New-York tribune., 1909-06-04
DUFFY HEARING OPENS
MANY POLICE WITNESSES
IN "MUGGING" CASE.
Mcclellan Still Bingham's s Friend
SulLiUan Man Complains Of Of
fciaI "BrutaIity."

While Mayor Mcclellan yesterday
Quoting his investigation OF Police Commits
sioner Binghams department on the complaint
Of Justice Gaynor that the police had broken
the laws in arresting numerous times and mug
ging" young George 3. Duffy. Of Brooklyn a
fresh complaint Of alleged police brutality
made TO the Mayor. Nathan Steckel. a friend
of the Sullvans, political acquaintance Of the
Mayor himself entered the City Hall with his
head swathed in bandages and told a story Of
arrest and brutal clubbing and of assault on his
wife by painclothes of the East 5th street
station. Mayor Mcclellan ordered a report on
this from General Bingham at once
Twelve police witnesses were examined in the
Duffy case yesterday. They sworn be-
fore a notary public and examined In private by
Assistant Corporation Counsel Crowell. The
testimony Will be transcribed and studied by the
Mayor.
The men who testified were Acting Captain
Kuhne and Patrolmen Thomas J. Tunney, Will
lam $. Breslan Robert w Clarke, James a.
Donon William D. Roddv, David J. Barry and
James O. Reynolds, of the Brooklyn detective
bureau: Bernard w. Dowd. plainclothes man
attached to the Sixth avenue station; Edward
H Rush and John J. Elwood. of the Adams
street station and Michael F Hines. of the
Flushing avenue station. Still other policemen
will be examined to-day and Duffy will be ex-
amined by Mayor Mcclellan personally.
Mayor Mcclellan present at tire investi-
CATION during the morning. Are your relations
with Commissioner Bingham friendly was
asked of the Mayor by the newspaper men
General Bingham and have been friends for
fifteen years" he replied "and nothing has hap
pened 10 interfere with friendship"
rs there any likelihood of Commissioner
| Fingham's failure TO the remainder of his
term?
THAT is not a proper question to ask de-
/ clared the Mayor, with some show of heat Il
| may not serve the remaining 211 days myself
As for Police Commissioner Bingham, he
wouldn't talk at all.
Justice Gaynor sent another letter 10 the
Mavor Yesterday, in which he said:
an, much gratifed to learn from your letter
! az Tuue 10 me that you able examine
| into the conduct of the Police Commissioner 50
| promptly. considering your many duties May
I particularly ask YOU TO read for yourself Mr.
Justcice Burrs full and careful declaration #
| which I referred, namely that only those con-
/ ,.icted Of crime and sentenced TO prison may be
| mi in the Rogues Felons Gallery. and which
Inc Police Commissioner has openly set at
! apain Yesterday he publicly mentioned this de-
| cision in terms of disregard. Decisions and ~
| t,,nctious have been repeatedly def1ed and dis
regarded by him.
| 9bis how has never been convicted sem
,anced for any crime. 1t is easy to give BOYS a
| - rannte by arresting them and locking them
| - overnight and then making no charge OF
| 5rir,e against them before the magistrate when
| ,be,- are uublicly aTaigned with all sorts of
/ feIons next day This is the record of this boz
! which is said TO be bad, and IL Is MADE worse
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