The New York Herald Newspaper, November 25, 1875, Page 5

NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET, . INVESTIGATION. Legislative Committees Looking Into City Abuses. OFFICIALS CALLED AS WITNESSES. X Methods of Police Courts and Defects in the Fire Department. ‘The Apsembiy Committee on Crime resumed its in- ‘Yertigations vw the old chamber of the Board of Alder- men yesterday morning The first witness examined ‘was Mr. Jerome Buck, of No. 215 West Forty-ninth street -—Ie wor acquainted with Captain James Irving, ef the police force, and met bim ono evening in a talon, corner of Broadway and Thirteenth street; wit- eens had been to Wallack’s and, during the intermis- Son, went to the place with a friend for refreshments; Captain Irving was sober at the time, the witness Sought entirely vo. FOWCE COORTH AND MAGISTRATES, Police Justice James J. Kilbreth was next called. He nid that he wae & practiving lawyer at the time of his appointment as & police magistrate; eummary powers Gere bestowed upon police justices in cares of drunken- Bene, bastardy and disorderly conduct; such prisoners Dave « right to au examination and to call witnesses; 41d wot thimk that they had a right to demand a trial by Jury ; the difference between “bawdy"! and “disorderly” Deuren was explained by the Judge; the former must Beceneriy be disorderly, while the latter may ct bo of & bawdy character; the magis- Wate in canes of disorderly persons bas a right to Saftict 4 fine of $10 or t hold the prisoners to bail for future good beharior; the bail matter is discretionary, Bul the Withers in fome instances had Mxed the amount a high a8 $1,000; had ne personal knowledge of whay ‘war done im canes where bail was forfeited and whether was sued for or not; Judge Kilbreth explained in | full and clearly the workings of the police courts where be bus been On the bench; he had always taken good tare when prisoners were only temporarily committed bad charge toi im thew discretion convict ac. iruntling, tury latter they were evidence suffcrent; he of such cases for bape ate M9 were never brought ly else to tell,” quietly them have pleaded v be- my bands my juris- comin. the main cause of all owift panichmest in any ‘thas ss aponty ering! )~ 5) SS it provietee. of all Violators: “= liquor ould reat ie advaptage; the penalt; for cases of imtoxieat = now tetetatons there should be @ change in the present law so that with Fepetitions of the offence of in cases of incorrigivie | dummers the punishment should be of such a nature as to keep them out of the way; the witness thoaght Sent ie on A ey | Sessions: ho | send them to other pisces than | or ; when the Judge first seat as 4 magistrate many sat ve hiss by pestnee to seud girls to apa Tece.ve such as prostitutes, puss | there bad boon bach comuttccente made by him ia | 6 ie hag yan BO S008 as the witness | wu statute governing #wuch mat- ters he had aiwayt refused the pptentioes unless the ged were bet the — of tourteen and Swenty-ane, had never Penitewuary and that there was proof or coultienes tere petng cis. i did not evines a desiré to reform, RRCHSSION, vend iH Few ys Kilbreth reaumed bie seat and | Investigation and testified before Mr. Waehner, who from the Commissioners of Accounts, which I an- swered, orgie never lag anything more about it ex- cept w! ‘ave read in the papers. General Shaler testified that he was President of the and a Commissioner for three years thereafter; when he went out of office the hydrants were deficient in number and were not large notes, aad, ‘as far as be could see now, their size had not increased since hand engines were used by the department; not even while was in office were suflicient hydrants put in; it was impossible, however, to get a Bufficien! supply of water for alarge fire through a mere increase of the number of hydrants; what was required was THE LAYING OF LARGER MAINS which should supply numerous hydrants; in his opin jon, hydrants should not be separated by more than 200 feet; others were of the opinion that it would be better to concentrate the hydrants, but he took a dif- fereat viow; u few years ago he conceived the plan of drawing the water from the river by stationing power- ful engines at the Battery and on the river fronts, and the correspondence between him and Mr, Craven, the Engineer of the Croton Department, was published, but the great cost of the enterprise had prevented its realization. It was assumed, then, that the supply for domestic purposes was sufficient, and the new enterprise was Specifically intended to cover the cases ot large fires. General Shaler suid he hud no bigh opinion of the serial ladder; in fact, he did not think much of any of the extension ladders thus far submitted. This aerial Jadder, carried up to the height of eighty and a bun- dred feet, rested only on a base of eight or ten feet, and, very’ naturally, the slightest gust of wind could bring it down unless it was very heavily guyed, and then it took more time to bring out the guys than it would take for the byilding to buru down, (Laughter) The best of these lddders was the Skivner ladder in Chicago, and even at an exhibition of that he bad great difficulty in saving a man’s life, As to the pay of the firemen, he thought iv might be reduced without difll- culty. ‘Its orginal increase had not been advocated by the Commissioners, nor bad it.been asked for by the men, but after the pay of the policemen had ‘been raised it was thought best that both departments should have the same pay, The pay in both might be reduced, He thought that asystem of grading both forces, with various grades of pay, would work well, although it would nok be popular with politicians. (Laughter.) When he was Commissioner the men were rigidly examined in regard to their physical qualitica- tions and their knowledge of reading and writing Mr, Davenrort—I know of my own knowledge that bt} are men in the department who can’t read or wri Pertey—I don’t know how they got there, all are examined, : General SiaLex—When | was Commissioner I found men ip it who could not read or write English or any other language—(laughter)—and we made them learn to read aud write—so that we did some good there, | (Laughter) At first they would get the exercises which they were required to write out written by some more gifted comrade in the department, but when that was found out it was soon stopped. (Laughter,) But Bares, Chief Engineer of the department, said in his opinion there should be no six-inch pipes whatever; there should be no pipes smaller than twelve inches Chief Bates illustrated the rapidity with which an en- gine exhausted the water from a six-inch pipe by numerous instances of fires, The portion of the east side below Wall street was without any pipes larger than ‘six inches; he adduced numerous localities in the city where hydrants were lacking, showing that the number was wofully insuflicient in case ofa great fire, In Fifth avenue, from Fifteenth to Seventeenth street; in | Sixth street, between avenues A and B, where there were thickly populated five story’ tenements, and in other places where they were greatly required there were none whatever. “Between Grand and Bloecker streets and the Bowery and Broadway the | supply of water was almost eniirely from six inch pipes. Concerning