The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-08
BIanchs Lecture at the Tabernacle.
AN AMERICAN PILGRIM IN SEARCH OF AN ALIENS
BIRTHPLACE.

ousy before the public as the Secretary OF the Police
veshgsng Committee OF the Eoard of Alderm end who
bss gained such widespread notorey through his mis-
zion to England in search of the birthplace of the Che
OF Police, delivered his promised lecture at the Taber
nace last evening The novelty Of the entertainment at
tTsced large number of pen sons of whom very smal
portion were hdies. It announced that August
Gocke and Paul Julien would perform on the piano ana
violin. and the promise held that the audience
would have good time generally. There were, it
is true some dark hints thrown out that the Chief
OF Police had cstermined to the lecturer while on
his way TO the Tabernacle but the of branch
himself at the hour appointed aayed all
on that score. He sustained BY . pretty strong
force OF tss members Of both branches of the Common
Council, among whom were Aldermen Barker Ely and
Briggs, and Councmen Conover and Wilde. Alderman
Briggs WAS his chief AID, and performed an important
part in introducing him to the audience The first piece
on the programme Was announced " American air.
bat for some other the American air was no.
given piannorte solo by August Gockel and fAnta.
Ella on ths "Prayer in Aasssnelio." by Paul Julien
more than made up for the omission Then came the
orator Of the evening who delivered himself as foows-
LADIES AND GEATIEMENYou have Gagged the alligator
last Qsugher) and tremble all have never ad-
dressed an sssembage Like this, and may break down
A voIcE-we will pick you up again.
Mr.. B-But in my down all shall regret 10 see you all
go down with me- There may be awful long pauses
bat must be patient until the ideas fofw More laugh
ter once broke down at college debating society mad
committed speech, but In ascending lofty passage
exclaimed what does the gentlemenl What is pos
sibIe! whatl' and on the third "what, stuck fast
Qaughter) l took my speech from my pocket but
couldn't find the place. and sat down with extreme
modification. But II make utter failure tonigat,
ticket office (Aughter) one of you should come on
tbs stsge and strive convince Masen was not
talk with much uency; but to stand before this
heads and entertain you Is no easy task (aughter)
thought could talk with much huency, but stand up
here, unaccustomed as am to public ppeaking-(Rsnew
ed laughter )-is not an easy task.
Here Mr. Branch gave q rather humorous account OF
his search for the birthplace of the Chsr and OF
trials and troubles during the passage from New York to
Liverpool. The second day out, said he, came near
being lost, but providentialy saved (Lsughter)
Well, we had dsncing and music on beard and was sick
(Renewed laughter.) had chun, and ne had q
berth Hsughter.) Well he insisted upon keeping it,
bilious before started. Naaghtsr.) Well, cas-. up
an awful account. Uproarious laughter.) Well, the
hd any out 5 rs gave up hi his berth Moss sushtsr
Liverpool proce eded to Brandon where says he WAS
constant dread Of meeting old Mr.. MAtses ghost but
containing the record of bis sons BIRTH he then took
passsge for New York and arrived SAFELY, notwhstsnd
Ing the terrible fears which he had Of being lost in
on the Banks Of Newfoundland
Having arrived this point Of his lecture Mr. Branch
proceeded TO read the following detailed of the
whole ar which was frequently interrupted by laugh
Ter :On February 6, 1856 Alderman Briggs presented
resolution to the Board OF Aldermen whicn was adopted
requiring George W. hatse CHIEF of Police, to report
the number of Americans and foreigners in the Police
DEPARTMENT which the Chist did respond for ssve
raj weeks Alderman Briggs presented another resolu
top, appointing committee to ascertain why he did not
respond. 1he committee subp9naed the Chief who said
that he would report soon whca he od returning him
self as Datve OF America His report was referred to
swore that he born In 1911; that he never knew
where his parents resided in England; that he
live OF America and that his mother told hum
died about two years since The committee thea appoint
e me its Secretary TO ascertain the truthulness the
Chiefs IeIrrt and obtained sfdavits from those who
Xix years old, and afdavits from those who knew him
fr m 1877 to the present time, who were always as
ured by the Chief and his parents that he born
England. When these afdavis published, letters
were received corI0boIating them, and letter
ceiyea from Geneva n stating that lstitis Mlegan
land who came to America about nine years since and
who knew the Chief from his BIRTH 1871 TO 1877 when
departed fer Brandon where ascertaned from the
citizens Of Brandon and from the parish baptismat
that ths Chief was born and baptized in BRANDON
in 1911 and Augustus and Elizabeth his brother and
tister in 1919 and 1917 also obtained aidavits from
the Pos master and Parish Clerk, and Others who
to school with the Chief and affidavit from Mrs.
