The New York Herald Newspaper, July 23, 1875, Page 6

én 6. THE COMMITTEE ON CRIME. The Police Being Investigated with a Vengeance. STRANGE AND STARTLING STORY nen A Panelled Victim~How the Po- lice Treated Him, ‘The Legislative Committee for the investigation f vhe causes of crime resumed ita session yes- terday moruing at ele’ o’clock, In the Chamber of the Board of Aldermen, in the City Hal. There Was a scant attendance @t this early hour, but the number of spectators tmcreased, and be- fore recess the chamber was pretty well Med. Owing to the absence of Mr, McGowan masoHess, the proceedings did not sommence until some minutes aiter tho stated time. There were present Mr. Aub, the partner of John D. Townsend, counsel for the sommittee, and five or six police captains, who seemed to manifest considerable interest in the Mavestigation, and finally Mr. Townsend and the sbsent committee entered when the evidence was tesumed. The crowd was composed principally Sf smal! politicians and a couple of score o! ca- ttosity-mongers, who came in to hear amy revelations that mught transpire. Qmong the spectators, after the evidence ad thoroughly got under way, the opinion gained ground to the effect that the investigation of the police captains was simply to ascertain the work- mgs of the District Attorney’s office, and how many convictions haa been procured by it when pases of gambling, faro, keno or keeping houses Of Ul-fame nad been brought from police courts to the knowledge of the District Attorney. TUR FIRST WITNESS. ‘The first witness to testify was Captain Hedden, who is quite an old memper of the force, and who gave hisevidence in an easy and unassuming manaer. Nr. Aub, who speaks English with a slight German accent, acted for Mr. Townsend during his absence. Captain Hedden testified that be had been in command successively of the Bixteenth, Twentieth, Fifteenth, Twenty-first, Second, Twenty-third, Thirteeuth, Twenty-eighth sna Twenty-niath precincts; was in the Thir- teenth precinct and was now in command of the Cnirty-third precinct; in his present precinct, which included the town of Morrisania, there were no disreputable houses, concert saloons or gambling houses, A DOLLAR AND A HALF CASE. + While in the Twenty-eiehth precinct, where he was capiain for fourteen or fifteen months, in July, 1873, there was reported to him a panel Bouse case; @ man reported that he had been repbed of $1 50—(laughter)—and the witness ar, rested the parties, bur the complainant refused to identify, and he took measures to watch this mouse specially, bus nothing more came of it, and Be made no furtner arrests there; knew an om- ser of the Fiiteenth precinct who was called “poxer Jack: he was an efflotent officer; he sever gave a dollar toward a present for any Po- ice Commissioner. THE RYAN MURDERS. In December, 1873, he was in command of the Thirteenth precinct ana recollected at that time she murder of Nicholas and Mary Ryan, which oc- curred in Broome sireet; no arrests were made by his officers; but seme of tho parties living In the tepement house were brought.to the Thir- teenth precinct station honse to be examined by Inspector Walling; was not at the time of the murder In the station Rouse, being absent at his home on the west side of the city, and did not Know of it until next morning, five orsix hours after, not having been notified by t ergeant in charge; at the Coroner's Inquest there was testl- mony given to show that Nicholas Kyan killed his Sister and then committed suicide; the tragedy was at No. 204 Broome street; a shoemaker’s knife was produced at the inquest, which ap- peared clean to the naked eye, but showed traces Of blvod under the micrescope; witness took tne Knife to Professor Doremus, who declined to make any analysis uniess proper authorization was given, and I uuderstood that there was not any made, XO APPROPRIATION. , Chairman Campbell—i suppose there was no appropriation for tne work, but Brother McGowan bas attended to that since. Witness—A Mrs. barke, who lived In the house with the Ryans, said at frst that she knew more than she was willing to tell when not under oath, but sne always denied all knowledge of the murder, The wituess was in the Fiiteentn precinct from 1869 to 1871; he was directed by Superintendent Kelso to “pull” the gambling bouse No. 818 Broadway; he went there with a posse of men end rang the beli; a colored man looked through & Wicket and thea bolted the door; the witness and bis men then broke im by force, having Droken the door im such a Way that they were apie to reach the fastenings on the inside; took the “jimmy” of a burglar who had been arrestea in Broadway. CAN A GAMBLING HOUSE BE BROKEN OPEN? By Mr. Aub—Witness knew of no law or regula- tion making It ‘llegai for officers to preak into a gambling house when it was knowa that a game Was actually in progress; when he had positive evidence and sufficient force he shonid not Resitate to do so withent @ warrant; he Would vot say that he could clear precinct ke the Fifteenth of all gambling houses and all otter, especially Objectionable places Within thirty days, because it might take more than thirty days to get suMfcient evfdence; if the law allowed him to make arrests on sus- Picion,t and he was sustained by the courts, Be could do 60 within thirty days; when he was im the Sixteentm precinct he arrested @ lot of young men who were reputed thieves; but were not charged with any specific offence, whey were sent to the island under the Vagrancy law, but were brought back under a Writ of certiorari, and discharged by Recorder Hoffman tn 1866; he had no aount that Nienoias Keyan killed his sister aud then killed himself; he Delieved that the whole amily were insane; there Was some superstition in connection with the burial of tbe parties, owing to the fact tnat their friends wanied tsem to go into consecrated ground; the family were living in an unnatural ‘way; a man of thirty years of ave with his sister aged twenty-eigat Im one room; there were two beus and there were bitver quarrels between them at times, A QUESTION. By Mr, Aub—What proof have you, or what makes you think that the brother and sister were living together im incestuous Intercourse ? Captain Hedden (warmly)—I did not say any such wing, and I du not wisn to have tt s0 under- y means; there was no partition be- Bay that they were living in an @nuataral or uncommon mauuer, andi do not ‘think that tbey were poor. A CASE OF PRATRICIDE, In answer to Mr. Aub the witness said that Ryan's watch was not found after the muraer; he could not Dave falien ail the way down stairs tothe place where his body was fonmd; the throats of both Ryan and his sister were cut; the shoemaker’s knife could not have been sed to cut Ryan's throat, as he could not ave piaced 1+ back in a knife box ina eleun eondition; another knife was found near th body chi 3 the sister owned » goid watch which was left in plain sight in her room and was not disturbed; this was one reason why he rejected the theory 01 robbery; he beileved that it bis sister's throat Whtle she was in bed, eut bisown throat as he was rannin; bloody pocketknife was fouud Bear the body; it was closet, but he had kuown of instances where persons had closed knives ppasmodicaiy afer ontting themselves; a vest and bloody footprinia were tound on tne root of the tenement house; the measure of $be footpiints corresponded with that o! Ryan's feet; the vest was not found antti some fours after the roof had Berg Agena lO bes roned; his position was that it was stolen by some in- mae of the house and left on the rooi; he to Coroner Young about having ap analy- made of the spots on the shve-knife, bus that officer aid not think it important. THE PANEL BUSINESS, got rid of ali the panel houses which were started during bis time in the Fil\eenth precinct as quickly a8 Cpe od arrested a Woman named Pa Ray sod an associate jor panel robvery in nd they were heid to bail; be case afverwara; then the wit- arresi# Jor @ panel robbery in 1; a man havipe reported that @ $500 bond st irom fim, and ike name of & hotei and saloon = | he NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1875.