The New York herald., 1876-02-05
THE COURTS.
Close Of the Burke-Gard-
ner Trial.
VERDICT OF 100000 FOR MRS. BURKE.
William j. Rec Convicted
Of Forgery.
HE IS RENANDED FOR SENTENCE TILL TO-DAY.

The suits brought by Virginia Burke against Ira C.
Gardner and others which Will 60 down TO posterity
among the list of otebres in legal records
was, after nearly three weeks continuance before
Judge Van Hoesen, Of the Court Of Common Pleas,
brought yesterday to q conclusion Mrs. Burke, the
sole surviving child and executrx OF Captain John
Alexander, brought the suit TO 500 000 which
she claimed in her fathers possession at
the time OF his death, which occurred in
March, 1869, at the residence OF the Gardners, in
Harlem Mrs Burke had only one counsel, ex-
Congressman Andrew H. H Dawson, while the de-
PENDANTS had six including ex-Judge Beebe Mr.
Dawson made an able and eloquent summing up OF the
In the course of his remarks he told rather
singular story explanatory OF hs zeal for his fair client
good many years ago, in lower saloon OF hissis-
sppi steamboat, party OF men were engaged IN play
ing draw poker. Among the participants in the game
a cripple who bet boldly and showed that he had
large sum OF money. young man stood outside
the circle Of the table watching with interest the
progress of the game He saw that the cripple was
novice and his companions were evidently profes-
siona gamblers Seeing that the cripple was
losing heavily this young man watched the
game with increased interest and with the
closest scrutiny shortly discovered the gamesers
dealing to themselves six cards each, and their
unsuspecung companion only i've cards the betting
became heavy The cripple kept raising and going better
and his opponents did the same. The table was
covered with bills and piles of gold. The cripple lost
pile that young man who had been so intenty watch
ing the game suddenly thrust tho blade Of sharp
DOWle knle tnrOuRn moi one
Of you gamblers shall have this money 1t belongs TO
him pointing to the cripple, your would-be victim
,Na wha ghs asSS n,.oS y Gteregs EtD
'By this right" answered the young man, pulling
out revolver, 'and because you have been cheating
this man. The first man who attempts to touch dol
lar OF that money will blow his brains out" The
cripple took the money, and that brief experience
was lifelong lesson to him. That young man. gen.
temen Of the jury was myself l was congratulated
for my courage One gentleman, noble specimen OF
true Southern chivalry, shook me by the hand
warmly 81 like you for your courage said this gen.
teman. 81 have beautiful and accomplished daugh-
ter and you may marry her IL you will" That gen.
tcman Captain Alexander and have stood by
her in her years ncessant warfare to help her
what rightfulv belongs TO her, and
shall fight the battle until get "A verdict for her.
He occupied several hours in his summing up
speech The opposing counsel occupied nearly as
much time, combating in seriatim each point raised
for the plaintiff and presenting the case in the strongest
possible light for the defendant A clear and lucid
charge made by Judge Van Hoesen leaving IL en-
trey the jury to give their verdict according TO the
testimony, and only explaining To them the. various
points of the law applicable the The jury, after
about hours Absence brought IN verdict for Mrs
Burke for the ull amount claimed being 0Oo0 with
interest The opposing counsel moved TO set aside the
verdict the ground that II was not in accordance
with the evidence 1t being late Judge Van Hoesen
said he would hear the argument on this motion next
Friday morning.
Rec CONVICTED OF FORGERY.
The case of william J. Rec who placed on trial
in the early part Of the week, under indictment
charging him with forging the name Of L. NJ Bates &
Co. note for 900, was concluded yesterday.
The jury retired haltpast four O'Clock TO delib-
crate, and at twenty-five minutes past FIVE O'Clock
p NJ returned and rendered a verdict OF guilty OF ut
tering forged paper according to the second count IN
the Indictment In the absence OF exRecorder Smith,
counsel for Rec the prisoner remanded until to.
day for sentence.
Rec is well known in connection with some OF the
boldest and most sklful torgeries ever committed
Among his visitors during the progress OF the trial yes
terday was who had been in Jail four years for
getting up bogus bank at Joliet, ILL.,, and two per-
sons who have been trial for forgery HIS wife, who
sat beside him every day during the trial, was the
widow OF Commodore Levy, OF the navy. 1t is said
which was left to her by her former husband, well
as an ample fortune Of his own. His fourth hand
Branch.