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Some text from some newspapers found (mostly) here:
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov (CA),
fultonhistory.com (FH),
nyshistoricnewspapers.org, alias news.nnyln.net (NN),
digitalnc.org (NC),
fom.library.cornell.edu (CU),
books.google.com (GB),
texashistory.unt.edu (TH),
idnc.library.illinois.edu (IDNC),
adventistarchives.org (AA).
I started with text about Mary, but later began to pile "context" around.
I've added some typos & all sorts of other mistakos. — StupiT
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Quickly made CALIBRE EBOOK (EPUB) [BOOK]
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More links (for now/ever, just found & placed here) :
Madame Restell
1) Trial of Madame Restell, alias Ann Lohman, for abortion
and causing the death of Mrs. Purdy...(1841)
2) Madame Restell: an account of her life and horrible practices...(1847)
3) Wonderful trial of Caroline Lohman, alias Restell...(1847)
4) Restel's secret life: a true history of her from birth
to her awful death by her own wicked hands...(1897)
[Col.6]
☞ AN EXTRAORDINARY AND REMARKABLE
CURE—MRS. MARY DILLON, Williamsburgh, corner of
Fourth and North streets, completely restored to health by the
treatment of DR. WM. EVANS, 100 Chatham street.
The symptoms of this distressing case were as follows:—Total
loss of appetite, palpitation of the heart, twitching of the tendons,
with a general spasmodic affection of the muscles, difficulty of
breathing, giddiness, languor, lassitude, great depression of spirits,
with a fear of some impending evil, a sensation of fluttering at
the pit of the stomach, irregular transient pains in different parts,
great emaciation, with other symptoms of extreme debility.
The above case was pronounced hopeless by three of the most
eminent physicians, and the dissolution of the patient daily await-
ed for by her friends, which may be authenticated by the physi-
cians who were in attendance. She has given her cheerful per-
mission to publish the above facts, and will also gladly give any
information respecting the benefit she has received, to any en-
quiring mind. MARY DILLON.
Dr. Wm. Evans' Medical Office, No. 100 Chatham street,
where he can be consulted as usual. s18
—————
☞ ANOTHER TEST of the efficacy of Dr. J. L. PA-
RIS'S SOOTHING SYRUP for Infants Teething, from Mr.
Wm. Johnson, 248 Hudson Street, New York.
Dear Sir—The great benefit afforded to my suffering infant by
your Soothing Syrup, in a case of protracted and painful dentition
must convince every feeling parent how essential an early applica-
tion of such an invaluable medicine is to alleviate infant misery
and torture. My infant when teething, experienced such severe
sufferings, that it was attacked with convulsions, and my wife and
family supposed that death would soon release the babe from an-
guish, till we procured a bottle of your Syrup, which, as soon as
applied to the gums, a wonderful change was produced, and after
a few applications, the child displayed obvious relief, and by con-
tinuing in its use, I am glad to inform you the child had complete-
ly recovered, and no recurrence of that awful complaint has since
occurred; the teeth are emanating daily, and the child enjoys
perfect health. I give you my cheerful permission to make the
acknowledgment public, and will gladly give information on the
circumstance. WM. JOHNSON.
To the agents of Dr. Paris's Soothing Syrup,
☞ Sold only at 100 Chatham street, New York. jy10
THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, September 18, 1837 (FH)
[Col.3]
ON LOW SPIRITS.
☞ Low spirits is a certain state of the mind, accompanied
by indigestion, wherein the greatest evils are apprehended upon the
slightest grounds, and the worst consequences imagined. An-
cient medical writers supposed this disease to be confined to those
particular regions of the abdomen technically called hypochon-
dria, which are situated on the right side of that cavity, whence
comes the name hypochondriasis.
SMPTOMS.
The common corporeal symptoms are, flatulency in the stomach
or bowels, acrid eructations, costiveness, spasmodic pains, giddi-
ness, dimness of sight, palpitations, and often an utter inability of
fixing the attention upon any subject of importance, or engaging in
anything that demands vigor or courage. Also languidness—the
mind becomes irritable, thoughtful, desponding, melancholy, and
dejected, accompanied with a total derangement of the nervous
system. The mental feelings and peculiar train of ideas that
haunt the imagination and overwhelm the judgment, exhibit an in-
finite diversity. The wisest and best of men are as open to this
affliction as the weakest.
CAUSES.
A sedentary life of any kind, especially severe study, protract-
ed to a late hour in the night, and rarely relieved by social inter-
course, or exercise, a dissolute habit, great excess in eating and
drinking, the immoderate use of mercury, violent purgatives, the
suppression of some habitual discharge, (as the obstruction of the
menses,) or long continued eruption; relaxation or debility of one
or more important organs within the abdomen, is a frequent
cause.
TREATMENT.
The principal objects of treatment are, to remove indigestion, to
strengthen the body, and to enliven the spirits, which may be pro-
moted by exercise, early hours, regular meals, and pleasant con-
versation—the bowels (if costive) being carefully regulated by
the occasional use of a mild aperient. We know nothing better
calculated to obtain this end, than Dr. Wm. Evans' Aperient
Pills, being mild and certain in their operation. The bowels be-
ing once cleansed, his inestimable Camomile Pills, (which are
tonic, anodyne, and anti-spasmodic) are an infallible remedy, and
without dispute have proved a great blessing to the numerous pub-
lic.
Some physicians have recommended a free use of mercury, but
it should not be resorted to; as in many cases it will greatly ag-
gravate the symtoms.
The medical office of Dr. WM. EVANS is at No. 100
Chatham st., and at No. 19 North Eighth street, Philadelphia;
where his Camomile, as well as his excellent Family Aperient
Pills, may be obtained. Sold also by his advertised country
agents. Agents are wanted, south and west.
New York.
C. Shepard, bookseller 262 Broadway.
No. 26½ Carmine st.
Brooklyn.
D. Bedel, perfumer 49 Futon st.
Hartford.
J. B. Gilman Main st.
Albany.
S. Van Schaack 392 South Market st.
Troy.
Z. Clark bookseller
Schenectady.
Thos. J. Whitecomb, 30 Ferry st.—agent also, for Montgomery,
Saratoga, and Schoharie counties.
Providence.
C. Shepherd & Co. bookseller
Newark.
B. Olds, bookseller
New Haven.
D. Mitchell Church st.
Patterson.
D. Burnett, bookseller
Poughkeepsie.
Potter & Wilson, booksellers
Hudson.
S. Wescott, bookseller
Jersey City.
F. Paulmier,
Elizabeth Town.
J. H. Smith,
J. McIntire & Co., Stationers, Pawtucket, R. I.
Hughes & Hall, Jewellers, Middletown, Conn.
Wm. B. Rider, Merchant, Newport, R. I.
George Lomas, Newburg, N. Y.
S. A. Dickson, 36 and 37 Cornhill, Boston
jy10
————————————————————————
Another testimony in favor of Dr. William Evans' Camo-
mile Pills:—
To James Dickson, 36 Cornhill, Boston,
Agent for the sale of Dr. Wm. Evans' Camomile Pills.
LOWELL, Nov. 15, 1836.
DEAR SIR,—Knowing by experience that every reference
that the afflicted receive of the beneficial results of medicines,
I cheerfully offer mine to the public, in behalf of Dr. Wil-
liam Evans' Camomile Pills. I have been afflicted for the
last ten years, with distress in the head and chest; often so
bad as to deprive me of sleep for three or four nights in suc-
cession, but have never found relief by any of my friends'
prescriptions, until my wife saw the advertisement in the pa-
per; when she persuaded me to send for some, which I did,
and obtained two boxes and bottles, which resulted in al-
most completely restoring me to health, although I have not
yet entirely finished them. Should you consider this any
benefit to yourself, or the public, you have my cheerful per-
mission to publish it. Your's respectfully,
THOMAS K. GOODHUE, Central street.
————————————————————————
☞ PARALYTIC RHEUMATISM—A perfect cure
effected by the treatment of Dr. WM. EVANS.—Mr. John
Gibson, of North Fourth street, Williamsburgh, afflicted
with the above complaint for three years and nine months,
during this time he had to use crutches. His chief symptoms
were excruciating pain in all his joints, but especially in the
hip, shoulders, knees, and ankles, and aggravation of the
pains towards night; and for the most part all times from
external heat, an obvious thickening of the fascia and liga-
ments, with a complete loss of muscular power. For the
benefit of those afflicted in a similar manner, Mr. Gibson
conceives it meet to say that the pains have entirely ceased,
and that his joints have completely recovered their natural
tone, and he feels able to resume his ordinary business.
Dr. Wm. Evans' Office, No. 100 Chatham street, where
he can be consulted at all hours. jy10
————————————————————————
☞ More conclusive proofs of the extraordinary efficacy of
Dr. Wm. EVANS celebrated CAMOMILE and APERIENT
ANTI-BILIOUS PILLS in alleviating afflicted mankind. Mr.
Robert Cameron, 101 Bowery. Disease, Chronic Dysentery, or
Bloody Flux. Symptoms, unusual flatulency in the bowels, severe
griping, frequent inclination to go to stool, tenesmus, loss of ap-
petite, nausea, vomiting, frequency of pulse, and a frequent dis-
charge of a peculiar foetid matter mixed with blood, great debility,
sense of burning heat, with an intolerable bearing down of the
parts. Mr. Cameron is enjoying perfect health, and returns his
sincere thanks for the extraordinary benefit he had received.
Dr. William Evans' Medical Office, 100 Chatham street, New
York.
————————————————————————
C HILDREN TEETHING.—Children generally
suffer much uneasiness from the cutting of their teeth.—
Whatever dangerous or fatal symptoms attend the process of na-
ture, they are produced invariably from the highly irritated and
inflamed condition of the parts; therefore the principal indications
of cure are to abate the inflammation, and to soften, soothe and
relax the GUMS. If that is effected the infant is preserved from
subsequent fever, infatuation, spasmodic cough, twitching of ten-
dons, croup, canker, and convulsions displaying their fatal conse-
quences. If mothers, nurses or guardians have their babes tortu-
red with painful or protracted dentition, and this notice attracts
their attention, they should not be deterred from purchasing a
bottle of Paris' celebrated SOOTHING SYRUP FOR CHIL-
DREN TEETHING—the incomparable virtue of which in
completely relieving the most distressing cases (where applied to
the infant's gums as directed) is invaluable. The remedy has re-
stored thousands of children when on the verge of the grave to the
embraces again of their distracted parents attacked with the aw-
ful and mortifereous malady convulsions. Sold only by appoint-
ment at No. 100 Chatham street, New York. jy10
================================================================
[Col.1]
Dreadful Affray.—Yesterday morning about 4 o'clock,
the coroner was called to the house of Lawrence Gaff-
ny, corner of Broome and Willitt streets, to examine
into the case of Peter Fitz Patrick, lying there in a dying
state, from the effects of a blow which he had received
about an hour previous at that house. From the evi-
dence of Lawrence Gaffny, it appeared that he had
opened the house about three days before, and gave a
house warming, as it is termed, on Tuesday night, ha-
ving there about ?? of his friends, and a fiddler to enliven
the wake. He only occupied the lower floor, consist-
ing of a front room used for selling liquor, and the back
room occupied by his family. Every thing went on very
well until about two o'clock in the morning, when one
of his company having imbibed too much blue rum, be-
came somewhat noisy. Just at this time, (according to
Gaffney's statement,) four young men came into the front
room, one of whom went into the back room where the
company was assembled, and as the other was attempt-
ing to go in, Gaffney said he had better not, when he re-
???? from the door. The young man who went into the
back room soon got into trouble with some of the men,
????? came out, clinched with one of Gaffney's com-
pany. Gaffney parted them, and telling him that if he
would not behave civilly, he had better go out, put him
out of the front door, his friends following very quietly.
Very soon afterwards the front door was forced in, and
Fitz Patrick, who was standing close to it, turned round
to see who was the intruder, when he received a stab in
?????? groin, which cut through the femoral vein, and
???? him lying on the floor in a deplorable condition.
Two others of the company, named Peter Delaney and
Edward Denman, came up at once to see the affray
that was going on, when they received wounds from the
same person who stabbed Fitz Patrick, which are likely
???rove fatal, Delaney being stabbed in the abdomen,
????? navel, and Denman over the right temple, both
??? severely and in all probability mortally.
The authors of this disgraceful outraged then cleared
????? though pursued made out to effect their escape.
????? Wright, a watchman, stationed on that post, and
????? near the scene nearly the whole time, was ex-
amined, but his testimony amounted to nothing, he hav-
[Col.2]
ing been most dreadfully frightened, or most stupidly
ignorant—or his testimony has been wofully misrepre-
sented. He stated that he saw four young men come
to the door of Gaffney's house, where they waited about
15 minutes, and he then advised them to go off, which
advice they took, and departed. Soon afterwards his
attention was attracted to a female going along bare-
headed, and while speaking to her, he heard a noise in
Gaffney's house, and ran back to see what it was. When
he got there, he saw a young man (one of the four who
had been there before,) stab a man (on the inside of the
door) with a knife or dirk, and the wounded man falling
upon him, rolled him nearly into the gutter, and by the
time he could get up and give the alarm rap, the rioters
were off.
Yesterday four young men, whose names are annexed,
were held to bail by the Coroner in $300 each, to appear
and testify in this case. They stated that they were
among the party concerned; that they, and one other,
named John Scott, were at Frost's oyster house, in Grand
street, and started to go down to Gaffney's to see what
was going on, having been informed that there was a
muss there. The rest has been already detailed, and
suspicion is firmly fixed upon a young man named Israel
White, as having committed the outrage, for Gaffney
and the other witnesses testified that the companions of
White did not aid or abet the person who committed the
outrage at all, but remained peaceable. The names of
the four held to bail are Alfred Pierce, 18 Cannon
street, Wm. H. Hale, 22 Cannon street, Wm. Timp-
son, East Broadway, and John Pelzer, 568 Grand street.
A young man named Wm. Bloom, was yesterday after-
noon arrested by Marshals Pierce and Woolly, charged
with having participated in the outrage, and was reman-
ded for further examination.
Fitz Patrick died soon after the coroner left him, but
was unable to speak from the moment of receiving the
wound. The others are now at their homes, Delaney
at 94 Pitt street, and Denman corner of Willitt and De-
lancey streets, both in very precarious situations.
In the case of Fitz Patrick, the jury returned a verdict
that the wound of which he was then dying, (at the time
of the inquest) was inflicted by some person or persons
unknown.
The above are all the facts that could be gathered from
the minutes as taken by the Coroner, and it will be seen
that it is left to conjecture how many persons were con-
nected in the affair, and in fact the reporter has inserted
one more name than appears in any part of the testimo-
ny that was placed at his disposal. This case is likely
to be one of great and exciting interest, and should a
trial ever come on, the coroner's minutes would be of
little more service than would the evidence of a person
who had never heard of the transaction. In such cases
as the present, minutiae are sometimes the only link in
the chain of evidence, that can fasten the guilt upon the
proper persons, and unless these are more attended to, a
coroner's inquest might readily be avoided, were it not
for the $5 fee allowed by law. To show that this is not
written without proper motives, we will mention one or
two facts. One young man (Bloom) has been arrested,
because he tallied with the description given by a watch-
man, but he has not been confronted with either of the
men, who are now probably dying, to ascertain if he
could be recognized as a participator in the outrage.
The principal witnesses (Gaffney and the watchman)
swear there were four men concerned, and four have
already been held to bail to appear and testify; one has
been arrested on suspicion, and a warrant is out against
another, making six. This discrepancy is not explained
by any evidence taken before the coroner. This is de-
cidedly wrong, and if the three or four rubs that Mr.
Coroner Wheeler has received at the hands of the Dis-
trict Attorney when trying murder cases, (he having felt
the want of such testimony) is not sufficient, some other
and more public method must be taken to make him ac-
quainted with his duties and responsibilities.
================================================================
[Col.4]
TOBACCO INSPECTION.—James B. Glentworth,
of this city, has been appointed Tobacco inspector,
in place of J. D. Stevenson, resigned.
[Col.5]
THE WILLET STREET STABBING CASE.—The
Coroner yesterday obtained information which
scarcely leaves any doubt who is the person that
stabbed the men in Willet street, and the Police
are in search of him. Delaney and Denman are
both likely to recover, although by no means out
of danger, particularly Delaney.
Besides the three persons mentioned in yester-
day's paper, it turns out that a fourth was also
wounded on the same occasion, and, as is suppo-
sed, by the same person. His name is Patrick
Dase, and his residence is in Ferry street. Al-
though severely wounded in the abdomen, Dase
did not discover it until he had walked some dis-
tance towards home, and the first intimation he
had of being wounded, was from the blood trick-
ling down his leg. The wound is not considered
dangerous.—[Jour. Com.]
================================================================
[Col.7]
MURDER.—About two weeks since, Lawrence
Gaffney hired a house at the corner of Willett and
Broome streets, which he fitted up as a tavern. On
Tuesday, he invited a party to “a house warming.”
Every thing went on peaceably, and in the most
perfect good humor, until about 2 or 3 o'clock,
when ten or fifteen young men came to the house
and entered the bar room. Hearing music in the
adjoining room, one of the party, named William
Bloome, rushed into the room, and began to push
about the persons assembled, and disturbed the
evening's amusements, in which he was aided by
his companions. The landlord and some of his
friends made an attempt to thrust them out into
the street. Just as they had reached the door, one
of the party drew a dirk, and stabbed Peter Fitz-
patrick in the groin. He immediately fell. The
same hand next stabbed Peter Delaney, another of
landlord's friends, in the abdomen; he also fell,
and his wound is supposed to be mortal. The next
man stabbed was Edward Denman. He was
wounded over the right ear, but not dangerously.
The Coroner was called and immediately pro-
ceeded to hold an examination upon Fitzpatrick,
but he died soon after the arrival of the Coroner.
An inquest was held upon the body, and a ver-
dict of “death from wounds inflicted by some per-
sons unknown” returned by the jury.
Bloome has since been arrested as the per-
son who stabbed the three individuals above
named. The situation of one of them, Delaney,
is very precarious. Patrick Dase was also cut by
a sharp instrument, but without being aware of it
at the time, supposing that he was struck with a
stick. Although his wound was a severe one, it is
thought he will soon recover.
================================================================
[Col.6]
THE WILLETT STREET MURDER.—The Grand
Jury of the Court of General Sessions have found
a true bill against Ezra White, the man who killed
Peter Fitzpatrick and stabbed three others, charg-
ing him with the wilful murder of the said Fitz-
patrick.
================================================================
[Col.2]
[Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.]
Gross Outrage and Singular Developments.—Our rea-
ders will recollect that some months since, a trial was had
at the General Sessions Court of a case of libel, in which
G. W. D. Andrews, and Geo. Craigen, the Editor of the
“Advocate of Moral Reform,” were parties—and that
this libel grew out of the publication of a report of a suit
tried before a Justice's Court at Jersey City, for the re-
covery of certain money alleged as due by Dr. William
Evans, of 100 Chatham street, to a person residing at
Hoboken, for the board of the Doctor and his lady. The
matter of the lady was at the time somewhat shrouded
in mystery, but there is, however, in the present case
which we have to relate, a lady named Anna S. Powell,
who is said to belong to a very respectable family in the
western part of this State, and which lady, were are in-
formed, is now confined in the Lunatic Asylum at Bloom-
ingdale.
Some eighteen months since, Dr. Evans was called
before the police, to answer to a certain charge in which
Miss Anna S. Powell appeared as the complainant.
A hearing was had before the Police Justices, and
the result was an order against Dr. Evans for the sup-
port of a bastard child.
From this decision the Doctor appealed and on his gi-
ving the requisite bail, the cause was carried up to the
sessions court.
The trial eventually came on in this court, and Miss
Powell, the principal witness on the part of the people,
(or commissioners of the almshouse) failing to appear,
a case was not made out against the accused, and he was
acquitted.
Subsequently, on instituting the requisite enquiries
the commissioners ascertained that the reason why Miss
Powell did not appear on the occasion of the trial, was,
that she had been inveigled away, or abducted by Dr.
Evans.
The matter has recently brought to a partial issue, by
[Col.3]
the issue of a warrant by the commissioners, for the ar-
rest of Dr. Evans, on the charge of abducting the wit-
ness, Miss Powell.
This warrant was put into the hands of Mr. Josiah
Burton, one of the city marshalls, who was specially de-
putised by the Sheriff for its execution.
In pursuance of this duty, Mr. Burton went on Mon-
day afternoon to the office of Doctor Evans, (whom he
did not know,) and enquired if the latter was at home.
Not receiving a satisfactory reply from several per-
sons who were in attendance at the office, he proceeded
to search the premises, and while thus engaged, he was
assaulted, shamefully beaten, and turned out of the of-
fice by two of the persons present, named George W.
Straight, and —— Goeffrey, or Harvey. Mr. Burton
then went to the police and entered a complaint, and a
warrant was issued for the arrest of the persons above
named, and put into the hands of Officer Place, who went
to the office and found the door fastened, and his admis-
sion and authority otherwise resisted by the threats of
the parties within.
Mr. Place then returned to the police, and procuring
the aid of several other officers, the whole party re-
turned to the scene of action where, not till the door
was broken open could an entrance be effected.
The two persons above named were arrested and
taken to the police, and in default of $1000 bail required
they were both committed for trial for the assault.
Dr. Evans, during the confusion of the moment, af-
fected his escape, and was not found till yesterday,
when he gave the necessary bail. The other two hope-
ful individuals who so valiantly defended the Doctor's
person and premises, also procured bail, and were lib-
erated from custody; and thus the matter for the pre-
sent rests.
================================================================
[Col.3]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER—Yesterday.
Trial of Ezra White for the murder of Peter Fitzpat-
rick.—Second day.—Lemuel Starke, called and examin-
ed for the prosecution, said—I live at 330 Front street.
I am a caulker—I am 23 or 24 years of age—I know
Ezra White—I have known him about 7 years—I was
in his company on the night of the 13th of February last.
We met in Grand street, on the corner of Willett and
Grand. We met that night as usual. There was no
appointment. We met between 8 and 9 in the evening.
He had a black hat on and crape round it, and a steel
mixed coat, a kind of a gray. It was a coatee. His
pantaloons were black. We went down to Elm street.
We staid there an hour. From thence we went right
up town to a dance. There were three or four others
with us—John Roberts, Peter Rice, and Jimmy Dupee.
We went to Francis Spaight's dance in Elm street. I
and White left the dance in Elm street, and we went
up town to a dance. I don't know the name of the man
who keeps the house. We staid there about three or
four hours. I don't know what hour we left. When
we left I was accompanied by White, Wm. Wright, Bob
Leigh, and my brother Joseph Starke, and three or four
others, whose names I don't remember. I, my brother,
and White went across to Grand street, where we staid
about half an hour. We were all sober except White.
He was a little intoxicated. When we left Grand street,
we went round to Gaffney's house in Willet street.
There were three ahead of us, Pierce, my brother, and
Timpson. I and White were about 15 yards behind
them. Those ahead got in, I think, before we did, all
but Pierce. I don't think he went in at all. My brother
and Timpson did. I didn't see them enter the store. I
and White went in as soon as we got to the door in Wil-
let street. I went right in and leaned on the counter.
They were quarrelling among themselves when we
went in. Some one down to Frost's said there was a
dance down in Willet street. White said we'll go
down there and stay a few minutes, and then we'll go
home. We had no conversation on the way about the
dance. White went in and was going through into the
back room. As he was doing so, three or four catched
hold of him. They never told him to go out, but pulled
him all round. I went up and spoke to the landlord,
and said if you'll get them men off from him I'll get him
out of the house. He made me no answer. I went and
took hold of him, and got him pretty much clear of them
and put him out.
I was entirely out myself. They caught hold of him
and held him away from me. I got him again, when
two or three rushed out after him again on the walk
and got hold of him. I gave one of them a shove, and
said why don't you let him alone, I want to get him out.
And I said to him come let us go home. White says I
have been ill used a good deal. We went in the house
side by side. I went to the counter and he went to-
wards the back room. I did not hear him say a word,
but when they clinched him, he said let me go. Noth-
ing was said by any body to White; they met him and
caught him by the chest right away. There were about
a dozen persons in the room, pretty much in the middle
of the floor.
They stood so as to obstruct the passage to the back
room. I did not see him run against any one. The
landlord was near the counter on the outside. I don't
recollect that any one said any thing about a muss. We
had to pull very hard to get him (White) away. He
wanted to get away. The reason why White would not
go home with me after I got him out was because he
was intoxicated and felt riled about being choked. I
said, let us go now. He replied he would go in a few
minutes. I pulled him out twice. The first I saw of
the watchman, was when they rushed out on the walk.
Pierce was also on the walk, I do not know where
Timpson was. The door was closed by one, I do not
know by whom. White at this time was right on the
corner. At the time the door was closed, I had hold of
White on the corner. We staid there five or six min-
utes, during which time I had hold of him. I did not
see the door opened at all during this time. We conti-
nued to stand there about five or six minutes. I went
up Broome street, and left White standing right on the
corner. I returned, found the door open and White
standing on the stoop.
He was rather in Willett street.
I did'nt see White doing anything; the door was open-
ed that I could see in and persons inside.
I did'nt see it shut again; nobody said anything to
White, nor he to them.
The watchman rapped, and I said come let us go; so
we went away.
White stayed there about a minute, during which I
saw him do nothing; we went up Broome street, and I
went home.
We went together as far as Walnut street, to White's
brother's, where I staid a few minutes; I then left and
went down to Reader's in Walnut street, where I saw
White; I saw no dirk or sharp instrument that night
nor do I know from anything White said to me that he
had any weapon that night; when I saw him at Read-
er's he had on a fur hat and cape, and a steel mixed
coat, and black pantaloons; I think they were the same
clothes he had on at Gaffney's; I staid at Readers a few
minutes and left White there; I next saw him about 12
o'clock on the morning of the same day at his mother's
at Brooklyn. I slept at home that morning. I went
over to his mother's house—I didn't go in. He came
out into the street in about half an hour after I got there.
I didn't go by any arrangement. White's brother went
over with me. White (the prisoner) had on the same
clothing that I have stated. We crossed the ferry and
went over the battery to a steamboat lying in the East
River, where the Boston boats start from. We went
on board the Boston boat into the cabin. When we left
his mother's house I did not know at all where he was
going. I asked White whether he was going away,
and he said he didn't know whether he was or not.—
Nothing else was said between us. There was no con-
versation between witness and White's brother in the
presence of the prisoner from the time they left his mo-
ther's house until they reached the boat, nor was there
any on board before we left the wharf. Our names were
entered as passengers before the boat left. She left
about four o'clock in the afternoon—my brother went
ashore—I and White, the prisoner, went to Providence,
which place we reached in the morning. White paid his
own passage. I didn't know what names he gave. We
talked about one thing and another. White told me he
was going to Boston. I told him I didn't care where he
went. He said he was going there to get a vessel to go
further. I told him I didn't care, I'd go with him. We
calculated about going to New Orleans if we could get a
[Col.4]
chance. He said we would go if he could get a chance.
The chances are as good at Boston of getting there as
they are here. I told him I did not calculate to stay
more than three or four months. He said he made the
same calculation. When we got to Boston we went to
some house to sleep; a man showed us the place. It
was in an alley, a boarding house. We staid there three
or four nights. During the day we were around Boston.
At the time we arrived we had some conversation about
the affair. I heard before we left the city that Fitzpat-
rick had got killed. He said he had heard the same. I
said I was innocent. I had no knife with me that night.
He said the same. White commenced that conversation.
He told me he did not believe there was any one killed. I
told him I did not know. I had heard there was 3 killed.
I didn't see nothing of it. He had on the clothes he left
this city with, all except the shirt, when he reached Bos-
ton. I had no other clothes than what I stood in. He
had 1 or 2 pair of pantaloons, and 2 or 3 shirts. I can
not say whether he had changed the shirt he had on the
night of the affray. The next day after we arrived in
Boston he tried to procure a ship to go to N. Orleans, but
could not get one. We were arrested on a Monday. I
had his coat on, and he had mine. We changed because
he had an overcoat, and his coat was better then mine.
We had no other reason for the change. I suggested it
to him. I have seen White have a knife. I saw him
with one 3 or 4 months before the affray. The blade
was 3 or 4 inches long, straight, sharp on one side. I
don't know where it is now. I had it in my hand and
threw it on to the ice, and broke the point off.
Cross-examined by D. Graham, Sen.—The knife was
left square at the point. It was not an uncommon knife.
I have seen workmen have such knives.
The men at Gaffney's appeared to be all in liquor.
They appeared to be angry, and their hands were a go-
ing, whether they had hold of one another or no, I can't
say. We went there peaceably and with peaceable in-
tentions. I did not see any of my party provoke any of
these men, either by word or action. I did not see
White strike or provoke any one. I did not hear the cry
of murder that night. The watchman did not conduct
himself as if any thing was wrong. Neither White,
Pearce, or my brother said any thing about any body ha-
ving been wounded all the time we were there. The
noise was going on inside (Gaffney's) when the watch-
man rapped. I heard the next morning that 3 persons
had been stabbed, and knowing I had been there, although
I was satisfied of my innocence, I thought I would go
away. I thought I might be blamed for it.
White said he was as innocent as I was. I knew of
nothing to compel him to go away, nor did he state to
me any thing to compel him to go. I saw a knife on the
meat bench at Gaffney's. It was a carving knife. This
bench or block stood on the right, near to the door, close
to the wall. I saw the knife lying there when I went in,
and not when I went out. Any of our party had a
chance of taking it up—that is a fact. I didn't see any
of them take it up. The handle of the knife was close
by the edge of the block. I saw no knife of that kind
in the hand of White. If he had had such a knife, I
think it was probable I should have seen it.
Some questions was here put to the witness, in which
an allusion was made to what the District Attorney had
done in his direct examination.
The District Attorney rose and objected to this mode
of conducting the case, and was sustained by the court.
Mr. Graham replied sharply to the court, and said he
had been censured much too often.
The court directed the case to proceed.
By Mr. Graham to the witness—Tell us about White
having complained of his throat.
Witness—Put the question right, and I will answer it
right if I can. I asked White to exchange clothes, to
enable me to appear finer on Sunday. We were arrest-
ed at Boston by officers sent on from this city. White
was examined before the upper police. I was not.—
Justice Palmer told me I must be a witness against Mr.
White, and then I should not be examined at all. Jus-
tice Taylor called me up for examination, and I refused
to answer any questions, in consequence of what Mr.
Palmer had said to me. I was discharged without giv-
ing or being required to enter into bail, except to appear
as a witness.
James Riley called and examined for the prosecution.
I reside at 60 Willett street. In February I lived at 49.
I am married. I knew Peter Fitzpatrick. I was not at
Gaffney's that night. I didn't belong to the party. I
came by that way. I was coming down the walk, and
Peter Fitzpatrick was standing on the side walk. I saw
him stumble over against the watchman. Then I didn't
know what was the matter with him. I saw the prison-
er go up to him, and he (Fitzpatrick) fell, but what he
did to him I don't know. Fitzpatrick got up again and
waked into the house. The prisoner, when I first saw
him, made a step or two towards the deceased. While
I was standing there, I heard that a man was killed.—
It was said loud enough to be heard outside (Gaffney's.)
By the Court—How loud was it said?
Witness—Well, I don't know, I didn't rule it. I went
for a surgeon. I ran all the way. The doctor came
with me immediately. I then went into Gaffney's, and
saw Fitzpatrick. Saw the wound, it was in his groins,
and I staid with him till he died, when I helped to car-
ry him home. When I first saw White and Fitzpatrick
there was no quarreling and no noise. They seemed to
me to be all good humored together. I saw no blood
outside, but some inside (Gaffney's) when I came back.
Cross-examined—I had been out that night with my
wife. I was returning home. When I left her I be-
lieve it was between one and two o'clock. I had seen
White before that night. I was a little acquainted with
him. I saw another wounded person after I saw Fitz-
patrick. It was Mr. Denny—he had a gash on his head.
He was in the bar room. I did not see any one holding
White. There were some persons near him.
By the Court—Did Fitzpatrick appear to be in liquor?
Witness—It is difficult to tell whether dead men have
been in liquor or not. I did not see any thing in White's
hand, nor did I see him put his hand into his pockets.
I did not speak to him. I knew White as soon as I saw
him. I have seen him gambling with others on the
Hook. I looked on. I have seen him gambling two or
three times. It was with thimbles they were doing
something. Money was bet on it.
By a Juror—Was Fitzpatrick stabbed inside the house
or outside?
Witness—Outside.
By W. Graham—How do you know he was stabbed?
Witness—I don't know, only that I saw him fall.
At the close of the examination of this witness, the
Court took a recess until four o'clock.
On the re-assembling of the court, the first witness cal-
led, was
Wm. B. Timpson.—I am an Engineer by profession.
Know the prisoner. On the night of the affray, was at
Frost's Refrectory, and there heard that there was a
dance at Gaffney's—Joseph Starke, Alfred Pierce, Hen-
ry Haynes and John Pelzer, were with me. It was be-
tween two and 3 o'clock when we went to Gaffney's.—
Saw White there in the affray. Saw some men have
hold of him, shoving him out of doors. Three or four
men had hold of White. Didn't see Lemuel Starke
there. Don't know whether the men who put White
out belonged to Gaffney's party. About half a dozen
men came out. Don't know who was outside when they
put White out. Don't know what became of White af-
ter they put him out. I stood on the walk with the
watchman. Did not see White again afterward.
Ques. By Whiting.—What did you see further.
Objected to by Graham as irrelevant.
Objection overruled by the court.
Witness continued. The watchman then rapped, and
I went home. I stood there in all about ten minutes.
During the ten minutes while I stood on the walk, I saw
nothing but a scuffle on the walk. Did not attempt to
assist White. They put him out of the Willett street
door. I was standing toward Grand street. White
went toward Broome street. Did not see White go in
again. Did not see any one go in. Did'nt take particu-
lar notice. Did'nt see Fitzpatrick or Gaffney—dont
know either of them. Dont know why the watchman
rapped. Joseph Starke was standing with me. At the
time—think that about half a dozen persons were stand-
ing with me on the walk—Joseph Starke was there—
dont know that Samuel Starke was there. Did'nt hear
that any one was stabbed. Did'nt see any one fall on
the watchman; saw no blows struck; did'nt see White
have any knife that night; did'nt see a meat block in-
side the door. When the watchman rapped went away,
because I did'nt want to get into any scrape. Did'nt
see White afterwards. I worked for Justine Fountain
then. I now work up the river. Did'nt converse with
White at the oyster house. White had on a black coat,
and black hat and pantaloons.
Alfred Pierce.—I resided 18 Cannon street on the
night of the affray. I saw White at Frost's oyster house
between 1 and 2 o'clock, did not converse with him.
Went with the Starkes, Timpson, Pelser, and Hall to
the corner of Willett and Broome. All but myself
went into Gaffney's. While they were in White came
there. Lemuel Starke came with White. They went
in. Soon as White went in two men caught him by the
throat. White had been in about two minutes when the
men took hold of him, heard no dispute between him
and the men. The men were pulling White about and
Starke went in and separated them. Timpson went into
the back room. Didn't see any thing in White's hand.
There was a crowd inside. Don't know how many.
White opened the door several times, and as he opened
the door he made a thrust, each time with his right
hand. Could see the persons inside when the door was
opened. The door was opened and closed three times.
When the watchman rapped saw two other watchmen
come up—they come up from toward Delancey street.
Dr. Charles Fitzpatrick was called in shortly after
the affray. Saw the body of deceased. Found another
physician had arrived there before me, and did nothing
more than lay my hand on the body, which I found quite
cold. The pulse had entirely ceased. Found a wound
on the right groin. It appeared to have been given by
a sharp instrument. Could not tell whether he had
bled much. He had been washed and was as cold as
ice. The femoral artery had been punctured. I ex-
amined the wound upon Denham, it was upon the right
temple. It appeared to be a clean cut.
This witness was cross-examined, but nothing new
was elicited.
Dr. Walter Pugsley—Was called to see Fitzpatrick
after he was stabbed. Found a deep wound on the
right groin, which had penetrated the main artery. The
wound was about three-fourths of an inch wide. I
probed it with my finger, and it about 3 inches deep. He
was much exhaused, and but just alive. The blood had
ceased flowing. Sometimes the blood will cease flow-
ing before the supply is entirely exhausted. Have no
doubt that the wound caused his death. In this case
the hemorrage was stopped from the contraction of the
vessels.
Dr. S. C. Ellis.—Was present at the post mortem ex-
amination on Fitzpatrick's body. Found a wound in the
right groin. The wound ran transeversely across the
body. At first view of the external wound, we thought
that some of the internal minor vessels were wounded.
The examination was conducted by Drs. Cadwell, Tap-
pen and myself. The femoral vein we found had been
nearly severed. The vein when distended with blood,
is almost the size of one's little finger. There was
coagulated blood both within and outside the wound.
The severing of this vein does not necessarily produce
death; but would do so if not seasonably attended to.
From the appearance of the wound the man might
have lived an hour after the infliction of the wound. The
first duty of a surgeon, on finding such a wound, should
be to apply a heavy pressure upon the artery. So long
as the man breathed, if his blood was not entirely ex-
hausted, there is a probability that his life might be sa-
ved. Deceased was a stout man, about 5 feet 6 or 7
inches high. In a case of this kind, so long as there is
life there is a possibility of restoring the person wound-
ed, and we never cease to apply remedies. My first
course would be to apply a pressure to the artery, and
give stimulants.
William Hales.—Am a painter by trade, and 20 years
of age. On the 13th of February last, I lived at No. 22
Cannon street. I know Ezra White—have been a school
fellow with him. On the night of the affray I was with
him at Frost's, but not at Gaffney's. He left Frost's in
company with Lemuel Starke, a few minutes before I
did. At Gaffney's I saw a great number of people in the
back room. I saw J. Starke, Peltzer and Timpson—
where White was at that time I know not. I was in the
back room some few minutes, and hearing a scuffle in
front, I went out. Saw White, and others trying to put
him out. The landlord said, “young men, I'm astonish-
ed at you.” This he said on the outside of the door,
and saying nothing more he went in and closed the door.
Saw White go to the Willet street door, open it, and
strike his hand in. Did not see inside the door. Saw
nothing in his hand. First saw the watchman when he
rapped. White then went up Willet street at a very
fast walk. I went up Broome street, but did not see
White. White seemed much excited and mad when he
opened the door. When the men put White out they
came out upon the stoop. They came out again upon
the walk—don't know who opened the door. They came
out toward White, within two feet of him. The land-
lord then came out and put them all in again, and closed
the door—then it was that White opened the door and
made the thrusts. Heard no one call the watch. Did
not see White have a knife. Had not for some years
been much in company with White before this night.
[Here the testimony is but a repetition of that given
by preceding witnesses.]
At the conclusion of this witness's testimony the Court
adjourned to 10 o'clock this morning.
================================================================
[Col.2]
CONVICTION OF WHITE, THE MURDERER.
—Before the Court of Oyer and Terminer, yesterday, Judge
Inglis presiding.—It is rare, very rare, that our citizens
are called upon to witness scenes of such overwhelming
excitement, as have occurred at the City Hall, daily,
during the past week.
It has been an occasion of peculiar interest to every
lover of good order, and the well being of society. The
“observed of all observers,” the prisoner at the bar, is
a young man, just blooming into manhood, some twenty-
two years of age, of an unusually prepossessing appear-
ance—clad in a most tasteful and elegant apparel, and in
every way calculated, so far as his exterior is concern-
ed, to win the pity and excite the sympathy of the casual
observer.
Fixing the criminal as the centre of the scene, the
outline, as delineated throughout the trial, is in charac-
ter no less imposing and interesting. On his left hand
sits his brother, apparently of an age co-equal with his
own. On his right, his junior counsel, too apparently
green in years, and next, the associate counsel, the father
of the former, but yet, to all appearance, in the prime of
life, and possessing all the vigor of intellect, with a three
fold store of experience and intelligence.
Directly in front of the prisoner, and between him and
the bench, sits the prosecuting officer, the advocate of
the People, the representative and defender of their
rights; and in a more elevated position in front, and
above all, sits the stern minister of justice, the presiding
Judge, supported on either hand by a City Magistrate,
of lesser grade and power.
The back ground, the entire area of the spacious hall,
is filled with a dense crowd of eager and anxious spec-
tators, composed mostly, of what? of a class, we will not
say guilty, but unfortunately, nearly all the associates and
friends of the poor wretch who is about to offer up his
life a sacrifice on the altar of offended justice. But
enough of the scene, we have before described it, and
in no one particular did it vary yesterday, from what
has been presented during the whole trial, excepting
that the crowd was greatly increased in numbers, and
an eagerness, amounting almost to frenzy, prevailed
throughout the day.
Never, certainly, was a prisoner more ably defended.
Not a stone has been left unturned—not a particle of
testimony, which could by any possibility be perverted
so as to tell in the prisoner's favor, but has been spread
in its most magnified form before the jury. In the dis-
play of ability and legal acumen, for which the junior
counsel, D. Graham, Jr., is so remarkable, he has even
surpassed himself, and the distinguished reputation of
the elder Graham has lost nothing in public estimation
by the extraordinary effort made by him on the present
occasion. Indeed, so completely were the audience
carried away by the force of his argument, and the pow-
er of his eloquence, that at the conclusion of his address
to the jury, the court room resounded with the plaudits
of the assembled multitude, and notwithstanding the
solemnity of the occasion. It was long before the offi-
cers could procure a due observance of order and regu-
larity.
On the part of the prosecution the case has been con-
ducted by the District Attorney, Mr. Whiting, with an
ability never surpassed, if ever equalled in the history
of the criminal jurisprudence of our city.
On the opening of the Court yesterday morning at 10
o'clock, his honor Judge Inglis, commenced his charge
to the jury. He recapulated with the greatest preci-
sion and minuteness, the whole of the testimony in the
case, and as he progressed, cited all the law and autho-
rities, applicable to each particular portion as it had re-
ference to the subject matter at issue. The extraordi-
nary ability displayed by this magistrate, considering his
comparative lack of experience, in the duties incidental
to the elevated station he has been called to occupy, has
excited the astonishment and admiration of all his for-
mer associates at the bar, and drawn from our citizens
generally, a degree of respect, to which he is eminently
entitled.
His Honor closed his charge to the jury at quarter be-
fore 2 o'clock, when after some few remarks from the
prisoner's counsel, they retired to deliberate upon a
verdict.
The jury remained absent till 6 o'clock last evening,
when it was announced that they had agreed upon a
verdict. The Court then came in, and at the same mo-
ment the Hall was again filled with spectators.
The Prisoner was called upon to stand up and look
upon the jury, and as the foreman, amid the death-like
stillness which reigned around, pronounced the awful
words “Guilty of Wilful Murder!” he stood before
them with an unblanched cheek—not a muscle of his
countenance was seen to move, but throughout the
heart-sickening scene, which drew tears from the eyes
of even many of the veteran officers around him, he
maintained during the dreadful moment the same stoical
indifference of feeling he has manifested throughout the
whole trial.
Those who have attended the trial throughout, and
heard the testimony on either side, cannot but acknow-
ledge that it is “righteous judgment,” and a rendition
of ample justice both to the accused and to the commu-
nity at large.
An immense crowd were within and about the City
Hall, to witness the removal of the prisoner to the Halls
of Justice; and it was feared at one time from their
movements that an attempt would be made to rescue
White from the hands of the officers. By a skillful ma-
noeuvre of Mr. Sheriff Acker and Deputy Lowndes, the
removal was happily effected without difficulty or dis-
turbance, and even without the knowledge of most of
the people present. The prisoner was taken into a car-
riage from the western basement entrance of the Hall,
and conducted through the Centre street gate to the pri-
son yard, and all effected in safety before the crowd had
time to reach the spot. White will be brought up for
sentence on the last day of the term of the Court, proba-
bly on Wednesday of next week.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, July 17, 1839 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
RESULT OF THE TRIAL OF EZRA C. WHITE.—
Yesterday morning, at the Court of Oyer and
Terminer, Judge Inglis presiding, the jury were
charged, and afterwards retired to consider their
verdict. At 5 P. M. they returned, having found
the prisoner guilty of WILFUL MURDER.
...
crowd in the Court room, and about the Hall, was
very great, and some fears were entertained that
a rescue might be attempted. By the judicious ar-
rangements of Mr. Acker, the Sheriff, the prisoner
was removed without any difficulty or disturbance,
and was immediately taken to the Centre street
prison, whence he will be brought to receive his
sentence probably on Wednesday next.
[Col.4 / Variants: blest abode (1813), must fall (1833), HAIL (1837)…]
The following lines, so curiously prophetic, were
written on the window glass of an inn in England
in 1774. They are by Gulian Verplanck, an un-
cle of the present distinguished gentleman of that
name, who was at the time upon his travels in
Europe:
Hail happy Britain, Freedom's blest retreat;
Great is thy power, thy wealth, thy glory great;
But wealth and power have no immortal day,
For all things ripen only to decay.
And when that time arrives, the lot of all,
When Britain's glory, power, and wealth shall fall;
Then shall thy sons by Fate's unchang'd decree,
In other worlds another Britain see,
And what thou art, America shall be.
[Knickerbocker.]
================================================================
[Col.3]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER—Yesterday.
The Case of Ezra White—On the opening of the Court,
the counsel for the prisoner, D. Graham, Jr., Esq., mov-
ed for a stay of proceedings in the case, for 25 days, to
enable the prisoner to prepare and file a bill of ex-
ceptions, and for a suspension of sentence for that pur-
pose.
The Court granted the motion, Judge Inglis remark-
ing that further proceedings would be stayed, till the
case could be heard before the Supreme Court.
☞ The result will be, that as the Supreme Court
does not meet till November next, no further action will
be had in the case till that time, and probably not be-
fore January next. ☞
The Court then adjourned over till the next or Sep-
tember term.
================================================================
[Col.5]
TRIAL FOR MURDER.—The following brief
analysis of the trial of Ezra White, for the murder
of Peter Fitzpatrick, which occupied the Court of
Oyer and Terminer from the 10th to the 16th in-
stant, and caused great excitement, is from the
Journal of Commerce.
“On the night of the 13th of February last, a
man named Lawrence Gaffney, who had recently
commenced keeping a public house in Broome
street, invited some friends to a house-warming.
About 3 o'clock in the morning, while his company
were dancing and amusing themselves, the prison-
er and three other young men went into the house
uninvited, and two of them walked into a back
room, where the greater part of Gaffney's friends
were. The prisoner had scarcely entered the
house when one of Gaffney's friends suggested to
the prisoner and his friends that they were in-
truding, and the prisoner replied, “I came here
to make a muss, and I'll go when I d——n please.”
Gaffney, who was then standing behind his coun-
ter, feared an affray would take place between the
parties, and came from behind the counter with
the intention of interposing between them. Al-
most at the same moment the prisoner made a
push at one of Gaffney's party, named McLany,
and the latter pushed at him. Gaffney then rush-
ed between them, and seized hold of the prisoner,
and pushed him out of the house, and some per-
son outside, supposed to be a watchman, closed the
door, which opened into the street. The prisoner
immediately pushed the door partly open again,
and thrust in his hand with a knife in it, as if in
the act of stabbing at some person. The door
was again closed by a person inside, and again
partly pushed open by the prisoner, who repeated
the same manœuvre with his hand. In a moment
or two after, the door was opened by some
person inside, and one of Gaffney's party, named
Fitzpatrick, stepped out on the stoop, and was in-
stantly stabbed by the prisoner, in the groin, and
fell to the ground mortally wounded, and died
shortly after. The prisoner and his companions
then ran away; and the ensuing day, the prisoner
and one of his companions of the night before, fled
from this city in the steamboat to Boston, from
whence they intended to go to Charleston, but
were pursued by the police, and arrested at Bos-
ton, and brought back to New York.
There was a good deal of contradictory evi-
dence as to the description of clothes worn by the
prisoner on the night of the murder, and as to
whether he had or had not been roughly treated
by some of Gaffney's friends, not including Fitzpa-
trick, before he was put out of the house. But
the evidence showed most indisputably that the
prisoner had killed the deceased, in the manner
we have described, and the only question which
admitted of any doubt, was, as to what was the
legal degree of crime which the homicide amount-
ed to.
Judge Inglis, in a charge of more than three
hours length, minutely summed up the evidence,
and with great perspicuity pointed out the different
circumstances which rendered homicide murder or
manslaughter in its different degrees.
Counsel for the prisoner took several exceptions
to his honor's charge.
The jury retired, and after an absence of near-
ly four hours, brought in a verdict of “wilful mur-
der.”
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
...
Death from Oil of Tanzy.—Caution to Females.—On
Sunday afternoon a colored female, named Tuttle, aged
23, a servant in the family of John Sevens of 117 Wal-
ker street, procured an ounce of oil of tanzy, which she
attempted to administer to herself, for the purpose of
producing abortion. About 12 o'clock she retired to
her room and took nearly one half of the contents of the
phial. She was immediately thrown into the most dread-
ful paroxysms, and though medical aid was called in,
and every remedy adopted for her relief, she survived
less than one hour. The coroner's jury, which was
called yesterday to view the body, rendered a verdict
in accordance with the above facts.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, August 13, 1839 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4]
CORONER'S INQUESTS.—On Sunday at Bellevue
...
Yesterday, at No. 117 Walker street, on the body
of Sarah Tuttle, a colored woman, who came to her
death by taking oil of tansey for the purpose of pro-
curing abortion.—[Jour. Com.]
================================================================
[Col.2]
Reported for the Courier and Enquirer.
...
Indictment and arrest of the notorious Mrs. Resstell.—
Among the bills of indictment brought into the Sessions
Court by the Grand Jury, on Saturday, was one charg-
ing with misdemeanor a female of notorioos character,
Caroline Restell alias Lohman, charging her with crimin-
al conduct in vending a deleterious medicine for the
purpose of producing abortion, and for administering
the same on one Hannah Dall, of 69 King street, in June
last. A bench warrant was issued, and she was shortly
ushered into court by Gil. Hays, officer, where she was
required to find bail in $2000 for her appearance for
trial. On motion of her counsel, M. D. Crafts, Esq., the
bail was reduced to $1500, which she was however
unable to procure, and was committed. In the course
of the night, however, her alledged husband, Charles
Lohman, of 39 Catharine street, joined by a Dr. William
Evans, of 100 Chatham street, consented to become her
bail, and she was liberated from custody.
================================================================
[Col.6]
A CHILD BURNED TO DEATH.—On Friday
forenoon, a little girl about three years old, the
daughter of Fitzpatrick, who was murdered by
Ezra White, was left alone in a room for a few
minutes, during which her clothes caught fire, and
she was so badly burned that she died on Saturday.
================================================================
[Col.3]
SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK.
(Sitting at Albany.)
Ezra White, ads. The People, &c.—The defendant in
this case was convicted of the murder of Peter Fitzpat-
rick, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer in this city in
June last. He was last week removed to Albany, to be
heard by counsel, on a motion for a new trial. The bill
of exceptions set forth that the convictions were illegal.
1st, that the Judge (Inglis) who presided at the trial was
not empowered by the statute to preside in courts of
criminal jurisprudence, and 2d, that the indictment un-
der which the defendant was tried, was defective in ha-
ving therein but one count and not setting forth distinc-
tively the allegations as required by the statute.
The case was eloquently and ably argued, and at
great length, by Messrs. D. Graham, of this city, and S.
Stephens, of Albany; and for the prosecution, by J. R.
Whitney, Esq., District Attorney.
The court, on Thursday morning, delivered a long
opinion, confirming the Judgement of the Court of Oyer
and Terminer.
The prisoner, in custody of the keeper, Mr. Hyde,
and officer Staunton, returned to the city yesterday, and
was committed to the city prison, where he now awaits
the sentence of death.
Mr. Stephens gave notice to the Court that an appeal
would be made to the Court of Errors for a reversion
of the decision.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Saturday Evening, November 9, 1839 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6. From Courier]
[From the Courier & Enquirer.]
SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK.
(Sitting at Albany.)
EZRA WHITE, ads. THE PEOPLE, &c.—The de-
fendant in this case was convicted of the murder of
Peter Fitzpatrick, in the Court of Oyer and Ter-
...
================================================================
[Col.6]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
Sentence of White.—In the Court of Oyer and Termi-
ner, on Saturday, Judge Inglis p?????????????? to
previous appointment, Ezra White convicted of the
murder of Peter Fitzpatrick, was put to the bar for sen-
tence. The prisoner throughout preserved the most
stoical indifference to the thrilling scene which was pass-
ing around him, and at times, when almost every indivi-
dual of the assembled crowd was moved to tears, the
prisoner retained the same fixedness of countenance,
and to all appearances was, of all present, the least af-
fected.
On being asked if he had any thing to say why judg-
ment should not be pronounced upon him, he simply re-
plied, “I will leave all that to my counsel.”
David Graham, Esq. said that he had nothing to in-
terpose in the way of Sentence of Death being pro-
nounced, but that he was prepared with a Bill of Ex-
ceptions, on which to carry the case up to the Court of
Errors, which he wished to have put upon the files of
the Court.
His Honor, previous to pronouncing the awful sen-
tence of the law, addressed with much feeling the
wretched culprit. He recapitulated with great minute-
ness all the circumstances which took place on the night
of the murder. On the trial, which was an unusually
protracted one, the prisoner, he said, had enjoyed every
possible advantage of proving himself innocent. His
counsel, the most able and zealous that could have been
selected, have argued to the jury every argument which
their learning could draw from the law, or their inge-
nuity could extort from the facts of the case. The Jury,
after a most patient investigation, and after having been
kept together a much longer time then they themselves
deemed necessary, without a voice of dissent, agreed up-
on a verdict of Guilty, which verdict was clearly a just
and righteous one, and one in which the whole public
would finally concur. His Honor alluded to the apparent
immobility of the prisoner, (which he preserved through-
out the trying scene) and remarked that was perhaps
less necessary for the prisoners sake than for that of
his companions about him, that he should allude to the
awful doom which awaited the transgressor of the law.
He informed the prisoner, that though application would
be made in his behalf to a higher tribunal, yet from this
source he could have but little to hope. As a last re-
sort, an appeal might be made for clemency of the Ex-
ecutive; but he would put it to the prisoner himself, if
the circumstances of the case would entitle him to the
merit of a pardon from the Governor. There was then
in all human probability, for him no hope, and he would
therefore commend him to self reflection, and to sue for
pardon to that Tribunal before which he must shortly ap-
pear. His honor then pronounced the sentence, that the
prisoner be taken to the prison from which he came,
and thence, on the 16th of January next, be taken to the
place of execution, and there to be hanged by the neck
till he was dead.
The prisoner was then remanded, and the court ad-
journed.
================================================================
[Col.7]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER—Ezra White
—On Saturday last Judge Inglis sentenced Ezra
White to be executed on Monday, the 16th of
January next.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Sudden Death.—The Coroner called yesterday, to
hold an inquest at 208 Elizabeth street, on the body of
John Duryea, a native of Tipperary, Ireland, 48 years
of age. It appeared that deceased was a pill maker, in
the employ of Dr. Evans, of Chatham street. He lived
in the upper part of a house occupied by Michael Mc
Dermot. He had been complaining more or less for a
month past—during which time he has done no work.—
On Monday evening he came down into McDermot's
shop, and sat by the stove till 10 o'clock, when he went
up stairs to go to his room, and when on reaching the
landing he fell down, and almost instantly expired. In
his pocket was found a certificate of membership, of
Lodge No. 1404 of Royal Orange Association, dated
October 1823. He had several children living but no
wife. Verdict death by visitation of God.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, December 18, 1839 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6]
CORONER'S OFFICE—SUDDEN DEATH.—Mr. John
Dwyer, a native of Ireland, aged 43 years, died
very suddenly yesterday, at No. 208 Elizabeth
street. From the testimony of Mrs. Dermot, with
whom he boarded, it appears the deceased had been
sick some time. He had been in the employ of
Dr. Evans, of Chatham street. On Monday even-
ing he said, “I am going to bed,” and went up
stairs for that purpose. He was soon after heard
to fall.
Mrs. Smith deposed that she heard the deceased
fall down stairs. She took a light and went to him.
He was lying at the bottom of the stairs. He said,
“I am going to die, pray put me to bed.” The
deceased was put to bed. His clothes were taken
off. He did not live five minutes afterwards. The
jury returned a verdict of “Death from the visita-
tion of God.”—[Gazette.]
================================================================
[Col.4]
The death of Armstrong, the rioter, on New
Year's eve, and his reputed connection with the
gang of which Ezra White, now lying under sen-
tence of death for murder, was connected, has led
to some inquiry into the circumstances under which
this latter was recently reprieved by the Governor
until the Court for the Correction of Errors shall
determine upon the validity of exceptions taken in
his behalf.
