The New York herald., 1877-01-17
COLOR'S CLAIMS.
]. Milton Turner's Suit Against the
Astor House.
A B1BULoUs EXAMINATION.

rstad quiet people who imagine that the law courts
arc dull in all their details had witnessed the
ton of J. Milton Turner, "Consul General and Minis
ter Resident TO the Republic OF LIBERIA" he de-,
scribss himself At the Hoffman House, on Monday
night they would have had occasion TO change their
minds upon an important subject The occasion was
as rcplcte with interest II unique, and scene
which has been given pseudo reality on the mimic,
stage was ever perfect in its incidents and sur
roundinga Mr.. Turner is well known as the American,
reprcse ntative to the black Republic He is man Of
great intelligence though black as the ace OF spades
His mother a slave and he was born slave. IT,
was out Of this condition that he raised himself to be-
only the OF his country to the
experimental republic OF his race but a man distn.
guished both for culture and attanments He is au
accomplished lngust, spelkng several languages
nuently, and lawyer OF no mean ability, as his man..
ner Of tcstyng IN prolonged and exceedingly severe
examination clearly proved.
MR.. TURNER'S cAsus
On tho 18th OF October 1876, Mr.. Turner arrived in
this city and went to the Astor House, where rooms
had boon procured for him. The proprietors OF that
ancient hostery it appears, were not thoroughly in.
formed OF the antecedents OF all their counrys dpo.
matic representatives, and whom tho Consul General
and Minister Resident Liberia presented himself they
Indeed the who represented tho United States In
capacity which Motley, Bancroft and q Cushing
would have considered derogatory at one period in
their found 10 be only ga nggcr" 1t was
crisis In the history of the old house and emer.I
geucy TO be promptly met As matter Of
course it was impossible to entertain this
"cullud person." but then there was the law,
known as tho Civil Rights bill which the|
courts might hold to be constitutional contrary TO the
opinion Of all the hotel Keepers in tho country. II was
probably not the desire Of Messrs Allen Dam 10 tess
constitutonalty of that act but fortunately for
them, IL was question that would scarcely prescns
itself in tho OF J. Milton Turner. Consul General
and Minister Resident to the Republic Of Liberia.
There law of condolences which Is effective
in somo cases than an act Of Congress. Everybody.
knows what happened 10 the coach filed with voters,
which old Tony Weller was driving with twenty
pound note in his pocket contributed by the other
very good whip and can do what you like with your
horses, know. We're all very fond oil you, Mr..
Weller, so in case you should have an. an accident %
without huriln' Of cm this is for yourson says he
recountng this incident, shat the very day as he
came down with them voters his coach was upset on
into the canal" Il was by coincidence ike this
perhaps that tho night j. Milton Turner, Consul
General and Minister Resident to the Republic Of
much as an unoccupIcd room or an unoccupied cos
even IN the hotel Mr. Turner was compelled TO seek
entertainment elsewhere as he AYERS on account OF
his color and hence the suit for damages, which Was
begun November last and reported in the HERALD at
the time
ACCOMMODATING A PUBLIC FUxCrIoNARY.
As Mr. Turner's duties as Consul General and Min
lister Resident to the Republic OF Liberia called him
back to the OF his diplomatic abors was neces-
sary In some way 10 harmonze the slownoss OF tho
courts in New Yok with the imperative demands of
the State Department at Washington. Accordingly
Mr.. Hal Bell appointed referee 10 take Mr.. Tur-.
ners testimony previous 10 his departure Tor Liberia
u was At first designed to make the examination "s
previous day discovered that the Consul General
aud Minister Resident would be compelled to sail early
in the morning. both the reieree and ex-Judgo
George NJ Curtis the counsel for the defendants were
wiuing 10 wajye I'LL saamsnatr's
at the Hoffman House on the night before Mr. turner's
A MIDNIGHT EXAMINATION
About ten O'Clock Mr. Torner drove up to the hotel
In magnificent oqupagc. The carriage was drawn
by two spanking bays, and both the driver ana foot-
man, who were white, were adorned with silver put.
tons and black cockades. The Consul General and
Minister Resident accompanied by his friend, Mr.
Peter Downing, the celebrated oysterman. and they
entered the hotel together and were shown to the room
which had been procured for the purpose OF holding
the examination. This appartion created no little ex
citement in the hotel and tho name AND qua,y Of ,no
corridors and heard even IN the parlors OF the
Hoffman IN tho room set apart for the examination
there was o company OF as choice spirits as over met
either for business or pleasure at such unreasonable
hour Besides the dusky plaintiff and his friend there
exceeding goodness by consenting to hold tbis
midnight examination For the sable palntlH
there were present two ., ns sOss With sa
enthusiasm that might we'll keep him out Of bed a!i
night, and Colonel James NJ. Cavanaugh, native OF
Massachusetts, in spite Of brogue which cultivation
has mado almost perfect aud twice member ol Con-,
gress from Minnesota and once as Delegate from
Of his profession in New YORK. Judge Gurus repre-.
sent ed the defence and 10 him and 10 the distinguished
n " Ind hnen me
with spirit OF generosity which he could not iai TO
recognize, and was surrounded by company Wiling
for once not 10 insist upon the cold iorinalities OF
Ieral examination, he could only respond by gem
eros,ty equal TO that which had been extended 10,
him He accordingly dispensed liberal hospitality,
or,lerinp VINE and cigars with pro.us.on which only
a party Of strong headed lawyers could accept and yet
preserve their brains from being Addled by iumes 50
doubly distilled.
A BATTLE OF riTAss.
1t is perhaps, 10 this generous hospitality that inc
protracied length OF the examination was due; busj
however this may be the struggle between the pantr
and the counsel Tor the defendants, exJudgc Curt's
was as interesting as II was unique From ton clock
ON Monday night until iour O'Clock yesterday morning
tho examination continued, most OF the tine beng
suent in mir. Turner's crosse examination, and evsa
then IL was not concluded Both the p!alnt and the
nsel be Congratulated upon tho Iact mat SO
much hospitality ony begoi moro generosity Than that
which brought them together, aud when all the par
ticipuns In what must have been Titanic struggle
were worn Judge Curti. consented TO commission
op M orpor.unity e,'y" to answer the rest OF no
questions moro at his ease II may we'll
be imagined now two mcn IN % sacn al;ea nnrkca
where their inteecs came into such sharp and
detcrm conflict. They were Ike Two sadiators or
wrcscrs trying to get the better OF cach o'hrr anu
for long time the issue doubtful. For nearly six
hours Turner met his loyal adversary with W.T. and
acutcncss equal bis His counsel were Icit 10
sip their VINE and wrap themselves in the smoke or
their Havanas, while he parried every blow that wns
dealt HIM, and turned aside with ease even the keen-
est thrust of his antagonist Al last, however, tno
black champion was compelled to acknowledge defeat
but the closing episode OF the examination was scarcely
less magnificent than the imposing entrance INTO The
hotel which the sable painllii had made SIX hours
before
| CLOSE THE COMBAT.
Tho crcss-cxam nation turned upon the hna aums-
| sion of Mr. Turner, that the only damage he had
sustained by refusal OF tho defendants TO entertain
who carried his baggage from tho Astor House to the
International Hotel 1t was upon this admission that
Judge Curtis Wiling 10 suspend his