Year: 1878





The Face nj the window that Disturbed the


Clerks at Their Work In the Custom House


Expecting an Arrest md Developments.


On the first three days Of last week, and
the last two OF the previous week. small
sharp-featurcd man. with dark moustache and
chin whiskors. stood In ono oi tho upper COZ.
ridors In the Custom House. looking down at
the Kaleidoscope spectacle in tho rotunda be-
low. He appeared promptly at o'clock and
stood faithfully at his post until tho close Of
official hours at o'clock Ho did not speak
to any one unless addressed. and then only to
reply to questions. His station was Mt n small
window in the gallery OF the third story. on the
William street eide. whore no could command a
good Wow Of tho officials employed in the ro-
tunda. and not enslly be seen by them. The
man was a stranger, and on the first day OF his
appearance II was supposed that he was there
from curiosity. When he roappcared In the
same place on tho following day more notice
was takon Of him. and one OF the ushers was
sent TO inquire his business. Ho produced q
letter from the Collector permitting him to
stand at the window. On Monday OF last week
ho returned 10 his point OF observation. and
soon his mysterious watching was the talk Of
tho Custom House. Tho superintendent of the
building and two or three deputy collectors and
chief clerks went 10 him and sought to
learn his business. To each he showed his
letter from the Collector. but he would not give
any explanation of what he was doing At fre-
quent intervals in his Watching he took small
memor9ndum book from his pocket and wrote
something I'm II,


The officials in the Fifth and Sixth Divisions
were thrown into ferment by this presence.
Mhen they went to their desks in tho morning
they, found tho mysterious stranger at the
window. and whom they quit In the afternoon
no was there. peernR down at them with his
sharp black and seemingly maxim n
mental note OF their every move.


The gaze OF the unknown watcher at length
pecame so painful that on the NTH day OF
his appearance at tho window Deputy Col
lector Morris made an appeal TO the Assistant
Collector TO have him sent away saying that
his conatant staring was demoraizlng TO the
force. The man did not appear the next day.
and no has not been seen In the Custom House


But on Saturday and on Monday another
stranger. taller than the first. with high hat
and brown moustache. presented himself in
the rotunda. and paced up and down for several
hours occasionally giving sharp and wicked
glances at the clerks at their work, which made
some OF them drop their pens. The knowing
ones said that tho latest conner had been sent by
some wags 70 parody the pantomime perform


1t was nscertancd yesterday that the man Mt
the window. ns he has been designated. was
Newark detective: named sullivan. and that no
was employed in the caAe Of Robert A. Pcdrck
the defaulting Custom House clerk Of the i'm
porting Arm Of Bernhard \ Hutton. Pedrick is
legged TO be due the Custom House on
goods Withdrawn by him for Bernhard 4
Hutton. He used fraudulent warehouse
permits, but whether they were raised" :"
ahd forged by himself or executed IN collusion
with Custom House employees or othcrs Is not
clearly known. He disappeared in October last
and his frauds were exposed Immediately


Detective Sullivans five days Of watching I'm
tue Custom House IL explained ia two ways.
One Is that ho was looking for Pedrick
who has returned TO this city. and the other
Is that ho was watching the Custom House
ofucers who are suspected OF having been in
collusion with Pedrck. II was also said that
ne knew that Pedrick would visit the Custom
House and that he was watching to see
how the suspected officials behaved In his pres
States Courts on Monday District Attorney
Woodford said that Pcdrck is to DO arrested
whenever found.


Both tho Government officers and Bernhard
and Hutton desire 70 get hold of Pedrick II he
can show that the Custom House oiflcors were
IN coAuslOn with him, Bernhard Hutton may
get back the flOS.0OO ca mod by the Governmeut
Certified checks for the amount were deposited
by tho lrm with tho Collector subsequent to tho
discovery OF Pedrick's transactions and after
they had bcen threatened with tho holding OF
their goods in warehouse and the bringing of
suits on their bonds.


The document purporting 10 be n confession
from Icdrick Is viewed n a device II il CON
eeded in Government circles that he was seen
by oi;ncr the United States District Attorney or
one OF the subordinatcs in the District Atior.
ncys oflce on sunday last. ana that he had
been promised immunity from arrest Tor thrco
further said that no offered 10 surrender ALSO
lutely and to testify against his confcderntcs in
the Custom House II the Government would
guarantee him exemption from prosecution