New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-11
4 WELLKYOWE BURGLAR ACQUITTED.
"pUrCH HERMAN" GETS OFF ON ACCOUNT OF
po1IcrMAN's QUEER TESTIMONY.

poLICFMAN's QUEER TESTIMONY,
,,0-,,,, Palmer. known as Dutch Herman" a
ntod burglar whose portrait and history form part
~ Insnector Ryrness book on the criminals OF Amer
tea. found yesterday that even exconVicts nave
tsr chance before the criminal courts OF this city,
TIror Il loubrowed thick-Ilpped bulLnecked rufian.
rbo has becn accused Of several crimes II violence
u "a aid m he son OF the elder and more notorious
Dutch Hermann Ills brother IS also WcU'sno"h
burglar Palmer was tried yesterday before judge
Gudersleeve on charge Of burglary IN tho thlIu ue
gree as n second offence. The phiShmeht "hoh
would have followed conviction was imprisonment lor
between five and ten years.
Assistant Dlstdct-AttOrney Jerome shoWed oy inc
records on the court Palmers previous conviction he
pleadcd guilty on August IL, 1884 to charge OIL
receiving stolen goods, and was sentenced oy 'uuko
Cowing 10 four years in the state Frsoh' "oorso
L. Anger a baker, of No 2O3 East Houstoh-sL'
testified that his store broken into on the hlSht
Of February %, and jewelry valued al $780, ana @o III
money. were stolen from SAM
william Spencer a policeman OF the Eleventh
Precinct was the witness whose testimony was solely
relied on to prove Palmer's competition with the crime
He IS tall and lantern jawcd, and had an UNPLEASANT
habit Of hesatng about making answerseVen 10 simple
questions asked on cross-eI animation He testned
that about 1 O'Clock on the morning OF February "a
he heard noise In the store at No 2O3 East Houston
st. He looked in at the window and saw two men
pockets He reached the hall door Of the bakery In
time 20 catch tho last Of the two as they left the
place. Tho whom he arrested proEoo 10 10
Andrew Anderson Some OF the stolen properly
was sound IN Anderson's pocket He peaded gullV
10 burglary In the third degree, and wa sent to the
state prison for two years and eight months NO
effort was made at the time to find tho other thief as
Policeman Spencer said al the time OF the arrest mat
no could not identify Anderson's companion
Spencer testified positively yesterday that Palmer
was the other thief engaged IN tho burglary lie
said that Palmer turned his face toward him In
saying " good night 10 his companion.
A cross-ex animation by MessrS Friend and HoVso,
Palmer's counsel developed the circumstances uuder
which Spencer first made his Identification. He was
sent for by a messenger hUm Police Headquarters
about six weeks after thc burglary, and was told
that Dutch Herman a thici was az Headquarters
spencer was asked ~ No could Identify him In con-
necton with the Houston st. burglary Spencer was
taken into a room IN which Palmer and six Central
Onlco detectives standing. Spencer did not
say anything whllo the men vere IN the room, but he
testified that he aurrwarL said that Palmer, tho
second man in the line, was the burglar. Palmer
was taken before Police Justice Duffy, but Sponcers
Identification was 50 bH5hatlng that the Police
Justice refused 10 commit Palmer until tho ponce
officials ASSURED him that further testimony would
BE- forthcoming IN" next day. On the following morn
ing Spencer Identified Palmer positively
Judgr Gildcrslocye akcsL spencer fow questions
which brought out the fact thai the police ofccr
had often heard IT Dutch Herman" and IN answer
a. a question by Mr. Jerome spencer sa'd lhet NAth
palmer turned tu Say good yrt7 tD Anderson ho
turned 10 The LEFT that tls uiiCrr cav MS itS'
lie had previously t"sliIed that Anderson was al
the right OF Palmer. . ~. a,
Nr House asked JUDO Gildcr>lecye to direct The
Jury 10 acqult Il Will hear hat Mr. Jerome bas
20 SAYS Judge GIhrrslc'vc said.
Mr. Jerome said that he wa uncertain ana ne
decided To call as witness a reporter who aad
tBlkad with SPENCER lust after tho robbery occurred
mo witness testified that ~ answer 70 a question
a. 10 whether n" police were on the u@ Oh lne
pthsr thief besides Anderson spencer SiFl, Nhh'
tho use cOullA.t recu gnZr him II saw him.
MI Jcrnm' decided o. abandon The cas-. yudEs
Gidcrs..cys said that II" prisoner was noted iM
dtTR nr,us criminal Tho police Ohicer however,
haI given Es testimony 10 hostaung manner
Adj lad acted so strangely that be DID not think MAJ
conyIctIun should DC hpi. He sdSssod an Acquitisi
and Palmer was discharged.