The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-08-09

THE Trial OF
ALI BEN DING.

ne oll court OlNcci SLOWLY Withdrew
his pipc from his mouth, and, after gaz-
ing drcomily at the ceiling for few min
utcs, said musingly:
"lt's strange, yes, very strange, that
the story of the great trial Of Ali Ben
Ding never appeared in print, for that
was the most remarkable murder trial
ever held in New York county.
AN English ship arrived in New York
harbor early in April in the year 1908.
Her name, think was the Blue Pigeon,
and she was freighted 90 the water line
and had many passengers aboard, among
them Ali Ben Ding native of India.
The lIindoo took small cottage on the
outskirts Of the city, think in the neigh
borhood Of where Canal street is today.
lie lived all alone and was rarely seen
in the streets except about dusk, when
he used to walk down to the riverside
and watch the sun setting in the west
above the Palisades. Not far from where
Ali Ben Ding lived was the house OF
Stephen Van Nliet, the money lender,
who was rcputed to have stored away
In his cellar and garret untold bags of
silver and gold, which he treasured be-
NOlN Nll luIllkN utuI III lllts 4NUl IlulS
months after the oriental came to New
York he was seen walking on the Hud-
sons bank in company with Stephen
Van Vlict, both talking together in deep
earnestncss. 1t did not take long for the
idle to circulate stories to the effect that
stephen had sold himself to the devil
for more bags of gold, the Hindoo con-
ducting the bargain.
,snar pue.nI ly aud gufutnpts pnma
round again, and still the curious were
ali at sea as to the business of Ali Ben
Ding in we ancient town of New York
The gossips unable TO lay their tongues
TO any substantial story concerning the
strange black man from the far east, CON
tented themselves with wagging their
heads aud nodding significantly, If not
somewhat fearfully, whenever his name
wus mentioned. Imagine their satisfac-
tiun when one morning the body Of
Stephen Van Nliet was found in n mar
row lane near his house with n long
knife of remarkable workmanship plung-
cd in his heart. More than one had seen
that terrible and awe provoking knife
sticking in the scarlet sash of Ali Ben
Ding so that not many hours passed be-
fore The sheriff and his men went to the
Llndoo's little house, whence they con-
veyod him to the town Jail, where he was
confined in the strongest cell, which was
further strengthened with many new
locks and bolts.
"rhc esquire justices of the general
quarter sessions court, knowing the in
tense feeling against the oriental in the
town aud consequently the rude crowd
that would fill the courtroom and greatly
ruile the judicial dignity of the bench
when the murderer was brought to trial,
decided to wait until late some after
noon, when everybody was at supper, and
then bring the prisoner into court and
deal out summary justice to him. Con-
sequently one hot evening in August All
Ben Ding was taken from his cell and
brought In a roundabout way and with
great secrecy 20 the little city hail, where
the general quarter sessions court dis
pensed the criminal business of the
county.
"Thc prisoner, securely handcuffed to
the sheriff, was brought into the almost
deserted courtroom and arraigned before
the six solemn bewigged and somber
gowncd esquire justices. The attorney
general, his one assistant, the clerk of the
court, the sheriff, his two deputies and
my ancestor John Noble, completed the
court complement.
"Tho attorney general in n few words
stated the prosecutions case, and, after
exhibiting the knife which the sheriff
swore he had found in Stephen Van
Vliets heart, rested his case. The court,
through the presiding justice, asked the
prisoner If he wished 10 be defended by
counsel.
"1he prisoner, Iii Ben Ding who had
stood in the dock with bowed head dur
ing the brief Grafton OF the attorney gen
crnl, fixed his piercing black eyes upon
the six solemn judges, then, raising his
hands above his head, began to humble
in n voice like n faraway echo from the
tomb Suddenly the entire room was
filed with impenetrable darkness and
every one stood transiiXed as If turned
to stone, terror sitting their very heart
beats. Hardly II second passed when the
blank whitcwashcd wall at the farther
end of thc courtroom stood out in glisten-
ing white in the blackness Every eye
was fixed on the wall, which in second
was covered with n perfect picture Of
nature, in all the living colors. The pic
ture showed the little lane leading to
Stephen Van Vliet's cottage. The chang
ing hucs of evening were livd above the
gently waving tree tops that shaded the
lane. a rabbit crawled out of its hole
md scampercd away in the bushes. Then
Van Nliet and Ali Ben Ding could be
seen coming out of n little grove and
walking slowly along the lane toward
Van Vliet's house. They were walking
slowly and apparently cQnversing in low
tones, when all of n sudden two rough
looking men jumped out from behind
cluster of high bushes One of the men
jumped behind Ali Ben Ding and PIN
ioned his arms to his side while the other
tore the knife out OF his sash and in Il
twnklng caught Stephen Van Vlet by
the neck. threw him TO the ground on his
back and plunged the long knife in his
heart. Then the two men stopped, as If
hearing footsteps, and after waiting
few seconds disappeared among the trees.
Here the picture faded, and the darkness
that shroudcd the courtroom was brush
ed away as if 10y an invisible hand. Ali
Ben Ding was still standing with bent
head simultaneously the six justices
made significant sign to the sheriff,
who went TO the dock and opened the lit
tlc gate TO allow the prisoner to walk out.
Not one Of the little assemblage in the
courtroom stirred or so much as moved
lip while All Ben Ding slowly and with
bowed head mede his way out of the
:oom."-New York Sun.
Anthony Hopes Mad Season.
Anthony Hope, among other odd char
Gctoristics, has Il strong dislike to poetry.