The New York herald., 1875-09-25
CRIME AND ITS CAUSES.

Sell OF THE CoMAnTTEE-HIs RESOLUTION
NOT ADoPTED-MoRE REVELATIONS.
At the opening of the session of the Assembly Com
mttee on Crime yesterday morning Mr.. Hess, one OF
Its members, arose, and, addressing the CHAIRMAN
offered the following resolution
Whereas witness who testified before this commit
tee, named Victor Bramson has under oatn made
grave charges against Mr. John Townsend lhe couh-
sci OF the committee before the Board OF Police Com,
mlssoners at investigation held before tnat boaru
on the 22d inst, in complaint against John d. McCul-
loch, captain OF police; therefore
Resolved, That until Mr.. Townsend appears before
the tribunal where such charges were made and an.
swers the same adequately his appointment as cOunsei
To TINS committee be suspended
Mr. Townsend the object Of this proceeding was
busy preparing papers the examination of witnesses
and apparently Of what going on until Mr.
Hess had gone halt through the reading OF the above
resolution. The motion seemed to take likewise by
surprise all the other members Of the committee
Messra Campbell McGowan and Dessar-who were
present General Hustled being absent
promiscuous conversational debate ensued between
the members Of the committee during which the Chair
man attempted TO show to Mr. Hess that his resolu-
ton called upon Mr.. Townsend TO do two
impossible things in that IL demanded that he should
endow with Jurisdiction over him citizen and a
lawyer the Police Board who could adjudicato only
charges against police officers but Others and
that Mr. Townsend should prefer charges against him
SELF since else had preferred any against him.
Mr. Hess, however, insisted upon his motion, which
lost he aoAA voting for the adoption OF his resou
| ton.
Mr. MCGOWAN thcreupon ofrerea the following resolu-
| ton, without preamble:-
Resolved That the members of this committee have
full confidence in the ability, integrity and fairness
John d. Townsend ESQ.,, the counsel OF the committee,
in the conduct OF The investigation before them and in
the examination Of witnesses and in the procurement
| of information for such committee.
The resolution was adopted unanimously Mr.. Hess
| abstainng from voting thereon
| Then Mr.. MCGOWAN stated that explanation
quired Of Mr. Townsend regarding the matter unless Mr.
Townsend himself desired to bo heard Mr.. Townsend
expressed such wish Before he entered upon his state
ment however, Mr.. Campbell read letter he had ad-
dressed two days age Mr.. Commissioners Disbecker,
inviting him to appear before the committee to-day
with his witnesses substantate the charges he had
uttered according report in the HERALD, before the
Board of Police Commissioners, against Mr. Townsend
as counsel for the committee.
Mr. Dsbecker did not appear in answer to this invi-
tation.
Mr. Townsend arose, and in quiet and fluent language
addressed the Chairman He called the attention of
tho committee to the testimony OF Mr.. Bramson, as
| given before tho committee when Mr. Bramson hap
pencd to state although uncaed for by any question,
that he did not know Mr. Townsend at the time he paid
the SIS to Captain McCulloch Mr.. Townsend then
added statement Of his slight acquaintance with that
witness and expressed his readiness to take tho stand
a Witness and give the same account under oath, If
desired before the committee then and there before
the Board of Police Commissioners If they would afford
him the opportunity by subpenang him as a witness
He a lawyer knew of no other mode to present his
statement before that Board He could not obtrude
himself witness there in trial of police captain,
and he had not been favored with any subpoena 1t is
otherwise with Mr. Disbecker, who had been invited
to appear here and failed to answer the summons. Mr.
Townsend then referred TO his letter in yesterday s
! HERALD challenging Mr. Disbecker TO make good his
personal aggressions before proper tribunal, and
hinted at his intention Of bringing Mr.
court unless he would enter one as
complainant Mr. Townsend referred to the surprise
this motion had caused to him. Mr.. Hess had never
heretofore expressed dissatisfaction with counsels
action and had always been offered counses services
in any Mr. Hess might desire to have presented.
Mr. Townsend referred to the fact of his unanimous
pontment by the committee, owing, as he modesty
serted to his from politics Here counsel was
interrupted by the Chair who remarked that the first in
tmaton Of his selection for counsel came from Mr. Hus
ted's Office who represented the republican party as
we'll Mr.. Hess Mr.. Townsend continued-tbat being
no politician and being conscious OF having excluded
partisan wishes entirely nom his line of duty he did
not to be deferred by the strange attitude of
minority in the committee from pursuing his course
as heretofore. The committee could not be made re-
sponsibe for the veracity of the witnesses Stl the
utmost precaution had at all times been used by coun
sci TO prevent fasehood and this very witness Bram-
son, who had been introduced, only cor
roborated the testimony taken by Superinten-
dent Waing and Bramsons statement before the
Police Board as to his acquaintance with counsel was
only not corroboraed but contradiced by his own
testimony before this committee. The counsel Of the
Police Board had verbatim copy OF this testimony fur
nisbed him by his request and the courtesy of this
mittee II the Police Boards counsel had intended 70
act as fairly and openly us this committee he could
have drawn the attention of the witness and
the Board TO this discrepancy. On the main
point the payment of money TO Captain
hcCulloch, Bramson testified the same before
the Police Board here Mr. Townsend called the at
tenton of the committee to the circumstance that he
had excluded, thus far, personalities from the evi-
dence. He desired the committee TO reflect whether
it was proper show the character of heads of de-
partments. II they so concluded he would open the
bundles Of evidence his possession on this subject
The examination was then allowed to proceed as
usual, Mr. Campbell, Chairman Of the Commktee hay.
addressed to Police Commissioner DisbeckeP:-
LETTER TO COMMISSIONER DIsBEcKER.
No l25 LExIseToS AvEsuE NEW Yosk sN Sept p 1875.
DEAR sR~I read papers of this morning
Ss1ras % a. Ys
of Assembly Committee Crime. Zach
townsend We have found him bo honest impartial and
Bs As s 1s s R'SS S By to to @
confidence and it is due to yourself TO the Board OF Police
self these statements should be thoroughly inquired
Gss5e 6 osp 1 ans e 90
inst eleven A. M the old chamber Of the Board OF
your charges against Mr.. Townsend full examination
shall certainly be given to the matter.
THOMAS COOPER CAMPBELL, Chairman.
DISBECKERS REPLY.
NEW YORK, Sept. o. 1875.
| Hon. THOMAS O. CAMPBRLL No LIS Lee xington avenue
SIR-Your favor of yesterdays date this morn
received by The subject matter communica
ton presents itself TO mind in different light
what apparently IL does do not believe that
public interested in Mr. John d. Townsend as to
desire investigation the public expense todetemino
his standing other mat
thing relating TO him. What have stated in refer
Mr. Townsend responsible for; and II he con-
sdes that he truth take exception TO anything have
said the law aords him remedy lie will lind me prepared
him During tomorrow viii forward TO you copy
Of the evidence given by Victor Bramson In an nvest
CATION before the Board of Police. This Bramson ex-
amned by Mr. Townsend before COMMITTEES As person
whose statements worthy OF credit II what Bramson
now states reference Mr. Townsend do
think whatever your opinion in the past have been,
will in the future yourself in such hatterng
reference Mr. Townsend have the honor 70 be-
! very respectfully, ABkAM DlSBEChE<.
Henry Vail sworn, said that he cashier of the
Bank Of Commerce. and he received So $50 subscribed
by bankers and merchants for the discovery and prose-
cuton OF bond forgers he acted as treasurer OF the