The New York herald., 1878-08-08
A POLICE MYSTERY.
Otto Books Sworn Statement to
Superintendent jackson.
STABBED, ARRESTED AND FINED
No Record OF the Transaction at the
Police Station Indicated.


Castle Garden yestarday and requested supern-
tendent jackson send him the hos.
pita. told the following story under oath:-
On June 6, 1877, he arrived in this city on the
steamship HammonIa from Hamburg. On last Thurs
day night, about eleven O'Clock, while returning
to his place OF busincss-a restaurant in
the basement OF No. Broadway-hc was
accosted BY q stranger, heavily built man with red
m mustaohs apparently OF Irish descent, who asked
him to buy a watch He walked with the stranger
until reached his destination, and alter consdera-
BILE talk agreed give him 81 so Tor tho watch. Not
having sum cisnt money about mis- person ne entered
the restaurant to procure IT, the stranger remain
ing outside. When Book returned 10 the sidewalk he
asked has now acquaintance TO hand him the
watch, when he would give him the money Pho
latter refused 10 do this, but mado graz TOR the
grssnbacks, and Book dropping ,hein on tho sidewalk
took hold OF him and shouted tor the police. The
stranger shook Book of, and drawing large knife,
stabbed him between the right shoulder blade and the
backbone. he followed this up by striking the emf
grant with the handle OF the Kne, kuock
ing h the basement. whore his head was injured
by contact with tho stone steps. His assaant then
escaped and Book lay there In an unconscious cond
tion until half asst twelve, A. NJ, when he was dis
ooveret by policeman, who with tho mss stance OF
brother officer brought Elm TO the New street station
house. Here hi wounds dressed by the police
surgeon ana Book was locked up in a cell. The toll
lowing morning he was taken TO The Tombs He iot
very weak ana dazsd aud when brought before the
Judge did not understand the charge preferred
against him. He asked his name and business
and was informed that he had TO pay $40 or be
locked up ten days. He paid lno fine aud was 70.
leased but ever since he has suffered great deaI
from his wounds, SO much 50 as 10 be compelled 20
take 10 his bed ON Tuesday morning Bosk says
that when officers picked him up he recovered
cons sctousness for snort tine ana requested tnem
10 take him homo, but they refused.
Superintendent jackson having been convinced
that Book suffering from his wounds. and notic-
ing he very eversh, ordered his transfer 10
the Wards Island Hospital.
WHAT THE POLICE SAL
A HERALD reporter visited the station house o the
FIRST precinct, IN New street. last evening, and re-
for record Of the arrest OF Otto Book on tho
on osh' any S nuhs las. wesk a
so, but could di' cover no record OF the
arrest The reporter then described some
Of the crcum taDces as attending IT, but AL
search ior entry OF tie ARRIVAL oil wounicd man
proved unavaiiing though the books OF tue station
were examined rom july % TO tho current date The
reporter then mentioned tue number Of the house
where the made, No. Broadway. The Ser.
uneven Numbers (mean,ug on broadway in !his pre-.
cinct; II IS IN the Twenty seventh" he then tee-
Eraphed the station OF that precinct 10 Hnow II
such an arrest had boon made there The answer
was, 'No such arrest was made here on last Tours
dsy he then offered to send an officer with the re-
porter to No. Broadway.
AT oTTo's HOUSE.
Tho offer accepted, and accompanied By
policeman in plain clothes the reporter went to the
pince designated. He found the building No. Broad
way 10 be The main oflco OF the New York Elevated
Railroad. But In the southern part OF the base
ment was q small restaurant, then just closing
Tor the night, the entrance 70 which Is reached
| by . descent oi three stone steps. Two re-
porter anu MS companion eu,sred together. Bohind
the counter sat man OF aoout iorty years OF age
! strangely deiormed ana who spoke English very
perfectly, but VINO taikei SO inteli'gentiy IN It no
difficulty Was experienced BY tho reporter In unisr.
Where IS O.,os" qucr,ed the officer as hs entered
| "Ot,o is sick, was the answer.
