The New York herald., 1878-10-27
Alderman Morris Assaulted by an
Unknown Man.
WAS 1T MISTAKEN IDENTITY2
Some Curious Facts and Theories Con.
cerning the Affair.
CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED MAN

ana SIX O'CLOCK. Inc motive OF tho attempt Is un-
known, Though various surmlses are made. From
different quarters suggestions that politics Is ut
tho bottom OF tho affair, that would-bo assassin
made mistake, and took tho Alderman for some
other person. ana that some strong personal reason
induced desperate do the decd. On the
OF these grounds only, can the wounded Alderman
account for the assault He. Il Is well known,
whose success in pubic hfc depended not SO
much party considerations as on hts great per-
popularity, and his democratic friends quite
those who proissscd republican prln-
cipies AS to any personal difficulty that would
amount hatred the Alderman declared himself IN
nocsnt He bore III will and Is unconscious
OF having an active enemy in the world Tue thsory
that he was mistaken for some oise hnds
favor among the friends OF the wounded AL
dcrman, nDd the attack may Yet reveal a
skeleton the closet OF house tar remote from No.
III West Twenty first street, the home Of Mr.. Morris
A certain well known sporting man, hailing from
Long Island, who looks remarkably like Mr.. Morris,
may have been the man sought Tor by tho assassin.
As the man who wounded tho Alderman has not yet
beon caught this theory is without corroboration,
though rumor IS busy associating the name OF tho
sporting man with the affair Whatever may have
been the cause Alderman Morris is less u
sufferer.
HAPpgNEp.
The details OF the assault are not devoid OF dra-
matte interest, and had man Of whose lie less was
kuswn been tho principal something OF mystery
would attach to them. The aAi happened NJ time
which novelists always devote the performance by
villains OF desperate deeds. The lamps that had
lighted wayfarers through the western portion of
the city during tho night had just bccn extn-
guishcd when Alderman Morris lett mis- homo
u NJ. west III rwcnty-hrst street. Several
tunes during the week II was Mr Morris'
habit TO 20 20 Washington Market, where he was
at SIX A. M. to attend 10 business Yesterday morn
ing obedience 10 the duty referred 10. Nr. Morris
left his homo al about twenty minutes past i've A.
NJ, intending 10 walk TO Twenty-third strcet ana
Sixth avenue aud take 4 tram over the metropolitan
Railroad. When hc entered Sixth avenue, from
T~entyarst strcci, that thoro1ghiare was wcll ngn
deserted Ihe dia :" INC ra..nng .ig T.lns over tne
an occasional market or mix wagon clattered over
the road The Alderman passed up toward twenty
third street Tue only person he met was 0lhcer
Cav, who was patroing his beat, In ANXIOUS expec-
tation OF his relief The Alderman saluted the OIL.
ccr bid HIM the ume OF day and passed on. The
sidewalk from Twenty second TO Twenty third street
wnen Mr.. Norris arrived ut the corner ei Twenty
second street was deserted He suun tered on
time spare and took bat itto heed, beiug
occurred with his own thoughts. When no arrived
opposite the store stern Brothers. No 1867 Sixth
avenue a man rushed out from the recess OF i door
way aud before Mr. Morris had time to turn, the
man, who was arm "a wnn long knife made a lunge
him. Tne aertness OF the assassin aud the abseuco
OF suspicion on the part OF tho Alderman combined
TO make the aim effective.
THE NukDERoUs KNIFE.
In twinkhng the kuie was buried IN the breast OF
Mr.. Morris aud before he actually realized what nad
Satisnsd that he mad done his work the man ran III
the direction Of rweatythird street and turned the
River or Gro ossed Twrnyhrd street after turning the
corner Is not known. The police have seen parties
OUT o sisnt or tho wounded man crossed
Twenty thira street to the north sde and then hur
mounted 10 tho Me.ropsan Railway station ana toox"
north bound Train. others ciaim 10 have seen
answering tho description given ny Alderman Morris
OF his assuiiant, leave commission tram NJ koriy-
second street at halpast i've aud proceed IN great
haste the dircc Ion OF tho Grand Central acpot.
