Transcript
Page 1: The Morning Call. - Chronicling America · 2017-12-18 · The Morning Call. VOLUME LXXVII.-NO.28. SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 28, 1894. PRICE FIVE CENTS. FLED IN A HURRY

The Morning Call.VOLUME LXXVII.-NO. 28. PRICE FIVE CENTS.SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 28, 1894.

FLED IN A HURRY.

Chinese Troops Retreatedin Disorder.

FELL BACK TO NEW CHWANG

Japanese Troops Defeat theTonghaks.

ONE REBELLION SUPPRESSED.

Ex-Secretary of State Foster WillBe at the Peace Nego-

tiations.

Yokohama, Doc. 27.—General Katsurareports trutu Hai CUwane on Monday thatthe Chinese army under General Suneafter its defeat at Kogasi filed back toNew Chwang and thence retreated toDenshodai. being joined by the mass ofChinese troops stationed at New Chwang,which town was completely evacuated.

Scouts who were sent in the direction ofPochi report that about SOOO Chinese are Iadvancing from Cilco along the seashore.Loxbox,Dec. 28.— A dispatch to the

Times lrom Shanghai says that the Jap-

anese aftsr four hours' fighting on De-cember 23 with a force of 6000 Tongbakssuppressed the reDell.on at La Jun in the

:ce of Ilaido, where the rebels haddeposed ihe Governor and installed one oftheir number in his place. Tbe Japanesehave 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 goto Japan and meet the plenipotentiariesof the former Government to aid them intheir negotiations for peace. He has ac-cepted the invitation and expects to leaveWashington within a day or two, sailingfrom Vancouver for Yokohama on Janu-ary 7, unless informed of a delay in thedeparture of tbe plenipotentiaries. Mr.Foster eoes to Japan purely in a privatecapacity, and has no authority to repre-sent or act for the Government of theUnited 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. thewhite cruiser Baltimore, flagship of theAsiatic squadron, had an experience earlyin Xovembfr, before tbe Japanese cap-tured Port Arthur, that came near resum-ing in disaster to the vessel. Inhis letterthe writer says:

"Fallowing is an accurate description ofour experience last night at rort Arthur:We left Chemulpo at 11 a. m. Sunday, No-vember 4;str ng gale entire trip. SightedShantung Promontory at 5:15 A. M.. NovemberS; at lla. m. we were approachingWei Hai Wei. Ran close in till we couldplainly see fortifications ana guns. Sev-eral men-of-v.ar there, but everythingapparently quiet, and we proceeded toChefoo, arriving there at 3:30 p.m. TwoFrench, twoEnglish and one German warvessel there, but none of the Chinese fleetThe flag of the Red Cross Society conspicu-ous ashore. Left Chefoo at 6 A.M., No-vember 7, for Port Arthur. .Soon as wearrived within signaling distance wehoisted international signals showing whowe were. The signal-station and a por-tion of tbe fortifications are on a bill1500feet high.

"The Chinese acknowledged our signalwith their answering pennant, and whenwe had approached to witnin a little overtwo miles they signaled: 'Lie to. Youate within range of our guvs.' We imme-diately anchored and a Chinese torpedo-boat came out and there was an exchangeof courtesies. Our admiral and bis llag-lieuteoant, with another lieutenant of thelive, went aboard the torpedo-boat andpaid an official visit to the Chinese ad-miral aboard the flagship in the inner har-bor. Admiral Ting, being Wouuded, wasunable to receive our < fficers and theywere received by the Chinese commodore.They advised us not to rome inside, asthe inner harbor was fullof torpedoes.There were seven Chinese cruisers, twobattle-shii. s and eight torpedo-boats inside,all in cocl righting trim, although l>otnbattle-ships and several of tb« cruisersweie covered with patches, especially inthe superstructure and smokestacks. Afine large drydock and all the appliancesof a modern navv-ysrd, an arsenal and anabundance of ammunition of all kinds, in-cluding torpedoes, are behind the forts.There Had been no fight at Port Arthur atall, and we were the only foreign war ves-sel there.

