The New York herald., 1875-10-20
@ r | M E.
Searching Into Indictments that
Were Not Tried.
Astounding Statements of Ex-Dis-
trict Attorney Allen.
OUR DETECTIVE FORCE,

The Assembly Committee on Crime met, pursuant to
adjournment, in the City Hall yesterday.
Colonel George W. wingate testified that he was
lawyer and that 1878 he retained TO investigate
frauds committed by inspectors Of election; he pre-
pared charges against about 100 inspectors and handed
them to Moses p Clarke chief clerk Of the District
Attorneys office; they were sent back to him with
request for the affdavts which the charges were
based time after that witness had interview
with District Attorney Phelps in relation to-
charges preferred against Police Commissioners
Charick ana Gardner for illegally removing inspectors
OF election who were obnoxious to themi Mr. Phelps
asserted that offence had been committed for which
indictment would lie; finding it impossible to get
anything done through the District Attorney witness
sent communication to the Jury on the 18th Of
May days after he summoned before that body
and questioned under oath TO the charges he had
made, Mr.. Phelps having Informed them that ndict-
able offence had been committed after much urging
indictments against Messrs Charlick Gardner were
found by the Grand Jury and forwarded Mr. Phelps
office May 80; they tried and convicted
in the November following; with regard
TO the other parties against whom witness
had preferred charges the District Attorney took
any action whatever; the inspectors removed by the
Police Commissioners Tammany Hall men and
their places filled by adherents OF Apollo Hall;
Mr. Phelps declared many times that the indictments
could not be sustained, although Judge Brady affirmed
that they could and his decision unanimously
frmed by the Court OF Appeals.
George H. Bangs, General superintendent Of tho
National Detective Agency Of Allen Pinkeron testi-
fed that in the fall Of 1874 some SIS 900 OF forged
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad bonds were
placed on the market at Philadelphia, aud
he was employed to Investigate the case;
covered had connections with some noted forgers
named George Meyers, alias Bliss, and Robert H. WISH
in, had hat nd oIIpt
him to remain in his room, merely placing a watch
that he did not escape; the next morning Captain
Irving and Detectives Seck, Doyle Farley, Dusenburv
and Kerns accompanied by W. Reed ex-Secret Ser
vice officer and man named Battersly came TO tho
house and attempted to kidnap Hit and take him to
New York; two officers under the direction of
witness stopped them at the railway station;
Captain Irving had no legal warrant for his action,
and he In with his companions
under indictment for kidnapping at Philadelphia.
Witness believed that the motive of Irving and
his detectives in attempting TO bring Hit to New York
was shield the latters confederates, Wshart and
Meyers; the amount of forged bonds put upon tho
market was something like $500, 00o the District At
1orney had employed Pinkertons agency TO investi-
gate the matter and they arrested Andrew l. Roberts,
Valentine Gleason and Stephen Raymond tho latter
being extraditeo from Europe, whittier he had fed;
Roberts was tried and the jury disagreed but judg
in civil suit had been obtained against Roberts
them spence" Pettis former accomplce, who
is in the Massachusetts State Prison. the latter,
his confession stated that the orgeres planned
with the knowledge of Captain Irving and Detective
Farley who had been promised share of the profits;
had been published in the newspapers the morning alter
arrest and witness had to believe that 1t
done for the purpose Of alarming all concerned
The witness then proceeded TO give history OF tho
Bank Of England forgeries:In the winter OF 1873 for
geres the amount OF $500 900 were committed wit
ness employed by tho bank solicitors in this
try investigate them made the arrest Of Austin 3.
Bdwell in the matter, and took him to England with
him; witness was also requested arrest George Nc
Donald alias Livingston, who coming from Europe;
he said kilograms sent by the police officers in
England TO the police officer in tbs city 10 arrest Nc
IA. ifna callpd tpn Trvin yav
10 making the arrest Of McDonad witness and two
deputy shers with Detectives Irving and Farley went
down to board the DurDqu on her arrival in this port for
the purpose of arrestng McDonad Farley and Irving
refused let the deputy sherids board the vessel,
and Mcdonald stated subsequently in his confession
PAID MONEY TO FARLEY AND IRVING;
witness found among McDonalds papers letter book.
containing copy OF letter addressed TO Dear PM,
and enclosing $500; Mcdonald said that sent to
Farley the letter was traced to Farley.
Witness said when he had charge of Bidwell at
Havana the latter sent letter to Irving, wnich
intercepted Ono Of the letters purported to read
folloWs:-
portant BIDWELL.
his opinion OF the New York detectives, witness
said that they in point Of intellect morality and SKILL
inferior to the detectives Of Paris London Tho
system Of rewards he thought should be abolished as
1t induced detectives assist criminals in planning
crimes and also in keeping information from their su-
periors so that they might work up tho them
selves The detectives, he thought, should not DO
known such to any one but their Immediate supe-
riorR
x-DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALLEN
thought that crime is not suppressed because police
magistrates wilfuy ignorant OF their duties
binding important witnesses to appear, and in
other respects that the prosecuting officers should
have some idea of what witness Is going to testify
before he is put upon the stand; that magistrates
accept bail too readily, Is in this State
titled bail except IN OF misdemeanors; that the
statute about murder ought to be amended nobody
present be construed guilty Of murder in the first
degree Witness went on 10 state that he had heard
that while Captain Irving giving out that he could
dnd Roberts Gleason he in company
with the former He also related how hundreds OF
thieves had told him that the detectives were always
bounding them to commit crimes AT this point
witness put statement written by Spencer Pettis,
the forger duplicating Detectives Irving and Farley
his crimes.
Mr. Forester Assistant Superintendent Of the Regis
tered Letter Department of the Post Office in this city
gave important evidence about registered letters
Detectives Farley and Irving, which arrived August 81
1872, by steamer Hermann Mr.. Farley's receipt for
this letter and tho receipt of Elizabeth Irving for
James Irving were then put IN evidence.
The committee then adjourned to meet Friday in
the same place.