The evening world., 1894-04-20
EDITION.
BOUGHT OR BULLIED?
Necessary Witnesses Against De-
tective Sheridan Again Absent
Lawyer 0'Neil Declares that They
Are Kept Away. s
Testimony for the Accused Police.
man Continued To- Day.

Further testimony for the defense was
taken this morning before the Police
commissioners in the case Of Ward De-
tective George II. Sheridan. of tho
Church street squad, who Is charged
with having assaulted John ]. Lynch
and several of his friends In a pool
room in Merchants Hotel in West
street April
The material witnesses for the COM
plainants, including Lynch himself,
Shields and Smith, who live in Jersey
city, were still absent, and the proa-
pect OF securing their testimony seems
to be hopeless. Lawyer oNeill, who
appears for the prosecution of the
charges, said to-day that there was not
the slig htest doubt that all these wit.
nesses had either been intimidated or
bought off. fN-
He also stated before the Commis-
sioners that there had been the most
infamous perjury in the case so far. and
complained bitterly of the manner in
which the case of the complainant had
The first witness called this morning
when the proceedings opened at n.3
wa was ,sn Sergt; Piess: of the Church street
and his party came in from tine Merri
chants Hotel on the afternoon OF April
3 and made a complaint that they had
Zen's dress.
They did not state the name Of the
officer, and the Sergeant said he INFORMED
precinct detailed there Capt. oConnor
came out of his private room and asked
what was the matter, and when he vgs
tSid informed Lynch and his Irienda
and file their complaints there, II they
had any charges TO make against ofiicer1.
What was the condition OF Lynch and
| nth hnr lFaI IAwu
They were all very much intoxts
Gated" replied Pless. -.a
The witness was also on duty when
station about o'clock the same eFen-
| ing. ti +&
on cross-examination by Lawyer
been OF duty all Gay April 3 until
o'clock in the evening. Sheridan might
have been appointed for special duty
that day by the captain. but the witt
ass did not know of any assignment.
| There was no record OF it on the biotter.
Pless said he did not notice any blood
on Lynch's face on the occasion Of
ei;l er visit. but saw that the collar ct
his coat was torn. He admitted that he
had told the men that no such officer
as the one they described was on duty
at Merchnts' Hotel.
When the Captain had heard the mans
story he sent Policeman Mccarthy QUA
with them to investigate the compiaints
The witness heard Lynch say several
officer in citizens dress. and by another
in uniform.
When Sheridan, Miller and Moody
came into the station at o'clock
neither of them said anything about the
incident at the Merchants Hotel. The
witness said that Capt. O'Connor had
taken the complaint of the Lynch
party and that he (Pless) had nothing
mLre to do with the case.
In reply 10 a question by Lawyer
Blandy, Pless admitted that nothing re-
lating to the assault of Lynch was re-
corded on the blotter in the station.
Policeman Charles Mccarthy testified
that he was sent out by Capt. O'Connor
with Lynch and his friends. with Inc
structions to go with them to the Mer.
chants Hotel and find the man who ha6
assaulted them and arrest him.
There were two others besides Lynch.
They went with Mccarthy as far AZ
Church and Cortland. when they said
they would not go back to the hotel,
and then left him and went owards
Broadway.
II went back to the tsation and re-
ported this 10 the Captain" said Nc
Carthy, 'and he sent me down to the
Merchants Hotel. / saw Burke, the
proprietor and he told me some men
had been fighting there over drinks and
had been put out by the police.
were trying TO place a bet in pool
room there. and he told me there had
never been pool-room In the place.
He showed me all over the house to the
top floor" continued Mccarthy, and I
saw no evidence of a pool-room there
and so reported to the Captain when !
returned to the station