The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-20

ANOTHER CAPITAL CoNvICTIoN-CRIME IN NEW
YoRK-In the Court Of Oyer and Terminer yester--
day there was another capital conviction. the
second within this week The jury, after seventeen
hours deliberation brought in q verdict OF guilty
against Nicholas Howlet, charged with the murder
Of Charles Baxter, q watchman employed in pro--
tec,ing vessels ut one CT the East river piors The
evidence was purely crcumstantial, but there Ms
in it such consecutive link as to impress the evil
doer with the conviction that, however darkly and
secretly he may set aboa bis designs, toe all seeing
eye watches in the most lonely haunts, and sooner
or later brings the perpetra,or of crime to punish
nent
Itappears that in this case, the prisoner, good
looki, lad Of about nineteen years of age, with two
associates proceeded to the dock at the foo. Of Oliver
street One remained in small boat, whilst How
let and the other, named SAUL went on board the
chip Thomas Watson, and on being surprised in M
attepp. to rob The vessel shot the Waterman, Bax-
tor, through the neck, then jumped on the dock,
where they were seen by persons who happened
to be there and made their way into a boat where
their companion was, and all three rowed mp the
river Byeoms ipscrutabe guidance, Howlet and
one OF his companions (Su) took refuge on another
vessel, where they were discovered about three.
O'Clock in the morning, barefoosed, and @.
pistol, which had recently been discharged,
was found with Hewlett. They were taken,
to the station house, though the crime that had
been perpetrated was hot then known by the Off.
GERS who arrested them On the ship, where the.
watchman was killed, it Sas subsequently, discov-
cred that two pairs Of boots had been left by the
depredators, of which was sworn to have be-
longed to the prisoner laowlet.) The three wit
nesses who were on the dock at the time the pistol
was discharged, deposed that they saw the flash Of
the powder, and they each identified the prisoner
by appearance and by every article of dress he then
wore. There was witness called for the defence,
the counsel for the prisoner depending solely on the
want OF Identification and the fatal consequences
that so often arise from convictions clrcumstan-
cal evidence. The jury, ho viewer, after seventeen
| hours elaboration, iound tho accused guilty of
murder, with recommendation to mercy.
The result of this trial anxiousy looked for
by large couc0urse Of young MIN, Of that class
who, though gifted with physical energy and capa-
bties calculated to render them useful members of
society, follow no particular vocation-epsnd their
day time in bowling saloons and threecsnt grog
shops, at night become desperate and fit for any
work Of evil, and then pTowl about our city, max
ing night hideous,' and committing plumber, vio-
lence and death. We hope that those two recent
convictions, as we'll as the many other examples
that were made during the last twelve months, will
have salutary effec upon those who, either by bad
example, passive parental authority, or By innate
inclination to wdyism give way to the baser passion
Of our nature, and that they will that alshoughno
human eye may witness the perpetration of crime q
special Providence will point them out, and the
law, not through vindctiveness or revenge, will
claim its violator There is no man who witnessed
the trial of Nicholas Hewlett, who must not have
felt panied that one 20 young was sunk so deep in
recklessIess.