The New York herald., 1875-09-11
CAUSES OF CRIME
Why Affluent Criminals CD
60
UnWhipped Of Justice.
HOW POLICEMEN ARE APPOINTED.
A Curious Specimen Of Guardian
Of the Peace.

The legislative committee appolnteds inquire into
the causes OF crime in New York resumed its sttngS
yesterday in the Adermanc chamber of the City Hall
There were present of the committee Messrs Campbell
and Dessar and later on, Messrs Hess and McGowanl
Captain James Irving sworn and testified that ha
arrested man named William Lambert on Juno 49,
1873; he was charged with receiving stolen bonds;
found the bonds in his possession took him before
magistrate: he was committed In default OF bail; never
heard no was indicted by the Grand Jury; his reputa
ton bad No had been formerly arrested heard he
was once indicted for arson Detective Sampson was
with him when he arrested LAMBERT he was also with
him when he arrested q man named Kendrck Tor re-
ceivng stolen bonds; went before the Grand
Jury regard To the mans case he subpe
naed In regard to the return Of Governor Alvord'a
watch he had no knowledge; in tho summer OF 1879
Heidelberg O. three detectives sent to Long
Branch they sent by orders; directed through
him from the superintendent or one of the commissions
crs, 1t has been customary sings 1897 to send deecys
officers 10 Long Bfanch and Saratoga; at Saratoga
they reported to John Morrissey, and at Long Branc
he believed, to John Chamberlain; they paid by
the Police Department and their hotel expenses he
thought, were paid by the parties to whom theX
word directed; at that time there were twenty.
I've or twentysix detectives in the city, and perhaps
four or five ont OF the city, his impression was that
the men sent to Long Branch stayed there only for the
day and came homd at night had a portion of his
command engaged in hunting up forgcrs; novcr could
understand why Bangs and Pnkerton were employed
by the District Attorneys Office; could easily have
rested Gleason and Roberts at any time, but never
got any directions to do so heard that there was
PETITION CIRCULATING
among the banks and merchants to raise fund for the
District Attorneys Office, and that $4,000 were sub
scribed; positive that the regular detective force
can at any time do the business of the District Attor-
neys Office
To Mr. Dcssar-Never could send man out of town
without instructions from his superior officer; have
always been ready and willing to perform any orders
coming from the District Attorneys Office have boon
captain of the detective force five years and received
two medals for mcritorious services
EASY Wars or the DISTRICT AfroENsY's OFFICE.
Detective Sampson testified that he of the
force arrested Lambert in connection with Captain
Irving with the bonds his person; can't remember
having gone before the Grand Jury in regard to his
caso was also with Irving at the arrest OF Kendrcks
he was arrested warrant; know nothing of his
trial. arrested man named Leonard Brown in August
1873; found s2s 900 in bonds on him. he was taken to
headquarters and subsequently indicted he is now AZ
large but was never tried
THE FARCE OF JUSTICE.
Mr. Townsend read record sent to the warden or
the Tombs from which it appeared that Lambert had
been tried and acquitted and the assistant clerk of the
General Sessions, Thomas G. Stewart, testified that
Lambert was discharged his rccoguizance:
which is quite another thing
POLICE APPOINTMENTS.
Captain Gunner of the Nineteenth precinct, was
called and produced record showing the appointments
of Almond A. Gould and James Walters on the police
force. Gould appointed May 10, 1875, and Walters
on April Is, 1875.
Mr. Townsend then read a record showing that thesa
men were gangncn under the Streot Cleaning Depart
ment at the time they appointed the police
force and for some time after
James Walters testified being member OF the po-
lice force and identified the record OF his being
in belongs 0wego New York State; came to Now
York with introduction from friend of his, but OBJ
jocted to giving his namo.
= Mr. REPRESENTATIVES 1t Mr. Platt who gave you the
letter? Are you ashamed to tclY
Walters am not ashamed, and don't know that
need keep back the name.
Mr. Townsend-Then let us have the name.
Walters-Wel il was Mr.. Platt
Mr. Observation-Disclosures OF Congress from your dis.
tric?
Walters-Yes sir.
Mr Townsend-To whom 1t addressed'
Waltcrs-To Abraham Disbeckcr there nothing
done for right away Disbeckor advised me to stay
in the city ninety days and then he would try and APP
point me on the police told him was very hard up
pecunarly, and he put me on the Street CeaningDe-
partmcnt until there vacancy on the force; Mr.
Disbeckcr told il would be necessary Tor me to gee
FIVE city signers to paper recommending me.
Here Mr. Townsend read the paper of recommenda-
tion from the five citizens of New YORK, saying they
had known the applicant for five years and eulOgiZng
his character Counsel went into minute and rdicul-
ouslv amusing examination of the witness to how
eng he knew each sgner and then asked the paper
declared, $50, you are not marriedP
witness-wel, there is question about that
More amusement followed the explanation the wit
ness proceeded TO give of how he met girl one rainy
evening and married her by mistake. He admitted
that he was living with her and had two children
by her but the error committed by The man who pre-
tended to be minister and pretended TO marry him
justified him in asserting in the paper of application
that he not married
Mr. Townsend-You also say in the paper that
you have family.
Wtness-Wen when a man is not married he can't
DO said to have a family (Iaughter)
Various other questions were put TO the witness he
said he voted last spring in Owego.
Mr. Townsend then read from the law of 1873, which
declares that no person shall be appointed the police
force of the city of New York who has not lived
year in the State and SIX consecutive months in tho
city. witness came to New York January 10 and was
appointed on the force IN April following, which was
: clearly a violation Of the statute.
Captain Robbins, of the Twenty third precinct, said
he sent de ectiyc named Hughes in confidential way,
To find out the character of Walters and Gould from tho
persons named in their forms of application The
plies were favorable.
Mr. Townsend asked Captain Robbins why IL was he
signed his name the return when it Hughes, and
not he that found out the information2 The Captain
said he could not find out the people in question: and
the matter of signing was a custom.
Mr. Townsend announced that Officer Gould, who
promised attend at the investigation, had since sent
In his resignation.
FrcdricE o. Cable said he resided in 0wego and
knew Walters and Could; did not know the wife Of
Walters; identified Gould in newspaper paragraph as
one who had come up from New York TO help the re-
publcans in the election; Gould is not consldereu
very moral character in Oweg0; he has awliellving
there; saw Goud here in New York since he came
Benjamin Deforest in regard to his signing recon-
meniaton for Walters, said he knew the man only Tor
a few months while he was in Yorkvile; signed the
document for him q favor , =.
David n. Goodrich, Of Owego, said ne knew knew uould
and walters: also G. f. Hill, H. +. Miller, William IL.
Truman Charles stebbns and L. r Platt the men who
bore testimony to tho character OF walters The nanes
Of those who recommended Could we're also
known TO the witness Most OF them had left
Oweco about three years ago. know man named
S,orTs in Oweco: understood that Mr Plat member Of
Congress cot these appointments on the police; Goulds
nrvee character was not good; Walters was reported
10 be a married in Rego walters didnot vote at
the spring election