The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-03
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS COURT.
Charge or Smuggling silk Goods


Before Commissioner Shields.
The United States w. Patrick Kane.-Thc defend
ant was charged with having received quantity of
silk umbrellas and silks, which were supposed to
have been siauggcd from England on board one of
the European steamers. MI. Dc Kay appeared for
the prosecution, and Mr. Rollins for the defence. 1t
was alleged that the goods taken from the
steamer by Kane, ana placed board barge by
him. They were found there by one of the
Harbor Police, who had conversation
with Kane. Kane. said the goods did
stuff there; and Kane then rowed the olleer and
the goods In his boat down to the police boat Kane
asked II he would be paid for this service, and the
officer said he thought he would. Samuel Barclay,
Custom House inspector, deposed that on the day
after the seizure he went down to the police boat
to him that it was four five pieces OF silk; he did
not say that he had seen the silk. Mr..
De Kay said that he had two witnesses to prove
goods rom the steamer; but he could not get
them to be La attendance without great deal of
trouble: yet without their evidence he thought lie
had made ont pTin,d ti,cie case. BY the law, If
goods are brought into the United states without
show how he came by them. In this case they were
put OH board the barge in 4 suspicious manner in
place OF having been regularly entered at the Gus
tom House. Mr.. Rollins was about making an aigu-
ment on the law OF the for the defence, when
the Commissioner intmatcd that, before hearing
any argument, he would like the government to
close their case.
The examination was then adjourned to Saturday
tO-morrow).
Alleged Assault Upon Coiorcd Sailors
The British Consul and His Duties.
Yesterday four colored sailors. one of whom is
named Thomas Foster, appeared before Commits
soner Shields AMI made a complaint to him to the
following efiect:-Fostcr, with his companions,
sailed from Cardiff Wales, in the English ship
Henry Pelham, laden with railroad iron, for New
YORK. On the voyage the mate, whose name is
Grant according to the statement Of Foster,
menceu 10 beat the men in cruel manner, and on
the nth OF April struck Foster on the head with
iron Delaying pin, INJECTING severe wound. When
the sailors arrived In New York they went be-
fore the British Consul and represented their
case to that gentleman, who told them he
could not do any thing in the matter.
This ia the allegation of the sailors. The Commas
sioner informed them tnat he could not interfere,
the vessel did not belong to the United States. The
British Consul was the proper person to apply to.
Foster-But we have applied to him. and lie says
he cannot do anything for MS. Are men to be almost
murdered without getting redress Can | sue the
mate for the assault and battery he has inflicted
upon meP
you sue him I'm the Marine Court.
Foster, with his companions, then left the Court.
He states that he did not dsobcy the lawful orders
| OF the mate, and gave HIM, far he knows. no
provocation for the bad treatment he alleges ne has
received ut his hands.
Claims in the Mnrshal's Office Against
the United States.
! Within the last few days Marshal Sharpe ha.
received several letters from gentlemen VINO hat
served as jurors demanding to know why they ha v,
not been paid the legal compensation for thcI
services The Marshal's reply to these demands il
that he has no funds at his disposal for that pur
pose, and that, therefore, he Is not I'm a position ia
make liquidation OF the claims In question. The
deputy marshals have received no pay since the
oath OF December last Congress IL much
| occupied with inquiries into all sorts OF matters
that the wheels of legislation have been stopped
and the result IL that though bills OF appropriation
are ready Congress from the cause stated has not
found time to pass them. There many claims
due I'm The Marshals Office; but the Marshal
ha hing not tllp WIN flinI
to do II is to be hoped that Congress VIII
hurry up the appropriation bills.