Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-06
Famous Trials
FLACK CONSCIENTIOUS.

Delving back into history, one finds many curious charges for which people have been tried and imprisoned, but one which has never had 8 sequel was that of former Sheriff Flack his son, and lawyer named Meels. They were exam ined in New York on March 4, 1890, and it was alleged that Flack was guilty of a conspiracy whereby he had gained divorce from his wife under false pre- tenses. F'lach had started life as a poor book binder and married a girl of 19> years. From a poor boolbinder he rose to the past of grand sachem of Ta1nnany Hall. As he advanced further in political work he began to neglect his family more and 1 more.
 District Attorney George W. Golf had | charge of the case for the prosecution. At the beginning he mercilessly fiayed the character of the defendant and showed | that he had led a double life. It was 1 then charged that in order to live with | his affinity he had given some papers to 1 his son. When all papers were drawn up and ready, William, the son, spoke to his mother about separation She" he said would get the Fifty-seventh street house | and s25 a. week.
 l MT. Golf then stated that the following
 conversation took place:
 Now, Wilb" said the mother to her
 son, T don't see what is the use of my
 signing all these papers !'' "Oh, they are
 alr right" was his reply. Are you sure
 they are all right, WHIP asked the
 mother, to which he answered, Why, of
 course can't you trust your own flesh
 and blood?''
 I Thene it was alleged, Meeks, tise law yer had visited the home with a pape,. he
 said was pertaining to the house in Fifty | IcHx e+v-o1
 which contained supposed evidence in a
 mock trial which they made Mrs. Flael,
 believe had occurred, and in which Meeks
 was supposed to be the referee. All these
 papers; instead of being, as the mother
 thought. for a separation, were in reality papers which would prove that Flack was
 divorced. Hacks affinity and her sisters
 were persuaded to sign the documents as
 witnesses.
 ) So utterly repelling was the case that : hfeff said to young Flaelx: You betrayed
 the mother that bore you. You were
 to protect her in the proceedings. hut B instead, you left her in the position that , if your father had pleased when ale had ! gone across the line to some other state J he could have cast her off without one
 penny, and she would have had nothins
 to appeal to in the law. You were faith o less to your mother The case was ther n adjourned till Monday, March s1. s The case was again taken up on tha-
 day, and former Judge Russell, for tn,
 defense. spoke with such eloquence ans
 emotion that the former sheriff and T Meeks bent their gray heads over the ta : ble and the younger man wept The iur, $ then brought Tn a verdict of guilty, add ing to that of the elder Flack a recon
 mendation for mercy This Judge Bar A rett could not see in the light of tn :. jurors, but considering the humiliation Q :. Flack and the request of 10 of the juror i' to impose only fine, as he himself lquote T trust that you will believe tfa
 the punishment that I now impose 1 1t merciful. I sentence you ao incarcera .s tion in the city prison for period Q .a two months and a fine of s500' "a Meeks was then called, but, as in tn
 trial, he had taken all the blame an
 tried to clear the Flacks he received tn
 short sentence of one month in the coan .n ty jail and fine of $500.
 att Will Flack, Justice Barrett wa le not disposed to be so lenient Tn sun ,n ming up he made a tingling speec
 against the youngest conspirator. "Ye
 are sentenced to the penitentiary for fe,l
 months and are to pay 8 fine of $500" n- So ended one of the most unique cas E. es of it's kind that has ever been hear # in America.