We believe these facts are as follows: The
Court of Oyer and Terminer, at which White was
tried, was held by Judge Edwards and his associate
Judge Inglis. Early in the trial Judge Edwards,
for good cause, left the bench, and the proceedings
was carried on and closed before Judge Inglis, by
whom sentence of death was pronounced upon
White. The counsel for the convict have except-
ed to the legality of the trial and condemnation,
on the ground that, by the statute, none but a Cir-
cuit Judge, or first Judge of the County, can hold
the Oyer and Terminer; and although subsequent
legislation has given both to the Circuit Judge and
to the First Judge an assistant, and to these as-
sistants, as is believed, equal power with the prin-
cipals; yet, inasmuch as counsel learned in the
law contend that this is a doubtful construction, and
that if no such equality of power be given, then the
trial before Judge Inglis is null—it seemed incum-
bent on the Governor, in a matter of life and death,
to afford the convict the opportunity of carrying
the exception up to the higher courts.
We understand that the Supreme Court have
affirmed the validity of the trial. A farther ap-
peal has been taken to the Court of Errors. If
they shall confirm the decision below, the law
will take its course, and the convict be executed.
If they should reverse it, the result will be—not
the liberation or pardon of the murdered—but a
new trial, before a competent Court.
We have been thus particular, because it is, we
think, no part of the character of Governor Seward,
to interpose the prerogative of pardon between the
law and guilt so clear as that established on the
trial against White; and because the recent out-
rages of the same lawless ruffians with whom he
was an associate, would seem to show that the
hope of the possible eventual escape of their old
comrade after condemnation, has rather embolden-
ed, than restrained, their excesses.
Thus far the sole action in this matter of the
Executive has been to afford time for the solution
of a legal doubt, which touches in no degree the
guilt or innocence of he accused, and furnishes no
ground, in any event, for eventual pardon.
================================================================
[Col.6]
BOARD OF ASSISTANTS.
...
Reports of Committees—Of Committee on Po-
lice, Watch and Prisons, on petition of Geo. Arcu-
larius and others, on the following matters, viz.: 1st
—to have German and English Teachers appoint-
ed in our Public Schools. 2d—To have German
interpreters appointed to our Courts of Justice. 3d
—To have German and English attendants ap-
pointed to Hospitals and Almshouse. 4th—To have
Corporation ordinances of import to the German
population printed in German newspapers—Order-
ed to be laid on the table and printed. Of Com-
mittee on Police, &c. on the petition of Prosper
Ancel and others, for certain privileges—Petition
refused and Committee discharged. Of the same,
on the petition of Perter Peterson to be reinstated
as a watchman. The petitioner was discharged by
Captain Fisher for some observations made by him,
on the day Ezra White received sentence, wherein
he observed “It's a d——d shame to hang a man
for killing an Irishman,” and that “an Irishman had
no more heart than a niggar.” Petition refused
and Committee discharged.
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
Read the following interest-
ing and Astonishing Facts.
THE FOLLOWING are AMONGST
The many Cures, Performed
by the use of Dr. Evans' Medicine.
Principal office 100 Chatham street,
NEW YORK, WHERE THE
Doctor may be consulted person-
ally, or by letter, (post paid,)
from any part of the United
States, &c. Persons re-
quiring medicine and
advice must enclose
a Bank Note, or
Order.
—
CERTIFICATES.
Another test of the unrivaled virtue of DR. WM. EVANS' Medicines.—DYS- PEPSIA, TEN YEARS' STAND- ING. Mr. J. McKenzie, 176 Stanton street, was afflicted with the above com- plaint for 10 years, which incapacitated him at intervals, for the period of the six years, in attending to his business, restored to perfect health, under the salutary treat- ment of Dr. Wm. Evans. The principal symptoms—A sense of distention and oppression after eating, dis- tressing pain in the pit of the stomach, ... Mr. McKenzie is dally attending to his business, and none of the above symptoms have occurred since he used the medicine. He is now strong and healthy man. He resorted to myriads of remedies, but they were all ineffectual. He is willing to give any information to the afflicted re- specting the inestimable benefit rendered to him by the use of Dr. Wm. Evans' medicine. — Remarkable case of acute Rheumatism, with an Affection of the Lungs—cured un- der the treatment of Dr. Wm. Evans, 100 Chatham street, New York.—Mr. Benja- min S. Jarvis, 13 Centre st. Newark, N. J., afflicted for four years with severe pains in all his joints, which were always in- creased on the slightest motion, the tongue preserved a steady whiteness; loss of ap- petite, dizziness in his head, the bowels commonly very costive, the urine high coloured, and often profuse sweating, unat- tended by relief. The above symptoms were also attended with considerable diffi- culty of breathing, with a sense of tight- ness across the chest, likewise a great want of due energy in the nervous system. The above symptoms were entirely re- moved, and a perfect cure effected by Dr. Wm. Evans. BENJ. S. JARVIS. City of New York, ss. Benjamin S. Jaris being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that the facts stated in the above certificate, subscribed by him, are in all respects true. BENJ. S. JARVIS. 96 Nassau street. — More conclusive proofs of the extraordi- nary efficacy of Dr. WM. EVANS' cele- brated camomile and aperient ANTIBIL- OUS PILLS in alleviating afflicted man- kind.—Mr. Robert Cameron, 101 Bowery, Disease Chronic Dysentery, or Bloody Flux. Symptoms: unusual flatulency in ... able bearing down of the parts. Mr. Cam- eron in enjoying perfect health, and re- turns his sincere thanks for the extraordi- nary benefit he had received. — PARALYTIC RHEUMATISM. A perfect cure effected by the treatment of Dr. W. EVANS.—Mr. John Gibson, of North Fourth st., Williamsburg, afflicted ... afflicted in a similar manner, Mr. Gibson conceives it meet to say that the pains have entirely ceased, and that his joints have completely recovered their natural tone, and he feels able to resume his ordinary busi- ness. The above valuable medicine is for sale at H. P. Williams' store, Charlotte, N. C., at Geo. W. Brown's store, Salisbury, N. C., at the store of P. Summey & Co. and at the Transcript office. A. R. PORTER, Agent. Lincolnton, N. C., May 15, 1839.
================================================================
[Col.6]
FURTHER RESPITE.—Governor Seward has fur-
ther respited Ezra White, convicted of the murder
of Fitzpatrick, until the 12th of June next, in or-
der that the legal proceedings for carrying the
case before the Court of Errors may not be inter-
rupted.—[Sun.]
================================================================
[Col.5]
CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.—The Grand Jury
have found a true bill of indictment for manslaugh-
ter in the second degree against Dr. Charles H.
Jackson, of 209 Bowery, in causing the death of
an unborn child, by producing abortion upon Miss
Susan Skaats, some few months since. The doc-
tor has been arrested, and held to bail in the sum
of $6000, which he procured and was discharged.
—[Evening Post.]
================================================================
[Col.5 / Hazard's Register, Vol.2, 1840, June]
THE PARDONING POWER.—The Buffalo papers
contain a correspondence between Gov. Seward
and some gentlemen of that city, in reference to a
petition, very numerously signed, for the pardon of
Benj. Rathbun. The prayer of this petition the
Governor very wisely and properly rejects, closing
a well reasoned letter on the subject, with this just
sentiment:
His conviction was necessary to maintain the
sway of the laws, and rights of citizens, and to vin-
dicate the dignity and honor of the State. I re-
luctantly add that it seems to be a case in which
the effect of that conviction must be impaired by
the exercise of Executive clemency.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
================================================================
[Col.6]
...
Were you ever at a corn shucking in the West?—
If you were, you never left it without hearing the
wool hat and linsey hunting-shirt sing—
Mary Rogers are a case,
And so are Sally Thompson,
General Jackson are a horse,
And so is Colonel Johnson.
...
================================================================
[Col.4]
The Supreme Court having rendered judgment
against Ezra White, who is under sentence of
death, in New York, for Murder, his Counsel ap-
plied for and obtained a Writ of Error from Judge
COWAN, on whose certificate the question now
goes to the Court for the Correction of Errors.
White, therefore, obtains a further respite till the
23d of December.
———————
FRANCIS WILLIAMS, ALIAS BOSTON FRANK, a no-
ted burglar, and for a while suspected as one of the
famous “Vanderburgh” band, was sentenced yes-
terday to the State Prison for 10 years.
The following sentences were passed:—
James E. Coles, convicted of robbery in the
1st degree, was sentenced to the State Prison for
15 years.
Edward Frazee, convicted of burglary in the 2d
degree, was sentenced to the State prison for 5
years.
Christopher Hughes, convicted of perjury at the
last fall election, was sentenced to the State prison
for 2 years.
================================================================
[Col.4]
ROWDIES.—Robert Lynch, Jno. Saffer, Anthony
Girdy Abraham Roder, Hugh Clancy, Jno. Wells,
Peter S. Dorset, and Joseph Stuart, all of the Ezra
White school, were arrested for making a riot be-
tween one and two o'clock yesterday morning be-
fore a public house in Grand street, and violently
assaulting the watchmen. Having given the ne-
cessary bail they were discharged.
Andrew Kearney, another of the same school,
was arrested for creating a riot and fighting, at the
corner of Centre and Franklin Street, at twelve
o'clock Saturday night. He was required to
give bail in the sum of $100 to keep the peace
for 6 months, which having furnished, he was dis-
charged.
================================================================
[Col.3]
⌂ TO LET—At the foot of Weehawken hill, a
pleasant airy frame dwelling house; it contains 3
large rooms, 5 bedrooms, large kitchen and cellar, in
which is a never failing spring of excellent water; by the
side of the house is a small garden, and ice house; it has
been known many years as the William Tell House;
would rather be let as a private dwelling, or would do
well for a grocery; will be let until the first of May, or
longer if desired. Possession given on the 1st of October.
Inquire of Mrs. Loss, on the premises, 1½ miles from the
Hoboken ferry. Also, a room and bedroom to let, in the
house adjoining. s8 3cod*[Col.1]
Mary Rogers, a white woman, was accused of
whipping a negro wench named Dolly Phillips.
Mary said that Dolly insulted her over so much,
and called her unproper words.
To this Dolly rejoined that she did'nt want Mary
to come to her place, and then Mary rejoined that
Dolly had no place, but staid with her cousin's mo-
ther. The court adjudged Mary guilty, and sent
her to the tombs for twenty days.
================================================================
[Col.6]
Court of Sessions.
Present—The Recorder, Judges Inglis and Lynch,
and two Aldermen.
...
Mr. Moses, of 579 Broadway, deposed that in the
middle of September, his premises were broken in-
to, and property stolen to the value of $88, chiefly
ladies' dresses, baby clothes, wedding gloves, &c.
...
The Jury then retired, and several unhappy look-
ing middle aged gentlemen left the Court in great
perturbation of mind, lest ex-officer Peck should
return to seize on them for talesmen.
The Court having nothing particular to do, Mr.
Crafts rose to move for the discharge of Madame
Restell, the witness being dead and no proof being
in existence to sustain the indictment.
District Attorney—It may as well remain against
her, if the Court pleases.
Craft—Why, you cannot convict her in this world
and why not let me have a nole prosequi?
District Attorney—Well, the parties may meet in
the next world—
Court—Order, gentlemen. Take your motion.
Mr. Craft—Mr. Clerk, enter a nole pros.
Another awful pause took place, and at length the
Jury came in with a verdict of guilty of grand larce-
ny.
Two unimportant cases were tried, and the Court
adjourned, every body perfectly satisfied that the
experiment of night sessions would not work well.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF SESSIONS—YESTERDAY.
...
In the case of Madame Restell, indicted some
sixteen terms since for producing an abortion, her
counsel, Col. Craft, moved the court that as the
principal witness, the complainant in the case,
had since died, nolle pros. should be entered, and
the case dismissed. The District Attorney ad-
mitted the impossibility of convicting Mad. R.
without the testimony of the deceased, and the
court ordered a nole pros. to be entered.
Adjourned.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, November 19, 1840 (FH)
[Col.2]
T O THE LADIES—It will be remembered that it is
about four years since Dr. Vandenburgh's Female
Renovating Pills, which have acquired a well deserved
celebrity for their excellent effects, were first introduced
into this country by Mrs. Bird, the celebrated midwife
and female physician; since that, however, several at-
tempts have been made to imitate this medicine; the
consequences of which, are misery and suffering to the
misguided individuals who are deceived by these un-
principled pretenders who are daily palming their spu-
rious specifics upon the community. Mrs. Bird would
remark that many cases have come to her notice where
the constitution of the patient has been materially in-
jured. Mrs. B. apprises females that she has received
a thorough medical education—has obtained her diplo-
ma from the medical college, Gottingen, Germany; and
her long experience in the treatment of all female com-
plaints well qualifies her for the task of imparting health,
vigor, and consequently happiness, to all those who may
honor her with their confidence. Residence of Mrs.
Bird, 18 Oliver st., where she is prepared to accommo-
date ladies on the point of confinement, and to adminis-
ter medicines for all diseases to which her sex is liable.
N. B. The genuine female monthly pill may be ob-
tained of Mrs. Bird, Dr. McClaurey, 136 Walker st., and
Maunder & Co., corner Canal and Varick st. Price $1.
n13 1m*
————————————————————
P ILES, PILES, PILES—MRS. BIRD, Female Phy-
sician, apprises ladies who are afflicted with this
troublesome disease, that a safe and permanent cure
can be obtained by applying at her residence, 18 Oliver
st., near Chatham Square. n11 3m*[Col.6]
CAUTION—SPURIOUS FEMALE MONTHLY
PILLS—Owing to the great celebrity, efficacy, and suc-
cess of Madame Restell's Female Monthly Pills, in all
cases of irregularity, suppression, &c, &c, and their ac-
knowledged adaptation to the complaints of the female
frame, attempts are continually made by ignorant and
unprincipled persons, by calling their miserable com-
pounds “Female Monthly Pills,” to impose upon the
public. Madame Restell deems it necessary to state that
her genuine “Female Monthly Pills,” can be obtained
only at her offices in New York, Philadelphia and Boston,
and agents mentioned in her advertisement on the last
column of the last page. All others are base imitations.
Madame Restell's celebrated “Powders,” for married la-
dies in delicate health, can be obtained only at her offices
No 3 South Seventh st., Philadelphia; 7 Essex st., Boston,
and Madame Restell's Principal Office, 148 Greenwich
st., New York. Price $5 a package. n12 2w*
[Col.7]
☞ TO FEMALES—BEWARE OF IMPOSITION
—Since the introduction of Madame Restell's Celebrated
Female Monthly Pills into the United States, some two
years since, such has been their success in all cases of
suppression, irregularity, stoppage, &c, that they have
altogether superseded the various useless and injurious
compounds, thrust upon the public by designing pretend-
ers, who, finding their miserable and injurious com-
pounds unsaleable as “Female Renovating Pills,” im-
pudently seek to deceive the public by calling them “Fe-
male Monthly Pills,” and under cover of the high repute
of Madame Restell's Female Monthly Pills, imagine to
find sale for their deleterious compositions. This con-
temptible trick has not even the merit of originality.—
Some four or five previous attempts of this kind, to de-
ceive the public, have been already made by unprinci-
pled individuals, to gain a few dollars, causing not only
a loss of money, but sacrifice of health to the unwary.
Madame Restell feels herself under the more obligation
to caution females against these attempts at imposition,
as besides the loss of their money, highly detrimental
effects for life ensue. That imposters should have been
anxious, from time to time, to avail themselves of the
celebrity attained by Madame Restell's Female Monthly
Pill, is not a matter of surprise, since such is their repu-
tation, that she has been under the necessity of opening
offices in Boston, No. 7 Essex st., Philadelphia, No. 3
South Seventh st., as well as the principal office, 148
Greenwich st., New York, besides appointing agents for
their sale in this city, as mentioned in Madame Restell's
advertisements. All Female Monthly Pills, except those
sold at Madame Restell's offices, or her advertised
agents, are bare and miserable imitations. Females
will judge of the shallow pretensions of the individual
who is under the necessity of making use of the celebrity
acquired by others to be brought into notice.
N. B. Madame Restell's signature is on the cover of
each box. Price $1. n14 4*
================================================================
[Col.6 / November 23, 1840]
LEGAL INJUSTICE! EFFECTS OF PERECU-
TION!
MADAME RESTELL'S promise to give the facts
connected with the prosecution—it may with justice be
called persecution—commenced some sixteen months
since, and has just terminated—against her—with such re-
marks as have suggested themselves, is presented to the
public; the more especially as the course pursued by a
portion of the press has been far from honorable, from
which it may also be learned how much injustice can be
perpetrated under the sanction of legal, doubtless perfect-
ly legal, forms.
The facts are simply these: In July, 1839, a female
having heard of the great reputation and success of Ma-
dame Restell's specifics for suppression, irregularity, &c.
finding herself irregular, called to obtain a box of “Fe-
male Monthly Pills” at the office; being a foreigner it
was difficult for her to made herself intelligible, but
she was understood to say that she was subject to irreg-
ularity, &c. In the course of conversation she was
informed that if she was married, she must not under
peculiar circumstances, mentioned in the directions,
make use of them. She purchased a box and took it
home. In the latter end of August, it appears, she en-
tered a complaint against a young man—in the course
of her examination, she stated that she purchased a box
of pills, but declared under oath “that she had never
used a single one.” In February, 1840, she went to the
Bellevue Hospital, and was there delivered of two living
children, where she expired on the following March, of
child-bed, or puerperal fever. Here, then, are the facts
which have led to the prosecution and subsequent honor-
able discharge, without trial, of Madame Restell. Such
was the material upon which a prosecution was com-
menced. The flimsiness and injustice of the prosecution
covered the instigators with ridicule and shame, and re-
sulted, after a procrastination of sixteen months, as
every person of the least common sense would have pre-
dicted, in a “nolle prosequi” being entered.
The instigators and chief actors in the prosecution
may or may not have been influenced by upright, honor-
able, or praiseworthy motives; it is not for Madame
Restell to judge of the purity of their intention. They
may honestly imagine that the introduction of Madame
Restell's medicines may lead to immorality, vice, &c.,
but admitting all this, it is scarcely sufficient to justify
them in acts of gross injustice, oppression, and persecu-
tion, under cover of technicalities; but when it is con-
sidered what a frightful train of diseases have their ori-
gin in irregularity, suppression, &c., and the many weak-
ly married women whose lives were despaired of have
become healthy by the adoption of Madame Restell's
celebrated Powders, is not the discovery of Madame
Restell's specifics one of the greatest blessings? and is it
not in the highest degree unjust to intimate that wives,
sisters, and mothers want but the opportunity to be vi-
cious. Shame on him who can entertain such a state-
ment.
Strange it is, that the lessons of experience should be
lost upon men. When has persecution retarded the pro-
gress of a truth in religion, science or morals? Never.—
It always has, and always will but accelerate with ten-
fold velocity, the advance of the object of persecution,
which, without it, would have only crawled with snail-
like pace, aided by persecution, is immediately possessed
of the impulse of electricity. Thus has it been with Ma-
dame Restell's celebrated medicines—the celebrity they
had for many years enjoyed in Europe, was gradually
gaining ground in the United States, and it would have
taken years to have given them the reputation and celeb-
rity which a few months sufficed by the agency of perse-
cution. They are now known and appreciated far and
wide throughout this country, to the exclusion almost of
all others. So much for persecution. MADAME RES-
TELL'S Principal office, 148 Greenwich st., N. Y.; No.
7 Essex st., Boston; 3 South Seventh st., Philadelphia.—
Price of Powders $5. Price of Female Monthly Pills,
$1. n21 2*
================================================================
[Col.3]
IMPORTANT DECISIONS.—From Albany we have
our regular mails. Among the decisions in the
Court of Errors on Monday, were two very im-
portant ones. The first reverses the judgment of
the Supreme Court on the application of Ezra
White, convicted of murder, for a new trial. So
that he will now have another trial.
The second is in the case of the Aldermen of
this city, who, by the affirmance of the decision of
the Supreme Court, in The People vs. Varian, are
declared to be members of the Court of Common
Pleas of this city.
—————————
COURT OF ERRORS.
Monday, Dec. 28.
Ezra White vs. The People.—Error from the
Supreme Court. Opinions were delivered by the
Chancellor, Messrs. Verplanck, Edwards, Wager,
Dixon, Furman and Root. The Judgment of the
Court was reversed.
But a single vote, that of Mr. Van Dyke, was
for affirmance—21 for reversal.
...
The People vs. Isaac L. Varian and others—
Error from Supreme Court. Opinions delivered by
the Chancellor, Messrs. Hull, Dixon, Root, and
Edwards. The decision of the Court below was
affirmed.
For Affirmance.—Chancellor, Messrs. Clark,
Edwards, Humphrey, Moseley, Paige, Skinner,
Tallmadge, Verplanck, Wager—10.
For Reversal.—Messrs. A. B. Dickinson, Dixon,
Hawkins, Hall, Hunt, Lee, H. A. Livingston,
Peck, Root, Works—10. Adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.6]
Criminal Statistics of the City of New-York,
1840.
...
COMPARISON OF THE YEARS 1839 AND '40, AND GENERAL SUM-
MARY .
1839—Whole number of trials in all the criminal
courts, 1003. Convicted 815; acquitted 249, discharged 779;
sentenced to die, 2; to state prison, 104; to Blackwell's
Island, 349; Egyptian Toms, 80; House of Refuge, 38;
total number of offenders sentenced to punishment, 573;
left for execution, one, Ezra White.
1840.—Whole number of trials in all the Courts, 1320.—
Convicted 1049; acquitted, 271; discharged without trial,
676; sentenced to die, none; to State Prison, 111 men and
14 women; to Blackwell's Island, 562; to the Egyptian
Tombs, 224; fined, lectured, and otherwise got rid of,
138; under sentence to death for murder, one—but a new
trial granted—Ezra White.
NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, January 4, 1841 (FH)
[Col.6]
NEW YORK MUSEUM
OF NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENCE,
Broadway, opposite the City Hall and Park.
(KNOWN AS PEALE'S MUSEUM.)
Pleasing combination in the persons of La Petite TAGLI-
ONI and La Petite AMOUR, formerly of the Ravel Family.
Three young Ladies will, during the evenings of this week
only, perform some of the most popular Dances and Songs.
Two remarkable living LILLIPUTIANS, or DWARFS,
Reuben A. and Martha M. Jones; the youngest is 6 years old,
and only 27 inches high! weighing but 13 pounds!
Both are perfectly formed, in good health, and very cheerful.
Phrenological Examinations of the head by R. H. Collyer,
M. D., during the day and evening.
LIVING BOA CONSTRICTOR SERPENT, from
South America, perfectly gentle.
Fancy Glass Working, during the day and evening, by Mr.
Owens.
Admittance to all the entertainments 25 cents. Children
half price. j4
NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, January 4, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
M ADAME RESTELL'S FEMALE MONTHLY PILLS
—Madame Restell, Female Physician, has had ample evi-
dence to satisfy her that many of the complaints to which fe-
males are subject, have been principally, if not wholly, owing
to the absence, heretofore, of any proper, safe, efficient, and
certain medicine in cases of suppression, irregularity and stop-
page of those functions of nature upon which the health, and
even the life of every female depends. Delicacy and propriety
forbidding the freedom of unreservedness, except to one of their
own sex, as to the particular effects experienced, without a
knowledge of which it is wholly impossible to form a combi-
nation of ingredients affording relief, as well as the repugnance
of adverting to the subject unless to a female, has, no doubt,
been the chief cause of the want of success of the various
specifics introduced by the medical fraternity. The introduc-
tion of the Female Monthly Pills has removed the source of a
truly frightful mount of misery, as being the only efficacious
remedy known in Europe for the last thirty years, having been
used and first introduced by Madame Restell, the celebrated
Midwife and Female Physician, (grandmother of the adverti-
ser,) with the most unexampled success. Madame Restell, as
well from her perfect acquaintance with the peculiar physiolo-
gy and anatomy of the female frame, as the opportunities af-
forded her in discovering every, the minutest sensation and ef-
fect produced by the use of her Female Monthly Pills has been
enabled so to combine the ingredients of which they are com-
posed, as at once to unite mildness and safety with almost cer-
tain efficacy. The advantages afforded of consulting freely
and unreservedly (without cost) with one of their own sex,
conversant with their dispositions, will be manifest to every
reflecting female, and will save much useless expenditure. It
is to be hoped that the mothers of females just emerging into
womanhood, as they value the future welfare and happiness of
their daughters, or their own peace, will snatch them from the
herd of evils arising from this cause. The most obstinate and
long-seated cases of irregularity, suppression, &c., have been
removed by the female Monthly Pills.
It is necessary for the married to abstain from their use for
reasons that are contained in the full and particular directions
when and how to be used, which accompany each box.
Madame Restell's proper signature is written on the cover of
each box. Price $1. For sale at
MADAME RESTELL'S PRINCIPAL OFFICE,
148 Greenwich st., New York; and at her offices No. 7 Essex
st., Boston; and No. 3 South Seventh st., Philadelphia.
d4 1m d&w*[Col.5]
I MPORTANT TO MARRIED FEMALES.—MADAME
RESTELL'S PREVENTIVE POWDERS.—These in-
valuable Powders have been universally adopted in Europe,
but France in particular, for upwards of thirty years, as well
as by thousands in this country, as being the only mild, safe,
and efficacious remedy for married ladies whose health forbids
a too rapid increase of family.
Madame Restell, as is well known, was for thirty years Fe-
male Physician in the two principal Female Hospitals in Eu-
rope—those of Vienna and Paris—where, favored by her great
experience and opportunities, she attained that celebrity in
those great discoveries in medical science so specially adapted
to the female frame, for which her medicines now stand unri-
valled, as well in this country as in Europe. Her acquaintance
with the physiology and anatomy of the female frame, enabled
her to arrive at a knowledge of the primary causes of female
indispositions—especially of married females—which, in 1808,
led to the discovery of her celebrated “Preventive Powders.”
Their adoption has been the means of preserving not only the
health, but even the life of many an affectionate wife and fond
mother.
The advertiser feeling the importance of this subject, and es-
timating the vast benefits resulting to thousands by their adop-
tion, would respectfully arouse the attention of the married, by
all that they hold near and dear, to its consideration. Is it not
wise and virtuous to prevent evils to which we are subject, by
simple and healthy means within our control? Every dispas-
sionate, virtuous, and enlightened mind will unhesitatingly an-
swer in the affirmative. This is all that Madame Restell re-
commends or ever recommended. Price Five Dollars a pack-
age, accompanied with full and particular directions. They
can be forwarded by mail to any part of the United States.—
All letters must be post paid, and addressed to MADAME
RESTELL, Female Physician. Principal office, 148 Green-
wich st., New York. Office hours from 9 A. M. to 7 P. M. Phi-
ladelphia office No. 3 South Seventh street. Boston office No.
7 Essex street. d3 1 m d&w*[Col.2]
City Intelligence.
A DOMESTIC TRAGEDY—MURDER MOST FOUL SUS-
PECTED.—Some months since, there resided and kept
a dry goods store in Greenwich, near Vesey street, a
merchant of the name of William Murrell, who was
in very flourishing circumstances, with good pros-
pects before him, and blessed—as he thought—with
a young and lovely wife, who had one daughter. This
gentleman became smitten with the mania for mak-
ing a fortune rapidly, and sold out his dry goods
store, for the purpose of pursuing other plans for the
furtherance of his wishes at the south. He left his
wife and daughter here, with a large proportion of
his property, intending to return to, or send for them
at his convenience. After his departure, the lady
formed other plans of her own, which greatly alarm-
ed the family of her husband, and in particular was she
cautioned by them against the keeping company with
and promenading Broadway, along with some tall,
dark cavalier, whose name none of her husband's
family was acquainted with. The lady, however,
had a liking for her constant visiter, and determined
not to be thwarted. About three weeks since, an
universal bustle was observed in her department, and
great preparations for packing up, and the following
day several cart loads of valuable moveables were
shipped by her directions, on board one of the pack-
ets that made between this city and the port of Bal-
timore. In the same vessel also embarked the lady,
the tall cavalier, and Mr. Murrell's daughter.
Information of these interesting matters was im-
mediately forwared to Mr. Murrell by letter, and he
lost no time ere he bent his steps towards Baltimore,
there to await the arrival of the vessel, taking the
precaution to put on a pair of green spectacles, so as
to be sure he had got hold of the right party before
his faithless wife could have time to give her para-
mour the alarm. When the packet arrived in Balti-
more, Mr. Murrell notified the Captain of the state
of affairs, and cautioned him against giving up any
of the property which had been brought on board
by Mrs. Murrell. He then procured a police officer,
and had that lady's tall and gallant protector taken
into custody, on charge of stealing. These prompt
proceedings alarmed Mrs. Murrell, and she in-
duced her husband to consent to return with her
to this city, and leave her friend to the mercy of the
law. It is supposed that he consented to some such
arrangement, for a letter was received by his friend in
New York announcing their return, and directing
that some furnished apartments should be imme-
diately got for their reception. The appointed day
passed, and the next, but last week the lady and her
daughter returned with the corpse of the late Mr.
Murrell, which she said she had brought here at his
earnest request, in order that it might be buried in the
vault of his family at Port Richmond, Staten Island.
On Wednesday the funeral was to take place, but
when they came to the grave the body had no certifi-
cate from a medical man, which the law requires;
and as the sexton refused to receive the body without
the coroner of that county was sent for. The lady
then represented that the body had been many days
travelling, and that decomposition must have com-
menced, which fact might make it very unpleasant to
have in examination. However it was the general
wish, and the coffin was opened, when the body of
the dead man appeared quite fresh, and appeared to
be only discolored in two places, under the ear and
around the stomach. The coroner not deeming the
circumstances to be suspicious, permitted the fune-
ral ceremony to be performed, and the earth closed,
as it was supposed for ever, over the coffin.
That night the lady and her daughter staid with the
family of her husband at Staten Island, and of course
the sudden bereavement of the disconsolate widow
was the principal topic of conversation. Mrs. Mur-
rell told different stories of her late husband's last mo-
ments to different people, and one of the relations of the
deceased elicited from the daughter that her mother
had poisoned her father, and was going to return to Bal-
timore to marry the other gentleman. This man went
again to the Coroner, and the body was exhumed, the
stomach, duodenum and other intestines taken out and
brought to this city on Saturday, and delivered to Dr.
Chilton, the eminent chemist, of Broadway, for analy-
zation. The investigation has not yet commenced
and therefore, we cannot give the result at present, but
we understand that there are many circumstances be-
sides the confession of the girl, which seem to
strengthen the suspicion of poisoning. A final inves-
tigation will be held in a day or two, and we shall give
the proceedings thereof; but the strangest part of the
affair is the fact, that the lady and the child have
been permitted to return to Baltimore.
================================================================
[Col.5]
THE DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.—Dr. Chilton has not yet
completed his experiments on the remains of the late
Mr. Murrell. It is said by the friends of the lady,
some of whom reside in the city, that she had been
married to the gentleman who accompanied her to
Baltimore, and that he was quite unconscious of her
first husband (Mr. Murrell) being then alive. It is
also said, that so far from Murrell's leaving her in
good circumstances, he had left her quite destitute
when he went to the south.
NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, February 3, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3]
☞ BRAZEN ATTEMPT AT IMPOSITION. ☞
CAUTION TO MARRIED LADIES,
AND TO THOSE ABOUT TO BE MARRIED.
A S attempts are made by desperate mercenary, and unprinci-
pled persons to practice a base imposition upon married
ladies and those about to be married, Madame Restell feels
called upon to expose the infamous means by which it is attempt-
ed to be consummated. Some three years since, it may be well
known to all, Madame Restell's celebrated “Preventive Pow-
ders,” (for married ladies, whose delicate or precarious state of
health being such as to forbid a too rapid increase of family,)
were first introduced into this country, and elicited some stric-
tures from the press, as to the propriety and moral tendency of
their introduction. Their perfect safety, efficacy, healthiness,
and certainty, however, having been the means of preserving
the life of many an affectionate wife, unable, or for a time in-
capable, of giving birth to children, was a consideration of pa-
ramount importance, worthy the attention of those who urged
objections.
Their utmost universal adoption for thirty years in France,
and for three years in the United States, excited the attention
and inquiry of medical men, who, though slow and cautions at
first to credit the possibility of the existence, much less to re-
commend the adoption of a “Preventive to Conception,” could
not, however, resist the conviction that forced itself upon their
minds, from the fact, observable particularly in France (since
the introduction of Madame Restell's celebrated “Preventive
Powders”) of intervals of four or five years between the birth of
children, became convicted that it is the only mild, safe, and ef-
ficatious and certain remedy, and have, with the honorable
promptness, characteristic of the profession, when once satis-
fied of its benificial effects, unhesitatingly recommended their
adoption.
Madame Restell, as is well known, was for thirty years Fe-
male Physician in the two principal Female Hospitals of Europe
—those of Vienna and Paris—where, favored by her great ex-
perience and opportunities, she attained that celebrity in those
great discoveries in medical science so specially adapted to the
female frame, for which her medicines now stand unrivalled, as
well in this country as in Europe. Her acquaintance with the
physiology and anatomy of the female frame, enabled her to ar-
rive at a knowledge of the primary causes of female indisposi-
tions—especially of married females—which, in 1808, led to the
discovery of her celebrated “Preventive Powders.”
Their discovery, introduction, and adoption, are fraught with
such lasting and serious consequences to the welfare, the peace,
the health, the well being of husband, wife, mother, and child-
ren, that the advertiser would be recreant to the duties of huma-
nity, if she did not avail herself of the first opportunity, to ex-
pose, in the most explicit manner, the artifices, schemes, and
plans concocted to trifle and perhaps destroy the dearest interests
of the married or those about to be married, by the designing, to
rob them not only of their money but of their happiness, by
getting up counterfeit and imitation “Preventive to Conception,”
highly destructive to the constitution.
The following has heretofore been, and is now the method by
which some ignorant and luckless quack hopes to dupe the public:
He first hires some woman, who immediately, as if by magic,
becomes “Madame,” and of course, “Graduate as Midwife and
Female Physician from Paris,” (it is thought that through this
means the deception can be better accomplished;) the next step
is to adopt the headings, and as near as possible, the language of
Madame Restell's advertisements; then to adopt for their dele-
terious compounds, the names of Madame Restell's remedies;
and, in short, to imitate Madame Restell in all her medicines.—
Thus, if Madame Restell has “Preventive Powders,” “Female
Monthly Pills,” &c. they must have something with the same
name. These ignorant pretenders also attempt to confine ladies
during confinement, &c. &c.
By such shallow and catchpenny expedients do they imagine
the public are to be duped. If their nostrums were merely
harmless they might be passed unnoticed; but when such dele-
terious consequences must inevitably ensue to those who may
fall victims to the cupidity of these imposters, whether in taking
their nostrums, or entrusting themselves during confinement in
the hands of incompetent and mercenary adventurers, Madame
Restell deems herself called upon to warn females against these
attempts to deprive them of both their means and health. In
conclusion it is only necessary to say that there are some three
thousand letters in the possession of Madame Restell in proof
of the efficacy, safety, certainty and healthiness of her celebra-
ted “Preventive Powders,” from all parts of the United States
as well as Europe.
Madame Restell's PRINCIPAL OFFICE and residence 148
Greenwich street, N. Y.; Philadelphia Office No. 3 South Se-
venth street; Boston Office No. 7 Essex street, where only the
Preventive Powders can be obtained—price $5 a package.
N. B.—No “Female Monthly Pills” are genuine except those
sold at Madame Restell's offices, and her advertized agents—
price $1.
Madame Restell would inform ladies, that in order to protect
them against the imposition of unskilful, disreputable, and inex-
perienced individuals, she has made every arrangement to ac-
commodate during confinement, which her large and healthily
situated residence so amply affords. No letters received unless
post paid. Address to box 868 New York City. f3 6t[Col.5]
T O MARRIED LADIES AND THOSE ABOUT TO
BE MARRIED.—MADAME COSTELLO , Female
Physician and graduate as Midwife, by the Medical Faculty of
Paris, offers her professional services to the Ladies of this city
and country. The anatomical and physiological peculiarities
which distinguish the female from the male, impose upon her
diseases and functions altogether her own. Many of those dis-
eases are exceedingly complicated and obscure, requiring an ac-
curate knowledge of the female system to treat them with suc-
cess. It is a well known fact, that the health of many married
Ladies will not admit of their bearing children without imminent
risk of their lives; it is also well known that many married wo-
men are incapacitated for the important office of child bearing,
by some physical deformities or malformation, whereby the
life of the mother and offspring must both be sacrificed. When
things are left to take their natural course, is it not justifiable,
nay, an imperative duty we owe suffering humanity, to give re-
lief in such cases, especially if we possess the knowledge of safe
means or remedies whereby this desirable object can be effected.
Madame Costello's celebrated “Preventive to Conception,” is a
safe, healthy and effectual means—the limiting the number of
children at will. Madame Costello's “Preventive to Concep-
tion” is the only genuine and effectual one ever introduced into
this country.
Madame Costello has made ample arrangements to accommo-
date ladies on the point of confinement, or those laboring under
obstruction, at her residence 34 Lispenard street, where they
can always have the best medical treatment and the most ma-
tronly care and nursing.
Madame Costello's Female Monthly Pills, are a safe and ef-
fectual remedy for removing all female obstructions or irregu-
larity of the monthly periods.
N. B.—These Pills must not be taken during pregnancy, as
they would produce abortion.
Madame C. regrets that hereto she has occasion to caution the
ladies against spurious imitations.
To those ladies suffering from Weakness or Whites, Madame
C. would say that she has an effectual remedy for this most
distressing complaint.
Madame C. can be consulted at her residence No. 34 Lispenard
street, at all times and with the strictest regard to secrecy.
All communications and letters must be post paid.
None are genuine unless signed by Madame Costello. f2 6t*[Col.6]
NEW YORK MUSEUM
OF NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENCE,
Broadway, opposite the City Hall and Park.
(KNOWN AS PEALE'S MUSEUM.)
...
Phrenological Examinations of the head during the day and
evening, by R. H. Collyer, M. D. Examination 50 cents—writ-
ten character $2.
...
Admittance 25 cents; Children half price. f2
================================================================
[Col.4]
Reported for the Courier and Enquirer.
Robbing and Arrest—Mr. George Burtis, merchant,
of Water street, having for some time previous to
October last, missed from his store large quantities of
coffee, recently set himself to work to discover the
thief. The officers of police yesterday found a large
quantity of the coffee in possession of an Irish shop-
keeper, corner of Water and Dover street, named
James Ritchie, who was arrested, and confessed that
the coffee was purchased of three negroes, named
“Big George,” Charles Beriley and Samuel Brown—
all of whom were arrested and committed. Mr. Bur-
tis estimates his loss at some 250 bags of coffee.
================================================================
[Col.5]
City Intelligence.
...
A REMARKABLE COINCIDENCE.—On Monday mor-
ning, Joseph Brown, Esq. of the Atlantic Hotel, was
charged at the Police Office with insulting wife
of Charles Lohman, a book binder, who resided at
148 Greenwich street. When the lady and gentleman
appeared before the magistrate to make their charge
against Mr. Brown, the lady was asked if she was
not Madame Restell, to which she replied in the ne-
gative. The charge against Brown was dismissed,
and then he turned round and swore that Charles
Lohman had robbed him of a diamond breast pin to
the value of $100.
On this complaint Master Lohman was brought
up and submitted to an examination, by order of
Justice Stevens. Lohman, on this, said that Brown
came to his house in Greenwich street, and was
turned out for improper behaviour to the ladies, in
which turning out, he might have lost his breast pin.
This story was very feasible, and therefore the ma-
gistrate held Charles Lohman to bail—but only in
the sum of $100. Robert Famaris, tailor, of Fulton
street, thereupon came, and gave bail for the ac-
cused—who of course was liberated. The coinci-
dence in the case is this, that on the 17th of August,
1839, one Charles Lohman, and Dr. Evans, appeared
and testified as bail in the case of Caroline Restell.
Yet the present Charles Lohman, and his lady say
they are not the same persons, although residing at
148 Greenwich street.
================================================================
[Col.3]
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT.
Before Justice Kirtland.
Charge of Robbery.—On Saturday night, a man
named Joseph Brown, was taken into custody by a
watchman, on charge of disorderly conduct, at the
house of the notorious Madam Restell, 148 Green-
wich street, Brown was subsequently liberated from
custody, yesterday. Mr. Brown came to the Police,
and preferred a complaint against a man named
Charles Lohman, charging him with having stolen
from him, (Brown) on Saturday night last, a diamond
beastpin, value $50.
Lohman, (who is the same individual who, on the
17th of August, 1839, became joint bail in $1,500 for
Madame Restell,) on his examination, stated that he
resided at 148 Greenwich street; was 32 years of age,
born in Russia, and a book-binder; that on the Sa-
turday night in question, Brown insulted his wife,
that he attempted to put him out of doors, but being
unable to do so, called to his aid a watchman. He
denied having stolen the pin, but presumed that it
might have been lost in the scuffle. Lohman was
required to give sureties in $100, and Mr. Robert
Farmariss, of 154 William street, becoming his bail
in that amount, he was liberated.
Junk Shops.—In a report of a case of “Robbery
and Arrest,” published in our Tuesdays paper, our re-
porter was made by the printers to say, that the sto-
len property was found in possession of an “Irish
shop-keeper.” The report should have read “Junk
shop-keeper,” when it would have been “all right.”
James Ritchie, the junk shop-keeper alluded to was,
as we before stated, committed and still remains in
prison.
On his examination yesterday, he stated that he
was born in Scotland, 36 years of age, a commission
agent, resided last at 13 Chesnut street, and by ad-
vice of his counsel, declined answering further ques-
tions.
From the confession of George Griffin, one of the
thieves, it appears that upwards of 100 bags of coffee,
valued at more than $5,000 had been stolen from
Messrs. Merles' store at different times since July last,
all of which were purchased by Ritchie for $2 per bag.
George Rankin, another of the thieves, upon his ex-
amination, confessed that he was concerned in steal-
ing the coffee, and that he was first induced to do so
by Ritchie, who asked him to sell some coffee from
Melre's store.
================================================================
[Col.5]
☞ TO THE PUBLIC.—Having been misrepresented in
the reports of some of the prints in regard to an occur-
rence which took place a day or two ago, in which I am
made to appear as the “reputed” husband of Madame
Restell, &c. &c. As she is a lady of some seventy-three
years of age, I must decline the honor of being consid-
ered in that light. Madame Restell is obliged, from the
demands upon her time, to authorise others to act in her
place. On Saturday evening last, a fellow entered
Madame R.'s office, and on being asked his business, made
propositions of an insulting nature to my wife. I was
called, and immediately caned him out of the house, and
had him taken to the watchhouse, where I presume he
spent a very pleasant night, and on the following
morning brought before the police. During the scuffle,
this vagabond charges me with having taken a breast-
pin, for which I shall take measures to prosecute him
criminally; for if our families are to be insulted in our
very houses, and by our firesides, and when summary
steps are taken to chastise the insulter, we are to be
charged with whatever loss of property the infamous
scoundrel may have alleged to have sustained, it be-
comes a question whether we have a right to protect our
families from insult in our own house, without incurring
the risk of being apprehended for larceny. Under such
circumstances no man is safe. This fellow called him-
self by the various names of Thompson, James Brown,
(the name he assumed at the watchhouse) and subse-
quently at the police office, Joseph Brown. He is a ra-
ther tall, light complexioned, silly looking fellow;
wears brass spectacles, and hails from the Atlantic Hotel,
and answers to the description of a fellow going about
town insulting females, which sometime since appeared
in the Sun. CHARLES LOHMAN, Publisher.
================================================================
[Col.2]
The Staten Island Mystery—On Monday last, a
“tale of mystery,” fraught with horrors, appeared in
some of the daily papers, all about a certain Mrs.
Morrill, wife of a Greenwich street Dry Goods dealer,
having, with her child, eloped with a dark visaged
cavillier—how she went to a southern city, where
she wsa met by her husband, who took her in charge—
how the husband soon died, and whose body was
brought to Staten Island for burial—how the body
was exhumed on suspicion of deceased having been
poisoned, and all that sort o' thing.
The truth of the whole matter, as far as we have
been able to ascertain, is in substance as follows:
About a twelve-month since a Mr. Morrill was in
possession of a dry goods establishment in Green-
wich street—a wife and daughter. His business not
proving so good as he had anticipated, he sold off his
stock and left for Baltimore, there to commence busi-
ness anew. Some time passed without any informa-
tion from him reaching his family, till at length the
news of his death was formally communicated to
them. The intelligence was so authentic in its char-
acter as not to admit of a doubt.
The widow of course settled her affairs as all wi-
dows do, and should do, shortly after, she was ad-
dressed by the “dark cavalier”—none other than a
Mr. Anderson, well known in this city. Marriage
was proffered and accepted, and soon the nuptial knot
was tied. The honey moon was, however, scarce
over before the veritable Mr. Morrill made his ap-
pearance and laid claim to his wife; Mr. Anderson
of course evacuated the premises, and Mr. Morrill took
possession as in duty bound. The husband, wife and
child left for Baltimore, for a new home which he had
there provided. Shortly after the arrival of the party
there Mr. Morrill was attacked with the cholera mor-
bus, of which he after a six days illness died; he was
regularly attended by a physician, who at his death
gave a regular certificate of the cause thereof. Mrs.
Morrill accompanied the body of her husband to Sta-
ten Island preparatory to its interment by the side of
his foregone relations. The lady in the confusion of
the mournful propensities, had forgotten the physi-
cian's certificate, and the relatives of the deceased
fearful all was not right, called in the coroner to ex-
amine the body.
An inquest was accordingly held, which resulted in
accordance with the testimony of the afflicted widow.
The burial ceremony was then performed. The inno-
cent prattling child, however, chanced afterward to
lisp something about the marriage of her mother with
the “dark cavalier.” Suspicions of poison, or other
means of violence, were roused anew in the breasts of
the relatives of the deceased, and it was determined
that the body should be disinterred, and a furhter in-
vestigation into the matter had. The body was ac-
cordingly exhumed, a post mortem examination held,
and the stomach and parts adjacent were placed in
charge of Dr. Chilton, of this city, for the purpose of
chemical analysis. The Doctor having carefully and
faithfully analyzed all the contents of the stomach,
has reported to the afflicted and affrighted relatives
that as to the matter of poison, or any other circum-
stances calculated to excite suspicion, he has found—
nothing. And thus the matter ended.
Rape.—A female named Charlotte Griffin, of 141
Essex street, whose husband is now in prison on
charge of grand larceny, complained on Saturday
at the police, that on the 7th ult. Peter Ritchie, bro-
ther of the notorious coffee receiver, James Ritchie,
now in prison, assaulted her with great violence, and
attempted to commit a rape. Ritchie was arrested,
and committed in default of $1000 bail required.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, February 8, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6]
City Intelligence.
THE STATEN ISLAND MYSTERY.—We learn from
Dr. Chilton, that no traces of poison are to be found
in the stomach and intestines of the late Mr. Mor-
rill. The lady has returned from Baltimore, and
afforded satisfactory testimony to the friends of the
late Mr. M., that the deceased died from cholera
morbus after six days illness. It seems he had a
strange aversion to the medical profession, and re-
fused to have a doctor up to the fourth day of his
attack. To the remonstrances or entreaties of his
wife, he replied that if he was not better “by to-
morrow, they might send for an herb doctor.” Of
course, he got no relief form such an empyric, and
his death on the sixth day need astonish no one.
Under the circumstances of the case, it must be
highly satisfactory to all parties, that a complete in-
vestigation has taken place, and that after the nu-
merous tests, which the skill and science of Dr.
Chilton has submitted the stomach and intestines to,
that no traces of poison has been discovered.
...
CHARGE OF RAPE.—Peter Ritchie, a brother of
James Ritchie, who is in the tombs for receiving sto-
len goods, was brought up, charged, on the oath of
Charlotte Griffin, with pulling her on a bed, and
thence taking certain liberties, et cetera. Peter said
he did not mean any thing offensive to the lady; but
seeing as how her husband and his brother were both
in the tombs on a charge of felony, why he only
wished to pay her certain little delicate attentions.—
The Magistrate committed Perter to the tombs.
================================================================
[Col.5]
City Intelligence.
...
SPECIAL SESSIONS.—The following loafers and row-
dies were adjudged to suffer some by his Honor
Judge Lynch, aided by two Aldermen, viz.: John
Brown and John Martin were both convicted of an
act of dishonesty, and adjudged to stone digging
process for sixty days.
...
Mary Ann Rogers, a nymph of the pave, was
charged with beating another of the frail sisterhood,
who rejoices in the simple cognomen of “Miss El-
len Lewis.” When their honors had heard Miss El-
len's tale, they laid their learned heads together and
pronounced both the fair ones to be frail, and con-
sequently in the eye of the law, vagrants, and as
such, to go to the penitentiary.
This may be very even-handed justice, but it
strikes us as very likely creating a job for a “Judge
at Chambers,” and some hungry lawyer; for if the
girls have got money enough to get out a writ of ha-
beas corpus, and $10 each in addition, to pay the
fees of the “Judge at chambers,” we know a “high
legal functionary” who will pronounce the sending
vagrants to the penitentiary without a jury uncon-
stitutional, and adjudge them both to be discharged.
As the man in the new play says, there is nothing
like a good heart, constitutional principles, and
plenty of money,” to get through this life with.
Their Honors having made this equitable decision,
discharged eight or ten poor devils, and went home
to dinner.
================================================================
[Col.3]
C AUTION TO MARRIED AND SINGLE LADIES.—
REMOVAL .—MADAME RESTELL, the Female Physician,
who has had so much experience and practice, in Europe and in
this country, has removed her office from Greenwich street to
34 Lespenard street, and associated herself in business with that
eminent and distinguished female physician from Paris, MA-
DAME COSTELLO. The public must be on their guard and
not be deceived by any young women who may, and often have
assumed my name, thereby imposing upon the unsuspecting, and
wronging me out of my just rights. Any person hereafter as-
suming my name, and calling themselves Madame R. will be
dealt with according to the utmost rigor of the law. I should
not be surprised if some of my former waiters, servants or assis-
tants, should attempt to palm themselves off at my old office as
Madame R. The public must be on their guard and remember
my office is only at 34 Lispenard street, and at no other place.
In future ladies may consult the real Madame R., the Old Fe-
male Physician, at 34 Lispenard street, where they can obtain
her genuine Medicines.
All communications promptly attended to—all letters post paid.
MADAME RESTELL,
The old Female Physician, 34 Lispenard st. New York.
N. B. A suitable reward will be paid to any person who will
give information to me of any one who may dare to assume my
name. Remember Madame R. has had forty years experience.
f20 1tw*DARING FRAUD.
CAUTION TO MARRIED & UNMARRIED LADIES.
M ADAME RESTELL, Female Physician, would caution
females against a daring and infamous fraud attempted to
be practised by some unprincipled and disreputable person call-
ing herself “Costello,” by surreptitiously causing the insertion
of an advertisement, (unknown to the editors of the print in
which it appeared,) falsely purporting as coming from “Ma-
dame Restell,” alleging that Madame Restell had removed her
office, and associated herself with this “Costello” woman.
Madame Restell need only here state that no such “removal” or
“association” has taken place, and that the advertisement allu-
ded to was inserted without her knowledge or sanction. This
“Costello” is an impostor, who is by turns a washerwoman, a
cook, sometimes a fortuneteller, and latterly has advertised her-
self herself (by way of change) as “Costello, Female Physi-
cian, graduate from Paris,” and has endeavored to counterfeit
and imitate the subscriber's celebrated “Preventive Powders,”
“Female Monthly Pills,” and her other medicines, against whose
tricks and impositions Madame Restell has cautioned the pub-
lic. Chagrined and disappointed in her schemes, she now re-
sorts to the desperate though shallow falsehood of asserting that
Madame Restell has removed from her own elegant house and
residence to “associate” herself with one of the very persons
against whom her “cautions,” &c. are directed. This ignorant
woman and the quacks who instigate her, will find themselves
mistaken in their estimate of the good sense and discrimination
of the public in this their last desperate but truly pitiful scheme
at brazen imposition. MADAME C. RESTELL.
PRINCIPAL OFFICE 148 Greenwich street, N.Y.; Boston Of-
fice, No. 7 Essex street; Philadelphia Office, No. 3 South Se-
venth street.
N. B. All letters must be post paid, and addressed to Madame
Restell, Female Physician, box 868, N. Y., or to her offices in
Boston and Philadelphia, as advertised. f20 3t*is[Col.3]
T O THE LADIES.—A lady, possessed of the superior power
of curing various diseases by Charms, wishes a share of pub-
lic patronage. Young ladies, whose love has hitherto been un-
requited, can possess themselves of an amulet in her possession,
which she will guarantee to them. The lady is the seventh
daughter of a seventh son. She can show certificates of her
skill from highly respectable sources. Inquire for Madame Cas-
tella, at No. 12 Stanton street. Can be seen on Mondays, Wed-
nesdays and Fridays only.
N. B. Price invariably $2. m1 2w*[Col.6]
T O MARRIED WOMEN—MADAME RESTELL, Fe-
male Physician, is happy to have it in her power to say that
since the introduction into this country, about three years since,
of her celebrated Preventive Powders for married ladies, whose
health forbids a too rapid increase of family, hundreds have
availed themselves of their use, with a success and satisfaction
that has at once dispelled the fears and doubts of the most
timid and sceptical; for, notwithstanding that for twenty years
they have been used in Europe with invariable success, (first
introduced by the celebrated Midwife and Female Physician
Madame Restell, the grandmother of the advertiser, who made
this subject her particular and especial study,) still some were
inclined to entertain some degree of distrust, until become con-
vinced by their successful adoption in this country. The re-
sults of their adoption to the happiness, the health, nay, often
the life of many an affectionate wife and a fond mother, are too
vast to touch upon within the limits of an advertisement—re-
sults which affect not only the present well being of parents, but
the future happiness of their offspring. It is not but too well
known that the families of the married often increase beyond the
happiness of those who give them birth would dictate? In how
many instances does the hard working father, and more espe-
cially the mother, of a poor family, remain slaves throughout
their lives, tugging at the oar of incessant labor, toiling to live
and living but to toil; when they might have enjoyed comfort
and comparative affluence; and if care and toil have weighed
down the spirit, and at last broken the health of a father, how
often is the widow left, unable, with the most virtuous inten-
tions, to save her fatherless offspring from becoming degraded
objects of charity or profligate votaries of vice? And even
though competence and plenty smile upon us, how often, alas!
are the days of the kind husband and father embittered in be-
holding the emaciated form and declining health of the com-
panion of his bosom, ere she had scarce reached the age of
thirty—fast sinking into a premature grave—with the certain
prospect of himself being early bereft of the partner of his joys
and sorrows, and his young and helpless children of the ender-
ing attentions and watchful solicitude, which a mother
alone can bestow, not unfrequently at a time when least able
to support the heart rending affliction! Is it desirable, then
—is it moral—for parents to increase their families, regard-
less of consequences to themselves or the well being of their
offspring, when a simple, easy, healthy, and certain remedy is
within our control? The advertiser feeling the importance of
this subject, and estimating the vast benefits resulting to thou-
sands by the adoption of means prescribed by her. Is it not wise
and virtuous to prevent evils to which we are subject, by simple
and healthy means within our control? Every dispassionate,
virtuous, and enlightened mind will unhesitatingly answer in the
affirmative. This, then, is all that Mrs. R. recommends or ever
recommended. Price five dollars a package, accompanied with
full and particular directions. For the convenience of those un-
able to call personally, “Circulars” more fully explanatory,
will be sent free of expense (postage excepted) to any part of the
United States. All letters must be post paid, and addressed to
MADAME RESTELL, Female Physician. Principal office,
148 Greenwich street, New York. Office hours from 9 A. M. to
7 P. M. Philadelphia office, 3 South Seventh street—Boston of-
fice, No. 7 Essex street. f22 1m[Col.4]
MADAME COSTELLO'S
F EMALE MONTHLY PILLS is acknowledged by the
first physicians in the United States as the very best me-
dicine that ladies laboring under a suppression of their natural
illness can take, and they very seldom fail to relieve when
taken according to the directions. Those who call for them
will be supplied with her circular, containing ample directions,
and all the precautions necessary to be observed in their use.—
Advice gratis. Office, 34 Lispenard st. m5 1m*
———————————————————————————
READ AND BE BENEFITTED.
M ADAME COSTELLO is well aware that it is sometimes
very inconvenient for ladies, who are afflicted with sup-
pression, &c. &c. &c. to have that attention at their residence
which the nature of their case requires, and to such she would
say that she is prepared to furnish them with board and the
best of nursing at her residence, 34 Lispenard st.
N.B.—All communications must be post paid. m5 1m*
[Col.5]
CAUTION TO THE LADIES.
M ADAME COSTELLO, graduated as Female Physician,
by the Medical Faculty of Paris, respectfully cautions
ladies on the point of confinement, or who have a suppression
of their natural illness, and who are seeking a respectable place
for board and nursing during such time, how they to apply to
those who puff their healthy location too highly. Madame
Costello assures ladies who call on her that they shall have her
personal attendance as physician and nurse, and shall not be
obliged, after having paid their money, to put up with board
and nursing in a disreputable house. Office, 34 Lispenard st.
m5 1m*
———————————————————————————
L IVERPOOL COAL.—For sale, in quantities to suit pur-
chasers, best house Coal. Apply to
HERDMAN & KEENAN,
m5 61 South street.
