The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-14
JUDGE BEDFORD ON GARROTERS.

James NIcLnughlin, u Notorious CarrOter.
Tried, Convicted and Sentenced to the State
'"risOn for Twenty Years.
The Court Of General Sessions Judge Bedford
presiding, was occupied the greater part OF yester-
day in the trial OF James NC Laughlin, charged with
garrotlng. All the testimony In the case showed
that the prisoner desperate character and his
conviction and speedy sentence IL is to be hoped
will be caution to the gang OF whom he was sort
OF ringleader and chief The most careless reader
of criminal dolngs as recorded In the daily
press cannot fail to have perceived that
certain crimes frequently assume the form
OF an epidemic Sometimes the use of the
knife and pistol seems to predominant over other
offences. Then for time the light-fngered gentry
OF the jimmy" come 10 the front and break INTO
stores ana dwellings with lmpunitv; and succeed
ing a lul in their operations, garrOters appear III
our public thOroughlares, and often IN midday
boldly and brutaly waylay peaceable citizens and
remembered that last SEPTEMBER this latter species
Of crime was rampant; but 1t received a timely
check by the prompt ana vigorous administration alton
convicted OF highway robbery and sent TO
the State Prison for terms varying from
twelve TO twenty years. or late numerous IN
stances OF robbery In this city and Brooklyn
have occurred, ana owing 10 the INADEQUATE
police force many OF the hlghwaymen have escaped.
The only protection which our cillZens can nave
from this dangerous class OF offenders Is their
speedy and severe punishment by the judges or our
criminal courts whenever they are brought within
the q asp OF the law. Judge Bedford Is doing all in
trct Attorney cooperates with MIN in placing the
complaints to- robbery before the Grand jury 80 that
indictments may be found Immediately and the
alleged criminals tried during the present term or
the Court Yesterday an
Aggravated CASE OF GARRoTINa
was disposed OF in the General Sessions; and as
soon as the jury rendered verdict OF guilty, wnch
they did without leaving their seats the CITY Judge
sentenced the prisoner to Incarceration In the sing
Sing Prison for twenty years. Ine name OF the cui-
prlt was
and the evidence against him was brief, but very
Frederick weist residing in Thirty.seventh street.
near Tenth avenue testified that at twelve O'Clock
at night on the 22d Of January he went into an
oyster saloon with friend. and after remaining
there for an hour they parted, and while he (Welsp
was proceeding to MS home the prisoner came up
and asked him what time 1t was; he replied that
ms watch was stopped, whereupon he Immediately
received two blows In the face ana was knocked
DOWN by the prisoner, who tore his watch from The
chain Mr.. West said he positively Identified the
prisoner as the man who attacked him.
Counsel Tor Mclaughlin stated LhaJ ne would not
uty himself ed o ~ TO wir Tue
The other witness called was OlnCer Reilly, OF the
Twentieth precinct, VINO testified tnat ne saw Inc
prisoner knock the complainant down on the COR
ner OF Forty first street and Tenth avenue, and as
soon as the latter called "Watch' the prisoner ran
away. Reilly and another officer pursued McLaugh-
lin, and upon his refusing 10 stop they fired their
pistols at him, but, fortunately for the criminal,
without effect. AT length the fugitive was caught
by a third officer In Ninth avenue. lie was searched
when brought TO the station house, but the watch
was not found.
vERDICT-GUILTY.
The Jury rendered verdict of guilty. and, aiter
the officer informed the Judge that McLaughlin's
right name was Jimmy Hart" and that he was an
associate OF bad characters, Judge Bedford pro-
ceeued to sentence him.
SENTENCE.
His Honor said:-"McLaughlin, OF late the crime
OF garrotlng mas raised It's dangerous head In our
midst, placing 1t were, the lives OF our citlZehs
In imminent peril am determined In every legiu-
mate way, al all hazards, to protect the community
against rufllans and rutfanism. And shall take
tins OppOi tunty OF saying that every prisoner pro-
pery convicted OF garrOting shall have meted out 10
him the full penalty OF the law-twenty years IN tho
State PrisOn-whicn Is your sentence"
The prisoner was then removed.