Year: 1875

THE CORRUPT PRACTICES OF THE FoRCE-INTER-


VIEW WITH ONE WHO KNOWS THE SYSTEM


The police investigation, which is to be resumed
month has far shown strangely demoraizcd condi-
ton of affairs in the Police Department of this city The
connection of captains scrgeants with the operations
panel houses and other infamous places and of the
plunderng of unfortunate under threats of haul
ing them to Jail and having them sent to the Island
sufficiently well established to indicate that the police
force of New York sadly needs overhaulng and
ganization A HERALD reporter called yesterday Mr.
David j. Twohey get his views of the workings Of the
panel house system aud the identification of the police
Herewith. Mr. Twohcy has given considerable atten-
ton this corrupt feature Of the police method of deal
ing with notorious criminal practice. lie was nstru-
mental in securing from the Legislature the appoint
ment of the present Investigating Committee after
persistent efforts during two sessions at Albany.


REpoRTKE--You are the gentleman who took the lead
in bringing about the police investigation by the egs.
lative committee?


Mr. TwonEY-Yes; after the present committee com
menced labors stood in the background till what
long ago asserted was proven by other witnesses In
1874 made a somewhat lengthy argument before the
Legislature upon police outrages and abuses, and the
Senate thereupon appointed committee to investigate
and report. That committee did nothing however
Last spring | made second appeal, and finally the
present committee appointed. 1t is earnestly Mt
work and have doubt will yet succeed in astonsh
ing the public by its revelations though it has thus
only touched the rim Of police rottenness and revealed
nothing but what has been long known to myself and
most of every intelligent citizen and every Police
Commissioner and police magistrate in the city.


REPoRTER--How did you come into possession of this
information in reference panel thieves and police
rasc,liues


4 tho inf Ia Will refa
TO preparing work on the social evil Much Of it
through personal observation. l was also aided by
pretty large general acquaintance throughout the city
Information OF police derections outragcs and viii
lanics of various kinds TO in such increasing
numbers that was appalled, At length the whole mat
ter seemed 10 be important that il engrossed my en-
tire attention. and myself earnestly to work to Gnd
out whatever could in reference 10 il and do what
could to out the evils. l learned that in many
the police


AIDING AND PROTECTING CRIMINALS


instead of crushing them that police captains and de.
tectivcs We're intimate with panel thieves banco
players, immigrant swinders, burglars, receivers Of
stolen goods and all Of confidence operators and
for other purpose, Of course than to share in the
profits of viany. The amounts of money stolen
IN some cases arc almost incredible For instance I
knew one gentleman who lost S17OO in a panel
house and | remarked TO q panel thief that
| supposed that was the largest haul ever
made at the panel He smiled and enlightened my
ignorance by saying nat he took SOS 900 from one man
The thief divided with the Captain and detective of tho
precinct And for two weeks the detective had the vic
tim walking down Broadway" and up again, asking
linn concerning every conspicuous woman he met, 'Is
that hery Is that herr" the detective knowing all the
time where the woman concealed. The man never
recovered his money and the Thief lost his share III
faro bank. Though many Of the facts state TO you
not susceptible Of legal proof VII the Information have