The New York herald., 1877-03-23
THOSE BOSTON MURDERS.

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES Fon ALLEGED RALsE
IMPRISONMENT OF CAHILL-THE CLAIM RE
SISTED DY THE POLICE AUTHORITIES.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
Bosroy, March 22, 1871
A hearing given this morning by the Committee
on Claims, tho petitioner appearing In opposition to
the CLAIMS made by the counsel Of Thomas Cahi, who
asked for damages for unjust arrest. Imprisonment,
&c.
Mr.. John Z. Fitzgerald, tho claimants counsel
was present side, and on the other General
Stephenson appeared, accompanied by Detective Hollis
G. Pinkham, and supplied with maps, documents, &c.
The ground taken by Chief Stephenson was, that Brid
get Landrcgan did suffer death at the hands Of
Thomas Plper but that she was murdered by the
claimant, Thomas Cahill that In the officers
who arrested him fully justified by tho evidence
against him In pursuing the course that was
taken with regard to the claimant shat he
was not properly indicted In accordance with
evidence; and, lastly, that In awarding him
damages under such peculiar circumstances
establishing bad aud dangerous precedent FIRST
the Chict proceeded to state that Piper's confess
sion 10 MIR. Brown full of fase statements In
that confession Piper stated he did not jump from the
belfry window. Upon this fact the whole rested
If Piper not tho man who was seen to jump from
the bery window then he not the mau who MUIR
dered Mabel Young Now, If there Is such a state.
meni, such an utterly false statement as It seems
me, the confession, you will, perhaps, believe mo
when say there are many others which satisfy me,
together with other evidence have, that Piper did
not murder Miss Lxndregan will show that Cahilrs
character IN Ireland very bad. My opinion Is that
ought to have been properly tried. The cvi-
dence demanded II and justice required 1t as we'll
Mr. Fitzgerald said the case was not one between
Mr. Cahi!i and the State police. On their part
simply desire TO prove that they were crIght and
$50 oCo people in Boston wrong-al wrong. They
have set up supposittous case and II is natural hat
they snoud thcir best prove the pauslDty of It.
MIR. Stephenson denied he was acting Tor the state
police, but simply us government officer who deemed
II his duty to prevent what he thought to be an In
justice.
lie then called upon Detective Pinkham to make his
statement OF the case.
Mr. lInkham rcviewc cd mt length the history of his
Investigation IN company with Detective Chase Phil
brick, and submitted tho deposous before the Coro-
bers Jury aud other documents relating the
It's infancy. He undertook give the result
with the Deputy Chcf o the Royal Irish Con-
stabuary III Dublin relative to Cahi's reputation,
when Mr. Fitzgerald objected proving mans cnar.
actcr without any basis to work except verbal
versaton.
The objection being allowed Mr. Pinkham proceeded
with the history Uf tho cxtradtion OF CnhiL Coming
uown to hisar In America he alluded to hts indict
ment by tho Grand Jury aud he knew Of why
Cuhl was not tricsl. Mr. May the District Atio Bcy,
was un xou TO try HIM before succeeded by Mr.
Stevens Mr. Tram ious to try him, ana told
Sir. Plneham that II be could only lit the shirt aud
pautaloons Cahl hc would try him. because he was
July nssored o his quit. Tho speaker showed how.
poriuned Miss Landrcsan to go To Ireland with him
whout success she dd not desire havehis visits
continue on account oi his bad fcput alton Tho
speaker the fact of Cahll having been seen
several times during tho Afternoon aud evening In
that vicinity partially drunk; OF ms having
been identified IN great measure by negro children
ana Mrs Davenport after the murder; OF his having
been described by Mrs Piper (althouah she did not
know CahiiIl as the man whom sue had IN her
Gel and who, according 10 our hypothesis there
taIued The snait with when the deceased was inur-
dercd Mr P.nkhsin proceeded to mention IS corrob-
Grafton OF this matter the fact that several otner
partts ideniiIicd described the man correctly rs
having been seen In tho neigbborhood OF the Piper
house. Mr Plnkham then related AT some length the
nam poInts oi the evidence which was at the time
obtained against Caiii and Which has been previously
given IN detail Aiiuding CahiIl's conduct Ircanc,
lie SAID that Insin cor Gardner, 0i the Royal
Irish Cvnstabulary had oId him tuat since ahils
rival 10 lrcl Ld he had been among the families his
manner until he had been orbiddcn by many people to
en- or their houscs furthermore that Cahl had been
arrested tor beating ms father and mother. Mr. Pihk
nam ;lcu lin before the committee map OF the dis
trct md explained Ut length tho signications OF
points
lie was considc cradle iongth by Mr.
Fitzgerald.
Tnr latter, ut the close OF the examination said no
believed Mr. pinkhan was actiug earnestly and IN
good aih but that his zeal 70 secure conviction sur.
passed his judgment