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TERENT PREMIUM LIBRARY! |
: "Torn in WHISPERS." :
: '•MARK TWAIN. 1 :
: "LIGHT OF ASIA." :
m iv r i:o»Vk iSf ¥ ' LVoTHKIV' COLIJH.
VOLUME LXXVII.-NO. 28.
FLED IN A HURRY.
Chinese Troops Retreated
in Disorder.
FELL BACK TO NEW CHWANG
Japanese Troops Defeat the
Tonghaks.
ONE REBELLION SUPPRESSED.
Ex-Secretary of State Foster Will
Be at the Peace Nego
tiations.
Yokohama, Doc. 27.— General Katsura
reports trutu Hai CUwane on Monday that
the Chinese army under General Sune
after its defeat at Kogasi filed back to
New Chwang and thence retreated to
Denshodai. being joined by the mass of
Chinese troops stationed at New Chwang,
which town was completely evacuated.
Scouts who were sent in the direction of
Pochi report that about SOOO Chinese are I
advancing from Cilco along the seashore.
Loxbox, Dec. 28.— A dispatch to the
Times lrom Shanghai says that the Jap-
LANDING OF FIELD MARSHAL OYAMA'S FORCES NEAR THE ELLIOT GROUP, OCTOBER 26, 1894
fKerrcdnced from a sketch by Frederick Villiers. special artist at tbe seat or war for the New YorJt Herald ami the London Black and White.]
anese aftsr four hours' fighting on De
cember 23 with a force of 6000 Tongbaks
suppressed the reDell.on at La Jun in the
:ce of Ilaido, where the rebels had
deposed ihe Governor and installed one of
their number in his place. Tbe Japanese
have also dispersed the Tongbaks wh» de
feated the Korean garrison at Chullado.
Washington. Dec. 27-— John W. Fos
ter, ex-Secretary of State, has been re
quested by the Chinese Government to go
to Japan and meet the plenipotentiaries
of the former Government to aid them in
their negotiations for peace. He has ac
cepted the invitation and expects to leave
Washington within a day or two, sailing
from Vancouver for Yokohama on Janu
ary 7, unless informed of a delay in the
departure of tbe plenipotentiaries. Mr.
Foster eoes to Japan purely in a private
capacity, and has no authority to repre
sent or act for the Government of the
United States.
AMID FLYINQ SHELLS.
Peril of the Baltimore From the
Chinese Shots.
According to a private letter published
Jn tbe New York Sun on the 22d inst. the
white cruiser Baltimore, flagship of the
Asiatic squadron, had an experience early
in Xovembfr, before tbe Japanese cap
tured Port Arthur, that came near resum
ing in disaster to the vessel. In his letter
the writer says:
"Fallowing is an accurate description of
our experience last night at rort Arthur:
We left Chemulpo at 11 a. m. Sunday, No
vember 4; str ng gale entire trip. Sighted
Shantung Promontory at 5:15 A. M.. No
vemberS; at ll a. m. we were approaching
Wei Hai Wei. Ran close in till we could
plainly see fortifications ana guns. Sev
eral men-of-v.ar there, but everything
apparently quiet, and we proceeded to
Chefoo, arriving there at 3:30 p.m. Two
French, two English and one German war
vessel there, but none of the Chinese fleet
The flag of the Red Cross Society conspicu
ous ashore. Left Chefoo at 6 A. M., No
vember 7, for Port Arthur. .Soon as we
arrived within signaling distance we
hoisted international signals showing who
we were. The signal-station and a por
tion of tbe fortifications are on a bill 1500
feet high.
"The Chinese acknowledged our signal
with their answering pennant, and when
we had approached to witnin a little over
two miles they signaled: 'Lie to. You
ate within range of our guvs.' We imme
diately anchored and a Chinese torpedo
boat came out and there was an exchange
of courtesies. Our admiral and bis llag
lieuteoant, with another lieutenant of the
live, went aboard the torpedo-boat and
paid an official visit to the Chinese ad
miral aboard the flagship in the inner har
bor. Admiral Ting, being Wouuded, was
unable to receive our < fficers and they
were received by the Chinese commodore.
They advised us not to rome inside, as
the inner harbor was full of torpedoes.