—WITH ‘SUPPLEMENT. : proprietor, who lived im Charleston, 8, 0., dit was discovered by two army officei 0 had known the supposed offender in uJ ton, on calling on the complainant, that b not the same man at all; he left the hotel where he was siopping, Without paying bis pill; another case Was that of a Jerseyman, who broagat with Lim @ woman trom lis own place in the interior of Jersey and came to sta, her one Bight in we city, sn m we jorming she arose ont of bed, took his money and disappeared, going back to the piace she came from; the man reporied this case Pauel robbery, and | was two or three days ¢! pores in hunting around for the panel thieves and tie woman who had so mysteriously disap- red; agenuipe panel house, according vo the system generally believed im, did not exist in ope ease ont of four; most of them were shams; when he Nad occasion to suspect the existence ol a mei house ne stationed officers tn front of it, mt the meighvors were always making Ccvm- Piaints when this was done and running to Head- quarters with them. By Chairman Campbetl—Do you think that It Is of any use to station OMcers tn front of a panel house after arobbery nas been committed f AN OPEN QUESTIO: Cantain Hedden—I do not wish to criticise th orders of my superiors, I know that the neigh- bors always complain of the officers nding In front of the panei hou: at nuisance to them- selves; he attempted to arrest tne keep- ers ofx gambling house at No, 720 Broaaway, but the parties heard of his intention and left it; he had dificaity in gettiag complainants to come forward, HOW PANEL ROBBERIES ARE HUSHED UP. While m the Fifteenth precinct he stopped pub- luc tmpropriety at disreputable houses in Greene street; he sacceeded Captain Vaffrey in command of the precinct; his offcera arrested some 4,050 persons for panel thieving tn we precinct; the men best known in connection with panel roboeries were not the actual opera- tors; “Shang” Morris was reported to be behind a number of panel games, but he dia not think he bad any in the Fifteenth when the witness Was there; it was diMcalt to get panel thieves, as settlements we: with vietims after arrests were ma Georgiana Ray as @ panel thie!, but charged in this way; le never knew a man named Garibaldi by that name; settiements were ire- quently made by agents and associates of the panel thieves, aud toca it was impossibis for captain to do apytiing in the matter; if the asso- ciate found that the victim was disposed to make troubie then the matter was settied and the agent gave the money back. NEVER BROUGHT TO TRIAL. In the case of a panel house in which a large robbery had been committed tae parties would immediately leave, but otwers would take their places ii the Operators owned the furaitn: 1 such cages goo! would pe accomplished by hiv- Ing an oMcer stationed in irent of the house. At one time it was the uuderstanding in the foree that uo arrests should ve made jor gam- big eXcept Ip cases whele a complaint was made by actiizen; there was no written or printed order of the kind, but an intimation to that effect ‘was received by the captains.trom their superiors. There Were some twenty policy shu ps tn the Fil- teenth precinct when he neid command toere; they were frequented by a mixed class Oo! per- sons, but chiefly by the lower classes; the keepe & of every shop were arrested by him at some time, but were merely heid to bail, and never brougut to trial; policy Bhops eXistea in mearly all the pre- eimets, BIG MURRAY'S LITTLE GAMR, The man called “big Murray” did not keep a gambler’s game then; wi'ness was Captain of the Fifteenth precinct until just before he left; bad heard through the newspapers since that “Big Mike Murray” had kept a large keno game; had not talked with his brother officers on tne supject; “Big Murray’ had- been arrested, he believed, Sut mot for gambling; he was arrested for assaulting some one on Broadway. By Mr. Vessar—Now, Captain Hedder, dia you ever receive any instructions from the Commis- sioners or your superiors to leave certain gamb- ling houses unmolested and break up otner ones? Captain Hedden—No, sir; [never received any such orders or anything of that kind. NO BRIBES. By another committeeman—Dia you ever re- ceive any money from any di-reputable house, banco, keno or gambliag house, to prevent pouce interference ? Captain Hedden—Never at any time, but offers were made to me, and in the Thirty-third precinct, woere there are no nonses of that kind and uo disreputable games, & man named Jobnseu, who was on the track at Fleetwood Park, offered to go shares With Me and give me & percentyge on the game of pin pool; he had two otuer men with him, whose jaces I knew as sport- ing men on the track; this Jotmson was James Johnson, 1 think, and he had no connection With the Johnsons who wave charge o! the track; Linformed them of the offer to bribe me and they Kicked Bim off tue track. “THE MYSTERIOUS POWER.'? ‘The witness testitied that be never knew of the conviction of any gambier Who had been arrested by him; tuere was always some mysterious power that prevented their cenviction; I did not go to the District Aitorney’s oitice, because I aid not think I could find anything about convictions there; 1 went to the police courts to learn li apy- tuning was done, and it never was; I got a warrant from Superintendent Kelso to arresc the parties tm No. 818 Broadway: \t was a kind ef a combina- tion game and was private and they played against each other; strangers could not get in. JOUN MORRISSEY GIVES BAIL. Igota warant jor Joon Morrissey, who was said to be in the house; the warrant was issued by Justice Dowling, and I went to-No, 818 Broaaway; 1 Dad the warrant irom Kelso only ap bour and a hal; | went to bis piace in Twenty-fourth street and did not find him there; the house at No, $18, as I suid, Was ran On snares, and | think Morrissey owned two siares, or $10,000; the other eight per- sons owned one share each. BY CHAIRMAN CAMPBELL. Was there a man named Joho McCormick in that game at No. 813 ? Captain Hedden—Yes, I think he owned some shares; when they were taken to court tuey ali gave bail, and witle thia was being aone Joan Morrissey came into court and gave Dail in $2,000; the case Was DOW brougat to @ trial ‘and Justice Dowling merely notified the prisoner and the wituess that they would