davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

taken because the prisoner minated he
was ready to impart valuable informa
ton. 1t was minated that he was VIII
ing to disclose who il was who hired him
to commit the crime. For this, how
ever. he demanded that a plea OF man
slaughter be accepted. This tho dis
trict attorney refused to accede to. De
Neau decided TO remain silent and tako
his chances before the jury.
He was found guilty and sentenced to
life Imprisonment. Shortly afterward
he escaped from Sing Sing. He was at
large for week or more, although state
detectives kept up the search for him lie
was finally captured by detectives spe-
cially assigned to the case by Inspector
McCafferty.
Lefty Boyle tried to show that IN
those days certain policemen were not
only making no effort to curb crimes, but
were actually instigating them Like
Rosenthal a bullet sealed his lips At the
right moment.
Boyle testified that he knew at least
a dozen central office detectives who
Were working in partnership with pick
pockets.
\ pickpocket and his policeman partner
would jump on tho same car. If the
pickpocket made a touch without an
alarm being raised he divided up the
proceeds with his partner, the policeman.
and went about his business.
IT, by any chance, an alarm was raised
the detective, announcing that he was
policeman, did everything he could To as
sist in the escape of the pickpocket while
pretending to assist in his capture. Some
times when the pickpocket was not quick
enough to get away, he slipped the booty
into the detectives pocket and then. be-
fore carful OF passengers. insisted upon
being searched. The detective would go
through his pockets, and. of course, find
ing nothing, would insist that the victim
must have made "A mistake. The pick
pocket would be released, and later on
would meet the detective and ella m his
half of the stolen property. The chances
are he got the short end of il at that.
Boyle declared that he was shaken
down five or six times a week by detec-
tives who were allowing him to work I'M
molested.
l did not know Boyle. ] cannot say or
my own knowledge that a single word OF
his testimony was true. But / have llNed
in the underworld and mixed with its
denizens and the same story i nave
heard from them all No man of intel
ligence can doubt that it is true.
copyright, 1918, Icy the Mcclure Newspaper
SyndicateD
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

pay bet is suicide for a gambler. He
becomes a welcher. Rather than that.
the distracted poolroom proprietor will
pay every demand, however unjust he
knows 1t to be.
For this reason, when a poolroom is
raided every effort is made to save the
betting sheet. At the first appearance
of the raiders. the sheet is torn into
tributed among the employees Of the
place. In one case I knew Of one Of
the employees jumping out of a second
story window with the sheet. He didn't
fear arrest, either.
He broke his ankle, but he saved the
sheet.
But If the police do get the sheet there
is still way out for the poolroom man
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

what I'm telling you. No. Jack. moth
ing doing today. Good-bye"
Thinking perhaps there was some
truth in the rumor this man had got, I
rushed back with the news to Becker.
The next day the room was raided by
Becker. and the poolroom proprietor
would be chasing all over town trying
to find me to pay his graft with a bonus
by way of peace Offering.
When a poolroom was raided by the
strong arm squad" one thing was al
ways most sought after by the raiders
1t Is what Is known as the horse bet
ting sheet" On this sheet is written
the name Of the horse and the amount
wagered on his chances by the bet
tors. Tickets with printed numbers on
are given the players when they en-
ter the poolroom each day and these
numbers are used as means of identi-
fcation when a player presents himself
at the window to cash winning bet.
If in raiding a poolroom this betting
sheet Is secured by the raiders great
excitement prevails between the pool
room keepers and the players. The
players get wind Of the fact that the
betting sheet has been seized by the
police. The following day they appear
In the raided place and make demands
for money far In excess OF what Is
coming to them. Losers make claims
on horses that have won. 70 refuse to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12
$1@,000,@@0 A YEAR POLICE GRAFT.

