The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-22
JOE cOBURN.
THE TRIAL SET DOWN FOR TUESDAY NExr-No


THE TRIAL SET DOWN FOR TUESDAY NExr-No
INDECENT HASTE IN THE PERSECUTION.
Al ten O'Clock yesterday morning Centre street, from
the Tombs tho corner oil Chambers street, pre-
sentcd unusual appearance The casual observer
could fail 10 that something Of great interest
was about to occur, for the corner OF the
street named crowds OF idle men, and
children had congresated and blocked the ways
They wero sght-seers, and all anxious 10
get glimpse Of the pugilist Coburu,
who shortly expected arrive In court via Centre
street. The patience OF the crowd was fully rewarded,
for about halpast ten the object OF their curiosity
passed from the Tombs down Centre street TO the
Court OF General Sessions To avoid tho crowd he
brought up way and led the prisoners box
as the back of the room. Shortly after his
arrival Judge Sutherland accompanied by ex Governor
Hoffman, entered and tho two occupied the
bench.
THE
After tho remanding OF several other set upon
the calendar to be tried, Assistant District Attorney
Rollins said 'Your Honor, now the case Of
Mr.. Chapman, senior counsel for Coburn, then ad-
dressed the Court He said his colleague, Mr. Brooke,
engaged IN the Supreme Court some important
business and would not DO able to appear IN court
Tor short time, and he therefore invoked
for adjournment. Mr.. Curtis, Of Coburns counsel.
SAID Mr. O'Noil was also absent and, as he had been
assigned tho important duty of arguing tho motion
adjournment, counsel thought IL would be well TO
delay Tor a time the opening oil the case. Assistant
District Attorney Rollins thought there was
necessity Tor formaty in making the motion
for adjournment and hoped that Mr. Gurus
would proceed and make the motion Mr. Curtis said
II His Honor so directed he would 20 on, but would
prefer to wait the arrival OF his associates. Tho
Court thought It ms well to begin tho once and
thereupon Mr.. Curtis said no would finish reading
two ahdavits he held IN his hand Mr.
Curtis then read an affidavit In which
hC had ubscr he'd SET forh hat N
pany with one Boss he had spent the hours from
otweve on Tuesday night in searching for and en-
for the defence Some OF them had been
reached while others, whose testimony was
not DO found. Tho unsettled condition OF the
prisoners mind and body were also dwelt upon In tho
diligently confer with his counsel After reading this
deposition Mr. Curtis SAID tEat Of the great
to allow tho prisoner moro time before asking him to
| plead
Mr.. Chapman then road an affidavit OF ono Timothy
Donohue, in which deponeht stated that no had vanly
cndeavored to serve witnesses tor the defence with
subpGnaes These witnesses, Mr. Chapman explained.
would be dangerous and impolitic fo- the defence to
PUBLIC EXCITEMENT OVER THE TRIAL
Mr. Rollins addressed tho Court favor OF imme.
diateIy proceeding TO trial with the He said that
the street in the vicinity Of the jail was
crowded with disordory persons brought together
SEQ the defendant These gatherings, the Assistant
District Attorney claimed. were unhealthy ndica-
held in suspense the greater would the excitement
become. Then delays were dangerous for another and
an important reason. Every day the papers have
something TO say about the case; the police and the
defendant criticised turn, and these criticisms
make It difficult to obtain an impartial
jury. Almost every man in New York has by
this time read and formed an opinion on
tho case, and each days delay liz the case
makes these opinions more permanent In cOnclu-
sion, Mr.. Rollins SAID he would like to correct
precision that seems to have obtained IN the public
mind that the District Attorneys Office was anxious
TO indecently hurry the case OF Coburn. For
this reason he stated to the Court that
during the present session nfty-six cases
were tried the day alter indictments were
found, and that all the rest tried the third
nth day thereafter In view OF the statements SUBJ
united by counsel for the prisoner Mr. Rollins said he
| would consent TO an adjournment Of the until
Monday next provided his adversaries would promise
not TO seek for further adjournment that day and
cease procuring writs of habeas corpus
Mr.: Spencer, OF Coburn's counsel moved that the
case be postponed until tho first Monday March, as
he did not think the prisoner would be 1T condi-
ton to 70 to trial before that day.
The Judge set the down for Monday next, but
by agreement of counsel the day changed Tues
day, and an extra jury panel was directed by the
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