The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-19
THE GREAT HUBBELL-FINCH CASE.


the Trial-A Paul Pry in Court-Tho
Village OF Mount kisco ana It's Inhab-
itants from Grave to Gay.
The greater part Of the session of the General
Sessions yesterday Judge Bedford presiding, was
occupied in trying an Indictment for attempt at
robbery preferred against Thomas Finch and man
named Collins, on the complaint OF Elias Hubbel,
who is an attorney at law in the picturesque vii
lage OF Mount Kisco, Westminster county.
Mr. Hubbell is undoubtedly character humor-
Gus, ready at retort and endowed with a shrewd
cunning which enables him to set suitable value
on his utterances before they are made. In an
adjacent town to that in which lawyer Hubbell has
his habaton there resided for ten or fifteen years
a tolerable decent young man named Thomas
Finch not in the remotest degree related to "Poor
Miss Finch" Finch was bartender In the village
referred to- but for the past year has existed as
permanent citizen Of this metropolis.
On the Goth Of March Hubbel CAM to this city for
the purpose OF collecting some $40 more or less,
and upon his arrival
PUT UP AT TIE PUTNAM HOUSE,
on Fourth avenue. The same evening Hubbel eH-
countered his Old acquaintance, Finch at the
hotel and the two shook hands heartily at the I'M
expected rencontre. Finch invited Hubbell TO
| drink at the bar OF the hotel, and also extended
like courtesy to another man named Collins fincI
| invited the barkeeper TO chang up the amount OF
! the beverages; but that disagreeable parsonage
refused haty TO DO and removed the liquids from
| sight. Finch had no money; he was In that
| nMPEcuNIous STATE
which is very unpleasant when 10 becomes neces'
sary to extend certain courteses to stranger.
Finch though, nothing daunted, invited his friend
Hubbell to go to some theatre near fourteenth
street. The two started, chatting on various topics
turn and look back as If expecting some one.
When they reached Twenty third street, and while
midway between Third and Fourth avenues In that
street. Hubbell felt himself suddenly seized by the
throat by some person behind, who
PRESSED HIS THUMBS TIGHTLY
under Hubbelrs ears. At the same instant his
old friend Finch caught him by the collar and
yelled watch, murder and fire., The conflict lasted
some time; but, Hubbell Is OF Herculean
build, he succeeded in throwing or his assailants,
whom he recognized subsequently as the man
Collins who was in the act OF drinking with Finch
COLLINS ESCAPED,
but Finch was arrested, and was arraigned before
Judge Bedford for attempted robbery me ASSAULT
was alleged to have been committed between
seven and eight O'Clock at night. The complainant
went the stand, and told substantially the
above story, with the most ludicrous elaboration,
making of the the most enjoyable trial That
has been held In the General Sessions Court Tor
LAWYERS, loungers and reporters were convulsed
with laughter at the replies and queries and voun.
tary remarks OF the complainant number l, OF
residents OF kiscO were put ON the stand, anu swore
GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE COMPLAINANT
was bad, and they would not believe him under
oath Each witness seemed to have we'll
grounded grudge against the other, and all the
troubles, disputes, lawsuits, election wrangles,
&C. we're fully ventilated by Witnesses. From all
accounts Hubbell was modern Paul Pry, a pest IN
village pokng his nose IN everyo1SaIys o cHess
venom. Iiubbell also Is great temperance advo-
cate, and keeps
over the ginmlls in his village, thus mourning the
enmity of very numerous fraternity In any place
the tipplers The greatest lot OF antediiuvlans
went on the stand and all agreed the complainant
was nuisance. Finch was given good general
This case occupied the greater portion Of the day,
as the proceedings were repeatedly interrupted by
bursts OF uncomfortable laughter, which the efforts
OF His Honor could but Intellectually suppress
Mr. G. II. Brooks addressed the jury, pointing out
the improbable story OF the planant who swore
that on the night OF the alleged robbery he was
Knocked down In Twenty-third street, between
Third and Fourth avenues, between seven and
eight O'Clock In the evening, and that although ne
crowded thOroughfare responded. The connseI
facetiously said that Hubbell vegetated In court
charges against other people That fact, coupled
with the testimony adduced showing the question
able character OF Hnbbell for truth aud yeracity,
ought to lead the jury to doubt his story and render
Assistant District Attorney Sullivan spoke BREEZY y
in behalf of the prosecutions He maintained i, mat
Notwithstanding the trying ordeal through
which Mr.. Hubbell passed, his chaTacte gro US
truthful man was not s,,nl Pcat"1tH TO- sustain
the charge OF robbery, and ne he tHo casa
oncei) abandoned that branch Oh tae &c, case Sc
49,
mon the stand to contradict the statement OF tne
/ complainant was alluded to, and there was , nosMng
in the testimony whlchxsustaned the llsinuatlon
| that Hubbel compromised previous snlSs ier as
samlt ami battery for money. Mr. sullivan con-
! tended that the men from Mount kisco who swore
Tn the questionable character Of the complaining
witnesses were habItues OF the drinking saloon In
that village who dislked Hubbell because OF his
| activity In the temperance cause.
| After brief and clear charge by Judge Bedford
the jury retired deliberate upon their verdict and
returned In two hours and half with O verdict OF
guilty OF assault and battery, and In view OF the de-
fcndants good character they recommended sus-
pension OF sentence.
Counsel for the defendant said suspended judg-
ment would be a very unpleasant thing to be over
his clients head, and suggested the imposition Of
nominal fine OF six cents.
Mr.. sullivan earnestly contended that no further
eniency should be shown to the defendant, for he,
through MS counsel had endeav0red to blacken the
character or Hubbell by the gang Of enemies who
came from Westchester county
JUDGE Bedford said that he Thought the line OF de-
fence pursued by the counsel was perfectly jusna-
ble lie could not, however, Interfere with the
uict OF the jury Az their request he would suspend
Judgment.