the aerial ladder, Mr. Bates was of the opinion that it might sometimes be used with advantage, He explained the recent accident by say- tng that the ladder was probably overstrained in the } teste made early on the morning of the accident, The committee adjourned until Monday next at half- past tea o'clock. THE QUARANTINE INVESTIGATION. DR, MOSHER AND MR. COMMISSIONER STEARES ON THE STAND, ‘The fight between Dr. Vanderpoel, Health Officer of | the port of New York, and the Board of Quarantine Commissioners is waxing exceedingly warm and amus- ing to the outside public as well as lively with those im- mediately concerned, Yesterday afternoon Dr, Jacob 8. Mosher, Assistant Mealth Officer of the port, appeared in response to a citation from the Assembly Committee on Quarantine acted on behalf of the committee,'substantially to the following effect :-— The Health OMcer derives his revenue from the fees of hus office, accruing on account of services to tho shipping and ofMeial visits on board the vessels; also for fumigation end vaccination; the witness never hav- ing collected any, he could not tell the annual amount of foon; Abe fos are regulated by the Jaw of 1820; the two steamers (Fenton and Nelson K. Hopkins) are necessary to do the work well in every emergency, although under ordinary circumstances they are not Hopkins were laid up in the winter ordinarily the Fon- . wT 3 “~— t 5 4 PR sand that i bus earher experience as a cae Be cma = by | Outsiders "hea to be mee | sons tat “ad ew Songs bate? 2 Tt oceans fe eke Sree isdemeanor ratber too owouping. Mr. Campbell hen questioned judge asto his | manner of dofhg busivers; the hours he was in court Roe ee ee returog, and the time | pied by him in examivations; also when he and | colleagues were at the Court of Special Besiuns, all this with the purpose to show that the police magi# tates had not time to satistactorily perform their | Guties, in answer to the question as to What reasons | ould be presented against providing justices for the | Sessions alone, the witness ecessary, ———- jt police magistrates could 2 / Mr. M. M. Danser, of No. 50 West Eleventh ona, was then examined. He testified as to the robbery ol $103,000 in bouds from his house last summer, and bhat eh ol a lawyer by ot back between §ol, 000 $60,000 of them eo begollations were made ¢ was not aware of; never tried to get hie property back through the police, as ho bad but litte faith im | buch attempts. } Mr. Henry C, Allen was called, and testified that he told Coroner Kessler that he could seve warrants fever verdicts were found by juries; there was no thority that be could find that gave such power to ie these oifjcials, E. C. Bicker, John Gerken and John McDermott, | owners or pe pf disreputable houses, were oxam- epi ven notic@shat the inmates of such munt obligs to quit them. Adjourned, i THE WATER SUPPLY. The Senate Investigating Committee examined yea Jerday into the condition of the Fire Department | Ur. Joseph L, Perley, President of the Board of Fire Commissioners, was examined as to (he difiewlties in the way of the Fire Department, He said that frosen hydrants caused a great deal of trouble; the Department of Public Works had laid new twenty-iney maine in the dry goods district, {rom Chambers to Spring erect, bat had failed to provide propes. drains ~ we valves and in consequence the hydraots oe eat whle to state exactly what the »: jhe Murray Hill portion of the city for the reesen that but few fires occur in that locally; ongthe West side there was but very little water abowe Pity Ainth sireet, but on the east sido the supply wae beter, except on Yorkville IU, where there bad sdeficiency; the supply below Fulton street was lm ited, Mr. Davenport asked about the rial ladders, and he said they were the best inventions that bad ever been Conceived for reaching lofty buildings; of cowrve, Wey might be overloaded and thon break dows. Taking up the church fire in Duane street, Mr. Porter swas asked as to the coudition of the church walle eter ‘the fire in the adjacent building. He said that the Fite De) ment had nothing todo with the remowal of us sate walls, but that duty devolved upon the Department of Buildings. Mr. Perley g TALLer af amnening se count of the result of the Coroner's jury, held im thet great case, by saying that if he remembered aright both departments, the Firo ana the Lullding, were eousured by the jury, the Fire Department for leaving the walle standing and the Department of Buildings for got taking them down. Mr. Davenport asked him what special training men Feceived who were appointed Gremen Witheet having had any previous experionce; but (be withers could tell of none, Returning to the question of water supply, Mr Por Jey said it could not be dented that the insurance com. panies were decidedly alarmed AVOUT THE SCARCITY OF WATER in certain localities, and in those places they were ex tremely cautious about taking any considerable rinks, ‘Asked to mako suggestions, Mr, Perley anid the ‘waste valves” of the hydrants did not work properly, ‘and means should be taken to drain off the waste inte the sewors, which would prevent the hydrants from freezing; the size of tho mains south of Chambers street should be increased on the east Rude of the etty. ni Davenport—-Chat es Dave bore, promeves against the Mayor, erley, have they nu’ wr. Petley-ese? the newspapers said—that’s all I know about them. Mr. Davenport—You have been removed? Mr. Perley—So the newspapers said on tl February; they said that my certilicate of been sent up to Albany, Mr. Davenport—Do you mean to say that you have Rover been served with notice of charges or removal? Mr. Porlay—the Mayor gaye me & commugication | might be modified, as it eould be made to work very | pociated Prem pews ton could ao the work alone, but not always in emergen- cles; there can Ve no question as to the necessity forthe istenceof a appellate Board of Commissioners, The askea if the existing laws should be (sas to conform to the practical operation of the quarantine Oak present sdmipistered, and an, ewered, “1 think so, en asked it he would mako Any suggestions as to tne nittare of alterations in the jaw necessary, be said that it was in his power to throw out some suggestions touching this point, but he would pot do eo underoath. He thought that the dis- | eretionary power VEOTRD IN THR MRALTH OFFICER of detaining ® ship {6r the lengthy period of fifty days harebly, The practice in regard to vaccination is sim- ply to comply with the jaw in preventing smallpox pa- tents from coming ashore and vaccinating those whose cases may require the operation, The qnarantine boundaries between the States of New | ‘York and New Jersey were fixed in the year 1854 by a commission composed of four members from elch ‘State, at the request of New Jersey, The demarcation of the quarantine boundary line differs from the geographical limite, The steamer Fenton is used for boarding vessels and carrying the sick. There is an eiditional charge of $6 fora night vieit Dr. Thomp- s00 also doce some of the boarding duties The depo- At present six out of seven pipes were only six inches. | Doth always required in use at the same time; if no ! | had already waited upon the Aldermen and requested | them to rescind their action. to supervise the