The New York herald., 1878-01-16
THE COURTS.
Trial of the Ex-CaShier of the National
Bank of FiShkilI.
WARNING TO COWARDLY ASSAILANTS.
A Charge Of Forgery Against Barrett. the
Fugitive Lawyer.

In the criminal branch Of the United States Circuit
Court, before Judge Benedict and jury, Alexander
Barlow was Yesterday on trial. charged with defraud-
Ing the National Bank Of Fishkil Duchess county,
by making false entries in the books OF that bank.
The Indictment charges that in book denominated
"rcklcr Discounted otes National Bank Fishkil,
1875" he entered the following amounts S6,3US 62,
$40 500 72 dated July Q, 1875, which amounts were
not paid into tho bank In another book denominated
'lS73, Dealers Ledger, to L, he made the entry
''Scptember g. So, 900 f. Dykeman." TO the credit
OF tho latter Dykeman not being entitled to that
credit. In another book denominaied '1S14 Dealers
Ledger, F, A to L." an entry was made august %,
S. 800 SO, to the credit OF Alexander Bartow whicn
entry was false Tho defendant Ia further charged
with putting forth certain certificate of deposit un-
lawfully, 10 the amount Of 81, GOO, in which 1t
stated that Mrs Phsbe 4. Baldwin had made deposit
10 that amount Assistant District Attorney Herrick
appeared Tor the government; Mr. b. f. Tracy aud Mr.
w. /. Thorn (ot P0ughkeopse) for the detondant Wnen
the jury haa all been sworn discovered that one
OF hrm MIR. Tappan had served AS Juror In tho court
witDln two years, aud he WAS excused. IL was theE
discovered that another juror, named John Kava-
nIgh had by mistake 10 the oil Havlland
There followed little nutter OF excitement at this, and
lter II had allayed Assistant District Attorney
Herrck offered The counsel 0r the Defence II they
tssatisnei, 10 substitute Mr. Havlland instead OF Mr.
davanagh. Mr. Tracy declined to Interfere and as IT
the time Tor recess the court adjourned until
hafpaSt O'CLOCK. Assistant Dlstrlct Attorney
Herrck. alter recess addressed the Court, ana said
that he did not propose to interfere with the jury
empanccd. The prisoners rights had been pro-
tected wien the proposition made by the govern
ment to substitute one Juryman Tor the other. Mr..
Tracy directed an exception TO be noted and the trial
DR.. Lewis H. White was the first witness called by
the government, who said that he was the Oldest
physician Duchess county and that he was presi:
dent oi the bank, and became 1874 he had
known the deendant from Doyhood; the instructions
10 Barlow were generally given IN the form Of resou-
ha nj
the general management OF tho business Of tho
bank On cross examination witness admitted that
he paid but comparatively little attention to its
nnairs except in general way; all witness timc was
absorbed IN his professional duties. Laurence G.
Rapeye director OF the bank, testified that Barlow
became cashier February, 1869; the directors met
every two weeks and defendant was secretary OF the
SUaa Of Dresors rn ANA reported ssa TO them; n
bank on the 9th OF last January; the bank was
placed IN the hands Of receiver later in the same
month. On cr0ss-examinati0 ton he said that Bartow
also treasurer OF savings bank In the same build
Ing, of which bank witness was trustee. Thomas Il.
PGillps, clerk in the bank, testified that he bad
charge vi the discount book and general ledger He
going to testify reference 70 the first false
entry charged when Mr.. Tracy objected and addressed
the Court reference to the deiectiveness of tho
count the Indictment reference to which the wit
ness was about 10 testify. Mr. Tracy said that the
allegations the entries charged gen eral
for the accused to answer, and that the indictment
ought TO have set out In detail the particular entries
Alleged to be false Al the conclusion OF the argument
he Court adjourned until this morning
TWENTY YEARS IN SING SING.
Justice was dispensed in the case OF William A.
Merritt, who tried yesterday in the Court Of Gen.
