The New York herald., 1870-06-12
COURT or GENERAL SESSIONS.

ssPat, Duffy, the Notorious First Ward Fighter,
Sent to the State Prison for Attempting TO
Kill n Policeman-iiemarks Of MIR. Howe
and Assistant District Attorney FeIiows-Su-
perintendent J0urdan in at the Last Act of
the Drama.
Before Recorder Hackett.
The proceedings in this court to-day were OF
unusual interest and importance. Assistant District
Attorneys Tweed and Fellows appeared for the pro-
secution. After dsposing Of few unmportant
cases, Mr, Fellows moved on the Trial OF Patrick
Dufry against whom there were two indictments for
feonlous assault and battery, he having attempted
TO XIII two police officers. superintendent Jourda"%,
who, Of course took deep interest in this matter
since the occurrence, was in attendance to see that
the prosecuting officers and the Recorder were not
mised by any statements that might be made in eX-
tenuattOn OF the aggravated and unwarrantabe as
sault committed upon two members OF the police
force Of which he IL the vigilant and eclent CHIEF.
Indeed, It is q common occurrence for Superntend-
when any noted criminal is to be placed at the bar,
thereby materially aiding In the prompt and vigor-
GUS administration OF criminal justice IN TINS city
and county.
Mr. WIN. F. Howe, the counsel for the prisoner,
said:-In this the defendant Patrick Duny, has
been indicted for assault with intent TO XIII David
w. Dyckman who was at the time Of the assault aud
is now member OF the Metropolitan Police. Mr..
Superintendent Jourdan has on behalf OF the police
watched this from the time OF the arrest OF the
accused until the present moment and has. be-
heye, given TO the learned District Attorney reasons
that nature, should be energetic | am free 10 say,
after carefully perusilg the papers, that to nterpose
q defence would not inure to the benefit OF the ac
eused but would be waste of time. desire, IN
lnterposing plea OF guilty, simply to state to the
court that Duffy, bad as he may be in public estima
zion, Is not without some bright spots in his char
acter.
Mr.. Howe went on to say that Duffy served brayely
through the war under Colonel Billy Wilson
twho was in cOurt had endured hardshlps
which had shattered his constitution, and which had
now left him, according TO the statement OF the
..lxofa no 1act atn nna n
accused desired the counsel to state that he regretted
the attack which was made upon the officer anu the
alarm that had been raised IN the community py tne
commission OF the offence. In conclusion, Mr.. Howe
hoped, in view OF the mitigating circumstances ne
had enumerated, the Court would lnfjict the lowest
penalty which could be imposed for the onence TO
which Duffy pleaded guilty. .
Assistant District Attorney Fellows said that 1t
his duty to call the attention Of his Honor to the
facts OF this case. All officer, while in the discharge
turbance in Broadway, was approached from behind
Ivy the prisoner and struck blow on the neck, near
vital point, with weapon which might have pro-
duced death. He drew out the blade and imme-
diately repeated the blow; but providentialy the
blade OF the knife broke, so that the life OF the officer
was spared. The facts surrounding this case called
10r the exercise OF the stern justice with which his
Honor was clothed.
Mr.. Howe urged In eloquent terms the service
which Duffy rendered his country during the war in
mitigation OF punishment.
Recorder Hackett in passing sentence, observed
fhat the prisoner pleaded guilty to assault with
intent to kill He read the statement Of the
renee In the newspapers, and the remarks of the Dis
frct Attorney corroborated the account In the ex-
ercfse OF what he tthe Recorder believed to be his
duty he sentenced Duffy TO the State Prison for the
period Of nine years and SIX months at hard labor.
The indictment to which he pleaded guilty charged
him with assauiting David w. Dyckman, or the
Eighth precinct, on the I'd inst, at the corner OF
Houston street and Broadway, while arrestng James
Casey for being drunk and disorderly.