The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-13
faE STREET ClElIuG DIFFICULTY.
Attack on Mr.. Hecker in
the Park.
Interesting Proceedings in Court on
The Injunction.
THE DECISION TOMORROW,
d., &C., &c.

Yesterday being the day apart for the argument
the motion to dissolve the injunction restraining the
Comptroller from paying the sweepers their wages
the Park was filed with excited crowd Of aborsrs,
who were anxious to obtain admtance TO the Supreme
Court room
These people, TO the number or thousand perhaps
manifested no dsordery spirit until il whispered
that Mr. John Hecker coming the Park his
way to court. The crowd surrounded him in instant
and threatened him with vengeance Dire il he did not
withdraw his suit; and one OF the laborcrs, little
demonstraiive than the rest knocked the great
-four merchants hat or Mr. Hecker, thinking that his
life danger, started the 'doube quick for the
Court House and succeeded IN getting into the building
in safety. When II found that the obj ect OF their
vengeance had escaped the mob became quite turbulent
and determination was evinced to follow Hscker and
drag him out OF the court
rush was Immediately made up the iron staircase
leading TO the building and loud cEaes OF Ride HIM
rail, 'Tar and feather the sucker, were heard ema
mating from the active spirits in the crowd Mr.
Hecker seeing the storm that gathering his de-
voted head beat hasty retreat 10 the Judges chamber
and begged the officers for Gods sake his life
The mob pressed close upon his heels however and had
It not been Tor the promptness and bravery OF officer
Skidmore there is knowing what the consequences
would have been The door of the room was locked inst
IN time TO him from the grasp Of nfurated ash
man. and for the time being Mr. Hecker was IN compa-
ratvs safety.
The door was then barricaded from the inside with
tables and chara and the officers slipped by
side entrance for the police Soon sturdy
Metropoans arrived at the OF the difficulty and
succeeded in restoring partial order The stairway and
hall leading TO the court room were cleared Of a in
truders; and the Court House assumed its
usual quiet or orderly appearance Without however,
the crowd still remained III compact body talking rather
loudly and threatening If they got hold OF Mr.
Hecker TO lynch him on the spot.
PROCEEDINGS IN couRr.
John f. DevelIn opened the argument on behat OF tho
Mayor and Comptroller and characterized the intere
OF Mr. Hecker with the city government grossly
impairment and illegal. There was no money in the
A.
whose business II was 70 that the city kept
proper state OF cleanliness had made arrangement
%n s e ON e hs S S
which the loan Of $l0s 900, due the workmcn for
their services during the past seven weeks could DO
procured when Mr. Heckcr steps forward and by means
of injunction sought 10 restrain the Comptroller
from paying the money over 10 those poor men,
in the employment OF the City Inspector whose claims
against the city undsputed and In order TO
the city the expenses attending the lawsuits which these
laborers would bring against the city, arrangement
made with Mr.. Palmer President Of the Broadway
Bank which he agreed 70 advance the amount Of the
debt provided assignment was made to him OF the
different claims and he should be allowed 70 obtain
judgment against the city for the total amount Now,
trary it would be a saving TO the city; for every
one OF these twelve hundred suits would certainly
much litigation would amount to at least $40 900 The
Mayor and Comptroller were only doing what Daniel
Tompkns did for the government In the war of 1872
raising to keep the machinery OF the city govern
ment in motion whom abe treasury empty Mr.
Dcvelin then went on 70 say that Mr. Heckcr had no
status in Court not having any interest in the subject
State the proper person to bring suit Of this kind
and hoped the injunction would DO dissolved as speedily
Ex-Judge whiting appeared on behalf OF Mr. Hecker
and spoke In strong terms Of the conduct
Of the mob, who sought 10 Brighten his client into sub
mission and make him party TO the fraud that was at
tempted 10 be practsed the city treasury The
sci then went ON to state that the sum Of 600 had
already been expended In cleaning the streets Of the city
when the Comptroers estimate allowed only $500 600
Now an attempt was mado TO wiring sos, 600 more out Of
the treasury and because Mr. Hecker his protest
against the proceeding, and says IL a fraud, he is
mobbed right under the very OF justice.