Sra Sessions, before Judge Sutherland, with NO mig
gardly hand. The prisoner. whose treacherous look
by means favored his cause, charged with rob-
berry in the first degree, the crime having been perpe
tratcd under circumstances Of peculiar atrocty Some
time ago Merritt in whining tone applied for relief
the Thrtyhfrh street branch OF the Childrens Aid
Society, representing himself in destitute cond
tion. He was employed by the superintendent, Mr..
George c. Stoughon, as janitor. The prisoners bad
temper began to manifest itself about the 18th OF Oc
tober last by atacKng ono of tho inmates, and on
being gently reprimanded by Mr. Stoughton he be.
came very indignant He threatened TO leave the
institution, proposition to which St0ughton readily
asscntcd, and offered HIM his wages amounting TO
$l4. Merritt, however, thought twice tho mat
and declining 10 accept the money expressed his
desire TO remain until the LIST OF November. Three
days alter his interview with the superintendent
Merritt heard to utter thrcals against him, and
refused to listen to the kind offers OF the
MISS Higgins, to intorcede for him with his employer
On tne morning oi the Zld OF octoDer MI stougnton
was sitting his Office with his back toward door,
when the prisoner sneaked behind him, and, seizng
nn Indian CLUB weighing seven pounds, dealt him a
terrific blow on the head, which stretched
HIM senseless on the floor Tho rufian then
robbed his helpless victim and fed. A ringing cry
IIom the superintendents attracted the atten-
ton OF Mary Cole, domestic, who Immediately
ran TO the scene, but found the door locked The
gir rushed up stairs ana informed the housekeep
who, with tho nlgut watchman IN vain tried to
nm entrance 10 the chamber The housekeeper then
ran down stairs to summon police oifcer, and wnile
Bhc standing at the door Merritt
carrying bundle. She asked him what the matter
was, and Merritt replied, "Hold your lip: know
ran to n passing avenue car anu subsequently sped
toward Fourth avenue. Meanwhi Officer Gremmcr
bad arrived, and without delay followed in pursuit;
but Merritt disappeared IN tho Fourth avenue tunnel
and escaped. When police officer Wheean aud Robert
Stephens, tho night watchman al the lodging house,
broke into tho superintendcnts room they Mr..
5toushtOn stretched on the floor, lying In pool Of
blooa Beside MIN was the instrument by which he
nearly sent INTO eternity, with tho handle broken OIL
Eight terrible wounds were discovered Mr. Slough
TONS head He was UNCONSCIOUS and when about
10 be removed struggled Violently DR.. Bruce.
who attended him, and to whose residence no
Was removed, stated that he remained insensibc
for SIX days aud was confined 10 his room over
a month For some time all traces Of
murderous roDber were lost, until In December In
spector Murray placed watch on certain letters and
brother Inc Inspector detailed Officer Smth cap
ure the fugitive. On the .29th oi December Oliccr
smith esped his man on Market street, Pn,iadelpna,
and arrested HIM. The prisoner expressed no sur
PRISE whatever at tho situation, SAID he wiling
procet ut once but added that he did expect
be arrested within year or SO, when public senti-
ment might not DO so strong ON the subject. The
prisoner. on his trial yesterday tried to preserve
appearance Of injured innocence, and the
ness stand denied everything, although Witnesses
had proved that he had been lying in
wait outside the superin ndents door few
before the In crosse ssy AS
sstant District Attorney Bell. the prisoner, who is
somewhat deaf admit cd that he had already served
term IN the Illinois State Prison Tor larceny. Judge
Sutherland delivered brief charge the law OF tho
case, anu the jury promptly returned verdict OF
guilty In passing sentence the Judge said:"lf ever
there was case O robbery calling for the severest
punishment the law allows 1t is yours, and the SEN
tsnce OF the Court is that you be confined Slato
Prison nj hard labor for the term Of twenty years
The prisoner was then handcufred and removed.
MEMENTO OF WILLIAM G. BARRETT.
suit was trod yesterday before Judge Van Worst,
holding Supreme Court, Circuit, anording reminis-
tence OF William O. Barrett the fugitive lawyer Messr
Henry X. Kunhardt and i. W. Meyer comprising tho
Arm of Kunhardt Il Co., brought suit against the