New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-21
POLICE TRIALS UNFINISHED
OBSTRUCTIVE TACTICS USED.
LOUIS J. GRANTS BRUTAL AND SHAME
FUL ATTACK ON MR.. WELLMAN.

A LITTLE MORE TESTIMONY AGAINST CAPTAU
DoHERTY-Ex-wARD MEN HOOK AND NEE
HAN HEARD BY THE COMMISSIONERS
A LONG. BARREN cRoss-EXAM-
- EsATIoN-TRIAI.s TO PRO-
CEED ON MONDAY.
Instead of finishing the trials of Captain Doherty
and ex-Ward Men Hook and Meehan on Thursday
as had been expected by the prosecution. the Po-
lice Commissioners have already sat two days
on the cases, and now they under adjourn
ment until Monday. with the prospect OF having
the trials drag slowly through much, II not the
whole. of week. This unlooked-for condition
Of affairs has not been brought about by the re-
cent discovery of important testimony or by tho
failure OF witnesses to obey subpoenas. 1t has
been brought about by two mouthed, no
ety-seeking lawyers who have Systematically
obsructed the progress OF the trial and insuiteo
and harassed the prosecuting officers. and by the
failure OF the Commissioners to suppress ard keep
within reasonable bounds these impudent Fellows
The elimination OF the shameful conduct OF
these two attorneys, Louis J. Grant and Abraham
J.. Fromme, occurred yesterday when Mr. Grant,
supported and sustained by Mr.. Fromme, made
cowardly, brutal and contemplate attack on MT.
Welman. into which dragged the fact OF
Mr. Wellman's recent marriage. Mr. Wellman nad
borne in silence other insults innumerable from
these men ever since the trial began. but this
was 700 much Although he was red with anger.
the Assistant Dstrct-Attorney maintained quiet
dignity and had superintendent Byrnes caleo'
who corroborated his statement that the IN
situations we're absolutely false The Commits
s,oners showed their disapprobation OF the pro-
ceeding by ordering the record OF the attack 70
be struck from the minutes. Even to this Messr1-
Grant and Fromme had the temerity to object.
only a full record of the days proceedings
could give a sufficient idea of the boorish conduct
of the defendants lawyers. They would scarcely
allow Mr. Wellman to ask question without oo-
jectng In ungrammatica, and often unnteiligi-
Bile English, accompanied almost always with an
Impertinent remark to the Commissioners, or an
insulting one to Mr.. Welman or TO Mr. OSBORNE.
who assisted In the prosecution
II is pity that the accused officers should ne
represented by such counsel. There was sus-
pcon In many quarters before the trial began that
80 far as Commissioners Martin and sheenan ths
only members Of the board who have personai in-
terest IN the trials were concerned. the present
trials were undertaken for the purpose OF obtaining
scapegoats TO be expelled from the force and sent
into the wilderness OF non-oficcholders bearing
the sins OF all the Tammany members OF the ce-
| partnen, Under the Circumstances. X was Ger
a!niy desirable that the accused officers should be
reuresented by abe counsel As II is. Messrs. Grant
and Fromrne are doing their utmost to make coz
v.c;ion certain. though delayed
WITNESSES TAMFERED WITH.
u
witnesses subpoenaed by Mr.. Wellman have been
anlpered with. The testimony OF Lille Sanders VINO
was formerly inmate Of Mrs Thurows d!sordery
house bore abundant evidences Of coachlng.and ner
manner was not that OF a person who was iehns
the truth Mr. Wellman forced her 10 admit that
she had been engaged by Captain Doher'y 70 secure
! testimony for him. and that she had been in con-
sultation with Mr.. Fromme severa. times Mr..
| Weiman also brought out the fact that when the
| Sanders woman received subpoena from him she
Immediately Informed the policemen about II, and
Mr. Fromme advised her not 10 answer the AZ
: slant Distrlct-Attorney's questions
Ros, West one Of Mrs. Thurows grs. testified
that Captain poherty had her soliciting many
tirnes on the stoop, and had told her 10 80 nsde
the house. -.
vas unvittnglv put in evidence by the defence
In II Captain Doherty declared under date OF June
o. ls92 that he had the necessary evidence against
the house.
All Of the afternoon session was taken up IN
! barren cross-examination Of Mrs. Thurow by Mr
/ Fromme
The trials will be continued Monday morning at
| 10 o'clock.
The po,ico Commissioners who had considerable
dignity 10 maintain. kept their coats on Yesterday,
but near.y everybody else in the stuify ltte court
| rom at Police Headquarters sat In shirt
| ,.,.os Rig fans were distributed which did
o,,s,hine 10 anleliorate the midsummer discomfort
~ the trial Al the Commissioners Martin Muir
raw Sheehan and Kerwin-were In their PAGES
| MIR Wenman, handsome and a'ert as always, was
in his place as prosecuting attorney. Henry A
Foster toinei Louis J. Grant AMI Abraham L.
! t-rorne as counse! for the defence. The defend
ants were all present.
Mr. We,lman read ;etter from F. P. Hasting
reporter in which he denied that he had tod Mr..
| Grant that Commissioner Martin had said he would
break" Captain Doherty and eN-Ward Men Hook
| ami Neehar and that the statement 70 that effect
IN his
D,gro ISSUED his writ Of prohibition. was untrue.
| Mr. Grant said that the wording Of the affidavit
| had been mistaken. He then said he wanted 10
make an explanation OF something which had been
attributed him. He had not said that he wou-d
complain 20 the Grand Jury about Commissioners
Marin and sheehan II 1t was not for Mr. Well
mans influence.
Mr. Gran, really did say great many worse
things about Mr. Weiman Stil. his explanation
took time and served to have his name put In the
! newspapers once or twice more than II "ouo
! otherwise have been used
Mr. Grant, hope are ali happy now, ana can
Mr Martin-And keep cool as We can.
THE FIRST WITNESS CALLED.
| Nr Wellman then called Werner A. Meyer a
The first witness H. remarked he did so that
II WAS as he expec,ed-ony two Of fifteen wit
nesses present on Thursday had come again
| Mr. Crant-Is there any ntimation in that that
| the defence has been intimidatlng Witnesses
| Mr. Weman declined TO rep.y.
Never said that he was in the real estate busi-
ness At NO. p Secondave.. and had leased the place
a, No % second-ave. to Mrs. Tnurow. He said
that he suspected that Mrs. Thurow was keeping
a dlsorler.y house and went 10 see Captain Doherty
about IT in the summer OF 1872 Captain Dohery
tod him that he suspected that the house was
dtsorderlv and that Meyer would better watch the
mace Never said that he tod Captain Doherty 70
make raid the place.
Never was evidently an unwilling witness, ana
reminded the spectators strongly OF Bessie Butler
and other similar witnesses before the Lexow Com
mittee who seemed determined not to tell any
thing against the police.
Never said that he had found number OF women