Tho d. scription gwen OF the man by Mr. Morris ~
very vague consequently little faith put In
ciow The time gwen anu tho noticeable hurry of the
In are 1t claimed, sufficient TO lend weight
clew, out argument naturally male against IL
that that hour OF tho morning almost everybody
Is III = hurry.
But TO return 10 the wounded man. At the second
Adcrmaa Morris called aloud for he p; but his
cali instead Of frightening the nssaIiant seemed to
redoubie his action, and he made third plunge. thus
time wouuding tho Alderman IN the cavity vi the
abdomen. While the wounucu man was calling tor
help the assaiiant ran, US described. and vanished
around tho corner OF Twentythird street. Tue
The man passed east through twenty ,hird
street, on tho upper SIDE, he could not have been
Cav hoard Tue cry aud hurried IN trc direction Of
Twenty hird street. Hc met the Alderman, who,
sti on his Ieet walking In tue direction OF his
house. The oIfcsr was soon informed Of wnat had
happened. ana ran toward rwenty-thrd street
On turning tho corner no noticed nsure
aud Ofoushi back lad, VINO is employed
who positively declared he the assaianI rno
bsst description Mr.. Morris give OF the Is,
that he was about live eet nine inches In height,
about forty years OF age and weighs probably about
one hundred aud seventy pounas. The man woro
dark clothes and sun tell haL me diversion about
the lad from the Rossnoro Hotel ovor M NORRIS IN
company with two officers, another having meanwhile
arrived walked 10 ms nome, nor did his strength fall
hIm until no reached his room. here he throw
himself ON lounge and sskeu that u doctor 10
summoned to his aid. In a lew MINUTES DR.. Dorm,
M
An examination OF the wounds showed that the popu-
lar AlI,rman had hal u narrow, not 10 say miracu-
lous escape Two OF the wounds were over the region
of tho the heart STAB avoided that vital
organ by about an inch, having glanced IRON RIB
aud been thrown out, OF course. fno second wound
was mellow tho henrt little 10 the rIgbt,
and the third was below tho thorax. on the Il ;shy
part OF the body IN tho region OF The aodomna cav
hy. The doctors found Mr.. Morris weak IRON loss
OF blood ana suffering IRON SHOCK Tue reaction from
tho excitement, coupled win the exhaustion and Ia
tgue of the walk from the sccnc OF the occurrence,
had told him, and he Ihon quite low. SHORTLY
alter the doctors Inspector Murray arrived and Mr.
Morris spoke a low words 10 him concerning The
affair. IL was deemed best not TO submit the pacnt
10 any iurther fatigue, 50 all wi.ndrew alter tue
WOUNDS had been dressed, ana lott tho Isn.ly ~
charge During tho afternoon Mr.. Morris Improved
aud well enough to see some ultimate friends
VINO called TO SEQ nim. AL day long tho house was
bes,cgcd win VISITORS making ANXIOUS inquiries as
10 the patients condition. 60 general was the
terest pliested that Mr. Thomas B. Clarke son.
n4aw Of the Alderman thought u bcst 70 send
short account OF the affair down 70 the City Hall,
whore many inquiries we're being made. and also 20
that tue condition oi the patcnt was prom
tsIng. lhis ncws gratefully received by hun
ursus OF trends whose business engagements wero
TOO imperative allow thsm 10 journey to the house
up town.
Iu conversation with a reporter late last evening
Dr. Fowler stated while he did not consider the
wounds OF themselves dangerous there was in TINS, AS
In all similar cases, danger TO be feared from inanua-
ton. fhs conditions the case oil Mr. Morris were
very favoraDie, however, aud no did NOT antciplte
that there would be any Inflammation. Tho hemor-
age had all been ~ruaI, aud tue patient was
GRADUALLY gaining strength. the doctors ana the
police agreo that Tue cutting done by an expert
with KNIFE, and the general opinion IL that the
instrument used n double edged dagger.
MOTIVE
clew that may lead 10 arrest OF the assailant
Is furnished tc story told of What an officer heard
in Jefferson Market Police Court about week ago.
1t appears that about week ugo three pickpockets
assaulted conductor on tho sixth avenue line. The
three attacked at once anu severely injured him
but did not make good their escape. Alderman
Morris witness to tho assault and
took an interest 10 Tue case SO muon 10 lao'' ad ns