The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-12


in the fire department for the month of April 1862
Appointments and designations confirmed and expA.
sions referred to the Committee the Fire Department
On motion. the Board ad journed until Thursday 10 =
inst, at o'clock p. III. ID. I. VALENTINE. Clerk
U. 8. District Court.
Before Hon. Judge Judson
MAY u.-Chnge Of Counferfeing pecpie rs
WMiam Johnsen The District Attorney Mr.. j. Prescott
Hal stated the for the prosecution The prisoner
was charged with utering counterfeit quarter dollars and
shilngs On being arrested he found 10 have spa-
rious coin in part of his dress in which it is not usual
to carry money viz his boots. The accused is an
elderly man. OF genteel appearance about GO yesrs =
age and had been at one time Treasurer Of the Vigilance
Committee of the Anti-Slavery Society and an ofcer q
the Rev. DR.. Campbell's church
Alfred Barnard. gold and silver rehner, Fulton street.
deposed that he deals in fine rolled silver goid the
rolled silver produced is used for platu Johnson
for about year past ne usedto purchase from witness
rolled silver week or twice in ten days did
know what his business was; had dealing with him
March last; the 18th of las: March in paying ks
gave five shillings counterfeit moneytwo quarter.
and one shilng marked them, and identify those pro-
duced as the his purchase 18th March
ed to between one and two dollars those three pieces
produced to the best of my knowledge those that
were passed they have been mixed with other
coins can identify shilling piece and quarter,
the other cannot to; the coin is spurious; the
other coins my young men took at other times from
Johnson they are also spurious, identify them siI
having been in my drawer; at the time Johnson
rested saw him searched at the station house other
spurious coins there taken from him; did not
mark it, but at the time looked at it apd knew it to b.
spurious: under the impression it was taken out OF
his side pocket said to johnson that had had him
rested for passing counterfeit coin and
young men; he smiled when L said 40, and looked in
credulous left him dealing my young men, and
went after an officer.
Cross examined by Mr. Aen-I discovered the coin to
be spurious at the time he gave il to knew it
spurious at the time took III it is pretty good
in little box which keep my msney in, wrapped up in
paper; the young men who are in my employ have ac
to that box rolled silver is used for all kinds of COM
plating say that it has been used for plat
ing coin it could be used for that purpose used
1t for plating COIN am not sufficiently skilled in IT. when
Nv Ia hac
not be possible believe there good money found
on him also at the station house.
To the District Attorney-My attention drawn to
the coin the 18th March, by the fact of his having
passed spurious money previously on my young men
was determined to futhom it, TO whether the passing
was accidental or Intentional ana on discovering It to
be bad, on the 10Th March, had him arrested.
Other witnesses were examined for the prosecution
amongst them Police officer Powell who deposed
ing found counterfeit coin in the accused boot witness
thought there six spurious shilngs in Johnsons
boot
For the defence witnesses called to testify to
the good character of the accused Dexter Fairbanks
dSposed that he knew the defendant for twelve
his character stood high any clergyman in
the city witness should not have been surprsed
he heard that DR.. Campbell himself had been charged
with this offence.
Horace Dresser Counsellor law) deposed that he
knew johnson for l6 years. his character good
heard 1t called in question. On cross-examinaon, by
the District Attorney witness said he did not undertake
Johnson's defence because he had been ILL., and other
counsel engaged witness had received money from
Johnson. which bore strong resemblance to coin that
was shown him in tho District Attorneys office witness
gavcrs Dexter piece of money. occasion, which
he had received from Johnson and afterwards
turned to her az bad.
Mr.. Allen addressed the jury behalf of the accused
appealing to them to extend their not only to Mr.
Johnson who well known in this city for Is years.
but also behalf of his wife and two little children
who by the conviction OF the accused would be onsgn
ed to the cold charity of the world.
The District Attorney said he would confne the
entirely upon the charge against the prisoner with hav
ing made procured to be made. and passed spurious
Spanish quarter dollars, and would consent to enter
noRe rroseq the other in the indie aent Al
to the consequences that may befa the wife and chill
dren Of Johnson the jury could not take them into
sderation if they believed the prisoner guilty. the Law
says that he himself should have taken these consequent
into consideration before he INDUCED in these guilty
acts. At the conclusion Of the District Attorney
ming up. the Court adjourned to Wednesday morning.