The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-26
The Government Jewcls-The Trial Of Jacob
Shuster, alias Tom Hand.
CRIMINAL COURT.
Before Judge J. II. Crawford.

Shuster, alias Tom Hand.
CRIMINAL COURT.
Before Judge J. II. Crawford
WAsHNGr TON, April "a, lS4o.
The room was, previous ccasions crowded with
trial Of Shuster, charged with stealing the government
jewels, ON the sth Of last November.
brought to the stand and his testimony was a repeti
ton Of what has already been with the excep
ton Of few contradictions He still maintained how
ever, that the why he did not deliver up the
SO, Shustsr and Sam Powell would turn against him.
and have him sent to the pentsntary for ten years
and, beside, he was afraid Of his life
MI. Key, lfor the prosecution Mr. Robinson, call
That gentleman then stepped to the door, and cried
In loud voice, "a Nj. c. Smith =" "A. M. c. Smith %
When he returned,
Mr.. KEY inQuired-Did he answer
Mr.. RoBNsoN-No sir.
MIR. KEY-The witnesses somewhere in atten-
The CousI-The witnesses must be here directly ;
we can't wait
The jury after going out to feast at the cock table,
MIR. BURKE, the Commissioner of Patents, testified
that he received the stolen articles from officer A. NJ
G. Smith, and gave q receipt for them.
On the cross-exrmnation, he said that he offered
reward Of for the recovery of the articles and
the conviction of the thief after consultation with
the Secretary OF State That all he knew but he
could tell his reasons
MIR. RApcLHFE-Oh! no. ...
Mr.. KEY-t is perfectly obvious that this is not ne
cessary. That will do, Mr.. Burke.
JOSEPH X. ATKINSON "a witness the former trial)
rcstated that Shuster in the Of conversation
told him that the National Police Gazette had not long
to live, the mainstay dhe government advertisement
A. M. C. Smith, recalled said that he gave the arti-
ces to MIR. Burke, and obtained q receipt for them
MI. REY-Have you got through!
Mr.. RADCLIrFE-Yes
MIR. KEY--Call Blaney.
Mr.. Pumse officer, stepped to the door, and call
ed aloud, willis Blaney Willis Blaney!'
Blaney, however, di d not make his appearance.
Mr. KEY stated that he had examined all the witness
es for the prosecution.
JOHN DUNCAN called for tho defence Has resi-
ded in Philadelphia nearly all his life; is acquainted
with Willis Blaney who was high constable for four
years; the character Of Blaney, a man Of truth
and veracity, is bad; and witness would not believe
him on his oath
&c; knew Blaney when witness was deputy sheriff;
had heard the Mayors runner, John Gibbs, John
Payne Benjamin Paris, and others, speak about bad
Mr.. Duncan then went outside the bar, the deputy
marshal calling after him Duncan take OF your haiti
~ W. HUGAEs who resides in Philadelphia, testified
that ne knew Shuster, by reputation and sight, and
ry, since 1885 Had heard the public speak of Baneys
character for truth and veracty as bad. Witness
would not believe Baney from his general
on his oath. He would not if there an important
matter pending.
MIR. CARLIsLE-A small reward Of 81 500?
Mr.. HUGHEs-No, sir
MIR. KEY-Gentlemen. you done with him?
Mr.. RApCLFFE-Yes, sir.
On the Hughes stated that his bu-
sness is that of an ex-ofcer; never had difficulty
with Baney; spoke to Shuster but twice had
u,
and thousand names Of the most respectable men of
Philadelphia certifying to the bad character Of Bla
ns 2r. R.vc1,yyr-No doubt about it, reckon.
MIR. DUNCAN was recalled and, in answer to Ques-
ton by Mr. Key said that he arrived here this
ing and in time to put clean shirt before he
to the court. He was summoned witness, and
came by request Of the counsel for the defence.
Mr.. kADcLIFFE--Stand aside, Mr.. Duncan.
