New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-09
THE BURDELL INQUEST.

THE BURDELL INQUEST.
CORONER CONNERY SUED FOR 5000 By THE
AUTHOR OF HIS CHARGE TO THE JURY.
TIE CoRONER'S ANSWER.
II was generally believed that Coroner Connerys
grardoquent charge to the jury, on the Burdel In
quest was lis own production Such, however, was
not the fact. Mr.. Connery felt altogether unequal to
the task, ard engaged TIE services of MI W. NJ.
Harrison, an Engh5hmau, to write his speech. Mr..
Harrison performed this Herculean task in the brief
space of two days and two nights, and Coroner
Connery sen, it forth as his own. MIR. Harrison sent
in bill Of $500 for this service. Mr., Connery admit
ted that the service had been performed, bat pleaded
that the charge exorbitant. The case was car
RED TO the Marine Court where the folio wing proceed
iDgs were had:
MARINE COURT
William Harrison aet Edward Downe' Conncry. -,
Cii4 ant Coantg Of Ner. York, SS.-WIlliam llar-
ison, the plaintiff, by this his complaint, shows to the
Cont as first cause of action that about the
llh day of February, 1884, at the City OF New-iork,
the defendant Edward Downes Connery, was one OF
tie Cotoners Of the City ard County of York and
retained snd employed this plaintiff to execute and
perform for him the following work, labor and services,
10 wit That the said defendant beirg such Coroner,
and having held and was then holding coroner
court and inquest ON view Of the body OF one Harvey
BmGen which had lasted for about twelve days, ana
being abe to bring the said inquest to close when
it would become and be necessary for tue defendant
10 charge the jury and to explain 10 them the law CT
the case applicable to the facts proved, and to give
his opinion ard direction to the Jury now
far such facts implicated or tended to i@ph-
cate certain parties whose names hsu Deeu
broupht forward ar who were ncupsted by the evil
dence taken by and before the said Coroner and the
said defendant then and there represented to THIS
plaintiff that he unable to prepare such MS
charge and direction to the said jury ana req1ested
1 ,1,,.a "a nie at A
prepare the sane 10 be read and delivered by the de-
PENDANT a. bis charge and direction 10 the Jury, aud
at tie same time undertook and promised this plain
tiff that if tbs plaintiff would draw up AID prepare tie
said charge and direction to the jury he, the de-
fendalt. would pay this plaintiff handsomely for the
same and would pay this pl~ntif whatever he, this
plainf should thuk tit to charge for his said labor
al seryces That although this plaintiff at first de-
olns and refused to prepare the SAID charge ana d.
recton 20 the Jary by reason that this plaintiff would
have only two DAYS and two nights wherein to prepare
and 10 look over coate and consider great body Of
evidence heretofore taken by aud before SAID de-
ierdant as such Coroner, yet the detendact having
reiterated and repeated his said oilers aud promises
of suitable and handsome remuneration, and 10 pay
this plaintiff whatever he should charge Tor his eald
labor and services, this plaintiff relying on the SAID
promises of the defendant consented aud agreed with
the defendant to perform the same; and thereupOn this
Plaintiff proceeded to peruse and cOllate the
evidence taken the said inquest and TO classify the
same, and preceded to draw and did dra" written
charge ard direction 10 the said COroners jury to be
delivered and read by the defendant az hs charge
ana direction to the said jury aud delivered the
10 the defendant on he evening Of the l3h
day of February, 1857. That the defendan,
accepted ard received the said charge ard
direction from this plaintiff end approved the
same IN every particular, and reiterated
and repeated his afOre said promises OF remuneration
that aiterward the ith dag of February, 1881, st
No. 81 Bond street, Newfork, the defendant read
and delivered the said charge aud direction 20 pre-
I. Itt, Nv naiu
Jury And the plaintiff says that, except as To tue
sum Of $40 which the defendant paid TO this plaintiff
on or about the 18th day Of February, 1851 on account
of the aforesaid services he has altogether neglected
and refused to perform bis said promises aud under
,skings and except TO the extent Aforesaid, the de-
feLdant has not paid this plaintiff handsomely or Other
wise. And the plaintiff, on information and belief,
alleges and charges that the work. labor ana seFv-
ces aforesaid were reasonably worth and he ought TO
have for the same the Of $780, and the plaIuth
charges the def ndan that for the said work later
and services, and demands in this action payment
thereof.
Sec0ndIy As second and separate cause OF action,
he plaintiff shows the Court that on or about the
18th oay Of June 1851, at the speca! instance ana
request Of the defendant and on his promise 10 pay th.
plaintiff for tie same such sum as woud hanc-
somely rernunerate him, this plalnth dld
write and compose for the defendant certain lecture
o- address intended to be read and delivered by the
defendant at certain public meetings, for bis gain aud
profit and this plaintiff having written aud 60 imposed
lecture Or delivered Tue rAult 10
defendant who accepted anl received and adopted
end approved il ard this plaintiff says on Information
and belief and charges, that the work labor aud
services in this count mentioned, worth and he
reasonably deserved to have and be paid for the same
the .um of Sl60 and the plaintiff Gays that except
as 10 the sum O $40 which the defendant paid to this
plaintiff on or about the 18th day Of June last,
sccOunt Of the work aber and services last mentioned,
the defendant hes wholly neglected and refused to
perform his said promises. And this plaintiff alleges
hat there Justly due and owing froI the defendant
10 ID j. plaintiff for and account Of the work and
labor ia this count mentioned the Of $50, which
he demand. OF the defendant in this action.
Ih,rdig: And a third cause Of action, founded on
another AID separate breach Of promise the part
Of tie defendant tits plaintiff shows to the Court
srd alleges that heretofore and before the making by
the defendant Of the promise and undertaking IN this
count mentioned this plaintiff had, al the special 10:
stance ard rtques Of the defendant done, performed
end bestowed certain work, labor and rerylces iot
him. 10 wit the work, labor and seryces IL the sa.d
fret and 'ecCrd counts statements Of causes Of ac
ton meLtioned aud the defendant having become ara
being indebted unto the plaintiff as 10 those cou9Is a.
eged Il said defendant On about the lot9 uay u
June 1851 al the City Of New.Ycrk, in CONGREGATION
of II sa'0 Indebtedness, undertook, enG iasn eut
there promised this plaintiff 70 pay on sc ol1I sslse
bic ID Indebtedness 20 rui5 p'srtH az ittue 49,
Ia wit. in TIE month Of July Iaen next ioo"lts asl
toe pe.It'f ALICE. a0d chagcs. tsa- AtuoIsu tu'
ssi moutl of .Iuly IA eApsfc, YET 'or n7' u'aA. IN
81. O. fz..u -.J p-L AA5