The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-16
THE MURTAGH CONSPIRACY
THE FULL DETAILS or THE PLOT
TOLD THE PRESIDENT.


tn4h 10 -hudOW the Eultor Ot Tho SUM-
WASHINGTON, JAN 15.-This morning the
committee 70 Investigate the late District Police
Commissioners examined Detective McEfresh,
who testified that, some time In July last, Dstec-
tive McDcvitt told him that Muriagh wanted
him to invcigo Mr.. whitthorne into house OF
bad re oaute so that It could be raided and Whit
thorno ught. thus corroboratiug the testimony
Of Major Richards and others on this subject.
He also testified that whom the President de-
manded tho designations Of all the members Of
the Police Board he went with Detective Nc
Dewitt to the President and gave him the fun
details Of the conspiracy, In order to prevent the
reappontment of Murtagh. McEifresh was asked
| by Judge wilson to relate what the President
said In tho interview. lie asked the committee
| " this was proper question, adding that he
had no objection to telling ,yerything that oc-
| cured II the committee should decide to insist
on an answer. After secret session 1t was de-
| cded by the com mittee that for the present the
witness should not relate the conversation that
| took place between the President and himsclf.
The conspiracy TO watch aud follow Mr. Dana
In lS7s was brought out and excited good
| deal of interest In the committee room. The
testimony was ~ follows:
O -tIavc you any knowledge of the police force be-
iaSrstis' 'toa soi1s cnp An MaieG. is5s, was
y me yt W nP oT 9S On scc re- u6ef no tew be MI
"no nc eoayerscd With and what he 9d a., c,,-ro.
! v no sANfNHu N'i-" ulFeNl0usT A-MI NlaINOc,
q S-Didyou iooA Mr., 6ansp Al dld.
uHep A-itfink he wls sumnoncd as a wiinc,. be.
fore m uye ugatng committee u tho House OF Repre-
q Wat was TIA, commiitee invc.ilsaiins7 A.
. W. mere any oeiee, r snteaas him .tsstedto
re- ies -" ns ms nc ssei tiToas2 Pfseipha zen sent
despatch - Jo-h iassart wno wss at the time On the
what tam he wa. IN, ana Inc c.p he Va TO-
q n
clSvoe He toli ne to secp an account Of wha -
psiii. SiicI ~ DO aud have L written 50.
| Q Did you ever have aconver.Ation WITH Mr.. Muir
| tath ON The uijec \ Il diI not. sir.
g -Dd YOU .with any one clsc connected with the
n we're icans .Jiso INC sAm' gme rsere Wa
seS a. HIg tae oce IN weh ssy eo,s d o %
rsesni seloold ana Private kod.eilcK. another ON
cor Il the detective corps rsre with me on that occa.
| Q-were any report. made At police hcacqra-;ersp
voc sent tao dcspatchss 10 Mr.. Isgslrt one stated
TO waic Tor smother despetch. When they eot me
tram went 20 the telegraph oniee aud sent another
| tecsram for aryoe si.ing that the rar,es eit IN
eoe9,s rn ana ent -1 I'm to to meet mn at a, VIZ W.,
Mr ,afvoe Was on the TRAIN, Al least he stsrted on lie
Q-Dld 'hj'r Richards have snv knowledge OF thi,
ord io,o~ Mr, ID n2I ~ 70 M hnp. i,lse.
q You % no' know rom an, tacts connected with
N reas ~ va. sa,ns Mr. DAnA' A.-No,nns fur
Copies Of the telegrams were placed IN evil
denoe, ana are a. follows:
- 1.,,,,, v,,o,. W 6ws'.uSe5oy M,Ten 90 is7a
hisnt "' ''''' '4' lam '"''' W ' SI.nyo. s'
10, 1agggyt N1gor's one %I.iaSsilii ~ -''-'
Party ieft on o'conS irain ior New iorS to;nisht
| In slecping Car l6) CLARyoE.
Tue witness was crcss-examined at some
| length by Mr.. Wilson. but no new facts
| ,licite' :, except thlt Clarvoe had shown hun a
| letter from Philsaephia In lsis, asking for in
| formation as to the whereabouts and movements
| fore tie committee who will doubtless throw
| more light upon the subject.
