The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-25
DIN. LhKERsoy AcouIr1Ep.
He Called Anthony Comstoch n RIneL rnaiIs'
and Mna Tried for Trench of the Pence.

NaN NN"H AENN" hEFhNA w u = N"NNs
ALBANY, March 24.-No trouble was expe-
rlenced this afternoon In securing a jury In tho
Court OF Special Sessions here to try the case OF
DR.. Montague r.. G.evcrson NJ Port Richmond.
3. l., charged with breach Of the peace. Anthony
Comstock, tho complainant, was on hand when
the court took up the case shortly after midday.
Three witnesses were sworn previous TO the re-
cess taken FOR dinner. They were tho officer
who made the arrest and two railroad employees.
They detailed the story Of the occurrence IN the
depot as already published, describing how.
when n crowd had collected, nr. Leversou had
branded Comstock ms the notorious black
mailer. Anthony Comstock. who had never
earned an honest dollar In his life"
After recess Dr. I,everson was the first witness
called. lie depicted the scene at thedeppt. His
version OF the occurrence did not materially
differ from COmatock's. except that he denied
having jumped upon II seat In the waiting room
and created n disturbance. lie says lie did not
denOunco COmstock loudly ns n black mailer
until after the policeman had taken him In CTS
tody. He had called him n blackmniler, but in
an ordinary tone OF voice. and had requested
him to move on.
The Doctors statement of tho CAGE was borne
out by the testimony OF DR.. Edward b. foote,
Jr., Of New York and Henry Il. Hawley of Al
bany, who were the next witnesses called,
Henry George or New York testified that he
had known Dr. Leycrson for nineteen years.
lie pronounced him an honest. honorable. truth
full, and peaceAble man, and the lust man who
would provoke 4 breach OF the peace,
Thoma, G. Wilson, connected with a New
York Uw spa per. testified that COinStock's repu-
tatiou was bad. Asked where ho got his infor-
nation, he said from club men, newspaper men,
and pu tlic men that he had met.
Edward w. Chamberlain, a New York lawyer,
testified that all he ever had heard of ComstOck
from prominent men he had met and from law
yers showed that his reputation was bad. lie
would not believe him under oath.
Mr.. CUmstuCk then took the stand. Nothing
in particular was brought out oh the direct ex-
animation. Ex-District Attorney James W.
Eaton. counsel for DR.. Lcverson. took him in
hand and tried to prove. by running through
numerous incidents connected with his career,
thut he had not always been what he pretended
to he. He tried to get him to admit that his
picture was in the " Rogurs' Gallery" at his old
home in summit. y. j.. that he had abused n
boy for annoying him by striking him with II
cane, &c. All of these accusations Coinstock
denied. humorous questions, based on news
paper clippings affecting toinstock's character,
were put to him. He denied everything against
him. Altogether the crOss-examination was
very racy.
The Rev. DR.. Mears of Albany took tho stand
and swOre that he bad known COnstock for tf-
teen years. and that his character was good. He
WAS an honorable man.
Edwin W. Booth. Secretary OF the Albany V.
W. G. A.. and w. O.. Hitchcock. Nice-President
OF Comstock's society. testified to about the
same thing. They considered Comstock's char
aCter above repruach.
up. Mr.. Eaton in his address roundly de-
nuunced Comstock. He said the only thing he
was sorry Tor was that his client. instead of
talking to Comstock. had not Knocked him
down.
Assistant District Attorney Cook followed,
AMI the case was then given to the jury.
The Jury tonight returned n verdict of not
guilty. and DIR. l.e'erson was discharged.