The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-25
City Intalll9ancA.

MAY DAv 10 CoMrNo.-That much dreaded day when
ed 70 take up their beds and walk is fast approaching
and already symptoms Of Its unpeassntness visible.
Most houses which were to let have been taken
and those who have neglected to prepare In time
running to and fro in search Of domcil for the
coming year, or month, as the case may be. Those
ladies who hard to house being too
small the rent of that too high marble mantles
in the other besides being out of the fashionable
neghborhood. now anxious to get where they
can. few days since, gentleman and hi wife stop
ped before a large stone front house in Eighteenth
street, on which there was bill OTTO Let" Thelady
was perfectly delighted with the exterior appearance,
and thought If the interior equal she would be
pleased to have it; besides it in delightful
neighborhood, and so close to the church. The hus-
band satisfied that his means not sufficient
to take such house. and therefore he did not
look at it. But the lady insisted, and rang the bell
The door opened and they entered The interior
far superior to the exterior and the wife
fecy deighted she would take 1t, by all means no
thing having been yet said about the rent. MIR.
considerae. He asked what the price of
the house; to which the occupant. who had by this
time Joined them replied Twelve hundred dollars per
year payable monthly and with good security" This
perfect shock to the young wife. The rent was
not objection. but the idea Of her husband giving
security more than her pride could bear, though
she last thought that people not to blame to make
themselves safe. Mr. - said nothing, but felt very
much gratfed that the terms so strict and de-
manded such surety He turned to his wife, after she
had concluded to take the house and told her 1t would
not suit In tho first place the rent was more than he
could pay and secondly he would not make his friends
responsible for that which they would surely have to
pay This what the wife expected and she bore the
This is but of the thousands of like which
daily the first Of May approaches Others are
sss at which they realize than first cost so great
is the desire for old furniture plate china and other
household utensils At an auction few days since,
in Liberty street set Of china was offered, many
pieces of which had been broken and stuck together
with white lead 1t old and for that reason there
was perfect rush Of bids invariably by ladies' each Of
whom determined to be the future possessor Of
that ancient set The bids as high as fifteen dol
lars and fast the auctoncer could call; the same
1aAv 1trnf Tho fhA
at which price she purchased it. SO as the ladies
begin to bid the business is at settled the proper
ty is to bring than twice its value to the
great chagrn of those husbands who have to pay the
bills 1t is amusing to witness the preparations for
May day the whole city being in commotion in the
purchase and sale Of furniture and renting Of houses
and the regular auction business.
THE WEATHER.-Though the morning of Yesterday
cloudy and the rain for time fell fast 1t was the
delightful day April About ten O'clock the sky
became clear and the rays OF the had genial
influence upon all nature. The streets were literal
forms of tho fair daughters of Gotham whose every
countenance bespoke happy contentment. AS night
grew on the face Of the sky was again obscnred by
clouds and there every probability OF unpleasant
weather.
SocIrrY LIBRARY.-The following gentlemen were yes
terday elected trustees of the Society Library for the
ensuing year:-Gulian c. Verplanck, William lnglis
Alexander r. Rodgers, Dayton Hobart, Frederick Dc
Peyster stephen C. Williams, James DePeystcr Ogden
Joshua Colt Joseph Delafcld, James III. Titus Charles
NJ Leupp, Charles A. Bristed Daniel Seymour John
H. Gourlie, James w. Bcekman.
FlRE--A FIRE broke out Monday night, in the
house No. 22 Blocker street. caused by the explosion
of camphine lamp. 1t was put out with trihing
damage
AccIpEHr.-Ellen Haggcrty, residing AT Manhattan
VILE was run over at the corner Of Broadway and 18th
street, on Monday evening" by grocer's wagon, and
seriously injured She conveyed to her residence
RIorous PnocEEpnG.The occasion of a small fire, in
the suburbs Of the city, on Sunday night, drew several
Of the fire companies out, among whom Hook and
Ladder Co. No. s. On the return of this company they
attacked at the corner of 42d street and Third
avenue by party Of lrishmen who threw stones and
other missiles at them. fight ensued in which the
saants victorious, and they took possession of
the truck and strewed the ladders in the street Po
licemen Jaques and Bohr. who present and at
tempted to quiet the difficulty both seriously
hurt: sufficient body of police succeeded in
ing the truck and ladders to the company.
JIM WEBB.-The recent trial of Shuster, at
Washington, for the robbery of the Patent Office,
resulted IN "A failure of the jury to agree. 1t is
quite probable that it became apparent to the
jurors that the prisoner was a mere dummy in the
hands OF more accomplished rogues. At the head
of the latter class stands James Webb, the indi-
vidual who was furnished by Edmund Burke, the
Commissioner of Patents, with written authority
to negotiate for the restoration of the jewels and
the pardon of the thieves There is little, if any,
room for doubt that the robbery was planned by
Webb, and executed under his direction, for the
purpose of procuring the pardon of his brother,
Charles Webb, who was last fall convicted of for.
gerry at Albany, under the name of Hunt and in
whose fate High Constable Young, of Philadelphia,
took so lively an interest.
1t Is not generally known in this region that
James Webb was one of the robbers of Livingston
Il Wells express, at Rochester, in October 1915.
In fact 1t was In consequence OF a resemblance in
size and figure between this veteran thief and
gentleman (not unknown to the readers of this
paFer) who was the counsel of Livingston Il
Wells, that the robbers were discovered. A mer-
chant from Ohio, who saw Webb and Harrington
carrying the stolen express trunk from the railroad
station, when called upon TO describe his person,
n 10 Of al
who was examining him, and that with some
obvious embarrassment, as if he did not quite like
to see the counsel so much the counterpart, in sta
ture and form, of the thief 1t is due to the good
looks of the gentleman referred to, to say that this
resemblance is not understood to extend to the
face or head. The fact, however, made dsa-
greeable Impression upon the counsel.
month after this, in investigating the actions
and dolngs OF two very suspicious characters who
were found to have boarded at tavern at the head
of Buell's avenue, for fortnight before the rob-
berry, without any apparent employment, and who
were tracked from hotel in this city to that tav-
em, and subsequently, to private boarding house,
three different individuals, In entire ignorance of
the testimony of the merchant above mentioned
and that of each other, all referred for descrp-
ton of the person of of those to the figure of
the counsel who was questioning them This was
plainly better description than any verbal one,
however minute, and 1t established, beyond doubt
the fact that this man (who proved to be James
Webb,) was one of the robbers, and that the other
DR.. Hatch, was confederate A detail Of the cir,
cumstances which established a connection be-
tween Hatch and Harrington, would be not only
amusing, but instructive, as showing how trivial a
thing may furnish clue to an important fact; but
our concern now is only to inform our readers who
this James Webb is, that the government have let
slip through their fingers and turned loose to prey
upon community.
There is good deal yet unwritten in relation to
the express robbery, both comic and tragic. 1t led
to exploration in the domains of rascaldom more
wide and searching than has taken place for many
years. and good many men and things were
good reason why such things should not be written
is, that rogues study and profit by them They
are dlgent readers Of all publications which give
the details Of crimes, and great patrons of the
cheap newspapers which deal largely in such mat
ter.
James Webb belongs to the highest order of the
criminal arstocracy. He never committed small
theft, and regards pckpocket with quite as much
contempt as the most vlrtuous man in community.