The New York herald., 1872-12-22
TRAIN OFF THE TRACK.

Arrest OF George Francis Train ON n
Charge OF Publishing an Obscene
Paper-His Arrafgnmont at the Bar
OF the Oyer and Terminer-Hc is Cut
Short In His Spcechmaking Proclivi-
ties, Pleads Not Guilty and Goes to the
Tombs to Await Trial-The Chief OF
the Commune.
1t is an unquestioned fact that the labor OF get
ting jury to try Stokes is painfully monotonous
and tedious An interruption as pleasant as 1t was
unexpected was the sudden appearance in the
court room yesterday forenoon Of George Fran
els Train. Coming in as simple specta-
tor his presence would have taken the
edge OF dulness from the wearisome scene
and keenly exhilaratlng and refreshing would have
been the mere sight OF him-the sight OF those
Hyperion curls, those eyes of Jove, that front of
Mars, that cheek of-Shakspeare himself would
have been at loss to carry out the comparison
that dramatic attitude, that proudly imperial curl
OF the lip and last and not least that jaunty cane
and those gloves and that brown overcoat elab-
orately trimmed with fur. Coming In thus he
would have been the cynosure OF every eye But,
coming in as he did, coming in with a wildly
impetuous rush, coming in with train Of attend
ants and one OF them Miss Minnie Morton, bear
ing in her '.red right handn nag OF the Inter-
nationals, coming In with all 1.-THE pomp and
glorious crcumstances' of prisoner it is no won
upon him.
ssMay it please Your Honor said Colonel Fel-
lows, rising with grave solemnty to his feet, Il
hold in my hand an indictment against George
| charging him with publishing an obscene paper
called the Train Ligue | move that the prisoner
"Do you wish to plead guilty or not guilty :,
asked Mr.. Sparks, the Clerk Of The Court.
'.Guilty ~ replied Train. with tragic brush Of
| his right hand through the air.
'sYour HONOR said Col. Fellows, las the prisoner
pleads guilty there remains nothing else to be
| done but to set day for sentence"
al plead guilty. spoke up Train, "tO being the
editor, publisher and proprietor OF the paper
ing, 1t does nothing more than Bible quotations.
40 not plead guilty to any offence"
81 object, your Honor" pursued Col. Fellows. "to
the accused qualifying his plea. He must either
plead guilty or not guilty."
/ "YOu must enter your plea without any expana-
! ..Wel, should like to hear the indictment read
| before plead, and learn what offence have been
guilty Of" coolly answered Train:
Mr. Sparks proceeded to read the indictment. It
was drawn up in the usual vesbose style of legal
documents OF this character. The gist was charg-
ing Mr.. Train and young man named Nichols with
being the publishers OF the Train Ltgue and desig
mating the same as an obscene publication, in vio-
aton OF the law. In 1t was designated the name
OF one Comstock as the party preferring the COM
plant upon which the arrests were made. Mr..
Train, during the reading, folded his arms and
looked steadily at the clerk
A SPEECH CUT SHORT.
1.-THE indictment charges, he broke out at the
close OF the reading, that gave copy Of the
paper to Comstock. That's lie; he took it himself.
the publication OF the paper, and this young man
Nichols Is entirely irresponsible"
You must plead, SIR said the Judge, ''as have
already stated, guilty or not guilty to the charge
without entering into explanations
"Are you guilty or not gulltyy' called out Mr..
Sparks.
"Not guilty" answered Train
THE PRISONER NICHOLS.
This young man formed a striking contrast to Mr..
Train. He was represented by Mr.. william +.
Howe. The latter entered for him plea Of not
guilty to the charge as preferred against him.
"One OF these days." said the irrepressible
Train, as he passed out OF the court ROOM
Il WIN be Chief OF the Commune OF this city,
and hang hundred OF these dogs" having
with that indescriDably grandiloqucnt air SO
peculiarly his own, delivered himself OF this
prophecy, he was marched away to the Tombs to
await trial. He scorned to ask bail. The Young
man Nichols was not so scornful, bail for him
being fixed at $500, but having no friend at hand
to go his security he, too, marched Off to the
same historic structure OF grim gray granite.
The above episode concluded, the Court resumed
the weary mon0tony OF finding the tenth juryman |
ior the Stokes jury.