———————————————————————————
MADAME RESTELL'S APPEAL TO
PHYSICIANS.
G ENTLEMEN,—I take the liberty of addressing you on
a subject the importance of which your daily experience
in the course of your practice fully demonstrates; a subject
which cannot and should not, if it could, be longer trifled with,
connecting itself, as it does, with the health, the well-being,
the happiness of those entrusted to your charge. Feeling a
deep interest in all that tends to alleviate, if not to prevent the
suffering, both physical and mental, often endured by married
females, whose formation being such as, in the event of their
becoming mothers, to destroy health, and not unfrequently en-
danger life. I address myself to your candor and humanity,
whether it be not but the performance of a duty imposed upon
you as individuals worthy of the confidence you enjoy, as well
as an act alike of justice and humanity to your patients, to take
ordinary pains to convince yourselves that my Preventive Pow-
ders for ladies in such delicate and precarious health, as to for-
bid a too rapid increase of family, are really what they purport
to be, and therefore entitled to the popularity they possess, and
in all respects worthy of recommendation, as being one of the
greatest blessings yet discovered in medical and physiological
science, as destined to rescue many an affectionate wife and
fond mother from sinking into an early and premature grave?
or whether they are to be classed with the innumerable speci-
mens of no definite virtue? It behooves you, gentlemen, to re-
flect that the consequences resulting to the welfare, the health,
the happiness of those adopting the use of these powders are too
serious; their effects either for good or for evil too important
to be treated with the sneer of indifference or the smile of in-
credulity; for if by their adoption health is improved, life
prolonged, much mental and physical suffering prevented, the
pecuniary circumstances of parents advanced, thereby the
means for the proper education of their offspring better provi-
ded for and secured; if, I say, results so beneficial naturally
and necessarily flow from their adoption, (which I can satis-
factorily establish,) you are called upon as men, as husbands,
as fathers, to lay aside your prepossessions as physicians, and
aid in extending and enlarging the circle of their benign influ-
ence, that the blessings to be derived from their adoption may
be spread far and near, and thus be the means of prolonging the
life of many a faithful and affectionate wife, who, but for their
adoption, after lingering out a sickly, and consequently unhap-
py existence, would have been cut off in the midday of exist-
nece from amidst those whom she was attached by ties most
near and dear. True it is, that from the sordid, the narrow-
minded, or the selfish, nothing can be expected, since the gen-
eral introduction of the “Preventive Powders” will, by remo-
ving the cause of many complaints to which females would other-
wise be subjected, necessarily diminish their practice and abridge
their profits; but surely, the high-minded, the liberal, the up-
right, the honorable, the humane, I trust and hope will not,
from any motive of pecuniary disadvantage to themselves, be
deterred from recommending to married females under their
care and adoption of means at once efficacious, healthy, and cer-
tain. I am the more fully persuaded of this, from the fact that
not a few have been induced to adopt their use, by the advice
and recommenddtion of physicians. While, however, I solicit
your aid in furthering and extending the blessings, the use of
my “Preventive Powders” will confer on those adopting them;
I pledge myself to desist from recommending their use, if their
effects, or the consequences of their adoption, can be shown to
be otherwise than of the greatest possible advantage. The
“Preventive Powders” were first introduced in France about
thirty years ago, by the grandmother of the subscriber, the
well-known and celebrated Madame Restell, for many years
Female Physician in some of the principal Female Hospitals in
Europe; and the efficacy and safety of the “Preventive Pow-
ders” for married ladies whose health will not admit of too ra-
pid increase of family is a sufficient commentary on her ac-
quaintance with medical and physiological science. On their
introduction into this country, the distrust and incredulity at
first entertained, have given place to that confidence naturally
inspired by the success of their adoption, by thousands who
have availed themselves of their use within the three years
since their introduction into the United States. Hoping that
you may give the subject of this appeal that mature considera-
tion which its importance demands,
I remain,
With great respect,
C. RESTELL,
Female Physician.
PRINCIPAL OFFICE—148 Greenwich street; Philadelphia
Office, No. 3 South Seventh st.; Boston Office, No. 7 Essex st.
—where only the “Preventive Powders” can be obtained. Price
$5 a package. They can be sent to any part of the United
States.
N. B. All letters must be post paid and addressed to box
868, New York. m5 2td&1tw
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE WEATHER.—Nothing can exceed the singu-
lar and sudden changes in the weather. Since last
Saturday morning we have had three snow storms,
two tremendous storms of wind and rain, and all the
intermediate hours displayed the mildest and most
bland spring weather. Yesterday it snowed nearly
all day.
—————
THE STREET INSPECTORS.—We stated, the other
day, that it was currently reported, the whole of
these worthies died suddenly of the mud fever. We
received a note from one of the up-town inspectors
yesterday, denying that he was dead, and asserting
that he had never known a day's illness in his life.
We are glad to learn this fact; and are also happy
to find that the street inspector of the Second Ward
is still alive. He was seen looking at some of the
mud in Ann street yesterday, but he did not succeed
in carrying the whole of it away. However, it is
something to be able to say that he looked at it.
NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, March 11, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
FEMALE MONTHLY PILLS.
M ADAME RESTELL, Female Physician, being fully satis-
fied, from her perfect acquaintance with the peculiar phy-
siology and anatomy of the female frame, that most of the
complaints to which females are subject, have their source al-
most invariably in the suppression and irregularity of those
functions of nature to which every female is indebted for
health, strength, cheerfulness, and of consequence, to happi-
ness. To this cause can we attribute those violent and convul-
sive headaches, derangement of the stomach, gnawing in the
side, burning in the chest, disturbed and feverish sleep, fright-
ful dreams, languor, debility, weakness, a most distressing le-
thargy and disinclination to activity or employment, deathly,
sallow, and inanimate complexion, want of appetite, and in
short, the utter prostration of the very susceptibility for the
enjoyment, or even, in many instances, endurance of life, en-
gendering that melancholy of mind and depression of spirit that
make existence itself but a prolongation of suffering and
wretchedness, and which, alas! not unfrequently dooms the un-
happy victim to the perpetration of suicide. Those dreadful
and alarming symptoms are removed in a few days by the use
of the Female Monthly Pills.
The adoption of the Female Monthly Pills in the Female
Hospitals of Europe, as well as Madame Restell's other reme-
dies, in consequence of their efficacy and safety in all cases of
irregularity or suppression of the menses, from whatever cause
produced, as well as their adoption in this country to the ex-
clusion of the various worthless compounds heretofore offered,
is well known.
Principal office, 148 Greenwich street, N.Y.; Philadelphia
office, No. 3 South Seventh street; Boston office, No. 7 Essex
street.
—————
BEWARE OF FRAUD.
Innumerable worthless compounds are called “Female
Monthly Pills,” to effect sale. None should be purchased ex-
cept at Madame Restell's offices, and the following agents:—87
Canal street, 120 Cherry street, and 284 Grand street. Ma-
dame Restell's signature is written on the cover of each box—
all others are base counterfeits and imitations. m11 1m
================================================================
[Col.2]
Theatricals in the United States.
The present state of theatrical in this country
very much resembles the state of the stock markets;
sometimes up, sometimes down—sometimes slightly
prosperous, but mostly depressed and stagnant.—
...
Fanny Elssler has at last reached New Orleans,
after making $30,000 in Havana; and the enthu-
siasm was greater there than it has been elsewhere.
She rode on horseback from the levee to the hotel,
and the cushion on which rode was put up at auc-
tion and sold for $200. It is not true that any of the
Southerners compelled her to lengthen her petti-
coats on the stage. She had not engaged in New
Orleans at the last accounts, but is sure to get $800
or $1000 a night, as often as she plays there.
There are no other new theatrical movements
worth mentioning.
[Col.3]
Court of Oyer and Terminer.
MARCH 13.—This tribunal meets this day at 11
o'clock, and it is understood that Judge Gridley, of
the Albany Circuit, is to replace the petulant and
deaf functionary who has hitherto presided in this and
the Circuit Court. The Criminal Calendar only con-
tains one case of any magnitude—that of Ezra White,
with which the public has been sufficiently nau-
seated, and only now wish to be relieve from, even
if it should result in the liberation of a murderer scot
free.
It is said that the watchman is not forthcoming,
and if so, White's acquittal is certain. Indeed, that
was evident on the first trial, when that witness was
absent until the afternoon of the second day, and had
the late Mr. Graham, hurried, instead of procrasti-
nating the first day's proceedings, a verdict of Not
Guilty must have been the result, before that watch-
man came upon the scene.
Having taken up, from the very first arrest of
White, a very strong opinion of his guilt, and having
experienced the tender mercies of the very gang that
he was chief of, in this city to the terror of the peace-
able, we cannot but admire the legal tact and foren-
sic ingenuity of Mr. Graham in so perseveringly fol-
lowing all the mazes of the law until his client's li-
beration is almost certain. Our opinion of the mo-
ral effects of such formalities will never be altered,
although White's victim was “never nothing but a
foreigner, and he a native born citizen.”
The civil calendar is understood to contain more
than 300 cases, so that Judge Gridley will not re-
pose on a bed of roses during his sojourn in New
York.
———————
Special Sessions.
MARCH 13.—This tribunal met on Saturday, in
order to clear out of the tombs, a number of petty
thieves, respectable loafers, and other small fry of
the criminal code.
Rowdies.—John Haggerty, without the O, was put
to the bar, charged with assaulting a middle aged
lady, by endeavoring to get into a bed where she
and three more were reposing in the arms of Mor-
pheus.
John's defence was, that another gentleman was
in the room, and that he believed he, John, should
make the party more numerous but not less respec-
table.
The Court held this defence to be inadmissi-
ble, and sent John Haggerty ! to the tombs for 30
days.
Sally King was tried for assault and battery, and
sent to the tombs for ten days, to see if that would
mend her ways.
...
================================================================
[Col.3 / Partly in Advocate of Moral Reform, Vol.7]
GENERAL SESSIONS.—Yesterday.
Jane Louisa Riley was tried for grand larceny in
stealing $43 worth of cloth from Messrs. Lozee &
Mott. The jury found her guilty.
Henry Ketcham was tried and convicted of assault
and battery, and fined $7, which he paid.
Edward Thompson was tried and convicted of bur-
glary in the third degree, and was sentenced to the
state prison for two years and two months.
Ann Sharp was tried for assault and battery, with
intent to kill Charles Kelley. The jury found her
guilty of assault only, and the court sentenced her to
the penitentiary six months.
Emma Francis was tried and convicted of assault
and battery, with intent to kill Michael Higgins with
a knife. The court sentenced her to the state prison
for three years and two months.
Several others were tried for petty offences and ac-
quitted.
The Grand Jury came in with a number of bills of
indictment, and also presented as a nuisance, the fur-
niture, and old clothes, and such like articles of mer-
chandise, with which Chatham square and the streets
adjacent are, and have been for a long time continually
filled.
The Grand Jury also made the following
PRESENTMENT.
On closing the arduous labors of their session, the
Grand Inquest cannot refrain from respectfully mak-
ing to the Court the following Presentment:—
We are aware that the province of the Grand Jury is
mainly to examine such complaints as may be laid be-
fore them against persons accused, or suspected of
crime; but we feel it to be also our privilege as well as
our duty, to act in some degree as guardians of public
morals, as well as of the public weal.
In this view we feel bound to employ our powers,
as well for the prevention, as for the punishment of
crime.
Our attention has been strongly drawn to a sub-
ject which we regard as pregnant with incalculable
evils.
The Court is too well acquainted with fallen human
nature not to know that there are crimes, which but
for the fear of detection, would be much more com-
mon than they now are, and that if this wholesome
restraint shall be removed, the corrupt passions of
thousands would lead them to the violation of all the
principles of virtue, charity and virgin honor.
We respectfully invite the attention of the court
to the advertisements constantly appearing in the
newspapers of our city, of a certain “Madame Res-
tell and a Madame Costello,” in which, among other
things, they offer to the community an article styled
by them “Preventive Powders,” “preventive of Con-
ception.” We present herewith to the court two
copies of the New York Herald containing these ad-
vertisements. We need not expatiate on the evils
which may grow out of this abomination.
The enlightened mind of the court will at once per-
ceive the facility thus furnished to those who dread
crime, far less than detection, and how the vile se-
ducer is thus enabled to present to his victim, that
which removes the last fear which remains after his
surmounting all other obstacles. We earnestly pray
that if there is no law that will reach this, which we
present as a public nuisance, the court will take mea-
sures for procuring the passage of such a law.
Another evil, to which we invite the attention of the
court, is the encouragement afforded to early juvenile
crime, by the practice of keepers of Junk shops of
purchasing from minors.
A very painful case of this kind has been before the
jury at the present session, among the many com-
plaints which have been preferred against keepers of
such shops as receivers of stolen goods.
A law forbidding under severe penalties the keepers
of these shops from purchasing any article whatever
from minors, we think will be highly salutary, and
have the effect to drive the numerous youthful prow-
lers for plunder, to seek some respectable and honest
employment.
These suggestions, the Grand Inquest respectfully
submit to the superior wisdom of the Court, feeling
that they are made from a strong sense of feeling and
a sincere desire to prevent crime, and improve the
morals of our noble city.
By order of the Grand Jury,
JOHN. D. REESE, Foreman.
HENRY W. SARGENT, Secretary.
New York, 16th March, A. D. 1841.
The Grand Jury were then discharged for the
term, and the Court adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.6]
PRESENTMENT.
Madame Restell's Reply to Mr. John D.
Keese (Druggist,) and other Gentlemen of
the Grand Jury.
GENTLEMEN—
As you have thought proper to overstep the strict
bounds of your duties, and gratuitously, and doubtless
disinterestedly, stepped forward to take under your guar-
dian and fostering care the “public morals” of this “no-
ble city,” you will not, I hope, deem it impertinent in me
to examine briefly the premises and reasons you adduce
to found the very eminent danger to “public morals” you
seem to apprehend from the nature, purpose, intention,
and object of the “Preventive Powders.” I will not
charge you, gentlemen, (as some evil disposed people
would,) with being instigated by sinister, mercenary,
selfish, corrupt, or unworthy motives. I will not, for a
moment, suppose that the cause you have thought proper
to pursue had any—the remotest—reference to any pecu-
niary feeling of one or more of your body. I am suffi-
ciently acquainted with “fallen human nature,” to know
that the wisest, most virtuous, and upright, are not al-
ways exempt from improper influences in their conduct
and duties. The desire to be commended, worthily or
unworthily—a craving to figure before the world as the
stern champions of “public morals,” and thus, by infe-
rence, to be supposed possessed of a goodly share of “pri-
vate morals,” is but natural to “fallen human nature.”
With your motives, therefore, gentlemen, I have nothing
to do, presuming them to be correct.
But you will pardon me for dissenting from you in the
low estimate of female character which you express in
your presentiment. I cannot subscribe to the monstrous
doctrine that there is no moral principle, no conscious-
ness of right, no instinctive perception of virtue, that ac-
tuates female conduct, instead of the “fear” and “res-
traint” you allege. I cannot conceive how men who are hus-
bands, brothers, or fathers, can give utterance to an idea
so intrinsically base and infamous, that their wives, their
sisters, or their daughters, want but the opportunities and
“facilities” to be vicious; and if they are not so, it is not
from an innate principle of virtue, but from fear. It is
humiliating to find men in this enlightened age, with all
the contracted views and prejudices in regard to morals,
as connected with females, that should make a heathen of
the fifteenth century blush for very shame. What! is
female virtue, then, a mere thing of circumstance and
occasion? Is there but the difference of opportunity be-
tween it and prostitution? Would your wives, and your
sisters, and your daughters, if once absolved from fear,
all become prostitutes?—all sell their embraces for gold,
and descend to a level with the most degraded? Such
abhorrent, detestable, and disgusting estimate of female
virtue, it is hoped may be confined within the narrowest
possible bounds. No high-minded, virtuous and enlight-
ened mind can entertain it. But I distinctly and unequi-
vocally deny that the object, or intention, or effects of my
“Preventive Powders” are such as you seem to imagine;
and am prepared to prove to the satisfaction of even the
most prejudiced mind, that their general and universal
introduction would have a decidedly moral influence, by
inducing early marriages; and in the language of my
“Circular,” “young persons seriously attached to each
other, and who might wish to marry, would marry early,
merely resolving not to become parents until prudence
permitted it. The young man, instead of solitary toil,
or vulgar dissipation, would enjoy the society and the
assistance of her he had chosen as his companion; and
the best years of life, whose pleasures never return,
would not be squandered in riot or debauchery.”
But it is not in this respect only that the introduction
of the “Preventive Powders” would have a moral effect.
It is well known among physicians, (of which fact you
should have acquainted yourselves,) that there are some
women who cannot, except at the imminent peril of their
lives, and the certain sacrifice of that of their unborn
offspring, give birth. Is it not moral for those to have
the “Preventive Powders” to save their health—their
life? Many weakly wives have been saved from a pre-
mature grave, to be a succor and a blessing to those near
and dear to them. And are we to forego an actual good,
because, if perverted, it may possibly offer “facilities”
to evil? Nor shall we know where to stop, if we follow
up this principle. If you give your sons lessons in me-
chanics? But then you give them “facilities” to pick
locks. If you teach them to read? But they may obtain
“facilities” to falsehood and folly. If you instruct them
in writing? But they may become possessed of “facili-
ties” to forge.
It is not for me, gentlemen, to advise a respectable bo-
dy of men in the duties belonging to Grand Jurors; but
it suggests itself to me, nevertheless, that too much cir-
cumspection cannot be used in making “presentments,”
to avoid hasty, inconsiderate and injudicious conduct,
bringing the body and the institution into just ridicule
or rebuke. Hoping that nothing herein contained will
be construed into disrespect towards you, and having
with yourselves the greatest regard not only for “pub-
lic” but “private morals,”
I remain, gentlemen, with sincere respect,
C. RESTELL, Female Physician,
m19 148 Greenwich street, N. Y.
================================================================
[Col.6]
Common Council.
MARCH 22.—BOARD OF ALDERMEN.—The President
took the chair at half past 5, when the minutes of
the last meeting were read and confirmed.
Several messages from the acting Mayor, pro for-
ma, were ordered on file.
The presentment of the Grand Jury, in relation
to the advertisement of Mesdames Restell and Cos-
tello, the junk shops, the buyers and sellers in Chat-
ham square, and other bad doings, which were “an
abomination in the noble city,” was read and refer-
red to the committee on police.
Ald. Chamberlin made a little bit of a flare up
speech, in which, amidst cries of order, order, he
persisted in saying that the Grand Jurors were over
tenacious of the morals of this noble city, while the
Governor had the power to appoint one for Recorder
who was covered with gross corruption, &c., and he
hoped the committee would take the matter in hand
and enquire into the real character of Fred. A. Tall-
madge, who had been forced on “us” by the Gover-
nor, and let the people know what a miserable wretch
“we” have got for a criminal judge.
At this point in the Alderman's oration, the Presi-
dent shouted “order, order,” so vociferously that the
orator was compelled to sit down.
Among the petitions presented and referred, was
one asking for aid in the procurement of a patent for
an improvement in the manufacture of manure.
...
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, March 23, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3]
A NIMAL MAGNETISM.—AT COLUMBIAN HALL,
Grand street, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday eve-
nings of this week, at 8 o'clock precisely.—The public is re-
spectfully informed that in consequence of a misunderstanding
with the Consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church, the medi-
cal investigations on the subject of Animal Magnetism, will be
conducted in the Columbian Hall, where there will be no possi-
bility of disappointment. Dr. Collyer will deliver a popular
lecture on each evening. The subject will be managed in such
a manner as to ensure the most happy results, and with a strict
regard to its scientific and philosophical bearings, by the under-
signed medical gentlemen.
R. H. COLLYER, M.D.
J. RABINEAU, M.D.
P. S. Several individuals will be put in the magnetic state
in the presence of the audience, any many curious and interest-
ing experiments performed.
Admittance 25 cents; children half price, merely to defray
contingent expenses. m23 4tis*[Col.2]
BOARD OF ALDERMEN—March 22.
Communication—From the acting Mayor, with
presentments made by the Sessions Grand Jury
against the advertisements of Madame Restelle
and Madame Costello, and also against incum-
brancing Chatham street with the stands of dealers
in second hand furniture.
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
Reported for the Courier and Enquirer.
A Chapter on Mystery, Blood and Murder.—Yes-
terday was an eventful day in our police annals. The
whole town, was throughout the day in a state of in-
tense agitation and excitement. The first great cause
was the arrest and imprisonment of the notorious
Madame Restell.
The story of her arrest and the cause which led
thereto (in stating which we are compelled for want
of room to be as brief as possible,) is as follows:—
In the month of May 1839, Mrs. Ann Maria Purdy,
wife of William W. Purdy, then residing in Mott street,
being enceinte, and having at the time a child only ten
months old, resolved upon the adoption of some course
to procure abortion.
She concealed her intentions from her husband,
and consulted an old negress—the washerwoman for
the family on the subject. Procuring a copy of the
Sun newspaper, she therein found one of Madame
Restell's advertisements. The old negress informed
her that she knew of a young woman in Mulberry
street, who had been relieved by Madame Restell,
without any difficulty whatever.
On the 1st of June, Mrs. Purdy called at the resi-
dence of Madame Restell, stated her case, and procu-
red a vial, for which she paid one dollar. The con-
tents of which she was directed to take several times
per day, until the desired relief was afforded. Return-
ing to her home, she for several days took the medi-
cine as directed; but becoming alarmed at the symp-
toms which followed, she sent the phial to Dr. D. D.
Marvin, to learn of him the nature of its contents.
Dr. Marvin having examined the medicine, pronoun-
ced it to be a compound of oil of tanzey and spirits of
turpentine. He addressed a note to Mrs. Purdy,
stating that the medicine was of a most deleterious
and dangerous character, and could not be administer-
ed without the greatest hazard being incurred.
The medicine was then laid aside. The female “in
Mulberry street” was consulted, but refused to give
any information as to the course adopted by Restell
in her case.
Mrs. Purdy then made another visit to Mrs. Res-
tell, and was informed by the latter, that an opera-
tion could be performed by a woman which would
relieve the patient, without causing the least pain or
inconvience, or danger of exposure. The terms
agreed upon were, that Restell should receive $20 for
her services. Mrs. Purdy said that she was unable
to procure funds without her husband's knowledge
and offered to give to Restell a pledge ticket for a
gold watch worth $20 in lieu of the money. She
then went away, and as agreed upon, at 8 o'clock on
the next evening she called at Madame Restell's. She
was, after a few minutes conversation, taken into a
back dark room, where by Restell and some man to-
gether, a hasty and violent operation was performed
upon her person. She was after this permitted to
leave the room. She was made to promise never to
disclose what had been done, as, said Mrs. Restell,
“it is a state prison offence & you may be made to suf-
fer for it as well as me.” Mrs. Purdy promised never
to made any disclosure, and left the house in a very ex-
hausted state, took an omnibus and rode home. In
a few days she was taken violently ill and was atten-
ded by Dr. Marvin. The Doctor discovered the cause
of her illness, and Mrs. P. declared to him the fact of
her having visited Mrs. Restell, under a pledge of se-
crecy on his part.
She continued ill and gradually grew worse till
within a few days her situation becoming extremely
critical, Dr. Kirby was called in to consult with Dr.
Marvin. She was pronounced to be past all hopes
of recovery. This decision of the physicians was
communicated to her, and then for the first time she
expressed a desire to disclose all to her husband.
This was on Sunday last. Mr. Purdy on Monday
came to the police and conferred with Mr. Justice
Merritt on the subject; Mr. Merritt issued a warrant,
which he gave in charge of officer Gil Hays, and pro-
ceeded with Mr. Purdy to his residence. Mr. Merritt
found the unfortunate victim in the last stage of hu-
man suffering, though in full possession of her intel-
lectual faculties. A full and detailed statement of the
facts which we have above given in a condensed
form, was taken down from her own lips, to which
she subscibed her name and swore; the deposi-
tion was read to her a second time; she was remind-
ed of the awful situation in which she was placed,
and the dreadful solemnity of the occasion; she, how-
ever, without wavering, declared that all which had
been read to her was true to the letter.
Mr. Hays proceeded to the residence of Mad-
dame Restell, where he found her giving audience to
some half a score of her patients in a splendidly fur-
nished parlor, and her husband (?) “Charles Loh-
man,” employing himself the while in an adjoining
apartment in preparing packages of the “Preventive
Powders.” Mr. Hays made known his errand, when
Madame R. demanded his authority, and refused to
accompany him.
Her name, she said, was not Madame Restell, but
Lohman, the wife of Charles Lohman. She only
“acted as the agent of Madame Restell, of Paris.”
All this talk, however, did not avail her any thing
or frighten Mr. Hays from his purpose, and after
some parly both Madame Restell and her husband
Charles Lohman, accompanied the officer to the house
of Mr. Purdy, corner of Bowery and Broome street.
Upon her being brought into the presence of Mrs.
Purdy, the latter readily recognized her as the wo-
man, who more than a year previous had given her
the fatal advice. Mr. Charles Lohman was suffered
to depart, but Madame Restell was conducted to the
tombs, where she was fully committed, there to await
the almost certain event of Mrs. Purdy's death, and
of her own consequent trial. Mrs. Purdy is but 21
years and 6 months of age, and has been married 3
years. She was at last accounts sill living, but ex-
pected to survive but a few hours.
Chapter 2d.—Sacrifice of another Female through
Ignorance and Malpractice.—Another cause of the ex-
citement prevalent yesterday, was the discovery on
the evening previous of the body of a beautiful young
female, concealed in a box, in Oliver street, in the
neighborhood of the residence of a noted “female
physician,” named Mrs. Bird alias Dawson, in Oliver
street.
About six o'clock on Monday evening, Mr. Jona-
than Lyon, cartman to Messrs. Butterfied & Coach-
mon, auctioneers, of Chatham square, was applied to
to convey a long box from No. 20 Orange street to No.
18 Oliver street. The box was taken to the house,
where something was put into it, and it was again put
upon the cart and removed to the house of Mr. John
K. Cowperthwaite, corner of East Broadway and
Catharine street. The circumstance of the box being
somewhat heavier upon coming out of the house than
when it went in, excited Lyons's suspicions, and upon
enquiry, learning that No. 18 was the residence of
the “female physician,” he felt assured that all was
“not right,” and communicated his suspicions to
Mr. Butterfield. The latter sent for officer McGrath,
the coroner and a magistrate, who came, and causing
the box to be opened, it was found to contain the body
as aforesaid. The body was sent to the dead-house,
Park, and yesterday an inquest was held thereon. It
appeared the deceased was born in Connecticut. Her
name was Maria E. Shaw—was twenty years of age,
and till recently resided with her mother, Mrs. Eliza
Hill, in Twentieth street.
Some weeks since, she being enceinte, came to re-
side with Mrs. Bird, and arranged that her stay should
be prolonged till after her delivery. In a few days
she was taken ill, and was attended by Dr. James
Wright, from the 25th of February till March 11th,
when he ceased visiting her. She was then in feeble
health, but convalescent. The Doctor on leaving,
cautioned Mrs. Bird of the necessity of having a
medical man present on the occasion of her patient's
delivery; this was, however, not attended to. She
was on Sunday about noon delivered of a living fe-
male child. Some unfavorable symptoms ensued,
and Dr. Wright was called in, and about the same
time, Mrs. Hill, mother of deceased arrived. The
Doctor found that some wrong practice had been re-
sorted to, prescribed for deceased, and left. In about
there hours afterwards she was a corpse!
Mrs. Hill, on her examination, stated that deceased
was always a delicate person, and she had for some time
supposed her to be in a decline. I have visited her
frequently since she had been at Mrs. Bird's. I was
not present at her confinement, but arrived shortly
afterwards. She was attended by Mrs. B. Dr.
Wright arrived after it was over. She was delivered
about 12 o'clock on Sunday, and she died on the
same day. Dr. Wright attended her about three
weeks before her confinement at my request. De-
ceased was not married.
Margaret Dawson, on her examination stated that
she was the “lady” who answered to the name of
Mrs. Bird. I use this name in my professional busi-
ness. I am a midwife—have practised about twenty
seven years. My business is to board ladies who are
enceinte. Mary E. Shaw was sick at the time she
came to me. I attended her during her confinement
—the labor was not difficult or protracted. The
child is a female, and is still living. Here the wit-
ness recited what occurred after the delivery. She
became alarmed and sent for Dr. Wright. The rea-
son for wishing to have the deceased interred private-
ly, was on account of the disgrace of having an illegi-
timate child. The arrangements was made with Mr.
Cowperthwaite.
Dr. Wright was consulted as to the expedience of
procuring a private burial, and advised that it should
not be done, as such proceedings always excited sus-
picions. Mr. Cowperthwaite was however consulted
and consented to undertake for a stipulated consider-
ation to remove the body to his own house and have
it buried in the Houston and Chrystie street burial
ground on Tuesday at 10 o'clock. Dr. Wright certi-
fied to the ability of Mrs. Bird as a midwife, and stated
that she had been employed on several occasions by
himself, the late Dr. Bushe and others. The Doctor
gave a certificate that deceased died of werine hæm-
orhage. Doctors Gilman and Cooledge examined
the body after death, and concurred in opinion with
Dr. Wright as to the cause of death.
The jury after hearing the testimony retired, and
after a two hours discussion on the propriety of pre-
senting Mrs. Bird, as having been instrumental in the
death of deceased, agreed upon the following verdict:
“It is the opinion of this jury from the facts elici-
ted that Maria E. Shaw was in a very precarious
state of health and much debilitated when she came
to the hands of Mrs. Bird, and that it was highly im-
proper on the part of Mrs. Bird that she did not call
in a medical man to assist her in the accouchment of
deceased, and that she died in child-bed.
Chapter 3d.—Another mystery, and about a female.
—This is a case which is as the police officers say
“not ripe.” We can only give the circumstances as
they came to our knowledge, in the abstract, and fur-
nish the details on a future occasion.
The information which has reached the magis-
trates is in brief as follows:
A certain Dr. Collier has been for some days past
lecturing at Peale's Museum on the science of Animal
Magnetism. The principle subject upon which he
operated was a young female, a recent graduate of a
flash house of ill fame, named Angeline Sinclair. She
was pretty, rather intellectual, but in a very delecate
state of health. She was with another young lady
introduced by the Doctor to a genteel boarding house
in Broadway, kept by a Mrs. T——. It was here dis-
covered that her reputation was none of the best, and
she was furnished with notice “to quit.” She was
however taken ill and obliged to remain. On Satur-
day evening last, she was taken suddenly worse, and
died before midnight. A respectable elderly gentle-
man, a boarder in the house was called up to assist
in “carrying out” the body. He found the body on
the floor in the room, cut and mangled in the most
horrid manner, (probably for anatomical purposes)
and exhibiting a most revolting and disgusting spec-
tacle. On Sunday morning the body was put into a
box and removed from the house, and since then no
trace of it has been found. Such are the facts as com-
municated to the coroner. What will be the result
of the investigation remains to be seen, at present the
matter is to the inmates of the house rather an ex-
citeable mystery.
================================================================
[Col.3]
City Intelligence.
THE ARREST OF MADAME RESTELL.—At a late
hour on Monday night, Caroline Lohman, who goes
under the nom deguerre of Madame Restell, was ar-
rested at her house in Greenwich street, and placed
in the tombs. The detention of this celebrated per-
sonage is for causing an abortion to a respectable
married female, so long ago as last summer, and
which would not have come to light but for the fact
of the married lady being now in extremis, and hav-
ing charged the nostrums of Madame Restell as the
cause of her illness. The sufferer, whose name is
Ann Maria Purdy, wife of William H. Purdy, of
Mott street, has made an affidavit, which occupies
nearly twelve folios, and much of the matter there
related is obviously unfit for the public eye. She
says that she is now 21 years of age, and has been
married three years and better. In the month of
May, 1839, she found herself pregnant, and having
then a sucking child, she was very desirous of get-
ting some relief. She talked with a negro wench
on the subject, and the negro said, that if the lady
would read the Sun newspaper, she could see some-
thing there which might tell her how to get relieved
from her burthen. The wench also said, that she
knew a lady in Mulberry street who had read the
Sun, and been in consequence to Madame Restell,
and got relief. Mrs. Purdy, on hearing this got the
Sun, and the negro wench explained the advertise-
ment to her, and about the 1st of June she went to
Madame Restell's and stated her case. Madame
said, for one dollar she would give her a medicine to
cause abortion—and on Mrs. Purdy's paying that
sum, she gave her a small phial containing a yellow
liquid, telling Mrs. Purdy that she must take some
drops of that on a piece of sugar. Mrs. Purdy took
the nostrum home, and took some, but not liking it,
she sent it by a girl to a Dr. Marvin, who said it was
oil of tansy and spirits of turpentine, and a very
dangerous thing to take.
Mrs. Purdy then consulted the negro wench
again, and having obtained from her the name of
the lady who before consulted Madame R., she went
to her house in Mulberry street, but the lady refused
to give any information about the matter. Mrs. Pur-
dy then visited the house of Madame R., and an
arrangement was made between the ladies, for Mrs.
Purdy to have an operation performed on paying
a fee of $20 in money, or “money's worth.” At
the hour appointed, Mrs. Purdy went to Madame
R., and was taken “behind the curtain,” where to
her great alarm, she found a man, which fact made
her fear she had got into a bad house.” This man
performed an operation on her, and told her that
most likely she would be sick, and have to employ
a physician, as also give up suckling her infant.—
Mrs. Purdy then left, and got into an omnibus, but was
taken very sick in the vehicle and nearly fainted be-
fore she got home. Before she left Madame Res-
tell's, Caroline Lohman told her that it was a State
Prison offence, and that she, Mrs. P., ran more
risk in the event of a discovery, than herself.
On the Sunday after this operation, she sent for
Dr. David D. Marvin, and on the following Tuesday
she was delivered of fœtus, the after-birth of which
did not come away until the following Friday.
As Mrs. P. got worse, she disclosed the facts to
her doctor, and on Monday she confessed the facts
to her husband, who took the necessary steps to have
the whole affair placed before the police magistrates,
who immediately placed a warrant in the hands of
of Gil Hays, who proceeded to Greenwich street,
and there saw the lady known as Madame Restell,
lecturing to several, very, interesting looking young
ladies. At sight of the officer, Madame Restell
dismissed her auditory, and asked Gil what he want-
ed; he said he had a warrant for the arrest of Ma-
dame Restell, on which “the lady” asked to see it,
and then said her name was Caroline Lohman, and
that was her husband.
Gil immediately took them both to the house of
Mrs. Purdy, where “the lady” was identified by
the poor victim as the one who had been present
when the operation was performed. On this the
officer reconducted Caroline Lohman and her hus-
band to the Tombs, where the former was locked
up, and the latter let loose.
CORONER'S OFFICE.—MELANCHOLY AFFAIR.—An in-
quest was impanelled under the direction of Dr. Ar-
cher, to enquire into the cause of the death of Maria E.
Shaw, the young female whose body was found in a
box, by two gentlemen, on a cart in Chatham square,
on Monday night, as related in the Herald of yester-
day.
It appeared that the deceased was twenty years
and six months old, a native of Connecticut, and the
daughter of a Mrs. Eliza Hill, in 20th street. About
eight weeks ago, the deceased went to board with
Margaret Dawson, alias Mrs. Bird, at No. 18 Oliver
street, being at the time pregnant of an illegitimate
child. She was attended by a Dr. Wright until with-
in a few days of her confinement, which took place
last Sunday, and her mother was sent for and came
immediately. She advised the sending for Dr.
Wright, who came, and finding that the placentia
had not been moved, advised the usual remedies.
The child was living and doing well, but the mother
continued to sink, and died of exterine hermorrhage.
Mrs. Dawson and Dr. Wright were both examined
at great length, and a post mortem examination of
the deceased had, by some medical gentlemen, but
nothing of any importance was elicited, except that
the poor girl had been sent to Mrs. Bird to avoid ex-
posure, and that the father of her child was a Mr.
Rodgers, living up town.
The jury were locked up for two hours, and ten of
them were, at one time, for presenting Mrs. Bird,
the midwife, as the cause of the girl's death; but
they eventually agreed on the following verdict:—
“It is the opinion of this Jury from the facts elici-
ted, that Maria E. Shaw was in a very precarious
state of health, and much debilitated when she came
to the house of Mrs. Bird, that she did not call in a
medical man to assist her in the accouchment of de-
ceased, and that she died in child-bed.”
The Coroner also held three other inquests, but
none of which possessed any public interest.
ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS CASE.—On Monday an ap-
plication was made to the Coroner to investigate the
death of one Angelique Sinclair, a girl who had once
been on the town, but who had latterly been en-
gaged by one Dr. Collyer and other professors of
animal magnetism, to be experimented on, at Peale's
Museum. Another girl was also retained, and the
pair put to board at the house of a Mrs. Theall, ad-
jacent to the Museum. Last week Mrs. Theall told
Angelique that she must quit, but the girl was ill at
the time, and permitted to remain. On Saturday
Dr. Collyer went to her room to prescribe, and while
there a message was sent to a gentleman boarding
in the house, to come and see Angelique, which in-
vitation the gentleman did not accept. Some hours
after he heard she was dead, and went up to the
room and saw Dr. C. performing several experiments
on the body, aided by some very juvenile profes-
sors of surgery and anatomy. When this party had
concluded their experiments, they cut up the body
of the girl and sent it off in a box, since which it has
not been heard of, nor has the Doctor been seen
since Sunday. The whole affair is thought to be
pregnent with suspicion, and as the excitement was
pretty high, we have thought it best to give our
readers such facts as have come to our reporter, even
though the disclosure man be deemed “a premature
one.”
================================================================
[Col.5]
POLICE OFFICE.—Mde. Restell, a woman who
had been recently presented by the Grand Jury
for the infamous mode in which she obtains a
living—by ministering drugs, and, as the case in
hand proves, causing surgical operations to be per-
formed, for the purpose of producing abortion—
was yesterday arrested and committed to prison,
on a charge of manslaughter.
The sufferer was a Mrs. Purdy, wife of Wm.
Purdy, an agent of the Harlem Railroad. This
inconsiderate woman, desirous, it seems, to avoid
becoming a mother, in an evil hour applied to
Mde. Restell. We cannot pursue the detail, but
the result was, that drugs not sufficing, she suffer-
ed an operation to be performed; since which, her
health has steadily declined, and at the point of
death, as she believes, and other think too proba-
ble, disclosed the whole matter to her husband,
before kept in ignorance thereof.
He applied to Justice Merritt, who, after taking
the dying deposition of Mrs. Purdy, caused the
arrest and commitment of Mde. Restell.
Another case of excitement, connected with the
death of an unmarried woman who died in the
house of a midwife, and whose body was privately
taken away for interment, occupied the courts.
The victim was Maria E. Shaw, aged 20, who
went to the house of a woman named Bird, alias
Dawson, in Oliver street, and there died in child-
bed. The private interment, it was alleged, was
to prevent exposure of the deceased to shame.
The Coroner's inquest agreed in the verdict.
“It is the opinion of this jury, from the facts
elicited, that Maria E. Shaw was in a very preca-
rious state of health, and much debilitated, when
she came to the hands of Mrs. Bird, and that it
was highly improper on the part of Mrs. Bird, that
she did not call in a medical man to assist in the
accouchment of deceased, and that she died in
child-bed.
================================================================
[Col.3. Partly from Courier]
MADAME RESTELL IN PRISON ON A CHARGE OF
MANSLAUGHTER.—This woman, who has render-
ed herself infamously notorious, is at last in a fair
way to meet her deserts. The following is the
charge on which she has been arrested. In May,
1839, Mrs. Anne Purdy, wife of Mr. William Pur-
dy, an agent of the Harlem Railroad Company, who
was then only about nineteen years old, became
enciente of her second child, having at the time
another child ten months old which she was nurs-
ing. The prospect of having a second child while
the other was yet so young, was extremely annoy-
ing to her, and at the suggestion of her servant, a
colored woman, she applied to Madame Restell to
prevent her becoming again a mother. Madame
Restell accordingly gave her a phial containing a
colored liquid, of which Mrs. Purdy took one or
two doses, without producing the desired effect,
but attended with such other unpleasant feelings,
that Mrs. Purdy fearing it might be unwholesome,
sent it to a medical gentleman in order to ascertain
what were its ingredients. This gentleman inform-
ed her that it was compound of tanzy and turpen-
tine, and that it was extremely dangerous to use it
as an internal medicine, and Mrs. Purdy in conse-
quence discontinued the use of it; but being still
anxious to effect her purpose, she again applied to
Madame Restell, who informed her that she could
perform a surgical operation on her person, which
would have the desired effect; for performing
which Madame Restell told her, she received from
$40 to $50 according to the circumstances of the
patient, but ultimately consented to do it in the
present instance for $20.
As Mrs. Purdy could not conveniently procure
this sum without the knowledge of her husband,
from whom she wished to conceal the matter, she in
a few days after called on Madame Restell and de-
posited with her the pledge ticket for a gold watch;
also, gave her one dollar, being all the money Mrs.
Purdy had with her, and which Madame Restell
insisted on being given to her along with the ticket.
Having thus received her fee or what she deemed
sufficient security for it, Madame Restell then
brought Mrs. Purdy behind a curtain which was in
the room, and a blanket being laid on the
floor Mrs. Purdy was placed on it, and an
operation was performed on her person by a
man, and she immediately after went home
in the omnibus, where she arrived with great diffi-
culty, from the extreme weakness and pain, conse-
quent upon the operation she had undergone. In
two or three days after her visit to Madame Restell,
the operation proved successful in producing a pre-
mature accouchment. And from that time to the
present Mrs. Purdy has never enjoyed a moment's
health and has gradually declined and rapidly ap-
proached her dissolution, in the last stage of con-
sumption.
Having within the last few days been informed
by her physician that the end of her earthly exis-
tence was at hand, and that she could not possibly
survive many days longer, she thought it her duty
to inform her husband of what she had every reason
to believe had been the cause of her lost health and
approaching death. The husband, on being inform-
ed of it, applied to Justice Merritt, who immediate-
ly waited on Mrs. Purdy and procured, what may
be called, her dying deposition of the above facts,
and then had Madame Restell arrested and commit-
ted to prison on a charge of manslaughter.—Jour-
nal of Commerce.
—————
SUDDEN AND MYSTERIOUS DEATH.—This is a
case which is, as the police officers say, “not ripe.”
...
citeable mystery.—Courier.
—————
CORONER'S INQUEST.—Considerable excitement
occurred in the city yesterday, on account of a report
that at a late hour the night before, a large chest
containing the body of a female had been conveyed
in an apparently mysterious manner, from the house
of a Mrs. Bird, a doctress who resides in Oliver
street. The Coroner having heard of the occur-
rence, traced the body to the house of an undertaker
in East Broadway, and had it removed to the dead
house in the Park, where an inquest was held on
it. From the evidence adduced at the inquest it
seemed that the deceased was an unmarried woman,
named Mary Dawson, who went to reside at Mrs.
Birds, in order to conceal her lapse from virtue,
and died there in her accouchment. Verdict accor-
dingly.—Journal of Commerce.
================================================================
[Col.5]
City Intelligence.
...
FRACAS.—A fracas arising out of the foregoing
case, took place, yesterday morning, at the house
of Mrs. Theall, between Algernon H. Griswold and
and Robert H. Collyer. Mr. G. came to the police
and had a warrant issued against his medical anta-
gonist, and the latter was held to bail. The fair wi-
dow, Mrs. Theall, became surety for the Doctor,
to the amount of $300.
The Doctor subsequently applied to Justice Mer-
ritt, for a cross warrant, but up to the time for leav-
ing the office, it was not granted.
THE CASE OF MADAME RESTELL, alias CAROLINE
LOHMAN.—This celebrated personage was brought
out for examination, on the charge of aiding and
abetting some unknown person in the causing of a
premature delivery of a Mrs. Ann Maria Purdy.
“The lady” was attended by Messrs. Jordan and
Morrell as counsel.
Justice Merritt explained the charge, and inform-
ed her of her rights. The Clerk was then proceed-
ing to put the first question—“What is your age,
place of birth, business, residence,” &c., when “the
lady” cut him short by saying “that under the ad-
vice of her counsel she should decline answering any
questions, but for herself she could say she was in-
nocent of that charge.”
The Magistrate said he should not fix the amount
of bail that night, and thus ended the 2d act of the
drama, which had kept the whole police establish-
ment in a ferment of excitement throughout the day.
ATTEMPT AT RAPE.—James Reed, a young butcher,
was brought up charged with an attempt to commit
a rape on the person of a girl named Mary Ann Mil-
lett, only 9 years of age. The details are unfit for
publication.
...
CUTTING OFF HEADS.—A very novel case of assault
and battery was tried Wednesday, in the Court of Com-
mon Pleas. It was a suit brought by a carman
against a butcher, to recover a compensation in dama-
ges for nearly severing the plaintiff's head from his
body. The facts lay in a nut shell, as the lawyers
say. Defendant had a ferocious dog, which bit the
plaintiff's child, and the latter insisted on the dog
being hanged. A week after the execution of the
dog the butcher got the cartman into his slaughter
house, seized him by the nape of the neck, and actu-
ally cut his throat with a big knife, from the spinal
ridge round to the right jaw, before the cartman was
rescued from his perilous situation. The wounded
man was taken to the hospital, and he had the good
fortune to get cured, as the butcher had missed the
carotid artery.
For the defence it was set up that the butcher was
insane, and that lunatics were not answerable for
either tresspass or tort.
This point was argued at great length, and finally
reserved for the opinion of the Court above.
Testimony to the insanity or delirium tremens of
the defendant was adduced, and the jury gave the
plaintiff $500 damages.
For plaintiff, W. M. Price, for defendant, J. T.
Brady.
The proceedings in the Civil Courts yesterday were
of no interest, except to the parties litigating and
their legal advisers.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Thursday Morning, March 25, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
The Restell Case.—Madame Restell, the “notor-
ious,” was yesterday afternoon brought out of prison
for examination. Her Counsel, Messrs. Morrill and
Jordan, were present and by their advice the prisoner
declined answering any questions. She declared
herself innocent of the charge and was remanded.—
On motion begin made to admit her to bail, Justice
??????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????
[Col.4]
the Police by John Ehler, Secretary of the Patent
Fire-Arms Company, that a young man, clerk in the
Company's employment at their warehouse, 155 Broad-
way, had embezzled money and property to the a-
mount of upwards of $700. A warrant was issued
for the arrest of the delinquent.
Rape.—A young butcher named James Reed, was
yesterday arrested on charge of attempting to com-
mit a rape on a little girl, 9 years of age, named
Mary Jane Millett, in the house of Benjamin Jacax,
204 16th street. Reed was committed.
The Broadway Mystery.—Mr. Coroner Archer on
Tuesday evening, proceeded to investigate the mat-
ter of the death of Angeline St. Clair, to which we al-
luded in our paperof yesterday. It appeared that she
had been for some days ill of erysipilis, though she
was able to attend the lectures of Doctor Collyer, in
the evening. She was attended by Drs. Schmidt
and Oakley, who gave a certificate of the cause of her
death. She was buried by the public authorities on
Sunday. The causes which led to the complaint be-
fore the coroner upon explanation appear far less
horrible than were at first represented. Dr. Collyer
appears to be in no wise censurable in the premises.
The excitement growing out of the affair led to the
arrest yesterday of Dr. Collyer, on charge of assault
and battery committed by him on Algmoon S. Gris-
wold, a gentleman residing in the same house, 231
Broadway. The Doctor was required to find bail in
$300, which he procured. Mrs. Theall, landlady of
the house, becoming herself his security. The Doctor
then made application for a warrant against Mr. Gris-
wold, charging him with having committed the first
assault.
================================================================
[Col.5]
At Chambers.
Before His Honor the Recorder.
MARCH 25.—The case of Julia Tooker and James
...
The case of Madame Restell.—Justice Merritt de-
cided that Caroline Lohman alias Madame Restell
might be admitted to bail in the sum of $5,000. The
sureties to justify in $10,000. At a late hour last
night such bail had not been found.
NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, March 26, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
Madame Restell—Strange Developments com-
ing—Necessity for vigorous action on the
part of the Recorder.
The arrest of Madame Restell, the sudden death
of Maria Shaw, and the story of the post mortem
examination of Angelica St. Clair, the girl who had
been assisting in illustrating animal magnetism at
Peale's Museum, have produced a great sensation
in this community, and caused an inquiry into the
condition of public and private morals in this city.
The case of Madame Restell is much the most cu-
rious, and involves the most serious consequences.
Her trial will produce developments the most cu-
riuos, the most startling, the most astounding, that
ever were witnessed in this or any other country.
Some anxiety has been manifested, to know who
Madame Restell is, her appearance, character, and
history. It is a short story and soon told.
The person who is now in prison, under the name
of Madame Restell, is an Englishwoman, about
thirty years old, of youthful appearance, with a
bright, intelligent eye, and rather a prepossessing
face. She came to this country about ten years
since, with her husband, bearing the name of Som-
ers. Her husband was a tailor, and worked in one
of the most fashionable establishments in this city.
Mrs. Somers also worked for the same establishment,
and was distinguished for the neatness and rapidity
with which she made vests and pantaloons.
About five years ago, Somers died, and his widow
subsequently married a Russian of the name of Loh-
man, a printer. He is a shrewd, cunning fellow,
and has written her advertisements, puffs, handbills,
&c. A couple of years after their marriage, busi-
ness called Lohman to Europe. He took his wife
with him, and left her in Paris, while he went to
Russia. While in Paris, Mrs. Lohman became ac-
quainted with Madame Restell, a very celebrated
accoucheur and physician. From her Mrs. Lohman
acquired a knowledge of the practices which she has
followed here, and for which she is now in prison.
On her return from Europe, she opened a shop in
this city, and adopting the title of Madame Restell,
offered her services to all who stood in need of them.
Shortly after, there was a good deal of talk about
town, and many mysterious hints were heard of cer-
tain curious cases, and threats of strange develop-
ments were muttered, but nothing definite or tangi-
ble came out, and all interest in the matter gradually
died away. Her establishment in Greenwich street
was thronged at all hours. Half a dozen persons
were frequently seen there of a morning before the
shop was open. The most elegant and fashionable
carriages in the city often drew up at her door, a ser-
vant would be sent in, and Madame Restell come out
and enter the carriage. Sometimes the carriage
would drive away with her, and sometimes it would
remain at the door for half an hour or more, with her
inside. Her practice was immense, and among all
classes of people, and she has now between five hun-
dred and six hundred letters, many of them from
ladies in the highest circles of fashionable society,
some married and some single, in this city and else-
where, acknowledging the benefits they had derived
from her ministrations, and thanking her, many of
them, in the warmest terms, for her advice and pre-
scriptions.
What will be Madame Restell's course with these
letters when she is brought to trial? Will she not
offer them in justification of her conduct? Will she
not plead, that practices which drew from such re-
spectable patients the most animated encomiums,
should be looked at with an eye of lenity?
We regard the arrest of this woman, and the dis-
closures consequent upon it which must follow, as an
interposition of Providence to crush the whole cor-
rupt fashionable society of this city to atoms. Ma-
dame Restell has been an accomplice with the de-
moralized portion of society, in violating the laws of
God and man. Young unmarried females, moving
in the highest circles, have applied to her for aid,
and she has the evidence of the fact under their own
hands. Men who pretend to be leaders in churches,
leaders of fashion, and leaders of finance in Wall
street, are connected with these extraordinary deve-
lopments. Now is the time to assert the majesty of
the laws, and vindicate our courts from all imputa-
tion or suspicion of winking at iniquity or powerful
connections. Those charged with the execution of
the laws must go on, and rip up the whole of these
dark transactions. There must be no smothering
up, no concealment, no evasion. It is due alike to
the pure and unspotted of our city, and to the sanc-
tity of the laws, that there should be an investigation,
deep though rough. We rely with confidence upon
the determination and energy of Recorder Tallmadge
in this emergency, notwithstanding the mean and
malignant attacks of the Journal of Commerce and
the rest of the sanctified hypocrites, who say to every
man not of their set, “stand by, for I am holier than
thou.” Whatever pranks and foibles may have
characterised his boyish days, he has nothing to
fear in a comparison with most of those who now
pursue him with fiend-like malice. He will do his
duty, and insist upon a thorough, searching scrutiny
into all the circumstances now for the first time de-
veloping the corrupt and demoralised state of fash-
ionable society in this country. Awful disclosures
are coming!
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Friday Morning, March 26, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Madame Restell.—In the case of this notorious
female, Mr. Justice Merritt, after consulting with His
Honor the Recorder, and the District Attorney, de-
cided yesterday morning, to admit her to bail in
$5000 with good sureties. Several respectable individ-
uals presented themselves as bail, but on their learn-
ing that their names would go forth to the world, in
juxta-position with that of the woman herself, and as
[Col.4]
semi-accessories in her crimes, they very properly
withdrew. An intense excitement prevails among the
citizens in the upper part of the city—in the neighbor-
hood of Mrs. Purdy's residence, and it is feared that
should Madame Restell succeed in procuring bail,
that some violence will be attempted upon her person,
or at least her residence.
================================================================
[Col.2]
MADAME RESTELL.—This woman is still confined
in the tombs, not having yet procured bail. The
bail demanded has been reduced to $3000. The in-
terest in this case seems not to abate at all. Seve-
ral persons about town have undertaken to make an
outcry on account of our comments upon the disclo-
sures that an investigation would produce. This is
unwise. Those who exclaim against the tone of our
remarks, subject themselves to the suspicion of being
implicated in some of the woman's transactions. None
whose hands are clean can apply anything we have
said to themselves. The existence of such an estab-
lishment as Madame Restell's in this country, fur-
nishes abundant evidence of the spread of corruption
among the fashionable circles. It is a damning fact
which no clamor can remove. The prosecution of
Madame Restell may be quashed, all judicial inves-
tigation may be stifled, but the dark spot can never
be effaced. We have more to say on this subject
hereafter.
================================================================
[Col.3]
At Chambers.
Before Judge Inglis.
THE CASE OF MADAME RESTELL.—The counsel for
this person got out a writ of habeas corpus and
had her brought before Judge Inglis for the purpose
of getting the bail reduced or ascertaining if the Po-
lice Justices had not permitted some irregularity to
creep into their proceedings, by which a discharge
could have been effected. About 4 o'clock the pri-
soner was brought up in the custody of Hyde, the
jailer, and she had scarcely been in his Honor's room
five minutes ere the place was filled to repletion by
the veriest set of loafers it was our ill fortune to en-
counter in a similar confined situation. The very
windows of the office, and the tables were occupi-
ed with the lady's admirers, and it was only by re-
moving Madam into an inner room out of the sight
of her numerous friends and disciples, that his Honor
was enabled to proceed.
Messrs. Jordon and Morrell both urged upon his
Honor the impossibility of the accused getting bail
in the sum of $5,000, and the injury which her health
must suffer if detained in prison until her trial could
be brought on. The learned and eloquent gentle-
men also called his Honor's attention to several tech-
nical objections to the proceedings. Mr. Whiting,
on the part of the people, said that the bail was not
too high. That in the case of Glentworth similar
sureties had been required and given. That the
offences charged against this woman were notorious
as the sun at noonday. The press had teemed with
her iniquites, and like the common thief, the com-
mon pickpocket, and the common vagrant, her very
notoriety made it incumbent on the authorities to
take such sureties as would compel her presense at
the day of trial.
Mr. Jordon briefly replied, and denied the legality
of excessive bail, founded on any newspaper para-
graphs, or out-door prejudices, set afloat possibly by
men as corrupt, if not as depraved as his client was
falsely alleged to be. Judge Inglis said he would
take the papers home and give a decision in the
course of the next afternoon.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Friday Morning, April 2, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
BEFORE JUDGE INGLIS—At Chambers.
Madame Restell.—This notorious personage was
brought before Judge Inglis yesterday afternoon on
a writ of Habeas Corpus. She was accompanied
from the “Tombs” to the City Hall by her husband
(?) Charles Lohman, and Capt. Hyde, and closely at-
tended by a troupe of loafers and rowdies, whose curi-
osity was excited by the novelty of the scene and the
occasion. Within and around the Judge's chambers
a dense crowd of citizens assembled, all eager to sa-
tisfy their curiosity by a glimpse at the woman.
The pressure of the crowd became at length so
great that, Judge Inglis was compelled to order the
prisoner to be removed to an ant-room, adjoining
the office. Upon this the excitement partially subsi-
ded and a portion of the crowd dispersed. His Honor
was then enabled to proceed to business.
Messrs. Morrill & Jordan, counsel for the prisoner
moved for a reducing of bail (5,000) and argued that
the bail should be fixed at a mere nominal sum. The
motion was opposed by J. R. Whiting, Esq., District
Attorney.
The motion was argued at some length by the
counsel on either side, and at the conclusion of the ar-
gument, His Honor took the matter into considera-
tion, remarking, that he would render a decision at an
early hour this morning.
Madame Restell attended as before, with some dif-
ficulty made her egress through the crowd, and was
returned to her old quarters, at the city prison.
We did not learn that any persons presented them-
selves as her bail.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, April 2, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6. Mostly from Courier]
MADAME RESTELL.—This notorious personage
...
