New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-20
AN INNOCENT MAN PUNISHED.
IMPRISONMENT AND FINE ON A FALSE
CHARGE.

.cxn AND RFsPrCrABIE CITIZEN FOLLOWED BY
AN ACCUSATION OF NAMING AN AssAULT-PoLiCE
NEGLIGENCE TO INVESTIGATE THE NATTER
sUFFERINGs OF THE PRISONER IN THE roMBs
WITNESSES IN HIS FAVOR UNHEARD-His TRIAL
AND CONVICTION.
The signal failure of a New-YOrk Police
our TO secure the ends justice illustrated in case
which has recently come to light The statement which
a publlshed below Is youchod for by many persons whose
yeraeity is unQuestonable. TRIBUNE reporters nave
made careful inquiries concerning the facts In the case
and not the slightest has been found for discedt
tpg the assertions In this statement The gentleman VINO
makes 1t and who desires, for special reasons that his
name should be withheld the public resident OF
neghboring city He has lived either in this city OF III
ts vicinity for so years. and has constantly carried on
business In York. His family consists OF WIG anu
two adult He has been long affected by us
ease of the lungs which weakened his voice large
circle Of business acquaintance in this city give hh
high character for honesty and uprghtness
This gentleman was assaulted by young man named
Potter Murray on Saturday July TO- at the Battery, not
far from the entrance South Ferry He seized Murray
and dragged him toward policeman, when Murray al
once made a charge OF assault against him. BOth men
were taken to the Precinct Station house in Newest
The officer by whom the arrest was made was Joseph
Murphy At the station-hOuse, solely on the word OF
Murray the author Of the following statement, despite
his protest sent 10 the Tom5s by Sergeant william
J. Linden. There he confined In cell Tor three
days Letters which he wrote TO LIS lrends were al
lowed 10 lie OH prison table moro than day before
being posted. On the following Tuesday afternoon he
was released bail The fortunes which respccao'e
and homes, man endured when confined in cell, side by
side with thieves and ruians, suddenly taken away from
his family and friends and conscious of al innocence
which he was unable prove described in the state
ment which lie herewith given.
On Saturday last the was brought 10 tral III the
Court OF Special Sessions, before Justices smith, fa
,ner and Duffy The trial hurricdly conducted
several witnesses who present to TESTIFY 10 the
character of the accused not being allowed hearing
The prisoner was fined 500: the fine was subsequently
reduced to $50 Following is the narrative OF the &C
cuscd:
70 tn, Editor Of The TribUne.
SIR: have lived and done business in this city or
s,i v i1 and have fr6ed ties ana earned a reputation
valuable me- and which would command respect ana
confidence in any community. ! have formed q large
number of business acquaintance, with whom
without exception. my character Tor honesty IN
ON SATURDAY, Last in open daylight and IN one OF tie
principal public squares IN TINS cy IN the
OUTRAGE which, in the bodness, ckleSsnsss anu sucSS
in which was conceived ana WIN % cty % MIN whcb
the ministers I'll Justice led into cooperation with
na II ' mint AID here hat ain not robust and
lcss able TO defend myself physically AGAINST an ~ au
by reason of my strength ana constitution ha'ms Doeh
seriously impaired by confinement and disease -,
Al o'clock saturday afternoon last ctt tne ssu,
through the Battery, entered one Of the public retreats.
Al MAS leaving, ann was SelLcI ny II YOUNG MAN
apparently about 20 years Of age whom ! naa nencr
seen before He said want yOu." replied, never
saw you ne mSre firmly When turned 10 bystndcr
and asked his assistance, at the same le tclnS hllh
and was Improperly detaining nae. Thls hys ander
seeming nd sposed TO interfere, glanced around ana
tile Ferry house, which had Just leit sungge1
Ia 90 toward him and the same time tried Ia attract
his attention by beckoning and calling Therenlon the
young man, who etl held me, sud, Give i've me re- a
ton TO what he said struggled toward the policeman
forcing the young along with me, who slli sase
me- by 1ns a % .a he What is the natter at
asked him for his protection ana told MN OF ,ne ul
voIed assault upon Before could HnSh my ass.
u ant who, l think, must have been KNOW, knnwh 10
The policeman Se enrgcS the % pccemSn seized
and told the young an TO come aEs T IN cnuS
saw or do was forced thu ough the streets 70 the station
house In charge OF the policeman followed ny my asS
the policeman without permitting me 10 say word SAID
10 Tie Sergeant IN charge, Here is man VINO mas oten
Assembling this young man" lpOntng 81 my assalaht
and he wants TO make a charge against hlm; IneIe-
upon the young man who gave ms name as rfu@r ML
,, and nrScni language declared il was untrue aud
reneated 10 the sergeant the circumstances they
tualIy occurred The only reply the Sergeant desnen 10
give Your Voice 9etrays yon Ihen' turning
thereupon sezd BY the sane m pa y1
man and his accomphoe. On TIE wa. there caught
glimpse OF my brother n-aw werkh3~h s"a Mos'ny
me at once said TO the policeman There ismy brother
aw NV apSnaSn and at the same time ATTEMPTED
r" toward him aud hail him. Thereupon the policeman
eap ,S win fhe oher aud said You come right
along; If you don't win drag you by the neck through
was b" half block OIL that he would Immediately
come to my relief, and certify 20 my standing ana
that family would be distracted nj my
pnexplaincd absence The policeman peremporlly re:
FUSED and wac soon cooped in pen the aonbs.
reached there about $50 aud remained there three
hours waiting, as was told, fOr judge
IMPRISONMENT IN THE TOMBs.
During that interval, approached by person who
asked me If he could do anything for me- asked him if
he could get message for me IN my brOtherinaw at NO
"A Reekman-st lie replied "Yes, for $50" AS had
but 90 cents in my pocket was helpless. About
o'clock Judge came, before whom the young man went
and as understand, made affidavit was then called
before him told that was charged with Indecent
assault" and asked what bad 20 say reiterated my
innocence told him the circumstances aud begged Nun
reply he made was. " Committed; take him down"
I was thereupon seized by an attendant taseh
STst nme in spotiess lie OF half century the prison
doors closed upon me, ana found myseu anon
realize that it not horrd dream ana the thought
Ing AT the usual hour deepened tue horror OF my stu
tlon was assigned to cell No. ~. In II found man
NJ was confined on charge of an attempt to murder
nj least 80 lie told melnd whose heasly appearance
aud disgusting manners and language kelt me IN
monentIy terror OF my life All night long paced the
cell al times leaning from sheer weakness against the
stony walls pressing lips through the grated 'i0or,
e. catch breath Of ais for that In the cell itself had be-
come fetid and poisonous. fortunately, carry IN ue
evening IN companion Law down upon the On'y Ded
where through the might he slept though at intervals he
staItled me by suddenly gnashng his teeth or mumDns
curses Ms If In troubled dreams. Sunday morning
dragged along, and an attendant ought me ana
my companion piece OF dry bread and some coffee
begged glass OF water and offered any reasonable sum
for messenger carry the news OF NY whereabouts 70
sone friends; the reply was Messengers are Il to
A. Apiece pay able In advance" furnished, how
ever with few halfshees Of paper and envelopes, and
with 80 cents procured siamDs for four different
letters which directed TO four different PERSONS beg
ring them 10 my But, a. subsequently,
taned my letters, with many Others lay On t'c PRISON
table all day Sunday, aud until a late hour Monday