New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-27

Bench for as long period as It was
likely that he would care TO continue active ser
vice. tho term Of Office having been extended to
fourteen years. Concerning himself supported IN
his treatment Of criminals he redoublcd his severity
until in some cases il seemed cruel Ills judicial
conduct was somewhat remarkable Very soon
after a prisoner was placed trial before him. he
formed a decided opinion as To tho guilt or inho-
cence of the accused person. and II was extremely
deui tor han 70 Gopssal ssar o %pp snow them
selves in charges 20 jurics, by great outburs oil a.
nunclation against certain classes oil crmhnis' re
was very inIOlerant of opposition. especially from
Younger members Of the bar. TIE ferconess oi tne
Recorder has many times frightened young ahvo-
Gates, and prevented them from insisting upon the
rights OF their clients.
The Recorder was not handsome man. but any
stranger entering the court room was struck ny ms
appearance on tho bench-tne erect, broaG-
shOuldercd figure the great head. with very high
forehead, ford complexion aud strong stern lea-
lures These features. combined with harsn'
getuent voice. and sober # not sullep expression
repealed most persons at first acquaintance, but
those who were intimately acquainted win hm
regarded hiD IN altogether different hight N the
circle of intimate friends he rs said 20 nave
been OF n vivacious If not joval disposition,
aud many stories are told Illustrative Oh
his rurfntnlness when unrestraincd. lie was
exceedingly fond of outdoor sports ana
was very skilful in the field or with the ROD. ~
the time of his death be president OF the Sontn
side Club OF Long Island. and was Connected VII"
a number 81 similar organizations. ne was VII
ness IA October 1874, IN the Court OF Specih ooS-
sion-. IN case IN which the prisoner nau zen
charged with cruelty for working dogs IN cider,
mill Recorder iidekett when called on test inca
that Ire bad had great experience with dogs nay,
ing owneo in his lifetime pore than 400. oil all
nos and sizes from the Newfoundland 10 tne two
round baCk-anGtan terrier, and thar ne c0ulu 'eii
when a dog was suffering. In his OPINION the piis-
cueTs dog n the time OF Tie arrest Was su'io'"s
greatly from fat que. e.
Tie Recorder Was very proud Of his proficiency
with the pistol. Friends who have taken eXcur-
SONS on travelled With him, tell OF marvellous Keats
whica he performed with the Creates apparent
ease with hIs revolver. Justice OF the supreme
Cour1 who WAS an intimate friend of the Recorder,
said to n Tribune reporter short time ago, that
he had frequently seen MIR. lackctt shoot away
Srnal silver piece hed between the thumb and tmlc-
finger OF his wife AT a distance OF twenty ieet ne
Justice added hat he had himself even mustered mp
Sufficient confidence IN the skill of his friend, 10
permit him To perform the same feat with corn
held between his fingers. The Recorder would
even carry the pride If his craftsmanship
TO the bencn and more than one jury has been
startled by being told that the best way 10"
ciuZrus to deal with certain classes OF CRIMINALS
was 20 shoot them when detected IN me crime Az
an events the Recorder would say. THAT l. what ne
would do il tic attempts were mace upon MS
lie was generous in his habits and liked TO see
the friends around mm enjoying themselves. lie
lived well, though not eXtrayagantiA. IN
salary Of the Office was formerly $4,000
bur 1t was reduced by the Legislators
in 1875 to $4,000 a year. The Recorder ! +,
oflicio a member of TIE BoaId of Sipking ltnn
Commissioners. Trustee of tue Sailors Snug Hat
bOr a member of the Board for the Revision OF
Assessments and a Director OF the Leake anu Natt
Orphan House az One-hundrc1- and-tenth-st. and
Ninth-avc. MIR Hackett. when actively engaged at
hls duties, frequently complained OF the demands
made upon his time and energies by these many
duties.
THE SUCCESSION TO THE OFFICE
The law under which the successor Of Recorder
Haekert viii he appointed is that passed in 1917
relating 70 the Surrogate and Recorder. which has
not since been altered. II viii be found in Section
90 Of Tile 1 Of the Revised Statutes. rs follows:
In case a vacancy shall occur in either at said
offices. ov death. res gnatlon or otherwise, the
Board Of Supervisors OF SAID cliy aud county are
authorized 20 oil such vacancy until tine general
election mex ensuing the happening ut sucn va
caucy when election shall be had 10 MI the un-
expired term vi the officer hose term bad SO be-
come vacant
As soon AZ the death of cordeT Hackett was an
nounced Yesterday, the Aldermen began to caucus
about filing his place, the Mayor not being able in
this case TO interfere with their plans. There IL
doubt that the present Board will take action inn
mediatey its Official death being near at hand
The prominent candidates mentioned yesterday
were Assistant District-Atorney Rollins and Police
Justice Morgan. Republicans; Frederick Snyth. W.
III. Secor and Cunning :. Bedford, Tammany Hall
Democrats; and Richard O'Gcrman. Justice X lbreth
and "A number OF other Anti .ammany Democrats
A. the Board now Stands /. is doubtful who VIII be
elected. .,..o,,
TALK WITH HIS DOCTOR.
d.. Erastus T.. Marcy. the physician who attended
Recorder Hackett during his lastsickness, said last
night concerning him:
Ii is an erroneous notion to suppose that the Re-
cordeIs health was affected by the threatening let
tiers sent him by criminals. He had no
fear of such men; the letters affected
far more tho spirits OF his wife and daughter
1 remember two years ago he showed me
a letter from the trend of criminal who had been
sentenced. threatening unless the Recorder took
some steps to release tine man. to burn his house
and murder his vile and daughter. | said to hun ::
If | received such letter that III bus rev0l-
yer.' He only laughed IN reply he inherited From
bI, father a rather nervous disposition. lie didn't
like 20 he josted by a crowd WGen Were IN Paris
together N 1878, when some one would step on ms
hee.s he would turn in an iTritated wav ~ If such
careless ness tortured him beyond endurance. The
severe sentences that he gave some crimirals We're
not gwen cirelessy every such case had his most
profound thought and careful examination before
the sentence was pronounced.
OTHER DE TUN