The New York Herald Newspaper, December 18, 1874, Page 3

CHARLEY ROSS. The Police Still Hopeful of Finding | 1 the Missing Boy. cccccearcalpectmanetions A NEW CLEW. GONTINUATION OF THE INQUEST. YESTERDAY, + The fate of poor little Charley Ross seems to be | asgreat amystery asever, The police of this city, | Mt cannot be denied, have thus iar done all they | could do to fina the boy. They have to all ap- pearances almost exhausted their detective learn- ing to secure & clew that would be definite tn its results; whatever money and toi) could accom. | plish has veen unhesitatimgly given that the end of the search of months should turn out @ triumpn. There can be no two questions, now, about the | identity of the two men who were killed at Bay | Radge on Monday, that they were the real ab- | ductors of the child, The evidence of their having | Deen the chief parties engaged in THE STEALING OF THE BOY Das proved to be so overwuelming that no one can Delieve otherwise than that Mosher was the thief | and Douglas his right hand accomplice. Every- thing that has thus far been elicited in the case | concerning the death of the two men and their whereabouts for the past five months points umerringly to their guils. But it ts just here that the real diMculty of the police trail apparently has begun. Having come to the conclusion long ago that Mosner and Doug- las were the abductors of the child, their every effort had been bent to the securing of the men— that is, they were determined, if they could once come across them, not to arrest them, but to keep them under their eyes with the hope shat some day or other they would track them to the place where the little child was concealed. The detectives certamly never anticipated any such extraordinary ending to the career of the men they were after—at least not quite 4o soon as it did occur, The death of the men was in many respects A GREAT MISFORTUNE, Inthe first place it brought the trail that had been obtained as to their being the real parties tothe abduction to a dead halt. Douglas had Bot before dying spoken enough to lead the ofll- cers to where the child is concealed, and, there- fore, white bis death and the circumstances which grew out of it brought to light the fact ‘that the detectives had been on the track of the | right men, it at the same time built up o barrier sit were between them and final success. Had the two scoundrels been captured instead of Killea ope of them might have been tn- @uced to tell all he knew aboup the ‘abduction; for they both were long enough schooled in crime to know tbat the Jersey indict- ment against them for burglary haa more terms in reserve for them than their possible conviction of weing the stealers of little Charley. The question Row is, therefore, 1S THE RECOVERY OF THE BOY POSSIBLE? The horrible thougnt is suggested by some people that the child has already been made away with; that having become a burden and a danger to Mosher he took measures that the boy could never become to him an object of solicitude if he should be hemmed in by the officers of the law and com- pelieu to give bimself up. “I tell you what my candid opinion is,” said one of the most expert detectives in the city to the HERALD reporter yes- teraay, “if the boy is not forthcoming during the | mext ten days or so we’ll have to look for | him in ‘the river.” It is hoped that this opinion is an erroneous one, and it may be said that most of the officers who have engaged in the search have strong hopes that the end may yet be a happy one for the Ross tamily. What Superintendent Walling’s views abont the matter are at present is not | known, for he has not been in the city since three o'clock yesterday morning. On Monday the death of Mosher seemed to give him fresh hope of being able to recover the lost boy; Dut it is believed that his interview witn Mrs. Mosher and other parties whom he had | reason to believe knew @ great deal about the ase, has not a little dashed his anticipations. At any rate, his absence from Police Headquarters all aay yesterday was the subject o1 general com- | ment, aud the belief was general tnat, leaving | Mrs. Mosner’s and her intimate iriends’ knowledge aside, he had lJearned of somethng in connection | with the case which made his absence of more im- portance than the further shadowing of THE DEAD BURGLAR’S WIFE. ‘Where he spent the day no one seemed to know; | mot even the men who have been taken into his confidence the most in the working up of the case | appeared to know anything about where he had | gone. There were ali sorts of stortes about this peculiar absence of his—for since he has been Superintendent Mr. Walling has never missed a Gay at the Central Office. One placed him at Bur- Mngton, Vt., another was that he had gone to Free- bold, N. J., and yet another that he had gone with Heins, the chief of detectives of Philadelphia, to that city. But nothing definite could be lJearned about it. That he was away all day was | saficient; it was proof positive to the majority of \ the visitors at the office that he was not absent | for nothing. Nothing more definite of bis move- | ments was even kndWn to Captain Irving than | that he left tne Superintendent at the Fifth Ave- | mue Hote! at one o’clock on Thursday morning. After that it appears Captain Heins and he had a | consultation, and both left the city at five o'clock yesterday morning. Great hopes are entertained of this mission of Mr. Walling’s, for it is well Known he is determined to ase every effort in his power to find the missing boy. The investigation as to the cause of the death | Wiliam Mosher and Joseph Dougias, who ‘were shot at Bay Ridge on Monday morning last, terminated yesterday siternoon with the reswit ‘that was generally antictpated. Peraaps no case 4n the annals of crime has of late years excited so much universal interest—none, certainly, has been go replete with dramatic incident—and the tragic fate of the desperadoes who perished in their un- a#uccessiul attempt to plunder will, henceforth, be meld up asa warning to those whose career in vice bas not passed the bounds of redemption. ‘The remains of the burglars are still exposed at the Morgue, Subjected to the gaze of curious eyes, and while crowds pour in to stare at the muti- Jated forms of whas is left of the men, scarce a word of pity is expressed on their be- half. Indeed, apart irom the abduction with swhich they were connected, the daring robbery ewhbich they planned and the stubborn and deflant 4vont presented by them when confronted by their determined foes prociaim them to have been ‘Sypes of human beings whose lives and liverty were staked on every desperate enterprise on (which they ventured. The re wil probably i interred to-day. Although there was little or \ D0. 