New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-24
MAYOR HALLS UNEXPECTED PLEA.

MAYOR HALLS UNEXPECTED PLEA.
At the time the proceedings IN Mayor HAIRS
ease were begun the courtroom was full and ON upoo
Of excitement In expectation Of Mr. Tweeds appea.
anoe. The Mayors entrance was eSidehuy uneAP 49,,
TO the great majority present ana they wa'cnou ~.
progress 20 the bar with some anxiety, nc wac
IDENTIFY dressed for the occasion and as he Rppoaoou
the councils desk he was engaged in daintly drawing
from his hands pair OF gloves, which ne 1hre" Wio
sneaking into his hat He nodded 20 several acquan-
tances and finally bowling to the Judge, began
IN very deliberate tones TO announce that ne
appeared in response TO ga very courteous note
from tho DistrictAttOrney that his attendance
was required at Court TO bail the cases with
which the public are so familiar" Ho went on further
10 state that the Of two other Mayors who nave
been indicted bail had not been demanded but he dld
not suggest that the same courtesy be extended him
probably because the opposing counsel might po't o'
the fact that the others indicted for not auns
claims and he indicted for AUDITING
false ones He finally announced ms aVehu"n0e :"
obey the behests Of the Court in all thngs'
District Attorney-There is a indictment, ana II
you desire you can have time to read It, do not care
about any bail the old indictments.
Mayor HALL propose that the bail on the old ndict
ments be annuled.
Distrct- Attorney-I believe the old indictments go to
tho General Sessions received consent TO that but
there is no order.
Mayor Il-Thisfindictmeniyour Honor sees. covers
the Others aud 80, bY operation o. law lue Vthers so
annulled and bail falls out.
neutrality-suspicious. is no suoh thing as quashing
an indictment without motion. As far the present
new indictment is concerned, it may cover some Of the
items iu the others, or may not; but would like the
accused If he has objection TO plead II he chooses
he may tmo but TO bail he must be treated like
any other person.
Mayor Hal-I II were any other person, the Dstrlct
Attorney would himself fix bail.
DstrictAttorney-I think that 5000 would be suf-
heient
Judge Brady-DO you think the bail exOrbitant Mr..
HALT
The Mayor in reply said laughingly, that the amount
named this indictment "a huge blackboard volume
several hundred pages and covering 70 counts was
lust half what Judge Bedford had imposed six indic
ments. In that way he thought 1t exor6tant; but
waving all that, he was ready to furnish bail.
At the conclusion Of this speech the Mayor, with that
jaunty Of indifference which has characterized him
throughout unfortunately let fall bOastful declaration
that he ready for trial. and added, in manner so
pointed and offensive that the DstricAttOrney could
but resent it, that that officer had only to fix day
for trial. whereupOn the DlstrictAttorney quietly
and m low tone, seemingly, meant to be half aside
answered that If the gentleman ready TO plead q
Jury could be impaneled at once. The Mayor, taken
completely by SURPRISE and doubtless hardly compre
bending the Importance Of his answer said nervousy
and quickly:
"well-wer-weTl-Ia am ready Iplead not guilty."
Of the jurors previously filled by court Oungers were
cleared by the officers and it seemed for moment
Mr. Sparks about to call the first juror on the list
Messrs Peckham and Clinton, who had been sitting neal
the DistctAtorney, removed their Overcoats and the
trial Of the Mayor about 10 begin impromptu when
the Sheriff entering with Mr. Tweed. changed for time
the interesting and the The counsel for the
prosecution although prompt 70 take up the and
probably prepared 60 Try IT, had evidently come pre-
pared with earnest and possibly indignant arguments to
combat the appeals for time which past experience
had led them to expect would be made. The greater
portion Of the listeners recognized ia Mayor Halls
prompness touch Of the brayado which he has exhib-
tied on other similar occasions, and discredited any
real intention desire his part to proceed alb
rupty. But Mr. BuTril who retained in the former
trial. will probably be in this well, expressed the
opinion after the adjournment Of the Court that
not bravado Mayor Halls part. said he he had
as lief begin to-day later. He knows just as much
as he likely to then think it his actual desire to
have the disposed Of at 1t is well, you
know l'miingl to be convicted to have an indict-
ment hanging over your head"
But still another surprise awaited the prosecution.
During the proceeding in Tweeds case which inter-
vened. the slight stupor INTO which the strange
of affairs had thrown all parties they accepted the
proposition and the clerk proceeded TO call of the panel
OF jurors. Joseph Lamb the first name called and
scarcely had its taken his seat for the usual ed
examination when Mayor Hall arose and remarked
though 1t quite ordinary thing in legal pro-
Codure; " shall exercise my right Of peremptOry cha
lenge only and not examine the jurors"
This incident caused another and genuine sensation
which extended TO the occupied by the prOsecut
ing attorney, and gathered Of Its effect from the
usually impassve face OF the DistrctAtOrney He bent
forward TO consult with Mr. Peckham. The clerk
tnued TO call the names OF jurors, and the jury-box
rapidly filed. When the twelve had taken their seats
Mayor Hall said should exercise his right Of peremp
tory challenge In the Of Nathaniel L. GriswOld and
Alexander Mcclure for the reason, he said, that
they are older than am" These gentlemen then,
der the instruction Of Judge Brady stepped aside and
two more were called in their places. The District
Attorney, declining tOI follow the example Of
the Mayor examined each Of the Jurors after the
usual FORM Frederick W Weber, but little acquainted
with English admitted that the lawyers spoke fast
that he could not understand Them" and excused
Townsend, a clerk in the Controllers Office also
excused Charles H. Wells Of Wells, Fargo Co. was
about to be accepted by Judge Brady, when Mayor Hall
asked him II be knew Mr. Dinsmore" He replied that
ne did. and challenged peremptOr1ly Mr. Dns
more It may be remarked. was member Of the Grand
Jury which indicted Mayor Hall. Alfred E Baker
the last man excused, Mayor Han having Informed
Judge Brady that Mr. Baker a very old and attached
friend Of hs and therefore 1t would be maniiesty i'm
proper that be should serve.
THE JURY
sted down the jury consisted Of the following gentle
men:
Charles ]. Brill. clerk No. pa East Broadway
Edward p. Hoburn, plumber, No. CSC Ninth-ave.
John II. Oden, organs No. $40 West Forty elghth-st
John Taylor soda, No. l39 Franklin st.
Jacob j. RoTer, agent, No Si5 Broadway.
John II. Lyon, coal, No. 354 Third-ave
Morris A. Myers, shoes, No 2O5 sixth-ave
Fred'k Faubel jr., merchant, No. rs Pearl-st
Henry T.. Tyler, druggist, No II GQid-st.
Sigmund Warshing, agent, No. 226 Sixth-ave.
Franklin Goodwin, hOuseoyeI, o 252 E. Nlneteenth-St
John j. Baker, produce, No GO Dey-st
The Jury having been completed, Mr. Peckham asked