New-York tribune., 1884-02-26
| COLONEL WOODS TESTIMONY.
THE KEII.Y CONFERENCE ONCE MORE.

made any pledge to reappoint Commissioners German,
Nichols and Brennan.
The Committee met in the Metropolitan Hotel at ten
o'clock The chairman, Mr. Roosevelt Mr. ONeill, Mr.
wech and Mr.. Nelson were present. The first witness
was Deputy Warden Philip Herman. of the Ludlow Street
Jail He was only asked few questions, when the pres
ence Of Colonel Wood being made known to the icom-
mttee that gentleman took the witness chair He stated
that he was brothernaw OF Mayor Edison and that he
present at Mr. Kelys house at the time OF the con-
ference prior to Mr. Edsons nomination. He said that
Mr. spinoa, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Croker, Mr. German, Mr. Has
kin Mr. Edison and himself present All. with the
exception OF Mr.. Edison. were there as n committee
Mr.. Mller-For what purpose did they go to Mt Kelly
house A.-To make the acquaintance OF Mr. Edison
had requested by Mr.. Spinoia 10 bring MI Edson
there, merely for the purpose OF introducing MN 10 tne
knew Mr. Edison and would like TO see him.
O-Was there conversation between you as COM
I'm the event OF Mr. Edsons nomination and election A
There definite understanding with reference 70
any appointments by Mr. Edison The conversation
might have lasted hour There was general discus
sion as between gentlemen ana fienas me absolute
QWas there any conversation az to the expiration or
the terms OF Office OF certain persons tnen ~ once anu
their reappontment in the event OF Mr. Edsons eeconi
Al think there informal reference ny some gen
Hail that would expire during the Mayoralty term This
ture Of pedHe Mr. Edsos was not asked 20 make any
pledge that evening heard nothing OF any talk about
the reappontmeut OF Mr. Nichols as Police Commissioner
ala hear the subject OF any understanding respect
ing Police ners appointment alluded to that
evening.
Q-Was the fact alluded to that one OF the Fire Com
missoner's would expire during Mr. Edson's term
A-No sir. do not know who made the remark, but
recoeCed reading the interviews aid testimony IN
this connection that there was joking remark about one
Of the gentlemen's expiring. but did not know
which at that time. did not know that MI. Cor
mans time would xpire.
Q.-Then you wish the Committee to understand that
there was understanding Of any kind between Mr. Ed
son and the gentlemen present that in the event OF
nouinatedi A-Yes sir That il what want to have
understood. There no understanding or agreement
nfrrt Loan ffV
Mr. Edison used on that subject when was brOached
Being connected with him, watched him very closely
| | felt n great interest in having him nominated.
lie made Of this sentence "If were nominated or
elected should not set up ore organization against
ri,; iri v,r. 49, tseJ IrecIselv "a / nave re-
| ucaten them. They made impression on me. He
Sd6 iea IN. s sn99a 9Eg e nd he went heT and
said II should give any appointments to Tammany
and reputation" distinctly remember that
Q-Was there anything sad then whicn should not be
| repeated nowl Al DO not recoilect ahyIhny' i
think there was a dehclcy about any OF us
speaking about what haq 0IcuITeu , & a,
spnola, just before we let the room sad sonelhhg
about II this meeting should happen 10 get INTO the
papers it might be misunderstood or IFS object miscOn-
strUed, and that therefore We had better MOI refer o
and iuk that each gentleman agreed not to mention
the fact
The witness then referred TO Mr. Edson's hesitancy in
accepting he nomination. the fact that after the
ceipt OF telegram he had gone to that gentlemans Office
to prevail uron him accept and that exMayOr Cooper
had also urged his acceptance. Continuing, be said
I'll read te report OF Mr Haskn's testimony Alright
ncnt b1t mar there was tacit understanding Now I
Foud he eTy po-ifive In INV declaration that there was
no conversation between NJ Hlsn and Mr. Edison that
Mr. Roosevelt-Theu Mr. Haskin's allegations to
understanding or pledges in that connection sub
stantlay untrue A.-Tney are.
UNDzR-sHEEIFg STEVENS on THE STAND.
