New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-02
FLACK PEOPLE UNDER BAIL
ARRA1eNED IN COURT FOR CONSPIRACY


The people indicted for conspiracy in the
FlaclS divorce case were compelled yesterday,
like ordinary offenders before the bar of criminal
court, TO listen to grave charges against them
selves, and to give security for their appearance
for triad. The news of the finding OF the
indictments against them not communicated
by the ordinary means Of bench warrants in the
hands of uniformed officers but they were sum
moned by informal notices to appear in the Court
of General Sessions to plead to the indictments
found against them. Bench warrants had been
issued and detectives would have served them
had any disposition been shown TO escape from
the city The accused men, however, were TOO
wise TO attempt to avoid appearing in court, and
within half an hour after Judge Gidersleeve took
his place on the bench in Part the defendants,
except Mrs Raymond and Civil Justice Mcneil,
entered the building. Their counsel formed n
procession of heavy and dignifed men. Ex-Judge
FulleIton's stout form somewhat bent with years
led the line Portly John II. Bird, counsel for
Joseph Mccks, Horace Russell, who appears for
William l.. Flack, and Colonel j.. c. James
representing George ". Hartt, followed in n
group. They and the defendants went to Judge
Gilderslcevc's courtroom, which was crowded
with eXpectant spectators. Distrct-Attorney
Fellows sat within the bar Of the court
A sudden cessation of the ordinary business of
the court and turning Of many heads toward
the door indicated the approach OF the accused
men, Sheriff james A. Flack was the first
Of the defendants to enter the room. His face
was of pale yellow set of by the intense dark
ness Of his hair and mustache. He is short,
corpulent, and would be taken if met casually
for Of the frequenters of the beer-shOps of
the East Side. He looked somewhat less stupid
and much less cheerful than he did few months
ago, but his Affections had not added any air
Of refinement 10 his features. His son, William
H. Flack, a sturdy but unattractive young man,
and Joseph Mecks the only member Of the party
who seemed TO feel lSecnly tho disgrace Of his
position, followed the Sheriff Not far behind
George w. Hartt, the Sherif's elderly and
gaunt brother-in-law.
The clerk, edward J. Hall, quickly took up
the bundle OF indictments which had been care
fully guarded since the previous noon, and called
out James A. Facl."
The Sheriff advanced to the railing, his counsel,
ex-Judge Fullerton, being at his side
The Grand Jury have accused you Clerk
Hall announced, " on four indictments for con-
spiracy, attempt at subOrnation of perjury, at
tempting TO induce another TO swear falsely and
preparing false evidence. What have you TO
say? Are you guilty or not guilty?'
Said eX-Judge Fullerton, We ask for time
in which TO examine these indictments before
pleading. They are voluminous, and we have
NOT had an opportunity to inspect them"
Can you not enter plea of not guilty, with
leave to withdraw the plea, and enter any other
plea or demurrer within ten days?' said Judge
GildeTsleeve. That is the usual course"
We prefer not TO take that course, but 10
examine the indictments before pleading
District-Attorney Fellows here put in If the
counsel wish for time, of course they are en-
titled to it. How much time will be nceded?'
Ten days"
That is longer than is necessary" said Mr..
Fellows.
The date OF pleading was after some further
discussion fixed as Wednesday, October o. The
counsel for the defendants then asked that bail
be fixed for the clients. Judge Gildersleeve said
that he had already considered that subject. he
fixed bail at $4,000 each in the cases Of James a.
Flacll, Ambrose Mcneil and Joseph Meeks. He
required bonds of $4,000 from William L. Flack
and George W. Hartt
The defendants and their counsel went to the
office of Secretary Penney, of the Distrct-Attor-
neyS office, and as the prelimina had already
been partly arranged the bonds were quickly per-
fected. Matthew Baird, contractor, of No. sO7
LeXingtOn-ave., who swore to the possession Of
property valued at $4,000, became surety for
Sheriff Flacll and for his son. Mrs. Mcneil, the
widow of the late Judge Mcneil and the mother
OF Civil Justice Monel was accepted as surety for
the appearance Of her son and Of Joseph MeelIs
She justified as owner Of property worth So 900
The bail bond in the case Of Ambrose Mcneil was
completed at his home, Judge Gildersleeve and
Bond Clerk Penney going TO the house for that
purpose. Mcneil has been i'll for several weeks
and is Unable to leave his home. George w.
Hartt found surety in Norman Andrews, a
builder, Of No. 500 East One-hundred-and
teenth-St.
Sarah Cherry, or Mrs Raymond, was the only
one OF the accused persons who did not give bail
She was not in court and the officials declared
that they did not know where she had gone She
disappeared from the view Of the detectives sew
eral DAYS ago. and il supposed TO he now a
fugitive in another State. The indictments
against the accused conspiratOrs were made public
after the bonds had been accepted. They are six
in number. The offences charged are for the
most part misdemeanors, having penalty of one
years Imprisonment and u line of $500. Hartt
is accused of a felony.
-, The main Indictment Is against Jsmes a.
Flack, Sarah Cherry otherwise called Susan r.
Raymond, Ambrose Mcneil, Joseph Meells and
William l.. Flacll. II was obtained on the
testimony Of Mary E. FlaSell Margaret Smith,
Tchenor. Sylvester f.. Nolan, Joseph Meells
Curtis j. Mar, Henry W. Bookstaver, Joseph
de Camp, Lena Terviss. Samuel Jones, |. keyser,
Nathaniel Jarvis, jr., Nathan 5; Jarvis, Tread
William h. Flacll and James D. Taylor. The
indictment is one Of . longest documents of the
kind ever prcse nted by Grand Jury. IT consists
of 20 pages OF closely type-wrltten matter,
divided into sixteen counts. From its vol
luminous pages can be obtained a chronological
account of III, proceedings of the consprators
The first three counts charge the defendants with
conspirinC together 10 cause an action 10 be
brought in the name of Mary L. Flacl against
James A. FIack without Mrs. Fse&'s consent
and fraudulently procuring a judsment of di-
vorce The fourth count charge, with great
popularity the acts done in pursuance of the
conspiracy The conspirators, II is charged, on
April II, 1899, decetfnlly induced Mary L.
notary tlfe complanf in the action for divorce,
representing 10 her that it was paper relating
TO mutual separation. Five days afterward