The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-19

The Water street Homie idea Swedish
Sailor Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter
in tho second Degree, and is Sent to
the state Prison for Seven Years.
Before Recorder Hackett.
Yesterday Assistant District Attorney Stewart
called on the of August Wood, indicted for the
murder OF George Wood, who was not related to
the accused in any way. The prisoner was with
out counsel, and the Court assigned Mr.. Howe to
conduct the defence. There was no difficulty in
obtaining jury, and it took only few minutes to
bring out the testimony for the prosecution 1t
appeared nom the evidence Of John McGrath that
the deceased and the accused were sailors,
the latter q Swede and the former O
runner" for a sailors boarding house short time
before he killed; that on the night of the 18th
of June the deceased and the prisoner had been
round drinking together, and at quarter to twelve
O'Clock at night they came up in front OF John
Lessons boarding house, $40 Water street, and
commenced to quarrel about twenty cents paid in
some place they had visited, which resulted In q
fight; the deceased succeeding in throwing the pri
soner down; they both fell together the deceased
under, striking his head on the curbstone, which
m ade q wound which caused him to bleed; the de-
ceased went away about fifty feet to she corner OF
Oliver street, and the prisoner sat on a
chair beside McGrath; he the prisoner)
commenced to ttantaize the deceased, pulled
am able to fight YOU again. The witness said he
had his knife out Ave minutes and that he endeav-
ored to induce him to close It,. The deceased ap-
preached the prisoner and the fight was renewed,
and the next that McGrath heard was the deceased
saying, 81 am cut" The prisoner ran up stairs
and entered Mr.. Lessons room by breaking the
door open. Shortly after an officer was called in
who arrested August Wood and took him to the
station house. He returned Immediately to the
room and found knife with blood on 1t behind the
bureau. The wounded man was taken to the sta
ton house aud from thence conveyed to the Park
Hospital in an ambulance where he died the fol-
at the conclusion OF the testimony Mr.. Stewart
informed the Court that the counsel rendered q
plea OF guilty. OF mansaughter in the second de.
gree, which he was willing to accept. believing
that the jury would dnd no higher verdict.
Mr.. Howe said he believed that the jury would
not be warranted In finding higher verdict than
mansaughter in the third degree; but, as verdicts
OF juries were very uncertain things, he deemed
1t prudent to advise the prisoner TO plead guilty to
manslaughter In the second degree.
The Recorder in passing sentence said that he
did not believe there should be any temporizng
with crimes Of this character at the present time,
ard thought the District Attorney acted mer.
ciuly in accepting the plea.
Wood was sent to the State Prison for seven
years. that being the highest penalty that could be
inflicted. When the prisoner was being removed
from the bar some OF the jurors said, ave would
not have done better than that
Pleas of Grand Larceny and Sentences.
Charles Law, indicted for stealing silver watch
worth $40 on the 18th Of November from otto
Boettger by force, while walking in Fifth street,
pleaded guilty to an attempt at robbery IN the
first degree His Honor imposed the full sentence,
which was five years in the State Prison.
John Lawson, charged with burglary In the Sec
ond, degree, he being found in the house OF David
Bell 4s0 West Twenty-second street, on the 10th OF
october, pleaded guilty to grand larceny and was
sent 10 the State Prison for three years and six
months.
Jerry Williamson pleaded guilty to an attempt at
grand larceny-the indictment alleging that on the
I'D Of November he stole $3.50 worth OF household
property, which was in the custody of Harriet
McGlashen. lie was sent to the state Prison Tor
two years and six months.
A Captain Of = Schooner Acquitted Of an
Alleged Larceny.
Joseph Parker captain OF the schooner Fulton,
was tried upon charge OF grand larceny, in
stealing, on the Goth OF October, ton OF pig iron
valued at sos, the property OF Thomas Pope "
Brother. The only evidence against the accused was
that OF Henry r. Flaper the mate, who was Jointly
indicted, who, upon s-examination, admitted
that he was arrested once before and impris0ned In
the jail at White Plains. The prosecuting officer
practically abandoned the ease. and by Direction