New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-22
QUICK BROOKLYN JUSTICE.
MIR. SEARI4ES'S ASSALI4ANT IN COURT.
CONVICTED OF ASSAULT ~ TIE FIRST DEGhEE
THE TESTIMONY.

THE TESTIMONY.
The trial OF Charles c. Carpenter upon one OF the
indictments growing out of his attempt 70 rob John
Z. Searles jr., the wealthy sugar rcflner. ut the
point OF a pistol early in tie evening OF Tuesday OF
last week. No $40 ST. Marksave. took place In the
Court Of Sessions yesterday. Three indictments were
found against him aud he pleaded guilty to the one
charging him with attempted robbery He was also
lndilt for assault in the first degree upon M Seares
and for a like offence against Winthrop " Tuttlc SON
In law OF Mr.. starcS. IL was upon inc lhst VI
these that he tried.
There delay In bringing him TO justice
jury speedli, found Yesterday morning. ana AS
sstant District Attorney shorter briefly outlined the
case, and tier called Mr. Searcs as the first witness
Mr. seares calmly cctned the circumstances OF the
assault telling how he and his family were sitting III
the drawing room on the night Of June IA. having been
driven from the piazza by the shower Suddenly he
was startled BY hearing footsteps In the hall. ana
going thithcr confronted two men, one Of whom
said
Are YOU the proprietor" lie replied by asking;
"what is your business - and the intruder re-
spouded
your money is my business and presented the
muzzle OF revolver TO him. Mr. searles
instantly grappied the nan. who was Carpen-
ter. and he did 50 the revolver
was fired the bullet narrowly missing him. MIR.
futile and Mr. sands. who were in tho drawing
room, Immediately sprang to his aid. and they got
Carpenter down. As he lay the foo Carpenter
fired again and shot himself In the finger.
Mr. Searles was not crossexamincd by the counsel
assigned TO the prisoner but Carpenter exercised the
privilege Of questioning the witness himself 1t was
dramatic when the haicbctfaced prisoner rose
and confronted the cool Of business and tried to
make him admit that when they were 40 close together
and he had his pistol In direct line with the BODY OF
Mr.. Searles he could not have missed him ~ he had
desired to hit him. But the witness would not admit
1t, saying:
You probably would have hit me II had not
moved as quickly as did
The prisoner complained that the witness was
evasive. but the court senccd him and told him to
put only direct questions. cutting short his ong ram
bling. supposttious
Mr.. futile testified that he trying to get the
revolver from Carpenter and that it was pointed
In IDS direction when II fired the second time and
wounded Carpenter himself lie was cross-eXamined
by the counsel assigned to the prisoner
Charles @. Sands gave evidence TO the same effect
a. that OF Mr. Tnttle then the prisoner took the
stand. He refused to be sworn bat finally affirmed
Cooy and without any apparent perception OF the
enormity OF his actions he proceeded to detail how he
and his confederate planned 20 commit n robbery on
the night in question. They were both armed ana no
took the shortest revolver to be ready to use 1t
ut short range They made inquiries in regard 10 the
men living in that part of the city and fonnd out
who lived at No. $40. Taking advantage OF
the shower, when people would be indoors. and
relying upon their rcv0vcrs to ntindac any enc ti'S
might meet TO give up watches and money, they
boldly entered the house OF Mr. searles. When con-
fronted by Mr.. Searles, Carpenter said lie demanded
his money and grabbed for his watch but Mr. searles
started grapple with him. and he failed to terorze
him. Carpenter asserted that he could not have missed
Mr. SearIes unless he had wanted TO- His companion
ram away and several jumped on him and he
fI/d the second shot they got him down. thinking
to terrorze them lie declared that he did not fire 1t
at any one.
The witness could not tell why he loaded his re
volver with DULLES IL he meant 10 fire 1t only 10
brighton people and not TO kill lie could not explain
the possession Of burglars tools found oh him, except
TO say that he had started out upon robbng eXpe-
ditioh. The burglars tools would not have been ad-
United in evidence had not Carpenter in his eager
ness to get In a denial that lie had brass knuckes in
his possession questioned Policeman MCGOWAN about
them when MCGOWAN was testifying 10 the arrest
All TINT found In his possession were chisc aud
piece of a candle.
After the counsel assigned TO the prisoner had made
his plea and the Assistant Distrct-Nt0rney had
summed up, Judge Moore charged the jury that they
were dealing with bold and INSCRIPTIONS eelfcon
tossed criminal who had told remarkable story Of
crime on the witness stand. He said hc could be
Tho Jury returned n verdict In AZ hour. finding Car
penter guilty indicted. The charge OF assault upon
Mr.. Searles will be tried but upon the other Two
indictments the prisoner be sent 10 state Prison for
twenty years. The sentence Will be pronounced on
Friday.