manded. During that time he would run
into the guardsman who had arrested him
several times, perhaps, but he would not
be molested. He had practically been
granted immunity for the night, He
might turn trick right under the detec-
tive's nose without any fear. He was
working to pay what he had promised
the detective
In similar way central office men get
the dips to act as stool pigeons for them
that is, they turn them loose without the
payment of graft upon their agreement
to act as 1nformers.
Very often the amount of graft extorted
from a dip runs into the thousands.
Just before racing ended in New York
a well known bookmaker got touched for
his bank roll on the platform of the New
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

made the arrest, and who may be, hired
suddenly to develop poor memory. Last
but not least, it is used, to turn over to
the professional bondsman who VIII !ur.
nish the necessary surety on the bail
bond. If the case looks bad. no sooner is
the criminal released than he becomes a
'1amister' : bail jumper, or fugitive
from. justice.
Another frequent source OF graft is
opened to the crooked policeman through
the ever-ready information furnished by
his stool pigeons. These characters ire
quent the opium layouts where crooks OF
all kind are to be found. There they learn
of touches and burglaries which for
some reason or other have never. been re-
ported to, the police.
The crafty stool pigeon gets all the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

HAT the police Of
New York collect
graft no b o d y
doubts. In the last
few weeks Mr..
Buckner and his
Investigating COM
mittee and District
A I t O r n e y Whit
mans grand jury
have collected thou
sands of pages or
sworn evidence
,t~c1 tho Hrtrn1.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

ed upon going out, the detective followed
him and arrested him for intoxication.
The next morning when Pritchett was
released only his $L6O0 roll was handed
to him by the police. He demanded the
other. The desk sergeant declared that
81. 600 was all he had on him when
searched at the station. and showed the
entry on the blotter to prove his state
ment
Pritchett was not content to let the mat
ter rest at that. He complained to Commits
sioner McAdoo and then some days after
ward a roll of $500 was suddenly locat-
ed somewhere under the sergeant's desk.
and delivered to the farmer
There the matter might have rested.
but Lefty" Boyle unfamiliar with all
these developments, stuck to the belief
that the detective was not playing fair
with him. To appease Boyle. this detec-
seven hundred dollars worth of jewelry.
The jewelry was pawned. When Jew
Dora" threatened to squeal on the detec-
tive unless he produced the man he had
introduced to her (Boyle), the detective
promised to secure the pawn tickets for
her. for $780, The woman paid him the
money. the tickets were handed to her
and she recovered her jewelry.
But Boyle never forgave the detective
for the way he was treated in the mat
ter. and some time after, while in prison
awaiting trial on another charge, he got
into communication with Jerome and OF
fered to tell all he knew about the pro-
lection which the police were affording
to certain criminals, himself included.
The offer was accepted and an investi-
cation started. AS a result several police
men were arrested and some indicted.
Boyle was paroled in return for the
information he had furnished, ana which
Jerome easily corroborated None of the
witnesses examined, however. was as ia
miliar with the situation as Boyle. Upon
the strength of his testimony the district
attorney would have to rely to procure
the conviction Of the guilty policemen
The day of the trial approached one
night six days before the trial, Lefty
Boyle was found dying in the Tenderloln
with a bullet in his spine. Through the
aid of eyewitnesses sufficient clues We're
obtained to identify his assailant. man
named Alexander de Veau. De Neau was
taken before the dying man and identliied
by him also.
De Veau was tried for murder. In the
course of the trial an adjournment was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

fessional criminals in New York yield a
protection revenue Of at least SIG. OOO. 900
a year. If two or three thousands saloon
keepers can be MIXED Of 100000 a year
1t Is beyond belief that the profits offered
by these other broader and richer fields
for graft would be neglected.
To go back to the second question: Are
all policemen grafters. or is this graft
grabbed up by little clique Of police Of
ficers?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

The farmer. man named Pritchett, at
this friendly hint. decided that he had
better go. The policeman told him not
to be alarmed More drinks were pur-
chased and. then, when the farmer insist
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

