New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-05
TIE COURTS.
COBUPN FOUND GUILTY.
THE SENTENCE TO BE IMPOSED TO-DAY OR TO-
MORROW.

COBURN FOUND GUILTY
THE SENTENCE TO BE IMPOSED TODAY OR TO-
MORROW.
The four days trial of Joseph Coburn for
shooting officer Tobias was concluded IN the Court Of
Sessions on Saturday night the jury finding the
prisoner guilty alter i5 minutes dcliberation. RI tho
accused had been ordinary street ran his ease
would probably have been disposed OF IN two or three
hours, as the facts and apparently simple Tie
bold attitude Of the defendant. however, in positively
DENYING taat he fred The shos and that pistol bad at
any time been In his possession was well sustained by
his lawyers. and number Of witnesses testified strongly
in behalf OF his innocence This presentation Of the case
necessity made perjury a confusing element in tie
trial and the prosecution at length into the details
which might otherwise have been omitted In hs sim-
ming UP for the defense On Saturday hr Brooke
tended that COburn the victim ~ police outrage.
Witnesses who to be beeved testified thai they
the officers club and matreat Coburn before shot
fred Only two Of tie $50 Tsisous sa'i IL have
been present at the shooting had been called by the
prosecution in rcbual OF TINS testimony MI Brooke
commented at times with great severity upon The char
actrr OF the police force referring to the postpOncmen
of the trial O Sergeant Thompson charge Of brutal
assault the zeal in pressing Columns trial. and Captain
Wlliams's conduct in this case The prisoner he said
had vast amount Of prejudice combat. He had been
assaulted by the public press with all thls prejudice
him, the speaker believed that HIS client had
presented "a ease which proved him not guilty
Assistant Dstrc; Attorney Rollins in closing the
for the people commented the char eer Of tie crt
esms of the de cnjants counsel upon the manner in
which tho prosecution had treated CObrrn. great deal
rad been said about ralgoadng" the prisoner II
railroading meant deprivation Of rights the prose
cutiOn repudiated the accusation II It meant prompt
and certain punishment Tor fragrant violation OF law
he favor Of such raiirOading" Tie prisoners
nse lawyers had procured many delays in tas and
made absurd efforts infuse sensational element
int n hal KEN NJ mn cd
ins " client until would suppose that Cobun might
brought the court ir sections the Junior counsel
carrying the "raw head and bloody bones" and the
senior members OF the company tendery bearing the
corpse OF the Apollo Belyedere." The entire defense
consisted OF about 20 speeches aud bloody shirt
Nobody acknowledged the ownership Of the blood, aud
the defense mad failed to ask COburn If was his The
defense had sought show that Coburn was all CON
citation and hal DONE or said nothing Htemperet to
Tobias Twice lie said soothing words 10 the officer and
then walked Nv ay, when all OF sudden Ike rsu or
lightning from clear sky, the cuD Of the officer de-
4cend-d on the head Of the unorndng CObnrn and ne
feet another club descended his head aud behold the
Gladiator lay unconscious and forthwith dubbed
scene! What likely story this wasi Mr..
Rollins said in concluding thar , IN .,o dealing ,,l,,,
fairness lie had made not single alnsiOn TO ms pre-
vOus record, although he had ample material al MS com
rnaId He had ried this It's merits, ana on s
merits only would be ask verdict The evidence Of Tue
police officers clear concise ana bore the stamp 3i
b.. manufactured 70 order az "A moments notice winch
story was most likely, and which would the jury De-
HCNc
Judge Sutherland briefly charged the jury on the law
i'm lac case Under indictment, LIE said, they could,
they believed evidence for the prosecution, nnd the
ri,oper guilty OF either OK the four COUNTS rom assault
th intent 10 Kill the highest degree OF oiense CHARGED
20 simple assault and batter. The jury should ne eau
TONED against prejudice thar might aT1se rom the
prisoners past record on the one hand ana the alleged
malice utragcs he other At the request OF juror,
iue violence O R0undsuan ONc who testified that lie
took the pistol COuurns hand, was read to the Idry
Al 5:lJ D. the jury retired and a. $50 recrtl Elth
verdict assault with intent To XIII On the nrSJ pal
lof the Jury stood IL Tor conviction ON the nigh
*. otuc charged to for lower degree or CRIME
on III. second ballot the vote unanimous Tor c0nVc-
nom on The first count At the request 81 hS counsel,
Copuru VAS reuancd 70 the Tombs lie viii be Drugat
,io r sentence to-day Tomorrow 10 Is not Intended
rs Inc 10 try nm ON the ndctlntnt IOr
snootng az ON GER crcs. but the Court VIII De asked TO
Imio.e the fu sentenctIO years imprisonment ID tue
STATE Prison At lard labor. .,,
RE sal motions FOR new trial and an arrest OF J,g
nl.ut were maize by Mr. Brooke ana denied ~ judge
sutherland CyDurn received his conviction Win -tOid
md ference, and evidently PR pared orthc verdict
fg Df - admirers shook hands with HIN as ne passed
am ~ tnc courtroom and others followed hlh u the
aul,Js Ut the crowd not large as the thrOnga
:nat gathered the hrst few days vi Lis ncdrceIaol