The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-09
CITY CRIME.
The Mysteries Of the District
Attorneys Office.
THE CRIMINALS SHIELD
Public Servants Protecting Forgers
and Burglars.

causes Of city crime resumed its There were
present Of the members Messrs. Campbell, Dessar.
Hess and MCGOWAN. The investigation is now directed
to the unearhng of the secrets of the District Attor
neys office which has the popular reputation of being
responsible for unpublished crime in this city than
all other put together 1t will be seen that the
assistants Of the District Attorney do all the high
handed business. Anything like earnest and practi
cal overhauling of the office must settle that question
forever In the few hours investigation yesterday
enough was elected to show that if reform is needed
anywhere it is in the District Attorneys
office. Where all the murderers and other serious
offenders against the law who from time to time
rested and never heard of more? This is
interrogation, and is hoped the present investigation
will throw some light the mystery The police
courts by of their being. so closely identified
with the District Attorneys Office, must in for
like share of investigation The subject is Of great
public interest and will warrant the fullest inquiry.
THE CASE OF vANDERnILr's BRoTHER-NLAw.
Captain Thomas j. Byrnes was recalled, and identified
.he bloters of the Fifteenth precinct those used
when he stationed there; marks in red ink
made by Sergeant McClintock of case of felonious
assault with intent to kill Counsel for the
committee, Mr.. Townsend, read from the blotter
the record of the shooting by Crawford the
brother-in-law OF Commodore Vanderbilt Of
officers Henderson and Garnaud Captain Byrnes ex-
planned that the felony book contained record of
crimes, and that it sent to Police Headquarters
often required 1t made up of all felonies en-
tered on tho blottcr. Mr.. Townsend read from the
felony book that Crawford had been released by Judge
Leonard on bail Byrnes continued-rhat he had
rested Crawford the day after the shooting and took him
before Police Justice Cox who refused to take bail the
witness had been served with writ and took the pris-
Dner before Judge Leonard who released Crawford
BAIL witness had repeatedly gone the District Attor
neys Office but they not ready TO try the CASE he
could mott remember whom he at the District At
torneys Office he aerward heard from Henderson that
nolle prosequi had been entered in the case; knew
nothing of the in which Ex-Governor Avord
had his watch returned. to him.
Philip Guraud, of No. Clinton place, testified that on
May "a 1872, about O'Clock, while passing through
Mercer street. he Detective Henderson and Craw-
ford standing and talking Crawford got hold of him
by the shoulder and said 81 want you to stand there
and witness me shoot this -" Witness also
shot by Crawford, and brought civil suit against him
and recovered damages Mr. Townsend then read afIi-
davits in the case one of which was by Crawford
stating he did not know Henderson, who in citizens
Clothes officer, and believed, when he came up
TO him, that he was some person who intended to do
him bodily harm. Henderson made affidavit stating
that nc believed Crawford was mistaken when he made
the assault
HOW THE FoRGERs ESCAPED.
oficer Timothy Golden, formerly detective at the
Central Office, testihed:-I received information that
$4,000 in forged bonds of the Buffalo and Erie Road
had been imposed George Ripley Co, bankers, by
Charles 0rvis, noted forger; Mr. Ripley told me
that he had advanced 500, 900 twenty-five ST. 900
bonds TO Orvs; arrested Orvis in his hotel on the
west side of town. and brought him TO Police Head
quarters; he was fully identified by Mr. Ripley; he
placed under $40 600 bail by Judge Flammer; did not
know him professional forger; l heard Of
q number Of indictments being against him
in the District Attorneys office; Orvs was
never brought to trial; / arrested
named Henry Hefernan for burglary on July 49,
1873; brought him TO court and the German banker
whose house he broke into appeared against him. he
committed default OF $1,000; think the bankers
Limbert, OF Nassau street; named
Cody arrested, who the principal in that burg
larry; he also held 10 ball. he pleaded guilty and
was sent by Recorder Hackett to Sing Sing for two
years and six months; HcGernan got away; was em-
ployed assist Detective G. S Waing the olmstead
forgery case; we had knowledge that If arrested
0lmstead who lived in Richmond county, we could got
such information would lead TO the
earthing of the principals Of the gang Of forgers;
Assistant District Attorney Henry c. Allen gave
away 10 a nriyate detective the information Waing
and had furnished the District Attorney; afterward
while engaged in working up these cases. was taken
of them and sent to the races; asked TO be left
the cases, knew them intimately, but the request
denied now doing patrol duty; all the forgers
at large; don't know whether Allen Is still in the
District Attorneys Office assistant know that
Of the forgers have been proceeded against and there
are twenty-five indictments against one Of them.
