The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-27
BRIGGS POLICE COMMITTEE.

BRIGGS POLICE COMMITTEE.
Another Session OF Sam Briggs Commit-
tee-The Chief OF Police ON the stand-He
VIII Not Testify-A Discussion ON Natu-
ralizati0n-NIore Aaidavits-A short Seq
sion, &c.
The Special Committee of the Board of Aldermen
charged with the investigation of alleged frauds in the
Police Department met pursuant to adjournment yes
terday afternoon. Present Alderman Briggs, Chairman
and Alderman C. H. Tucker.
The room was full of politicians, lawyers, &C.
Alderman BRIGGS took the chair at quarter past three
and called
GEORGE W. MATsEI, Chief of Police. Mr.. Matsel took
the oath, and silently handed document of which the
subjoined is a copy, to the Chair
NEw YORK Sept 49, 1855.
II is my belief that the proceedings Of this committee
designed exclusively for personal and partisan OBJ
jects and do not mean to recognize pretended au
thority until the last judicial determination which can
legally obtain holds that you have the you claim
to exercise therefore decline to answer any question
which you may propose to me- GEO. W. MAiSEih"
Mr.. MATsnI-Now, Alderman, if you have read that
will take my leave.
Alderman BRIGGs-But won't you answer any ques
tions?
Mr.. MA1sEI-I have given all have to say.
The Chief then red.
Alderman BRIGGS Ito the Clerk)-well, well have it
The Clerk then read the document as above.
RICHARD B. CONNOLLY, County Clerk, called and sworn
men have you naturnzed in your Office while they we're
duty since this investigation commenced A. None
Q. DO you know of any such being naturazedS A.
have not naturalized any one for year and half
ty relative to certain paper which he had seen in the
hands OF the Clerk Of the Common Pleas.
Q. What was this paper A. 1t seemed to be record
of the names of some family.
Q, What did it look likeS A. d not know what it
purpored to be, but it looked like the record of
family.
O. Was the name Of George Matse upon it9 A. think
1t
O. Who did you receive it from? A. Mr.. Jarvis Deputy
O. Vas it ever in your possession9 A. Ind it for two
three hours and gave It back to Mr.. Jarvis.
O. Did he ever read the paper to your A. believe he
did, do not remember much about it, it did not amount
to anything particularly
O. Don't you know 1t was naturalization paperY A.
1t was not to my knowledge.
Mr. Connolly was sTacGSsly permitted mite I, to depart dep
Pleas Court, called and sworn.
The CHAR.-Mr. Jarvis did you, in overhauling your
books and papers, find, some time ago. paper contain
ing particulars relative to the family Of Geo. Mat
sell, tailor A. No did not but pursuant to resolu
ton of the Board Of Supervisors passed
the Clerk Of the Common Pleas Court empowered to
employ arrange the records and papers, and
this found among some papers appertainng to
naturalization business.
O. Do you remember the names on the paper2 A. Part
of them
Q. Was George Matsells name theres A. | think it
O. Did you see George W. Matsell's name theres A.
don't remember but it is very easily ascertained--the
paper is among the records.
Can you produce its A. cannot without the order
of the Court.
[It was finally settled that Mr.. Jarvis should find the
paper and make certified copy of it possble]
john BROWN Naturalization Clerk Of Common Pleas:-
Q. Mr. Brown, have you ever naturalized any police
while duty9 A. Icannot swear of my own know
ledge that they were policemen but think they were by
the fact that they wore the pantaoons that the force
wear.
Q. How many? A. Only two. And I may say here that
they both boys, and naturaized minors. There
born in Canada and the Judge Circuit Court said he
must be naturalized. He was trying to get on the po
lice then; whether he succeeded or not don't know
@. Has Mr.. Matsel the Chief, applied to you for
naturalization papers for policemen A. No. l never
had word with him on the subject.
q. (By Aid. TUCKER.) Do you remember the name of
this one policeman that was naturalizedf A. No.
O. Couldn't you get at it A. don't think could, as
| can't remember it.
O. How long ago was it A. About four or five months,
The following adayts then read, after which the
City and County Of Ne,p Fork SIT Louisa wyckon,
residing No 12s West sixteenth street deposes that
was requested by Stephen II. Branch to go to South
Seventh street the of Third street. Williams
burg L. l., and subpoena Mary Mntsell Finn that told
Mr.. Branch never knew lady to subpoena lady, who
replied that this was case-that inasmuch
was child residing opposite Lafayette Hall in Broad
all his children viz: William, native of England long
deceased Mary native Of England who now resides in
WliamsburgLL Ii Susan native Of England, who Is
foreigner and represents America at Manchester,
England as Consul; George native OF Brandon, Eng
land who the Chief Of Police of the City of New York.
Augustus, native OF Brandon England, who died in
South America; Elizabeth, native OF Brandon England,
who resides in the Seventh ward in this city, and is the
wife of Joseph Sweet proprietor of the Sunday Leader
of this city, James Henry Abdeel Columbia, native OF
the United states who married the widow of Augustus
his brother and is believe the American Consul in
South America. That inasmuch as | knew all and
played with portion of these children of George Matsel
tailor in my childhood could recognize them now
hat have fhpma Mt imes
that remote PERIOD and have visited George at his resi-
dence who recognizes as his acquaintance in for.
days that in view of all this Mr. Branch requested
me to q subpoena Mary Matse Finn at Williams
burg, signed by Alderman Briggs and David Valentine;
task; and accordingly left the city of New York,
for that purpose, the morning OF Friday, the 14th
Tho cprnar ~ Tbirs street Wi,amshrc and having
arrived, sent little girl to uire for Mrs. Finn MARY
Matsell having last married man named Abbott
and subsequently man named McFinn, and having af
forwards struck of the Nc and has since called herself
Finn at toy and confectionery store, kept by her
daughters, whose Abbott they being the chill
dren by her husband that the little girl was told
by girl in the store that Mrs. Finn did not reside there
that then made inquiry of one Of the neghbors, and
told that Mrs Finn did positively reside there and
had been seen within short time that then went into
the toy myself and inquired for Mrs. Finn and
informed by her daughters whom knew, that Mis-.
Finn did not live there-that they did not know Mrs.
Finn where she resided: that again made applica
ton to the above mentioned neighbors and requested
of them TO accompany TO Mrs. Firms house,
which she did, that the neighbor told Mrs. Firms
daughters that Mrs Finn their mother certainly did
reside there, which they bushingy and nervously
knowledged but said that she absent from home;
that saw family connection of the Matsel and Finn
family in Williamsburg who told me that she knew that
Mrs Finn resided in 9 rear Of the toy shop in South
Seventh street. at VII had inquired and that she had
her only short time previous thatI then called
on Mrs Fenwck whom Immediately recognized Mrs.
Mary Matsel Firms eldest daughter and formerly Mary
Abbott and asked her II ] could see Mrs Finn her
mother, and answered No,n in a violent manner
she, at the time samming the door most violently
in my face that when first called in the toy store to in
quire for Mrs. Finn her daughters evinced a
formulation Of the hands and lips and jaws, such as
witnessed the most painful occasions. And fur
ther this deponent saith not. LOUISA WYCK0FF.
New YORK. Sept. %, 1855.
Sworn to before tn D8th day of September, 1855,
GEORGE w. WHEELER Commissioned of Deeds.