Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-19
WHITE HOUSE INFLUENCE
CHIEF STOCK IN TRADE
Popularity Regarded as Greater Even
Than Commissioners.
COERCION CHARGE IS MADE
Capt. Schneider Declared to Have
Been Forced to Change His
Report in Harper Ii
cense Case.

"
The charge of coercion of a police cap
tain was made against Oden Horstmann
by Samuel T. Kalbfus during the excise
board investigation at the District build
ing today. That the police department
was afraid of Horstmann because he was
looked upon as the personal representa-
tive of the White House. that he was a
person supposed to be even higher and
greater in the District government than
perhaps he would be made superintend-
ent of police, was all claimed by Mr..
Kalbfus in the hearing today.
So much was made of the case of
George T. Harper, who was granted a
license at 1885 NJ street, after the police
had made conflicting reports and after
Horstmann had personally gone to Alex
andria county, Va, and reported that
Harper was a fugitive from justice and
had been indicted several times, that
Frank Hogan. attorney for Mr.. Kalbfus,
went into the history Of the matter with
vengeance today.
Even the mentioning of Senator Gal
linger's name as one of the owners of the
mines out Of which Kalbfus, Darneille
and others made profit Or loss, according
to chance, did not create so much of
stir as did the implication that some one
higher up was holding a club over the
police department to make out a case
by which possibly the excise board could
be put 'in bad"
Mackey Is Witness.
One of the surprises of the hearing. too.
was the sudden appearance Of Crandal
Mackey, who said all the good he could
TO George T. Harper, and not much good
for Michael Lawler, bartender at Harper's
place, who has been the cause for Har-
pers troubles in regard to the liquor and
revenue laws right straight along, ac-
cording to Mr.. Mackey.
It also appeared that Mr. Kalbfus made
money in one mining transaction or set of
transactions, but lost in another. and
coming to the conclusion that stocks and
gold mines are bad things to invest in,
he stuck to real estate because he didn't
know any other way to make money.
Being quizzed about Harper, to whom a
man named Wills wanted to transfer
saloon License at 32So NJ street north
west, Mr.. KalbfuS said he had heard that
Harper had a good reputation as a bar
Der in Georgetown for eleven years, ano
that Harper appeared before the board to
plead his case. and that NJ. j. Keane was
his attorney. A score of letters testify
ing that Harper had a good reputation
were sent to the excise board at that
time and produced this morning. A great
deal was SAID this morning about Har-
per's friendiness and relations with the
man Lawler, who got him into trouble
later and Assistant Corporation Counsel
White brought out the fact that Harper
had been named correspondent IN oi-
vorce suit. The original police report on
the transfer was then taken up. and 1t
showed no disapproval of Harper by the
police.
Changed His Recommendation.
did Capt. Schneider show any disap-
proval of this report of his lieutenant on
Harper?' asked Mr.. Hogan.
None at ALL" said Mr.. Kalbfus.
But Capt. Schneider made a supple
mental report" interjected Commissioner
Johnston; read that"
Mr.. Hogan produced it. That was the
report which Capt. Schneider made after
Horstmann had gone to Maj. Sylvester
with the information he had CLEANED in
Alexandria county. The report reads that
Schneider had since learned that George
T. Harper had been indicted five times.
that he had been a fugitive from justice
and had been fined $4OO. Harper had ex-
planned this, said the supplemental re-
port, by saying that he had permitted
Michael Lawler to use his name. and
that the indictments had been cleaned on
the docket. because Crandai Mackey
commonw ealth's attorney for Alexandra
county, had nolle pressed them. AT the
end of the report Capt. Schneider states:
Il have since learned that Lawler is
now tending bar Tor harper In the
Georgetown place.
did you ever see what Capt. Schneider
said to the district attorney who was
this case?" asked Commts-
sioner Johnston. Mr. Hogan produced
a COPY of the captains remarks, which
at the action of the excise
board The remarks conclude with this
statement:
Trying to Make Case.
.I called attention to the excise board
that my report was unfavorable. / called
attention 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" said Mr.. Hogan. shows that
Capt Schneider was in error, for in his
report there is not a thing
to indicate the place is the resort of
gamblers and disreputable characters"
Then he turned to Mr.. Kalbfus:
Did you have any personal talk with
Capt. Schneider about the Harper case?"
Eyes. met him in front of a lunchroom
On 14th street and talked to him about
Harper"
What did he say?"
He said he didn't know anything about
the man. but he said They are trying to
make case.
'Who did he mean by saying "they'?'
asked one of the Commissioners.
He meant. / took 1t 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 Commissioner Judson
''Yes 1t was. He was looked on as a
man who had friends In the highest
circles. There was the general impress
sion that he was getting in low, but was
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