The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-23
THE COMMITTEE ON CRIME.
The Police Being Investigated
with a Vengeance.
AsTRANGE AND STARTLING STORY
A Panelled Victim-How the Po-
lice Treated Him.


q the Board Of Aldermen. IN the City HaE. There
vas scant attendance at this early hour, but
the number OF spectators increased, and be-
lorO recess the chamber was pretty well
HE'D. owing to the absence Of Mr.. MCGOWAN
md Hess, the proceedings did not
commence until some minutes alter the
stated time There were present Mr.. Aub, the
partner OF John D. Townsend, counsel for the
committee and i've or six police captains, who
seemed to manifest considerable interest In the
investigation, and finally Mr.. Townsend and the
absent committee entered when the evidence was
resumed The crowd was composed principally
81 small politicians and couple OF score OF Gu
:iosity -mongers, who came in to hear
any revelations that might transpire.
Among the spectators, after the evidence
lad thoroughly got under way, the opinion gained
ground to the effect that the investigation OIL the
police captains was simply to ascertain the WORK
mgs OF the District Attorneys ONCE, and no"
many convictions haa been procured by IL "hen
eases OF gambling, faro, keno or keeping houses
or ill-fame Had been brought from police courts 70
the knowledge OF the District Attorney.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
The hrst witness TO testify was Captain Hedden,
whois unite an old MEMBER OF the force, and who
rave his evidence in an easy and unassuming
nanner. Mr. Aub, who speaks English with
Ilight German accent, acted for Mr. Townsend
during his absence. Captain Hedden testified
that ne had been in command successfully OF the
Sixteenth, Twentieth, Fifteenth, Twenty nrst,
second, Twenty third, Thirteenth, Twenty-eighth
ana Twenty -niRtn precincts; was in the Thlr-
.eenth precinct and was now in command or the
rhirty-thrd precinct; in his present precinct,
which included the town OF Morrsania, there
we're no disreputabe houses, concert saloons or
gambling houses.
DOLLAR AND HALF CASE.
While In the Twenty -eiGht tn precinct where he
was captain for fourteen or fifteen months, in
July, 1873, there was reported to him q panel
Aouse case; man reported that he had been
robbed OF 81 5o-Qaugnter)-snd the witness ar
rested the parties but the complainant refused to
Identity, and he took measures to watch this
Rouse specially, but nothing more came OF it, and
he made no further arrests there; knew an ON
GER OF the Fifteenth precinct who was called
"PoKer Jack:n he was an efficient otncer; he
sever gave dollar toward present for any Po-
lice Commissioner.
THE RYAN MURDERS.
In December, 1873, he was In command OF the
Thirteenth precinct ana recollected at that time
she murder OF Nicholas and Mary Ryan, which oc-
Cured In Broome street; no arrests were made
by mis- officers; but some of the parties living In
the tenement house were brought-to the Thir-
teenth precinct station house TO be examined by
murder in the station house, being absent at his
home ON the west side OF the city, and did not
know of it until next morning, i've or six hours
after, not having been notified by the sergeant In
charge; at the Ceroner's inquest there was tesli-
mony given to show that Nicholas Ryan killed his
sister and then committed suicide; the tragedy
was &C No. 204 Broome street; shoemaEer's
knife was produced at the inquest, which ap-
peared clean TO the naked eye, but showed traces
OF blood under The microscopes; witness took the
knife to Professor Doremus, who declined to make
any analysis unless proper authorization was
given, and understood tnat there was not any
made.
no APPROPRIATIONS.
Chairman Campbell-I suppose there was no
appropriation for the work, out Brother McGowan
has attended 10 that since.
witness-A Mrs. Burke, who lived in The house
with the Ryans, said at first that she knew more
than she was willing TO tell when not under oath,
but sne always denied acknowledge OF the murder.
The witness was in the Fifteenth precinct from
1869 to 1871; he was directed by superintendent
Kelso to pull" the gambling house No. SIS
Broadway; ne went there with a posse OF men
and rang the bell; colored man looked through
wicket and thea bolted the door; the witness
and his men then broke in by force, having
broken the door IN such q way that they were
able to reach the fastenings on the inside; took
the Jimmy OF burglar who had been arrested
In Broadway
CAN A GAMBLING HOUSE BE BROKEN oPEN'
By Mr. Aub-witness knew OF no law or regula-
sion making 1t Illegal for officers to break into a
gambling house when 1t was known that a game
was actually in progress; when he had positive
evidence and sufficient force he should not
hesitate to DO go without warrant; he
would not say that he could clear precinct
ike the Fifteenth Of all gambling houses
and ell other especially Objectionable places
within thirty days, because 1t might take more
than thirty days 10 get sufficient evidence; II
the law allowed him 10 make arrests on sus-
piclon, and he was sustained by the courts
ne could DO so within thirty days; when
he was in the sixteenth precinct be arrested
q lot OF young men who were reputed thieves
but were not charged with any specific offence,
they were sent to the Island under the
Vagrancy law, but were brought back under n
writ or ceruorarl, ana discharged by Recorder
Hoffman in 1866; he mad no doupt that NIchoas
Ryan Killed his sister and then killed himself; he
believed that the whole family were insane: there
was some superstition in connection with inc
burial OF the parties, owing 10 the fact that the
friends wanted tAem 20 90 into consecrated
way; man or thirty years OF age with his sister
aged twenty-eighr IN one room; there were two
beds and there were bitter quarrels between then
at times,
BY Mr.. Aub-what proof have you, or wha
makeS you tnlnK LDab L1e DTOLucF anu FlFleT NelS
nving together in incestuous intercourse
Captain Hedden (warmly)-I did not say an
such thing, aud do not wish TO have 1t so under
stood by any means; there was no partition be
tween the beds | say that they were living In al
unnatural or uncommon manner, and do no
think that they we're poor.
CASE OF FRATRTCTDE,
In answer 70 MIR. AuD the witness said tina
Ryan's watch was not found after the murder
he could not have fallen all the way down stairs
TO the place where his BODY Was found; the
thr0ats OF both Ryan and his sister were cut
the shoemaker's knife could not have beer
used TO cut Ryan's throat as he could moi
have placed II back In knife box In a clear
condition: another knife was found near thc
body; the sister owned gold watch ana cham
which was left In pain sight in her room and
was not disturbed; this was one reason why hC
rejected the theory OF robbery he believed 'thai
Ryan cut his sisters throat while she was in bed
and then cut his own throat as he was running
down stairs; q bloody pocketknile was found
near the body; IL was closed, but he had known
OF instances where persons had closed Knives
spasmodicaly after cutting themselves;
vest and bloody footprints were found OF