There were seven Chinese cruisers, two
battle-shii. s and eight torpedo-boats inside,
all in cocl righting trim, although l>otn
battle-ships and several of tb« cruisers
weie covered with patches, especially in
the superstructure and smokestacks. A
fine large drydock and all the appliances
of a modern navv-ysrd, an arsenal and an
abundance of ammunition of all kinds, in
cluding torpedoes, are behind the forts.
There Had been no fight at Port Arthur at
all, and we were the only foreign war ves
sel there.
"Port Anhur is without question the
6tronges« fortified place we nave visited
yet — sand ba'tenes, stone forts, earth
works, and natural rock fortifications,
all constructed according tr> most modern
methods. The rear of the forts, the land
side, bristles with Maxim, Gatline and
Iloictiki3s rapid-firing gujis, all protected
by metal shields. The same night, No
vember 7, just at dusk, five cruisers, two
The Morning Call.
bat'.le-ships and six toipedo-boats came
out of the inner harbor In single column
formation, passing close to the Baltimore,
and proceeded to sea. But here I am
£<>ing into details, and I haven't time lor
that.
"The next morning, November 8. at
8:30 o'clock, we sighted the Japanese
cruisers Nauiwa, Yoshlno and another
which we thought was the Oshima, but
could not be positive, as she was hull
down. Those vessels drew off later, and
at 2p. m. were out of sight. The balance
of ti;e day passed uneventfully. Just
about dusk two torpedo-boats were dis
covered hugging the coast to the eastward.
At 5:20 p.m. they began to approach us,
and at 5:30 they and two other?, making
four in all, completely surrounded the
Baltimore, all of them flying Japanese
flags both fore and aft. We were lying
in an extremely dangerous position right
under the guns of ail the Chinese lorts.
Suddenly one of the Japanese torpedo
boats approached to within fifty feet of
us. It whs getting quite dark, with the
moon breaking turoußh the clouds occa
sionally and illuminating small patches of
water at intervals.
"They hailed us twice. The first Ques
tion was, 'Who are you?' We answered,
'Baltimore.' They api»arently did not
catch our reply and iiailed us again, 'What
is your name? We can't see your color*.'
We again replied, 'Bsiitinittre.' At this tbe
entire" crew of the torpedo-boat burst ou'
i tuning. They then sang out, 'All right.'
Evidently they had taken us for a China
man, and seeing us lying at ancior deter
mined to run in quietly and explode a
torpedo at us, chancing the darknps
would screen them and prevent our seeing
them until it would be too late for us to
make any defense. Alter her rrply, 'All
right,' she steamed around to (tie other
side, under our steru, nud while in that
position the moon shewed iuell for a
Moment.
"At this instant, 5:45 p. m., the Chinese
forts opened fire on the torpedo-boats with
tneir heavy batteries. One shell struck
the water an-1 exploded within thirty feet
of the boat we had been talking to not fif
teen seconds before. We were in a regular
trap. Orders were at once given to get up
ancnor aud get under way lively. One of
tb9 torp-do-boats at once left us aud
steamed daiingly across a large patch of
moonlit water, at the same time display
ing red signals. This drew a volley from
all of tbe forts, the shells strikine the
water all around the Baltimore and ex
ploding. The balance of the torpedo-boats
hid themselves from view in the dense
smoke from the Baltimore's smokestacks.
The Chinese forts continued firing, one
shell striking close to the stern of the
Baltimore. Another passed between our
two smokestacks. A third passed over our
starboard bow, very low and so close tbat
several of us instinctively dodged.
"We had a little ovpr sixty fathoms of
cbain out and our fires banked, but we
'imreeded in moving ahead slowly at 6:09
P. M., and a few minutes later were leav
iug the dangerous spor. It was a most ex
citing and ticklish predicament, butevery
thing aboard tbe Baltimore was done with
celerity and with clockworklike precision,
showing that all our men were perfectly
cool, alert and well disciplined. At 6:28
P. M. we had a stiff breeze from the north
ward, the Lias Ti .Shan promontory light
moving west-northwest quarter west and
the ship heading south seven-eighths east,
steam 92, and making 53 6-10 revolutions.
The forts ceased firing at 6:12 p. m., three
minutes after we began to steam out. Tbe
forts shelled the torpedo-boats a period of
twenty-seven minutes, but did not succeed
in bitting them so far ah we could sap.
