The New York herald., 1870-09-27
G A r R orIN O..
.ahs New Nemesis Of criminals-- Denis 0'Neil,
the Garrotsr and Burglar-Judge Bedford
Sentences Him to tho State Prison for
Twenty-Five Years-rhe Way Of
rhs Transgresscr ia Hard

emo of those terrible lessons which tho lawless-
ness that prevails among the dangerous classes In
our midst, and the impunIty which, unfortunately
zoo often follows the Preparations OF the most nf
nous crimes, renders necessary for the protection
OF life and property was administered yesterday by
Judge Bedford In the Court OF General Session.. A
young though notorious criminal was indicted some
weeks ago by the Grand Jury Of the county eInpan-
nelled for duty In the Court of General Sessions and
yesterday presented at the bar Of that court, put
upon his trial. convicted and immediately sen.
fenced. The culprits name is Denis O'Neil, who
was arrested on charge OF robbery In the
drst degree, and subsequently indicted, with
another culprlt, Thomas FeatherstOne, with
that offence, the circumstances attending
which showed an attempt at garroting and bur.
glary. Featherstone, when put on trial last week.
pleaded guilty, and was then and there sentenced by
Judge Bedford to the State Prison for twelve years
ana six months. o'Neil preferred to stand his trial
with the result indicated above.
IRE TESTIMONY.
Charles Krager tesuded that as he was passing
through Macdougal street early on the morning Of
the 10th of August he was approached from behind
struck In the face aud robbed OF gold watch and
chain. He was unable 70 recognize the two young
men who attacked him, but pursued them and was
Joined in the chase by an officer, who did not arrest
them at that time, remarklng, however, to Krager
that he knew the paries OMEN was arrested in
drinking saloon, and the officer saw him pass
watch to Featherstone, which was afterwards iden-
tiied by the complainant as his watch.
Onicer Wilson positively identified O'Neil, who
came upon the stand and swOre that the
morning OF the 10th OF August, at Tire time Krager
was robbed, he was in bed at No. 40 vandam street,
Assistant District Attorney Fellows In cross-exam-
ming the prisoner sought TO bring out the fact that
objected 10 certain questions put by the District At.
: torney, which would degrade his Client Mr.. Fell
lnuvl IN hil ataIt t,,tl,
telling effect upon the fact that the majority OF crml.
mails who perpetrafed daring burglarles and robbie
rtes were young nen. lie maintained that leniency
was wasted upon such characters, and juries were
pubic benefacrors, and were doing something that
they ought TO eel thankful ior the privilege OF dong,
oil trained criminals, who, though young In years,
were Old In crime. The prosecuting ofiicer asked
fora verdict OF guilty without leaving their seats,
and the jury saw ut TO promptly comply
with his request As soon as the verdict
was rendered, Mr. Fellows proceeded to give the
court succnct history OF this noted young criminal,
wno 1t appeared, was arraigned at the bar on the
14th OF October, 1857 charged with burglary In Inc
third degree. lie gave his age then as eighteen
years, and at the earnest request Of the complainant
the case was not pressed and O'Nei was discharged.
On the 18th OF December, 1857, O'NeiI, III company
with two others, was brought up, charged with
burglary He pleaded guilty, and as letters from his
pended. The prisoner had gone from burglary to
robbery, and the career OF this desperate criminal
was sqch that clemency seemed to be due to the peo
Pie. lie moved for sentence upon the verdict Just
rendered and also upon the suspended judgment Ia
The burglary case.
THE SENTENCE.
Judge Bedford, In passing sentence, said
VNell, there can be no question as regards your
guilt. You stand convicted garroter. respectable
citizen is brutaly knocked down py several ruians
1.-TWO O'Clock in the morning, beaten and robbed of
MIS- watch, cham and valuables. You were seen
runnlng away, In company with the wOuld-be mur-
dereIs from the scene OF Inc difficulty and within
lew hours you were arrested with the watch IN
your possession. learn from officer wilson, of the
twenty eighth precinct that you are professional
burglar, an expert thief and bold garroter; that
you are the mead and front OF gang ol ruians who
are terror TO the neiehborhood over which they
prOwi and plunder. In dealing with such characters
as you are would indeed be faltering In my duty
70 the people should l diminish the penalty
prescnb,ed n,y by statute single hour
must be protected and desperad0es punished. Let
the professional garroters this day take warning for
conviction your fate snail be this, viz. cOnne-
ment at hard LABOR in the State Prison for the term
OF twenty years. His Honor added two years and
six months to the above sentence on the suspended
Judgment In the burglary case.
THE COURT ROOM
was crowded during the progress OF the trial and q
feeling OF universal satisfaction was manifested by
the audience when ONei's guilty career brought
to close by the tremendous, but richly merlted,
punishment inflicted by the presiding Judge. His
viilanous pbysognomy confirmed the striking ike
ness OF criminalry which Mr. Fellows painted III his
speech to the jury and the Court.