The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-15


mob that Is with the force he had stationed in the
theatre; but after the military had arrived it was i'm
possible then for the police to dispense Them
sstant captain nine months when resigned resigned
last February, year ago.
john CLARK, residing at rs Water st., sworn-I am
bookbinder; was at the Astor Place opera house on
Thursday evening last about seven o'clock. alone;
was standing at the first part OF the evening opposite
the theatre by Mrs Lsngdons house, on the sidewalk
when the military come along was at the east end OF
the theatre the broken ground the horse troops
came along, and few stones thrown ut them; they
fantry came shortly after, and some boys throw
stones at Them stopped aud heard the order given
the military to load and then they passed through Sth
street into broadway and there stopped then passed
into Astor Place on the south side near Broadway;
shortly after the military round and there form
ed in front of the theatre stood talking to some
gentlemen shortly after the firing commenced a
rush was made man Immediately in front of me
fell in the street; he WAS picked and carried into
way; no person believed that he wounded by a
musket ball until they the wound; he was shot
was Brown cannot say if he engaged in the dis
turbance; the persons throwing stones princ-
pally boys; saw three others wounded in the drug
store we could not get surgeon, and they were sent
in carriage to the hospital the general opinion was
that had the military remained away there would
have been 30 much damage done.
WILLIAM McKESNy, policeman of the 18th Ward,
sworn was present at the Aston Place THEATRE
rived at the theatre ABOUT O'Clock; was placed on
duty inside the house. afterwards and previous to the
arrival Of the military; stationed in front
side nearly two hours; stones were thrown;
tuTOWn uOOr, Wn1cn caused the police TO move
away; OF the that was killed previous to the
arrival Of the military arrested for throwing stone
but the crowd rescued him from me, and dragged me
away across the street. after the arrival Of tho military
this same individual brought into the theatre hay
ing been shot by the military
JOHN LABOR Police Clerk of the Third District Police
sworn, says II was at the Astor Place Theatre
on Thursday evening last, at the time Of the
riot; was inside the house and outside during the
evening; witnessed the mob storming the house, and
went out from the theatre with the Recorder Chief of
Police and posse of policemen to quell the riot and
driven in three different times by the mob throw
ing stones at us; knocked down with stone from
blow the chest after the military came on the
ground, many of the policemen injured; Is
or 20 should suppose; likewise 20 80 of
the military who were injured by being struck with
stones in the street at the second discharge Of
musketry ! heard the Recorder give notice to che
crowd to disperse the military would fire on them;
also heard General Sanford say the Recorder that
ne mad received oe order from tho Sheriff to fire. but
before firing again he must receive an order from
magistrate. or words to that effect after this was
knocked down; was little behind the military
JOHN TILLy captain of the 18th ward police, sworn
was on Thursday evening in trout of the Astor Place
theatre; there was an immense crowd congregated;
number were throwing stones and bricks at the win
dows and doors Of the theatre number of the police
men were injured by the stones of my men were
slightly injured; sometimes the mob would drive US
back and then we would rally on them and drive them
back was in the street when the military came; the
mob throwing stones; some of the military
injured did not hear any order to dispense the crowd
or the military would fire; had Just arrested man
in the crowd for throwing stone and had taken him
into the house: and on my return to the door, hoard
the firing Of the muskets after tho first discharge OF
musketry, went to the Eighth street SIDE the mob
were breaking in the DOORS the mob were throwing
stones less to very late hour; the policemen
injured before the arrival Of the military the
corder and Chief Of Police asked me If thought could
maintain position until the military arrived. as
they had been sent for; answered that thought 1t
was doubtful think that the police could not have
sustained their position if the military had not arrived
on the ground
BENJAMIN p. FAIRcHILp, Captain Of the Eighth ward
Police, sworn, says:On Thursday night last, was at
the Aston Place Theatre part Of the time inside the
ole tafA rtoAo - A.
Chiefs aids, to report progress had about hun
dred and eighty men under my charge, outside the
by the crowd directed by the Chief to report
him when could not maintain position in order
send for the military but not to do if there
O'Clock, reported to the Chief that 1t almost i'm
possible to sustain position much longer, the
crowd was immense, and broke line; the Chief
told to 20 out and rally the men, and endeavor to
sustain their position; in Aston Place there was small
open place. caused by the vocys Of stones thrown at
themselves after this went into Eighth street. and
found between one and two hundred young men and
boys, who were engaged in throwing stones; ! at;
by stones, and had to run for my life; the police
on this side compelled to abandon their posi-
tion from the voleys Of stones thrown entered the
theatre, and reported to the Sheriff. Recorder and
Chief Of Police that thought 1t impossible to sustain
position any longer, unless we were renorced
order then given to send for the military the
Chief then gave us orders to go out again. and
deavor to maintain line until the arrival of the
tncn went out anu INFORMED the police
men to maintain the line half an hour possible as
the military had been sent for and would arrive soon
Several Of my men were badly injured ordered five
arrests which was done the police sustained the line
until the military came and afterwards when the
military arrived, they received with volley of
stones two Of the military saw carried into the house
wounded, and several others led in by support also
injured think heard the Sheriff say he was going
give the order to fire. did not hear any notice given
the military when the military fred they were filed
along in line within the buildings Immediately after
the first firing, we brought into the theatre man shot
dead, and another wounded through the shoulder;
after this, ! went through the Opera House into
Eighth street; am not positive that saw General
Sanford at the time reported to the Recorder and the
Chief Of Police in the theatres ono Of the men shot,
by the name Of Mellis, of those In
the riot; knew him, and told him to 60 away, he
would be arrested this was in Eighth street; Mels
was shot by the military in Astor place.
HENRY c. SUBWAY, Captain Of Company s, National
Theatre on night last during the riot GR haS
command Of the 8th company; passing through
Astor Place, assailed by the mob formed
line the street. with voleys of stones both in
front and the flank; eight ten and perhaps
dozen, men badly injured; was shot in the leg at
about the same time that the military fired; did not
know was shot until some little time after; found
was struck, not with musket ball. but pistol ball. or
what is called buck shot the ball has not been ex.
frasted T Stv buried deep in the calf Of my Leg
shot, and remained on duty oil night; did
not hear the order given for the people to
order to FIRE there order that heard to fire %
a particular direction; it might have been but in s
much noise could not hear could not see If the
crowd dispersed any, as behind, endeavorng t.
keep the men in line they commenced to fire bcfor
they fairly in order thatis not in straight line;
they had not recovered from the broken confusion
casioned by the mob heard some one say that Capt.
Pond injured saw the injury and several others;
think from the first time We passed through Asto;
place, IL about quarters Of hour before
fired received the order to fire from Generals Hall
and Sanford think was shot in the leg ut just
after the military fred there attack the
military between the first and second firing don't
think possible to have suppressed the riot without
firing on them think If We had not fred on them,
the military would have been annihatcd by the mob
the company having the right Of the division fred first
the second Lieutenant Of my company wounded
before the firing.
JONI B. LEVERAGE, residing at No 20 East 18th street.
by occupation varnishcr and polishcr, sworn-says IL
present at the riot the Astor Place Opera House,
on Thursday last; was standing in Astor Place, oppo
site the Opera House door; alone; went there
for the purpose Of looking for friend; the mob
stoning the building when there; the military
close in by the door of the theatre of the
stones that struck them fell from the house after being
thrown at the windows by the mob; did not hear any
notice given to the crowd to dispersc; the persons