The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-03
VIOLATIONS OF the BOAT Law.
cuuRr or SPECIAL SESSIONS.

Offenders Promptly Punished Police Onfcer
q and a Junkman as Lawyers-'rhe Guardian
Of the Law Triumphant.
Before Justices Key and Dowling.
The monotony OF the usual routine Of dun cases which
acted upon ~ the court Of Special Sessions, was
slightly relieved yesterday by the spirited manner in
which Of the parties concerned conducted proceed
ngs relative 70 violations Of the BOAT lAw The offence
is by no means novel one. inasmuch as
within the past week q number OF persons
charged with eyadng the law have been properly and
heavily Gned by the conrt The real point OF interest
yesterday tho exhibition Of legal acumen on the part
Of the complainant who was no other than Captain
Havt az the barbor police, and lame and unfortunate
attempt Of friend OF The accused 70 vie with his oppo
nent in q display OF simlar knowledge. The principal
object Of the boat law as is doubtless generally KNOWN IS
protect newly arrived emgfants from being enrappes,
swinded and robbed by merciless and tbicying Vaa-
abonds who, before check was put on
their movements, made practice OF boarding
vessels Immediately on neir arrival in tho harbor and
ply ing their dishonest aud disrepuDe tricks and arR
on the unsophsticated passengers These same Fellows
too, combined with their s~indng schemes system
Of smuggling by which they managed to get articles OF
freight TO the Shore unpcrcevea by the revenns officers
bearing on the suppression OF these acts, and o.
course honest Will regret The vigilance exer-
ciscd by the police TO secure the execution o. the laws
The defendants in the particular case n question were
James Sweeny, John Swceny and George sweeEy. IL
alleged that they had Illegally boarded the schooner
KingLsher the 2sth OF September, while she ~
anchor on Brooklyn lust below Governors Island. The
officers saw small boat lying alongside the schooner
On nearing the schooner, officer Hart asked tho captain
among Of her questions, what the mcu who in that
boat were doing aboard his vessel The captain replied
that he did not know. Officer Bsrt then told The
caetair TO send them aboard his steamer and
he wond soon find The did not
wait for special Solicitations hut Immediately put them.
selves in the custody q the police Among the Wit
nesses for the defence was'a man named Harris, who
sad he n blacksm.th and kept naval supply and
Junk store Ia South street lie know the accused and
believed they boarded the schooner 10 get jobs a. steve
oores
Captain Harit-yop say you are ienkman.
Harns-I am dealer in naval supplies.
Captain HaIt.-But you say you Ie a jGnkilaD.
Earris--Well unkman is better than police officer.
Captain Hmtt-les; better perhaps. How long have
YOU been lunkmanf
Barr,s-I have been merchant several years
Captain Hart Il want you TO tell the court how long
you have been Junkman
Harris twenty years
The witness then informed the court that Captain
Rarlt known 10 he an arbitrary and WAC
meddled too much with other mems business
Captain Hartt--You are .mart bat you Will find you
have your match
Hsrr.s0h, there is another 70 come up which
] am Interested then We VII see.
Captain Eaut-You aTe too smart
The counsel for defence moved for a dismissal Of me
the grounds that had not csen proved thai the
schooner incoming nor that the case did rot
exceptional clause OF The act, that the
having Communication with The vessel, That
they alonfside % her. The only proof that
boat was alongside Of the vessel II might have
been atts,hed 10 her icr several days.
The motion 20 d.emisa was denied The prisoners
found guilty under The sixth section Of the law
fined 500 each.
AKoIBM CASE
John MCGOWAN charged by officer Doyle with in
frnging the law by illegally boarding vessel lying OF
BROOKLYN, IN unlicensed boat The defendant had
pulled mp 20 the vessel and left companion board
when be saw the police steamer raaang for him be
exerted every efforts 70 get back 20 the Brooklyn shore
hut the police TOO quick for him
One OF The Witnesses Nj. Harris, the who
marked that case was coming NJ IN which be in
terested and II also appeared that this the 70
which he alluded Raving beng questioned by Captain
Hartt the two reversed positions and Mr. Harris
10 puzzle and corner the witness by legal gem.
In this, however, he was lamerabv unsuccessful aud
made Sill for the defendant by
enrhtcn The Justice to the points OF the law rhe
result OF the trial will possibly have the good effect
teach uoyices In the legal profession that they do
harm than good by interposng their opinions before
court.
In passing sentence Justice Kelly remarked Harris
that he had made msrsprce and lcd the prs-
oner $10O with term Of one month The Island.
}w ACQUITTED
Omcer Doyle also brought complaint against -four
living in New jersey, who had been discovered board
vessel; but the dismissed tie ground tina,
the evidence insufficient show that they went
aboard Tor an unlawful purpose.