1; tng surrounding the deaths of Mosher and Do the necessary formalities of an inquest of course, © be compited with. - I¢ was well own how and under what circumstances each of the men was killed long before the inquest was commenced, and the question of justification was scarcely deemed worthy of comment, But it was proper that the whole story should be bronght out officially, and those who may read it cannot fat) to be impressed with its startling situa- tions from first to last, The proceedings were continued yesterday in the chamber of the Board of Supervisora, and, as might be ex- ‘pected, attracted a dense throng. Indeed, the attendance was much larger than on the preceain; aay, and throughout deep interest was manifeste 4p the testimony adduced; not #0 much in View of &he result—which, by tne , Was generally ant cipated—but because of the exciting ae wet Jorth by the several witnesses. THE PROCEEDINGS. At half-past one o'clock Coroner Jomes requested she jurors to take their seats, and as soon as they had done 80 he announced that tweor three of the a a tennant but he would read cot s mony which shoule procee: take im their scence, HK FIRST WITNESS called was Mrs. J. Holmes Van Brunt, who being sworn, testified:—On Monday morning last, at | three o'clock, I was looking out of the secoxid story | ‘window of my residence at Bay Ridge; \ heard the first fring and sawthe fasn of the olstola pear the cellar door of the Judge's house, & little ; the shots were two in .number aud were fired almost together: instantly I heard the report of other frearm: first shots were,not #0 loud as the seco! le frst | took to be pistol shots and the last were gun shots, SUDGB VAN BRUNT. Judge Chaties H. Van Brant then took the wit. mess stand, and being sworn, \estified:—I am a} Jawyer by profession, and live in West Thirtieth street, New York; am the owner 0: cextain prem, NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1874.-WITH SUPPLEMENT. feet at Bay Ridge; I ier, these premises in cnarge of tay brother and my ga:dener; J. Ho.mes Van BYunt is my brother; at night the premises were Sore particularly ip charge 01 my brother, for the Teason that the burglar alarm connected with hit house; Scott is the hi Man—the gardener; there were two bells to the alarm—one in each jouse; I gave Mo order to any man to visit my house on the night of the 12th or morning of the 18th tnst.; gave no authority to any one whatever to visit my house on either date. . OFFICER DOYLE. John J. Doyle depose: 1 reside in New York Dd am a police oMicer; have seen the bodies of se two Men at the Morgue, Brooklyn; 1 recog- ize them as persons | have seen delore ; they are Willam Mosher, ahas Willam Johnson, and Clark, ahas Dougias; a little less than four years ago Mosher committed a SUrgiary. at Rea Bank, N. J., on a clothing store aud | arrestea him; { bave been looking for him on this Ross case for the last five months; I have not seen him since the Red Sank robbery; about July 7 was intormed that he was concerned ip the Ross case; tils man Mosher broke jail at Freenoid aiter I arrested him there; 1 kuow Douglas to have been a shief, though never arrested by me; he was in the Red Bank burglary; I recovered one cage of stuff stolen by gens the time; Dougias’ alias was William var OFFICER JAMES MORAN, James Moran testified ander oat! New York and am a policem: 1 have viewed Mosner’s and Douglas’ bodie: the Brookiyn Morgue and identify them; | arrested both men on November 10, 1870, for felonious assault upon Peter Wilmot; I know them to have been thieves; Ihave known Mosher by sight since I was a boy, but never bad dealings with him; never saw Douglass unvil that day; know them to have been Woleree by reputation in the ward and among the pol GRORGE BERGEN, George Bergen, testified:-I am a farmer and reside at Bay Ridge; on the morning ol the 14th of December t was called by my brother Theodore, about tnree o'clock, and was told there was something wrong; 1 went down stairs and met my father, who told me to go overto Van —I reside in Brunt’s, and my brother told me to get my jun; im company with Theodore and the fired man went over to the house of Juége Van Brunt; | clambered over the fence, and, seeing something dark lying on ¢! ground near the house, I said, “There is a man;’’ some one said, ‘‘He 18 dead,” and on looking at mm I found he was dead; Douglas was lying about three feet from the fence, at the south sige of the house, atthe time; 1 saw Frank haod a pistol to Van Brunt which he had found near Deuglas; Douglas asked Jor a swallow of water, and it was given him; he took only & swallow, and asked me to hold his arm, and I took him by the hand; I asked bim what his name was; DOUGLAS GAVE OMB IRISH NAMB FIRST, but then said, ‘‘Men, I won’t hie to you; my name is Joseph Douglas, and that man ‘over there is William Mosher; he spelled it out for me; I asked him where he lived; he said Mosher lived in the city; 1 asked bim then where he lived; he said he had no home; he gaid, “Men, I have $40 in my pocket; I wish to be buried with it; 1 made that honestly ;”’ then he said, “WILLIAM MOSHER AND I STOLB CHARLEY R088; 1 asked him where Charley Koss was, and he re- plied, “Il don’t kKnow—Mosher knew,” I told him Mosher was dead, and he said, ‘God help us! Mosner has a wile and six cniidren ;” thensome of the party asked him how they came there, and he said they came in a sloop from New Yors; asked Where the boat was, and he said she was anchored in the cove toward Bay Ridge; ihen he said they came ashore in & small boat; he said Superintendent Walling would give anything to catch them, and ‘‘now you have us;’’ he Sypearen to be in avony, and when we lifted him up he said, “Men, tor God’s sake don’t move me;” he did ask to be taken into the house too; Douglas was sen- sible up to within fifteen minutes of his death; he did not die for an hour and a half atter I ar- en he did not want to talk much, as he said it m. By a juror—Did he say Superintendent Walling knew where the Ross child was ? Witness—No, sir; he did not. A juror—That fact is an important one to Su- perintendent Walling, as there have been two in- terpretations a3 to what Douglas said. itness—I heard none of the firing, as 1 was fast asleep at that stage of the proceedings. THEODORE V. BERGEN. Theodore V. Bergen, brother of George, the pre- ceding Witness, was then sworn, and testified:— 1 reside at Bay Ridge and ama@ farmer;I have heard the testimony of my brother; I first heard the report of firearms on the morning of the 14tn of December; our house is 170 yards from the Van Brant house ; could not tell from where the report. came; | raised the window and heard loud talking over at Van Brunt’s; Ithen cailed out so that they could know we were up; I then routed m: brother out and went outoi doors; I next hallooe and asked, ‘‘Do you want any help;’? on receiving an answer {got my gun and we went over there; as lcame up by Mr. J. Holmes Van Brunt he was standing over Brunt and mysel! then went over to Douglas; Mr, Van Brunt said to Dougias, “YOU HAVE GOT TO DIE; if you have anything to say say it quick;’’ after stammering, he was in such great agony, he said he was Joseph Douglas and the other man was Mosher; then he said Mosher knew all about Charley Ross; I told him Mosher was dead, and asked Mim it he knew anything about tue boy; he said “no; he said he aidn’t know where the child was, but he said that they two stole him; then young