be sent for when they Were Wanted, and soon alter Dow- ling went to Burope, and when he came back nothing was done about the gamolers’ cases, and he (the witness) heard no more about them; Where the mysterious power was ge conla not tell, bat had heard as a common rumor tuat tne Geieat of justice remained witu the police magis- trates, At this moment Assemblyman James W. Husted entered and took his svat in tue committee. He asked Captain Hedden, who was just concluding Bis tesiimouy, UM tue Warrant given to him by Kelso and issued oy Dowling had not been served by Dim during the term ol the young democracy fight, and toe Captain answered “Yes,” aud added that he bad heard that it was issued om account of political intrigues; broke up five policy shops im the Thirteenta precinct, ia 74, Ou specific charges, but tue vase of one Was thrown out of court on the ground that he (tue Captain) nad contributed to the offence by sending & man to buy a ticket for nim—(iaughter)—and the Justice wio did this Wag either Flammer or Otterbourg. This concluded ihe testimony oj vaptain Acaden, it Was understood that Captain Clinchy bad re- peatediy dechued to appear Lefore the comuuttee for {nsufiicient reasons, and it was discussed whetuer Or not ap attachment should be issued for Bim. A COMIC WITNESS, After recess Mr. Townsend took his seat and ex- amined a Mr. Alfrea Pengover, who testified tuat e Was @ carpenter aad bulider who resided at No. 162 Wast Futeenth street, and wis a widower. The wi ness told his story with a nasal drawi and in a doli merfotone, very much resembling tnat of Mark Twain Waoen teiling a story. Occasionally he Weuid break into Mushes ot humor when te re- lated now he Was humbugged by the detectives and the police captains; om the night of January 25, 1874, he was enticed Into a house, No. 202 West Thirty-seventh street, in Uaptain McElwain’s pre- cinel; the woman Was in seeming disiress and was crying, gud she said she had been discharged and dia not kuow what to do and could not pay the Tent; she wanted me to go with her and see where she lived; I gave her $3 out of my pocket and told ler to go on. 4 FOOL AND HIS MONRY, ETO, I went with her, aud went into the house, and it took her and her pal just two minutes to clean Me out and get all the ‘money, $1,200; the money was in my pantaioons pocket; { went out aud saw pO oe cia age big, 1a: tellow—on the beat, named Miller wald We Wouldn't do anything abeut 1 said it was Not on his beat; then | thougat I'd go for a iriend of mini ed Moore, and we watched the honse until anotmer iriead of ours named JobBson came add went for @ policeman whose name { don’t know; he was a roundsman; this man also said that be could do nothing, A SPLENDID POLICE FOROR. The roundsman #aid I must go to thestation house, and after great delay | got the proper efi- cers and we all went round to the house in Thirty. weveuth street, and there Was an examination which showed all the paraphernalia o: a panel house; we found a w the second floor of the house and I wanted her to be arrested, but Captain McHiwain said I hed a myself into trouble if 1 nad ber arrested, but if 1 would sponsibility he would make the a: was completely pal there was a detects ton hoase and him — $100, give another fellow along with bim same purpose, amd! gave him $100; I saw Judge Kasmire and went wita his brother, BAF. Kaemire, who wasin my employ at one time; Judge Kus. mire toid me to go to headquarters; there 1 met Detectives Dick Fleids and King; they were given the particulars and [ went wita them tothe house in Thirty-seventh street. DOWNRIGHT BRIGANDAGR, In the house we found # trunk with pawn- tickets and wom wearing apparel, and this Was taken to Police Headquarters; | got sick of it parading Broanway with Fields and King and Mehiwain and the men belonging to him, and I asked = to 100 for the was Wih him for ® mon'h unt I got tived; I went and saw tnghy Gardner “and had @ talk with him; the thing had been going on Will was completely discouraged; Garaner seemed o know e honses, and told me howt said he would give me so rything about panel ey were marked; ne ie detectives, and I give them irom head- wo Matsell, gad ne d's saks don’t wea I went Beck with prom- they would “get 'y-eight hours;” they always aid in forty-eight hours; woen I found Icould g no S.tisiaction from MoKlwain I wi jatseli again, and ie told me to bring the matte: belore the Board of Commissioners, aad | weut to headquarters with five or #iX friends, and some- body in the building tola me that the case bad been disposed of the day before it had been set down jor, aud the charges against McElwain had been dismissed belore | ¢ uld appear to vestily. MATSBLL’S ‘BASKET OF BELS."? t @ friend of mine to call on Matsell u k him if notuimg could be dove, 80; Matsell lifted bis spectacies off bis dand jooked up at om aud said, “Way at case settled by $8 Tt seems to be lik a bas the detectives case, but it to apy- thing; day afier day the witness watched the vetectives, and saw that (ney were not doiug anything, and that they did mot intend to get me any mon y; at last, in utter despair, the witness called upon Superintendent Wathog him & complete Disiory of the Case, and he to take a very lively interest im the matier, and Mor G said tbat it was only a question of time; the witness saia hat where Was s0 much talk about the Thasked borglars at tie tune that the detectives did not seem to have any time to get him nis money; Walling Bald thal a8 600 BS (hat Was attended to Ris ca! would be taken In and; the wituess oiten since met with tbe girl who had ro bed nim, but tould ever see @ policeman bear at hand to arrest ber; Superintendent Walling told me that the giri Was in Poiladeipnia, and he seni to the chief of pouce there jor the description of the wouan woom = th Rad in surveillance, but it did not auswer to that of kveieen Vint n, who was Jack Rivers’ woman; in the meantime he met tbe girl again in a Sixth avenue car and be reported it .o Superiutendent Walling, Who @sain wrote to Philavelpoia, out the second descript.on did DOL answer to that of the woman Who bad robbed him; Dick Fleids and King were then puc in the cage, and, wito ese Gwo men, Le Weot lo the Woman’s heaiquarters, in Cana street, LAUGHING IN HIS FACE; when they got to within & 0.ock of the house Fieids aud King stopped snort aud came to @ halt, aod Ficlds said to me, “We'll get you your $1,200 and the expenses, tuo, bub see here, | tuluk you Are dead wrong (0 Visit her at ver house at Lois time Oi the day; Suppose you meet usin the murn- ing una we'll g a your $1,200,” T went in the morning, said ibe q#iiness, LUL, Of course, the Woman Was bot there and cou.da’t be iougd, aud Adid not get my money, (Laughier.) Mr. Lownsend offered letiers 1a evidence, being the corresponden.e which passed vetween Pemnoyer and Commissiouer Garainer, January 19, 1874, Peunoyer to Walling, Octover 14, i874; trom Wailing to Pennoyer November 6, 1874; from Pennoyer to Waliinx, Decemoer, 1874; this cor- resyoudence was ademand irom Mr. Pennoyer to have the guilty parties arrested, and, in retura, Su- perintendeat Walling imiormea complainant of what progress had veen nade; I had private par- ties that day on the woman; ome was Uficer