New-York tribune., 1910-10-04
CHARGES Police Commissioner
with INSTRUMENTATION and
faIsehood.
OFFENDING LETTER is OUT
Mavor Gets Long Report on
Stewardship During His H.
ness, but Is Silent on
Controversy.


acting Mayor after Mayor Gaynor was
shot on August 2. yesterday asked the
civ executive TO dismiss the Police COM
missioner.
In 2 long report Mr.. Mitchell Informed
the Mayor Of all that had been done with
regard TO the Police Department the
Park Department, the probation officers
and the rapid transit contracts and then
gave out for publication his letter to the
Mayor containing these reports. Thus
for the first time is made public the let
ter which Police Commissioner Baker
addressed 70 Acting Mayor Mitchell on
September l..
The letter containing the report Of his
stewardship was handed by Mr.. Mitchell
10 Mayor Gaynor Just before he went 70
The meeting Of the Board Of Estimate
and Apportionment The Mayor made
no comment on il. neither then nor after
Mr. Mitchell gave out his report for pub
lication.
Mr. MitcheIs report starts with the
statement that on his return 70 the city
on August : he was apprised by the
newspapers Of an alleged condition of
lawlessness and fagrant vice al Coney
Island and Of the general prevalence Of
gambling and open prostitution through
cut the city"
He reminds the Mayor that he asked
whether there were any police matters
which required particular attention dur
ing the absence of the Mayor and that
Mayor Gaynor replied that If any exi-
gHncy arose the acting Mayor would deal
with il in accordance with the general
views and expressed policy Of the Mayor.
Explains Coney Island Action.
Mr.. Mitchell tells in detail Of his action
upon numerous complaints Of the condi-
tons Of Coney Island. He was convinced
that the police had been recalcitrant in
their duties and applied to the office Of
the Commissioners Of Accounts There h
learned that an investigation had taken
place in July. with the approval Of the
Mayor. Then Mr. Mitchell directed the
chief accountant. in the absence Of Com
missioner Fosdick. to detail a number Of
inspectors. whom Mr.. Mitchell personally
instructed 10 investigate conditions at
Coney Island and report 10 him.
commissioner Baker, saws the report.
denied TO the acting Mayor that the
conditions at Coney Island were such as
described in the press or in the com
plants. but the report adds that after
conversation with the Police Commits
sioner at the hospital in Hoboken. where
the Mayor was lying. Commissioner
Baker promised TO give his personal at
tention TO that matter
Commissioner Baker. according TO the
report. said his chief difficulty was
"a used by the Mayors order that all
plsinclothes men be Withdrawn from the
precincts.
1t was at this meeting" says Mr..
Mitchell. that I first called 70 the at
tention Of the Police Commissioner the
fact that he had at his disposal a large
detective bureau which should be en-
ployed for the detection Of crimes Of
the nature in question
When the commissions said the detec-
tives were needed for detecting crimes
O. violence, the acting Mayor, according
- his report, pointed out that from the
loco officers in uniform a sufficient
number could be drawn for temporary
or permanent assignments 10 the detec-
tive bureau 10 deal with vice.
Too Gross for Description.
Referring 70 the report OF the agents
on August l3. Il. l. and Il. Mr.. Mitchell
says:
The conditions found and reported by
Them were 50 gross and revolving that
they Vin not permit Of description by
IRE in this paper" but he refers the
Mayor 10 the afidavitS now in posses
sior of the assistant Corporation CoUn-
SCI who Is prosecuting the charges
against former Inspector o Brien OF the
Coney Island district.
Mr Mitchell goes on 10 tell the Mayor
tnst when he telephoned To Commis-
stoner Baker on August - that the con
dirions were such that il might he well
lot the Commissioner to forego his Va
cation temporarily and personally take
,harse Of things AT Coney Island, Mr.
Baker replied that he really could not
Ierego his rest but would give the mat
ier his personal attention before leaving
A few DAYS later" continues the re-
port. Il learned. through notices in the
press nat a number of plainciothes
men mad been assigned 10 Inspector
OBrien's district This, YOU viii note
vas contrary both TO your instructions
To the Police Commissioner and to
mine
~. Mitchell tells Of his dissatisfaction
,.frb the condition Of affairs al Coney
island and his sending Of inspectors
from the office Of the Commissioner OF
Accounts and gives his letter to Com
missioner Baker on August 26. ordering
the withdrawal Of the plainclothes men
and the revocation Of the licenses Of the
worst offenders. a. well as the reduction
al the inspector in charge and the as
signment To that district Of -an inspector
who can be depended upon 10 put an end
10 what has already become an affront
10 public decency."
RusseIrs Good Work.
Mr Mitchell tells how these orders
were obeyed. and adds.
Since the assignment of Inspector
Russell. which continued through the
period Of the Mardi Gras. Coney Island
has apparently been free from the flag
rant vice reported by the inspectors II
the Commissioner Of Accounts and was
Ioniinged on second page