The New York herald., 1874-11-25
AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL.

The Case OF MeCarragher In Newark-A
New Yorker Saved from state Prison
by n Scrap of Paper.
For several days past the Essex County Court or
Quarter Sessions in Newark has neen absorbed in
the trial OF young New Yorker named Patrick
McCarragher, on an Indictment for compncity IN
the wholesale series OF burglaries perpetrated dur
ing last summer In the suburbs OF Newark by
one Louis walrabe, alias Meyer, 'the Orange
Mountain burglar" The circumstances OF the
case are exceedingly interesting, aud reveal de-
gree Of blundering and looseness In the admins
tratton justice wnicn furnishes the reverse or
natterlng commentary on Jersey JUSTICE" about
which tine ex- state OF Camden and Amboy ID wont
to be so pround. and, IN the main. justly. In
deed, as the sequel will show. 1t Was only by
chance that an innocent man was saved from con-
vction Of crimes which would have consigned
him to State Prison Tor ten or fifteen years and
his octogenarian mother to her grave.
THE FACTS IN THE CASE
are as follows:-rhls WalraDe, alias Meyer, above
mentioned, had found against him over twenty
i've indictments, the iuli penalty or which, ~
OF conviction, would reach nearly 100 years
plices. one OF these, Richard Barrett. was also
arrested and Indicted. Warabe, IN the hope
OF having his sentence toned ,o down three
and turned states evidence. Through hiin
Il was hoped ~ sweep IN quite gang OF bur
vlctsd. In the meantime Walrabe said q certain
james Murphy was an accompiice. He gave
description oil the latter TO the newark Chief OF
Police, VINO took IL down In writing on Q scrap Of
foolscap and gave IL TO Detective Becker. Becker
went 10 New YORK and saw McCarragher 60 IN
and out OF Barretus house. This excited
In Becker's head the idea that he
might be implicated, so he induced McCarragher
10 90 10 Newarg with him, saying that he might
be able TO do something Tor Barrett. On reaching
Newark what was McCarraRher's omazement 10
Ind that WalraDe, seeing MIN, declared tnat he
was James Murphy Upon this evidence the
Grand Jury inoicted McCarragher as an accom-
pce OF WalraDe. He was
PLACED ON TRIAL,
and The evidence seemed pretty strong against
him. though MS lrienus anu empI0yers-all highly
respectable peope-cane irom New York and did
all they could FOR hln, proving MIN person or
unblemisned reputation. but Warabe swore that
McCarra2her Murphy. During the trial IL
came OUT that the paper upon wnica the dcscrip-
ton given Dy WalraUe TO the CHIEF and ~
the Chief to Becker was lost. The case
went 10 the jury on Monday at two O'CLOCK They
were out all uight. Yesterday forenoon the Court
sent for them and McCaIragher. The Court handed
them
SCRAP OF PAPER,
saying that that doubtless would facilitate their
DELIBERATIONS. They took a searching look at the
prisoner. retired, and In lew minutes returned
with
vERDIcT OF AcQCITTAL.
The paper was the description OF Murphy. II
called Tor person the very opposite III appear
ance from McCarragner, hight cofnpexloned per-
son, whereas McCarragDer 10 dark. AZ q matter
0i course there was great rejoicing among the
friends OF McCarragher over his hairbreadth escape
rom ielon's doom. sermons on "Jersey JUS
wee" and injustice are now III order.