Buras, of tue Ninth precinct, aud another man; the otier man knew her, out Burns uid not; J aid botspeak to any of tae Vomuussioners but Mat- sell and Gardiner; the people around Meadquar- ters told me it, Was RO Use laspeaking te Voornis, Disbecker or Duryee; that they were ‘nu ac- couut” or “ne good’? (iaugater) ; lintend to prese, cute this woman contiwually uutil l dave her con- vieted; I dou’t care 60 much avout iny $1,200 now; Gardiner ‘oid ber thae he could order the money to be returned to me, and bad doce so in other cases, put he would not do it now as would ve componnaing a@ feiony; | saw Judge Kasmire and Gardimer, and Kasmire said “1 sup- posed tnat you were going to put itin the papers ;”? and | sald trac I pad tried that game burt had failed, and Gardiner, | understood had said that he had made arrangements to keep it out of the papers, WHO Was IT? Here a man stood up and said to Mr. Campbell, the chairman, “Won't you ask the witness Waat papers be refers to?” Chairman Campvell—I don’t think that would be a proper question to ask him, Witnes-—Mr. Dunn, @ detective, was also after the case, bat he “dropped it like a hot potato;” some detectives said tuat I knew too mucn; | saw the Wolan olten and she always got away trom me: {saw her on Thirty-seeutd street, ani fol- jowed her to the New York Laundry, on Iwenty- seventh street, aud she ran away; I went to Captain McElwain’s station house, in the Twentieth precinct, having received a despatch from him (hat he bad made an arrest; when | got tere, McElwain sald, ‘Look-a-nere, Pennoyer Jeborne arrested your woman and jou have got me in a devil of a Scrape,” and he took me down to the cell avd asked me to look at her, ancl did 80; her face was fuller and it was not the same woman at ail; Sue did not look jike her avout the air, A RIDICULOUS FARCE. I think the Woman was quite wiiling to say that she was the same who had roboed me, t she Was not; phe Was taken to court re Kile breth and They asked her her Dame, and she said it was Lotue Hays; the Judge asked ber wno were her iriends, and she would not tell, and the Judge said he would hold her until told who her iriends were; @ German woman examined herim thecelland she did mot answer the de- scription of the woman who roobed me; tain Mcilwain seemed determined io force me'to say that tas woman, Lottie Hays, was the gue wiro had robbed me, and he cauxht nold of her and saia, “Here, look at her and see if it isa’t the same,” and Kilbreta asked me if I knew ner, and | said, “1 don’t know who the devil she 18,’? (Laughter.) A SWINDLING SHERIFF. Iwas arrested at the iastigation of & woman for false imprisonment, who, | supposed, nad anelled me; ver lawwer was a fellow at Jefferson arket, Damed McOiellan, and he said:—“You are a friend of Juage Kasmire and 1 don’t want to press this cuse against you; I have got her $25, and don’t care auything about it, and Vii jet it drop right off; you ought to be able to her any day;” 1 was arrested by a deputy sherif named Conners, and he told me that I would have to pay $25 or sleep iu Ludlow street Jail, and I didn’ want that; 60 I gave bim the $25, and tuen he raid that ae wanted $11 50 jor sherifl’s fees, anal gave nim $12 «ut of my pocket, and said to him I bad been robbed so much, “sor God’s sake, don’t give me back the fifty cents change.” (Laugnter.) This conciuded the evidence of Mr. Peunoyer, and Superintenden: Walling was next called and testified in a brief and rather indigaant manner that Pennoyer had calied on nim and asked that a Woman suswerig to a certain description should be arrested and he nad procured that womau jor him, and then be declared that she Was not the wuman that he wanted; and that in fact tie Witness could not tell who Mr. Pennoyer wanted. Toe committee then adjourned until this mora- ing at tie same hour, An attachment is to be issued for Captain Clinchy, to make him attend to-day, ana Cap- tains Levry, Irving, Lowery, Killalen and Kennedy Wl be examined in reguiar succession, BROOKLYN POLICE, SUPERINTENDENT FOLK ARRAIGNED EOR NEG- LECT OF DUTY AND INCOMPETENCY—IN- TERIOR WORKINGS OF THE roncr. Superintendent Folk’s trial before the Police Commissioners came on yesterday, and was the oceasion of unusual interest. The captains were all early on the scene with their re‘urns, The charges were failure to detect and arrest the murderer of Hartigan, faliing to arrest the per- petrators of the Long Island Bank robbery, Arthur Heaney assailants, the assailants of Aaron Schate, and the illegal arrest of William H. Neeves, the English emvezzler, who was returned to Engiand without being arrested on a State warrant and without arraign- ment before a magistrate, Superintendent Folk came into the trial room Shortly before eleven ovclock in company with his counsel, ex-Judg dJamea Troy. Among the spectators during t session were several Citizens Inspector Waddy, Captains Terry, McKellar, Campbell, Smith, Woerth, Oornell, Rhodes, McLaugniin and Leich, The fall Board, President Briggs and Com- missioners Pyburn and Hurd were present, The President called the Court to order, when Qoun- sellor Troy said that bis client desired to appear by counsel, and le would like to have permission of the Board, He would aiso like to interpose an objection to the constitution of the Court, The charges are preferred by one of the Commission- ers, and they objected (counsel and client) to the complainant sitting im judgment on the trial of the charges which be himseif makes, President Briggs overruled the objection on the ground that the Commissioners have aright to make charges against any subordinate, “We then plead not guilty to each and every charge mace,” said Counsellor Troy, Chier Clerk Lansing then called THR FIRST WITNESS, William A. Polk, a aon of the defendant, who, being sworn, in answer to the questions py the counsel for the Police Board, Mr, A, Barrevt, tes- sified:—I am &@ dotoctive oMcer; have been an officer tince May 1, 1856, with the enception of three years spent in the army; I got acquainted with Detective Spittals, of the London po lice, at the Superintendent's oMmce; was intro- duced to that officer by the Superintendent on March 27, 1875; I transacted omictal business with him on that day. Counsel for defence objected to witness reciting what trams- pired between himself and Detective Spittam as irrelevant to the issue. The police counsel said the onject was to get at what transpired between witness and William H, Neeves, The Board ad- mitted the question, Witness said—I was intro- duced 0 Mr, Spittals and told to give bim what | Information 1 could get from Neeves; 1 was told by the Saperintendent to give the detective il the assistance that he required; Detective Spittals them stated to me what the nature of his @ warrant which he had from London and he asked me to assist him in locating the man. Coansellor Troy objected to this giving of con- versation had when the Superintendent was not present. Witness—I located where this man was stop- ping, and avout balf-past eleven o’clock on Mon- day night, March 29,1 arrested him at the house of @ respectable family; 1 prefer not to name thi family; the nouse is onthe corner of Myrtle ave- nue and Schenck street; Detective Spittals wi within a