The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-24
Our Albany Correspondence.


The Trial, Conviction, and Sentence Of Getting
ham, for Robbing the Post Office Of Letters.
A trial has been going on for few days past, be-
fore the United States District Court, Judge Hall
on the BENCH which has excited very general inter-
est, account Of the former good character of the
accused and the fact that great pains had been taken
by the prisoner and some of his friends to get the
impression abroad that the whole affair was the re-
suit of a combination against him. on the part Of the
government officers and the clerks in the Albany
Post Office allude to the case of George Getting
ham, clerk in this Post Office for several years pre-
vious to May last. He was arrested for purloining
letters containing money, and other valuables,
through the efforts Of Mr. Hobrook, one Of the Post
Office agents. who after tracing various previous let
tiers to him, finally succeeded in detecting him by
means of what is called "decoy letter." The case
was first tried in October last in the United States
Circuit Court, and resulted in the disagreement of
the jury-nine being for conviction, and three for
acquittal On the present trial. Cottingham was de-
Tended, with great ability, by Hon. Rufus Peckham
and D. Wright, Esq; Hon. Horace Wheaton acting
for the government, in the absence of Mr. Lawrence
US District Attorney, who was engaged belorethe
Grand Jury.
The case was given to the jury at about four
O'Clock yesterday afternoon, and they came in at
about nine in the evening, stating that they had not
agreed, and asking for some further instructions on
SOME leRdl points. Iney came Ill again AT ten
O'Clock, still dsagreeing, and were again sent out
for further consultation. AT two o'clock this morn
ing, they sent word to Judge Hall that they had
agreed, when the Judge very kindly repaired to
the Court House, and received their verdict
Of guilty. At nine o'clock this morning. on the
opening of the Court, the prisoner was brought in
for sentences and being asked If he had anything
to say why sentence should not be pronounced
against him, he addressed the Court as to some
points in the testimony thanking the Judge and the
jury for the Kindness shown him throughout but
calling Heaven to witness that he was entirely
innocent Of the offences charged.
The Judge addressed him in very kind and feel
ing manner bringing tears TO his own eyes and those
OF many Others present, remarking that the verdict
OF the jury met his entire approyal-that no fair
minded man. anxious to vndicate the laws of his
country, could have arrived at different result from
the evidence in this case-that if he, the prisoner
had fallen at moment Of temptation, he hoped he
would hereafter lead upright and honest life and
thus reinstate himself in the confidence of his friends
and the community; and that he should make the
term OF the sentence somewhat less than he might
otherwise have done on account of the evidence he
had shown OF previous good character. He then SEN
fenced him TO ten years and four months at hard
labor in the State prison at Auburn.
The prisoner has wife and several children, who,
OF course, have the warm sympathics Of the entire
community.
All who have attended during this session of the
United States Court, speak in the highest terms of
tho ability, promptness, and impartiaty exhibited
ny Judge Hall, who, you are aware, has recently
been appointed to fill the place of Judge Conkling
who was appointed Minister TO Mexico All predict
that Judge Hall will make a most popular and dis
tinguished Judge.