New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-11
PADDEN HIT HIM In EAR
METER MINIS SAD STORY.
Just for Taking Public Document
REGISTER Used Marsh Roughly.

w n Marsh president of the Standard Water
Meter Company, whose machines are being
tested by the Water Registers engineers ran
against the strong arm of the law and Colonei
Michael Clarence Padden. the Water Register
yesterday forenoon in the coioners Office.
Mr. Marsh says that Colonel Padden gave him
rousing bang under the right Colonel
Padden says that he did not strike Mr. Marsh
Some Of the Office employees who We're eyewlt-
nesses Of the encounter and the causes which
led I'D to II said yesterday that Mr. Marsh would
be fortunate IL he got out of his scrape without
being arrested he was charged with at
tempting to abstract from Register Paddens
desk public document His act was detected
by Mr. Padden himself. and there is no doubt
that Mr.. Marsh found himself on the outside OF
the office in short order
Mr. Marsh's story Is as follows:
Some time ago submitted one Of my meters.
known as the Standard. for adoption by the
Water Registers Department. II went to the
engineers and they reported on II to Mr.. Pa a.
den. I went to the office and asked to see the
report. L told by Mr.. Padden that the re-
port was not in yet. 1 thought saw on tle
tempted to pick IT up when Register Padden
struck me behind the ear. Then L was put out
of his Office. think was outrageously treated
''Why don't you swear out warrant7' he
asked
.eWeu. NAV do it yet I'm thinking about
It," said Mr.. Marsh.
Colonel Padden, who has Just been installed
as Water Register. is broad shouldered man
about thirty years old. capable Of striking a
triphammer blow. Marsh is about hfty-hve or
sixty and smaller Mr. Padden would not com
ment on the trouble with Marsh further than
to deny most positively that he had struck him.
An eyewitness OF the quarrel said:
Marsh has been coming here for several days,
trying to get the department to adopt MS water
tn fDtx hat
den, by simply saying the word could instalI
his meter to the exclusion of others. He was
told that his meter would have to go TO the en-
gfneers for a report on it's mechanical excel
lence. This morning he came In with ooK
OF cigars under his arm bent on the same ola
errand. He damned past the man at the out
side door and walked into the Registers ONCE
Walking up to Mr.. Padden he showed the box OF
cigars at him and said:
Colonel, accept these with my compliments.
Mr.. Padden said to him: My friend. II you
expect TO receive courtesies from this ONCE you
have taken the wrong tack. I don't want your
cigars" Then Mr.. Padden showed them away
Marsh put them back on his desk, and Mr.. Pad
den seized the box and hurled II through the
door. splitting the contents on the floor Then
he ordered Marsh out. Marsh went and picked
up the cigars and tried TO get some one to take
them, but no one would accept them. Then
he went back into Mr.. Paddens office. The
Register at that time was talking with a visitor,
and his back slightly turned. Marsh went
over to the Registers desk and picked UP a
report, apparently thinking that 1t was on his
meter AS a matter of fact the report was ad-
dressed to the former Register. Mr. Savage, and
not meters at all. Marsh showed this
paper into his pocket Just the Register
whirled around and saw him trying to conceal
II. Mr.. Padden jumped for him and caught his
arm, pulling the paper back out Of his pocket.
What did you take from that desk?' de-
manded Mr.. Padden.
Marsh didn't say anything, but by tina: time
Mr. Padden had his hand In the air and Marsh
dropped the report which he had taken from
the desk. 1t fell to the floor all crumpled up and
torn Mr. Padden looked at 1t and recognized
It as a public document. and he told Marsh to
get out Of the office. Marsh stood still, and Mr..
Padden took him by the shoulders and pushed
him to the door. Then he called officer. and
Marsh was escorted to the elevator with warn
ing that he must not come around again. Mr..
Padden did not hit him. If he had Marsh
would not have been able to get away with
out help.