The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-08-18
CITY InteIlirence


Ns"-MELISpA HoAo-visEs OF New YoRx-A Cous-
rRrMAr koBBEp AND HUnBveoED.-The midnight offence
ofrobbng the pockets of old and young lecherous dis
cpes that belong to- city, has become
mon affair, that scarcely day passes that complaints
not entered at police Offices The peculiarly
the offence, ard the position ofthe sufferer on commits
sion is such, that few have enough to face
Court OF Justice sustain charge; but to the credit
our Court of Sessions be said that no recent case has
been where the guilty parties have escaped
conviction II is also alleged that fear Of public of
oentmes deter persons thus robbed from entering
complaints the police offices. No doubt such is the
case and is with this knowledge that the villains who
practice this offence dsringly operate in the crowded
thoroughfares and streets OF our city. The oms
sion of names Of compliments by the public press
would serve the cause of justice in these cases.
and whenever necessary, will be acceded to ON
the part Of this paper The following recent case pre-
sentng strange and extraordinary peculiartes
minating in most singular manner, has induced full
publication of all the particulars not only that the pub
lie may thus understand the odus operand of the whole
affair." but that the parties to the transaction may fully
exposed -
On Tuesday last Mr. Isaac Smith, or Isaac D. Smith,
resident of North Salem, Weschester county in this
State left his home for this wicked city, and wednes
day evening, while walking in Greenwich street, was
met by that arch cypran Melinda Hosg, and taken
house where she said she resided, when he became
alarmed at the sights he saw in his and leaving the
house discovered that his pocket book, containing $780,
had been stolen from his pantaloons He made mmed
search for atchmen and police officers, but not be-
ing able to find the latter he applied to Alderman TILoU
who drew up the following affidavit at the request OF
Smith, which was sworn to as correct -
City aud Cointyof New York, IS.
Isaac Smith being duly sworn doth depose and say
that he resides the northern part county
that this evening the deponent met woman in the
which she told him was Greenwich street. She
e.r,. Al aHt IN with hart hos in
Greenwich street. where she said she lived alone to stay
with her. That the deponcnt went with her to the
second story front OF house the west side Of the
sree-hat she locked the door and would 60 to bed
until deponent undressed deponent undressed
himself end laid down the bed "a bed and bedstead
being in the room)the deponent laid his clothes
chair near the loot of the bed-she, the woman then
drew the curtain witch surrounded the bedstead low
as below the bed she first having undressed herself and
having got INTO bed-the deponent from her manner,
had his suspicious aroused and had TO cepnexion
with her-the depcnent heard noise in The
room, and took his hand and hove the curtains
up, and then disco 7ered in STOPPING posture,
backing towards the west door Of the ROOM md he
up ards the chair, and they fell on the floor Depo
said then, What man is that ~ and sprung of the
bed. Says she. :" Did you see man % TO which de,
safety said MOI" and then commenced dressing him.
SELF and taking up his pantaloons, discovered his
pocke-book gone That she got cut of bed and said
a Did you see man % To which deponent said Mo-
She then asked depouent the of his getting off
thebed Deponent to this said that he had to
go down ard she then said there was chsmbeI and ne
need go down; that deponent finally dressed himself
and OUT that when deponent went into the room and
undressed himself he had in his pantaoons pocket
pocketbook containing several bank bills amounting
$40 upwards which, when he got out Of the bed and
putting his pantaoons he discovered Was gone and
had been taken away by the who in the room;
that the who has been brought to the wachhouse
from said apartment in Greenwich street is the same
woman who is above mentioned, and who was in bed
with hm that the deponen verify believes that the
MAJ above mentioned and the two men who have been
taken by the watch with her from the apartment in
Greenwich street. above mentioned have been
with her in robbng him ofhis pocket book, above
of previous design of the said persons 10 commit rob.
