The Washington herald., 1911-10-20
WHY SCHNEIDER
CHANGED REPORT
Police Captain to Testify in
Excise Hearing.
KALBFUs AGAIN ON THE STAND
Witness Says Former Saloon In
spector Horstmann Was Regard
ed as Slated for n "Higher Job"
Harper Liquor License Case Oc-
cupies CommissiOners' Attention.

That F. Oden Horstmann, former Dis
trict saloon inspector. was looked upon
by the police as a representative of the
White House, and that he, or some one
else, had coerced Capt. Schneider, of the
Metropolitan police force, were state
ments made by Samuel T Kalbfus, mem
ber of the excise board, yesterday at the
hearing by the Commissioners to investi-
gate the Horstmann-K -Kalbfus contro-
versy.
The examination of Kalbfus was
temporarily suspended long enough to
permit Crandal Mackey, Commonwealth
attorney for Alexandria County, Va, to
testify in regard to the Harper liquor
license case.
Capt. Schneider's Report.
Mr.. Kalbfus said that Capt. Schneider
showed no disapproval of the report of
his lieutenant on the Harper case. But
after the license had been granted and
Horstmann had called on Maj. Sylvester
in regard to the matter. Capt Schneider
submitted a supplemental report, in
which he stated that he had learned
that Harper had been indicted five times
and that he was a fugitive from justice
in Virginia.
Harper explained that it was not he
who was indicted, but a man named
Michael Lawler, whom he had permitted
to use his name. AT the end of the sup
Elemental report, Capt. Schneider stated
that 'Lawler is now tending bar for
Harper in the Georgetown place"
Kalbfus said that after Capt. Schnei-
der had learned that the license had
been granted. he expressed surprise.
saying:
Il informed the excise board that my
report was unfavorable. 1 called at
tention TO the fact that Lawler. the man
responsible for the original trouble in
Virginia, is still manager for Harper.
The place was one frequented by gam
blers and loose characters.
That shows that Capt. Schneider was
in error" said Mr.. Hogan, attorney for
Kalbfus. for in his supplemental report
there is nothing to indicate that the
place is the resort of gamblers and dis
reputable characters.
In answer TO a question of Mr. Hogan
as to whether ne had any personal talk
with Capt. Schneider about the Harper
case, Mr.. KaIbfus said:
Talked About Harper.
Yes; 1 met him in front Of a lunch
room on Fourteenth street and talked to
him about Harper. He said he didn't
know anything about the man, but he
said: They are trying to make a case.
He meant, I took it for granted, that
Horstmann was trying to make out a
case against some one"
Was it generally known that Horst
mann was a friend of some one higher
up?" asked Mr.. Hogan.
Yes; it was. He was looked on as
man who had friends in the highest cir
cles There was a general impression
that he was getting in low, but was des-
tined for higher things in a hurry-it
might be that he would be made chief OF
police"
Did he make a great to-do, and did ne
not RELY or the fact that he came into the
District government from the White
House,"
Yes" answered KaIbfus. That was
his stock in trade"
Mr. Hogan then took up the two re-
ports of Capt Schneider. the first IA
vorabIe and the second rejecting on the
character Of Harper.
Gen. Johnston Alert.
There is nothing in the statement to
the district attorney" said Commissioner
Johnston, Ito show that Capt. Schneider
was coerced into making any statement, !
vet it appears from his talk with Mr..
Kalbfus that he was being made to
change his report. l want to see Capt. |
Schneider subpoenaed for this hearing.
If he is the kind of man who can change
his opinion so readily, it reflects very
seriously against him"
Crandal Mackey testified that several
years ago Lawler took out license in
Harpers name. The saloon was kept
open on Sundays. he said, and Harper
frequently visited the place on those /
days, sometimes assisting in dispensing
the liquor when the rush was great. Mr.. |
Mackey said that Harper was indicted |
for the sales, but that he never lived in
Virginia, so the indictments were nolle |
pressed, after clogging the court calen- |
dar for two years. Mt. Mackey said |
that he had repeatedly told Assessor
Richards and Mr. KaIbfus, when ques- !
toned about the matter, that Harper /
had a good reputation in Georgetown, |
but a bad name in Virginia.
That Mining Deal.
Kalbfus testified in answer to an in |
quiry of Mr.. Hogan that Senator Gal |
linger had an interest in the Mexican |
mine in which Kalbfus invested some !
money Kalbfus said that he bought |
fcrty shares, and that he sold five shares |
to 1Ir. Keane for 1,25o, more than twice |
what he paid for It,
Mr.. KaIbfus said he tried to keep his |
name out of the records Of real estate |
deals in which he was connected, 'in |
order to avoid bother" That he did not |
want to appear as a member of the |
board Of assistant assessors and at the |
same time have his name on a deed or
two every day.
Tyssowski VIII Filed.