The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-13


During the session OF the Oyer and Terminer Of
Queens county, information received by Mr. Lam
berson District Attorney OF the commission Ia OF Dur.
Rockaway during the night of the It'll inst and thattwo
suspected Of the offence their way to the
court house in custody Of an officer preliminary
animation was Immediately held before Justice Rush
more-the Grand Jury having been discharged. The
tute for a special Grand Jury which assembled on We'd
nesday the 9th previous to which tine three person:
against VILLAIN Russell, William Ray and Francis John
son. charging them with burglary in the first degree
guilty They all stated they had friends and witness.
residing in the city of N. York. Subpenas fur
nshed and letters written and officers despatched by
purpose) to deliver and them. The prisoners
told to BIO ready for trial Friday morning the 18th
inst The prisoners desiring separate trials RUSSELL
against whom was the least evidence. (none of the
stolen property having been found upon him) first
brought to the bar The circumstances of the burglary
and arrest. so far as had been discovered then
briefly stated by the District Attorney and Geo B. Flax
was called as witness for the prosecution.
Mr.. FISK testified that he went to bed Monday
ming about o'clock leaving several members Of his fa
watch the table by the head of his bed o'clock
he was awakened by the screams of his daughter who
reached the top of the stairs he noise like foot
steps OF two persons hurryng the oil cloth in the
standing open he missed the two watches and pocket
book the pocket book found in the door yard but
papers left his pocket book in his pantaoons peck
ct when he went to bed he recognized the watch pro-
duced, and also knife the watch belonging to his
wife, and the knife to his son, young lad.
Miss LOUISA FISK, daughter Of the Witness was then
called and testified to fastening the lower part OF the
house before going to bed and that about in the
ing she heard footsteps coming softly down stairs she
expected to her mother, but, upon looking up,
of the prisoners Johnson the sill of her bed
door; she screamed, and johnson on. of tho
house; she heard others in the hall moving towards the
scribed the marks about the lock and key which ndics
ted the manner Of opening which was by turning the key
left in the lock over night by means Of an instrument
0frOmt ifed
to the same indications about the lock
Several witnesses called and proved that the pris
with the others went down to Rockaway Monday
evening with the stage, and were left in front OF the Pa
vilon at Rockawsy.
tied that the morning OF the Sth about o'clock he
three suspicious looking individuals coming towards
his house, the Jamaica and Brooklyn turnpike. He
had been informed of the robbery, and tho alert
The three stopped at his house and called for
est liquor kent y wtness after the three had drsDk
witness informed them of his intention to arrest them,
when they rushed for the door Johnson was immediate
ly secured by in attendance the door, and the
prisoner and Ray rushed out Of the back door the wit
ness pursued prisoner, who struck him. Witness twice
they going through the hall to the back door,
but after foot of three quarters # mile the wit
feeling injured by one of the blows in his chest
gave up chase On his return to the house. he found
Ray and Johnson secured and examined them He found
upon johnson the watch, and upon Ray the knife, just
identified This is short summary of the testimony
the prisoner called witnesses The jury rendered
The came evidence given in the case of Ray with
the addition Of Michael Rufer who pursued and overlook
the prisoner; and a like verdict rendered.
johnson rendered plea of guilty of burglary in the I'd
degree, which was accepted They will be sentenced
in a few moments p. NJ, Saturday, 18th.
We understand that Russell and Ray who were con-
vcted by the jury have been sentenced 10 each
to the State prison at Sing Sing and johnson who plead
ed guilty, sentenced to years. One of the priso-
after his conviction, informed the Sheriff where he
could procure the other missing watch, consequently
special locomotive motion and the god watch
recovered from under bush, East New York,
where il had been concealed by the accused in his fight
towards New York
Too much praise cannot be awarded to J. P Lamber
son. Esq the efficient district attorney and likewise the
sheriff OF Queens county for the perseversu abi
ty displayed by them in arresting and eonvctng the
thieves all within four days. and thus Kidding the CON-
mupity Of three desperate midnight robbers.
We indebted for the above report to officer James
H. Welsh, Of this city, and the sheriff Of Queens county