The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-28
The He,lbronn Extrad,t,or Case.


1t will BIO recollected that young lad named He'll
bronn some time claimed by the British gov
eminent under the Ashburton treaty, a. an alleget
forger. There difference Of opinion bstwesa tn,
federal and State authorities to the construction
the law in this particular Judge Mitchell deciding
hGbeds corpus that the charge did forge
ry, whilst the United States authorities declared that
did The accused as collector of English house il
London signed the back Of draft "receiyed for Nc
Intosh h Co. A. Heilbronn.n He received the money
and having appropriated it TO his use, to th
country After months Of litigation he sent back
England, but the judge before whom no was ther(
brought decided that the charge did not forge
ry, and he then convicted of q minor offence, FOL
which he could not have been extradied from this
try and he sentenced to six years. personal serv
tude. 4
While here his youth, his simplicity Of manners and
his aptitude for penmanshp attracted the attention
the United States Marshal and Joseph Thonpson, Esq
the Deputy Marshal, who gave him employment as
clerk pending the disposal Of his case By the judicial
authorities.
few Gays since Mr.. Thompson received from TIL
"Poor Captive letter written in style OF such sup
ror penmanship that it would be difficult to distinguish
It from copperplate.
The dction of the prose tells well for the gratitude
the youthful Russian. The happy versiHcatien Of hi
hapless fate deveopes early poetic genius, worthy
better destiny than the gloomy walls Of peniten
tiary.
The prose and poetry will recount his story better tina
tell 1t.
PITY A POOR CAPTIVE.
PENToNvILIE PRISON,
Reg. $685. 221. LONDON, Jan. l. 1855.
JOSEPH THOMPSON, Esq,
us. DEPUTY MARSHAL, NEW York
My DEAR sIR-Hsd not many occasions exp1
renced your benefcence might indeed feel appreher
sve to the reception this my unentertaning epstl
would NEE. with, but the recipient Of your sspec
favor during most critical juncture may indulge
self in the aaterng persuasion that your good will
ward me win neither be lessened extnguished
count of my present adversely and that you will gen
rously pardon the insipid tenor OF my
and the expense Of postage again family entail
you.
hope you received my letter Of the 2lst OF June
due course. Once beg leave TO breach the san
topc-that of my unparalleled unjustfabls extraditic
from the United states territory. must confess tbs
1t is most Illuminating and painful to reflect how ha,
been expelled from free empire where sought, whe
deserved and where legally entitled 70 protectio
twould be below my dignity 10 make comparison
ween myself and former fugitives but when / co
slider how punctilous, how scrupulously exacting Il
ederal magistracy ia such instances, whea Il
claim was valid may be excused from saying. (becau
Ia only too true, that gross partially and incons
ency characterize the ensctments Of the legislature
my unfortunate case. As a legal precedent It viii
,ubversive of the first principles OF equity and ali
dangerous to the subject and the constitution Sor
members OF the Legislature would improve their kno
ledge OF the treaty by consulting LEXICON rather th
digests-and the Executive should refrain from trans
ting foreign subjects until they correctly constr
Three months ago petitioned the United States A,
bassador in London. From mis- silence imagine he
clnes my request. Meanwhile, leave stone u
turned TO find the "open sesame.n On Christmas da,
made an imPromptu recital Of my affair IN rhyme, q
good people Of Gotham WOULD TAX. tSs hint e
assist in procuring my amnesty before am quite in Z
spair The feet of my verses are like the hands OF Ju
part Of the federals.
Like a cat seem always to tumble on nv legs
though the discipline is here strict meet with urbani
and forbearance aud the much desired privilege of VT
ing to you to-day on blank paper is proof Of it, sin
my calamity nearly every one has been good TO
PITY POOR CAPTIVE.
My Yankee brethren, pray give ear
Whilst ], in words, not strong, but clear,
curious tale recite.
u will, hope again recall
The interest once felt by all
In an unlucky wight
In winter eighteen fifty three,
Russian youth. well bred and free,
Landed on Getham's shore;
From England s,raightway he had GENE.
In Yankee land to find h,me,
Protection to implore
For by designing knaves betrayed,
Whose bills at great risk he paid,
he was in danger brought
AT London thus left debts behind,
In the wrong quarter raised the wind
And now refuge sought.
Hounds Of the law soon found his track,
And one arrived 10 take him back,
Funnel, q detective
Who under the Ashburton treaty
Asked his surrender kind entreaty
Alas twas too effectively
Funnel hrst the President,
And then to Nelson, junior, went,
United States Commissioner
James Whiting then advanced the clain---
Busted Co. attached the same,
For the subjoned petitioner
But as the was so delayed,
And in prison meanwhile laid
a very slow diversion
BY habeas corpus Busteed sought
Relief in the Supreme State Court
From the unjust coercion.
Judge Mitchell saw forgery,
limited at one mans perjury,
Guessed why the requisition
And though 20 obvious the pretencey
Busteed's nor Emmet's eioquence,
Gould alter my position
For when Judge Mitchell had demeeE
That from tbraldom should be freed
They disobeyed the order
Which served only to create
Confusion and disorder
Al last 10 consummate my cause
by an infraction Of the laws,
International an local.
The Executive basey surrendered
Poor Heilbronn, who the strife engt ndsrfJt
Instrumental and vocal
To 1ondon wa reeonveyed
Again In a vile dungeon laid
Kept in dire apprehension
Then 10 the Central Criminal Court
Before Judge Martin next was brougbe-
Who ended the contention
For be at once dismissed the case,
Said that the bin upon It's face
The forgery refuted
BY his decision thus confirmed
What Kind Judge Mitchell had Affirmed
Nelson alone disputed
The plaintiffs, then noways composed
Ny debt as criminal exposed
With spiteful certitude-
On which the Judge to awarded,
The fearful sentence here recorded,
six years penal servitude.
SO now closely am confined
And for spell TO stay destined
In the Prison OF PentenviIle;
AMI though each boss 10 very good,
The discipline though strict, not ruds;.