The New York herald., 1878-12-03
EMMA COLLINS FATHER.

TEAL OF ArR. COLLINS SUIT AGAINST GENERAL
cAssINA-THE STORY TOLD TO JUDGE LARRE-
MORE YESTERDAY.
The somewhat unusual and curious proceeding of
trial without defendant WAS witnessed yesterday
before Judge Larrcmore holding Common Pleas, Trial
Term Tho action brought by Patrick Collins
against General Nicholas Cassina to recover $4,000
damages for the alleged loss of the services Of his
daughter. Emma Collins. The young girl is
charged, enticed away from her home in Forsyth
street last June by the defendant, with whom she
afterward lived in Second avenue.
Mr.. Collins. the plaintiff in the suit. the only
party to the litigation present in court the defendant
having sailed TO Cuba months ago. Tho trial
was opened by Mr.. Mccarthy, the counsel for the
plaintiff, who briefly narrated to the jury the story
Of Emmas fall the facts of which have been given
the public piccemeal the events Of this extraor-
binary case occurred. The fruitless search of the
parent after his wdyward daughter told by
sci. but detailed statement was subsequently
given by the plaintiff himself, who the first wit
examined on his own behalf.
FIRST MAYNARD STEP.
Mr.. Collins took the witness chair, and commenced
his recital by stating that his daughter before left
her home earned SO per week. which she paid over to
him. he in return giving her support and education.
He said she had good common school education.
and had pretty and engaging ways about her. lie
said he last saw.Cassina in police court in July.
and although he had made every effort to discover
the whereabouts of his daughter his search
thus far hal been unavailing. MIR. Collins briefly
spoke in to intcrrogaorios Of counsel of his
first suspicious and the uog-like persistency with
lard When he told Of his finding Cassina and Emma
in " together in Second avenue his voice trcn-
bed. On this occasion he said he was accompanied
sibsequently se-t co the House OF Mercy; but after
she had been there for some time she begged him so
pteousy take her ont that he did and sent her
10 board with his friend Mrs. Denny. She re-
manned there but week. when she disappeared
and he has not laid eyes upon her since.
AnsENT BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
II being necessary for the purpose of Identifying
the defendant TO the jury plaintiff asked TO give
minute description of both Cassina and his colored
servant He said that Cassina was small, stout
man. with closely cropped hair, and always neatly
dressed. The colored servant he described young
man. very light complexioned for mulatto and
weighing only about one hundred pounds.
On his cross-examination by Mr.. Thomas J. Cott-
man, who represented the absent defendant. Mr.. Cob
Inns stated that he married his present wife in
1860: che s his second wife, by his first wife he had
two children-one boy and one girl-both OF whom
died shortly after the death of their mother; his
daughter Emma was about fourteen years old when
she first began TO work.
CLOUD wiTNEssxs.
At this point. upon request of counsel. Judge
IArrcmore allowed interruption Of Mr. Collins
was very brief. placed the stand. Mr.. Samuel
v. Spcycr lawyer identified his notarial signature
10 certain affida,its Mrs. Catherine bishop. who
lives at No. Is West Twenty street testified that
Mr.. uar;aa, Cassinas fricnd, to her
house to rent roonss for Cassia and q
laiy. Mr.. Garguila. spaniar,l, was next called
end said he had been misrcprescntcd In papers
He admitted that hc went to Mrs. Bishop to rent
rooms for Cassin but he did not know that the lady
accompanying the latter WAS Emma Collins until told
so Two or three othcr uuimportgnt witnesses were
then examined whom counsel Tor the defendant asked
. postponcmont to enable him to get his papers,
which were in the Possession OF Judge Smith, and
Judge Larrcmorc accordingly adjourned the trial
until this morning.