The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-18
JUROR H~ADKEPTA"FENCE'
sENsATIoNAE INCIDENT IN III
THIAL OF ~ HAWLEY.

|Hr NthA 10 NO buUlN.aItNy
ley IL the Man whe was Accused or Atteu'pt-
tnE> to nlackunii SAMUEL w. RridEha'n.
William c. Woodward, known as big Haw.
ley tho Confidence Man." was put on trial yes
terday In the criminal branch Of the Supreme
Court on n charge of attempting to blackman
Samuel w. Brigham, son.in-law OF William Z.
bchormerhorn, and o member OF many OF the
best clubs In this city. Tho work OF getting
the jury was interrupted by n sensational incl
dent after the twelve jurors had been accepted
and taken their seats in the box. The ninth
Juror was William Hallissey, who said he lived
at 10s West 12lth street. He had been ac-
ceptod by Assistant District Attorney Carpen.
ter, the prosecuting attorney. sand also by
Thomas. Atchison, counsel for Big Hawley,
when Detective Sergeant Robert Mcknight
entered tho courtroom and spiod him. Detec-
tive Mcknight is ono Of tho old-time Central
Office men and has an excellent memory. When
no saw Hallissey comfortably seated Mcknight
almost fell over tho lawyers table in his hurry
TO roach the prosecuting attorney.
M Carpenter" whispered the detective. II
don't think you want that man on tho jury.
He had q son who died in prison-a murderer
and another who Is n notorious pickpocket.
He himself was raided by tho police as far back
as twenty years ago when ho kept a jewelry
shop on Park row which the police claimed was
q ieice. At that time they recovered five or
elk stolen watches In his place."
MIR. Carpenter called Mr.. Atchison and mo.
toned the stenographcr to step up to tho JUS
tico's desk. The Assistant District Attorney
then repeated to Justice Fursman the story
told by Detective Mcknight. Word of the de.
~tcctive's protest spread rapidly through the
Criminal Court building. attracting many law.
yers and clerks from the other courts, who
were anxious TO SEQ just how the ninth juror
would be unscatcd.
Justice Fursman questioned Hallissey. The
Juror admitted that one of his sons had been
in Sing Sing under sentence for murder, and
had died in prison. Another son had served
time In State prison for grand larceny. Justice
Fursman, theroupon said he would excuse Hal.
lissey from serving on tho jury, and also for tho
entire term.
Mr.. Atchison objected. claiming that the re.
poval of Hallissey from'the jury box was not
The statutes provide, for the Justice excus;
You. as / do now.T" "'
There were further objections on behalf of
vacated BY Haiiisscy.,
rcau. who was IN the courtroom when HALLS
sey was removed from the jury box, told the
ssny. PTSema seP ssiiisscy that Ssd G EiI,e Ct r abs,1is,s ~.
q IA East ! EisRbty.ninth street nsS'no II n Hu lTHn.
second degree. had been sentenced on March -,
1888, to life imprisonment b., Judge Mcmahon
died In prison Of consumption. Capt, McCluss.
ky said thai Thomas Hallissey had also killed
Ing a knife at her. Moreover. the CAPTAIN said.
he had been convicted Of several crimes and
had served terms of imprisonment previous to
the time he was sentenced for killing Nc
When the jury had been completed Assistan.
nail MIR, BRIGHAM was based on the hope that
of money rather than face a series Of unpieas-
ant charges. In the scheme. Mr.. Carpenter
said, We're ere three h.,s crooks r1s and a lawyer; The
Eugenia Ward, who posed as the wife of one of
the crooks. and a man who was now under in
dtctment for conspiracy and attempted black
had an office at $50 West Twenty third street..
nouncod. that he had been indicted. On the
night Of April i, T.. Mr.; Carpenter said. Mr..
third street, where he and his wife lived With
his father n-law. and started for the theatre.
and sixth avenue a man stepped up to him and
served him with papers in a suit for 800, 900
the Iaeu aiiena anolhs Of his WIGS ~ en sfi Semes "a T6e I at:
: AT first Mr.. Bridgham thought the matter a
matter in highlands Of the Sheriff for execution,
TO Er, SarSe thu ahMy pa men has % SssR g tne letter 70 f and y thu
papers, MIR. ::Bridgham went to the ofice Of his
asked him what he thoughtabout the matter. AS
the papers in the suit were drawn up in legal
1 Mas no 5oE bsr about tG Il. Mi MI. b Bfiaeham .h then there eE.
planned that he had never seen or heard Of the
people mentioned!in the legalpapers, andlcouldn't
'm After T farths er'y in Hesds II sa'nS M INN Bartlett
learned that 1t was an attempt to blackmail
b~lackmaiiers,:: employing. private detectives to
aid him in the work Of running them down
Brown. This was a suit for an absolute divorce
brought by the mysterious James Ward, and
tne mai isIsrse On Mr. e0 BsstIeet In due &c ooI 1Sas
Of time put in answers to the suit, the papers
being filed in court on May II. u,n,.m
ce i've 'ae letter. teeos signed asy Mi Ban sraesHnam e pure ae:
ported to have been written at the Metropoli.
tan Hotel, broadway and Twenty-seventh street.
|Pagsrs in s,t tho case of Ward aga sggSains, I'll pr ,Ss;
trees that don't bend With the storm arc some.
: :Ssi l. n neslls eyer. and ps sSaF VIZ. and K is;h. 19Et
Law furnished with the evidence"
.i MI Hs GS1Tpepht sG said %Iftt that tb he I %9Sld prove that
came to light more fully when Layyer, brown
1926 900 in settlement Of the case on behalf Of
his mysterious client. Brown finally agreed TO
the case. was hidden in Mr.. Bartlett's office
ct the time and heard Brown demand the
S25. 600 and finally the $4,000.
Samuel W.. Bridgham was tho first witness
called. He had been sitting with his counsel.
, Mr.. Bartlett. during the rehearsal OF tho facts
by Mr.; Carpenter. He said that no was 81
years old. He was married to Fanny sohermer
horn in 1855. he said and lived at the Schermer,
horn mansion on Twepty-third street. Mr..
Icy, and had never seen him before; He identi
also identified a second, letter, which he said
bad been received by his wife after Hewlcy
z. Woodward" and wasdated Cell 6b. Tombi
Detective McHeught was,the next witness. He
said that he had known Hawley for ten years
and that Hawley went under the name OF w
Q. Woodward. Mcknight brought Haw ley
from Boston on a warrant and saw him locked
received the letter signed wv. q. Wood
ward" witness took it to the Tombs and asked
HaTley II he had written 1t. Hawley said hi
IL wish to INTRODUCED this letter now," said
fdr. Carpenter. my object is to show that thu
handwriting of the va. Banque' letter is thu