"Port Anhur is without question the6tronges« fortified place we nave visitedyet

—sand ba'tenes, stone forts, earth-

works, and natural rock fortifications,all constructed according tr> most modernmethods. The rear of the forts, the landside, bristles with Maxim, Gatline andIloictiki3s rapid-firing gujis, all protectedby metal shields. The same night, No-vember 7, just at dusk, five cruisers, two

bat'.le-ships and six toipedo-boats cameout of the inner harbor In single columnformation, passing close to the Baltimore,and proceeded to sea. But here Iam£<>ing into details, and Ihaven't time lorthat.

"The next morning, November 8. at8:30 o'clock, we sighted the Japanese

cruisers Nauiwa, Yoshlno and anotherwhich we thought was the Oshima, butcould not be positive, as she was hulldown. Those vessels drew off later, andat 2p. m. were out of sight. The balanceof ti;e day passed uneventfully. Justabout 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 theBaltimore, all of them flying Japaneseflags both fore and aft. We were lyingin an extremely dangerous position rightunder the guns of ail the Chinese lorts.Suddenly one of the Japanese torpedo-

boats approached to within fifty feet ofus. It whs getting quite dark, with themoon breaking turoußh the clouds occa-sionally and illuminating small patches ofwater at intervals.

"They hailed us twice. The first Ques-tion was, 'Who are you?' We answered,'Baltimore.' They api»arently did notcatch our reply and iiailed us again, 'Whatis your name? We can't see your color*.'We again replied, 'Bsiitinittre.' At this tbeentire" crew of the torpedo-boat burst ou'ituning. They then sang out, 'Allright.'Evidently they had taken us for a China-man, and seeing us lying at ancior deter-mined to run in quietly and explode atorpedo at us, chancing the darknps-

would screen them and prevent our seeing

them until it would be too late for us tomake any defense. Alter her rrply, 'Allright,' she steamed around to (tie otherside, under our steru, nud while in thatposition the moon shewed iuell for aMoment.

"Atthis instant, 5:45 p.m., the Chineseforts opened fire on the torpedo-boats withtneir heavy batteries. One shell struckthe water an-1 exploded within thirty feetof the boat we had been talking to not fif-teen seconds before. We were in a regulartrap. Orders were at once given to get upancnor aud get under way lively. One oftb9 torp-do-boats at once left us audsteamed daiingly across a large patch ofmoonlit water, at the same time display-ing red signals. This drew a volley fromall of tbe forts, the shells strikine thewater all around the Baltimore and ex-ploding. The balance of the torpedo-boatshid themselves from view in the densesmoke from the Baltimore's smokestacks.The Chinese forts continued firing, oneshell striking close to the stern of theBaltimore. Another passed between ourtwo smokestacks. A third passed over ourstarboard bow, very low and so close tbatseveral of us instinctively dodged.

"We had a little ovpr sixty fathoms ofcbain out and our fires banked, but we'imreeded in moving ahead slowly at 6:09P. 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 withcelerity and with clockworklike precision,showing that all our men were perfectlycool, alert and well disciplined. At 6:28P. M. we had a stiff breeze from the north-ward, the Lias Ti .Shan promontory lightmoving west-northwest quarter west andthe ship heading south seven-eighths east,steam 92, and making 53 6-10 revolutions.The forts ceased firingat 6:12 p. m., threeminutes after we began to steam out. Tbeforts shelled the torpedo-boats a period oftwenty-seven minutes, but did not succeedin bittingthem so far ah we could sap.

"Allthis time the Baltimore was in thevery 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 ourheads, though itwould have been impossi-

ble todo so from a battery located at sealevel. The continuous whir and whistleof the shells as they aped over and pistus, tbe sheets of flame from tbe muzzlesof the big siege suns udoq the hills, andthe resounding reports echoiug throughthe hills and mountain?, the splash andtbe explosion when the shells struck thewater, tbe phosphorus in the water leavingthe spot luminous for some seconds after,and the torpedo-boat" darting swiftlyaround us combined to form an interes'-ine, novel and thrilling scene. The ex-perience is one that Iwould not havemissed for any consideration. May wehave more of them."

The Baltimore dia not go back to PortArthur, ahe proceeded to Chefoo, andshe was practicing target-shooting therewhen this letter was written.

LANDING OF FIELD MARSHAL OYAMA'S FORCES NEAR THE ELLIOT GROUP, OCTOBER 26, 1894fKerrcdnced from a sketch by Frederick Villiers. special artist at tbe seat or war for the New YorJt Herald ami the London Black and White.]