"All this time the Baltimore was in the
very center of the Japanese fleet of tor
pedo-boats. On account of the great ele
vation of tbe forts the Chinese were en
abled to fire at tbe torpedo-boats over our
heads, though it would have been impossi
ble to do so from a battery located at sea
level. The continuous whir and whistle
of the shells as they aped over and pist
us, tbe sheets of flame from tbe muzzles
of the big siege suns udoq the hills, and
the resounding reports echoiug through
the hills and mountain?, the splash and
tbe explosion when the shells struck the
water, tbe phosphorus in the water leaving
the spot luminous for some seconds after,
and the torpedo-boat" darting swiftly
around us combined to form an interes'
ine, novel and thrilling scene. The ex
perience is one that I would not have
missed for any consideration. May we
have more of them."
The Baltimore dia not go back to Port
Arthur, ahe proceeded to Chefoo, and
she was practicing target-shooting there
when this letter was written.
LOOKS LIKE PEACE.
Mexico's President Receives Ovate-
mate's Minister.
Mexico, Dec. 27.— At high noon to-day
President Diaz received the Guatemalan
Minister, Emilio de .Leon. The Utier made
the customary speech, adding that he
hoped the alarming rumors which are ex
citing the people of both countries would
cease. The President answered in the
bame strain. Pre«id'-nt Diaz'^determined
language was received with applause, it
was de ermined that the discussion be
tween M Hrital and De Leon will be closed
next week.
Lord Churchill Stronger.
.London, Dec. 27.— Lord Randolph
Churchill passed a quiei nlgbt and this
morning is in a less comatose condition
and sotuewhat stronger.
SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 28, 1894.
WILLIAMS' CRIMES
Bad Record of the Police
Inspector
BROUGHT OUT BY MR. GOFF.
Charged With Eighteen Serious
Offenses.
NO END TO THE CORRUPTION.
Green- Goods Men Swear They Paid
a Big Bribe to Anthony
Comstock.
New York, Dec. 27. — The feature of
the Lexow committee investigation to-day
was tbe introduction of evidence to snow
that Anthony Comstock, agent for tbe
Society for the Prevention of Vice, had
taken a bribe of SIOOO from a green-goods
man to Drocure the dismissal of an indict
ment against him.
Inspector Williams' ordeal on the wit
ness-stand was also continued, and the
existence of panel-houses and a large num
ber of disorderly bouses in bis district
while he was captain was shown, lie said
j he found the houses there when he came
| to the district aua left U«m unmolested
"because they were fnsiiioDiiUl©."
Mr. Gh it also introduced the inspector
to the knowledge that Japanese law would
not have allowed hi.n to own real estate in
Hakodate at tbe time he claimed in his
testimony yesterday tnat he owned prop
erty there.
It is understood that the committee will
not sit after to-morrow, so a great deal of
work will have to be crowded into the day,
and a night session may be held. Super
intendent Byrnes, Inspectors MoLaughlin
and WcAviiy and several nthers have yet
to be examined, 80 to-morrow's session
may be the most important of the com
mittee.
Inspector Williams resumed his testi
mony before the committee at 11:35
o'clock.
Gnff called the names of Captain Mar
tins, Meakin, Washburn and Weservelt.
It was stated by Inspector Williams that
Westervelt was sick. Goff retorted: "Cap
tain We&tervelt was well enough to be at
his station tw •> hours ago when subpenaed.
Captain MeaKin has been ill," continued
Goff, "but the police surgeon has testified
thrtt his illness (muscular rheumatism) is
not serious enough to prevent bis attend
ance, if he desires to come. I shall ask
you to call on Captain Meakta. If he is
an honest man and not guilty of the cor
ruption charged against him, he will come
here and testify. I hope these words will
reach him aod that he will weigh their
significance."
Inspector Wi'llams looked perfectly
composed an Goff began croes-exaoiina
tion.
Goff asked: "Will you swoar that Per
kins did not get a check for $,500 through
you when you were Superintendent of the
Street Cleaning Department?"
"I will not."
"Everybody who has testified against
you is a perjurer or a liar. Now, has
tnere ever been a member of the police
lorce charged with mure corruption than
yon?"
"I have not been charged with corrup
tion."
"Were you ever charged with stealing
socks?"
"No."