The police department consists Of one
police commissioner. four deputies. eight
cen district inspectors, about 100 captains.
several hundred detectives and about TO-
600 patrolmen. Most Of the 10000 men In
uniform who are out on posts get little
or no, graft. There are probably not over
1000 members OF the police department
who are in the graft system-in other
words, nine policemen out of ten are hon.
est. .,- ,
AS to the third question:: Do the graft
ing police officers have to divide up with
somebody higher up: and how many
and who are these hidden people higher
up?" 1t would be difficult to secure
traces Of the men ''higler up which
would be accepted in court. but does It
seem reasonable that the professional pol
iticians who name the city officials would
allow their creatures In office to put $16,-
100000 a year in their pockets without
sharing in this?
Crime flourishes in big cities because OF
the protection which can be bought from
the police. The police grow rich because
of the protection they sell to the GRIM
inals. If the criminals We're all IN prison
there would be no graft income-the po-
lice grafters do not want to see GRIM
inals in prison; it ruins business.
Police grating Is Of two kinds-syste-
matte and Individual. The systematic
kind is paid by gambling houses. pool
rooms and disorderly houses. It Is paid
regularly. like rent, only 1t Is collected
twice q month, usually the LIST and the
18th.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

It Is paid to the captain of the precinct
and to the Inspector Of the district IN
which the house is situated and 1t is paid
to nearly every other Official who has
power to close up the house. The for
nation Of the strong arm squad opened
a new source Of oppression for the
graft payer.
of the kind that operates the faro bank
box, the roulette wheel and the pool.
room. They exist in great numbers all
over the city. They cannot run for two
days without their existence being known
to the police officials Some Of them have
been running for years without days
interruption. These. however, are Of the
most exclusive knd-the kind contented
sometimes with single millionaire
player a night. where new player must
be vouched for almost as though he were
trying to get q position as cashier Of g.
bank. although his honesty Is not the
principal qualification.
There are hundreds Of smaller houses.
such as the crap game and the stuss
game. All Of them pay protection. Last
comes the poker club.
There are several hundred Of these
poker clubs In the city. For a long
graft. Finally. they. too. were marshaled
into the line of graft payers. Poker clubs
may be illegal Just as 1t is illegal to play
poker In your own home. because gam
bling itself Is Illegal. Somehow. how
ever, the poker club was always looked
upon by the police as harmless. Their
certificates Of Incorporation, their wide
open doors and their air Of general legiti-
macy protected them from arrest or ex-
tortion.
They began springing up like mush-
rooms all over the city. Far-seeing
gambling house keepers like Rachel
Braunstein and Bridgey Weber. saw in
these poker rooms the solution Of the
ever-present problem of how to conduct
a gambling house without paying graft
money to the police.
They opened up what to all appearance
was one Of the many poker rooms around
the city. When the graft collector heard
Of the new venture Of these well known
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

That night the dip would work over
time. Hopping on and Off cars. 1t might
take him a couple Of hours before he
would get enough to pay the graft de-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

90 gambling houses. at 81 200 q
month 50. $50, 600
b,VOO ou'casts' at 30 week. -. 100000
bunco men, wiretappers. shop
lnters' ETC.. ....:............... 100000
Nher sinai srait..... 10000
Total annual police graft. SIG. $50 coo
These estimated figures are probably
mailer than the real truth. Mayor Gay
or has said that the police used to col
sct 100000 a year from saloons that
.ept open after closing hours. II this
comparatively small privilege to a rela-
lively small number Of law violators
delded. as the mayor has publicly stated,
1900, 600 a year, II certainly is not un-
easonable to suppose that 100000 pro-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

The most famous instance Of selling
districts to criminals was during the
worlds fair in Chicago. The Chicago po-
lice realized that a specially fat harvest
was offered for all kinds of thievery
among the great crowds that came to
visit the fair. Word was sent out to the
best known crooks of England and Amer
ca and they were invited TO attend a pri-
vate police auction. The city of Chicago
was carefully laid out into districts and
bids We're requested for the rights in
each district.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-29
Commissioner Stover's Desertion,