Gather Hubbard who was present at his birth Soon
af er returned to America, obtained from the clerk
Of the Common Pleas Court of this city the naturaza
report and blank affidavit of the Chiefs father
dated in 1819 returning himself wife and children
ncludiDg the Cnle aliens, and that he the father
land, "a few miles from Brandon,) the report giving
the rames and ages Of his children, which precise
~ eorresponaed with the Brandon register, and
with the oath OF the Chief himself before the Po.
lice Committee, that he born in 1911. After these
disclosures the committee again twice summoned the
Chief who twice but refused answer any ques-
.ions An attempt was then made to subpoena his sister
residing at Williamsburg, L. l., who twenty years old
at the emigration of the Matss family in 1877 but those
who strive TO the subpoena bitten by srocous
dcgs and threatened with bullets BY daughter Of the
Chiefs eldest sister Q.augher) The committee then
Chei who denied the right of the Board to remove him
The Board requested the Mayor to nominate his
who refused and denied the power Of the Board
remove him. member Of the Legislative Police Com.
mitee then complained to the Police Commissioners thai
the Chief alien, and requested his trial for
patton which was conduct unbecompg policeman The
@ mmissouers granted his request but when the
psinant appeared With his legal partner to conduct
the prosecution, (her.by very imprudently supsedng
Mpnicips Police Committee,) the complainant was
in mediately suspected Of celuson with the Chief,
Mayer and Recorder, and that the complainant Was
Committee and the Police Commissioners (As
guard to the ChieD to summon few spurious wit
nesses and then ask dismissal Of the case
ground that the charge Of aenage against the Chief
could not be sustained The committee then appealed to
the Board Of Ale ermen and the people, when the CON-
plsinant and Commissioners became terrified and the
complainant gladly withdrew, leaving the field to the
Municipal Poice Committee whose witnesses before the
Police Commits oners clearly established the aenage of
the Chief Every effort made by the Chief to nduce
these w,pessta nj TO appear against him. ard house
surrounded for three weeks to obtain the verbal
eveence Of female passenger in 1877 who had previous
ly made her affidavit that the distinctly and positively
remembered the Chief at his emigration 1877, in the
ship Perseus Ia which they both passengers Du-
rirQ the trial before the Commissioners obtained the
certificate OF the Collector of Perth Amboy New Jersey
that George Matsell, three women and five children,
arrived there in the brig Sophia and Sarah in August
1877 from Ha ax Nova Scotia which corroborAted all
the previous testimony. powerful effort made by
the Chiefs counsel to reject this testimony and the
Biandon register also; but the counsel was foil
ed similar attempt was made to exclude
the Chiefs Official report to the Board Of Al
dermen declaring himself native Of the United States
and also to exclude the alien record the Common Pleas
Court, which also failed The prosecution here closed.
The defence only adduced witnesses prove that the
Chiefs mother told them that the Chief WAS born in
America who may have play fully told them 50, wind
ward anchor for the Chief but the Chief old produce
his sisters to that his mother told them So The
defence closed with the introduction OF the Marine Court
RECORDS which the Chiefs last bold and desperate
attempt at salvation. Oaughter.) Tacty admitting,
after years scuffle, that he 10 an alien he cow
ady retreats TO his fathers pretended ton,
whose forgery and AaerAtion he has the unbushng
surnpce TO charge TO the prosecution, In which he
foiled by the Marine Court clerk and by It's judges
fastened itrrevocaby thu defence and those who
in its interest The naturalization index altered,