The evening world., 1894-08-24
OUT OF the OLD COURT
General Sessions New Moves Into
the New Blu lding.
The Historic Building Has Seen the
Last Criminal Trial.
For Forty-One Years IL Stood a
Terror to Evil-Doers.

! history n n
,,one hn,,d,rs .,tuated in ~. nor,he,st
''o'e .','s 'uu ~ ."e ioi ti'eas'
part of the city Hall Park and known
as General Sessions. To-day was the
lac, aoy -, r,h,oh ar,, ,orso, min ha
a. a' w "''' "'' WV NC
put on trial for any offense ranging
from murder to petit larceny.
rho aid rrir,i,,, ro,r, pu,,5i,1 ,s
i"e oiu 'riih'''ai Cou't puiiuins rs
one that has stood almost landmark
in the eyes to New York's citizens for
worst crimes ever committed within our
city have been told.
The old building has been the scene of
and as well, has been the means of
ustIv dea,,n, out the nun,sbment do
justly ueai's OUT 'he punishment oe
served by the professional criminals
and law-breakers.
The last trial took place before Re,
service SMITH within the nal Almost
wall. The scene was in Part l.. on the
second floor. The courtroom was more
crowded than usual. Those spectators
VINO occupied the seats In the rear and
generally known as the House Of
| Lords. were packed in as closely as
they could be with comfort.
The prisoner at the bar was youth
seventeen years old, Edward Meyer, and
was charged with the serious crime Of
grand larceny In the first degree.
| ne was ACCUSED DN MIS-. Margaret
Coyle, of 7S2 Eighth avenue of snatch
Ing pocketbook from her hand on the
night of Aug. II in the street in front of
her, house. Assistant pistrict-Attorney
o. Hare had just finished presenting the
opening of the case to the jury when Dis
trict- Attorney Col Fellows came in and
asked permission to interrupt the Courts
business for moment.
| IL would like to call the attention of
the Court and the jur;. and the .specta-
tors" said col. Fellows, TO the fact
will take place in this building This is
the last jury that will sit here
For years criminal business has been
discharged in these General Sessions.
every grade, from capital cases to mis-
demeanors. have been tried here to
Your Honors knowledge. In all that
by men most distinguished in our annals.
distinction this court has been known
be moved in a few days. The District.
Attorneys office. also, will be in the
new Criminal Court Building. 1t seems
remarks when the last trial jury is sit
| ting, and when Your Honor is presid-
! ing"
Recorder Smyth bowed forward
slightly In Acknowledgement of the re-
marks by Colonel Fellows. and then
turning to the jury, addressed them in
u low voice.
ney has said in reference to this build
ing" he said, land in references to the
proposed removal of the Court of Gem
erai Sessions to the new building which
has been especially erected for its use
Notwithst landing the oct that we are
going to occupy. a binding such as
should be occupied for the purposes OF
this court and one which Is a credit to
the city of New York, I can say for my
| self that l will leave this building with
regret"
my earlier days were spent here"
| the Recorder went on. prior to the
| erection of this building. and after it's
erection, l was engaged in the legal
profession. | was admitted to practice
In one of the rooms in this very build
ing. Many of the lawyers-almost all
of the public prosecutors--who have
served here since the erection of this
building have been removed by death.
and there is but one living person who
ever occupied the position that / oc-
cupy to-day. Not one of the City
Judges, except the present occupant
of that Office. Judge Cowing Is living.
my experience in this building as a
practising lawyer and as a Judge of this
court has always been extremely pleas
ant and agreeable. Though this build
ing Is old and its days of usefulness are
al an end, 1t is to one like an old friend,
and shall go into the new building with