LOOKS LIKE PEACE.Mexico's President Receives Ovate-

mate's Minister.Mexico, Dec. 27.—At high noon to-day

President Diaz received the GuatemalanMinister, Emilio de .Leon. The Utiermadethe customary speech, adding that hehoped the alarming rumors which are ex-citing the people of both countries wouldcease. The President answered in thebame strain. Pre«id'-nt Diaz'^determinedlanguage was received with applause, itwas de ermined that the discussion be-tween MHrital and De Leon will be closednext week.

Lord Churchill Stronger.

.London, Dec. 27.— Lord RandolphChurchill passed a quiei nlgbt and thismorning is in a less comatose conditionand sotuewhat stronger.

WILLIAMS' CRIMES

Bad Record of the PoliceInspector

BROUGHT OUT BY MR. GOFF.

Charged With Eighteen SeriousOffenses.

NO END TO THE CORRUPTION.

Green- Goods Men Swear They Paida Big Bribe to Anthony

Comstock.

New York, Dec. 27.—

The feature ofthe Lexow committee investigation to-daywas tbe introduction of evidence to snowthat Anthony Comstock, agent for tbeSociety for the Prevention of Vice, hadtaken a bribe of SIOOO from a green-goodsman to Drocure the dismissal of an indict-ment against him.

Inspector Williams' ordeal on the wit-ness-stand was also continued, and theexistence of panel-houses and a large num-ber of disorderly bouses in bis districtwhile he was captain was shown, lie said

jhe 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 wouldnot have allowed hi.n to own real estate inHakodate at tbe time he claimed in histestimony yesterday tnat he owned prop-erty there.Itis understood that the committee will

not sit after to-morrow, so a great deal ofwork willhave to be crowded into the day,and a night session may be held. Super-intendent Byrnes, Inspectors MoLaughlinand WcAviiy and several nthers have yetto be examined, 80 to-morrow's sessionmay be the most important of the com-mittee.

Inspector Williams resumed his testi-mony before the committee at 11:35o'clock.

Gnff called the names of Captain Mar-tins, Meakin, Washburn and Weservelt.Itwas stated by Inspector Williams thatWestervelt was sick. Goffretorted: "Cap-tain We&tervelt was well enough to be athis station tw•> hours ago when subpenaed.Captain MeaKin has been ill," continuedGoff, "but the police surgeon has testifiedthrtt his illness (muscular rheumatism) isnot serious enough to prevent bis attend-ance, if he desires to come. Ishall askyou to call on Captain Meakta. Ifhe isan honest man and not guilty of the cor-ruption charged against him, he willcomehere and testify. Ihope these words willreach him aod that he will weigh theirsignificance."

Inspector Wi'llams looked perfectlycomposed an Goff began croes-exaoiina-tion.

Goff asked: "Willyou swoar that Per-kins did not get a check for $,500 throughyou when you were Superintendent of theStreet Cleaning Department?""Iwill not.""Everybody who has testified against

you is a perjurer or a liar. Now, hastnere ever been a member of the policelorce charged with mure corruption thanyon?""Ihave not been charged with corrup-

tion.""Were you ever charged with stealing

socks?""No."Mr. Goff referred to a document and

said: "Ifind on March 29, 1878, you werecharged by Louise Smith, keeper of adisorderly house, with taking from hersix pocket handkerchief?, one gold-headadcane, one pistol, one pair of slippers,one velvet rest and one dozen pairs ofsocks.""Idon'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 againstyou?"

"He did not; a woman brought them.""Were you found guilty?""1don't think so ;J can find out by re-

ferring to my records.""Idon't want your record. Iwant you

to answer my questions. Don't thmk be-cause you wear a gold shield here and arean inspect r that you are one whit differ-ent from any other witness.""Iknow 1am not.""Will you swear that on April2, 1895,

you did not go to the police headquartersand stand your trial on these charges?""Idon't recollect."•'Did you not swear yesterday that you

bad been charged with offenses eighteentimes? Cannot you remember theae ot-fenses?" .

