The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-02
NOT RAILROADED.'
sensational Story ofthe Unjust Imprisonment
OF a "COlOred Hero COntradirttd.
MODEL WARD DETECTIVE.
One Convict That Thinks He Is Treated
As He Deserves.


HKRALp represented as coming from convict In Sing
Sing in which a police captain and detective were
charged with highway robbery and connivancc At the
punishment OF an innocent man, awakened consldera
BILE interest about To ascertain The facts of the
case HERALD reporter visited the prison at Sing Sing
and conversed with tho convicts whose names ap
peared IN connection with the casc. From what
they said II would appear that the story already
Published il mainly devoid OF truth. Tho rob-
berry of q large Of money from moi
fcnsive negro by police officials 10 fatty denied by
the supposed victim and the collision OF pseuio off,
later convict named Crawford Of tho
question since the man referred was lad OF only
nineteen the time mentioned From the statements
OF Crawford. In Sing Sing, It would appear that
Leycraft the quondam detective IL cunning villain,
who has been shielded from his deserts by political
friends and who succeeded In shining upon compan-
ion the OF his guilt II the story OF Crawford be
true his deserves investigation but there Is
look upon with Suspicion, his connection
with Leycraf is said ia have bcen OF much moro init
mate character than he acknowledge.
Yesterday the reporter sent to investigate the case
called upon Warden Youngs. and, stating his busi-
ness was escorted into
On the waYden's nquring Tor Jim, !" there stepped
from cell close by tall shapely negro with pleas
ant face who saluted tho Official and by him intro
duccd tho reporter the convict Warner. Judging
IRON the friendly familiarity with which the keepers
conversed with HIM Warner is favorite among them,
everything the reporter heard concerning him
exceedingly favorable When spoken to concerning
the story which appeared in the Sunday Journal he
said with a smie:-"Thcrc is hardly word OF truth in
IL. few OF the statements correct In substance,
but they mixed with alsehoods TO be nearly
lost sight Of" On seeing the paper heading,
in which he called s'colored hcro" and
one Of Farragurs men," he burst into
I'll of laughter and said:-.sThey gave good send
or only happen to have been with Farragut.
was in the navy once, but don't think ever set
eycs ON the Admiral !"
At the request OF the reporter Warner then pro-
cccdcd TO give of his and mprison
men correcting such details had boon distorted
falsely presented.
at is true he said s'that worked for physician
before going the was with Dr. Kennedy, OF
Duane street, for long time and believe he was sat-
ished with the way discharged my duty. He always
treated well, and dd utmost TO merit his good
opinion In 1S57 lett his and worked around
Sew York in various capacities until 1851, when
ihpped IN the navy and was for while Ia the North
Atlantic squadron With Commodore Lee. remained
In the navy til The close OF the war, and
was discharged in 1865 Five years aiterward in
The Eighth ward and one night in the early part OF
April | tell in with party Of friends IN saloon
owned by Thomas Hornet located in sullivan street,
Grand. We drank great deal, and was
sTUPKriED WITH LIQUOR
Interested. and alter considerable excitement
Nc were turned out | left the place and
Itagcercd along the street when an officer overlook
and attempted to arrest me. saying had stolen
watch This olicer's name was Leycrait resisted
him and In the sculle which ensued threw hun
down. was intoxicated that do not remember
everything distinctly, but as nc Tell he drew revolver
md tired striking me IN the left breast and shoulder
Al that moment Captain Mcdonnell up, and,
with the others assistance, took me into custody
brought to The Twenty eighth precinct station
house and there sent to Bellevue Hospital whore
ny wounds dressed Then was brought to the
Pcnitentary hospital where renamed till April IL.
whcn, Jefferson Market Court Judge Cox committed
me, and on April n. Judge Cunning y Bedford tried
and sentenced me TO nine years and SIX mouths i'm
prsonment. The charge was that IN company with
others had stolen q watch and other valuahes from
Hornet, and had broken some articles In the house
That is the whole truth of the affair That story about
81 400 is complete lie. had only some change with
a. the time OF my arrest. As Tor Captain Mellon
ncIs having i'll used or robbed me want to say that y
Is my wish contradict everything that reflect
hardly ON him. As an oihcer
NE ONLY
In arrcsting me, and while his custody he had
wounds dressed and did all he could TO give me re-
lief That is the whole story. had no money 10
speak of; there was no policeman named Crawford
concerned in my arrest, and while naturally regret
my imprson ment do not see where any one acted
toward me IN way other than their duty dictated. y
WAS there any truth in the story of the doctors
daughters visit stokes and her meeting with you,
which resulted In the Governor oeing asked TO pardon
yous'
sshe came here with gentleman knew a long time
nvo and met me at The door She said she was sorry
10 me here, and the gentleman said he would
dcavor TO procure my pardon. He spoke OF sending
not understand. He did H. TOO. without my asking
him, as the term OF my imprisonment is now
very short According TO tho commutation laws l
have
ONLY rnRHx MONTHS MORE TO SERVE
AT any rate. knew was here Tor certain offence,
and determined TO serve out my time ike man. IL
any application has been made to the Governor in my
behalf not rs yet aware OF H. and II Is rather late
now TO make such an appeal
The reporter took leave OF Warner and
Quoted To the convict Crawford who represented
having made confession discriminating Leycrat ard
Others. In this prisoner the reporter found young
man. who. n his story be true, and he tells II IN
straightforward way has really TO complain OF
Just imprisonment He says that when he com
mittcd 1870 he only nineteen years old, and
consequently could not have been policeman at the
time OF Warmers arrest This the prison
records attest He resided in No. l3S Crosby
street. where be had a furnished room 1eycrait
be knew slightly rs policeman OF the ward. One
night Lcycrat came 10 hun and told HIM that he
wanted the loan OF his room for a while. Crawford
v walk he took with the other he met
Two hastily dressed men who came from Newark, and
who went with Leycrait To the hosse. When they
reached II the latter told Crawford TO out Tor some
beer. Not kno ~irg what intentions he hal with
gard 10 the strangers, Crawford took pitcher and
went down stairs What followed he described these
words:-I bad Just come round the corner when saw
Lsycrat rushing out OF the house. and heard
calling stop thicfi' Leycrsft ran around
the corner into Prince street and through TO Kim,
where he caught and arrested Thinking that |
would yet into trouble IL went home as the robbery
had occurred IN my room, stayed away aud did not
go the place for some days TN the third day,
however, was standing on the corner OF Crosby and
Houston streets when Detective Judd arrested and
brought me &c the house. where the woman IN charge
recognized the person she had let the room TO-
When reached the station house one OF the policemen
said
"srhis is a nice snap you've got Lee into.'
81 said Il think IT'S quite the other way
"Ancrward was sent 10 the Tombs where stayed
week, aud there frequently met ana conyersed with
Leycrail. He spoke 70 in confidential a tono
about acqultai that | believed he had everything
srttlcd lie told that all had 10 DO plead
ruity along with him and hts poica, friends would
that cot on safe. lie made " his business 10
urge this upon every time saw him, aud he led
think that the hc laid down the best
ono 10 pursue. | would not have taken It " had I
friend 10 advise me. but II | chung 10
any chance that offered. had written !
two letters TO my mother while in the Tombs
asking her to come TO me. but they de-
hvered A. last the day OF my trial camo and |
brought into court before Judge ,ardozo There a
charge OF robbery la Prince street nrst preferred and
when questioned about IL | said that knew
nothing Of H. Then l asked atoat the Crosby
street robbery, and at once pleaded guilty" The