New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-10
THE COURTS.
HOW sLoAT WAS TAKEN TO HARRIS ISLAND.
r.urs p. ROBERTS TEsTIFIEs THAT sLoAr "AS
AT THE TIME

HOW sLOAT WAS TAKEN TO HARRIS ISLAND.
JAMrs r. ROBERTS TEsTIFIEs THAT sLoAr "AS
DRUNK AT THE TIME.
James T. Roberts, the former clerk IN Dis'
Attorney McKeon's Office, against whom, III Gull
iuurton with Distfct-Attorney McKeon, ConmsSione-
M Charities Thomas s. Brennan and Warden Lawrence
Dunphy OF the Hartssland Worknouse Lewis W. oio"'
has brought suit 100000 for unlawiul ue
ention on narts Island for than four years. had
preliminary examination in the Supreme Court Chan
bers yesterday before Justice Barrett John D. TOWN.
send appeared for Mr.. soat, and Aaron j. Vanderpoe
and Assistant DisirctAttorney Vincent Tor he ueiehu
ants Roberts said that no wished to leave the Guy 10
go to the West Indies and only awaiting etter
from Europe before doing He stated that nc was
called into Mr. McKeons private office on one OCCASION
when the DsrictAttorney showed him an article IN one
OF the morning papers and said that Mr. sloat was dis
grazing him and was a drunkard. Roberts suggested
that Ar sDat should be put In nebrae asylum but
Mr. McKeon objected on the ground that MI oioae
would not give consent to this Subsequently Mr.
McKeon gave the witness SILL and told him to 90 TO the
ST. Omer Hotel and try to persuade Mr. Sloat TO go to
the Island On July 16 1879 Roberts called on Mr. soat
at the 81 Omer hotel at $50 H. M anu tOlu hu tna'
he has arranged for clerkshp for him at the Island
Mr. SOat drunk that the witness led him by The
arm from the hotel lie was there ABOUT one hOr anu
MALI. Tne two went 20 Commissioner Brennans Office,
got two asses aud Mr. slont wrote his name on piece
ducod Mr.. SOat " the CLERK spoke TO you about
+.
wish 10 90 The witness took MIN to liquor store III
TWEEN y-siXt st. gOt three or iOnr drinks, and ned
flask when he had for Mr. sOats benefit" Mr. sloat
was inanifestly drunk" ON the way mp Mr. sluat
was ana the witness gave him liquor from the
flask. On reaching Harris Island Roberts introduced
Mr.. 5oat TO Warden Dunphy, excused himself on the
plea or looking the island aud returned 70 NeT-10r,
when BIZ iold Mr. McKe0n the next morning what had
hu ppened.
Alter that time, Roberts continued, Warden Dunphy
had said him three tour times that he (Dunphy) had
intercepted and destroyed letters evidently written by
MIR. soat his relatives IN Chester. n. j., and 10
certain lawyers in this city; that these had been given
to Dunphy 10y Mr. Sloat for mailing and that Dunphy
had said to the winess Any letters which think OF
importance you Mr. MckeOn and directed to other
people, giil inclOse 10 Yourself" When the witness
went to the ~ Omer Hotel Mr. McKeOn had told him to
use every endeavOr 10 get Mr. Sl0a to the Island
lie had had conversation with Mr.. MckeOn regarding
property belonging Mr.. SlOat which affected the in
terests OF Mcheon. Mr. SOats sister. week be-
fore the witness took Mr. slOat to Harris Island, Mr.
McKeon said the father OF Mr. sloat had died and
had left property to Lewis w. and John Drake Soat r
aud to Jeannette T. McKeon, the DisTict-AttOrneys
wife; that John J. Sloat. IT, had died and he'd used up
much OF the property through extravaganza and that
Lewis W. had diminished his patrim0ny through his
drinking habits
The letters which had passed through Roberss hands,
written by Mr.. slOat, identified by the witness
The will go on o-day at D. III.