We did not learn that any persons presented
themselves as her bail.—[Cour.]
Judge Inglis decided this morning, that he
could not reduce the bail which the Police Magis-
trate required, $5000.
================================================================
[Col.4]
HABEAS CORPUS—MADAME RESTELL.—This
woman was yesterday, at 4 o'clock, taken out of
prison, and carried before Judge Inglis, at Cham-
bers, in the City Hall, on a writ of Habeas Corpus,
in order as well to test the validity of her imprison-
ment, on the charges preferred, as to obtain a re-
duction in the amount of bail. Her counsel, Messrs.
Jordan and Morrill attended, and the former not
only took sundry technical exceptions to the affida-
vits and proceedings before the Police magistrate,
which he contended were not entirely according to
the requirements of the statute, but also contended
that the bail demanded was exorbitant, for a mere
case of misdemeanor, as he alleged this was, in
which the maximum of punishment, if found guil-
ty, was $500 fine, and one year's imprisonment in
the City Prison. The District Attorney, J. R. Whi-
ting, Esq., replied to the remarks of the counsel for
the accused, and dwelt at considerable length on
the infamous notoriety the prisoner had acquired
by her circulars and advertisements, and the vi-
ciousness of the employments in which she had
been for years engaged. He contended it was not
a mere common case of misdemeanor, but one of an
aggravated character with which she was charged;
and that the question as to the bail, was not whe-
ther it was great in proportion to the punishment
for the offence; but whether it was such sufficient
bail as would induce her to stand trial, and not
by forfeiting it, to escape conviction, and punish-
ment.
He contended that the bail instead of being too
high, was too low; that the proceedings, prelimi-
nary before the magistrate, and up to the time of
her commitment to prison, were correct and con-
formable to the statute; and offered to read the
original affidavit and accompanying papers, to show
the aggravation of the case, and to satisfy the
Judge that the bail was not too high. He said he
should also move to have the amount of bail increas-
ed. Mr. Jordan rejoined to the remarks of the District
Attorney, objecting to the reading of the original
affidavit; and contending, again, that the proceed-
ings in some particulars he named, were not ac-
cording to statute, and that the bail was fixed so high
as to preclude the obtaining of it. But that if the
bail were fixed at a reasonable amount, unexcep-
tionable bail would be given. His Honor Judge
Inglis said he would examine the matter, and de-
cide to-day at 11 o'clock. The District Attorney
said he would require one day's notice as to the
names of the persons, who were to become bail,
that he might have time to inquire into their suffi-
ciency, which His Honor granted. Madame Res-
tel, alias Lohman, was then reconducted to prison.
—Express.
================================================================
[Col.5]
At Chambers.
Before Judge Ingliss.
Madame Restell, alias Caroline Lohman, was
brought before his honor again to hear his decision
on the writ of habeas corpus.
His honor decided that all the proceedings were
perfectly regular, and that he should not make any
order to reduce the bail below three thousand dollars,
but he thought it would be advisable to have two
sureties, one in $2,000, and one in $1,000.
The lady was then remanded in custody.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Saturday Morning, April 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Madame Restell.—This woman was again brought
up yesterday to hear the decision of his Honor in the
matter of an application to admit her to bail. His
Honor decided that bail might be fixed, as demanded
by the District Attorney, at $3000, in two sureties to
justify each in that amount. No sureties were forth-
coming, the prisoner was remanded.
================================================================
[Col.2]
☞ Madame Restell has not yet been bailed.—
The examination of Mrs. Purdy, which was taken
de bene esse, by the Recorder on Monday night, did
not elicit any new facts.
================================================================
[Col.4]
MADAME RESTELL.—This woman was taken out
of prison on Monday afternoon, and conducted by
Capt. Hyde, the keeper of the prison, to the resi-
dence of Mrs. Purdy, where the District Attorney
and Justice Lownds, with Mr. La Forge, the coun-
sel of Mrs. Purdy, were in attendance to examine
the latter in presence of the accused, in regard to all
the matters with which the prisoner stands charged.
Mrs. Purdy, who is a small, delicate and lovely
looking young woman, with a very innocent expres-
sion of countenance, and a large dark and intelli-
gent eye, was reclining on her bed, unable to rise;
her skin of the purest white, and a slight hectic
flush, the emblem of consumption on herc heeks.
She was perfectly composed, though very weak, and
reiterated all of her former statement, and something
more, in reply to the various interrogatories pro-
pounded to her by counsel, all of which questions
and answers were carefully taken down by the Dis-
trict Attorney and read over to, and signed by the
complainant. Mrs. Restell, alias Lohman, on be-
ing asked whether she desired counsel, which she
was told she could have, if she wished, drew out a
written document, drawn by her employed counsel
protesting against the examination, and the pro-
ceedings in all their parts. She sat unmoved, with-
out the slightests trepidations, or appearent con-
cern during the searching enquiries made—when
she was reconducted to prison. Mrs. Purdy was
greatly exausted by the examination, which con-
tinued until about 4 o'clock, and appears to be
rapidly sinking into the arms of death.—Express.
================================================================
[Col.3]
“Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not
go unpunished.”
Those who have access to the daily papers of our city,
have observed, ere this, that the notorious Madame Res-
tell, whose vile advertisements have so long disgraced
the press, is at length incarcerated in the “Tombs,”
awaiting her trial, and the sentence of a legal tribunal.
In the providence of God, tangible facts are now before
the public, which seem to prove, beyond a doubt, the deep
guilt of this unhappy woman, and those identified with
her in her work of death.
Our hearts have long bled over this moral maelstroom,
and we felt on reading the following presentment, that
prayer has been heard and answered. The fact that the
grand jury have at length taken so firm a stand against
this heroine of licentiousness, and her vile traffic, affords
ground of encouragement that our city is not to be whol-
ly given up, so that it shall be said “Justice is fallen in
our streets, and equity cannot enter.” Let our rulers
once “quit themselves like men,“—and form a patriotic
phalanx for the defence of that “righteousness” that
“exalteth a nation,” and the panders of vice, would not,
as now, walk forth with boldness, and perform their
deeds of darkness year after year, with none to molest
or make them afraid.
Since the developments of certain facts in this case,
we have noticed that the public press utters a united voice
of condemnation. Those papers too, which have hitherto
stooped so low, as to become the faithful and successful
coadjutors in aiding and abetting these designs of evil,
by giving them publicity in their most offensive and dan-
gerous forms, now attempt to speak as loudly as the rest
in tones of censure? Truly, “out of their own mouths
are they condemned.” We learn from our Visiting Com-
mittee who have visited the prison since the confinement
of Madame Restell, that she appears extremely hardened,
[Col.1]
and wholly inaccessible to religious truth or christian
faithfulness. Vigorous efforts are making by a certain
class to release her—but unless there is a radical change
of heart and life, it is to be hoped that her future influ-
ence may not be felt beyond the walls of a prison, and that
there, if no where else, she may be made sensible of the
enormity of her guilt, and led to exercise genuine repen-
tance.
From the Courier and Enquirer.
PRESENTMENT.
...
By order of the grand jury,
JOHN. D. KEESE, Foreman.
HENRY W. SARGENT, Secretary.
New York, 16th March, A. D., 1841.
The grand jury were then discharged for the term, and
the Court adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.5]
MARRIAGE IN THE POLICE OFFICE.—A young
Jewess named Delia Phillips, having sued a young
Israelite named Isaac Steinberg, for breach of
promise of marriage, laying her damages at $5000
—the faithless swain was lodged in the debtors'
prison, in default of bail. There he had time to
reflect, and then agreed to marry, when the lady
refused, but the counsel and friends of both parties
interposing, they became re-united again, and pro-
ceeding into the police office with their witnesses,
were duly married by Justice Matsell.
...
A CURIOSITY.—A correspondent writes us that
the great number of murders and suicides which
appeared in the papers during the last fall, induced
him, in his usual newspaper reading, to keep a
memorandum of them. He accordingly began
on the first of January last; but cannot have seen
but a small portion of the whole number through-
out the United States. From that date to the first
of April, there have been 74 murders and 63 sui-
cides. Of these, 19 came to sudden death by in-
temperance; 12 by taking laudanum, and other poi-
sons; 7 by hanging themselves; 7 by cutting their
throats; 8 by drowning, and 5 by shooting them-
selves.
Of the murders, 6 were in New York, 6 in Ohio,
4 in Georgia, 4 in New Orleans, 2 in Virginia, 2
in Vermont, 2 in New Jersey, 2 in Kentucky, 1 in
Arkansas.
Of suicide, 32 were in New York, 8 in Penn-
sylvania, 7 in Massachusetts, 6 in New Orleans, 2
in Connecticut, 1 in Maine, 1 in Kentucky, 1 in
South Carolina, 1 in Wisconsin, 1 in Rhode Island,
3 in Virginia.—[Express.]
POLICE.
ATTEMPT TO BREAK JAIL.—A convict named
John Provost, who had served out a 14 years' term
in the state prison, and who was tried for, and
convicted of, a burglary in the 2d degree, on Thurs-
day last, in entering and robbing the house of
Mrs. Hannah Ashford, No. 225 Henry street, in
company with Henry Green, undertook to break
out of his cell in the 3d tier of the city prison, on
Sunday night. He tore up his blankets and made
of them a handsome rope, and then with an old
case knife and the leg of his bunk, he succeeded in
removing all the small stones in the eastern side of
his cell, in an aperture large enough to pass through,
and was engaged in removing the large stone that
remained, the only bar to his escape, when the
noise aroused Ezra White, who was confined in
the cell underneath him, who alarmed the keepers,
and who running in, stopped the prisoner's opera-
tions, and placed him in double irons, where he will
remain until sentenced.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Madame Restell, or Mrs. Lohman, a
woman who has made a good deal of noise
in New York, through advertisements in the
penny papers, has been arrested and is
now in prison, on a charge of causing the
death of a Mrs. Purday while endeavor-
ing to procure abortion. She has doubtless
amassed a fortune in two or three years by
selling 'Preventive Powders' and other-
wise professing to do indirectly what she
is now charged with doing directly and
criminally. Her race, we hope, is now run.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, April 22, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.5]
COURT OF SPECIAL SESSIONS—Wednesday—Before the
Recorder, Judges Lynch and Inglis, and Aldermen Ferris and
Smith.
...
In the case of Caroline Lohman, alias Madame Restell
against whom the jury returned, this day, a true bill for a mis-
demeanor—her Counsel, Messrs. Jordan and Morrill, moved
the Court for time to plead to the indictment, or to make such
motion in relation thereto, as they might adjudge right and pro-
per in the premises.
The Court granted the motion, allowing the Counsel until
Monday next to plead, &c.
William Carew was tried for an assault and battery on Mrs.
Nash of 395 Water st., on the 1st December last. She deposed
that he struck her on the bridge of the nose with a ham?????
which gave her two black eyes, and left a mark for two or three
weeks, and injured her seriously.
It was proved for defence that the complainant grossly abused
the defendant because he pushed a board down from the win-
dow she had nailed up, which it was believed hit her on the
head accidentally, and the Jury found the accused not guilty.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Restell.—The Grand Jury have found a true bill
for manslaughter against the interesting and sympa-
thy-exciting Caroline Restell alias Lohman. She is in
close confinement and will probably have her trial at
about the same time with Ezra White and several
others of her co-tenants and fellows in crime.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, April 23, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
MRS. RESTELL.—A true bill for manslaughter
has been found by the Grand Jury against this wo-
man, who is closely confined, and will be tried prob-
ably about the same time with Ezra White and
others.
================================================================
[Col.5]
Madame Restell.—The grand jury have found an indict-
ment against this woman for manslaughter. She is now in
close confinements.
================================================================
[Col.2]
The Case of Madame Restell.—We have already stated
that the Grand Jury of this City have found a true bill of in-
dictment against Caroline Lohman, alias Restell, for her ne-
farious practices in the procuring of abortion, which in some
cases have resulted in lasting injury to if not the death of her
victims. It will be seen by reference to our report of the do-
ings at the Court of Sessions, that the motion made by her
counsel, John A. Morrell, Esq. to quash the indictment, was
argued yesterday and is to be decided to-day.
We would like to know how it is that Justice has slept so
long over the iniquities of this wretched woman, and how the
Grand Jury could now resolve to bring her to account without
a whisper of rebuke her equally guilty accomplices in the
work of corruption and death. Two years ago, we (while
temporarily conducting the New-York Whig.) called public
attention repeatedly to the atrocious and abominable adver-
tisements which were then blazoned in The Sun and Ben-
nett's Herald, urging the Ladies (!) of New-York to avail
themselves of the benefits to be derived from Madame Res-
tell's practices. We remonstrated against the public tolera-
tion of such scandalous and depraving practices and the un-
blushing effrontery of the woman and her coadjutors of the
Sun and Herald in proclaiming their joint iniquity. But no-
body else moved a finger, and the horrible baseness went on
in broad daylight, and flourished. At last, when the woman
had made a fortune, and her newspaper accomplices large
sums by their mutual iniquity, a deluded creature is nearly
murdered, through the joint influences of publications in The
Sun and the practices of Madame R. and behold, Justice is
almost aroused! He opens one eye, reaches out his arm and
grasps one of the culprits, leaving the other untouched! is
this right? Ought they who for base lucre have wilfully
abetted beforehand the crimes of this wretch to escape
wholly unpunished? The public must answer.
———
[Col.4]
Case of Madame Restell.—Messrs. Morrill and Jordan, in
conformity with notice previously given moved to quash the in-
dictment against Caroline Lohman, alias Madame Restell, Mr.
Morrill read an affidavit of the accused, alleging that the bill
was found against her by the Grand Jury, by virtue of illegal
testimony taken before the Grand Jury in admitting the writ-
ten examination under the oath of Ann Maria Purdy, taken de
bene esse on the 5th inst. pursuant to an order of this Court, be-
fore the Recorder and District Attorney, the accused protesting
????????????????? On the statements put forth on this
affidavit the motion to quash was made.
The District Attorney opposed this motion, on the ground that
there was nothing in the affidavit to justify to motion to quash.
He contended that an affidavit, on which was based a motion to
quash, must show upon its face that the indictment was defective,
or founded on incomplete, imperfect, and illegal testimony. The
affidavit must state those facts and what they are.
It is not contended that the indictment is not correctly drawn,
and it does not appear on what evidence the bill was found, whe-
ther on the oath of a Grand Juror, or the testimony in the form
of affidavit, of Mrs. Purdy. The Complaint taken at the Police,
must go before the Grand Jury, in order to show them what the
complaint was and what evidence was necessary to sustain it.
There was nothing in the affidavit to show that the Grand Jury
found the bill on the affidavit or testimony of Mrs. Purdy, or on
what testimony it was found. The complaints of parties must go
before Grand Juries, and there is nothing in the affidavit read
on which the Court could entertain this motion.
Mr. Morrill of Counsel replied and argued the motion at great
length, in favor of quashing the indictment for reasons he ad-
vanced. He cited numerous authorities in favor of his motion,
viz: the case of Smith and Ogden tried more than 30 years ago
before Judge Matthias Talmadge, in the U. S. Court, in which it
is laid down that a motion to quash an indictment can be sus-
tained on the ground of illegal testimony before the Grand Jury.
Also the case of the Rev. Dr. Dodd, and Leech's Crown Law, p.
155; and other authorities. He contended that Mrs. Purdy
should have been taken before the Grand Jury to testify in the
case, instead of having her affidavit and examination before that
Grand Jury as evidence.
Mr. Jordan also argued at considerable length in favor of the
motion to quash, and was followed by the District Attorney,
who cited Archibald, criminal law, p. 66, to show that a motion
to quash, must be based on an affidavit setting forth on what ille-
gal testimony the indictment was found, which the present affi-
davit did not; and contended that the affidavit and the allega-
tions therein were not sufficient to found a motion upon, to quash
an indictment. Mr. Jordan rejoined at some length, and argued
the sufficiency of the affidavit.
The Court, after hearing the arguments, stated that they
would examine the authorities, the affidavit, &c. and decide
upon the motion on Wednesday afternoon, (this day.)
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, April 28, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
THE NOTORIOUS MRS. RESTELL.—The case of
this woman was brought up in the Court of Sessions
yesterday on a motion to quash the indictment
against her, which was argued at length on both
sides. The decision will be given this afternoon
at 4 o'clock.
================================================================
[Col.3]
COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS, Wednesday—Before the Re-
corder, Judges Lynch and Inglis, and Aldermen Ferris and
Smith.
...
In the case of Caroline Lohman, alias Madame Restell, the
Recorder announced that the Court would give its decision on
the motion to quash the indictment on Saturday next.
Mr. Morrill of Counsel then moved the Court to reduce the
bail of the accused below $3,000, as she was unable to obtain
that amount of bail; but the Court decided that the bail was
low enough and could not be reduced.
================================================================
[Col.5]
General Sessions.
Before the Recorder, Judges Inglis and Lynch, and Ald.
Ferris and Smith.
APRIL 28.—Case of Madame Restell—Motion to quash
the indictments.—The Court having appointed this day
...
Mr. Morrill then rose, and suplied to the court, under
all the circumstances of the case, for a reduction of the
amount of bail.
Recorder—What is the amount of bail?
Mr. Morrill—Three thousand dollars. He then said it
was impossible to procure bail to such an amount, and as
the offence was but a misdemeanor, punishable on con-
viction but by one years' imprisonment at the most, he
hoped the court would see the propriety of reducing the
amount. In fact so long as so great an amount was re-
quired his client was undergoing an amount of punish-
ment, though not convicted, almost equal to the extreme
punishment that could be awarded if a jury should say
she was guilty of the offence, with which he contended
she was improperly charged.
The Recorder said, after consultation with his col-
leagues, we are of opinion that the bail is not too much,
and therefore we cannot interfere.
The Court then proceeded with the trial of petty lar-
ceny cases of no public interest. After which the
Grand Jury came into Court with a number of bills, and
were discharged, with the thanks of the Court.
The pettit jury were also discharged, after the term,
and the Court adjourned until Thursday at 4 P. M.
NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, April 29, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1]
??? HORACE GREELY, the galvanised squash among
??????, is calling lustily upon the Court of Sessions
to try, convict and punish Madame Restell, for acts
and practices in causing abortions.
Certainly—let her be severely punished—but let
no abortionists escape justice. During Greely's ca-
reer as an editor he has murdered probably six or
seven young infant newspapers—some penny—some
two penny—but all fresh and healthy. He has done
this by his detestable pills, generally composed of
galvanised New England squashes. The abortions
that this editorial Madame Restell in pantaloons,
hanging with one brace down to the middle of his
leg, have been awful, terrible, horrible. He once
wanted to prescribe for the Herald, when it was a
sweet babe, and no doubt he would have killed it
outright, but fortunately he was not allowed to use
his squash pills upon it.
Greely is now procuring the abortion of a new
penny paper, and we have no doubt he will succeed
—particularly as the State Barber helps him. Greely
is probably the greatest pumpkin now connected
with the newspaper press—as the State Barber is the
greatest rogue.
================================================================
[Col.4]
DEATH OF MRS. PURDY.—The known victim of the horri-
ble cupidity, depravity and quackery of Mad. Restell and
her confederates, died of the injuries sustained at the hands
of these creatures, on Wednesday evening—aged about 22
years. Her sufferings for many weeks have been so great
that death was to her as an angel of mercy.
What should be the punishment of those by whose deprav-
ity this poor victim has been brought to an untimely grave?
Recollect that she was first tempted to apply to the creature
Restell by a servant, who brought her the advertisements of
that fiends in the columns of The Sun. This was long after
the conductors of that paper had been publicly and anxious-
ly remonstrated with and shown the iniquity of publishing
those advertisements. But what cared they for crime or
misery, so long as either could fill their greedy coffers with
gold? No! urge on the work of death! Let crime and sin
riot in the vitals of the community, so that the dollars are
only poured merrily in! And thus, by constant publication
and puffing in The Sun, backed by puffing Editorials in the
Herald, the dreadful trade of this wretch was made to thrive
and gold flowed in streams into her den, and thence to the
pockets of her newspaper accomplices. Must not this
blood-money prove a curse to its receivers?
Of course, Mrs. Purdy is not by any means the only vic-
tim of these horrible practices. Doubtless may others have
yielded up their lives to her perilous prescriptions, conceal-
ing their shame and their guilt in the darkness of the grave.
What demoniac practices shall be next resorted to, to glut
the avarice of those vampyres?
[Col.5]
POLICE OFFICE.
....
Death of Mrs. Purdy.—This lady, for practising on whom, in
an unlawful and unnatural manner, Madame Restell alias Caro-
line Lohman is now in prison, died at Newark, N. Jersey on
Wednesday evening, of the consumptive disease, alleged to have
been caused by the atrocious treatment to which she had been
subjected.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
Death of Mrs. Purdy.—Mrs. Purdy, the unfortu-
nate victim of the notorious Madame Restell, now in
prison on charge of murder, died yesterday, at the
residence of a relative in New Jersey. Mrs. Purdy
was, two years since, when first she consulted the
fiend Restell, in the bloom of health and beauty.
She was, when she died, but twenty years of age.
This is only an isolated instance of the ruin which
the wretched culprit has practised upon her own spe-
[Col.4]
cies within a few years past. She is now, thank
heaven, safe in the hands of the law, and will not be
suffered to escape, till she and all her coadjutors have
rendered mete sacrifice at the shrine of justice. Sev-
eral persons have recently offered to become bail for
Restell; but upon their being required by the Magis-
trates to justify as to the amount and whereabouts of
their means, they have in every instance backed out.
It requires character as well as means to succeed in
such a cause.
================================================================
[Col.3]
DEATH OF MRS. PURDY.—This lady expired at 20
minutes past one o'clock, on Wednesday. It will be
recollected that she was the person operated upon,
at the residence of Madame Restell. Her evidence
furnished the ground of the indictment against the
“fair indicted.”
[Col.5]
THE VICTIM.—It was reported yesterday at the office
of the District Attorney, that Mrs. Purdy, the lady who
had been so imprudent as to submit herself to the prac-
tice of Madame Restell, was dead. This event will ope-
rate either for weal or woe to the prisoner. As she has
the best legal advisers, and they are capable of bringing
all the features of the law to the aid of the defence of their
client, she may be acquitted for want of testimony. On
the other hand if the examination, taken de bene esse, is
got before the jury, then the death of the unhappy lady
must have such an effect on the jury as to insure her
conviction.
================================================================
[Col.5]
Madame Restell.—It has been stated in the journals
generally that this wretched woman has been indicted for
manslaughter. This we are informed is a mistake; she is
only on trial for a misdemeanor, and the only punishment
that can be inflicted upon her if found guilty, is a fine of
$1,000 and imprisonment in the City prison for one year.
What effect the death of her victim, Mrs. Purdy, will have
on her case we are not aware. We understand that with the
aid of her coadjutors, the Sun and Herald, she has made
some $20,000 by her horrid trade. This will undoubtedly
go far towards securing her acquittal.
================================================================
[Col.1]
A Visit to the Prison.
March 29th.—In company with Sister P——, visited,
for the first time, our city prison, which contains at pre-
sent one hundred and forty-three prisoners, mostly males.
I was struck with the youthful appearance of the inmates.
The majority were between the ages of fifteen and thirty;
notwithstanding their crimes have been such as to forfeit
their liberty, they do not generally appear to be hardened
in sin.
The first cell visited, was occupied by a young girl, ap-
parently not over seventeen years of age. She had been
confined here five months—was associated with a woman
who appeared to be an old offender. They both expressed
much gratitude for the tracts, and were willing to have
prayer offered on their behalf. While we bowed together
before the mercy-seat, they sighed and groaned aloud.
As we passed from cell to cell, our tracts and papers
secured for us a cordial reception, in every instance save
one. Nearly every hand was extended to receive the lit-
tle messenger of mercy. We had conversation with
most of the prisoners, many of whom were affected even
to tears. With one heart, most of them informed us, that
bad company had brought them here.
Found one young man destitute of a Bible, whom we
supplied. Met with another, who, during his confine-
ment, had read the Bible through.
One young man, very intelligent and gentlemanly in his
address, informed us that he had just received his sen-
tence to spend five years in state's prison. This unhappy
youth spoke of his crimes with such deep humility and
brokenness of spirit as would have melted a heart of
stone. I urged upon him the claims of the gospel, and
the consolations of religion, as being adapted even to the
gloomy walls of a prison, and begged him to look to God,
against whom he had sinned for peace and pardon
through the blood of the cross. He replied, that after liv-
ing in sin twenty years, it was hard to bow before the
Lord, and with tears in his eyes requested prayer to be of-
fered for him. Before leaving, he promised to pray for him-
self. May the Lord hear the sighing and groaning of
these poor prisoners, and emancipate them from the
bondage of sin, from the service of Satan, and deliver
them from the prison of hell. We were consoled with
the reflection that these were not endless sighs, nor ever-
lasting groans—that they are still on praying ground, and
a ray of hope beams into these dark abodes.
In one of the cells visited, we found that “mistress of
abominations,” whose polluted and polluting advertise-
ments have been the means of leading thousands of our
sex to infamy and death. It may be recollected, that the
case of this individual, and her notorious triffic, was al-
luded to some time since in the Report of the Visiting
Committee, in the Advocate of August 15th. The prepa-
ration of that Report was the last labor of the kind per-
formed by a beloved member of this Committee, who is
now (if living) on the confines of the grave. We remem-
ber her tears when presenting this Report, and the deep
anguish of her soul, as she inquired, “Cannot something
be done to save our city from such contaminating influ-
ences?” It was benevolence, patriotism, true Christian
feeling, that moved her breast; and, could she see this
woman now in her solitary cell, she would doubtless
“thank God and take courage.” She would not rejoice
in the prospect of her punishment, in itself considered—
but a class of emotions would be awakened, such as may
be felt by the Christian, living or dying, in view of a
greater good, purchased at the expense of a lesser evil.
But to return. Our visit was received by Madam R——
[Col.2]
with great indignation. She remembered a former con-
versation—that my companion had told her of her guilt;
and its inevitable consequences—and her countenance
expressed what was said by one of old, “Art thou come
hither to torment me before the time?” Poor fallen wo-
man—such was not our purpose. We would fain have
pointed her to Him who has said to the truly penitent,
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be whiter
than snow;” but her heart was harder than the nether
mill-stone. She rejected the tract, saying she had plenty
of good reading, pointing at the same time to a lot of
novels with which she was supplied; and, turning her
back in anger, said, “I will hear nothing from you—I
fear neither God or man, nor care for heaven or hell!”
The keeper remarked that she was visited by hundreds
wearing the garb of gentlemen, and no pains or expense
would probably be spared to screen her from the just
penalty of the law. If she shall be again liberated, and
her career of crime continue unchecked, we know not
what is to become of the morals of our beloved city.
================================================================
[Col.1]
COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS.—Saturday—Before the Re-
corder, Judges Lynch and Inglis, and Alderman Smith.
Case of Madame Restell.—In the case of Caroline Lohman,
alias Madame Restell, the Recorder declared the opinion of the
Court, which was unanimously against the motion for quashing
the indictment. The Recorder in pronouncing the opinion said
...
Mr. Morrill of Counsel then said he would move the Court
for time to prepare a plea in abatement, and to plead to the ju-
risdiction of the Court. This the District Attorney opposed,
and the Court refused to grant the motion, and ordered that Mrs.
Lohman, alias Madame Restell, to plead to the indictment. She
was then brought out of Court, arraigned, pleaded not guilty,
and a day in the May term named to proceed with the trial of
her case. She was then remanded to prison.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Monday Morning, May 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
Madame Restell alias Lohman.—The counsel of this
woman made a motion in the court of general sessions,
early in the past week, for the quashing of the indict-
ment found against her by the Grand Jury, in which
she is accused of misdemeanor, in having procured
an abortion at the instance of a young married woman
named Purdy, who died on Wednesday last, at
Hackensack, New Jersey, of the effects, it is alleged,
of Madame Restell's mal-practice.
The motion was made on a legal quibble, and it was
grounded on an affidavit made by Madame Restell, in
which she set forth that she was taken from prison
against her consent to the bedside of Mrs. Purdy,
where Mrs. P. underwent an examination, which was
laid before the Grand Jury, and on which alleged ille-
gal testimony, the indictment was found, and it was
contended that this proceeding being illegal, it vitiated
the whole procedure.
On Saturday morning, the Court met half past 10
o'clock, and his Honor the Recorder proceeded to
give the decision of the Court on the motion above
mention. He cited a number of cases showing that
the indictment was well founded, and that the affi-
davit of Mrs. Purdy was admissible before the Grand
Jury. Besides, his Honor said it would be highly
improper to quash this indictment or arrest its pro-
ceedings, when there might have been other testi-
mony, parole, oral, or otherwise before them.
Judge Lynch said he concurred in the opinion of
his Honor.
Judge Inglis said he did not altogether concur in
that decision, and he then proceeded to read his opin-
ion, in which he held that there were many cases
where the Court not only had the power, but were
bound to quash indictments. He thought, however,
that the Court should be extremely cautious in inter-
fering with the proceedings had before a grand jury.
Another objection to such interference was, that it
would be rendering the Court, to a certain extent, an
examining committee into the action and proceedings
of that body.
The Recorder said—at the conclusion of Judge In-
glis's opinion, that the Court unanimously concurring,
the motion was denied.
Madame Restell was then brought out and arraign-
ed—the indictment read to her, to which she pleaded
not guilty. The prisoner was then remanded to
await her trial.
================================================================
[Col.5]
General Sessions.
Present the Recorder, Judges Ingliss, Lynch, and two
Aldermen.
The case of Ann Lohman alias Madame Restell.—His
Honor the Recorder, said that in this case a motion had
been made to quash the indictment found by the Grand
...
Judge Ingliss said he concurred generally with the
Recorder, but had some few remarks from cases cited
which he would read to the jury. His principal reason
for declining to quash indictments arose from the fact,
that such a practice had a tendency to make Courts of
Law mere examining committees of the proceedings of
Grand Jurors.
His Honor then proceeded to read his opinion. And
then the Recorder said that the Court unanimously de-
nied the motion.
Mr. Morrill said his client was in a very peculiar posi-
tion, she was abused by the press, denied bail, and could
act have a fair trial, he hoped the court would deter the
order to plead.
The District Attorney said the learned gentleman had
taken time enough, and if he refused to advise his client,
on the motion of pleading the court would advise her to
plead not guilty. After some further conversations the
fair accused was brought into court, looking as degagée
and interesting as possible, and pleaded not guilty.
False Pretences.—In re William H. Gregory, Roswill L.
Graves, and Roswell Graves, jr., all indicted about three
years since for obtaining monies and securities under
false pretences from Darby Farnham and others in this
city. The Court, with the consent of the District Attor-
ney ordered nolle prosequies to be entered, and the defend-
ants to be discharged.
...
—————
☞ TO THE PUBLIC.—The course pursued towards
me by a portion of the public press, is one, to say the
least, highly reprehensible, if not criminally culpable,
inasmuch as its effect is to prejudice and poison the pub-
lic mind, by the gross, and I am inclined to believe, ma-
levolent falsehoods and intentional misrepresentations
which are published with all the exaggeration that ma-
lignity can dictate, or imagination conceive. The 'Cou-
rier and Enquirer' has charged me with 'manslaughter,'
and even 'murder,' knowing at the same time that the
charge is misdemeanor, and has also attempted to create
an impression that I had caused the death of the woman
on whose affidavit I have been detained, when it is
notorious that for eighteen months after her alleged
treatment, (in June, 1839,) she had enjoyed sufficient good
health to enable her to attend balls, parties, &c., with late
hours, and exposures incident to such indulgences. Put
even if it were otherwise, is there any justification for
the uncalled for comments indulged in by the Courier &
Enquirer and others, before the party accused is put on
the defence. Justice and common sense requires that no
party shall be adjudged guilty merely on a charge, as
charges are easily made, and may, on trial, prove un-
founded, false, or malicious. It is a violation of those
rights guaranteed to every individual, if not actually a
contempt of court to proceed to adjudge, and treat the
accused at the bar of public opinion, as guilty, before
trial. Such, however has been the course pursued to-
wards me, and I leave it to the public to say whether it
is not in derogation of every maxim of law, justice, de-
cency, or fairness, subversive of the fundamental princi-
ples of our civil institutions.
MADAME RESTELL.
================================================================
[Col.3]
CASE OF MADAME RESTELL.—The Recorder
announced that the Court had come to decis-
ion not to grant the appiycation of the counsel of
the accused to quash the indictment for a misde-
meanor found against this individual by the Grand
Jury. The Recorder, remarks insubstances were as
follows,—that the alleged illegal proceedings (the
deposition of Mrs. Purdy taken before the Recorder)
...
The application to quash the indictment was
then unanimously rejected. Madame Restell was
brought into Court, arraigned, and the indictment
read, to which she plead Not Guilty, and was re-
manded to prison for trial.—New Era.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, May 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5. From Courier]
[From the Courier and Enquirer.]
The coun-
...
On Saturday morning, the Court met half past
10 o'clock, and his Honor the Recorder proceeded
to give the decision of the Court on the motion
above mentioned. He cited a number of cases
showing that the indictment was well founded, and
that the affidavit of Mrs. Purdy was admissible be-
fore the Grand Jury. Besides, his Honor said it
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
JUDGE OF THE CRIMINAL COURT.—We find in
the Star of last evening the following article:
[Extract of a letter from Albany.]
“You stated a few days ago that the nomination of
M. M. Noah, Esq. as Judge of the Court of Sessions,
had been confirmed by the Senate. This is not the
case, and I regret to learn that five Whig Senators
have expressed an unwillingness to concur in the ap-
pointment, not from personal considerations, but from
old political reminiscences. The interest of the King
family has been actively employed against him, and
religious prejudice forms some part of the objections.
I am sorry to see this want of liberality and fairness
to those who have been zealous and efficient in the
Whig ranks, and to whom there are no real grounds
of objection. The three Senators from the First Dis-
trict, who are most interested, will report in favor of
the appointment; still, I think with the other opposi-
tion, he will be rejected.”
Let it be “rejected,” then; let us understand
what position the democratic portion of the Whig
party holds in the Senate of this State; and if he
“Kings are to rule over us,” the sooner we know
it the better. If Whigs in the Senate, now the
conflict is over, are pleased to vote against those
who eminently labored to secure the triumph of
the party, because they were in hostile positions
in 1832, there must be a general breaking up of
parties throughout the State. Major Noah was one
among the first who run up the White flag, and left
his early political friends, because he disapproved
the measures of their leaders; and although he
may be entirely indifferent in relation to this small
appointment, not so his numerous republican
friends in the Whig ranks. We cannot afford to
lose any strength either in this city or State—and
lose it, too, through a want of political fidelity
among our own friends. We shall not be alone,
however, in offering Major Noah a cordial welcome
on his return to the columns of the daily press,
should his nomination be rejected; and the result
has been too long delayed, both in reference to
himself and the important business before the
court.—[Star.]
We do not know how others may be affected by
the annunciation that a person so wholly unquali-
fied by education, acquirements, and character, for
a judicial station, as M. M. Noah, cannot, even by
the force of Executive recommendation, be thrust
upon the bench,—but we confess our own exceed-
ing gratification thereat, and sincerely hope it may
prove true.
Whether the fact be as set forth in the letter
above quoted—or whether, indeed, it be a genuine
letter, or one concocted in the office of the Star—
(where the aforesaid M. M. Noah still presides, al-
though nominally retired,) we have no means of
judging, for we have no correspondence in Alba-
ny, and have not, and are quite sure no member of
the “family,” to whose agency so much is falsely
imputed, has used, or sought to use, any influence
or interest with the Senate, on the subject of this
nomination, beyond the opposition openly mani-
fested in this paper.
If, then, there be five Whig Senators who refuse
to make M. M. Noah a judge, it must be put
down to the score, not of their prejudices, nor of
family influence, but of the demerits of the candi-
date. And who indeed that conceives adequately
of the dignity of the judicial station, and knows,
or will suffer himself to be informed of the utter
want of all the requisites for that station in M.
M. Noah, could hesitate about rejecting his nomi-
nation!
We speak of this person as he is before the
[Col.3]
public. Individually, and in private life, we know
nothing, and seek to know nothing, of him; but as
he has manifested himself in his career before the
world, we say, he is destitute of every single qual-
ification for the bench.
He is, in the first place, without any legal edu-
cation or knowledge. True, that in times past,
to the infinite discredit of the Supreme Court
of this State, he was, from the moral weakess that
cannot say No to importunity, or from the sugges-
tions of party associations, admitted, by special
favor, a Counsellor of the Court—but, even the
Supreme Court cannot, by its fiat, convert igno-
rance into knowledge, or flippancy into eloquence.
He is without principle, if truth be the corner-
stone thereof. He is the author of, and has habitu-
ally practised upon, the doctrine that “all is fair
in politics”—and he never does, and for the many
years that we have been witnesses of his editorial
career, never did, seem to consider truth as a ne-
cessary element of character or rule of conduct.
Merit, however, is claimed for him, that he aban-
doned his party to join the opponents. He came over
to the opposition, only after, to use his own lan-
guage, “the crust that had been thrown to him
was withdrawn before it was eaten.” He had been
made Surveyor of the Port by General Jackson,
but found he could not be re-appointed at the ex-
piration of the term.
He accordingly made a merit of retiring, and
immediately commenced a paper professedly for
the support of Gen. Jackson's Administration, but
in fact to oppose it. He has abused and praised,
supported and deserted, all parties, and unless ru-
mor belie him much, was prepared, in the pinch of
last year's struggle, again to desert and go back to
his old associates.
Finally, he was the author of the system of drag-
ging into his newspaper the private affairs and the
family connections of those whom he selected for
attack, and first opened the door to that system
of private slander which is improved, and only a
little improved, from the antient National Advo-
cate, by the present New York Herald, whose edi-
tor learned his trade of slander in the office of the
National Advocate.
We have left bound to say thus much, because
we look upon the article in last evening's paper
as designed—by the intimation, especially at the
close, that M. M. Noah intended to go
back to the public press,—to operate as a
threat of future vengeance against all those
Senators who may oppose his nomination; and we
desire that they should know that there is one press
here, at any rate, what will applaud moral courage,
and has no misgivings about calling a knave a
knave, when the public interest may require it to
be done.
We shall, moreover, as we are falsely charged
with interfering with this matter, make a point of
transmitting this paper to every Senator, that it
may at least be known what our views are as to
this nomination.
[Col.4]
THE TRIBUNE.—This is the name of a new
penny paper, which bids fair, we have great satis-
faction in believing, to counteract, in part at least,
the unmitigated evil of its more licentious con-
temporaries.
The Editor, Mr. Greeley, has talents, know-
ledge, and industry, under the guidance of sound
morals. He has also large experience as an Edi-
tor, and a conscientious sense of the dignity of the
vocation.
The effect of the existing penny press is, as we
have said above, one of almost unmixed evil. It
panders to the worst passions, and lives upon the
fears, the credulity, and the crimes of the commu-
nity.
In proper hands, and under due moral restraints,
the minor press could be made as mighty for good
as now, under other guidance, it is for mischief. We
trust and believe the Tribune will prove to be such
an ally in the cause of principle, political and
moral.
It is Whig in its doctrines; and already, we are
told by the Editor, in only third week of its
existence, it prints some 5500 copies.
We trust it will go on prospering.
[Col.6]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.—This Court
commenced term yesterday. Judge Edwards, and
Aldermen Balis, Benson and Purdy, presiding.
The trial of Ezra White for murder was set
down for Monday next.
The other cases on the calendar are that of
Bridget Hickey and Mary Murphy for arson, and
Edward Olney, an Indian, for murder.—[Journal
of Commerce.]
================================================================
[Col.3]
“Mrs. Restell.—The grand jury of New
York has found an indictment against this
woman for manslaughter.”
How things do go by wrong names: the
indictment should have said—womanslaugh-
ter.
================================================================
[Col.3]
M. M. Noah is appointed Judge of the Court of
Sessions in this city. The Albany Evening Jour-
nal of yesterday, has this paragraph:
“The nomination of M. M. Noah, Esq., Judge
of the Court of Sessions in the city of New York,
was confirmed by the Senate to-day. As this nom-
ination has been the subject of considerable remark,
it may be proper to say that it was confirmed with-
out opposition, and without a dissenting vote.”
============
COURT OF SESSIONS, May 4.—The Recorder,
Judges Lynch and Ingraham, and Aldermen Smith
and Nicholls, on the bench.
The Court were successful in obtaining a Grand
Jury. The following gentlemen were sworn:—
JOSEPH GIRAUD, Foreman.
Edmund Andrews, Robert C. Smith,
Wm. Bakenill, Jesse West,
Uriah T. Carpenter, John Stillwell,
Geo. S. Easton, James Myers,
John G. Gall, Israel Corse, Jr.,
Thos. W. Gall, Sampson Moore,
John C. Hull, Nicholas P. Moore,
Wm. W. Kidder, Francis P. Schoals,
Roe Lockwood, James C. Hallock,
John Morrison, Hugh Collins,
David Hale.
After a charge from the Recorder, the Grand Ju-
ry retired, and no cases being called, the Court ad-
journed until 11 o'clock this morning.—Standard.
================================================================
[Col.1]
TO THE PUBLIC
When, at the solicitation of many ardent Whigs, we com-
menced the publication of a morning penny paper, openly
Whig in character and avowedly to counteract the subtle but
deadly venom which The Sun is now and has for years been
silently infusing into the veins of the body politic, we did not
...
[Col.2]
...
to state. Two years ago, the ostensible publisher of The
Tattler was publishing a cheap Whig paper, and we for a
short time had partial charge of its Editorial columns. We
then spoke of The Sun precisely as we now do, exposing the
base hypocrisy of its pretensions to independence while in
truth it was the veriest self of Loco-Focoism, refuting its
jesuitical attacks on the Whig cause, and denouncing the hor-
rible prostitution of its advertising columns to the blazoning
of Mrs. Restell's and other leprous advertisements—Madam
Restell's laboratory being then in full operation. In short,
we were then guilty of just such “prevarication,” “false-
hood,” “tergiversation,” etc., as has now sunk us to the rank
of “ex-gentleman” in the eyes of 162 Nassau; but we wrote
the articles in that very office, and they were published in the
New-York Whig. Need we say more?
================================================================
[Col.1 / Second Edition]
A NEW “PAPER SNATCHER”—CURIOUS DEVELOP-
MENTS IN THE MORALS OF POLITICS.—Scarcely has the
famous “Glentworth case” ceased to be uppermost
in the public mind, when we are again to be pre-
sented with an entirely new illustration of the beau-
ties of “paper snatching” and the morals of Wall
street editors.
The party accused, in the present instance, of lay-
ing violent hands upon private papers, is no less an
individual than Webb of the “Courier and En-
quirer,” and the party complainant is or was in the
editorial department of the “New World”—Epes
Sargeant
It appears that these two personages, being in
Washington upon similar business, the one to ob-
tain the Post Office in this city, and the other a for-
eign appointment, with congenial appetites to feed
from the public crib, had taken a parlor in common.
But this friendship was not destined to last long, for
Webb soon suspected his friend of not being entire-
ly favorable to his desired appointment, and forth-
with determined to ruin him with those in authority.
Accordingly, unknown to his friend, he lays violent
hands upon his private papers, and extracts there-
from certain “memoranda,” or “notanda,” in which
were used the words “Webster dynasty.” These
t scrupulous and conscientious editor of the “Cou-
rier” exhibits about to prove his friend Sargeant in
the “Clay interest.” The two return to New York
with disappointed hopes and soured tempers, where
poor Sargeant learns from the new Collector, at the
dancing party given by M. H. Grinnell, the cause of
the failure of his brightest hopes. The scene here
opens, and in the course of a long epistolary corres-
pondence (somewhat spiced) these facts are admit-
ted on the part of Webb:—
1st. That he took the private papers of his friend.
2d. That he exhibited them about, to injure him in
a certain quarter.
3d. That he finally destroyed them, thus cutting
off every explanation or interpretation that the
words might be made to import.
Here then, is a beautiful illustration of the “Cour-
ier's” regard for the “private papers of a citizen.” No
paper was so loud and noisy in its denunciation of
Recorder Morris,” but he claimed to proceed as a
magistrate, and to act by judicial right. By what au-
thority does the “Courier” pretend to act when he
seizes the private papers of his friend, and without
his knowledge, uses them to his detriment? The
“Courier” should forever remain silent on the sub-
ject of the inviolability of private papers, when con-
victed of the offence in its worst possible form. It
presented us, in the case of Recorder Morris, with a
beautiful theory on this subject, and it has now ex-
hibited to the public a forcible example of its own
practice. As the editor of the “Courier” is given to
writing learnedly on the subject of law, he will no
doubt be able to sustain himself upon some English
reported case—in which the point is conceded that
any person has the right to search the private port-
folio of his friends, seize his private papers, and use
them as he may see fit.
The public will soon be presented with the details
of this interesting case. The correspondence ought
to be published. Come Epes, out with it.
———————
APPOINTMENT OF JUDGE NOAH.—So the appoint-
ment of Mr. Noah as associate Judge of the Sessions,
is come at last. Better late than never. The violent
and disgraceful attack upon Noah, set on foot and
perpetrated by the “King family,” has operated upon
the Senate like a shock of electricity in his favor.
Apropos—This “King concern” wants some spring
medicine to set them on their legs. We must give
them a dose or two, price two pence a piece. They
have been getting rather impudent of late, and want
something to cool them down to decency at least.
The idea that a paltry set of Wall street stock-job-
bers should regulate stocks, exchanges, morals, le-
gislature, law, and appointments to office, is prepos-
terous enough.
Let Judge Noah take his seat and now to business.
———————
NEW YORK POST OFFICE.—Philip Hone is now at
Washington, in relation to the Post Office of this
???????????????????????????????
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier and Enquirer.
OYER AND TERMINER—SATURDAY.
Trial of Ezra White.—The Court room was crow-
ded to excess in the morning, in the expectation that
the trial of this man would be called on.
The District Attorney informed the Court that he
was not prepared to proceed, as the principal witness
for the prosecution had left the city; but he had been
informed by his wife that he was expected hourly.
Mr. Graham, Counsel for the prisoner, said that if
a motion was to be made for a postponement, he
should like to have the cause proceed, and to be heard
in argument against the motion.
The District Attorney—“I shall not move for a
postponement, but if not prepared, shall not move it
on.”
Mr. Graham—“Then I beg to inform the District
Attorney, that unless the case be called during the
present term, I shall at its expiration, move the Court
for the discharge of the prisoner.”
Mr. Whiting said that he should call the case on
Monday morning, if the witness had returned by that
time, and the prisoner was remanded.
We learn that the absent witness is Wright, the
watchman, upon whose testimony alone the prisoner
can be convicted, and without which White will not
be put on his trial. The probability therefore is, that
he will be discharged by the Court.
================================================================
[Col.5]
Oyer and Terminer.
Before Judge Edwards, and Aldermen Benson and Purdy.
MAY 10.—The Case of Ezra White.—The prisoner in
...
General Sessions.
Present—the Recorder, Judges Noah, Lynch, and two
Aldermen.
MAY 10.—Their Honors took their seats at 11 o'clock
precisely, but there was usual waste of time, on ac-
count of the absence of witnesses.
Madame Restell.—Owing to the engagements of the
Public Prosecutor in the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
the trial of this celebrated female philosopher was post-
poned sine die.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, May 11, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4]
THE CASE OF MRS. RESTELL was called on
yesterday, in the General Sessions, and on motion
of the counsel for the prosecution, was postponed
for the term.
In the Oyer and Terminer, the case of Ezra
White was called up, but before calling a jury the
Court adjourned over to 1 o'clock today, in order
to allow the new Aldermen to be sworn in and act
as Judges.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Madame Restell.—This woman was brought before the Re-
corder on Tuesday evening, by virtue of a writ of habeas cor-
pus, sued out by her acting counsel, P. B. Manchester, Esq. for
the purpose of having her admitted to bail in $3,000. A man
named Selden Brainerd, formerly of Boston, who has transacted
a pretty large business in the bailing line to the amount, as is
stated of some thousands of dollars, offered himself as bail; and,
justifying to the possession of twice the amount of bail demanded,
he was received as bail, and Madame Restell was discharged
from custody. Whether the bail is available, and whether Mrs.
Restell alias Lohman will appear and be tried for the offence
with which she is charged, remains to be seen and known.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.4]
MADAME RESTELL is again free as the birds o
heaven—and as busy as ever in practising obstetrics
at her Greenwich street office. Will not the “gal-
vanized squash,” Dixon of the Polyanthus, and Webb
of the Courier, walk into her without mercy? These
saints ought to use her up at once.
[Col.4]
City Intelligence.
MADAME RESTELL.—This philosopher in petticoats has
got bail at last. On Tuesday night, after the police ma-
gistrates had done business, she was take by writ of
habeas corpus before his honor the Recorder, and libera-
ted on bail. A Mr. Selden Brainhard was her surety on
the occasion.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Restell at large.—The notorious Madame Restell
was on Tuesday evening set at liberty by the Recor-
der. She produced the requisite security in the per-
sons of her husband (?) Charles Lohman, and Selden
Braynard, each of whom justified in the amount of
$3000 each, in addition to which she deposited $3000
in cash subject to the order of the proper authorities,
in the event of a forfeiture of her recognizance. We
understood yesterday that she had left the city on a
short tour into the country, for the benefit of her
health.
[Col.4]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
Before Judge Edwards.
Trial of White—A Jury Empannelled.—The trial
of Ezra White for the murder of Peter Fitzpatrick,
commenced yesterday morning.
Hon. Mr. Hall, Attorney General and J. R. Whit-
ing, Esq., District Attorney, appeared for the prose-
cution, and Messrs. David Graham and Wright
Hawkes, appeared as counsel for prisoner.
At the opening of the court White was brought in
and placed at the bar. He wore and retained
throughout the day, the same fixed indifferent ex-
pression of countenance, which he has ever done
since his arrest. He appears in excellent health, and
much improved in appearance since his previous
trial. His skin which was then sallow, is now of an
alabaster whiteness, and forms a curious contrast
with his long dark straight hair, which is parted and
combed down on either side of his face; his eyes are
dark and of sparkling brightness. It is, however,
difficult to catch a glance from his eyes; as he sits
almost perpetually gazing, or staring on vacancy, ap-
parently unconscious of all which passes around him.
Once & once only during yesterday, was there any per-
ceptible change in the prisoners countenance; a juror
was called up and being required to swear, he persist-
ed for some time in “kissing the book” previous to
taking the oath. The ludicrousness of the circum-
stance, caused a general laugh throughout the court
room, and a kind of sympathetic smile was seen to
cross the countenance of White.
The Clerk commenced calling the Jury at about
half-past 10 o'clock. Before 2 o'clock, the original
panel of 84, and the additional panel of 200, ordered
the day previous, had become exhausted, and but
seven unprejudiced jurors were found out of the
whole number. Under the law, in addition to a num-
ber specified by order of the Court, no more jurors
could be summoned on a panel, then the number
deficient on the jury to be formed; this number,
then was six; and the Sheriff was compelled to
make a return of a summons of six jurors; and this
tedious process was kept up through the whole day,
till eight o'clock last evening, when a full jury was
obtained. The following are the names of the jury:
Hiram Bartlett, Foreman; Alanson See, Ebenezer B.
White, Albert Beach, Samuel M. Wiseman, George
Bruce, George H. Young, John G. Snow, Joseph
Carlisle, George Lansing, Lafayette Boley, and Archi-
bald C. Reynolds.
Between 400 and 500 jurors and talesmen were sum-
moned. 244 were challenged for cause, and but 18
peremptorily. 54 were excused by the Court, and of
the number summoned, those not above enumerated
failed to appear.
The prisoner and jury were required to rise and
listen to the reading of the indictment; at the con-
clusion of which, the jury were locked up for the
night, White was remanded, and the Court to this
morning at 9 o'clock adjourned.
☞ The Counsel request all the witnesses to be
punctual in their attendance this morning, as the ex-
amination of witnesses will commence at 9 o'clock
precisely.
================================================================
[Col.4. Partly from Courier]
[From the Courier and Enquirer.]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
Before Judge Edwards.
TRIAL OF WHITE—A Jury Empannelled.—The
...
morning at 9 o'clock adjourned.
—————
...
THE NOTORIOUS MADAME RESTELL is again at
large, having produced the requisite security in
the persons of her husband, Lohman, and a man
named Selden Braynard, each of whom justified
in the amount of $3000, in addition to which, she
deposited $3000 in the hands of the Magistrate in
the event of a forfeiture of her recognizances.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.2]
Oyer and Terminer.
Present—his Honor Judge Edwards, with Aldermen
Benson and Purdy.
MAY 13.—Trial of Ezra White.—This long ex-
pected event commenced at 9 o'clock in the morn-
ing. The prisoner was placed at the end of the
table fronting the jury, and the counsel were ranged
on either side. He maintained the same stolid
appearance which has characterized him through-
out his long imprisonment.
...
William H. Wright sworn on behalf of the prose-
cution, examined by the District Attorney.—I reside
at 62 Suffolk street, blacksmith by trade. At the
time of this fray, I was one of the city watchmen. I
was a chance man. It was on the night of the 13th
of February, 1839, as near as I can recollect. My
post was bounded from Pitt street, Grand street,
from there to Columbia; from there to Broome, and
back to Pitt street. Gaffrey's house was on the
south east corner of Broome and Willer street. (The
witness describes the house.) There is a door open-
ing in each street. I think I came on at 12 o'clock
that night. There was a dance at Gaffrey's house;
there were many persons going from and coming to
the house; they seemed lively at first, and more
lively at last. It was quite in the street; there was
no quarrelling in the house; I was by the house a
number of times; the noise was the noise of jollity,
not of quarrelling. There was nothing more there
than the noise usually heard on Saturday nights. I
I came to the corner between one and two, as I heard
a noise there. The door up Willet street was open,
and there appeared to be trouble there. There
were two or three on the stoop, as near the door as
they could stand. As I stepped on the stoup, they
were in struggle as it seemed, with those inside.
Samuel Stark jumped off the stoop; two more stood,
the one inside, the other in the door fighting. One
inside seemed trying to push the other out, to the
best of my recollection. As soon as I stepped up, I
pushed the one on the stoop off, and the other came
out. I shut Gaffrey's door; I told them to keep the
door shut, and then wheeled on through my walk.
I know three of them; I knew them by sight; one
was Joseph Stark, Ezra White and Richard Stark.
I have heard their names since; I went up to Joseph
Stark, advised him to go away, for the men inside
were in liquor, Joseph Stark said to me, “Wright,
go away, I'll soon knock down some of them.” I
told him that if he did not go away immediately, I
would rattle for assistance, and take him to the
watchhouse. At this time both the doors of Gaf-
frey's house were shut. As I spoke, we stood near
the corner of the street; Joseph Stark went on. The
other young men stood very near to the corner.
(The witness here describes from a diagram the ex-
act situation.)
Stark stood at the near corner of Broome and Wil-
lett; he was a little way below the house. The
walk was about six feet, and he was about the cen-
tre. Lemuel Stark was a little round the corner in
Broome Street, and White stood near him, I spoke
loud to Joseph; the others could hear; they were
about eight or nine feet from Joseph Stark. The
stoop went round the house; it was about a step up.
I do not remember any thing of it; it was boards, I
believe. The floor of the store went up about a foot
higher, as near as I could judge. After speaking to
Joseph Stark, I went up Willett street; he went to-
wards the rest of them; as I went I heard some one
go up on the stoop; I looked round, and saw Ezra
White with his hand upon the door; that was the
Willett street door; the two doors lock together on
a post; on seeing that I started for the door, and
White let go of it. One man stood with his back
to the Broome street door, very near to the post.
White made motions with his hand; he struck the
man some where about here (the abdomen); there
was a rush made by those inside; the second man
he struck pitched out head first, and I caught him
about the waist in my hands. I think there was se-
ven or eight crowding to get out; I let the man fall,
and gave the alarm rattle. Two or three watch-
men came; Mr. Loder was one, and I don't remem-
ber the name of the other. When I gave the alarm,
the four ran in every direction; White turned the
Broome street corner, and ran down the street to-
wards the river. I had a watchman's cap on; it
was a star light night; it strikes me that there was
some snow in the gutters, but I am not positive; I
do not remember whether it was cold; I think I had
an overcoat on; I think it froze a little during the
night. When the other watchmen came up, we
went into the house. The man who had fallen was
taken up by the people of the house, and was car-
ried in; I cannot tell whether he walked in on his
feet, or was carried in; I cannot say whether the
doors of the store were immediately closed or not.
The watchman came up directly after the alarm.
When I went in, one man was bleeding from the
forehead, and another one lay on the ground, bleed-
ing from the abdomen. I did not hear the man on
the floor speak; there was a good deal of excite-
ment. There was a third man, who I understood
was stabbed, and was carried away. Some one went
for a doctor; I staid there an hour, or an hour and a
half, I cannot say positively; I went away, and re-
turned in the morning; the man on the floor was not
dead when I left; when I went in the morning, I
found the man there dead; I heard his name that
night, but had not heard it before, they called him
Peter Fitzpatrick. At the time I saw this press at
the door, it strikes me that White had something in
his hand, but I cannot positively swear whether he
had or not; my impression is that he had, but my
memory is so poor that I could swear it. There
was a lamp lighted, and hanging over the counter.
