Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-03-02
U. S. CIRCUIT Couar.-Before Judge Belts.


United States versus George Gozman.-This was
trial for perjury under the naturalization laws. Ii
appeared by the evidence that the prisoner had been
IN the habit Tor some years of going TO the Marine
Court, with his ceunirymen (Germans) TO get them
naturalIzed.
Ii also stated that he had charged each of them
$40 for so doing BY the laws il is necessary that the
applicant for citizenship should have been five years
IN the coaAtry altogether, and must have declared
his intentions two years before taking his natural.
eaton papers, and three years after he has arrived
unless he he minor when he arrives and remains
minor for at least three years after his arrival-in
which case no declaration of his intention to become
ctZea IS necessary The only requisite being that
the applicant should bring witness TO swear 10 his
having been hive years in the country.
On the part OF the prosecution, il was proved by
M. Barblcre, clerk the Marine Court that Gozman
subscribed and swore TO affidavit declaring that
one Frederick Haiti had been five years in the coun-
TIP, when IN point OF fact he had the time Of TAX
ing such oath been here only three years and half
He also swore that Halz had been here three years
before he was of age.
TWAS further proved by several witnesses that Halz
here in l932-that he was then over 40 years OF
age, that he never was here before that time.
Mr. Void swore that in the middle Of July 1896 he
had been here but four years; that Gozmap then Of
fered 10 make him citizen directly for $40. j told
my time was not cut de said, "oh, that makes
thing; will make you a citizen for all that"
The district attorney here offered to prove that
Gozman had naturaliIed many persons in this way
for money-but this was not admitted.
Mr. Bushnell opened for the defence He stated
that although the prosecution had made out prirna
facia case Of perjury yet he would show that there
was no blame attributable to Gozman. He had been
msled by the bad practice Of administering the nats-
rallzatlon laws in The Marine Court He commended
that the law on the subject was itself defective and
that as existed the naturalization laws required
oath to be taken as TO he term Of the residence of
the applicant for naturalization, either by the appl-
cant HIMSELF or his witness The letter Of the law
merely said that the court should be satisfied" Of
the res doRce Of the applicant; but il did not say in
what way the court was satisfied; they may be sa.
tished in any way or manner that to their judgment
may seem necessary.
He would show that Gozman was a man easily
duped and led awaay-was honest industrious, and
had an rrepreachabe character for truth and veraci
ty-and that when he took the oath in the Marine
Court relative to the residence Of Hatz, he believed
Through ignorance and nnocontly) that ne was only
witness swearing TO the mere personal identity OF
Haiti, in the same way that man subscrlbes TO and
witnesses the signing OF q deed.
The following Witnesses were then called for the
defence
Henry DefinbauRh-Is . native citizen; has
known Gozman ten or twelve years; that ne Is man
strictly honest industrious, acd Of strict truth and
vsracity very good natured, had wife and five chill
dren was possessed Of very little shrewdness
ton; that he was very credulous and easily mlsled
BENJAMIN Albert-Has been 10 the Name Court
when they were making citizens from foreigners;
went twice TO the Office TO get make citizen for
myself bu, de Renemens there could not find time to
book me in for some citizen 10 make me vote; have
been there to sign my name for some ether man
witness, and signed myself some witness for some
Won man.
Pnce-what did you sign your name for
Ans,--As for some witness.
Prce-Witness TO wbatf
Ans-A witness dat vas witness.
Price Witness of what
Ans.-I witness for my friend.
Pnce-Bat what kind VI witness were yeu3
Ans,-I vas some same kind OF de witness ss
shall Ne now.
Pnce-But what did you witnesss
Ans-I witness ever 40 many things.
Pnce-But do TELL me what you went there to be
witness tot
Ans.-I vent there to be witness TO what did