office of the Quarantine Commis sioners. a hap pg no oy THE WRALTE aed ty ee lee \y to Atnount appropriated islature, “te Prove this itt Seceseary 10 cite before this Committee the Health Officer, hie deputies and Perintendents who collect his fogs; also, ship ow’ who pay the bills, &e, All the principal lines Pay $50 cach trip for fumigating iheir vowels, In 1871, the report to the mentef the United States showed thes $34,217 27 pad been paid that your i tothe Health Officer; and this functionary in bin te port for the same year shows that they amounted w $18,000, The Health Officer, when before you, Proposed to run the entire machine for $95,000, he obtained but in 1873 asked for and in the sum appointed for care and maintenance of the L pnnie ed ebtab leh ment Was $55,000, and $50,000 in 1876, lose the office expenee of the Commissioners, The present Beard of Comme sioners upon going into power redaced expense $4,500; yet the legislative appropriation was exhausted, for what the Commissioners saved was expended by the Health Officer. The same was true in 1874-4 Owing to the Board's holding the reins tighter thie year there | Will be a surplus of $5,000 in the treasury at the clowe of the current your. But to go back « little, If $25,000 is sufficient to run the establishment ip 1870, why were $55,000 asked in 1873¢ | By the estimate of Dr, Vanderpoel, siready pub | lished, it will be seen that the Health Offcer maker provision” for but five employés—vixz., & bout keeper and engineer on the Hopkins, to attend ngine for supplying boats with water; a superintendent and | engineer for Dix Island, a keeper on Hoffman Island | and a ship keeper of the Illinois, He proposes to pay theni the aggregate sum of $6,152 a year, or about | $500 a month. Can the Quarantine establishment | be run with the assistance of five employ only? It has never yet been done, The ) roll shows during the quarantine season of 157 from May 14 to November 1, that thirty-two perso were engaged, at a cost to the State of $20,000 a mm or the yearly sum of $312,000, These poy rolls were certified to and marked correct by the Health Ofieer, The power of engaging employés rests solely with hin, It appears from the face of the Health Officer's state- | ment that he proposes to dispense with the services of | boatmen onthe Hopkins and at Dix Island; nurses, | cook and laundress at the hospital, and physicians oF | boarding oilicers, boatmen and cook on the Illinois during the six months when she is required as | a floating boarding station. The cost for repairs for | the year ending November 1, 1875, was less than $7,000. ‘The Health Officer asks for $24,500 for repairs, With regard to the employment of the Fenton by the Health Officer for collecting news, there are reports to the effect that he receives $95 a week, and these ru- mors ought to be looked into, Mr. W. O. Lewis, the | marine po nd of the Associated Press, who may be found at the Union Telegraph station foot of White- hall street, can throw some light on the subject. | LUNATICO INQUIRENDO. County Judge John J. Armstrong has appointed a commission de lunatico imquirendo to examine Dr. Stevens, now in confinement in the Queens County Jail, awaiting trial on the charge of sending a challenge to fight a duel to George De Languclette, of Hidesville, ‘There is a strong impression that the ‘Doetor” is in- sane, THE MUNICIPAL BOARDS. WHAT THE CITY COMMISSIONERS DID YESTER- DAY. At a meeting of the Fire Commissioners, held yester- day, the contract to furnish 400 telegraph poles was awarded to James Mekel at $4a pole, Thomas Len- non’s proposal to do the répairing to the houses of En- gine Company No. 29, and Hook and Ladder Company No, 10 was also granted, the bid being $6,727. THE DOCK COMMISSIONERS. The regular meeting of the Dock Commissioners was held at three o'clock’ yesterday afternoon, The follow- | ing letter was read from Colouel Meeban, relative to cer- tain statements mado against him before the Senate In- vestigating Committee :— To THe HONORAPLE BoarD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THB Dock DrpartMent:— ‘ GentTLemMeN—I would request that I would have the privilege of having Benoit & Wood and their accounts examined before your committee, to prove that I never got commissions or presents on articles purchased from them, and also to prove that all my purchases for five her at their stores would not amount to over $838 50. also desire witnesses to testify to the quality of the work done under General Grabam at the Battery, and the expense and labor spent in trying to keep the work stable and in restoring operations to General McClellan’s plan, which had been changed. 1 algo wish | to call witnesses to prove the attempts made to obtain appropriations amounting to over $70,000, in order to make unnecessary surveys of Harlem River and the city water front in 1874-5, and which fraud was stopped by my efforts and those of eminent citizens who will testify. The, attempt to get: $25,000 to survey the water front for the half-dozenth time was stopped by one of your honorabie Board, Mr, Westervelt, when I drew his attention to it. Yours respectfully, OHN MEEHAN, First Assistant Engineer. Mr. Wales suggested that an opportunity should be given to Colonel Meehan to make any explanations he thought proper as an employé of the Dock Department, but other subjects treated in his communication should t be touched upon. This view of the matter was also is con Dy. Wales’ colleagues, The folfowing.gtatement was made as to the financial condition of the Pda! for the week ending November 25:—Deposits with Lise ede yr $474,074 92; disburse- ments, $6,993 60; balance» $467,075 82; collected for | dock rents, $10,177 40. eee i ‘The contract for building pier No. § East River was awarded to Owen Roosevelt for the sum of $5,700, After transacting some further routine business the Board adjourned to meet on Wednesday next, THE PARK COMMISSIONERS, At the meeting of the Park Commissioners yesterday anumber of coinplaints were received trom a number of people living above the Harlem River in regard to the closing of Central or Macomb’s Dam Bridge. This fidge has been closed since the Ist of the present month for the purpose of putting ina new draw, The Commisstgners ordered yesterday that the work be prosecuter ith the utmost vigor, and directed that | Gouble gangs ‘ae put on the job. They say the draw will be Gnished' and again opened for travel about the middle of next mouth.» A delegation from the Twenty-third Ward Property Owners’ Association waited upon the Commissiovers and protested against the regrading of Third avenue from 147th street to the Harlem River. his work, it will be remembered, was ordered by the Board of Aldermen. The delegation referred to stated that they In view of this fact the Commissioners agreed to delay any further action | in the matter until the Board of Aldermen can be heara from. MUNICIPAL NOTES. Among the callers upon the Mayor yesterday were Mr. John Kelly and Colonel William T. Pelton, nephew wont does net collect fees, Thore for coosting vessels go to the boarding officer, and the Castom eoiver them from foreign ships, The depoucat was then asked louse re- | - ¢ Venton used for collecting ship news?” | | | lect the ehiy news, Bo matter what vessel takes m