I believe there was another light there; there was
a street lamp a little farther off. I saw the wound
when the Coroner came. I did not see it before.—
It was near the abdomen. I cannot say what it
was. I think it was a knife, or something of that
kind. I think it must have been a knife, but I cannot
swear positively.
Cross-examined by Mr. Graham.—At that time I
was a chanceman. I used to average 3 or 4 nights
in a pay—that is, in a fortnight. Chancemen go to
occupy the place of some watchmen, who, for some
reason, is absent. I cannot tell how often I have
been examined; I think four or five times—once be-
fore the Coroner, once before the Police Justice,
once before the Grand Jury, and once upon the first
trial of this case. The Coroner heard me twice.
This is the sixth examination. I have at each ex-
amination given the same account as I now give, to
the best of my knowledge. On that night I was ab-
sent from 9 to 12. I had been there in the fore part
of the evening. The inmates of the house were
then pretty lively; they were dancing. I did not
see any one come out or go in there. I cannot
say that they were excited with liquor. There might
have been as many as 20. I saw them through a
small, square window. I heard them dancing.
When I returned at twelve, they were not making
any more noise than is usual with them. I had
been past once, before the time when I saw White
there. I think I saw some young men standing near
the house before I came round at one or two. I
neither saw them go in or come out of the house.
They did not say anything; I do not think I should
know their faces. When I came up, there was
Lemuel Stark and Joseph and Ezra White standing.
Gaffrey's friends seemed following them, White and
others, out of the house, Gaffrey stood right before
the door, and pushed the men inside back; they
were making towards the door; I do not think that
either of the three came out; as I stepped on to
the stoop, they stepped off. When White had hold
of the knob of the door, the others rushed up to his
assistance. The door opens out; he opened it with
his left hand. I was ten or twelve feet distant
from the door.
[The witness was here severely cross-examined
as to his ability to see, from his situation, any blow
struck by Ezra White in the interior.]
I stood in the middle of the side walk, up Willett
street. The three young men, with the prisoner,
rushed up, and commenced striking and fighting
the inmates, as soon as White had opened the door.
I had never seen Fitzpatrick before. After Fitzpa-
trick came out, the crowd followed; I thought he
was pushed out by the crowd inside; he was picked
up, and carried inside; I did not see him after he
was taken in, until I saw the man lying on the floor;
I did not see the man's face so as to recognise him
again.
By the Court—I supposed Delaney to have been
the man who was first struck by the door. I never
saw him and Fitzpatrick together.
By Mr. Graham—When I went in, nothing par-
ticular transpired that I recollect. I heard some re-
marks like this from the inmates, “Watchman!
watchman! keep out, this is only a family concern.”
It was said by some of Gaffrey's friends; there was
something said like this, “Go out, go out! you are
not wanted here.” I did not go out immediately.
Mr. Graham read, from the evidence presented on
the former trial, that part where witness deposed
that he immediately went out.
Witness—If I said so, it was the truth; I do not
recollect the circumstance now.
Mr. Graham again read from report of the former
trial, where witness says, I can't say that I saw any
body carried into the house.
[Col.4]
Witness—If it is so there, I suppose that is the
way I tesified.
Mr. Graham again reads. Witness says that is
correct.
Witness—Last week I was in Rochester; I had
business there; I did not know the trial was coming
on. When this case was tried before, I went away;
I had business away; I was back just in time to be
examined. When we went into the house, there
was a good deal of loud talking. The people were
rushing out in a rage, using some rash talk, I don't
know what.
Mr. Graham proposes to ask the witness whether
he made certain statements before Justice Taylor.
Objected to by the District Attorney. Objection
overruled.
Witness—I stated before Justice Taylor that I had
walked ten or twelve feet along Willett street; that
I saw White strike at some person inside with some-
thing which I saw glisten, but could not say whe-
ther it was a knife or dirk; that several men imme-
diately rushed out after, the first blow was struck by
White; that White struck again, and jumped round
the corner striking right and left. I also stated that
I did not see White seized by any one from the
house. The men rushed out of the door when this
man fell.
Direct examination resumed.—I cannot say that I
have any distinct recollection as to whether the
thing that was in his hand glistened. I should not
like to say positively. Lemuel Stark is a lame man
—he limps. I do not remember to have heard
White say any thing when he thrust his hand in at
the door. The man who was stabbed in the abdo-
men was the second man. As the man who fell came
out of the house, I saw Ezra White strike him some-
where about the head. I thought the man was injured
when he fell. Whether it was this man, or some one
else, I cannot tell. As soon as he was struck the
rush pushed him out. He was hurt, I should think,
from the blow, not from his fall. He did not fall
head-foremost on the pavement. I think I heard
some one say “I am stabbed;” but whether it was
the man who fell or not, I cannot say. I only saw
one man on the floor; he was laying on his back,
with a pillow on the head. The other man had
something round his head. I saw White strike the
man who fell. I saw no one else struck.
Cross-examination resumed.—I would not like to
swear now that I saw a weapon gleaming. I think
when the other watchmen came up I stated that
some one had been stabbed. I am not certain about
it. I do not recollect my reason for going out of the
house when the inmates told me.
Mr. Graham.—Then you left the house, after you
knew some one had been stabbed? You would have
left a house even if you knew a murder had been
committed?
Mr. Whiting.—He doesn't say so—a man might
be stabbed without being killed.
The examination of the witness here closed, hav-
ing occupied a space of three hours and a half.
Mr. Graham here read Wright's deposition before
Justice Taylor.
Charles Fitzpatrick, a physician, residing at 82
Sheriff street, attended at Gaffney's—he was sent
for, and saw Fitzpatrick. He found the wound on
the lower part of the abdomen. When he saw the
man, he was in a dying state, incapable of delutition.
The wound seemed to have been inflicted by an
edged instrument; he thinks it was such a wound as
would be likely to produce death. On the cross-ex-
amination, witness stated, that he was not the first
physician called in; he did not probe the wound; it
extended upwards, from the bottom; death from
such a wound takes place from the effusion of blood.
I think I got there, to the best of my recollection,
between 12 and 1 o'clock.
Walter Payley is a physician and surgeon. He
was called to Gaffney's house between two and three
—saw Fitzpatrick lying on his back, with something
under his head, naked, all but the cloth that was over
him. The wound was in the groin. I made the ex-
amination before Dr. Fitzpatrick. I inserted my fin-
ger into the wound, and I do not think that was cal-
culated to give a different direction to the wound. I
administered some stimuli.
From the character of the wound, I should think
it unlikely he would live for two hours. The wound
of Delany was just above the navel. I should have
considered it a dangerous cut.
Cross-examined.—I do not think any artery was
wounded in Fitzpatrick; it seemed to be venous
blood. The man did not bleed when I left. I left
orders for the pressure to be continued. I think if
proper stimuli had been supplied, and he had been
attended to, his life might have been saved. There
was some coagulated blood in the wound. The next
thing I heard of the man was that, he was dead.—
That wound could not have been given by a man
standing by the door and stabbing upwards. If a man
was standing a little lower, it would be still more im-
possible.
Direct examination resumed—I thought there was
blood and life enough in the man to make it possi-
ble that he might be saved. The extremities were
cold. I judged from the man's appearance that he
had been intoxicated. I understood that he was
drunk, or crazy; so the man said who kept the
house. Gaffney said that there were two men who
did the mischief; a short man and a tall one.
Christopher Dunlady deposed that he was at Gaff-
ney's house on the night. It was on the 13th of Ja-
nuary, I think. I went there about 9 o'clock; Gaff-
ney invited me there; I came out about 1 o'clock. I
heard them say that people were outside. Fitzpa-
trick came in and said he had a desperate kick or
wound in the groin. He threw himself across me,
and I stretched him on the floor.
He had refused to drink awhile before. After he
was stabbed, he mentioned my name and his wife's.
There were three or four boys there in the fore part
of the evening, but they behaved themselves peace-
ably. I did not see White to know him.
Cross-examined.—There were about twenty per-
sons at Gaffney's; I saw a man all besmeared with
blood, come in after Fitzpatrick; it was about half-
past two or three o'clock when Fitzpatrick came in;
I saw some persons drinking at the counter; we
drank gin; I saw no one drink there; he was stand-
ing on his feet, his hands over where the wound was;
he was dressed in a frock coat; the wound went
through all.
Edward Durham, another witness, testified as to
the nature of the company at Gaffney's. He found
a quarrel going on. there was a man with Fitzpa-
trick a little in the door; I took hold of him, and
said they should have no muss there. The landlord
came up; I heard a scufflle at the door, and the
landlord finally got it shut; as I went to the door,
Fitzpatrick passed me by; Gaffney got the door shut,
and it was pulled open by some one; at the time
Fitzpatrick went out, several more went out as far
as the threshold. I was going when Fitzpatrick
passed me by; I was before on the point of going
into the house, when the man stabbed me; when
Fitzpatrick passed me by, he was stooping, as if he
had been badly hurt; I believe Fitzpatrick went out
of his own accord; there were two others cut; I
think when I was stabbed, I was outside of the door
on the stoop. I do not know who struck me.
Cross-examined—Some of the men drank freely;
the bar was open, and there was frequently liquor
brought into the back room; the Willett street door
was open when Fitzpatrick went towards it, to go
out; as I turned to go in, I saw Fitzpatrick, and I
received my stab; there was no person carrying
Fitzpatrick in. I did not see him either stabbed or
struck; I am distinct in my recollection that I saw
Fitzpatrick go out; I did not see anybody help him;
he moaned when he passed me; I cannot tell whe-
ther the door was opened from the outside or
inside; it was wide open; it is my opinion that a
few more went out at the time that Fitzpatrick did.
At this point of the case the Court took a recess.
The foregoing are all the material points elicited
on the part of the prosecution. Only two witnesses
were called for the defence.
The counsel commenced summing up about 8
o'clock, and at midnight the case went to the jury.
[Col.5]
City Intelligence.
...
MADAME RESTELL.—Some very erroneous reports
have been circulated respecting the bail of this cele-
brated feminine savan. We have obtained a sight
of the office documents connected with her libera-
tion, and collected therefrom the following facts:—
The accused was brought before the Recorder on
Friday, for the purpose of tendering bail. Her coun-
sel prepared to deposite in the hands of the Record-
er, or the Clerk of the Court, or the Chamberlain of
the city, the sum of $3,000, the same to become for-
feit to the people, if Caroline Lohman did not ap-
pear to take her trial. His Honor said that he had
great doubts of the legality of such a procedure, and
that he should not consent to receive such a depo-
site, or to sanction it on the part of others.
Mr. Jordan, the counsel for Madame Restell, then
proposed that the money should be placed in the
hands of Thomas L. Braynard, of No. 7 Hammond
street, who should assign the same to him, and that
he, Mr. Jordan, should give a certificate of such as-
signment to the Recorder. The same sum to be-
come forfeit to the people if Caroline Lohman did
not appear to take her trial.
The arrangement was deemed bo be satisfactory,
and the Recorder then made the two sureties justi-
fy in the sum of $6,000 each. The names attached
to the bail bond are Thomas L. Braynard, of No.7
Hammond street, and Charles Lohman, of 148
Greenwich street.
By another document attached to the assignment,
it would appear that Braynard named the sum of
$10 as his fee for this fair business transaction.
================================================================
[Col.6]
Oyer and Terminer.
Present, Judge Edwards, Alds. Purdy and Benson.
MAY 14.—Trial of Ezra White.—The Court met
at 10 o'clock yesterday (Friday morning), and D.
Graham summed up the case in a most brilliant,
eloquent and affecting speech of four hours' dura-
tion on the part of the prisoner. At the close of
Mr. Graham's peroration, there was hardly a dry eye
in the Court room.
The Attorney General of the State replied to Mr.
Graham on the part of the people. His Honor,
Judge Edwards, gave the case to the jury in a charge
of half an hour's duration, in which he dwelt much
on the inutility of jurors troubling themselves with
the consequences of any verdict they might find.
The jury retired about 3 o'clock, P. M., and at 6
o'clock they came into Court to ask the Judge if they
could, under the indictment, find White guilty of
manslaughter. His Honor immediately read a por-
tion of the Revised Statutes to the jury, and ruled
that it was either competent for them to convict, to
acquit, or to find a verdict of manslaughter in the
third degree. The jury were again locked up, and
at 10 o'clock returned into Court with a verdict.
hours; and then, being unable to agree, the Court
gave them some supper and ordered them to be lock-
ed until they could agree on a verdict. At midnight
they had not agreed, and it was reported that nine
were for an acquittal and three for a conviction.
N. B.—Throughout yesterday the Court was
crowded to excess, and the Special Deputies of the
Sheriff seemed anxious to exclude the bar and the
press from access to the Court. One loafer of the
name of Brady, while in a state of intoxication,
committed two or three assaults, for which he ought
to suffer some.
NEW YORK HERALD.Second Edition. Saturday, May 15, 1841 (FH)
[Col.6]
Oyer and Terminer.
Present, Judge Edwards, Alds. Purdy and Benson.
MAY 14.—Trial of Ezra White.—The Court met
at 10 o'clock yesterday (Friday morning), and D.
Graham summed up the case in a most brilliant,
eloquent and affecting speech of four hours' dura-
tion on the part of the prisoner. At the close of
Mr. Graham's peroration, there was hardly a dry eye
in the Court room.
The Attorney General of the State replied to Mr.
Graham on the part of the people. His Honor,
Judge Edwards, gave the case to the jury in a charge
of half an hour's duration, in which he dwelt much
on the inutility of jurors troubling themselves with
the consequences of any verdict they might find.
The jury retired about 3 o'clock, P. M., and at 6
o'clock they came into Court to ask the Judge if they
could, under the indictment, find White guilty of
manslaughter. His Honor immediately read a por-
tion of the Revised Statutes to the jury, and ruled
that it was either competent for them to convict, to
acquit, or to find a verdict of manslaughter in the
third degree.
At eleven o'clock a message was brought into
Court that the jury had agreed. The Judge, Coun-
sel, Reporters, and most of the spectators had de-
parted, so that at the time the room was nearly de-
serted, except Ezra White, who occupied his usual
seat at the table, and when the officer communicated
the fact of the jury having agreed he did not betray
any emotion, nor make any sign of either joy or sor-
row. Messengers were despatched in all directions
to hunt up their Honors the Judges, who seemed to
be of opinion that the jury could not agree, and had
wended their ways home to bed. Considerable time
elapsed before the Court was re-organized, and then
the jury having all answered to their names, and the
prisoner being told to stand and look upon the jury,
the Clerk put the usual question—“Gentlemen of the
jury, how say you, is Ezra White, the prisoner at the
bar, guilty or not guilty”?
Foreman—“Guilty of manslaughter in the third
degree, and we unanimously recommend him to
the mercy of the Court.”
The soaplocks set up a tremendous shout of ap-
plause. David Graham and Hawkes Wright shook
hands with their client, and the Court was then ad-
journed.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Saturday, May 15, 1841 (FH)
[Col.4]
M ADAME RESTELL deems it but justice to herself to in-
vite the public to a perusal of her pamphlet, entitled “Sug-
gestions to the Married,” from which it will abundantly appear
that the abuse, vituperation and scurrility heaped upon her, is
founded either in misapprehension or misrepresentation.—
Those, therefore, who are ever ready to pronounce an opinion,
should first acquaint themselves with the facts, that they may
pronounce understandingly. The pamphlet can be obtained
free of expense at Madame Restell's Principal Office, 148 Green-
wich street, where she can be consulted on complaints incident
to the female frame. m15 2t[Col.1]
EZRA WHITE.—The trial of Ezra White, charged
with the murder of Peter Fitzpatrick, on the night
of the 13th of February, 1839, was brought to a
close yesterday afternoon about three o'clock. The
presiding judge then delivered his charge, and the
jury retired. After being out several hours, the
jury returned into court, stating that they could
not agree upon a verdict and asking to be dis-
charged. They were remanded to their room by
the court, where they remained until about one
o'clock, when they came to an agreement as to
their verdict. It was announced to the court as
follows: “Manslaughter in the third degree, and
unanimously recommending the prisoner to the
mercy of the court.” The counsel in this case
were Willis Hall, Attorney General, and J. R.
Whiting, District Attorney, for the people; David
Graham, Jr. and Wright Hawkes, for the prisoner.
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.6]
EZRA WHITE.—Since Friday night this hero has
become an altered man. He now looks quite cheer-
ful—is no longer confined to his cell in the tombs, and
converses freely. On the last day of the present
term he will be brought up and sentenced to two
years in the state prison, that being the minimum of
punishment which the Court can inflict under the
statute.
================================================================
[Col.4]
UPPER POLICE OFFICE.—An Ex-Officer charged with Fel-
...
Purloining Pork.—On Friday night, a watchman saw a fel-
low named Patrick Romke roll a barrel of pork from off the
dock, between Spring and Charlton streets, with intent to make
it his own. He lodged him in the watch-house, and on Saturday
he was brought before Justice Palmer; and Mr. Philo Lewis
making affidavit to the ownership of the property, Romke was
committed to prison.
Robbing a Cook.—James Galloway, the cook of the schooner
Penobscot, Capt. Thompson, of Nantucket, now at this port, hav-
ing received some money from the master, drank too freely and
[Col.5]
strayed away from the vessel, when a man named James Coch-
rane volunteered as his companion, and contrived to rob him of
$14—all the money he had. The twain then entered the por-
ter-house of James Gill, who was from home, but whose wife
attended, and to whom Galloway stated he was sick and wished
to lie down, which he was suffered to do. He then stated to
Mrs. Gill that he had been robbed, who told her husband of it
when he returned. Cochrane, who pretended to be the friend
of Galloway, then wished Gill to examine a sore he said he had
on his side, and Gill, in so doing, discovered something under
Cochrane's arm, which, on taking it out, proved to be the same
$14 Galloway had lost, and was identified by means of the let-
ter K. which was marked on each bill. Officers Hilliker and
Hans, being sent for by Gill, arrested Cochrane, who was taken
before Justice Palmer and sent to prison.
Double Theft.—About a week ago, Christopher Brennan stole
a watch worth $30 and clothing worth $21 50 from Jonathan D.
Miller, No. 9 Margin-street. He sold the watch for $2 to Cath-
erine Tracy, No. 111 Sheriff-street, and then stole it again and
pledged it to J. Jackson, corner of Forsyth and Grand-streets,
for $2. Mr. Jackson having communicated the fact to Officers
Hilliker and Hans, they succeeded in arresting Brennan, who
was taken before Justice Palmer and committed to prison to
answer.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
CORRECTION.—It was stated in the Herald of Sa-
turday, that the disturbance at the Court of Oyer and
Terminer on the trial of Ezra White, was occasion-
ed by one Brady, who was said to have been drunk.
Mr. Brady is an officer, a correct and respectable
man, and was only doing his duty. It was the loaf-
ers about the court room door who were drunk, and
not Mr. Brady. We make this statement with great
pleasure, for we have nothing against this officer,
and desire only to do justice to all parties.
================================================================
[Col.2]
“THE MORAL CHARACTER OF NEW-YORK.”
If the Father of Evil ever laughs, as he has been said to
do, at the 'fantastic tricks' of his practiced and adroit auxil-
iaries, he certainly must have enjoyed himself in looking over
the leading article in The Sun yesterday morning. That
depraved and filthy sheet, which has forced itself into a wide
circulation by systematically pandering to the lowest appe-
tites and most perverted tastes of the community—which has
never missed an opportunity to excite and profit by the fools'
wonder which gloats over accounts of monstrous births, the
chewing of snakes, the galvanizing into life of dead malefac-
tors, and every thing else hideous, revolting and horrible—
that paper which has built its fortune upon publishing trials
for procuring abortion, loathsome details of obscene vice, and
every thing calculated to stimulate the most prurient cravings
for garbage—that paper, the Sun, actually has the effrontery
to congratulate the citizens of New-York on a signal improve-
ment in their morals, and to take to itself the credit of pro-
ducing it! Where can this impudence find a parallel?
The Sun graciously admits the Public and Sunday Schools
of our City, its Bible and Tract Societies, &c. to a secondary
partnership with itself in producing this beneficent change!—
but it arrogates the lion's share of the glory. We suspect
these Schools and Societies will not appreciate the honor in-
tended them. “To the cheap and independent press”—
[meaning itself, for it has never allowed any other, except
possibly the Herald, to possess either independence or merit]
—“belongs the highest honor in this good work.”!!!
We are curious to know whether the Sunday Schools and
Bible Societies, which are so graciously admitted to the po-
sition of humble but useful auxiliaries of The Sun in the great
work of moral reformation, are to take a share in the credit
of introducing Madame Restell so favorably and thorougly to
the public as The Sun through the last two years has done,
and of the other fearfully demoralizing advertisements and
puffs which it has so constantly and profusely vomited upon
the community. According to The Sun's published code of
morality, the Editors and Publisher of that sheet are no whit
responsible for the indecency or depravity of any article in
their columns, if they are only paid for inserting it; so we
presume the credit of this portion of their missionary labors
will not be worth sharing.
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.—Before Judge Edwards
adn Aldermen Benson and Purdy.
Sentence of Ezra White.—This prisoner was brought into
Court on Saturday morning to receive sentence, which the Dis-
trict Attorney moved should then be passed upon him. He ap-
peared quite composed and apparently indifferent to the proceed-
ing of the Court in his case; and, when asked what he had to
say why the judgement of the law should not be pronounced
against him, replied, “Nothing.”
Judge Edwards then addressed the prisoner at considerable
length, and stated in substance that, after a fair and impartial
trial, he had been convicted of the crime of manslaughter in the
3d degree in causing the death of Peter Fitzpatrick by stabbing.
Three others (he continued) had been stabbed and wounded also
on the same occasion, and doubtless by the hand of the prisoner.
Fitzpatrick, the victim of the prisoner's violence, was now mould-
dering in his grave, and his wife and children were thrown upon
the cold charities of an unfeeling world, and left, perhaps, in a
state of great destitution by his means. His Honor then spoke
of the habits and mode of life of the prisoner and his compan-
ions, who had indulged in vicious courses and led lives of dis-
order and depravity, that had resulted in the death of one mur-
dered man. He said, to deter those companions from their per-
sistance in such courses the law would exert its authority and
punish to the utmost extent allowed, notwithstanding the recom-
mendation to mercy of the jury. The Court said they could see
no mitigation circumstances in the case, and accordingly sen-
tenced the prisoner to 4 years' imprisonment at hard labor in the
State Prison at Sing Sing. He was then remanded to prison,
and the Court adjourned for the term.
...
SPECIAL SESSIONS.—Saturday.—Catherine McCaffery was
tried for stealing a leghorn hat and other articles from the wife
of Brown King: guilty—Penitentiary 60 days.
...
Patrick Rouke—stealing a barrel of pork from Philo Lewis:
guilty—Penitentiary 60 days.
...
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Monday, May 24, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.1 / First Edition]
SENTENCE OF EZRA WHITE.—We particularly call
the attention of the Soaplocks, and other rowdies of
the “Five Points,” to the admirable address of
Judge Edwards to Ezra White, before his pilgrimage
to Sing Sing. We want more of such sentences, to
correct the base morality of the age.
[Col.5]
Oyer and Terminer.
Before Judge Edwards, and Aldermen Benson and Purdy.
MAY 22.—Sentence of Ezra White.—This being the last
day of the term, Ezra White was brought into court to
receive sentence for occasioning the death of Peter Fitz-
patrick, which the jury on the second trial reduced to
manslaughter in the third degree, accompanied with a
recommendation to mercy. White remained in the same
state of unconcern which has ever characterized him,
since the commission of the atrocity, for which he has
gained such notoriety; but his bloodless countenance
would occasionally brighten when receiving the cares-
ses of his counsel, Mr. Alderman Graham. Having been
placed at the bar,
The District Attorney called for the judgement of the
Court and of the law upon the convicted homicide.
The Clerk, in the prescribed form, asked the prisoner
what he had to say why judgment should not be pro-
nounced upon him according to law? and
The Prisoner, bowing to the Court, replied “Nothing.”
Judge Edwards then passed the sentence of the Court
in the following terms:—
EZRA WHITE,—You have been convicted of manslaugh-
ter, in causing the death of Peter Fitzpatrick, and in the
circumstances of that case the court can discover no-
thing of a mitigating character. It appears that at the
time you approached him, and gave him the mortal blow,
he was not in a hostile attitude, but was quietly standing
on the pavement or adjoining the door-way, and there
approached him and applied the fatal weapon. It further
appears that another man, standing there at the same
time, received a wound in the head, and from the circum-
stances attending that case, I entertain no doubt that that
blow was inflicted by yourself. It also appears that two
other men were stabbed the same night, about the same
time; from whom those wounds were received does not
appear by any positive and direct testimony; the circum-
stances, however, attending the whole case, fairly warrant
the conclusion that they received them from you. It may
be that two of them were wounded at the time the affray
took place, when, according to the testimony of the wo-
men, you were acting on the defensive, and defying any
one to approach you; but the very row was created by
yourself, by your putting your hand within that door, and
moving it about in a manner which left no doubt that
you were endeavoring to apply that knife to the inmates.
That aroused their indignation, and the wounds were in-
flicted under those circumstances—consequently you
have neither justification nor excuse. Taking, then, the
case altogether, it is fairly inferable that you applied that
deadly knife to four individuals, one of whom sunk under
your arm, and now lies mouldering in the grave. For
this offence you have been convicted—for this offence
you are now arraigned to answer before this tribunal;
and it now only remains for the Court to say, under all
the circumstances of the case, what shall be the punish-
ment. The deed has been done—the deceased man lies
in his grave—his wife you have made a widow, and his
children fatherless. The facts of this case have gone
forth to the whole community, and the entire communi-
ty is waiting to see in what estimation a court of justice
holds offences of this description, and what punishment
the Court sitting here, as the administrators of the law
and the protectors of society, will feel to be their duty to
award. We should be recreant to our duty, if on this oc-
casion we were to drop the sword of justice—if we failed
to check, by the sentence of the law, ruthless violence like
yours—and if we extended any thing like lenity to an
individual standing before us in circumstances like
yours. If we look beyond that transaction, we see no-
thing to call for mitigation. We know not your general
character—you have not put that in issue, but we have
too much reason to fear that your habits are bad. This
offence, for which you have now to answer, was com-
mitted about half-past two o'clock in the morning. You,
with others, were rioting about at that unusual hour of
the night; and when you were requested to disperse,
one of your associates had the audacity to say to the offi-
cer, “I wish you would go, and then we will have a
knock down.” Characters of this description have long
infested this community; there are too many young men
who have broken loose form the restraints of both parents
and masters, and it becomes necessary that they be curb-
ed and restrained in their riotous course, as well for
their own good as for the peace and safety of society. It
is therefore an act of humanity to them, as well as of pro-
tection to the community, that we enforce the extreme
penalty of the law for their and your correction. They
will then see in what estimation such conduct is held by
the Court, and what punishment they may fear when
called to answer for their offences.
The jury, to be sure, have recommended you to mercy;
but the power and the duty of fixing your sentence has
been vested by the government in the Court. Recom-
mendations of juries are always entitled to respectful
consideration from the Court; but the Court, after giv-
ing them all due consideration, is not bound to surrender
its power and its judgment on the subject to the hands of
juries. This is especially the case here. We can see
nothing to alter our judgment, or to induce us to recede
from the views we have taken. Although the punish-
ment inflicted upon you may be severe, yet if you have the
sensibility which is common to our nature, and you are
not sunk below the level of humanity, this punishment
will be light and trifling, when compared with the re-
morse of your own conscience. In the course of nature
you have many years before you; but you never can
relieve your conscience from the accusation that Peter
Fitzpatrick, by your hand, lies mouldering in his grave,
and that you have turned his wife and children on the
cold charities of the world. That this reflection may
have a salutary effect upon you, is the sincere wish of
the Court. This, however, is a concern between your-
self, your conscience, and your Creator; but the court
is desirous that what little has now been said may make
a durable impression upon your mind.
As regards the Court, our duty here is to enforce the
law, and in such a way as will most effectually extend
protection to the community at large. With these views,
the Court feels bound to go to the full extent of the pun-
ishment which the law allows. And I here remark,
that so far as my judgment is concerned, if the discretion
vested in the Court had enabled us to add many years
beyond the period to which we are limited, I should feel
myself in duty bound, not only to the government, but to
the community, which looks to the law and to courts of
justice for redress and for protection, to inflict that far-
ther punishment upon you. Unfortunately, our power
is limited, and the period we can fix is restricted to four
years. Your sentence, therefore, is, that you, Ezra
White, be imprisoned in the State Prison, at Mount
Pleasant, and kept to hard labor for the term of four
years.
The prisoner resumed his seat, and entered into a con-
versation with Mr. Wright Hawkes, one of his counsel,
with a joyous unconcern, as though he were the least in-
terested spectator in the Court.
At the close of the proceeding, White was handed over
to A. M. C. Smith, the Deputy Sheriff, and sent up to Sing
Sing in the afternoon boat.
================================================================
================================================================
THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, May 24, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.—SENTENCE
OF EZRA WHITE.—We are indebted to the Sunday
Mercury for the following excellent condensation
of the proceedings in the Court of Oyer and Ter-
miner on Saturday:
Ezra White, convicted of killing Peter Fitzpat-
rick, was brought up to receive sentence. On the
bench were Judge Edwards and Aldermen Purdy
and Benson. The court room was full but not
crowded.
At the opening of the Court, the District Attor-
ney called for the sentencing of Ezra White, and
the Clerk of the Court, Mr. Vandervoort, then cal-
led upon the prisoner to say why the Court should
not proceed to pass sentence upon him.
White stood up at the foot of the long table that
runs in front of the bench, motionless, and with
but a slight exhibition of feeling. He said noth-
ing. By his side were his counsel, Messrs. David
Graham and Wright Hawkes.
Judge Edwards then proceeded to deliver his
sentence. He commenced by stating that the Court
had discovered nothing in the circumstances that
attended the commission of the offence, for which
White now stood up to receive the sentence of the
Court, of a mitigating character; for at the time
of the killing of Fitzpatrick, he was not in a hos-
tile attitude towards any one. And so with regard
to the man who received a wound in his head,
which wound the Court entertained no doubt, had
been inflicted by White. And circumstances fair-
ly warranted the conclusion that the two other
men who were stabbed, received their wounds
from the same hand. The row was created by your-
self, said the Court, and with deadly knife, four in-
dividuals were that night stabbed by you, one to the
death, and his mortal remains are now mouldering
in the grave. The Court then spoke in reproba-
tory terms of the reckless and rowdy conduct of
White and his associates—of the fact that the whole
community was now watching to see what punish-
ment the Court would inflict upon him, and it then
intimated to the prisoner that no lenity could be
shown an individual standing before them as he did.
White's general character was then spoken of—the
fact that his own counsel had produced no evidence
of its goodness on the trial, and of the necessity
that now existed, of restraining the riotous and
rowdy conduct of such as he. For this purpose,
said the Court, the law puts forth its power on this
occasion, to let the class of young men to which
you belong know, that punishment sooner or later
awaits them.
The fact of the jury having recommended the
prisoner to mercy was next alluded to—a recom-
mendation to which we cannot yield, said the
Court. It was hoped that, as he had many years
before him, being but a young man, this would be
a lesson to him, and have a correcting effect upon
him as upon others. And it was with this view—
the effect upon others—that the Court felt it to be
its bounden duty to sentence him to the full extent
of the law; and if it had any regret, it arose out of
the fact that the law was too limited.
The prisoner was then sentenced to the prison of
Mount Pleasant, Sing Sing, for the term of four
years, during which to be kept at hard labor.—
Planet.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Diabolical Attempt to Destroy the National
Theatre.
About six o'clock last night, the National Thea-
tre was discovered to be on fire in eight different
places, and under such circumstances as to leave no
possible doubt that the whole was a wicked and ma-
licious attempt to destroy that beautiful edifice,
with all the magnificent properties of the present
enterprising manager.
It appears that Mr. Oakey, the celebrated panto-
mimist and comic dancer, who with others had as-
sembled to prepare for the evening's performance,
communicated to those around him that a smell of
something burning was very strong in the house; an
investigation was accordingly set on foot; first in the
property room, in which a quantity of bills and other
papers were found to be ignited, evidently for the
purpose of destroying the expensive properties of the
theatre. Mr. Wilson's private room was next ex-
amined, and here all his private papers and other
articles were discovered to be burning. Next,
fire was found under the stairs adjoining the box
office, and leading to Mr. Russell's room, where
...
Officers Gil. Hays and Welch were immediately
sent for, to investigate the origin of the fire, and dis-
cover the wickedly malicious scoundrel who could
have planned and executed so diabolical a crime,
and the result was, that the lamp-lighter to the
house—a man named Shiers—was taken into custo-
dy on suspicion. He had exhibited a revengeful
spirit in the course of the day, in consequence of
being refused “orders” for several of his friends,
and had threateningly said to a person connected
with the theatre, “there will be no performance to-
night.”
Other circumstances tended to fix suspicion on
him, and he is now in the hands of the officers of
justice, by whom the whole matter will be thorough-
ly sifted.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Saturday Morning, May 29, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.2 / A changed copy in The fireman's own book]
Atrocious attempt to fire the National Theatre—
Timely discovery, and preservation of the building,
and arrest of the supposed incendiary—About five
o'clock last evening, Mr. Burton, the manager, arriv-
ed from a visit to Philadelphia, and accompanied by
Mr. Wemyss, the stage manager, walked to the
theatre. To this fortunate circumstance may be at-
tributed the preservation of this beautiful structure.
Mr. Burton on entering the theatre by the rear en-
trance was met by Mr. Okie, one of the company,
who remarked, that he thought he smelt fire about
the house. Messrs. Burton and Wemyss were not
slow in taking the hint. They immediately com-
...
Mr. Russell, the Treasurer, with Mr. Glessing, his
assistant, had by this time commenced a search in
...
While this search was in progress, a roll of paper was
thrown from an upper window into Leonard-street,
which was picked up by Mr. Smith, of the Refectory,
and which on examination was found to contain a
quantity of friction matches.
In the Turkish Saloon below was found part of a
box of matches, which were found to correspond in
quality and appearance with those found in the street;
an attempt had also evidently been made to fire the
saloon. The author of this atrocious villany has
doubtless been discovered and is now in the tombs
awaiting an examination. His name is George
Shiers, an employee of the Gas Company, who as-
sisted in lighting the house at nights. This indivi-
dual had been frequently heard to threaten the es-
tablishment in consequence of a reduction of his sa-
lary, at which he expressed his indignation, saying
at the same time, “there'l be fire about the house,”
and yesterday he told one of the choristers that there
would be “no performance at the house to-night.”
Upon Shiers arrest, on searching his person, keys
were found which would afford him access to every
part of the house. He will be probably examined
this day.
================================================================
================================================================
THE NEW YORK SUN. Saturday Morning, May 29, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
D AGUERROTYPE PORTRAITS, taken with or with-
out sunlight, from 10 o'clock A. M. until dark, every day,
at the Studio of Professor Morse, 136 Nassau st., opposite
the Brick Church, by S. Broadbent.
Professor Morse will generally be in attendance.
N. B.—Portraits are taken equally well in cloudy, and even
in stormy weather, and in from half a second to 3 minutes
of time. m25 1m*
================================================================
[Col.1]
GLENTWORTH'S ESCAPE, &c.—This distinguished
youth, the companion in morals and in money, of
Messrs. Blachford, Bowen, and others “of that ilk,”
has escaped from the hands of a jury. This escape
was made on Saturday night, with some haste, and
after buttoning up his coat and breeches as fast as he
could.
Yet the disagreement of the jury is a matter of
little consequence. The evidence is before the
country, and they have made up their opinion of the
“pipe-layers” beyond the power of all petty or penny
juries.
But have we not come to a pretty pass in these
days? There is Eldridge in Philadelphia—he has
also escaped on his third trial, by the disagreement
of the jury. Let Madame Restell at once go to trial.
She cannot be convicted—nor can any person be
convicted in these halcyon days, but the poor devils
of loafers who steal a loaf to fill their bellies, or a
pair of breeches to cover them. The administra-
tion of justice is corrupt to the foundation. Politics
and banking have covered the whole land with im-
morality, licentiousness, crime and venality of all
kinds. The difference between the saint and the
scoundrel is gone for ever—they are both equal—
both fit for the State Prison or the State Legislature.
We propose James B. Glentworth for the next
President—who's afraid?
================================================================
[Col.1 / Second Edition]
EZRA WHITE.—This hero was transferred to the
Marble Palace at Sing Sing, on Saturday afternoon
by A. M. C. Smith, in company with other convicts.
White seemed to be much pleased with his change
of location, and the authorities of the prison decided
on making a carpet weaver of him.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, June 1, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3]
M ADAME RESTELL deems it but justice to herself to in-
vite the public to a perusal of her pamphlet entitled “Sug-
gestions to the Married,” from which it will abundantly appear
that the abuse, vituperation and scurrility heaped upon her is
founded either in misapprehension or misrepresentation. Those,
therefore, who are ever ready to pronounce an opinion should
first acquaint themselves with the facts, that they may pro-
nounce understandingly. The pamphlet can be obtained free of
expense at Madame Restell's Principal Office, 148 Greenwich
street, where she can be consulted on complaints incident to
the female form. j1 1w*
—————————————————————————
MADAME RESTELL,
F EMALE PHYSICIAN, residence 148 Greenwich street;
where she can be consulted with the strictest confidence,
and where also her celebrated medicines can be obtained.
j1 2wis*[Col.3]
Departure of Ezra White.—This distinguished in-
dividual accompanied by A. M. C. Smith, Esq., left
the city on Saturday for his country residence in the
village of Sing Sing. Shortly after the leaving of
the steamboat Mr. White evinced considerable indis-
position, owing probably to his long confinement and
close application to business, during the few past
years. He however soon regained his wonted cheer-
fulness and apparent good health and so continued,
till his arrival at his place of destination.
Upon reaching the retreat at Mount Pleasant a con-
sultation was had with the authorities, and it was
finally settled that Mr. White should amuse himself
for the next four years in the delightful employment
of Carpet weaving. Mr. Smith left him in excellent
spirits.
================================================================
[Col.1]
C ASTLE POINT AND THE ELYSIAN
FIELDS.—The delightful Pleasure Grounds at Hoboken
have been put in complete order, and, having been much improved,
are now open to visiters. The cool and shady walks, winding for a
long distance on the banks of the majestic Hudson, offer a pleasant
and refreshing retreat from the hot and dusty pavements of the city.
The heights of Castle Point (which are still open to the public) com-
mand an extensive and beautiful prospect, embracing at a glance the
noble bay dotted with islands, and enlivened with vessels gliding in
every direction on its bosom; the city, with its numerous spires, and
the distant hum of its busy inhabitants; while the river, whitened
with sails, is lost in the distance beyond the towering palisades, pre-
senting altogether a scene lovely beyond description, and of its kind
unequaled.
By a newly opened and well shaded walk, protected from the rays
of the sun by a grove of noble oaks, visiters may descend in a few
minutes to the Colonade, where, on moderate terms, are furnished re-
freshments of the best kind, and suitable to the season. The ferry-
boats have been comfortably refitted with awnings, &c. and leave Bar-
clay and Canal-streets every few minutes—the ferriage, as heretofore,
6½ cents. In no other part of the world, perhaps, can so rich a treat
be so easily obtained and at so trifling expense. je2-2mis
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, June 2, 1841 (CA)
[Col.1]
COURT OF SPECIAL SESSIONS, Tuesday.—Before Judge
Lynch and Aldermen Balis and Timpson.
John Taylor, colored man, was tried for stealing a small
bag containing $12 from William H. Hoyt: Adjudged guilty
and sent to the Penitentiary for 6 months.
Joseph Marooney, a boy, stealing cotton from bales in Pine
street wharf: Guilty, and remanded for sentence.
...
James Cochrane, stealing $14 in bills from James Galway:
Adjudged not guilty.
Catharine Forsbeck, stealing clothing valued at $16 35
from Elizabeth Vandervoort: Guilty, penitentiary 6 months.
...
POLICE OFFICE.—Attempted Robbery.—On Monday night,
Mr. Ezra Huntington, clerk of Messrs. Down, Craig & Dow,
72 Cortlandt street, went as usual to the store at 10 o'clock
...
Suit for Breach of Marriage Promise spoiled, and the
Lawyer done out of his Fees.—On the 16th day of April last
a young Pearl-street Milliner named Jane ——— went to a
gentleman of the bar and wished to employ him to commence
a breach of promise of marriage suit against her defaulting
lover. She accordingly made affidavit that her ci devant
lover, George ———, a clerk in a cotton broker's office in
Wall-street, had wooed her for nearly three years with the
avowed intention of making her his wife. That she kindly
received his attentions to the exclusion of all other admirers,
and that about seven months previous a reciprocal agreement
was entered into to become husband and wife, and that the
month of April of the present year was appointed as the pe-
riod when the nuptials were to be solemnized in due form of
law. That she went with George, her intended, about two
months before and selected and hired a house, for them, as
married people, to reside in; that furniture for it was pro-
cured and the wedding garments purchased, and at the in-
stance of her lover, the friends of the parties were invited to
hold themselves in readiness to appear and grace the nuptial
fete as their guests; but that on Sunday the 12th of April,
George, the lover, came with views far different from those
that have been stated, and bluntly informed his late lady-love
that he could not marry her, as he was attached to another
who more completely engrossed his affections; and that he
then left her and had not returned to redeem his plighted en-
gagements.
Independent of this, which was sworn to before a commis-
sioner, she stated that George, after the purchase of the
furniture, had placed it in her possession, as he also had the
linen for a number of shirts he had left for her to make;
these he wished her to restore; but in the true spirit of an
insulted maiden, she declared that she would break the fur-
niture to pieces, and tear the shirts to tatters, rather than to
see them again in his possession. As a matter of course
they remained in her possession.
After this demonstration of spirit, she applied to the law-
yer as above stated, and wished him to commence suit against
her treacherous lover for non-suiting her by his refusal to
wed. A letter was written by the counsel to George on the
subject, who sent a friend to her, requesting her not to pro-
secute. She, however, persisted, and resolved to let the law
light upon her former adorer, and a writ was issued for him
and damages laid at $5,000. She then returned to her coun-
sel, reported proceedings, and at his instance agreed to set-
tle the matter, and 'cry quit,' if he would pay her $200. She
returned the next day, said he had been to visit her and ex-
pressed a belief that he would marry her if she would consent
to be his. She returned again and informed her counsel that
her lover had agreed again to marry her, and soon after the
fates or the priest made them one—and the counsel heard
that they were married. He then wrote a letter to her as
Mrs. F. reminding her of her omission to pay him his fees
and costs accruing on the inchoate suit, but she replied with
much sang froid, that she was not Mrs. F. but had become
Mrs. G., and that he might go and whistle for his fees, and
get them as he could; and the result of the whole matter is,
that the lady has obtained a husband through the instrumen-
tality of the lawyer, and the lawyer has, by a mariage ma-
nœuvre, lost his fees, which illy suits his feelings and his
purse—and for which he will in all probability commence suit
against the defaulting wife and husband unless they are
speedily paid.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
THE PIPE LAYERS—CATCHING AT STRAWS.—Mas-
ter Biddy Brooks, who writes the epistolary twaddle
from New York, that appears in the National Intelli-
gencer, speaking of the trial of Glentworth, says:—
Nothwithstanding the District Attorney has parti-
cipated largely in this feeling [meaning political feel-
ing] he has, nevertheless, at times shown great mag-
nanimity, and completely exonerated Messrs.
Blatchford, Bowen, Draper, and Grinnell from all the
infamous charges which were put in circulation
against them.
There is hardly a word of truth in this statement.
Mr. Whiting exonerated Mr. Grinnell, so far as to
believe that he was duped by the others, but both
Mr. Whiting and the public believe that Blatchford,
Bowen and Draper, are just as guilty of pipe-laying
as Glentworth. They furnished the money and
Glentworth only did the work.
—————
THE NEW MAYOR.—Robert H. Morris, the new
Mayor, the great terror to pipe-layers, bids fair to
be one of the most efficient and popular we ever
had. Every body approves his message. In the po-
lice and peace-keeping department, he will be as
manly and prompt as Aaron Clark, who was one of
the best we ever had. We dont care a button for
the politics of either—we only value their good qual-
ities for governing our unruly city. The new May-
or will, no doubt, introduce many new reforms into
practice—particularly in relation to the cleanliness
of the streets—the police, &c.
—————
THE DOG LAW IN FORCE.—In consequence of a
death by hydrophobia last week, the Mayor has put
in force the dog law, and made several appointments
to the respectable office of dog-killer. Good.
We have not heard whether the Rev. David Hale
has been appointed to office this year or not—but we
presume he will be. We would also request the
Mayor to appoint James Watson Webb and Charles
King to office at once—salary two dollars per day,
weapons included. They have been seeking office
for a long time, and almost ready to eat each other
up by the delay. We ask nothing for Colonel
Stone at present, he having been wisely provided for
in the State Lunatic Asylum. Laus Deo.
—————
HOAX ON HOAX.—The wonderful managers of the
Frederick County Bank, Maryland, now say that
they have received a letter from the robbers, offer-
ing to return the State stocks, &c. provided they
will say nothing further of the gold. No doubt of it.
These financial burglars have just discovered that
they robbed too much when they robbed their own
vaults of State stocks. Take them back by all
means. It is only another chapter in the farce of
self-robbery.
—————
MORALS AND DECENCY.—The Rev. Col. Stone, of
the Lunatic Asylum, and Editor of the Commercial
Advertiser, has been very busy for several months
past in showing up one Partridge, a woman of the
town. This is the suitable employment for a cor-
rupt, bloated Wall street paper, or a Wall street Edi-
tor.
—————
U. S. BANK.—There is an on dit that Col. Drayton
has resigned the presidency of the U. S. Bank. If
he has not resigned, he ought to resign—and that
soon.
—————
THE ONLY RESPECTABLE THEATRE NOW OPEN.—
Such the “Evening Star” says of the Bowery—one of
the most disgusting schools of sin and licentiousness
this country ever saw. Morals with a vengeance!
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
Another Murder or Painful Suicide.—The Coro-
ner was yesterday summoned to the house of a
Swede named John Roth, who kept a small grocery
or porter-house at 27 Mulberry street. Roth, it was
reported, had committed suicide by cutting his throat
with a razor. He was an uncommonly large athletic
man, of good habits, and to all appearances perfectly
sane and happy. He was found lying on the
floor of his room, over the bar room; his throat
dreadfully gashed; a razor lying on the table nearby;
and he quite dead.
His wife stated, that a few moments before his
death, a man whom she did not know—said to be a
seaman on board the U. S. ship Dolphin—called up-
on him, and they together went to the room where
deceased was found. They remained together some
little time, when the strange man came down, called
for a glass of wine, which he drank; and as he was
in the act of leaving, coolly remarked, “By the way,
Mrs. Roth, do you know that your husband up stairs
has just cut his throat?”—when he left the house,
and Mrs. Roth hastened to convince herself of the
dreadful reality.
Mrs. Roth also stated, that her husband had about
him when last she saw him a pocket-book containing
a considerable sum of money. Upon searching the
body, none of the property thus described could be
found.
The Coroner, in view of this state of things, defer-
red holding the inquest till this day; and meanwhile
a search for the strange man was set on foot.
Atrocious Murder.—About 2 o'clock on Tuesday,
the Coroner was summoned to the corner of 28th
street and 3d avenue, to an ante-mortem examination
on the body of a Mrs. Margaret Russell, who was
lying in articulo mortis, from a blow with an axe,
with which she had been struck by her husband,
Patrick Russell! On his arrival, the Coroner found
that the information was too true, and the ill-fated
woman was quite insensible; she was immediately
removed to the Bellevue Hospital, and the operation
of trepaining the skull, which had been horribly
fractured in the region of the temporal bone, was
performed by Dr. Hyslop in the presence of the
Coroner. No hopes however were entertained of the
woman's recovery.
It appears that the brother of Mrs. Russel, from
whom her husband rented the house which he occu-
pied, had frequently threatened to turn them out of
doors, and that Russell had swore that he would kill
either his brother-in-law or his wife. About 12 o'-
clock, on Tuesday, Russell ordered two of his nephews
who lived with him to leave the room in which he and
his wife were, and on their doing so, the wretch im-
mediately seized an axe, and without saying a word,
with it felled his wife to the ground! His nephews
heard the blow and supposing that he was breaking
the windows, rushed into the apartment, and found
the unfortunate woman weltering in her blood and
apparently lifeless.
The unfortunate woman survived till 11 o'clock
on Tuesday night when she expired. She was 36
years of age, a native of Germany, the mother of one
child by a former husband and of two by Russell.
Russel is 55 years of age, born in Ireland.
The wretched husband fled and was pursued by one
of his own children, to the foot of 24th street, where
he plunged into the East River and waded into the
water up to his chin. The little boy called for help,
and a Mr. Cochran and several other persons came
and secured him and had him committed to prison,
upper Police.
The Coroner yesterday held an inquest on the
body of deceased, and the Jury rendered a verdict
that the deceased came to her death, in consequence
of blows inflicted by her husband, Patrick Russell.
Glentworth.—We understand that J. B. Glentworth
wsa yesterday surrendered by his bail. We under-
stand that after much effort he succeeded in procu-
ing bail anew, and that he is still at large.
Teeth.—In the Common Pleas, yesterday, before
Judge Ingraham, a dentist named Lemuel Ross, re-
covered of Mr. Abijah Matthews, the sum of $63, for
a set of teeth furnished by the plaintiff. The bill of
particulars set forth in the declaration, was $188 37.
Before going to trial, however, $100 was thrown off,
and of the $88 37, remaining, the Jury gave the sum
above stated.
National Theatre.—Justice Parker is still pursuing
the investigation, in the matter of burning of the
National Theatre. No new witnesses were discover-
ed or further progress made yesterday toward a solu-
tion of the mystery. Hurd, one of the suspected in-
cendiaries now in prison, was brought up, but refused
to answer any questions. Another attempt to ex-
amine him will be made this day.
Mr. Burton has leased the spacious Hall in Wash-
ington Hall, corner of Broadway and Chambers-st.,
and has already commenced operations, in fitting it
up for the purpose of performing Vaudevilles and
other light warm weather entertainments.
More Murder in prospective.—Just previous to the
closing of the Police Office last evening, a man in
great haste, rushed into the presence of Justice Mat-
sell and stated that a woman residing in Batavia st.
had given something from a phial to two children,
and had taken a quantity of the same herself, by
which the three had all been taken dreadfully sick.
A physician had been called who pronounced it a
case of poisoning. Officer Stanton was dispatched
to the scene of action to make the requisite inquiries,
but at last accounts had not returned to the office.
The Coroner was also yesterday notified that the
body of an unknown man had been found floating in
the North River foot of Fulton st. and also that a
child had been drowned at the foot of 17th street,
East River—particulars not transpired.
A Mr. Lessing, a very respectable, amiable man,
who keeps a grocery on the corner of 24th-street and
3d Avenue, was severely stabbed and cut in four or
five places by a drunken negro, on Monday night.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, June 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4]
CORONER'S OFFICE—ANOTHER DOMESTIC TRAGEDY.—
On Wednesday, the Coroner proceeded to Bellevue Hos-
pital, to hold an inquest on the body of Margaret Rus-
sell, aged 36, who died the previous night from blows in-
flicted by her husband. It appeared that Patrick Russell
and his wife Margaret lived at the corner of 28th street
and 3d avenue, and that Margaret had occasional diffi-
culties with her husband, who was a man of violent tem-
per. About 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning the atten-
tion of the sister of deceased was aroused by a noise in
the room occupied by Russell and his wife, and on pro-
ceeding to the apartment, she found Mrs. Russell on the
floor bleeding profusely from a large wound on the right
side of the head. Another sister of the deceased was then
sent for, and in a few minutes the murderer was brought
in by some citizens, and the woman was removed to the
hospital, where she died.
Rose Kelly, the other sister of deceased, deposed that
Margaret Russell was a native of Ireland, and had
been married to her present husband, Patrick, about six
years, by whom she had two children. She also had
one child by her first husband. Witness went into the
room at the desire of the last witness, and found the body
of the deceased as described by her.
Edward McClaskey deposed that he was the son of the
first witness and was 12 years of age. He was at home,
at his mother's Tuesday morning, about 10 o'clock and
saw Patrick Russell, who appeared to be sober. He said
nothing but went to his room. Presently he came out
and witness heard a moaning in the room and told his
mother, who went with him to the room, and saw his
aunt lying on the floor bloody. At this time witness
could see Patrick Russell crossing by 28th street towards
the East River, and he immediately started in pursuit of
him. Patrick only walked fast at first, but seeing wit-
ness after him he ran until he got to the river where
he waded in as high as knees. Witness hallowed
“stop that man,” but no one heard him at first.—
—He continued to make the alarm, but no one came to
assist witness; he told another boy to “watch that man;”
and then he ran to Mr. Conklin's, and told them what had
happened; and they went and secured Patrick Russell,
who told them he would walk back if they would let
him, and they took him into the room to see his wife, and
then he was taken to the Upper Police Office. In answer
to questions put by the jury, this witness stated that, for
fifteen minutes before he saw Patrick go out, he heard a
knocking on the floor, which induced him to believe that
Patrick was breaking up the furniture. After taking the
testimony of the medical men, who had received the de-
ceased at the hospital. The jury found the following
verdict:—That Margaret Russell came to her death by
a blow or blows inflicted on her head by her husband,
Patrick Russell.
ANOTHER HOMICIDE OR SUICIDE.—On Wednesday evening
about 5 o'clock, information reached the Coroner that a
man named John Roth, supposed to be a Dutchman, was
lying with his throat cut at his residence No. 27 Mulber-
ry street. Dr. Archer and Justice Matsell immediately
proceeded to the place, but it was thought prudent to post-
pone the inquest for a short time.
The body of the deceased presented a most appalling
spectacle. He was an immense sized man, and he was ly-
ing on his back in a small back room completely deluged
with blood and gore. An open razor lay on a chair in the
room, but some distance apart from the corpse. The wound
in the throat was of the most decided character. The
trachea and arteries being completely severed, and death
must have been instantaneous. The wife of the deceased,
who is an Irish woman, says she was below in the bar
when one of her husband's friends came down stairs and
asked for a glass of wine, which she gave him. He then
told her that John had cut his throat, and desired her to
go up stairs. This man who is supposed to belong to the
U. S. brig Dolphin, then left the house, and it is said that
Roth must have had a large amount of money on his per-
son which cannot be found.
Justice Matsell immediately sent officers in all direc-
tions to arrest the sailor, but up to the time of the office
closing he had not been heard of.
DROWNING.—A child was found drowned at the foot of
17th street. A man was found floating in the North
River, at the foot of Fulton street.
In both cases verdicts of found drowned returned.
ANOTHER MYSTERY.—Information reached Justice Matsel,
last night, that a woman and two children were likely
to die, in consequence of taking some deleterious drug
or other, either from accident or design. The family
was said to reside in Batavia street. An officer was dis-
patched to ascertain the particulars of the case, but he
did not return by this time of the office closing.
LIBEL.—A man named John Leyden, said to be one of
the Collectors of the 6th Ward, was yesterday charged
with publishing libels in two of the penny papers, for
the purpose of defaming and maligning the character of
a juvenile lawyer, John C. McGrath. The collector was
held to bail.
PETTY THIEVES.—The setting in of the warm weather
seems to have caused a whole swarm of petty thieves to
walk abroad, seeking for something to devour. Yester-
day about eight different charges were brought before
the police. First, Mike Reynolds, who stole a tin sauce-
pan—secondly, three little negro pests were charged
with picking pockets on the Five Points—Mary Dunn
stole a piece of calico—John M. Arminta stole a silk
handkerchief—Eliza Brown stole a piece of gingham,
and all were severally sent to the tombs.
—————
Court of Common Pleas.
Before Judge Ingraham.
JUNE 2.—Samuel Ross vs. Abijah Matthews.—This was an
action to recover the amount of a bill for dentistry, and for
services rendered to the defendant and his wife. The
bill of particulars amounted to $188 37, and included a set
of permanent teeth for the wife of the defendant and a set
of temporary teeth for himself. The permanent set for
the lady were put down at $100, but the plaintiff's coun-
sel abandoned this claim as untenable.
For the defence, it was set up that the teeth were not
such teeth as a gentleman ought to have in his mouth,
much less such as he ought to pay for. That the masti-
cators were not good in color, deficient in ease, unable to
bear in the mouth, for more than half an hour at a time,
and had sundry other bad qualities about them.
The plaintiff's counsel contended that the teeth were
as good as could be got at that price, and that the defend-
ant had promised to pay. The jury found for the plain-
tiff,
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.5]
CORONER'S OFFICE.—An inquest was held on the
body of John Roth, who resided at No. 26 Mulberry
street, and was found on Wednesday afternoon with
his throat cut (vide Herald of yesterday) in the most
efficient manner. After a patient investigation, the
jury found that John Roth committed suicide while
in a state of mental derangement.