Mr. Van Brunt and I went after the Cor- oner. Juror—Did he not say Mosher knew where the child was ¥ Witness—Yes, he said Mosher knew where the child Ross was; assistance was rendered by those around Douglas to relieve bim from any suffer- ing; 1 put a Dianket under and around him, gave bim water and brandy, and he thanked me for it; he told me to send word to Superintendent Wall- ing; I offered to take him tn out of the rain and wanted to move him, but he said it hurt him too much to move; he said he wanted ail the air he could get; he said Superintendent Walling knew all about himself and Mosher, and that the Super- intendent would aie anything to catch them; they aia not say what they came there tor; Doug: las 8: ENT “THE ROS3 BOY WILL GO HOME ALL RIGHT in a few days;”” Dougias said only he and Mosher came over in the sloop, Coroner Jones said he did not know that this Matter was pertinent to the issue; but on account of the very great interest attachedgto the finding of the child Ross he would trespass upon their time a little more than might otherwise be neces- sary at the Coroner’s inquest. itness—The sloop they came in was, Douglas said, Mosher’s own property. The Coroner said for the information of the jury | that the boat had been claimed by a party, but the police declined to give it up. CONSTABLE HOLLAND. John B. Holand, Constable of the town of New Utrecht, testified that he lived at Fort Hamilton; 1 was present when these men were found at Mr. Van Brunt’s on the 14th; Albert Van Brunt and Mr. Van Horn; when I arrived there I iounda dead body, which was represented ag being Wil- liam Mosher; tne man Joseph Dougias was insen- | sibie and dying; 1goton my knees and spoke to him, but he was unable to answer; Dr. Dumond arrived, jelt bis pulse, and said he could live but a few moments; I went into J. Holmes Van Brunt’s house with the Doctor, and the iormer fare me two pistols; tne large one, he sald, be- longed to Douyias, the small one Mosher; I took ossession of them and also of the bodies of ougiass and Mosher; Douglas died at twenty. eight minutes past five A. M.; I went to Justice GRaRSS Who told me to take charge of the vodies and to ARREST THE PARTIES IMPLICATED; Mr. Church then telegrapbed to the authorities; I arrested J. Holmes and Albert Van Brunt, Willham Scott and Herman Frank; 1 started to search the body of William Mosher, and found on him a large knile and the other articles whicn were shown ‘here at the Coroner’s examination yesterday; W. W. Bennett and myself then went down to the boat, but found nothing in it of any importance; on the right foot of Mosher an old shoe and on the left a boot; on the voat 1 found tue mate of these shoes; I found a lot of carpenters’ tools on the boat, such as might be used by barglars; in the pantry of Judge Van Brunt’s house, which I searched, I iound a large bar of tron, which the Van Brunts said did not belong to them; the catch of the door leading trom the base- Ment up to the entry was taken off; found bedding upset and drawers in moss all the rooms open, covering torn of some statuary and clocks, By a juror—Did you find evidences that the doors had been opened with that bar? Witness—No, but the bar lay across a door, as though it had been aropped in @ hurry; the weather was quite mi!d that morning, ani had it not been raiming,a man might go out in his shirt sleeves, At this point Coroner Jones said that the amount of testimony which he nad to was offer then tn ossession of the jury, and the intetligence of that Was of so higo an order that it would not be necessary for him to analyze the testimony. He would, however, call attention to a lew of the main features contained in the evidence elicited. In the cource of his remarks he said:—“We have no testimony ae the child Charley Ross, except the éstanlishment from the mouth of the dying man ofthe fact that they were characters of that kind—men who would steal a child ana keep it from its parents.” Tne jury retired to their delibe: minutes afver three o'clock. Du the absence of the jury the now famous farmers of Bay Ridge who shot the burglars engaged in conversation with @ party of their neighvors, and ap to be rather amused at the situation in which they found themselves. At six minutes past four the qary, returned, and upon filing mto their places the joroner asked Whether they had agreed upon verdict, to which ex-Maycr Booth replied in the Lied at twenty afirmative, The Coroner then read following verdict :— THE VERDICT. “We find that the man known as William Mosher and the man known as Josepn Douglas came to | their deaths irom the effects of gua and pistol shos wounas on the morning of the 14th day of Decem- ber, 1874, on the of Judge Charies H. Van Brunt, at Bay Ri between the hours of twelve ana #x o'clock A. that said wounds were in- flicted by the firearms fred vy the hands of J. Holmes Van Brunt, William Scott, Albert Van Brunt ana Herman Frank, tn self-defence; and we, the jury, further find that’ the of the ae- ceased in the manner set forth was periect justifiable, and we commend the act of the de/ending their lives and property in such @ courageous manner under such trying circum- vy 8. War Lista, ono of the Jurors, then read a resolu: | losner; he when said, “look here,’? | | and showed me a pistol taken from Mosher; Van | tton which had been passed by the thanking | the Coroner for the able manner tn Whicn ine bi conducted the ingui it may be added that the announcement of tui dict created little or no surprise. INTERMENT OF THE BODIES. Coroner Jones received the following commun!- cations irom the wives of the deceased yesterday. ‘The bodies, now at the Morgue, he wiil deliver to the applicants upon their proving themselves to be the parties represented :— New Youn, Dec. 17, 1874. Coroner Joxes, Kings County, N. Y. — Please deliver to . Munn. undertaker, the body of my husband, William M. Mosher, for interment, as #000 ou can do 4, and you will oblige his wile, an si YOU Mrs. MARTHA T. MOSHER, New Yoru, Dec. 17, 1674 To Coroner Jonns, Kings County, N. Y. Please deliver to J. fi. Munn, andertaker, the body of Joseph Douglas, my husband, for burial, as'soon as you can make it convenient, and you will oblige yours’ re- specttully. MARY DOUGLAS, Ber * mark. An undertaker has already presented himself at the Morgne, and the funeral will probably take piace to-day, WILLIAM MOSHER. REMINISCENCES OF THE DEAD ABDUCTOR. BripaRrort, Conn., Deo. 7, 1874, As through the medium of the H#RALD’s col- umns readers in this locality have been so well ad- vised of any and all matters pertaining to Charley Ross from the time of bis abduction last summer, down to the time of the tragedy at Bay Ridge, on Monday of this week, it is not too much to say that @ lively interest in all that pertains to that unfor- tunate affair has sprung up. This is particularly the case in regard to William Mosher (one of the two burglars shot at the house of Juage Van Brunt), who was onee @ resident of this city, He worked while here at the trade of a machinist; andwhile he was not, as bis friends thought, a very bad man, he bad associates