few feet of me when | made the arrest; I took the prisoner to the Fourth precinct station house, where he was locked up till the next mor! ing; | stated to the prisoner the nature of the oe against bin; the next morning I brougiit hun down ty the Superiatendent’s oflice and (here Intrusted him to Detective Spittais; lL represented to the Superintendent that the man was wiliiny to gO back; the only authority upon wice | ar- Tested him was THE WARRANT FROM LONDON}; Thad no State warrant—never heard of a State warrant being required im a case of this kind; 1 never attempted to take him before a magistrate, as | never beard of @ Case of Tals kind being taken before one; | never saw Detective Spittals beiore that time; the case was reported by m bergeant Frost the same merning; when | nim all che particulars; the detective police headquarters daily while in New Yo. Cross-examined by coansel for the defeace—The Commissione’s of Pollce then were Jordan, Briggs and Jensen, What conversation was had between the prisoner and yourself upon tae subject? Counsel for the Board objected, and Mr. ‘Iracy insigied that they had a right to know what was sald, The question Was admitted. Witness—l met him on tie corner ef Myrtle avenue and Schenck street, aod toid him that be was ciarged with robbery in London, and that tnere Was an officer out nere for kim; he asked me wwen the oiticer was going vack; i toid him the officer wouid gall the next day, and he said ue Was Witling to go With Dima, to go back and take his coances there; ne said he Nad ween rob- bing the tirm for more than a year, and he didn’t believe the firm would ever know bow much money he had taken trom them; the foilowing morning, alter leaving the suaperintendent’s omce, the subject was not mentioned; when I went into the Superiniendent’s office to take him the next merning he was readiug @ pauper, and I asked him if he was reaay to go, when ne replied that he was; he said he couldn’t stand being hunted rouud [rom one end of (he codntry to the oteer ; hy i be ianged irom England in the West Iadla Isiands; he was mot aware that there Were any oilicers alter him whtie there. ‘roe question being asked O what the pris- oner Neeves said to the uetective, Spittals, OQjec- tion was made by the opposing counsel, The Commisatoners admlited the conversation between Foik and the priener, but would not pap da what was said between Spittals and Neeves. Mr. Tracy said it was a matter of-pollty and courtesy to accord assistance to ioreign countries to retura prisoners charged with jeloales, it bad always been the custom to detain parties arrested on charge o! lelonies tll such time us they can be properly extradited. Exception was taken to the ruling of tue Board. Witness—Tne action taken in the matter was reported the ngxt day to tne Cominissioners; the action was appruved by Generai Gordon; I also spoke of it to Commissioner Brigys. President Briggs said 1t migut Mave been go, but he nad ho recolieetiou of it. Witness—Yes, gif; you said It was ail right; General Gordon said it was ail right, as it was @ common custom. ‘Mr. Troy formed Commissioner Briggs that he had been suinmoged as 4 wituess, and Would bave an ouportuanity to testily. Presigent Briggs said he would rather not (hess—The Superintendent simply told me to turn the mau over to Spittals. Q. Do you know of any similar case being ap- proved of by iormer Boards of Police Commis- sioners? Ruled out, The withess was required to produce is detective book, on demand of the counsel, who sald that the superintendent and this detective seemed to have managed this whole business aud Le desired all the information possible. Witness—This book isa pe memorandum of my doings every day;I keep it for my own in- formation, and not under any rule of this depart. ment; {heard nothing on the day 1 weat to New York with Neeves ABOUT THE LONG ISLAND, BANK ROBBERY}; I was officially informed of it the jollowing morning at Tull cull, when the Sergeant of the squad read it of to all the oilicers; the buperiniendent never wi there at our roll cali can’t give any particular directions given me by the Superin- tecdent to my knowledge in that case; I was as- signed to work up @ particular part of it; that was three or four days after its commission; 1 cannot repeat What conversation we bad im connection wiih tne case at the time; I went to New York and | tried to locate the parties who put up the | job. area Troy said there were certain men connected with this rovbery whose names it 16 not to the pubiic interest to make known. in answer thereto the counsel for toe Bosrd sald it was fuli time that the public were put in possession of all Intormation on tie subject. The people haa @ rigut to know. The crime was commit- ted Im March jast, and no arrests had veen made, ‘Lhe rights of the public is a very popular theme,” remarked Mr. Troy, ‘but nevertheless it is not always proper vo reveal what the police are doing.’ Counsel contended iurther that woat the superintendent told bis oMcers to do and what taey did in tae exercise of their judgment were different matters, aad the Superiutendenat could nos be neld responsible for errois made vy them. Witness—The Long Island Bank robbery was re- pes on Sanday, March 28; Aprii2 I went to New York and tried (9 locate certain parties; £ went to Puukerton’s Detective Agency; the par- ties | was aiter were Dave Jones aua George But- ler; they are sneak tileves, burglars and every- thing eise woere there 18 a dollar to be made, Objection being made again to the line of ques- tions, counsel for the prosecution said he wavted to show inat t¥e Suvermtendent did not do his daty and falied to enforce the rules of the depart- ment and tuerefore Le is incbmpetent Lo aischarge tne duties of the ofice. He did not properly ai- rect the means at his disposal in executing tae requirements of the position, resident Briggs said the Superintendent ts re- sponsible for the proper conduct and execution of the orders of the Board, Wiiness—After the Heaney robbery when I went to New York saw Wetective Mullen, Who prom. ised to get the two inen for me; I suppose that toe thieves of New York are generally divided into gangs; these Men generally frequented at that time No. 23 Rivingtoo street; I wenut@tnere with Detecuve Corwin; also went to see the P lice Superintendent of w York; frequentiy went to New York and Walked up and @own the Bowery looking sor tae men; we cail the Heancy affair & sueak rovbery; is was done in the even- ing about hail-past six o’clock; I formed tne vheory that it was the same men who commitied the bank and the Heaney robberies; I based my Judgment on information reeetved, in one case from an ofticer, and in toe other from a rivate source; I have made no arrests n any of these cases: neither in the Long Island Bank robvery, Hartigan murder, Shute assault or Harvey case; associated with me in these cases Were Detectives Van Wagner, Cor- win, Frost, Willams, utes, aud 1 can’s say if Corr ‘was or not. Motioh to strike out the third specification, which charges incompetency and negligence, was here Made by Mr. Troy, a8 it contained nothing specific, it would uot, be said, be considered a decent specification im adog fight, whe motion was denied, SERGEANT