The New York herald., 1877-01-07
CHAINED IN JAIL
THB ASTORIA MASKED BURGLARS IN QUEENS
COUNTY PRIsoN-swoRH STATEMENTS or THH

COUNTY PR1soN-swonN STATEMENTS or THE
PRISONERS.
In the cells of the Queens County JAIL at Hampstead
Long Island and securely chained TO rngboits In the
noor iie the five alleged members OF the gang Of
masked burglars who 80 boldly robbed two Astoria
residences OF $3 900 worth OF property upon the night
of the 22d Of December Captain Murray and Detcc-
tive Carr are In search Of the Others with every pros
nee, OF success OF arresting them very shortly When
the preliminary examination, conducted before Justice
Parcels a. Astoria, by District Attorney Downing, on
Friday night, ended IN the formal committal OF the
prisoners await the action Of the Grand Jury, the
cresalen burglars locked up IN the cells under
the court room until yesterday forenoon, when
they were removed TO Hempstead, oy advice
Of Mr. Downing. who has but little confidence
In the security of the lock up The prisoners
all continue 10 assert their innocence, Schmidt the
Hcrculean German. being particularly loud in MS re-
monstrances against being incarccrated mccarthy
preserves q moody silence. rs does also Reilly the
youngest member Of the gang, and whom the authorh
ties for time thought Of freeing on condition OF his
turning States evidence against the others Indeed
they may be obliged 10 do SO yet. should Captain
Murray succeed in etil further Strengthening the
evidence against some Of the prisoners John James,
alias "yalty" Stewart seems to chafc nwardly and to
feel ANXIOUS about the result OF tho trial. while he out
wardly declares that there proof against HIM. and
contends that not Of he witnesses Identified him
IN fair and positive John Roberts, the re-
pu,ed leader OF the gang, young man OF about
twenty.six years. who kept saloon In James street
which Is said to be the OF thieves has made the
following statement under oath in the presence OF
WHAT Joux ROBERTS SAYS
That his place residence was al No 242 Fourteenth
street. South Brooklyn, where he had lived for more
than year, having previously resided at No. IL Dover
street New YORK, Tor about three years. lie kept
eating house at No. Go Beecker street, and also was
proprietor OF a liquor saloon No 90 James street.
He did not attend 10 his own business nor was his
name used on the doors OF his different places OF
business Thieves were IN the habit Of congregating
at the saloon James street. and they made II place
meeting, although be had Instructed his barkeepers
TO eject all such persons when they came in He SAID
shat had often told these barkeepers TO call IN The
aid Of the police II necessary, and he had
himself applied to Captain williams for assistance
from his officers to keep the thieves away Roberts
aen led all knowledge OF the burgarcs at Green's
tavern and Mr.. Hiler's house, and affirmed that he
had not been in Astoria for yoars before ne was
brought there under arrest He acknowledged being
acquainted with two OF his fellow prisoners, Schmidt
and James, but did not know anything OF their where.
abouts the day before the robbery or on the night
of the 22d OF December. James had resided with
Roberts dor time the latter's house IN Brook
yn but he had not been home Tor some days prior 10
the robbery.
Al frs. Roberts denied being In the company OF
James TWO days before the 22d OF December but al
terward recollected that he did the ferry with
him on the Wednesday before the burglary.
Roberts sald that he voluntarily surrendered him.
self the police when he heard that they were after
him." He denied al knowledge OF Reilly and Nc
Cartty and said that although arrested different
charges he has been convicted OF any crime and
has never committed any. He made an urgent appeal
to District Attorney Downing to be released on bail,
claiming that there was no evidence against him, but
he was held to answer with the others.
After tho narration by Roberts there was general
disposition TO talk upon the part OF his fellow prisoner,
who did not however, hear tho story told by his asso
cae and the reporter succeeded In obtaining another
interview.
THR GERMANS STORY
John Schmidt, the German prisoner owned to hav-
ing been arrested twice in New York CITY, The lrst
he charged with stealing packages Of ea but
the jury acquitted him the second time he was taken
into custody Tor disorderly conduct. He did not. no
said, know whether he was convicted on the latter
charge not, but remembered that he was taken TO
Black wells Island and remained there three days,
when an order for his discharge arrived and he
leased This occurred about three years ago. He in
penter and earned sufficient 10 maintain his
family, which consists OF three children, aged
respectively three. eight and ten years.
He positively denied ever having been in
Kavenswood until he was arrested, aud had no pSr.
sonai knowledge OF the robbcrics at Killers and
Green's the day OF the burglary he was at No. Is
Oliver street. New York city, until ten o'clock in the
named Long where he stayed until twelve O'Clock and
then went home to No. l42 Cherry street, New York,
and to bed he was admitted TO the house by u
woman with whom hc Is living this vile having left
about three years ago) and at once retired to bed
be knew the prisoner, John James, and also OF his
being arrested and convicted
Mccarthy asserted his ability to provo that he was
far from Ravenswood the night OF the burglary.
Mccarthy in answer 10 q direct question, acknowl-
edged having served his time in state Prison for
offences OF which ne convicted He refused TO give
the details.