by whom he was easily led into the ways of sin. Alter a short resi- dence here he suddenly appeared before the Police Court charged with @ heinous crime, and later became an inmate Of the oid jail on Broad street. During the winter that he spent in the jatl built two fine miniature sailboats, one of which he named the ‘Jail Bird.” The jail keeper, Mr. D. L. Wells, allowed Mosher to go and come as he pieased, and he al- ways reported himsel! at the jail at the close of the day. Ajter his discharge irom the institution he engaged in sailboat building, making a fine one to order for Mr. Samuel Wilmot, of East Bridge- port—and, by the way, this is the very boat which he stole last summer. Mosher was a quick, active, intelligent man, and, notwithstanding his bad habits, was much liked by those with whom he came in contact, Atter leaving this city he was little heard of until his tragic death at Bay Ridge. A VAN BRUNT TESTIMONIAL. New York, Dec. 17, 1874, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Enclosed please find $1, contributed by one who appreciates a worthy action, for the purpose of buying a suitable testimonial tor Mr. Van Brunt, who, while nobly detending the property intrusted to his care, freed the community trom any further depredations on the part of the two unfortunate beings whom he shot. PRO BONO PUBLICO, THE LESSON OF THE BAY RIDGE TRAGEDY. About one o’clock yesterday morning Mr, Silas Case, of Washington avenue, Greenville, N. J., was awakened by the barking of a large watch dog, chained inthe yard of his dwelling house. Quietly raising a front window Mr. Case looked out and saw two men with a set of implements at the nall door. Insteaa of becoming excited or frightened he called on the men to remain till he produced a change on their mistaken convictions. He said that all men were liable to mistakes, and as it was evident they had cowe to the wrong house he would remind them that weather strips had been placed last fall on all the doors and windows, If, however, the men would cali in the day time he would ascertain whether the locks or volts needed repair and perhaps he could accommodate them witha job. ‘fo this the Men assented, and packing their jimmies, cold Chisels, wrenches and saws in a bag, they passed outof the gate mpttering something that Mr. Case supposed was a prayer for his kindness, but 1t was a prayer he never beard offered in a church. Mr, Case watched tor them all day, but they did Not put in an appearance. CHRISTMAS FESTIVALS AT SCHOOLS. Yesterday at the Primary School No. 16, situated in Thirty-second street, near Third avenue, there were festivities of a very pleasing nature. In the upper portion of the school house there were gathered several hundred children in holiday dress, and about 150 of their friends. A committee of gentlemen were on the platiorm. Mr. Wiliam Wood presided, and the exercises were conducted under the able and efficient management of the lady Principal, Miss 8, J. J. McCaffery. Tne dec- | orations of the room were noticeably beautiiul, evergreens festooning the walls and ceiling, American flags giving variety and color, and sing- ing birds, full-throated with music, fooding the apartment witn melody. At balf-past THE | one the exercises commenced, the pro- gramme being carried out greatly to the credit of both scholars and teachers. A pretty effect was produced at the commencement of the entertainment by throwing aside the fsold- ing doors which divided the room, disciosing a couple of hundred oi bright-faced little ones, lying upon the shoulders of each otner, and looking like flowers—a very rosebud garden of chiidren. The | festivities of Christmas were very happily ushered in by this merry anc improving inaugural of Pri- Mary School No. 16. GRAMMAR SCHOOL NO. 51. The annual Christmas reception was held in the above school, in Forty-fourta street, near ‘enth avenue, yesterday alternoon. ‘he large room in which she celebration was heid was appropriately decorated, and teachers, children and fmends seemed equally well pleased at the saccess o! the affair, A long programme was carried out satis- factorily, ana included recitations, music, &c. Mr. Henry Kiddie, City Superintendent made a brief address, as well as Mr. Walter Carter, one of the trustees of the 'wenty-secona ward, and Mr.Jonn F. Williams, one of the inspectors of the Seventh district. Colonel J. W. Mason, Ohairman of the Board of Trustees, presided. These school festivities very fitly usher in the Christmas hoiiday season, and are looked forward to by all concerned with tue greatest pieasure, THE POLYTECHNIC .ASSOCIATION. Ata meeting of the Polytechnic Association of the American Institute, held last evening at the Cooper Union, Mr. James McCarroll read a paper entitied ‘A Brief Glance at the Snow Plongn and Some of the Etfects of Snow Upon the ‘Trade and-| Travel of this Country.” In the Course or his re- Marks Mr. McCarroll drew attention to the defects of the ordinary snow plough and stated thut where the snow is more than five feet deep the present plough ts of very little service. In speak- ing of the importance oi the subject under discus. sion the lecturer mentioned that $20,000,000 worth of railroad earnings are aungally lost in this coun- wry and in Canada by snow blockade. During the | winter of 1872-73 the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada expended $200,000 in clearing ite track. YALE COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. Apleasant reunion of the Yale College Alumni Association took place last evening at Delmon- 1co’s, it was very informal, being the second social meeting of the season. Mr. W. M. Evarts presided and Mr. E, ©. Stedman read extracts from an original unpublished essay upon Rosetti and Morris. The event of the pb 2 was the reading of & poem by the same gentleman, en- Utled “The Skull in the Gold Drift.” Speeches were made by several members, and the evening Pena off very pleasantiy. Supper was served at en, The prominent gentlemen present were Mr. W. M. Evarts, Judge Pierrepont, Professor Lusk, of Bellevue; General J. C. Jackson, Judge Sbip- man, sodge Woodruff, Henry Holt, Charles Tracy. William Ross, RW. De Forrest and William Bliss. PRINCETON COLLEGE FLOURISHING. At the semi-annual meeting of the trustees of Princeton College hela recently President McCosh made & very encouraging report of the present condition and prospects of the college. The Presi- Gent urged upon the trustees the desirableness of fforta in their several localities to elevate the standard of instruction in academies and high Schools, and the establishment of the latter in all parts of the country from which the coll aerived its suppl, of students, It was announced that Proieasor Bart had resigned the chair of Rhetoric and English Literature, and the Rev. J, 0, Murray, D. D., pastor of the Brick church, New York, waa appointed to succeed him. John . Green, of lew Yorg, added to his previous Lope rst ie @N additional donation to the college of $100, for the further enlargement of the scientie Department, one-half ‘of the amount to be 4] propriated to