The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-22
A BROWN OVERCOAT.

HOW PRISONER Escaped IDENTIFICATION BY
DIscARDING IT.
On Saturday night Detectives Leahy and Hogan,
OF Inspector Dlks' Office saw three pcious char
acters named William Smith. alias William Mack |;
James Wilson. alias Pretty jim, and George Chandler
alias Ike Austin, IN The lower part OF the city, and
followed them to two liquor saloons. at the corner OF
West aud Murray streets, and the corner OF Park
place and Greenwich street, where they passed money
to each other The detectives secured the assistance
OF Officers Carpenter and Terhuno and arrested
them. There wore no charges against the prisoners,
but only the suspicion that the oney they seen
dividing among themselves was stolen, and that Que
OF them believed TO have boon engaged In a dia-
mond pin robbery and attempt TO steal watch.
Tho men were locked up over night aud on Sunday
morning were arragned In the Jefferson Market
Court, with Mr.. Price as their counsel Tho magis-
trate iet inclined To discharge tho thorc
no evidence against them, but the detectives prom
isng u have compiainants against the prisoners yes
terday, the Judge sent them 10 the TOmbs Tor tho
night Detective Leahy alleged that Mr.. Aaron Wolf
son, Of Jersey CITY, recognized Chandler alias Austin,
the man VINO had robbed him OF diamond pin IN
the Pennsyivan,a Railroad Depot, and that George
Miller OF New Yurk, also Identified the same party as
one who had attempted steal his watch whilc rtdng
IN u Thru avenue Car.
piscAgDIsa A nRowS ovERooAr.
Yesterday morning the men were brought from the
TomDs u the Court, and Wofson aud Miller appeared
with the detectives The prisoners counsel declared
tuat no hau heuru mat tho ueectves were onueAVor
Ing to have the men dcnted by irregular means, ana
asked tho judge TO measures To defeat thor
Efforts BY order OF the magistrate smith, wilson and
Chandler wero brought into the court room aud we're
seated IN the large crowd present. Acting upon Mr..
Prces suggeston, Chandler took of the brown over.
coat he wore There then remained one man, named
William Connors, with conspicuous brown overcoat
on
"Bring the compa,nanLs In, {" said the Judge
Miller and Woiison camo Ia ana were surrounded by
tho detectives.
Counsehor-I ask Your Honor to forbid these de-
tectives from further influencing these compliments.
Judge--No ono ~ allowed w speak to these wit
ncssos l disapprovo tho officers conduct
"Wolison, addca the Judge look carefully around
the court room and soc II you can identity the person
who took your PIN"
PICKING OUT THE MAN
''rhcrc he is" SAID Woi!son, pointing to Mr.. Con-
nors: 'that is tho man. that one in the brown over.
coat"
Mr.. Connors jumped up and said, 'That's not
am here III an excise case.
Judge-ro mako sure. MI. Wolison, 60 among those
presen; and look at every Que.
Woifson passed through tho court room, scanni &
tho OF each he passed. the prison.
ers among the rost.
TO THE BEST OF HIS BRLIEy
ITO tho best OF my belief he then said "that ire
ierrng again 10 Mr. Connors Is the mani the one with
the brown overcoat."
Then Miller went through the Same examination,
and also declared TINT Connors had attempted TO steal
his watch
Judge-rhe prisoners win now como here.
Detective hogAn--Would II not DO iarer TO put the
men In room with some othersY
Judge-No sir. / do not wish to have them un.
justly treated tor thor liberty is dear 10 them 10
any one else.
Detective Leahy-Thc Inspector wants Chandler.
Judge-wantcd by tho lnspectors Wen, bring
como evidence; do not want any more hearsay.
The discharged. Smith was rearrested
on tho sidewalk but the counsellor appealed u the
magistrate and he was again discharged
Chandler moro donned his brown overcoat, the
absence OF which mad saved HIM from Identification.