The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-16
Court OF General Sessions.
Before the Recorder and Aldermen Franklin and

JUNE 15.-7ne Case of Isaac a. Biggs charged Nth
s assed Of ean;ns 40 Oh! 'r Me p" ~
the court the prisoner appeared with his COUNSEL he
well dressed, and bears appearance, not disn-
que but gentee he Is dressed in black throughout;
looks rather intelligent and watches with the closest
care, every remark of the court, counsel, witness
The case resumed this morning by the prisoners
counsel arguing the question of the admissibity of
Mr. Bowyers evidence at least much Of it as re-
lates to the confessions Of Briggs which made af
ter Officer Bowyer had told prisoner that he in
critical position and had better tell him about the
package. Counsel for the prisoner claims that such
evidence is inadmissibe he quoted authorities to sus
tain his position.
The DIs1ncr ATTORNEY followed arguing that the
evidence desired by the opposite side to be excluded
admissible and proper testimony to be introduced
in this He also cited various authorities in sup
port Of his argument
The RECORDER expressed his qualification at this
cussion having taken place, because decisions
had been made both in the courts Of this country and
in England He reviewed the arguments of counsel;
he could not that the old ruling had been at all
changed in any of the late referred to by
sci 1t was sautary rule which provided for the ex-
to the hopes fears of the prisoner. The Recorder
expressed his unqualified disapprobaton OF the
pursued by officers in questioning prisoners 1t
not he said their province to do So All the evidence
based declarations Of the prisoner subsequent
Mr. Bowyer telling him that he was in critical posi-
ton, &c, ruled out.
Crosseramination of Mr.. BOWER resuned-Could not
what Bggs did in the grocery store at the of
John and Cliff streets; could not whether Bggs had
the package or not was at two great distance from
him; the other officers nearer to him than N.Y.
out Of his coat pocket with newspaper around it,
am not positive that | Bggs 20 into the United
States Hotel don't recollect don't recollect that
Mr. Bggs in there; was watching the entrance in
Water street. there another entrance in Pearl street,
Mr. Biggs came out of the Water street door, did not
observe Mr. Bggs take this package out of his pocket
on the Battery it may have been DONE but did not
see him do it; ] him with letter in his hand he
was reading it; there letter produced, found
his person at the office OF Chief Of Police which letter
directed to him; cant say whether he delivered
the letter whether took from his person. think
hath fha alta
shown Witness this letter taken from Bggs,
produced at the time Of ttc search.
COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENCE offers to read the letter.
DIsTRrcr ATToRNrY objects to the reading. This
letter he said by which tho prisoner proposes to
cupate himself and he suggested how the letter might
have been procured to be written by the prisoner him
self and by him carried about his person as to be
used by himself in Of his being arrested The
point argued length and the court fully decided
that the letter admissible
The letter was read. IL was signed X Eastwood,
and directed to Biggs, directing him to go to tho
money which II contain fast as possible enclosing
each night the amount which he had during
the day, and depositing the same in the postoice,
directed to T. X. Eastwood and all this was to be done
by Biggs under penalty Of loss Of life The writer
claimed by the defence to have been the inducing
cause which led Biggs to go to the United State
Hotel, and receive the package.
JOHN Rrrp policeman sworn.-I was with Mr. Bow.
yer at the time person arrested saw person
take package from behind the bar at the United
had left behind the counter the hands of the
keeper package shown; have no doubt that is the
same package; Ia paper shown on which was memo
randum, to wit, "a Lafayette place. this paper was
found on the person Of Mr. Bragg had some CONVEX
saton with Bragg Counsel for defence object to the
introduction OF any testimony giving the conversation
Of the officer with Bragg he Bragg is not trial
District Attorney claimed that the conversations Of
Bragg might be given as connection in this matter
between him and Biggs had already been shown to
exist. Ruled out
Testimony resumed.-I did not Biggs and Bragg
together At any time.
Cross eramined-I saw the package at the United
States Hotel; saw it as IL Is now, and afterwards
saw it apparently enclosed in newspaper; ! saw no
paper on the package
District Attorney here proposed to read the letters
which had been addressed to Mr. Aston
Counsel for prisoner objected to the reading. The
letters ad not BEEN in any way traced to the prison.
or The possession Of package manufactured at the
Office Of the Chief of Police had nothing to do coun.
sci contended with the writing OF these letters
The court ruled that the letters might be read evil
depce.
The counsel for defence excepted to the decision
One Of the letters then read; but as the others
were H. ded In the indictment the counsel
the prisoner objected to their being read Pending
The decision Of this question the court took
till Monday morning, at III O'clock