establish @ Chair of Civil Engi- neering. The honorary degree of LL.D. was con- ferred on Rev. Richard 8, Storrs, of Brooklyn, and David Hayes Agnew, M. D., Professor of Surgery in the University of Pbennayivania. The honorary Hit “a Pataca irae ast eases le Tuy ve mas Ken nedy, vi Kainburgh, Scotland, crate b | be appoii CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. A CHECK 0 BRUTALITY AND ABARTLESSNESS. Object and Scope of the New Society. THE DRUNKARD’S CHILD. Just now, when the merry, joyous Christmas is eoming, that happy time of the children, a society has sprung into life whose object is in striking accord with the feelings of love and kindness toward little ones now prevailing all over the Christian world. It is the Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Onildren. The project of its or- ganization bas enlisted the cordial sympathy and hearty co-operation of many of the best men and women of New York—‘“best”’ tn the highest sense of the word—who have felt that such an associa- tion could fill a gap im the charitable institutions of New York—a gap of which they were but too fally conscious, Scarcely a month passes bat some shocking story of a child’s atrocious mal- treatment through brutality or neglect, or both, perhaps, is made public, and the hearte of the kindly and humane are wrung by the recital of the sufferings to which the helpless, poor wails of this vast metropolis are so frequently sub- Jjected—of the brutality and cruelty to which they are dally exposed, PAINFUL MEMORIES, It is scarcely necessary to revive the fearful memories of the Mary Ellen case and of other sad instances Of the kind to point out the necessity of the step which has been taken in this direction, Although the Legisiature passed during its last session some sound laws concerning this evil the condition of thousands of children 1s still most deplorable, The brutality of drunken parents, the imhumanity of the padrone or of guardians who beat @ child if it does not return from its begging errand with the prescribed amount of money, and the negligence of heartless and cruel keepers still hold their sway, and will probably continue to do so until the laws in question are rigorously enforced. In Lon- don there has been for many years @ society for the protection of women and children, and whenever a case of cruelty, injustice or neg- lect is reported at 1ts office its counsel take at once the necessary legal steps to prosecute the offenders and to teach tnem not only respect for the laws of England but also for those of common humanity. New York, with its splendid array of charitable institutions, has yet failed to respond to the cries of the poor little walls on its streets, mm its squalid tenements ana festering slums, and the society named above is about to ex. tend to them the ‘protection which the dumb brute has already received jor years and years, THE LEADERS OF THE MOVEMENT. The movement out of which this association has arisen Was started by Mr. Elbridge T. Gerry, whose defence of Mary Ellen is yet remembered by the readers of the HERALD, and Mr. John D. Wright, a wealthy retired merchant, who is par- ticularly well known among the Quakers for his charitable deeds. A meeting was called to take place at the roums of the Christian Association, the call being signed by James Brown, Peter oper Wiliam E. Dodge, John D, Wright, El- bridg Gerry, Burden H, Sherman, Rev. Stephen ‘“ Jr., Albert Akin, William L. Jenkins, Rich- ard J. Thorne and Henry Bergh, At the meeting, which was attended by many of the foremost bank- ers and merchants of the city, the prelim- inary arrangemunts-were made for the formation of @ regular society. Subsequently a con- stitution was adopted and an organization effected by electing the following named gentie- men Officers of the asseciation:—President, John D. Wright; Vice Presidents, James Brown, Peter Cooper, William E. Dodge, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Joun J.’Cisco, Robert L. Stuart, August Belmont, Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Bergh and Elbridge T. Gerry; Secretary, John L. Griffen; Treasurer, Wilham L, Jenkins; Counsel, Elbridge T. Gerry; Executive Committee, Wilson G. Hunt, Louis J. Jennings, Joseph Seligman, D. Willis James, Rob- ert Colgate, Evan T. Walker, Jonathan Thorne, Benjamin H. Field, Burden H. Sherman, Israe! Corse, William M. Vermulye, Henry Bergh, Jono Howat Wright and Thomas C. Acton. The Constitution defines the scope and purpose of the society plainly, and brief extracts are herewith appended, The objects are stated as follows :— EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION. First—To rescue little children of this State from the cruelty and demoralization which neglect, abandon- ment and, Spare treatment engender. Second—To aid by all la means in enforcement of the laws intended for their protection-and benefit. Zhird—To secure oF like means the promot conviction and punishment of all persons violating such laws, and especially of such persons as cruelly ill treat and shame- fully negtect such fittle children of whom they claim the care, custody or control The members of this society shall consist of the per- sons signing the original call for its organization in De- cember, 1874, and of such other persons as shall here- after be elected or chosen pursuant to its bylaws bere after mentioned, The officers ot this soctety shall consist of a President, ten Vice Presidents, one Secretary, one Treasurer, 4 Counsel and an i.xecutive Committee of fifteen members, all of whom shall be chosen from among the members of the societv, and such other officers as may hereatter inted or created pursuant to such bylaws. The annual dues for regular members shall be $5a year, in advance, to be paid immediately after election. ‘Any reguiar member not in arrears may commute for life all ues for membership by the payment at one time Counsel shall be the legal adviser of the society, its officers and Executive Committee, and shal) have the eneral charge and conduct of all’ suits atid proceedings | fatituted by or against It, or them, or either of them, or in which the society may be interested. With the advice and consent of the resident he may compromise or settle any such suit or proceeding, and may also, from time to tiine, associate with himself and retain such other counsel or attorneys as, in the ment of the President and himself, may be advisabl the best interests ot the society. MR. JOSEPH SELIGMAN’S VIEWS, Yesterday several members of the Executive Committee were called upon, among others Mr. Joseph Seligman, the well known German banker aod humanitarian. He said that he haa nut yet found time to attend any of the meetings of the society, being preoccupied with business, but was of the opinion that it could do a great deal of good. The object was a most wortuy one, in his opinion, and he had no doubt that it would meet with the heartiest co-operation among the Germans of New York, Mr. Elbridge T. Gerry, who volunteered to serve gratuitously as Counsel, and upon whom, in that Capacity, the really important duties will de- volve, gave