The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-13

Testsasny In Relation - tAs birthplace or
tAs Chaes-Ths Csss nse Ended yet.
POUYTH nav

The Investigation into the charges brought against
fhe Chief OF Police was resumed yesterday before the
Board Of Police Commissioners, the Recorder the
City Judge and the Mayor being present. The first
witness examined was Mrs. Letitia Milligan. who
testified as foows:-Ilve in Geneva, Ontario county,
have resided there about nine years; was born in
Brandon, Suffolk county, England; lived at vii
age called kersingand, England, before came to
America; came from England about nine years
ago, and came to this country; when lived at Bran
don knew Q family named Matsell; the name of Mr.
MatseL WAS George; he was a tailor; lived within
about forty rods Of his house: knew him and his
family quite well first knew them about 1909. and
from that to their coming to America they came to
America in about 1917; the family consisted Of
Mary. Susan, William, George, Augustus, and
Elizabeth; Mrs. Matsen was living; her name
before marriage was Constable; her mother lived
with her she came to this country with them; Mary
was born in 1898, and the others followed in suc-
cesaon; l can't tell their ages exactly: Elizabeth
was quite baby when they started; George was
about six years Of age when the family left Eng
Land; never heard him called anything but George;
bad no knowledge of their coming from Brandon
but merely from hearing they were gone; have not
seen them since; Mr.. Matsell was very good look
ing man, and stout; have no knowledge of my own
OF the ship they came in l have heard Mr.. Matsell
say that he was married before he went to America
The hrst time; can't recollect his telling me how
1ong ne was here the first visit; was very intimate
WIN mary-as intimate as young peasOns could be;
u ID about twenty-five years ago since / left Bran
don; my husband is shoemaker; it was known that
was acquainted with these facts by my husband
mentioning 1t IN his shop, and by his writing to Mr.
Briggs; the children Of Mr. Matsell were born in
Brandon; | knew George as an infant only; thew
never lived ont of Brandon before they LETT it to come
70 thus country; the three youngest, George, Au-
gussus and Elizabeth, were born in Brandon that
stout gentleman (pointug to the Chief is like old
Mr.. Matsell.
Crossexamned by Mr.. Brady was baptised;
KNOW, because my mother and friends told me: was
baptized in the same year | was born; made an
affidavit in this matter, ard made true one; Mr.
Branch wrote it at Geneva; don't know the month
when it was taken: it was in 1s55-the latter part
OF The summer; my husband hires house in Gene
va; he does not pay it quarterly: have child,
which was born about "a years ago in September,
"a; can't say what year. don't know what the
population OF Brandon was; it was small market
town; i didn't know person there named Elizabeth
Kervan or Sarah Pollock; there were no families
there that ever heard Of; l visited Matsells at
Brandon; had no brother or sister living then; my
fathers name was John Howard; he died about
seven years ago in Brandon; my mother died about
the same time; l married at Kensingham; l am
married about rs years; my child is living; re-
member my father coming home one evening while
our family were at tea, and saying, Here is Mr.
George Matsell, tailor by trade, to whom was in
troduced today. who has recently come from
London to reside permanently in Brandon"
don't yecollect the name of any other person who
was introduced in my family between the time
was twelve and sixteen; recolect that on account
of it, being my first acquaintance with the family;
my father was not born in Brandon; he was born
IN the county OF Norfolk; never heard him name
tie village went to Mr.. Matsell's house after
the introduction; heard Mr. Matseu, when talking,
in Brandon, say that he had been to America he
said he had been to New York; / saw George when
baby; his sister Mary used to nurse him; he was
stout, chubby boy the last time saw him; never
saw portrait OF him; have never had the least
representation Of HIM made to me; Elizabeth was
the youngest in England the whole family left
brandon at once, without any talk beforehand, but
they had good deal Of talk OF it afterwards; the
people thought it strange: came to this country in
an American vessel, about ten years ago; have
said that the Matsel family, like all other families
were generally known throughout the town; never
heard OF George being baptized; did not 60 to the
baptism of any OF the Matsals; think the Matsels
eft Brandon in the latter end OF the summer; the
Rev. VIM. Parsons was the rector in Brandon when
] left it, there was Post office there; Mr. Webb
was Postmaster; the Parish Clerk was Mr.. Farrell.
To MI. Noyes-There wa only one family named
katsell in Brandon when lived there.
To Mr.. Brady don't recognise Elizabeth Ker-
van here.
lows-I live inBrOadway. between Seventy -nnth and
Eightietb streets; | am married: my name before
marriage was SpaIshot; was born in Portsmouth,
Eng. came to America in ISL in the Perseus Capt
Richardson. l sailed from En- gland on the 7th Of
May; a family named Pragna sailed with us: also
the Pollock, the Matsell, the White, the Beker and
good many others; Mr. Matsers family consisted,
as well as recollect, of Mr. and Mrs. Matse Mrs.
Constable, the son William, Mary, Susan, a baby,
and some younger children whose names / don't re-
member; Mr.. N. was tailor: did not learn from
him that he had been to America before landed at
Halifax, but it was not our destination: we sailed
for New York; we stopped at Halifax because we
we were short of provisions; the Matsel family did
not leave the ship; after came to New York saw the
Massell family; they were living in Broadway,
near Prince or Houston street, on the right hand
side going up; that about 1872 two years after
/ arrived here; don't know whether the family
mad increased or diminished during that time l did
not see George then; have not continued to know
them since 1920; was married and lived in the
eastern part OF the city; saw the Chief of Police
about ten years ago. in his Office; went to see him
IN hs official capacity asked him did he ecollect
coming over in the Perseus and he said he did not
or was so young he did not recoliect; had
conversation with him As to where he came from.
Cross-exsmined by Mr.. Brady-I recolect the |
given names Of other persons besides the Matsels;
and Mary Anderson; the Captain of the Perseus did
not land any OF the passengers at Amboy; have
chidren-the youngest is "a; my business at the Of
nee of the Chief OF Police was on account of diff.
Guilty In my family; don't think told him who
was during the conversation; think / intended
that he should know who was; he recommended
me to Q lawyer believe it was John Graham;
stated to Mr.. Branco that asked him did he recol-
loot coming over in the Perseus asked him,
thnk If be recollected the Sparshot family, and he
raid he did not.
Mrs. Louisa Baker, sworn, testified az follows
I reside at 149 Clinton street; | am married; my
husband name is John X. Baker; he is a samaker;
my name, prior to marriage, Was Smith; learned
my trade Of family named Matsen, in Broadway,
between 1920 and 1924; the trade was taloress;
George MAtsell was the name of the person; he
lived where Niblo's is now | did not live
in the family. [rhe witness here repeated the
names OF the members OF the family, with some
fur<lS
tSmouy1 I often beard the father and mother
say they had no children born here. except
James Henry; they said they came from England;
with them after that ex ept once that called after
[ was married. / saw no one then except Mrs. Mat
sell; my husband is employed by VIM. d. Murphy;
6usan MAtsell's husband was Fiori; think the
Chief looks like bis father.
M NJ Rradu-I would not have known Mr.. Mat