The New York herald., 1876-03-01
THE TRIAL OF AUSTIN BLACK.


In the Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday before
Judge Barrett resumed the trial Of Austin Black
on charge Of subornaton OF perjury. The former
high business and social connections OF the accused
he having been prominent broker in this city for
number Of years. continued to attract a crowded
court room. Aner some further testimony for the
prosecution, which was essentially only repetition Of
that given by previous witnesses Mr. Charles W. Brook
opened the case for the defence II was shown from
this opening and the succeeding testimony that on May
J. 1885, Mr. Black received a check for $63 0OO which
the Continental Bank threw out the ground that the
certincatlon forged that Black had gwen $50 900
In gold for this check that Dusenbury an errand boy
Of Ross tho maker OF the check, stated the next
day that he got the check certified, and that was
given TO Black to cover loan Tor godNand that Dusen
bury subsequently testified 10 the thing which
came in eolIaterally in suit between the Bank OF
the Commonwealth. and the Continental Bank. 1t
would luther appear that Mr. Black sued the CONT
mental Bank recover the amount OF the check that
the bank for eight years has prevented the trial Of the
that when II was about to be brought to trial the
bank had Black indicted Tor subornati0n OF perjury
and the strength OF the indictment commenced a
suit against him for the damages they had sustained
being sued by him, claiming $4,000; that in this lat
ter suit they obtained an injunction TO restrain him
from suing them; that Black was held In $40, 600 bail
under statement to the Judge that he the prn-
cipal forger accomplce, and that while things
in this condition the present brought 10
trial. The principal witness relied TO prove the
alleged subornaon stated, under cross-examnation,
fused TO have anything TO do with them on their de-
mand for money and that on being pressed, both How
ellis and Buinger admitted that they borrowed money
Of the detective employed by the bank and Of the
cashier - the bank, and had not yet repaid
such loans Mr. Brooke spoke Of the high
character or Mr.. Black, a business man,
critically analyzed the testimony for the prosecution
and claimed that a more criminal and preposterou5
story was never concoced TO ruin the reputation OF
man whose character in the community hitherto had
been spotless
Messrs. George +. Hoyt, retired merchant; Am
brose Snow, William N. Parks, a former broker
Samuel Duncan, Harbor Master; Joseph s. Spinning
Alfred d. Snow, chipping aud commission merchant; ;
James ~ Boyd, stock broker and Henry NJ. Benedict
former President OF the Gold Board all testified that
they had known Mr.. Black for years, aud each pro-
nouncod bis character without a biemish so far as
they knew Mr.. Black then took the stand on his own
behalf He gave a very clear and straightforward
statement showing how the check came IN his pos
session In the OF business. He denied empha-
icaly the statements OF his attempt to suborn Howes
and BulInger and most positively declared that the
written interrogaores claimed TO have been prepared
by him he never saw knew anything about until
their production In court He was subject TO a long
and rigid cross examination, but did not In the
slightest IRON his original statement The trial will be
resumed to-day.