Year: 1875

manic Chamber in the City Hail. There present
Messrs Campbell Dessar, MCGOWAN and Hess. The
of the alleged stealing OF couple OF blankets by
OF the detectives Headquarters came up for fur
ther investigation and developed the fact that among
the detective force there is amazing amount Of
jealousy, while between them and the police captains
Of the precincts there is the btteres antagon
ISM The Committee showed laudabe anxiety TO get
at the bottom this of the blankets
and vndcate If possible the character of the men who
might, by conspiracy among tho other detectives to
get rid of them, have been unjusty accused and
Justly discharged Judge Fammer's evidence TO the
workings OF the police quito interesting and
also Mr. Sparks in regard to the District Attorneys
Office There will be the curious degree of enency
shown a notorious pickpocKet who should have been
banished from the city nve ten years and who
got on with twelve months


In regard to the blanket alleged to have been stolen
at Police Headquarters by Detectives Heidelberg and
Tiy, those two officers placed the stand and
soutly denied the charge for which they had been dis
missed from the police and Detective Ira NJ. clapp
testified to finding the blanket in the closet Of the
cused detectives The testimony showed that much
bitter feeling existed between OF the detectives
Detective Heidelberg said he that there
good deal of objection the part of captains OF
police detectives working in their precincts Witness
related incident of German coming Headquarters
and making complaint of being robbed of $3.50 at
gambling house. No 702 Broadway. Witness took the
in hand, and came into collision with Captain
Byrnes in whose precinct the robbery was committed.
The captain abused him for having anything do with
the job, he wanted it for himself and it within
the limits of his precinct


A NOTORIOUS PCKPocKET


Stephen B. Brague sworn-Said that he lived at
1,16S Broadway; on July 3, 1875, thief picked his
pocket of gold watch and chain at the time he
standing the platform of car when the thief
grabbed his chain and pulled the watch out OF his
pocket but he had 1t secured that it difficult TO
get away with it in hurry; he arrested by Officer
Conkln; the thief did not succeed in taking the watch
entirely out of his possession had quite scufe with
him on the street as he dragged him Off the car he
stopped and slipped out of his and made away;
complaint was preferred against him; he gave his
James Anderson; he well known pickpocket
and held bail in 81 900; to the District At
torney's Office and also before the Grand Jury went to
Headquarters and saw his likeness in the Rogues Gal
lery Inspector Dils told Nm his mother was wealthy;
witness never was called testify witness in the
case though he appeared in for that purpose.


Oncer Conklin said he arrested the pickpocket
toned by the previous witness between Fifth and Sixth
He had his coat off at the time; never was
called witness in the at the General Sessions,
though he attended.


CRIMINALS


Mr. Aub assistant counsel TO the committee here
read the complaint against the pckpocket whose name
was Anderson and also read his plea conviction
and sentence to twelve months imprisonment quoting
from the statutes to show that for grand larceny from
the person he could have been up for years.
and that he was a well known thief


Isaac Taylor sworn said that he discovered last July
that his bail bond without his knowl-
edge; received notification from District Attorney
Dt,. af h.
never heard before; the District Attorney and told
him as much; soon after subsequently found judg
ment against his property for 2,oOO went and
saw the District Attorney again; asked him
why he allowed that to go against him.
further inquiry found the judgment in the
hands of the Sheriff; saw the Sheriff, who told him,
only that he had to sell some of Harry Genet's prop
erty that morning. he should have sold his; informed
the Sheriff that if he attempted to do he would blow
his brains out; went again to the District Attorney
and demanded satisfaction from him in the shape of
some paper that would him from further annoy
ance; told the District Attorney that he
bail for any thief and gave him sample of his hand
writing to show that IL was unlike that which
the bail bond the bail has yet been released.


Mr.. Townsend said that he intended to show the
in which bail is accepted at the General Sessions
and how easy II was for straw bail to be imposed the
Court.


THE RULE ABOUT BAIL.


John Sparks Chief Clerk in the District Attorneys
Office said in regard to the rules concerning bail bonds
that man gives bail to any lndct-
! ment against him; after the indictment the
bail is continued; thought that rule re-
| quiring bail to be renewed would be good one;
bail Is forfeited on the nonappearance of the person
signing the bail bond; its forfeiture judgment Is
Immediately taken persons found that in signing
bail bond it became lien upon their property they
might not be such hurry in signing bail bonds and
IL would act as preventive against the giving OF
straw bail when indictment is quashed the prisoner
/ is not at once discharged; he may be remanded Tor
another Indictment bail is taken for his appearance
in the of Hubbard against whom there was an in
dlctment which quashed, a certified check of
So 500 taken in lieu of bail; subsequent ndict
ment was found against him; that is not the
very rare; knew of no rule where money
put up in place Of bonds; not aware with whom
the money was deposited the of Adams and Hub
bard the only witness could recall where money
taken in place OF bonds as security.
! Mr. Townsend-Therc were 100 indictments that
find no record of in your Office. Is IL customary to
allow indictments to be taken from your Office without
receipt being akenP


all cases. the District Attorney receipts for every paper
that comes from the police courts OF the city.


Mr. Townsend-ls IL customary for prisoners TO plead
! guilty and be sent up TO the Island without having
counsel assigned themY


witness-when on the papers the case appears very
clear against the prisoner counsel is hardly required;
frequently when prisoners are arraigned they have no
counsel, but when the case comes on for trial they
manage TO get counsel though 1t would be good idea
to assign counsel TO prisoners when they arragned
In place of waiting to the eleventh hour when there
little time left TO look the merits Of the case;
know of no cases however where prisoners have been
tried without counse prisoners under sixteen sent
TO the House Of Refugee up to twenty lone they are
sent to the Pententary the Court has the discretion
of sending them either to the Penentiary the State
Prison. in some cases boys oversate their age avoid
being sent to the House of Refuge.


In the opinion Of witness there ought to be return
made TO Court Of all prisoners convicted, that
they reach the prisons to which they arc sentenced.
There is return made the Sheriff but II goes to the
Secretary of State. 1t ought to be duplicated and a
copy deposited with the courts


PIxING BAH.


To Mr. Campbell-Knew Of no law giving power TO
the District Attorney fix bail without order Of tho
Court II is a custom, however, Of long practice.


To Mr. Townsend-Do not know OF any power
the District Attorney has TO reduce bail; think Il
would be well that Assistant District Attorneys should
be sworn officers; formerly II customary for the
Sheriff to take prisoners from jail TO court there arc
still however, deputy sherfs who specially dcpu-


zed to take charge Of prisoners; prisoners FOR the
Court Of oyer and Termner always In care OF the
Sheriff,