National Republican., 1877-04-14
THE POLICE SCANDAL.
THE ATTORNEY IGITNsT THE DIS
REPUTABLE OFFICIALS SI'EIkS,

and Shows the RascaIty and Contemplate
Means Resortcd to by Richards and ms
"Pals" to Avoid the Consequences Of Their
Rank Ipiquitics.
wAsHtSoToN, d, O., April u, 1877.
To the Editor Of ne National Republican!
SIN; The Ertning Star Of yesterday has sug
gested that 1 should have room for q statement
in reference to my connection with the matter re-
ferred TO In the police eommissioners' report re-
Gently published. On referring this communica-
tion to that paper, It had not the space TO spare.
I an therefore compelled to ask this favor Of
ysu, a. deemlt . duty to tho people Of the Dis
trict, as well as myself to make this statement,
and trust shall bc pardoned an expression
Of surprise and astonishmsnt after reading the
report. retired last night In the midst Of do
nestle peace and happiness and arose this morn
ing to hnd myself the central ngure Of report,
become notorious, and called upon to clear my.
self from charges and insinuations.
The transition has been startling and tho sen.
sation novel. In my connection with the sub
Iect Of the report have voted In my proies-
slonai capacity and within Its strictest pro-
priety, and In accordance with the usages Of the
highest sense OF professional integrity. have
no apology to offer, nor do think tho commu-
nifty will need any amer the perusal Of the fasts
contained in this statement, taken In connection
with the commissioner report, And upon this
am willing that the public should render its
own verdict.
During an investigation Of Major Richards by
the Board Of Com mmissioners Of the Metropolitan
Police last December wss called upon TO repre-
sent the people, and cross-examine the witnesses
brought before that body on that occasion. That
examination terminated abruptly, the commis.
stones finding themselves proceeding without
the authority Of law. This supposed ended my
connection with that inquiry. While was On
gagged in this matter 4 great deal of information
was placed In my hands BY variety Of persons,
and some Of Il appeared TO me to be OF the
greatest importance, and had mentioned this
fact TO several parties who were interested In the
reformation Of the police force and the suppress
sion Of gsmblnE.
After the organiIa tion OF the present Board OF
Police Commissioners, who II was expected would
try the delinquent ofhcers Of tho force, was re-
tained to eoilate the testimony to which my at
tentiop had been called, and TO confer with Mr
Rid die, the attorney Of the board. l entered
upon the discharge Of my duties with vigor. and
took down tho statement Of every person who
claimed to be possessed Of any positive iniorma-
tion In the form OF an affidavit. At the time Of
entering upon this service conferred with Mr..
GatchelI, and Mr.. Britton and Mr.. Riddle a. to
what should more especially give my atten-
tisn.
Both MT. Gatehel and Mr.. Britton stated TO
me that they had all the testimony that was
necessary to make q clear case against Mr.. NIL
Ter snd Mr.. McDevitt, and that It would be
unnecessary to give any attention In that direc-
tion, and my recollection is that Mr.. Riddle was
OF the same opinion, but Of that am not positive
j informed them that l had some witnesses
whose testimony seemed to implieate Major
Richards, and that would proceed to get It into
shape, and submit II to them. This testimony
Mr.. Britton did not wish to sec, and, he was to
be Judge In the trial OF tho Major, he wished to
have his mind remain unpreiudiced and to be an
partial arbitrator In this case, I proceeded In
this matter with the greatest caution so as to pro-
vide against surprises and untrustworthy testi-
TSs persons who gave me information that
looked IS though there might be something in Il
and bring them to my once In order that might
examine them and see what thought Of their
testimony, and ~ were found to be desirable 70
Ny rule was 70 aSs sns% swear 70 th.
statement. Afidavits taken IN this way we're NOT
SnsSs slaps wSns %e RGaS Bs ~ns
to swear to II called upon to do 30 the trial oI
the onicsr under chargss.
number delivered them to Mr.. Riddle, the at
torney Of the board, with the express understand.
lGs aS srns Ss
upon to set IN the best faith, and would bring TO
orieer'; that they would place the iniSrmstion
purposes Of the prosecutor, and my client. were
not alone in this conviction, Indeed, l was posi-.
lively instructed not TO allow the afhdavts to go
into the possession Of tho board.
These documents were to serve as In nformation
to the attorney of the board, and as basis upon
atnants could be called as witnesses and put
upon the stand and undergo public nterroga.
tion, and DC subjected to arigid cross-examina-
opportunity to apply every test to the witness
known to the law There would be nothing Sc.
This tho Iahnr
pot iIiioundsd; fhs aHidsyIt: passed from "Ss the
hands OF MIR. Riddle into those Of the commits
sioners. Their use and the result Is shown by
their published report.
As to the statements made by such creatures
as Plowdcn and Jackson, II will only be necessary
Tor me to cay that with but exception or two they
are entirely false. Plowden was brought to me
enter into my service; he had witnesses he could
bring to me whose testimony would astOnish tho
public. He associated with him Jackson, and
they brought TO me the two boys, Frank and
Daniel Smith, whose affidavits were taken; they
gave the boys good character, and represented
sent q gentleman on whom could rely to look
after these boys and ascertain who they were and
me probability Of the story told by them. had
Milord; 1t was told me while the isyestigatiOn
was going on In December, but was incredulous
IDENTIFY told the truth, and when the corroborat.
ing evidence came In from other sources, II was
GISSerwsseIi%ing ISsrss and almost a; &C conclusive as
tain,y capable of the fullest proof This Plow-
den and Jackson was TO pay by the day while
they worked for me, and did SO. As soon, how
ever, as they found that I placed some reliance
on these boys, Plovden demanded OF me S2Dl for
this service, This l refused. Two hours after.
wards word was brought TO Inc that he was en-
oeaysrlng to drive bargain with Major Rlch.
arcs This ended my connection with these two
men. They were never allowed In my private
office when any other person In. and a that
they TESTIFY TO as occurring between others and
myieif cmanatos from their lima ginatOa.
| When these boys were brought to me PlOwlen
| had asreed that they should be paid Tor their
time, ana that was days wages, and this was
| made condition before he brought them. This
paid them, and no more. Every witness that
| Was brought TO me was explicitly informed that
| lie could not receive any money Tor making an
hhldayit, nor could l make them any promise or
hold out any lpducement to them hereafter; that
wanted nothing but the truth and that II that
would clear Major Richards should he weil
pleased. The most Of these witnesses were labor.
ing men, and were engaged In daily labor, and
| to make an afiidaylt. In those cases l paid them
ior their lost time at the same ate they were paid
when working. This Is the head and front OF this
| offending. II was this, and nothing more.
| All Of this 10 known to those connected with
| my ofiice, Howard Gordon and John Nelson re.
ceyed this and nothing more, and any other state.
ment is false. In taking the afidavits delivered
considered the persons making them infAllible,
nor that II was beyond possibility that I should
be deceived, nor that my witnesses would not
| break down under the severe tests of q public
| trial. That such thing might and does of en-
| happen Is within the experience Of every active
| practitioner In our courts Of iudicature. Hut I
do mean TO state that there was no conspiracy,
m nj ta mnft IN mn nuG afuF faagf