New-York tribune., 1875-09-25
THE COMMITTEE ON CRIME.

CHARGES AGAINST Mr.. TOWNSEND. THE COUNSEL
HIS EXPLANATON-INvEsTIGATIo OF CASES OF
ALLEGED FAILURE OF JUSIICE-CONDi1IoN OF
THE DETECTIVE FORCE.
At the opening of yesterdays session OF the
Assembly Committee on Crime, Mr. Hess tRep) offered
the following resolution
Whereas witness who testified before this Committee
named Victor Branson having under 0ath maze grave
charges against John Townsend tine c"e %l c,'
ms n an IN i&sns & John H. McCuagn Captain
Kesoired That until Mr.. Townsend appears before the
tribunal where such charges were made anu answers
the adequately his appointment to this Committee
be suspended
Mr. Hess SAID that he offered this as much in the in
terest of the Committee as in the interest OF the object
for which the Committee was appointed lie had no
donbt but Mr. Townsend could explain the charges rca-
sonably and fairly hut until that done he was sure
he could have entire confidence in the counsel Dir
Campbell (Dern) Chairman Of the Committee, said the
Committee the proper tribunal to hear ana pass upon
charges against its counsel The witness BraInSon had
only excited ridcue. Mr.. Hess argued that since the
charges were made before the Police Commissioners they
formed the proper tribunal to hear the answer After
remarks by other members OF the Committee, Mr Town
send said in substance:
In the trial of Capt McCuagh witness testified to
things which desire to have corrected seems to me
against me. For the purpose OF putting luysel, III n
natural proper posltio stare p" w0i,u loe
lie Fent restaurant and barooln and said he being
Enow bm then and had not seen him before told him
10 before the SupeTin cndent and make ms Complain
I did not him until mouth attcrWard wien he tOlu
me the matters still stood as they were before.
told him | would go and see Capt. Nc
stated the captain precisely what thus man Ead Said
He said Bamson was bad man, and that there was 10
truth in dis statements told Brdins0n tha' ana tnat
il aIl Blamson wanted 10 act counsel for him.
and declined know of no charges against me save
THOSE ~ DishecEer OF suborning witnesses hato oe
nauded that Dsbecker make good his charges before
magistrate.
The resolution put 70 vote, and oil voted against 1t
save Mr.. Hess Mr. Campbell said he had requeo ted hr
Disbecker by letter TO appear before the Committee and
subsantiac his charges. MI MCGOWAN offered resoIi-
non expressing confidence III the integrity ard FAIRNESS
Of Mr. Townsend All for IT except Mr. Hess, who
sso MI Townsend | have expressed 20 Mr Camp
bell dissatisfaction with the unfair manner III which yc
have conducted some OF the proceedings OF TINS 'om-
mittee de far ANYBODY IN getting at ire
facts; | have no friends to shield and no enemies 20
fear" MI Campbell inquired SIR Hess. have you any
charge to make that this CoEmttee II partisan cor
Tire regular work Of tho Committee was then resumed
Henry r. Vail, Cashier of the Bank OF Commerce. le'ti
fed that he had received the contribution suggested by
the Di Di,rictAtOrney TO aj in securing the punishment
Of the bond forgers Roberts ana Gleason 'iat lnV
on the last circular and $3.50 on the ls were
and paid 10 Pnkcrtons Detective Agency on bills cerli
lied by the District Attorney , ~,
John " Merritt hotel and restaurant see%i q 9,s IN"
80 East Ninhs testified hat lie was sot AZ oy 5uus
j. Adams on oct 80, 1874 ne m9n was arrested ara
committed in default of 5000 bail me case vas t,,u
for trial al General Sessions. and Mr. merritt ap
Gesfen GsssaHt %iIp psrc Russell and Mr. Phelps
assured him the case would ne attended 20 n1ttnomgh
there ample proo-the case Aad not pech Hlcd' anu
The man out on ~ 900 bail. %, o,.
George T. smOns Officer Michael DIVINE Oncer thrl"
tan Popp Daniel {. Brdseil, and George Washington
corrobo;ated this testimony W. e. SdeNar, mo VI & rnc
County Clerks Office, testified mat re knew OF no powJ
on the part Of tie District Attorney 70 reduce ne Di
from 81 800 81 600 without an order from me court
Joseph p. Twohey Of No - Chamherss, ST.. & rIgar gar
dealer told how he ided out OF Ts1 ana had thr
swindcr arrested. OF the s7 So was recovered anu
he ProIerty Clerk AT Police Headquarters took cnalge
uhapf fhe
found the money had been given oii ON an order o .e
prisoner, cOuntcrsigned by the Dirtlct.AtDrney me
charge was forgery the was sentenced TOT laise
pretenses and thus acquired the rlght 10 make me
order witness could not get cent OF tins money Whch
went to John o. Mott counsels fec Chares a. ~
John the Property Clerk produced the records Of his
Office n regard 10 the matter and Detective Dunn teS'
fed TO the arrest ,..,--
Heidelberg and Tlley were then examined into
blanket which part OF some stolen property recov'
cred from thieves found III closet used by the Two
detectives Capt James irving iorihery OF the ueect
i've force testified that he believed the blanket was pu
in the closet on Of spite BY peteeve Csp8 rhefe was
i've force He had himself been warned py Detective
Elder to be watchful for his own safety Mr. voorhs
MenseD mens' Matthew HollenDack clerk in the office
Of the Police Board, and ex DeteGuve fatfies
ay wI"s d%Shy isst.d SSden ON ns subject Poee Conn
mis- soner John X VOorhis testified that he deemed the
evidence against Heidelberg ana Iley very s'reng rue
Detective Office then was not In Rood rtpute lH Iom
uittee adjourned 10 IL q. m Tuesday sept ~;
In reply TO CampDes request to appear before the
Committee and sussianlate hs charges agains. , NJ
letter In which ne says: 81 40 not neneVe that tne
pnbc are 10 interested in Mr. John d. Townsend as TO
desire any investigation at the public exIense 10 deter
mint AS to ms character professional standing or any
other matter thing relating 70 ma WIat nhye t,
FOR and il he considers that he truth take eIcep
ron 10 ANYTHING have eaid, the law Affords MIN rem
| edy He will ind me prepared 10 meet MN