There need be no more wailing and gnashing OF
teeth over Commissioner Stover's long and still I'M
explained absence. There seems every reason 10
believe that his letters to Mayor Kline and to LOUIS
F. La Roche the acting Park Commissioner, are
authentic and that he has quit his job in favor OF
the "open road" How he squares his conscience
nurtured to fine sensltiveness, as every one sup
posed in lifetime of labor for the 'uplift of the
DOOR with this desertion of his post and his
friends is another question.
In the coolest manner imaginable he abandoned
without word the duties he had sworn to perform
with an eve single TO the interests Of the city.
Without so much as lifting his finger apparently
he has let his friends and co-laborers worry Tor
almost two months his absence and the mys-
terry of his whereabouts to the point even of being
persuaded that he had committed suicide or met
with foul play.
The only charitable Interpretation OF such be-
havior is to deem it irrational. We hope, however
that Mr. Slower will recover his mental balance on
his travels and return TO make those apologies for
his conduct which Father Knckerbocker has every
right to expect.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-29
THE TALK OF THE DAY.

man was on trial before n Western judge for
horse stealing. and when 1t came time for the law
yers on both sides to tell the judge what instruc
tons they wanted him to give TO the jury in addi
ton TO tho points covered in his charge the at
torney for the defence said: II respectfully ask
your honor to instruct the jury that 1t is funda-
mental principle of law in this country that 1t is
better for ninety-nne guilty men to escape than for
one innocent man to be found guilty" YES, that is
true" said the Judge land / so instruct the jury
but will add that it is the opinion OF the court that
the ninety-nin guilty men have already escaped"
she-The waiter is hanging around though he
He-Oh, yes; he's a Typical waiter.-Boston Tran
script
When the Duke Of Connaught first visited Canada
he was entertained at dinner in Montreal. His host
was I'm official rejoicing in the Christian name Of
James who owed his political success to his slap
em on the back method Of greeting constituents
When the dinner half over the Official leaned
toward the duke and whispered: Say I'm tired Of
this 'Your Worship and Your Highness business
between you and me. You call me Jimmy and I'll
call you Arthur"
''Do YOU know the penalty for perjury?' asked the
cross examining lawyer sternly.
Yes, sir" said the stubborn witness.
"We. sir. what is the penalty for perjury thun-
dered the lawyer
IT'S getting elected to the Assembly and going on
a lecture tour" answered the witness.-Buffalo Ex
press.
Senator Robert l.. owen has a rooted convic
ton that the average New York person doesn't know
much about that part of the United States that lies
west Of Eighth avenue, Manhattan. He generally
tells them so whenever he is invited to speak in the
metropolis The frgdity Of Wall Streets attitude
toward the Glass owen currency bill gave the Sen
ator an opportunity the other evening while ad-
dressing the Economic Club at the Hotel Aston.
IL engaged in conversation with dgnihed gentle
man sitting in Peacock Alley on one of my early
visits to New York" said Senator owen. II found
an opportunity TO tell him few things about the
possibilities of the West. He was good listener,
and evidently regarded me with considerable ap-
proyal | to leave him. BY the way said
he, where did you say you came fromT okla
homa,' | replied. Let see,' he unused, toying
with his heavily mounted cane what state is that
imp"
There's pleasing some people," said the jan
itor
What's the troube?"
"A family upstairs telephoned me that they were
trying to play The Anvil Chorus the monograph
and wouldn't please regulate the knocking OF the
radiator TO keep 1t In time to the music
Washington Star
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-29
ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE HEN
He Will Find Her Obstinately Refusing
to Lay More Eggs.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: That the wheels OF the Department
OF Justice are again In motion at the in
stigation of United States Attorney Gen
eral McReynolds Is not conclusive evil
dence that the culprits OF whom he Is pre-
suned To be in search will be caught. The
dailies are replete with information from
various sources that certain industries,
chiefly that OF cold storage. have become
