New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-29
INVESTTGATI OF CRIME.

INVESTIGATION OF CRIME.
CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONY ABOUT THE DISCHARGE
OF DETECTIVES TILLEY And HEIDkLBERG-
COMPLAINTS OF DELAY BY THE DIsrRICT-ATToR-
NEY IN CASES OF WRONGFUL ACCUSATIONS
ALLEGED DOUBTFUL PRACTICES OF COURT OFF,
GALS.
The Assembly Committee for the Inyestiga-
ton OF Crime continued its work yesterday ut the City
Hall Ex-Detecyo Ira NJ. Clapp testified in regard to
the blanket found in the closet used by Detectives TiIey
and Heidelberg ut Police Headquarters lie asked De-
tectyc Tey ABOUT the blankets first, and in reply Tiey
said. "Charlie put it there for Captain jim" BY
"Cbarlie" reference made TO Heidelberg When the
witness ASKED Heidelberg, he said, Don't ask me- you
ought to know as well l." The closet opened, and
the blanket found and identified ne one OF the ban-
kets which had been seized. Detective Heidel-
berg afterward said TO the witness that
he had entered the blanket with the Prop
erty Clerk, under the names Of Lahey Walling, and
Capp, and the witness allowed it to rest there lie did
not place The blanket there. cid not know 1t was there,
and had feeling against Heidelberg and JuIey. 1t
was saying in the Office that Capt Irving gave
all his principal work to Tlley and heidelberg. Tie
witness was rot dismissed; he was dropped rom the
roll He left the Office and went West. Commissioner
Smith said that IL he unsuccessful in his business he
would be rcapp0inted. Commissioner Smith reap
pointed him abou; a month afterward Ono day one Of
clcIks said to him that he not legally appointed
He was dropped from the roll without trial. trial
bcd. but he not there nor was he represented
b. counsel The charge that Of conduct unbccoming
an officer in wearing the uniform and the insignia Of
Office While he WIS at that time Illegally appointed.
Ex-Detectiys James d. Tilley save testimony regard
ing the same opened NY closet" he said, 4" to
change my coat and the blanket there. Lahey and
Clapp standing opposite the closet, and saw the
blanket thought nothing further Of it, as supposed
II bcon scd TO Mr. heidelberg. The next morning Clapp
,d 81
but do not know who put It there do MT belong 10
Charlie him, and he will tell you lie then called
Heidelberg and asked him If the blanket was in his
closet Heidelberg Said there one there yesterday
morning. and when asked who put there, said he did
no, know, ut the same time adding 'Clapp, we viii go
down and what it is' Clapp said, NO. il is all right
Tho day went to the closet and charged my coat
an the BLANKET was gone. never thought OF 1t again
until was SUSPENDED. never made any statement to
the effect that Charley put it there for Capt JIM
never ut anv time to any body said II belonged to
Heidelberg Capt. living, with one exception, had not
given me an imp 9rtant case in eighteen months"
Detective Heidelberg recalled and said that he had
no further testimony 10 offer regarding the blankets
Defective Tley, on being recalled said that heidelberg
Fellows gave them letter 10 the Pos Commissioners,
requesting decision the be Withheld until
noon the Tuesday following the trial The letter was
handed to Mr.. Matse who after reading IT, passed II to
read by the other Commissioner Detective Capp mere
stated that the testimony Of lcy and Heidelberg was
"A
stephen B. Bragne lawyer residing in this city gave
testimony regarding the robbery of his watch while
son better known as Pretty Jimmy" The witness
went TO the trial OF the thief but was not called as
witness. Soihing said openly in court, and the
NAN sentenced to one year in the State Prison.
derson. The Indictment which was read by Mr. Town
send, for grand larceny, and tho words from the
Isaac Taylor, IT,, OF No 3G7 Tentlave. testified that
he had been served with notices which stated that his
name was bail bond, for man named schwartz, for
- He wa
withsandn2 The act that lie had never gone bail for any
athou III he had called at his office several times. The
wtnc then found that there was lien on his property
for $1,000 The County Clerk had put It into The hands
tie Sheriff tor collection and when the witness called
the sheriff he was told that 1t had not ben for Other
business his property would have been sold the day be-
fore. Alter great deal Of trouble he went with the
to Mr. HAL nS that osS q ' be
lien the property Tho witness had never been re
saseS @ G oan there That the n o Wo
it was given was Jo9 Crosby instead Of sc 81 SA as
John sparks cierk Of the Court Of General
Sessions, recalled lie testified that 1t not Usual
10 renew bail after indctment-tAe same bond stood
The bail wa a lien upon property until 1t for
bond and then immediately transferring his property. IL
persons pleaded guilty. often they were sentenced
very often counsel are assigned and the prisoners are
tried Immediately. The witness had heard OF when
council given time To inquire INTO the details Of
The case lie tLDigit there shoule 30 return made Of
all prisoners sentenced 80 that the Conrt might know
that tire prisoner reached the place 10 which the sentence
consigned linn. He never knew that the DstTicAtto
ney the power To fix and accept bail although II had
been ustomary do not only during the present.
during past administrations. 1t was the practice for
court prisoners from tho court These
officers were not deputy sheriff. and 1t doubtful
whether they could be held responsible for prisoners
The warden OF the city Prison had charge OF the
prisoners before Indictment the Sheriff after indictment.
Police Justice Charles A Flamner testified IN regard
10 the procedure in criminal cases Ia the police courts.
his experience he thought about onethrd OF the
criminals furnished from among the station-house
dodgers Ninety cases ont OF hundred for dis
orderly conduct and intoxicaton In Of intoxica
ton no could impose fine Of 80 and require bail to
keep the peace He thought that II the police captains
would iref obtain sufficient evidence TO convict
under the vagraucy act 1t would save very much timc
and trouble.
Detective Philip Reilly was recalled and testified re-
garding james Anderson who robbed Mr.. Brague. He
said Anderson notorious pickpOclct. He also
rested man named Hnboerts conidenee man, in the
sawdIst business. Feb 49, 1873. ubberts gave bail
In ~ 800 giving cheek TO District AttolnDy Allen The
heard thing OF the since. Hubert
LI.A a