New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-21
EXCITING SCENES IN COURT.
LAWYER AND A WOMAN FAINT.
THE DRAMATIC APPEAL OF AN OLD OFFENDER
For MERCY PROVES uNAYAILINu.

| THE DRAMATIC APPEAL OF AN OLD OFFENDER
FOR MERCY PROVES uHAvAIL1Na.
Exciting scenes Interrupted the proceedings in Two
parts Of the Court Of General Sessions yesterday.
The court Officers were compelled TO carry lawyer
and one prisoner from the court rooms, and second
| prisoner msde q dramatic appeal TO the Judge who
was passing sentence upon him.
Tho sudden sickness Of Frederick B. House, the
prisoners COUNSEL interrupted the trial Of Samuel g.
Brewster, who Is under prosecution before Recorder
| smyth on q charge of murder in the first degree.
brewster, the defendant, was the principal witness
examined He testified that he entered the liquor
store at No. 80 0rand-st., at the Invitation of
white man. There was quarrel among the colored
men. The prisoner had knife in his hand cutting
of the end OF cigar, he said, whom 1t accidentally
came into contact with williams arm. Assistant
DstrfctAttorney Parker began the cross animation
of Brewster and was entangllng him in evssions,
when Mr.. House, who seated behind his ASSOC
oiate, H. NJ Friend, suddenly became pale and sank
to the floor He was assisted out Of the room by
Mr.. Friend and some Of the court officers. Mr.
Friend informed the Recorder that DR.. Conway had
examined Mr. House and said that 1t would DO dan
gerous for him to proceed and tho went over
until Monday Mr.. Houses attack was tho result
OF nervous prostration.
George Harrison. who, under the names OF Frank
Belmont and Dutch Fred" has been known to the
police for many years pickpock et and thief, was
before Recorder Smyth before the Brewster trial was
called lie convicted In January before Recorder
smyth, in Part H. Of robbng Henry King, liquor
dealer, Of $780, He and two OF his companions at-
tackled King be was closing his place and beat and
Kicked him and robbed him Of his money. when Har-
rson taken to the courtroom for sentence he cut
bis throat IN ths pris0n-pen in Part III, with razor
which, he said, he had bought in the Tombs for 25
cents. lie taken to the hospta' and did not 70
cover from the effects Of the wound for several weeks,
and sentence deferred until yesterday.
lie was asked If no had anything to say. "Judge,'
he began, I am innocent 1 nave done wrong, and
Often but had part in this affair" The Recorder
read from Harrison's record In Inspector Byrness
book When the Recorder finished, the prisoner began
again / swear that 1 am innocent" Then he fell
his knees before the officers could interfere, and
leaning his head upon the railing said: Il am dying
of consumption. l did not do this thing Then no
begged for mercy again and again.
Recorder smyth recalled the facts Of the trial and
said that tho prisoner had been ably defended but was
undoubtedly guilty Of Of the worst crimes known to
the law He sentenced Harrison to eighteen years In
the State Prison.
Judge MARITIME had before him for sentence Mary
Gsron and Patrick Murtha, who were convicted for
stealing S45 from Charles Klenent Murtha found
kleDent in compromising situation with the woman
in a Great Jones-st. house and pretended be the
WOman's husband The woman protested her inno-
cence and when the sentence Of Imprisonment for two
and six months In tho Penitentary was imposed
she reached the rear part of the room she
fell in fantiDg At Tho court officers carried her out
aid she soon revived Her companion was sentenced
TO four years and six months in the state Prison