New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE BLUNpER OF TWO DETECTIVES.

THE REV. ETHAN CURTIS STATES THE CIRCuM-
STANCES LEADING TO HIS ARREST IN NEw-YoRk.
To the Edttor Of The Trtbune.
SIR In YOUR issue of Tuesday was an item
with this heading: "A Clergyman Arrested by MIS-
take" 1t is due TO myself as the unfortunate victim 70
state and TO the public know, all about this trahsac
ton After six mouths constant labor in my parish
sought change by spending Easter in New OK
and Brooklyn attended services at Trinity on Sunday
morning and after the sermon passed Immediately ou'
into the church yard aud there, standing
anort from the tide OF people nOwins
ont Of the church DOORS watched for friend hao
msad this friends address, had no idea where sue was
soppng and so was DESTROYS OF meeting her Many per-
sons remained In the church to view the mowers OF W
partake Of the Lords supper and thought my ireno
might be among them / suppose waited In all about
three-quarters OF an hour
People were coming and going to see the MOWERS
Twice at intervals l. TOO. stepped quietly WITHIN tine
churcbdoors for the same purpose. had promised 10
write an account OF the service TOT tne
home newspaper and felt that the vie"
had been able to obtain OF the flowers
was very DOOR, The first time stayed only minute as
saw that could them any better than fornlery
The second time I went further In and forward ana
might have remained for I'VE minutes tnen
gave nm the search and started for home.
passed up Broadway three or four blocks and then
asked a policeman which FutOn-st., and he pointed
TO the street opposite Ny mind had been following
SOME train OF thought coming up from the cnurch anu
resumed crossed the street, so that notlceu t'e
except where was stepping. All at once twomen stood
before me and said that could go no further ana oeean
TO attempt to turn about The surprise and SHOCK
were very great At first thought must be dreaming;
then that about to be robbed In open DAY: just
then policeman rushed up ana salo that "ue' eo
with those men so went with them, ...s ann
After proceeding few rods the deceive sn tan
along I'll boot him." II was some time before could
understand what 1 was arrested for. Aswe passed
aT 3S y vos take in much at Trinity p Looking him
in the eye. replied know nothing OF wnat you sse
saving sir" soon reached the station, wnsre was
able IN brief time to show who was and why TAR,
red church after the sermon The deecve az one
withdrew the charge wanted to shake nahds WIN v,
and assured that lie had done me no injury
were hurt my pride As passed out OF sne bat
he promised, and the officer In charge asseheea, na'
nothing should appear in print in regard to the mater
From tue time was stopped on my way nome sin
started again 1 suppose IL might have Deeh twenty
minutes. .,..,,o. rro,,d
been impossible to anyone who had wacncg ond
closely All hut about six minutes OF the time s0on
apart from everybody at m leet w the tips OF
nv The frat time went INTO churcn l s,np ply
looked in and the second time my hands were IN ny
own pockets Then was where any movement OF mine
could be from several directions: . ou, ,ho NJ,
In an interview reported In one OF the plpers n OF
ncer saws that / hal a large Overcoa and munsr,
which took of and put several times as nO'eu m
| these statements exactly true they will have to be
changed considerably The large overcoat Will have 10
IA
muller Will have to be replaced by hin SIX neck
kerchef such gentlemen wear inside ther coats anu
the uprade in the church aisle took place. LOT
was never I'm an aisle Of Trinity Church In my is Inc
first time went In the flowers did not remove
NV ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and probably did remove II tDe
second time may have taken 1t of and put IT on TWO
or three times In the open air as moved from tue snauo
| into the sunshine and vice versa. . - ,.
This red handkerchief was really the strong point
| AGAINST me- At the statiOn-house was
! toll that man who should take on that
red handkerchief and put It OIL again. as dId wonlo
excite suspiclon anywhere Ii Ia said that Ous become
furious at the sight OF red clothing, but didn't Know
before that New-York detective would But seriously,
isn't Il about time ask whether gentleman may wear
even red handkerchief in the streets Of New YORK anu
take II of and put his physical comfort ana wen.
hrinp snail demand without being IN danger OF arrest
there or have been called an eccentric mhi'
and ought to know what BETTING tue House Oh nou
lave NOT the least cOnsc0usneSs OF wrDng-lolns at
TRINITY Church last Sunday From the foregoing Iacts
the public can Judge well as |, whether me aries'
WIS called for or was an OUTRAGE peaeeaDle cuZeh'
| Camden, n L.. March 81, 1888. ETHAN COhIl'