The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-24
The Case OF the Belgian Immigrants.
SUPREME CoURT-sPECIAL TEAM.

Before Hon. Judge Roosevelt.
FEn. 23.-Habeas Corpus,The petition Of Pierre Jo
seph Porsmaus otherwise called Joseph Pousmaus, or
by whatever he is called, shows that he is re-
strained Of his liberty and imprisoned in the city prison
Of the city of New York; by the warden keeper OF the
said city prison. and tina. he is not committed de-
tanned by virtue of any process issued by any OF
the United States, by any Jadge thereof is he
committed detained by virtue OF the final judgment
decree Of any competent tribunal of civil criminal u
rsdiction, by virtue Of any execution issued upon
such judgment that the cause or pretence
such mpris and detention according to the best
Of the knowledge and belief of petitioner is as he
Is informed believes that he is foreign nvict
which is utterly false that he is held and detained
he s informed and believes and has been held and de-
tanned since the 2ls day Of December last under
order Of commitment, of which a copy is hereto
nexed % The keeper OF the city prison and Brdswe OF
the city Of New York will receive safely keep for
animation the bodies of Jacques ellis J. Baptist Macs
Joseph w Eva J. Baptist Furry, CULLEN virtongeu, Jo
seph Ponsmaus, Felix Basle, John wasernaus, John
deHage Charles Van Hack, Lsmbut Jonvenir, Pierre
Macs, foreign convicts
New York, Dec q, 1864.
a. BoGARr, JR., Police Justice.
That said imprisonment is wholly Illegal and that its
egalty consists in the fact that your petitioner Is kept
in prison the suspicion allegation that he
foreign convict without there berg any testimony Of
any kind against BIN in any way any where and with
against him. and without there being any indictment
found against him. and without his being legally
united, rs your petitioner is informed aud believes
wherefore. your petitioner prays that writ OF habeas
corpus directed to the warden or keeper Of the city
prison, In the city Of New York, commanding him
have the body OF your petitioner by him imprisoned and
detained, together with the time and of his i'm
prisonment and detention, BY whatsoever name your
petitioner shall be called or charged before to DO and re-
ceive what shall then and there be considered
ing your petitioner.
CITY and County Of Nso Pork, sPierre Joseph Pors.
maus above named, being duly sworn doth deposs and
say that the facts set forth in the above Petition sub
scribed by him. are true
Mr.. Theodore sedgwick appeared for the petitioners
and Judge Roosevelt granted the writ OF habeas corpus
returnsbe on Saturday (this morning. at IL o'clock.
Lecture of Rev. Mr.. Thompson on thc Dead
The regular monthly meeting OF the American Geo
graphical and Statistical Society was held last evening
at the New York University. Rev. Dr. Hawks presided
The usual business Of the meeting was on notion post
poned after which Rev. Joseph Thompson read Q
paper the pad Sea the recent discoveries In that
region II long and elaborate review of the works
Of DeSolsy, Lieut. Lynch DR. Robinson and Others wh)
had travelled through the country surrounding ths
Dead Sea. Upon the work Of DeSolsy he was
~ severe discarding the greater portion Of his uves
cations and discoveries unworthy OF belief on account
Of the res for discovery which he displayed from the
10 the end OF his travels The ruins
Kbsshm Usdum at the southern extremity OF the Dead
sea, which were set down BY the French traveller
those OF sodom, appeared 10 the lecturer entirely
worthy OF belief. In fact According 10 Mr.. Thomp-
soD, Desolsy was weak minded, irritable, psf
ulsnt superstitous, credulous 10 the extreme,
and entirely unified for the task he bad undertaken
The rte sodo Gomorrah the other three doomed
CITIES were said the Rev Mr. t. situated on the eastsra
sde He had also placed Gomoah and zoaron the south
western side but this the lecturer said impossible
as Il had been satisfactorily proved By the Bible Itself
that they situated the Peninsula The ruins II
any which he found the lecturer concluded upon the
south western shore Of the Dead Sea- cannot be Identified
as those Of Sodom. sodom upon that shore,
ssd there are no rrins there, . De sclsy deseribed
4 vote Of thanks was gives to Rev. nr. Isosp:os,
Nhieh tka meSfin9 AaiQpgnol