some interesting facta in con- nection with the subject. He said the Mary Ellen case had familiarized him to @ considerable extent with the barbarous and in- human treatment of @ large number ot children, On that occasion Mr. Bergh had prosecuted the offenders, but he (Mr. Gerry) became convinced that the Soctety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals could hot ordinarily pay the attention to these cases of sudering children which aye de- served. It appeared to him that if but some kind- hearted men could be found who were willing to take hold 0) this important project an westimable amount of good might be done. These men had been found, and now there was no reason to doubt that the efforts of the organization would mee’ with abundant success, THE SCOPE OF THR SOCIETY, There were a great many admirable institutions in New York, as, for instance, the Catholic Proteo- tory, the Children’s Afa Society and otuers, wuo undoubtedly did all in their power to ameliorate the condition of poor and suffering children; but none of them covered the particular ground which this society had chosen for its operations, They cared for children who were brought to them; but unfortunately they had no meaus to obtain control over those not confided to their authority, It was none of their business to go to the slums, where children were beaten and gtarved an forced to be begrars and criminals. If the parent or the guardian or the officer of the Court— in case institution be a reformatory— brought child to vheir doors they coul it, but not otherwise. They Thad criminal complaints when aware inhuman treatment, and this was pie woul adg- for a save could not of cases o} cisely what the soctety proposed to do. invite every citizen and every woman who heard of @case of this kind to lay the sacts before tts oMcers and they would at once take the necessary steps to rescue the child anda punish the offender. Great care would necessarily be used to investi- gate each case thoroughly in order to make e hat the complaint was not prompted by malice; bat when its truth was once ascertained they would at once sue out a writ of habeas corpus and bring tne child beiore the Supreme Court. NO SECTARIAN INFLUENCES. Mr. Gerry then spoke at length of the namerous cases of shocking inhumanity and absolute negiect to be found inthe slams and sometimes even in comparatively respectavie quarters, where @ child was !ound to be wanting the necessaries of life, where it was habitually ten by a drunken father, where it was forced vo beg, and in all milar cases the society would extend its helptn; and to save the defenceless victim by bringing 1 before the Court and causing the latter authority to make the proper provisions for its future main- tenance. Gerry laid Bag sti fact that the society would be tarian or political influences; tha estant, Jewish and ‘om ‘atholic, Prot- Chinese children, tor tna matter of that, would be equally benefitea by its operations. Of course the Court would naturally decide to send a Catholic child to a Catholic, and a Protestant to a Protestant imatitution, THB SECRETARY'S STATEMENT. Mr. John L, Griffin, the seore' sald that great caution would be exercised not to act too Tashly in any case and to kindly admonish offen- ders beiore prosecuting them. my he hoped, a salutary restraining influence would be brought tq bear won the lawiess and abandoned. aad | mot part with them under any ; found on the above docks, | Mf toleratea, | pier—bot it was understood that the hands en- much cruelty to children would thereby be pre- Vented. The society certainly did not propose to overturn domestic authority, but only meant to render impossible tts harab and cruel al . They hoped to wipe out this great stain upon New York’s reputation as a centre of ctvilization and Christian ite, and that there snould not be here dozens of cnidren compelled by force to beg in the streets and to obtain a certain amount every day, | who if they did not were veaten on their return to their wretched homes, At the last meeting of the society the following resolution was adopted :— Resolved, That the press throughout the State be re- quested to lend its powerful aid and assistance in furthering the humane purposes for which this society was organized. The next meeting will be held on Monday, December 28, at the office of the Society for the Prevention of Orueity to Animalia. The practical operations will probably be begun next week, and ir. Grimn, the secretary, will then be at the ofice of the society, which is to be temporarily in Mr. Bergh’s building, every day to receive complaints, A list of members will be kept open for inspection, and it 18 particularly to be hoped that many of the kind fair sex will swell their ranks. THE ’LONGSHOREMEN. ANXIOUSLY LOOKING FOR WORE—A FEW OF THE OLD HANDS EMPLOYED BY THE LARGER STEAMSHIP COMPANIES, Early yesterday morning large numbers of the Nongshoremen, formerly betonging to the union, were on the river fronts looking for work, Many had been idle several weeks, and they were ready to go back on almost any terms. In some instances they were successful, but in others the steamship men refused to entertain any proposition what- ever from them. With the latter there was the feeling that as the new hands had remained con- stant during the strike It was their duty not to discharge them at this juncture, From conversa- tions with numerous steamship agents, however, it was gleaned that in time @ goodly number of the old laborers—though not as union men—will be found on the docks of the larger companies. They will be placed there to supply vacancies caused by the dus | charge of the worthless material among the new gangs. When the strikers refused to work there were found among the thousands of raw bands scores worth retaining. They instantly fell in with the peculiar work, comprehended the value of stowing cargo well, and in a little while proved themselves first class Jaborers. Such men the steamship companies desire to keep, and will circumstances. In | cases of emergency the oid hands will find em- | ployment, and where dissatisiaction exists with | the present workmen they will be taken on. At | least such is the expressed intention of the In- | man, National, White Star, Anchor and other Nnes; but in no case will the wages be more than thirty cents an hour for day and forty-five cents for night labor, Along the East River but few of the men who were formerly with the society found empioyment. At the dock of C. H, Mallory & Co, the old bands | were working quietly and getting along admira- | bly. On the London, Liverpool and Bristol pier, those who never sympathized with the union were at work on the steamer Vornwall. A few police- men were present, but they bad nothing to do bus weartly walk up and down the dock. There was no vessel at No. 16—Messrs, Murray, Ferris & Co.'s Geaed during the strike would do the work in the future. On the North River side those who had been locked out so long were more jortunate. They were not employed, it 1s reported, as union men, | however. The Aachor line took on fifty or