The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-10
THE PINCKNEY TRIAL.

WITNESSES WHO SWEAR THEY REPEATEDLY SAW
THE CIVIL JUSTICE UNDER THE INFLUENCE
OF LIQUOR.
The lawyers and referee engaged in the case of
Judge Pinckney iled into the Corporation Counsels
Office promptly at half-past two O'Clock p NJ. yester
day. On the opening of proceedings Mr.. Alexander
II. Reavey. of counsel for the defendant. asked the
referee for adjournment until to-day. stating that
Judge Pinckney attending funeral and that he
desired to be present at all Investigations. The
ton was denied.
Patrick Bergen, ianitor Of the Court House on
Fiftyseventh street. testified that he had been in
charge of the latter building about twenty months;
he said he had frequently Judge Pinckney under
the influence of liquor coming up and down stairs
and on the bench; II remember OCCASION"
he said che left the bench and laid sofa in
private ROOM he had doctor with him and his face
was cut; my sister. who lives in the Court House.
wanted him removed. and this was done; on another
occasion him come out of the liquor saloon at
the corner of Fifty street and Third
and strike fellow with coal shovel. knocking him
down.
AN EASY BERTH.
On cross-examination Bergen testified that his ap-
pointment as jantor came to him like streak of
lightning" that his salary $1,000 per annum
and used to be 81. 500 he has sister, widow. who
occupies the building, with her two daughters while
Mrs. Wilson. who is paid by the city. does all the
work, sweeping scrubbing and cleaning
Mr.. Reavey-Well, what do you do. then?
The Janitor-Al do is to see it Is done. Q.augh-
ter.)
on continuation, Mr.. Bergen said he was engaged
in the liquor business ut the corner of Ffty-frst
street and Tenth avenue, and had frequently drunk
at the same bar with Judge Pinckney but had never
sion when saw him intoxicated he might have been
suffering from chils and fever. but. added the wit
ness. with emphasis. "the odds were agin him!"
Mrs. Ellen Phalen the sister OF the anitor. testified
that she lived in the building, and that Judge Pinck
ney frequently to the Court House at night and
slept in his private room.
THE INTERPRETERS DISCLOSURES.
Michael Angermann formerly interpreter Of the
court was recalled He said that some time in 1877
September he thought. the Judge told him at two
O'Clock in the afternoon to wait for him until he
came back.
Witness-No, sir; went home and got my sup
per- came back, played cards and had several drinks
in McMann's place.
.'What time did Judge Pinckney return?"
"At one O'Clock in the morning. and then he went
up the alley alongside the Court House. and made
such a racket that he disturbed all the neghbors'
On cross-examination Angcrmann stated that before
he appointed interpreter and city marshal he
licensed vender and worked for a matchmaker ut
No. 119 Broadway.
BUTCHERS EXPERIENCE.
Moses Hcilmann butcher. testified that he had
been interested in two cases in Judge Pnckney's
Court, one OF which his own account, while
in the other he was witness for his employer.
was under the influence of liquor. On cross exami-
nation Heilnann admitted that the Judge decided his
case against him.
WHAT A CITY MARSHAL DISCOVERED.
Mr.. Farley. city marshal, said he had been nearly
every day for three years in the Seventh District
Court. He had closely observed Judge Pinckney
many occasions and had hesitation in saying that
he frequently grossly intoxicated and off the
bench. Witness lad heard him violently rebuke
counsel and witnesses, and occasion he had
heard him call a witness damned fool" At another
time, he said, saw him beckon to one of the Court
oficers-McKenna. The latter retired and soon came
back with glass filled with some liquid The Judge
poured little water in it and drank it," After the
Court adjourned the marshal said he went to the
bench took the glass; smeled it and discovered that
the judge had been partaking of Santa Cruz rum
The witness declared that Judge Pinckney would not
sign any papers until Davies had examined them and
put punch hole through Them for each of which he
charged So. The marshals had all lost money
through this. Farley testified that he said to
Davies What do you do with all the money collected
hero? 1t must amount to $40 $50 day." and
that the reply derogatory to Judge Pinckney
Don't you make return to the Comptroller?"
asked. 1.-The Comptroller be damned, was the reply
repeatedly seen Judge Pnckney drunk on the bench,
and sometimes have heard him call out for people
to take their hats of when nobody had hats on;
was in the room Of the Sparta Club when / saw
Davies debating to Judge Pinckney what cases
should be decided for plaintiff and those in which
Judgment should be rendered for defendant: soon
sent out Of the room; Davies told me that if
did not call his wife every month anc leave her
500 would not get any papers out of Pinckney's
Court"
The proceedings closed by partial examination of
Joseph Stenert q lawyer. who testified that he fire.
quenty Judge Pinckncy intoxicated The wit
ness handed in summons issued by the Judge. in
which there some discrepancy in dates The
prosecution insisted upon putting it in evidence.
so it was marked for identification. Steinert adj
mitted having held it for the purpose Of using it
against the Judge
The case was adjourned until to-day at half-pas.
two p. NJ. .