New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-19
VU1T FILL THEY DO WITH UIMf


The law has once more in its grip Joseph
Coburn,- pugilist, publican. politician. shoulder
hitter, and scamp generally a notorious null
sance, q man the majority of whose deeds in
| past wears have been indictable, graduate OF
Sing Sing, and an unlicensed vcndcr OF blue
| ruin i'm this city. Mr.. COburn for many years
has been in a condition of chronic rebellion
against the authorities Of New York, and thus
far. it is but Just to say, he has had the best
of IT. The object of his perpetual hostility
has naturally been the policeman. 1t was Tor
stabbing Officer Davidson i'll HOustOn-st. that
Coburn was sent for term of three years and
half TO Sing Sing. Long before this had eX-
prcd he was pardoned I" through political in
nuence," and came back to Ncw-l York to re-
engage in his old business as bully, black
guard, and barkceper He had been so Sue
cessful in securing pardons and in lodging in
dictments that he evidently believed that If
he could sell liquor with impunity he could
kill with impunty also.
How did it happen that such a man, as thor
oughly unfit for the public house business as pos
sible. was allowed to 20 OF with it, in ious-
ton-st, in Grand-st., and in Broadway! How
has h. contrived to pursue his murdcrous
career with scarcely any restraint or punish
ment Why was he not in Sing Sing Prison
last Friday instead Of being /" i'll the liquor
business at No. 1,2S6 Broadway n Why
didn't the police close his crib loag agO7 Its
reputation was as bad as possibe-sO bad that
it Wa, thought necessary constantly to watch
it. 1t was the haunt of brawlers and bawds,
of the vicious and the Violent OF scoundrcls and
of sots. 1t was open at unlawful hours Ill Ill
rect violation of the excise regulations. Ii
was not till one of its frcquentcrs, night
cahman, violated another ordinance by leaving
his vehicle standing in the street, that n pO-
lceman of the beat put his head inside the
door, and in a civil way requested the Jehu
TO drive on Then out came the irate Coburn,
believing abusive defiance and upon being
seized shot the officer with the revolver which
he had ready in his pocket. Another police
man coming to the rescue Of his fellow, was
also shot and only after considerable time
WAS Coburn secured and carried to the station
house.
We are glad that this disgraceiul affair has
driven the District Attorney into unusual ac-
tiyity. Already COburn is Indicted, while sew
cral old indictments on file against him have
been brought out, busted, and prepared for
use should they be found convenient. The
trial for the last Oifense will probably take
place to-day. and that must be remarkable
Jury which fails to agree or to convict. In II
confidential interview with reporter on
Friday evening Mr.. COburn expressed the
opinion that it was the intention of the au-
thorities to RAILROAD him to State Prison.
We suspect that he seldom expresses the truth
with 30 much candor and precision.
TO sum up: Here is an utterly reckless and
deiiantly depraved man, who for at least
twenty years, Il short interval excepted. in
defiance of law, has fought prize fights, kept
unlawful grogshops, assaulted policemen,
beaten women, and, pistol in hand, kept up Il
fusillade against society in general. Now,
when he is broken down, and can be of no
special service to anybody, he is to be hurried
to Sing Sing. Better late than never is all
the comment which we have to offer. Only
we may suggest that if the District-Attorney
will continue to exhibit the same alacrity in
other and like cases, he will not be regarded
by the public rs IA monster of implacability.