New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-24
CAHALANE SWEARS He
NEVER HEARD OF GRAFT
Has Read of It in Newspapers
but That Is All. He Tells
Curran Committee.
FORM 29' NEVER COMPLETE
Reports of Captains Often
Changed, He Admits-Noth-
ing to Prevent Complaints
Being Destroyed.

being destroyed.
Inspector Cornelius T.. Cahalaue has
never heard Of graft in the Police De
partment nor Of fake raids" nor If
framed up arrests" He said So himself
yesterday, when he was examined by the
Curlan investigating committee. lie had
that was all. Nothing more. lie had no
know ledge otherwise. first hand or SEE
ond hand. either.
Canalane also said there was nothing in
the world to prevent a captain or lieu-
tenant receiving a complaint from cit-
zen from destroying the record and dis
regarding the complaint. The inspector
declared he. himself. had never destroyed
such complaints.
Emery Il. Buckner. counsel 10 the com
mttac. examined him on other matters
pertaining To police duty and Intellectual
~ tried To obtain from him any reason
for the existence of a chief inspector All
that Inspector Cahalane knew the in
spcctor had To do was 10 give orders
about paradcs and gatherings of large
crowds
The inspector. vino rules the LIST Dis
triCt said that he had been instructed 10y
Police Commissioner Waldo how 10 han
die disorderly and gambling house cases.
Tut no one ever said n word 10 him about
who had said that he relieved police
orderly houses as well as from any con
ncction with the enforcement Of the law
against them" Inspector Cahalane said
ne understood that captains to-day were
held responsible for enforcing the law
against these places.
Then the old question of Form 2H'' was
brought up. This is the document on
which is supposed To bee listed all sus-
pectcd gambling and disordery houses.
But Inspector Cahalane like police cap
tains who have testified on the subject.
said that It never was complete list.
Did you. ever change Form % re-
ccived by YOU from your captains. before
they reached the Police Commissioner"
asked Mr. Buckncr
Yes. several" replied the inspector. Il
took them III because ! regarded them as
supgr, ssed."
IT,. then admitted that one house on the
Bowery. raided four times while he was
an Inspector had not been mentioned on
Form -" and volunteered the opinion
that disordcrly house was not dlsor-
derby n the offence was committed by
person who only occupied a room there.
But tho woman Is arrested Oh a war
rant charging her with Keeping and
maintaining disorderly house asked
Nh. Buckuer.
Yes. said Cahalane. but don't re-
gard u - a disorderiy house"
Then why permit your detectives To
swear out warrants charging a disorderly
house violation. and II II Is good enough
for "a warrant 10 bc issued on. and good
enough for the courts To send the woman
to prison. why don't YOU carry such
house on Form -"
"W,li. ( don't consider thai a disorderly
house persisted the witness. and that
was as IA A. he would 10. though ques-
toned for a quarter OF an hour on the
matter.
Inspector 'ahaiaue said that when he
didn't make report of "A disOrdcrly u
gambling house arrest on Porn % n
made a written report on a letterhead To
the Police Commissioner. He was not AT
all put out by Nj. Buckner's showing that
there were nineteen gambling house and
forty disurd,rly house arrests I'm his dis
t.ict that had never been reported 10
Commissioner Waldo. Nor could he "N-
plain why out Of Z;J gambling house ar
rests I'm his district 10y his men there had
been only 10 convictions to 2lS acqulttals
II. was asked II his men were at fault or
the courts. but he Tad no opinion.
Complaints sent by citizens, he said
were divided into two classes. one was
marked For your information and re-
port" and the other For your irforma-
ton" Both OF these were signed BY
direction of the Police Commissioner
signed by his secretary, W. Shcehan, and
sent To an inspector.
Complaints For your informa ton
were received by the inspector. and. 50
far as Headquarters knew, he said, moth
ing more was done regarding them. I'm
the others report was made back 10
Police Headquarters. In reply To ques-
ton the inspector said:
IF a janitor sends me a letter and
marks il BY order Of the Police Commits
sioncr' I must obey 1t. | must not ques-
ton it.