The herald., 1896-09-16
Mccarthy Denies That He Ever
Made a Confession
HE IS INTERVIEWED IN JAIL
The Alleged Bank Rcbber Steadfastiy
Protests His Innocence
Arraigned in Court and Makes a Public
Denial of His Guilt-His Exami-
nation Set for Next
Friday

At a little after $3.50 yesterday morn
ing John j. Mccarthy, the alleged bank
burglar. brought back from San Fran
cisco last Sunday by Detective Brad
ish, was arraigned in the police court
before Justice Morrison on burglary
complaint and date for his examination
set for Friday morning at $50 o'clock.
His bail was set at $4,000, in default of
which he was committed to the custody
of the sheriff.
After listeaing to the reading of the
complaint the prisoner rose and asked
permission to make statement regard
ing his case. This was granted and he
proceeded to say that he had been in
formed that a certain morning paper
the Timea) had published a special
dispatch, purporting to come from San
Francisco, in which it was stated that
he had made a confession to Captain
Lees, chief of detectives of that city. He
wished to publicly deny that he had
made any confession as he had none TO
make and the published report was in
tended to and would prejudice his case
before any jury when it came to trial.
His remarks were brief, and he was
hurried off to the county Jail.
An interview with the prisoner was
accorded by Sheriff Burr and Mccarthy
was found in the top tank of the Jail.
He was alone in the cage, sitting on a
Stood his brows knit in thought as the
deputy approached and asked him
whether or not he would see and talk
to reporter He approached the lat
tice work of the tank with a quick,
nervous step and at first seemed indis-
posed to talk.
II don't care about making any state
ment for the press" he began. "You
reporters must know that the police be-
lieVe and hold man guilty from the
moment that he is suspected. They have
no mercy on fellow Their idea is to
get him into prison and keep him there
as long as they can. Now you know that
this is not right. There is no sense or
justice in it.
'Yes, the law holds a man innocent
until he is proven guilty." he admitted,
in answer to a reminder to this effect.
put the Jur1eS are so selected and so
governed by public opinion that man
stands little chance with them. The
Juries are like the police, they take their
seats. strong in the belief that the pris-
3ner is guilty of the crime for which he
has been arrested, and nothing swerves
them.
Il have made no confession to Captain
Lees or anybody else, as have none to
make. The published article was It's
sue of falsehoods from beginning to end
1t never originated from Captain Lees
because he knows that I never told him
| or anybody else l was guilty, because
am not. Now, do you suppose would
have gone into court this morning and
pleaded not guilty if had already con-
| fessed my guilt?" he said excitedly. Il
| know nothing about the bank tunneling
case, was never connected in any way
| with 1t and shall prove my innocence.
such reports as the one published
will inJure my case co,ksderably be-
| fore jury. l defy the police or anyone
else to produce Capt. Lees, and will at
the proper time issue subpoena for
him myself to appear at the trial here
and say whether or not told him l was
guilty man. l will tell you what
believe was the source of that statement
in the paper An eX-chief of police fu-
gitiVe from Justice, an associate of cour-
tesans, circulated that report about me
to crafty personal spite.'
Pressed to name this party Mccarthy
refused. but said he was satisfied that he
knew the man and the animus of the
rumor.
You left this city rather suddenly
| did you not, Mccarthy, and about the
time the tunnel was discovered What
was the reason of your departure?" was
the next question propounded.
Il did not leave the city suddenly" he
replied, ''and as for the time being COIN
cident with the discovery of the tunnel
that is something l know nothing about
The reason for my leaving was that my
Wife'S sister was to be married up north
and / went up to attend the wedding
Anyway there would be nothing strange
in my leaving the city, as my business
was such that l was hardly ever here
more than two months at a time
mo, l have no family-no children
and 1 am glad Of that. Men in my posi-
tion are better off without any family.
l had work in San Francisco. l am
hardly ever without work more than
couple of months at time. Just be-
cause l was in trouble down here once
the police jump at the conclusion that
I'm the man wanted for the bank tun-
neling scheme. The fact of the matter
| is, that my case never even came to trial
They had no proof against me, and got
out Oh, I'm in here all safe enough,
but I'll get out, never fear. l have not
selected my attorney as yet
did | ever know Jones? Well, yes.
7 understand that he is in jail here
charged with completely in the tunnel
! lob, poor fellow. / knew him only as
you would know a bartender or pro-
prietor of a saloon where you take Il
drink occasionally. 1t don't seem rigat
| to me. l knew nothing of him, but the
| police will have man convicted before
| he ever gets trial
How about Stewart did you know
HIM well?"
| mo, not intimately. I worked for him
! and Stevens when they were partners in
| the plumbing business, and only quit
! when they dissolved partnership last
| spring. After that l did such odd jobs
! as fell in my way until I left the city.
| l am good workman and seldom have
| to go without d job long.
"About your arrest in san Francis
| co, Mccarthy. Did you pull a gun on
| the officer and attempt to use IT, At
| this interrogatory Mccarthy replied ex-
| citedly:
pull gun on him, no. Do you sup.
| nose IL I was a guilty man ] would have
| gone into San Francisco, walked the
| streets and greeted my acquaintances,
| residents there and people from this
| city in broad daylight? Would | have
stopped and talked with Armstrong, who
was formerly in the plumbing business
here? Would l have gone up to the very
| officer who arrested me and spoken TO
him and shook hands just before he ar
rested me? Why did he not arrest me
then? No, he waited until got on car
sent for help and the detectives ap-
preached from either end as l was lying
back in my seat with my eyes closel
They pounced on me, threw me on the
floor and after a struggle. for at first /
did not realize they were officers, hand
cuffed me and took me to the station.
pulled no gun on the officers, but admit
that one was taken from my pocket at