The New York herald., 1868-12-16
COURT or SPECIAL SESSIONS.

An Interesting Budget Of Cases-An Old
Offender and Judge Dowling's Memory
Pocketbook Dropping ind tho Police
Heavy Sentences-Minor Cases.
Before Justices DowlinR and Kelly.
Before this court there was quite large calendar
Of complaints to be tried, many OF which were or
the usual kind. Several, however, were attended
by unusual circumstances and merit more ex-
tended notice. -.
AN OLD oFFENDER-JUDGE DowLING's MEMORY.
James O'Connor was accused Of having burglars
tools in his possession with felonious intent.
Further there was nothing known OF him, SO far as
the prosecution could ofYer in evIdeace, but
the Court sentenced him to four months
IN the Penitentary. On passing sentence
Mccarthy, Lear Macklin. Cockney Jack-by which
the accused has been known, and said:-"You have
been notorious man since you came to this country
have been acquainted with you some sixteen
years. Judge Capron sent you from this court some
twelve years ago for picking the pocket OF lady in
corpse OF some relative you were sent to the Peni
tentiary then for six months, and you escaped nom
there seven times during those six months. arrested
then captain OF policel You have been thief just
as long as can remember and that is long time.n
Of his past life from the retentive memory Of the
Judge and with eyes cast down and head bent he
allowed himself to be led on.
POCKETBOOK DROPPING-HT AT THE POLICE.
Robert kneeland and Stewart Wilson were accused
Of larceny. From the testimony the following facts
appeared :-Thomas Hickey, native OF the Channel
Islands, England came here from Massachusetts,,
after residence Of three years and four months in
this country, TO take passage and return home On
Saturday last about eleven O'Clock in the forenoon
with valise in hand, he had exchanged his paper In
bank near the market" receiving three sOve-
reigns and some other money, and when leaving the
bank he was accosted by one OF the defendants tell
ing him that he had lost his pocketbook showing
him one quite plethoric apparently with money, a
twenty-dolar gold piece sticking out between the
bills. Finding his own pOrtemOnnaie safe in his
pocket he at first said SO, but at last proposed
half sovereign for It, This being agreed to by all
parties the "Hinglishmann pulled out his wallet
and opening It, the other Of the defendants took out
Of 1t the three sovereigns, while the first LETT in his
feat achieved, both OF the defendants ran away.
They were both found guilty. the ingenious defence
OF their counsel that this was only mercantile
transaction Of barter and sale avaing them nothing.
They were sentenced to the Penitentary and to pay
q fine OF $50 each, Judge Bowling remarking that
they were the Oldest Offenders he knew, except one,
twenty years. As they were taken back to PRISON
the Judge said that he had tocondemn the polce for
these men are known around the markets, and he
had often stated that II they were brought before
commit them. As this was not done he could only
believe that the police stand in with them" to some
extent
John d. Smith and Michael Conolly were accused
with stealing goods from the store Of Jabez r. Par
sons. Mr. Parsons came upon the stand ana in o
Of Smith and the conviction Of Connolly, as Smith
had been in his employ as porter at $l6 per week
salary and was put up'' TO steal BY Connolly. The
and it resulted in as entence Of six months for Smith
and OF twenty-five dollars fine for Conolly. When
sentence was pronounced both Smith and MS en-
plOyer looked crestfallen and Smiths wife, who was
among the audience, began bitterly to cry; but the
Court remained unmOved.