The New York herald., 1879-12-27

spect of his opponents and the attention of his
iuries. He also counsel for General Benjamin
H. Butler and successfully defended some tfteen
suits brought against that officer for damages al
Legged to have been sustained by LouTana citizens.
during the period of his commanding the federal
forces at New Orleans during the war. The most
important and famous of these suits was the great
.gold case" of Smith Butler. Mr.. Hackett was
aiso counsel tor General John c. Fremont Commo-
dore G. K. Garrison and other prominent citzens'
in important cases involving large sums OF money
and some very intricate questions of civil law. ln
the spring of ls66 when John L. Hoffman resigned
the Office of Recorder for the county in order to ac-
cept the Mayoralty OF the city, the SUPERVISORS
unanimously selected John X. llackett to NIL the
Recordership for the unexpired term This ONCE Is
oddly named. for the Recorder is not. as tho word
the recording OF deeds or other documents,
the contrary, the Recorder is purely judicial ocer
he being the presiding Judge in the highest court
in the city. of purely criminal Jurisdiction. aud
having equal powers in all such cases the Supreme
Court or the Court of Oyor and Terminer. ln his
discharge of the important functions OF his office
Recorder Hackett was eminenty successful, and he
became for the of his charges to the
grand juries summoned tor the court as well a. the
judicial acumen he brought to bear upon the cases
brought before him. Dealing with criminals OF the
worst and most dangerous classes, MIR. Hackett was
necessary to check crime by making striking ex-
ampes. his first important case 1T the Court OF
General Sessions was tried before him in April.
1867, when Gastano Gasteneto WAS arraigned for
arson. Frequent of incendiarism had occurred
about that time in the city. the cry Of "Firebugs"
being q common expression. Gasteneto was con-
victed and sentenced to State Prison for the
term of his natural life. Recorder Hackett
ing nIs picture eof Of Il the dangerous nature of his
crime and alluded to the peril to which life and
property were exposed by the hreougs IN pecemoer ~
Wech, alias Fanny Wright. for the murder of Police
officer McChesney. she having stabbed him in the
neck in Canal street. Fanny was found guilty OF
murder in the second degree and sent to State
Prison, but subsequently received pardon. At the
Farland came before Mr.. Hackett. Mcfarland shot
Albert d. Richardson in the Tribune counting room
for the alleged seduction OF MS wire. Inc trial was
throughout the country, finally ending IN the
acquittal Of the prisoner on o plea OF emotionsl
important and interesting but to recapitulae them
ali would be to give catalogue OF the criminal trials
of this county As evidence OF the high personal
of the deceased it may be mentioned that
when Mayor Hall indicted on charge Of mai
feasance in Office the ordered to the General
Sessions. Recorder Hackett, however, declined to
sit on the trial. giving as his reason the fact that
warm parsonal fr1endship nad existed between % MIN
was sure that he could act impartially between
the people and the defendant ne did not wish to
give any ground for charge Of partality should the
result be las it was) an acquittal. He accordingly
made order transferring the to the Court Of
He tried "Wes'' ana ..Mart'' Allen for robbery in
1872, and received threatening letter from "A
convicted were sentenced to long term OF impris-
onment. Threatening letters were frequently re-
the criminal classes Of this city, but he
falered wavered in his course judge his nat
ural personal courage leading him to regard such
efforts with the contempt they deserved. He tried
William j. Sharkey for the murder Of Robert Dunn
and sentenced him to death. Sharkey escaped from
the Tombs after disguised a woman. and
went to Cuba. He also tried the notorious Dutch"
Henrichs, of the boldest and most skilful bank
robbers on tho continent. who. after a long
of CRIME, was sent to Sing Sing and died in in
asylum. In 1874 the Recorder found the busi-
ness OF his court interfered with by certain
politicians. course he energetically resisted.
the people and the Independent press Of
hs. k~~k
charges to the Grand Jury may be cited that on
the frauds in life insurance December T. 1876 and
his address on street nuisances and distractions
MAY q. 1876 which led to the indictment Of the
entire Board Of Aldermen and the Commissioners
OF Health Iaouga the defendants were scqaisted
removed. much to the relief OF suffering public.