berry upon him. the deponen after leaving the house
came to the watchhouse in the halls ofusce and made
his complaint the Captain of the watch which the
watchman sent for the purpose went to the house. and
there found locked in the chamber above mentioned and
the back adjoining the same the above mentioned
woman, and the two who have been brought to the
watchhouse with her; that after difficulty and de-
lay the door opened to the watchman and the persons
above mentioned wereound in the apartment above
toned that deponent answered the woman questions
in the negative above mentioned from his being really
apprehensve for his personal afety and afraid If he
answered otherwise that his life would be endangered
ISAAC SMITH
Sworn the 10th day of August, ls43, before
F.B. TILLou. Aid. 5th Ward, City N. Y.
On this affidavit Melinda Hoag, Alexander Hoag, and
Charles F. Watson were arrested by watchmen at the
house where the robbery committed and lodged in
the watch house. atemporary commitment by Alder
Tillou. In the morning the complainant Smith APP
pesred against before Justice Stevens, who ordered
the parties to be committed under the adav and Smith
md bail in the of $1,000 to answer to appear at
court prosecute the charge Smith stated that he was
nan of wealth. and would enter into his own recogni.
to double that smoun but Justice stevens very
properly told him, that as he stranger and the par
ties implicated were of such class he must insist upon
his obtaining security in the city carry the prosecu
ton. Officer Cockefair then procured cab, and went
in company with Smith, to acquaintance in the upper
ne tho e 10 the
office at O'Clock, the two approaching the cab to
return when officer Cockear alluded to the fare Of the
driver and Smith put his hand in his pocket and drew
out wallet containing small of money Cockeair
asked il that the pocket boox that the money had
been taken FROM when Smith said not the one
taken was of smaller size he having two Cockear
then said he thong rather strange, as he rarely
knew theft Of the kind where the pocket book was sto
len, generally they took the money out and placed
roll of paper in the wallet and then returned to the
pocket He therefore advised him search his pockets
thoroughly again-when, 10! and behold the identical
wallet with the idenca money was found in the from
coat pocket of Mr. Smith although he thinks the after
before obbery he his panaloons pocket
This discovery being made, officer Cockeair convey
ed the party to the house OF Justice Stevens who
sdered the deveopement so remarkable that he declined
taking any definite action until aful investigation co Id
| be made at the police Office
Nine O'Clock having arrived, and the accused parties
up from the prison. an examination was entered
into before Justice PARKER, he being the sitting Mags
rate assisted by Mr. CALLENDER Esq, Clerk OF Police
Mr Smith was again called, and made the following aft
davit -
City and County of New York, IS.
Isaac Smith being affirmed states as follows THAT
upon examining his pockets this morning he finds in HI.
side pocket his book and money which he supposed
stolen, set forth in his affidavit foregoing Tha
when he left home Ia Westchester county Tuesday
last he put hs book and money in his psntaoons pock
and did herefrom until yesterday n24th street
when he took and paid money therefrom, AM
able say from recollection into which pocket HI
returned said book and money-was last evening full,
with the belief that he had returned it to hi
pantaoops poe end finding there upon rising So
it .or granted that was stolen, and reported Tha
The boob and money here is the he suppose'
| was stolen aforesaid. ISAAC D. SMITH.
| Sworn before ne Aug. IL, ls43,
| Min Parker.
The justice end clerk thus finding tina, by some strsng
and almost unac oountabe crcumtancethc accused par
ties had managed to escape tbe neshss Of the law
knowing that the woman, Melinda Hoag, common
prostitute nightly engaged in this mean, contemptibl
and base crime Of robbing touching" 'badgesing
as is chnically arled felt II dsty they owed thu
public to obtain evidence sufficient to commit her to tn
Penitenary vBgrant aud therefore obtained the fol
lowing affidavit from Mr.. Smith -
| City md County Of New York, ss
Isaac Smith being duly affirmed, states additionally
follows 81 reside at North Salem, Westchester couaty
was last night walking the streets alone, end Inc