Mr. McElfresh was clied before the commit
tee ~ m tonight. ami related the interview
| which no and McDevi,t had with the President
the day after the Police Commissioners were .e.
! guestcd to resign. lie says that he and Nc
| Dewitt. after obtaining admission to the " mite
House. said 20 the President that thev supposed
| he had neard OF the Investigation az linst them.
lie erephed that he had read 1t In the paper. Mr..
! McEitftsh continued:
lsaiaiotne rge.lasa. thst we had come to lay tho
,enied 4 We hligt elre,ay been ,hias tnen Mr Ic
Mur,sg.'. ealing upoa M,IoT Hs,aFMi: e and request.
nveis him into one ana there mold over Inn the nci
Ter 10 iunuenec his seton a. chairman of the Navil
mai he amt th.uE Mr. Robe,on knew n, au,is,ny
q the w,eg ana Nd 'pe pTe.aea. ', "a no d9ai
az sG' ant NaSS a M % had at hs asdn p n 10
Inst he mad got tired Of seeing the stun paper
Sy d,pI r. m G7s as tSE T nam, sns, sp , .. s d
Mcneyin also If hutash s'l p'rsisled IN the charge.
d IN The ePsss P,ssa'qt m ps ga roy to nat he
f. tae papers 9nou per. n hayns to.iifed before tae
gwen a n. re.oD & G' h; Tsmsyns sa s lsi
Of .rens these publications In the pagers about him
The Chairman Of the committee then called
| for Mr. Murtagn, whereupon his counsel made
hi examination, as 1t was apparent that he
| was not expect ns 70 he called upon at this
| made no prepariilt" :, was insisted that no
| should not bs CAlicd uupn uHill ell the ttsti-
| muny tx iiu-t hun had been taken by the com
| mttee, tul the committee q, cdsd, after con-
| suiiatun. to call him To the stand. This precip-
| itete action had eNilentb quito uuneryed him,
as he took the witness chair In stits OF
| gre 4 nervous excitement. In tho course OF MS
| erect examination he procticilly admitted all
Whittnorue mattcr. lie was asked whether
time to have police officers repo'
| He replied irAt he had not IN any special case.
| lie was then asked whei her he had ever preI
| authorz d hy the Police Board 10 detail onlceri
| for special purposes. 20 which h9 gave de-
cided NEGATIVE answer. He 4lsp denied that he
| eyur had any authority 30 detail any police
| omcor to make reports e1celt TO executive
taken before the committee r, gdrdtng srecit
| orders given by him from time time tu officers
| of the force aud especially To tho IN
| s'ructions he had rivcn In reference to
the MnittnOfno case. Tbs course of
| proceeding was rather uneNp ;ed, AMI 10
| be,nn 10 cxcuee hts connection ,ritl the on
| sp,racy hy saying: "Dlrag the naval inve-ti-
| CATION last session was Informed that certain
| stHtcmenis were - be made in rcference to
! myself tud repurted 20 the committee. called
| upon the MaJur - Police ana Inquired II
| he knew member Of Congress bv the name ~
| Whi ihorne. think he sad he did not. | said
| hat heard "A great many stories about him,
| that ne was m Tho habit of visiting houses
| II ill repute, and | would like to KNOW
somelhihg about the facts. Tho II ior
toiI that ne would make some inquiry about It.
That WINS the nr.t interview. At the second he
| ehld tnnt rJme statements | had made 10
| him about tina nau's habits were lrue;
| That nom Inquiries he bad made no
| thought there was some truth In
| tDcm, asbei him II ne would get ali the in.
| formation he could in regard to him aud ne said
hc wDnld. At the n"Xt interview thInk Mr..
| NrlnNti was present, ma the matter was talked
over ia general way."
| Nr. Nul'a@l continued, s6iing that he had
mere Is suggested To the officers that thcy should
watch Mr. ~ hltthornc, and that he had never
given tlem srcc Hc orders TO do 50. he was
asked Tor ms reasons for wanting 20
| p0rsecute MIR. Whilh0r in this manner,
nd ltnI "A.