The New York herald., 1878-12-05
AFTER SOMEBODY'S SCALP.

MAY, THE SODA WATER MAN, swEAIs VEN
GEAScE on THE PERSON WHO CONNECTED
HIM WITH THE STEWART CASE.
Mr. William II. May, of No. 3s New Chambers
street. whose name has been unpleasantly con-
nected with the stealing of the body Mr.. Stewart.
and whose sudden departure from the country
seemed to give color to the theory' of the police
that he lin the job" returned home Tuesday.
as announced in yesterdays HERALD. and yesterday
explained matters fully to HERALD reporter. Mr..
May is huge Englishman shrewd business man,
slow ana impressive talker of apothegmic cast,
and he says himself great reader. He is. more
over was shown by his talk yesterday, of
many original IDEAS His dominant thought just
now is to find out who originated the stories in rea
ton to him and to obtain redress. For as is usual
being supposed to be involved in crime. gossip
associated his name with many other things of var-
degrees Of disrepute 1t said that his wife
died of poison; that he was roysterer; that he in
vented machines TO blow up safes: that he put his
children in an orphan asylum; that he taught the
youth Of his neighborhood ingenious plans of plum
der and crime, and. in short. that he generally
disreputable person. if not much worse.
Il don't care anything about Mr. Stewards body at
this stage of the game said he. ponderously poking
his immense forefnger at the reporter. but decid-
edly object to being held up q debaucher of
youth"
Have you any idea Of how these stories starteds"
asked the reporter.
MAYS STORY
Il have, indeed. very clear idea he replied. and
he settled himself comfortably in chair and
folded the tale OF his ife while the reporter listened
like wedding guest. According to this story lie
formerly held similar position to that lately
claimed by Colonel" Mapleson. He was an officer
in Her Majesty's service. He to this country
during the War Of the Rebellion, ami brought sun
dry dry goods with him speculation. In selling
these he settled Mr.. stcwart's and lecame
not only neghbor, but an admirer Of the eminent
merchant: "He and ! We're great friends" said Mr.
May with pardonable pride III the thought. He
joined the staff Of the Fifth New York regiment. he
added, volunteer. and joined Mcclellan. He then
did great deal OF service in the field, and, with
leutenants rank, was for some time i'll command Of
the used by President Lincoln in his frequent
trips between Washington and the Soldiers Home
Here that he made the acquaintance of the
tyr President. HE and were great friends. said Mr..
May again. with still more pardonabie pride 7 re-
ceved resignation from his hands with his bless
ing"
"How did you come to resign q asked the reporter.
Il was going home to England to die :" he replied.
II was wounded and captured in the second days
battle at Gettysburg, and was nine months and six
teen days in Richmond prison. l went under the
name Of G. II. Miller"
How was that ?" asked the reporter. somewhat
startled.
We'll if a man was paroled and went into the SER
vice again and was caught he shot. so very few
men OF any rank gave their real nanes.'
HIS TROUBLE ORIGINATED.
After leaving the army he went on to say. he re-
lnquished his design of returning to England to die
and back to the Fourth ward in this city. and
after time dealt in soda water apparatus In ths
business he obliged to hire from three to twenty
assistants according to the weather. and in that way
it happened that lac had number of hangers-on
who had especial fondness for long drinks of lager.
These he would treat to liquor and regale with
his conversation simultaneously, and from this came
all his trouble When the attempted desecraton of
the grave Of his friend. President Lincoln was re-
ported in New York he expressed great indignation.
II said to some Of them" he continued. Now.
boys, ii you want to make stake. some OF you fell
lows that are always out OF job and always want
schooner, why don't you dig up Popo Plus TX? Some
OF you that amt afraid OF an Italian ghost might
make stake that way. Or there's Stewards body.
You could get 81 900 900 for that But let Lincoln
alone. He's had trouble enough. That was the whole
of it. l never had anything more to do with the
Stewart matter than that but the boys used to chat
me good deal about il. When I'd go around they
would say, 'Hullo. May. have you got that million
year later that the body stolen worthless fellow
that had had arrested for stealing from me made me
all this trouble Now don't care anything about It
myself. but III put q case to you. suppose you
knew lady in Jersey valley with nice farm, aud
supposing you were very much at home. so when
you went there you could hang up your hat and
make visit, and supposing she saw all this about
You in the newspaper and should say-being an IN
nocent sort Of ady-that newspaper men wouldn't
lie and that it all between you and her. and
supposing-well. what would you dor
..We III tell you what III do. I've got q pretty
good amount 10 my credit at one of the banks. and
III spend every dollar of it. If necessary, follow
ing this up. Ill have satisfaction if the man who
told it all is worth anything. and il not I'll go the
Tombs and see what can do And IL ! can't get
satisfaction from anybody ese I'll go for the Chief
of the Police"
"How did you happen to go away suddenly? 2"
II went on business. signed over all my prop
erty my landlord before went away. fear any.
thing should happen to me. He knew all about it.
That don't look like running away. does it : And
when came back, reported Ut ee to the police,
TOR heard they were looking for me-"
Mr.. May said further that the stories about his in
ferna machines, his children, and his teaching young
ideas how to do wrong were all pure fabrications.