The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-24
THE THUGS AT BAY,
They Are Sickened at Last by the
Twenty Years. Sentences.
Recorder Hackett Threatened With Vengeance
knife, Slungshot or Poison'-The Litera-
ture Of crime-A Judge Who Can Take
Care Of HIMSELF Three-Cent
Pieces and Pins as Targets.

"The Court sentences yen to be confined for
twenty years at nard labor in the State Prison at
Sing Sing"
The thieves and thugs OF the metropolis have
heard this fiat fall from the lips OF Recorder John
K. Hackett three times already during the present
term OF his Court, and 1t has made them SICK They
can usually stand any amount or "talk," but these
twenty words, with their meaning extending
through full score OF years. are too heavy, ana
they have "tumbled" to themselves at last. and in
their desperation have tried another little game.
They are going to ''blunn the Judge, and have
become literary. They think the pen is mightier
than the slungshot, and they use it first. with
promise Of trying their favorite old implement II
the pen fails.
On Tuesday evening last the Recorder was
sitting in his library, reading his correspondence,
and amsng other letters opened an epistle en-
closed in plain white envelope, and addressed,
in q fine lined, though scrawling hand-"Mr.
Hackett 70 Park avenue, New York city, The en-
closure was q half sheet OF ruled letter paper, OF
very poor quality, bearing the impress OF the
"Ravine" mills In an embossed lozenge in the
upper left hand cerner and the communication
read as follows-
Mr.. HACKErr:-
more OF your Cruel Long Sentences to prisoners,
such as 20 years or Is years, Tor very trivial
offences or for ordinary offence Of Burglary, &C.,
your will be cut short in manner you least
erpect The slungshOt, the knife or Poison will be
Brought into requlsition to rid the word OF mon
ster OF cruelty like you, who has unjustly SEN
fenced many q Better man than yourself to
GlOomey dungeons for excessive periods more
than their crime deserved just TO satisfy the Public
and gain reputation Tor yourself Tor Fancy Sem
fences.
There has been lately Party of us organized
who are sworn under solemn oaths to take your
we cannot get at you easily II any more SEN
fences is Given by you that zoe consider unjust
excessive. You live in fine house. You
enjoy yourself well, and little dream What tor
ments you condemn your fellow man to. many OF
them being driven into crime by sheer poverty and
hunger. This aciu De auenged, so beware II you do
not moderate yourself. You have damnable name
s An NAVE S
house watched, and Dhen p0u least expect the
avengers" they will have you where they want
you, either you or some member OF your family. so
help us God. ''CRACKSMEN."
The envelope bore three-cent postage stamp,
and was post-marked New York City, Apl. q,
P. NJ" After reading the letter the Recorder laid
it aside on his desk, and proceeded to otner bust
ness,
HERALD reporter called on Recorder Hackett
yesterday afternoon to learn the particulars OF the
ominOus missive. The Recorder had just concluded
the trials for the day in the General Sessions, and
as he descended from the bench invited the re-
porter to accompany him to the Clerks office. AS
the Judge had seated himself In his favorite
room, in response to the reporters inquiry, he
said -
swell, don't know that can tell you much
about this letter, but the facts are these Last
night when went home l found this letter among
some others lying on my secretary, and alter had
read it l thoughtessly laid 1t down again. ! at
tached no very great Importance to 1t for the
reason that have frequently received
THREATENING LETTERS
purpOrting to come from members OF the criminal
classes IN relation TO my action on the bench, and
never took any notice OF them. l suppose this
would have gone, in The same nhnotIced
way, although confess 1t IS very
annoying to receive them; but my wife happened
to come into the library and, as she sat talking to
looked at them, and finally CHANGED to get hold OF
this one. She read it, and 1t alarmed her greatly,
and as she T. somewhat nervous and q, excitaele
anxiety and annoyance than should otherwise
have felt. Indeed, 1t seems to worry her very
ceived many such letters, never showed them to
any member Of my family"
.'nave you sentenced any prisoners for long
terms very recently ~ asked the reporter.
..Yes, think three or four during the present
term; but am not sure as to the number. You
see this thing alarms those roughs somewhat, for
have promised them several times IRON the bench
that In every instance where violent crime, such
as highway robbery feionious assault, murder and
Enthusiastically proved, should infict the full PEN
atty to the last hour, and shall do 1t. have
never said this for mere effect, but have said 1t
because wanted the criminal classes not to mis-
take me, and think they fully understand now
THE MEANING OF MY PROMISE.
do nothing in spirit Of vindictiveness. but Lam
one OF the ugiest men you ever met, and do what
say will do always"
this letter conveys threat that the author and
his inetigators mean to carry into effectY'
have h S ner threats am
in position that they can assault me with safety
to themselves They Will run as much risk as do,
for am never asleep when am away from my
house. am always armed and have carried arms
for years. You see hereY lam armed now"
tue with so little acen nt that Ne scarce
seemed to move his arm, a very ornate gold
mounted revolver. carrying bali Of about a2loo
his hand, and as he replaced it he proceeded
"You know am always ready for any assault,
dscHaree Of my duty If that is an invitation or
is to be interpreted as an invitation to attack,
shall take my chances with them, that's all. i
never go
frequented by the criminal classes, for you they
usually come up to see me and l see enough Of
them In that way. So you will understand that
have toerably open chance with them, as never
go INTO places where gentleman should not co."
taton as cack RscorSer
and all other men of their stripe would to let
you alone" rejeined the reporter.
.'0R, yes; have got some reputation for my
craftsmanship and think can carry 1t out fully.
have handled firearms from my boyh0od, and
don't think
ANY MAN LIVING
can draw faster or fire more unerringy than /
can. / don't know whether you know anything
about my skill In that line, but have frequently
shot a three cent piece OF the head Of dis
rngushcd journalist in this city in his own
at any time with q revolver. The fact is l Will
guarantee them an interesting time II they ever
come to see me In the way indicated; and II the
parties who wrote this letter would only let me
know where to find them would put on my old
let them hear from me- l don't propose
to be bulied myself; least OF ell. do |
like threats made against members or
action in fixing these sentences. The whole thing
Is cowardly enough, but these threats against
others caps the climax Of cowardice. But have
no IDEA that any one will attempt to harm me,
only that must admit such thing to be possible.
and OF course II such thing should befal me. this
intta might n0sqihly he n cline. least az to the