Mr. Goff referred to a document and
said: "I find on March 29, 1878, you were
charged by Louise Smith, keeper of a
disorderly house, with taking from her
six pocket handkerchief?, one gold-headad
cane, one pistol, one pair of slippers,
one velvet rest and one dozen pairs of
socks."
"I don't remember it."
"Haven't you read your record often
enough since this com mi '.tee sat to remem
ber it? Don't you know that Superinten
dent Walling brought these charges against
you?"
"He did not; a woman brought them."
"Were you found guilty?"
"1 don't think so ; J can find out by re
ferring to my records."
"I don't want your record. I want you
to answer my questions. Don't thmk be
cause you wear a gold shield here and are
an inspect r that you are one whit differ
ent from any other witness."
"I know 1 am not."
"Will you swear that on April 2, 1895,
you did not go to the police headquarters
and stand your trial on these charges?"
"I don't recollect."
•'Did you not swear yesterday that you
bad been charged with offenses eighteen
times? Cannot you remember theae ot
fenses?" .
"So : lean tell yon by referring to my
record."
"I wish to say," said Goff, "that on a
charge brought against Williams by How
ard Crossby. the Commissioner* divided."
Coming to the time Williams bad charge of
the Eighth Precinc', G ff asked witness if
tbere were any disorderly houses there.
"I found them there." be replied.
"And you left them there?"
"Yes; because they were fashionable at
tbat time," was Williams' extraordinary
reply.
Goff then called the names of many
notorious houses in Mercer, Green, Sulli
van and Bleeker streets. Wi liains said he
iiad beard of them and had assisted tbe
Board of Education to close them up. He
insisted they were "alleged" disorderly
houses, although he bad said be knew all
about them at tbe inquiry instituted by
the Board of Education.
Mr. Goff got tbe inspector to say that be
would not 2lve the name of tbe proprietor
nt adisoiderly house to the committee iv
1874 because he considered tbe committee
was not an honest one.
"Did you ever know of an honest inves
tigating committee before which you ap
peared?"
"Yes."
"You said before tbe committee that
disorderly bouses do not iujura children
going io school?"
"Yes."
"Have you the audacity to sit there now
ana say so?"
"Yes, sir."
"Were you ever called a uniformed
bully V"
"No, sir."
"Were you ever oalled tbe 'champion
clubber'?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then as to tbe charges which you do
not remember. You have committed so
many outrages against the citizens of New
York that you don't remember the
charees?"
"No, sir."
"Do you remember a charge made
against you by a man iv Veazy street?"
"The case was never tried, as the com
plainant found he was wrong. 1 was cap
tain of the Fourth Precinct, and there was
a big fire one Sunday evening in Wasii
iu.ton Market. Walking through Veazy
street this man -topped me and said:
'Let me introduce you to Alderman
Smith.' He took me for a countryman
on a 'common.' I took him by tbe throat
and threw him Into the street, as any citi
zen has a right to serve a loafer."
"You did noi throw Haggerty, the Phil
adel bia tough, into the street?" asked
Mr. Goff.
"I did not meet him."
"Oh, yes you did. He was looking for
you and wanted to clean out the town."
"I did not meet htm," persisted the in
spector."
"You did not throw Joe Coburn?"
"Yes, J did."
The witness denied any panel-house rob
beries having occurred in tbe Eighth Pre
cinct.
Mr. GofT then said there wai a charge
against William;, tha trial of which lasted
three days, but there was no record of it
on the poliCrt books.
"Have you any recollection of one Com
missioner voting for your dismissal on
accoun' o f your disgraceful conduct?"
"No."
"Don't you know the toting was two
and two?"
"There is no record of It."
"Who keeps the records?"
"Chairmau Robert Peters," said the
witness
"Have you forgotten the charee against
the propne'or of an oyster-stand who hnd
a permit? You made !he arrest yourself."
"It is not in the record."
"Do you recollect the arrest of a man
named Donovan by Officer Fi'zgerald?
Dmovan was brought before Judge Mun
dell and said you came up behind him and
clubbed him on the bead and neck. The
Judge, discharged him and said, "This
clubb rig by policemen must be stopped.' "
The witness said he never told lios
about respectable men. He had a reputa
tion for clubbing, but did not think be
deserved it.
"Did you say at lunch the day after a
meeting of starving people In Union
square this year that they were a lot of
howlers and all yon had to do was to show
your pistol and disperse them?"
