The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-08
Court or General Sessions.

OF DEEDS PURLONKD.
Before Recorder Smith.
August 7.-At the opening Of the Court this morning
Joseph Fon alias Fogs pleaded guilty to attempt at
burglary In the third degree State prison three years
James stnson and Thomas Haley pleaded guilty TO the
Same offence. State prison two years
THE SECOND STREET POISONING CASE.
Henry Beck Young German, indicted for attempting to.
poison Mr. and Mrs Gresko l56 Second street. Sunday,
March l. was placed trial The circumstances attend
ing this case very peculiar few months ago he
pleaded guilty to the charge, and Recorder Smith
fenced him i've years imprisonment In the State prison.
believing however, at the me that there something
inexpcAbe about the accused &c subsequently called
upon By . number Of influential gentlemen, who affirmed
that the prisoners family and relatives highly
Specialize being the nrst families In Germany, and thai
some Of his sisters died Of insanity Tho Recorder per
mitted him 70 Withdraw the plea and suggested the pro-
prety OF eoug TO trial. The DEFENDANTS oour se-xr
John n. HarrinEon-put In plea Of insanity. Young
Beck graduated the College OF Pfauge Ut the age OF A.
highly accomplished and oonverses fuenty In nine Of
the Europesn languages His appearance did not indicate
The Assistant District Attorney briefly opened the case
remazkiDg the only question be deter mined WAS,
whe her the accused was Of sane mind when the &C. was
perpeRated.
George Gresko was the first witness called. and exa
mined by the Assistant District Aorney-He said that he
resided 1t l66 Second street. tailor and know Beck
monhs he TO the house OF the witne
the first Of last March, ct O'Clock tue ,rniug sat
down stove and smoked segA, and soon after put
hts hand his vest pocket and * the or pot,
but did not him put anything In he left ut ii and
he and Mr. Gresko commenced 10 eat dinner Of H. five
the effects Of the poison for eight days. witness
and the prisoner never had difficulty.
David Nesler was examined for the dsfence-I came
fro Koengt wart, Bohemia knew the family ana rea-
tves Ut Hy Beck saer Of the prisoner was insane and
died q, 10 years Of age the whole family were afflicted
With sickness In the head he meant By sickness 'nsa
piy" they had two family phys.cians the doctors
In the habit OF visiting the family every day. he saw them
er vas insane from IL years Old two brother. Of lis mo-
her nane Ut they are not confined In
uu knows the accused from boy hood; ct times no
very lively and At other tines do hearted heard thst
received fall the prisoners arrival In this city he
supposed that he had plenty Of means perceived that be
WAS oen gloomy and would cit for hours In his house
ON his minason the witness was asked by
District Attorney to describe the symptoms Of insanity
which Becks relatives exhibited He said that uncle
and cousin Il the prisoner confined in the house
curing the summer and made strange noises every per-
in the considered that the uncle was crazy fer
times he would speak those with Ahom he was
acquAnet the sister OF the prisoner, who died ut six
teen, closely confined the witness her when
In the yard take IT'S three cousins Of the prisoner
also insane.
Leopold Fe.chr was the next witness. he knew the
every day, and be continually c8nplained Of headaohe
he would remain silent for great length OF without
,ayirg . word; Beck would often come and ask ones
ton and Immediately run away his eyes looked very
strange shortly before no arrested he complained
Of being sc The witness said that he knew Of NE
Of insanity Of which Mr.. Eesler spoke.
Mary Weschmler deposed thai Beck boarded with her,
and noticed him very down hearted; he would put his
head On the stove, and sometimes would not cat anything
for whole day.
