The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-07
COMMODORE vANDERBILT'S COACHMAN.


tackled the Coach ma n-Thc Dark Amcs
and the Fair Carrie Love-The Commo-
dorc's Testimony-Case Dismissed-Dis-
charge of Carrie.
The case OF James Ames, Mr.. vanderbilts colored
coachman, indicted for assault and battery COM
mitted on OIlccr Timothy Grogan, of the Fifteenth
precinct was called for trial yesterday before City
Judge Bedford, In General Sessions, Part l. The
venerable Cornelius Vanderbilt was present and
seemed TO enjoy the situation hugely.
THE TESTIMONY.
Oflcer crogan testified that he had cause to visit
Mr.. vanderDt's stables 23 Fourth street. on the
night Of the oath OF May, in search of woman
who, he understood, had been dragged in there by
the defendant; Knocked at the door ana asked for
adlnttance; was refused by the prisoner;
WENT TO MR.. vANDERBILTs HOUSE,
by instructions received at the station house. and
Mr.. Vanderbilt and his brother-in- law Mr.. Craw-
ford, opened the way from the house to the stable
saw the prisoner there and asked him where the
woman was; prisoner said he had no woman, and
1t was none OF his (witness) business; insisted ON
finding the woman, and proceeded to search for
her, when AmeS struck him on the shoulder with q
bottle; Ohicer Brennan then joined in the search :
the officers still continued their search when Ames
again struck witness In the neck with his fist;
Onlcer Brennan took the bottle away. when he
again struck witness; Mr.. Vanderbilt told him not
TO resist, when he
UNLOCKED THE DOOR
OF his sleeping apartment, and let the woman ont ;
witness and Onlcer Brennan struck the prisoner
Mr. Vanderbilt and Mr.. Crawford begged the officers
not to use violence.
CROss-ExAMINATIoN.
Mr.. william f. Howe, who with ex.Recorder
Smith, appeared for the defence, cross examined
the witnesses in an able manner.
Ofcer Brennan told substantially the same story
and was subjected to the same severity of cross
examination as the previous Witness without how
ever, anything materially important being brought
out
Miss Hattie Adams was called, and was about to
state something which she told the officer when
counsel objected, on the ground that it had nothing
to DO with the charge OF assault and battery. The
objection was sustained.
THE COMMODORE ON THE STAND.
Cornelius Vanderbilt the next witness, and
when his name was called hy Mr. Howe there was
quite stir in the court room among the nume-
rotis audience. He gave q minute statement Of the
affair, stating that about quarter-pa twelve on
the night in question he was awakened by noise
at the front door by an olicer demanding ad-
miitance, and who subsequently stated that his
1.-THE Commodores) coachman had dragged woman
upon her; he hastily dressed himself and aroused
MR.. CRAWFORD,
whom he'requested to accompany him down stars;
they went round to the stable door, and ut that
time everything quiet there; inst then the
"nigger' tmeaning the coachmanl came down ana
stood III the doorway: the officers made for the 'ng-
GER" who put his hand up and said in the way that
II drunken man would, "YOu cannot come In here:
you have no business here go where you belong:''
the witness told the 'ngger," Jim, to be quiet; the
officers asked if there woman in there;
Ames replied II was none OF their business whether
there was woman there or not; he twitness)
saw that the officers were determined to rush in
and he kept all the time saying to the coachman
.Jim, don't resist,r and to the officers "Don't Won
hurt that man; there is necessity to hurt him: =,
they rushed him around big door, out or his (Mr.
vanderbit'sl sight. and what happened there he
could not tell, but very soon the coachman came
from behind the door bleeding; Mr. Crawford went
into the house for some linimcnt; he (wincss) had
some curiosity to see If the coachman had woman
in there and went round TO the door, which was
locked, the key being inside; he Knocked, and Miss
Love presented herself to the gallant Commodore,
exclaimng, ~ am here, all right" and turning to
the officers, said, You have no business with me;
let me go;
Mr. Vanderbilt said she was then about as drunk as
the "nigger" Q.anghter)
CRAWFORD ON THE STAND.
Robert Crawford was called and entered the wit
ness chair but he was not sworn Mr.. Howe re-
marking that 1t would be waste Of time to go on
further with the case, as the evidence OF the pro-
ecution developed the fact that the officers were
the aggresSOrs.
The counsel on both sides declined to address the
jury being content to leave the matter under the
Judges charge. His Honor Judge Bedford pro-
ceeded to briefly recapiuate the testimony, calling
the attention Of the jury to Mr. vanderblt's state
ment that the coachman only threw up his hands
when the officers entered the stable, and that he
1.-THE Commodore) did not believe the defendant
struck either OF the officers.
After celebrating for Il few moments the jury rem
dered verdict OF not guilty.
When the verdict was given Mr.. Howe rose and
informed The Judge that the woman In the ease re-
joced in the amorous name Of Carrie Love, and
that she was sent to the Island for disorderly
duet, although there was no evidence against her.
She was then brought forward upon writ Of habeas
corpus, when Mr.. Howe asked for her discharge.
Miss Love, white lady, who was anything but pre-
possessing in appearance, awaited calmly the de-
cison Of the Court in her case District Attorney
Stewart said that he agreed with His Honor that
she should be discharged.
Mr. Howe to the Judge-May Amcs take his Love
with him 7
Judge Bedford-They had better go out separately;
| think he has had enough Of her.
The parties left the bar amid the laughter OF the
spectators.