The New York herald., 1877-09-22
CUSTOM HOUSE AMENITIES.
TRIAL OF WILLIAM h. GRACE FOR HIS At
TACK ON GENERAL SHARPE, THE SURVEYOR

The court room of the General Sessions, Part !,
Judge Sutherland presiding, was crowded yesterday
by all shades Of politicians. the case OF william d.
Grace having been set down peremptory for trial.
The indictment against the accused, an exCustom
House inspector, charged him with having on tho
goth ol July last committed unprovoked assault
on General George H. Sharpe, Surveyor OF the Port
In front OF the HlRALD Building great deal OF In
terest seemed be taken in the proceedings Dis
trict Attorney Phelps with Assistant District Ator-
ney Bell. appeared Tor the prosecution. As
istant United States District Attorney Tre
main being also present, and the prisoner.
a man of herculean frame. defended
by exUnited States District Attorney Samuel q.
Courtney. Much time was spent IN empanelling
jury minute interrogatores having been put TO all as
TO whether they had formed opinion as to the
merits case; whether they werc engaged In the
importing business; whether they belonged 10 any
political organization 10 which tho complainant was
attached, or In fact, whether they belonged to the
sCustom House party" Tho District Attorney took
object to some OF the questions as irreie
lant iuumsIing that there was no such thing tn ex-
istence as a ''Custom House party" Howoeit the
usual Eve peremptory challenges allowed were ex
haustcd, aud jury was at length obtained and tho
trial began.
Assistant District Attorney Bell then opened the
behalf OF the people He tersey sot forth the
scrbed in these columns He observed, In addition,
that while the prisoner tho bar charged only
with assault and battery tho evidence would disclose
II to be OF q most aggravated character, ana
worthy the most serious consideration of the jury.
It would be shown, he said that moro cowardiy or
unjustiGable attack hud been made In this city
in the pubic streets II was an offence not only
against General Sharpe individual, but against
the entire community and should the facts alleged bc
ho ND confidence
Jury mad but one duty 70 perform
TESTIMONY SURVEYOR SHARPE
Tho complainant, General George H. sharpe, was
the first witness who appeared ON the stand n re.
sponss to Mr.. Bell he testified that when he entered
on MS duIics Surveyor OF the Port, four or hvo
years ago. the defendant " lillian Grace, was Gus
tom house inspector; the defendanls connection with
the Custom House ceased In April last; the witness
him about halt dozen times since thon ana also
previous to the assault on the morning Of the 10th OF
July last he went the rooms oil the Historical so
ciety, and, taking second avenue car, rode down
town, having with him large package OF books and
pamphlets and a umbrella; no walked down Park
row, aud meeting Grace IN the vicinity OF Beekman
street, nodded TO him. the latter IN passing appied 10
him very offensive epithet but tho General went on
his way, stopping opposite Hudnut's drug store,
where he, owing to the heat. stood lew minutes
awaiting the passing of Wall street stage az
he intended going tho Custom House; happening to
look up Broadway he discovered Grace his sde and
without q word the latter struck him severe blow,
knocking hlm right into the street, in endeavorng TO
got out OF way The passing vehicles Grace
struck him terrible blow. telling him to the ground
and while down renewed the assault, striking MIN ON
tho lace head egnt times; on The arrival
police officer he heard Grace say that he (wtness)
.hief the py hsica effect OF the bows was very
bad cut the right cheek, his eye was backened his
lip cut his right was severely bruised ana his
lett thumb disabled besides being at the time all
covered with blood; he then went with an officer to
the Tombs Police Court and made his compiainL
Mr. Courtney subjected the witness 10 very rigor.
not know whether he Grace first taken into
custody. Counsel inquired whether or not me wit
the alleged assault and whether he had not made
divers threats against MIN.
Judge Sutherland asked what the object Of these
inquiries was-what Their purport was IN reference 70
the question Al issue.
