New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-12


in Washington His brilliant services on the stump IN
the campaign Of 1875 in Ohio and in the Presidential
canvass last Fall have given him national repuauon'
his selection much more than the local inter-
est usually attaching to similar appointments
The appOintment of Stewart l.. WOOdfOrd
as United States Dlstrct-Attorney is looked upon at
New.York in the United States buildings and among
Republican circles generally as compromise. MI Bliss,
notwithstanding four years OF very peculiar service had
many strong hackers Ex-Judge A. j. Dittenhoeler was
backed by very prominent in the business ana ah
cia circles of the city, including Levi Morton deorse
Opdyke, Salem H. Wales, George Van Mort. ana others
and his failure to be nominated IL attributed ehrey W
political complications which required compromise 10
be made In the contest Judge Dltenhoefer developed
great strength.
TRIBUNE reporter made inquiries OF Gen. WOODROW
at his residence Brooklyn last evening IN regard W us
acceptance OF the Distrct-Atorneysip Gen. Woodloru
said that ne had been candidate for the postioh'
an had made no effort to it, The first serious III
mation he had received In regard to IL was from ho
dispatches the evening papers yesterday lie mao no'
had time seriously to consider the subject Inc position
was very responsible one and he did not thlnK IL SO
desirable that lawyer Of good practice would ready
surrender that in order TO accept the once TIC uiu '
agree with those who thought that lawyer couo oo
the Government work and attend to his private pracee
as we'll However, IL his appointment should DC coh-
He did not desire the place. and yet he hardly felt ko
Sinking its duties.
ABUSING THE PLAINTIFFS ATTORNEY.
EFFORTS TO WEAKEN The EFFECTS OF The NAVAL
- COMMITTEES REPoRT-TEsTIMoNY OF THE CHIEF
x OF POLICE BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE House Commit
tee to inquire official acts ofthe late Board OF TO
lice Commissioners OF the District Of Columbia met TINS
morning. Major Richards the Chief Of Police, testified
as follows:
The Police Commissioners had control of all the ap
pontments; about the 1st Of July last Mr.. Muragn
came to my Office and requested that some attention no
paid to Mr.. whitthorne Of the Naval Committee; MI
Murtagh stated that the investigation was being pressed
in severe and uncalledfor manner that matters were
being inquired into that he did not think came Within
the scope OF the powers Of the committee ana that nc
wished Mr.. WhitthOrne watched that ne had hiorma
ton that Mt WhtthOrne. while In Philadelphia, mac Wis
tied houses of repue. and that he might do the same
thing here that he wanted him watched, and that
Whtthorpe visited such houses he wanted the
officers to be prepared to raid the mousse
and arrest him. after the arrest was made
he was be taken to the police station the reporters
were to notified and they were to come and WORK te
facts up; after Mr. Murtagh left my Office cohcudeu
would not mention 1t to the detectives, ana indeed uo
NOT for ten days about days after the first interview
Mr. Murtagh came to know what had been done; sad'
"Nothing: it will REQUIRE time; :" he said 1t was I'M
poraut to do something there was great anxiety NJ
the Navy Department to have something done; linen
told Detective McDevitt of the PLAN told him, Ibis
must not be carried into effect. but you must appear
as il you were doing something's Mr.. Murtagh AGAIN
called to inquire how the thing working, and said
WELL we are looking to what can be DONE; he sid
that the Committee Naval Affairs would make It's re-
port in a few days. and If something wasn't done I'M
rnedatey would be of no effect; as remember
the Naval Committee postponed its report, put meah-
while Murag Oh called three or four times and was quite
anxious know what had been Accomplishment McDeVtt
that would cost money to do the wachlhg'
and Murtagh authorized me 10 spend what money was
needed he complained of the detectives, and said that
he wanted them to make daily reports OF what they were
doing Murtagh suggested that II Whltthorhe couo ot
be found in house OF lfame that he must DC seduced
into one witness said it not policy, nor was IL
the policy OF the Police Board to raid houses
of ill-fame when they were located In
well-defned disrepuable section of the city
on one occasion he gave orders to have every house
raded the next nigt-not to let one escape; when MI
Murtagh heard OF the order he called special meeting
of the board and witness was directed 10 rescd the
ORDER this is matter of record; witness SAID that up
TO two or three weeks there had been no public claor
AGAINST the gamblers that when arrests were made the
offenders not punished and TINS oPcfateu on tme
police force way to make them lose their ehthuslsn
sa9b %T Did BID you know that it originated with Mr.
Muragh alonei A. SO far as know II dd i,.,u a.,
u, When Murtagn asked you W
he EXPRESS any feeling personally in the matter No,
Sir think not: he said that the Secretary OF the navy
had good deal feeling to know what Whltthorne was
doing; that Whitthorne pressing the secretary OF
the Navy in an unjust way, and he thought legitimate
To counterfeit the report he might make he expressed
the opinion that the proposed plan w0ul induce NJ.
Whtthorne to modify his report that IL would restrain
Whtthorne because his arrest in "a house OF lliame
coud be held over him sort OF terrorism; Murtagh
said the Secretary of the Navy very anxious TO know
what was being DONE and hence requested the detectives
TO make written reports witness said that he always
that Murtagh had influence with the Pres
ident and controlled the police appointments