Mrs Gresko wife OF the com psipsn was called by the
defenceshe did not observe anything strange in his
she Inferred that be put oson the pot because
had no money and saw her.
sieemcnd Waterman the naxt witncss-Hs testified
sar, for ali the faculties Of the mind 70 be- diseased In or
der TO constitute insanity taking into GRAFTON the
history Of the accused the fact that hi. family on the
animation that have made, come 70 the conclusion that
he labotng under species OF melancholy monomaniA
which tends towards state that all the faculties become
less demented, and In the course or time annh-
lated one fourth Of al the are OF The
above nature; tho subjec, may sometimes from
tive and often act without any whstever
times they aware that they wrong and strive
cea their acts and often they mako confessions Of thr
statement Of his examinations Of and interviews with
prisoner, which interesting and listened 70 with
great attention. Tho first time the doctor met with him
30 examined him physically; he did not observe anything
extraordinary except scar on the right side, which was
about three inehs. long wing that the nury received
denly become flushed, and then get pale again he
evidently subject TO rush Of blood TO the head especially
when spoken 10 about hts mother On the second inter
view the Doctor paid more attention TO the state Of his
mind lie ciscov cred that Becks memory not good,
and he told the Doctor night voices talking
him, carryn him to his mother his description Of
these voices perfectly In accordance with what phys
clans knew TO be when persons imagined they hoard
thoroughly acquainted with the subject professionally
The prisoner minated that he had Idea OF destroying
put poison into food and then cal Il, be also said iha, he
had prepared rope with which 10 commit suicide Fear
ing that no would do TIE Doctor caused his cell to be
mined, and rope made out OF blanket, with q
end found, evidently prepared for the purpose
Of destroying himself The witness sted that the bodily
Injury which Beck received might have injured the spine,
and ihus have effected the brain.
The counsel was about calling other wuesrcs when the
nrct Attorney and the Cosrt observed that there
go~ TffnN ka frtai fuNthA ffau
perfectly saIaed with the clear Statement, OF Doctor
Waterman. Amor few words from ths Recor Ter, in
mission OF the deed the proof hereditary prcdspo
ton 10 insanity the jury rendered verde, IN accordance
with the facts The prisoner Was rcmsnded 20 the city
prison oa~ ait the arrival OF his friends from New Orleans,
who will make some provision for his disposal.
BryotAgy In THE yssr Dscpns-ATrssPr OF The PsHoysR
TO SHOOT THE oFTIckR.
James Williams, youth, joia'ly indicted with two
cihers, charged with attempt at burglary In Tue
grs degree In striving to break isto the house OF Mr.
White ei6 zh avenue, the 10Th OF July. 0lcer Nc.
fntyre disco them Ia the act ans or searching vii
sms found various burg arious implements In hts
Az the officer arrested tho prisoner ne dret
q loaded psiol Al him, which fortunately missed Gre.
dagger was found on his person
The jury Immediately rendered a verdict CT guilty.
Recorder smith addressed him folio rs;-You have
beenconvc,ed Of acmp, burg AIRY ars degree
regret arrested before you entered the prem
for then could have been disposed OF for the term
OF your natural life. You OF that CLAM which 10
unsafe 70 let 20 at large In the community. II IL but
night or two ago that OF citizens was fatally
NOunoeu py Denk hnOt ny uurElhl IN InlS Ciys lou
sf the desperate class OF burglars who 20
equipped not only with firearms bot with dsggers. You
evidently not novice but adcp 10 crime, and the
community should congratulate themselves that check
will be put 10 your operations for time. Tue authorities
have not the means Of ascertanins correctly how many
burglaries you have committed Ysu attempted 70 Jake
the life of the officer who arrested you you had been
Indicted for assault with the intent TO take lie, which
you may he by the Grand Jury-aud which think It 10
the duty OF tho prosecution 10 doyou could thcn DO dis
posed OF in such way that would not have oppor
unity 70 oomr, more dcpradsons upon The COMMUNITY
The extent n The punishment which be imposed upon
you Eve years, and n the only time In my lie that
regretted that the statute did permit punish
you for greater length Of dme The sentence Of the
Court that Jon be imprisoned In the STATE prison for the
OF eve years He appeared 70 be very desperate
fellow and bis demeanor elected no sympathy from the
spectators.
Apollo Coward and Conrad Coulter, his npices, ju
dciously withdrew their plea OF guilty and confessed
10 having participated In the burglary.
Although they admitted that they had been prevously
arrested charged with crime the Rec rider perfectly
satisfied that they induced by Williams 10 join him In
his depredations, he would not therefore impose q
gov papaly upou them. q than N