE OF OTHERS
Absolutely Denies Police Com
mission Received Excise ViO-
lators' List from Sheriff.

When Police Commissioner Lyman Il.
Kane walked into police headquarters
today his appearance indicated that he
had something on his mind and that he
was going to declare himself. Later
developments proved the surmises cor
rect.
The entire Police Board is smarting
under the indirect accusations made
from the sheriff's office to the effect
that the police had been careless in
trying to enforce the Bishops law, but
Commissioner Kane was the only one
today to come out with a statement
which places the Police Board in new
light, at least as far as Commissioner
Kane is concerned.
The commissioner was asked if any
thing had been done to see that the
several precinct captain would prevent
Sunday liquor selling In the future.
II want to set the police and the
Board of Police Commissioners right in
this matter, and what ] am going to
say l will stand by, and ] have tho
necessary witnesses to vouch for 1t.
otNGIeii WNthS dEO llSL OliueL-
sheriff Mason in restaurant not very
far from the Court House, and we be-
gan talking over the conditions in this
city.
II asked Mr.. Mason what he thought
OF the police work.
Pretty good was his answer. That
didn't suit me, and l pressed for IL
better answer, and asked: DO you
know where there are any violations?
Where the police neglect to do their
lduty?'
II particularlXS asked him Mshe knew
Of any back fboirs IN salo6nss lie said
that ne Gfl. asked him TO give NE
the names of these places, but he re-
fused.
"'WelI.' / said to him. you go around
shouting about the police not doing
their duty. am a member of the Po-
lice Board, and here, in the presence of
half dozen reputable gentlemen. you
refuse to give me the list of saloons
where you say the law Is being vio-
lated This happened, as I say, where
half a dozen prominent men heard me
ask Mason to be honest with me, but
he absolutely refused TO give any in
formation.
THAT was three weeks ago, and since
that time I understand private deteo-
tives have been going around seeking
evidence.
"I believe the police captains and the
majority of the men under them are
ready to do their duty, but I do know
that it is much easier for private de-
tectives to get into saloons than any of
our regular men.
Another thing / want to deny is -
statement which seems to come from
the Court House. You hear it said that
the police commissioners have been re-
peatedly informed by the sheriff and
his under-s sheriff of places where the
law is violated.
There is absolutely no truth in any
such statement, and / am willing to
stand on that"
Mr.. Mason, when asked about the
statement of Commissioner Kane, said
that the conversation between the city
official and him had taken place in
Jake the Barber's" and that he did not
think it quite the proper place for a city
and county official to discuss business
matters, especially when there were in
hearing some people who might be in
terested, by sympathy at least. in what
ever was said by anyone connected
with the sheriff's Office
81 told the commissioner" said Mr.
Mason, that if the police department
wanted information the proper place to
get it was from the sheriff, Under
whom / was working. When he spoke
to me the Mayor was there, and he
also said that the slleriff's office was
not treating his administration fairly
Within hearing of us at the time were
"Hymie" Gross, Dutch Billy" Dick
Lewis and some others.
When the sheriff was asked what re-
sponse he had To mako TO the state
ment by the commissioner. he said that
no request had ever been made for
specific information.