The sailor who had been in company with Roth
a few minutes before the deed was done, was brought
before the jury, but nothing appearing against him,
he was discharged. It is proper to say that Roth's
pocket-book, with the money, was found in the bed,
so “poor Jack” was honorably acquitted of every-
thing except fright at the sight of blood.
CLUB LAW.—At the request of Dr. C. H. Stillman,
of Fourth street, the coroner proceeded to Sheriff
street for the purpose of holding an inquest on a man
who received a severe blow from a watchman, about
ten days back, which produced such a severe injury
of the brain and spinal marrow, that notwithstanding
the best medical treatment, the patient died on Wed-
nesday. The name of the deceased was Edward
Fury, but no inquest was held, as Dr. Archer was
fully satisfied that the man had died from natural
causes.
MORE DROWNING.—The firing of a salute in the
harbor of New York, is generally a sort of God send
to the Coroner, as the concussion in the air usually
causes two or three dead bodies to float on the sur-
face of the bay or the rivers. It is doubtful indeed
whether any city of equal population to New York,
even exhibits so large a proportion of drowned per-
sons in the course of the year, as our annals would
present. Yesterday afternoon the Coroner held in-
quests on two cases, one the body of a man at the
pier near Franklin market, which had lain many
days in the water, and was in a most terrible state
of decomposition. The other was a negro found at
the foot of James slip, supposed to be the body of
one Sally Jones, who committed suicide two nights
since.
Information was also received at the Coroner's of-
fice that another body had been found.
...
THE BURNING OF THE NATIONAL THEATRE—TWO
OF THE INCENDIARIES FULLY COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.
—Yesterday Thomas Hurd was brought before Jus-
tice Parker, in the private or star chamber examining
room at the police office, for examination, which re-
sulted as follows, which is copied verbatim from the
original:—
Thomas Hurd, now before Justice Parker for ex-
amination on the annexed charges of having set fire
to the National Theatre on the morning of the 29th
of May last past, is duly informed of his rights ac-
cording to law, and therefore proceeds to answer as
follows:—
Q. What is your age, place of birth, business, and
residence?
A. I refuse to answer any question, my counsel,
John A. Morrill, Esq. being present.
Hurd afterwards refused to sign the examination,
and the magistrate fully committed him for trial, in-
forming his legal advisers and all interested, that no
bail would be taken. He was then reconducted to
the Tombs.
Shiers was also brought out for examination, and
fully committed for trial.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
National Theatre.—No further progress in the in-
...
The Mulberry street Mystery.—We yesterday gave
particulars of the death of John Roth who was found
dead in an upper room of his house, with his throat
cut from ear to ear. The strange seaman before al-
luded to, was found and committed to the tombs on
Wednesday night. An Inquest was held on the body
of the deceased yesterday. Nothing was adduced in
evidence tending to criminate the sailor, (whose name
we did not learn) and he was discharged. The jury
rendered a verdict of suicide while insane.
================================================================
[Col.4]
GENERAL SESSIONS.
This Court opened, for the June term, yesterday.
The calendar contains 21 new, 55 old—total 76 prison
cases.
Eight grand jurors appeared upon a call of their
names. Those present were discharged for the day.
The absentees were severally fined each $25, and a
new panel was ordered for this day.
A petit jury was formed, and Daniel Boyle and
Hugh Burns were put on trial on charge of highway
robbery, in having, on the 13th day of May last,
knocked down and robbed a Jew pedlar, named Man-
nessah Goldberg, of his pocket-book, containing a
considerable sum of money. The prosecution failed
to produce testimony sufficient to sustain the charge
of robbery, and the jury acquitted Boyle, and found
Burns guilty of assault and battery.
The court then adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.3]
FANNY ELSSLER.
The theatrical gazettes of our City announce that Mlle.
Fanny Elssler—the divine Fanny, as she has been most im-
piously styled by her admirers—has consented again to irra-
diate our City with the light of her presence, after clearing
in her Southern campaign some $50,000 over her most lav-
ish expenditures, and that she will soon bless the longing
eyes of her idolaters with an exhibition of some of the most
brilliant and costly pirouettes that ever yet added grace to
the refinement or delicacy to the purity of New-York. An
adoring public will of course hold their dollars in hand, ready
for a rush pell-mell to the box-office.
Now we do not propose at this time to enter generally upon
the question of the propriety and wholesomeness of theatri-
cal entertainments, but we desire to submit to the reputable
and virtuous WOMAN of New-York some considerations bear-
ing on the propriety and rightfulness of their countenancing
the career of Mlle. Elssler by appearing as spectators of
her performances.
We entreat every true Woman of our city to lay aside
for one moment all preconceptions and prejudices relating to
Theatres, and steadily regard this matter in its naked aspect.
Let us suppose that a female of such character as Madame
Elssler's notoriously is—one who even had the common excuse
of necessity for a life of wantonness and shame—were to
advertise to deliver a Lecture to-morrow evening on some
interesting theme, which she was perfectly competent to elu-
cidate, how many reputable Women would think proper to
be among the number of her auditors? Could there possi-
bly be six? three? one?—But is the case better when the
heroine is deprived by her heaps of treasured wealth, her
every circumstance, from the horrible necessity of leading a
life of infamy—when instead of an unexceptionable Lecture,
she proposes to make such an exhibition of her powers and
her person as that of Madame Elssler—and when instead of
a decent lecture-room this exhibition is to take place with
other wantons in front of the maiden or matron spectator,
two drunkeries in the rear, and a public assignation-hall over
head? How far can these delicate concomitants be calcu-
lated to purify the atmosphere and justify the presence of
virtuous Women?
We plead for Woman in this matter; and we ask those of
the sex who will be importuned to attend the performances
of Mlle. Elssler, to consider the consequences of compliance,
not to themselves merely, but to the cause of Virtue and
Purity universally. In the eyes of the mass of mankind,
whatever is hallowed by the presence of reputable Women
is virtuous, proper, commendable—at any rate as good as
they care for. What, then, must be the standard of female
virtue established in the minds of the masculine thousands
assembled to gaze on the revealings of the pirouette and the
cachucha, as they turn their eyes for a moment inquiringly
from the stage and meet the ardent, admiring gaze of intelli-
gent and reputable Women fixed approvingly, admiringly on
the voluptuous spectacle before them? Who does not re-
alize that the corrupt in soul will return with a keener zest
to their enjoyment, confirmed and emboldened in their innate
conviction that all virtue is but a decent hypocrisy or a cun-
ning calculation? Who can shut her eyes to the conviction
that the smiles, the cheers, the bravos bestowed upon this
gilded, glittering, shameless creature—the cast-off mistress
of half the titled libertines of Europe—are in truth ovations
to brazen harlotry and encouragements to persist in guilty
outrage of the laws of Society and of God? Who can fail
to realize that every cheer to this fallen spirit is in truth a
scoff at female virtue and an impulse to female degradation?
Women of New York! how many of you will countenance
by your presence and your plaudits the career of Fanny
Elssler?
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
Fatal Effects of the Hot Weather.—In consequence
of the excessive heat which has prevailed for the past
two days, a number of deaths have occurred and ma-
ny persons have fallen down in the streets and have
been restored with difficulty.
A laborer on the Croton Water Works, named Mi-
chael Egan, who arrived from Ireland only on Sun-
day week last, while employed near 42d street in a
state of profuse perspiration, drunk hastily of cold
water, and in a few minutes after fell down and al-
most instantly expired. His death took place about
5 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. The Coroner's Jury
rendered verdict of death from drinking cold water.
Another laborer, while at work yesterday, on the
8th Avenue, came to his death from the same cause.
The result of the Coroner's inquest has not yet trans-
pired.
The Coroner also, yesterday held an Inquest at
Blackwell's Island, on the body of a wretched va-
grant named John McGinnis, who was the day pre-
vious committed as a vagrant for 6 months. He was
found dead in his cell. Verdict, death from delirium
tremens.
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.2]
☞ TO THE PUBLIC.—M. LEVETT, Dentist, 260 Broad-
way, corner of Warren st. begs to call the attention of
the public to the following flattering testimonial from M.
M. Noah, Esq. a gentleman whose high and esteemed
character is sufficient guarantee of its sincerity. The
original can be seen at Mr. Levett's office.
—
(Copy.)
NEW YORK, May 24, 1841.
Dear Sir—It is both a matter of duty and pleasure to
state, that the set of artificial teeth, on the principle of
atmospheric pressure, which you made for a lady in my
family, has succeeded in every respect, in appearance,
comfort and utility, and have given entire satisfaction.
With the best wishes for your deserved encouragement
and success, I am, dear sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) M. M. NOAH.
Mr. LEVETT, Dentist.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF SESSIONS.—Friday.—Before the Recorder,
Judges Lynch and Noah, and Aldermen Lee and Pollock.
In the case of James B. Glentworth, on whose behalf a
reduction of bail from $5000 to $500 was on Thursday ap-
plied for by his counsel, the Court stated that when the
amount of bail was originally fixed, there were seven indict-
ments against the accused for as many distinct offences.—
Subsequently six of those indictments had been disposed of
by demurrer; and only one remained on which the accused
had been tried, the jury being unable to agree. Every disa-
greement of a jury increased the legal presumption of inno-
cence; and the Court therefore deem it proper and right to
reduce the amount of bail from $5000 to $1000, in which
sum unexceptionable bail will be taken.
The following sentences were then passed, viz.:
Henry Taylor, colored man, convicted of manslaughter in
the 3d degree, in killing Joseph Smith, also colored, was sen-
tenced to the State Prison for the term of 4 years, the high-
est allowed by law.
Alexander G. Coxe, convicted in December last of obtain-
ing $110 under false pretences, was sentenced to the City
Prison for 30 days.
John Ferden, convicted of grand Larceny in stealing a case
of silks worth $465 of Gignoux & Co., was sentenced to the
State Prison for 2 years.
Bridget Hickey, a girl of 15, convicted of burglary in the
3d degree, in breaking into the store of John Weller, was
sent to the House of Refuge.
William Thompson, convicted of petit larceny, second of-
fence, was sentenced to the Penitentiary for two years.
William Clark, convicted of obtaining money ($10) under
false pretences, was sentenced to the Penitentiary sixty days.
William J. Cummings, convicted of petit larceny, steal-
ing a watch—Penitentiary 4 months.
Hugh Burns, convicted of assault and battery on Manaseh
Goldberg—City Prison one week and pay a fine of $25.
George P. Geiser, convicted, by confession, of an assault
and battery on Constable Kewan—City Prison 10 days.
John Crowin, convicted on two indictments of receiving
stolen goods, was sentenced on the first to the City Prison
for 10 days and pay a fine of $25, and on the second indict-
ment a similar fine and imprisonment.
John Williams and William Stevenson, convicted of as-
sault and battery, not appearing for sentence, their recogni-
zances were forfeited.
Christopher Breman was tried for grand larceny, stealing
a trunk containing boys' clothing, a watch worth $30, and
other articles, worth together $51, from Jonathan D. Howell
of 9 Mangin st. on the 11th May, at night. The property
was taken from the garret of the house, and the watch taken
to Jackson's pawnbroker shop in said street to pledge, which
led to his arrest.
The jury found him guilty, and the Court sentenced him
to the State Prison for three years.
James Reed, aged 17, was tried for an assault and battery
with an attempt to commit a rape, on Mary Ann Millette,
a child only 9 years of age, at No. 204 Sixteenth-street,
on the 12th March last. The jury found the accused not
guilty.
Banard McKee, an old man of 70, indicted for an assault
and battery on his wife Mary, a woman of half his age, with-
drew his plea of not guilty and pleaded the indictment.
Plea received and recorded.
...
CORONER'S INQUEST.—An inquest was hel yesterday
at the house of Chauncey St. John, 19 West st. on the body
of an unknown man, found drowned at the foot of Morris st.
The deceased was dressed in a check shirt, blue cloth vest,
and canvass pantaloons, and had the appearance of having
been in the water a long time, and his body so much disfigured
as to be unrecognized. Verdict, found drowned.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, June 12, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.5]
General Sessions.
Present his Honor the Recorder, Judges Noah and
Lynch, and two Aldermen.
JUNE 11.—In re James B. Glentworth at the suit of the
people.—In this case the Recorder delivered the
opinion of the Court, on the motion made by Mr.
Glentworth's counsel, for a reduction of bail.
His Honor said that at the time the bail was fixed
at $5000 there were seven indictments against the
defendant, that six of those were disposed of by the
Court, on demurer, in favor of the defendant, and
that on the other, the jury could not agree on a ver-
dict. The Court could not refrain from noticing the
fact that every disagreement of a jury increased the
legal presumption of the innocence of the accused,
and the Court, having all these circumstances before
it, would order the sureties in $5000 to be discharged,
on condition that the defendant found two good and
sufficient sureties in the sum of $1000, so as to ensure
his attendance in Court whenever he should be re-
quired to take a new trial.
Mr. James S. Smith then asked for an order for
the Police Magistrates to take the bail, which their
Honors granted, on condition that the District Attor-
ney have due notice of the bail.
His Honor directed the following convicts to be
paraded for sentence:—
Henry Taylor, negro, convicted of manslaughter
in the third degree, in killing another negro, in the
month of April last.
His Honor, the Recorder, adjudged the negro man
slayer to suffer for four years at Sing Sing, that being
the full extent of the law.
Alexander G. Coxe, an ex-Major in the army of
Brigadier General Southerland, of Navy Island ce-
lebrity, convicted two terms since of obtaining goods
under false pretences, was directed to be placed at
the bar. Coxe, being asked the usual question, said
he was absent from the Court when the jury returned
their verdict, and he has no other knowledge of said
verdict except what he derived from the Clerk of the
Court, and he now objected to the verdict as illegal,
because recorded during his absence.
He also denied the false pretences, and said he
had suffered an imprisonment of four months before
his trial.
The Recorder said it could be of no use entering
on the merits of the case, because the jury had
passed upon the charge, and Coxe insisted on read-
ing two affidavits. His Honor, the Recorder, then
took a brief review of the circumstances under
which Coxe was convicted, and adjudged him to be
imprisoned in the city prison for thirty days.
John Ferdon convicted of grand larceny, in steal-
ing a valuable case of umbrella silks, the property
of Gigounr & Co., was next put to the bar.
The court adjudged him to the state prison for
two years.
Bridget Hickey was next paraded.
His Honor, the Recorder, lectured this black-eyed
little sinner severely, and adjudged her to the House
of Refuge sine die.
William Thompson, a confirmed thief, convicted
of petty larceny, it being the second offence, was
next called up.
His Honor adjudged this convict to dig stone of
Blackwell's Island for two years.
William Clark convicted of obtaining money un-
der false pretences.
This loafer of the genteel order, was a sort of in-
cipient financier, and raised an unauthorized loan on
the credit of one of his friends, for the small sum of
$10.
The court adjudged him for this offence, to the
stone digging process for ninety days*.
William J. Cummings for stealing a watch, was
sent to the penitentiary for four months.
Hugh Burns indicted for robbing a foreign Jew ped-
dlar, but convicted of only knocking out two of the
Jews teeth and otherwise maltreating him, was next
put to the bar.
His Honor the Recorder, adjudged Burns to the
tombs for one week, and to pay a fine of $25, and
this his Honor called “making an example of Burns,
lest such cases should become somewhat too preva-
lent in this community!”
George P. Geizer, for beating an officer of the Ma-
rine Court, was sent to the tombs for ten days.
The sentence of the Court on Julia Tooker was
postponed until Tuesday next.
John Williams and William Stevenson, not ap-
pearing to hear the sentence of the Court, their sure-
ties were estreated.
John Cronin, a junk shop man, was called up on
two convictions of receiving stolen property of little
negro loafers.
The Court lectured John considerably, and sent
him to the tombs for ten days for each offence, and
further to pay a fine of $25 for each offence, making
twenty days imprisonment and a fine of $50. John
grumbled much at this sentence, but could not get it
reduced.
[Col.6]
Christian Brennan was put on his trial for a grand
larceny in stealing a trunk of wearing apparel and
watch, value $51, the property of Jonathan D. How-
ell, of No. 9 Mangin street. The case was clearly
made out, and the jury found him guilty without
leaving their seats.
The Court immediately adjudged him to the State
Prison for three years.
RAPE.—James Reed a lubberly ill-looking boy, ap-
parently about fourteen years old, was put on his
trial charged with attempting to commit a rape on a
little girl, named Mary Ann Millett, who did not ap-
pear to be more than ten years of age.
The details of this case were unfit for publication,
and the jury, after listening to the testimony adduced
pro and con, acquitted the boy, and the court ad-
journed to Monday, at 11 o'clock.
* NOTE—Major Alexander G. Coxe, for obtaining
segars to the value of $100 from a poor ignorant fo-
reigner, was merely adjudged to stay for thirty days
in the tombs, whilst Clark, for illegally borrowing
the sum of $10, was sent to hurd with the most aban-
doned characters and to dig stone for ninety days!
Now we should like to know on what principle of
criminal jurisprudence two such very different de-
grees of punishment should have been meeted out, to
a pair of such respectable professors of the art of vic-
timization. The ways of the wise, as Soloman ob-
served, are truly astounding to common folks.
———————
City Intelligence.
EDITOR IN TROUBLE.—Horace Greeley, the galva-
nized squash, has recently paid $80 to compromise a
suit brought against him by the U. S. District Attor-
ney, for penalties incurred for violations of the Post
Office laws and regulations. It is said that forty or
fifty other suits for similar violations have recently
been commenced. Nearly a bushel of New Worlds
have been detected in the same illicit correspond-
ence.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Saturday Morning, June 12, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Jane Brush and her Cow—M. W. Dodd, Brick
Church Chapel.—This is a translation from the
French, by the same fair hand whose fine version of
Dumas' Gaul and France, we noticed last week.
It is a beautiful story, and none the less so, we dare
say, for the dovetailing of the translator's charming
imagination into the text—for, she tells us that she
has added to the original—though it is so ingenious-
ly done that it is quite impossible for us at least to
discover the “spots in the wainscot.” The little
volume furnishes one of the few instances in which a
work professing to be written for children, has been
successful. It is not written down to their feelings
and comprehension, but exactly upon a level with
them. Its language, and the incidents of the tale are
precisely what they should be, to made an impression
and do good. There is no baby talk about it, and
yet, every thing is so said as to adapt itself at once
to the capacity of the young mind at the earliest stage
of its understanding. No better child's book has
ever been written, and we, at any rate, have found it
very delightful reading for children of some age.
—————
...
GENERAL SESSIONS.
In the case of J. B. Glentworth, the Court decided
on the motion of his counsel, J. Smith, Esq., made
the day previous, to reduce the bail from $5000 to
$1000.
Henry Taylor, a negro, heretofore convicted of
manslaughter in the 3d degree, was sentenced four
years State Prison.
Alexander G. Cox, convicted of obtaining goods by
false pretenced—sentenced (in consideration of his
previous long imprisonment,) to the City Prison 30
days.
John Ferden, grand larceny—State Prison 2 years.
Bridget Hickey, burglary 3d degree—she being un-
der 16 years of age, sentenced House of Refuge.
William Thompson, petit larceny, a second offence
—Penitentiary 2 years.
William Clarke, false pretence—90 days Peniten-
tiary.
William J. Cummings, petit larceny—Penitentiary
4 months.
Hugh Burns, assault and battery—City Prison one
week and $25 fine.
George P. Giezer, assault and battery on an officer
City Prison 10 days.
Julia Tooker, convicted of grand larceny, was ar-
raigned, but her sentence was deferred till next term.
John Williams and William Stephenson, convicted
of petty offence—not appearing for sentence their
sureties were ordered estreated.
John Cronin, convicted of receiving stolen goods—
[Col.4]
sentenced City Prison 10 days and a fine of $25, and
for a second offence 20 days and a fine of $25.
Christopher Bremen, was tried and convicted of
grand larceny and was sentenced 3 years State Pri-
son.
James Reed, a boy, was tried on charge of attempt-
ing to commit a rape on a girl 10 years of age, named
Ann Willett, and was acquitted. The Court then
adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.4]
A Curious Trial for Receiving Stolen Coffee.
The time of the five Judges, fat and lean, intelli-
gent and otherwise, was occupied yesterday, from
ten in the morning until almost ten at night, with
the trial of a very intelligent, good looking and appa-
rently respectable Scotchman, named James Ritchie.
The charge against Ritchie was receiving 171
bags of coffee, each containing 120 pounds, worth
about $2,500.
After a great deal of the time of the court had
been wasted by several tedious talks between Wil-
liam M. Price and the court in relation to a woman,
and Charles O'Conner and the court in relation to
one of his clients, a great rascal, who ought to be in
the state prison; and after Judge Noah had adjust-
ed his wig several times, and put on his spectacles
and pulled them off half a dozen times, and read over
the morning papers, and scribbled the heads of an ar-
ticle for the “Star,” the District Attorney called out
“Put James Ritchie to the bar.”
Ritchie was then brought into court, remarkably
well but not showily dressed, and placed at the bar.
A jury of a curious mixed medley collection of
characters was then sworn; and the District Attor-
ney rose and told them that the prisoner was indict-
ed for receiving several bags of stolen coffee, and
that he expected to be able to prove him guilty.
Ritchie, it appears, was one of the three brothers,
James, Peter and Thomas. The prisoner, James,
could not procure bail, and had been in prison five
months. He was educated as a lawyer in London,
and when last in England was in the office of the
British Commercial Insurance Company, 35 Corn-
hill. He had also been a vestry clerk. He came to
this country several years ago, and had been a coffee
dealer. Thomas was a sailor, and had been mate of
a vessel.
Mr. William Merle was the first witness called;
he was a Frenchman.
He testified that he keeps several stores; kept Nos.
262 and 264 Front street; took possession of that
store on the first of August last. There were, then,
2000 bags of coffee on store; the bags were lettered
“A, B, C, D,” &c. The coffee was placed in the
second and third lofts. In September last, we found
out some bags had been stolen. We went on losing
coffee up till November; one day last November my
foreman showed me a lot of coffee shrewed about
under the hatch, and from there to the back door,
and we traced it through the yard up to the fence
that parts our store from Mr. Ritchie's, who lived at
260 Front street, and kept a junk store. We watch-
ed Ritchie's store, but saw no coffee go into it or
come out of it, except next day among the sweep-
ings of his store I saw some coffee, but I did not
handle any of it. We told the police and kept a
watch to catch the thief.
Morrell—Did you see any one come that you
caught.
Merle—They got wind I presume.
Morrell—Never mind your presumption, sir.
Merle—There were 171 bags stolen, averaging 120
lbs. each, and worth from 11 to 12 cents.
Judge Noah, who was getting a little impatient
here pulled up his specs and pulled down his wig,
and cried out, “What kind of coffee was it that was
worth 12 cents a pound?”
Merle—It was various kinds in the bags—all differ-
ent.
Cross-examined by Morrell—The coffee was there
when I took the store. It was counted, but I never
saw it counted. I don't positively know how much
coffee was in the store. John J. Hicks was the for-
mer lessee of the store.
John J. Hicks was sworn—I don't know how much
coffee was in the store. Mr. Van Benschoten kept
the account. He handed it to me and I gave it to
Mr. Merle.
Elias H. Van Benschoten sworn—I think there were
1827 bags of coffee in that store when Mr. Merle took
it. I handed the account to Mr. Hicks. I counted the
bags on the 1st of Aug. and a few days afterwards, and
found found the number right.
Cross-examined—I didn't examine the bags parti-
cularly.
George Griffin sworn—(This witness appeared to
be one of the better order of mechanics, pale from
sickness and confinement in prison for the last five
months, is a master cabinet maker from London; he
has been here 9 years.)
Griffin—I was engaged in stealing this coffee.
Judge Noah—How's that? Did you steal the cof-
fee? (Surprised.)
Griffin—I'll tell you. The first I saw of any coffee
being stolen from Merle's store, was when I saw
George Rankin and Tom Ritchie.
Judge Noah—(Laughing and looking with a know-
ing nod and a chuckle towards the Recorder.) Who's
that you say? Tom Ritchie?
Griffin—Yes, Sir, Tom Ritchie. (Laughter.)
Judge Noah—Did Tom Ritchie steal any coffee?
(Laughter.)
Hays.—(angrily.) Silence in Court, gentlemen;
this is no laughing matter, if Tom Ritchie did steal
coffee.
Recorder to Noah—Hays calls you to order bro-
ther Noah.
Noah—Oh! I only laughed to think that there is
so little even in the name of citizen Ritchie. Go on.
Griffin—Rankin and Tom Ritchie got a ladder,
went into Mr. Merle's loft, lower down four bags of
coffee, gave them to me, and I put them into James
Ritchie's junk store and Tom Ritchie.
Noah—Stop—not so fast—I want to get all this
down about Tom Ritchie.
Griffin—James Ritchie was not present.
Noah—But Tom Ritchie was. (Laughter.)
Griffin—Yes. The next time George and I went
and got six bags of coffee; and Tom remained be-
low and took them.
Noah—Tom Ritchie was on the ground that time.
Griffin—Yes. And so we went on several times till
we got a matter of 90 bags in all at different times. We
could easily put it from over the fence through a win-
dow into the junk shop. The coffee was left there
till Jame Ritchie came there the next morning to see
it. Then it was put into carts and carted away for
sale. James Ritchie paid me $2 a bag, and gave Tom
$2 a bag, and George Rankin $3 a bag.
Noah—Then Tom Ritchie did not have the largest
share of the plunder.
Griffin—No.
Noah—That's not characteristic of the name.
(Laughter.)
Griffin—We stole altogether from 90 to 100 bags;
but then some more was stolen by Tom Ritchie be-
fore I began.
Noah—Then Tom Ritchie stole some on his own
hook. (Laughter.)
Griffin—I don't know what hook he stole it on—
he hooked it himself. (Laughter.) The stolen
coffee was sold to Mr. Gillies, in the 5th street, and to
Gilbert Colgate, or Colgate Gilbert, in Dutch street.
I sold it, and gave the money to James Ritchie. I
have seen James Ritchie up to Gillie's house.
Cross-examined:—
Q.—How long have you been a prisoner?
A.—In the coffee business? (Roars of laughter,
in which Noah joined till his wig shook again.)
Q.—No, sir, a prisoner.
A.—Five months.
Q.—Was you ever arrested for any robbery there?
A.—I think not, there.
Q.—Was you ever concerned in any other robbery
elsewhere?
A.—Well, I believe I was in another store near
there.
Recorder—Witness, you need not answer such
questions unless you like.
Witness (with great humility)—Thank you sir?
(Laughter.)
Cross-examination continued—I occupied the 2d
story, over James Ritchie's store; I fitted up count-
ers and things there, as may be; there was a shed
under the window of my floor, which ran up to
Merle's premises; Mr. James Ritchie has dried cof-
fee on that shed. Before he had that junk shop the
coffee was his business. I made up my mind to
testify against Mr. Ritchie two days after I was ar-
rested. I since justified in the half of $300 bail. I
don't know how much I'm worth now. I've been
plundered by one and another since I've been in pri-
son for the last five months. I'd be worth $150 next
week if Mr. Ritchie paid me that $80 he owes me,
which he's tried to rob me of since I have been in
prison, and he ought to be ashamed of it. I lent him
$40 and $25, all in cash, at two times. I got noth-
ing to show for it. I owe him nothing.
Direct resumed—I'm a cabinet maker; I've known
Ritchie for ten years; I saw coffee in his store, and
knew it was stolen before I engaged in the busi-
ness.
Noah—What business?
Witness—The coffee line. [roars of laughter]
James Ritchie took me to a cellar to deposit much
of the coffee; it was two doors from Charlton street,
on the right hand side; a man name Carter lived up
stairs—he was a Londoner; sometimes I carried it
up there in a horse and wagon—sometimes James—
and sometimes Tom.
Noah—Then Tom Ritchie worked sometimes?
Witness—Yes; it was the overplus that was stored
up there, because he was afraid to sell too much at
once.
Mr. Gillies sworn—I lived at 28 Fifth street; I
keep a spice and coffee factory. I bought coffee from
James Ritchie two or three times during last sum-
mer; not over 1,500 to 2,000 weight of him; I bought
more of Tom Ritchie.
Noah—Then Tom Ritchie sold some?
Witness—Yes, sir. James never brought any, ex-
cept a sample, Tom brought it; I think in July; it was
in barrels; Tom sold it, as he said, for himself and
brother; I bought in all from both between 3,000 and
5,000 weight of coffee; it came twice in bags—five
bags at one time. James never told me where he
got it; I gave nine cents a pound for it; I once bought
500 weight of damaged coffee—it was burnt in a fire at
the public store opposite James Ritchie's; I roasted
that with other coffee.
Cross-examined—I always gave a fair market
[Col.5]
price for it. There was no concealment about it.—
No marks upon the bags I once lent James Ritchie
to buy coffee with. I was once in his employ when
he was in the coffee business in Broadway. He has
always borne a good character for integrity. I took
the coffee I bought to be La Guayra and Rio mixed.
La Guayra coffee has small kernels.
Here some coffee (No. 1) was shown to witness,
that was taken out of the cellar in Mac Dougal
street.
Witness—That don't look like the coffee.
Some coffee (No. 2) from the bags, still left in
Merle's store, was here shown witness.
Witness—That don't look like it.
Shaler—What kind of a way is that to swear
away a man's liberty, by trying to identify kernels
of coffee. (Laughter.)
Judge Noah—We found it difficult to identify the
pork the other day—(roars of laughter)—and the man
was discharged; coffee kernels are queer things to
recognise.
Witness—Some of that last lot (No. 2) looks like
Maracaibo coffee.
Noah—I should like to see those different kinds, so
as to be able to know them again.
Recorder—You know the taste of a good cup of
coffee, brother Noah, when you drink it?
Noah—Yes, and wine, too.
Witness—I can't swear to the coffee, nor no one
hardly, all coffee looks so much alike; some Mara-
caibo resembles La Guayra some, and vice versa;
some La Guayra is like some Maracaibo.
Noah—But damaged coffee don't look like good
coffee.
Witness—Not exactly.
Noah—And yet you coffee roasters mix them up
together. It's a great imposition upon the public.
One of the Judges—That's worse than stealing
coffee.
Whiting—You were a friend of Ritchie's?
Answer—I used to take a ride out of town with
him sometimes.
Whiting—On a Sunday?
Answer—I don't go riding on a Sunday; I go to
church. (Laughter.)
Whiting—A very good place.
Cross-examination continued—James Ritchie ne-
ver said the coffee I bought belonged to him. The
coffee I bought of them was very dirty, so that I had
to sift it.
Noah—And yet it was all worked up, and sold to
the public?
Answer—Yes.
Robert Ballyntine sworn—Married Carter's daugh-
ter; lived at 38 Macdougal street; saw James Ritchie
there to tea once; never saw any coffee in the cel-
lar; Ritchie had no control over the cellar, or any
part of the premises. Never saw Ritchie in the base-
ment; never saw him with any coffee any where.
Griffin and Tom Ritchie came there once.
Noah—Did Tom Ritchie take tea there?
Answer—Yes.
Elizabeth Ballyntine, (a very pretty English girl)
sworn—Lived with my father 38 Macdougal street;
James Ritchie was there once to take tea; I never
saw any coffee there.
Mr. Stokely sworn—I was told Griffin knew all
about this robbery, and I arrested him; he offered to
turn state's evidence and directed me to the celler in
Macdougal street; I went there and found coffee
grains mixed up in the sand and about a peck that
had run into a hole in the ground; there were
also some pieces of bags, but no marks on them; that
coffee in the paper (No. 1) is part of what I found
there; it looked as if coffee had been mixed in that
cellar.
Cross-examined—Who arrested Griffin?
Answer—Cockefair.
Question—I thought it was you?
Answer—No, I didn't arrest Griffin.
Question—How long after he was arrested before
he promised to turn state's evidence?
Answer—A day and a half.
Question—Had you a search warrant when you
went to Macdougal street?
Answer—No.
Noah [surprised]—No search warrant? That's not
according to law.
[Here there was a terrible cry from a woman in the
prison yard of “Let me alone!]
Shaler—Didn't you speak to Griffin about peach-
ing?
Answer—Believe I did.
Question—Dont you know you did?
Answer—Yes, I did.
Question—Then why dont you say so? Do you
know Ritchie's wife?
Noah—Who? Tom Ritchie's wife?
Shaler—I mean Griffin's wife.
Answer—Yes.
Noah—Oh.
Question—Have you been to see her since his
arrest?
Answer—Once.
Noah—With the wife?
Answer—Yes.
Noah—Oh.
Shaler—Didn't you take tea with her?
A.—No, I hadn't that honor.
Q.—Was there not some difference between her
and Ritchie?
A.—I believe there was.
Q.—Didn't she say that Tom Ritchie tried to ravish
her?
Noah—(astonished)—What! Where! Who did
Tom Ritchie try to ravish?
Witness—No, sir, it was Peter Ritchie she said
tried to ravish her.
Shaler—Another brother, your honor.
Noah—Gentlemen, be careful, or you'll confuse us
with this good woman and the Ritchies. Tom
Ritchie has got enough to answer for without the
charge of ravishing Mrs. Griffin.
Shaler—Didn't the Grand Jury discharged the bill?
Witness—I believe they did.
Q.—Well, now, sir, wasn't he discharged?
A.—Yes.
Q.—Well, how could he have been discharged
unless by the Grand Jury?
A.—Well, that's one way of getting discharged.
Shaler—Well, that's what lawyers call getting
discharged. What other way is there?
A.—Why, another way is to get 'em habeas'd—
(at this hit at Shaler's penchant the room rang with
laughter, in which Noah joined, until his spectacles
fell off and his wig almost followed suit.)
Witness—We knows when a man gets arrested,
but it's difficult to tell when he gets discharged.—
(Laughter.)
Noah—That's a bad way.
Morrell—That's not the only bad thing about our
police and criminal courts.
Whiting—We'll get them all reformed in time.
Mr. Merle was again called to stand to endea-
vor to identify the coffee; but the amount of his
statement on this point was, that as all coffee was
mostly mixed up in the dealers' hands, it was next
to an impossibility to identify it.
Mr. Colgate Gilbert was examined.—I have a cof-
fee and spice warehouse in Dutch street. A man
last summer came to me and asked me to go to
James Ritchie's store to look at some coffee. I
went—it was damaged coffee, smoked, and was
black. I bought from three to five bags of him. It
was all open—spread on the floor. I can't remem-
ber what I gave for it.
Coffee shown to witness.
Witness—Well, it might look something like that
coffee; but it's difficult to say about coffee, it's so
much mixed up.
Noah—Ay, that's the tricks of the dealers and
roasters. (Laughter.)
Morrill—I think they ought to be roasted for it.—
(Laughter.)
Noah—You bought that damaged coffee—several
bags?
A.—Yes.
Q.—And mixed it up, roasted and sold it?
A.—Yes, it was roasted and sold.
Lynch—And so the community get shaved by bad
coffee.
Whiting—We're not on trial for selling bad coffee.
We rest, sir.
FOR THE DEFENCE.
Geo. Rankin was brought out of prison and sworn.
(He is a tall six-foot Irish boy.) I never went with
Griffin to steal coffee. I never stole a grain of coffee
from any one. I never knew of any being stolen.
Noah—How old are you?
Ans.—I am 18 and 6 months, and a little better.
Noah—You want to be more than a little better.
But only 18 and such a strapping fellow?
Shaler—He's one of our genuine “dimmikrats”,
and they grow fast.
Noah—Yes, ill weeds always grow space; and
that's the case with the locofocos. (Laughter.)
Whiting—Not always, your Honor.
Examination continued—I never was at Merle's
store in the night. Never put any coffee over the
fence.
Whiting—But you're indicted for it, aint you.
A.—I don't know what an indictment means.—
(Laughter.)—James Ritchie never told me to steal—
never threatened to shoot me if I didn't. Never paid
me to steal it, and I never did steal any. I always
had money of my own; and I brought money to this
country, bad luck to it. I made a statement in the
polices because Mr. Hicks told me to charge it all on
the Ritchies that they stole the coffee and I was so
bewildered with being in jail for first time I was born—
so I didn't know what I wur doing. (Laughter.)
Noah, (aside)—That's too often the case with the
locofocos.
Morrill—Yes, and the Conservatives, too.
James Beach sworn—Was a porter in Ritchie's
store. Never saw any but damaged coffee there.
No coffee was ever concealed. I was there every
morning when the store was opened. Sometimes
James Ritchie sent the key down by Tom or Peter.
James bought eight or ten bags of damaged coffee
after the fire. I saw no coffee sent away in bags.
He didn't keep a horse and wagon. There was an
entrance to Griffin's loft, outside the house, by some
stairs. James Ritchie talked of turning Griffin out
of there.
Capt. Smith swore—Known James Ritchie a year.
Always considered him an honest man. He pur-
chased a large quantity of coffee after the fire; it
was at the corner of South and Dover streets.
[Col.6]
John Gilmartine sworn—Let the store to Tom and
James Ritchie. Tom made the agreement. I let a
loft to James to dry some damaged coffee in; the
loft was fifteen feet long; coffee was spread all over
it, and was eight inches deep. There must have
been from 3000 to 5000 weight there.
Mr. Hicks was recalled, and denied telling Ran-
kin to charge the robbery on the Ritchies.
He was asked to identify the coffee here pro-
duced, but said there were so many varieties, and so
much of mixing, that it was impossible to tell. The
coffee here produced, looked, he thought, like Java
coffee.
Here, it will be remembered, that the various
witnesses had designated the sample before the
court successively as Java Coffee, Laguayra coffee,
Rio coffee and Maracaibo coffee.
Tom Ritchie was sworn—He was a handsome,
honest looking sailor.
Shaler—What's your name?
Answer—Thomas Ritchie, some call me. Tom
Ritchie, I call myself.
Noah—Oh, that's Tom Ritchie at last. He's a
much better looking man than citizen Ritchie.
Witness—I hired that store of Mr. Gilmartin.
James advanced the money out of what my uncle in
Scotland left us all—my share was $780. I've been
in this country from a boy. I've been a sailor pretty
much all my life. I've been a mate of a vessel. My
brother never employed Griffin or Rankin to steal
coffee; he bought a large lot of coffee from Justice
Hopson after the fire. I spread the coffee out on the
shed myself to dry. We were often spilling coffee
about round the premises. I used to buy the coffee
sweepings from the mates of vessels, and sell it to the
coffee roasters.
Noah—And they sell it for the best, I suppose?
Tom (laughing).— I s'pose so, your honor; they
do a good many worse tricks than that on shore.
Shaler—Particularly the clothes men along Water
and Chatham streets.
Tom—I've bought bags of coffee myself—some
from the brig Grecian. I swapped a boat away for
a lot of coffee once. My brother has bought coffee
several times. I had the control of that store. He
just see to how the money was laid out, and what
profits there was on to it, and give 'em to me. But
I was going to leeward fast; we lost $560 in a few
months, and he's got my note for the half, $280. My
brother was in the British Commercial office, 35
Cornhill.
Whiting—Now, Tom, can't you tell us how that
coffee was got out of that loft?
Tom—(Bluntly but pleasantly.) No.
Whiting—Didn't you have a hand in it?
Tom—Why, Mr. Whiting, you know you tried me
for stealing it, and tried hard to convict me, but you
didn't do it; and so if I had I think you'd a done it;
and as you didn't, I dont think you've any right to
ask me, and I don't think I've any right to answer
you. (Roars of laughter followed this frank effu-
sion from Tom.)
Whiting—Very well, then Tom, you think so?
Tom—Yes, Mr. Whiting, I know so. [laughter]
Whiting—Did you take any coffee up to that cel-
lar in Macdougal street?
Tom—Yes, Mr. Whiting, I did; and I bought it
honestly. I took it there to mix the good and bad
all up together; because the first lot we sold Mr.
Gillies he complained that it was bad and damaged;
and so after it was mixed he couldn't tell the differ-
ence. [laughter]
Noah—Oh, that's the way they cheat the public
in coffee, Tom, is it?
Tom—Yes, your honor, that's the way they fix off
the coffee; and if nobody never cheated the public
no worse nor that, they'd be a darned right better off
than they are now. [roars of laughter]
Whiting—Havn't you said you had that coffee?
Tom—Yes; I said so, because nobody had a right
to ask me.
Whiting—Havn't you told Mr. Merle that you
stole it?
Tom—Let Mr. Merle tell what I told him; and if
he tells the truth I'll own to it.
Whiting—That's all.
The testimony here closed. The case was ably
summed up, particularly by John A. Morrill. The
Recorder's charge was short, impartial, and the case
went to the jury about 7 o'clock. The Jury, after be-
ing absent but a very short time, returned a verdict
of GUILTY.
—————
☞ Under our police head of May 3d, W. P.
Wright and John A. Bogert were reported fined $25
for an assault and battery. We are requested to
state that this W. P. Wright is not of the firm of
W. P. Wright & Co., No. 1 Hanover street. This
statement is made because malicious misrepresenta-
tions have been in circulation.
NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Tuesday, June 15, 1841 (FH)
[Col.4]
Philadelphia.
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
PHILADELPHIA, June 13, 1841.
Suit against Mr. Biddle by the U. S. Bank—Mr. Bid-
dle's Taste and Fortune—Trial for Murder.
DEAR BENNETT:
I think you are not far wrong when you denomi-
nate this place the “sink of all pollution.” Wheth-
er in morals, or politics, or finance, it has fallen from
its high estate, too deeply, I fear, soon to be resusci-
tated.
...
We had a man convicted here, last week, of rape,
committed under the most revolting circumstances.
The victim was the wife of a very respectable me-
chanic in Moyamensing. The perpetrator, who is
a most hard-featured villain, will probably be allowed
several years in the Penitentiary, to cool his pas-
sions. Talking of women, there has been a good
deal of excitement in certain quarters lately, in re-
ference to an attempt made by one of our notorious
young bucks, on a young lady connected with a
well known millinery establishment, in Chesnut
street. I have not been able to obtain the particu-
lars, as the friends of the creature in pantaloons are
attempting to smother the matter.
We have a large number of navy officers here,
who having nothing else to do, are much given to
this sort of business. One of them actually grasped
the arm of a most beautiful girl, at her own door,
some time ago; whereupon her brother making his
appearance, gave his cowardly hide a dusting, which
he will remember for many a long day. We have
now established here a paper called the Censor,
which gives information long needed to strangers,
as to the most desirable lodging places for the weary
traveller. It answers the same purpose here that the
Advocate of Moral Reform does in New York.
HYDASPES
================================================================
================================================================
THE NEW YORK SUN. Tuesday Morning, June 15, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6]
COURT OF SESSIONS—YESTERDAY.
[Reported for the Sun.]
Before the Recorder, Judges Lynch an Noah,
and Aldermen Pollock and Lee.
Much of the time of the Court yesterday was
occupied in hearing motions for the postponement
of trials, amongst which was one made by Mr.
Price, in the case of Ann Foster, a well dressed
elderly lady, who was put to the bar charged with
passing a number of counterfeit bills. The trial
was set down for this day.
The grand jury come into court and presented
a number of bills.
RECEIVING STOLEN GOODS.—James Ritchie
was then put to the bar, charged with receiving
171 bags of coffee, value upwards of $2000, know-
ing the same to be stolen.
The particulars of this case have been fre-
quently before the public. The coffee was stolen
from the store of Mr. Merle in Front street, and
a brother of this prisoner was some time ago tried
on an indictment charging him with participation
in the robbery, and acquitted.
The principal witness against the prisoner was
George Griffin (state's evidence) who swore that
he, George Rankin and Thomas Ritchie the broth-
er of the prisoner, went repeatedly to the store of
Mr. Merle, which they entered at night through
one of the windows, by means of a ladder—that
several bags of coffee were stolen and removed to
the house of the prisoner, who kept a junk store
next to Mr. Merle's store.
Rankin was brought out of the Tombs, and
placed on the stand; he, however, denied knowing
anything at all about the transaction, although on
his examination when committed he had made
statements corroborative of the testimony of
Griffin.
Evidence was adduced to prove that the prison-
er sold large quantities of coffee to venders in Fifth
street, and Dutch street.
Officer Stokely was produced to show that
quantities of coffee were found strewed about the
rear of the premises of Mr. Merle.
Mr. Merle could not identify any of the coffee
which was traced to the possession of the prisoner,
as that which had been stolen from his store.
For the defence a Captain Smith was called,
who deposed that the prisoner was in the habit of
purchasing quantities of damaged coffee.
Several other witnesses of respectability were
called and testified to the good character and ho-
nesty of the prisoner.
Mr. Shaler addressed the Jury very ably and
eloquently for the prisoner's defence.
Mr. Whiting replied and summed up for the pro-
secution.
The Recorder briefly charged the Jury, who re-
tired for deliberation.
After an absence of two hours the Jury return-
ed with a verdict finding the prisoner guilty.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Tuesday Morning, June 15, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
GENERAL SESSIONS—YESTERDAY.
On motion it was ordered that Butcher Joe, alias
Joseph Morrison, and Matthew L. Barron, who were
on Saturday arrested by their bail, stand committed
for trial.
James H. Dill, indicted for assault and battery on
Robert Spicer, was arraigned for trial and pleaded—
Guilty.
In the case of James H. Montgomery, George
Atherton and John Spooler, indicted for petit larceny,
the Court ordered a nol. pros. to be entered.
In the case of Benjamin Waldron and Wm. War-
rington, the like order was made.
In the case of Thomas Baxter, indicted for man-
slaughter, by consent of the District Attorney defen-
dant and his sureties were discharged.
James Ritchie was then put on trial for receiving
stolen goods from George Rankin, the property of
Guilheme Merle, on the 3d of July last. The trial oc-
cupied the remainder of the day, and the Jury found
the prisoner Guilty. Adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.4]
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
PHILADELPHIA, June 13, 1841.
...
[Col.5]
Theatricals in the United States.
...
The queen of dance, Fanny Elssler, has returned
to this city, after a tour to Havana and the Southern
and Western States, by which she realised $45,000.
She received $1000 a night in Havana, and receives
$600 her, during this engagement. Her popularity
has not diminished in the slightest degree; the
house Monday night was crowded to suffocation, and
the enthusiasm and applause rises higher and higher
with every successive performance.
...
———————
General Sessions.
Present, the Recorder, Judges Noah, Lynch, and two
Aldermen.
Second Trial of Ritchie.—James Ritchie, convicted on
Monday of receiving stolen coffee, was put to the bar on
an indictment of grand larceny, in stealing 30 morocco
skins, the property of Jacob Riberdale, No. 9, Jacob
street.
The prosecution deposed, that in the early part of No-
vember last he lost about thirty skins, French dressed.
...
The Jury returned under the charge of the Court and
convicted Ritchie of the charge as laid in the indictment.
Riot.—Henry Strickland, Charles Brown, William La-
tham, Stebbins Andrews, Nathaniel Reeder, Wm. El-
more, Mike Kelly, and Edward Wall, were all put on
trial, charged with perpetrating a political riot in the 7th
ward, at the late election.
This case was heard by the late Recorder in the early
part of the year, and the jury did not agree. The same
testimony was read to the jury, and they convicted all
except Edward Wall.
The Court then adjourned.
NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, June 16, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1]
CORRECTION.—Horace Greely never paid the U. S.
District Attorney $80 for the compromise of a suit
against him, for a violation of the Post Office laws.
He only offered to pay $15 or $20, but even that has
not been squeezed out of the “squash.” Let him
be galvanized, and then squeeze.
[Col.2]
Another Curious Scene in the Court of Ses-
sions, in which Noah, the New Judge in
Israel, figures largely.
No stranger should leave this city without pay-
ing a visit to that strange assemblage of stupidity,
good sense, cupidity, wit, folly, dirt, rascality, ob-
stinacy, and bad smells, called the Court of Sessions.
Of which of these Noah is the presiding deity, we
shall not at present undertake to say.
The Court, as at present constituted, by Heaven
knows whom, is the most singular and unique one
ever seen beneath the sun. There is on the bench a
Protestant, an Israelite, a Catholic, a Nothingarian,
and, we believe, a Presbyterian, or an Anything-
arian. There is one sensible man, and sound law-
yer, one ridiculous old fool, one thick-headed
fellow, with a great deal of pretension to legal
knowledge, but with a less amount of whole-
some brains than a terrapin; one good jolly look-
ing fellow, apparently born abroad, and with a
countenance that might induce any malicious rascal
to accuse him of having a bad temper; and one lit-
tle lean, hungry-looking, lizard-like, kind of well
disposed little man, that might be taken for a repre-
sentative of those lean kine described by Pharaoh,
which swallowed up several other kine; not swine,
or Noah certainly would not sit next to him.
The Court (as understood by a large majority of
the honest men in this city) is legally composed of
the Recorder, F. A. Tallmadge, Esq., a very able and
sound lawyer, and two Aldermen elected by the
people. There are also two excrescences forced upon
the Court by a few fools at Albany against the will
of the people, (but who will be removed the instant
the next legislature meets,) in the persons of Mr.
Lynch, an indifferent lawyer, and the notorious M.
M. Noah, a broken down politician—neither of
whom are recognised by the corporation.
The Sessions room is dirty, uncomfortable, and
miserably constructed. The Recorder and the four
so-called Judges, are all stuck up on a row like so
many hens on a hen-roost, so that this Court has not
been inappropriately called the “HENROOST
COURT.” A dirty semi-circular table is placed in
front of the Henroost bench, which is covered with
old hats and sleeves of old coats, with arms in them,
and generally surrounded by loafers, and a few law-
yers. Between this half moon table and the hen-
roost bench is placed a miserably old dirty, filthy,
round table, 2½ feet in diameter, and at which only
three persons can sit without inconvenience, which
no one would sit at with a decent coat on, and which
is too low in the legs for any but a boy to sit at in
any way, and this is dignified with the name of the
“REPORTER'S TABLE.”
Of all this the greatest joke is, the new Judge in
Israel—or Israelitish Judge in Christendom, M. M.
Noah. Since he has been appointed to the office of
Judge, he has lost his melancholy agitated cast of
countenance, become more slippery and cunning
and conceited than ever, reads the newspapers on
the bench, and talks, and laughs, and retails old
jokes—not old clothes—and manages the affairs of
the nation and petty larceny rascals through the
columns of the “Evening Star.”
Yesterday presented an excruciatingly amusing
scene of excitement in the Court of Sessions. Judge
Noah was in a state of hysterics—his very wig mov-
ing alive with indignation.
When the Judge was appointed to the Christian
bench, we said his appointment would be worth a
thousand a year. So it is rapidly becoming. Here
is the first order of the afflicted:—
JUDGE NOAH'S ORDER IN COURT.
At the opening of the Court of General Sessions,
yesterday morning, Judge Noah said he had been
shown a report in the Morning Herald, purporting
to be the proceedings in this Court, which was a tis-
sue of misrepresentations from beginning to end. It
was due to myself to say, that not a single remark
which had fallen from myself was correctly re-
ported. Owing to a similarity of name between the
person on trial, and Mr. Ritchie, of the Richmond
Enquirer, the reporter, William H. Attree, had so
framed certain questions, and put the answers there-
to in the mouth of one of the Judges, (myself,) as to
make it appear that I had intentionally insulted that
gentleman; now I take this opportunity of stating
that I have the greatest respect for that Mr. Ritchie;
and that, while uniting with this Court in permitting
the utmost freedom to the press, yet we cannot tole-
rate this species of misrepresentations. The Court
has, therefore, made the following order, (Recorder
Tallmadge excepting):—
“The report in this morning's Herald, purporting
to be an account of the proceedings of the Court in
the trial of James Ritchie, being a tissue of misre-
presentations calculated to reflect on the character of
the Court, and bring the cause of justice and deco-
rum into disrepute, it is hereby ordered that the re-
porter, William H. Attree, be hereafter excluded
from having a seat, AS SUCH, at the reporters' table of
this Court.”
As this is the first time we have come in contact with
the Judge since he left off dealing in old clo' and old
sayings, we're not much afraid of him, or his order,
or all his law learning. We shall issue, therefore, a
counter order, to the following effect:—
ORDER OF EDITOR BENNETT.
Judge NOAH having, without regard to the Con-
stitution or the laws of Moses, without even a trial
according to the Anglo Saxon laws, excluded Wm.
H. Attree from the reporter's seats of the Court of Ses-
sions, we, the editor of the New York Herald, hereby
order the useful sprite Ariel from paradise, to attend
daily the Sessions, and to take his seat daily on the
tip of Judge Noah's wig, and to report faithfully the
“saying and doings” of the Judge, be they silly or
otherwise, down to the very movements of each
particular hair of the selfsame wig. We know very
well the difficulty of reporting Judge Noah with per-
fect accuracy, because, being a descendant of the
stock of Judas Iscariot, he is as slippery as an eel,
and as witty as an owl, but we have no doubt
enough of him will be caught to show forth his pe-
culiar attainments, so that the world may be en-
lightened by his vast surplus stock of wisdom and
black letter law learning.
And furthermore, it is our firm belief that if the
administration of justice is to be brought into fur-
ther disrepute (a very doubtful thing) it will arise
from the folly of Governor Seward in placing on a
Christian bench, one of the race of Barabbas, who
knows as little of any Christian legal code, as he does
of the Gospel itself. And again it is very amusing
certainly to see this Judge talk of the respect he en-
tertains for “Citizen Ritchie”—a man whom he has
been assailing in his “Evening Star,” ever since his
own opinion on the U. S. Bank was very conveni-
ently changed at the time he received a slice of the
$52,000 in 1830.
We therefore direct our reporter, the aforesaid
elegant Ariel of heavenly memory, to report Noah
each day, to report him from the tip of his wig to the
toe of his boots. The community want something
to amuse them in this warm weather. We know
the difficulty of reporting correctly such a slippery old
chap—but the best that can be done shall be done.
Noah will give more public entertainment in our re-
ports, than he ever did as editor—as orator on Grand
Island—or as politician and office beggar. So look
out for fun, absurdity and law mixed up together.
And furthermore and finally, I hereby order, that
Judge Noah—the same Judge who issued the pro-
clamation for assembling the Jews at Grand Island
—the same Noah who attempted to make pure
wine for the Christian communion table, out of old
and musty raisins—that he is hereby prohibited each
and every morning, from reading the classic columns
of the Herald, and that every carrier and newsboy
is instructed not to sell Noah any Herald, for love,
money, or old clo'—and that the newsboys, if Noah
should beg to buy a paper, are hereby instructed to put
their right thumb on the nose, extend the four fingers
toward the east, making a gyration in the air, and
uttering, at the same time, these solemn words, “ba—
ba—ba—ba.”
Again—A few days ago a highly respectable loafer
with a long beard, and abundance of old clothes on his
back, (though not a descendant from Judas Iscariot,
or the tribe of Barabbas,) but having a very respecta-
ble hole in his breeches, was brought up before this
dirty, bad smelling Court—we mean Court room—
and arraigned on a charge of stealing three pounds
of pork, price three shillings.
As soon as the Recorder heard the charge, which
Noah, who was busy with the newspapers, did not
hear, he said, “Mr. District Attorney, this seems
to be a very small affair; why don't you send this
man to the Special Sessions? It's only three shil-
lings.”
The District Attorney, also a remarkably sensible,
shrewd, and honest man, but who loves dearly to
crack a joke at the expense of Mr. Noah and Mr.
Lynch, replied, “The man wants to be tried by this
Court, for stealing his pork!” laying particular em-
phasis on the word “pork,” with a sly wink at Noah.
On this, Judge Noah, who is so fat, and sleek, and
slippery, that he frequently almost tumbles asleep on
the bench, or looks like it, which is much the same,
[Col.3]
roused himself up, and cried out, “pork! pork!
what's that about pork?”
The Recorder, who also loves a joke as dearly as
any man living, and who frequently laughs in his
sleeve at the ignorance of law displayed by his asso-
ciates, turned round to Noah, and observed, “Bro-
ther Noah, as this case of stealing pork seems to lay
legitimately on your side of the bench, suppose you
try it.”
“Pork! pork!” said Noah, “who'd ever think of
stealing pork?”
“This man is charged with stealing pork, may it
please your honor,” said the District Attorney, lay-
particular stress upon the word “honor.”
Noah, to the trembling loafer in the old clothes,
with the hole in his breeches, “How came you to
steal pork?”
Loafer.—I don't know that I did.
Mr. Noah.—But you're indicted for it.
Loafer.—(Leisurely.)—Why I went into the store
to buy some butter and potatoes, and I paid for 'em,
and somehow or other I thought I paid for that pork.
(Roars of laughter.)—Noah frowned.
Noah.—Paid for pork—paid for pork. (Laughter.)
Why, who ever heard of paying for pork? I never
paid for any pork in my life. Nobody ought to buy
pork. Nobody ought to touch pork.
Loafer.—Well, I'm very fond of pork. (Laughter
among the loafers.)
Noah.—Pshaw! You ought to suffer some for your
folly and bad taste. Found of pork? Faugh! (Laugh-
ter.)
Loafer.—Well, that's all a matter of taste. (Laugh-
ter.)
