The New York herald., 1879-09-23
SHERIFF REILLY'S CASE.
THE ACCUSED OFFICIAL TELLS WHAT HE KNOW

SHERIFF REILL4'S CASE.
THE ACCUSED OFFICIAL TELLS WHAT HE KNOWS
ABOUT THE DUTIES OF HIS oFFICE-THE
BOARD BILLS OF ''RED" LEARY AND TWEED.
The investigation into the alleged overcharges and
inquiry into the workings of the Office of Sheriff
Reilly was continued yesterday before Commissioner
Curtis in the General Term room of the Supreme
Court. Mr.. James b. McCann testified that the
keepers were uniformly kind to him and that the
Jail was always clean during the two terms OF his
Imprisonment. Mr.. William L. Gardiner. deputy
jaior. Ludlow Street JAIL to the correctness
of afiidavits that had been sworn to before him by
prisoners in the Jail to their inability to pay
further board.
Sheriff Reilly was then sworn. and testified as to
the manner OF appointing his deputies and the in
structions he gave them when they entered their
official duties; he had distributed among them
printed rules for their guidance; he had had made
to him about half dozen complaints to the Or
der Of Arrest Departments any irregularities that
had occurred he had endeavored to rectify; about
twenty complaints Of the conduct Of deputies had
been investigated by him; Warden Watson had been
highly recommended to him u fit person for the
wardenship of Ludlow Street Jail; Watson gave
bonds; he heard complaints about Watson about
ten days before he suspended him; in rendering
his monthly bills at Ludlow Street Jail he witness
got the material from Mr.. GARDENERS he relied upon
the correctness of the deputy wardens statements;
he never. knowingly. included in any account
charges for any who were able to provide for
tn cir own board who did provide for their own
support; he never would permit one penny to be
charged over his own signature that he did not be-
lieve to be honestly due; the afidavits that were
taken from prisoners to their ability or non
ability to provide for their own support did not go
on under his observation.
HOW APPOINTMENTS MADE.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Bush Witness said he
knew Peter McDermott. one Of the deputies; had
known him for forty years he was recommended by
Comptroller Kelly; Charles W. Upham was recon-
mended by Senator Wagstaf and witness made in
quires of persons residing in the Seventh Assembly
district. Witness proceeded to give similar nforma
ton as to other about ali of whom he testified
to having made inquiries before giving them ap-
pointment; Comptroller Kelly recommended Major
Quincy; he was appointed at the request OF tho
Major resided Comptroller Kelly said that Major
Quincy u very competent man for the Order
OF Arrest Department; witness had known D. G.
Galo for twenty years or more; he had considered
him very good deputy until the charges were
brought against him by the Bar Associations; since
then the witness said he had changed his opinion;
d. G. Gale still in his employ deputy;
he suspended him about eight months ago;
Gale had served processes issued by the Sheriff since
then; Gale was suspended about two months; Mar.
tin j. Keys recommended as deputy by the
voters in the district in which he lived; witness
had the employ Of the late Sheriff Brennan
James H. Shields was we'll recommended and had
Conner; Albert R. Rich was recommended as a a
deputy by the private secretary of Governor Tilden
(Mr. Smith).
There were about fifteen or twenty cases that had
come within his knowledge in which the charges
were not correct case he recollected in which
he had instructed the deputy to return the over
charge. which amounted to about $50; the deputy
in that case was Thomas O'Callahan; most of the
fha <e;x~
his term of office; in reference to Mr.. Wat
witness said that prior to Watson's
frequently intoxicated and that he had
been seen in that condition ut the corner OF Grand
and Essex streets; witness told Watson that the
wardenship a very important position. aud that
it very discretitable for him to be under
fuence liquor Watson denied his intoxcation; wit
ness suspended him about the 18th or 18th Of April;
that order OF suspension in writing; Watsons
resignation was on the 18th of April; it was not
fact that the resignation was written after the resg
nation; Major Quincy is compensated by lawful
fees and deputy sheriffs by portion of the pound
age; witness never knew what the Legal charges
were in the Order Of Arrest Department until he
informed by Mr.. Knox; he had always thought
it was more than 371a cents for making out
three bonds; Major Quincy did charge for station
cry, clerk hire and for the notary pubic he knew
that the Order of Arrest Department charges were
made for services that not required either by
the law or the Sheriff. the legal service Of
process and execution were So &c. and all expenses
OF keeping the property up to the time Of sale he
did not know that charges were made tor compensa
brought to his notice by the Bar Association;
if lawyer gave deputy extra compensation he
thought that all right he did not think that he
had examined any account sales since the first three
months OF his appointment Sheriff; he did not
know of any compensation having been paid for
keeping prisoners out of Jail; he knew of the
OF Mr.. Freeman. but did not see IN the newspapers
that Mr.. Freeman had been kept at the Asor House;
he seldom read the newspapers; he did not know
that it had been the rule in his office to
charge compensation for keeping prisoners out
of Jail: he had received communication from Mr..
iv,x IL ahurs 90
improper treatment and his being served with i'm
proper foods he investigated those charges and
found they were not true; he die not speak with
Mr.. Ireland ana had spoken to him; he had
discharged Mr.. Gardiner for neglect OF duty i'll
allowing prisoner to escape.
''RED" LEARY AND TWEED
He believed "Red" Leary was boarder. but did
not know whether he took his meals at the boarders
table; he knew "Red'' Leary boarder after the
escape; he did not know what he paid for his board
but believed it was SIS per week; there no
cells in Ludlow street Jail reserved for boarders;
the room intended to be occupied and
now occupied by the Warden of the
of Sheriff Conner; he had learned that Tweed paid
$75 per week for his board-that was for his
board and that OF his friends who came to
into the common Jail fund: boarders who put
the lower rooms locked up at ten o'clock at
night; he did not know how many books kept
at Ludlow Street Jail; he knew that tho book con-
tanning the register of had been removed
surreptitously; Mr.. Fi,zsimmons had told him
Watson had akon it; he had asked Watson about it.
who replied that it should be returned to the ja
was not returned and witness had not made any
further endeavors to get it; he was sorry to say that
the Order of Arrest Department had not been carried
on in accordance with his Instructions; he had
not thought SO since judgments had boen found
against him: he did not now allow Major Quincy
to take bonds he thought that the charges OF E. ID.
Gales not outrageous the highest amount he
had heard OF being charged in the Arrest Depart
ment S11 rs. and In that case the money
returned.
III oiio
morning, az eleven o'clock.