CHARLES FRosT testified that he entered the Neeves case om the detectives’ viotter March 29, and the bank rob- je same + ( never saw Dotective Spit- ; at all; tae Long Island Bank rob- ted to the Su Fite was rep: the sergeant to give it tol have them werk On tho case; witn Batts, Van Waguer = Poapesl wi detalied on the case; Tobpery Mr, Folk was Headquarters unti) Witness investiga’ t and made. a reports in writini the next morning; Detective O'Brien were detailed on tae Hartigaa case; the last report made to me of work done tn the Har- tigag case was of Detective Corr going to Cnicago tnree or four Weeks ago; in the Schure case a man was taker upto Mrs. schute for identification, and she relused (o or ceuldn’t identify him; two re arrested tn the Heaney cas Inspector Waddy testified that daced to Detective Spittais ¥, Detective Folk the Sunday beiore the arrest of Neeves at the Fourth precinct station house; saw Neeves reading @ Paver in the Superintendent's ofive after ke Was arrested on teal ‘Mr. Troy said a4 his examination of the Inspec. tor would take some time, he would not co ence till the adjourned a The Board there. upon adjourned till next Thursday morning, at m O'Clock. FIREMEN’S ASSOCLATION. oeeeaitae | ast The New York Firemen’s Association held « etime twat éverirag, at Bleecker Building, Vice ‘President Lewis J, Parker presiding, Among the old vamps present were ex-Fire Commissioners Henry Wilson, Alderman William Lamb and ex- Fireman Robert Thompson, The Committee on the Centennial Excursion to Philadelphia statea that the several bands of musio were charging $15 ahead aday, board and transportation in- cluded; that the hotels in Philadelphia were de- manding $64 day, and iimed the number of men they would receive; jurthermore, that the City authorities intended to erect Coops, or bar- racks, for the accommodation of sleepers, but provide no meals, #rom the above starement it moay ve seen chat a damper may oe thrown on the cations that would ike to Join in the celeprauons ume ef the ck and did not come Cl al! was intro- many ass Censenaial THE RAILROAD SLAUGHTER The Southern Railroad Com- pany’s Officers Arraigned. POPPENHUSEN'S MANAGEMENT. . How He Wantonly Interfered in the Running of Trains. THE JURY’S VERDICT. The investigation into the clreumstances of ti Ro Kaway railroad slaughter was concluded ye: ler iay by District Attorney Downing, who con- ducted it im the place of Coroner Hicks, It cul- Minated in @ majority verdict of thé jury which severely consures (ke company. The papers in the case will now be sent to tue District Attor- ney’s oMice, ana steps will probably be taken to satisfy the outraged sense of the community by proeuring the indictment for manslaughter of the officers of the Soutnern road, who are respon- sible for the accident. From what the District Attorney said yesterday itis to be inferred that he tateads to lay tne case befure the Grand Jury at the earliest possible da ‘The testimony adduced yesterday was perfectly overwhelming 80 far as the incompetency of tho management and the culpable recklessness Which marked it, especially on the Sth of July, were concerned, Mr. Barion’s testimony regarding the interferences of Poppenbusen and the latter's running trains witiout possessing any expert- ence of railroading was very important in that regard. The testimony of Mrs. Stancilf, the brakeman’s wife, that she had heard the train from Rockaway coming and warned the conduc- tor of the train from New York (Hibbard) against golog on, was contirme i by two witnesses. Charies H.Brown’s testimony pointed also to Poppenhusen as cuipable ior leayiug Rockaway too late on Holdridge’s train, TESTIMONY OF MR. BARR, John J, Barr, the track master, was recalled. He was questioned concerning the President's ac- tivity in running the road, and replied that ne took no active part in it did not think Mr, Pop- penhusen, the manager, had any previous expert- ence in railroad matters; he did not employ more brakemen on July 5, because he had no au- thority todo so, (This was in relation to the un- disputed testimony that Chere were not sufficient brakemen.) District Attorney Downing—Is it irae Faas you 1c! butl were discharged @ week before the Mr. Barr—! was not actually discharg was notified that it was the wish of Mr. Poppen- husen that I should be-dismissed; Mr. Barcon in- joried me at the same time that ne refused to discnurge me. A very damaging statement, made by this wit- ness, that Smith Piatt, the regular engineer of the train irom Williamsburg, Was aiseuarged Ch Previous to the Sth of July and Ashmead put uto the place, Who had never run @ train before, TESTIMONY OF MR, BARTON, Mr. Barton, the Supermtendent, wi cailed. ‘Mr. Downing—What is the actual experience of the oficers 01 vhe road superior to your Mr, Barton—I don’t (mink they have any practi- cal knowledgo of running a road. . Mr. Downing—Did Mr. Poppenbusen, neverthe- less, possess tae power to give you orders on that day? Mr. Barton—Certainly he had, Ofiicer; he bas imterfered witn the of the road; 1 know of instances when Mr. Poppenlusen has ordered trains to go on de- then re- my superior on the North- spite the regulations of the ga e 1 cannot | 1, rememper tue date, but last Jai side and Flastin; on regardic of the five minutes’ variation ‘of wate Mr. A. T. Stewart, as have been in. formed—for this was before 1 was on the road. went out on @ train to Garden City with Mr. Pop- penhusen, and he took charge of the train, although conductor was on it; there was nearly an accident, which was only prevented by the train hands, POPPENHUSEN’S INTERFERENCE. Mr, Barten admitted aiso that there was inter- ference on the part of mr. Poppenhusen in the payment of the employés, The payrolls, after having been signed by him (Barton), were altered by Poppenhuseb. When be (Barton) haa allowed for extra work Poppenhusen would strike off the extra allowance. he admitted, tented to Impatr the zeal of the employés and to create dis- satisinction. Mr. Downing—Have you not threatened to re- sign on account ol this interference ? ‘Mr. Barton—I have told Mr. Hinsdale, the vice | ade ke ut of the road, that uuless Mr. Poppe: sen stopped his integference | would leave, 1 did not tuink man to interiere with my business; | have been on the ratiro: ince 1857. Mr. Barton admitted that there were Jrequentiy disagreements between him and Poppenhusen f reierence tO making up the time tubie, but he (the witness) generally had his way; Poppe' husen, however, had more to say about the eneral Management of tue road, being the eneral Manager. MORK CRIMINAL CARELESSNRSS. Mr. Downing—How about the refusal of the train officers to take the dead or wounded back to Wihamsburg? Mr. Barton—I hope there is no oné on our road so totally void of heart, However, 1 canuot say anything about Ir, Mr. Downing—There 1s no dount ¢ the trat taken back by Mr. Poppenvusen was empty, while 1% could have taken vack some of the injured, Mr, Barton did not dispute the fact. He was then asked If the accident could not bave been avoided if there had been a telegraph sta'ion at Woodsourg (which was removed by the niggard- jiness of the present company), and said, “Yes, it Ue the trains nad been run by tele- grapu.” ke