Year: 1870

Va uAO hOCuoONs


At special Court OF the Special Sessions. held yes
terday ut the Tombs Police Court before Judges
Dowling and Bixby, tho case was Investigated OF
Dennis Shea and Thomas Murray, charged with as
sault and battery upon Adde King, ''soiled doven
of Houston street.


The defendants were acquitted as the evidence
was sufficiently doubtful to prevent any other re-
suit but that there was strong perjury on one side
or the other there be doubt and the court was
never 80 crowded as was during the investigation
arising, no doubt, from the expectancy that there
would be some revelations OF the inner life OF the
dsmt-monde OF Houston street.


The first witness called was Carrie Smith, who
said that she resided at No. 3S Houston street. an
that she occupied the paror floor; had never seen
TwyfOrd In the house until Wednesday night, when
she caught glimpse Of him; she knew him by repu-
tat0n and that he was an 0ficer Of the Fourteenth
ward; she heard some talk In the hallway OF her
house and some men trying to bring In Addie; sne
was very drunk, and she told her to come up stairs
or she would be arrested; she heard girl say 81
thought 1ou were going to take her into neadquar
ters;n the gentleman replied, "If ia not brought
you here you both would have been brought in;n
Twyford was then standing at the bottom OF the
stoop; she did not see what occurred afterwards;
she said she thought "he acted like perfect gentle
man towards these girls In trying to bring them
nomen


In reply TO the Court she further stated that the
two girls "Addie and Jennien lived on the floor
right over her rooms; she thought when the affair
happened 1t was about quarter to TWO the morn
ing; she had friend with her. and he recommended
her to keep out OF the trouble and she dd SO: she
never saw either one OF the gentlemen until that
night; she was certain 1t was officer Twyford who
was there; had heard OF him coming to the house
by the girls talking about him; the girl who talked
about him as her friend was Jennie May; she did not
see the onicer knocked down or any one lay hands
upon him; she had had some conversation with her
gentleman friend since this matter; he was quite
stranger to the defendants Mr.. Shea called upon her
last night to ask her 70 come to the court and state
all she knew; she would have come down OF her own
free will and without subpoena TO give evidence
tnat he would thank her to 40 80 but she replied she
did not want any thanks.


Sarah Smith was young lady OF about nineteen
summers and fair dansel or the Emerald Isle.
She also boarded at 3S Houston street and on the
same floor as 'Jennle'' and "Adde.n She knew
officer TwyfOrd (she pointed him out III court; mad
seen MIN once or twice In tue house; saw him there
one day last week; he was speaking to Jennie May;
could not tell what nights she had seen HIM there;
it was Jennie May he came to see; sue saw Addle
brought in on the night OF the trouble; 'tne gentle
man brought her In and she WAS very tight;n
wanted Addle TO stay IN tue house and not 90
out again; Twyford met the gentleman outside
the door, and there was quarrel outside; Addie
and Jennie had been speaking about ..tne trouble
they had got int0 since the examination yesterday.
The witness was crOss-examined by the Court at
some length as to this conversation and the result
that she very reluctantly said that Jennie May
had within the last month talked very much about
her friend; she referred offlcer Twyford Jennie
often wanted to 60 down to .'see her friend on
post" Twyford's post Crosby street, and be-
low Spring street; had seen him there; had never
seen Jennie speaking to him on posJ had never
ner STOP him on post; mad seen hun IN Jennie Nays
room.


Jennie May was then called on the stand, and in
reply to Mr.. Howe said that Twylord was IN the
house last night.


Judge Downing said that If Mr.. Howe stopped in
his examination Of the witness at that point IL threw
the necessity upon the Court 10 pursue the evidence
further after that answer.


Mr.. Howe said ne would continue the examination
OF the witness If the Court wished He did not wish
TO throw any imputation upon the policeman. lie
was human, like all the rest or us, he supposed.


Judge bowling said the Court would ask tue ques-
tiOn then. He should ike to know Ii the captain or
the Fourteenth precinct was IN court. Tne captain
was not IN court.


Judge Dowling-Nobody Is here TO look after the
interests OF this officer or the Fourteenth precinct
Well, the Court must do It's duty.


Witness, in reply to the Court, said that Twyford
was at the house about nine O'Clock last night; she
In her room dressing 70 out when he came
ln he Knocked az the door; she had not invited him
he said was "De sure to be at the court to-mor-
morrow mornnR;' she knew she had to be
terday; he said no more than that; her s.ady
friend" was IN the room at the same
time; she had heard the last two witnesses ex-
amined and sne still said that sne never saw him
before she saw him the night when this trouble
occurred; she would swear to 1t tnat sue did not
know him, and had never seen him before to her
knowledge until that night; she had never told the
last witness what her friends name was; her wit
ness'l friend was an Ofrcer IN the Eighth ward;
hts name was Richard Sipe; he was "broke' three
months ago: 1 see him every evening; had not
spoken to him about this matter.


Judee-Now am obliged 70 ask you thiss Were
YOU afraid that II Sipe knew this about Twyford aud
you ne would do you some harmS


WitneSS-YeS, suppose WAS


In reply to Mr.. Howe she said that she saw Sipe
last night He did not know anything about this
case.


Twyford was then put on the stand and said that
he went the house last night TO tell the girls to be
at the court this morning and that ne only stayed to
tell them that He was in citizens clothes and was
excused by the captain for the


Patrick Kern OF 154 Mott street, gave evidence
stating that ne went to 38 Houston street last night
IN consequence OF being told by Sheas brother
that Twyfprd had been seen going In there; he saw
Twyford there and he must have been there at least
ten minutes.


A number Of respectable witnesses were called to
show that the character of shea was good. Some
OF these had known MIN since ne was child.


Judge bowling said that the case had been fully
investigated and II the defendants had been found
guilty the extreme sentence OF the law would have
been passed upon them. While the Court was de-
termned to bring to light all the abuses OF the Police
Department., II was also determined to punish all
those who persOnated police officers He advised
the defendants, when they saw unfortunate girls
again IN ike circumstances, to give them over to
the care OF the police. These girls claimed the
sympathy and protection Of all good citizens but 1t
was better to let the police do their own duty The
evidence was very conflicting, and they should give
the defendants the benefit OF the doubt and there.
fore they would be acquitted