The New York herald., 1850-05-16

EXTRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENTS IN TIE CoURr OF
SEssIoNs-TRIAL OF J. c. ASHLEY Yesterday, in
the Court of Sessions, in the OF J. c. Ashley,
charged with passing counterfeit money, some ex-
uaordinary Developments were made by that indi-
vidval, touching the recent torpedo and other mat
tiers, which have so much astonished the public
during the last few months. These developenents
are introduced in the shape Of an affidavit, sworn
to by Ashley, for the purpose of having the indict
ments quashed against him on certain grounds in
dicated Further proceedings in reference to this
matter, throwing out additional light, will take
place to-day in the Sessions, and will, no doubt
command the attention of all those who have Ia
ken so deep an interest in the recent trials OF Drury
Arlington Bennett, One-Eyed Thompson, Ash
ley, and all those remarkable characters, who
have so deeply agitated the atmosphere of the
Tombs and the outsiders.
These proceedings contain a new revelation on
the torpedo mysteries, with which so many persons
have hitherto been connected and which has caus-
ed so much excitement among the police. They
also give account of the mode or system OF
manufacturing altered money, and also disclose
what the real history and purpose of that sys-
TEN, by one of the initiated II also gives very
curious and graphic account of the robbery of the
office of Mr.. McKeon, the District Attorney, stat
ing in whom that project originated, and for what
purpose it was committed, with number oS other
circumstances and curious facts illustrating the
whole affair. This extraordinary deposition, letting
in little fresh light these mysteries, extends to
twelve manuscript pages and forms the basis of the
application made by Ashley for his discharge.
The public have taken great deal of interest in
seeing the parties connected with these mysteries
gradually disclosing and developing the facts con-
neced with themselves. Much censure, and
some of it very undeseVed, has been hitherto
heaped upon the police authorities of this city, for
their seeming inaction in relation TO the torpedo
mysteries, and other crimes that have been
charged against certain individuals. We believe
the police authorities, in this matter, are not so
much to blame While they were engaged in le-
gal, proper, and reliable steps, in reaching these
matters, unfortunately for the upright and manly
administration Of justice, cotrie OF certain ndi-
viduals connected with weekly paper, proposed
TO set up a police jurisdiction of their own, and,
under that assumption procured stool-pigeon meet
ings, issued violent declarations and gave drec-
ton to things, which has created all the mystery,
prevented the proper administration of justice, and
thrown obstacles in the way of the regular police an
thorties. Time, however, will bring all things to
rights. The attempts, in this searching and enlight-
ened day, to revive the practices and dangers Of.
the stool-pgeon system in the management of crimi-
nal affairs, will never succeed in practice and never
command public aid or public sympathy. The
numerous steps which have already been taken by
the authorities Of our public courts in connection
with these mysteries, will gradually lead the pub
lie tribunals to ascertain, with greater precision and
accuracy, who were the original criminals, and
who really committed the original offences. Mr..
McKeon, the District Attorney, has hitherto ex-
hibted great talent and perseverance in threading
these criminal labyrinths, and we have no doubt
he will ultimately succeed in separating the chaff
from the wheat, and in bringing the truly guilty to
condgn punishment.
OF course, the proceedings of the Court of Ses-
sons, to-day, will command deep attention and
full audience