The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-31
THE COLLECTION OF NEWS.

AHeEAAu-A NcpOrucr Examined Bc1Ore
the Grand Jury Yesterday-Thc Herald
COmP1imented by That BOdy-The
Eighth Ward Nuisance and What 1t
Brought Forth.
Yesterday morning HERALD reporter was sum.
moned before the Grand Jury, sitting in the brown
stone building adjoining the new Court House, to
give evidence as to who wrote and from what
sources oil Information came an article pdblished
in last Fridays HERALD, headed 'The Eighth Ward
Shame" and giving details OF the examination be-
fore the Grand Jury OF Police Commissioner Gard
ner and Captain Williams as well as Of the finding
OF indictments against number OF the owners
occupants and lessees OF several houses of Ill lame
in the Eighth ward
The HERALD reporter appeared punctually at the
hour named, handed his subpoena to the judicial
looking old gentleman at the door and entered the
witness room Of the Grand Inquest. In it were
number of policemen. some gentlemen and
number OF singularly seedy characters, two
detectives and, divided by railing from the
CROWD, a pretty woman gorgeousiy dressed, and
another with number OF squalng children at her
knee. The proceedings during the long wait which
ensued were singuiariy monotonous. TWO or three
OF the policemen found variety in splitting at a
mark ON the wall; several more, who had been
summoned to appear in matter of inquiry against
that mystical parsonage known as John Doe, were
at each moment asking the clerk who John Doe
was
The time passed on In this way until the name
of the HERALD reporter was called in loud voice.
and he entered large, rather dimly lighted room,
furnished meany, with two long tables crossed by
a smaller one at the end, at which tables sat that
august body known as the Grand Jury.
The Chairman, Mr.. Robert s. Hone swore the
reporter ana then requested him to SIT down on q
chair placed between the tables an IN iui view Of
the respectable body. The examination then be-
gan ana ran az ioiiows:-
Mr. HONE showing a slip OF the article men,
toned aboyej-You recognize that article, do you
nOts
REroRrEE-I saw it in the HERALD; yes.
articief
REPoRrER-I decline, respectfully. to answer
Mr. HoNE-why do you refuse to answer
REroRTER-Decause do not wish TO criminate
myself
that article obtained from any memoer Of the
Grand Juryf
Reconstruction what have learned about it
can assure you II was not,
Mr.. HoNE-Who was 1t obtained from9
KEP0RrER-l must again decline to answer.
this body has the power to make you answer or
punish you Tor not doing SO. We have subppnaed
you to come here because we wish to ind out VINO
IL Is That reveals the proceedings or this
Grand Jury. You know, OF course, that all
that goes on here Is secret. While, on the
took place here on Thursday in relation TO the
Eighth ward houses Of Ill lame appeared alone in
CIc HERALD Vi FTludy. lulS uCCouut was 30 IT,
markaby correct and so minutely true In every
particular that 1t Is clear there Is leakage IN some
quarter where there should not he any. we wish
reason that we do not wish to be under the lmpu-
taton that any one OF our number gave this inIOr-
nation TO you On the day OF the publication OF
the article in question we were all much surprised
that 1t should have been so correct, and deter
mined to inquire into 1t. For this reason we nave
summoned you here. Now. then must ask you
another question. Did you get this information
from Commissioner Gardner9
REp0RTER--I 0pclInn
MI hONE-What was the nature OF your CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Gardner when he lett this room
REPORTER-I don't admit that myself got any
Information on the subject, nor that mad any con-
versatiOn with MIR. Gardner.
Mr. HONE--Dld you see Mr.. Gardner on that day ?
REPoRTER-I don't believe did.
Mr. HoNE-Did Captain Williams give you the
REPoRTER-I decline to answer.
ANOTHER GRAND JUROR-YOu are aware, are you
mot that by the secrets Of s
been indicted, the writer OF this article Is liable 10
panishmentS
THE GRAND JyRoR-And you know that the Grand
Jury is body clothed with great power2
REP0RTER--l do, am sorry to say.
JUROR (SottO e)-He's sorry We nave the power.
Mr. HoNE-Did you see Captain Williams that
RfpoRTER-I decline to answer.
observation-disclosures may crimnate myself.
ANOTHER JURoR-You cannot crlmlnate yourself
in u matter like this
REpORTER-l can certainly criminate myself If I
am liable to punishment for publishing such an ar
tice.
There was a pause of few moments.
Mr. HONE-YOu in your business consider your
sell justified In getting news wherever you can
find ItY
REPoRTER-Yes in an honorable way.
Mr. HoNE-Did you see Mr.. Allen, the Assistant
District Attorney, on that day2
REPORTER-I decline to answer.
MI. HONE-Did he not send you for the iuforma-
ton you wanted to Mr.. Clark, the CLERK Of the
DiQtrict AttOrueV2
REPoRrER-l decline to answer.
Mr.. HoNE-Did you receive any instructions
from your Office that you should refuse to give ill.,
formation as to the authorship of this article?
REPoRTER-EO particular Instructions; but it Is
the rule not to reveal the author OF any article.
Mr.. HONE-And Is 1t the rule not to give the
names OF the infOrmantsY
REpoRrER-It Is; Tor any person who gives in.
formation OF this KIND gives it under the seal OF
secrecy, aud 1t would evidently be Unfair to INFORM
on such person.
Mr. HoNE-Your reasons may be good but we
are here u body whose proceedings are secret.
But in this matter 1t concerns our own honor,
and we are bound to believe that you either got
the Information from one Of US or that you eX-
hibited remarkable diligence in getting 1t from sew
eral parties that had been here. The testimony OF
and circunstantiay given in the HERALD that we
must believe one or the other course was taken.
And from you we desired TO nnd out winch ana
who is the guilty party.
REroRTER-I cannot give the information.
Mr. HoNE-lhen. as we labor under the stigma
of having given the Information ourselves, would
II be Inconsistent with your duties to eXOnerate
us IRON the suspicion by saying SO in tue HERALD
REPORTER-As | am informed the facts did not
come from the Grand jury no doubt the HERALD
would be willing to so state.
The reporter was requested TO retire for mo-
ment and did so. being recalled shortly AFTER. Mr..
Hone then said that, as the Grand Jury could
not get the name OF the informant. the gentlemen
composing 1t would be pleased II the HERALD
would exonerate them rom the suspicion of hav
ing made the facts public. The matter here
ended
The Grand Jury is composed Of the following
gentlemen foreman, RoDert S. Hone, No. 247
Filth avenue; Secretary, samuel ). Penniman No.
"A East twenty -secOnd street; Joseph W. Gim-
Abeel, No. 127 Second avenue; Eugene Peyr0tte,
No. lis First avenue; Cornelius q. Colgate, No. %
University place; Sellm Marks, No. ~ West FIJI
teenth street; Edward Baldwin, Jr., No. Al East
TWENTY FIRST street; benjamin L. swan Jr., NO. 1923
West FIny-seven:h street; John II. Nichols, No. 3O6
West Thirty fourth street: Asher T. Never. No. II