The sun., 1903-12-26
SICK MAN DRAGGED TO A CELL.
WILLIAM L.. GODFREI. "a y MANI
FiC7t RER, DIES or .APOPLEXY.
Assisted From Car TO Sittewal III by a Woman
VINO OWNED That lie WAS sick. and
Then Arrested by Policeman Ninl.
hanI--Said Never TO Have Drunk Liquor

Tnen .ATreStcu u! POIlceIllan WUis
hany--Said Never TO Have Drunk Liquor
William l.. Godfrey, wealthy retired
gun manufacturer. Of iiT Monroe street,
Brooklyn, failed to appear in the police
court yesterday for arraignment on a
charge of intoXication entered against
him by Policeman Michael j. Mulhany
of the Classen avenue station.
The reason for his failure TO respond
to the charge was that he died at o o clock
Christmas morning, after having been
unconscious since within two hours
Of the time on Thursday afternoon when
ne was picked up by the policeman and
arrested as drunk.
Two physicians, one Of whom. DIR. Albert
f. Mucklow of 800 Sumner avenue, had
been in attendance on Nh Godfrey for the
last eight months, were with him all night
between Thursday and Friday. lmne-
diatey after the death, they issued GER
tificate declaring it to have been caused
by stroke of apoplexy. The family Of
the dead man are preparing to see that
whoever blundered shall be properly pun
ished.
Mr.. Godfrey had been sufferer from
apopexy for nearly year and was sub
iect to frequent attacks. As rule, he
never left his home without being attended
by a servant or some member of his family.
He felt exceptionally we'll on Thursday,
however, and thought that it would be
safe for him to 60 downtown alone for
some Christmas shopping.
About O'Clock that afternoon he was on
his way home in Dehalb avenue car.
At the corner of Classon avenue he called
on the conductor to stop the car so that he
could get ont.
Mr.. Godfrey had hardly reached tho
street when he began to stagger as if
seized with an attack of vertigo, A young
woman noticed him and assisted him to
the sidewalk, divining that he was sick.
just at that moment Policeman Mulhany
came along.
Il guess that old fellow has got jag
on" he is reported to have said. adding:
Il guess he'd better come with me-"
Mr.. Godfrey was then already unable
to speak beyond giving his name and address
in whisper. He was taken by the police
man to the Classon avenue station near by
and was locked up in a cell. A charge of
intoxication was entered against his name
on the blotter,
In some way word of what had happened
reached his family and several members
drove around to the station at once. When
they reached the station the sergeant on
duty replied that the prisoner was too
drunk to be taken out. After listening
for a while to the indignant protestations
of Mr. Godfrey's relatives, who told him
that the alleged drunken man never tasted
a drop Of liquor of any kind, the sergeant
changed his mind SO far az to declare him
self willing to accept bail in the sum Of
81 900.
Capt Thomas Maud, who is in command
of the precinct, reached the station about
that time. He reproved the sergeant
for demanding more than 5000 bail but
refused to release Mr.. Godfrey without
bail. The security was then given. Mr..
Godfrey was still partly conscious but
could not sign his name to the bond. He
was assisted to the waiting carriage, which
he had hardly reached before he lapssd
into unconscousness. From this he never
recovered.
Dr. Mucklow was summoned as soon as
the sick man had been put to bed in his
home. The physician Immediately called
in a colleague for consultation. The two
doctors worked over Mr.. Godfrey all night
hut We're unable to save his life or even
to restore him to consciousness.
DR.. Mucklow said yesterday that he felt
positively sure that Mr.. Godfrey had not
been drinking on Thursday, and that the
attack ending with his death was brought
on in the natural course of the disease
without any aid of stimulants.
Il have been treating Mr.. Godfrey for
eight months" he said "and know that
during that entire period he never tasted
strong liquors Of any kind. There is not
the slightest reason to suppose that he sud-
denly changed his habits last Thursday.
The widow of the dead man. repeated
the statement made by the physician,
adding:
My husband probably felt that one of
his attacks was coming on and did not
want to be taken sick in the car. That was
the reason, am sure, why he got out at
Classon avenue.
The accusations of the police are abom-
Unable and have not the least basis" Mr..
Godfrey's place Of business was at Duane
street and Broadway up till five years ago,
when i'll health compelled him to retire.