admitted that no telegraph station Dad since been estaolished at Woods- burg. The trains, however, were not run by telegraph but by taerales of the company. Mr. Barton was closely cross-questioned, wich a view to ascertain Whether @ telegraplic warning would have prevented the collision, and contradicted himseli several times. Tue only thing apparent seemed to be that under tue cast iron, inflexioie Tules Of the company scarcely anything could Lave saved the poor victims, WHETHER OR NO! Mr. Adam Rich, of Valley stream, was a pas- senger im Midbard’s train (from Wiiliameburg). | Alter tne accident a lady, Mrs, Stanciim, t brakeman’s wile, said she heard the over train coming, and asked them not to go on, but tuey said they'd go on, whetuer or no. Charlies H, Brown was on the train from Rock- away. He testified that he looked at his watch | wheo heentered tne train at Rockaway, and it | was seven minutes (otwe When itstartea; bis watch Was rupning very well, and, being @ watch- maker at No, 20 Maiden lauc, Le was not likely to be mistaken, (Ini was in contradiction of the testimony of the Officers of the road, Poppentnsen and the rest, that tue train pound 10 Brooklyn leit Rockaway at 1:65 on time, aud not at 1:53, as tes- tifled to by the witness, In the two minutes thas accounted tor Hiobard’s watn could have come im. According to the testimony of the officers of the road they had no right to start before (making fifteen minutes allowance), amd by ing two minutes earlier Poppeuausen aud Von- ductor Holdriage, who had charge of the train, must Baye Caused the collision.) AFTER THE RECESS, Was taken until two o'clock, Dur- ne 8, 8 several people complained to the representative of the RALD, the remark- able spectacle was witnessed of the oMecrs of the company, Mr. Barton and others, taiking in an earnest and persuasive manner to several het he ordered a train to go | management | fy members ofthe jury, Those anxious for an im partial yerdict felt very sore about it, Mr. Wiliam Youngzoio00d, 01 the Brooklyn Daily Onion, testified that he arrived at jour o’ciock at the scene ol the disaster, and the fireman, Fin! had received no attention whatever thus far ( ed suvseduently) ; be ascertained from the en- gineer 0; Hibbard’s train that the tr ran on its own time; the passen; | Pp were ull very indignant, and deciarea collision Was caused by the Culpabie oarelessress of the company, He corrovorated the testimony of Mr, Adam Rich by giving the statement of Mrs, Stanolif, the brakeman's wife, to this efeow:— Before the train from the beach started irom Rockaway Mrs, Stancliff said to the station agent, | in presence of Holdridge, the conducior, “On, for God's sake, don’t start the train; I over train coming!” Sne felt so sure of that there must be an accivent, tha’ it was usual te have & brakeman for every two ears (and there only two brakemen for seven cars), This bore upon the testimony that collision might been greatly weakened if there had been sufficient brakemen to s\op the train when the danger signal #as heard, ‘A PAINFUL STORY, John Cooper, 4 brakeman on Hibbard’s train,. testified that when they were hali-way between Lawrence and Rockaway, Hibbard walked up and down very excitedly, and kept looking at bi watch, mumbiiog to himself, “O God, we're late,” and he said, as though add: “Hurry up! barry up!” Th Whistle, down brakes, and Hibbard looked out of she window and exclaimed, “O God, tere they come!” He rushea intp the smoking car and the collision occurred almost in she same instant, Tuls testimony Was of palnfol interest, deing the first repert of poor Hibbard’s last ullerances be- fore he met his sudden William &. Lbottson, o! ica, was & passen- ger on the train from New in the fourth car alter the engine, and descrived tue sock to thi oar as being Very sight 1udeed, He gave an a count of his services in assisting people to get o ofthe cars. One lady he assisted in getting out ofa window. Ina volce trembling with emotion he recounted the harrowing Scenes na saw, amon, others thal & Woman Was bending over a man’ fora, and asked him in @ Voice OF terrivle agita- ton, y “ARE YOU DYING, BEUNO ?? ‘The woman in question was Brano Taurmer’s ui ie. Aug. Smith said ne made application to two conductors of two traius for permission so send dead bodies over the road, and was refused by them both; he brought bodies back to Lock- Wood’s Grove; the agent at ence said that he would not leave the bodies there as the come Pany did not pay him for watching dead bodies, and he did not propose to stay there ail night. ‘This closed the testimony, and District Attorney Downing delivered the charge asking th iT briefly to render an impartia! judgment, scre ty to the accident. ‘ne question of gener: man had oeen gone into as tur as it bore upon this Case, and Dow the community expected from them @ vervict “without fear or favor.’ The jury retired at hali-past toree and was out over four hours. ‘thea @ majority verdict was: rendered as foliows:— ee MAIORIFY VERDION. i State of Neve Fork, ‘owty of Queens, a —An inqifsition, indented and taken tor vie 4 le of the State of New York, at B. C. Mots Hotel, on July % 8, 18 and 22, in the eens aloresmid, ia the year of our Lord olin K. Hicks, one of thé Coroners of tl said State for the couuty aforesaid, upon the bodies of P. C, Piciffer, William B, Mott, Jonn Ehlers, William if, Gould, Brano fuurman, William inn, ther and there lying dead, upon the oaths ot en good and Jawiul men or the sald county, who Ng sum sworn and charged to inquire {ato all the circus altending the death of the aforesaid persons, an whom tle same were produced, and in what manner ad when and Where the said ‘persons caine Lr the oaths aforesaid, aidridge and Hibbard were runuin their trains on time which did not belong to either o them, according to the ruies and regulations of the southern Railroad Company, and we hereby severely censure the company for not employing good and com- nt men, # suiticient number of brakemen to operate the road salely, aad also for not having approved brakes atiached to’ their cars, and tor altering their time table on a public’ holiday; also for puttin as general manager over the road an inexperience nan with power toUirect and control Superintendent Bartonanujlrainmaster Barr; and we, (he undersigned, herepy exonerate Superintendent Barton and Prain- master Barr from all blame. In witness whereof, we, ag Woll as the said Coroner, as the jarora aforesaid, hav to this inquisiuon, set tieir hands and seals on the da} of the date thered!, July 22, 1575, ¥, Maher, Samuel J. Hor- Charles A. Carroll, bi smnaugh, vewitt Bouker. ton, Daniel Mott, James ‘Attust—JOuN it, “Liioxs, Coroner of Queens county. MINORITY VERDIOT. ‘The following is the minority report:— State of New York, County of Queens, ».