The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-07
CONVICTED OF BLACKMAIL.
LAWYER EICHLER HELD GUILTY OF
DRUGGIST DoEPFNER,S CHARGE.

DRUGGIST DoEPFNER'S CHARGE.
The Jury Convinced that he Attempted 10
Extort Money-Littie Ella Meyer Testi-
ne. 10 the Truth or Her Fathers Accu.
sntion Against Druggist Doepfher.
Lawyers filed the General Sessions yester-
day at the resumption OF the trial OF LAWYER
John Eichlcr OF 113 ST. Marks place. 40
cused OF Matchmaking Druggist Otto Doepf-
ner Of o37 Third avenue. by demanding money
in lieu OF prosecution for an alleged assault
committed By Doepfner upon Ella Meyer. a
child OF six. Eicher has been a reputable
practitioner. principally as conveyancer Of
real estate. for twelve years. and this was the
first time lawyer was over tried In this county
for blackmail
Senator George +. Roesch and William p.
Mitchell. former Excise Commissioner. testi-
fed to the excellence Of Eichler's character.
and Mr.. Howe then called Eichler to the stand
In his own behalf He Is medium. sized.
looking young German. wearing
gold spectacles. He Is married. and his young
wife and her relatives sat In the enclosure for
women Witnesses
Eichler testified that early In April George
Meyer was introduced to him BY . friend.
Meyer told him that his child. Ella. had been
assaulted by Doepfner. She attended kin
dergarten In Fiity-ninth street, and passed
Doepfner's store on her way home. Meyer
said that Doepfner invited the child into tho
store and then enticed her into the room be-
hind the store. Doepfner gave her candles
and pennies Eiohler believed Meyers story.
and told Meyer to bring the child to his oface.
He questioned her. and she repeated the story
told by her father. Meyer requested Eichler
to begin civil suit for $4,000 damages. and
to proceed against Doepfner criminally. and
he directed his managing clerk. Henry ].
Goldsmith. to write tho alleged blackmailing
letter to Doepfner. It was his intent to have
Doepfner call so that he could satisfy himself
whether Meyers charge was true.
Whom Doepfner called that evening he in
troduced Lawyer Willis as his counsel and not
as his friend. as Doepfner had testified.
Doepfner asked whether tho case could not be
settled for money. and Eichler said that 1t
could not. Then both Mr.. Willis and Mr..
Doepfner asked him whether such settle
ment for money could not be made. He lost
his patience and told them sharply that 1t
could not be. Then Willis and Doepfner went
away.
In cross-examination. Assistant District At
torney Weeks produced thSlecord In the civil
suit. which was recently dismissed. and
served upon Willis. Doepfners counsel in the
suit. but bill Of particulars. Eichler said that
he had had no recollection OF them. He had a
very limited knowledge Of the criminal law.
He heard last fail that Goldsmith. his man
aging clerk. was practising criminal law. This
was one Of the reasons why Goldsmith left his
Goldsmith. who. since April. 1891. has been
o member OF the bar. was the next witness.
He is % years old but he Is 50 youthful in ar-
Il ho
he drew the, papers in the ,.iyiis .oit against
10 al h % hts time
,SeNsif ae%ssis,ded Mr. Weeks; =, It not
to your You daily in ths
court, as criminal lawyer. defending clients9"
% %seFs tho
gro%nd thst your answer would tend to de-
II 90" said Lawyer Goldsmith.
Goldsmith had put his declination upon a
But Mr. WeeEs the @nSee SooH
from the clerks desk and examined it. and
H. sed That
he n9r Eichler had received fees in these cases.
face. She was dressed in red.striped frock
judge a to hss
whether she was competent Witness Sho
hn he Eh her to tes2
saulted her In the back room Of his drug
In cross-examination Ella said that she at
tended a kindergarten maintained by tho
Young Peoples City Mission. in Fifty-ninth
street, and that she WAS very fond OF the
berea that one day In June last Miss HoFeis
soa Ella the SaS
her hand after she had heard the story. and
asked permiss to speak to Miss Horeis
after school was dismi ssed. She did have
talk with Miss Horeis after school. but In that
conversation she did not tell Miss Horels that
about II druggist that she did not know. and
that her father and mother had persuaded her
to max up the story against Doepfner.
Then Mr.. Howe rested the case for the de-
fence. In rebuttal Mr. Weeks recalled Drug
Glst Doepfner. With very red face and shift;
Mr.. Weeks, to be very calm. He kept his prom
tse. and his voice was studiously meek. He
said that there was not one word Of truth In
Ella Movers story about him. The PROPOSE
tlon as to the settlement OF the case for
money. In tho interview with Eichler. came
from Eichler; LAWYER Willis. being recalled.
'pss to ss Ws
questioned In regard to her conversation with
Ella Meyer. hut Mr.. Howe objected and she
was not permitted to testify.
Tho Jury elaborated for an hour Then they
convicted Eichler. recommending him to the
and s9bbing crowded about him. Judge Fitz-
sentence, Under the conviction he may be
sentenced to State prison for five years.