The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-10-10


Social LIFE During the past year, there have
been many intricate plots and counterplots within
the circle of criminal movements and results
The public will not soon forget the remarkable
attemp,s-now believed to have been set on foot |
ny Warner and his gang-to get up cases against
ArlikRton Bennett, the independent philosopher
and student Of New Utrecht, and against Samuel
Drury, an inhabitant of Astoria-both OF which
have resulted in leaving the characters OF the sc
persons just where they before the legal pro-
CO, diDgs came before the courts Men ha' e fire.
quenty been suspected and tried, and prov ed inno-
cent Of grave charges; but in these cases there
were trials and evidence for which faere was no
apparent cause. The whole fabric of suspicion
was carved nom moonshine, am, in good lime it
vanished IL any persons SOD ght TO make money
out of hesterrors they held out, of hard verdict,
upon ,ndoubted and indYyutable testimony, they
were 9eceiviRg themselves; for the men assailed
were resolved TO Withstand all the COMPUTATIONS Of
stool pigeon magcians, rather than pay for such
Inischievous ingenuity, new specimens OF which
can always be ready in great metropolis, where
men do not fear to stoop 10 cunning for the sake Of
money.
We have seen charges preferred at the police
office against Mr.. Niles, lawyer Of this city,
which curious in their character, and which
may bring out as much mrth, magic and mystery
any story in the Arabian Nights. The Grand
Jury are now being tied up in perfect Gordian
knot Of intricaey on the subject; and, to come to
some conclusion, they may decide upon letting the
public have a full review of the past history of
half dozen Of handsome, lively, intere sting and
fascinating women, and We do not know how
many rich old fathers, bachelors and husbands,
who have paid the penalty of an incautious curl
osity.
We DO not assume TO know much about the
details of the socialstic and uanscendenta school
Of crime that has taken the place OF the old New
gate and Sing Sing order of things; but so far
we can comprehend its remarkable erigin intri-
| cacy, execution and results, it embraces a wide
dramatic activity, quite startling and deeply inn
| pIessive Imagine beautiful and accomplished
woman not inferior TO one of the fallen angels
| becoming the tenant Of rich Wall street mer-
chant, and, step by step, under one plea and an-
other, becoming highly interested in his property,
and exceedingly anxious to pay TO him punctualiy
| his rent. Imagine this semblance of the fadea
| angel inviting the rich old fellow to her house
| nay, into her private room-and there, boiling the
| door, TO plead TO him. with tears in her eyes, to
ieduce her rent, or TO do any other reasonable aud
| philauthropic act becoming a modest gentleman.
| This done, then imagine husband-putative, or
| otherwise hing in and demanding satisfaction
! for the outrage committed under closed doors
, and during his absence. What sensitive old
| gentleman would wish to he subjected to
such an ordeal And yet, who would pay
"to hush up" such ridiculous matter, all
| growing out of a mistake, or something worse
| But money is very important part Of the social
nome n,um, and no can get money, where it
has not been earned, so quick as a smart lawyer.
Lawyers are applied to; perhaps, the services OF
half dozen are required TO finish the drama with
full moral and social justice. Threats of divorce,
OF actions for ci CON, and for heavy damages, are
made; and the easy victim of coahding nature,
finds himself wrapped in a whole shroud of diff
culties and perplexities. The wife, with wounded
honer-the husband, with mortified pride-the
lawyers, with stinted purses-are in a sad dilemma
However, they all think sufficient quantity of
money will prove plaster; and the poor old dupe
Of the plot, pays down his thousands, to be held
haIm,ess Of any kind Of exposure. This kind Of
DR. ana has been often repeated, and has made a
full treasury. II is estimated that all street alone
has been drawn upon to the amount Of about
seventy OF eighty thousand dollars, which have
been divided among the principal actors, who have
been interested in the performances of the rich old
amateur of the beautiful and the fascinating. We
have not space to indicate the peculiar details of
various plots. They will all be published in due
time, when the trials going on; and az the facts
are likely to ONE out, in consequence of quarrel
about the sqsatabe division of the spoils, we may
expect something rich Iacy, tantalizing, exciting.
puzzlng and fall Of pictures of legal and social life
in the metropolis.
The public may be prepared for a very curious
history. The women are quite romantic, and Gle
yer at this new way of Furnishing wealth while
they enrich themselves. Some are very hand
some, with husbands-some are widows-some are
singe--and some are, no man knows what. Snu
their letters are remarkable-excelent love letters
curious, conbdng, constant and communicative
Then there are the lawyers letters curious, but
cautious, cold, calculating, and commanding.
Then there are the stoolpgeon reporters letters
classical, close, captivating, and conversational.
In fact, all the materiasare rich-the stool pigeons
are full aedgsd-the decoy ducks are fat and
fsnciful-and the every par, parcel, perssn and
particular, such as to create a most remarkable
impression with respect to the social and legal
advancement Of this great centre Of refinement and
civilization. We do not know where the guilt il.
or at whose doors it will be brought. All we have
TO do is TO wait, conscious, as the poet say. that
to- morrow will brng us further than to day. So
be II.
THE CHIEF EseHEEE AM THE COMMON CoUv-
crL~-The Representatives Of me Fire Department.
h'ld meeting lat night for the purpose OF hearing
the report Of the committee appointed by the Fire
Department, TO act with the Common Council
committee. in investigating The charges preferred !
by the Chief Engineer IN his late report. BY the
report Of the committee, and the resolutions, which
will be found in another column, 1t will be seen tina,
the Chief Engineer was sustained Throughout by /
the Fire Department