a thie juncture Quarantine Cumminsioner Steal short time betore bad red the room, observe ho thought the Fentos was used for collecting As- | who rexd from writing of the Hon. Mr, Judd), if the Fenton was em- Boas ee perpowe of evilecting press newa The “lL never Knew the Fenton to leave the dock for the my IT never received any fee ceo doing. and if any one else has 1 don"t kpow of it, Un days when it was tov rough for the marine reporters to go oUt « email boats, oF the distance was loo great, the press men were carried on the Fenton. Bui for, thet parpese Bot eB extra ouce Of coal was used." | H, Miearer wae fe Mir Stoares expressed bis readiness to back tbe last Jedd had written | Tar Jade's own handwriting. ticvera) MeQucde ad cate tine ae Bteares and Juad, ead that if allowed @ personal explanation & would be to way that he ob Whssee A AYRARES Fer Mr. Witham L. B. Pteares, om behalf of the Board of | unser oath a lengthy watement i writing, whi bere on reply, ahd alee to refute the - Vanderpoet, the Heath Uiieer of this port Tae doce. ment ashanded (@ Covered the ad whch ipeluded 08 to etate the Veroue ote legiwintive eunet- ments whieh bed aMeoted CMY qearen ite extad- weet (Be omubmonets of Quarebtine and (he purt Deaith uthoera, showing by Phat means the former the stgation. Ae the progres: of this fight bas beon Doticed ercasemany 6 these eolemns 1 i Unnecomsary oat texters the oatare of Be. Steares’ pies The paper soe forth thet the "one mee power tea,” over @ the genés of ty, Vander. pool, wah “ne orm feeture,” i to be Prwerpel feature comyinumed of ie thee bell wm that Substitutes the Hea th UMirer tor the Comm es once of Aberev), m (from the recording of which Mr, Judd | the room about the Jected to tbe bast qaewtions being put te Mowher, Commiseonere of Qearantine, b had | 1 ne tnade before Lhe comin ititer ete time 2 petied of three yeare belween ant iek lh went meant The paper detated (he etruggie for power were woteted, how Lhe latter remained masters of Bow te reproduce details ents few porte will rumice Shab tare’ the eptite Quarwating Pot atihimbove tab | revived im Albany during the coming winter, The ow Aabing (rom the aber (ve cumbnly | | ‘Te Gh emarTrs Ge, and transierring 1 \o tke former It alow provides that the Health Officer thowld have abeciute oowitel over | Versels and cargoes arriving im New York fy the bull which & to be ferived im Albany, the duties of the Coa- etre bee are be taken from the Mayors of New York sad rwokiye and the corres ponding powers comterred apen the Mesith «il. cor The balance of tunde—tetmren $100 und | Previously appowted to whe old Consuraction Were tarmed over to the Beaith Oticor, and it l# to be of Governor Tilden, The ‘Boss’ came and went by the private entrance, but the latter walked in by the public doorway, The causes of these visits did not transpire. A number of prominent citizens her 2 trans- mitted to Mayor Wickham, through Mr. A. H, Purdy, a tition requesting the speedy completion and reopen- ng of Macomb’s Dam Bridge. The Mayor referred this matter to tho Park Department for their action, The Board of Estimates and Apportionment will | meet next week to pass finally upon the budget for | 1876. [thas until the ‘Ast of January, under the law, to accomplish this worl THE RECORD OF CRIME. As Miss Madalone Burt, of No, 17 West Thirty-eighth street, was walking down Sixth avenue, between Twonty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets, on Tuesday afternoon, two street thieves snatched from her hand her pecketbook containing $10 and made their escape, Burglars effected an entrance into the horseshoeing establishment of George C. Hawthorne, at No, 1,869 | Broadway, and carried away $25 worth of horsehoe | baila Clothing, worth $50, was abstracted by sneak thieves from the residence of Louis Gaolk, at No, 261 Clinton street, ‘During the absence of Mrs. Cordes from her residence, No, 248 West Thirty-third street, an unknown thief stole various articles of clothing, valued in all at $45. Sneak thieves carried away two overcoats from the | office of Charles Schember, at No, 94 Nassau street, A. A. Woll, of No, 165 East Sixty-fifth street, reported | yesterday that Mary O'Connor, a servant, employed in | hie family, bad decamped with jewelry and clothing to | alne of $586, | Martin Stanton ne of the laborers bag we) in the excavation of the new tunnel of the Deluware and Lackawanna Railrond, in Jersey City, hal eof his) eyes poked out yesterday by a man named McAndrews, & foreman of the works, because Stanton demanded the balance of the wages duo him. The trial of Charles Kohiman, on the charge of arson, Wax continued yesterday in theCourt of Quarter Sewons, at Jersey dy, and will cecupy two more Staten Island police are actively engaged in working ap the Prestaeh, New Brighton, silk robbery cane. 7 quantity of the goods have been recovered, it : unde: ‘One man, named Parker, has been ‘@ jail on suspicion of being one of the robbers, Charies Brokney, residing on the Bergenwood road | Walon Mull, N. J., Attor baving been out on a prolonged carousal, retoyned home yesterday and abused his | cher, and then, when she upbraided him for bis dis- | greeefal conduct, struck her over ner bead and body ) a #tick and coneladed by kicking her, TnéWoman | screamed for help and some of the neighbors came to het assistance. refuses to prosecute Ler brutal oR : COLLISION ON THE HUDSON. Yeuorday afternoon the Hoboken ferryboat James | and eortowsly damaged. A portion of the gentlemen's | cabin wae crashed in, causing a perfect panic amot | Months, and on being questioned as to his JOHN SCANNELL’S TRIAL, THE PLEA OF INSANITY MAINTAINED, Incidents of the Prisoner’s Men- tal Disease. His Mother and Sister on the Wit- ness Stand. The trial of John Seannell was resumed yesterday moreing i the Coert of Oyer aud Terminer, the testi- mony adduced being mainly to show the effect which the shooting of Florence Seannell had upon the mind of the prisoner, Thore was a fair attendence, the cor- rigors being, as usual, crowded. Judge Barrett took his ®eat vn the bemeh at half paat ten o'clock, District Attorney Pheipa, with Mesers, Rolling and Lyon, ap- peared for the prosecution, an@ Messrs, W. A. Beach, Charles Spencer, Wilham F, Howe and Peter Mitchell for the prisoner, At the opening of the coart George W. Hojer was the first witness called for the defence, le testified that be met the prisoner at the Catekills in the summer succveding his brother's death; he looked pale and emaciated, and was by no means in good health; he was cxccedingly Featiess and seemed to be wandering 1 bis mind; he complained of not being able to sleep and was incoherent in his conversation; on one occa- sion, when the death of his brother Florence was al juded to, he eyes became wild and bloodshot; his acts and bis conduct seemed to the witness to be very irra- tional, TRETIMONT OF PRTER CARROLL. Poter Carroll, examined by Mr. Beach:—Is an oyster saloon keeper, and has resided in the city all his life; ‘Was acquainted with the Scannelis for years; thought that the affection between them was remarkable; Jobn was particularly anxious about his brother; bis de- meanor to his mother and family was kind and con- siderate; after his brother's death a great change came over him; he became sullen