The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-21
COURT OF SPECIAL SESSIONS.

| For paintiT-Mr. Henry X. Cummings
| For deiendant-Mr. Edwin James.
COURT OF SPECIAL SESSIONS
| A Man OF Inexhaustible Humor Diverting
| Himself Upon SOmnoIent Passengers In City
Cnrs-Necting AN Old Acquaintance and the
Pleasing "Reminiscences that FOllowcd-A
Gentleman OF Various Residences and Alinses
and Excessive Fondncss for New Clothes
Omnium Gatherum.
Before judges Bowling and Kelly
Midsummer and the general exodus to the country
cause diminutiOn In the number OF tried in
this Abundant spectators also remain to fill
the court oom and the lawyers continue as thick
as leaves In Vallambrosa. There fifty cases
yesterdays calendar, comprising twentysix charges
of assault and battery, twenty three of petit larceny
AMI one Of an attempt at picking pockets.
A CITY CAR PICKPOCKET.
First summoned before the tribunal of Justice was
Thomas Luly. young man. exceedingly well
dressed and OF prepossessing appearance accused Of
trying the little game OF relieving passenger on
Tenth avenue car Of his gold watch and chain The
passenger whom he selected the object of his
manipulating attentions was in q semi-somnolent
condition. Mrs. Harris, the witness against the
cused, saw him endeavOring to transfer to his own
possession the timepiece Of the somnoent passenger,
and called the attention Of the conductor to
the TACT, VINO caused MS arrest
"What have you to say to this?" Judge Bowling
asked the prisoner at the bar.
~ was only joking" he answered, with refreshing
audaclty. ~ was going to show the man how dan
gerOus It was not to keep himself wide awake while
riding in CITY car and would have given back the
'Your fund Of humor, have no doubt, is exhaust
less" SAID sale; the Judge land the way you would have
been the height OF the humorous"
81 am telling you the truth, persisted the teacher
OF practical joking IN one lesson.
GAnAJ tn fa ho frufh fn<t cv1oH
up the Judge. "You ought to be ashamed of your
self for offering such a mendacious pretext. You
nice clothes are the earnings of your profession.
Car pickpOckets are dangerous class, and intend
to make an example OF all VINO are brought before
me. / shall send you six months to the Peniten-
tiary'
There Is depth Of poetic tenderness words can
not express In that aged song "Auld Lang Syne,"
and 80 In meeting Old acquantances are warmed up
and all the finer feelings Of the soul intensified
into new life and beauty. The next prisoner proved
to pc an old acquaintance OF Judge Dowlings, and
though at sight OF this old acquaintance scenes OF
aud lang syne presented themselves In rapid view to
the mental vision OF the Judge there was nothing Of
poetic tenderness In it, The chords Of memory OF
the old acquaintance were unconscious Of the fact
or failed to respond-which, perhaps. may account
name Of John MCNAMARA. Mrs Norton, Of No. Is2
Hester street, who keeps furnished lodgings, re-
Gently rented MIN room in her house. He brought
no baggage with HIM. In o day or two she saw him
come In with an empty bag Soon she saw him
leave with the nag which was now 1ul. Thinking it
pair of blankets and some plated spoons and forks.
sHave you counselor the Judge asked the pri-
| soner, after the woman had told her story.
~ will act as my own counsel, your Honor, with
| your permission" he answered
Certainly. You were educated for the bar, be-
lie " ws replied plr q the Judge
'.wei, what is your line Of defencer'
''Go on-call up your witnesses"
Miss Kate Smith, Q remarkably good looking young
lady, was first called. She testified that she was
| the time the alleged larceny was committed. She
told her story very straight and could not be shaken
| man, testified TO bringing the accused some washing
the time sHs tSS sSc. to her rs
''No, SIT; think have clearly proven an alibi.,
| "You think you have. Well, ] dOn't,n said the
It, and you Know It. You are an ola acaaanance
OF mine; find you guilty Of this charges you are an
old offender; 1t Is not many years ago since you COM
state Prison; you escaped from prison; took
! complaint against you for helping prisoners escape
| from Blackwell's Island; you were tried on this
| charge IN the General Sessions and sentenced one
| year to the Penitentiary; 1t s unnecessary to go
through your history; you see know you, but you
and ability; You schooed your Witnesses in the tes
tmony they were to give; send you SIX months to
| f0NbNRss FOR NEW CLOTHES.
Another well dressed and young looking man was
placed at the bar charged with assaung Anna Wal
| lace. lie was arraigned under the name Of George
wilson, out Judge bowling, who never forgets faces
at once recognized him, as he afterwards stated as
an imported English thief. The assault was OF the
most aggravang kind, and he pleaded guilty,
| .'WheIe do you liveSn the Judge asked him.
| "At "a Blocker street," was the immediate re-
| sponse.
'Tnat's private residence said the Judge, land
happen TO know the family living there"
| III did live there
| "YOu never did,
| "Weli call it No. 40 Crosby street.u
| ''0r any other street or numDerP'
| Eyes, anywhere YOU please"
"You have given your right manner
| sYes.n
"Did you get your name changed by the Lcgis.
latgreT
| IL knew you last as Bill English. You change
your name and dress as often as you please but you
| cannot change that face Of yours. ! accept your
plea Of guilty and sentence you six months TO the
| Penitentary."
"That's rough Judge"
Chow sOr
Trough to prevent my wearing out my new
Clothes have fOndness for new clothes and have
| only just got this harness."
| MISCELLANEOUS CASES.
william Russell was found guilty Of an aggravated
assault on Alice Shaw. The Judge said IN view OF
his being notorious pane! thief ne would send him
Blk months to the Penlteiilary.
Mary Sullivan was charged by Margaret McGnniss
| with biting OIL one OF her nipples. some women In
court were requested to examine and see II the
| statement as to the alleged mayhem was
correct, and on their confirmation OF the COM
plainahi's statement the accused was sent six
months to the workh0use. William Clancy, O large
strapping fellow, was found guilty OF assaulting
small man with one arm who undertook to prevent
his stealing some cotton on pier NO. 8, North river.
lac was sentenced two months TO the Penitentiary,
and fined fifty dollars. John Harold was sent two
months 10 Bacswens Island ,. Tor beating MS WE,
coat, sent four months to the same institution.
James hahn gave officer Clinton lesson In the
puglllstic art. He was given ten days In the City
Prison to rest his muscles.
COURT CAlENDAns-THS DAY.