The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-04-14

"~As 'S osSH' ShPoycu III tie WOIhsuoPiu WhS"
Col. Monroe Edwards employed in the State
Prison, has been dismissed from his situation in a
manner which appears exceedingly harsh and I'M
just. After the discovery of Edwards place of con-
cealmen, Mr. Shortwell was taken before the magis-
trates at Sing Sing, and held bound in $4,000 bail
to appear and answer before the Court of Oyer and
Terminer for aiding Edwards in his attempted es-
cape. The Grand Jury ignored the bill, as there
was not the slightest evidence against Mr. Shortwell
Indeed the whole case bears its face evidence
of the absurdity and groundlessness of the charge
against the dismissed agent. He had been two
years in his situation, was in the receipt of COM
Portable salary, $40 week, and had wife, two
children, and an aged father and mother, dependent
on him for the means of subsistence. The idea of
such person aiding fellow like Edwards, known
to be utterly without means, is preposterous. Every
probability in the case points to one more of the
convcts as the abettors of the Colonel it indeed he
had any aid in his attempt, which is doubtful.
brief statement of the facts may help the public
to proper understanding of ,he case and there
fore give them. Edwards conducted himself with
prOprety from the time OF his arrival in the prison,
workshop where he was employed in stitching boots,
there were about forty convcts, and amongst them
a carpenter named Davis, who was employed in
making boxes for the boots, aud who had been COM
mlttcu LOT Two years IOI kIduu hICcHy Ill
| watch This man Davis eigned sickness on the very
same day with Edwards, aud went with HIM daily
| to the hospital, in company with other convicts
on the sick list. As the convicts went to and
turned from the Hospital, across the large yard OF
the prison, they had ample opportunity OF converse
ton and plotting In the Sunday school still greater
facilities OF communication were within their reach.
The convicts are there divided into classes of eight
or ten, and "leader" selected from amongst them
on account of superior erudition and intelligence,
| instructs his brethren. Monroe Edwards was one
Of these bible class leaders, and have heard that
Davis the carpenter, was one OF his pupils: How
ever, in this situation the Colonel could easily
municate with such OF his fellow convcts as he
might deem most likely 10 aid him in any attempt.
ed escape.
All the particulars connected with the attempted
| escape and concealment Of Edwards have already
been published Mr. Shortwe had had some time ago
| a discovery OF the character of Edwards which
tainy c@ud not be supposed TO progresses him in Ia
OF the Colonel. Edwards had. it seems. request
| ed permission to write some letters and arrange his
affairs, and occupied himself IN writing for cou-
Of GsyMs Wits %'1f of Ne% oan a0any
him to dispose OF aledged property in several States
which document was deposited with the clerk OF
the prison. Edwards then req rested Mr.. Shortwell
to obtain this power Of attorney and S., which he
had brought with him to the prison, and which was
| also in the hands of the clerk, for the purpose,
as the Colonel aledged, Of getting the power Of
got the money and the paper and then Edwards said
to him-"tear up that ,paper-irs not worth a
d-mn-I onlywanted the money land beg you to
get me some bread, butter, crackers and cheese
| for am starving" The transition from How ard Z
| Hotel TO Sing Sing was too trying tor the Colonel
Mr. Shortwell OF course refused, but Profling by
this expose of the CoOnel's character, was partcu
larry cautious afterwards of having any commune
cation whatever with him. and even more than one,
requested the principal keeper to remove Edward
from the shop of which he had charge.
We think that the case of Shortwell is a very
hard one. Not the slightest evidence has appeared
against him. His past character has been altogether
ireproachable. We call on the present Directors
of the prison, act of Justice, to restore him to
his office. If they do not, we are pretty confident
their successors will.
THEATRICAL AND MUsICAL.-Mr. RusselPs concer
on Wednesday evening, was attended by an sx
tremely crowded audience. Mr.. Russell has in fact
become quite the rage, and all the fashionable peo
pie flock in crowds to his concerts. This is one Of
| the most remarkable phenomena of the times. The
musicians and other vocalists are in paroxysms of
rage. They call Mr.. Russell a humbug-a con-
founded, atrocious, raecaly, unprincped, ignorant,
frightful humbug But all the intelligence, taste,
beauty and fashion of New York go in throngs to
hear the humbug, and applaud To the skies the ex-
qusite melody the thrilling pathos, the flashes of
sentiment which characterize all Russe's little
dS HIS songs IHdy VIII ptIIcCt pIOPlcy NC
called. Mr.. Russell gave concert last night at the
Musical Fund Hall, in Philadelphia, and tonight he
sings that thrilling song, "The Dream of the Re-
velers," at the great temperance celebration In the
| Tabernacle. This is astonishing expedition In
this way Mr.. Russell intends to the length
and breadth OF the Union. His is now clearing
money at the rate of 1890 or Sl5OOa week In
August he returns to England and will reap another
golden harvest there.
At the Park Theatre they have produced an old
| and most trashy affair. which damned some
years ago in London They have called it the
New York Merchant and his Clerks. 1t is beneath
criticism, and the only redeeming thing about its
representation was the admirable acting of Abbot
| as the maniac clerk.
The Chatham continues its career of prosperity.
"The Patrician's Daughter" has been eminenty
successful and it is extremely credable to the taste
CT our CITY, that night after night crowded audiences
collected to witness play depending solely for ef
feet, not on startling incident, but on the poetry
pathos, and high toned sentiment which it contains
Four highly respectable and talented artists from
Virginia produce an African opera at the Park on
Monday evening next. They have tired of raising
cotton and tobacco in " old V,rginny," and have
started on a musical tour, which has heretofore
| been signally successful. They preparing TO
sail for Europe, where they intend to astonish the
natives. They will give grand Ethiopian concerts
| at London-perform at the grand opera in Paris
and then 60 to Italy and call Rosslni and other
| eminent composers. Thus we GO. Music is de-
| cidedly on the rise
FROM THE NoRTH.-Pomeroy 81 Co., has arrived
with Albany papers of Wednesday morning.
The election in that city resulted in the success
of the wing ticket. Friend Humphrey, for Mayor,
had 2O5 majority.
The river is open to Van Wie's Point, and above
to Troy.
| From Albany Argus, April 121
| SALT. Coal AND LEAp-The bill entitled an act
"to increase the revenues of the State, by extending
the markets for salt, coal and lead" by allowing
| bounty on those articles, was yesterday afternoon