The New York herald., 1874-08-06
A PEEP AT THE POLICE COURTS.
The Criminal Tribunals Of the Metropolis
and Their Associations.
How the Justices Look and Their
Past Careers.
THE VAMPIRES AND vULTUREs.

THE VAMPIRES AND VULTURES.
Tnere are six police courts, which hold their
sessions daily, in the city OF New YORK; and these
six courts presided over by eleven police JUS
tces, whose names are Morgan, Murray, Kasmire,
Bixby, 0tterbourg, Wandell, Flammer, Snerw ood,
Smith, Kilbreth and Wheeler. These judges are
the offspring OF the last charter aud were ap-
pointed by Mayor Havemeyer, and it seems some
what probable that they will remain their seats
Twenty years ago the corner rowdy IN New York.
when he was hard up ana desired the loan OF o
half dollar used TO ask Tor IL with loud preface -
WISHING FOR OLD TINES
's-a-a-y, Billy, lend me a .halr and I'll pay you
sure wnen Jim Sullivan comes back from Frisco"
And now there are those who believe tn the re-
turn Of the old police justices, and men to this
very day base their calculations on the advent
once again OF the Lost Tribes Some of the old
Judges Rreat doubts, however, OF their return
and viii not place any faith In the Court of Ap-
pesls. Bowling. granite specimen OF Q police
justice, is taking the waters at Ems with mis- friend
Kaiser Wilhelm; Ledwi5h, faithful found among
the faithful few, Is a Senator newly hatched from
Tammany by dispensation OF John Kelly; shandley,
bon uipdnt and jolly good fellow, is found occa-
aonally In his old haunts in the netnermost sec
-
watering place, and Hogan may be heard daily
expounding the abysmai problems Of constitu-
tonal law TO his patient and intimate frtends;
Bixoy, who holds his place with great compOsure
and who has great sautor Jafre, was in the old
Board and Is now in the new one.
The new justices, with few exceptions, are not
rs speedy In the transaction OF police business as
were the Old ones. They have not yet had the
constant practice OF the former Board, and some
or them vastly given to lecturing their hearers
In court, which, Of course, delays the cases,
although the ermine may be never 30 clean.
THE NEW BROoMs.
These police justices, by an arrangement OBJ
tanned IN their own NEE ttngs, are compelled to
rotate from one court to another, and thus they
will gradually become acquainted With all the
petty criminal business OF the city. The different
justices held lottery and drew from it at the be.
ginning their several terms of service. Thus
Morgan, who was the Assistant Postmaster OF the
city and well known in republican political circles
drew ten years, and Is universally popular among
the lawyers the ha0ttes and those who have in any
way to ask for his Judgment. Morgan has cherry
cheeks, gOOdly person and very mercful
disposition 70 the poor wretches who
come before him. Kibreth is an Eight
eenth ward man, lawyer OF average
abilities, and has very little to say when he sits
with his brother magistrates IN the Court OF
Special Sessions Butler II. BixDy is q most fortu-
nate man. He has q solemn, close-shaved look,
and seen outside OF police court, on a piazza.
wearing a Panama nat and white linen suit
might be taken for Southern plantation lord,
VINO believed In the lost cause and the glories OF
the day OF Snll0h. Btxby was known as q "kickern
In the democratic party and made large figure
IN Apollo Hall al organization which had not
corsets; but yet when Apollo ien Bixpy rose and
noated into the $1,000 chair, and holds 1t now,
with great Judgment and prOpriety.
4 PLENIPoTENTIARY JUSTICE.
Otterbourg Is small man, rather fussy but
aso and INV was ssn strong partisan o.
Mexico he is sometimes known as the Lion o
the tribe of JUDAH" and has production fol
making o speech to those whom he may be In
clined to send TO Blackwell's Island.
B,xby and Otterbourg drew nine years each O
Charles A. Flammer is a small, nervous person,
OF dark complexion and OF German extraction,
and inclines strongly TO his Germanic race Ere.
quently while on the bench he VIII converse in the
loved German tongue, that sounds so musical at
times with the poor wretch who has been ndug-
ing in riot or drunkenness. Flammer 1t Is under
stood, had some education as a lawyer, and pre-.
vious to his appointment as police justice sat as
member OF Assembly.
PATIENCE rs A VIRTUE
Kasmire Is OF German or Polish descent, wears
whose mind is divided between the possibiiity Of
having to Tight duel or drink gallon of Bavarian
beer. Kasmire was lawyer and is noted for his
only equaned by Morgan, when examining
those who have complaints mace against them
Sitting at Essex Market, where the most provoking
OF all police have daily to be heard he nev er
allows himself 70 be drawn into an argument with
the accused person, and he has manner Of LOOK
ing terribly interested when q violent fracas about
cOthesline is under discussion, and ali the while
his mind Is revelling aiar OF amid the broom and
only great and good man can attain It's height.
To see an excited pair of women, who have de.
scended from the fourth foor OF tenement house
In Delaney street, come into court with inflamed
v1sages and breathing fire, fury and birthstone
against each otner, Is indeed trial for seltpos-
session. even In Judge Happy Lne justice VINO
Weathers the storm When one OF the women is Irish
and The other German the storm intensifes and
becomes hurricane. Then 1t Is indeed blissful to
hear Kasmire whisper to Roster, the solid old Ger
man chief clerk MAN wants but little here be-
low, but m ne doesn't want that little to9 longn
tleman, OF remarkable energy and quickness OF
utterance, and was elected Some years ago TO a
police Justiceship, but was cheated out OF il by
some slight mani puations OF the ballot box. MUIR
ray shines best in the Special Sessions, where he
dispatches business wtn force and rapidIty.
Judge Murray has been and Is in the coal business
as d large contractor, aud supplies the Metropoli-
Tan - Gas company with the, necessary fuel to light
up their section Of the city.
JudgS sherman Smith Is not particularly notice
apie, executing tnat ne Is lawyer and is son OF
grave and dignlned' look, and when o person
Razes on his face the thought that would come uo-
permost would be, "Why iont he wear a white
necktieW This seems absurd enough, and yet 1t is
o TACT
Nelson K Wheeler, appointed to the Sixth Dis.
trict Police Court, which comprises the two an.
nexed wards. is the Oldest man In the Board
he was formerly weigher in the Custom
House and has not as yet developed any speciality
as the people in the Twenty-third and twenty
iourtn wards are said to be so peaceabe and truly
good that they hardly know whether they nave a
police justice or not in their vicinity.
PIOUS MAGISTRATR
And last but not least comes Benjamin Wande H.
formerly merchant IN moderate circumstances
who has great resemblance to Thomas Jefferson
In features-just before the great statesman died
WandeI sits at the Tombs and Is a very small and