"So :lean tell yon by referring to myrecord.""Iwish 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 iftbere were any disorderly houses there."Ifound them there." be replied."And you left them there?""Yes; because they were fashionable at

tbat time," was Williams' extraordinaryreply.

Goff then called the names of many

notorious houses in Mercer, Green, Sulli-van and Bleeker streets. Wi liains said heiiad beard of them and had assisted tbeBoard of Education to close them up. Heinsisted they were "alleged" disorderlyhouses, although he bad said be knew allabout them at tbe inquiry instituted bythe Board of Education.

Mr. Goff got tbe inspector to say that bewould not 2lve the name of tbe proprietornt adisoiderly house to the committee iv1874 because he considered tbe committeewas 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 childrengoing 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 somany outrages against the citizens ofNewYork that you don't remember thecharees?"

"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. 1was cap-tain of the Fourth Precinct, and there wasa big fire one Sunday evening in Wasii-iu.ton Market. Walking through Veazystreet this man -topped me and said:'Let me introduce you to AldermanSmith.' He took me for a countryman

on a 'common.' Itook him by tbe throatand 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?" askedMr. Goff."Idid not meet him.""Oh, yes you did. He was looking for

you and wanted to clean out the town.""Idid 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 chargeagainst William;, tha trial of which lastedthree days, but there was no record of iton the poliCrt books.

"Have you any recollection of one Com-missioner voting for your dismissal onaccoun' of 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 hnda permit? You made !he arrest yourself."

"Itis 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 andclubbed him on the bead and neck. TheJudge, discharged him and said, "Thisclubb 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 bedeserved it.

"Did you say at lunch the day after ameeting of starving people In Unionsquare this year that they were a lot ofhowlers and all yon had to do was to showyour pistol and disperse them?"

"1never said such a thing."Aftera little sp^rriqe Mr. Goff said: "By

the way, ca tain, tell us in what part ofJaran you owned those lots."

"InHakodate, in the nortberD portion""Did you get a deed ?""Yes.""Your own name?""Yes.""Where is it?""Ileft it with a man named Frederick

Wilkifi. 1don'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 landthere was no tfeaty which would allowyou to hold this land. Do you know morethan he?""Iwas 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. withIn-pector Williams in the witnes=-ctiair.

"Did an officer named Willigan reportrobbery in i>anel houses to you when youw-r*»in the Eighth Precinct?" asked MrGoff."Idon't remember.""Do you remember the number of In-

mates in the eighty-three disorderlyiiou«es?"

"No; Ihave asked what the numberwas. Ihave asked the proprietresses ofsome houses how many inmates they had.''

The witness and Mr. Guff then had alittle tiff. Inspector Williams objected tothe document from which Mr.Goff read."Idou't know where you got It,"said he,

"and it is a long time ago."

"Don't mind where Igot It," said Mr.Guff. "Itcontains maters that have beensuppressed by the police department.They suppressed a good many things aboutyou."

"They seem to have suppressed e?ery-tbing good," was Williams' reply.

Williams then left the stand tor a brieftime.

Dr. Walsh was called and testified thatCaptain Meakin was unable to be out,and probably would not for several days.

"Willhe be able to appear as a witnessby Saturday?" asked Mr. Goff.

"Well." said the doctor, "the fartheraway you place the date the more chancethere is that lie can attend. lam sure hisattendance will greatly affect his condi-tion.""Iam quite sure it would," said Mr.

G 'ft amid great laughter."Now, doctor," said Mr. Goff in hU

sweetest tones, "willyou bear this messageto Captain Meakin? Tell him be baabeen accused before this committee of

bribery and corruption. Ithas been statfdthat he has grown rich on tbe fruitof thiscorruption. Now, tell him also ifhe is anhonest man he willc >me here ia obedienceto 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 saidhe bad reported Captain Meakin ill.

After some questions of no importanceInspector Williams was recalled. Ha saidhe knew of three panel-bouses in tbeEtehib Precinct.

"You swore before recess there were nopanel-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 whetherthe inspector was guilty of perjury. TheSenator said tie was not, unless tbe testi-mony was given with a false and corruptintention.

Mr. Guff said the inspector might havebeen mistaken.

"Yes," said the witness, "1 admit thatwhat 1swore to this morning was false,but when Igave HIbel eyed it to be true."