and he was not at all com- panionable; prior to that event be was pleasant and cheerful; witness saw him in attendance on his brother at the hospital, where he used to pace up and down the room in a very agitated manner; then he would sit down by his brother's side and remain silent; bis con- duct seemed to witness to be irrational, The witness was briofly examined by Mr. Rollins, TRSTRMONY OF OTIS L WILY, O. I. Wilsey was next examined, He testified that he was a commission merchant; was acquainted with the Scannells for eight or nine years; John Scannell prior to the death of his brother was cheerful and Pleasant, but after that event he acted very strangely; when conversing he would break from one subject to the other without any connection; there was a wild ex- pression in his eye; witness saw him at Columbia. Springs in September, after bis brother's death; ho was restless and excited there and could not sleep; witness was in the same room, and oftentimes Scannell asked him to get up in the night and take a walk; he was in the habit of muttering to himself; on one occasion wit- ness was walking up Broakway with Scannell when the latter shouted out ‘Look there!"’ and pulled witness into the gutter; witness asked what the matter was, and, looking up, saw Thomas Donohue coming down the street; Scannell was nervous and pale, and both of them then stepped on the sidewalk and went up town, To Mr. Rollins—I am the brothor-in-law of the pris- oner; at the time of the occurrence I occupied a room at the Compton House. ‘TESTIMONY OF OATMAN 8. PAINT. The first medical-witness examined by Mr. William F. Howe was Oatman 8. Paine, who testified as follow Tam a physician and have been in practice for thirteen | years; lam attached to St. Elizabeth's Hospital; I know the person John Scannell; I also knew Florence and all the family; I was afforded frequent instances of seeing the brothers, being their family physician; John Scannell was affectionate and kind toward the members of his family; prior to the shooting John Scannell was in good health; after the shooting I saw him in Bellevue Hospital, where his brother was being cared for; I had an interview with his mother and wife, at which the prisoner was present; he was wild and excited; I told him his brother would die and he said it was impossible; he was very pale, as a marked change had come over him; his eyes were wild looking; Tf met him on several occasions after that and he always insisted upon stat- ing that his brother would recover, though he had been informed to the contrary; atter his brother’s death he began to waste away and acted as no sane man would t; L advised his mother and wife to send him to an éane asylum, my opinion.being that he was not of sound juind. exainined by Mr. Rollins—I have never mad@in- Cros sanity a specialty; I haye not read upon the subject within a year or two; the prisoner was not sent to any asylum that I know of; I thought he was insane from his manner, deeds conversation; I think Scannell was troubled with monomania; he talked and thought of nothing else but the killing of his brother; my standard of insanity is not that he differs from others, but differs from himself. Judge Barrett—After the death of Florence where did you happen to see the prisoner? A. In the street. Q. Did he ever consult you professionally after that? A. He did; I believe he sent for me. Q After Florence died you say you might have met the prisoner 365 times; what do you mean by that? A. I met him a great many times, but I cannot remember the occasions; I met him going to the hospital; I re- member his coming to the pige, house, of which I was president; he spoke about his brother and thei went away; I.cannot call to mind all the times I met hini, To Mr. Beach—About two weeks before the shooting of Thomas Donohue took place I started at nine o'cloc one night to go to the hospital ‘to attend to a sick tient; I saw Scannell on the other side of the street; I | asked him to accompany me; when we arrived there he went into one of the.wards and came down stairs; it was a cold night, bat he nevertheless took off his hat and wiped his brow, as tite prespiration poured from him; 1 asked him what the trouble was, and he said that'in every bed in the ward he could see his brother Florence; in going from the hospital he took his hat | off at least fifty times, and he talked pf nothing all the way back but about his brother. TRSTIMONY OP WILLIAM JOHNSON. William Johuson, examined by Mr. Beach, testified that he had been Warden of the Tombs; he went there in February, 1873, and left in January ; had fre- | quent opportunities of seeing Scannell in prison; there were times when he was moody and melancholy; saw him sitting on the bed, by Ag about his brother; he used to pace up and down the prison yard,, talking to himself; he improved somewhat after he got the priv- ilege of walking in the yard; witness had known Sean- nell before he came to the Tombs; the impression wit- ness received from the acts of the prisoner was that ho | was irrational. To the District Attorney—The prisoner seemed to improve in health after he was allowed to take some | exercise; witness diq not remember what physician came to see him in prison. At this stage the Court took the usual recess, APTER RECESS. Katherine Scannell, sister of the prisoner, was tho first witness examined after recess, Her testimony on ‘the previous trial had so much affected Scannell that he ‘was taken with epileptic fits. Yesterday, in order to avoid a recurrence of the attack, the prisoner was re- moved during her evidence. The witness testified as follows :—I have been deformed since I was three years old; my father died in 1865; there were six of the children all living at home; John was very kind and | affectionate toward us all; more so after father’s death than before; after the shooting of Florence his man- ner was changed; on thatday, in the hospital, he took me in his arms, kissed me and laughed; he did not say anything; the next day, while eating his dinner, he laughed and talked to himself; his | Jaugh was peculiar and his eyes had a wild expression; the next day after that he came into the house at three | o'clock in the morning; he kissed the younger children and told mother not to let them out that day, it being election day; that evening he fell into bys- | terics, shouting and raving; when ho came into the house he was very much excited; he talked ina very loud tone; he did not recognize me; I went forward to him and kissed him, but he did not seem to remember mo; on one occasion I went into the basement and saw hint pacing up and-down ke to him, but he did not know me; at that tim jorence was sick in the | house; after Florence’s death bia treatment of his mother and myself was very different from what it , was before; he did not seem to care for us; when I was sick he said he bated to look at me and wished that an | earthquake would come and swallow the whole family; | after the death, of Florence he seldom came to the | house; when he was absent about a | and, on being ‘asked why he remained Ys he would say that he had been there on the day pre« vious, when he had not been; his appearance was alto- getber changed; at one time he was away ns “Mother wante to kill the children, but she ‘an, fot kill