New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-18
COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE.

The Commissioners of Police met yes'erdsy AFTER
noop, in the Mayors Office, when the case Of Capt.
Ditcbett, Of the Fourth Wsrd was resumed, Judge
BEEBEE appearing as counsel for Capt D., aud
JoBs GRAHAM IS counsel for the party making the
complaint
Judge BoeARr, the first witness sworn, testified
that the night Of the I'd of March, Judge Brennan
sent mandate to Capt. Ditchett to discharge one
Thomas Mackerell. who was under arrest In the Sta
ton-House. Capt. Dtchett refused to obey the man.
date when the friends Of the prisoner returned to
Witness went to the Fourth Ward Station
House. and had conversation with the Captain.
The Captain refused, at fist, to discharge the
prisoner, and said he was " a very bad an and
was charged with disordery conduct and fighting in
"the street" After conversiDg with Captain Dtchett
awhile he said be had no objection to the prisoner
being discharged. There was man there, Mr..
Carnley worth e45 00O who offered to 90 bail for the
prisoners appearance before me at "A clock in the
morning. The captain put on his coat aud left the
Station, House. 1 made out a discharge, but the
doorman refused to release the prisoner the cap
tain had given order that no prisoner should be
released unless he was present l told Captain
Dtchett i came there to release Thomas Macksrel,
TO appear before me in the morning. While writing
out the discharge Captain Dtchett put on his coat
and left the Station House. The captain told me he
could not get the witness, as he was on board of
ship. did not formally open Court; did not order
tne prisoner 10 be brought before me. Wrote out
discharge Tor the prisoner to appear before me- Did
not make out any bond. tnoug the csptan treated
me wih great conleuYt.
JONI krARSEr testified thst he went to ths Sta
ton Houee the night in question to go bsi for
for Thomas Msckerel; Judge Bosart and Capt. Dit
cbett tslk ed the matter over; Judge Bogart spoke
very loud, and said lie could hold his Court any
where, and he would discharge the prisoner anyhow;
Capt Ditchett tolo the Judge the complainant was
not there Judge B went behind the desk, and while
be writing discharge the cspt ain left the Station
House, the captain said the complainant was beaten
badly ard could not be he'd a. that time the captain
told the Judge that il he discharged the prisoner at
ALL be must discharge him on his own responsibility;
that the complainant not there and the prisoner
could not be admitted on bail; Msckere kept por-
ter-bouse, and, believe he alsc kept dance house
ANDREW CARPESTER testified that he knows the
porter-house Of George Bats; has eeen Captain
Ditchstt there great many tnes think it is likely
sew him there Sumber Of times IN 1885, in
little back room have seen various games such as
crbbaRe, going on; have seen money played for;
have seen Rsmblipg: checks, som blue some white;
have bills and silver on the table; when Ditchett
was there he was sitting down, talking; have seen
him there when nothing was going on; have ssen
the Captain play game at whist; never saw him
take any part in the game when the checks were
there; never heard any familiarity with Captain
Ditchetl; l have seen him there half an hour at
tine; he was habitual visitor to the house; saw moth
ing IN proper there 10 the conduct OF Capt Ditchet
have seen HIN there on Sundays when the checks
were being played; have seen the Captain drink ale
IN the poiterhouse; caanot specify any particular
day in the year 1853 when spt Ditchett there.
DAVID HEATH testified that he hsd seen Cspt
Dtcheu frequea ty in the porter house of Mr.. Bcts,
corner of Roosevelt and Bstsvissts; IL was q re-
spectacle house; have seen gsmss played in the bark
room; bluff was play ed there tor money have seen
Cspt. Ditchett plsy for drinks and cgGs have seen
him driI Ne.
One or two other Witnesses were eIsmped estive
TO Capt. Di'chett visiting The porter house Of George
Butts. and sorroborated the evidence Of the above
vines after which the Bosr3 Adjourned.