The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-29

We give in our police intelligence, to-day, very
full and authentic report OF the facts in the history
of the recent very extraordinary case of illegal
bail, which was authorized by Recorder Scott,
under the advice of counsel, one day last week.
1t will be seen by this report, that, as soon as
notice was called to the subject IN the public
journals, the Recorder took occasion to make
statement of the circumstances under which he
accepted bail and permitted the prisoners to
escape-in manner which, however, by no means
jusfes high an officer as the Recorder or takes
away all blame from him in the case, as it now
stands. The Judge of high criminal court ought
to have, to use an expressive but ordinary term,
his law always sat his finger ends;" nor should he
be under the necessity of taking legal advice, as
well as statement Of facts, from counsel, on any
occasion. But certainly, one of the strangest
things is, that Recorder Scott, at that particular
juncture, should, under any circumstances, have
forgotten the existence of the statute prescribing
the legal proceedings in such cases; that such an
important and active principle of law should have
been obliterated by the eloquence of learned coun-
sell any thing else from the mind Of so respected
and independent public funcuonary, as Recorder
Scott claims to be.
The Recorder, however, In giving an explana-
non, places the stress Of the policy he pursued on
the advice of the counsel engaged in the case.
This counsel, it seems, is person by the
name of Huff, and who appears to have Off
clated In this particular case, as legal advi-
ser, not only of the two prisoners implicated,
but also of his Honor the Recorder. Now,
the question arises at once, who is this Mr..
Huff, and how did he exercise such extensive
C.. l. Il.
arrested, but also to the Recorder himself on the
occasion of giving and taking illegal bail in this
case!
On enqulrIng into the history of Mr.. Huff, we
find that that distinguished man has made great
deal of noise IN the world, on former OCCASIONS
His debut in life we have not ascertalned; but his
profession, for many years, was crler to the old
Marine Court, in which Recorder Scott sat as
one of the dispensers of Justice In that capacity,
Mr.. Huff has made considerable noise, strictly
according to law, giving notice to the lawyers
that the court was opened, and threatening the
boys and loafers with punishment, unless they
would keep still and quiet. On the accession Of
Mr. Scott to the Recordership, by an appointment
given to him through the influence of the late
Governor Wright, and fol the purpose, 1t is said,
of making John Van Buren, Attorney General of
the State, Mr.. Huff transferred his talents and &C.
qulrements from the Marine Court to the Court of
Sessions, where he was appointed to the respon.
slble Office of crier, which he filled with great
honor and trust up to last winter At that time he
was admitted as lawyer to practise in some of
the courts, and, therefore, abandoned his highly
responsible position of crler, and OF keeping the
loafers and boys quiet for that of picking up
about the Tombs and managing the affairs of
clients. Among other curious specimens of his
legal learning and talent, we have the original Of
the following curious note addressed to person
named, and which we copy, rrbatim ct Htcratun, ::
MIR Crossmsn
Sir A Claim
has been placed In my hands
against you for collection you
please call my Office and sttls
the same and save cost, my
Office is in Park with the
Recorder (Rsoordsrs offics)
Yours sc
SPHUFF
New York april sth 1s4s
From this note, 1t will be perceived that Mr.
Huff, the legal adviser OF Recorder Scott in the
case OF the Martins, pays no particular regard
TO the rules of Llndley Murray, either in spelling,
grammar, or In punctuation. This, then, Is the
distinguished counsel, the eminent lawyer, on
whom Recorder Scott rested in the emergency
described by our report, when the two dressmakers
or washer women were called up to give bail in
the case in question.
We do not think 1t is necessary to add a single
word on the character of this case, on the conduct
OF Recorder Scott, or on that of Mr. Huff, who
boy hao oI Ia 81
the occasion. We are extremely sorry for the Re-
corder. We have known him for nearly twenty
five years, and we have always esteemed him to
be an honest, upright, intelligent and learned man
We think, however, that there were some exhb.
tions, during the recent election, which resulted
in such a tremendous majority against Recorder
Scott and in favor of Mr. Tallmadge, that will mo-
dify the opinion of any man in regard to the pre-
sent Recorder The people are good Judges OF
Recorders. We may, however, forget the violent
and unprovoked attacks on the character of Mr.
Tallmadge nor pry4arrowly into heir source, pro.
vided Recorder Scott will be particular to present
this Of illegal bail to the Grand Jury, side by
side with the alleged illegal conduct of Sheriff
Acker OF Backwel's Island, which took place
few days ago. We shall insist upon this course.
LATER FROM HAvANA.-We are in receipt Of
files Of the Gaceta de la Hdbana, up to the 2lst
instant The items Of news are very scarce. The
Italian Opera company were going on finely, and
the greatest encomiums are lavished on the art.
lists by the critics. Sgnor Marini, especially, Is
praised for his admirable sna ing IN the opera Of
"Atila, - and not only his singing, but also his
acting, which they declare to be worthy of the
great Talma Sonnets are composed and publish
ed on him in the papers; his likeness is to be
found every where in Havana, and memoir of
his life is eagerly bought up. In fact, "Ei gran
Marrm,," as they term him, Is making tremen-
dous sensation among the Habaneros. Signor
vieui, Sra. Stefanoni, and Sgnor PollonlnI,
all Of whom are well known in this city, are
all spoken well of by the critics. Ardit is said
to have created perfect furore by his perform
I'll.