Disreputable Curiosity — A Serious Accident. — A young man of genteel appearance, giving his name as John Fenton, said to be a clerk in a dry goods store down town, being of a debased mind, was led to gratify a depraved curiosity yesterday afternoon, by placing himself beneath the temporary footway erected with planks at the corner of Broadway and Canal street, which are a few inches apart, allowing him space enough to look through. He was discovered in his concealment by officer Webster, of the Fifth ward, who, observing the conduct pursued by this person, went down for the purpose of arresting him. Upon the approach of the officer he placed himself in a posture of defence, and a scuffle ensued, the noise of which attracted a large crowd, who rushed upon the platform. The weight of the people caused it to give way, and in its fall a great number of persons were carried down with it, one of whom, a merchant of Ohio, had his legs broken, and received other injuries, as did some others, but not of so serious a nature. The Ohio merchant was conveyed to the New York Hospital for treatment, and Fenton was taken to the Tombs, where be admitted to Justice Bogart that he had secreted himself beneath the platform for the the purpose of gratifying his peculiar curiosity. The magistrate required him to find bail for his disorderly conduct, and also for assault on the officer.
The New York Herald, New York, NY, March 13, 1854