New-York tribune., 1879-04-28
a SERIo o0S CHARGE DISPROVED.

CASHIER MERR1TI'S INNOCENCE.
oPPoRTUNE DISCOVERY or TIL $50 BILL-rHE
EVIDENCE WHICH WASN'T gwOMAN KEPT
ROLLED UP IN A HANDKERCHIRF.
Clifton f. A. Merritt. the cashier Of the Metro
politan Hotel who vas charged with the larceny of
a $50 bill from Lemue Williams, the colored sailor
boy. started for Washington Saturday evening
TO the attendance of important witness in
his behalf Soon after his departure his friends
were made happy by the information that his IN
nocence could be proved. This information came
from Commander X. S. McCook, of the United
Suites Navy who telegraphed from Brooklyn that be
had the $50 bill in ms possession The intelligence
was startling as it was pleasing, and Mr. Merritts
friends hastended to send the news to Washin gton
and to learn from Commander McCOok how he re-
ceived the bill. They learned that it had been
gwen to him by Susan Brown, colored washer
woman, who lives in Green-laue, near the
Brooklyn Navy Yard. Williams had testified
on Friday that he gave Mrs. Brown 81 So
which he owed to her for some washing.
TRIBUNE reporter found Mrs. Brown yesterday
at her home III Green-lane-.a narrow alley which
crosses YoTkst near the entrance to the Navy Yard
She is about seventy years old, and has child's
simplicity She told her story in a manner which
left little doubt Of its truth. She did washing for
the sailors at the yard. she said, and had received
McCOok She was not acquainted with Williams
until he came to her last Wednesday and left va
lise with some clothing. After leaving this vallse
at heI house, she said Williams Went over To New
York and got a SUIT of clothes. lie came back III
the afternoon and dressed himself III ms new
clothes He asked her what she Thought OF his suit.
and seemed to be very proud OF 1t, she thought.
" He said to me- she continued, " that he was
going TO Philadelphia, and when he got
back from there he was going home
10 South Carolina 10 see his mother / want you
to wash my blankets, Auntie, lie SAYS 70 me. and
have them ready when get back, lie took out
some money and rolled up half dollar IN Dill.
Now Auntle,' he says, there's your twelve shll-
lings' and he gave NE the money. l put II IN my
dress pocket, as thought, but the next morning
found only the hall dollar in my pocket, and when
looked around the room l saw the bill under the
table rolled up the money in handkerchief and
put il away with some more that l was saving for
rent Last FRIDAY q boy who Is IN the medical de-
partment Of the Navy Yard told me how ne had
heard that Villains was III trouble ABOUT SoO Dill.
Well, last night was counting out my rent money
and come across bill that dldntlook right says
l to myself, Now somebody has gone and
triCked me aQaIn,' for once took one
of those bogus bills that they throw
about on the street You see had never had $50
bill before. | went down stairs and showed the
bill to a man know, ana he said it was good bill
and was worth $50. Then / remembered what
had heard about Williams. / couldn't rest win
that on my mind, 80 went % ind Captain McCoOk.
lie lives good way OF, and 1t was late when got
there, for am Old you see, AMI caHt walk very
fast. left the bin with hun, and he promised TO
D
Commander McCook sand he knew Mrs. Brown to
be a thoroughly honest woman, and he believed her
story He had no doubt, he said, that her discovery
would prove the innocence OF Ar Merritt He
thou ght il would show also that the cOOred sailor
was innocent OF any attempt at blacknall, and That
he had been mistaken Ia the value CT the note
which he gave to Sir. Merritt TO have changed.
Superintendent Adams, OF the -'.etrOpoltan hOtel,
and Commander MCCOok, visited Mrs. Brown yester-
day and made.aTrangements 70 haye her appear at
the l0mbs TO-DAY. They both spoke warmly OF the
old womaus honesty and said that it would not be
allowed TO gO unrewaried. Her discovery at crit
ical a time, when Mir Merriti's reputation was az
stake, Is regarded "a exceedingly fortunate MIR
Merritt had not returned from Washington last
evening, but It sad at the hotel that lac would
arrive IN time TO be ~ court tins morning. Will
Jams vas still in the House of Detention yesterday,
and cOuid not be seen.
At the examination al the Tombs on Saturday,
Lieutenant DeanO. PaymasteT H0Xsey, j. n. Wet
more and Ship-Writer Doyle, Of the supply, ap-
peaTed lu court much to the deli glt OF Williams.
Mr.. NJ rritt was recalled for crOss-eXamlnatiOn.
The testimony brought out no new facts, and an
! adjournment was taken until to-day.