The evidence was then heard, and it being but
very slight, and the Judge in Israel, not liking, as
we presume, to recognize the stealing of pork as a
punishable offence, he at last dismissed the loafer,
with a solemn request never to touch pork again, and
amid roars of laughter from the bystanders.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Wednesday Morning, June 16, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
GENERAL SESSIONS.
Upon the opening of the Court the following order
was unanimously adopted, and directed to be placed
upon the minutes:
The report in this morning's Herald, purporting
to be an account of the proceedings of this Court, in
the trial of James Ritchie being a tissue of misre-
presentations, calculated to reflect on the character
of the Court, and bring the cause of justice and deco-
rum into disrepute, it is hereby
Ordered that the reporter William H. Attree, be
hereafter excluded from having a seat, as such, at the
reporter's table of this Court.
James Ritchie was for the second time put to the
bar for trial, on charge of grand larceny, in stealing
a quantity of morocco skins, value $61. Ample proof
of his guilt was produced by the prosecution, and the
jury found him guilty.
In the case of Robert Bolton, indicted for grand
larceny, a number of affidavits were produced, tend-
ing to show that the accused was subject to fits of
abberation of mind, and which was probably the
case at the time the alluded offence was committed.
By consent of the District Attorney, the Court di-
rected a nol. pros. to be entered and Bolton was dis-
charged.
...
Inquest.—The Coroner yesterday held an Inquest
on the body of an unknown man, found floating in
the dock foot of Canal street, North River—Verdict,
found drowned.
—————
Park Theatre—Mademoiselle Elssler appears again
this evening in the same dance, and same character,
“Nathalie,” in which she performed on Monday
evening. From the appearance of the Box sheet
there is every prospect of another crowded audience,
comprising the beauty and fashion of our city.
Bowery Theatre.—The “Mother Goose” panto-
mime “takes” so well at the Bowery, that every
seat in the dress circle has been taken for this and
to-morrow evening. The Swiss Brothers and Miss
Lee are now the legitimate pantomimists. The trage-
dy of Hamlet opens the performances at the Bowery
this evening. Hamlet by Mr. Hamblin.
================================================================
[Col.6]
T HE OLD GALEN'S HEAD DISPENSARY, No. 12
Peck slip, near Water st., (late Dr. Evans') is still con-
tinued for the safe, speedy and effectual treatment and
cure of diseases. If age, science, and an extensive expe-
rience entitles the practitioner to preference over the mere
tyro in the healing art, the proprietor of 12 Peck slip begs
leave to direct the attention of a discerning public to the
inference of the comparison. Be particular in the number
12, on red signs—there is no Dr. Evans at No. 9, or in the
city of New York, all signs, handbills, and notices to the
contrary notwithstanding. A plurality of offices or rooms
for the convenience and privacy of patients. Charges rea-
sonable. 16 3is*t[Col.2]
ANOTHER DEFEAT—NOAH'S WIG WRONG END
FOREMOST AT THE SYNAGOGUE.—An election took
place for trustees at the Synagogue in Crosby street
on Tuesday. Noah was a candidate for one of the
Board. One of his antagonists was Mr. Lazarus, a
highly respectable Hebrew. Noah fixed on his wig
and old breeches and tried to run into the office, but
Mr. Lazarus left the Judge far behind, the latter hav-
ing lost his wig and specs in the race.
We congratulate the Crosby street people that
they have not permitted an old political loafer to su-
perintend the affairs of that holy place. Noah's
piety lays in his breeches' pocket.
—————
RETURN OF COL. STONE.—Col. Stone returned yes-
terday from Washington, where he has been for a
week, boring for a diplomatic place for himself, and
the post office here, for a politician called Havens.
He was equally successful in both. We advise
Stone to quit office begging, animal magnetism,
huge eating, and all such vanities. Go to work—
and attend to your newspaper.
—————
FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE ELSSLER MANIA.—
Last evening was rather cool and pleasant in the
Park—but in the Park theatre the thermometer stood
at 110 at least.
Fanny Elssler appeared again last night at this
theatre, and, as usual, it was crammed from pit to
Shakspeare, besides running over at the doors.
There is no diminution of the mania. The whole
theatrical floating interests of the legitimate drama
—with the exception of Thorne of the Chatham,
which has also its own mania—are devising ways
and means among the small critics to get up a “mo-
ral war” against Fanny, but it seems to be no go. She
carries everything before her, and the “squashes”
too.
—————
COURT OF SESSIONS.—The proceedings in this mis-
erable hole yesterday, which is called by some the
“Henroost Court,” were of little interest. George
Rankin, the witness introduced in Noah's celebrated
trial, was tried and convicted of burglary, in break-
ing into and stealing coffee from Mr. Merle's store.
And the notorious old stool-pigeon, Butcher Joe, the
last of the race, was convicted of robbing Mr. Sea-
grave of Providence, R. I. of $710, in March last, in
Broadway.
A motion was made and argued at some length by
W. H. Attree, that the Court do rescind the order
made in relation to him the day before, because it
was, as the Recorder said, informal, i. e. illegal—
done without evidence or notice to show cause;
was written by Noah, and sanctioned by him and Lynch
alone, the Recorder considering it informal, and the
two Aldermen dissenting from it. The Court will
doubtless take time to consider of it, before they ex-
punge their illegal and ridiculous act. We shall
give full particulars hereafter.
Mr. M. M. Noah, the so-called Judge (for a very
short period,) shook like an aspin leaf and was as
red as an old turkey hen the whole day on account
of what appeared in the “Herald.” He denied, like
a false old fool as he is, that he had any thing to do
with the “Star,” and said nothing till towards night,
when he fell asleep. Mr. Lynch looked ridiculous
the whole day, and was laughed at by Tallmadge,
Whiting, the Aldermen, and all the lawyers for his
folly.
—————
FURNITURE FOR THE RUSSIAN STEAMER.—There are
now to be seen at Charles A. Baudouine's, No 332
Broadway, several articles of furniture—the richest
and the most sumptuous we ever saw. They were
manufactured by Mr. Baudouine for his Imperial Ma-
jesty of Russia, and will decorate the two drawing
rooms of the steam frigate “Kamschatska,” now
nearly ready for sea.
The principal articles are two sofas, eight drawing
room chairs, four large arm chairs, four tabourettes,
and two large circular tables. These are all in the
antique style, and made of the costliest rose wood,
highly polished. The chairs and sofas are covered
with light blue satin damask, delicately figured.
They are stuffed with eider down, and have spring
bottoms. The tops of the tables, which are very
large and massive, are each of one slab of marble of
Parian whiteness. Each article has a superb cover-
ing of cloth, which looks more like leopard skin than
anything else. Nothing of the kind so splendid was
ever made before. All go on board in a day or two.
M. de Bodisco, the Russian Minister, is highly pleased
with their beauty and finish.
The drawing rooms of the steam frigate into which
these go, are to be fitted up in a beautiful and unique
style, to correspond with the furniture. It is said
they will be used by the Imperial family only.
We understand that the “Kamschatska” will be
finished next month, and take an experimental trip
to the south. She will then return, take in coal, and
start for St. Petersburg. As a steam vessel, she will
be the most complete of any on the water, and we
have it as the opinion of scientific and experienced
naval men, that no other vessel will equal her in
speed. Her decorations will be superb, and her ar-
mament powerful. In a work, she is a nonesuch,
and we have every reason to feel proud of her as a
production of this Republic.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE NEW YORK SUN.—How can any Christian
patronize this vile print? Look at its constant ad-
vertisements of Madame Restell, and others of a
similar character, which render it unfit to be re-
ceived into any decent family. Look at its base
attack recently upon Methodist Class Meetings.
And last Saturday it came out in a scurrilous at-
tack upon the friends of freedom, denouncing
them as a set of “addle-pated fanatics.” We call
on all friends of virtue to set their faces against
that print, as utterly unworthy of their support.
[Zion's Watchman.
We copy the above, not because we deem it of
the least importance to expose or refute the base
falsehoods which it utters or insinuates against us;
these, with a thousand others like them, conceived
in the same spirit, “pass by us like the idle wind.”
Indeed it gives us pleasure, as far as we are indi-
vidually concerned, to meet these spiteful attacks
from fanatics, hypocrites, and corrupt partizans,
who allow themselves to be “the tools with which
knaves do worth withal.” When we are attacked
from such quarters, it gives us strong assurance
that we are doing our duty to the public, that truth
is making its way in triumph, while error is writh-
ing beneath the blows that are inflicted upon it.—
But we copy the above paragraph for the purpose
of showing the public, and especially the Chris-
tian public, the character of a paper that pretends
to minister to them in holy things. This quintes-
sence of “envy, hatred, malice, and all uncharita-
bleness,” comes from a journal which professes to
teach the religion of the “meek and lowly Jesus”
—a paper which claims to be a watchman on the
towers of Zion. Will not the Prince of Darkness
laugh to find the gates in the keeping of such
Watchmen?
In the same paper we find the benevolent and
humane efforts of the Colonization Society de-
nounced with more bitterness than the Sun. It
says, “the infinite God looks with utter abhor-
rence upon this scheme.” But worse than this,
the same paper contains an article calling upon all
the churches to drive away from the holy sacra-
ment of the Lord's supper all professing chris-
tians who are slaveholders! And it is recommen-
ded to commence this impious work immediately,
“this summer—this week if you can,”—while the
Southern slaveholders are travelling at the North!
Finally it contains the abolition nomination of
James G. Birnie for President of these United
States in 1844.
...
If hypocrites who claim to be Zion's watchmen
continue to impose upon the Christian public, it
shall not be because we neglect to expose their
falsehoods. If political demagogues, who support
the little interests of faction rather than the great
interests of the country, are countenanced by a
cajoled and cheated people, it will not be because
we shall cease to proclaim the truth, fearless and
free. So we give a fair warning to all these mad-
caps of what we intend to do; and if they intend to
put us down they had better be stirring them-
selves, for our subscription list is increasing ra-
pidly every day.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, June 21, 1841 (FH)
[Col.7]
A CARD TO THE LADIES—Madame Costello, fe-
male physician, is prepared at all times to receive pa-
tients on the point of confinement at 34 Lispenard st., N. Y.
NB—Madam C. treats all diseases incident to females, and
cases where nature has stopped from colds, &c. &c. Some
of their cases will require a short time to effect a cure. La-
dies coming to the city out of health, may consult her at
her residence. j9 1m*[Col.1]
ORDER IN THE COURT OF SESSIONS.—Judge Noah
has joined the Temperance Society, and signed the
teetotal pledge. Thank God for that. Any person
now who had intended to present Noah, as sub-rosa
editor of the Star, with wine, cider, or any other
drinkable, can send it to Col. Stone, who has signed
no pledge against any quantity of eating, drinking
or smoking.
[Col.2]
Judge Noah's Order in Court—The Argument
in relation thereto.
As Judge Noah took particular pains to write him-
self the order in relation to one of the gentlemen in
the employ of the proprietor of this paper, and to see
it published, we think proper to publish the argu-
ment had in relation to the order in the Court of Ses-
sions the day after the order was promulgated.
Almost immediately after the opening of the Court,
W. H. Attree (who had entered the Court room, and
taken his seat at the table appropriated for lawyers)
rose and said:—
“May it please the Court; as I have been, by an
extra-judicial, and, as I consider it, an illegal action
of a part of this Court, (here Noah wriggled in his
seat,) brought as a suitor within the Court, I must
request permission to introduce a motion to rescind
the order made in relation to myself, and the further
permission to address the Court in relation thereto;
stating the reasons why I deem the said order illegal.
(Here Noah and Lynch colored up and seemed de-
termined to shirk the question if possible.)
Recorder.—Certainly, Mr. Attree, you have a per-
fect right to address the Court in relation to the mat-
ter you speak of; and as it is a personal application I
see no objection to your doing so fully at once.
(Here Noah and Lynch colored still deeper, looked
as savage as hungry bears, and both whispered the
Recorder together; and the noise and confusion in
the Court room became terrible.)
Attree.—In all that I may say or have said, I dis-
tinctly disclaim any intention to treat this Court with
disrespect—the Court as I consider it, legally consti-
tuted under the City Charter; but my rights as a pri-
vate individual have been invaded by the Court; and
in my person, the rights of every individual connect-
ed with the press of this city have been invaded.—
For I believe that it will be admitted by the Court
without argument, (as it is notoriously known even
to every student at law,) that the grand fundamental
principle of the common law is that the rights of no
individual, however humble, can be touched by any
Court of Justice, unless that individual be present ei-
ther in person or by counsel to answer to the charges
preferred against him. (Murmurs of applause among
the lawyers, and remarks of “That's good law,” “He's
perfectly right.”) On this account, I insist that be-
fore this Court could issue such an illegal order as
they have done, they were by the common law and
in common justice bound to serve a notice on me to
appear and show cause why such an order should not
issue and be enforced against me. I therefore, re-
spectfully move the Court that the order made yes-
terday in relation to myself—which I find published
in the “Evening Star” (Noah colored) accompanied
with false editorial comments (Noah colored still
deeper) which I presume were written and furnished
to the “Evening Star” by one of the Judges of this
Court. (Noah became very red with rage.) I move,
I repeat, that this order be rescinded; upon the ground
that the Court had no legal evidence before them that
I wrote the report of which the Court complains; that
I was not present to answer when the order; was
made, and that therefore such order was informal—
that is, illegal—contrary to common sense, contrary
to sound justice and contrary to law.
By this time Noah and Lynch had worked them-
selves into a towering passion; although from the
usual noise and confusion in Court, the shuffling of
feet, the walking to and fro, and the talking of the
lawyers, neither of them had heard above a quarter
of what the speaker had said. They both talked to
the Recorder at once, and both were evidently afraid
that the Recorder and the two Aldermen would
overrule them, and rescind the order. They there-
fore determined to shirk the question until the two
Aldermen had left the bench. For this reason Lynch
exclaimed “Mr. Attree this thing will give rise to a
good deal of discussion and it had better be postpon-
ed for the present.” They then again whispered the
Recorder, who said in a mild manner, “Mr. Attree
you have an undoubted right to be heard patiently by
the Court, and shall be heard; but as there are a
great many witnesses here who came from a dis-
tance, and one from Rhode Island, whose causes are
about to be called on, I think it will be better that
you postpone your motion until one or two of these
cases are disposed of.”
Attree.—Certainly, with a great deal of pleasure;
under those circumstances I will postpone it for the
present.
Recorder.—You shall have an opportunity of being
heard during the day if you wish it.
Here the matter was suspended until the latter
part of the evening session; when, the two Alder-
men having left the bench, Mr. Attree requested the
Recorder to allow him to postpone his motion until
the morning, so that the Aldermen might be present.
Noah and Lynch seeing this, over-ruled the Record-
er, and insisted that the motion should be brought on
then; it being nearly half past nine at night; and
Mr. Attree had been kept dancing attendance there
since half past 10 in the morning. This measure
was doubtless resorted to in consequence of the Al-
dermen stating to Mr. Attree during the day that
they had not been consulted in relation to the order,
and the Recorder also stating to Mr. A. that he con-
sidered the order an informal one; that it was writ-
ten by Noah, and only showed it to him, just as he
was about to take his seat on the bench; that he
disapproved of it; that he found himself over-ruled
by Lynch and Noah; and that he then refused to
read the order form the bench because it was infor-
mal; and that he further said to Noah, “If you
choose to make a display of this kind you may be
your own orator, for I will not.” Under these cir-
cumstances it doubtless was that Noah and Lynch
insisted that Mr. Attree should bring his motion on
at that late hour of the evening.
The Recorder then said,—“Mr. Attree, you were
about to address the Court in the morning in rela-
tion to a motion concerning yourself; the Court will
now hear any remarks you may have to make con-
nected with you motion.
Attree—I would prefer waiting until the morning,
or until all the members of the Court are present.
Lynch—There is a Constitutional Court present
now, sir.
Attree—May it please the Court, I respectfully
state that I do not think so. And I believe a major-
ity of the people of this city are of the same opinion.
And I therefore respectfully request the Court to al-
allow me to postpone the motion till the morning.—
I regret to have troubled the Court, with any re-
quest, but if they would allow me delay—
Lynch (rudely and abruptly)—There's no apology
necessary, sir; if you have nothing to say, there's
an end of it. (Noise in court.)
Attree—No, may it please the Court, there's not
an end of it. I will proceed now, though conscious
that a majority of the Judges will decide against me.
But I care not about this matter, as it immediately
concerns myself. The late order of the Court, is a
matter of very little moment to me as an individual.
But, the order of the Court touched upon broad and
delicate grounds; it was an infringement of the sa-
cred liberties possessed by the press. And wherever
my lot may be cast in this life, and under whatever
clime I may be destined by a Superior Power to so-
journ for the remainder of my existence, it shall ne-
ver be said that the liberty of the press was first in-
vaded by any Court, or any power, in my person,
without a struggle on my part to strangle the act of
tyranny. (Great noise in Court.) I desire to treat
the Court with all due respect in what I say; but I
insist that the order of the Court made in relation to
myself, was illegal; it was issued without any legal
evidence being taken by the Court that I wrote the
report; this ought to have been done before the or-
der was issued; I ought to have been present, either
in person or by counsel; and therefore I declare that
the order was contrary to law and justice, and res-
pectfully move the Court that it be rescinded.
Noah—But, Mr. Attree, you may remember that
on the day of that trial I called you up to the side of
this bench to have some private conversation with
you, in the course of which you remarked to me
that you were about to officiate in the place of the
regular reporter.
Attree—But if I did, that is not legal evidence that
I wrote the whole or any part of the report in ques-
tion, as it was published, of which the Court com-
plains. Nor does it do away with the illegality of ma-
king such an order when I was not present. It was like
trying a man without evidence; passing sentence
and punishment on him before he had been told that
there was any charge against him. It is like the fa-
bled Jedburgh law: hang first, and try afterwards.
(Tallmadge and the lawyers laughed. Lynch and
Noah frowned; although from the noise they could
not hear distinctly.) And the Court in thus acting
were following the bad precedent set them by the
Senate of this State, on punishing by removal, a
Judge without any trial or impeachment.
Noah—Well, if the Court, then, are to understand
from you that you did not write the report, and if
you will reduce that statement to an affidavit, the
Court will not hesitate to rescind the order.
Attree—May it please the Court, I shall do nothing
of the kind. The Court have thought proper to as-
sume, without legal evidence, that I did write it;
they did an illegal act on that assumption; and until
the Court rescind or expunge that illegal act, I stand
by that order, for the purpose of having it expunged.
I say it with all proper respect for the Court. (The
Recorder smiled.)
Noah.—Well, Mr. Attree, but you must very well
know that if you did not write the report, you can
easily satisfy the court of the fact.
Attree.—And his honor, judge Noah, also very
well knows, that I shall willingly do nothing of the
kind. His honor, Judge Noah, has too recently left
the ranks of the newspaper press, where he was a
titled officer—and where, with “all's fair in po-
litics” for his motto, he was in the daily habit of
ridiculing and slandering all who differed with
him—he was a soldier in the ranks of friends and
foes too long—he marched and countermarched
too often—he knew too many of the tricks of the
trade—he was too thoroughly conversant with the
machinery that regulates a newspaper office—not to
know that whatever transpires within such an office
never transpires out of it, except upon compulsion.
(Laughter among the lawyers.) I shall, in the pre-
sent state of the case, admit nothing—I shall deny
nothing; and I shall thereby most faithfully discharge
[Col.3]
my duty to him by whom I am employed. I must
insist again that the Court do rescind or expunge
that order, (at the mention of the word “expunge”
the Recorder, Whiting, and the lawyers laughed,)
because it was issued without first taking legal evi-
dence on the subject.
Noah.—But, Mr. Attree, the Court inferred that
you wrote the article complained of.
Attree.—The Court inferred; does the Court mean
to say that it acts upon an inference? Do I under-
stand the Court aright, when they say that they in-
ferred an offence had been committed by an individ-
ual, and therefore sentenced and punished him? The
Court might in this manner infer that other gentle-
men connected with other newspapers, wrote at dif-
ferent times, the several articles censuring certain
matters connected with this Court, such as the mode
of admitting to bail, &c., and therefore exclude
those gentlemen upon an inference. The Court might
as well infer that I wrote the report of the pork case.
(Laughter.) Whereas if the Court were to look a
little nearer themselves than I am, they might make
a nearer inference. But if this Court has acted in
my case upon a mere inference,—as I believe that it
this is the first transaction of the kind upon record in
the history of this Court, so I humbly and respectful-
ly trust it will be the last.
Here Judge Noah seemed to think that he really
had committed a gross error in point of law, and he
remained silent.
The Recorder smiled; but as the order was infor-
mal, and did not emanate from him, he determined
not to interfere. At last Noah went on:—
Noah—But, Mr. Attree, you said in your paper of
to-day that his Honor the Recorder excepted to
the order. Such was not the fact.
Attree—May it please the Court, I have no pa-
per of my own, nor any part of one—I am merely
employed to write for one paper. I regret to be un-
der the necessity of contradicting any member of the
Court; but his honor the Recorder assured me with
his own lips this morning, that Judge Noah wrote
the order, that he (the Recorder) knew nothing
about it, until he came to Court and found his opi-
nion overruled by Judges Lynch and Noah—that, as
the Judges consider the Aldermen elected by the
people as mere nobodies, they were not consulted;
that he (the Recorder) endeavored to persuade
Judge Noah not to make such an order, and further
said to him, “If you choose to make this display you
may be your own orator, for I wont;” and that he,
(the Recorder) further considered that I ought to
have been heard—and that as I was not, the order
was an informal one, and the proceedings informal;
which phrase, as connected with a court of law, I
understand to mean illegal. There sits his honor the
Recorder—you can ask him if he did not say so.
Recorder—I did state to Mr. Attree that the order
was informal; but inasmuch as the order was sanc-
tioned by a majority of the Court, it was unquestiona-
bly the order of the Court, though informal.
Here Judge Lynch, who had had a full head of
steam on for the last few minutes, commenced.
Lynch—The Court, sir, thought proper to pass that
order in relation to the reporter, as the milder course;
this Court are determined not be trifled with by any
reporter, or by any newspaper. This Court do not
need any instructions from any quarter as to what are
and what are not his duties. The Court merely per-
mit the Reporters* to come here and sit where they
do; and if they do not behave themselves and make
proper reports, the Court can either expel them, or
commit them, as it thinks proper. You must be
aware, sir, that this Court can commit any one so
offending!
Attree—I am perfectly well aware that this Court
can commit any individual who is guilty of a con-
tempt of court. But I am, also, equally well aware
that this Court must have sufficient legal evidence,
that the individual complained of has been guilty of
a contempt of Court. (The Recorder and District
Attorney smiled; and the latter observed, “If you
go on so, you'll puzzle the Judge.”)
Lynch.—The Court consider that they had evi-
dence enough.
Attree.—I respectfully differ with the Court.
Noah.—But Mr. Attree you don't mean to contend
that the report in question was a correct report.
Attree.—May it please the Court, I mean respect-
fully to contend that every iota of the evidence re-
lating to the stealing and receiving the coffee was
literally and strictly true; that the report was fuller,
better, and contained more facts than any other re-
port that was published in relation to the trial; and
with the exception of a few harmless remarks put
into the mouth of Judge Noah it, was literally and
strictly the most correct report published. And I wish
further to say, that the editorial introduction to the
article in the “Star” in relation to this order of which
I before complained, was grossly false in speaking
of the report.
Noah (angrily and abruptly)—I have nothing to do
with writing in the “Star,”—or, with the “Star.”
Attree (to one of the lawyers)—I don't believe it;
and John I. Mumford says that Noah is as much the
editor of the “Star” now as ever he was.
Noah—Well, this Court merely permits the report-
ers to sit at that table provided for them; and if they
violate the rules of the Court they must take the
consequences. (A laugh among some of the report-
ers.)
Lynch (looking very red and very angry)—Yes,
sir, and the Court will go further; and say that it is
determined to maintain its dignity in relation to the
press and to every one else. And the Court consider
that the very act of the reporter, against whom the
order was made, in coming into this Court room to-
day, and taking his seat at that table, in the very
face of the order of the Court, and as it were in de-
fiance of this Court, was an act of itself sufficient to
justify this Court in committing that reporter for
contempt.
Attree—Why, the Court most strangely have con-
founded the whole matter. The Court, by an illegal
act, of which I complain, written and published by
one of the Judges, brings me a suitor at the bar of this
Court, against my will. I appear here in conse-
quence, as a suitor according to law, to enter my
protest against that act; I request permission to make
my motion consequent thereon, almost the instant
that the Court opens—I renew my applications—I am
put off from hour to hour by the Court—I am kept
here by the Court dancing attendance upon them
the whole day (when I have other and much more
important business to attend to for my employer)—
and after being kept in suspense the whole day, not
knowing at what moment the Court, in their wis-
dom and magnanimity, may think proper to call on
me to make my motion, I am graciously told, at ten
o'clock at night, by this honorable Court, that I have
been guilty of a contempt of Court, and deserve to be
committed to prison for having had the audacity to
wait here the whole day, in order to be heard in self-
defence! (Here the Recorder smiled, and the law-
yers could hardly refrain from bursting out into a
most unoriental roar of laughter, particularly Mr.
Whiting.) And in addition to this, I am bound to
state that his honor the Recorder asked me this
morning to take a seat anywhere within the bar of
this Court. There sits his honor, ask him if it is not
so. (haughter all round, except by Lynch or Noah.)
Attree—Such is my peculiar position here now;
and before I sit down, I will respectfully endeavor to
undeceive the Court in relation to their assumption
of my position as a member of the press, and also
that of the gentlemen who sit here connected with
other papers. This Court has spoken of “its re-
porters.” Now, so far as I understand the newspa-
per business of this city, (and I have served an ardu-
ous, a thorough, a faithful, and a devoted apprentice-
ship to it,) this Court has really no reporters at-
tached to it, properly speaking. The various gentle-
men of talent who condescend to come here day by
day, and sit for hours to be bored with miserable
speeches, bad law, and worse logic (I mean no dis-
respect to the Court) do so, as I understand them, as
a special act of favor, to rescue the Court from com-
parative insignificance, and to prevent the transactions
of this noisy, ill-conditioned, ill-contrived and disa-
greeable Court, (I say it with all proper respect for
their honors the Judges) from being consigned to
utter oblivion. They are the representatives of the
great and generous public here—they have a sacred
right to be here, decreed to them by the constitution
of the country, which no power at present existing
in this great, this (in every sense of the word) glori-
ous and blessedly-free republic, can by any distortion
of law deprive them of. And under these circum-
stances they have virtually a right to every possible
accommodation and protection from the Court.
And I beg the Court distinctly to understand, that I
make these remarks entirely disconnected from any
personal feeling in the premises. I am not a report-
er of this Court, and if it was in the power of the
Court to pass a perpetual order to exclude me
from this Court altogether, and the Court were
to do so, I should respectfully esteem it a spe-
cial act of favor. So far as I alone am concerned,
the order of the Court is a matter of comparative
indifference to me. But so far as I am a member of
that press whose rights I consider have been violated
in my person, it is a matter of great moment to me.
It is the principle which I contend for. It is the
rights of every newspaper in the city that I wish to
call your attention to. If you act thus illegally to-
wards me to-day, you may to-morrow seize upon an
attaché of some other paper, and prescribe him, up-
on what Judge Noah calls an inference, as you have
endeavored to proscribe me. I desire that your ho-
nors should look at this matter calmly and dispas-
sionately. You have no right to infer or assume
who is and who is not the author of any article that
may appear in any paper, without legal evidence.
If a newspaper publishes what is punishable at
law, the proprietors of the papers in this city
are abundantly responsible for what they publish;
at least, such is the case with the establishment
to which I have the honor to belong. And I
wish your honors also to be disabused on this
point. I am not a reporter of this court; I have
no desire to be one. And if your honors were
to rescind or to expunge that order in relation to
myself—I say, if, by possibility you were to do it,
though I don't believe you will—I would not sit at
———
* We understood him to say, “Do not allow that they
have the right to sit here!” But Judge Lynch has lost
his front teeth and lisps and mumbles so, that it is very
difficult to report him accurately in this noisy Court.
[Col.4]
that little dirty table again, (pointing to the little
two-feet six) were I to live to be the age of Methu-
saleh. (Here Noah forgot the Judge, and put on
the Major, and smiled heartily.) Years ago, by be-
ing presumed to possess the requisite amount of tact
and talent, and by a proper and industrious exercise
of the faculties which God has given me, I was
raised far—far above the level of this court, to which
I think I can never descend again by any adverse
train of circumstances. I was raised to a seat in
one of those chairs from which his honor Judge
Noah has so recently descended to occupy a seat
upon this bench.—(Smiles and laughter.)—I mean
the editorial chair! I am satisfied with my situa-
tion, I do my duty industriously, I serve my employ-
er assiduously; and whilst I am satisfied in my own
mind that I have paid proper attention to his orders,
the unjust and informal orders of this or any other
court
——“Pass by me as the idle wind
Which I respect not.”
This ended the proceedings for that night, as nei-
ther member of the court replied.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE COURT OF SESSIONS, ALIAS THE HENROOST
COURT.—We have heard a great deal of folly lately
about the bringing of the administration of this Court
into contempt. Is it the Court or the members of
the Court (the Recorder and Aldermen excepted)
which bring the Court into contempt? Look at the
conduct of Lynch and Noah; see the mode adopted
by one of admitting rascals to bail and of senten-
cing criminals. One admits that terrible villain
Butcher Joe to bail, after the police magistrates had
refused to do so; Joe gets out, runs away, and it
costs $300 to catch him. And so with others.
In sentencing, look at the inequality—take any day;
one steals a large amount of goods—he is imprisoned
for two months; one steals a less amount; he is im-
prisoned for six months or a year. One steals a lot
of pork, he is let off; one steals some old clo', and
he is sent up for the full term. One beats and nearly
kills his father; he is suffered to go free; another
takes some food to sustain life, or clothing to cover
her nakedness, (as in the cases before Noah on Tues-
day) and she or he is sent to the Penitentiary for
several months.
And so it is with the administration of justice ge-
nerally. A highly respectable bank robber and ras-
cal, like Levis, may plunder the people with impu-
nity. A poor wretch, who steals food to save himself
from starving, is sure to be sent to prison for the full
term. It is high time that our Sessions Court was
reformed. The Recorder appears to have left the
bench in disgust; and with such miserable creatures
as Noah and Lynch, it is nonsense to talk about law
or dignity, or even common sense. One never knew
any thing about law—and the poorest practitioner
almost at the bar of that court knows more law and
better law than the other.
The scene yesterday, with able lawyers like Whi-
ting, Graham, Brady and O'Conner, pleading before
two such thick headed numskulls as Noah and Lynch,
was enough to sicken any one for a century.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.1 in June 30, July 1]
$3.50 PER WEEK—Respectable Board in a
central and quiet stree, 126 Nassau st. A
few boarders wanted. MRS. ROGERS. j28 4*
THE NEW YORK SUN. Tuesday Morning, June 29, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1]
HEALTH OF THE CITY.—We have heard predic-
tions of a very sickly season in the city this sum-
mer, but, so far, we have never known a more
gratifying state of the public health at midsum-
mer. Last week the interments in the city amoun-
ted to only 105—a decrease of two upon the num-
ber of the previous week. Of the whole number,
30 were men, 20 women, 34 boys, 21 girls; 35 un-
der 2 years of age.
In Philadelphia, the number of deaths amount-
ed to 117, of whom 60 were adults, and 57 were
children.
[Col.2]
ONE WAY TO SILENCE A NEWSPAPER.—A pa-
per, called “Censor,” has recently been prin-
ted and sold in the streets of Philadelphia, the
chief object of the attacks of which were the
gamblers, specifying the names of the frequent-
ers, and the location of the dens in a way that
could not be mistaken. The Ledger states, that
on Saturday a number of well known blacklegs
went to the place where it was printed, in Minor
street, below Sixth, and beat all hands most un-
mercifully. The conduct of the assailants is rep-
resented as perfectly furious. All armed
themselves with whatever they could pick up at
the moment. One person, whom they took to be
the editor, was beaten over the head with a brick
until he was senseless.
================================================================
[Col.2. Mostly a changed copy from Tribune]
The following remarks of the editor of the Tribune, in
relation to the degraded being whose name is given be-
low, will apply, we think, to most of the exhibi-
tions of the theatre; and we therefore copy them, in the
hope, that if among our readers there is one woman who
has patronized this school of vice, by going only once, such
an one may be induced to consider the tendency of her
example, and the motives which have led her so far
away from her sphere of duty as a woman, and a member
of society. We would not for worlds, have the guilt of
such a step on our own soul, believing as we do, that the
theatre is the very hot-bed of all iniquity, where it ger-
minates, blossoms, and brings forth fruit continually
unto death.
Fanny Ellsler.
...
================================================================
[Col.6. Partly as SONNET TO BRITAIN, W.T.H., 1818]
Sonnet to Hoboken.
Blest spot! where nature placed her richest seal,
Impressed by matchless skill! as though she'd seem
To trace a lovely picture in a dream,
Fraught with more charms than waking art can feel.
Thou art a Bower by gentle waves caressed
Where the worn spirit finds a soothing rest,
And far removed from scenes of busy strife,
Along the peaceful groves, and leafy dells,
Draws in, pure streams of renovated life
And ours the influence of thy tranquil spells.
All wise and bounteous, thus the Creator's hand
Has spread his blessings o'er this favoured land—
Near to the crowded city's, reeking streets,
He plants, Sweet Hoboken, thy calm retreats!
H. T. W.
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, July 3, 1841 (FH)
[Col.5]
Special Sessions.
Present Judge Noah and two Aldermen.
JULY 2.—A batch of loafer soaplocks, nymphs of the
pave, and other bad characters, were paraded for the
judgement of their honors. As usual their honors gave
the small thieves the precedence.
A negro wench named Hannah R. Smith stole a shirt,
and she was sent to the Penitentiary for 20 days.
Mary Ann Taylor, stole a cloth cloak, and was sent up
for sixty days.
Kate Brown was accused of stealing a cloak, but ac-
quitted.
Rosannah Williams, a small girl, stole two gold rings,
and Rosannah was sent to the House of Refuge.
Ned Patten, a small boy, stole a dollar bill, and he was
sent to the House of Refuge.
Mat Galery stole a pair of new boots, and was sent to
dig stone for sixty days.
Mary Ann Dogerty stole a lot of wearing apparel, and
she was sent to the Penitentiary for 30 days.
Mat Conlan, a small boy, was sent to the House of Re-
fuge.
Kate Murphy stole a small chair, and she was sent to
the Island for 30 days.
Jem Hackett and Bill Walker, the two soaplocks who
did the Green Mountain Boy out of $10 by dropping a
pocket book, were sent to dig stone for six months.
Rowdies.—Bartley Friel was tried for kicking a woman,
but acquitted.
Bill Handley, struck Ann Henson and was sent up for
sixty days.
Peter Vance was tried for whipping John Perry, and
sent up for fifteen days.
Three soaplocks and one nymph of the pave were dis-
charged with a recommendation to join the Teetotal So-
ciety. Two Irish servant girls, who were arrested for ta-
king moonlight walks with their lovers, were discharg-
ed with a caution not to do so again, and the Court ad-
journed sine die.
—————
City Intelligence.
MORE TRICKS UPON TRAVELLERS.—If there is any city or
corporate town either in the Old or New World, where
strangers are more easily victimized and robbed, more
openly than in this good and moral city of Gotham, it has
never been our good or ill fortune to sojourn therein.—
Day after day cases occur at the Police, which mani-
fest the necessity of a Day Police or Patrol, especially at
the wharves, railroad and packet stations; but none of
the authorities endeavor to get a preventative police ap-
pointed. A few days since a poor immigrant named Da-
niel Wood, arrived here from Liverpool in the ship Lau-
ra, and before he had been three hours in the city he was
pounced upon by a soaplock, supposed to be, one John
Hawkins, who proffered his services to show the stranger
some place to which he was directed to apply for infor-
mation concerning his friends in America. The soaplock
led the helpless stranger through lanes and blind alleys,
until he found himself in a wood yard, when the soaplock
robbed his victim of all the money he had about him,
knocked the poor devil down and fled. Two days after
he met the same rascal in the streets, and brought him
by force to the Police, but the probability is that he will
escape by proving an alibi.
SUSANNAH AND THE ELDER.—A nymph of the pave who
called herself Susannah Reed, was brought up, charged
as a disorderly person, she being caught by the watch in
a very peculiar situation with an elderly gentlemanly
man, who was not in custody. The Magistrate having
elicited from the watch the particulars of Susannah's faux
pas, which occurred in the Park, sent that young lady to
the Island for thirty days. Susannah said as she left the
bar, that she was another proof of the injustice of the
laws, which always punished the least guilty, and per-
mitted the male animals to escape.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
An Incident.—In the Court of Special Sessions,
yesterday, a man named John Fisher, was brought
up, for some trifling offence, for trial. His wife,
a beautiful young woman not more than seventeen
years of age, appeared at the bar with an infant
in her arms, as the advocate of her husband.—
She was dressed plainly, and by no means in the
height of fashion. Her presence, her child and her
tears had a softening effect on the Court. The hus-
band was discharged and left the room. The young
wife lingered behind to sob out a few sentences of
gratitude. Judge Noah spoke to her a few kind
words, and enquired of her “are you really so des-
titute as you appear, and is that your child?” “As
there's a God replied the poor creature” it is all true.
Since my husband has been in prison for triflingly
offending against the dignity of our Landlord the
latter, the inhuman monster, had turned me and my
child out of doors, and retained for his rent, as he
claims our all—little all. For four days I have with
my child subsisted in the open air, depending wholly
upon the cold charity of such as chanced to pass by
betimes.
This was more than Judge Noah could stand with
his face concealed from the gaze of the spectators,
to conceal an evident emotion, he beckoned to the
pour woman, who, as she approached him, he slipped
into her hand a five dollar note, which he drew from
his pocket, and wishing her better success and hap-
piness hereafter. She left the Court with an altered
countenance. The Judge adjusted his spectacles,
called the Court to order, and the business pro-
ceeded.
Ezra White.—This distinguished individual, who
has recently taken up his residence at Sing Sing, has
proved himself a most expert workman, in the line of
carpet weaving. Capt. Smith of the Police, on Thurs-
day brought down a specimen in the form of a hearth
rug of the most exquisite workmanship and finish.—
The article may be seen by the curious in such mat-
ters, at the store of Lemuel Philips, 235 Pearl street.
Sing Sing Statistics.—Officer A. M. C. Smith,
who yesterday returned from the State Prison at Sing
Sing, reports that during the month of June ultimo,
six persons were discharged, their time having ex-
pired. There were remaining in Prison, men 766,
women 68—total, 834.
Inquest.—The Coroner, yesterday, held an inquest
at the City Hospital, on the body of John Campbell,
a laborer, born in Ireland, aged 40 years. Deceased
was on Thursday employed upon a church in pro-
gress of erection, corner of Broome and Elizabeth
sts. He became very much heated and drank freely
of cold water, after which he was taken suddenly ill,
with fits and spasms. He was taken to the Hospi-
tal, where he shortly after expired—Verdict, death
from congestion of the brain, caused by drinking
cold water.
================================================================
[Col.5]
General Sessions.
Present the Recorder, Judges Lynch and Noah, and two
Aldermen.
The following gentlemen were sworn of the grand
jury:
Philip Henry, foreman, Calvin Candit, Saml. F. Mott,
Charles Sandford, Joseph Whitfield, Bernard Graham,
Hamilton Murray, Anthony V. Winans, James Paton,
Henry Champrey, Francis Clark, Joseph F. Atwill, John
Milpar, Richard P. Lawrence, Wm. L. Rushton, Saml. S.
Rockwell, James Leary, and Ben. Richards.
The jurors having been sworn, Judge Lynch procee-
ded to charge the grand inquest on the five statutory pro-
visions which it is incumbent on this court to bring
monthly to the notice of the grand inquest, to wit:—The
gross impropriety of taking more than seven per cent for
the usance of money—the palpable immorality of lotte-
ries—the necessity of preserving the election laws in-
violate—the folly of erecting wooden buildings this side
of the fire limits—and lastly, the necessity of the grand
inquest keeping their own secrets.
His honor having delivered himself on these fruitful
topics, then proceeded to inform the grand jurors that a
certain newspaper was daily published in this city, cal-
led the Morning Herald. That some reporter employed
on said wicked newspaper, had brought this court into
contempt by misreporting a certain trial of one Thomas
Ritchie. That this court had then, in the exercise of its
sound discretion, proceeded to expel some one reporter of
said Morning Herald from a seat at the reporters' table.
The Court might have acted summarily in the matter, and
committed the author of said report to close custody; but
did not proceed to that extremity. After this, a series of
articles had been levelled at this Court, which had been
noticed in a letter written by the petit jury, which letter
would have been lain before the last grand jury if there
had been sufficient time. The Court would now remark
that in calling the attention of the grand jury to this sub-
ject, that if a true bill should be found against the editor
of the Herald, it would be sent for trial to the Court of
Oyer and Terminer, which tribunal had concurrent ju-
risdictions in such matters.
And this court could not help remarking that the pro-
ceedings of courts of justice must not be ridiculed by the
press, and that if such ridicule was perpetrated it was the
bounden duty of the grand jury to sustain the dignity of
the courts, and to see that their deliberations were treat-
ed with that forbearance and respect to which they were
entitled.
Judge Lynch, having made this special charge, left
the Bench to the care of the Recorder, Judge Noah and
Alderman Baylis.
DISORDERLY HOUSES.—Mary Layton, an ill-looking
specimen of the softer part of our species, was put to the
bar, charged with keeping a disorderly house in Water
street. Benj. F. Parker, officer of the 4th Ward, proved
that the prisoner kept a house of ill-fame in that Ward. It
was a noisy concern, frequented by sailors and women,
who committed every crime except murder, and even that
crime might have been perpetrated, for the Coroner had
been called to the house.
District Attorney—Is she married?
Witness—Well, I know Layton, and I know another
man who has lived with her.
Prisoner—Come, Mr. Parker, don't you be too hard,
for you know I was respectable a year ago, at Brooklyn.
Witness—Oh! I don't know as how I can be too hard,
Mary.
The prisoner made no defence on the merits, and the
jury found her guilty.
William Langdon was next put to the bar for a similar
offence, and acquitted through a flaw in the indictment.
Their Honors then adjourned.
NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, July 9, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
Amusing Business in the Sessions—A New
Bull against the Herald.
The unconstitutional portion of the Court of Ses-
sions (that portion not recognised by the Corporation)
composed of two worn-out politicians, Messrs. Noah
and Lynch, presented a curious scene yesterday.
It appears by our report in another column, that
Judge Lynch charged the Grand Jury to bring in a
bill of indictment against the Herald, because it had
brought his side of the Court into contempt—and
also, because our reports of their petit larceny pro-
ceedings are incorrect and erroneous.
If the Grand Jury examine the matter closely, we
imagine they will find that Judges Noah and Lynch
have brought themselves into contempt, if such be
the fact in the case as they alledge. They made them-
selves ridiculous by issuing a pompous bulletin against
a reporter, for some mistake they alleged he made
in a report of the trial of a common thief, and now
they have followed this Pompolino business up, by
charging the Grand Jury to indict the Herald for
publishing these mistakes and errors.
...
The Corporation of this city denies the legality of
the appointment of Noah and Lynch—and will not
pay their salaries, except on compulsion. In this
opinion they were sustained by a large majority of the
people at the last election. Is this indictable? And
will the grand jury indict 23,000 voters? We have
no doubt, but, at the next session of the legislature,
that body will abolish the offices of Noah and Lynch
outright. Is this opinion also indictable?
...
He is totally unfit for the seat he fills. Judge Lynch
is a little more of a lawyer, but he wants the temper
and attainments to place his portion of the Court of
Sessions as high in reputation as Judge Mansfield
once did his Court. On many occasions he admits
persons to bail, on writs of habeas corpus, that he
ought not to have done either in equity or in law.
Such is our belief—is that a crime? We go no fur-
ther than the recent case of the person accused of
burning the National Theatre, which we believe is
not a bailable offence in law, and yet was bailed for
$1,000 by Judge Lynch, so that any other theatre
that is ready to be burned down, can now have a
chance to effect such a piece of business.
...
We yield to none in a reverence for an enlightened,
learned, and courteous administration of justice, in
every court and on every bench; but we should be
sorry to think for one moment, that the reputation of
our ordinary courts of law, or the dignity and learn-
ing of our criminal bench, were entirely dependent
on the learning and fitness of M. M. Noah and his
coadjutor. If we are to be indicted and punished
for this opinion, come on at once. We should give
up our life at the stake sooner than believe that the
elevation and dignity of the criminal bench of New
York depended on the learning and sense of the
same individual who attempted, from Grand Island,
a few years ago, to palm a gross imposture on the
Hebrew people—the same individual too, who, du-
ring an editorial life of twenty-five years, did more
than any other man of his age, to bring religion, mo-
rals, politics and society into contempt, by every
species of low wit and ribaldry—the same individual
too, who, no later than last year, while he was editor
of the “Evening Star,” made a series of ferocious
attacks on ex-Recorder Morris, and endeavored to
bring into contempt a man and a judge that is truly
an ornament of society, and of the legal institutions
of the land. If the grand jury find any bill, it ought
to be a bill against this very personage, against whom
there is a sentence still hanging over his head in his
own Court, for breaking open the seal of another
man's letter.
But we understand all this movement—it is the
last and cheapest edition—a sort of an Extra, price
one penny, of the “moral war,” and it will end as
that did, in the total overthrow of its projectors.—
We shall now go, tooth and nail, for the repeal of
the unconstitutional law, under which these two
judges sit on the bench, and shall never give it up,
until the venerated form of the ancient Court of Ses-
sions be restored to New York.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Friday Morning, July 9, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4]
GENERAL SESSIONS—Yesterday.
The following gentlemen were duly enpanel-
led and sworn as a Grand Jury for the term:
Philip Henry, foreman, Calvin Candit, Samuel F.
Mott, Charles Sandford, Joseph Whitfield, Bernard
Graham, Hamilton Murray, Anthony V. Winans,
James Paton, Henry Champrey, Francis Clark,
Joseph F. Atwill, John Milpar, Richard P. Lawrence,
Wm. L. Rushton, Samuel S. Rockwell, James Leary,
Benj. Richards.
In the course of the charge to the Grand Jurors,
Judge Lynch (who delivered the charge) called the
attention of the panel to the “Herald” newspaper, in
the following terms.
“During the last June term, one James Ritchie
was tried and convicted on one indictment for grand
larceny, and on another for receiving stolen goods,
knowing them to have been stolen. In professing to
give a report of the proceedings in one of these tri-
als, a newspaper printed in the city of New York,
called the New York Herald, contained various false
statements, for which this Court unanimously made
an order dismissing from the table, appropriated for
the use of the Reporters, the person who reported for
that paper.
“In other numbers of the same paper, further false
reports of the proceedings and decisions of this court
appeared, to which were added reflections personally
upon the members of the Court.”
[Judge Lynch then proceeded to state that he thus
called the attention of the Grand Jurors, at the es-
pecial instance and request of the petit Jurors who
had served during the June term, and who had felt
themselves aggrieved and insulted by the false and
ridiculous reports of the Herald.] He then proceed-
ed as follows.
“In this country, it has seldom been found neces-
sary for Courts to protect themselves against such
publications by punishing the guilty parties for a con-
tempt. It has generally happened that a portion of
the press which is properly conducted, has furnished
a corrective, sufficient for all useful purposes,
against the licentiousness of any other portion of it,
by exposing the offender at the bar of public opinion.
But when an Editor has placed himself or is placed
by circumstances, in such a situation that the press
at large will not notice his effusions, and particular-
ly in cases palpably false, where statements of the
proceedings and decisions of this court are published,
by which a portion of the public might be misled,
the Court do not feel themselves at liberty any long-
er to omit to notice such libellous publications, low
and vulgar though they be.
Taking into consideration the complaint made by
so respectable a portion of our citizens as the mem-
bers of the petit Jury, I have referred to, and also that,
if the accused should be convicted on an indictment,
the law provides a greater latitude of punishment, and
therefore that the measure of it might be better adapt-
ed to the degree of the offence, the Court instead of
adopting summary proceedings as for a criminal con-
tempt, have thought proper to call your attention to
the subject, and have directed the District Attorney
to lay the papers before you, in full confidence that
you will give it the consideration to which it is enti-
tled. If a bill should be found it will best comport
with the wishes of this Court, that it should be sent
to the Court of Oyer and Terminer, for trial, which
has concurrent jurisdiction.
In every well ordered community, Courts and Ju-
ries should be protected in the fearless and conscien-
tious discharge of their duties; if those who are
charged with the administration of the laws, may be
assailed with impunity, with the shafts of malice or
ridicule, good order and decorum will be violated and
the ends of justice may be defeated.
Mary Layton was tried and convicted of keeping a
disorderly house.
William Langdon was tried on a similar charge and
acquitted, and there being no other cases ready for
trial, the court adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.1]
JUDGE LYNCH—ANOTHER CONTEMPT.—On refer-
ence to the report of the proceedings in the “Board
of Supervisors” yesterday, it will be seen that that
body refused, by a vote of 11 to 8, to pay Judge
Lynch any salary for his services in the Sessions.—
This refusal is made on the ground that his appoint-
ment was unconstitutional, and that he has earned
no salary. Judge Noah has not yet presented his
claim, but when it is, he will meet with the same re-
fusal.
If the Grand Jury be now deliberating on the
subject of “contempts of courts,” here is a case for
them. How can a judge be treated more contempt-
uously than to be refused his salary—to be told,
“Sir, your services are useless—your appointment
is illegal, and you yourself not wanted—make your-
self scarce.” This would seem to be the acme of
contempt—and if the charge of Judge Lynch be
followed, the Grand Jury ought to indict the “Board
of Supervisors” at once, for committing a most hein-
ous contempt.
[Col.4]
Board of Supervisors.
Yesterday at 12 o'clock this body convened. Present
his honor the Mayor, his honor the Recorder, and seven-
teen Aldermen. His honor the Mayor took the chair,
and directed the minutes of the last meeting to be read.
There being no objection to the minutes, they were
confirmed.
His honor the Mayor said he had a communication
from John C. Spencer, in relation to the persons to be
elected to the Asylum for the Blind—Referred.
An application from A. M. C. Smith, for the payment of
$249 38, being expenses incurred in relation to the trial
of James B. Glentworth. Several members objected to
the charge as exhorbitant, and the application was re-
fused.
His honor the Mayor said he had a claim from the
three judges of the Common Pleas, for serving on the
bench of the Court of Sessions from the time Judge Sand-
ford resigned until Judge Noah was appointed. These
claims were as follows:
This claim was referred to Aldermen Leonard, Purdy,
and Kimball.
An application was made from Edward Sandford, ex-
judge of the Sessions, for the payment of $719, being the
amount of his salary due, together with the costs incur-
red in the prosecution of a suit against the Corporation.
This claim was referred to Aldermen Leonard, Purdy,
and Kimball.
An application was made from Charles Taylor, for the
payment of $80, being his charge for ten days board for
four police officers, during the Aqueduct riots, at two dol-
lars per diem for each police officer. A member asked if the
$2 per diem included every charge, as he believed it was
more than was charged at the first hotels in the city.
Another member said this was one of the most out-
rageous charges he had ever met with; police officers,
employed at $5 per day, to send in a bill of $80 for their
ten days' feed at a tavern!
The application was then refered to a committee.
His honor the Mayor then introduced the following
preamble and resolution:—
Whereas, the law establishing the offices of associate
judges of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, in
and for the city and county of New York, and giving to
each said Judge the annual salary of $2000, was passed
without being applied for by the city authorities, and is
against the wishes of the inhabitants; and whereas, also,
the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of James
Lynch vs. the Aldermen and Commonalty of the city of
New York, indicates that the law, so far at least as the ap-
pointment of said judges and the payment of said sala-
ries, is obligatory upon the city of New York, and the sala-
ry may be by suit recovered against the city of New
York, with costs; and whereas, also, it is the duty of the
Board of Supervisors to obey the law, when constitution-
ally made, and prevents costs being made to the city, so
long as said law exists.
Now therefore,
Resolved, That we do not approve of nor sanction said
law, and hope for its repeal.
Resolved, That the comptroller of the city be and
hereby is directed to pay the salaries of said Associate
Judges of the Court of Sessions, in accordance with the
act entitled “An act to enable the Supervisors of the City
and County of New York to raise money by tax” passed
May 26, 1841.
Alderman Purdy said, he agreed partly with the
preamble, and he denied part. For instance, he denied
that the Supreme Court had passed on this matter at all.
The Mayor said the preamble only said the Court had
indicated such an opinion.
Alderman Purdy thought the Judge should be left to
his remedy at common law, for if the City Authorities
held themselves to be governed by constitutions or char-
ters, then they were not bound to pay the Judge. Here
the worthy Alderman cited the city charter, and con-
tended that, under that instrument no money could be
drawn from the City Treasury, unless previously ap-
propriated by the Common Council. He also contended,
that no such money could be legally paid, even if all
the judicial tribunals, and all the lawyers in the world
were to say the contrary.
A number of amendments to the original preamble
were then read, discussed, and passed, which resulted
in the following amendments, which were adopted by
eleven ayes and eight nays.
First. It was moved and carried, to strike out all that
part of the preamble after the word “authorities” in the
fifth line down to the word “costs.”
Secondly. To insert the words people of the city and
county of New York, or the representatives in the State
Legislature from this city.
So that the preamble when amended, would read,
Whereas, the law establishing the offices of associate
judges of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, in
and for the city and county of New York, and giving to
each said Judge the annual salary of $2000, was passed
without being applied for by the city authorities, the
people of the city and county of New York, or the re-
presentatives in the State Legislature from this city; and
whereas, also, it is the duty of the Board of Supervisors
to obey the law, when constitutionally made, and pre-
vents costs being made to the city, so long as said law
exists.
Alderman Benson moved to strike out the whole of the
preamble, which was lost.
Alderman Purdy moved, that as amended it be adopted.
Carried, 11 ayes to 8 nays.
Alderman Lee moved to strike out the two resolutions,
and to insert as an amendment the following:—
Resolved, That inasmuch as the law creating the two
Associate Judges of the Court of Sessions, passed 1840,
was in violation of the rights of the city of New York,
guaranteed to it by the State Constitution and City
charter, therefore the Board of Supervisors decline pay-
ing the salaries of the Judges appointed under that law.
This resolution was lost by eleven nays to eight ayes.
The question was then taken on the adoption of the
two resolutions appended to the preamble of his Honor
the Mayor, when it appeared that both were negatived
by a majority of three.
Alderman Purdy moved that the whole proceedings on
this subject, reports, votes, &c. &c. be published, which
motion was carried nem con.
And the Board adjourned.
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, July 10, 1841 (FH)
[Col.5]
MADAME COSTELLO.
F EMALE PHYSICIAN is prepared at all times to accom-
modate ladies on the point of confinement, at her private re-
sidence, 34 Lispenard street, where may also be had appropri-
ate and effectual remedies for irregularity and obstruction.
All letters post paid.
jy10 1m* MADAME COSTELLO, 34 Lispenard.[Col.6]
MADAME RESTELL,
F EMALE PHYSICIAN, residence 148 Greenwich street,
where she can be consulted with the strictest confidence,
and where also her celebrated medicines can be obtained.
N. B. All letters must be post paid and addressed to box 868
New York. je29 2wis[Col.2 / Col.1]
Governor Seward and his Policy.
The short-sighted and narrow-minded policy of
Governor Seward is now beginning to develope their
injurious effects in this city, in the broadest and bold-
est characters.
His illegal and unconstitutional interference with
the Court of Sessions—his arbitrary removal of Re-
corder Morris and Judge Scott—his appointment of
Noah and Lynch to offices for which they are unfit,
both in temper and attainments—his other appoint-
ments to office, of men notoriously unfit in every
point of character—his attempt to destroy the integ-
rity and efficiency of the Fire Department—but,
above and beyond all, his effort to subvert the pre-
sent Public School System, and to set all the differ-
ent sects of Christianity at variance with each other,
are some of the evils of his administration of the
State government.
On the last subject, an event has taken place that
would signalize the middle ages better than the pre-
sent day, in the midst of an enlightened community.
A Protestant clergyman, discussing a public ques-
tion, in one of his own churches, has been assailed
with hisses, and forced to leave the pulpit, in conse-
quence of a crowd of persons, principally of Catho-
lics, differing in opinion with him, and thus resent-
ing his attacks on their creed and their sect. The
spirit of religious agitation and religious persecution
has been revived in our day, in almost as violent a
manner as in that of Luther or Calvin.
This unfortunate state of things has been entirely
produced by the folly and weakness of Governor
Seward, in attempting to legislate for the gratifica-
tion of a sect instead of a whole people. He has
thrown into the public arena the hand grenade of
religious agitation, and who can now tell when it is
to cease?
On this, and on several other accounts, we are
afraid that the period of Mr. Seward's term in office
will only be remembered for its folly, its rashness,
its unthinking attempt to meddle with sound princi-
ples and established institutions, merely to subserve
the fleeting popularity of a sect, a clique, or a day.
—————
...