hiding places wherein millions of eggs are
concealed from consumers 10 the indigna-
ton OF the Department Of Justice. and ts-
pecially OF Mrs. Heath, the resolute head
Of the Housewives League, al the hid
ing being done for the financial better
ment Of Shylocks who control the hiding
places.
AS a farmer, producer and consumer
with a strenuous appetite for eggs. | have
no hcsitancy I'm proclaiming my satisfac-
ton that eggs are high, although | am
n sufferer thereby when eggs reach my
table. Perhaps my open reclamation OF
Joy when eggs are high should be accom-
panied with a keen outlook for the where
abouts OF the Juggernaut wheels OF JUS
tice. dangerously aimed TO fatten me TO
ground level
Right here permit me to present Blddys
attitude on the subject and the reason
thereof: Late last September, when the
frosts were beginning to glaze the pump
kin vine IL became noticeable that my lVO
hens. chiefly OF the Plymouth Rock varie-
~. were becoming pale about their faces.
Biddy's songs of the JOY OF life and loud
o. ba co huSlC0,
and coincident with these days Of silence
came a diminished offering OF eggs at the
nest boxes. Later on. as the season ad-
vanced. ragged and disreputaDle hen
hobo, whose wing and tail plunase
gave only a scattering exhibit OF feath-
ers, appeared and further and alarm
ing shrinkage OF eggs at the nest
boxes was also manifest. Finally. from
800 or more eggs weekly. the reduc-
ton of the daily collection proceed
ed until only from 20 to 20 a week was
the best Biddy could do. Nothing could
be done to persuade Biddy to remember
starving public, the sufferings of Mrs.
Heath or the anxiety Of United States
Attorney General McReynolds. She was
i'll with moulting fever and prepared TO
lie abed on her roosting poles until the
fever subsidized. and these distinguished
people must therefore walt until she was
ready to go into commission and renew
business again. Hence the threatened
commencement OF civic violence through
the courts to subdue Bddy's obstinacy
and oblige her to take measures to cheap
en- the cost OF eggs
Biddy preserves the characteristics OF
her sex-"When she will she will, and you
can depend ont. When she won't she
won't, and that's the end ont"
a. j. THOMAS.
Franklin Park. n. j.. Nov. q, 1913
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-29
DIsAGREEs WITH MR.. VANDERBILT
Thinks Mr.. Wilson Bound in Currency
Matter by Party Platform.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr.. Vanderlip's address upon cur
rency legislation at the Catholic Club, re-
ported In your issue OF the 14th inst,
predicates a common misrepresentation OF
the genius OF our national constitutional
system and the relation between the
Executive and the Senate. Being inde-
pendent one OF the other, both should be
animated by n spirit of agreement
You did me the honor to publish in your
issue OF June my citation Of the Con-
stitutional provisions I'm THE California
Middle" My opinion at that time was
that the Tenth Amendment asserted a
higher sovereign power than that re-
served to the states respectively and that
IL the people OF two-thirds OF the states
should agree to change the constitution
OF the United States Senate itself 1t
might be changed, and the provision for
the direct election of the Senators was a
step In that direction.
In the mean time we may have no sign
OF the popular opinion excepting by party
conventions and their adopted rules or
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-29
Mayor Shank Resigns.

Mayor Lew" Shank OF indianapolis could have
stood the ordeal of impeachment much better than
did that other friend of the 'peepul,' but he mas
chosen TO resign instead, which rather Spots Ills
value for vaudeville purposes. On the other manu. IL
was the only honest thing for him to do
The threat of impeachment made by committee
of business men, grew out of the Mayor 5 ops'i""'e
belief in the use of moral suasion' on strikers
Though moral suasion" proved as ineffective III
protecting property during the carmen's strike as
did the Shank municipal markets In stemmlns the
rise in the cost of living he nevertheless was pre-
pairing again TO try it the teamsters in their
projected strike.
man who believes in sticking to his principles
right or wrong should not ask an entire commuhlt!
TO suffer martyrdom for their sake The Mayor Sald
on Tuesday that if he could not persuade the team
sters not TO strike he would get out and he mas.
He deserves the thanks of Indianapolis