Under-Sherif Joel o. stevens was called when Mr.
Wood left the stand. After stating his connection with
the shern-s office since 1865, Ae was asked by Mr..
Miller:
o-You understand the details Of the Office very
thoroughly? Al think So sir.
| O-You have been really the person who has been in
charge of running of the object A-For many years,
yes sir To certain extent have control Ot the subOr
dnate Certain Of the clerks are instructed by ms as 10
the duties OF their Offices.
Odd you give Mr.. Wertheimer instructions as
10 how he was 10 gather the data with refer
enca TO the number OF persons for whose con
him general Instructions to charge for every man the
Sheriff entitled 10 charge Tor II Vac ndertood Dy
TO- It was part Of the regular routine of the Office
Nj Miller here read from the testimony Of Mr. Vert
hemer who stated substantially that he received his
| instructions from Mr.. stevens. II then asked:
O-Did you ever tell him that he had ght 10 charge
C'iirrssionars 5g' A-Yes Sir told everybody hat
O-Then y0u say that you told Mr. WcrtAenler that
the Sheriff had right 20 charge Tor persons carried D
tie Comm ssioner- OF Charities end Correction Al
-ay that ID my Judgment the sheriff has su. right.
Q-Did YOU or did you instruct 1lr Wertheimer 10
mis- ciecfi A-No. Fir. told him 10 the T0mDs
ana get the OF al the prisoners tie sheriff was
@ Won know whether or not other prisoners than
those conveyed of oyer and Iermlner and
General Sessions includedn those Lsti A-Not "
BID YOU ever tell sheriff Davidson thath. was en-
,ssio7ers ~ CTitip. and Core ton Al have told
him that repeatedly still think be has the night 20
charge them. But understand me- he has not done IT,
O-Do you say that you did not instruct Mr.. Vert
heiuer mat had right 20 include in the lists he made
Correction Department. Al have already answered,
DID not 20 instruct MIN.
sjIed that Mr Nethemer bad only pat down the exact
numbers Of prisoners conveyedi Al could presume
N4M ffn faNVf lf AZ nT No.
Ah hasr ,Ir Il '7S We5tl4mer ~ canao saw iba-
do not know how he made them up. relied upon the
tId ,Acrr M. gllr,.. we've correct or Incorrect
Odd you know OF any reason why Mr. Werthe!mer
should have made these ciarge-i A.-NO, Sir. 1 was
very much surprised when heard there was anything
wrong can only account for u on the ground that
be thought the Sheriff was entitled 10 them.
out your kuOweigci A.--Entirely without my know
GThen when sheriff Davidson said that the driver OF
must have been Ini.taken A-Yes ,lr, he have
counted them or thai he knows how many be takes
The wues, wa. asked TO his knovledge Of the Ind
low street Jail and he replied that he had not been there
FOR year and half III. attention then called TO
his oay beforet tAo Grand jury when it Investigated
the ian. IT, replied:
not positive what my testimony wa J testified
that ia Jay -meuf it was in better condition than It
NJ M.ier-Ani yet y31 sayyou have not been there
i0r @ yc.g ana nall.
A. be was leaving the stand The y,noss was asked by
NJ Pcc.lam rs toLs opIi1I. t-0I observation OF the
Operations of the oriei-of arrest law. lie replied:
think the whole system should be- abolished. II gives
rise many abuses tla 1t i' I'M os-ibe TO correct II Is
q relic Of barbat,sI nat OuZnt 10 Doe abolished Ny
experience is thar 10 I. Used very much oftener
/ an engine ol oppression tnan as means OF arrest.
Deputy " arden klern4n was then recalled aud ex-
amined at length from . Of questions held by Mr..
Miller respecting ceIlu acgci abuses and practices IN
the Jail The witness however possessed 40 knowledge
upon the subject. When the examination had reached
certain point concerning privileges Of prisoners a. TO Pur-
chase %. articles outside c JAIL Nj. Prcaliu innocent
Is inquired whether the prisoners paid Two or I'ee cents
for Inc Neir York Hef The witness 80 innOceniy re-
/ piled that ne did not know.
After examination oI Robert Mckay, WbO keeps the
records o the Jail and does much Of the buying the com