The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-28
JOE COBURN PUT ON TRIAL
mrs LdWrERs ASKING IN TAIN FOA
YET FUIsIfER DELAY.
a Day spent In Getting Jury-The Pro-
ceedinus Made Tedious by the Arxuments,
and EnitNcned by some Unattended Fun.

and Eni',cncd by some Unattended Fun.
The trial Of Joe Coburn, for shooting
Officers Tobias and Jcrfns was begun yesto r.
day in the General Sessions. but not without a
determined effort by his counsel TO gain moro
delay. Four lawyers are still employed in tho
fence, and Of these cx-Judgc George M. Cur
tis and Edward NJ. Chipman md Charles \.
Spencer were in their seats at the opening Of
the court; but the fourth. Mr.. Charles W.
Brooke. was not there. and the others asked tho
Court to wait for him. Judge Sutherland said:
" oh, my dear sir. we cant waste time" Then
ex-Judgc Curtis read n certificate signed by
Drs james II. Wood and II. b. Sands, and con-
tanning the following language: Joseph CO.
burns wounds consist Of n confusion OF the
right shoulder and chest. OF two scalp wounds.
and of wound Of the left ear. Ho IL rocover-
ing as rapidly ns could be expected but several
weeks must clnpso before he can regain his
natural physical and mental vlgor which has
heen impaired. We are unable to predict from
q single exapinnton whether the injuries Of
the head will be followed ~ nny remote rifacsS
upon ule brhin or other parts OF the nervous
syston.' On this Mr. Curtis based Il motion
Tor y po-tp9ncnient. AMI made n speech. in
which he said that. although the defence Of in
sanity would not De used. the request for fur
thcr tmc WAS nnde because the prisoner was
trial
Prosecutor Rollins opposed the motion FOR
DpHlppn'mtnI. saying tnat eleven days nai
passed since the indictment. that such delny
in such cnscs was exceptional and that thero
had been no unusual zeal IN this case. Medical
certificates Of any desired kind could always bo
secured; and thut presented by the defence.
doubtless true contained no reason for delay
ing the trial. II the claim was 10 be made on
behalf Of COburn that he was rcligiOusly insane.
then the question ought To be settled by u Jury.
MAJ MI E9liins read dp paper from Pr Msponald.
on Blackwells Island. certifying that Coburn's
wounds are slight and healing rapidly. and TINT
= "A nh afl ,tal
dillon ~ interfere with his ordinary capacities.
Mr. Spencer ana Mr.. Chipman made speeches
Tor poitponemcnt. and then Judge Sutherland
Joseph Coburn to the bar" the clerk said,
looking Toward the prisoners' pen,
court room was very crowded. and everybody
tried 10 get Wow Of Coburn as ho was taken
out by officers. There was nothing in his APP
commonly called - II bad face" but not the kind
that Ia accepted as characteristic of "A pugii-t.
ars ms R2se and IS pG3%n Ga and an m 4 Ms
droopng moustachc and white cloth wrapped
around his hurt head gave him the look Of tho
traditional pirate of the cheap novel. He was
given II scat by the side of his counsel.
Tho getting OF II jury occupied the rest Of tho
day. and was tedious. tusk, frequently broken
10y arguments. Coburn' counsel rejected thusa
who retained any impression from what ti"y
had read about the case. The lawyers talk was
You all talk nucnty" Judge Sutherland
SAID. and Of course have got 10 hcar you but
DO we want 70 spend week getting II Juryp
You will talk yourselves out before you got 10
the summing up.
Later two lawyers began to talk at the Same
is senough at n time One OF YOU stop"
,o In dnrnstl,3,nlng r,,g jpr9r Assistant Dislrt *
59rngy Eo9s said Are y"g acquainted with
~ Or Assistant District AuorneysP" Mr.
"Or philadelphia lawyers2" Mr.. Rollins re-
No. sir" the witness replied. emphatcally.