there- | abouts, Williams & Guiov’s line accepted the services of about the same number, as did | others of twos and threes. John Gannon, who headed the committee of Wednesday, when the Onal answer of the steamship compa- Dies was given, returned to the White Star dook and resumed his old position of foreman. The boss stevedores Walsh Brothers still continue to do the work of the Ravina. Inman and White | Star lines, and as it 18 for their interest to have the best workmen in their employ that they can obtain it 18 more than probable that many of those who belonged to the society will soon be UNION NO, 2 IN SESSION—THE ACTION oF THE CONVENTION CONDEMNED—RATE OF WAGES | FIXED—OPPOSITION AND INDIGNATION. The members of Union No. 2 cf the ’Longshore men’s Union held a meeting last evening in St James’ Hall, corner of James street and New Bow- ery, for the purpose of taking into consideration vhe action of the convention of delegates held’ on Wednesday evening, when the rate | of wages was, as is supposed by No. 2, | Imjudiciously and illegally fixed at thirty cents per hour during the day and forty-five cents per hour during the night, Mr. ROGER BURKE occupied the chair as usual and Mr. Smito acted as secretary. From the be- { ginning !t was surmised that the meeting would | bee troublesome one, as there were in the halla few of the ‘surrendered’ men who were capable of creating trouble. The Chair. man, Mr. Burke, in stating the object of the meeting to the large number of members present—about 1,200 in all—said that out of the twenty-six delegates which Union No.2 sent to the convention only twelve or thirteen delegates were present thereat, and from those he de- manded a verbal report of the action of the con- vention. Only seven of the delegates out of the thirteen, however, answered to their names, Mr, WESTMAN, & delegate who was present at the convention, was first asked to give in his re- port. He stated that he did not think it was necessary, because all he had to say concerning the convention could be read in the papers. He related, however, the whole work of the conven- | tion very fairly, and said he voted with the ma- jority of the delegates. Mr. JOHN HuaGaRD, financial secretary, was next called upon. He said that he did not go to the convention; that he jeft his place as delegate in disgust because he saw there was an under- current of wrong work on the part of the other divisions which would finally break up the anion He therefore aenounced the action of the convention as null and void, Mr. JAMES BRADY said that he was at the con- vention and was hissed down several times be- cause he stood up for No. 2 and for reasonable | pay. He knew the delegates should not agree to such a reduction Saale bay hence he stood up fainst their action, although he was several imes put down “‘like a dog." Mr. WEsTMaN—I call ior the reading of the min- he wish 4 last meeting. jing and indignant reat The minutes were, however, read, showing that “the delegation was empowered to act with the other delegates and to report back to No, 2,” Mr, WsTMAN then remarked he thought that | reading gave full power to the delegates to act as they had acted, but he was hissed down with cries o1, “Put him out; turn ont the Judas.” A very stormy scene now ensued and violence seemed at hand. Mr. TuoMY, another delegate, said that outside of the delegation, when the vote was put before the convention, the very men who. put the Walsh Brothers on the bulletin voted ior thirty cents per hour, and, striking the table, shouted at the i om rare sarin is od Ws) A A or acd 60) left the delegation in disgus' Mr, FLYNN, @ foreman for the Walsh Brothers, said he had nothing to say on the matter. He voted with the other delegates and thought he did right. A MEMBER—Shaking his tori hand—You’re ( tf boughs, and many besides Mr. FLYNN—I say I am ni A tumaolt was here created by the Opposing members, which was, however, put down by the chairman, but most likely by the presence of two or three policemen in the ball. No more delegates sat 9 present to be heard from Mr. HuaGarp moved that the report of the committee of Seleneces, to the convention be re- pepe as it was a disgrace not only to No, 2, but every union in the city and county of New York, and the committee that 80 acted should be imme- diately expelled, Mr, WesTxan—The committee were empowered to act as they have acted, (Several Voices—'‘Put him out.”"—“Turn him out, the Judas.”) Mr. WHELAN here ted that the othef unions kept this action of ¢ from No, 2, vertise it public press, It was, theretore, an tlle; transaction. The secre- tary also read a bylaw Of the constitution, bearing on the matter follows:—‘‘Any member of jthi Union who shall work alongsbore for less than the regular rate of ted, this wages ad Unton shall have wer to fine, suspend or expel him.” This, settied the whole matter. resolution was finally offered by Mr. CHARLES Smitn, Secretary, as follows :— lar fixed rate of wages adopted vy thes eiaberd of this Union in the cit; rang county of New York shall be, until further notice be given, forty cents per hour by day and by night The meeting then adjourned, MEETING OF UNIONS NOs. 1 AND 3. About four hundred members of the unions Nos, one called for the purpose of paying out dues. one third or mo! en work yesterday. There were bow only men unem| red and these, he th ‘%, would very soon rie work. No action had been tak by this union to it the opposition Union No, 2 in its condemna' of =the: action of the Conveution. Mr. Wall aid not think it was necessar’ this matter as the number of tion to this dekegates, who voted to work at the best possibiet tes represented the majority of the anion men. ‘Atter the usual transaction of the @nanctal busi- ess of the meeting the members adjourned, WESTON’S WEARY WALK. STILL GOING THE ROUNDS OF THE NEWARK RINE—~ BEVEN-TENTHS OF H1S TASK COMPLETED—FRARS OF AN ATTACK ON HIM. ‘The determined Weston still went the rounds of the Newark Rink yesterday without let, hindrance or drawback of any sort, in excellent spirits and all that could be desired in the way of health, Om Wednesday night, or, rather, yesterday morning, * he waiked until 12h. 58m, 188, A. M., and had them completed eighty miles for his day’s walk and the 270th of “the race.” He slept soundly until half- past four, when he arose, prepared himself and struck the track again at 5h. 4m. 15s, About eight o'clock one of the judges left the stand and was gone while Weston walked six circles. Weston BURST OUT IN ANGRY TONES and went the circle over again, leat it might be said he had departed an iota from his agreement witb bimseif, Thus he threw away nearly haifa mile, as sixteen rounds of the Rink make the mile. Weston was so pettish over the matter thas he expressed himself disposed to tender up the race. Several times he hag manifested this irrita- bility, caused, no doubt, from the very meagre support he hag had from the Newarkers, even those who signed a paper inviting him to walk Daving failed to put in ap appearance, except one or two, HE WAS GREATLY ENCOURAGED by some remarks made aloud by Judge Ricora