The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-13
THE MURTdGH CONSpyRiCr.
The Details Of the Conspiracy n. Related BY
Detective McDcvitt.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12-The Robeson-
Murtagh conspiracy was further inquired into
this morning and again this evening. J. ~
Wilson. counsel for Roneson and Murtagh
consumed the entire session OF the committee
this morning In crosse examining Major Richards.
ee-fourths OF this cross-exan iuation had no
relevancy to the conspiracy case. wilson In.
quired very particularly about the connection OF
the police officers with the gamblers. aud the
motives which Influenced Major Richards
to tell about the efforts OF Robeson and
Murtagh to ruin the reputation Of Mr.
Whitthorne. The private Affairs Of Richards
were also inquired into, and everything
else except the point In issue. There was not
even an effort made to lay the foundation for
contradictlng Richards's testimony In regard to
the conspiracy against whitthorne. The coun-
sci for Murtsgh tacity admitted that this was
hopeless undert king toy his failure to cross
examine the witness at length on this subject.
He attempted, however. to make Il appear that
the witness had withheld certain facts which
he could have told III answer to the comprc-
hensive question put to him by the Chairman
Of the committee to tell all he knew about the
conspiracy. Robcson. Murtagh and their coun-
sci, however. received small comfort from
Kichards's replies.
Inc course pursued by MIR. wilson IN travel
ling out Of the record IN bis ctos--ex imination
Of Richards Will prove disastrous for his clents
I'm the end. because Il enlarged the scope OF the
inquiry. ami inasmucn as theS sought t. imrusn
the character OF the witness, his counsel VIII
have the right to 20 INTO Nurtagh's private char
acter. and show II up in rs true lighi "a well as
To inquire into every one ut his official acts
since he has been connected with the Police
Board
At tho evening session. detective McDevitt's
testimony was taken. curr0borating the staie-
uent heretofore mace IN rcAard to tie Whit
thorne cons piracy. lie testified that at one of
the interviews which he had with Murtayh. IN
the presence ~ Major Richards. he told Muir
tggh. who seemed To- be very anxious to have
the matter hurried No, tha It was very we'd to
talk about hurrylng 1t up. but TINT u would re-
quire time and money, whereupon MILO, Rich-
ards was authorized to advance any money
that he thought was necessary 10 defraN ex-
penses. Tnis money was to be chiefly
MIR. Whiithorne into house OF ili-repute ami
then 10 nave u r. ided and Mr.. Whitthorne and
all The inmates taken to the station house. At
thi- interview Murtagh urged expedition on the
ground that the secretary of the Navy was very
anxious to have something done, as the Nav 4
Committee WIS about to make ITS report. ~ a
subsequent interview, which had been solicited
ov Murtagh. McDeviit was asked " he had the
papers for radiug the house, aud when he ferlied
in the negative. Mugtaeh seemed very much dis %
pointed ana accused the onic-r- Of mem icicncy.
NCDevitt further testified that he had suoken
to young man named L. l.. Fiindee. formerly
OF B'ltimors, engaged AS messenger In tue
Treasury Department, To- watch MIR. " hitthorne
and give him a description OF MS per.onal up
pearance, 50 that he might know MIN whenever
he Jaw hin. In re-pnns to these insttucuons.
thorne get into car at the Capitol He Jumped
In after him and followed nim down To the totel
McDevitt sad tuat from the sttrt lie hoyer
intended TO DO ANYTHING, that II was the under
standing with all the ON GERS that they Nee only
to pretend to do something. but that nothing
should be done to carry out the -chem..
Inc witness sid that he had been requested
tv Major Rich ards to mako daily reports. lie
was asked wnat KIND ~ report. he allnd-d to,
but tins WAS objected to ~ Mr.. wilson. counsel
for Ropeson md Murtigh on the ground that
he had no right 10 state what nai not been said
III the presence 4 MIR. MurtAgn. into whose con
duct ouiy member hnd President OF the
hoard tne inquiry authorized 10y the House was
dire ted. Ii came out that ths officers were to
make regular reports to Murtagh fer the pur
pose OF nsying the Navy Department constantly
apprired 81 what was going on.
Witness further testified thtt after the inter-
view wi n Murtrgh In the presence OF Richaris,
when tue proposition about money was made,
he received tl0 from NJ Jpr Richards, wnicn he
said was given him simply to enable hlm to
.'"tend that lie was carrying out the ms rnc-
tons u Nurts9h. lns money was spent cniehs
on luncnes with the other officers. lie wiis
Questioned = to his interviews witn The PTesi-
dent, cut OF lection was made.