The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-02
Scenes In the Special Sessions.

Scenes In the Special Sessions.
PETTY oFFENDERs-A WEEKS RETURN.
Before Judge Beebe, Aldermen Smith and Ward.
April 1.-The scenes enacted in this Court. usually
twice week would occasionally present ludcrous
features not that such ideas banished by the
reflection that they each contain melancholy ele
ment showing the depths the misery and depravy
that exist in midst
The criminals placed at the bar Of the most motley
description. All large cities furnish specimens of the
dregs of humanity in shapes sufficiently revolving but
this perhaps, in various than any in the
world Truly this court may be said to fuldl one Office
of the drama defined by its great master-"To show
vice her image, and the very age and body Of the
time, its form and pressure"
The characters exhibited of all ages many almost
infants in everything innocence; in the prime
of youth and manhood but possessed Of of the spi
r which should ennobe either; and not few that have
attained advanced years, but whose habual but petty
vices have beret of all that should accompany old age"
They also of all hues and all nations The preponde
Of the other is scarcely observable,
cep in the of the very juvenile thieves, who al
years. for early thirteen fourteen many girls
found as hardened in the ways OF wickedness.
The Court having cognance OF all cases OF assault and
battery, well petit larceny (uness jury trial be
demabded) the of squald misery rags, and dirt
formed by the majority Of Offenders is varied by sprink
hing o. the better clothed Short Boy, and rowdies Of
similar organizations
There having been court held Tuesday, the list
for yeeterday friday contained the accumulation of
week. amounting to seventy prisoners and eighteen
defendants bail of these fifty tried the rest
being discharged for of Witnesses having pleaded
guilty. There also six dsor 1eres, committed for
want OF bail, released from duraEce The value o, the
articles stolen is freouently less than dollar such as
"a piece of hung beef vaae 70 cents, and, in in
stance, "a bottle OF cider, value L u cents"
Locking at the matter in practical view its strong
proof Of the necessity OF the proposed alteration of the
law by giving police justices summary jurisdiction in
such cases.
a Petty Pirate "A miserable looking fellow, named
Francis Gallagher, charged with stealing an
and a shirt from on board the sloop Star, Sunday
night or rather Monday morning. about clock whether
time the witness did not say, but il it
indeed.
John Terney hand on board swore the property was
board, takipgit.
The defence was a common one. He had been out with
some lend and got some liquor and going home to
his wife. Q-What we're you doing board that sloop?
Al vas little "high.@ sir.
Judge-Is your wife heref
Prsoner-Yes, sir. (He then looked all around the
court TIL young and rather good looking woman stand
ing by his side touched him Oh here she is, sir.
Judge-Why you hardly seem to know her. laughter
Prisoner thought she vas over there. Q-Was she
with your NO Q-Have you got any children
The Court bad very little sympathy for him, and he
was not high enough to be above stealing they sent MIN
TO the Island for SIX months.
distressing CGse.--An aged man named Shaw, of very
shabby appearance but who expressed himself very we'll
complained OF his SON. Uh lad Of logged countenance
aged seventeen, for having assaulted him Tuesday
by striking him the cheek with knife in his hand
Having told his story no concluded case
me Judge, to have plain; but have no peace
Here am /. sixty six years Of age and an old citizen
The Court having learned that the mother was in court
wished to hear her, and elderly decent but harrassed
looking woman to9k the stand: - ,,o,- ;.u..s
her worthless son. In answer to the questions put to
her she Sit be was saucy, and sometimes disobedient
bnt he aggravated; the father who drank
a good deal and there were fau on both Sides
she directed 10 stand aside. and who lived
close them and knew them, called His account
no IN lei in
conciate matters tine leaving the house and go
ing TO work. he said the prisoner bad boy, and
he feared he would murder the old man. If sent home
let at large and hey accordingly sent him to the peni
Tertiary FOR six months.
During the last witnesses testimony the complainant
exclaimed, All thl uhl it Qr-ves and your poor
old mother: would forgive you if you confess and
say you'd do SO more The was, however,
moved by the officer, apparently by means Affected
Blis.fm Ignorance. A young man, named Edward Ro
ber presented instance in which certainly Ignorance
bliss being totally that he had been tried
and convicted This delusion however, doomed to be
speedily dispelled
He was placed at the bar charge Of assautng a
hrs White when he stated that ne had settled IL with
her by paying $40 and she would not attend when he
| was tried
Judge Beebs-But you have bean tried and convicted,
too Mrs White against you, and it laid over
| until to day, at your request.
Defendant then said his brother present, and that
he (dfenoai y going to California for which place
| be had got ship and that his passage was paid,
The Court informed him that he might go, il that
the case, and he could pay fine o. So.
His brother in short time. having produced the need
full, he discharged
The Court adjourned until Tuesday next
United States Mint Ope rations for March.
BY the following official information it will be seen
that the entire Of gold bullion deposited at the
mint during the month of March, s7,6Io0 600
| FOR MARCH, 1853.
Gold
24s, 233 double eagles ............ 81 964 500 q
1OS .406 quarter eagles ............... 27l,ol5 OF
49s, l3o gold dollars 4eo,l33 "