The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-13
THE ToRrrpo AND OTHER srooL.P,oKoS Mrs-


BENsEr's TRAL.-Tne trial
Of the once celebrated author Of "Book keeping,
&c. ;" Arlington Bennett, of Arlington House, Long
Island, indicted for forgery on James Foster, is set
down for Tomorrow, in the Court of Sessions, in
this devoted city. This will be the fifth trial con-
nected with the famous batch Of torpedo, and the
stool-pigeon criminal mysteries, which have agtat-
ed the atmosphere Of the Tombs for many months
past The first trial was that of the two Drurys,
ending in no verdict-the second was that OF Case,
ending in acquittal-the third was Ashey's, end
ing in conviction for forgery-the fourth was One
Eyed Thompson, tried last week in Brooklyn, and
ending in acquittal-the fifth, and one of the most
interesting, will be that of Arlington Bennett, TO
come up tomorrow, if nothing special be interpos-
ed TO delay the proces1hgs
All these trials, with such as are TO follow, must
throw much light on these singular and unique
criminal mysteries. As yet no sufficient or I'M
Objectionable evidence has been produced, tending
TO show clearly the author, originator, or manu-
facturer of the famous torpedo box-or Of the va
rious foreeres charged against numerous indivi-
duals. The individual, or individuals, who manu-
featured the torpedo, well as the for
geries, must have possessed very superior
degree Of practical chemical knowledge united
with an inventive genius for crime that is perfectly
original and wonderful The testimony on all the
previous trials has not developed facts broad
enough or clear enough, 10 establish the exact
identity of this wonderful genius We have had
plenty of the ordinary crcumstanal evidence,
such as presses, bottles, liquids, and other chemi
cal apparatus, found in different locates-and also
lots of what is called stoopiseon evidence, con-
sistng of the declarations and admissions of assoc
ciates under entrapped circumstances all of which
description of evidence has been considered, gene
rally, by ures, not entitled to full relianceas
the previous trials have indicated.
Who devised and manufacted the torpedo car
ried to Warmers house 2 Who devised and ex-
tracted, by some chemical process, the writing in
the letter written by James Foster, and converted
il into forged motel Who arranged and changed,
by a chemical or printing process, the country
bank one dollar bills into tens, &c. In the per-
petraton of these crimes, there to have been
vast confederacy of chemists, engravers, stool
pigeons, passers of bad money-an association of
men and women, some originals, and some dupes,
Of the most remarkable and startling character.
We want more evidence. The trial of Arlington
Bennett is another chapter in the drama, and it will
be watched and studied with an intensity equal to
that of its predecessors.
ANNEXATION, GENERAL AND PARrIcuLAE.-It is
useless to talk about, or to plan, any new annexa-
tons, while we have such an array of difficulties
TO surmount as have attended our already very
large acquisitions of territory. Indeed, there are
many very important reasons why we should hold
our commercial relations with contiguous countries
particularly sacred, and free from even the pros
pect of disturbance. There was great amount
If feel nhrepzv and wnrds "a IN th;s
State, some time ago. upon Canada annexation but
il has all passed away, and seems to be floating
down the river St. Lawrence, now open to our YES
sells on the reciprocity principle. This is the best
that can be made of such patriotism Let it
drift seaward.
The annexation of Cuba is now the theme with
a few brainless boys and scheming oilers, who do
not know how to get dinner excep, apon army
rations They have been set into high fever by
the departure of an old vessel from New Orleans,
with two or three hundred men and have been
thrown into spasm by the flag floating at the corner
of a certain building on Fulton and Nassau streets,
which will probably be taken down by disappointed
ambition on some dark night, not far distant. We
think the sooner the flag is struck the better. II
keeps the newsboys wondering when the "Juba
Battle Extra" will be ready, and interferes with
their regular trade in newspapers. The flag should
be removed to Conev Island, the head quarters Of
great expeditions, like that of Captain Lopez. |,
does not have fair shake in a crowded thorough
fare. If il cannot brave the battle, il should brave
the breeze.
TIM FORREST CAsE.-Our private accounts from
Harrisburg state that there is no possible chance
for Mr.. Forrest TO get his divorce bill passed into
law by the present Legislature of Pennsylvania
and that il is highly probable he will abandon that
plan Of operations altogether His last resource is
to 60 into the law courts, either of Pennsylvania
New York, and ask for trial and decision in the
rood old regular way