The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-27
VOL. XLyl.--N0. 239.
WHERE IS WILLIAMS'S $5Ol
THE DISPUTE ABOUT THE NOTE THAT
C.ISHIER MERRITr CHANGED.


Mr.. Clifton A. T.. Merritt, the cashier OF
the Metropolitan Hotel. whom Lcmuel Will
lams. tho coored seaman of the United States
ship supply accused ot retaining n $50 bill that
he asked him to change. entered tn Tomhs
Police Court promptly at 0 o'clock yesterday
morning He wns directed by Roundsman
Fawcou to the examination room. directly in
the rear OF the Police Court. Soon after Mr.
Merritt's arrival. Mr.. George Adams the Su-
perin,cndent Of the Metropolitan Hotel. ar
rived. Mr. Adams hns stood firmly 10y young
Merritt, and in pleasant. encouraging man
ner. walked directly up to young Merritt
and gave him n hearty shake OF tho hand.
Shortly aftorward. Gen. Edwin A. Merritt. Col
lector Of the Port. and Gen. @. W. Palmer, Dep
uty Collector entered the examination room.
and were followed by other prominent men.
who greeted Young Mr. Merritt cordially.
Lcmur Williams. the colored sailor lad. was
escorted to u seat by the tall. white bearded
veteran Officer Hill, in whose charge ho is.
Williams WAS more composed than on the days
Of his former examination.
Justice Oitrrbourg called the case up at half
past o.
"Onrcr Hill. said Justice OuerbourG. have
you found Mr. Jensen. who. Mr. lIoflheimer
said yesterday. could identify the complainant
Lemuol Williams2"
"I have your Honor"
n. Jensen OF 2i6 Baltic street. Brooklyn. was
then sworn. and related how last summer
coorrd man had attempted to levy blackmail
upon him.
is that man in court" asked Justice Often
bourg. Now. take your time and examine all
the faces closely"
Mr. Jensen steadily faced tho crowded court
room and looked steadily Mt all the colored men
present. then wheeling round and facing jus
tice OttrrDourg he said No. STRIP
MIR. Jensen" said the Justice. is that
young man the person who attempted to black
mail You las, summer Ms charged yesterday by
friend Of yours?'
L"muel Williams Dyed the witness unlnch-
ingly. and Mr. Jensen. with a Characteristic.
emphatic shrug said mo. your Honorl"
Then Mr.. Jensen was asked to sign his am
davt to tho denial OF the statement made by
Honhcmcr. the day previous.
There was n sudden commotion at the door Of
the examination room. and Roundsman Faw-
cett pushing his way through the crowded en-
trance escorted several gentlemen.
Lemul Williams east n sudden glance aside
Suddenly his face visbly changed in express
sion, and he sprang TO his feet. his eyes
sparkling. and standing at attention." he
raised his hand TO his forehead and made n
SALUTE.
A moment later hc was surrounded by sew
erul W dressed gentlemen who shook him
cordially hy tho hand. The tears fell fast upon
his now coat. The new comers were Lieut.
i. II. D-ano VINO came directly from Wash
ineton, when he heard that his body servant
WINS in trouble; Paymnser T. ID. Hoxlcy:
Assistant Paymaster James II. Wetmore James
Coe. Ioouian To- paymassr. and James Doyle
Stnt,s ship Supply said they had read of Lem
uel's trouble. and had come voluntarily 10 ap-
Lieut. I. H. D~lano. r kindly. pleasant faced
man. gave the sailor lad an afectionate. encour-
aging shake of the haud. Lieut.. Delano briefly
said thnt Lemuc Williams had been picked out
OF the crow oi the supply To be- his servant, The
e9iored lad had b.nn pnt "a Ghargc e, 9i tho the
of Lieut. Drlano'- ward during the entire com.
mission of the supply. The Lieutenant had
read THE suns account OF his body servants
arrest in Wellington. He knew what "a simple
lad L.murl Williams was. and he came right on
Paym"strr T. d. Hoxsey corrohoratoi Lem
uei WilNaWs'S statement us ~ me money no
paid him. II. drserlhed th" $50 hillin~t ns VIII
iams had. When asked how he rem mhrr'd it
So we'll he replied. WILLIAMS was iayorIte
among tho ON "rs nnd had IN hiS smpliHiy
expressed % proud desire tu lrlug home To his
old mother % $50 hll Iaymnstrr ll'Ns"y hnd
selected % nruul new, clean hiil t9 give extra
satlsfn, tun 20 L"murl and had personally
given hum bonus for his attention and cNi"y
during -" voynge.
names and Hidr"ssrs, ana sat In semi-cir'le
around the cOiorrd sailor boy.