"Might there not have been more thanone panel-house in the district ?"

"Yes; do you know what a panel-houseis?"

This question by Williams createdlaughter, ana Mr. Goff lectured him abouig.vmg bis testimony in a more becomingmanner."I only wanted to give my evidence

straight," said tbe witness.'Sergeant Creal swore that in these

eighty-three disorderly houses there wire156 inmates. He swore he made complaintof these houses 'to you. This evidencewas given before the committee, is ittrue?""ican't say.""Was it not when these charges were

brought up, your dismissal was demandedby one of the inspectors as an incompetentand disgraceful man?"

"H« did nothing "f the kind."Mr. Goff continued to question the In-

spector as to the disorderly houses. Theinsuect r admitted It was his duty to dis-cover and suppress them.

'iiiis ended the examination of InspectorWilliams, and Louis Streep, a green-goodsoperator, was called. The witness createda sensation by telling a story involvingA thony Comstoek.

"On May23. 1889," said Sireep, "two in-dictments wer« found against me foroperating in fereen goods. Anthony Com-st.ick was the prosecutor. Comstock toldme ifIwoull give up the name of my ac-complice J should get off with a light pun-ishment Irefused to do so. EdwardBrethal called and gave try wife $5000 inbills. The bail was, at the tiim>, $5000, butwas shortly afterward reduced to $3000.In August, 1890, Icalled ou Comstock withmy brother, who told me that the Stateindictment would be dismissed on pay-ment of $1000. Comstock said: 'Mind,the 81000 is not in the shape of a bribe.Itis a subscription to the society.*"Iasked whether, IfIpaid the money,

ifImightnot be brought upat all. On Com-stock's promise Ipaid him $1000. i-f whichIgot S3OO from my brother and $700 frommy printingoffice at 76 Beekman stroet,which Isold. On fie following Fridaythe indictment was dismissed."

Mr. Goff j.roduced (tie indictments whichbore an indorsement bearing date of Sep-tember 29, 1890. that the District Attorneyhaying moved that for reasons •\u25a0if-ctint:the administration of law the indictmentwhs dismissed.

"Comsiock subsequently called on me,"continued Streep, "to get me to swearBrethal was an accomplice of mine. Ire-fused and he threatened to hn p me be-fore the United Stales eoort, Iasked himfor time to consider the matter. Brethalwas arrested on the charge of stealing$100 from the American Express Com-pany. He was brought belore Commis-sioner Shields. Negotiations were carriedon with him by Comsiock and he paidComstock $1000. The followingday be wasdischarged. United States District Attor-ney John A. Molt also got $1000.

"Iwas then arrested, and employed Law-yer Hess. Itold all about Comstook toCommissioner Shields. Comstock wad

asked to tell what happened in his office,but declined to do so. Iwas held for trialand was convicted of the charge of issuinggreen-goods circulars last June. My casehas 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 inquireinto the administration of the law, so faras the State was concerned, and that wasthe reason he had submitted this evidence.Ithas been shown that green-goods opera-tors could escape punishment by bribingMr. Comaiock, the agent of the Societyfor the Suppression of Vice.

The committee adjourned until to-mor-iow.

COMSTOCK INDIGNANT.

He Denies That He Received AnyBribes.

Summit, N. J., Dec. 27.— Anthony Com-stock said io-uigbt:

"IfStreeD made any such statement be-fore the Lexow committee it is rank andinfamous perjury. Streep was first ar-rested by the police for carrying on thisbusiness, but their evidence was insuffi-cient to sustain an indictment, so Iwhs

sent for, and through my evidence he wa-beld in $3000 io the Court of Gen-eral Sessions. He forfeited the bailby going to Europe. While he wasa fugitive from justice, the case was dis-missed. After a time he returned to thiscountry. lie told me Edward Bechtal wasthe man who was the principal in thegreen-goods circular disiribution affair.He made an affidavit accusing Bechtal,and told me so much about him that Iwas

satisfied that Streep was going to play mefalse. 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. Becalmly contradicted everything he badsaid when he was making the oatb beforein*. Therefore, that which be swore to inopen court was base perjury. Idemandedthat the case be dismissed. SubsequentlyIcaused Streep to be arrested ou tue oldcliarge.