"1 never said such a thing."
After a little sp^rriqe Mr. Goff said: "By
the way, ca tain, tell us in what part of
Jaran you owned those lots."
"In Hakodate, in the nortberD portion"
"Did you get a deed ?"
"Yes."
"Your own name?"
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"I left it with a man named Frederick
Wilkifi. 1 don't know where he is."
"Don't you know that foreigners cannot
hold land in J ip«n except in treaty ports?"
"That was a treaty port."
"The Japanese Consul tells me that at
the time you allege you had that land
there was no tfeaty which would allow
you to hold this land. Do you know more
than he?"
"I was there."
"So was he. How do you explain it?"
The inspector could not.
The afternoon session of the committee
was called to order at 3:25 p. m. with In
pector Williams in the witnes=-ctiair.
"Did an officer named Willigan report
robbery in i>anel houses to you when you
w-r*» in the Eighth Precinct?" asked Mr
Goff.
"I don't remember."
"Do you remember the number of In
mates in the eighty-three disorderly
iiou«es?"
"No; I have asked what the number
was. I have asked the proprietresses of
some houses how many inmates they had.''
The witness and Mr. Guff then had a
little tiff. Inspector Williams objected to
the document from which Mr. Goff read.
"I dou't know where you got It," said he,
"and it is a long time ago."
"Don't mind where I got It," said Mr.
Guff. "It contains maters that have been
suppressed by the police department.
They suppressed a good many things about
you."
"They seem to have suppressed e?ery
tbing good," was Williams' reply.
Williams then left the stand tor a brief
time.
Dr. Walsh was called and testified that
Captain Meakin was unable to be out,
and probably would not for several days.
"Will he be able to appear as a witness
by Saturday?" asked Mr. Goff.
"Well." said the doctor, "the farther
away you place the date the more chance
there is that lie can attend. lam sure his
attendance will greatly affect his condi
tion."
"I am quite sure it would," said Mr.
G 'ft amid great laughter.
"Now, doctor," said Mr. Goff in hU
sweetest tones, "will you bear this message
to Captain Meakin? Tell him be baa
been accused before this committee of
bribery and corruption. It has been statfd
that he has grown rich on tbe fruit of this
corruption. Now, tell him also if he is an
honest man he will c >me here ia obedience
to the subpena served on him."
The doctor then left the stand.
Then Dr. Daniel Donovan, one of the
police surgeons, gave a synopsis oi the pro
cedure with tfte police surgeons with re
gard to men reported ill. Tbe witness said
he bad reported Captain Meakin ill.
After some questions of no importance
Inspector Williams was recalled. Ha said
he knew of three panel-bouses in tbe
Etehib Precinct.
"You swore before recess there were no
panel-house-* in the precinct." „
"Yes; to the beat of my recollection."
Senator O'Connor then entered on a long
legal argument with Mr. Goff ns to whether
the inspector was guilty of perjury. The
Senator said tie was not, unless tbe testi
mony was given with a false and corrupt
intention.
Mr. Guff said the inspector might have
been mistaken.
"Yes," said the witness, "1 admit that
what 1 swore to this morning was false,
but when I gave H I bel eyed it to be true."
"Might there not have been more than
one panel-house in the district ?"
"Yes; do you know what a panel-house
is?"
This question by Williams created
laughter, ana Mr. Goff lectured him aboui
g.vmg bis testimony in a more becoming
manner.
"I only wanted to give my evidence
straight," said tbe witness.
'Sergeant Creal swore that in these
eighty-three disorderly houses there wire
156 inmates. He swore he made complaint
of these houses 'to you. This evidence
was given before the committee, is it
true?"
"i can't say."
"Was it not when these charges were
Inspector Williams.
brought up, your dismissal was demanded
by one of the inspectors as an incompetent
and disgraceful man?"
"H« did nothing "f the kind."
Mr. Goff continued to question the In
spector as to the disorderly houses. The
insuect r admitted It was his duty to dis
cover and suppress them.
'iii is ended the examination of Inspector
Williams, and Louis Streep, a green-goods
operator, was called. The witness created
a sensation by telling a story involving
A thony Comstoek.