and vy a letter receiv8d yesterday morning from Professor Doremus, of New York, Cgc g him on bis walk so far, admiring his pluck an declaring that he could never forget the indebied- ness Of science. to nim in the summer of 1 when he submitted to half 9 moath’s chemical and physiological criticism. This letver and tele- grams irom William W. Marston, of Wall street, and Rufus Andrews, seemed to bave @ vigorous effect on the walker, and he _ declared last evening that in spite of the emp houses he had walked to he would atic it out; they would have to club him out of Jersey before he would go now tili he tinished, Dr. Taylor deciares himself confident that Weston will win this time “as sure as daylight’? Weston is equally sanguine. Yesterday afternoon be was very lively, INDULGING IN JOKES and snatches of songs. He told the HERALD re- porter that all he feared was some accident or tn- terierence. He projesses to DREAD AN ATTACK by New Yorkers, who have made bets, and yester- day asmali guard of policemen put in an appear- ance. Weston was greatly amused with the re- mark of one policeman Louching the dreaded at- tack, “ls tt tech a hair 0’ ye ?”” said the blue coat- “Why, man alive, there wudn’t be enuf lest of blaguard that wud tech ye ¢’ make a comp agia.” One reason of his high hopes of succes; excellent condition of the Rink. 6 is the finest track he was ever on, it 1s 80 even and so carpet like. Over the door ts inch or so of fine sawdust, dampened. est mue yesterday was bis 300th. He walked in lim. 468. Daring tne day he AVERAGED ABOUT FOUR MILES AN HOUR. Atsix o'clock he had reached his 318th mile. By midnight he expected to make in the day 80 ines, and on the race 850, During the day nis entire rests amounted to a trifle over one hour. Those who have watched him from the outstaré think that unless some unforeseen occurrence in- tervenes the percaicias will succeed this time with bus 500 miles in six days, THE FIGHTING FREEHOLDERS. JERSEY 48 A BATTLE GROUND FOR GREEDY OFFICE-HOLDEBS—ANOTHER DAY QF WRAN= GLING AND FRAUDULENT EXPOSURES—THE SMALLPOX SCARE. The Board of Chosen Freeholders of Hudson county held another meeting at Jersey City yea. terday, and the attendance of spectators was large ag usual, The taxpayers who have a couple of letsure hours to spend seem to have ar rived at the conclusion that they cane not fail to enjoy a matinée of real amuseme! ‘in the hall of that Board. The frst business thaw attracted attention was @ communication from James Coyle, one of the members who had beem charged with frauds in connection with the publio business. The communication was a legal process notifying the Board that he would cite that body to the courts in January for the payment of $2,000, Mr. Smith moved that it be ree ferred to the counsel of the Board. Mr. Rah moved a8 an amendment that it be re- ferred to the Committee of Investigation, witn power to employ the necessary counsel, into whose ears the committee could pour some infor- mation not known to many outside the committee. Mr. Gibson moved to lay Mr. Ruh’s motion on the table, and it was carried. Mr. Ruh sat down, mut- tering, “Another triumph for fraud.” The most interesting item was in relation to the liberty pole now being erected in front of the Almse house gt Snake Hill. Bills tor small amounts aro sent in for this pole at every meeting till they have mounted up to $500. Mr. Ruh opened fire on this job and on his motion it Was resolved to pay no more money on this account wll all the 1eme are velore the Board. Mr. Coyle tried to defend the job, but he was voted down, Job No. 3 was the laying of a new gas main at Snake Hill. A bill was presented for $900, ana this was only half the whole item. Mr. Gibsou asked whether tne work had been contracted jor according to law. Director Throckmorton blushed and replied in the negative with some hesitation, A few law-abiding members shook their heads. The Chairman aang guaranteed that the work was being honestly done the bill was orderea paid. Then came the smallpox scare. Mr. Crane sent in @ proposition to remove smallpox patients to the hospital at Snake Hil) the sum of $12 for each rewoval. This brought an “old house’? down on the chairman o/ the ambulance commtit- Yee, Mr. Gibson, who was charged with having frittered away time for months on the subject. Mr. Smith said that sma!lpox was increasing so fast that it threatened to become an epidemic, Mr. Londregan spoke sharply to Mr. Gibson in de- fence of Crane's proposition, when Gibson re- torted that Londregan himself had a hand in that ambulance pie. « was the largest ofall. Mr, Schroeder Job No. moved that the counsel of the Board be instructed to take the necessary steps for the con- demuation of lands at Snake Hill not now owned by the county and for the sale of the salt meadows, according to an act of the Legislature, Mr. Gibson was immediately on his teet, and on his motion the matter was laid on the table. Mr. schroeder is the tallest wnember of the Board, and Mr. Gib- son branded his action as involving the tallest job. The final wrangle was the spictest. One J. J. Ard was the lowest bidder for the erection of the new pavilion at Snake Hill, at $6,231, ana the contract was awarded to him, He asked now to be released, and @ motion wag made to that effect. Gioson Made & desperate fight, and on his motion it was, finally resolved to prosecute Ard’s securities for the difference between their bond and the amount Of the next lowest bidder. ARREST OF COUNTERFEITERS. ANOTHER MEMBER OF A NOTORIOUS GANG IG cusTODY. Enis, Pa., Dec. 16, 1874, A special despatch to the HERALD on Sunday~ annonnced the capture of two notorious counter- feiters and shovers of the “queer,” Erway and Adams. This morning United States Secret Ser- vice operator Gilbert B. Perkins brought to this city and lodged in jatl another of the “Tom Bal- lard gang,” named Ed. Riley, a well known “ghover" of counterfelt money, The Ddills for the. most part were tens, on the Traders’ Nationa,’ Bank of Syracuse, N. Y. Riley’s deld of opera- tions were the mountainous districts in and ground Potter county, where were few if any vanks, He was very successful in “push- ing,” and owing to the rance of the mountaineers succeeded in fairly fooding every town or hamlet he visited. For severul days Perkins’ “spotters” had been on big, track, detected him in his operations; but Riley, scent- kN but the detectives were ing danger, “lit o after bim, and yeste: him down and cape yi y run feaders tured him tl . Reeheeniemre remote, tr war ere, piimented jor the Dreaking up of this sangerven gene. He'dore a notavie the ° ‘and Ben Ballard, at Black Rock, ik. sev- land 3, who have surrendered to the merchants and accept the pay of thirty cents per hour during the day and forty-five cents per hour during the night, assembled fast evening in St. Peter's Hall, corner of Church and Cedar atreets, The meeung Was @ regular busines eral small “‘shovers” are yet at work, but will see prison Walls in a few days, as the minions of Ww are after tem Wit arp st tion of and me off las' teens ofanreral important Witnesses, Dut wip