"Streep was subsequently convicted andsentenced to eighteen months inprison. Ilearned that B-chtal had called on Streepthe night previous to his own examinationand had offered Streep a sum of money

not to testify against him. Tbat is allahout the Streep and Becntal case.

"Streep nevnr directly or indirectly gaveme value, not a cent, not even a postagestamp, and never in all of his trial?, evenas a witness, was itintimated that he gaveme a penny.

"By the way, in speaking of Goff, I'dlike to know what the little secret waswhen he was Assistant District Attorneythat Olln D. Gray was not pro>ecuted.Ifound in this man Gray's possession amillion and a half dollars' worth of Louisi-ana lottery tickets, and, notwithstandingsuch strong evidence brought to Mr.Gnff's attention, tliis man was not prose-cuted. Mr. Goff may, perhaps, tell uswhy.

''On the whole, it is the most Infamousplot to traduce my character Ihave everknown. Iwillappear before the Lexowcommittee to-morrow, and willdemand tobe heard—lwili be heard; it's myright."

Mr. Comstock was very much agitatedduring the interview, and at times ex-pressed great indignation.

QOFF WILL RETIRE.

Will Cease the Cross- Examinationof Witnesses.

New Yokk, Dec. 27.—"1t is my presentpurpose and intention to end my connec-tion as cross-examiner before the Lexowcommittee on Friday night." This is thefirst authoritative statement which Mr.Goff hns made concerning the hearings ofthe Lfxowcommittee before adjournment,lit* made it last night and it willundoubt-edly be adhered to unless some extra-ordinary matter now unforeseen shallinterfere.

APPLICATION FOR A STAY.

Police Captain Stevenson Not Readyfor Sing Sins;*

Brooklyn, N. V., Dec. 27.—An applica-tion was made to Justice Gaynor in theSupreme Court to-day for a stay for Cap-tain of Police Stevenson of .New York,who was sentenced by Justice Ingrahamyesterday. Justice Gaynor said he wouldallow the affidavits in the ea-e to be filedand would set a day for the hearing of themotion.

KNOWN AS A CLUBBER.

Williams Was Often Tried for Beat-ing Citizens.

Inspector Williams' career in tbe PoliceDepartment extends over a period oftwenty-eight years. He was born on theislaud of Caoe Breton, N. S., in 1839,came to New York when a lad and learnedtbe trade of ship carpenter. He was em-ployed for a long time in the shipyard ofW. H. Wehb& Co. When still a yonngman lie visited Japan. He says he wasthe first white man to lay the keel of a shipin Japan.

Ui on bis return to this country be wasengaged by thn Government to raise asunken vessel off the coast of Key West.He was afterward connected with thenavy-yard. He joined the metropolitanpolice force on August 3, 1866. His firstassignment was the F.rty-seventh Pre-cinct, Brooklyn, where be remained until1868, when he was transferred to NewYork and assigned to the Broadway

He was made roundsman July 10,1871, and promoted to sergeant September23, 1871. As sergeant he bad command ofibe mounied squad.

He was promoted to captain on May 31,1872, and put in command of the Twenty-nrsi Precinct. He afterward commandedthe Eiehth Precinct, then the Fourth, andin 1876 ha was sent to the Tenderloin.Later tor a period of about two years bewas detailed to the Street Department,and had charge of the cleaning of thestreets. Wiih the exception of the periodtie 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 ontrial on several occasions, but always gotout of trouble. An incident of Williams'career as a captain which gave him agrent deal of notoriety was his action instopping the production of the "PassionPlay" in a Twenty-third street Theater.

Williams bas to his credit the arrest of anumber of murderers. Id tba EighthPrecinct alone be caught nine murderers.He has also arrested a large number ofcrooks and thieves. Williams is wellknown ail over (be country.

Slice be became inspector be has badcharge of the First District, which takes inthe east side of the city from tbe Batteryup to Ninety-sixth street.

Williams is sometbingof a yachtsman.He owns a yacht call, d the Eleanor.

Inspector Williams.

KIDNAPED HER OWN CHILD.Mrs. Thompson Outwitted Her Dis-

solute Ex-Husband.Cheyen ne, Wyo., Dec. 26.

—Mrs.