DIDN'T LIKE HIM.
The reason was remanded from detective to post
duty was, heard from Captain Irving, because Mr.
Matsel did not like me- it destroyed my usefulness as
q detective
officer Garrett S. wallng-I am special duty in
the Thirtysecond precinct the testimony have just
heard is correct; when was sent to Long Branch
was detailed to John Chambern's; presume Cham
berlin paid my expenses was at his place five weeks
this was in '73; was sent by Captain Irving.
MORE ABOUT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE.
Charles II. Mackenzie testified that he was officer
on the police force nine years. at present attached to
the Thirty second precinct the 9th OF July 1874 his
attention had been called by lady on 10th street to
the suspicious character OF house in her neghborhood
he paid more than usual attention to the premises
aerward; the night Of the eth about mdn CHIT saw
wagon containing four men drive up to this place
and two OF the get out and pass with what seemed
bundle Of sacks to the suspicious house in ques-
ton; of the stray away from the rest and
him; he the direction of Seventh avenue
and ll6,h street but he overtakcn and handcued
but the officer bringing him to the station house
a companion OF his came and threw himself upon the
officer apparently to rescue the prisoners more help
coming up, he, the officer was knocked senseess and
The prisoner escaped; he laid up for four months,
but when able to get around discovered his the
Eighth ward recaptured him and brought him before
Judge Murray; he was remanded for few days, and
the prisoner, whose name Mooney, managed to
secure two witnesses who swore that on the night the
prisoner assaulted the officer he was the boat
ing down from Albany Judge Murray about to dis
charge him when another officer suggested to 60 down
10 the District Attorneys Office and End IL an indct-
ment against him file; found the indictment,
which shown to Judge Murray but he nevertheless
discharged the prisoner finally the Grand Jury indicted
him, and Recorder Hackett committed him for trial;
Assistant District Attorney Nolan put of the case
several times; one day the father of the prisoner
came 70 him and said he would pay So 900 il he would
only let up his son; the officer declined TO be in
'fuenccd that way, and told Mr. Nolan about the mat
ter, finally the prisoner was indicted charge of
''felonious assault" which was not what was pre-
ferred against him, and on this he acquitted by
technically; Mr.. Nolan promised TO have him rear
rested aud tried tho original charge of attempted
burglary but he heard any about the case
Charles Hagau, of the Fifth police precinct, testified
TO having arrested Mooney, mentioned as having made
an assault on Officer Mackenzie, Tor stealing gold
watch and chain. number of separate and violent
assaults with robbery of the person read in
which Mooney the principal actor and Hagan tho
arrestng officer, and for all his offences Mooney 1t
seems, escaped punishment
Elizabeth Mathews, niece OF officer Mackenzie, testi
fed TO MONEYS father coming TO her unce's house
and saying that he willing to spend $1,000 TO get
his son out Of his scrape.
UNBRIDLED RowDYIsM.
After recess Officer Mackenzie testified that July 90,
1873 he met citizen named William Emeridge, who
pointed out four men going down Second avenue and
wanted PIN to arrest them, saying that they called at
his store and at the point Of pistol demanded cigars
OF him. the officer pursued them and arrested two;
one OF the others named Reilly up presented a
pistol and demanded their release; tho citizen men
toned came to his assistance and laid of thcm