New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-15
SCORING THE FLACK PEOPLE
MIR. GoFF FIRES HOT SHOT AT THEMJ
INV OPENS THE CASE WITH v1GoR AND DE-


rERM1NArroN-HIs ADDRESS TO THE JURY.
Assistant Distrct-Attorncy Golf opened the Flack
conspiracy for the people yesterday presenting TO
the iury wellworded. carefully arranged state
n IT of what the prosecution intends to prove. He
sn,xe for three hours and a half, and aimed rather
Of simplicity that at oratorical effect As lie said,
the case is unusual one, and some of the legal
noints involved are likely to be puzzling to laymen.
lie therefore invited the jurymen TO ask him about
ANYTHING as to which they had not clear under
standing but his Iresentmcnt of the story OF the
divorce and how il was obtained plain that
none Of the twelve highly intelligent men in the box
felt it necessary to take advantage of the invitation
Mr. Con finished his opening in time TO allow the
examination Of a few witnesses necessary TO me
Introduction Of documentary evidence.
The court room was crowded by people whose iil-
terest in the proceedings lively that Mlly'
rcNetts had occasionally TO rap for order The de-
tcndants Sheriff James A. Flack. "Will' Fack ana
Icseph Mceks, sat among their lawyers ana 'heir
friends but this sympathetic surrounding was hot
shield enough 70 prevent some of Mr. CON uhcon-
Certainly personal remarks from striking homo and
woundinc their not too susceptible Souls. Master
wilrs contcnancc, far as expression Is concerned
,s psuallv "A barren wilderness. but " exhibited at
times something distinctly resembling emotion The
sheriff who makes practice OF sto'idny IN atntnoe
and in face. actually experienced the phenomenon
of blush Mr. Meeks. who laughs whenever lie can,
laughed rot al all puV h""H'u ''" ""eOO' ''
pulled his under lip.
", Gor in the plainest of language, spoke of
rsc,,s relations with the woman Cherry, and Of his
double life Having thus shown the sherifs inter
est in getting rid of his lawful wife. MI Con de~
scrihed the means set III motion to obtain thar end
which had involved viii Flack and Mr.. Meeks as
mariners in a conspiracy for Flack's benefit Ali OF
,ho.e concerned in the conspiracy he explained were
in some way dependent the political influence OF
tho nowerful exTammany Sachem. lie described
tne manner in which Referee Mceks had "manipn-
laird The legal documents and devoted large part
NJ his statement 10 a detailed DESCRIPTION OF MI
Neeks's methods. Judge Bookstaver TO whom Mr.
cos constantly referred as the complacent Judge
he described the willing tool of the consrira,orS
I. The pcculiar feature Of this whole Transaction
la continued is that in the decree granted by Judge
pookstavcr there is not word as 10 maintenance
or support for Mary F. Flack So far as appeared III
,he pnblic records Mary F. Fack, an innocent woman
was divorced from James \. Flack, an aduitcrous
husband and she thrown out upon the world
friendlcss and pennless. The conspirators were so
anxious to facilitate the matter TO rush II through al
railroad speed that all consideration OF maintenance
was neglected We will prove every line OF TINS
handwriting line by line. paper by paper and we VIII
show you among other things that, in tho haste
10 complete this perjurcd judgment rc. so that the
complacent Judge should sign il on the second OF
JuIv in tearing off the summons from the original
complaint they forgot to tear on ono
little strip. portion OF that summons
and have left it there in the handwriting of Ambrose
Mcneil stuck by the mucilagc with which it was first
put on"
As soon az Mr.. Golf took his seat John II. Bird.
counsel for Mceks Jumped up and said :" ask YOUR
Honor now instruct this jury TO forget everything
said by the Assistant Disrict-AttOrney in his open
ing touching the acts and dongs of Mr. and Mrs
Flack and Miss Cherry and others prior 10 the first
dav of April, 1850. when. as charged IN TINS lndic-
mcnt this conspiracy was formed
Judge Barrett said he did not think that Mr.. con
had introduced anything the relevancy OF which to
The case he would not show in evidence
But he has stated in the presence Of this jury
MANY facts going to inname this jury-to prejudice
them against the men on trial
The Judge repeated that Mr.. Gof would probably
introduce evidence on the points in question
Il don't believe any such evidence will be offered
here. cried Mr.. Bird, in rage.
"Tbat- said Mr. COT. wheeling round and facing
Mr. Bird who is physically ono and half times
bigger than Mr. Gon, That, sir is unjust unSenerous
and unprofessional'
Well said Mr.. Bird. moderatng. as the old
song saws 1.-THE rancour Of his tongue "you arc
too good a lawyer sir. to have intended 10 offer It.
FX,Judcc Russell asked Judge Barrett TO instruct
the District Attorney to elect what count OF the
sixteen in the indictment the defendants were u"
be tried.
colonel Fellows said al very respectfully decline
am ordered by the Court"
Judge Barrett held that all the counts re- rrcd
special and indivsibe conspiracy ana de' nheo
TO give tire order.
Mr. Russell undaunted made another request
81 have he said asked Colonel Fellows 10 give m"
the names of any witnesses who would be called he 10
those OF the back Of the indictment: lie said IL
would but he has been overuicd by Nj Con-
.Oh. nor cried Colonel Fellows and MI CON
Colonel Fellows explained that ne ha9 pTo roma ,n
win
fnan those whose were lndorsed upon tl' III
djctme,t the people had compiled win Inc statute
IN giving the the OF the Witnesses WIZ
appeared before the Grand Jury.
- have never heard this motion maze III court
before" remarked Judge Barrett
Mr. Russell declared that lie had heard IL hunufeo
times that. in fact. 1t was matter Vi cDIIV. ~
torDev 10 furnish tie names Of witnesses
oh said Colonel Fellows gayly then there
be power in the court 10 coapei tlc ucici'SS
TO give the prosecution the names OF It's witnesses
Mr. Russell did not 1t that way and the subject
was dropped. <.-
Chief Justice Iarrcmorc. Of the Court OF Common
Pleas: Isaiah Kcyser assistant clerk IN the Court OF
Common Pleas: samuel Jones. clerk Of the Court OF
specal Term of the Court Of Common Pleas whO must
mo-, be COMPOUNDED with Nathaniel Jarvis. Jr were pm,
upon the witnc,sstand 10 Identity the books ana papers
containing in proper order the record OF me trans
aetiou Mr. Russell did some lively Directing dur
inc the examination. His =" best time was rlei'cfh
objections in twelve minutes; mr. ION p'SiooN &c
rucs of court bearing the appointment OF referee
The trial ad Ourned until hall past 10 on MphudN
morning The jury men we're allowed 10 :" 10 id t.,
ton. Lad TO the conclusion mat 'hcrc wa
necessity for resOrting to the practice wich mas
occasionally obtained In important cases. OF keeping
the jury together"
-,-r<.rt Df'U