New-York tribune., 1900-09-03
DEVERY ACCUSED OF PLOT.
DR.. WILLIAMS THINKS HE KNOWS ALL
ABOUT THE ASSAULT

FRIENDS of Thomas F Smith, private secretary to
hlcHaro Croker. and who shares with Councilman
r. rI'Ik = Goodwin the distinction of being the
1-lilldny Democratic leader OF the IXth Assembly
A-SI1leI. were exceedingly angry yesterday over
the accusation brought against Nj Smith by Dr.
hamilton Williams, physician to Coroner yucca
AS told in The Tribune yesterday Dr. Williams
aho his friend Il. J. Topper were assaulted by two
ruIllans on Saturday night, the circumstances
with it.
Dr Williams big broad shouldered man,
on his way home from Cross's saloon. in Eighth
ave between Thirteenth and Fourteenth SITS. with
Mr.. Topper They had just passed the corner Of
Fourteenth-st. and Eighth-ave., and were in front
or small tailor shop, when they were set upon
suddenly by two men with black1acks. who knocked
Topper senseless. DR.. Williams escaped with the
loss of a front tooth the weapon used by his
sailant not striking him fairly.
In his statement for publication Saturday
night Dr. Williams said:
The day after the primaries was in the office Of
both Of Us ame h wfh e sad nan hS %hf be IS was S TO TO
see me, and added that he had come 70 warn me
talk was an bosh. but he recalled the way in which
other day heard two men belonging to the Good
WLln-smlth WIN faction talking, and one Of them said
UeveTy could not afford personally TO do Williams
Bevery and Wardman eradY iS ay for Williams
some night as he left his house and put him out Of
F 6iuf threat but my friend replied: Don't YOU be,
hear what they were saying and even if they had
known It they dld not know that was friend Of
TO Tn5n g did s 1n & PAID d no sttent0P Oq to the the
assaulted
WOMAN SAW THE AssAILANTs RUN.
Mr Topper received a terrific blow on the left
Jaw that broke piece off of an eye tooth which
was knocked against another tooth. He at his
home, the third floor of No. 24s West Four
teenth-st-, yesterday afternoon when a Tribune
was iy
left side, and there was black and blue spot as
large as two fingers along the side OF his face,
where the blow landed. Mr.. Topper said of the
assault
me ho9ht s S9sVf %5 WhdV 5 Of Of nv 0gd aF and and t h
only thing I remember about the assault the
ave Of the men who struck US our assaiants
must have been standing close to the front
the southeast corner Of EigRth-ave in Fourteenth
would not have attracted attention DR.. Williams
ana ] mad been IN cross. saloon In Fig, Eighth-ave;
WFere each OF US had a gin rckey That was all
the drinking we did and sober men
know have no % eneniea who Void a go to the IS s
treme Of assailing me with club. I think that
Wunams's son. don't expect TO get out for sew
eral days.
Rose De Luca, whose husband. John. keeps the
fruit stand at the corner where the trouble took
place, saw the assault. She says the men who did
the work short and pointed to her father. an
undersized man, about their build. She says
each man struck one blow at the Doctor and Mr.
Topper and then ran down Eighth-ave. She says
the affair done in the twinkling of an eye
She thinks she might be able to Identify the men.
No one ran after them.
Frank J. Goodwin refused to discuss the matter
Il know nothing OF the thing" he said land
see no reason why should talk about Il"
Thomas F. Smith. Richard Crokers secretarv
who is accused by Dr. Williams of being a party to
the conspiracy against him. said last night that he
knew nothing Of the affair and that II Dr. Williams
was assaulted it was because the doctor is pug
nacious man who is constantly making enemies
and that the assault was the sequel Of an ordinary
quarrel Chief Devery IS at Far Rockaway and
could not be seen.
DR. WILLIAMS ACCUSES DEvERY
Dr.. Williams said last evening in his home at
No. 24S West Fourteenth-st. that he felt certain
that the attack upon him had been ordered by
Devery. He added:
It was significant fact that after was attacked
policeman was seen about the place for an hour ~
apparently 91 the policeman had been told 10 keep
teenth-st- az that hour Any disturbance the
several policemen TO the place in five minutes
Several years ago. when Frank Moss and Super
intendent Gardiner OF the Parkhurst Society were
attacked by thugs in Grand-st-, near the Eldridge
ance Devery was then the captain Of police at the
EldrIdge-sL station, and think il could have been
and Gardiner.
a week ago Yesterday received information that
Richard Croker had ordered the Coroners TO hold
meeting and prefer charges against me. I sent
10 the newspapers z letter defying Mr.. Croker TO
do his worst That stopped the Coroners from
holding the meeting, but IL probably encouraged
Devery TO send thugs after me. I don't suppose
the police viii ever arrest the thugs but shall
not cease to remind Croker and Devery Of the cow
ardly attack upon
This ruffian Devery knows all about II. I cannot
tell what viii be done about IT. Perhaps Il will
result IN an open letter 10 al the political State
conventions l know that hereafter will never go
night the body Of one of the scoundreis YOU'D be
II the Morgue.
Detectives OF the Charles-st station said last
evening that there was no doubt that Dr. Williams
and Mr.: Topper had been assaulted. but they were