me; the only one I care about is gone;” bts cngers, Fo ly nobod, burt, inden vangl wil gr vo De an wp for rong,” . “\ erator, “You'll wake him, John,” and ho said, “No, 1 won't; 1 will soon be with him,’ ‘TESTIMONY OF SOLOMON MAHRBACH. Solomon Mabrbach, President of the Second Avenue Railway Company, testified that he knew the Scannells; they were very affectionate toward each other; prior to the shooting John was a modest, quiet, well behaved young man; after the shooting of his brother his manner was entirely changed; he talked about various ‘things in a wandering manner. ie To Mr. Rollins—I did favors for the prisoners; I went bail for him several times; I went bail for him at his own request; he did not tell me what he was charged with; 1 did not hear Scannell make any threats against Donohue; I contributed toward the expenses of the last trial, but not toward the present. TESTIMONY OF MAURICE POWERS. Maurice I. Powers, examined by Mr. Beach:—I have been Clerk of the Marie Court nearly two ye have known John Scannell eight or nine years; pri to the shooting of Fforence Scannell I bad frequet opportunities of seeing John Scannell; he was exceed- ingly pleasant and free; after the death of his brother he seemed to grow thin; bis mind seemed to be sensibly affected; he was always tatking about his brother, aud 80 frequently did he revert to it that jhe subject be- came painful to me, so that 1 avoided him; his mipd seemed to be unbinged by the calamity which had be- fallen him; from my observation L Vhought his conduct was irrational, ‘The next witness was Patrick McGee, who gave cor- roborative testimony as to the appearance of the pris- oner after the shooting of his brother. Jobn Beher, formerly a keeper in the Tombs prison, was there while Scannell was confined, had charge of Scannell while he walked in the yard; he had frequent opportunities of seeing him in the’ prison, and trom what be saw he came to the conclusion that the pris- oner was irrational, TESTIMONY OF BRIDGET SCANNELL, Mrs, Bridget Scannell examined by Ar, Spen am sixty years of age; John Scannell is my son; @ son bamed Florence, who was twenty-three years and six months oid; John is thirty-six, and lived’ with me until ne got married, eight years ago; he was in the habit of visiting me every day; my husband died eleven years ago; John took charge of the family attor his father’s death; the demeanor of Jon be- fore Florence was shot was very affectionate toward all the family; he was saeco, kind toward his sister Kitty, but he was fonder of “Florry;” he thought more of him than he did of me; immediately after Florence was shot a great change ‘came over John; on the day Florence was shot he seat for me and I went there; while 1 was on my knees John came in and pushed me off, yng, “Go away from me;” he never did such a thing before; he was completely wild, and leaned over and kissed Florence, who seeing in what acondition John was was subse- quently taken away by two policemen; his conduct was changed in every respect; he ceased to show me or Kitty any attention whatever; his temper was bad and he used to mutter to himself; I remember on one oo- ut his oyes, casion gomg to a funeral; he sent a coach to convey me to the cemetery; when I re- turned he asked me where I had been, “Why,” I said “you hired a coach for me this morning, John; “1s that 80,” said he; he seemed to have for- gotten all about it; on learning that Florenco’s name was not on the tombstone where his father was buried he began to rave and said, If you put his name on the stone I will throw it down;” there was a portrait of Florence in the parlor, and I was compelled to keep the door shut that he might not see it; on one occasion he caught a glimpse of it, and he immediately com- menced to tear his hair and make other wild demon- strations; he rushed afterward into the street; on an- other occasion he dashed his head against the mantel piece in my back room; he appeared to be oat of his senses; | remember on the day of the funeral of Flor- ence John came to take me to the funeral, and on being presented with a pair of gloves he threw them on the ground, saying, “No, you'll put no black gloves on me;” subsequently in the basement of the house he asked Ine why I was crying; I told him Florence was dead; he said, “You ought to be glad of it, I wish an earthquake would come and swallow the whole family ;”” the witness recited many incidents to show the mental aberration of the prisover. She was frequently com- pelled to suspend her testimony, being at times deeply overcome with emotion. She alluded at length to tho affectionate treatment which the prisoner extended to- ward his dying brother, and continued:—He had an idea in his head that I was going to kill the children after the shooting of Florence; he told me to go and make my will; alter doing so he forgot all about it; I pene he was crazy or he would never have acted as he ‘The testimony of Peter Knight, deceased, given on the former trial, was read. DR. ECHEVERRIA’S TESTIMONY. Mr. Beach offered to read the testimony of Dr. Echeverna taken on the previous trial, Counse! said he bad gone to Cuba to settle the affairs of an estate which had been left to his wife, Dr, Echeverria haa been written to, and promised to attend. His present address in Cuba could not be found, and Mr, Mitchell had learned through a medical journal that Dr. Echeverna had gone to London. ‘The District Attorney objected to the reading of the evidence on the ground that the absent witness was former trial was inadmissible Mr. Beach read several authorities in support of his application and contended that as Dr, Echeverria was the principal medical expert his previous testimony should be received, Mr. Rollins submitted Dr. ¥cheverria’s previous testimony could not be received, as the law prohibited it. ‘The witness had not examined the prisoner, and testified as to the gen-ral features of insanity. The Court asked for the evidence, which was handed in, and a recess was taken unul seven o’clock im the evening. NIGHT SESSION. At the opening of the evening session Judge Barrett said that after due consideration he could not admit the State which could permit him to doso. The whole of the testimony was purely scientific, as the physician had not exammed the prisoner, and hence his testi- moby was not based upon facts, All the testimony was pure reasoning, and presented only a series of con- | clusions, which, if admitted, would require another ex- pert to be called in to prove, The Judge said that bad | there been any discretion for him to have used he | would have given the prisoner the benefit of it, But | the State have excluded the testimony @ltogether, i} Mr. Beach then arose and expressed bis surprise at | this ruling, though he was not altogether unprepared | for it Inasmuch as a very important witness, Dr, Parson, was absent from the court, he most respect. | fully asked an adjournment until the testimony of tho | gentleman could be secured. Judge Barrett granted the request, and the Court ad- Journed wapil Friday morning. —— RAILROAD SAFETY SIGNALS. | a aed AN INGENIOUS APPLICATION OF ELECTRICITY TO | THE SIGNALLING OF TRAINS, On Tuesday a number of experts and journalists pro- | ceeded to Mott Haven on the quarter past nine A. M, train from the Grand