New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-29
THE "GREENGOODS" CASE.
ANTHONY CoMsToCK TEsTIFIEs AGAINST
RYAN.

RYAN.
METHODS OF THE GANG EXPOSED AND THE PR1s-
oSrp CONNECTED WITH OTHER swINDLEs
REFRACTORY WITNESSES FORCED TO
GIVE THEIR EvIDENcE-A BAD
DAY FOR THE king"
1J.crer.ack April % (SpeciaD.-The second day OF
the trial of Mike" Ryan. the "greengoods' mon
arch brought out considerable testimony which may
help TO place that individual where cche-ons
come not and Jays" are as hard to ma as neeuie'
in haystacks Anthony Comstock the moral guar
dian CT New-York. was among the witnesses asan9'
RYAN and his evidence conclusively estaphsheu 'he
connection between Ryan and the men who dealt III
"ereeneoods" at Ranges's Hotel, as well as at other
points Altogether 1t was bad day for the king'
and he plainly showed that ne was "orrieu Is
peclally when Mr.. Comstock was on the stand Inc
confident expression his face disappeared carry
in the day. and the only pleasant moments ne en-
,ovod uere when Michael Richie and Fred Walters.
both Of whom were apparently endeavoring 10
shield him. the stand
THE case will in all likelihood end tomorrow. as
Prosecutor Stagg has only a few uninportant wiz
nesses to examine The defence will not attempt 10
deny the imputaton that Ryan Is a green
goods" man but II will endeavor 10 prove an abb
for him In the Lyndhurst assault matter. Ihis'
however is OF little consequence. as only one Oh '"e
States witnesses has testified TO Ryan's presence
on that occasion Prosecutor Stagg has conducted
the case with much energy. and he believes mat
conviction IL almost foregone conclusion.
HIS MEMORY WAS POOR.
Tn. first witness called Fred Walters. the
hackman, who formerly derived a living from car
ry,ne "come-ons' to Ranges Hotel with money and
then taking them away when they were laden down
with "greengoois" Walters steadfastly declared
thar his memory OF the occurrences at the notei
was so poor that 1t was only with an eitort 'hat "e
could remember that there was such place AFTER
Prosecutor Starg coaxed him for few minutes ne
finally admitted that he had seen the men IN the
hotel and had taken strangers there. lie Denied
however ever having seen Ryan there The vile
and daughter Of Fred Ranges testified to having
seen the "greengoods' men around the hotei' Out
"a IN. men kept quiet and appeared to be secretve
they knew nothing of them. Neither OF them re-
membered having seen the defendant there.
Michael ~ Richie tho former counsel for Ranges
and who has Professionally attempted to dodge the
process OF the Court In all the growing out OF
the Lyndhurst affair appeared In court IN response
to a peremptory summons. In the rai Oh h"hs''
a letter was introduced, which Richie hhh written
to a member OF the "greengoods gang ana IN
which he impaired the Information that ne Knew
enough to send certain parties TO State Prison.
This was followed by a demand for 80 On the
stand to-day he admitted that this letter was
bluff to aid him In collecting bill from certain
men who had employed him 10 negotiate lease LOT
Trautweins Hotel.
He proved TO be extremely unwilling witness
especially when asked about the members Of the
gang who held forth In Ranges place. His memory
as conversations with the men was especially de-
fectlye and he used every possible means TO com
bat the prosecutor going TO the extent OF arKu
ing over the admissibi,y OF his testimony lie
finally declared that he had never seen Ned
Lyons about Ranges Hotel. nor had he ever seen
Ryan until he met him in the courtroom
AN EXPERTS TESTIMONY.
Anthony Comstock. the secretary OF the New
York Society for the Suppression OF Vice. who -
also an inspector In the PostOfice. was called -
throw the light OF his experience on the operations
OF the "greengoods" men. In MS dual capacity he
said, he had handled over one hundred thousand OF
the circulars which are sent TO Jays throughout
the country and he readily identified the defendant
as the leader OF the Ryan Gang as It is known
He produced some Of the circulars In court one
OF them addressed to u VI. Floyd. Smell. Tenn"
bore the signature OF u. Lockwood. South Rethle-
hem Penn" Mr. Comsiock said that he personally
investigated the operations OF the Ryan Gang. ana
had seen Ryan In South bethlehem. lie also saw
other members OF the gang In the same locality.
RYAN noticed him In the Pacific Hotel. In South
positively that Ryan was an expert 'greengoods
king disappeared in hurry Other men who were
connected with the sang we're present Including
one known as "Ryans SHADOW -,
come ons'' were instructed what to DO and whore
to go. He with come on AT the time rms
man was directed to 20 TO Manions Hotel. near
bound Brook Subsequently he ELECTED from the
members OF the gang by Correspondence. oth'r
circulars which intended 10 SIN further excite
the cupdiiy Of the ignorant persons TO whom they
These circulars were introduced in evidence and
Immediately the defendants attorneys raised
storm Of objections to their admission on the ground
OF incompe,ency They attempted 70 have the cir,
culara thrown out because they had not been used
TO induce men 10 go 10 Lyndhurst. In order 10
circumvent these objections. Prosecutor stays put
lanes Graham one OF the come ons' who was as
saujtcd in I.yndhurst. on the stand. Graham was
swndled in Bound Brook previous to the assault
and he declared that In both cases the circulars we're
man both in Bound Brook and In lyndhurst. He
also declared that the circulars produced by MI
ceivcd except that the names were changed.
After further Identification OF the circulars by Mr.
Comsi ock. they were admitted In evidence and Mr.
Stagg read them to the jury.
In the course OF Mr. Comstock's direc, examiaa-
ton, Mr. Stage raised general laugh by ldircssins
ingly denied the soft impeachment. and MI Stage
explained his mistake by saying that he was think
ing OF somebody else
Much Of the time Of the court was wasted over the
objections of the counsel for the defence VINO took
advantage OF the few small loophoes left by Mr.
stag 70 worry the Witnesses Mr. Comstock I'm
particular was mark for the shafts OF Mr.
Rooster. but he came through his cross examination
with flying coors. In fact II was In response TO
OF Mr., Koester's questions that he declared most
positively that Ryan was an expert greengoods
man, and that to his own knowledge he had worked
the game in Bound Brook
There was o runor current TODAY 70 the eject
that Ryan Is contrmpating night: Whethsr or not
Stagg detailed an officer to keep close watch over
the deft ndant. and he will not he allowed 10 far
from the city unless he Is under surveillance.
-~---
SERGEANT REDUCED TO THE RANKS.
ice-sergeant Thomas Kelly. OF Jersey city.
reduced to the ranks yesterday by tho Police Com