The herald., 1837-02-28

i CoURr OF COMMON PLEAS, Feb. 27.-Before his
honor Judge Ulshoetfer
Alexander Douglas rersus Robert Bowyer.
The plaintiff laid his damages at one thousand dol
| lars.
This was an action for an assault and battery COM
mitted the person of the plantffby the defendant
Robert Bowyer, one Of our police officers.
The circumstances from which this action took its
| rise, are briefly these
On the fifth of last March there was considerable
unrareliing between the merchant taiors and their
journeymen, owing to dispute about prices, in which
the latter congregated together, made much distur
bance, and caused great annoyance to their quondam
employers.
The master tailors had made complaints Of these
| proceedings, ana police officer BOwyer, with a view
of detecting of the rngleaders went to Messrs
| ST. John & Co.'S store with bundle as if carrying
in work. He was spied by some of the journeymen
| who Immediately set him down as one Infringing
upon their strike and accordingly waited his coming
out in order show slight specimen of the "nghts
| Of tailors, if not of the "nghts Of man."
/ Bowyer in short time came out OF the store, hav-
ing something hanging upon his arm, trif1e of cab
| bage cleaning from his coat pocket and beautiful
display of paper measures trailing from his vest
pocket, before hm-altegether the very personifca-
| ton of a recreant snip.
No sooner was Bowyer uncGsed-that is, got into
the street-han thejourneymen taors gave the "view
hillo"
Offstarted Bowyer and off went his pursuers, and
snowbas and other Gbusrc languages began to fall
around and on the I" Hunted Tailor"
! This chase was continued into Maiden lane when
Bowyer threw OF his disguise, seized two of the most
prominent agitators and conveyed them TO the watch
| house.
1t is natural to suppose that some scuffling took
place, and when the captves arrived at "Watchman's
Home" one complained Of a cut lip and black eye
| and the other of sundry punches in the ribs which
their padding alone prevented from being broken.
To compensate for these damages, the plaintiff, not
| being goose enough to be beaten with impunity
! brought this action; and deal Of conflicting test-
m0ny was adduced on both sides.
The counsel for the plaintiff declaredit to be shear
II snSusonimg o. angry nmIp
of official power unparalleled in the history of his
| time He knew of no damages sufficiently high to
form bill cfprices for this terrible unfolding Of po
| lice authority against an unoffendng individual.
On the other hand, the counsel for the defence was
stifas buckram on the rights ofpolce officers. He
4 was as sharp long fire against the conduct OF
| the journeymen talors, whom he designated
| vcts, they having been found guilty Of conspiracy
| He declared the they had taken was very
short sighted and that our laws must undergo repairs
if sach misft as this Of the jOurneymen tailors
| should be sanctioned.
In reply it was contendod that the measure taken
| by the iourneymen correct, and that they had
cut their coat according Is their c!oth These poor
men, said the learned counsel had been strongly hem
med in by the oppression of the master talors The
seirage Of their rights had been torn off and sold for
carpet rags! Their patterns of remonsuance had
been pronounced damaged, and their whole skein of
conduct knotty and tangled, and every appeal for
dress Of their grievances non-suited
In conclusion, he protested the jury must be mere
pantaioons not perceive the rested rights Of these
| oppressed journeymen; and however sophistically
the opposite counsel had coated his argument, in re-
ference to the officers assuming borrowed garments
! in order TO detect these individuals he il
| would not be for a moment admitted that these
sreeches of the piece committed by him in this dis
gise, should 90 unriippcd Of Justice. The learned
gentleman here brought the thread of his discourse to
an end and resumed his scat
IL -l-L~ H. - l~~T
manner unpicked the evidence and cut out its various
pieces in very happy method .N
The jury returned sealed verdict, which will be
made known at the opening of the court today
For the plaintiff, Mr. Western; fer the defence, Mr..
Blunt
Police, Monday, Feb. 27-!fore Counterfeits-
Mr.. John r. Kelly, No. $50 Bowery, came to the Of
hce and presented for inspection S5 counterfeit bill
on the Amherst bank of Massachusetts, which he had
| received from a woman.
He went over to the Bridewe and recognised Ellen
OBren, who is confined there charge Of uttering
counterfeit money, the person who had passed of
the note upon him. His affidavit takcn and il
will form new charge against Mrs. o Brien, who is
in fair way of visiting Sing Sing, to "do the state
some service.
Cabin Robberu-John Holman Of the towboat A.
Marvin lying the foot Of Courtland street. cane to
the Office to enter complaint that the cabin OF ms
vessel had been entered by fasc Key ana = I'nk
containing a silver watch fifteen dollars m money,
ana n variety OIL cfOtning nou oeth 'eo'e i
He was informed that trunk answering the descnp-
ton OF the one stolen was AT the police having been
taken from coored man Of the name Of Joseph Mar
tin, by John Copan, watchman, on suspicion Of his
having stolen the same. .
the trunk away from man whom he suspected Of
stealing i. and was carrying tup Town for safe keep
;no when his good intentions were prevented by the
| az r,ousncss OF the watchman.
NJ Holman thus fortunately recovered his proper
~ and Martin will be introduced TO the Recorder
'hightoay Robbery-As Mr. John Conroy was re-
turning home the night before last, he was knocked
down and robbed Of his gold watch, by yellew man
who Immediately made of with his booty.
Mr. Conroy gave information at the police and
from the description given he officers, Smith and
Brink, they made pretty certain that the offender was
an old customer of theirs They accordingly started
in quest Of their old acquaintance; were fortunate
enough 10 meet with him, and yet more fortunate TO
secure not only the gold watch steIen from Mr.. Con,
roy, hat in addition, two other watches Ia gold and
silver onel obtained, il is presumed, by similar means
The thief bears the high sounding name OF Ryan
Brien, and is of very desperate character. :,
| Watch Stcdiinp-A man named John wells was
brought up under charge Of stealing watch Com
mitted to Bridewcll