The Cairo bulletin., 1912-08-21
GRAFT SYSTEM
IN PITTSBURGH
NEAR PERFECT
Trial Of Director NORM Reveals
that Underworld Was Com.
mercialized by Police
MONEY WAS OFTEN PAID
Investigators Have Frequent Fist
Fights With City De-
tectives
MONEY WAS OFTEN PAID

Pittsburgh, Pa, Aug. 20.-The
trial of Police Director MORN, still
in progress, at the instigation OF the
Voters League, has been revela-
tion to many Pittsburghers. To most
however, it has been merely cumula-
tive evidence of police graft and de-
moralization.
1t has made it clear that perhaps
SO per cent of the force is addicted
to drink. 1t was testified that Capt.
Murphy spent two weeks in a dlsor-
derly house and then was taken to
the hospital to be treated for al
coholism, Instances were cited Of
drunken brawls in which policemen
beat each other--While off duty and
in uniform. Others grated One or
two stole silverware from houses into
which they were called. One man,
who runs saloon, left a quart of
whisky each night where it could
be found by the patrolman on the
beat and one of his superior officers
Another policeman, drunk, fell
asleep in the vestibule of a resi-
dence and had to be coaxed to leave
peacefully
Inspector Capp said to be jealous
of man named Schlatter, who was
visiting one Bessie Vernon, assault
ed Sehlatter. The latter and the
woman left town when it looked like
a certainty they would be summoned
as witnesses. One policeman on the
stand confessed to taking money
from these women, and he said all
the policemen did the same when
they got the opportunity.
The City Council passed a reso-
luton asking the Police Board to
take no action against this police
man because of his testimony, evil
IDENTIFY under the belief that he
would be discharged by the board for
revealing the corruption in the de-
partment.
No Denial by NORM.
Since the trial opened Director
NORM has never denied any of these
charges made by the Voters League
When he went on the stand it was
expected he would make denial, but
he was asked only two unimportant
questions by his counsel. The cross
examination necessarily was con
fined to these questions.
Perhaps the most startling of the
exposures is that for years Pitts
burgh has had vice trust--a COM
bination Of men who have CONNER
cialized the immortality of a COM
munity and got rich at it, A jeweler
in Fifth avenue is the only one per.
mitted to sell diamonds and other
trinkets in the Tenderloin. A big
furniture dealer, who holds a $10,-
600 mortgage on the home of high
police official, supplies all the furni-
ture that goes into these houses
"Musty" Price puts in all the pianos
and since the NORM trial started he
has had them all in certain storage
house, waiting for the storm to blow
over. A certain dressmaker goes
through the Tenderloin with samples
and makes suits and gowns for the
women at prices double what they
should be. A man milliner gets most
of The trade IN hats On everything
sold TO these women the prices are
exorbitant
Investigators Attacked.
Tho trial hpnt,nbf
men who were dismissed for drunk
enness, larceny and other offenses
we're reinstated by Director NORM
or Mayor Magee. Throughout the
trial the detectives and witnesses of
the Voters League have been hound
ed by the city detectives and plain
clothes men. The city police have
attacked the men gathering evi
dence for the league. Robert Will
son, chief of detectives for the
league, found it necessary one night
to break the nose of city detective.
Another city detective who overesti-
mated his physical prowess was left
lying unconscious in the street by
one OF the league operatives,
The Office and the nome OF
League Attorney Well have been
watched day and night by city de-
tectives. Every man and woman
who has entered the office of Well
has been followed and questioned
Two Of the witnesses for the league
went to Canada suddenly with more
money than they ordinarily possess.
sAs-S~---s-