The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-17
u. S. District Court.
Before the Hon. Judge Belts.

JAN 1.-THE following gentlemen sworn on the
inquest;.J.nes stoneall foreman; Charles Baker,
eustus c. Downing, John Hegeman, Ezra Ludlow, VIM.
Lyons, John Mackey John b Martin, Samuel Sneeden,
CIepdenning Nathan Lord Robert Earle, Edward Ee-
cleson, A. b. .geglow, Jireh Bull Esqrs.
The jury being sworn, the Judge remarked to the
court for this term, was OF more than ordinary So
rious character.
The persons standing under criminal accusations
and whose will be presented to the confederation
ofthe Grand Jury not numerous but there are in
cluded in the offences charged against them some Of
the highest magnitude known to our laws
One of the prisoners Is charged with an assault on
ship board upon another Of the ships company with
dangerous weapon This offence is visited by the law
with heavy punishment even when no actual injury
or danger has been incurred by the assaied This Is
pany an attack with dangerous weapon in . situa-
ton so confined, and because also IL may lead to
most violent means OF resistance sgainst the
attack One prisoner Is arrested for purioning and
stealing private property on board vessel on her
voyage at sea. Two more accused Of plumber
ing the public mail at and stealing letters and
packages from It, One is arrested for assaultng and
stabbing ship mate on board ship Of war, with
knife with ,uch violence that the injured man died
almost instantly, OF the wounds inflicted Part OF
ships company are accused Of making On open mutiny
and revolt At see; with having subdued and displaced
the officers of the ship and taken possession and COM
mars OF her themselves, and broken up her voyage.
They her into port where American man Of
CHANGED to be lying and seized and sent to the u
States for trial portion Of tie of another vessel
rent home from south American port char ged with
NilfUl murder committed on DOArQ the vessel under
circumstances OF deep atrocty and bsrbarity. The
Judge observed that he mads these general illusions
TO the several the docket because he not
npprized Of the facts respecting them in detail and
net accordingly prepared to offer the Grand Jury
any specific instructions upon the Law applicable to
them The District Attorney would collect nd lay be-
fore the Grand Jury all the facts connected with the
several charges and would aid their deliberations with
his professional counsel whenever 1t might BE- desired
The Jury had also the privilege, when they deered
IL desirable to pray the advice and direction Of the
Court upon all matters Of moment difficulty which
might come under their consider alton.
The powers Of the Grand Jury not limited to the
particular cases indicated to those in which the
Parry accused s un der arrest Their jurisdiction
tends TO all offences mtted against the laws Of the
United Slater, within the Southern District Of New
York, or on the high and any foreign ports,
Ravens or harbors, out Of any State Of the United
etates.
The criminal jurisdiction Of the Court is exclusive
all places within the Southern District Of New
York ceded TO the United States, as the Navy ard
Weet Point and islands In the harbor The Court In
respect TO offences committed in theee places admin
listers the criminal Law OF New York when satu ties
Of Congress applies TO the case.
The Grand Jury then retired.
The Case If e.. " Niles Mr.. Presc oft Hall, u. s.
District Attorney presented to the Court certified
copy OF the conviction ar 4 sentence OF George w.
aud moved the Court that the name Of the said O. w
Niles be stricken frem the roll Of attorneys and
sellers Of the Court Whereupon, IL was ordered that
the said certified copy be filed and that hereupon the
name Of the raid q. W. Niles be stricken from the
rolls Of attorneys and counseors OF the Court and
the said certified copy being fed the clerk erased the
name Of said Niles from the roll.
The Count then proceeded to hear the argument In
the case Of Tompkins against the steamboat Duchess
and Ulster