Central depot for the purpose of | examining a new system of railroad electric signals, | the invention of Messrs, D. Rousseau and W, C. Smith, Among those present were Superintendent Toucey, of the Grand Central depot; Captain 8, Samuels, Station Master Franklin and the inventors of the signal system, | The party proceeded to the machine shopof the pat- | entees, at Mott Haven, and bad explained to thom everything connected with this new invention, which promises to revolutionize our present way of timing | and signalling trains, Until a couple of years ago the flag system of sig- | nalling trains was the only one known among railroad | men, So many accidents had resulted in different parts | of the country—inaced, throughout the world—from | this imperfect plan of guiding long strings of cars freighted with precious human lives, that it became necessary above ail things for railway corporations to | adopt some efficient means that would put an end to the | happening of accidents through the fatal mistakes of | careless, sleepy or stupid signal men. This means not dead, and therefore the testimony taken on the | the testimony of Dr, Echeverria, as there was no law in | said to have been found in x THE NEW SIGNAL SYSTEM, The road is supposed to be divided into sections ofa. mile in length throughout the whole extent of it where the electric signals ate to be employed. At the end of each section a “circuit closer” is placed under and con- tiguous to the rail, so that when a train over that part of the track, the circuit closer is lightly ressed upon, ahd a current of electricity is estab- Fished or stopped, as the case may be, between that spot, the signal disk near by and the signal office a way station or the terminus, When the train lr a the action of the circuit closer shows | a white disk at either end, to denote that the way is clear and the next train may enter upon that portion of the line. In like manner, while the train is traversing a section, red disks are shown, one at cach + extremity, and this isan infallible sign to the engineer of any approaching train that section where euch red signal is shown is at that moment occupied by a — train and therefore must not be entered pon. ‘he obvious resalt an ito prevention of col- lision, unless the ne driver be mad, cated oF asleep, When the circuit closer is upon the electrician at the telegraph offte (main or branch) is notified of the spot where the electric circuit is closed and this shows the position of the train and the corresponding Signals appear slong the line. driver is , to go abead the are wisoily Te Trews him, The dai y signa se 9 check to eseh cthes. Fi two signals Cannot be white at the same momen also impossible for the officer to signal safety when he ought ae do 80, because the incomi 800400 Of the road closes the circuit au | Prevents the ibility of error on bravo. Of clarse two trains cannot occupy the same section at the same time, id, You see, the Visits were ¥ery short, and he usually walked v> and on aehal division of the road is completed only | will welcome an organization of the kin down the floor; there was a portrait of Florgrce fh the trou 160 street to the Grand ‘tral depot. It is | Committee of Seventy lost bod es ae Rd ront parlor, and my mother ‘used, 86 ut the | not for tho prosent intended to extend the sys- | many of its members show door, that he'might not see it; his ULaument of the | tem boyond this point; for between itand the ter- | ofice seekers, | The political element if children atter the death of Florengs “was very different, | minug nearly all the danger of collision occurs from | ruined Cay this thing is to an be 48 previous to that event he wag*yont to take thom t6 | the Irequency of trains passing and the intricacy of | from politics and religion it will, & laces of amusement, but 8 uently would not al- | switch crossings; and be bong 190th street the roada | have all the, Lee ‘you what it ta, We Sean, to play In Wo yard; 1 om twenty-three | branch off from each other 90 fs to leave tbe track | irrespective of party, (OF til Volas in name. The . comparatively cl re To. Mr. Rolling~"He was fonder of Florence than of rr einin 3. Samucte and General B, Smith are she | times are not what they | ee tact is pane 4 any O“aér member of the family; | never heard him | gentlemen who represent this new acquisition to | well settled. Fespte s fea never ‘cheap living Mcalion Donohue’s nai except on one occasion, | American railroading facilities, Captain Samuels was | are beginning to sce ‘and that we ean never bave low “ehen he spoke of him as a murderer; ho was attended | understood to say yesterday that Mr, Pullman, of the | till we have low by oor ‘men in ofice, ‘The last cleo by Dr. Sayro; while I was sick he lay across the foot | well-known cat company Which bears his name, and | taxes wntil wo a good ail means le} of the bed and talked to himself, saying, “Ob, Florry, | who isa memper of the British Aseociation of Engi | ton it big | ‘Vouunien ~ \ Jon, Florry, that murdoret of my brotuer;)” J sai} nears. t8 abgub so labo Kurwwe_| deh ws bare Hat - tran on any ants) leave that division of the route and thus | tioned in connect ‘atity) the cars leat Fae ge Fong A COMMITTEE” OF SAFETY, Provision for Pure Government in New York City. NO POLITECS IN FUTURE, Merit and Honesty the Only Pass- ports to Office. To got honest men to fill the offices in the govern~ ment of the city aud county of New York, and to fil) the legislative representation at Albany, has Jong bee! the standing problem, Various expedients have been’ tried from time to time. A Citizens’ Association, with) the venerable Peter Cooper at its head, easayed long since a solution of the much vexed question. It made semi-annual reports to the people, and warned them} against this and that abuse and against this and that’ setof men, The Citizens’ Association and its directing’ spirit meant well, but it lacked the elements of strength’ and popularity, It was very feeble in its earnestness, and it finally came to be looked upon as a collection of some few old gentlemen who were accustomed to meet in @ back room about once every few months and write letters to an unheeding public which looked upon them as a bore, ‘The Committee of Seventy 1s well remembered for its services in arousing the people for the overthrow of the Tammany Ring, but when, subsequently, it undere took to look after the interests of the city it was seen. that the interests of the Committee of Seventy were of more importance, and it fell to pieces, The members of that colebrated committee were unable to resist the: thirst for office that was upon them, and what was or- BEnized, as everybody supposed, to put good men in and keep bad men cut of office, and also to supervise aferward an honest administration of the local gov ernment, turned out in the main to bea gang of oilice seekers marching under the banner of reform. In the past there have been many combinations op posed to Tammany Hall ostensibly with a view of pute ting better men in nomination than the regular orgame ization was accustomed to present, This yoar it was an anti-Tammany democratic-republican combination: which succeeded in electing several very worthy cane didates, in past years, under the cry of “The People and Reform,” candidates