New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-28

G0FF'S AID FOR NEGRO.
ORDERS HUNT FOR "SLIM." ="
Recorder Adjourms Rorbury Murder
Trial an Interests of Justice.

With the case ready for the jury. save for the
summing up of the prosecution and the defence
and the charge of the court. and after the de-
fendant had protested his innocence on the Wit
ness stand. Recorder Golf yesterday adjourned
the trial of Charles Jackson. the negro accused
of dealing fatal blow to Charles Roxbury and
robbing him. and ordered the prosecution and
the police, lin the interests of justice" TO find
out more about the known as Slim Who
Jackson declares, gave him Roxbury's watch to
pawn on the morning after the assault.
The Recorder told the lawyers that he was
not entirely satisfied with one aspect of the
case which called, he said. for vigilance on the
part of the court to protect the rights of the de-
fendant. He did not propose to interfere, but 10
suggest to counsel fo the prosecution and de-
fence that information to slim had not
been presented with proper clearness and ex-
actness If the defendant had told the truth
about getting the watch and pocketbook from a
known to him as Slim" evidence as to
that persons identity should be forthcoming
and if not it should be brought out clearly
To give both sides time to make proper
search for slim" he was willing to postpone
the trial. He consented to the telling by Jack
son of his various meetings with "SHm, the
persons they had worked together with, and the
saloons in which at chance meetings in the last
three years they had drunk, Jackson went over
these places as we'll as he could. and told the
names Of other persons who knew sim ne
spoke earnestly and seemingly truthfuIy
After Jackson had been questioned Recorder
Goff continued the trial, and in the mean time
directed that the officers of the District Attor-
ney's office as we'll as the entire police force OF
the city, should exert themselves with the prls-
oners counsel in the search for the mysterious
slim"
Recorder Goff's action. which may be the
means Of saving an innocent man. was sur
prise to the detectives. who satisfied that
Jackson would soon be on his way to the cleo
, trio chair.
They made no attempt to clear UP the negro's
story as to how he came by the watch and
pocketbook, and smiled at his story aoout
Slim " the prisoners counsel said
Mr. Mitchell declared that he talked with two
men who admitted that they knew Jackson
and Slim" and that three years ago the pair
worked together for a contractor. Mr.. Mitchell
charged that the police had intindated these
witnesses. and kept them from appearing in
court
Hal Bell. assigned as chief counsel for Jack
son. tried to interest the police in an effort to
save the negro. and find Slim" but his efforts
were ignored he says.
Three weeks ago he wrote to Policeman Felix
O'Neill of NO blD East One-nundFeu- IIiI
ty-ninth-st to whom Jackson first declared
that Slim gave him the watch TO pawn. Mr.
Bell told O'Nen that he and Mr.. Mitchell had
satisfied themselves that slim" was an actual
being OF flesh and blood. and that they were
ready to assist O'Nen and the Police Depart
ment generally to find slim"
Mr Bell referred ONeill to John Cross and
William Grennan, employed at ]. c. Rogers &
Sons stable, One-hundred- d-thirtieth-st. and
Lexington-ave, at which slim" and Jackson
worked.
eff the police do their full duty there is every
reason to believe that Slim can be traced and
arrested" wrote Mr. Bell.
Receiving no response to this appeal. Mr.. Bell
on August Il wrote to Assistant District At
torney James r. Ely. telling him of the letter,
and saying that the reports about Slim should
be thoroughly sifted by the police. No answer
to this communication received.
Mr. Bell, at the trial yesterday. sought to
put copies of these letters on the record in
Jackson's behalf but Recorder Goff would not
permit it, although they were marked for identi-
1catiOn.