Charles Thompson of St. Louis arrived inthis city to-day from Outte, Mont. Shehas with her her child, which she kid-naped from her divorced husband in thelatter city. Mrs. Thompson formerly livedinDenver and was married in that city.Her husband became dissolute and tookup with a variety actress a few years agoand has lived with her in various citiessince.

His wife secured a divorce from himand was given the custody of their child.When the Thompson child had been given

into the keeping ol it? mother lib kidnapedher and has kept her with him In all histravels. Thompson and bis mistress livedin this city fora short t uip. he putting inhis time around the gambling-houses. Hiswife followed him here, and he took thechild and bis mistress and left the city, noone knowing where he went. Mrs. Thomp-son recently heard that he was living inButte, and taking a detective with her shewent there, and when Tlioronson and hismistress were absent from home kidnapedher child aud at once started for the East.She willremain iv tbls city for a couple ofdays.

BLOCKED BYSNOW

Traffic Very SeriouslyImpeded.

SEVERE EASTERN STORMS.

Damage Is Done by the RagingBlizzards.

EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER.

Apprehension Caused Over FloodsThat Will Follow the Melting

of the Snow.

Xew York, Dec. 27.—News from Bos-ton is tbat travel h impeded by thestorm, streetcar travel being much de-layed. Railroad trains are much behindtime. In South Boston the wind carriedaway the roof of the First Baptist Church,this morning, and blew down the bigchimney of ibe Dawson Safe and IronWorks, but only slight damage by thegale is reported inother sections.

New Haven reports the harbor full ofstorm-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, countryroads impassable and streetcar linesstopped in the cities. No accidents arereported.

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 SandyHook the wind is blowing a moderateg*le from the east-northeast and the raincontinues. The water along Staten Islandshore is unusually high, and in manyplaces the waves made a clean breach overthe docks. At Quarantine the waves arebreaking over the stone wall built to pro-tect the shore. Reports from the interiorIndicate more or less seri< us interruptionto railway traffic, Central New Yorkshow-ing the most general disturbance.

Long Island City, L.1., Dec. 27.—Thenorthern shore of Long Island felt the fullforce of the storm. The gale blew acrossthe sound and several wrecks and ground-ings were reported. A number of Isolatedplaces on the island are cut off from com-munication on account of the wires beingdown. The south side did not suffer sobadly. In the interior the snowfall wasnot heavy, rain ore vailing there to-day.

A Norwegian bark which was sightedthis morning in distress off Far IIcka waywas later in inn day taken in tnw by a tug.A; Eaton* NVek the schooner Isetta, CaD-tmn Rnllins, bound from Bangor, Me., toNew York, went ash' re during the drivingsnowstorm. The crew of six were takenoff by the life-saving crew. The vesselwillbe hauled offat soon as possible.

The freighter Tuckahoe, of Providence,went asiiore at Port Washington, ease ofSands Point lighthouse, but the captainand crew were taken off in safety. Tbevessel was badly strained, but can bepulled off.

At many other points there Is consid-erable damage repotted, but nothing so farof a serious nature.

Amsterdam, N. V.f Dec. 27.—The worstsnowstorm since the famous blizzard of18S8 struct the Mohawk Valley last night.Itraged all night and all day to-day witbincreasing fury. Snow to the depth of afoot has fallen and has been blown by thewind into drifts from six to ten feet indepth. Tie New York Central and WestShore roads have been blocked. No effortshave been made to run freight trains, andthey iirb stalled all along the tracks. Pas-senger trains have been from three tneigbthours late, *nd two of them were to-day

abandoned on the Mohawk division of theNew York Central. Tue wind is blowinga gale to-night and the snow is being badlydrifted.

Atlantic City. N. J., Dec. 27.—Thecoast storm is raging here with no signs ofabating. A forty-mile gale is blowingfrom the southwest, piling up the surfalong the ocean front. Meadows are likea big bay with no sign of land for sevenmiles. The railway tracks are submerged.And the mails are an hour late. AlongBaltic avenue the water is on a level withthe first floors. Over at Brigantino muchdamage is being done. This is by far theworst storm this year.

Albany,N. T., Drc. 27.— The snow fallhere amounts to 14 Inches.

Saratoga, Dec. 27.—The Adirondackregion is beine swept by a blizzard. A

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