The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-28

City xntelllgence.
isPsovENyS1s AT THE LOWER Poucx CorRr--The recent
Investigations by the Legislative Committee into the
Affairs Of the criminal courts to have the effect OF
producing spirit Of I'M proyemsnt, and a systematic
moee Of doing up the business which OF hate years
pears TO have been greatly neglected in this branch Of
our criminal courts Justice Welsh the pioneer in these
improvements with the cooperation of Justice Connolly
his associate has commenced the much needed rsgorml
ton at the Tombs. In the frat place they have sue
ceeded in procuring the appointment of Mr. John Linden
rs clerk who're duty will be attend the ding Of ali
documentary papers, and to keep proper register of the
same We have known Mr. Linden for several years past
court rccm too, Is TO undergo alteration All the
Old useless wool railing in front OF the bench is to
iron railing so as to keep the crowd of people who
hock into the court ct Tines the occasion OF
exciting arrests ri sufficient distance the oench 10
enable the business Of the Office DO proceeded with.
At present so much confusion prevails that TO keep
requisite osder becomes next to an impcssbiity The
First District Court ought to be the model off and we
think II the ,emplaed improvemements faithfully
carried cut and tbs Lew broom about 10 he applied by
the Police Justices kept moving IN and reme
dy She abuses long existing the pubic viii hereafter
have but little cause for compliant The Justices havs
ample power and authority 70 act, and i rests solely
with them TO enforce the required reformation. We
snail see, time wi deveiope 10 the public.
FIRE IN SPRUCE STRhEr-Loss ESTIMATED AT UPWARDS
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS shortly before eight O'Clock
last eyeniag, an alarm in the Seventh district was
caused by the bursting out Of fire ia the basement
OF the five story bulldog No Is Spruce street There
was tremendous smoke issuing from the premises The
hremen were early the spot, but II some little
time before water could lie brought TO bear tue Ere,
in consequence of the in,lemept weather. The flames
spread with great rapidty from floor 70 the other
until the whole Of the buiing gutted and in about
two hours the roof fe carrying With II tue espectye
floors leaving the front wall from story stand
ing The adjoiping buildings saved by the united
exertiUnB OF the fremep.
First floor and basement were occupied by s. Nichols
&Cc., dealers In paper and rsga
Second and third Heors, occupied by Farwel, Purcell
Co.. printers Of circus and menagere bills and deco
Fourth ana fifth floors, occupied by Samuel B. Thorn
The estimated loss will amount 10 upwards Of $40 oo0
the greater part covered BY insurance
The binding is owned by MIR. Thomas Mct1rath. The
damage done 10 the building will amount TO about 900
The loss OF Nichois Co is estimated at about o0o
said to he covered by insurance.
La the sub.celar Hchnaderbesk Co., of No. IL Spruce
street had lot Ct wines and liquors stored which
they had an insurance Of in the Nassau Insurance
Farweii, Purcell Co. estimate their loss at aboa
81 ,0CO, said to be covered by insurance.
Mr.. Thomson, bookbnder es mates his loss a. about
$4,000 covered by insurance to that amount In the Com
nercial Insurance Company
The origin Of the ase to be attributable to sponta
neous combustion amongst some rags and paper stored
In the basement
FIBH BRoADwAY.-About half past IL o'clock yester
day are discovered in the roof of the three story
building No. 373 Broadway. The alarm given,
when the fircmen soon arrived and'in about half an
hour the fire extinguished Tho FIRE evidently
started in closet under the caves Of the house, in
which large quantity OF coal ashes deposited Mr..
Vim. A. Tomnson, who occupied the attic as On ambro-
type establishment discovered smoke issuing from this
CLOSET he procured water and threw upon the fire. but
bad between the zee es'g and ref and thus go
half destroyed. Loss about $500. 1t belongs to tae
ShebuIgh estate, and is insured for 50 600 in the
typst, estimates his loss at about $500 prnc
pally on stock and fixtures He has an insurance Of
fixtures in the Peter Cooper Insurance. Company.
Tie store first floor is occupied by j. H. GOsson
millinery ana ncy goods store and the talTd aoor as
considerably damaged by water and handling probably
to the amount OF $1,000 He has Insurance. Of 600
on his stock 81 600 in the Harmony aud 81 500 in the
Excelsior Insurance Company. The insurance patrol
Captain Crossin with their truck promptly hand
and rendered considerable service preserving the goods
from damage by water.
Iing N SEVENTH AyEyrK.-About eleven O'Clock last
night iIe alarm in the Second district caused by
fire in the Seventh avenue, Trtythird street. 1t
WAS soon extinguiabed.
TIE LATB CASE or BRUTALITY TO A CnnD.--Catharne
Psrshurst, who, few days since, aajudged by a
coroner's jury guilty of cruelty beating motherless
child, nsned Charles r. Hendy, thereby fastening its
DEATH yesterday delivered mp by her bondsman Mr.
Emerson publisher of the United States Journal and
incaIcerated in the Tombs. When the officer had pro-
ed 70 her Late residence No 40 Carmne street. e
ascertained that she had removed to parts unknown
but after pot acted search ne raccceded Ia 6nding
her al No. 1888 Christopher street and there rearreed
her. When taken bef,ie the appeared to
renew the bail bond, and she WIS lockedu
RENAfss OF CnIp DISCOVERED EARLY yesterday
ing the Seventeenth ward police found the mains of
infant wrapped up in CLOTH in the alley OF prcmsesNo
10 East Eleventh street and conveyed them the station
house. When the cloth removed the head and feet
were found to be cut OF The scalp partly peacd from the
skull and several ncsisns made with knife in va ious
parts the body. Coroner wilhelm wa notified and held
an inquest upon the body wheu q post uortem
EXAMINATION showed that the child still
born ana that its body had been the subject of
qua,k OF the medical proesscn and verdict TO that
effect was rendered ny the jay Who the quack was
who PLACED the body where Il discovered was not
ascartained The house ia question If wei! known
in the rear hut the ccupaus Of neither could would
give any information respeclingi it.
SUDDEN DrA1H OF sQrAw. Coroner Wilhelm yestcr-
day held inques at No. 16i Washington street. upon
the body Of Cecilia Ccga,ongwas, Indian somin IS
years OF age, born in Canada East who died suddenly
esry yesterday Ming and the jury rendered yerdat
ceased belonged to the INDIAN tribe OF Cat.aueu located
at vage OF the same name la Canada East aud came
to this city fow weeks ago with her husband and
only stopping temporarily in the city. II the first
for years post in which tho Coroner has been
casd to hold an inqusition upon the body Of North
American Indian, and genuine Native American.
FATM CkuMY.-Syivcster Hhmel workman In the
Franklin forge No a2o First avenue, killed yesterday
afternoon by shaft which fell upon him. Inquest to-
day. The deceased about thirty years Of age, and
has left wife and three children
RrS oyT1 By FIRE EycnE.-John Duffy, nomher
Of Engine Company No. 49, while assisting to draw Engine
No. a. in John street, Wednesday evening, slipped
and Tell before the engine, the -heels Of which well rs
those of No. 81 passed over him. causing compound
fracture Of the thigh Ho conveyed to the New York
Hospital.
FArAn FALL IRON IADDHR.--Robert Graham, a labo-
rer Died yesterday at No 261 West Forty street,
from the effects Of injury to the spine received
short time since by hlling from ladder which he
was at work. in Forty FIFTH street lie o native Of
Ireland Al years Of age. An inquest will be held upon
the body 10 day.
Williamsburg City News.