The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-11-05
A Tragedy at the New York Custom
House.
Especial to the Pittsburg Post.

NEW YORK, November 1.-The SEN
satiOn OF To day was the shooting OF
c,,-,','s"r i,,,,-.'ss" B=atlle, of the Port OF New
York, about noon, at MS I11sEk IN The
Custom House. The excitement peTva-
ded the business community as deeply
as it agiraJed the employees of
the Custom House.
The madman who essayed the assassi
nation is Louis BieTal, person who
gained some distinction IN the war of
the rebellion. He was for about a dozen
years attached TO the Custom Horse
4 bout a week ago the Surveyor dismiss
ed him from the service, it being proven
that he was in the habit of exacting
money from the poor emigrants at Castle
Garden, where be was lately stationed.
The specific charge on which he was
removed was compelling an emlgTaut to
pay y duty on a sewing machine. He
came TO Tie office about noon to-day and
gained entrance 10 The Surveyors private
office The back OF the building front
ing on South William street. At y. 30
O'Clock the reports OF the pistol shots
were heard by Private Secretary Louis
~ icbOls aud Examiner Thomas HvaJt.
The discharged Inspector rushed in
stantly out OF The private office, pIs. oil 10
utbu. anu IdlA through lub COlIluOI 10
the exit on Hanover street. a man at
tempted to stop him, and he yelled IF
you touch me. III xii yuu.n The man
Stepped back. and BIeral ran along 10
Beaver street. INTO which he turned and
ran to the Cotton Exchange. y numb
of citizens followed him. Finding escape
impossible, the man turned add ran into
the arms of policeman. He was ITem-
bling with fear, and seemed 10 anticipate
that his pursueT5 would harm him. He
said TO The policeman, For God S sake
arrest me- He was taken TO the Old
SIP staJIUu house auu locked up. He
described himself as being seyeuty-twO
years old, ua. i've of Brazil, married
and living al No. S59 SIX b apsuue.
Meanwhile his VIC I'm was being cared
for. The news oil the aUUU, lug. greatly
exaggerated, spread rapidly. A large
stIlIa,. -. -. .s'.Ice had al IatY could do Ia
keep the corridors clear. Large crowds
Of ANXIOUS InquITsTS suTgsd around the
doors. Surgeon BeatCIe, who is attached
TO tue CIsLOm House. was promptly Oh
hand. After examination he concluded
that the wounds were not of a dangerous
character. Que bullet passed through
the palm OF The right hand ard a second
penetrated The thigh. So far as a huT-
TIed examination could disclose the
latter bullet took downward course
aud lodged ID the muscles of the upper
part of the leg.
Surveyor Beattie remained cOnsc Gus
anu endured the pain with great fOrIi-
tude. He spoke calmly TO those who
were admitted 10 the room, and made
close inquiries of his medical attendant
as TO the nature OF his injuries, The
fact that he was not mortalIy wounded
and had not received five bullet wounds
as was at first reported, was speedily
communicated TO the surglng crowd IN
waiting, and relieved their anxiety in a
marked manner.
Coroner Levy took the statement of
Surveyor BeaJtie this afternoon. He
said the prisoner was removed from his
post of INSPECTOR on his Recommendation
As h5 had illegally taken money from an
immigrant gIrl. The surveyor was sit
ting a. his desk when his door was
thrown open, and the prisoner entered,
with a pistol in his hand, exclaimIug,
NOW, by God, III teach you -
He fired three shots, two of which
took fleet, one through the feshy part
OF the hand, and the Other struck the
cres, OF the iIium, gianciug IN an Inward
and upward direction. This ball has
not yet been extracted.
Tue prisoner was subsequently, taken
to the Tumbs Police Court, when be
confessed TO Justice Murray having fired
.he sdOt, and said he did 1t because
Bsattie had discharged him without any
cause.
He was born in Valparaiso, in 1914,
and came TO this country at fourteen
years of age. When twenty-five years
of age, he enlisted on the trigaJe Colum
bIa, tor three years cruise around the
world, during which be assisted IN burn
ing three Chinese towns, for firing on
American SHIPS. He next speculated il
horses, and accumulated considerable
money, and went TO California in 1859
where be added TO his wealth He was
in the first California Regiment in the
war of the rebellion. and al the battle of
Balls Bluff rescued Col. Bakers body
and killed his slayer For this he was
given a medal. and pension of $50 per
month. He had been in the Custom
House twenty-five years, receiving his
first appointment through Generals Han
cock and SIckles.
He denies the charge Of taking g from
an immigrant girl, and SAYS that after
shooting The Surveyor, be turned the
pis'u! on himself, but wss so nervous
that he bullet went through lis hat
He was held TO answer for the shooting.