Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-09-30
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Special Correspondence.

NEW YORK, Sept. %, 1878.
New York's assortment of criminal
mysteries and sensations was, perhaps,
never more varied and extensive than
just at present. See what the lovers of
this sort of thing have to gloat over this
week. First there are the great Killings
murder case of New York State, and the
equally remarkable Stannard murder
trial of Connecticut both of which are
as fully reported in our papers as though
the two terrible deeds had occurred in
this city. Then there is the apparently
insoluble Staten Island mystery: the
finding of young woman's body in
barrel half buried in the sand of lone
ly field, which long baffied the keenness
of the detectives; the apparently cause
los sui0iIe-ef sLs -reli-hs1own s.1.d PvPu-
lar principal of one of our public schools
the clubbing to death by an injured hus.
band, of rich old Hebrew merchant
the arrest and Imprisonment of Gen.
tile Brigham Young who had nine wives
living in this city alone; the shooting
to death of his most intimate friend by
a notorious gambler and local politician
named Allen-such are few of the
matters which cause our daily newspa-
pers to read like the very worst of blood
and-thunder novels, and furnish some
hard nuts for the reformers and crime
preventing societies to crack.
What l should think would make it
rather disheartening to these good peo-
pie. is the certainty which they must
possess. gained from long experience
that the horror and interest inspired by
these present crimes will die out only to
be reviewed by fresh series, perhaps
still more brutal and revolving in their
character.
Friends of Recorder Hackett main.
tain that to the severity of his sentences
and the uncompromising way with which
he has dealt with criminals is due a
noticeable repression of acts of violence
in this city during the past four or five
years. Twenty years in States prison was
at one time the stereotyped term for Grim
inal offenders, although since his last
election he has lowered on the outskirt;
of mercy in dealing justice. Whether
constant association with a hardened
class of men has had bad effect upor
the Recorder or not connot say, but hi
certainly acted in the most extraordinary
manner the other day. While witness
was testifying in case, the Recorder
suddenly pounced upon him and shool
him because he, the witness, didn't answe
questions in manner to suit the court
Some say blow was actually given
and that Mr.. Hackett will have to an
swer for his loss of temper. The da,
following this episode, in his charge t.
the jury in the case of a pickpocket, tn
Recorder excitedly said, Il wish som
one would try and pick my pocket.
wish some one would try it. I'd shoe
him on the spot. Kill them That
the only way to do, Tor words to that eli
feet. It's we'll known fact that MI
Hackett is one of the best pistol shot
in the world, and it cannot be denie
that in this accomplishment lies hi
! safety from harm. He has often bee
threatened by the friends of those VIII
have come under his sentence, and O
one occasion in answer to an anonymou
letter, he referred in court to the fac
that his pistol was always by him. an
, that he never missed his mark. Any {
his friends will hold two cent piec
: between their fingers and let him shoe
, it out. This is all very well. but th
Recorder must keep his pistol and hi
temper to himself until they are proper
ly called into play. RADIx.
! For twenty-five cents ace aosA send tt