have been elected who turned out no better than those put forwara by the regular organization and denounced as corrupt in advance oft | being elected. It appears, then, to come down to this, that no proper method has yet been pat in practical operation to secure for the taxpayers on Manhattan Island honest men in office and honest expenditures of the publio money, An old reproach, yet an illogical and fallacious one, has been that the best classes of the city do not take part in politics, but stamd aloof on election day, and leave the work of voting tothe worst, It is true that in the palmy days of the Tammany Ring very many good citizens stayed away from the polls because the methods of election were so notoriously corrupt it mat- tered nothing whether they voted or not; but it is om tirely erroneous to say that the respectablo citizens of New York have in all these years lust faith in repre- sentative government. On the contrary, they have demonstrated on each occasion when the proper candi- dates were olfered them and a fair election guaranteed that they can do wonders, PROVISION FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT. To render areign of the rogues and an exercise of “one-man power” impossible in future it is now pro- posed to organize a Committee of Safety, which will | take, in amoral sense, entire possession of the city | and couaty governments. It will point out to the | ruling powers where this or that thing is a corrupt or | extravugant undertaking; it will keep a sharp watch on the conduct of all city and county officials; it will take the local nominations made by each party’ at any | election and, after a thorough scrutiny by personal and impartial investigation, mark out such as the pubiio | stould vote for; and it will doall that in it lies to | Make a thieves’ government for the future in New York | an utter impossibility. | ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT, | Shortly after the late election several gentlemen of | eminent respectability met up town and discussed this pales ofa Committee ofSafety, Since then they have | had repeated meetings, and the project is now in such | © form that it will be shortly ready to launch before the public, It will notbe a secret organization like the Tammany ‘eociety, and its weekly meetings after it becomes fully organized will be open to the press. In | the first place it will consist of 100 members, from | whom will be selected an executive committee of twenty-one, on’ whom will devolve the practical work | of the organization. No person Rolsing apy. political | office of emolument can be a member. None but bona | fide tax payers within the city and county of New York | ‘can be received, Politics and religion are to be ignored | in considering the qualifications of members. No meme | ber will be retained an instant who uses the influence of the organization to secure a political nomination, OBJECTS OF THE CLUB. Recognizing that the first essential is to form a com. mittee composed of those whose only interest in city politics is the placing of honest men 14n office, it is pro- posed to name only such for members as will at tho very first mention secure the public confidence. The very highest names in the community will be presented. I: will be one of the duties, and not the important, of this committee, to demand, ‘ei, ys in advance of ak election, the™ names of such candidates as each party intend to offer. A sub- committee will then be appointed to scrutinize the fit- ness of each candidate to the office for which he is named. This will be done with strict Impartiality, an if the candidate's merits are not what the public hay & right to expect the tian to which he belongs will be notified. If he be not withdrawn and a better one substituted, his opponent—or should there be three or more candidates running for the one office, the best nominee—will receive the indorsementof the committee, It hopes, when fully organized, to have a constituency of at least 20,000 votes, holding the balance ofpower. The members of what may now be called the nucleus of the forthcoming organization argue that politics have ceased to divide the citizens of New York, The g question in national politics—a thing they don’t mean to touch—is hard or soft money; in local polities it is simply a question between bi men and rogues, ARGUMENTS POR THE aR This being so, they insist that as their committee must command the confidence of the le and the ple wre anxiously ber for a reduction of their urdens, while the times threaten to be harder and harder, reform iu every direction must be popular, They also present the argument in favor of the success of their scheme that never before in the whole history of New York were the mercantile and respectable classes 80 alive to the necessity of municipal retrench- ment. Real estate has gone down below zero and taxes and assessments are eating away the props from under many a fine family home on Fifth and Madison avenués. All this and moro they advance to demon- strate that a committee of safety, “holding moral pos- session of the city government,” is just what the people are ripe to receive, > It will also be the duty of the committee to see how the various departments of the city government are administered. No head of a department who feels conscious of his honesty can well refuse to allow a sub- committee appointed from the Society of Safety to examine his books and look into the conduct of the business under his charge. WORK AND QUALITY OF THE COMMITTEE, ‘The committee will make an examination of the various works going op under the control of the Dey ments of Public Works, Parks aad Docks, It will employ its own engineers, and in all respects will take charge, as before said, “in a moral sense’’ of the city government, The public will give a willing ear to a ub-commnittee on examination Padogt r ‘hel such Pow) TR guitar og Vanderbilt, Royal Phel oses Grinn 4 Slows % iM Morton, John A. Dix. s Co ne ake John Jacob” Astor, Men of this clase are the kind, it {ts hoped, to embrace the Committee of Safety. The work it is de- jgned {t shall accomplish will not be that which may only outlive a year, It will bes anent club ‘of the best citizens, and to be a member of it will be something to feel proud of, It will be founded for all time and pot for the expediencies of one or more elec. tions As “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,"” so eternal Vigilance is the only safeguard of the ci wonseey. will be tives and ‘ce nods of the organization will then be fully set forth, it ls not thought worth while to give the names here of the gentlemen who com] the nucleus of the committee, especially when they do not court publicity in thh matter, Anyone, however, who takes up the directory aud picks out a hundred of the best known and most irreproachable names therein con- tained will come near having @ complete list of the members who will compose the projected Committee of Salety. WHAT {8 SAID OF TUR PROSECT. ‘ing to a L orags Eagre io ey bs ny te (ments regarding the movement the Herat vor ‘waa told: em about the movement have common for over a week, and the names men- with it are such as to give assur+ The politicians, I bear, and afraid their arrangements may with. There is no doubt that the peovlo