New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-11-25
THE VITRIOL CASE.

Yesterday morning several persons who bad saf
fercd by having vitriOl thrown upon them by Theo
H. Gray, who was arrested the evening previous
called at the Office of the Chief OF Police aud pre-.
ferred complaints against him. The prisoner ad-
mitted having committed the Ourages and offered a.
an excuse that he was laboriDg under n religious
mania end was prompted 10 do rs he did by motives
that he could not account for. He says he first CON-
menced throwing vitrol upon females Of ill-repute
who were in the habit Of walking the streets in hs
nighttime, and there was fascination about IL 10
great that he afterward commenced throwing
the fluid upon respectable females especially theater-
gocrs, against whom he had bitter dislike.
The following persons made af lavits TO the effect
that they had suffered by having vitriol thrown upon
themselves or families:
Daniel CusbmaD, residing at the corner Of Seven
feminist and Fourhav., testified that the night
of the goth inst he returning with his wife from
"Nblos, when some person threw vitriol upon Mrs.
Cushmans dress and cloak, nearly destroying both.
Damage, $780,
Edward p. Fry stated that he was escoriug two Ia
dies from the St. Nicholas Hotel to confectonsryo on
the night of the 10th iast when the dresses Of both
ladies were nearly destroyed by vitriol. Damage,
500 to $3.50.
On another occasion--the night Of the Goth inst -
nc was in company with Mr.. and Mrs. Clark, of
Fourth-st., at the Academy of Music, when vitriol
was thrown upon the dress and CLOAK Of the lady do
ing about 500 damage.
Mr. A. A. Drake, Of No. 1877 West Thrteenth-st,
stated that on the evening Of the 9TH inst, while re-
turning from Walack Thester with two ladies' soma
person threw vtriol upon the dresses Of the ladies'
completely running thsn Damage, $40.
Messrs. Weave. 4 Mott, of No. Dey-si., Zach
stated that ytrio had been thrown upon the dresses
of their wives, as they were passing up Broadway
with them, a few evenings since.
Miss Ann NJ. Payne, Of No. 100 South Fourth-st,
WILLIAMSBURG, had silk dress ruined by ysriol
thrown upon her, at the corner Of Broadway and
Grand st., as she was returning with some friends
from Niblos on the night Of the 23d inst.
Mr.. l.. w. Winchester, Of No. "a Broadway, stated
that his wifes dress was ruined by vitriol thrown
upon it in May last while she was in Broadway,
somewhere between Prince and Leonard-s;s.
Mr.. A. McCullum of No III East SsveDteenh-st,
states that his wfes velvet cloak and elk dress were
domagtd and her neck burned by vitriol, while re-
turning from Nblo's on the night Of the lith inst
Joseph seagrist, Esq., of No Ill Hudson ST., states
that on the night Of the 18th inst bis wfes dress and
satin cloak were burned by yitrol at the Academyo Of
Music.
The prisoner had, previous to his arrest borne an
excellent character, and has, i. appears, been ra-
Oral upon every subject but that Of throwing vito.
Since his arrest, no Eever having come to bis senses,
he expressed deep regre: for the course he has Pur
sued, and admits bis guilt in every complaint. His
operations have been managed quite systematically,
having had pocket made in each side Of bis coat
kirts for the vitriolthrowef, which he carried with
him. On passing a lady in the street or at place Of
amusement, charge from this " tbrower' or "sT-
"inge" was easily effected without detection upon
Der dress. In some cases the ladies have been Sc
verely burned the ectioh Of the acid being n'tanta
neous and Ike FIRE.
The prisoner has wife and two children, hving@
o,6 Delancy-st. His aged mother and two sisters re-
eide with him. He is printer by trade, and so9n
80 years Of age, and carries business at No iO'
Beekman-st He has recently suffered from pecunay
losses and states that this probably, was one Of a'
causes that affected bis reason He 10 detained 81 ~'
Office Of the Chefof Police where he will be iuf'oe'
examined today 1t is expected that other GULL
plants will be preferred agains! him.