or the 1890 600 already spent not 1900 600 had
gone into the pockets Of these misguided men. The
balance Of the money had been appropriated by persons
who had no title TO the money whatever: He was
ling and anxious that these who had performed
the labor should be paid to the uttemos arthing but
he opposed to parties receiving the money who had
rendered services whatever and only the pay
rolls from political motives Several OF these workncn
called upon him ia reference TO the matter and when he
perfectly satisfied Mr. Whiting then referred 10 the
heavy taxes that the people obliged pay and said
the time not far distant when the property
IN the hands Of citizens would all be confiscated
In conclusion the counsel again alluded 10 the action Of
the mob and said tboy should DO laugh; TO obey the
laws and 10 lay violent hands on a citizen because
he dared to sock redress court n justice II this
sort OF violence the doctrine Of the democracy the
the party wiped out forever from the face Of
the country the better The den that sweeper
had rights superior TO any other citizen error,
and IL tho time should come when that 20 be
1cFt OtilcTWte tnhn Dy demand OF
justice, then civil liberty would cease 10 exist Mr..
Hecker was only doing his duty good citizen and
American, who viii not submit TO imposition
Mr.. Hccker-Yes, your Honor; ! was born in this
Judge lngraham-The gentleman viii please come to
order Is Mr. Whiting through with his renarksS
Tx Judge Whiting-I believe have concluded my
argument
Ex-Judge Allen had the closing argument, and spoke
rather BREEZY, but To the point He said that G. Dun
ther was Mayor Mathew T. Brennan Comptroller
and + A. Booe was City inspector, and that was the
secret OF all tho bubbub II 20 be presumed that
these gentlemen all honest until 1t shown
TO be otherwise, and IL was an insult 10 the com
mSny !, for ,..,,I MT Hssksr or anybody else
20 dictate TO these officers Of the city government how
IN what manner they sho1ld conduct the business Of
their several departments. Mr. Heckcrs complaint
founded on Information and belief only. He knew
nothing Of his own knowledge, and why he should be
allowed TO Keep the machinery Of the city government
from moving the counsel could not imagine
The counsel then handed their points 10 the Judge,
who remarked that he would be ready render his de-
cision at ten o'clock on Saturday morning.
rHE CLOSING SCENES OUTSIDE.
The argument having been closed, the counsel left the
court room, and were proceeding TO the Park when
the crowd gathered around Mr. Deven and eagerly asked
him what he thought would be the result Of the tga-
ton The Corporation Counsel gave them all the infor-
nation he could upon the subject and was struggling to
get to ms oiico when they insisted on his making
speech.
Mr. Devein addressed the workmcn in a conciliaiory
strain, and told them 10 remain perfectly quiet until the
decision Of the Court known He felt strong In.
tcres ~ the result Of the sn and SAID no was sure the
Solt Wouiu ulssolVe the Injunction, whcreupOn some
In the crowd cried Three cheers for Dan Dcye.
lin, which we're given with will
TX Judge Allen also called upon for speech, but
he excused himself and said the would be rghted
on Saturday.
The crowd then took the advice OF the CORPORATION
Counsel and quietly dispersed to their homes Mr.
Herker TOOK MS. departure through the door
Chambers street and thus escaped the attention OF his
enemies Ne expressed determination stay the
city over night and told the driver Of the hack teko
him " the New Haven Railroad depot saying IL was his
intention 70 sleep in the good old State OF Connecticut
ANOTHER ACCOUNT or THE ATTACK ON Nh. uEcKER.
desperate attack made on Mr. Hccker yesterday
al noon, while passing through the Park his way
the Supreme Court chamber where the injunction case
in whrh he 10 opposed TO the Mayor, Comptroller and
City Inspector TO be heard before Judge ngraham
When opposite Tammany Hall about two hundred labor
ers rushed upon him, knocked him down, cuned him
around good deal and amomcntary cufnc cusucd from
amid which Mr. Hccker was seen to suddenly arise ike
the Phnnx from the FIRE, and fun speed FOR the
Court House, minus bis chapeau The crowd discovering