The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-13
WILLIAMS ORDEAL.
CONTINUATION OF THE TRIAL-ANoTHER I'M
PoRTANT WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION


CONTINUATION OF THE TRIAL-ANoTHER I'M
PoRTANT WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION
Ex-CoMMussIoNER GARDNER ON THE STAND.
The trial of Captain Williams was resumed yesterday
morning at the Central once. Catharne Brown a
daughter OF the witness OF that name who testified the
day previous called the first witness She said
that she lived in the house No 143 Mercer street for
three years with her husband there panel thieves
occupying the FIRST floor; frequently heard Of persons
being robbed in the house; a white haired gentleman
was robbed, and afterward tall slim man came in with
a lady; then there a rap the door and the
lady said "Oh for Gods sake go away Here is my
husband !" the man. going, discovered in the hall
way that he was robbed and he made disturbance
about Il a man came from the back room and knocked
the man OF the stoop into the street. Officer Palmer
then came along and told the man TO get up
and move off or he would take him in for drunkenness
after robbercs committed the parties occupying
the first floor would close up the place and depart sud
denly; once saw Mollie Rush, better known as Annie
Small come into the house with man, but after she
saw she never there again.
Cross examincd by Captain wiams--she admitted
that on the Sd Of August she had Gts; few coored
called her hearing that she was going to make
a complaint against the parties occupying the first floor
they told her she taking the bread out of their
mouths Captain Williams mouth and her own.
Sergeant Groo then recalled and explained that
in reference the watch robbery of the 2Sth of Feb
ruary which he said reported to him while at the
desk and the records showing that he on patrol
duty at time the mistake might have occurred by
his taking police instead OF calendar time.
Cross examined by Captain Williams-I don't remem-
Der whether said TO any one after testfyng before the
committee ~ did this TO get square with Williams, as
he treated me like hog"
Had conversation on the corner OF Eighth avenue
and Thrtieth street with Terwilliger and think with
Sergeant Brandeth, but l don't know what said to
thcm don't remember whether ever got cigars from
any officers whether ] visited No. 173 Greene
street.
With this witness testimony the prosecution closed,
and the defendant opening his defence said he would
not be able 20 conclude during the day. as several mpor
tant witnesses were absent
Sergeant Woodward, of the Eighth precinct testified
that he received instructions from Captain Will
Jams, while under him, not to enter robbery cases or
panel robbcrcs the station house botter; never
ceivcd money for Captain Williams, and never knew or
heard OF No l75 Greene street No % Wooster street
and No 143 Mercer street being panel houses heard
of only one panel robbery in the precinct and the par
ties TO il were arrested.
Sergeant Rooney, of the Twelfth precinct and Ser
geant Tanning of the Twenty sixth precinct testified
TO being under Captain Williams in the Eighth precinct
and corroborated Sergeant Rooney in every particular
Sergeant Brown formerly OF the Eighth precinct
heard of panel robbery at No 2sa Wooster street
In 1873 The bloer was here referred TO, and the
Officer Kcrns three months on the Greene street
beat and never heard OF any panel robberics there re-
girl s. for beer and she went out and never returned
this is known to the police as bilkng."
Roundsman Murphy, of the Eighth precinct, never
heard of panel robbercs in the precinct
Roundsman Watson, of the Eighth precinct, never
heard Of panel rohberes occurring there, but heard
frequently OF robberics occurring in houses Of assig
nation.
ofcors Mahcr and Bliss of the Eighth precinct tes
fed TO being post in Greene and Wooster streets and
NJ hnin
ing in the Eighth precinct under Captain Williams,
Roundsman Kelley and officer Quiglcy of the Twenty
fourth precinct testified to similar state OF affairs IN
the Eighth precinct in 1873 and 1874
Officer Wilson, formerly OF the Eighth precinct tes
fed to having pued the house No so Wooster street
three times within two weeks having heard that it
panel house; by this the parties occupy
ing the house compelled to out, and it has
never been disorderly house since; it war never
panel house
Oncers, Murphy, Watson, Hughes, Terwilliger and
Mcneil, all of the Eighth precinct when Captain Will
liams commanded it, testified that there panel
houses in the precinct nor did they hear Of rob
berries except in designation houses in Thompson street
officer Parks knew Of Sergeant Groo's talking in the
street with abandoned females
Officer Phelps said that Sergeant Groo came to him
night while on post and told him he should strike
OF the fine looking girls on his post for cigars
witness bought some cigars with his money and
gave them to Sergeant Groo as If they from tho
women
Roundsman Mcmillan was in the army with Sergeant
Groo in the 143d Goldsbury) South Carolina regiment
Groo was First Lieutenant and was dismissed for being
absent without leave from his regiment.
ExCommssioncr Hugh Gardner then took the stand
and swore that he visited the Eighth precinct about
four times n week in 1873, while Captain Williams com
mandcd there; he believed that the precinct one of
the best managed and most effective in the city the
time If any fault TO be found with Captain Williams
it that he energetic in the discharge OF his
duties he allowed nothing to stand between him and
the complete discharge Of his duty a captain; the
witness present with the Captain when he broke up
many houses of i'll fame, gambling houses and policy
shops in the Eighth ward the records will show whore
they located, and the implements captured are
still at Headquarters.
Frequently talked with Sergeant Groo while he was at
the desk but he never said anything about Captain
Williams not reporting robbcrics; he led believe
that Captain Williams OF the best and most
efficient captains the force, very snowy and
wild night, when entered the station house asked
for the Captain, Groo said he going over the
precinct this just the night for burglars OPP
crate, aud the Captain always went out bad nights
looking for them.
! removed Groo from the precinct as Captain
Williams had said that it his to 20 down TO
the cells at nights and act improperly with the females
incarccratcd; in company with Captain Williams fire.
Gucntly visited houses where it reported that
panel game was being worked but in every
found that the report false
Mr. Salem Lssner importer No. 446 BToome street.
testified that Charles FIRST, Of Brooklyn friend OF his
was robbed OF a sum of money in a house in Wooster
street, and that Captain Williams arrested and
woman for the theft; he also locked up Mr. First and
at court the next morning he failed TO identify tho
prisoners and they were discharged