"On May 23. 1889," said Sireep, "two in
dictments wer« found against me for
operating in fereen goods. Anthony Com
st.ick was the prosecutor. Comstock told
me if I woull give up the name of my ac
complice J should get off with a light pun
ishment I refused to do so. Edward
Brethal called and gave try wife $5000 in
bills. The bail was, at the tiim>, $5000, but
was shortly afterward reduced to $3000.
In August, 1890, I called ou Comstock with
my brother, who told me that the State
indictment would be dismissed on pay
ment of $1000. Comstock said: 'Mind,
the 81000 is not in the shape of a bribe.
It is a subscription to the society.*
"I asked whether, If I paid the money,
if I might not be brought up at all. On Com
stock's promise I paid him $1000. i-f which
I got S3OO from my brother and $700 from
my printing office at 76 Beekman stroet,
which I sold. On fie following Friday
the indictment was dismissed."
Mr. Goff j.roduced (tie indictments which
bore an indorsement bearing date of Sep
tember 29, 1890. that the District Attorney
haying moved that for reasons •■if-ctint:
the administration of law the indictment
whs dismissed.
"Comsiock subsequently called on me,"
continued Streep, "to get me to swear
Brethal was an accomplice of mine. I re
fused and he threatened to hn p me be
fore the United Stales eoort, I asked him
for time to consider the matter. Brethal
was arrested on the charge of stealing
$100 from the American Express Com
pany. He was brought belore Commis
sioner Shields. Negotiations were carried
on with him by Comsiock and he paid
Comstock $1000. The following day be was
discharged. United States District Attor
ney John A. Molt also got $1000.
"I was then arrested, and employed Law
yer Hess. I told all about Comstook to
Commissioner Shields. Comstock wad
asked to tell what happened in his office,
but declined to do so. I was held for trial
and was convicted of the charge of issuing
green-goods circulars last June. My case
has been appealed."
Robert Streep, brother of Louit, cor
roborated the latter's testimony.
Mr. Goff said the committee, while in
quirinc into the abuses of the police de
partment, had a perfect right to inquire
into the administration of the law, so far
as the State was concerned, and that was
the reason he had submitted this evidence.
It has been shown that green-goods opera
tors could escape punishment by bribing
Mr. Comaiock, the agent of the Society
for the Suppression of Vice.
The committee adjourned until to-mor
iow.
COMSTOCK INDIGNANT.
He Denies That He Received Any
Bribes.
Summit, N. J., Dec. 27.— Anthony Com
stock said io-uigbt:
"If StreeD made any such statement be
fore the Lexow committee it is rank and
infamous perjury. Streep was first ar
rested by the police for carrying on this
business, but their evidence was insuffi
cient to sustain an indictment, so I whs
sent for, and through my evidence he wa
beld in $3000 io the Court of Gen
eral Sessions. He forfeited the bail
by going to Europe. While he was
a fugitive from justice, the case was dis
missed. After a time he returned to this
country. lie told me Edward Bechtal was
the man who was the principal in the
green-goods circular disiribution affair.
He made an affidavit accusing Bechtal,
and told me so much about him that I was
satisfied that Streep was going to play me
false. After .several weeks, however,
Bfchtal was arrested by me.
"At the time of Bechtal's examination
Streeu went on the stand and swore posi
tively tbat be div not know the man. Be
calmly contradicted everything he bad
said when he was making the oatb before
in*. Therefore, that which be swore to in
open court was base perjury. I demanded
that the case be dismissed. Subsequently
I caused Streep to be arrested ou tue old
cliarge.
"Streep was subsequently convicted and
sentenced to eighteen months in prison. I
learned that B-chtal had called on Streep
the night previous to his own examination
and had offered Streep a sum of money
not to testify against him. Tbat is all
ahout the Streep and Becntal case.
"Streep nevnr directly or indirectly gave
me value, not a cent, not even a postage
stamp, and never in all of his trial?, even
as a witness, was it intimated that he gave
me a penny.
"By the way, in speaking of Goff, I'd
like to know what the little secret was
when he was Assistant District Attorney
that Olln D. Gray was not pro>ecuted.
I found in this man Gray's possession a
million and a half dollars' worth of Louisi
ana lottery tickets, and, notwithstanding
such strong evidence brought to Mr.
Gnff's attention, tliis man was not prose
cuted. Mr. Goff may, perhaps, tell us
why.
