The New York herald., 1871-03-21
THREE ALIASES.
A Notorious Pickpockct Sentenced "A
Heroic Woman on Her Muscle
Judge BedfOrd's Memory.

John Mccarthy, alias Cockney Jack, alias John
Mackn, was brought up before Judge Bedford
yesterday in the Court OF General Sessions charged
with having picked the pocket OF lady at Hamil-
ton ferry on the night OF the goth Of February
last. The complainant, who, IN appearance, is evi-
IDENTITY "from the country and capital subject for
the manpulations OF the
LIGHT FINGERED GENTRY,
gave her evidence In a thoroughly characteristic
manner and excited Of laughter by the quaint
way In which she told the story of her suferings on
board the ferryboat. She deposed that her name
was Elizabeth Donovan and that she resided at No.
81 Wolcolt street. Brooklyn. On Saturday night the
2On OF February last, she sad she had the misfor-
tune TO come to New York
TO BUY A BIT o. SOMETHING
at Washington Market. Returning home In the
evening. two men, one OF wnom was the prisoner
at the bar,
"KEP' DoDGING ME-
about at the gate leading the ferry Finding that
they impedea my progress said Now. you git out;
/ can't pass with you.'" This summons from stall
wart lady, whose accents are not the most dulcet
Imaginable and generally not uttered soto U0ce, had
not the desired effect on the men who blocked her
THEY CONTINUED ''ro poDGE.n
The witness at this stage OF her evidence grew ex-
cited, ana, "fxingn Mccarthy with q look OF the
most lofty contempt. she continued to address the
prisoner. -
"Flndng, gentlemen. tnat couldn't get by
or rather. endeavored to do so; but as soon as
did, your Honor" at once addressing Judge Bed
fora, "what do you think finds IN my pocket but
finger at the prisoner. 'The worst Of 1t was that
while he had his hand IN my pocket it was
STUCK IN HIS OWN POCKET
at the same time: found my purse In his hand,
quite open but nabDed him before he got hold OF
my SO 5o-iny husbands hard earned money. He
I'm,
he was dirty thief. Il have you arrested.
says to him. you Will. will your You never will
pulling me, until he dragged me board the ferry
boat, where the horses were. When got there lot
l stuck on to him all the time, and never let him
go until got an officer / ran to him and pointed
out the prisoner as
THE MAN WHO ROBBED NE,
about Six yards OF, and says l., "Don't arrest him
unless you find hole in his pocketn Turning full
round to the jury, she summed up her narrative In
the words, "An' that's the man that robbed me.''
officer william Mcmillan, OF the First precinct, de-
posed that the former witness pointed out Mccarthy
searched at the station house 1t was found that
THE LINING OF HIS RIGHT HAND POCKET,
through which the prosecnrix alleged that he had
who was very well dressed and who appeared quite
unconcerned during the proceedings offered as his
only defence the fact that he had not actually taken
the purse IRON her pocket and that he had only at
tempted to commit the theft.
Counsel for the prisoner offered no defence, the
case was overwhelming against him, and the jury,
alter his HonOr's charge, at once rendered verdict
OF guilty without leaving their seats.
THE COURT ROOM
was densey crowded during the trial or the prisoner
by MS "pals,o who stood by him IN full force and
who, were 1t not for the vigilance Of the officers
the court, would in ali PROBABILITY, have embraced
good chance to rescue their leader out Of the
clutches of the law There was great sensation
when the jury rendered their VERDICT and the army
OF roughS in the rear OF the room were almost
thunderstruck when Judge Bedford said he would
sentence the prisoner on the spot, after the clerk
asked the usual qnestiOnS. At this Juncture several
OF the dead Rabbit crowd near the door rose to
their feet If to ntlmidate the Judge, who, not
outstanding these belligerent exhibitions in trm
voice delivered the following sentence
THE SENTENCE.
Judge Bedford, in passing sentence, said:-John
Mccarthy. alias CockneY Jack, alias John Macklin,
since my connection with the Court Of General Ses-
past bears worse record than yours. You were
arrested In 1852 by Judge then Captain) Bowling
and superintendent then sergeant) Jourdan for
picking pockets at the Crystal Palace Fair
In 1850 you were again arrested by
Judge DOwling for picking woman's pocket
in Trinity church while she was attend
ing her husbands funeral In 1884 you ned
the Chief OF Police for numerous offences and thou
sands OF dollars worth OF property were found
secreted In your room. In 1868 you were arrested
by Judge Bowling for rObbing man OF 81, 800, but
you managed to escape. You have been In State
Prison and on the Island, and to-day you stand here
as an escaped convict, and found guilty OF larceny
The last time you were tried, which was In August
you were deaf and dumb; but Judge bowling at
recognized you and sent you to the Island. To.
day send you to the State Prison for the full term
five years.