The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-07
RUN In A NEW YORK COURT.
DRUSE ENNESs ~ THE 7RTBCNfL IN
ITFTr-SbyENTH STREEL
An Indignation Meeting In nm Open Court
Toom- The Threats OF an ONcc Holder
what Did CiVn Justice PInckncy Drink


An Indignation Meeting In nm Open court
Room The Threats or an OMcc Holder
what Did CiVn JustIcc PInckncy Drink :
Justice Walter s. Pnckncy did not at
tend the inquest into his official conduct. or
dcred ly the General Term. yesterday after
noon. The reason so his friends said was
that he was engaged in looking UP points Of
evidence in his defence. Referee Oliver J.. Buo
TIPPED back his chair, set his chin on his breast
and listened to the lawyers "a they wranglcd
ont their differences among themselves. lie
has decided that under the terms Of lis ap-
routmcnt he Possesses very little discretion rs
TO the ndmisslbility Of evidence and as q con-
sequence. ho usually pres onls the appearance
Of ahali-amused hali-li-tlcss spectator
Mr.. a. II. Ecavcy moved that all tho testimony Of
Michael Augcrmann rs to acts and conversations
occurring outside Of Justice Pinckncy's court
lie stricken out. The rcforeo held his chin
firmly on his breast under his ruling and the
motions went on the record for the considera-
tion Of the General Term. Augermann was re-
called. and nc testified that since lie had given
his testimony against Pinckncy he had been
threatened. Objection was made. and he was
not allowed to say by whom subsequently.
Mr.. Augermann explained 20 tho reporter TINT
while ho was sitting in the Clerks room Of tho
Seventh District C!yil Court. yesterday morn
iug. james Lewis. who succeeded him Ivy jus
ticc rinckney's appointment as Interpreter.
took him by the lapel of the coat and said
You -. I'll put you out Of this" AuRer-
mann had testified that Lcwis was n gentle
man who could not speak other German or
English" No proof was offered TO show that
i"ws had acted under instruction from Justice
Alexander Fame. n lawyer. testified thnt ho
APPEARED in Justice Pinckney's court in July.
1911 for Fernando Wood. The Justice was in
manner and from the odor Of his breath. On
another occasion he saw him intoxicated in his
had drunk brandy but had never drunk rum.
gin. or whiskey. He was confident. neverthe-
less. that he could distinguish tho breath Of u
Justice Pinckncy dis charged "A bond for YOU
on that occasion. did ho notf" Mr.. Rcayey
" Ycs sir" was the response.
Wei, would yen. ns reputable lawyer. have
| accepted that discharge II YOU had thought at
| the time thut the justice was unit 10 attend to
business p
Tho witness said that hc would. under the
| peculiar circumstance lie was not allowed to
fltric. Anthony. clerk Of the court was re-
| called i9g the coniinnat,on oi ms cross-exanin-
| rs iu,i was not advised g. make tho
memoranda presented 10y mo IN This case |
| ncNrr -aid 10 any person that | hnd the =
| - lmcauing Justice plnckney where wanted
| him. and that would put him, out oi office |
| was absent. never give nor promised money
10 aay one 70 Induce Him t. testify in this c,-e.
| neyer said Ia get square with Pinckney for
! dcposing mo from my on 20. | might have
| said that Pinckncy had made great mistake
! because he had relieved me 81 all obligation TO
Pinckn.S Jon. l. 1876 and James n Davies was
| appointed in my place. On tho l2h OF last
a hs Hde pRS RSya ne0g me p1g sat
| while our friendly relations would not be dis
| wr1od, yet political relations must bc eonsid-
| cred. He had therefore appointed ex-Aldcr-
| man Thomas ngffy 10 serve as clerk in my
plaSe, soPsidered this a i2kC, m, mote mote
remember my kind consideration.'
| Mr. Anthony then described two meetings.
which he called Indignation meetings. held In
| The Court House. nnt added that II casual as
| scn.bles OF In uiGnsnt lawyers clients and wit
| nrsses IN Tho Court House could br regarded as
! IN ignntion meetings. they had been u weekly
| occurrence, Tho only man whose name he
could recall ,hnt took part IN formal meeting
| uCc II F!ity- seventh street. The witness had
! succeeded IN breaking up the meeting
| Did you ever express your plcAsure 10 MT.
| levicn lnWyer. that Pinckncy WAS likely TO
"No. sir; bu, hayc often heard Mr.. Lcyicn
| d,nounoe P.nckncy for drunkcnne-s. lie used
| Io saY it was outrageous"
=. Tie fac, that Mr., Lcvicn sat beside Mr.
EeayaY. and had Npp0rently suggested tho
! wtnrs, had never known that Justice Piuckncy
| was tto4hled with fever and ague. once. when
| he had visit1 . him In the Lexington apartment
| housr. Dr. Potter mot him in the hallway. aud
| told MIN he had fow hoIes o' Pinckpcy's rccOy-
| y.
| Max Steineri titled that he had been a prnc-
! tising lawyer about eighteen months On many
occafions he hHd heard Justice Pinckney ex-
| cuse himself and had seen him quit tue bench:
| When lac would return. Rftor the lapse OF half
m hour OF an hour he would not l., looking SO
| pcRrod tolbc under the influence OF liquor. lie
would become confused. and could not remcm-
| Der whether parties 10 suit were plaintiffs or
| descndants. Once he had seen Justice ilnck-
ncy drink brandy.
How do you know it was brandy Mr..
" Because had little oi myself The Jus.
tice told mo that he WAS taking It for medicinal
MI Stcincrt testified tina, hc had los, clients
| hdrnuso he couldn't get them 20 go 10 the court
| and take their witnesses. That was on account
| ragularitcs and absences. Mr.. Stonort tho dght
that justice Itnckncy was On able lawyer. and
| hi. dutles on tho bench. lie was once absent
| on May !. and several landlords. who We're
much annoyed at i, offered the witness fce II
never heard Mr.. Anthony spcak Ill Of Justice
! pln kncy he added. " Hos always said TO me.
| Lawrence G. Hard of li9 Front street a bro
kcr Ia wholesale groceries, testified that he wns
de.sIdinnt in n case 80 down for October 10,
| Pncknsy did not get there until 10 clock. Hc
was occupied with other cat cs until IL O'Clock;
nm hour, when word was brought thnt he would
uo, hear the case until 4 % clock. Al o'clock
| he dil not ono into court. and al los, the par
| ties In Mr.. Harts ease wcro told 10 enter tho
| Justiees Onitc. There were lady witnesses
| present, bat he did not stop smoking. la WIS
| baastlY drunk. Mr.. Hard continued. and acted
| as u In n ds2ed condition.
| Mr. Hard does not drink strong liquor SomO-
| times lie drinks lager hcer as medicine, and he
may hayo drunk Q few. Rl1sses % wine this
| year. hre Hoyt the wife OF the plaintiff. and
! Mrs, Hard were present NJ tho time. according
| tO tho witness that the Justice was beasily
| druak during The trial Il his case in his pri-
] yate oiflce. Mr.. Hard insisted 20 Nr. Renvoy
| that ho ontertalned no unkiud feelings toward
| Iho Justice IN account Of the decision rendered
| and declared that tho decielon was, under the
| peculiar circumstances. satisfactory 20 him.
| The hearing was adjourned until Monday.
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