Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-11

AN ITALIAN MATCHMAKER CHARGED WITH
CHALLENGING AN EX-ENGLISH SEA CAPTAIN
THE ITALIAN AND HIS TWO FRIENDS AR
RESTED.
Benedette Constantine, an italian, who is a
matchmaker employed in Galt's jewelry store,
and two of his friends, Ross Peyton and Gus
tave Broche, appeared at the Police Court this
morning in obedience to warrants served on
them yesterday, charging Constantine with
sending and Peyton and Broche with bearing
hostile message. The complainant was Capt.
James A. Powlett, formerly an English sea cap
tain. Capt. Powlett is the inventor of pneu-
matte gun carriage, to test which an appropria-
tion was made by Congress at it's last session.
Powlett it Is said by Constantini's friends,
asked the latter's opinion of the invention, and
used. they say, abusive and insulting language
towards Constantine. Constantine thereupOn
wrote a note to Powlett, demanding an apology,
but the latter paid no attention to it. Upon Sat
urday CoEstantni wrote POwlett as follows:
1.-TWO weeks ago to-day addressed to you an
open note concerning an unprovoked and gra-
tuitOus attack upon me at Greason'S saloon. AS
you failed to comply with my legitimate re-
quest uphold you as the King of pusillanimty,
coward Of the first first water a and everything but
trusted to BrOche, who could not find Powlett.
subsequently 1t was transferred to Peyton, who
succeeded in finding Powlett at the Greason
house. Powlett, however, refused to receive
any message from Constantine. Saturday night
Pcwlett swore out warrants before Justice Mills
instant "sent or caused to be sent to him, the
said James A. Powlett a person in the District
of Columbia, a challenge to fight a duel" and
charging PeytOn and Broche with carrying or
bearing "from one Constantine and attempting
to deliver to him a challenge to fight or engage
in duel" These warrants having been served
upon the accused parties they gave their per-
sonal bonds for appearance in court.
CAPT. PowLErT's STATEMENT. ~
Capt Powlett this morning made the follow
ing statement of the case to Assistant District
Attorney Thomas: "On or about the goth day
of April, 1885, in the morning about 10 or IL
O'Clock, while stopping at the Greason house.
came down stairs, and Mr. John Greason showed
me a note which he said had been left by q
1 read the note, which was addressed to me,
and 1t stated, as near as can remember, that,
'having received gross insult, &C., demand
satisfaction, and demand an early response to
the note through my representative and some
thing about naming time and place. under
seoed e Se ad anS d1e dwa;
down on the counter, and have not seen it
since. thought at the time it was joke, and
afterwards found out it was serious matter. I
paid no more attention to it then. went north
on business, and was gone tour or five days. 1
was back in Washington for a week, when Mr..
George Grcason told me that Gustave Broche
had been around to see me with another chal-
lenge from Constantine. his was in the fore
heard that he had presented himself three
times to deliver this missive, but I was
nas hssf masn 10 mr ms Ross He RytSn tod
he had challenge from Mr.. Constantini de- de-
manding satisfaction tor certain insults to him.
would not receive it. 1 used some strong
language, and told him l did not want any
thing to do with him or his crowd With that
that he, as a representative Of Constantine,
would demand satisfaction himself With that
Mr.. George Greason told him if he did go out he
would come there and put him out. l went
away and sat down in a chair. Then Broche,
Constantini, and Peyton collected out on the
sidewalk, and I heard that they had made
OTHER srATEMENrs.
Mr.. George Greason made statement to Mr.
Thomas corroborating this of Capt. Powlett's.
The note brought. to the house by Peyton
Saturday was read by Mr. GreaSon, and was
the one printed above.
Frank I. Comnagere made statement that
he heard Powlett tell Peyton that he did not
told Peyton to go to h with it. Peyton said
no gentleman would refuse challenge. Pow
lett asked Peyton what business it was of his,
and Peyton said he would make it his business,
and insisted on an answer to his message
Powlett walked Oft then and Greason put Pey-
John w. Murray, who was at the Greason
house Saturday, also made statement as to
Peyton's visit there.
Powlett ridicules the idea of receiving chal-
lenge from Constantine saying that he does
not associate with him. Constantine and his
friends say the language applied by Powlett to
Constantine and his friends waited on the
street in front of the Police Court this morning
for the case to be called. Capt. Powlett sat in
the clerks office, where he was sheltered by the
@gis of the law.
HELD TO BAIL TO APPEAR NEXT THURSDAY.
The case was called to the attention of Judge
Smell this morning by Assistant District Attor-
ney Thomas, who asked that bail be fixed at
5000; but on account of the responsibility of the
defendants the court accepted their personal
recognizance in the sum of $500 each for their
appearance on next Thursday, ind keep the
peace meanwhile.
GEN. GRANTS CoNDITIoN.-The consultation
OF doctors yesterday found Gen. Grants general
condition improved, but the cancerous spots
were unchanged. DIR. Basker sails for Europe
this week, and this was his last consultation be-
fore going. When about to leave he bid the
general goodbye, and said: t.Wh come back
In the autumn shall expect to find your lite
rary work finished to your satisfaction" sYOu
don't expect to nnd me, though, do your" said
the general. ~ shall hope 80, anyhow" re.
sponded DR.. Barker, as he went away. General
Grant walked q block further than usual yes
terday: He intends hereafter 70 take Q morn
mo- nd nfr,o yxyn1k