The New York herald., 1874-02-03
COURT OF OYER AM TEHMlNe0.
A Charge OF Highway RObbcry-What
Came of 1t.

Before Judge Brady.
The large number at present out of employment,
the cold weather outside and the comfortable
warmth Of the court rooms seem to fill the latter
and give to the trials an air OF great public in
terest. At all events--and 1t could hardly nave
been for any other reasoD-this court was yester.
day denseiy crowded, and, though the cases on the
calendar were not of an accordingly interesting
character. the scenes OF the first trial we're unu-
sually humorous, and fully compensated the crowd
for coming The alleged offence was a most
serious one-a charge Of highway robbery.
The parties charged with this grave offence were
three young men giving their names as James
Mclaughlin, William Robinson and Victor Post.
These young men were not OF very prepossessing
appearance, nor the class Of young men one Of
peaceful turn OF mind and high regard Tor per-
sOnal property wonld care, as the saying goes, to
meet in a dark alley on a dark night Neither was
the complainant, Daniel sullivan, one TO whom a
stranger would be likely TO trust his condolences
and pocketbooK. Mr.. william F. Howe appeared
for the accused and District Attorney Phelps for
the accuser Sullivan, with a lace preternaturally
elongated, and the gravesJ manner possible, told
his story. 1t was simple ana straightforward
story, and must have made the blood Of many
curdle and excited in their bosoms the Shake
spearian conund rum, ''Can such things ber' A
little alter midnight on the 2lst of last January
Illus run Oh Ills udTTduNt-ut Was dL Tie COTueT
OF West and Franklin streets. He had just
come out OF liquor store. Three men came
out directly after him. He thought nothing OF this.
Suddenly one OF them Knocked him down, then
two held him and the third robbed him OF his
silver watch, worth $50, and his money-three ten
cent stamps. The men then ran, and he saw no
more OF them until their subsequent arrest 10y two
polcemen, when he fully identhed them. The
saulted and robbed him. He could swear to this
positively as he could to his own existence.
''You are married man ~ began Mr.. Howe, in
quiet way, in his cross examination.
eyes, sir.r answered sullivan.
.How long since you were married ?"
"Did you not run away from your wirePo
NO she ran away from me-"
Everybody aughed-a laugh that was against
M Howe.
Judging from your appearance l can easily
CONCEIVE the statement TO be true" retorted the
ponderoas legal inquisitof.
Everybody laughed again-a laugh that was
against the witness.
'where did you get the watch that you say was
stolen from your pursued Mr. Howe.
ait was given TO me, SIR, by the captain OF my
regiment for bravery in the army of the Potomac,b
answered the witness, with proud pompousness
unsurpassed by Dickens Sergeant of Hussars
Captain of a regiment is good" answered Mr..
Howe, in cynically critical tone "From whom
did you get the watch"
''Got 1t from Mr.. Leander.u
1'In this cityYD
'sNo, sir; across the water.n
''Oh, see, Mr.. Leander who swan the Heles.
pont gave you this watch Just before his famous
The roar Of laughter that followed this classic
aIlusion drowned the prisoners answer, and when
the laughter had stibsded Mr.. Howe asked, .'Nhere
were you meaEdering to find Leanderyn
II met him on a bridge at Newark, n. J.r
"Byrons bridge OF SighsYn
'Yes II is a sizeable bridge"
There was another burst OF laughter at the nal-
vete OF this answer. when Mr.. Howe proceeded TO
1nterrogate the witness as TO his antecedent his
tory;
''Have you ever been arrested for vagrancyfn
was the opening interrogauory in this new branch
OF inquiry,
Well, yes" drawled out the witness. with
evident disreish.
'For drunkennessPj
1-e-s IN the same drawing tone.
.~W hLe 20 YOU @ not generally known as belonging to
What's tnat question2r interrupted Judge
bum is vernacular your Honor don't under.
stand, but the witness does" explaned Mr. Have
amid Wild tumut OF laughter and then he added
81 Will put my question IN another form We're
you not," turning TO the witness Uon rhe rion, m
which you say you were robbed, In such a ststa ~
vnous excitement as to preclude the poss,biitv ~
your comprehension OF your situation with tbat' ac
curacy and precision necessary TO a dellneation of
the truthfp uaughter.b "
"Wil you be kind enough, Mr.. Howe,n again in
ferrupted Judge Brady, "to reduce that duestio
20 the vernacuiarYn fRenewed Iaughter3
81 will, Your Honor,u said Mr.. Howe with an
assumption Of great gravity "Were you not, Sui
uvan, GU the night you speak of blind dtunkr'
mo-" answered sullivan, with show OF intense
Indignation
IL is unnecessary to pursue the case in de-
fau. Two pQDcemen swore TO arresttQg the