The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-05
SCANNELL'S JURORS.
a IIubbub i'm the Grand
jury Room.
A Rumor that Juryman Had Been Tempered
With-Witnesses Subpenaed Before the
Grand Jury-The Dangers Of
Social Oyster Stew.

statement published in one OF the evening pa
pers to the effect that information had reached the
District Attorneys ONCE that one OF the jurymen
in the Scanne murder case had been
TAMPERED WITH
and that several witnesses had been summoned be-
fore the Grand Jury to give testimony on the sub
Ject caused good deal OF excitement around
town yesterday and was the general subject OF
conversation In all the places OF public resort
last night. The report went on to state
that Mr.. Mack, the twelfth Juror empaneed to
try John Scannell for the murder of Thomas Dono-
hoe, had happened to call into the oyster saloon
kept by man named Lynch on Eighth avenue
between Twenty second and Twenty.third Streets
and that he had spent the greater part OF even
ing there. 1t further stated that next morning
Information somehow reached the District Attor-
neys Office that Mr.. Mack had been seen at Lynchs
and that an effort had been there made by some
friends of Scannes 10 influence his verdict In the
prisoners favor.
District Attorney Phelps placed the matter in
the hands OF his chief clerk and factstum Mr. Allen
who Immediately went before the Grand Jury and
had subpGnaes issued for Mr.. Lynch and several
gentlemen who were in the house at the time.
They went before the Grand Jury, the report said,
and denied positively that any attempt had been
| made to prejudice Mr.. Mack one way or the other.
the truth OF the report last night called on Mr..
Lynch, well knowing that 1t useless TO attempt
to get any information on anything that TRANSFERRED
| IN the Grand Jury room through the District
Attorneys office. Tommy" Lynch is not unknown
to lame in connection with the downfall OF the late
directors of the Erie Railroad. Mr.. Lynch appeared
| not
| LITTLE pUMFOUNDERED
! that the matter had got into the newspapers and
| remarked parentheucally, "By thunder they have
! "G0T IT DOWN FINE"
| He was at first unwilling to give any information
| vi hat 1
| would be improper to reveal anything that oc-
Cured in the Grand Jury room; but he arrived
that the whole thing had been given away and was
correct, it was no harm to set himself right" Az
ter Il little preface and some persuasion from the
reporter he told the following story
''TOMMY" LYNCH'S STORY.
On last sunday night week some friends OF mine,
Pete Carroll, Dan Blrdsel, and two gentlemen.
named Mckay and Pagan, dropped in here. We
were having glass of wine when Frank Hcan-
telling came In and was followed by the Juror (Mr.
Lynch pronounced this word with frightful So
lemnit) and Mr.. Sylvester.
REpoRTER-Did you know "the juror" before,
Mr.. LYNcH-Why, yes, OF course did why he
lives right next door, and Mr.. sylvester is his
partner. They had an oyster by themselves, and
the Juror Mr. Mack, turned round from the table
had glass of wine with us and left the house with
Mr.. sylvester. He went of to bed and the latter
came back and remained here for few hours
allY'
Now that recollect it, some one remarked
after ME- Mack left that he was. jurer in the
Scanncll case. thought no more about the mat
ter; but next morning subpoena was handed to
me- addressed to John Doe. often thought I'd split
since when found out that we all got subpGnas and
that we were ali John Does tell you, by thunder,
i have avoided that Juror since. | saw him in the
street the other day with an officer and he spoke
to me; but said, mo, thank you; don't want
any more of that pie He came in here since, but
wouldn't go near MIN for $500"
well, what occurred IN the Grand Jury roomS'
'Well, / went down on Tuesday morning last,
that is a week ago, and was taken in before the
Grand Jury l was seated in a chair right along
side Mr. Allen Of the District M Att9Eneys ONCE
He then asked me if knew Mr.. McKaye Mr..
Heantelng and Mr.. Carroll l said Yes. Then
afldavits, and he said NOW, if these gentlemen
whom have named have sworn that Mr.. Mack,
one OF the jurymen in the scannell case. was in
your place on sunday night last and that EFFORTS
were made to influence him in Scannell's favor,
what IT. wo%a you say os said sat-, mat mould
had too much respect for them to believe
they had. ! was then severely cross-examined
my place with his partner and went right out after
short time. Mr. Allen again put hypothetical
SO and IT. But cut him short, and said there is
too much Yankee sharpness about that for me.
said no such thing. You know have been there
way In the Tweed trial.
''Iow in the Tweed trialY''
"Why. Mr.. Allen had me before the Grand Jury the
same day They wanted to establish that had
tempered with one OF the Tweed jurymen. man
named Roche, in the butter trade, on the next cor
ner. But 1t turned out that Roche voted to con-
Wet the BOss,n so that Knocked that in the head.
don't know what they mean by going after me-
but they keep me going, and when go for good ri
have a fretwork Of Grand Jury subpGnas around
my coffin"
''were any others who were present on that
night subpnnaed ~ .
eyes. They had Pagan down the same day as
me. Next day. Wednesday, they had Birdsell and
McKaye down, ana guess they are havidg them
down every day since; but they all told the same
stOry-the only one they could tell"
''Did McAllen threaten to have you indicted Y''
''No; but when Mac, Pagan and came out OF the
Grand Jury room In the corridor he said, Somebody
Is going to be indicted and said, III YOU are the
Grand Jury you can indct me. but twent flour
gentlemen VIII never do IL, and | am SURPRISED
that they have allowed you to question me as YOU
have.' heard since that Mr.. Allen has said that
he Is going to use the fact that swore that 1t was
on saturday night Mr.. Mac was in my place. when
1t was really Sunday night, and at once sent the
following note to the foreman OF the Grand Jury -
To TIKI FOREMAN THE GRAND jury -
DEAR SIR understand that in testimony before
your honorable body Wednesday last swore that il
was saturday instead OF SUNDAY the jurymen In the
Scannell visited place II this be so would
spcctully solicit an opportunity To correct this myself
Very respectfully, THOMAS LYNCH.
The reporter subsequently visited Mr.. Sylvester,
Mr.. Macs partner, and he corrOborated Lynch's
story as to the short visit or Mac to Lynch's saloon
Mr.. Sylvester did not know Scannell and Lynch,
though he said he was in JOhnsons pool room at
the time OF the murders never saw Scannell until
he saw him in court alter being summoned before
the Grand Jury.