The New York herald., 1870-09-17
FORENSIC "HIGHFALUTIN'."

Judge Downing on the Hotel Act-Mr. w. e.
Howe In Nice Position, and Making tho
Most Of It-A ClinchiDg Address Importan-
Decision for Hotel Keepers.
The Court OF Special Sessions was relieved yester
day from Its w0nted monotonous dulness by the
appearance In court OF Mr.. William F. Howe. accom-
panied by young and lovely GIRL the defendant in
case OF alleged fraud upon hotel keeper. Mr.
Howe was arrayed superby for the occasion, having
on his new pair OF spring pants, q bran new white
vest his velvet coat ana his most gorgeous diamonds
mot, however the celebrated green onesl and
neckhe which, for the briliancy of its colors, far
exceeded nything ever before worn by the counsel
The young lady was not leaning ON Mr. HOwe's arm
as she entered the court but she kept 80 close to him
ana evidently relied upon him SO much that there
was not little Jealousy on the part OF at least two
eminent individuals then in court When Mr.. john
son, the Clerk Of the Court looked from over his
spectaces at the strange appearance of young lady
occupying seat beside counsel within the law
yers enclosure, in front Of the BENCH his astonsh-
ment visible in every lineament of his features
but his enemy, Mr.. Howe, looked around with his
bandest smiles and with conscious triumph, as il
he would say-"yes; she and are here" At length
Mr.. Howe, catching the keen eye OF Judge Dowling
In an innocent sort OF way examining him and his
companion, rose and In his most insnuating man
ner said:-
MAY III plcdSc your uOuOT, nave 10 ask reQueSt
OF the Court Shall this lady my Client be permitted
to occupy seat beside me? l am aware it is against
the rules Of the Court, but ask suspension In her
favor.
Judge Bowling gracefully bowed his acquiescenoe
Mr. Howe Your Honor, this is the case of Wehrle
against sedman or In other words the trial OF Miss
Emma Stedman upon charge OF having defrauded
Joseph Wehre, OF Irving place, proprietor Of the
Belvidere House. out OF $222, for one weeks board
was no contract entered into between complainant
ana defendant; In fact, that Miss stedman's being at
the hotel at all was IN consequence Of contract
made between the proprietor OF the Bevidere House
and another individual, gentleman not now In
court might as well speak plainly In answer to
beautiful girl your Honor sees beside me- was once
most beautiful and innocent. She travelled, In
earlier @ years, though she is still in the bloom
OF her youth and loveliness, throughout all the
European Continent ana excited the admiration Of
the highest and the greatest In Paris, as well as in
basely was she treated; your Honor win be willing
to draw veil over the darkest remembrance that
can ial TO tne lot Of woman. She came to New
YORK 10 avOld the cOldness OF former friends ana on
her way to this country found protector gentle
man who, on arriving in this city, took her to the
Belvidere House. where he, and not she engaged an
elegant suit OF rooms. This gentleman tmmediately
left the city and has not since been heard FROM and
Miss Stedman, seeing this and unwilling to ntrude
nerseli In the MOTEL when there not an absolute
certainty OF her being able to defray all necessary
EXPENSES at once left the hotel stating her reasons
case, and viii put the complainant on the stand
and make him prove Them
Mr. Joseph Wehre was then placed upon the
stand, and was subjected to fierce examination
nom Mr.. Howe and was obliged to admit not only
that MISS Stedman had not hired the rooms from
hm but that he was well aware at the time the suit
OF rooms were being engaged that they were about
to be used by gentleman and his mistress
MI Howe then addressed the Court In one of the
most 0rnately eloquent speeches, and 1t may be
added sentlmentally pathetic ever uttered In the
Court OF special Sessions as will appear from the
following sentence, which was the conclusion: 81
adjure you by the name OF woman the handspring
OF the tickling tmeplece Of Times theoretical trans
migration, to discharge this lady.n
Judge bowling did not seem in the least nut ont
Dy the eloquence OF the learned counsel and In his
ol.hand way disposed OF the case thus
From the evidence before me in this case, can
perceive that there was no fraud intended by the
young lady. Had she resorted to any fraudulent
method Of imposing upon the complainant should
OF course md her guilty But can see nothing I'm
the evidence to prove that the usual frauds IN cases
like this were resOrted to; such as filling trunks with
stones or useless stun or making fraudulent repre-
sentatlOns at the outset. hold that the "Hote
Act" is altogether unconstitutional 1t would were
1t enforced as IT seems now to stand revive the oh
sOete law OF imprisonment for debt. When fraudu-
lent means are resOrted to conviction should follow
when the ordinary course OF business TRANSACTIONS
Is the only mode Of procedure In the case 1t would
be unlawful to innict punishment. The case Is dis
missed.
Again ala Mr.. johnson raise his eyes over his
spectacles; again did the modest Veitch smile a
quiet smie again did all the officials of the COurt
including his Honor and the only reporter present
follow with strained eyes, the cOrpuent figure or
counsellor Howe and slim figure of the lovely pirl
by his side as the counsellor marched his fair eli.
ent Win triumphant strides our OF the court roOm