—An inquisition mdented and taken for the people of the state ot New B.C. Noit’s hotel, in the county of Queens on July 5, 8, 13, aud #2, the year oi our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, before John &, Hicks, one of the coroners of the said State tor county of 1875, betore 3 r the county aforesaid, upon the bodies of P. C. Pfeifer, William B. Mott, Joha Kivers, William H, Gould, Brano Thurman. William finn, ‘then and there lyin ‘ad, ubon the oaths of eleven good and lawiul men o} id county, who, being summoned, sworn and charged to inquire into all the circumstances at cuding the deaths of and by whom the sa were produced, manger and when and where the said persons came to their death do say, upon. the oaths aforesiid, that Conductor}uibbard should have laid at Woodsburg, he was ranping on tt as Which did not pelong to him, according to the rules and regulations of the ‘Southern ‘Railroad Company, and we hereby severely censure the com: for notemploying good and competent men, nor a suf- ficient number of brakemen to ope the road safely ; ir also lor not yaving approved brakes, attach d to th cars, and for aliering ther time tavie public holiday; also for puttipg as general manager over the road an inexperienced man, with ower to direct and control Superintendent Sarton and rain master Barr, and we, the underalgne xonerate Superintenten master Bare from all blaine, In witness whereof, as well as the said y id have to this inquisition rouer, as th t their hands and seals on the day of the date thereof, uly twenty-second, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. ney Doughty, foremung Joseph Mekim, Wiillam Charies Pettit, Joha A. Wood. d—Joun R. Hicks, Coroner Queens county. It is not improbable that Coroner Hicks wil! isaue bis warrant to-day for the arrest of the officers of the road, and it is generally considered that he 1s tn duty bound to take this step, THE HARLEM PESTS, THE AUTHORITIES INVESTIGATING FOR ‘FIRST: CAUSES’—THE BOARD OF HEALTH BEGIN- NING TO FILL IN THE PLAGUE SPOTS. A MERALD reporter early yesterday morning patd another visit to the high stone wall which, beginning near Nnety-elgbth street, runs along Third avenue for several blocks, with tne view of ascertaining, if possiole, whence the water pub- bling out of it proceeded, and whether such water was pure or foul, It bas been asserted that the water was not unwholesome, but that it came from springs, which, tt is said, extst here and there on the western side of the avenue, ‘The morning ts the best time to test this question, for it is then that the water fluws trom different wections of the stgyg abutments im the larges? quantities. Arriving at the ground long before any of the workmen were on hand the writer had ample opportunity of studying Uhe situation, and gives tne following as his conclusions. Were the wates from the few springs beyend, and did it pass al! the way through tho sand and stone and grave} of which the broad avenue is made up, it would certainly be perfectiy pure when it came outon the eastern side; foul water, even, could not fow under ground over beds of sand and stone fos snch a alstance without being perfectiy purified. Hence the water pot only must be of the foulest nature when deposited In the avenve under ground, but must necessarily flow only a short distance before runaing down upon the flats, Hence it can only proceed from a delective sewer, THR QUALITY OF THE WATER. Tne water was seen oozing from the wall in numerons places yesterday morning. Ine longer it Mowed the fouler became the atmosphe:e, antit at last the locallly for blocks and blocks around, even at that eariy hour, became noxious ‘almost Deyona belies, It is not necessary to make any analysis of the water to ascertain Its qualities, for te omposea of ail tue filth of the sewers fowing down toward the flats from huadreds oi private an¢ public aweliings. It is a liqaia alike disgust. jog to see or sineil, the Allminess and fli tiiness of which 18 calculated to breed all sorts of poisonous ts, AS Well as develop the most dangerous tn diseases. DISINFECTING. As stated before, the workmen are digging alarge drain to carry otf this water, but they are too few in numoer to make rapid progress, und some doubt exists whether tne drain will prove itself able to perfectiy fuidi the purpose for which it ip designed. INSPECTOR DAY'S OPINION, After making vote of the above the writer calied upon Sanitary Inspector Day, at hia rest- dence in Thirty-jourta street. @ reporter in- formed Dr. Day what he had seen, and asked hig opinion in relation to it. The Doctor sata: “though the pubitc in & great measure has beem ontireiy unaware of tt the Board of Heaita have had the Harlem fats under consideration for two ears past, and have steadily been enaeavoring to improve them. They have had many disad~ vantages to cuntend against, and thelr progress has been necessarily slow. Yet they have done much, and mean to do much more, Though the panic may have been in ignorance concerning. ‘he former fact they will goon be wiilivg to admi the trath of the laiter, far ast ed. THE ABARTIEST PRAISE for bringing the naisance into such popular no» tice and sure; for it has aroused the differe: to’ action and thus enxnied vi Board of Health to better iuifll its duties than ever before, The Board has already taken the matter partially in its own hands, and kas con- tracted for an immense amount Of fresh and rich earth, This earth will be secured and dumped at ‘cost than that stipulated in any torimer oon- tr When the Board has done its work you will li the flata irom along 106th street, pe- tween Madison and Fourth avenaes, as well as between Fourth aud Fifth avenues, tnoroughly the train, after it had started despite ner pro- veatations, for some 4 ana, sur ough, presently soe collision occurred, This stavement was made by Mrs. Stancil to him. THE COMPANY'S INHUMANITY, Tne witness went on to say that poor Finn, the fireman, was utterly uncared for,and tne com- pany seemed to have done nothing whatever for vhe injured. He read also a despatcn from the President of the town of Jamaica to Barr, the train master, offering the use of the tow hail for the wounded, and Barr's reply Ki him for the offer, but deciining it “as the wounde: were as comfortable possibie’! iy ta fi they were uncared for), Mo read @ charging Poppenhusen with cowardice he did not deny occasional in‘oxication.” Mr, George M. Disher was @ passenger on the train from Wililamsbarg and testified that 1t started at 1:41 from Woodsvurg (whem the con- ductor had no right to start tt afer 5m. Smith Platt, the engineer who was discharged and supplanted by Ashmead om ¢! of July, said he Was on Hibbara’s train that and gave it as ois opinion that the jatter could not reaok Valley Stream in ume, as it was Guusually Reavy; blanketed with rich soil.” THE DAMAGED SRwens, “what about the ruptared sewers along Third Y asked the reporver, are already being atten to, the answer. “An investigation 1s even sow de, Workmen havo dug clean to ¢ wv eighborhood o Doe being ma ie street a id have already procee They will continve until all the points needin repair along this line of the sewer ure found, an will, of course, readjust tuem in the best possible manner.” WHAT THE FOLKS SAY. The people of Huriom, woile they thing calculated to remedy ti 3 $ sjoice at any vis of the local. ity, are not wholly satisiied with what is being a They claim that on the fleids which require 4 workmen to iorty or e@engage’, Lney also claim that a8 work ree and labor iiterally beeing for euploy- ment, there could be no better opportanity ioe Begavinenrn the flats than now. What epartmont of Public Works ta sey to