The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-10-26
A STAR WITNESS.
He Told Mr.. Golf Very
Little.
SHEEHAN ON THE STAND.
What He Knew About New
YOrk's Police
AND WHAT HE DID NOT KNOW.
Strangely Enough the Commissioner
Was ignorant of the Location
of the Central Station.
AND WHAT HE DID NOT KNOW.

NEW YORK. October %. Police Com
missioner Sheehan was the star witness at
to-day's session of the Lexow committee.
lie had been sent for ana informed that he
must be present in the afternoon. The
news that Mr.. Sheehan would appear on
the stand spread rapidly throughout the
city, and long before the afternoon session
was called to order a big crowd blocked
the passageway leading to the courtroom.
Fifty subpenaed witnesses were present
when the committee opened its session.
DR.. Parkhurst occupied seat near Mr.
Golf. Senator Lexow said he wanted it
understood that the committee would not
cease TO exist in January, as was popularity
supposed, and so the people who were
staying outside the State to avoid subpe-
mas would have to stay outside until 1896
Mr.. Golf called for Commissioners Shee-
han. but that person did not respond and
a detective was sent to tell mir. Sheehan
he was wanted.
Patrolman NJ. j. Cooney OF the Four
teenth Precinct was sworn. Mr.. Golf
charged him with receiving a diamond
ring aud gold watch from Matilda Her
mann. He denied the accusation.
"You kissed her good-by in the Grand
Central depot before she went West re-
Gently" said Mr.. Golf.
II did not"
"Did you go to Saratoga with her sew
eral years ago?"
No, l went alone"
did you lose $4,000 on the racese"
II don't remember how much"
Cooney was ward detective ia the pre-
cinct in which the Hermann woman lived.
He was asked to step aside for awhile.
and Ralph Hyde. superintendent for
Tiffany x Co., took the stand. He had a
salesman's book In his hand. and read
from it that a watch costing 5000 had The
name of Joseph Cooney engraved on it.
The watch was sold on July 20. 1891. The
name of the purchaser was NJ. J. Guile
neck. The purchaser lived at 1877 West
Third street. Cooney was recalled and
denied that the watch was for him or that
he went to Tiffany's. Mr.. Golf did not
make any progress with the witness. Here
is sample of the details:
did you know wardmen were COL
lectors for the captains ?''
mo"
DO you not know you are lying?"
mo"
when man was robbed of $500 in a
panel-house did you not receive half?"
mo, sir"
"Was not Mr.. Palmer, who was robbed.
threatened with cell if he testified against
you at headauarters ?"
Not in my presence"
Promptly upon the assembling of the
committee after recess Mr.. Golf conferred
with the chairman moment and called:
commissioner Sheehan."
Sheehan at once took the stand.
but before he could be sworn Carlisle
Cantor made a vigorous protest agains,
the examination of the Commissioner. nm
the ground that his public duties necess-
tated his appearance at police headouar.
tiers. At first Mr. Golf excused Mr.. Shee.
han until tomorrow morning. as the Com
missioner had informed him it was neces-
sary for him to attend a meeting of the
Police Board. Commissioner Sbeeban
said If he must appear tom orrow he might
as well be examined to-day and have il
over with, as he had more important DIN.
ties for tomorrow than those scheduled
for this afternoon.
VERY we'll; the testimony will be pro.
ceeded with at once" said Mr.. Golf. Mr.
Golf then questioned the witness as to
the location of the different siation-houses
in his district The Commissioners an
swers were given after some hesitation
and he sometimes referred to small direc-
tory. which MIR. Golf objected to. Accord
ing to Mr.. COTS recapitulation of Shee-
hans answers the latter failed to correctly
locate two of bis station-houses, as we'll as
police headquarters.
docs your mind get mixed up with the
streets OF Buff 10 and the streets of New
York ?" asked MIR. Golf
mo. sir" replied the Commissioner.
MIR. Golf then elicited the fact that he
had come from Buffalo to this city about
eight years ago upon assurances that he
would be given a public position. He
denied that he had ever acted as attorney
for the Gould estate, or that he represented
the Gould interests. Questioned about
his law practice. Mr.. Sheehan said the
bulk was in consultation. and that be
drew a revenue from 1t of $4,000 or $4,000 a
year. Mr.. Sheehan said most of his time
was spent at police headquarters, al
though his partner was now In Europe.
The business did not in any way interfere
with his duty as Police Comm ission
He said be was a member of the firm of
John c. Sheehan d Co.. COMPOSED of John
OBren and himself.
Commissioner Sheehan did not care
about going on the stand tomorrow. he
said his business at police headquarters
was too pressing, but Mr.. Golf would not
excuse him.