The New York herald., 1873-12-23
FLIGHT OF THE RINGITES.

Norton, Conan, Walsh and Miller ON
the Wing to Where the Woodbine
Twineth-Their RecognIzances For
feitcd.
Excitement was at its height In the Court OF Oyer
and Terminer yesterday morning when the flight
OF Genet was officially announced and judicial
action taken thereon. After the escape OF one Of
the old ringites convicted and supposed to be in
close custody and to be produced for sentence the
further discovery that other members Of the
broken ring had taken leg bail and forfeited their
recognizances appeared as huge joke rather than
as q startling evidence fhow extensive were the
depredati0ns OF these men and how easy to prove
their guilt in the light Of the convictions already
obtained against their guilty co'Lferes There was
q great array Of counsel, however, each OF the
fugitves for appearance sake being represented in
their absence by one or two counsel each. all OF
whom made excuses for the absence OF there
clients and asserting that they would all be on
hand for trial some time after the holidays.
After the close OF the Genet case Michael
Norton, Thomas Conan and John J. Walsh
were called. but did not appear. Mr.. I. G..
I. Buckley; appearing for Walsh. asked that the
forfeiture OF his bail be suspended for short time
as he had not supposed that the case would be
moved to-day, but that Mayor Halls trial would be
moved instead.
Mr.. Dittennoeffer made similar representation
for Michael Norton and Miller, adding the fact, as
to the latter that he had been fearfully burned in
gas explosion about two weeks ago, and had
gone away under physicians orders.
Mr. William 4. Howe appeared Tor Conan, and
Inc the Indictment, and Mr.. Conan had, relying on
newspaper talk, gone to Washington, and did not
expect to return TILL Christmas Day. But as the
I'M ;tments were for misdemeanor, and he had
given him written authority to plead, he would
Mr. PHELPS suggested that there was also an in.
dictment Tor felony but Mr.. Howe answered that
on that the ball were not notified.
Mr.. DttenhOefer and MIR. Purdy offered to take
the same course for Mr.. Walsh and MIR. Miller. but
they we're without written authority to appear for
them, and the Court dlsallowed the offer.
MIR. Purdy here sald that as Mr.. Howe gave him
authority, he moved on behalf OF Mr.. Conan to
quash the indictment.
The Court held that he must give notice OF tha {
motion to the District Attorney.
The District Attorney agreed to waive the
notice.
false bills to the Comptroller for Court House work.
in the first, the name Of the party who furnished
the materials, or who purported to have furnished
for more than $4,000 Is included. Mr.. Purdy in
The District Attorney made no reply except,
when asked by the Court, to say that this defect
was only in one OF some half dozen indictments.
Mr.. Spencer said that as his client. Andrew j.
Smith, was the only one present, and as he was
only indicted on one conspiracy indictment, he
tnougnt ne sn0ulu De permitted 10 pleau Win per-
mission TO withdraw his plea II 1t seemed proper,
at a lgtyre time, and interpose another plea or
motion at future day.
The District Attorney asserting, he put in plea
OF not guilty.
The indictments and recognzances against Mr..
Conan coming In, 1t appeared that one Indictment
was for felony and that he had gwen bail that.
The Court, therefore, directed the bail on the
felony indictment to be forfeited, saying however,
that ifhe appeared on Friday, as Mr.. Howe said he
would the eschedt would be removed as in the
other cases.
Mr.. Dittenhoefer said he would furnish within
two hours formal authority to plead for his client
In the msdemeanor cases.
Mr.. Phelps SAID ifthat was SO he could be brought
into court In two hours.
The Court directed all the recognizances to be
forfeited except on Comans mlsdemeanor
indictments In consequence OF Mr.. Howe
having taken the foresight to present
and file Coman's written retainer. ThIs Mr.
Howe also claims, prevents the forfeiture
OF the bail on the felony Indictment being followed
up, as the defendant, he contends, was present In
court by counsel, and no legal advantage can be
taken or his absence.
The bondsmen OF the fugacious ringites were then
called, but, none OF them answering, the Court
directed that the recOgnzances be forfeited and
the usual proceedings in such cases to be taken
Tor the recovery OF tine amount In each case.