The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-27

ReRrrest of Detective Leahy by Order of
Coroner Woltman-Consn IL mt for the
Prisouer.

ReRrrest of Detective Leahy by Order of
Coroner Northumberland IL m g mt for the
Prisoner.
Fearing that Detective Leahy, OF the Central
once, who stands charged with causing the DEATH
by shooting, OF Michael McNamara late OF No. $50
West Twenty-ninth street, might forfeit his bail
ts2.5oo) and make himself scarce, Coroner Volt
mar. late YESTERDAY afternoon had him rearrested
to await the result OF the Official Investigate
which takes place tomorrow Saturday, morning
at the Coroners office. The Coroner placed full
commitment IN the hands OF Captain Irving, who
may send Leahy 10 the Tombs or possibly deta
HIM at Police Headquarters. At ali events Cap
tam Irving will hold himself responsible for the
appearance o! Leahy at the time appointed.
Legal Effect Of Superintendent Matselrs
Opinion.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Rarely, Mr. Editor have your columns contained
an account OF more heartless, cowardly and in.
famous butchery than that of Michael Mcnamara,
OF No. $50 West Twenty-ninth street. six de-
tecttves ttnat is, men who detect nothing) armed
to the teeth, break open house swarmlng with
people, without a warrant. at three O'Clock in the
morning. The FIRST notice given to the a.
irighted tenants Of the presence of these
unlawful intruders is the tramp OF heavy
footsteps. hoarse shouts and the noise
oil falling doors. But what matters it, 1t is only
done in tenement house, int abised by poor
people, and surely they have no rights which six
valiant (s) detectives need respect. These brave
officers or the law at length come to the rooms
tenanted by Michael Mcnamara. Their actions
resembled those OF desperadoes, and when McNa-
mara prepares to defend those who are nearest
and dearest to him-his family and his home-he
is ruthessly shot down by nervous detective
who in utter darkness, suspects him to be a man
w 10 a n n yprh Rurth tci ~
Gent. The heroic detectives threateaingly brand
ish TIER revolvers In the face OF their PROSTATE
and dying victim, ana all this Is done in the pres
ence OF his agonlzed wife and children.
This Is an outrage which concerns every men,
Der OF this community Tor If the wrongdOers are
allowed to go unpublished dangerous precedent
Will be established, whose consequences are TOO
terrible to be dweit upon here. a mans house
will no longer be MS CASTLE but will be liable 70 be
warrant, by men calling themselves detectives,
who, however. wear no shields or other insignia
be made to resist the unauthorized intrusion, the
aid OF the leaden messenger or death is invoked,
and the nervous detective" as superintendent
rejoicing In the thought that though there is law,
there is no one to execute It, But what consider
given to the acts Of the detectives by
ASKED ASKER 'ns osnon S %Ss
attached to the officers, he replies swell, yes,
blame them somsw9a; they We're careless and
an act as the atrocous murder CT Mcnamara
should have taken place when the actors therein
are only "bamed somewhat" by their cnief. and
characterized as being merely careless and too
hasty.n These are the strongest terms OF dsap.
probation which Mr.. Matsell applies to the acts OF
his subordinates. Mr.. Matsen lays down a rule OF
law, which, really correct, is so alarming in its
Legislature He says THE officers had right
to go there, and they had right to smash the
ao9r Of IN the tay thought
would state his authority tor this version OF the
law, that officers have right to burst In doors OF
tenement houses without any warrant, acting
only on the mere SUSPICION that criminal Is
secreted there, he will enghten many LAWYERS on
be well settled the other way. The citizens of
New YORK demand that, at the Coroner's inquest,
the case be thoroughly investigated, and the guilty
p'' '''0 'N-'1 '' AN INDIGNANT CITIZEN.
Blood for Blood.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
see by the evening papers that the police de.
tectives subscribed among themselves the sum Of
| $500 towards floral tribute to President Smith.
Now let them each give S. towards paying the
/ funeral expenses OF Mr.. Mcnamara and some
thing for the support OF the widow and her father
less children) who. as You are aware. one ot their
number murdered in cold blood.
BY giving this place in your valuable journal it
might be the means OF soitening their hard hearts.
Yours, Ii. Il. s., Filth avenue.
Police Pistolings-Duty Of the Grand
Jury.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
AS the HERALD has always stigmatized the reck-
less sacrifice OF human lie as murder and never
failed TO demand punishment for wanton boodshed
trust 1t Will not fail to do so now.
The public are looking forward with deep inter-
est to the verdict which coroners jury will rem
Ger in the case Of the slaughter Of Mcnamara by
the assassins who invaded his dOmcile q few
nights ago. Whatever may be the result OF the
Coroner's inquest, the Grand Jury should not fail
to investigate the case and indict the murderers.
The awe-stricken community need some example
OF even-handed justice to assure them that their
lives and 1resIdes are safe from the outrages Of
these red-handed minions OF arbitrary authority.
Something must be done, and that soon, to put q
stop to thereckless use OF the pistol no citizens
lite can be guaranteed from the course OF stray
bullet.
Let US refer to few cases of recent occurrence
in which the pistol and policemen or ex-pOlce-
men and the wanton sacrifice Of life are
the main features. Only last week poor
fellow, caught stealing chickens from hen
roOst was shot to death by valiant private
Waterman in Brooklyn. Did THIS petty theft de-
serve death II he had been arrested he might
have been sentenced to ten days or q month in
prison, or, perhaps, there might have been extern
uating circumstances in his case OF destituton and
starvation that would have materially modified
even such slight sentence. The watchmans duty
was to arrest him-not TO kill him. The story that
the poor fellow made movement or his hand,
which the vigilant Waterman saw in the dark and
supposed to be iunbling Tor pistol. is all bosh.
The same threadbare excuse has been put forward
by all murderers, not excepting Stokes, waiworth
and every co.dbooded assassin, and it has in
variably been proved that the victims were un-
armed. And yet this man has not only been alb
solved from all blame, but even commended. So
much for the value OF human Lie In this commu-
nifty.
Another far more dreadful slaughter, and one
that has left fearful doubt on the minds OF large
body OF people IN the immediate vicinity Is not yet
a month old. A Greenwood Cemetery Waterman
shot his vile dead mistaking her $50 he says Tor
a burglar. We all know that burglars who sneak
into house to steal something at nine O'Clock in
the evening are more ready TO decamp than to
depredate II they perceive the occupants are aware
OF their entrance. our fearless Waterman would
have done better to brighten him Off than ipl-
a a'S HiQ