The New York herald., 1850-05-25
Court OF General Sessions.


rops this morning that was necessary to throw
open The doors to the upper gallery nov ossn
before for years This long deserted portion OF
the chamber soon filled and officers were deputed
to maintain therein. before the proceedings
Of the day had commenced
when the Court annov need themselves ready 10 pro-
coed with the trial Mr. Clark COUNSEL for the defend
cards he said had been posted about the streets
TO the prejudice OF his client interest He said: MY
attention has keen this morning called 70 the fact,
that on yesterday there appeared posted about THIS
city Ina the numerous thorous shfares where handbls
are usually placed, a large plscard. entitled
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE.
JAMES ARLINGTON BENNETT,
The Chief of Forgers, etc.
do not entertain the opinion that the public on
GERS connected with this prosecution have been in
strumental in this publication, which is most evident
attempt TO influence the public mind. at the very
ment OF bis trial against man arraigned at the bar
OF this court for q serious criminal offence do
apprehend in this that the jury would suffer their
minds to be thereby Influenced in any degree against
the prisoner: but nevertheless deem IL my duty to
cali the attention OF the court to the fact, Of
public conccrnmeDt. and as imperatively demanding
the notice and the marked dsapprobaton of this
court. To Fay nothing of the Injurious consequences
which might in some cases result TO the cause of
prisoner. from such malicious and unjustilable pro-
cscdng the practice sanctioned by the court and
approved by general sentiment is calculated to endan
ger ;he public peace and to strike at the basis of all
confidence In the pure administration of justice.
am happy to be able to say that in this community
has hitherto been unusual TOR public newspaper to
opsocrste itself for the purpose of working the con-
vietion OF man accused OF a criminal offence, and
that 10 is not probable that the here pursued
Will in the end. meet with other than signal conden-
nation Seeing as do in this pacard the hand of
tn. masters pirit who has given life and direc
tion TO this prosecution. fOrbear further comment,
having only in this reference the subject discharg
cd what Fl conceived to be my duty TO the prisoner
The court will decide whether it duty to the public
requires that any further notice of it should be taken
Eecorder-This court would rebuke most severely,
and punish any individual found to be guilty OF OF
fence such as that you have stated This Is the irst
is,nation have had Of the fact the court knew
who the author Of the placard they would der
the individual before them and punish him.
Mr. Clarkso far the libel contained in the pacard
is concerned il is matter for the Grand Jury; but in
the contempt of concerned thought
this court had to do with IT, ard he called the aten
ton Of your hoBors to the fact.
kecoTder--If knew who issued the placards,
would punish them severely Proceed with the testi-
mopy. gentlemen.
knowledge of Thompson's style, as well as his hand
writing you led to believe that those letters
written by Thompson?
Court-That question rut 20 the witness yester-
day. ard objected to by the prosecution.
Mr. Clark proposed TO show that there were express
sons in the letters precisely similar to those used by
Thompson
Mr. Graham responded He objected to giving evil
dence to style and referred to authorities support
Of his position.
Mr. CLARK (to the wness) who called you to testify
at the time Of the Drury trial
Court-That is not material
Mr.. Clark-Why, the Drury gang" has been rung
in the ears of the public for six months
Court-Drury has not been convicted.
MIR. Clark-No and 1 apprcheRd it will be a long
time before he is convicted o the witness present
ing the anonymous letter written to Ashley9-That
letter you recognise written in one OF the ordi
nary hands OF Thompson? Ayes.
Caleb S. Woodruff Mayor Of the city, sworn-I re-
member receiving anonymous letter, some time in
November last; had idea from whom the letter
came; did not much attention to it, (ettcr shown
and identified by the Mayor. some days afterwards
ceived it, and asked me II bad received such letter.
had made no communication further than that
handed the letter over to my clerk knew Mr. Wilkes
before.
Cross-examined-when Mr.. Wilkes called on me, he
showed letter which he had himself received
@r. Clark-Did you look at the letter which Mr.
Wilkes handed you at the time! Al did. Q.-Did
II not to you that both letters we're in the same
handwriting. Objected to and ruled out)
Mr.. Graham-Did not Mr.. Wilkes leave the letter
with you' A.--Yes, believe he did
MIR. Clark.-pid he not leave the note at the same
time,-I believe he did.