! 'What 70 the matter with himY"
"He was stabbed. aud no 10 gone 70 the hospitaL'
| ''Wh hen was II doneY'
| "Who is Ottof' asked the reporter
"He is Quo Book, my partner. Ny name IL Krue.
| ger"
Mr. Kruger tn en- proceeded TO describe the occur.
rences OF the night when Otto was stabbed, partly
told otto, he SAID, ~en, out Win two young German
| friends to ncigbborng beer saloon. He returned
about eleven and 'nsy lei. ,s hm; a,.d no sat 81,
restaurant account oi the hea, aud shortly
alter in and took ont 81 SO, wh,eh he said was
| to buy watch. Then he was stabbed, arrested aud
| fined, as described above no reporter tncn asked
several questions, receiving answers, as iolows:-
'Did Otto drink much that nishtY"
s.Not TOO much--a glass OF beer o. two"
| ''Was he sober when he came IN for the moneyr'
.sne was perfectly sober. But IN the morning h .
was SOL don't know how call It IN EngiIsh.
| lie could remember nothing about tue time he was
IvInr on tLe steps or when he was urrestea He had
| n STAB on the shoulder and mark his bre ist
where he was struck with The knie handle, his eyes
were oscksued apo his hoad badly cut He was lying
1 on the steps with his head down and icet high on
them. He Is very stck nov. "
| ''Did any one 60 TO the court in the morning."
s'Yes, his vile vent, and sent the $40 20 get him
| out The policeman who arrested him came mere In
the NOR n ng told u.s. he ssid he thought he was
| knocked ut the door aud could get no answer He
ai,o told how nc was stabbed and his shirt torn :"
'Did one inside hear any nJisey"
ayes, hrs wife anu young girl who sleeps IN the
kitchen hoard he knocking ON the door, bu, they
Kucw he had key, aud 50 they were afraid 10 open
the door or look out"
| .'what s,aion was be taken tori
| At THE TwEyry-sEvEArn PRxcIxcr.
| TINS queslon answered Il ,r reference to
| Mrs Book, a comely youn9 German giri who speaks
| no Englisn. Sac mad entered during the converse
ton. The station was dcscrted as being where the
| stxth avenue railroad passes THIS suggested tho
rweniy-seven,h precinct station house VIII ch rs
| on the corner OF New Church ana Liberty streets,
ana SO the reporter repaired thither, and
asked the sergeant IN charge to look up the Gaze. III
hay, looked Tor u airessy." said he, .aud there IL
no,nlng aoout IT. The reporter persisted tnat the
| case 'ual one, and tho sergeant again
searcheu the books bu, coud not ind auy ne of
the name Book Inc reporter then descf bed some OF
| the Circumstances oil the case, aud mentioned the
mars WOUNDS and his statement that they we're
crossed by "a police surgeon. Ihe sergeant searched
and scarcned, but could aud nothing oi tue matter
.'Tuere 10 no here iu which a police geon
| brougnt mere snce August l. lie may have been mere
| bsIor thai l have no earlier records | have sent
| them 10 Headquarters. l dou't betevc hc was
here ut all there Is this to be taken into
Grafton We never send Tor ponce surgeon wben
| woundei man III Drought IN nero. me police Sur
geon lives lar up town gvt reltei
by scnd,u to Cnemvers Street Hospital. II The su-
ivrcr Is able TO walk We send him with oti cor, II
| not send Tor an ambuiauc,."
| The reporter expressed surprise at the absence OF
npy acccunt OF Tue arrest whom the sergeaut addcd
| s.Ihere 10 way OF tho arrest beiug elt Of tue
record II lie brought TO court anu fined, ter the
court books direct copy oi this aad lie tapped
the volume before him. "Besides," said he IN con
| cIusiou, al man were brought here In that state
he would not be locked up even u he were little
under the innuc1ce OF LIQUOR We are not 80 fond OF
/ loe ektno u ID ns " q 4
| OFFICERS STATEMENT.
| police officer was iuund by HERALD reporter
last night IN ihc rweDysoventh precinct who remcm
| bered all ABOUT tho affair he said the arrest was
made by Ocer Kennedy, OF that precinct, but that u
was much more than week ago. He said that hc
mud heard full OF the affair At tne time, and
beeve Book drunk. 1t was stated that he voin.
tied in the basoment wherc he found and In the
| station mouse. Kennedy, another ohccr and tho
| roundsman all decided that he was drunk.
| NEWARK AOITEDIICT ROARD