At the fall election. in 1876. Recorder Hackett
candidate for the democratic nomination. but the
leaders OF Tammany refused to entertain his name,
when by q combined effort of all opposing parties
and factions he placed in nomination and received
the almost unanimous support Of the daily press OF
New York. An address in his behalf was issued to
the registered voters of the city. signed by Messrs
William NJ. Evarts Joseph II. Choate Joseph Selig-
man. Horace M. Ruggles. George Opdyke: F. y. Tap
otsrhnnrs A 0swsd oItendorfer
ShultZ, j. NJ. Bundy, Richard Butler, d. w. Q.
Wheeler Joseph E Gay. William NJ. Fliess and
stated that during his ten years Of office Recorder
Hackett had pronounced nearly ten thousand judg-
up by OF and thirty of them affirmed
by the appellate courts. This was an extraordinary
ocul6ves SHOWS clearer
than words the legal attain ments Of Mr. Hackett his
fairness q judge and strength OF character
man: The result ut OF the struggle at the polls was
the full term of fourteen years by an overwhelming
majority.
In the summer Of 1873 Mr.. Hackett's health began
to fail and after presiding at the June sessions OF
his court he went to Europe. by the advice Of his
physicians. for change of air and scene. He
manned abroad only two months. however, and
turned very little, if any, stronger. Disregarding
the remonstrances Of many faithful friends the Re.
cnrdq pStq ted n fhe h4u nj
September. and worked with his customary vgor.
SO earnest was he in the discharge Of duty. though
these efforts detrimental to hip. This his
last appearance the bench.
In private life Mr.. Hackett was highly esteemed by
OF his position. naturally prominent man In
social circles. Frank in his friendships and strong
in his convictions, Recorder Hackett was man
possessing high OF honor in his dealings with
his fellow men. He married Miss Laura Hall, the
NICE and adopted daughter OF Mr. CSntoit who in
fashionable public garden on broadway. near Canal
street.
From his boyhood Mr.. Hackett was o remarkable
marksman with the pistol, and IN after years he be-
came quite familiar with the rifle. He could cut
out the spots playing card with either weapon
ten thirty paces and confident he and
his friends Of his aim that he frequently shot nckle
penny out of the extended fingers of q companion
or Gran an apple OF his head He has been known to
knock the ashes of half-consumed cigar while hold
in the smokers mouth Passionately fond of field
sports he delighted in trampng over the salt inca
dows and through the woods of Long Island in
search of snipe and qual. being also enthusiastic
aud successful wiclder OF the trout rod.
ARRANGEMENTs
The funeral will take place at Trinity Chapel. at
ten O'Clock on Tuesday morning next Rev. DIR.
Dix will officiate special car will tako the body
from the Forty-second Street Depot to Woodlawn
Cemetery. where 1t viii be Inferred.
HOW THE VACANCY WILL BIZ FrLLED.
When the news OF the Recorders death reached
the City Hall the politicians began to inquire to
the method of appointing his successor. clause
of the Revised Statutes bearing upon this point
hunted up. which reads as follows:.-"ln case u
vacancy shall occur in either of said offices tths Re-
cordership is included in this listl by death.
resignation otherwise, the Board of Super
to fill such vacancy until the general election
next ensuing the happening of such Vacancy when
election shall be had to I'LL the unexpired term OF
the officer whose term had 30 become vacant" Un-
qer this law majority vote of twelve members Of
the Board of Aldermen, acting as Supervisors. can
elect successor to the late Recorder Hackett Sew
eral candidates have already been mentioned around
the City Hall for the position. Among them arc
Police Justice Morgan. Mr.. Elihu Root and Assistant