The New York herald., 1874-11-29
THE COLLINS CASE.
What the District Attorney Thinks ~
the Matter.

What the District Attorney Thinks sf
the Matter.
Mr.. Benjamin K. Phelps, the District Attorney,
was waited on at his ONCE yesterday by repre-
sentative o. the HERALD In reference TO the case
OF Eliza Collins VS.. August Major. He said :-.'lt
appears to me most curious case ! was very
much astonished at the verdict the jury brought
in. Icertainly thought the man guilty and ex-
pected to hear the Jury bring in . verdict
against him. Mr.. Lyons, who tried the case, told
me he never was more astonished in his
life at verdict brought in by jury. He
confidently expected decision adverse to
the man. So did the Clerk OF the Court,
ne told me. or course don't know great deal
about the case, but from what saw Of the evil
dence before 1t went to trial have no hesitation
in saying believed the man guilty. Some OF tho
jurors now say they think the man was guilty. It
Is q pity they did not adhere to that when In the
jury They were sent there to try the case" Mr..
George b. Norcross, OF No. Pine street, one OF
the jurors said :-"I went according to the evil
dence brought before u.s. and that would not
justify us In hnding the man guilty. Mr.. Nicker-
ought to have been punished, but all that was
lett US TO do was to pronounce upon his
Gu 10 nerss the acI c his hsvnS made
offensive approaches TO her during the previous
days we would have, think :. found ~ AZ aim guilty
true, belong to her faith. but he was clergyman,
and she might have complained 70 him. She said
she was afraid but that did not make q fuR
enough impression on the Jury. Mr.. Laimbeg<
was there and used to know him when he Was q
senator. He said he had asked the glrl 10 mas q
the Major, and she agreed 70 do so. That szL
tied the tnng in most of our minds -
30 her liking him. Mr.. Paddock Mas xet-
vous about saying anything further "A rne
matter tnan that the Jury had agreed. Mr..
Healy says that Mr. Paddock was with him, and
two or three days ago mentioned TO him that the
return OF the jury's verdict was not complete, as
he (Healy) did not vote. Mr.. Healy said that
while In the jury room one of she Jurors me
thought 1t WAS Mr.. Ularke) made remark ab0ut
the case-s0mething to the eject that he would
have done ~ Major had II ne were smilarly
situated, adding something about heB red head.
Another Juror quoted that when asked ne
would marry Der Major refused. Mr. Heay said
that was not fair 70 the girl; she ought TO- nave
| been asked tho same question He demanded oL
| the jury TO 70 then into Court again and ASK the
| girl shat question, but she requcse Was denied.
| Mr.. Heay holds nrmly 10 is that ne was NOT prop-
erly recorded, and the verdict was given sesnss
/ hts will aud consent II ever . woman W. snaMe.
| fully abused that woman was, ana snat nAn
| ought to have been punsned. hr. Lyncn, Oom-
missioner OF Emigration, said ne regretsea snas
| the Dstrtct Attorney nae midnterpreteo MS
| fee,inpa on the subject Of the Collins case II
have the highest esteem" ne SAID, Ior ~. rnesps
not only ss 4 gentleman OF aocomplisnmens and
cultivation, but as an omcer well shnaen " MO
fullest confidence 0f t0e puDnc'