Year: 1875

condition Of things in community with any preten-
sons the commonest regard for proper and honest
rendering OF the laws According witness in the
report OF yesterday proceedings justice appears
the cruelest farce possible Cutthroats forgers pick
pockets burglars and every possible class Of criminals
who have money to buy their way out of the
strongest meshes of the law and walk abroad among
decent people to laugh at judges and grand
iuries II was mere excourt officer
named Brown who with great reluctance, induced
to swear that the common belief with him and his fell
low officials that IL next to impossible
vct a forger in the courts Of the Tombs that the
forgers always men who had or could command
money and that money all powerful in the lists
against justice that receivers Of stolen goods
full and notorious pickpockets panel house keepers.
and all that class whose infamous gains large and
who are never without ready money could
walk through the courts the Hebrew
children walked through the fiery furnaces
and out unscathed. The evidence of Brown is
painfully interesting and that Of the detective Hede-
berger gives curious idea of the purposes which the
detective force Of New York created Mrs. Rachel
Roth throws strong light the practices to which
the shysters of the Tombs resort to carry their
ends The District Attorneys Office is up again for in
vestgation with remarkable case that Of Parsons
Bros Of Worth street. who stroye in vain convict
an employe Of theirs who robbed them of SIS, OOO


At eleven O'Clock the committee assembled the mem
bers present being Messrs Campbell Dessar Hess and
McGowan Mr. Townsend counsel for the committee
conducted the examination The first witness Mrs
Rachel Roth; but TO understand her testimony it is
necessary state briefly what related Some time
ago Levi arrested for receiving stolen goods
and the thief tried and to prison Aarons in
default of So 900 bail, committed to the Tombs
John o. Mott, lawyer, made application in General
Sessions for reduction of bail saying that Aarons



the bail having been reduced. Some time
after Orlando Stewart who was counsel
for the thief told Mott that Aarons was
dead and that his information came from the daughter
OF Aarons. Accordingly Mott went before Assistant
District Attorney Russell, told him what he had
learned and Aarons bail was discharged Subsequently
Aarons was walking about the streets and was
arrested.


TESTIMONY ROTH.


Mrs Rachel Roth said on being sworn that her
father Levi Aarons and that she only
daughter Mr. Townsend then read to her a statement
made by District Attorney Russell the effect that he
was called on by Orlando Stewart and John O. Mott
who stated TO him that Mrs Roth informed them
That her father dead, and they accord
ingly applied to have his bail discharged;
that previous to this Mrs Roch called on him and said
her father sick and that she desired to procure
pass to visit him in the Tombs, which given her
and subsequently she called with physicians cerLn-
cate, in order TO have his bail reduced


Mr. Townsend-Did you ever tell Mr. Orlando Stewart
or Mr.. John o. Mott that your father rsTas dead?


witness-Never


@ Did you accompany either Of them to the
District Attorneys Officer


Witness-Never; was only at the District Attorneys
twice, and then all alone; the fret time l told Mr.
Russell my father sick and that confinement might
kill him; he gave pass to see him; saw Mr. Rus
sell again when brought the Doctors certificate for the
reduction of bail; was in court only once and that
was when Mr. Mott moved for the reduction Of bail


MT Hess-Did you hear the statement made in court
that your father was deadf


witness-Never, sir; and had any talk what
ever with Mr. Stewart about my father; it was only
that my father should die in prison that
the District Attorney; my husband took interest
the case and had been bad terms with my father for
seven years; much astonished to hear the story
that my father dead, for knew he was not


JOIN BROWNS TESTIMONY.


John II. Brown, sworn, said he in the employ OF
The Erie Railway Company detective; had some
thing TO do in working up the of John Clark; on
Both of July last witness was called by Mr. Brown
manager, who said one OF the Stealing
baggage from the depot; he showed him a
revolver which belonged 10 a passenger and said
IL had been stolen he traced it to named John
Clark who being asked if he knew anything about
it, said he had found it witness insisted that he stole
1t and arrested him for 10; subsequently, in company
with Officer Kane he searched Clarks house and found
variety Of articles which be had suspicion were
stolen; Mr.. Franklin identified the pistol which was


"swAmP ANGEL'


he held by Judge WarmOth in 81 COO bail witness
went to the District Attorneys Office on the 11th Of
September and a gentleman named Clark there
and asked him what had become Of the case; be re-
ferred him 10 Mr. Rolhnsi Rollins referred him to
John Townsend, saying, Recorder Hackett will tell
you all about il )" that all the satisfaction he got
for years court officer in the General Ses-
siong Counsel here asked witness about the workings
OF the General Sessions when he there He said he
knew that for fee OF IS a could walk from the
TOmbs the without being handcufed ana that
could have extra good cells in the Tombs by paying
money Never knew a man who was not a court o1i-
Ger 10 be entrusted with prisoner


Mr.. Townsend-Did you know Of some lawyers having
been given preference over othersY


Witness-It a common saying that Howe had the
run of the prison. court officers In the habit Of
recommending certain lawyers TO prisoners; recol-
leced instance Of taking man
70 the Tombs after being sentenced to five years
in State Prison. returning TO the court got orders TO
20 back the Tombs and bring the prisoner again to
court when after some little delay he was discharged
IL n common saying that people who had money
had the best chance Of getting out;


FORGERs AND PANEL THIEVES


stood pretty well, as the saying was.


Mr. Townsend-What other class OF people stood
wells


witness always understood that pickpockets who
well known and panel thieves had the best chance
OF getting away; that a general impression fact
any with money might feel pretty sure Of passing
through; pckpockets generally known by their right
his opinion that would be well if the pictures OF the
Eogues' Gallery had the right names Of the men at
tached TO them; knew Of an instance where prisoner
escaped from officer his way from the court 10
The Tombs


he DrDs'r LIKE TO TELL


MT Townsend here pressed the witness 70 reveal
some more information Of like kind about the court
where he was 50 long officer, but he begged 70 be
excused saying that he would rather not that there
were other men who knew more, and that IL was
some time since he there.


Albert Hail. corr0borating Browns testimony, said
be was employed at the Erie depot; complaints bad
been sent IN at various times about things being stolen
one day one Of the drivers showed him pistol that he
wanted TO sell; witness took 1t up and his suspicious
we're aroused that this the one stolen from NJ
Franklin; handed IL and it was subsequently
Identified


Zenos E Franklin, conductor on the New York and
New Haven Railroad, said he missed his pistol and
another article; identified both aterward called
before the Grand Jury and gave his testimony; went
before the General Sessions; Clark called and