New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-25
Records Open as Desired.

intent to deceive.
Records Open as Desired.
The only restriction placed on the eX,
animation Of records is that they sna,i
not be taken promiscuously by EXAMINES,
10 be lost or relied I'm such way that
they cannot be again located. All recorus
are omen to examiners upon their 'e9ucst
fn any order they desire. but examitleIS
will not be allowed TO throw INTO con
fusion the records Of the department ek-
cent upon an order Of court, Wnlci,
upon the issuance Of such an order, "ouiu
relieve mo of all responsibility as GUS
todian OF such records Tor tneH p'ope'
'"ie n WALDO Police Commissioner.
Mr.. Watson's contribution to the
epistolary shadows which we're appar-
emily being aimed at the startling dis
closures which Mr.. Buckner has been
bringing out in the last few days came
later I'm the afternoon in the following
letter TO Miss Coleman;
bead Madam: II has been reported 70
me that certain grossly Improper iuen
tions were put TO YOU by eNsIuiIiIiis
counsel Yesterday In the course or your
testimony before the aldermanic inVes-
,igatinR committee. That Is 10 say, IL 10
stated that counsel TO the committee a.
tually asked you. In substance Oh ',;,',
yyhether or not YOU were an eN-conVlct
ar were keeper OF a questionable resort
For one whose standing In tie coinlnu-
nifty - so well known as your own, sun
queries. II made, wouIu Uc 80 Of coun-
ing "A performance on tine part Oh Couh
sci as TO require immediate consiuera-
ton Of such conduct. .t
IA YOU NAV know, counsel conducting
this Investigation, though not seIeJt,u
rf,..y md. m III.
| feel. therefore. that ! may well be ad
vised concerning any such VIOLATION "a
ethics and proprlety az this EPISODE
would seem TO involve. Ihefe sureiE
must he capable counsel IN the 'l'y u
Tew York who can guide the committee
in the performance or its important pu.-
noses without so insulting and humillat-
Ing n citizen who seeks 10 ala IN lts
work. ,..- ,..,, lac,
before me any information that you may
wish to impart concerning this matter
w ARCHIBALD r.. WATSON,
Corporation Counsel.
MIR Ruckner's responses when the let
ters Of Commissioner Waldo and OF Cor
poration Counsel Watson were shown TO
him were made In the form or the toi-
lowing typewriter statement:
on Christmas Eve I have been called
liar by Police Commissioner waldo ana
a shyster by Corporation Counsel wa
son both charges being given 10 tne
press by these officers I feel the police
investigation must he making good head
way NV answer TO each is as folioWs:
Answer to Commissioner Waldo.
on Friday. December 20. 1912. I asked
the aldermanic committee TO visit Police
Headquarters and the West fIth street
station house and observe for themselves
and take testimony of Witnesses as to
tho distractions set in the path or the
committee by the Police Commissioners;
The committee made this inspection and
Investigation ard took the testimony OK
special Investigators Il. V. ODaniel
John II. Cloves, George l.. Bergen, j. H.
Braddock, Paul G. Wilson and Herbert
II Sands. These Investigators all testi.
fed that their efficiency had been cut
down from 30 per cent to 10 per cent In
certain particulars and entirely destroyed
in others. that they We're kept in small
room and forced 10 imagine what they
wished TO examine without being per-
mltted to go TO the files and investigate
for themselves In order 10 ascertain
what would be Of value to the commit
tee The investigators at the station
house were kept standing In front of the
desk for nine hours at a stretch without
permits sion TO look at any books or pa
pers and without permission TO enter any
other room i'm the station house.
on November IS | complained to the
Corporation Counsel. but have received
no assistance. / have tried for three
months to carry on an administrative in
vestigation at Headquarters under these
difficulties, but when II seemed that this
committee and the public would not be
able To get the information they are en-
titled to I asked the committee not 10
take my word for IL. but to make the
tour OF inspection and investigation.
Answer to Corporation Counsel Watson
Mr.. william McMmtrle Speir has been
attending the hearings OF the aldermanic
committee as special assistant corporation
counsel. representing Mr.. Watson. On
last Friday Mr. Spelr addressed the com
mittee at its public hearing I'm answer TO
my statement that ! had received no as
sistance from the Corporation Counsei
with reference to my complaint of No
vember IS regarding police records.
Among other things. Mr.. Speir said as
will be found on page 1852 or the record
81 realize the disadvantage OF the course
that ! am under. that | am neither an
gagged in some OF the businesses that
some OF the people have been, but am
careful about my promises
Treated "insul" az Joke.
This insult to the committee by the man
appointed by MIR. Watson to assist 1t
surprised me very much. but chose to
treat II as a joke. and when Miss Mary
Coleman took the stand / asked Jokingly
and. with both the witness and myself
laughing and fully understanding my pur-
pose, the following questions, which ap- |
pear at page 2370 OF the record:
"Q.-By the way, are you an ex-con-
Wet? Al?
"O.-Yes. Al don't think so.
"O.-We have just had some reference
by my associate as to the character OF
the witnesses We have been having. Have
YOU ever run any disorderly hotelsT
A.-Absoutely not ] would not be q
"O-I am only bringing this out In
order to enlighten my associate. AIR.
speir knows me quite well"