The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-05
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION
Deputy Comptroller Earle Attacked by .
Desperate City Creditor.
A NARROW ESCAP E.
Comptroller Green's Assistant Saved Only
by a Chance


James A. Duny, driver OF the van by which
prisoners are conveyed from the Tombs TO tho
Courts OF General Sessions and oyer and Terminer,
yesterday attempted TO shoot Abraham L. Earle,
the Deputy City Comptroller; but the attempts
proved failure By reason or the pistol missing
fire each time the would-be murderer pulled tho
trigger. 1t seems that Duffy a claim Tor 81 LOO
against the city for furnishing horses for
THE PRISON VAN
when M. T. Brennan was Sheriff. The Comp
troller has for upward OF year refused 10 pay
the claim, the grounu that Mr.. Brennan haa
also claim for conveying prisoners AZ 81 T6s
head and asserted that until the question was
decided as to whose claim was the proper one No
payment would be made. Duty has been persist
enr in his calls at the Comptroner's once for
weeks past, but mad never been able TO get even
. half promise that the money ne contends Ia
justly due him would be paid. on Friday Lass he
called at the Mayors orlce 10 make a complaint
against the Comptroller FOR refusing pay him, bus
the Mayor being very busy at the time
Duny went away without seeing him. He then
acted rather strangely and complained bitterly Of
the want his family was suffering from by reason Of
the Comptroller's stubbornness. Yesterday fore
noon he made his appearance IN the Court House,
and was seen Longing about in the corridor meas
the Comptrollers ONCE for some time before he en-
tered the room. Oflicer Davis, who Is detailed at
c0sted by Duffy, VINO asked him repeatedly
whether the Comptroller was In and when ne
might be expected. This al the time did NOS
THE OFFICERS Suspicious,
but from what followed soon alterward IL Is be-
lieved that Duny was lying IN walt Tor Mr.. Green,
and that he intended 10 attack MIN, and not Mr..
Deputy Comptroller's ofilce, ana, waking TO Mrs
Earle's desk began TO talk with him quietly abous
satlon but went out without making any attempt
AT violence He returned IN a few minutes ana
his claim would receive due consideration
In time, but that the delay In setting
the matter had been caused by the fact that Mr..
Brennanis claim related TO the same subject. Mr..
Earle, ater some iurtner conversation, finally told
Duny 10 call In again; tnat ne hadn't time TO at
tend TO the claim just then. Duny exclaimed ex-
citedly chat IL was about time IL was settled, ana
rates MIR. Eare's desk from the main ONCE. Mr..
Earle meanwhile had risen TO 90 out 10 lunch VITA
Mr. Thomas 5. sanford, who was standin2 by nim,
and had only gone a few leet nom the desk when
DuTy followed him, quickly
DREW A REVOLVER
ana aimed IL at Mr.. Eare's mead. The latter heard
the click OF the hammer Is II letl, and on turning
round and seeing DUFFY with the pistol raised, ran
out toward the hallway. Duny followed him, aud
again pointing toe pistol At MS mead pulled the
trigger. Again the pistol missed IRE. MT. Earle
at this grappled with Duny, ana during the scunle
was thrown To the door. DunY falling on top OF
him. Mr.. Sandiord and Mr. William IT, Rickerts.
one OF the court eriers, who happened 70 pe pass
ing at tue ttule, suddenly realizing that Duly
meant mischief, caught signt or the pistol Tor Ine
n;st Time waiie the two men were STRUGGLING
on the moor, ana rusned TO Mr.. Earles assistance.
OtuceT DAVIS dklcuLlOu WAS Also dILTaCIeu W LHo
spot by the noise made by the seuie, and with tne
aid VI Nj. X ckerts ne secured Duny and took the
pistol from him. Duny mace no resistance 10 the
onicer ana quietly went vita him TO the twenty.
sixth precinct station house In the basement OF
againsI MN by Mr.. Earle. On examination OF the
pistol tt was discovered 10 be sevenshooter OF
were loaded ana Inree had no cartridges at all
and tue hammer rested over one OF the empty
the lett or the hammer, showing that wneD
PULLED TIE TRIGGER TWICE
when be aimee tne pistol nc NJ. Earle the hammer
had fauen eAcn Time over an empty chamber: 10
TINS ioraunate aceiaqa sad Ian ~ e whsu ~
was going down stairs 10 the station mousse Duny.
accordlns 70 0eer DAVIS s.o - niaI ~, a.,ls
VITA Green" Wnen asked by the HERALD re.
porter y he nad reay come Down Nv Town VIZ
dld not; really dld not know what was uoing.n
Duny talked when ia the station house as though
he nsd been drinking; IN iacs, he confessed thai
MI. EARLv's STATEMENT.
The reporter, shortly after the arrest OF Duny,
called upon AIR Earle, VINO was SURF ounded oy
large number OF tue attaches OF me CITY Hall con.
graduating MIN on his miraculous escape. de
stated mat ne did not remember ever seeing
Duny but once before, on whlco occasion the la:
ter demanded payment for MS bill zine clam,n
said Mr.. harle as not payable At this once. the
man was engaged By ex-snerlr Brennan for about
prisoners rom the courts 10 the romos, and ne
should look to Mr. Brennan for settlement.n
where Mr.. Fare entered formal complaint aganss
him. his affidavit being as .ollows:-
% and & NEE gs ana ss .sSI Ia, Esrs . :.
day The go day q May n the year lsIs az me cy y
b. james A. Duly, Who came into the ComprolierI
dsssd AM h' powder S hsss a Sah ss
Opponents Psrsspn AID map pea a sac as
88s sSsas sdG poniSd ssd pistol dspsusn
uay dsponeut grapplcd with him 10 prevent him iro
shooting deponen ana " ne ieqhe was tarown upon
pistol a. deponent Snd snap y with the ieoalous intent
"a a a IL
aas without any ustcaiion on the part d tie said az
saant Therefore the aeponen. prays tat the sad az
ne assault. &c, and DO dealt WITH .seoSdng q Az
sworn 10 before me this 4th day OF Nay 1873 r. q
SHERWOOD, Police Justice
Duty, when asked II ne was guilty or not gufty,
pleaoed mot guilty. ana was cOmoiitted 70
await the action Of the Grand Jury In default o.
$500 bail
eral oi Tue ATTACHES oil the Conpsroller's once
we're preseat IN the coors room during the pro-
Tue prisoner Duffy resides on 1o5th street, near
the Boulevard. At the outbreak or the war ne or
aanlzed the Lincoln cavalry, Otherwise known -
the FIrst New YORK, Of which ne received the ap-
p0nkment OF nrst lieutenant AT toe conclusion 81
peace be vas appointed patrolman on TOE police
force OF ms city. which position ne occupied prior
10 entering the army. aud was assigned TO duty IN
the Foureenta precinct. In 1870 he resigned iIom
the Police Department, accepted the position Of
driver " the PRISON van under sheriff Bronnam,
when e9siilon ne ssui holds aedsr sseri9 SonneI
Those who are acquainted vita Duuy say that M
mas always borne . good CHARACTER.
DCFFr's DEsgEnATioN.
Duly stated 10 o gentleman AZ the ronbs tnaA
bis family were IN absolute want, aud tnat
when tie LETT IN the motning ne let
them without food lor tue day. he
aud leelng that ne had a Just claim against the
city anu mat Tie comptroller wes mailoiousy
wnsa I'M the Comptroner's once. on tns otnef
hand, Il - stated tnAt ne was regularly PAID by
waiting aim IN TIE COM iroieris once iof coopls
OF Noeks, being his pay LOT MAroR a. "a ofnoer al