.l propose 70 show" replied Mr. Courtney, and
our defence Is this-that Mr.. Grace, who
honest faithful officer, mad discovered certain
frauds In the House, under the very and
supervision OF General Sharpe, his superior AS an
honest officer II became duty make report Of
those frauds TO MS superior on1cer. he did 3d.
but the report was disregardeo Grace was
then Obliged TO make complaint 10 those
higher authority. In doing he incurred
the enmity OF the complainant to sucn an extent that
General Sharpe gave instructions to OF his subor
dinales make complaint 10 him against Grace. Tho
result ended in Grace being suspended as well as Id
the oil General Sharpe blmsell, which nau
not yet been acted upon"
Judge Sutherland animated that the inquiry must
be confined TO the question at issue.
Counsel then offered to show the hostile feeling en-
tertAired by the complainant toward The accused IN
efectlng his removal as an inspector, and followed up
his proposition by asking General Sharpe wbelher
he met Grace on Park row, he did not spit at
him. This The complainant stouty denied. Several
questions were then propoundod as to whether
complainant did not authorize letters 10
bo written to certain firms requesting CON-
plants to be made against Grace and whether
net Grace suspended alter writing OF such
letters. This eviaence, however, was not allowed.
Tho w,tness her testified taaI no nodded Grace
on PARK row evidence OF recognition and mat
he not uniriendy toward him. He denied having
Strengthened himself in menacns manner towarl
Grace when opposite Hudnut's, averring that ne did
not hlm until tho bow was struck.
"You say" inquired District Attorney Phelps, 'that
Grace lett the Custom House Ia AprlT
"Ycs,'' replied the witness.
"And the assault was committed in JulyS"
TESTIMONY OF JOHN H. PAGAN.
This witness WAS "a butcher living at No 3l6 Tenth
avenue, and said that ON the day III question he
crossing Broadway, opposite the HERALD Building;
he the complainant and the accused standing
together and first thing that attracted his alton
ton toward them the latter STRIKING the former;
Two blows administered, ana third feicd
Sharpe to the ground; while he was down on tho
grou nd he saw Grace strike hun four I'VE tlmes ne
heard Grace say alter the rst blow nad been struck
something about General sharpe having insuted him,
and, suppoaing II TO 90 private QUARREL nc did not
like interiere; but when hs saw the large beat
ing the small man, and supposing the latter vas In
danger Of his hle he pulled Grace away when the
policeman appeared ON the scene he heard Grace say
that General Sharpe VAS a thief
Charles b. Rowan, VINO SAID he lived in Brooklyn
answer to Assistant District Attorney Bell that he
present at the occurrence; he neard Grace say
mediaely Grace struck him, aud repeating the blows
Knocked him down.
Eviaence for the prosecution also given by John
Rider, manufacturer OF rubber goods, resding at
NO. ~ West Twenty second street. Ac sad he the
prisoner and General sharpe opposite Huanul's drug
store, uy 20 the wtness got TO The edge Of the
sidewalk he heard Grace say, you are a -
theft" which expression he followed up by knocking
General sharpe down. Grace struck him times
and ne (wLnees) called to Grace stop,
there was danger OF the other being run
Dy the passing venIcles; Grace
about renew the attack when a citizen nterfered
and pulled him away; General Sharpe's lace was
badly cut and disasured police oiicer appeared on
the scene, when Grace called Sharpe u thie.
A colorcd named William Thomas tue janitor
OF the olhce OF the Albany day line oi steamers also
testified as 10 the assault. he saw General Sharpe
standing the gutter and Grace standing over niIn
the latter caught him by tue collar, and, pung hun;
struck hun threw him the ground; Grace again
attempted 10 strike nim but prevented by police
officer, upon whose appearance Grace called General
Sharpe a thct
TIM PoLICEMAN's EVIDENCE.
Oiicer Louis SetIg oi the Broadway squad, testified
that about ten MINUTES past Two o'cVck he the
do ,eDdant and the complainant and crowd opposite
Hudnuts he ran to the spot and surveyor Sharpe
his bOuY Ihe sldeXAk. Grace LII