The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-13
THE MAYORS COURT.
Trial Of Conlan, alias Murphy, the Bogus Mar
shall Before Mayor Hall-Mr Conlan
Makes General Denial OF the
Charges Against Him.


An intelligent looking man, about thirty-four or
thirty-lve years or age, styling himself william II.
Murphy, City Marshal, and who has been doing
quite an extensive business mulctng the Keepers of
stores on various streets and avenues up town. has
at last come to grief
THE MODUs OPERANDI
pursued by this smart young man was somewhat in
this wise:-lIavng provided himself with silver
badge, modelled from police sergeants old style
shield, with the words "City Marshal, New York;
in blue enamelled letters, and having in his posses
sion large number OF egal-looktng documents, he
would call upon the storekeepers who happened 10
leave boxes or other articles on the sidewalks and
ask they had permits Tor the distractions AT the
same time
EXHIBITING HIS SHIELD,
he would say that he was attache OF the Mayors
Office, and that ir the storekeeper would pay him a
stated sum he would obtain the permit for him and
save hun the trouble OF going down TO the Mayors
Office himself. In this way, it is alleged, he has
obtained large sums OF money. In other cases he
would have 'summonses" filed out with titles such
as .Srhe Mayor against --."Or
"JOuN DOE AND RICHARD ROE''
against the unfortunate individual he intended to
fleece. These papers were obtained from various
District Courts anu have the signatures OF the clerks
OF the courts from which they purported to issue.
Those who paid for permits waited patiently to sec
the necessary document coming but 1t did not come
They became suspicious, and Oficer Wagner, OF the
Mayors ordinance squad, being informed OF the
facts by several stOrekeepers, related the Mr.
g. ID. CardOzO. Chief OF the Ordinance Bureau. The
latter gentleman acquainted Mayor Hall with the
details formal complaint was made by Messrs.
Lee Hayes. OF 500 Seventh avenue, on which Mayor
Hall Immediately
ISSUED THE MAYORS WARRANT,
ordering the arrest OF tile smart young man. For
several days lie managed TO eude officer Wag.
ner and continued operations until Saturday night
last, when special officers Butcher and Mccartney.
OF the Sixteenth precinct, saw him Quietly slipping
some
I'm q saloon on Seventh avenue. Having learned
that the young man was wanted by the Mayor they
teenth precinct station house. lie protested loudly
against being treated as macfactor, but he had to
go below. His right name, IL appeared was Nicho-
las g. Conan, OF 239 West seventeenth street. On
searching MIN the officers found the badge above
mentioned. a large bundle of documents, many OF
which were bills, evidently given for collection, re-
ceipts and memoranda Of various addresses.
Yesterday afternoon he was brought to the City
Hall and
was conducted IN the Mayors ONCE.
Mr.. George w. Morton, in charge OF the permit de-
partment of the Mayors office, was the first to tes-
tify He was sworn ana examined by Mayor Hall, and
stated that there Is not and has not been during his
connection with the of1lce-some twelve years
any person by the name Of William Ii. Murphy; that
there was gentleman by that name attached TO
the Corporation Attorneys office as inspector; he
(Mr. MOrton) was acquainted with this Mr.. MUIR
phys handwriting ana the receipt given Messrs.
Lee Hayes, and placed in evidence signed VIII
liam ii. Murphy, was not In Mr.. Murphy's hand
writing.
During this time the prisoner sat between officers
Butcher and Mccartney, and seemed to be
QUITE INDIFFERENT AS To THE RESULT
OF the proceedings or the damaging evidence against
him.
Mayor Hail. turning to Conan said, "Mr Conlan,
you are charged with obtaining money under false
pretences. This Is felony aud punishable as such
You are entitled to the advice OF counsel as the
charge'-
II KNOW WHAT THE CHARGE 49,
said Conlan, inierrupting, and In a st0d tone.
-Oh you do 2' replied the Mayor. 81 didn't know
that you were aware OF 1t. Az magistrate have
the power to commit you on the charge to answer
CAN'T HAVE BAIL?
hardr
require very good real estate bail for $1,000 to
answer any indictment the Grand Jury might bring
Tne Prisoner deny the whole charge. want
to make statement I'll swear to IL. never said
came from this Office. 90 around
Mayor Hall-One moment. never allow anybody
to make any statement In which he might commit
himself don't think any magistrate would permit
person TO say anything IN such case without
consulting counsel, US anything he might say could
be used against HIM l Will recommlt you to allow
Tombs or back to the station house, whichever you
prefer.
Prisoner would rather 20 to the station house.
Mayor Hall then made out commitment, handed
1t to the officer McCafrey), and told the prisoner
that he would adjourn further proceedings until TO-
day &C nOOn
From the papers found in the prisoners posses
sion 1t appears that among the victims OF his Inf
speclon are :. Kullman, 3lS Seventh avenue; John
Kelleman. Seventh avenue, between Twenty fourth
and Twenty-ffth streets; Henry Manus, 800 Seventh
avenue; Thomas hughes, 224 West Twenty seventh
street; Henry Tiger, 27S Seventh avenues Wels Il
Frey. $40 Ninth avenue; John Often, 1866 Seventh
avenue; J. G. T0ett, 4O6 Eighth avenue; Phi. Kettle
4l4 Seventh avenue; Jacob Mol, ,3S9 Broadway; A.
SCnnlltZ, lOZ seventh avenue. Several or these
ties will appear as witnesses against the prisoner.