''On the whole, it is the most Infamous
plot to traduce my character I have ever
known. I will appear before the Lexow
committee to-morrow, and will demand to
be heard— l wili be heard; it's my
right."
Mr. Comstock was very much agitated
during the interview, and at times ex
pressed great indignation.
QOFF WILL RETIRE.
Will Cease the Cross- Examination
of Witnesses.
New Yokk, Dec. 27.— "1t is my present
purpose and intention to end my connec
tion as cross-examiner before the Lexow
committee on Friday night." This is the
first authoritative statement which Mr.
Goff hns made concerning the hearings of
the Lfxow committee before adjournment,
lit* made it last night and it will undoubt
edly be adhered to unless some extra
ordinary matter now unforeseen shall
interfere.
APPLICATION FOR A STAY.
Police Captain Stevenson Not Ready
for Sing Sins;*
Brooklyn, N. V., Dec. 27.— An applica
tion was made to Justice Gaynor in the
Supreme Court to-day for a stay for Cap
tain of Police Stevenson of .New York,
who was sentenced by Justice Ingraham
yesterday. Justice Gaynor said he would
allow the affidavits in the ea-e to be filed
and would set a day for the hearing of the
motion.
KNOWN AS A CLUBBER.
Williams Was Often Tried for Beat-
ing Citizens.
Inspector Williams' career in tbe Police
Department extends over a period of
twenty-eight years. He was born on the
islaud of Caoe Breton, N. S., in 1839,
came to New York when a lad and learned
tbe trade of ship carpenter. He was em
ployed for a long time in the shipyard of
W. H. Wehb& Co. When still a yonng
man lie visited Japan. He says he was
the first white man to lay the keel of a ship
in Japan.
Ui on bis return to this country be was
engaged by thn Government to raise a
sunken vessel off the coast of Key West.
He was afterward connected with the
navy-yard. He joined the metropolitan
police force on August 3, 1866. His first
assignment was the F.rty-seventh Pre
cinct, Brooklyn, where be remained until
1868, when he was transferred to New
York and assigned to the Broadway
He was made roundsman July 10,
1871, and promoted to sergeant September
23, 1871. As sergeant he bad command of
ibe mounied squad.
He was promoted to captain on May 31,
1872, and put in command of the Twenty
nrsi Precinct. He afterward commanded
the Eiehth Precinct, then the Fourth, and
in 1876 ha was sent to the Tenderloin.
Later tor a period of about two years be
was detailed to the Street Department,
and had charge of the cleaning of the
streets. Wiih the exception of the period
tie siient in the S raet-cleaning Depart
ment he was the commander of the Ten
derloin from 1876 until be was pro
moted to be insoector on August 9, 18&7.
As a capiain Williams was kuuwu as
"Fighting Aleck." He had the reputa
tion of being a clubber, and was put on
trial on several occasions, but always got
out of trouble. An incident of Williams'
career as a captain which gave him a
grent deal of notoriety was his action in
stopping the production of the "Passion
Play" in a Twenty-third street Theater.
Williams bas to his credit the arrest of a
number of murderers. Id tba Eighth
Precinct alone be caught nine murderers.
He has also arrested a large number of
crooks and thieves. Williams is well
known ail over (be country.
Slice be became inspector be has bad
charge of the First District, which takes in
the east side of the city from tbe Battery
up to Ninety-sixth street.
Williams is sometbingof a yachtsman.
He owns a yacht call, d the Eleanor.
KIDNAPED HER OWN CHILD.
Mrs. Thompson Outwitted Her Dis
solute Ex-Husband.
Cheyen ne, Wyo., Dec. 26. — Mrs.
Charles Thompson of St. Louis arrived in
this city to-day from Outte, Mont. She
has with her her child, which she kid
naped from her divorced husband in the
latter city. Mrs. Thompson formerly lived
in Denver and was married in that city.
Her husband became dissolute and took
up with a variety actress a few years ago
and has lived with her in various cities
since.
His wife secured a divorce from him
and was given the custody of their child.
When the Thompson child had been given
into the keeping ol it? mother lib kidnaped
her and has kept her with him In all his
travels. Thompson and bis mistress lived
in this city fora short t uip. he putting in
his time around the gambling-houses. His
wife followed him here, and he took the
child and bis mistress and left the city, no
one knowing where he went. Mrs. Thomp
son recently heard that he was living in
Butte, and taking a detective with her she
went there, and when Tlioronson and his
mistress were absent from home kidnaped
her child aud at once started for the East.
