New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-06
TROUBLE At THE ENROLMENT.
SILVER DOLLAR SMITH ASSAULTS AN
OPPONENT.
SAMUEL ROBERTS CHALLENGES A FRIEND OF
SMITH AND HAS ONE OF HIS EYES NEARLY
GoUGED OUT BY THE LIQUORsELLER-
THE POLICE WOULD NOT MAKE
AN ARREST

AN ARREST.
Samuel Roberts, a day Inspector IN me custom
House. will probably lose tho sight Of his right eye,
because of an attack which made upon him last
night at the enrolment OF the Republicans In the
With Assembly District, by Charles smith. bet
ter known Dry Dollar" Smith. Mr.. Roberts
has been active in the work of reorganzing this dis
trict and in consequence he was looked upon as an
enemy by the leaders Of the faction led by John j.
O'Brien, one of whose head workers IS Smith.
Tho committee appointed by the Republican County
Committee TO take charge Of the enrolment of the
Republicans OF that district met at No. 125 RvinS
ton-st. at o'clock When the doors leading TO the
hall thrown open large crowd of men
anxious to enroll was on hand. squad OF
nearly fifty policemen under Sergeant Cassy had been
sent there to preserve order. They did 1t In half
hearted way and allowed things TO themselves,
although frequently appealed to by the chairman OF
the committee that there less noise andc oon
fusion The committee had been at work little over
an hour when Henry Vanderwyk, who is an O'Bfen
man. and captain of the Fist Election District Organ
zaton kod to be enrolled lie va, pr5mp IL cha lnged
by lIr Roberts, and angry words followed. smith,
who had also been challenged, but whose name was
taken because there no positive proof that he de-
serted the and County tickets for Hill and Gran
objected in no very decent language to the challenge
Mr. Roberts stood so close to him that their elbows
touched.
"You have no business here" said Smith,
az have but you haven't was Mr.. ROberts's reply
turning his face toward the angry Assemblyman-
Quicker than flash smith Strengthened ont one of his
big thumbs and drove it into Mr. Roberss right eye
nearly forcing 1t from the socket. Blood spur'ed
forth and the injured man fell over on the table,
fairly crying with the intense pain.
Commotion instantly followed. Smith started 10
nm across the hail. apparently to escape but turned
as the chairman Henry Grasse ordered the sergeant
to arrest him, and declared that Inspector Roberts
had stamped on his foot. No one saw 1t done, now
ever. All tho members of the committee and Mr.
Roberts's friends cried out 10 the police TO arrest
smith. The police would not do it, the sergeant in
charge absolutely refusing TO obey the will OF most
of those present Before anything could be done,
o'Bren and his other lieutenant, John <. Brodsky,
col Smith out of the way.
Mr. Roberts's suffering was great, but he did not
dare 10 leave the hail. because of fear that he would DO
set upon by the Assembymans friends, who lined tho
hallway and nearly filled the street in
front. But an officer was finally sent
with him 20 protect him from further assault
When he went away his eye was In an exceedingly
bad condition 1t completely closed and swollen
N the size of a ducks egg, while blood ran nom IL
down his face. -,
This WAS the only disturbance Of consequence, al
though there was good deal of grlmbling because
the committee would not take the names OF tnose VINO
we're not good Republicans. All members OF tho
County Committee that district, delegates TO the
County Convention, captains of election district or
panizatons and those who worked at the polls al inc
last election and gave out Hill and Grant tickets IN
stead of those for Miller and Erhardt, wero not al
Ioel In nut their names the roll Several who ad
mittcd that they had voted other than straight
Republican ticket we're taken but their reasons for
doing so we're in measure satisfactory and they
nromlsed to do so no more. In al! 4Ol names were
recorded and It took the five committeeman three
hours to do this. the rush and crush were so great
Prodsky O'Rricn and dozen more men who were
accused of selling Republican candidates greatly
nterfered with the work OF the committee by insisting
an appearing as counsel for any over
Uhose right 10 enrol there was a
doubt. The enrolment Will be continued tonight ana
to-morrow night az the place. The members OF
the committee were all there, and It consists OF Henry
Grasse, chairman Henry c. Bouy. eNCoroner 'ohn
r. Nugent John Collins and Robert A. GIcacen -.
In the work done last night there was NOT me ieast
attempt at Partially, but on ne o,n"r manu. u'e'0
wac every regard for fairness and Justice. ,,.,
A warrant will probably be obtained ny Mt hOOerls
this morning for the arrest OF his assailant'