New-York tribune., 1894-04-14

| COUNsEI-UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE
COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION
To-DAY-MR GOFTs AL
LEGGED THREAT
The State Senate Committee appointed to in
vestiRate the Police Department in this city was
| apparently in a state almost suggestive of de-
morazatiOn yesterday. II held a short session
in the Courthouse and then adjourned abruptly
! Police Commissioner John c. Sheehan had been
subpoenaed a witness in the absence Of Com
missioner Martin who was said to be i'll. but
| Mr.. Sheehan prevented from opening his
mouth and 1t was understood that a serious
misunderstanding between the counsel Of the
committee the cause Of the sudden adjourn
ment. John W. Gon made his first appearance
at the investigation. and attempted to compel
| the attendance OF Police Captain James Is.
! Price witness on the OF the departure
| ~ the captain for Europe. He intmated that
| Captain Price. who had obtained a leave of alb
sence for the benefit Of his health. was trying TO
escape giving testimony before the committee.
| Mr. Goff was also quoted as having threatened
| to wash his hands of the investigation If the
| committee permitted William \. Sutherland. the
! other counsel to examine Commissioner Shechan
\ report which appeared To have been obtained
| in Mr.. Gof"s Office, said that Mr.. Goff had been
| opposed by Mr. Sutherland in the attempt TO
| serve a subpoena ON Captain Price This story
was, OF course. utterly groundless This apparent
| division in the ranks Of counsel seemed 10 cause
| an unnecessary amount Of perturbation among
| the members Of the committee. There Is no
shadow Of reason TO doubt Mr.. Sutherland's 10y
atty to the committee and his zeal that it shall
| accomplish as much possible. Even If Mr
| Con- made the threat. that ncel not seriously
| impede the committed Last night the members
| Of the committee seemed - be In doubt aS 10
how the investigation should be continued. There
were fears Of harsh words by counsel this morn
| ing The work OF the committee Is Of too much
| Importance TO the citizens OF the metropolis 20
| allow 50 slight matter as the il-feeng of Mr.
Gon. should ne have any to hinder it for a day
ARRIVAL or THE SENATOR'S.
Part IT Of the superior Court was again the
| place FOR the session of the committee. but no
member Of the committee was in the room at
| 1890 a. m the hour designated for the begin
ming II the session. Senator Robertson arrived
A few minutes later. and he was followed
| shortly before II a m. by Senators LcNow. can
tor and Pound William a. Sutherland OF the
committees counsel met Henry Grasse at the
| table In front Of the stenographers desk, ana
the lawyers shook hands with Police Commits
| {.
poenaed az a witness. 1t said that Police
! Commissioner James j. Martin too ILL.,
| temporariIy to continue his testimony. and had
| asked to be excused until to-day. De Lancey
| NicolI the counsel for the Police Department.
| had n short conference with Senator Lexow. the
| chairman Of the committee. and they together
read a letter which had been brought 10 the
room by Sergeant Jacob Welsing. Of the West
Thirty-seventh-st. station. Sergeant Welsng
was in uniform.
COUNSEL ~ PLENTY.
Mr. Gon for a time stood apart with Senator
Iexow and they had a short consultation. Then
Mr. Con took of his overcoat and walked over
to th. table AZ which Mr.. Sutherland and Mr..
Grasse were seated Mr. sutherland and Mr..
cor shook hands s,inly. and Mr. con sat down
beside william Travers Jerome his assistant
who had accompanied him to the room Frank
Moss. who IS also to assist Mr.. Cor, came in
few minutes later. II after II a. m. when
Senator Lexow raped for order, and said:
"Mr Sutherland. Mr.. Gon IS here. ana at his
instance the committee has been asked To sus-
pend the pending examination to give oppor-
,unity for the examination Of another witness.
Have YOU any objections?"
Il have no objection to any action the COM
mitree may desire to take" Mr.. Sutherland re-
piled
Il have here a letter which has a bearing on
th. proposed examination" Senator LeXOw said,
handing the letter to Mr.. Gon who received it.
The letter was written on paper such as is in
ordinary use for reports at the police stations
and looked as If It had been written by one Of
the sergeants in Captain Prices precinct 1t
read as follows:
Police Department Of the city Of New-York.
Prcclnct No. ~
New-York. April l3. 1894
To tho Senatorial Investigating Committee
Gentlemen: Captain James X. Price, u the Twen-
suffering from influenza and bronchitis This has
induced such condition Of general nervous eX!aus.
asrnee S 'e 5ng gaen enough to PERMIT Of his taking sea
voyage. As he Is certainly untitled to attend TO his
ofc!a duties, he Is Likewise equally incapacitated
for appearing before your committee IN his present
DAN II. SMITH. Surgeon Of Police
The letter was placed in evidence. but was
not read at the time. As soon as he received 1t
Mr.. Goff said: Before reading this letter
would like to have Captain James X. Price
called"
CAPTAIN PRICE DID NOT ANSWER
The request caused a stir in the ROOM and It
was evident that Mr. Gon's words surprised
most OF the persons who heard him. Mr. Ncoll
half rose from his chair and exclaimed: What"
Assistant Sergeant alarms De Cant called the
name OF Captain Price. but there was no re-
sponse
Mr. Corf-From the fact that Captain Price has
made arrangements to san for EuroI,. ana Is re-
rortei to be about TO leave by the Jmbra al
o'clock tomorrow morning, and from inlormaton
which I have received that he may remain away
long time we decided that 1t essential that he
should bc called before the committee previous 10
his departure not for the purpose Of "A general eN-
Animation. but for "A brief examination on a rew
specific points. We have used every means IN our
pnwrr 10 have him subpoenaed. ana We nave tele-
praphed to his house. but have received no
answer have here a statement which has been
sent TO the committee. which says that Captain
price is suffering with Influenza, and * IN cond-
lion OF nervous exhaustion and that the police sur
teon who signs the statement has directed Can-tln
price 10 apply for a leave OF absence long en1DSh