She will remain iv tbls city for a couple of
days.
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PRICE FIVE CENTS.
BLOCKED BY SNOW
Traffic Very Seriously
Impeded.
SEVERE EASTERN STORMS.
Damage Is Done by the Raging
Blizzards.
EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER.
Apprehension Caused Over Floods
That Will Follow the Melting
of the Snow.
Xew York, Dec. 27.— News from Bos
ton is tbat travel h impeded by the
storm, streetcar travel being much de
layed. Railroad trains are much behind
time. In South Boston the wind carried
away the roof of the First Baptist Church,
this morning, and blew down the big
chimney of ibe Dawson Safe and Iron
Works, but only slight damage by the
gale is reported in other sections.
New Haven reports the harbor full of
storm-bound craft.
Hartford reports traffic badly delayed.
From points throughout New England
tht-re is news of delayed travel and im
peded Taflic, but no serious casualties.
In New York State the snowfall is
heavy, and trains are blocked, country
roads impassable and streetcar lines
stopped in the cities. No accidents are
reported.
There is no direct telegraphic communi
cation between this city and Sandy Hook,
owing to the storm. All messages are re
ceived by way of Long Branch. At Sandy
Hook the wind is blowing a moderate
g*le from the east-northeast and the rain
continues. The water along Staten Island
shore is unusually high, and in many
places the waves made a clean breach over
the docks. At Quarantine the waves are
breaking over the stone wall built to pro
tect the shore. Reports from the interior
Indicate more or less seri< us interruption
to railway traffic, Central New York show
ing the most general disturbance.
Long Island City, L. 1., Dec. 27.— The
northern shore of Long Island felt the full
force of the storm. The gale blew across
the sound and several wrecks and ground
ings were reported. A number of Isolated
places on the island are cut off from com
munication on account of the wires being
down. The south side did not suffer so
badly. In the interior the snowfall was
not heavy, rain ore vailing there to-day.
A Norwegian bark which was sighted
this morning in distress off Far II ck a way
was later in inn day taken in tnw by a tug.
A; Eaton* NVek the schooner Isetta, CaD
tmn Rnllins, bound from Bangor, Me., to
New York, went ash' re during the driving
snowstorm. The crew of six were taken
off by the life-saving crew. The vessel
will be hauled off at soon as possible.
The freighter Tuckahoe, of Providence,
went asiiore at Port Washington, ease of
Sands Point lighthouse, but the captain
and crew were taken off in safety. Tbe
vessel was badly strained, but can be
pulled off.
At many other points there Is consid
erable damage repotted, but nothing so far
of a serious nature.
Amsterdam, N. V. f Dec. 27.— The worst
snowstorm since the famous blizzard of
18S8 struct the Mohawk Valley last night.
It raged all night and all day to-day witb
increasing fury. Snow to the depth of a
foot has fallen and has been blown by the
wind into drifts from six to ten feet in
depth. Tie New York Central and West
Shore roads have been blocked. No efforts
have been made to run freight trains, and
they iirb stalled all along the tracks. Pas
senger trains have been from three tneigbt
hou r s late, *nd two of them were to-day
abandoned on the Mohawk division of the
New York Central. Tue wind is blowing
a gale to-night and the snow is being badly
drifted.
Atlantic City. N. J., Dec. 27.— The
coast storm is raging here with no signs of
abating. A forty-mile gale is blowing
from the southwest, piling up the surf
along the ocean front. Meadows are like
a big bay with no sign of land for seven
miles. The railway tracks are submerged.
And the mails are an hour late. Along
Baltic avenue the water is on a level with
the first floors. Over at Brigantino much
damage is being done. This is by far the
worst storm this year.
Albany, N. T., Drc. 27.— The snow fall
here amounts to 14 Inches.
Saratoga, Dec. 27.— The Adirondack
region is beine swept by a blizzard. A
CLOTHIERS,
FURNISHERS,
HATTERS.
FOR THE
FIRST TIME
Saturday Morning
WE START
A SALE.
FOR FURTHER
PARTICULARS
See Our Windows
YOU KNOW US
&T MONEY BACK IF YOU WANT IT.
"THE HUB,"
CORNER
Kearny and Sutter.
