New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-25
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE POLICE CONSPIRACY.
A WITNESS BOLDLY HELD UP.
STOPPED IN JERSEY CITY BY MEN IN
LEAGUE WITH OFFICIALS HERE.
DESPERATE STRAITS OF TAMMANY.

THE INVALUABLE TESTIMONY ON MRS. HER
MANS TONGUE-TRACED TO CHICAGO AFTER
BEING SPIRITED AWAY WEEKS AGo-sENA-
TOR bill" DAILY AND HIS FRIENDS IN
TERcEpT HER JUST AS SHE is BEING
BROUGHT BAcK-THE COMMITTEE
DELAYED - ALL READY TO
PUT JOHN C. sHEEHAN
ON THE RACK.
The desperation Of some persons in this city
who have reason to fear coming disclosures be-
fore the Lexow Committee made manifest
Yesterday when a witness in charge OF agents OF
the committee was stopped in Jersey City, and
the agents were arrested on the absurd charge OF
having kidnapped the witness. The high-handed
proceeding was equal in boldness 10 the out
rageous interference With the rights Of voters
which sent John Y, McKGne to prison cell.
woman who formerly kept disorderly house In
West Thrd-st where she was known as Matilda
Herman, was spirited away from the city weeks
ago when John w. Goff. Of the committees coun-
sci, had summoned her TO appear as witness
before the committee. She was traced TO chicago.
and when she was talked with there by b. F.
Webb. an agent sent on by Mr. Goff, she consented
TO return voluntarily 10 New-York and give her
testimony She arrived in Jersey City yesterday
morning on {. Pennsylvania Railroad train, in
company with Mr.. Webb and with Thomas car
ney another agent OF the committee, who had
boarded the train at a station several miles De-
yond the city They were stopped at the ferry oy
a number OF Jersey City policemen who appeared
to be acting under the instructions OF state Sena-
tor William d DAILY. Of Hoboken, and the arrest
Of the agents followed. The woman was held
after the agents we're released, and the inter-
ference may not prevent her ultimate appearance
before the committee but there was reason to be-
lieve that she had been nu need not 10 give will
ing testimony.
The interference appeared TO nave peen the
result of a most audacious conspiracy hatched in
this city Senator DAILY declared he had been
engaged to interfere by d named Gustav
Dirk who said he represented the alleged hus-
band of the woman in Hoboken. Frank Moss
Mr. Goffs assistant declared that Dirk was
acting for certain police captains in this city
who wanted 10 prevent the woman from giving
her testimony The counsel would not reVea'
the nature Of the testimony which the woman
had been expected to give, but 1t was inuma'eo
that she could implicate officials much nigher
than police captains-a Commissioner OF fohce'
perhaps or Police Justice or an official who
has been one Of the chiefs OF Tammany Hail
As one who had been protected In an unla"fui
business she had learned secrets OF great I'M
portance and she had been inclined TO menuon
names Of men high in power. The pubic KNOWS
something Of the past records OF such Tammany
leaders as Richard Croker, Fire Commissioner
Scanneu and Police Justice Martin, ana IL -
we'll known that there are Tammany magnates
who would not hesitate 10 follow the example OF
John Y McKane II they thought they couio
prevent an impending disclosure OF their Official
crimes.
Not only was the woman prevented from re-
turning to the city where her testimony Is SO
much feared but a trunk containing alleged liil-
portant documentary evidence to substantiate ner
testimony was stolen after II had reached this
city The agent who had accompanied her from
Chicago had the check for her trunk. but the
trunk was claimed az the ferryhouse on
the New-York side OF the river whiIe me
agent was being detained at the other
side and Mr. GoT afraid later that
agents OF the police had secured the important
documents in the trunk. As an indication OF inc
character of the conspiracy 10 prevent the pro-
duction OF damaging evidence in the investiga-
ton Mr. Goff said that his agent had discovered
n colony OF persons In Chicago wAo had peen
sent to that city to be kept out OF the way uh.i @
the investigation was at an end. Inat such per
sons are In the care of trusted police agents may
be inferred from the fact that no sooner had
Mrs Herman left Chicago with her trunk run OF
dangerous documents than II was known 10
officials here that she was on her way oy tne
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad. Even the NUMBER OF tne
check for her trunk may have been known IN
time TO have a similar check prepared tor pres
entatlon at the ferry the moment the Trunk ar
rived at its destination.
The names OF Police Captains Creeden, t-akins.
Haughey and Ryan were mentioned yesterda! ia
connection with the testimony when the woman
had been expected to give. The captains nave
been in command of the Fifteenth Precinct at
different times in recent years, and 1t was In
that precinct that the woman maintained her
illegal business and is said TO have paiu iarse
sums OF money for protection one OF inc
captains has been spoken or as man VINO Paio
a high city official some thousands or dollars Tor
promotion. while the interest supposed to nave
been held by other Tammany officials IN some OK
the houses in West Third-st in recent years mas
given rise to much speculation Members OF tne
committee understood yesterday mat II tne
woman could be induced 10 tell her story IL wono
contain more sensational disclosures than any
which have yet been made In the inVestsaton'
Mr. Goff made statement before the COM
mittee yesterday which showed the Importance "
be attached to the testimony OF the woman ue-
tanned i'm Jersey City. but the interference pre-
vented the examination OF witnesses Pohce
Commissioner John c. Sheehan was present 70
hear what Mr.. Goff had TO say on the suDJect.
and II was made plain that the Commissioner
had hepn called for examination. but he pieaded
for DELAY on the ground that his onciai duties
demanded his presence at the Central once. M.;
Goff and members OF the committee uecIa'eo
that Commissioner Sheehan wouid ps ih,t.u "A
that ne could not possibly testify before to-
morrow and he may get another delay on tne
ground that his performance or duties connecte1
with the coming election Wouu pe
tFor details OF the procesdings, See rage I'D