MIR. PLUMsELL, (constable)-"Take off your hat"
Mr.. RADcLnFE-He is a Quaker.
MIR. DUNCAN remarked to those outside that he had
N hp I'm nj m hia hat hat had
lcnce!'
had testified as to Shusters handwriting) He had
never had any acquaintance with him. but his charac
ter for truth and yeracty is
MIR KEY interposed an objection, and Mr.. Carlisle
insisted that the witness should proceed
The CoURT-Reputation is what the people say Of q
man.
Witness know Blaney by sight, and what other
people ray Of his character is bad
Mr. KSy-Have you heard anything as to his truth
and veracity?
WiTNEss-Yes.
MIR accommodating to that, could you believe
him on his OATH taking public opinion true expo
nent?
WirSrss-I would not
MIR KEY-WhaVdid you hear said Of him?
W1SEss-l have lived in Philadelphia nearly all my
life, with the exception Of four five years back.
the men speak of his character bad. heard
anybody say that he would not believe Blaney his
OATH but have heard people that they would not
trust him.
THOMAS Woop MCKINLEY, of Philadelphia was called
and the substance of his testimony that he not
acquainted with the character Of Blaney for truth and
had never heard the subject discussed.
GEoncE PorTs, (examincd OH the former trial.
that the celebrated letters lin relation the jewels
and proposing restore them the government ad.
vertisements taken from the Police Gazette did
not bear any resemblance to Shuster's handwriting
CHARLES HALL, or HAws, testified that he had been
acquainted with Shuster's handwriting for ten or
twelve years and that the letters shown not his
Shusters sister.
Mr. Key asked the court to adjourn all his wit
nesees were not present.
MIR CARLisLE-We willing to close.
MIR KE'-l desire to Introduce rebuttDg testimony.
MIR CARLIsLE-State what it is
MIR KEy-An attack has been made on the charact ter
ofo gentleman, MIR. Blaney, and want to rebut the
testimony
The CorRI-when can the witnesses for the govern
ment be here!
Dir KEY--In few minutes.
Mr. CARtIslr-We can go that game as long as the
District Attorney please. He ought to have been ready
with his witnesses. Blaney into court with his
counsel David Paul Brown and now he ought to have
come with his witnesses. IL Is not surprise
part The District Attorney knows that evidence
goes full butt against Blaney.
Baney's character on the first trial. for truth and
veracity. We want to show who Hughes and Duncan
Il IT not due to Blaney to give him time to pro-
ducc witnesses to show what his character Is
(OFyIcER OF THE CoURr-"Iiats of 10 ''silence ~
Mr. RADerurE.why, you don't suppose
Mr.. ksY-Mr. Radcliffe, let me get through. don't
propose to do anything collaterally but let
the be arrested without letting the jury who
these witnesses are and their character never heard
Of made to snub IL OF and would ask time to
obi ain witnesses.
MIR. CARLIsLE-If the District Attorney has cut his
eye teeth he knows that the former turned on the
credibility Of witnesses. On the ground Of public
policy, justice to the prisoner the court and counsel
the ought to be closed the United States
produce their witnesses.
Mr.. KEY responded and insisted that time ought to
be allowed to procure rebuttng testimony.
Further debate ensued, when
The COuRr inquired Have you any witnesses here
MIR. kEy-Ycs
MIR. CARLisLE-Scnd for them.
The CouRT-We adjourned yesterday because the
witnesses for the defence were not here
MIR. CARLIsLE-Your Honor why the testimony OF
the witnesses for the United States had not closed -
his takes entirely by surprise The United States
continued the examination to-day.
The CouRr-lt was understood that you were not
ready.
MIR. CARLisLI-I beg your honors pardon. The ad-
journment yesterday took place the distinct ground
that the United States were not ready with their wit
ncsses.
Mr.. RADcLFyE-If the case goes on, we will have half
Q dozen more witnesses. We will send 10