- A lis usson to9N p'nrc mi"eHn counsel ana
the Justice regarding i,r pos ,mity 9i lemqrl
Williams having the ihy.dollar bill when he
entered the VI -trupNlltnu Hotel.
Mr. l. rr said: We have never questioned
the statement that the complainant had $50 paid
t. him in BROOKLYN. but We claim that no evil
presenr@i % i'' $50 iii ut the Metropolitan Hotel
We do not impugn the lnd,s honesty; we do not
claim that from the .lme he openly showed
his go 6il, Pe'iMTs store To ud, th9
having SHIq vac aecden,aiy lost i. Mr Merritt tho
cashier Of the iropoitan Hotel. handles on
al 1au - IA aNntaN
and he has mayer been even suspected Ot taking
one penny Up to this time there has never been
even n scntilla Of doubt thrown on his integrl-
ty. and We are therefore anxious to give him the
benefit of this examination" =,
Justice Ouerbourg, addressing Mr. hice
You asked at a former examination % have
the dollar bll which Mr. Merritt claims to have
received from the complainant and 70 have re-
turned to him. produced for ldentihcation.
have the hill here nj your service.
The dollar bill. clean. soft and well preserved,
was then produced lts surlace. was smooth
and unwrinklrd. 1t was Identified by Mr.. Nor
ritt and Detective keolry. Mr.; Elmund +,
Price asked to l2H6 at G ;rli re askd n@1 ns
"twisted and twisted Mr.. Merritt answered
In tie affirmative. Mr., Price held it t. the light,
and tho bill presented n smooth surface. The
only mnrk 1t bore was as If ithad been neatly
folded In pockctbook. A Aslmilar bill that was
tw stpd M by some ono in the coutt room was
shown To be wrinklrd in appearance.
Justice Ouerbourg called Cliiton A, II. Mer-
ritt 70 tho stand, aud directed all the Witnesses
Merritt 2G',d laid: Bcfor. went to Tie drawer to
get four quarters change tOOk Nlinmss dol
lar bill. ] stepped from tho guest counter 20
my desk or cash drawer. This desk Is slant
Ing. and raised few inches from the marble
counter | did not put the dollar bin in the
drawer: | placed II open on tho dosk, ana
opened my drawer 20 Get the change. Lemuel
Williams was about eight feet from me when
counted out the four silver quarters. When
took the quarters out of the drawer held them
in my closed hand. and affirm that the COM
plainnnt called out. Don't rob ma, gentleman J
before he ever had chance 10 see what held
In my hand. -
Justice Otterhourg - Didn't Williams say
"Oprn the drawer and you will lud my nifty
dollars ?" 49,
MIR. Mcrrtt-No. sir. He said, Look at the
drawer. gentlemen look at the drawer"
Justice Oucrbourg-Didy you open the drawer
Mr. Merrtt-Thc drawer was already open.
Justice Oucrbourg-Was any examination o
the drawer nader
Mr. Merrtt-There was none.
Justice Ouerbourg-Was any oner made tC
Williams to have the drawer eXamnedf
Mir Mcrrt-He gave me no chance 10 DO 80
He became SO volcntthat | had to call Tor assist
ance tried my bost to pacify him. but 10 nc
purpose.
Mr. When YOU closed tho drawer
where were Williams and Onlcer KecleyH
Mr. Merritt cannot say.
Mr. Prcc--Did you show the contents OF thC
drawer 20 any one
Mr. Mcrrtt-NO. sir.