The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-02

porter convcrsed with OF the old negro residents
OF "Afrca," In Thompson street who said they knew
Warner before hts conviction. They all appeared 10 DO
In UGH OF him. and DESTROYS not 10 say anything
10 excite his luminosity Il was only after beng as
sured their would not reach the "Blg
Jmn they called him, that they consented to talk.
..He's bad nigyah," said one, land nothing
hot for him o ne swo,e ina. when be got out %
known him tneen years and never heard he was a
coachinan but knew he had brother who drove Tor
doctor somewhere in the city. Jim in the
navy, bat he len II . couple OF years before ho
sent to prison.
When asked II he believed that Jim baa ST. 400 IN his
possession II the time OF his arrest the negro rolled
his eyes and laughed immoderately, remarking
..whail he have 81 4Oos That's too rich. Why, jim
Warner never had ], 400 cents at any one time
Another negro said that he could not swear that
Warner had ever before been in JAIL but he aim
sure that he convicted under the alias OF
James Wood for stealing some coats, and sent TO the
Penitentary.
Another said that he was ono Of the smartest mig
gahs' that ever lived in New York. He did not care q
penny for all The policemen the force and he stopped
at nothing TO secure his ends si another offered TO
bring fifteen negroes that had known "Big JIM for
years before he went to Sing Sing, who would swear
that he was hardened and desperate character.
OF Warner. as shown by the bloters IN the Central
ONCE by the papers in the Office OF the District Ator
ncy and by the statements OF officers who remembered
all the circumstances, as foilows:-
On the LIST OF APRIL 1870. William Miller, the propre
tor OF aquor saloon at No % sullivan street. called At
ported that two negroes, named Sam Lang and James
Warner, had robbed him OF his watch and
(
in his til, and smashed several windows and bottles
in his saloon. The outrage committed about hnf
past ton A. N. Both negroes were drinking in his
PLACE, when suddenly Lang caught hun by the neck
and held knife his head while Warner rihed his
pockets and robbed the till They then boat him. and
smashed, windows, bottles and glasses; after which
they made their escape They wcro irenzicd with
| liquor at the time.
| An hour after the complaint was mndo Captain
Mcdonnell arrived at the station house. having
been at the Central Oncc lie Immediately
tr.l nd out
the department, tho That afternoon, as the
captain was standing at the corner of Grand and sui
he heard the report OF pistol and, turning
round, saw Warner running at full speed up Sullivan
street When Warner WAS within feet feet OF him
| Mcdonnell
THREW HIMSELF PATH
| Warner. being powerful man, OF largo stature,
knocked HIM down Whilc he was down the desperate
fellow kicked him twice. The Captain succeeded how
ever in drawing his pistol aud, after the second kick,
discharged It, the ball hitting Warner In the thigh.
Despite the wound Warner again started 10 Soon
he darted into open hallway. few seconds later
the door reached by the Captain, who hurried
up stars in time to catch Warner trying
10 escape through a window desperate
struggle ensued :durns which Mcponnsli's
again shot the negro, the ball entering hts back At
this juncure 0ncer Leycraft appeared at the head OF
prisoner IL necessary, however 70 call in the aid
Of SIX policemen to bind handcuT and convey
him TO the station house From there ne was taken TO
the hospital, whore he renamed several weeks No
money was IN his possession at the time OF his arrest
On the 18Th OF the same month he was indicted Tor
highway robbery and on the 2lst he was
SENTENCED ny JUDGE BEDFORD
to Sing Sing for years and months. The wit
nesses against HIM were William Miller, Edward John
and Garnett Healy the first named being the
robbed and the others two who were passing he
saloon at the time OF the robbery and saw tho negroes
out. During the trial neither the prisoner
his counsel said anything about the 81, 400
The reporter also called on Captain Mcdonnell who
said that last summer he received two anon, nous
letters Of the molly Mcguire" character, to
the effect that 'Bg Jim" going ''eet
square" with him, anu when he returned from Sing
Sing intended to XIII him He ridculcd the story of
the negro and the man Crawford, who, he said
willing, OF course TO get out OF prison He failed 70
remember Crawford and was almost positive that he
had such officer in his command. He
certain that such person was connected with
Warmers arrest He had no idea of what has become
OF Lcycraft-
The authorities at Headquarters look upon the story
improbable in the highest degree.