The New York herald., 1850-09-17
Singular Legal Proceedings under the view
Code-strabge Develops ms nts OF the Trat
OF the r0rpsdo Mystery.

Code-strange Develops ma Of the Tra |
OF tho rOrpsdo Mystery.
We publish elsewhere in our columns, to- day,
the legal proceedings in very remarkable case
OF libel, which has been comm enced by chap
named Wilkes, and prosecuted by lawyer called
Graham, under the new code; and which prese nts,
in some of It's features, as unexpected develope-
ment Of the truth concerning the famous torpedo
mystery, as i, does OF the workings under the code
which has been inflicted on the State of New
York by certain ambitious codihers, supported by
public ignorance and socialist ideas. This caRe
comes before the court OF libel; but the
foundation is so small and the superstructure so
large, as to resemble the theatrical amusements Of
an evening, beginning in farce, and ending in awful
tragedy Ii purporis 10 be suit of libel, brought
by Wilkes, publisher OF worthless weekly paper,
against the proprietor OF this journal, for the
insertion of some statement made by one of the
parties, or witnesses, in the famous torpedo case,
and which had been communicated in the usual
way by the counsel for one of these parties, and
inserted in the columns of our journal The mise
rable foundation Of this supers,ructure acquires
some importance, however, when we see the
strange Developments it leads 10 in reference 10
the torpedo mystery Truth and fact have, some
times, strange modes OF getting themselves before
an Intelligent world. II is difficult, at the same
time, to escape the meshes and subterfugrs of the
law, and for simple truth and unsdorned fact to
get rid Of the habiliments which lawyers weave
around it. In the legal proceedings Of this case,
however, we have not only Development, in an
extraordinary way, of what has hitherto been
deemed a great mystery, but an exhibition of the
workings ofthe absurd and ridiculous code of law
which has been visited upon the people of this
State, by ignorance and presu nption, and which is
felt as burden, and Increasing expense, day by
day, week BY week, and year by year.
The first remarkable feature of this case of libel
is the complete deveopement to which il has lead,
as regards the famous Torpedo mystery, for which
several individuals have been indicted and tried to
NO sort OF purpose, and which has occupied the at
tention af coarts, judges. and lawyers for great
length of time. We caanot now enumerate all the
particulars Of this famous matter. Read these le-
gal proceedings. The names of Thomas Warner
George Wilkes, One-Eyed Thompson, Bristol Bill
the two Druys, and God knows how many others
will at once spring into the recollection ofevery
readtr-in fact, the whole OF the wel,-kno an fea-
tlTes Of tha, famous mystery, as it was shown up,
confused and confounded 10 The pubic throu !h the
Heicuiean laboIso u mob Of lawyers at the courts
Of Sessions and Oyer and TeTmiGes. BY carefully
'0"HIbs bNel ilt In tue pre- sent case,
prepared by common sense end an intelligent intel
Itct, who understands law and good seRse a, the
same time, the whole mystery enveloped in that
case-the purposes, the persons, the motives with
which the torpedo Was manufactured and carried
TO the house Of Thomas Wsrner--is for the first
time, almost completely revealed 10 the public, and
made plain 10 the meanest capacity In these pro-
csedinss the whole affair is explained. A state
n. pf i fnr lha fri ko,. f...I
ment carefully collected from reliable Witnesses,
that will testify to the correctness Of the facts there
in contained. BY this statement, il appears that
young DTury, without any cuminal intention what
ever, and not understanding what the torpedo coz
tanned, and believing il, as he told by the mas
ter spirit himself To be box Of MofIat's pills. took
ITO the house of Warner, and there left il and
that old Druiy had more to do with the matter,
and can be no more implicated in it, than the man
IN the moon, or the traveller coas,ing the shores Of
the Pacific.
These the siIaple fao,e Of that famous my ste.
ry, us presented in these legal proceedings, and
supported by witnesses who will prove the same
before any csurt Of justice. This is one of those
angular revelations IN this curious suit, growing
ots of the queer operations Of the code. Mr..
Mckeon, the district attorney, and his two
UidS and sFsisian;s-Pbllpe. on the hand,
and Graham ol the other-with the assistance
OF innumerabH e'heTs, undeEstraPPers and over
s,repIcrs, have been laboriny for twelve months
or more 10 find the truth cf this torpedo mys-
tery. and heye hitherto failed to convince any
Jury, or to satisfy any reasonable man, as 10
wao originated IL, whe concocted II, or who were
hey who perpetraisd IL. Here is the whole thing
in this simple libel suit, brought out by Wilkes, like
a ,imple,on and boeahesd Here il leaks ou; in
this unexpected and curious way, under the wise
and wonderful workings Of the new code. Truth
Is mighty and will prevail.
But the present curious proceedings, which we
present TO readers, produce IN the minds Of the
lawyer and the intelligent reader, reflections Of a
much more Iuts sting and inn poFiant character in
connection siih the workings of the rev code OF
law unfortunately In fctfd on this State, probably
for iis maniioid ,ins and uanscrrssions Under
this code, II had been expected ihat law proceed.
inrs would &c simphhed, eheapened and made sen-
sihle in the highest degree. Ths contrary has
been the result, a. every case row growing up and
lengthenng Ts legs indicates and attests. The new
code only exhibits more sbsardify sad folly, more
iRoorsnce and gsni OF common sease, as Il is more
tried sDd felt. Judges, jurcs, lawyeis-all men Of
Intelligence agree IN this judgmes; Of the new
rode. Instead II chespening the mesas OF reach
ing justice, the cIp-nses are muiiP.ied teafold.
psesd Of Teducsg the practice of la~ to the sim
pie principles at common sense, it has only sulti-
ptd its dIffculies, increased iis absasdit.s, and
sade It the s,aLigg system Of ra.cslity. The "a
noss codihsrs firm whose wonderful intell,scts
aud mighty brains tots code started, we're snbiti,,us
~ sitting IN fgiur,asiory by the side Of fastini N.
Bacon, or Msntefcueu. viii their smbition I've
81 Suhed by the work presen,.d TO the people q
hi, State Will the cojiters Of the state Of New
YorA hereafter occupy seats by the SIDE of these
,rset lsEsl luninsues sf past ages No, no, in
ise< They conc near the prototypes they en- ,
i.avsrrd to have iarts,ed, - Don Quixoite and |