SCENES IN AN AMERICAN COURT OF JUSTICE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 68, 29 May 1869, Page 3

SCENES IN AN AMERICAN COURT OF JUSTICE.

A correspondent, writing frpm Nev York, says: — Two startling events occurred here a few days ago, illustra, tiye of what J have formerly told you concernipg the wonderful boldness of the criminals of New York. In June. last, a desperado, named Real, killed a police officer, against whom he had a grudge, and for whom he laid in wait. The murder was an extremely cold-blooded one — the assassin exulted over it after its commission — and no doubt had reason to suppose that after the fashion here he would escape with a light punishment. He has lain in jail ever since; but as the Judges have at last become alarmed by the great increase of crime, it was resolved to make an example of him ; and on Wednesday he was brought into Court, tried, condemned, and sentenced to death. The Court-room, during the trial, was filled with roughs and criminals, friends of the prisoner. They were greatly excited, and wero so bold that, while the witnesses were giving their testimony, they loudly uttered threats of vengeance against them. The Judge rose in the bench, and addressed the viljjians, warning them that they were all " spotted," and their intentions known, and that exemplary punishment sliould fall upon them if they attempted to carry them out. A volley of curses from the crowd greeted this speech, and the prisocer would probably have been rescued then and there, had not a. posse of 200 policemen at this moment marched into the room. When the jury had retired, night fell upon the scene, but the roughs still kept their ground. They shouted to the prisoner words of cheer, to which he replied. | " They daren't convict ye, Jack," cx r claimed one of them ; " they know better, Johnny, my boy, for the job's fixed, and veil be wid us in the morn r in." At midnight the jury returned, with a verdict of guilty. The prose? cuting attorney moved for immediate sentence, and a howl of rage from the | disappointed crowd answered him. The sentence was pronounced — and the crowd rushed to the doors, intendr ing to rescue the prisoner in the sto'eet, as he was being conveyed from the Court-room to the jail. A rescue ha,4 takan place on the previous day. Three prisoners, sentenced to be im.r prisoned for twenty years, were being conveyed from the Court-room to the prison. They were handcuffed, but irt charge only of a single officer. Suddenly they were surrounded by % crowd of roughs — the officer was seized^ the prisoners' handcuffs unlocked, and amid the cheers of their comrade, they escaped. One of them was re-taken-^r the other two are still at large. Tak^ it all in all, New York is a nice pla^ for a <juiet man to live in.

A Disconsolate \j/idow. — Betweea Caleba Swamp and Lime Creese, in the " Nation," we saw considerable of •$ crowd gathered near a drinking-house, most of them seated and smoking. We stopped to see .what was the matter. It was Sunday, and there had been a quarter race for a gallon of whiskey. The first thing I noticed on alighting was the singular position of one of th© horses of the party. He was kneeling down and standing tm his hinder feet, his head wedged in between the ends of two logs of the grocery, and was stone dead, having evidently ran directly against the building at full speed, causing the liouse to partially fall. About five paces from the -body of the horse lay the rider, quite senseless, with a gash in his throat which might have let out a thousand Jives. As I said, most of the crowd .were seated and. smoking. "What is aE this ? " I enquired. " What is th.6 matter here?'" "Matter!" after a while answered one in a drawling voice, giving a good spit, and refilling his mouth with a new cud. v Matter enough ; there's been a quarter race." -" But; how came this man and horse lulled ?" I asked. " Well," answered the chewing and spitting gentleman, " the man was considerably in liquor, I reckon, and he run his boss chuck agin the house, and that's the whole on it." " Has a doctor been sent for ? " enquired one of our party. " I reckon their ain't much use of "doctors here," replied another of the crowd " Burnt brandy couldn't save either of 'em, man or hoss," "'Has thia man a wife and children?" enquired I. " No children that I knows- on" an 7 swered a female who was sitting on the ground a short distance from the dead man, smoking composedly. "He has a -wife, then," I remarked. "What will be her feelings when she learns ths fatal termination of this most vn r fortunate race ? " " Yes," sighed the female, "it was an unfortunate race. • Poor man ! he lost the whiskey." "Do you happen to know his wife ? Has she she been informed of the untimely cLeatli of Tasr kusband. ? " were my next enquiries. "Do I know her ? Has been informed of his death ? " said the woman. "Well, I reckon you ain't acquainted about these parts. lam the unfortunate widder." "You, madam ! ..You the wife of this man. who has been so untimely cut off? y I exclaimed in astonishment. " Yes, aad what about -it ?" said she. "XJnr timely cut off? His throat's cut, ■fchatfs all, by that ; 'tarnal. sharp end of a log ; aad as for its being untimely, I don't know bui it's as well now a§ any time — 'he wasn't of much account^, no how ! " She resumed her smokig^ #nd we resumed .our journey;, "

fcH tr 1