The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-26
CONVICTED OF BARRATRY.
THE FIRST or THE KIND Nv JERSEY
md THE TIIIRD ~ THE VHJON

Among hi. Fellow Men-In Trout,i. ,,,,h n
Constable and his Wire-A Mob at n JnII.
John G. OSullvan, a member OF the Com.
mon Council Of Harrison. n j., was convicted
yesterday in tho Hudson County Court Of Com
eral Sessions OF hnrrairy. His was tho first
indictment ever found in New Jersey for
that offence. and he Is the third person con-
vitcd of II in the United States. Tho crime
IL defined 10 be =" tho stirring up. moving.
promoting exciting or procuring suits and
proceedings ut law or tho spreading of fnso
md malicious rumors vexntiously and to tho
disturbance OF the public peace and
quiet" OSullivan settled in Harrison. and
by shrcwl spcculntions no acquired con-
siderable property. He IL worth about
100000. II ia estimated. principally in
real estate. His political influence in-
creased with his wealth until. In 1871 he was
elected To the Common Council. of which he Ia
sun n member. Tue meetings Of that body
had long been notorious for disorder.
ON, occasions q local Interest, when con:
Stables wero 10 ho appointed or liquor dealers
licensed. tho COuneilmen proceeded to their
chamber armed and prepared for IN encounter
q their precautions In this turbulent assembly
OHulllVan has been over since his rledion tho
h2t,sicst t,s OF AL His course in pol tics made
any OF them afforded him preteNt for a LOCAL
prosecui9n. he hastsned before n Justice OF tho
Pence aud had the orcnd e arrested.
According to tho testimony given. 40 nu-
merOus and frivolous were the cases
or induced others To institute against his
political and personal onDonrnis, that tho
The notice Of Judge uarrcison. who was then
the Prosecutor o. the Pleas. aud H. laid the
subject before the Grand Jury who ;hcrrupon
indicted sullivan ~ a common barrator. Ho
was tried and acquitted. the witnesses who were
sepSc sAeGC.sl 'p aRprnr aS1nst IN him having boon
unuod his policy ot having every ono nganst
whom lle had any grndgr arrested on the most
wood. ono Of his victims. who had been arrested
no less than nine times. went beforo the lnst Oc-
toDrr Grand jury and urlcurcA his indictment
dueed at the trial established fourteen separate
Atwood testified that late one night no mot
his wifc and O'Sullvan walking in Hamilton
street; street; ana rs he apprGnched them the de-
home. rcprimandcd his wife Tor her conduct.
ana selling her the shoulder with one hand,
hcgrasped kniteth thrcateningly In The otherond
Atwood left her husbands home on the l0l-
lowing day and went 10 her muther's house,
sualrl her to prosecute Aylwood. Hnd offered
her $1,000 Tor that purpose. She consented.
Wool dld not receive the money. On anolhrr
o2eca ion "a" deiendnnt informed Mrs. Atwood
IN nor husband kept company with dsrep-
New " Y@rk % and caus" var'cW cnmmTo,cn, 1@S"T, ~
ton e. that effect To b. inserted in
stories and read thc letter. lin determined that
he should have satisfaction. and cnllod AT O'Sui-
ivan = house. intending 10 thrash him. The
tuuncllmnn wnS not at home but Mrs.
OSullivnn met the visitor and attacked him with
hbroomsii"k. iie withdrew 70 the centre Of the
street nnd loudly challenged the whole race Of
OSulllynns TO light him. A lhrong assembled.
and riot was imminent. On the next day AyI-
wood was arrested for ,lisorderly conduct on
tn. complaint of Mrs O'Sullivan. and as soon
A. he was hailcd on that charge he was rear
rested on the affidavit Of Mary McQurk for the
Same of nee lie was arrcstrd on the sa,ne
u'l loI INC ullrl llnf on warrant giYon at tho
instance OF OSulivan.
On the 9Th OF June last tho Council held q
meeting. NJ which the usual confusion and dis
order were onarted. O'Suilivnn was there, with
MS hat on his head AID cigar in his mouth.
although his right to scat wns disputed. NJ his
election had been contested. He wins pugna-
ciously DISPOSED. and gratuitously offered to
Wiz "ay nun 4 prgnseni thel did no, ecree
hull out" and O'Sullivan thought he rocoR-
n.zed AylwOOl's voice. As no was going from
the chailber the doorway was crowded. and in
wood: On tho next day OSullivan hurried be-
lore Justice Sheppard. and swore out two war
rants against the constnble--one for disorderly
conduct and the other for assault aud battery.
Caleb Coakley. another constable OF Harrison.
viii on duty around tho polls on election day.
in April laHt. was directed by the inspector 10
arrest n man suspected OF fraudulent voting.
AS no was rem wing his prisoner O'Suvan.
Mho was Candidate for member of the Town
Ounrli ordered IN" officer tp release him. and
he used such abusive language that nm excited
crowd rapidly assembled. COaklev instead of
comply ying, asked cit.Hcn nanied kecgan TO
take QSullivnn into custody. krcgan 0heyed
and carried O'Sullvan t. the lOckup n noisy
mob following. On arriving at the jail door tho
mob re,cued O'Su!ilNAn aud threw Kpegau into
hr aud three others were arrested for assault
and battery on OSnlllvan.
The cas-" for the defence was nn admission OF
these various prosecutions. but q denial Of any
evil intent
u.i4 Iae iIry retired on Friday. afternoon and
sentence VIII be imposed ON next Friday.