The New York herald., 1844-12-08

Proceedings Of the Court Of Oyer and Ter
fntner at acknowledgements Of Justice,
and hunting Jurors-the schooimasteF's
Travels, and sundry other veritabie movs-
nents and doings ON Staten Island.
The Couit which commenced its sittings In the town
Of Richmond Staten Island Monday November 25th,
for the purpose investigating the Of Polly Bodine
who stands indicted for the murder Of Mrs Houseman
ard child has terminated series Of legal proceedings az
curious and unique Of their features they have
proved useless and Unsatisfactory in their results Yet to
enough to be an observer o.
dents In the Court and out Of it, without being obliged to
participate in the irksome attention of the Bench the
cunning and address Of the Bar the wanderngs
and Ponderings Of the Sheriff and his posse comtsts to
catch Jury or the dark and depressing dread Of being
dreams Of the Staten Island folk so long they
pected that the Sheriff abroad and that they were
safe at hometo free from all these Influences there
small degree Of instruction to be cleaned on the
curoses OF law and not less amusement 10 be extracted
rom the scenes and OF character and Incl
dental which took place from day day.
during the whole session of ten days.
Although all who knew anything Of the circumstances
progress far more slowly than surely yet the extreme
hardness Of every except those of the Sheriff
harrassed the Judges and even edited the lawyers re-
tanned in the case 70 much that they exhibited more
spnsss in than they ever even drssm Of
all concerned took their respective places Court with
the air Of resolved to finish difficult undertaking
written list called by the Clerk, and answered
with five six exceptions. All went very smoothly,
were Sned for not seemed to promise dss
patch and far better success than ected when to
begin the troubles respectfully submitted by Coun
stituted-the act not complied with in not giving ak
days notice in the local newspaper previous to the draw
fsis the Sssgrssabs necessity d Challenging the
array, and hoped the Court would by means feel il
dagreeable to sustain their motion to set aside the said
Jury.
The Sheriff was here observed to open his eyes con.
siderably wider than usual whilst five out Of the
to the depth of the quanday they e themselves fastened
in and is also said, that many of the jurors
dersood the state Of affairs with degree Of rivolty and
absence of sympathy for the perpley of the other par
ties not becoming in men who politely invited to
attend did wink and whisper too, and chuckle and BY
numerous ingenious expedients, communicated with
each other what they evidently regarded pleasing in
telligence.
When the Judges opened their eyes and began to con.
sut the spectators opened their catch the deci
sion His Honor arose. and alter stating his reasons,
pronounced the challenge good and the Jurors dismissed
meant by "cuttng stick" As quickly men could do
who much in hurry, every one Of the liberia
be heard the sounds Of retiring feet conflict of
benches and the rushing OF the fereating columns But
what heightened the effect the able manuuvre Of the
sheriff who instructed to summon taesmen, had taken
the to close the for the greater facility
of selecting from the crowd Of the right sampan
for every he caught the wing saved him jour
oey, and whole set of cunning movements to secure
respective nADltatlOn1.
What noise is that? demanded the Court
SEVERAL VOICES >" We can't get out the doors are
fasto
The CouRr--" Officers what is the reason the doc
cosedlsee that the people permitted pass outn
OyFIcER-(n low tonel don't know os any one has
shut the doors excepin be the rush Of the folks 10 get
get away all of sweep stand back and the doors will be
open but 4 ye don't stand back ys csn 60 forward
few able hands tales Of fifty however had been or
dered by the Court, edct which furnished an early
shorter time than appeared requisite return was madeo
the writ to summon the y out Of which not than
couple ofjurors were sworn 1t occupied nearly days.
to do even that and by the time new levy brought
up, the fourth day was halt spent Another tales and
still another and from day day. in squads equal
Court and examined at the rate Of about thirty each day
is sufficient here to observe that the success OF the
get the last Every effort had been made ali proper
pedens had heen exhausted there was virtue left in
summons No man to be found without an "opinion or
impression" dislike to serve and instructive desire
hide the first appearance of the officers II
as in the or
around the comfortable stoves when the was cold
"Are you summoned, Tompkins 2" one would say. Yes
that am hut they might have saved themselves the
troubles will not be on jury II can help IT," "Why
what brought you way from Quarantine so early
Mr. swe don't often see you in these partsr "Wel the
fact is if had my own way, would be in New York
but thsy caugK me board the steamboat yesterday
ngn third would observe" was hearin In at thew
brngin' up Richmond all they could find and
SO the first thing does this morning after getting up
was to look outl saw Smith, the officer, coming right
on to the house. Now, says J. for run with that
draws my boots, and got my hat, and started Well
to head or the wood He spied me- aud se ont too and
up with me behind the hay stack. for never made
worse race in my days; and the reason put on
boots wrongand you osee khavng the left boot on the
other foot and the the wrong foot stuck in
the mud and here am but I'D rather stick in the mud
than stick in the Jury box"
anil nnr otivAc
Of hair breadth escapes which abounded within the pre-
cncts Of the court house in Richmond during the efforts
to obtain jury out Of such unwilling materials Ineeed
whatever degree Of seriousness existed at the commence
ment of proceedings which involved the life OF the prso
son hs nature o she evidence Ss 'ss se
SSm s q or the wis
the sheriff the flight and skul escape Of A. b. or the
untoward capture Of X " the engrossing topics OF
the time Now and again, fash Of merriment would
tighten the features Of the talking groups whilst anon
turn tackled to the tail Of which would be some far from
complimentary illusions to the finctonary through
whose instrnmentalty their presence there had been
the dwelers at Richmond, permanent or casual were
evidently The nnkeepers. There was such thing on
tn part coincidence with the hard lot Of the captured
jurymen There they Stood in the centre Of group o
grog bottles and cigar boxes dispensing their contents to
their customers across the bar As far shake Of the
hand for stranger anod of recognition to aneghbor
who dropped in, went they aable and complying
other men; but not single attempt Of the many that
made, succeeded in drawing from mine host tn Q
admission that the which compelled their at
tendance Court Of Law to decide between the people
and their prisoner, was sad one ltis consolatory
the other hand to reflect that they the only ind
vduas who felt any thing like chsgrn the breaking
up Of the Court; and that II they enjoyed monopoly
they had to bear the sole burthen Of their grief
when those persons took their departure.
As to the doings inside the County House. much could
be related Of rare and amusing character Perhaps
similar occasion, in any place within the dis
tance Of New York. such exhibition made BY
Jurymen, under the scrutiny which the aw allows, to
ascertain their fitness Blunt but honest men, may be
readily dlscone ered by the badgerng examination Of
special peader and OF educated and disciplined
minds will not always answer lhappythe questions Of
metaphysical lawyer, privileged with the power OF
skiing and bent upon qubbng But Of the three or
four hundrtd men who, in this to answer
such questions as were put to them touching their cha
cnge as Jurors there were we say without hesitation
more who evinced either want Of capacity want OF
will to comprehend these questions and them
as they sworn to do than could be found in any
other place There are two personaRes Mho would do