New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-29
STRONG PROOF OF INNOCENCE

HUNT AFTER CONSPIRACY.
In the singular case against young cashier Mer-
rift of the Metropolitan Hotel the evidence yester-
day brought out plainly the fact that the coiored
lad. Lemuel Williams, had given the 800
hill nv mistake TO an old colored wash
ervoman. Mrs. Brown, of Green-lane, Brook
lyn. The woman's testimony was gwen WIN
much simplicity and sincerity, and severe cross
examination failed to change her statements. les
timony in confederation of the cashiers story was
given also by Mr.. Stickney, of Washington COM
modore McCool of tine Brooklyn Navy Yard toid
how Mrs Brown brought tue missing bill 10 hiih'
and he produced the note in court. Other witnesses
gave t, stimony and the case was then ADJOURNED
until Friday next for decision
CLOSING SCENES OF A PECULIAR CASE.
The case of the colored sailor Lemuel Will
rams against Cashier Merritt, OF the Metropolitan
Hotel which closed yesterday az far astne evidence
Is concerned has excited much interest from its peculiar
features will be remembered that the coiored COM
pIanant Williams testified that he went into the Metro
politan Hotel between IL and II o'clock at night on
April %, and presented q bill for change men be
clsmed was $50 bill, that the cashier returned MN 81
in change and he raised an oucry, claiming mat
he was being robbed that the cashier insisted hat lhe
bin WAS dollar bill while the complainant persisted in
declaring that 1t was $50 bill, ana claimed tnat
II the cash drawer was opened his bill would be found
therein; that the colored man was then forcbly re-
moved from the hotel 1t was to by the casher
that the oil! presented II bin and not $50 bill
After the complanant's statement had been taken
guest OF the house. Mr. Mills, testified substantially
that lac had witnessed the prOceedings that he dd not
see the bill when given 20 the cashier but saw II when
It was returned by the cashier, ana that he saw Mr.
Merritt when he returning with the change In
silver lie described the confusion that resulted from
aud npuf
hotel. Officer Kelley testified to substantially the
same facts.
Clifton E. A. Merritt, the cashier, testified that the
bill ne received from tue coored man was II bill;
that be first sra ghtened the bal out ON the counter
and saw that II ~ BILL and then put 1t on MS
desk Immediately above the cashdrawer; he then TOOK
from the cash-drawer four quarters, and while
returning TO the counter hand them TO the man. the
latter made great Outcis, and could not be pacne1
He mad chance to talk with him on account OF hiH
witnesses cOrruDUratcd his les
fmuny and late upon saturday afternoon was askeu
by counsel for the accused that an adjournment might
be had until Wednesday, In order that gentleman
named Stickncy, who resided In Washington Dul was
guest the time OF the hotel ana present at the ls
turbance, could be secured witness. The Justice
granted adlOurnment until yesterday al 10 4. M,
with the remark that the longer me case wac aoGTne
the worse It would be Tor the accused man. On satur-
day afternoon Commander X = MgGOoa, OF me UnlleI
that he had the $50 bill in his possession Mrs. Susan
brown q cOlOred washerwOman, had taken IL 10 HIM,
saying W. paq o gf V doing Hs Washing Mrs
Blown had tied the bin in a handkerchief and did not
discover 1t until she TOOK 1t out ON Saturday morning To
fN' SCENES IL The COURT ROOM.
over two hundred persons gathered in the Tombs Po-
lice yesterday morning. to hear the new evidence
iuthe case accommodate the unusual number OF
tators Justice Oerbourg consented to have the hearing
90 on In the Special Sessions Courtroom Every seat in
this room was occupied 10 O'Clock. Among the per-
SONS inside te railing Cashier Merritt and his
cuser, Wams Collector Merritt, who sat near his
nephow's counsel Mr.. Rice and ex-Judge Fithian; Ed
nund Price who appeared tSr Williams wpeRqy col
Commander X. g. McCOok Of the United states Navy
tropoiitan Hotel; and susan Brown, the old colorcd
washerwoman OF Green-lane, Brooklyn. Mrs. Brown
attracted much attention as she sat quietly looking at
the Court and the spectators. she had never been in
courtroom before ana the scene which she gaZed at
t6rongh her brass-rlmmed spectaces seemed TO cause
her great amazement. she was dressed III black and
wore large black Shaker bonnet which half concealed
II was expected by many persons present that Mrs
Browns testimony would speedy ending OF the
6T s iii % a4rS eeh he d
not seem inclined to hear about II at once. He asked
Mr. Rice witness for Mr. Merritt who mad been
expec led arrive from Washington, present., and
Mr. Rice responded by calling william 5. stlckney. Mr.
sfckey testified that he was leaning against the marble
counter In the Office or tho Metropolitan IIo-
lei, on Wednesday night talking with Mr. Mer-
rift about room, when Their conversation was
interrupted by colored boy The lad
stepped up to the counter and asked M Merritt to
change a bin which was erumpled up In his hand Mr.
Merritt took The bill" MI StGkney Continued, and
oDenedlt that the DILL was ri Dill. Mr.. McI-
ritt went to the cash drawer and returned with four
silver quarters The coored boy exclaimed that he had
not to rob him. Mr. sticiney also described the
that followed when the coored boy insisted that the bill
he had given to be changed was $50 bill, aud had
claimed that his $50 bill was in the drawer.
The witness was subjected to rigid erossexamina-
of prosecution but be asserted positively tha he
saw the bill that the complainant presented and that
was a one dollar bill that lie the bin the cashier
brought back and that that was ono dollar bill; and
that he could not swear that II was the same bill
Mr. Rice then called Susan Brown. and she made her
way 10 the witness-sand aud kissed the Bible
entity. she was allowed 70 tell I hST story IN
come TO her on Wednesday morning, and hgd
left some Of his clothing IN her how he had
and d nad paid her as she supposed 81 5o how she had
dropped the money the floor by mistake, had found
chef where It remained until saturday evening On
that evening she went 10 get the money 10 pay her rent
she had received from Williams, and then found that
bill that rolled about the fifty cent piece
the colored complainant had stated that she
was greatly troubled about 1t and at first supposed
some had played trick upon her and given her
bad bin she called an old white woman who was living
her aud they had yersation about IT, and then
Williams having lost $40 bill she went out and ascer
tained that the bill good one, and being
the night patron and friend, Commander McCook
OF the United States Navy, told him the story aud in
Brown further testified tua the morning OF saturday
a strange white man whom she did not know came 10
him what she knew about Williams, and that Williams
had paid her 81 80. sue then supposed and believed
and that I'm the afternoon officer accompanied
by Williams the complainant, and inquired about the
facts that she then told him aud Williams that the
latter paid II 90 that she did not get out her
little money to show 10 OF these people,
did they ask her do that the officer, who turned
ont 10 be Officer Hill, and Williams examined the old
eliot hes but that the 'lsrange While man." who
IN the morning. did not examine them.
Mrs. Browns story was told ~ straightforward
manner. and with such evident sincerity, that n
duced sensation III the courtroom. Inc Justice and
vito the purpose Of shaking her testimony and 10 snow
that size either mistaken in her testimony that
some other person had come there subsequently, and
given her dnydollar bill, but she persisted III her
statements.
CORROBORATING TIE COLoRED WOMANG STORY.
Commander McCock corrOburated the old wOman's