The New York herald., 1871-11-07
"GOINC FOR" PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
Alleged Attempted Larceny from
the Registers Office.
Two Hundred and Sixty Mortgage Deeds In
yscpardy-A Serious Practical Jcks' Frus-
rated by vigilant Watchman-Honsst
Indignation Of the big Judge
The Accused Held In De-
fault Of $4,000 Bail.

The Accused Held In De-
fault Of $4,000 Bail.
The quietude OF the Tombs, which might almoss
have been considered a sGnct,sM sonctoruns' Wss
suddenly and most unceremoniously encroacned
upon at half-past eleven yesterday morning Tne
Judge fHogan) was sitting upon the bench exanin-
ing papers and the oflcers had huddicd together
INTO their corner bewaiing the iinpecunious state
OF the city treasury else the extreme scarcity OF
char00n and discussing the collapse OF the "repeaf
tng crowd when number or small boys rushed
into the Court with their hats under their arms,
the usual herald OF Police Court sensations. Ihey
had but Just taken their seats when the doors OF
the Court leading into the Egyptian porch were
fung ruthiessy back on their hinges and the second
portion Of
TUE PROCESSION MADE TTs APPEARANCE.
First came officer Hugh Lynch, Of the Twenty.
sixth precinct, having In charge John Ncvins q re-
cordinc clerk in the County Registers Office. Fol-
lowing these, again. came Philip Smith and Hugh
Brady, two watchmen employed in the Registers
Department, the latter carrying an immense bundle
Of papers, consisting OF mortgages deeds and trans
fers of property. which ought to have been fely
lodged In their various pigeon holes. In the rear OF
these came large portly figure. with heavy, lull
cleanly.shaven face, and hair OF that color which
speaks OF departing youthfuness, c osely munled IN
winter overcoat. and bearing In MS left hand what
might be mistaken for London alderman'5 insignia
OF onice-a magnificent black ebony cane. with
gold crown ON the top Of IT, AS the general reader
might readily imagine. this parsonage was none
'''s' RsaisTsR .sHie JUDGE" CONNOLLY.
Advancing to the rail which partitions the bench
from the "vulgar'' standing ro0m ana presenting
the gold end OF MS cane to the MagsSfase @ ne saia
similar character; instead OF vouchers they were
bona rae mortgage and transfer DEEDS that mad
(which is the prisoner ?" inquired the Judge on
the bench.
and he pointed to Nevlns, who had half an inch OF
black sticking paster'' on his nose.
The case IS simpy S tes com the "Be
Judge, as lie took the bundle OF deeds from Brady
and deposited them on A. the bench; % This man
charge Of documents OF this character. lie knew
night at about nve minutes past six O'Clock, when
was the duty q every man In the oces to dlscon
watchman, was in the room where Nevins was
working and saw him with this bundle OF papers on
s ePsn @ n asked a%
go long, as every one else had gone
80 am jst nxin' M up the dose &c o. @ work I've had
nave Az a dnrinK tcgitner before 60 home - - :
take ~ S1s sa so
parcel OF dades, III, p raise an alarm, replied
Get out with ye. ye ould blockneaa, and don't
till me me business. know 1t bether than any man
in the ONCE Go over now, and I'll follow ye this In
sEvINs HAD CARRIED TIE rApsRs
to anSaer %sae q 5e
rubber bands and let the deeds fan noit Tne deeds
which were 280 IN number, were In the hands OF
the copyists and n the course q beng translesred
man . 1s;sS ;ss SsSSS s%ppy n'pS;
after the attaches had left. but they refused to
allow me TO appo INT any one at the public expense,
Ju dge,. mat was not altogether unmlndfui Inat
had 9 few such enemies. and but for this man these
would have ooen lost ana q general public decla.
nation would have been most probably the result.
TRIED TO GET SMITH OVER 10 STONES
before he would leave himself, out the old man
stuck TO the papers and wouldn't 'budge an inch'
Now, Your Honor, cannot see what beneht these
deeds wOnld be 10 any one They were all recorded.
minute OF presentation being noted in the biotters
OF Inc department. hence they would have been of
little value to hm-they are not like vouchers you
know. "A laugh) Ofcourse. II they were destroyed,
against myself for ths purpose q raising the pnSic
sentiment against me. 1t would have 0ccasoned con-
the defendant must leave ior You to determine
after sifIing the acts
II can assure Yer Honor that it was nothing
more tnln pracucal joke pn0t was tnrYinQ to
play upon one or me colleagues that's The end,
sum and substance OF the whole thing" replied the
defendant
swell we'll take an examination anyway SAID
the ''bg man." in response to Judge H0gan's re-
commendation, "and then we shall perhaps see
what's IN It."
The case was accordingly adjourned until two
O'Clock, Nevins being locked up in the mean
while.
At two O'Clock Smith and Brady appeared, and
the following affldavit was filed. Smith could not
exactly see why they should pick out one paper
from 3O0 and at first objected TO to the docu-
ment or subscribe mis- name: but, on receiving an
explanation, he kissed the Bible and sealed the
record:-
AFFIDAVIT ov PHILLIP SMITH.
GUY and County Mo Iol.-Ihilp Smith. of No. 116
the Of NovsmSsr ISL John Esvins tnow
q o9f
public once number OF deeds and mortgages which had
e snd Ss ss sssa be
henry Henning Jr dated October ~ 1871 OF certain lot
sss q op K. Of win the buang
DspOn.n :. employed a: wa.chmsn a q: said ono.
saw said Nevns have In his large bundle wncs
he attempted TO take from ONCE but deponept
would 70 OF
deeds OF mortgage and transfer he placed the
tents N drawer n said oncc Deponent examined the
mortgages a. above set FORTH PHILIP SMITH.
Sworn to before me- this sixth day Of November 1871
T. HOGAN, Justice.
The defendant was brought up frem hts cell and
defence now said, 81 have nothing to say.o
lie was ordered to find bail for 81 000 but not hav
Ing "friendn present lie was again locked up TO
await the action OF the Grand Jury.
NO YELLOW FEVER IN SAVANNAH.