The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-06
CRIME INVESTIGATORS.
What the Legislative Committee
Heard Yesterday.
Horrible Statistics Of OBJ
scene Literature.

IN the Aldermanic CHAMBER was mostly devoted TO tho
distractions placed in the way OF justice through the
District Attorneys office Mrs Caroline r. Roddy re-
hearsed again her remarkable story and Mr. Anthony
Comstock the prosecutor Of the vendors Of indecent
literature showed how that for that
vile offence could be punished New York city,
owing to the Discrimination Of District Attorneys
prosecute the parties.
Mrs Roddy the first witness and related in detail
the circumstances connected with the theft OF a number
OF bonds OF southern railroads belonging to her. by
George A. Everett in Detroit while she her way
TO Chicago.
STARTLING TALE.
The testimony In effect that she induced TO
go to Alabama by way Of Chicago, amer her in
teres in the Selma and Gulf Railroads while Detroit
her trunk broken open and the bonds, certificate
Of marriage with 7. D. Roddy, and other valuable pa
pers stolen arriving at Alabama she discovered
her loss returned Detroit and placed the in the
hands Of detective, who arrested Everett and dis
covered that the bonds and papers had been sent to
Frank W. Brooks, of New York. Everett was placed
under SIS 900 for trial. but the bail reduced to
$45 900 bail and he got She aterward procured the
Of Brooks in this city and also the extradton
Of Everett to New York, and procured indictment
against them in January, 1873; she made repeated
attempts to have them brought to trial. and pro-
duced volumnous correspondence between herself and
District Attorney Phelps and Recorder Hackett in
gard to the matter She had paid $3.50 herself have
Everett brought to this city, tho representation OF
District Attorney Phelps that he did want to put
the county TO the expense; for eighteen months she
could not have the brought trial and had suf
fered all Of abuse from tho friends of Everett
and Brooks
ARREST AND ACQUIrTAL
At this time she caused the arrest OF P. D. Roddy
who she said was her husband for abandonment; two
or three weeks aerward Roddy had her arrested for
perjury, theft and conspiracy to blackmail She
arres ted by Captain Byrne who she alleged treated
her in most brutal manner and locked her up with
drunken negro for thirty-sx h9drs she was without
food. After remaining several weeks in prison she
secured counsel; the private counsel OF Brooks and
Everett conducted the prosecution against her. she
acquitted, and noe prosequi entered on another
indictment against her; he then left the city for a
short time and her return learned that nole
prosequi had entered in the OF Everett and
Brooks she had heard nothing Of the since;
part prosecution against her Brooks Everett
and her husband Roddy published articles in which she
was described as blackmaier, confidence woman
and as lobbyist at Washington She produced letters
from Judge Nelson and several prominent gentlemen in
Washington, saying that she Of good character
She also produced letters from Roddy, in which he
called her his wife, addressed her in the
tionate terms She said that at the time Roddy had
her arrested she had been MS vile Tor nye years
MR. SULLIVAN STAND.
Mr. Agernon s Sullivan was the first witness in the
afternoon. He said he had been for by Mr. Thur
low Weed, who had been deeply interested in this
Mr. Weed begged him to that injustice should
be this case which, he said had enlisted his
profoundest sympathy The result Of the trial for
larceny was that Mrs. Roddy trumphantly
acquitted and the indictment for perjury not
pressed to trial. as Judge Sutherland declared other
| NIT AgQigf
trict Attorney Lyons, who was supposed to have
charge Of the larceny did not try it, but had Mr.
purpose, Immediately after Mrs. Roddy's acquttal he
addressed letters to the District Attorneys office,
the District Attorney and the other TO Assistant
District Attorney Lyons strongly urging them 70 bring
the other cases to a speedy trial
short time after the date of these letters Assistant
District Attorney Russell sent for him informed
him that he had mado up his mind TO enter a noble
prosequi in the cases stu pending against her Mr.
Roddy saying that the proceedings against her did not
meet his approval
Mr. Sullivan. declared that he never gave any au
tnorty consent to the nolle prosequi in the
against Everett and Brooks
Mr. Townsend offered finally evidence copies OF the
indictments nolle prosequi, &c, in these
Mrs Roddy was recalled. She stated that Mr. Phelps
nom the time these cases began until they ended,
PERFECT CONTROL THEM,
and did allow his assistants interfere with them
however on occasion Mr.. Russell called her into
thing for lady TO prosecute such men as Brooks and
Everett and advised her to compromise the
case So and he strongly urged her accept the
Offer She declined 10 do SO, and thereupon Mr. Rus
sell grossly abused her and nsued her with the ouest
cpithets Mrs. Roddy offered to produce testimony
support OF that statement but the committee ruled
out as irrelevant
She camo to New York to study music in 1867 from
Harkerstown, NJ j., where her family chad lived for
hundreds OF years. She made the acquaintance Of
lady whom she accompanied TO the opera and TO the
theatres and who introduced her TO General p d.
Roddy, Of Alabama He said he was a divorced man,
and showed her certificate OF divorce. We had
/ A
Of about six weeks and he alleged that the marriage
must be private, as he had committed murder. We
publicly married, but signed agree
! ment OF marriage. We lived for FIVE years
\ together as and wife, but Mr.. Roddy
juga love and my property. He wanted me to wear
calico dresses and took possession of all my property
for cash advances, which had made to bin. When
was robbed took the name Of Shotwe, in order to
spare him the disgrace Of dragging his name before tho
Mr. Townsend read letter showing that Mr.. Roddy
had committed breach Of trust in using her railroad
bonds for the purpose Of raising funds This letter
by OF the directors Of the Selma and Gulf
4 Railroad.
Mr. John E. Beall lawyer another OF Mrs Roddy's
1 counsel simply called to show that he also did
not give his consent TO the nolle prosequ against
\ which he found in the District Attorneys Office,
and which agreement on the part OF
Mr. Roddy 10 deliver TO her the stock above alluded to
bonds Of the Selma and Gulf railroad to the amount of
$50 000 This paper he secured, the District
Attorney declined 10 give II 10 him. MIS-. koddy had
bundle OF very important papers which taken
from her upon her arrest. This contract in the
bundle, and he was denied access TO the papers by
Assistant District Attorney Lyons After days he
allowed access TO them and then he that tho
bundle addressed TO the counsel the other side
II curious TACT that the bundle much smaller
when the witness 1t again than when twas first pro-
duced in court
J ANTHONY comsrocK's STORY
Anthony Comsock said he the Secretary or the
Association for the Suppression of Vice. He made IL
his special duty prosecute dealers In obscene ltera
ture and immoral articles He found difficulty in
this city TO procure indictments than almost in any
other place. and at the request OF Mr. Townsend read
list OF offenders who had been indicted at his instance
and tried In tho FIRST case In 1874 the goods
that had been deposited with the clerk OF the District
Attorney as proofs Of dealing In immoral articles
could not be found tho day Of trial. and the latter
therefore, proved failure In tho next case, one Far
rel indicted in Nav ls72 a bench warrant