Mr.. Clark-Is Mr. Wilkes connected with the public
authorities' A-Not that am ava Of Q-Is he
the authorized agent Of the police, A.-No
Thomas Picton sworn-I am editor Of the paper
called the Era IL is Sunday paper, and publish
shown to him) did write the article; it writ,
ten by my associate Mr.. Constable; the matter was
fur n,hsd by our local reporter David Russell Lee
utrreht have been Mr. Bennets family scian for
about l6 years; / saw man with one eye, named
Thompson, who lived Mr. Bennet's place last fall
visited his wife; before this charge, never heard any,
thing uufav vorable to his moral character attended
Mrs Bennet during her illness; Mr. Bcnnet have al
ways regarded as an cxcitabe man and as an eccen-
trio one Thompson stated what his ccupation
was be professed to be getting up compound for the
getablc extracts lived about two miles from Mr.
Bennet occasion a man at Thompsons
have seen Thompson's hsndwriting he sent me a note
did not preserve Il; did not know he was so great
man. or should have preserved his autograph
IL conceded by the prosecution that Fields was
the man referred to by Ashley the man who
living at Thompsons house. and who It was said had
an interest In the claim against gentleman In this
ethyl
Cress-examined-I know Mr. Bennet has been in the
habit Of coming to New York do not know what bu-
Nj rrI IN. New Karkf he
last 6ye years; he told he about to engage in
the medical profession; he also told ne getting
into the practice Of law particularly applied to
nercsl affairs; have two females at Thomp-
sons house; my impression was, that Fields was
yistcr at the house my opinion Of Bcnnos character
l. based principally ON my own observation, but
have heard others speak of his ccccntrcties the ge
neral expression has been favorable TO his character
have heard persons speak disparagnely of HIM this
has b,cn prir cipslly In reference 20 this and
two other charges made against HIM IN reference TO
these suits have heard him spoken % dsparagingly
Mr.. Clark-Mr. Bennet Is fond OF the scisnoes Is
he not' Al believe he j.. Gle has but few
socisfes, A-That Is So believe.
EeDnU-l have n few remarks to make. IL the court
please In the of the trial, the prost cution
have attempted to prove that kept dsrepuabis coIi
rrooS rhe hosnsy General psvS n''s ssg h
dine at my house. and has hi. brother. Ny
ciaies have mover been inferior TO his.
about ten years: have been the coroner of Kings
county; never knew any thius against Mr.. Beunets
up TO the time of these charges; pro-
rriotor OF q line OF stages which past Mr. Bennets
door Mr. Bonnet has always been a peculiar man; he
has been secluded took supper at Mr. Bennet'- du-
ring the MesicHn war Q.-Was he not about TO raise
q rogimtnt' Objected 10. aud ruled out
NJ. ciaTk-I only wanted to show that he Il not
only of excellent character hut l. patriot
wen daughter throughout the court)
Mr. Oraham-1 hope the Court will make order
20 have persons who Indulge in such unsecmly levty
tt0ugh; uy aud dealt with at the bar 10 l. highly
improper that such scenes should he attendant upon
grave trial IL would do In a theatre, but Is highly
Improper in n court of justice
fr tlsrk-I believe the audience were innocent In
their eSpr'ssiun. IL was improper. admit but /
think the audience were innoceut
Thomas KIRK sworn aud ersmined-r was judge ~ i
the Municipal Court, in Brooklyn, for three years:
have known Mr. Benu,t from ~ % - years Mr. Ben
net j. man of peculiar character. but never heard
srything aEsnst his moral character always con- /
sidercd him like Cmssr's Wife above suspicion al
-ays considered him pretty hard stsieot especially
In the mat h. ratics
strIhn Wright exsmincd-I reside in New Utrecht;
am magistrate. l have known Mr. Bennct for some
twenty years; he came to my neishbofhood as gen.
tlcmap; he built sPlendid housc and has always been
grntrmau. Independent of matters
conrectsd With law suits | never heard anything
aanfaH q y ~. -