The New York herald., 1875-09-25
THE COURTS.
House Inspection
Frauds.
aOW BAGGAGE is PASSED.
Gonzales Convicted Of Arson in
the First Degree.
ENTENCED TO STATE PRISON FOR LIFE.

Under the new law, regulating with greater strict
than heretofore the Inspection Of passengers bag
age this port Of the old inspectors who cannot
orge their old habits likely to come to grief The
Ease of Lemuel G. Nodine and Samuel ii. Swayze the
Custom House inspectors arrested the 9th inst,
charged with accepting money to unawiully admit to
hs port articles subject under the laws to the
payment ofduties were brought before United States
Commissioner Shields yesterday for examination MI.
o. b. Foster United States Assistant District Attorney
appeared for the government
David II. Crowley, Of the United States Secret Ser.
rice, testified that July 4, 1875, he boarded the
steamship Queen from Liverpool at pier AZ North
River; the passengers baggage examined on the
wharf and Swayze deeiled examine the baggage
Of JW Little and George Robinson two passengers the
Deputy Surveyor had given swayze the declara-
lions othe passengers as TO the contents OF their
trunks; Swayze went TO the trunks to examine them;
Dne OF the passengers took white envelope from
pocket in the trunk under the lid; he took green
backs from the envelope and put the envelope In his
pocket; witness thought that moro than one bill was
taken out; the man then stopped and held down his
hand with the money in IL; Swayze stopped also, and
the hand with the money in It was moved toward him;
witness did not see the money pass; the men then
stood up, and the lid Of the trunk was closed and
marked with chalk by Swayze; after the passenger
his hand; could not say whether the goods in the trunk
dutiabe not; the two passengers went TO the
Lafayette Hotel, No 464 Washington street.
Mr.. David Weton testified that he was employed by
United States District Attorney Bliss to see how the
inspectors performed their duty; he the examina
ton of the baggage the steamship Queen; witness
saw Inspector Nodino mark trunk belonging TO a
passenger named Smith; the man who claimed the
trunk had conversation with Nodine, and gave him
what appeared TO be bank crumpled into small
wad
The testimony for the government was then closed
and the adjourned until Tuesday next at two r. h
ARSON AND THE LIFE PENALTY.
In the Court of General Sessions yesterday Recorder
Hackett compelled to pronounce another terrible
sentence in punishment for the crime of arson. The
prisoner John Gonzales having been found guilty of
the first degree, in having fred the restaurant
Of Leno Martinez at No, 1872 Pearl street. June II
last, sentenced to Imprisonment for life in the
State Prison at Sing Sing
The evidence for the prosecution showed that the
fire was discovered by an .Irshman and a negro who
slept in the premises. demUohn filed with
kerosene was found on the basement steps
soon after the FIRE was extinguished, which
speedily DONE The principal witness for
the people was a Spanlard named Antonio
Marno, who in the employ of the defendant He
that Gonzales offered to give him 500 and prom
ised to send him TO Cuba II he would him in firing
hartineZs place; that on the night of the ire he
companied Gonzales, who carried demjohn of kero
to the place and broke open the basement door
that he (wtness afraid the policeman would see
him. and he the prisoner 90 into the base
ment he to the Fulton ferry and waited I'LL Con
zales came and they went over to Brooklyn together
Gonzales told the witness that because of his action he
prevented from consummating the fire
Tho Assistant District Attorney called q number Of
witnesses to rebut the testimony offered for the defence
some OF whom swore that Gonzales reputation for hon.
esty not good The testimony then closed
The jury brought in verdict Of guilty and the SEN
tence was passed immediately.