The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-19
LEETE'S FEARS.
The New Orleans Witness Haunted
by Imaginary Foes.
HE OPENS FIRE ON THEM.
Strange Scene in Corridor or
the Aston House.

John E. Lcste, the recent distinguished witness be-
fore the Potter Investigating Committee, was last
eyening arrested at tae Aston House. on. complaint
of the clerk in charge, and locked up cell In the
rwenty-ssventh precinct station, corner OF Liberty
and New Church streets The charge preferred
against him was disorderiy conduct ami assault in
hiring a revolver through the closed door OF his room
Mt persons who had answered his bell
Mr. Vonleer the clerk in charge of the deck at the
Astor House. gave the following statement OF the
Anar:-Mr Leete came in here about nine O'Clock,
and having registered his name. requested a room.
gave him No. 225. the second floor. He had not
been up stars many minutes when he rang the bell.
One OF the hall boys answered the bell, and on going
10 the room found the door locked Lsetc asked him
from the inside side II he was the proprietor Of
the hotel and tho boy told him that he was not
Lsete then said that he wanted to see the Chief OF
Police or newspaper reporter; that there par
ties after him OF what he had testified be-
fore the Potter Com mtec, and that they had better
look out, as he was prepared to shoot. The boy &C
rordingly came down stairs again. Shortly afterward
The bell rang again, and this time 1t was answered
by another boy, to whom Leete told the same story
/ then look Detective McWiiams up to the room
with me, and o. arriving at the door asked Leetc
what he wanted He said there were pirties after
him and he was prepared to shoot l asked him 10
open and out in the corridor and let me
speak to him, whereupon he fired. The ball passed
through door, striking against the opposite wall
rcbounded and Tell the detectives foot. l then
sent TO Captain Saunders asking that the man be
out OF the hotel, Three officers came. and they
went at TO his room ana ordered Leete
TO unlock his door This he refused 10
10. and fred two shots In succession, the
bullets passing through the door and striking
against the wall Just as the onicers were about 10
tha
Ing the men in uniform, Immediately dropped his
pistol The officers then took him 10 the citation
house. do not believe nat the man was intox-
Gated and am at loss TO account for his singular con.
Duct
AT haIf-past ten the HERALD reporter interviewed
Mr.. Leetc the station house. He was at first very
much excited and fatty refused TO mako any expiana-
lion Of the occurrence, but aferward, on beng per-
by officer in charge TO leave his cell and
walk about the obov, became mere composed, and BIT
by BIT furnished the following iniormaton:-
LEETE's STATEMENT.
II that the ordeal he has passed through as
stiffness and the testimony which he has given al
ready together with other that he has in had
preyed upon his mind For ten nights he had been
unable to Sleep and he became impressed with tho
idea that he was being shadowed by detectives EN-
pIoyed by Interested republicans aod democrats
lat least said Lcete. .f Pm not watch cd know
That ought TO be- If the parties know their busi-
ness "
..What was the object Of your being shadowcd, SO
far you imagine ?" asked the reporter.
,xcitsdy. 81 ieit was not safe feared there was
design to get possession Of private dary-a book
that just invaluable 10 me and which certain
parties wouln like 10 get hold Of.
He expressed himself as being fearful that he would
be put out of the way efcclualy. and being con-
WINGED that he was in more or less danger from some
unknown quarter he determined to seek projection.
~ SEARCH FRIENDS
In this frame OF mind he, yesterday morning before
hreakfastipg, proceeded TO the Sun office TO nd Mr.
Sibson, the Washington correspondent OF that paper
who, he said, had instIgated mis- appearance before
The Potter Committee.
The correspondent no. at the Office. He tnen
look Fourth avenue with the intention OF call
q Colonel o.
Iding opposite Gramercy PARK. Being cOmparn.
ave stranger In the city asked the conductor to
,how him the locality bat that Indifferent Junction
forgot the request and carried him some distance
,bove Ills destipatIou THIS fact made him suspc,ous
He Ian cied that the conductor emissary of
MS enemies In disguise On arriving AZ Mr. Tilden's
residence he discovered that Colonel FELTON, had gone
for the purpose OF visiting Mr. Manton Marble, on
Fifth avenue. The conductors manner impressed
him unfavorably, aud he concluded that, like
hts confrere OF the Fourth avenue line, he
\. G. (no goodJ He alehtcd a, the Rossmore
hotel corner OF Forty second street and
Broadway. and, ieeing hungry, entered the
rests uraat and dem anded some soup. Crab soup
gested spanish IN ,ckere which, on being placed
before him, melted a thirst for glass OF Sauerne
To procure tho latter the waiter requested him 10
wriie the order ana sign his name on memorandum
blank.
PEARS OF ASSASSINATION.
This looked suspicious, particularly as the waiter
Eyed him askance looked closely the signature
Thoughts OF possibility OF his being cleverly po soned
dashed through his Drain, and when the wine was
brought, he refused TO take IT. Some "mysteriously
looking gentlemen were at this time discovered In
his vicinity, evidently plotting TO harm the witness
while purpornng TO eat masutinal hash 80 he
wrote hastily on a card
am pursued by assassins or prisoners and can't
Ind any friends.
(siguedl GEORGE G. LEErE
On pay ing his bill he handed This card to the clerk
at tho counter requesting hin to preserve Il for fu
turc reference IN case he should happen to make
mysterious disappearance or come to greet an I'M.
timely manner He also drew he attention OF by
standsr 10 the warning memorandum.
His mind thus cas.d he proceeded to tho residence Of
r n
ueman not being nj home he impressed his name
upon the servant, whom he requested to tell Mr..
harbe that he would like 10 see him as soon post
bic, and his destination was the Fifth Avenue
Hotel where he arrived amer many -vicssitudcs in
cars and that the government detce-
1vos Tor the time beng acting the capacity OF
conductors Tor the purpose OF getting the witness
"uown fine"
Amer registering at the Fifth Avenue Er. Lcete
The newly arrived guest demanded a and
luested TO have the Superint cndcnt OF Police ;ee
yraphed Tor The proprietor referred Mr. Lcee to the
room clerk and declined to call the police He paid
81 for a and explained tho i'm peratve necessity
Tor the preservation OF his valuable person and
papers, The hotel clerk offended him. and he de-
manded back his money and left the Establishment
In "A curse-ory manner.
Tue sixth avenue conveyed him down town
and ne renewed MS inquiries for Mr. Gibson at the
sam of1cc, but without success BY this time seeing
that all his friends had gone TO Long Branch possi-
bly, ''bacK on him. he became desperate and made
bold push for Police Headqu VA rters where he found
superintendent Walling and alter brief explanation
81 the pcrils that beset him, contded 10 him for
lafe keeping a scaled package containing his diary.
thus relieved OF the anxiety that had oppressed HIM
he repaired to the Aston House in quest of nights
lodging and ultimately obtained at the hos abe
hands OF Captain Saunders, at the station house. in
stead In the above described
Mr. Lecie VIII be brought up for examination this
morning at the 1omOs Police Court