New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-25
HOT VORDS AND A BLOE.

| A STARTLING INCIDENT IN A HOTEL.
nx-rRE,sURER JOHN c. NEW STRIKES A HARTFORD
BANKER IN THE HALL OF TIE FIFTH AVENUE.
The lonngers in the lobby of the Fifth Avenue
Hotel were interrupted in their discussion OF the
walking match, Kelly's bolt and kindred timely
TOPICS about half-past last evening, by loud ano
angry words mingled with profanity, at
the rear end of the hallway A blow
followed and q sculie, which was quickly
terminated by the interference OF the
bvstauders. The parties to this qua,,cl were John
| C. New. formerly United States treasurer. and
| George y. Blssel, prominent banker Of Hartford,
| Conn 30 numbers among his patrons Mrs Harriet
Beecher stowe. Governor Jewell and other distn-
guished persons. BY the time inquiry could be
made nobody connected with the hotel could
be found who saw the disturbance; not clerk nor
messenger boy knew there had been one. Mr.
New made the following statements
Th.was purely personal quarrel, growing out OF
| business matters. Five years ago the Dennison
House. IN Indianapolis, sold under foreclosure
aud was bought IN BY Mr. Bissell, representing the
bOndholders. In April 1873, offered him $oO'oOO
for the property. sipuang that clear title should
be shown. Upon investigation. my lawyer found a
cloud in the title. and | wrote Mr. Bissell telling
him Of the fact, but he never replied to my letter.
nor noticed it in any way. In March, 1870. l
]
was dissatisfied with tho sale, and Bissel made
n statement ia some New-EDgland paper
saving that had been guilty If breach o. con-
tract ia not concluding the former sale. con-
sidered myself much a0grieved, and wrote him. de-
handing q retracti0n. Tonight saw him for the
first time and repeated my demand. lie said he
had rot done IT, | said: If you say 10 Is not true
come to the desk and give me a card TO that effect
that is ell want But he refused. and struck
him."
add you call him - liarT
"WelL. suppose did aud if he should renew
his offence should be only too happy to repeat
Whit said and did. If anything further is desired
l am ready, aud will have deputy. too"
Nv. Bisselps return from the opera was awaited.
and he received the reporter with pleasant face.
MARRIED only by q piece of court-plaster on the
| bridge OF his nose. lie saldi
| 81 regret this occurrence exceedingly. have no
desire to figure in such an affair, but would muc
rather occupy my position than that OF MI New. l
was talking with Mr.. Bement. president of the
Evansville Bank, when Mr. New came up ana asked
ma IN On across the hall rs he wanted talk with
me. / had made up my mind to have nothing
TO do with Mr. New. and declined. But upon bis
urging il, | went with him, and took seat lie be-
gan To abuse ne for saying something about MN IN
| the papers | replied that never had done so. he
SAID, If that is Sd. come and write fetrdctIon.
refused to do that, and said, 'elt down, and let
us talk II over. bat instead OF that ne drew OH ana
struck me. Before recovered myself. he was IN the
hands of several gentlemen who Were present, and
was taken away. | sold him the hotel In Indian
npois several years ago, and when he arrived home
he wrote me that the title was not clear, and that
he would not take it. | replied, offering to clear
the title, and asking him not TO back down !
| but received no reply TO the letter. 1 had
to notify the bondholGers of the matter, and
he supervised the sending of the circulars. One
of the bondnoders. | do not know VINO, was Gis-
satisfied about tae affair." and wrote four-column
letter to Ncw-Haycn paper, 10 which paid no at
! teution, but with which Il had nothing to do. sub
| seuuenfly the motel was sold on an offer from
a Baltimore party, and when ! came 10
| sign the deed, / found Mr.. News name
aTiong tho purchasers. | had meantime fulfilled
nv promise to clear the title. have ns doubt Mr
! New supposed had publicly commented on his
conduct: but / had not, aud had moth
! ing to retract. Several persons who saw
| The affair tonight commented on my cowardice.
| But Mr. Pliny Jewell brother to Governor jewell,
Told them that. as Colonel of the 25th Mas
sachusetts Regiment. 1 had already faced
! danger and cOwaTdice was not 10 be attrlh-
| uted 10 me. | simply did not care To be
the nero of hotel light. | was called a liar,
! but | do not think that gentlemen shonld
! feel called upon to vindicaIe their integrity by
Gghtig in public places. The publicity Of this
matter annoys and astonishes me but | feel per-
fectlv satisfied that my conduct III this, as IN the
negotiations tina. caused II, Is such a. honorable
! men will approve"