Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-12-17
General Sessions.
Present Recorder Morris, Chief Justice Ulshoefer,
Judye Lynch. and tun Alder,nen

Present Recorder Morris, Chief Justice Ulshoefer,
Judge Lynch, and two Aldermen.
DEC. l6-Faise Prefences. Ia tho case of Alex G
Coke, reported in the Herald of Wednesday, the
jury found verdict of gully as charged" Coke
was neither committed to the tombs, nor arragned,
SIMPLY because he had taken the precaution to get
on, oil Court so soon as the jury had retired to
sder oil their verdict. This individual figured
largely IN this city at the time when the sympathz
Ing meetings for the extinction of slavery in the
Caaadas" were all the go in these United States. At
that time he was called Mljor Core, and if his own
speeches at Vauxhall and other places may be Gre
dltes was ready to do deeds of fearful import among
OF money should have been subscribed and placed at
the disposal of ExPatriot Mex enzies Field Marshall
Van Rensselaer,, Dr. Brtto, and other doughty
champions OF the largest liberty. As that sc heme
ala NOT thrive according to expectation, Major Coke
turned his sword into an Implement for establish
lug the Eagle Bank" and set his diplomatic abili-
ties to work to raise the wind by getting hold Of CT
gars by pretending to be the extensive tavern
at Kingston, Ulster CO. At least so swore the wt.
nesses, and the Court and Jury to have placed
some credence on their testimony. 1t is also said
that FIX Major Coke holds an Office under Governor
Seward as sub Bank Inspector, or something OF
that Sort II this is the case, he has only got to
keep out of the way until application can be
made to the Governor, and pardon obtained for him
as was done in the case of Kingsley, found guilty OF
forgery.
81. Patrick's Day in the Evening -Thomas Car
roll, Thomas Leonard, and John Harbon, three very
well dressed Irishmen, who were described as la.
r.
charged with committing most outrageous assault
and battery on the person of Mr. John Rutter IN
tractor on the works, the evening Of ST. Patrcks
Day last.
Tie prosecutor swore that he had been N ,o,vn
from Yorkvile on the day in question, and on re-
turning home in .one OF the line of stages from the
Bowery, was set upon while in the vehic e, by the
three heroes, who, without the least proyecatiop
beat him so numerically, that he was confined to
his room for fourteen days. and compelled TO employ
two physicians in order to save his life.
Peter Wilson and w. d. Graft, E.qrs. appeared
as counsel for the prisoners and SET up that The af
fray arose out Of the national prejudice of Ruter
who, being an Englishman, had made some remarks
not very complimentary 10 the patron saint of the
sons OF Green Erin" For doing this, he received
the batting, which, in a moment Of excusable en-
thusasm, and in sheer mistake, was made some
what scverer than at first intended. TIE whole
affair was to be looked upon as a mere drunken fro.
lie, and not to be visited with any serious punish
meat.
The Jury, however, did not coincide with this
view 81 the matter, but found them all gai.ty The
District Attorney moved tina, the conyicts be com.
mitted to close custody, which was done forthwith
a Rep,lsai-A couple Of small boys named 10
seph Walker and James Table, alias Lockman. ver,
placed at the bar, charged with breaking into In,
Exchange office of Mr. Elias Tucker, on Catherin.
Slip, and carrying of lot Of specie and other valua
blcs, which were placed in the window. Tucke
swore TO the burglary, and said he was induced I,
suspect the prisoners from the fact OF their la
threatened 7" to fix him" An officer swore that h,
which they said they got by gambling on board
sleop.
Joseph G. Hempson, a convict from the Tomb,
was put on the stand TO prove that the two boys ha,
admitted their particpatoajn the burglary, and tina
he was employed to try and retain counsel, and Il,
other small matters for them, all Of which he com
municated to Justice bIatsen Mr. r. VOORHEES,
the counsel Of the prseners placed himse II ON tn
stand Tor the purpose Of the staeme
of Hempson, and to prove that the latter had
to compound the affair with Tucker.
Tucker was recalled by the Court, and he con
hrmed the testimo y Of Hempson.
Another point was raised in the defence Of the mi
soners, viz that Tucker dealt in policies; that the
boys had MT him, and not getting their dues the
had liked him by breaking open the window, ans
making areprisaf on his took Of specie. The lar,
found the two boys "not guilty. TO the great surpris,
Of every body except the learned counsel that de
Tended them.
In the course Of the trial. one of the police
and his clerk, were wanted by the District attorney
to prove some important fact, but they could MOI
be found.
Al the close Of the case, his Honor, Judge Lynch
remarked that he had often perceived there 10 be
more difficulty in gettn. the testimony Of pei son.
connected with the police ice, than with any or
binary individuals who had their private business
90 attend to.
The District Attorney said that il was not until
Nempson disclosed the fact pom the stand. tina,
be became aware Of the necessity OF having the JUS
;ice and his clerk.
Ills Honor, Judge UlshoeHer, said there we're Sc
veral practices IN this Court which required a re
form. Their Honors then adjourned to Friday
at III o'clock.