THE REIGN OF TERROR IN NEW YORK.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 529, 8 June 1869, Page 4

THE REIGN OF TERROR IN NEW YORK.

New York, Feb. 13. The "reign of terror" had a fitting illustration in one of our Courts last Wednesday. The determination of Judge Barnard to continue the distribution of exemplary sentences for the benefit of thieves, burglars, highway robbers, and "roughs" who might be introduced to him by the hand of justice, had created quite a lively sensation among, these estimable members of the community. The first idea was, of course, to meditate a rescue whenever one or more "pals" chanced to fall into legal tribulation. The rescue business succeeded very well at first. One rascal, on his. way to the Tombs, was surrounded by his friends in such force that Ids escape was as easy as pocketing greenbacks. Three more essayed the same game a day or so afterwards, and, amid the crowd of desperate characters that suddenly rose, as it were, from the ground at a certain corner, the prisoners found keys to unlock their handcuffs, when they vanished. The flourish of Sistols and knives prevented pursuit, liie fugitive, however, encountered a courageous policeman who knocked him down, and who not only captured him but also one of his confederates, who had just helped him to disembarrass himself of his bonds. These successes emboldened the notorious " Nineteenth street gang" to make preparations to secure the escape of their "pal," John Real, who was on trial before Judge Barnard for the murder of policeman Smedick. They gathered in great force, introducing themselves into the Court room one by one until they numbered perhaps two hundred present at once— two hundred athletic, broadchested, lithe, and confident semi-outlaws — two hundred defiant men 'with bare necks, brawny limbs, and supple figures — two hundred ree'dess men, active as cats, strong as horses, resolute as demons, aud no qualms of conscience to stand in the way of executing any design that might seem to them acceptable, Here they waited with a quietude and mock respect that was pregnant with significance ; but the rowdies had " reckoned without their host," as you shall see. Judge Barnard, who is not physically colossal, but is really gigantic in his fearlessness, gazed at this crowd with a pair of flashing eyes that soon convinced the wretches they had no trifle to deal with ; and he • soon had distributed about the room, in close.^Pxtaposition to the leading spirits in this mob, some sixty well-armed, powerful policemen. By this time the "roughs" had jammed themselves close up to the bench, inside the railings, and seemed to have possession of the room. At a given signal the policemen closed in, the Court ordered the space inside the railings to be cleared, and the principal "roughs" found themselves face to face with a force they knew to be prepared for all emergencies. One-half their number sullenly left the room, and finally, after waiting for a verdict and hearing the Judge declare that he would adjourn the Court, they retired. But this declaration was only a

trick, and, ordering all the doors to be locked, Judge Barnard proceeded with the trial. The jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation to mercy ; and the Judge at once, after addressing the prisoner kindly and warning- the prisoner's friends that he would show them no mercy for attempting to intimidate him, pronounced sentence of death. Then came a stir among those friends of the convict. But what could they do ? A superior force overawed them, and they were kept there in durance vile until the convict, led out by a private door, was safely re-deposited in his cell in the Tombs, and every juryman had been carefully placed en route and was far on his unmolested way home. It was midnight before the conspirators, looking wofully depicted at the failure of the scheme, were liberated from the Court-room, and, watched by the handlers of threescore ready weapons, took each his own w.iy to his individual den.