New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-04
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
POLICE sPEcTER BY DAYLIGHT.

"A
rHIsL OF CHRISTIAN MAYER FOR AssAULrING
sERGEANT BUCKHoLDT IN ToMPKINs SQUARE.
The trial of Christian Mayer for felonious
assault upon Sergeant Buckhodt Of the seventeenth
Precinct Police the assault consisting IN striking HIM
with hammer during the conflict at lTompkinesq9areI
Jan Is begun in the Court Of General Sessons
before Recorder Hacket Yesterday. Assistant District
Attorney Rollins conducted the prosecution, ana John
.. Mott appeared or the accused. The prisoners conn-
se claimed that the persons in the square on hat Gay
were peseeably holding meeting q nght grah'eu
them by the State CONSTITUTIONS that they had oeeh
assaulted while go doing and had only acted IN sell
defence 1bel prosecution asserted that the officer
scted the discharge OF his duty and the prisoner had
ether recourse than that he took.
The hrst witness called was Sergeant Buckhodt, who
testified that he went 70 on 'ne gay C
crowd OF men the police were ordered by capt Wash
ing banner with which he attempted to strike officer
Walton he told the accused to leave the square and
then while going TO assist Officer Walton struck on
The head by Mayer with the hammer tue crowd was
George sauer TESTIFIED That he saw meyer slrike inc
efsoer; the officer had not assaulted Meyer On cross
examination, he stated that the officers struck in
shis crowd until after an officer had been assaulted
The prosecution rested here, and Mr. Mott made ms
opening argument 10 the jury lie argued that the per
that assembled in Tompkns-sQuare had night TO
be there Recorder Hackett here interrupted him.
stating that the time OF the TO be taken
Mott said he did not intend TO do So but he claimed
there was no power granted the police to interfere
with the men attending the meeting unless they com
United breach OF the peace. While the working
men were quietly attending meeting, the police at
tempted 10 force them ont Of the park and the accused
dubbed without prOyocation, aud he used the ham
In self-defense.
Theodore Ii. Banks testified that he arrived at the
park At about 1880 a. m There about 1900 persons
the park the police were already present and the
clubbing had begun. He did not Mr. Mayer there;
he only the general clubbing In reply to ques
ton Of Mr. Rollins he said that he was painter and
not an organizer OF revolutions His name may have
been associated with the Internationals and Com
munists. He had no place Of business now he was
looking for employment
Charles Grzciwikofsky testified that he Capt
Walsh in tie square, and that he did not know That
MAYER had hammer. He saw Mayer lying on the
ground, and policeman clubbing him. and saw the
Sergeant assisting hun TO rise from the ground
Henry Sherman testified that he saw the sergeant
MAYER 10y the throat then Mayer took hold OF the
Mayer strike the officer Questions 10 show that the
police were marching upon the people before tne
on the that he testified only to what he
had seen he could not tell what might have happened
The prisoner stated that he the Sergeant at
the head OF body OF police putting the people out OF
the square then this police came toward the Organza
on TO which he belonged the Sergeant caught hold OF
hun, hut soon released him he then pulled out his ham
mer; then the Tag was Knocked down; more policemen
and mounted officers closed around. and amid cries OF
"kin him. Kill him." from the officers, he thought, he
started away; be pursued by several officers,
bit several times and finally struck Of ms pursuers
with the hammer IN sedeiense he then arrested,
nearly dead" he had intended TO kill the officer.
On the examination, he said that the orders gwen
20 members Of the organization not 10 arm
themselves against the police, but TO defend themselves
against any bad characters who might take advantage
Of the meeting 10 make mischief.
Cant Walsh ~ the seventeenth Precinct testified That
Mayer made different statement on the night Of his
arrest, when the Captain Affirmed he said they we're
told to nee their arms against the police.
MI Mott then addressed a short argument the jury
and the Court was adjourned The hearing Of testimony
in the case Will he concluded this morning Jacob
Hose, another of the alleged rioters in Tompkins-
square was released from the TomOs prison yesterday,
bail bonds being signed by Henry Goteib OF No 4ol
East SXtb-st The amount OF bail Was 81 900.