The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-03-26
THE BAY RIDGE MYSTERY.

REPLY OF CORONER sIMNs TO THE sTATEMENrs
OF THE FRIENDS OF CAPTAIN HANnIS-su'
PERNTENDEST CAMPBELL
o0HoS HIS. oFpglcE, KEos cousrr; corSrr couRTl
HOUSE,, ROOM .. BROOKLYN, March 20, 1870
To THE EDITOR rnK NEW YoRK HERALD
In your issue OF this morning find very unjust
article emanaring from William J. Bradley and John
o. North, IN relation to the they complain
OF having received from me and superintendent Of
Police Patrick Campbell in regard their search for
the body OF Captain Hamiin. When j. G. North nrst
presented himself to me having In company with
Dr. d. 4. Smith, viewed the remains he most EN-.
phaticay declared that he recognized from some pc.
cuar mark the corpse the body OF Captain Hamlin
but that to make sure OF 1t he would continue his
Investigation further to arrive at positive proof
which he had my decided appreciation.
Later the day he brought to what purported to
be a statement from Dr. d. f. Smith recognizing tho
corpse as that OF Captain Hamlln. Leaving my Office
he stated he would return New Haven and the next
day bring this city the Captains wife, but she never
put in appearance. conferred then with Supern-
tcndent Campbell and had telegram sent TO the wife
asking plain question Wore the feet and hands OF
Captain Hamlin deformedS Ifso. howS Answer i'm
mcdately. Patrick Campbell, Superintendent Of
Police" To which this made ;-'Captain
Hanlin's feet and hands perfect with the excep-
one W. j. Bradley will be down in tho morning with
full particulars. Charles W. Allen, Chief Of Police
of New Haven This did agree with the
deiormity OF tho foot or the body then
In The Aorgue. On Friday. March II, William l.
Bradley and John G. North came to at Police
Headquarters, where this time engaged this
business with superintendent Campbell and in tho
OF the Superintendent began series of abuse
to the in which they treated by the POI
lice authorities and all parties the keeper of tho
Morgue, Patrick Mcguire, in frustrating placing
obstacles in their way prevent them from getting all
the facts and aiding them in identifying remains
the manifest duty both OF the Coroner and su
perintendent Campbell TO this body was posi-
lively Identified, for j. G. North visited Police Head
quarters and insisted that this body had robbed
and murdered" Therefore compelled TO as
If such the case before any action could
BIO taken by the authorities, and, in the meantime
hold the body in custody and rely upon the wordi
OF j. G. North. superintendent Campbell never ex
pressed opinion that this Captain Hamlini
body or that murder had been committed
In my Official intercourse with Mr. North treated
him and all others with cvility and courtesy and !
willing at all times TO do everything in my power
to aid him On his last visit TO me / directed tina
keeper OF the Morgue, Mr.. Patrick Mcguire, to show
him the body, facilitate him and answer and all
questions he proposed Ho then found from his asi
examination OF the foot that this could not be the body
Of Captain Hamn. He then gave up his claim and re-
turned that night to New Haven, AS instance OF
appear pertinent with reference to his Identification Of
the stockIng-I am told that he obtained from keeper
Mcguire piece cut from the stocking hts first VISIT
which he took with him TO New Haven. On his
turn, in positive manner he stated that Mrs Ham,
lin with her hands had knitted that Identical
stocking Mr.. Mcguire asked Mr. Nor.h whether hd
was positive that Mrs. Hamiin had knitted the stock
ing. Mr.. North replied that she would swear to il.
Mr. Mcguire then exhibited the stocking from
which the piece had been cut and showed
that instead of being knitted it. was woven
stocking. The stocking is still to be seen
called on him just few minutes
prior his departure for New Haven the house OF
DIR. d. f. Smith, and asked him If he then salts
fled that he had failed TO recognize the body that OF
Captain Hamlln He replied that he satisfied that
1t not the body Of Captain Hamlin, and then, in
the presence OF DR. Smith, said that had treated him
gentlcmanly aud courto0usly throughout the whole
matter. This he repeated before, in my Office, Tho
presence of four or tive persons
That he should publish such a statement he has
at this time am unable to understand His motives
may be best known TO himself From his manner hs
appears to have believed that the coroners OF this
county were simply officials whose only business in
this particular to be subservIent to his
wishes and to accept his statement without much
a question His statement that he treated UNI
civiliy is false, and beied by his words the
presence OF others. HENRY G sIMMS, NJ d.,
Coroner OF Kings county