The New York herald., 1871-12-08
CCURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS.

| Tive Daring Highway Robbers Sent to the
State Prison for Twenty Years Eaca by
Recorder Observation-Disclosures nnd Thieves
| Sentenced 10 Sing Sing.
Before Recorder Hackett.
Yesterday His Honor the Recorder took hts seat
upon the bench ana Will preside during the re-
mainder OF the term.
SENTENCED.
Charles Williams. who was Jointly charged with
burglariously entering the premises OF Abraham
1rier Isl Rivlngton street, on the 18th OF NOvem-
Der, when $500 worth OF cloth was stolen, pleaded
guilty 10 attempt at burglary the third oegree
and was sent to the State Prison for two years and
Six months
ROBBERY IN THE FIRST DEGRER--sENTENCE.
William Thompson and Michael Griffin were
charged with robbery in the first degree The main
witness for the prosecution, Dennis Meany, an Old
man, being sworn and examined testified that on
the evening OF the 10Th OF November, between
eight and nine O'Clock, aud as he was returning
home from Fiiy-irst street, he was met at the cor
ncr OF Market and Hamilton streets by four young
men; Thompson seized HIM by the throat, pulled
his knife out and made an attempt to cut his throat;
another one, whom he did noJ see, caught
him by the neck from behind, ana while
both were trying to choke him, the prls-
Oner Griffin put his hand Into the pocket OF
his lMeany's) pantaloons aud TOOK pocketbooK
containing $40; Meany halooed WATCH but re-
celyeu no anSN Cf. lie lutn WenL 10 Tile seventh
ward station house and gave description Of
Thompson, whom lie knew very well ior the last
seven years. he also saw GrlIlln oiten in company
mistaken IN identifying them Us the parties
VINO had assaulted and roDbed him. Ths
rponers pTisoners were yer arrested upon the IoIowias
Tuesday. Upon his cross-examinalion the com
the evening OF the occurrence; that Thompsons
sister came TO him ana said at were 1t not for the
fact that her husbands business was slack she
would give MIN Ghe COMPLAINANT some money II he
would pardon" Thompson, whereupoR he (Meany)
replied tnat he could not expect any money nom
Onicer English testified that he arrested Thomp-
son at l22 OnerIy street on Tuesday evening; lie
looked very mucn excited, and before the oliicer
told him wnat he wanted he sali, Il am coliared
now"
That was the case for the people,
Michael Gfinin went on the stand and said he
lived IN Cherry street, was arrested once Tor DIS
orderly c0nduci used 10 work at q cracker bakery
in Grand stree, uut had been out OF employ oyment
since octoper was sixteen years old: hau nothing
Thomson since the last election, although he knew
The prisonerThompson was also sworn in MS own
bena and said tnat he did not see the complainant
that night aud knew nothing oI the roooery: he
knev tnat Mcany lived IN that street; he worked In
work for the last SIX weeks. Thompson admitted
that he mad been arrested twice ana lett The Peni-
Ientiary four or five months since.
lhe july rendered u verdict OF guilty without
The Recorder, IN sentencing Thompson, said that
he learned from the police officer tnat he was bad
anu tHdb tHc very stNeic it
about 10 impose was not so much penalty l0r the
crime he had committed as an example 10 the men
In this community who perpetratcd highway rob-
beIies. such OFFENCES were very common at the
present time. Thompson was sentenced 10 lmDris-
onment In the Stale Prison for the period OF twenty
years. Grimm, In consequence OF Ills youth, was
sent 10 the Pcnlientiafy for 1--WE years.
ANOTHER HIGnwAyMAN SENTENCED TO TWENTY
John Fretne, VINO was jontly~indIcted with
Thomas Drew charged with assaulting aud robbing
Bernard Donobue on the night Of the 13d OF Novem-
her, at the corner OF Albany and Washington streets,
and stealing $50 In grecnbacks was tried and 1our
guilty. The complainant stated that ne was gong
nome 10 MS lodgings IN Washington stree', ABOUT
ten O'Clock at night, when he war atlackej ny lice
youths and held by ne throat, anu alter, ne Wa5
rObtel two Of Wem ran away, bnt lretie icm"hed
apuf BANDED biu his tobacco box. wnich con-