—————
DECENCY.—JUDGE NOAH is blowing up Alderman
Purdy in the “Evening Star,” and calling the ma-
jority of the Common Council “nullifiers,” and other
approbrious names, because they do not recognise
him and Lynch as judges, and wont pay them sala-
ries. Noah also made the disgraceful attack on John
Van Buren's marriage, in the same paper; and yet
this is the man that asks the grand jury to indict the
“Herald,” for saying that he is not fit to be a judge.
Out upon such a hypocrite. Apropos.—We learn
that Noah has made up our punishment already. I
am to be fined $1,000, including all my old clo', and
my reporter is to be imprisoned. Fat chickens, but
not yet hatched.
[Col.6 / Col.6]
MEMENTO TO “OLD HAYS.”—Yesterday there was dis-
played in the Police Office, a handsome silver pitcher,
which is to be presented this day to High Constable
Hays, by the corps of indefatigables, as an acknowledg-
ment of the politeness, suaverty, urbanity, and dignity
with which he has always executed the duties of his of-
fice. The pitcher, which is calculated to hold two
quarts, is a very elegant specimen of the arts, and is from
the factory of Gerardus Boyce of this city.
================================================================
[Col.5]
COURT OF SESSIONS—Yesterday.
Before the Recorder, Judges Noah and Lynch, and
Aldermen Balis and Woodhull.
...
Peter E. Burton (boy) was next tried for a burglary
in the 3d degree, in breaking into the store of Wm. S.
Wooster, No. 308 Second st., on the night of the 13th
of June last, and stealing therefrom $5 in copper
coin and a bar of soap. The accused was caught in
the act, and in extenuation said he found the store
door open; but on examining him at the watch
house, a skeleton key was found upon him, which
fitted the lock of the store.
For the defence Alfred Crommelin deposed that he
has known the prisoner for a number of years, and
has always found him to be perfectly honest. Mr.
Shaler as counsel for the accused, contended that
there was no proof that the accused opened the door
of the store. And under the charge of the Court the
jury found the prisoner guilty of petit larceny only.
...
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, July 13, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF SESSIONS.—July 12.—Before the Recorder,
Judges Lynch and Noah, and Aldermen Balis and Woodhull.
...
Peter E. Bertron was tried for burglary in the 3d degree,
in breaking into the store of William S. Wooster, No. 308 Sec-
ond-street, on the night of the 13th June last and stealing $6 in
[Col.5]
copper coin and a cake of soap therefrom. The store was en-
tered by unlocking the front door by means of a false key, and
the accused, who is only 18 years old, was found and arrested
in the store by watchman Clarke, having the stolen copper coin
and soap in his pocket. A key fitting the door of the store was
found in the cell the prisoner had occupied in the watch-house.
The jury found the accused guilty of petit larceny only.
...
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.6]
General Sessions.
...
An Incipient Burglar.—Peter E. Burton, a small boy,
was put on his trial for a burglary in the 3d degree, in
breaking into the store of a Mr. Wooster, No. 305 Second
street, the 13th June last.
It was proved that the prisoner was caught on the pre-
mises, with a skeleton key in his pocket, but as he pro-
ved a good character, he was found guilty of only a petty
larceny.
...
NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Tuesday, July 13, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.1]
GOVERNOR SEWARD, AND THE ANTI-MASONIC FAC-
TION.—The detestable, religious agitation encou-
raged and fomented by Governor Seward, is begin-
ning to open all eyes to his course of policy, to his
advisers—and to their origin and character in for-
mer days.
The Seward clique is only the old anti-masonic
faction, whose hypocrisy, tyranny, folly and reck-
lessness, formerly marred the prosperity of western
New York for many years. The same spirit has
characterised the state government since their ac-
cession to power in Albany.
Seward and his clique first passed the Free Bank
Law, which destroyed the currency of the State,
blew up twenty-three banks, and saddled the peo-
ple with millions of dollars in losses—in broken bills,
and fraudulent post notes. Secondly—they have
increased the State debt nearly $30,000,000 in three
years, without any increased advantage. Thirdly,
they have wasted the credit of the state upon spe-
culative railroads, and denied it to those that were
useful. Fourthly, they have appointed persons to
lucrative offices, for violating the laws, and pipe-
laying at the polls. Fifthly, they have impaired the
respectability of the Court of Sessions, and violated
the charter, by appointing two incompetent men,
Noah and Lynch, to act as judges. Sixthly, they
have attempted to destroy, by making it political,
the Fire Department of New York. Seventhly,
they have opened the floodgates of religious excite-
ment, and sought to break down the Public School
system, in order to gratify a single sect, at the ex-
pense of all the rest. And eighthly, they are now
seeking to enact an alien and sedition law against
the liberty of the press, through the operation of a
pair of incompetent and unconstitutional judges of
the Sessions, who have the audacity to charge jurors
to bring in bills for contempt.
If ever a great city and a mighty state have been
disgraced by a faction, it has been the city and
state of New York, by the wicked and unprincipled
measures and appointments, proceeding from Go-
vernor Seward and the anti-masonic faction that
rules at Albany.
[Col.5]
Meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
A meeting of this body took place yesterday, and
as a long and violent discussion was expected, rela-
tive to the payment of the salary of Mr. Lynch, cal-
led by some Judge Lynch, there was a full attend-
ance.
...
Here some one presented a bill from John Davis,
for cleaning, sweetening and purifying the Court of
Sessions. Price $23.
This bill raised a pretty general laugh; and some
one said, “Well then, it appears, after all, that the
remarks of the “Herald” were right; that the ses-
sions was a dirty and disagreeable court, if it cost
$23 to clean it!”
Ald. Lee—For cleaning what sir? (Laughter.)
Mayor—The Court of Sessions!
Voice—That wanted cleansing.
Alderman—Who certifies to it, sir.
Mayor—Recorder Tallmadge. (Laughter.) What's
the pleasure of the board.
Alderman—Move paid. Carried.
Mayor—Here's a bill of the Coroner.
Aldermen—For how much.
Mayor—$1,236 12¼, and here's $5 added.
...
Finally, it was referred to a committee, with pow-
er to pay. Aldermen of the 10th, 14th and 15th
were the committee.
Ald. Purdy.—I have here a bill from Ex-Sheriff
Acker for $1,196.
...
Benson.—Move—referred—same committee.
Mayor.—With power?
Benson.—No, sir, (rather roughly, but good hu-
moredly.)
Purdy.—I should have no objection; but part of
it is due to the newspapers for advertising, and the
printers want their money, and I want them paid.
Mayor.—We shall meet again to-morrow.
The bill was referred, and then re-considered.
Ald. Purdy.—The printers want their money, and
I want to see them paid; therefore I want the bill
acted upon.
Ald. Lee.—So do other people want their money,
I suppose.
Ald. Leonard.—There's none due any one else;
all the rest goes to the Sheriff, for charges. And I
understand he's in arrears to the Corporation some
$3,000 or $4,000; and it's time he paid that, before
we vote him any more money. (Laughter.)
...
Here Ald. Bradhurst made his appearance; and
presented a bill for carriage hire, for taking Justice
Murphy and men out to the Harlem war. It was
referred.
Here the Lynchites were afraid the defenders of
the city charter and state constitution would outvote
them on the subject of Mister Lynch's (commonly
called Judge Lynch) salary, and they moved a re-
cess till to-day, at 12 o'clock; which was carried.
After which, the meeting adjourned, and then there
was a great deal of chaffing among the members of
the Board.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Trial of Madame Restell.—The District Attorney called on
the trial of Caroline Lohman, alias Ann Lohman, alias Madame
Restell, indicted for a misdemeanor in producing a premature
and unnatural birth of Mrs. Ann Maria Purdy, wife of William
W. Purdy, late of the corner of Broome-street and the Bowery,
on the 20th July, 1839; and after the formality of swearing triers,
challenging jurors, &c., in order to obtain impartial men to try
the issue, a jury was at length obtained to try the case. Mr.
La Forge, associate Counsel, opened the case on the part of the
prosecution, and stated that the indictment contained two counts,
one for administering medicines on the 2d June to produce the
effect sought, and the other for producing the premature birth,
on the 20th July, 1839.
William W. Purdy deposed that he was the husband of Ann
Maria Purdy, and was married the 26th November, 1837; that
she is now dead, having died at Newark, N. J., on the 28th of
April last. Saw her affix her name to certain depositions taken
before Justice Merritt on the 22d March last, and also to another
affidavit sworn to on the 5th April last. He lived with his wife
up to the time of her death, and was never absent from her a
single night, except when she went to Philadelphia last sum-
mer, by the advice of a physician, for the benefit of her health.
She had a gold watch and some gold rings when witness mar-
ried her. She was a clerk in a confectionery store in Pearl-st.
Had one living child by her. She was never well after the
miscarriage with the second, in July, 1830.
Henry W. Merritt, Police Justice, deposed that the two de-
positions of Mrs. Purdy, dated the 22d March, 1841, were taken
and subscribed before him at the residence of Mrs. Purdy, cor-
ner of Broome st. and the Bowery, in the presence of the accu-
sed, who was informed of her right to have counsel and to cross
examine Mrs. Purdy, who was sick and confined to her bed.—
The accused said her counsel, (Mr. Morrell) would come; but
he did not, and she asked Mrs. P. several questions (substan-
tially only one) which were not taken down, as the same ques-
tion had been asked Mrs. Purdy before in her direct examina-
tion. The object in taking the accused to Mrs. Purdy's resi-
dence was that the latter might identify the accused.
[The District Attorney then proposed to read the affidavits of
Mrs. Purdy, taken before Justice Merritt on the 22d March last,
to which Messrs. Jordan and Morrell, the counsel for the accu-
sed objected, and the argument as to the admission of the affi-
davits as evidence, is to come on on Thursday (this day) at 11
o'clock. On the admission of these the whole case rests. The
Court then adjourned.]
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.6, Col.1 / Page 8]
General Sessions.
Present—the Recorder, Judge Noah, and two Aldermen.
JULY 14.—Ezekiel Petty, indicted for a misdemeanor in
selling lottery policies, pleaded guilty to the charge. Sa-
rah Purnell also pleaded guilty to a similar charge.
Madame Restell's Case.—Caroline Ann Lohman, alias
Madame Restell, came into Court and was arraigned in
due form. The fair accused was attired in the most ele-
gant manner, in a black satin walking dress, white satin
bonnet, of the cottage pattern, and a very elegant white
veil of Brussels lace. In her hand she carried a parcel
of printed papers, which made some persons mistake her
for the lady Presidentess of the Tract Society.
Messrs. Jordon and Morrill, counsel for the accused
said that as this case had made some noise in the world,
it was their intention to examine the Jury pretty strictly,
and they wished to have tryers sworn as to the compe-
tency of the jurors.
The Court appointed and swore Charles O'Conner and
Mr. E. J. Porter as tryers.
William K. Asher was then called, and examined
touching his competency to serve as a juror.
Asher said he had read a good deal against the accus-
ed, and nothing in her favor; but he was not prejudiced
either pro. or con.—so he was admitted.
Horace Hays was next called and admitted, as also Je-
remiah R. Field.
James E. Rogers said he had formed an opinion, and
was rejected.
William Brown had formed an opinion, so he was let
off.
George Andrew had no prejudice, and was sworn.
Moses B. Depau said he had not heard much about the
lady, and hardly knew there was such a person. He
was sworn.
William A. Tyler had formed an opinion, and was re-
jected.
Elijah Haller had no opinion about it, so he was sworn.
Bernard Sheridan said the matter had been much talk-
ed over in his family, but he had so little recollection
about it, that he had no opinion at all—so he was sworn.
William T. Hemmingway had no prejudice, and was
admitted.
Elisha P. Delaplaine said he had read a good deal of
stuff about it, which had influenced his mind. So he
was let off.
James Cowles said he was quite indifferent—and he
was sworn.
Lathrop L. Sturgiss confessed to a prejudice, and was
excused.
Ezekiel Weed had no prejudice, so he was sworn.
John C. Dowling had made up his mind, and was
let off.
Israel Isaacs had not a thought unfavorable to Madame
Restell—so he was taken.
Richard Elsey, had made up his mind—so he was ex-
cused.
William K. Shaw had formed his opinion, and was also
excused.
John Conway said he was prejudiced, and was excused.
John Duncan had got an opinion ready made. He was
let off.
Charles Crane had read newspaper reports somewhat
unfavorable to Madame Restell, but they did not make
much impression on his mind. He was admitted to serve
on the jury.
As he was the twelfth man, the jury was held to be
complete, and all sworn.
The indictment was then read to the jury. It contains
two counts, charging the accused with a misdemeanor,
in attempting to produce an abortion on the person of
Anna Maria Purdy, on the 2d of June and 22d of July 1840.
William W. Purdy examined by the District Attorney.
—I was the husband of Anna Maria Purdy. She died at
Newark the 28th of April last. I was present at the ex-
amination taken by Justice Merritt.
District Attorney—Did you see your wife sign this de-
position?
Jordan—He saw her sign the paper shown him,
perhaps.
District Attorney—Well, what does it matter? He saw
her sign the paper. Now will the officers send for Jus-
tice Merritt?
Jordan—Mr. Purdy, I'll take the liberty of asking you
a few questions: did you and your wife live together in
1839.
Witness—Why, we never lived or slept apart, sir.
Jordan—What, did you live together before you were
married?
Witness—No Sir.
Jordan—When were you married.
Witness—The 26th November, 1837.
Jordan—Where did you live in June, 1839.
Witness—Either in May or June we broke up house-
keeping and went to board in Mott street. Before that
we lived at 200 Elm street.
Jordan—What business were you in?
Witness—I was in the smoking line.
Jordan—What did you smoke?
Witness—Meat, and fish sometimes.
Jordan—Were you at home pretty constantly?
Witness—I was at home pretty much in the day, and
always of a night. I used to go to fires though, some-
times.
Jordan—Did you know, in May or June 1839, there was
such a woman as Madame Restell?
Witness—No sir.
Jordan—Was your wife in the habit of being absent
from home?
Witness—Oh! she was in the habit of going round for
shopping if she wanted any thing. She was not in the
habit of running about, if that's what you mean. She
went once to the dress maker's, and once to the Bowery
to buy a dress. If she wanted to go out she went out like
other women.
Jordan—Do you know if she ever went out at all?
Witness—Well, I know she went to 200 Bowery.
Jordan—How do you know?
Witness—Because I went after her, and paid for the
dress she bought.
Jordan—Do you know she did not go somewhere else,
now?
Witness—Why, sir, she went and came back, and I
went to the Bowery, and I guess that's enough, for my
sister said—
Jordan—Stop, sir, or I shall ask the Court to order you
into custody. For, your honor, I intend to treat this wit-
ness fairly, but at the same time I stand here, knowing
what I'm about, and if the gentlemen on the other side—
Recorder—Now, Mr. Purdy, listen to the counsel, and
respond to his question, and nothing more.
Here the District Attorney got up and charged Jordan
with abusing the witness, and Jordan replied, that if the
witness would let his tongue run with the rapidity of a
mill tail, it was the duty of counsel to stop him. He felt
as good natured as the District Attorney, and wanted to
go on.
Recorder—There, go on, gentlemen; attend to the
question, Mr. Purdy.
Jordan—Now, Mr. Purdy, you did not go with your
wife to the Bowery, I suppose, after all?
Witness—No, sir.
Jordan—Did you go out with her at any other time?
Witness—Yes, sometimes.
Jordan—Did she ever go out without you?
Witness—Yes, sometimes.
Jordan—Had she company when she went out?
Witness—Well, I believe she went alone.
Jordan—Did she ever go out with company to your
knowledge?
Witness—Once she did, when I could not go; she went
with a young man of my acquaintance, of the name of
Mowbray.
Jordan—What was he?
Witness—A painter.
Jordan—Oh! then we have it at last. Young painter
Mowbray went out with her!
Witness—Yes, they went for a walk on a fourth of
July night, and came back again in a short time.
Jordan—Did any body else go with them on that night?
Witness—Yes, I think Mowbray took his lady; her
whom he since married.
Jordan—Did you, sir, see the lady and Mowbray with
your wife at all.
Witness—No, sir, but I saw Mowbray, and the servant
girl said—
Recorder—Never mind the girl now.
Jordan—Where is this Mr. Mowbray now, sir.
Witness—I don't know.
Jordan—How long is it since you saw him?
Witness—One day last week, I think.
Jordan—Have you ever been in the employ of the Har-
lem Railroad Company?
Witness—Yes, for two years?
Jordan—When did you quit?
Witness—Why, I get paid up to—
Jordan—I don't want to know when you get paid up to,
sir.
Witness—Well, will you tell me this, sir.
Jordan—No, sir, I'm not under an examination, and
won't tell anything.
Witness—Then, Sir, I was paid up to the first of May,
but I left off going on the cars some time before that.
Jordan—Well, it's a mighty small thing to tell, I should
say.
Witness—Then I can't tell.
Jordan—Oh, I understand you, sir. Now sir, you must
tell me when you quitted working for the Rail company.
Witness—I can't tell. It might be in March or April,
but I got paid up to the first of May.
Jordan—Were you engaged by the month or year?
Witness—By the month.
Jordan—Why did they pay you up to the first of May, if
you were engaged by the month?
Witness—Well, you must ask Mr. Wigham. I suppose
they kept me as an extra hand.
Jordan—That's all, I believe. Oh no, I want to ask
another question: have you ever been in Pennsylvania
for the last year or two?
Witness—I've been in New Jersey.
Jordan—Ah! I didn't say anything about New Jersey,
I said Pennsylvania.
Witness—Well, where is Pennsylvania?
Jordan—Well, it's not in New Jersey.
Witness—Well then, I never was there; I've been to
Newark and up the North River, and about Orange co.
Jordan—Had your wife ever been to Pennsylvania.
Witness—She went to Philadelphia once.
District Attorney—Purdy, how do you know your wife
went to Philadelphia?
Witness—Oh, Mr. Black said, and the Doctor said she
must go somewhere.
Jordan—We don't want to know what Mr. Black or
Mr. White said.
District Attorney—Well, he only knew that she went
away unwell.
Witness—That's all, sir.
District Attorney—Had she generally good health?
Witness—Yes, previous to her premature delivery.
Jordan—What time did she go to Philadelphia?
Witness—Why, last summer.
Jordan—In 1839 were you the owner of a gold watch?
Witness—Yes.
Jordan—And chain?
Witness—My wife had one, and other trinkets.
Jordan—How long had she been the owner of those
articles?
[Col.4]
Witness—Why, she had them when I married her. The
chain I bought last summer.
Jordan—Did you know of her pawning them?
Witness—No, sir.
Jordan—What has become of the watch?
Witness—It is eat up, I believe.
Jordan—Now, be careful, or you let out something.
Witness—Well, if I let out anything, you'll catch it up,
won't you?
Jordan—Exactly so, my friend—your getting sharp.
Witness—Well, then, I've not seen it since it came from
Mrs. Restell.
Jordan—When did you see the rings?
Witness—I saw some of them this morning.
Jordan—Now, you've said something about the pawn-
ing business. Do you know of your own knowledge that
the watch was pawned?
Witness—Well, I dont know how you want to get round
it. I saw what satisfied me, that—
Jordan—I dont want what satisfied you.
Witness—Well, then, I didn't know.
Jordan—Was your wife a lady of property when you
married?
Witness.—No: she tended store at a confectioner's in
Pearl street.
Jordan—Are you a married man now, sir?
Witness—No, I'm not.
Jordan—Did you live with a woman, or are you in the
habit of sleeping with one, at this time, sir?
Dist. Att.—He is not bound to answer.
Rec.—I doubt the pertinency of the question, gentle-
men.
Witness.—Well, I shall not answer that, at all.
Jordan.—How large a woman was your wife?
Witness.—She was not so tall as me by a head and a
half.
[The witness himself is considerably under the mid-
dle size.]
Jordan.—That's all, sir.
Henry W. Merritt called and sworn.—I am one of the
magistrates of the city. I was called upon to take the
examination of Mrs. Purdy. The papers I hold are depo-
sitions taken before me on the 24th of March last, and a
subsequent one on the 22d. They were taken in the
presence of Madame Restell.
Jordan.—Now, sir, we propose to object.
Dist. Att.—I only want the preliminary question now,
if the Court please.
Jordon.—Well, if you reserve our rights, I've no ob-
jections.
Recorder.—O, of course sir.
Merritt.—It was taken in her presence, and I told her
she might have counsel. She said Mr. Morrell would be
there, and she would go with me. Mrs. Purdy was con-
fined to her bed, at the corner of Broome and the Bowe-
ry. She was told that she might cross-examine the wit-
ness, and she did put a number of questions to her.
Dist. Att.—Did Mrs. Purdy answer the questions, and
were they put in the affidavit?
Merritt.—They were not; I didn't think—
Jordan.—Well, sir, why not?
Merritt.—Why, now I remember, it was but one ques-
tion, which she repeated several times.
Jordan.—Well, sir, I want to know if Justice Merritt
has a right to determine what he will put down? for if
so, the Lord preserve me from Justice Merritt!
Merritt—Stay till your time comes.
Recorder—It will become a question by and by, Mr.
Jordan, if the question ought to be put down.
Jordan—Did you put down the question she put to the
woman?
Merritt—Not from her mouth; it had been put down
before.
Jordan—Well, it could be put by no other mouth. She
had no counsel.
Merritt—Well, it was not.
Jordan—Did she send out for counsel, to your know-
ledge, sir?
Merritt—No.
Jordan—Was it stated that the sole object was to get
her identified?
Merritt—I dont know that it was so stated, but that
was the object.
Jordan—Was she told what the object was?
Merritt—I presume she did know. I've no doubt I told
her so, indeed.
Morrell—How long after her arrest was it before she
was carried to the Bowery?
Merritt—Why, she was not carried at all.
Morrell—Well, before you went there? Was it half an
hour?
Merritt—I think not.
Morrell—Was it twenty minutes?
Merritt—I dont know anything about minutes.
Morrell—Well, did you not say that it was only for
identification, and that she would not want counsel?
District Attorney—We propose to read the paper,
now, sir.
Jordan—Well, we object to it, sir; and I think we are
entitled to the warrant before we go into the argument.
Recorder—Well, gentlemen, we will leave off now,
and hear the argument to-morrow. Adjourn Court, Mr.
Hays.
—————
...
TURNING THE TABLE.—On Tuesday, two men, named
Willard and Wood, were arrested on a bench warrant,
which charged one of them with obtaining a large quan-
tity of property, under false pretences. They were
brought into Court of Sessions, where Wood gave
bail, but, on going out, he was again arrested by the or-
ders of Justice Parker, and a large sum of money taken
from him. Willard and Wood were then taken before
Chief Justice Jones, at his chambers in the City Hall,
yesterday morning, and both again liberated. A civil
writ was then got out against Justice Parker and four of
the police officers, and all of them held to bail. How this
matter will terminate, remains to be seen.
THAT SILVER PITCHER.—Yesterday afternoon, his honor
the Mayor, surrounded by the whole corps of indefatiga-
bles, presented that silver pitcher to the venerable High
Constable, Jacob Hays. His honor made a brief but
touching speech to “the old boy in specs,” and remarked
that he felt a high satisfaction in being made the instru-
ment through whose hands the compliment was to pass,
inasmuch as whilst he, the Mayor, had been connected
with the criminal jurisprudence of the city, he had met
with various instances of corruption and malfeasance on
the part of the police officers, but that not a whisper or a
suspicion of any kind, had ever been cast upon the fair
fame of Jacob Hays.
The High Constable having received the pitcher, took
a piece of manuscript from his pocket, and read his reply
to the Mayor's speech; thanking his Honor and his staff
officers for the honor conferred on himself. After which
tho corps of indefatigables bade the Mayor good day, and
all went to take a drink.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS—Tuesday.
Before the Recorder, Judges Lynch and Noah, and
Aldermen Balis and Woodhull.
Madam Restell, alias Ann alias Caroline Lohman,
was placed at the bar, charged with a misdemeanor,
in producing abortion upon Mrs. Ann Maria Purdy,
living at the corner of the Bowery and Broome street,
on the 2nd day of June, 1839. Some length of time
was taken up in the empannelling a jury, as the
greater portion of our citizens already made up
their minds as to the guilt of the prisoner. After the
Jurors was sworn in, C. B. Laforge, Esq. as counsel
for Mr. Purdy, husband of the deceased, opened the case
to the jury, and stated that the indictment contained
two counts, one of which was, that the accuses admin-
istered to Mrs. Purdy certain Drugs, for the purpose
of producing abortion, the other was that the accused
had used a certain instrument to consummate the
same. Mrs. Purdy died at Newark, N. J., on the
28th of April last, and the present indictment against
the prisoner was founded on the above charges, in
producing the death of Mrs. Purdy.
The principal witnesses sworn were the husband of
Mrs. Purdy and Justice Merritt, who took her exami-
nation while in a dying state, which set forth that the
accused had administered the drugs, and used the in-
strument in question. The two different examina-
tions were taken by Justice Merritt, in the presence
of the accused and Mrs. Purdy.
Mr. Whiting, the District Attorney, proposed to
read the affidavit of Mrs. Purdy, taken before her
death, which was objected to by the counsel for the
accused, as illegal, and they were reserved for argu-
ment until Thursday, 11 o'clock, A. M. to which time
the Court adjourned.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Thursday Evening, July 15, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.7. A changed copy from Tribune]
TRIAL OF MADAME RESTELL.—The District At-
...
She was a clerk in a confectionary store in Pearl
street. Had one living child by her. She was ne-
ver well after the miscarriage with the second, in
July, 1839.
...
journed.—[Tribune.]
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.5]
The Court of Sessions, and our Police and
Criminal System.
We particularly ask the Grand Jury, now in ses-
sion, to take up the whole system of our Criminal,
Police and Sessions Courts, review all the errors,
follies, vices and corruptions growing out of the
same, and present the whole as a nuisance to the
city. The whole system is wrong, and it is high
time it should be reformed.
In the police office we have six or seven magis-
trates, (remember that, tax-payers!) heaven knows
how many officers—some forty or fifty; one hundred
marshals, all or nearly all continually presenting hea-
vy bills to the Board of Supervisors—and yet not a man
employed as a preventive police. Indeed, said the Dis-
trict Attorney, if the police officers, &c., put a stop
to stealing and stool-pigeons, under the present sys-
tem, they will starve.
Let the Grand Jury look at the case of our police
officers disgraced and dismissed; let them look at
the high-handed measures of Justice Parker, for
which he was arrested himself; look at Justice
Wiley's case; look at the Boston robbers and high
constable Clapp, convicted of compounding and con-
federating with a villain; look at one of our police
magistrates, tried, and only not broken because of a
change in the Common Council; look at the sloven-
ly mode of managing our criminal business; look at
the disgraceful anomaly of five Judges, at an average
of four or five dollars a day, each sitting on the Sessions
bench, all to try perhaps a petty larceny thief for
stealing a few pounds of pork—the Aldermen not re-
cognizing their two associate Judges, and the latter
not recognizing the Aldermen; each at one time
prepared—as in the case of Ferris, Lynch and Nash
—to commit each other to jail for contempt, and
wrangling for a chair on the bench of a criminal
court.
...
Look at Noah; sometimes he looks as if he was
half asleep for half a day; and then, while his as-
sociate is charging the jury in relation to himself, he
is actually scribbling scurrilous paragraphs for the
“Star,” abusing his brother editors, and even the
Aldermen sitting on the same bench with him. How
very dignified is such conduct in a judge. Can such
a judge be brought into contempt, especially when
we add to it his mountebank tricks on Grand Island,
dressing himself in the soiled garments of the Park
Theatre wardrobe (the Lord Mayor's dress in
Richard the Third) and going ashore, as Ald. Banks
the bookseller, describes him, arm-in-arm with Red
Jacket, singing “Hi Betty Martin,” to take posses-
sion of Grand Island. Then again remember his
trial in the very court over which he now presides,
for breaking the seal of another man's letter. Who
can respect such a judge?
We ask the grand jury whether such a court can
be brought into contempt? We ask them to re-
member the recent charge of Judge Lynch, in re-
lation to himself and Noah. Governor Seward,
when he removed Recorder Morris, assigned, as the
principal reason for so doing, that Morris charged
the grand jury in relation to himself, thereby pre-
judging his own case. For this, Morris was vio-
lently removed. At that time, Lynch rose, and in
the most coarse and violent manner, told the grand
jury he never heard such an outrageous thing as the
Recorder's charging the jury in reference to himself.
And yet, in the face of all this, he charges the jury to
indict a paper that dared to say what it thought of
him, viz: that he is a very poor lawyer.
In his recent charge to the grand jury, he told
them they must not hear evidence at all in relation to
a defendant, because it was, he said, contrary to
law. In this, he said what was false. Recorder
Tallmadge says that the contrary is the law of the
land; and he gave a charge to the jury, last term, en-
tirely contrary to Lynch's; and therefore Lynch is
either ignorant of the law, or, knowing it, he wil-
fully told a falsehood from the bench to a grand jury.
Take which horn of the dilemma he pleases, in either
case he is unfit to be a judge. If the grand jury have
any doubts about it, we ask them to look at the re-
cords of the Court of Chancery. If then, they believe
him capable, we ask them to summon the Sessions'
clerk to produce the records of the various criminals
Lynch has let out on bail; not forgetting Butcher
Joe, whom it cost $300 to catch again, and who is
now in the State prison.
In many cases of felony, in which the Police Ma-
gistrates have refused to liberate on bail notorious,
bad characters, the friends of the felons have taken
them before a convenient legal functionary, termed
“a Supreme Court Commissioner,” by which ruse
the ends of justice have in many cases been defeated.
These occurrences have induced us to refer to the
records in the office of the Clerk of the Sessions, for
the names of the persons bailed, and the Judge who
has been liberal in this mode of dispensing justice to
the people.
The Clerk of the Sessions has no record which dis-
tinguishes the names of persons admitted to bail by
Judge Lynch, on writs of Habeas Corpus, prior to
the April term. On referring to his record, kept du-
ring the months of April, May and June, we find
that the following persons, all charged with felony,
have been liberated on bail, by this high legal func-
tionary, at his office, sitting as a Supreme Court
Commissioner:—
There are doubtless a number of other cases
which we shall hunt up in a few days. In the mean
time we ask the Grand Jury to do Judge Lynch
justice; because we shall.
[Col.6]
General Sessions.
Present, the Recorder, Judge Noah and two Aldermen.
JULY 15—Madame Restell's Case.—The fair accused, with
her two learned counsel, took their seats at 11 o'clock,
and the bench being full shortly after, the jury was called
over by the Clerk.
Mr. Morrell said the first paper he offered to the atten-
tion of the court was as follows:—
The Keeper of the City Pprison, &c. &c. will secure
and safely keep for examination, the body of
ANN LOHMAN alias RESTELL.
(Felony.) March 22, 1841.
New York Police Office.
H. W. MERRITT.
Officer, G. Hays. (No. 145.)
The next was the commitment of Madame Restell to
the custody of the keeper for a felony.
The next was a notification from John A. Morrill, of
counsel for the accused, to Hyde, the keeper of the pri-
son, warning that officer against the consequences of per-
mitting her to be illegally taken from the prison for any
purpose.
The next was her protest against the legality of the ex-
amination, and also against her being present thereat
against her wishes and consent. This document was ad-
dressed to the Recorder, Tallmadge.
William C. Betts called, and examined by Mr. Morrill—
I was a clerk in the office of John A. Morrill in March,
1841. Remember an application to act as counsel for
Madame Restell. I went with the applicant, but could
not find Mr. M. The applicant said Mr. Morrill must come
to the police office, or the Sessions directly, or it would
be too late. It was between 3 and 5 in the afternoon, and
I found Mr. Morrill and went in half an hour.
John A. Morrill called, and examined by Mr. Jordan—
The moment my clerk had told me that I was wanted to
act as counsel for Madame Restell I proceeded to the po-
lice office, and saw the lady either immediately or in
a few minutes afterwards. I think it was just before she
returned from Mrs. Purdy's.
The District Attorney objected to any thing that might
have been said after the return from Mrs. Purdy's.
His Hon. the Recorder held that the question was inad-
missible in relation to the subsequent conversation with
Mr. Morrill.
Mr. Jordan contended the examination was in violation
of the Statute, and that the whole was a farce from be-
ginning to end, she being deceived from beginning to
end.
The deposition being all ready drawn, and the only
question put to deponent being “is it all true as here
stated.”
Recorder—The District Attorney now offers to read
the deposition taken before Justice Merritt.
District Attorney—Yes, sir.
Jordan—No, sir, I deny it to be a deposition taken be-
fore Justice Merritt. It is only a paper purporting to be
in “the Sessions” where Justice Merritt has no jurisdic-
tion.
Recorder—Gentlemen, I'll call it a paper.
District Attorney—We call it a deposition, your honor.
Jordan—Your honor's right it is only a paper, and I'm
particular about it, because the course taken yesterday
was calculated to entrap us.
Recorder—Let Mr. Morrill proceed.
...
Mr. Morrill then cited a case tried in North Carolina on
a charge of a rape, where the deposition of the girl had
been ruled out on the trial, she having died shortly af-
ter making it. Mr. Morrill cited some other cases, and
sat down.
Mr. Jordan said he intended to take stronger ground,
and show that no preliminary enquiry or deposition
made could be given in evidence if the party making it
was dead.
Mr. La Forge and the District Attorney were heard on
the part of the prosecution, and the argument had not
concluded when the court rose and adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.3]
COURT OF SESSIONS, July 15.—Before the Recorder, Judges
Lynch and Noah, and Aldermen Balis and Woodhull.
The trial of Madame Restell was resumed.
Mr. Morrill, for defence, read the original commitment, by
Justice Merritt, of the accused on the 22d March, for a felony,
for examination; also a full commitment for the accused for a
misdemeanor on the 1st April; also an order of Court for con-
ducting of the accused from the prison to the residence of Mrs.
Purdy, to be present at the examination of Mrs. Purdy, or for
identification; also the protest of Mr. Morrill, one of her coun-
sel, against the taking of the accused to the residence of Mrs.
Purdy.
It was proved by W. C. Betts, clerk of Mr. Morrill, that Mr.
Lohman called at the office of Morrill to return the latter as
counsel; and witness went and found Mr. Morrill, who proceed-
ed to the Police Office to see Mrs. Restell in half an hour after
Mr. Lohman had called at his office. Mr. Morrill corroborated
the statement of his clerk.
...
Mr. Whiting, the District Attorney, followed on the same
side, in an able and erudite argument, tending to show that the
depositions were legally taken, and must by law and precedent
be admitted as evidence. Mr. Jordan concluded the argument
against the legal right to admit the affidavits, in an able and lu-
cid speech, and adduced, as evidence of the rightfulness of his
positions, numerous authorities.
The Court will decide the question relative to the admissi-
bility of these depositions this day at 11 o'clock.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Friday Morning, July 16, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
GENERAL SESSIONS—Yesterday.
Before the Recorder, Judge Lynch, and Aldermen
Balis and Woodhull.
The Trial of Madame Restell resumed.—At the
opening of the Court this day, Mr. Morrell, as asso-
ciate counsel for the accused, commenced his argu-
ment, on the grounds of the inadmissibility of the
deposition of Mrs. Purdy, as sworn to by her previ-
ous to her death, also the protest of Madam Restell,
...
Whiting, Esq., on the part of the people, and was fol-
lowed by Mr. Jordan, for the accused. The Court
will probably give their decision this day.
Adjourned till 11 A. M., this day.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF SESSIONS—July 16.—Before the Recorder, and
Judges Lynch and Noah.
In the case of Madame Restell, the Recorder stated, that on
the question of the admission of the depositions of Mrs. Purdy
against the accused, the Court had not had sufficient time to ex-
amine the subject (which was an important one) thoroughly, and
would give its decision on Monday morning at 11 o'clock.
...
Peter E. Bertron, convicted of petit larceny, (though indicted
for burglary,) was sentenced to the Penitentiary for 6 months.
Mary Layton, convicted of a misdemeanor, in keeping a dis-
orderly house at No. 343 Water-street, was sentenced to the
Penitentiary for 60 days.
Bernard Gallagher, convicted of an assault and battery on
Thomas Brady, was fined $5, which he paid.
John Graves, convicted of an assault and battery on John Ed-
wards, was fined $15, which he paid.
Patrick Small, convicted of an assault and battery on Ann Rose
with a cowhide, was fined $15, which he paid.
...
All the Jurors, except those impanneled in the case of Mad-
ame Restell, were discharged for the term.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Saturday Morning, July 17, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
GENERAL SESSIONS—Yesterday.
Before the Recorder, Judges Lynch and Noah, and
Ald. Balis and Timpson.
...
Peter E. Bertron, convicted of petit larceny, was
sentenced to the Penitentiary for 6 months.
Mary Dayton, convicted of a misdemeanor, in
keeping a disorderly house at No. 343 Water street,
was sent to the Penitentiary for 60 days.
Edward Gallagher, convicted of an assault and bat-
tery on James Brady, was fined $5.
John Graves, convicted of an assault and battery,
was fined $15.
Patrick Small, convicted of an assault and battery
upon an unfortunate female, was ordered to pay a fine
of $15.
In the case of Madam Restell, alluding to the argu-
ments offered yesterday by her counsel. The Court
stated that as it was a question of vast importance to
the community, and the decision required the most
minute and clear deliberation, and the arguments pre-
sented, were so lengthy, they were not prepared at
pesent to decide, but would give their decision on
Monday next.
...
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, July 17, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
General Sessions.
Present—The Recorder, Judges Noah and Lynch, and
one Alderman.
Madame Restell's Case.—His Honor the Recorder said
that in this case the jury could be liberated until Mon-
day, as it would certainly take the Court until that time
to make up their opinion on the question of law, involv-
ing a very important principle, which had been submit-
ted to them.
Sentences.—Ann Foster, a well dressed, middle aged,
lady like woman, convicted of forgery in the third de-
gree, passing bills purporting to be $20 bills which had
been altered from twos, was put to the bar. The Record-
er, in passing sentence, said that it was one of the illus-
trations of the cunning and adroitness of counterfeiters
in the employing of a respectable looking woman, like
the prisoner, and it was known to the Court that the pris-
oner had been so employed for a series of years. Her
crimes were not limited to this transaction—giving false
relations when asked where she had resided, and the ob-
jects she had in view; and it is the regret of the Court
that the prisoner did not inform the public authorities of
her employers, for then, instead of the heavy punishment
falling on the weaker vessel, it would have fallen on the
real offenders.
The judgement of the Court was, that Ann Foster be
imprisoned in the state prison for five years.
...
Peter E. Bertram, a small, innocent looking boy, tried
for burglary and convicted of a petty larceny, was sent
to dig stone for six months.
Mary Layton, convicted of keeping a disorderly house,
was adjudged to sit on the stool of repentance on Black-
well's Island for sixty days.
Bernard Gallagher, convicted of whipping a man, but
he, Gallagher, having a good character, was only mulct-
ed in the sum of five dollars.
John Graves, for the like offence—nothing said about
John's character—was fined fifteen dollars.
...
John Small, “a very good young man,” who had
horsewhipped a very poor young woman in the presence
of Judge Noah, in a most unmerciful manner for not pay-
ing for a glass of liquor which she had drank, was next
paraded, lectured on the enormity of his offence, and
fined fifteen dollars.
...
Justice Parker vs. Willard and Wood—Novel Application.
Mr. W. M. Price and Mr. Russell applied to the Court, on
an affidavit from Willard for an order calling on Justice
Parker to show cause why he should not return to Wil-
lard or the assignee of Wood, a sum of money amounting
to $11,000, in notes of one of the banks of this city, a $200
due bill, a gold watch, diamond pin, and other property,
which had been taken from the person of Wood by two
Police Officers, in the presence of Justice Parker, and by
him retained or handed over to some third party. The
affidavit, which was very long, alleged a variety of very
extraordinary matters, and amongst other things, stated
that application had been made for the return of this pro-
perty, but that the Police Magistrate had stated that he
should continue to hold it, because he had the sanction of
this Court.
At the reading of this part of the affidavit the Recorder
stated that there must be some mistake in it, for the Court
had had no consultation on the matter and given Justice
Parker no such direction.
...
His Honor, the Recorder, then discharged the Petty
Jury, with the exception of those sworn on the Restell
case, for the term, and adjourned until Monday.
———————
Special Sessions.
Before Judge Noah and two Aldermen.
JULY 16.—John Smith and Dan Miller, negroes, for
stealing a brace of hams, were sent to dig stone for sixty
days.
...
John Dougherty, for whipping a man, was sent to the
Tombs, for 30 days.
Mary Ann O'Keardon, for whipping a woman, was
sent to the Tombs for 30 days.
William Mack, for violating Matilda Evans in a stable,
and not paying said Matilda, was sent to dig stone for 60
days.
Some loafers were discharged, and the Court adjourn-
ed.
———————
City Intelligence.
...
MORE OF THE WILLARD CONTROVERSY.—Justice Par-
ker was yesterday arrested on a capias from the Circuit
Court, on an action of damages for false imprisonment,
at the suit of Henry Willard. The damages, in this case,
are lade at $10,000, and Judge Edwards held Justice Par-
ker to bail in $1,000. This freak of Justice Parker's will
cut out plenty of work for the lawyers, that's certain.
We do not know if that will be of much satisfaction to the
magistrate or not.
================================================================
[Col.3]
COURT OF SESSIONS, July 19.—Before the Recorder, Judges
Lynch and Noah, and Aldermen Balis and Woodhull.
Case of Madame Restell.—At the opening of the Court
the Recorder delivered a long and learned Opinion, in
which both the other Judges concurred, of which the following
are the main points: The question presented is whether the de-
position of Mrs. Purdy taken on the 22d of March, 1841, upon
which a warrant was issued against the accused is admissible
in evidence on the trial of this cause. It is clear from the
statutes that a mere ex parte deposition taken without affording
the accused an opportunity of cross examining the witness, can-
not be read upon the trial. In the present case, however, it is in
proof that the deposition was read over to the deceased in presence
of the accused, and that she, being apprised of her rights,
was also offered the opportunity of cross examining the witness.
...
the statement of the Justice that the question put had been re-
sponded to in the body of the deposition. The Court was
therefore clearly of opinion that the deposition was admissible.
Gilbert F. Hays, sworn for defence, deposed that he arrested
[Col.4]
the accused at her house in Greenwich-street, in March, on the
warrant of Justice Merritt on this charge, and took her to the
Police Office, where her husband, Mr. Lohman, accompanied
her. The latter asked witness where he could procure counsel.
Witness told him, and he went for counsel. The accused was
left in the Police Office with witness, and in about five minutes
they proceeded to the house of Mrs. Purdy. Justice Merritt
asked her, before going, if she had any objection to go to the
house of Mrs. Purdy; she answered she had none. Did not
hear Justice Merritt say that the object in taking the accused to
Mors Purdy's house was for the purpose of having her identi-
fied. Justice Merritt told her she was entitled to counsel, and
witness told the Justice that Mr. Lohman had gone for counsel.
After reaching the house of Mrs. Purdy, Justice Merritt told
accused to pay attention to the reading of the affidavit, first ask-
ing Mrs. Purdy “if this was the woman.” Mrs. Purdy answered
“Yes.” The Justice then cautioned Mrs. Purdy, telling her
she was on her dying bed, and to be careful if she had made any
mistake. The affidavit was then read to Mrs. Purdy and sworn
to by her, in presence of accused.
Cross-examined.—When witness arrested accused, she read
the warrant, and said her name was not Madame Restell. Wit-
ness told her she was the one he wanted. Nothing was then
said about counsel; at the house of Mrs. Purdy the accused
said nothing about counsel; she said something to Mrs. Purdy,
but witness cannot say what it was. The charge was stated to
accused by Justice Merritt at the Police Office.
Henry W. Merritt, Esq. recalled—deposed that when ac-
cused was brought to the Police, he stated to her in substance
what the affidavit contained. Witness told her that Mrs. Purdy
was sick and confined to her bed, and it was necessary to go up
there. At the house, witness told accused he was about to read
the deposition of Mrs. Purdy, and suggested to her to pay at-
tention to it. It was read, and sworn to by Mrs. Purdy in pre-
sence of accused. After the affidavit was read and sworn to,
the second affidavit was taken of Mrs. Purdy, identifying ac-
cused. I told accused she might ask Mrs. Purdy questions.
Cross examined—We were at Mrs. Purdy's house from half
to three quarters of an hour. When witness returned, Mr.
Morrill was at the Police Office—told him as soon as Counsel
were ready I would proceed to examine the accused under the
statute. Mr. Morrill did not express a wish to go back and cross
examine Mrs. Purdy.
Direct resumed—Witness wished the Counsel, Mr. Morrill,
to fix a day for the examination of the accused, and the 24th
March was fixed. On that day Messrs. Jordan and Morrill at-
tended, and in the presence at the accused, witness asked them
if they wished a week to go and cross examine Mrs. Purdy;
they said nothing, declining to answer. Witness then told them
he would proceed to the examination of the accused, and did
so. Judge Lownds was present at the conversation.
The District Attorney then proceeded to read the depositions
of Mrs. Purdy, some parts of which, viz: conversations with a
third party, (colored Rebecca,) were ruled out. The substance
of the affidavits having been fully published before, it is need-
less to repeat them here. They testify to the fact of the applica-
tion for and the receipt of drugs from the accused, the want of
effect and the subsequent manipular operations to produce the
effect, and the actual production of that effect, contrary to law,
with the resulting deleterious effects to the health of Mrs.
Purdy, the witness.
Lucinda Van Buskirk sworn—Is a married woman; was ac-
quainted with Mrs. Purdy when alive; saw Madame Restell
once at her residence in Greenwich st.; went with Mrs. Purdy
there in July, 1839, after her miscarriage. Mrs. Purdy wanted
Madame Restell to give her the watch and chain and rings, &c.
which she had left there, without her husband's knowing it.
Madame Restell said she could not give them up until she gave
her the rest of the money, saying 'we have done it very low,
much lower than we are in the habit of doing it, and I have
given $5 of the $6 to the doctor.' She said 'if you had gone
your full time, it would have cost you a good deal more.' Mrs.
Purdy said, 'then I shall be obliged to tell my husband.' Ma-
dame Restell replied, 'Oh, you cannot do that, for it will be a
State Prison offence for you as well as for me.' She did not give
Mrs. Purdy the watch and other articles at that time, but asked
her the number of her boarding house, which Mrs. Purdy gave.
Madame R. Said she would send up for the money.
Cross examined—Never saw Madame Restell but that time
and now; went to oblige Mrs. Purdy and to gratify an idle cu-
riosity in seeing Madame Restell, of whom she had heard much.
Never went there afterwards. Saw one lady there whom wit-
ness thought was a married woman, who came in and sat down,
and soon after two other women came in and sat down. Two
men also came in, but went away before witness did. Madame
Restell said they had often given her 40, 50, and sometimes as
much as $100, and she had done the thing for $20. Madame
Restell said she would come up to her boarding house and get
the money—she handed each of the ladies a circular to read,
which I have mislaid. Witness did not hear half the conversa-
tion between Mrs. Purdy and Madame Restell. A gentleman
purchased some medicine of accused and gave her $5 for it.
After a recess of an hour and a half, the Court again assem-
bled at 5 1-2 o'clock.
Dr. David D. Marvin testified that he was a physician, resi-
dent No. 80 Greene st., that he attended Mrs. Purdy from the
21st to 29th July, 1839. He found her laboring under severe
pains, and it was one or two days after he first saw her that her
child was born, and he was inclined to believe from her previous
good health and the suddenness of her delivery that it was pre-
mature.
Cross examined by Counsel for Accused—He was first ac-
quainted with Mrs. P. in the spring of 1838. After her delivery
she recovered, but was more exposed to inclement weather
than is consistent with health, until her sickness prevented her
being out of doors. Mrs. P. was a woman of ordinary intellect,
of fickle disposition, not illiterate for her station, but easily in-
fluenced. She was in the habit of visiting her neighbors con-
siderably. Witness has seen deceased and one Mowbray to-
gether, both in the presence and absence of her husband. She
assigned, on the 21st, severe exertion in washing, as the cause
of her premature delivery, and repeated this once or twice af-
terward within the two days succeeding. He remembers her
once making affidavit with reference to a certain pawn ticket,
and he went with her to a pawn-broker's either in Chatham
square or in Division st. with the affidavit and got a watch, brass
chain and some rings, which she had pawned. [The counsel
were here called upon by the Court to produce the affidavit,
but were unable. The counsel for accused wished to convict
Mrs. P. by it of having sworn falsely.] The watch was given
to witness for safe keeping, because she was afraid of losing it:
it was destroyed by accidentally coming in contact with quick-
silver. The rest of the jewelry entrusted to witness was re-
turned to Mrs. Purdy. Witness has no knowledge of Mr.
Purdy's having been out of the State for the last three years.
Witness does not know that Mrs. Purdy ever went to Madame
Restell's with the watch. Neither witness nor his lady ever
accompanied Mrs. P. to Madame Restell's. The deceased was
able to be about until the winter of 1840. Her complaint then
was pulmonary consumption.
Here the prosecution rested.
The defence was commenced, and Mr. Morrill offered ad
evidence the examination of Madame Restell held March 24th,
1841, but it ruled out by the Court.
Barrow A. Cohen was sworn. Witness attends the pawn-
broker's store of Mr. Levy, No. 5 Division-st., and did in 1839.
Does not recollect Mrs. Purdy or Dr. Marvin. He has an affi-
davit made by the former. [He here gave it, with a paper at-
tached, to counsel for the accused. Mr. Morrill read the pa-
pers. They were a list of articles pledged, as the paper says
Feb. 12, 1839, and an affidavit, signed by Emeline Purdy,
swearing that the pawn ticked for those articles had been lost.
The goods pledge were a watch, pencil case, and two rings,
worth $16.] Witness does not know the handwriting, and does
not recollect positively the articles he gave up at the time of re-
ceiving the affidavit.
W. W. Purdy testified that he never called at Mad. Restell's
for the goods. He now lives at Harlem, where he keeps a ho-
tel, and has been married since his last examination. Witness
never wrote or caused to be written a letter to Mad. Restell,
nor has he ever called on her to pay money, nor has he ever
said to any one that he would compromise this matter for any
sum of money. Witness has been to newspaper offices to state
that he had been discharged by the Railroad Company because
he had had Mad. Restell arrested; John S. Wigham told him
so. He had been on the car on which he was employed for
some days, and called upon Mr. Wigham, who told him the
President of the Company had said that, as the Restell affair
had made so much noise, and as witness had 'run low' for a
month or tow, (i. e. his receipts were less than before,) they
could not have him any longer. Immediately after this he sta-
ted the fact at a number of the newspaper offices. The Presi-
dent of the Company then requested him to stop the publication
of it, which he did. The reason of his not having collected as
much as others was his wife's illness, which made it necessary
that another man should run his car for him. The President
never intimated that he had appropriated any part of the money
to his own use.
Dr. Marvin recalled.—Stated that he believed the Commis-
sioner wrote the affidavit presented, which is the one that Mrs.
Purdy carried to the pawn-brokers in company with witness.
The testimony was here concluded, and on application of the
counsel for the accused, the Court was adjourned to 11 o'clock
this morning, when the summing up will commence.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, July 20, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.5]
General Sessions.
Present—The Recorder, Judges Noah and Lynch, and
two Aldermen.
JULY 19—Madame Restell's Case.—The fair accused
came into Court at 11 o'clock and took her seat at the
table by the side of her counsel.
The Recorder delivered the following decision as the
opinion of the Court, none of the bench dissenting:—
The People vs. Restell, alias Lohman.—The prosecution
in support of the indictment, offers to read the deposition
of Ann Maria Purdy, taken before Justice Merritt, a Po-
lice Magistrate, on the 22d March, 1841, upon which a
warrant was issued against the accused.
...
Purdy, late husband of the deponent, testified to the
death of Mrs. Purdy on the 28th day of April last.
It was also proved, on the part of the accused, that the
Magistrate omitted to insert in the deposition, or to an-
nex to it, certain questions put by the accused to Mrs.
Purdy, and her answers to those questions, he alleging
that he did not deem them material, and that they had
been substantially answered in the deposition previously
taken.
The question that is presented by the argument is: Is
this deposition thus taken, admissible in evidence on the
trial of this cause?
...
I am therefore clearly of opinion that the deposition is
admissible.
Some little dispute then took place between the Dis-
trict Attorney and Mr. Jordan as to the right of the pro-
secutor to re-examine Justice Merritt, but owing to the
noise in the court, it was impossible for the reporters to
hear what was said.
Mr. M. said that before the deposition was gone into
they had a witness to examine.
Gilbert Hays, examined—I arrested Madame Restell at
her house in Greenwich street some time in March, on the
charge contained in this warrant. Her husband asked me
where he could get counsel. I told him there was plen-
ty of counsel. She was by. Her husband then left.—
Justice Merritt was in the office, but I cannot recollect if
he was close enough to have heard it. In a few mo-
ments after Lohman started, we left with the prisoner
for Mrs. Purdy's. I should say it was about five minutes.
Justice Merritt asked her if she had any objections to go
up and see Mrs. Purdy. She, Restell, said “No.” I don't
know that any thing was said in relation to identity.
Jordan—Did he say what the object was?
Hays—I didn't hear him say what the object was, but I
considered it was for identity.
Jordan—Did Calender or Merritt say if she was not the
woman she would be discharged?
Hays—I didn't hear it.
[Col.6]
Jordan—Did he tell her she had a right to counsel?
Witness—I believe he did, but I heard nothing about
counsel after her husband went away. I told the Justice
she had sent for counsel. We were at Mrs. Purdy's on
that occasion from twenty minutes to half an hour. Di-
rectly we got there Justice Merritt proceeded with the
business he went on. He told Mrs. Restell to pay atten-
tion, as he was going to read over an affidavit to her. He
asked Mrs. Purdy first, if “this was the woman?” She
said “yes,” and then said to Mrs. R. “to pay attention,”
&c. He then cautioned her to be very careful, and if she
had made any mistake to have it rectified. He then pro-
ceeded to read it. I do not know if another affidavit was
taken. Calender was there, and used pen and ink.
Jordon—I now understand you to say I've related sub-
stantially all that took place, although I do not remember
every word that was said. Is that so?
Hays—Yes. I showed her the warrant when I arrested
her. She read it and she said she was not Madame Restell.
I said she was the person we wanted. She said she did
not know Mrs. Purdy.
Whiting—Did you find her husband at her house.
Hays—Yes; and he read the warrant. Nothing was
said about counsel until we got to the police office.
...
H. W. Merritt re-called by the District Attorney—
When Mrs. Restell was brought to the office I told her
that Mrs. Purdy was sick.
Whiting—Tell us what you said to her.
Merritt—I didn't read the affidavit, but I told her in
substance what the charge was, and what the affidavit
contained. I told her that Mrs. Purdy was confined to
her bed.
Here the District Attorney proposed to re-examine the
Justice as to talk about identity, and if anything was
said, which proposal called up Mr. Jordon, who deliver-
ed one of his aquafortis phillipics against the way in
which things were managed by the Police Justices.
...
Merritt—I told her up to Mrs. Purdy's that I was about
to read the examination of Mrs. Purdy, and she must pay
attention to it. The examination was then read and
sworn to by Mrs. Purdy. I told her she could put any
question she thought proper. Mrs. Purdy was examined
as to the identity.
...
Morrill—Did you state the charge?
Merritt—Well, I said she was charged with producing
abortion.
Morrill—Did you not find me waiting at your office
when you came back?
Merritt—Yes, I believe I did.
Morrill—Did you not state that she had been taken
merely for identity?
Merritt—Something of the kind.
Morrill—Did I not say you proceeded on a very extra-
ordinary errand?
Merritt—Something of that sort.
John. B. LaForge, sworn—Mr. Jordan objected to the
testimony about to be given by this witness.
The Recorder and Judge Noah sustained the objection,
but Lynch wanted it gone into.
Merritt was then re-called, for the purpose of showing
that at a subsequent period an offer was made of liberty
to cross-examine Mrs. Purdy.
To this Jordan objected. The court overruled and the
counsel excepted.
Merritt—The 24th of March I fixed for the examina-
tion of Mrs. Restell, and Morrell and Jordan both came.
I asked the counsel if they wished the witnesses on the
part of the prosecution to be produced.
Jordon—What did they say, sir?
Merritt—They did not say any thing, sir. I then pro-
ceeded to take the examination.
Jordon—Did not you and us go into the private room,
and talk it over?
Merritt—Very likely we did.
Jordon—Had you not told us, that you had made up
your mind as to the amount of bail, and did you not say
that you had made up your mind to commit her?
Merritt—Very likely I did, for I made up my mind when
I issued the warrant as to committing her. I don't know
as to the bail.
(Here Mrs. Purdy's deposition was read under objec-
tions and exceptions. As this has all been published
over and over again, it would be futile to repeat it.)
Lucinda Van Buskirk examined—I'm a married wo-
man, and knew Mrs. Purdy. Have seen Madame Restell
once, saw her at the office in Greenwich street. I think
the same person is in Court. I went to her office in
Greenwich street about two years ago last July. We
went about the things. Mrs. Purdy wanted to get the
things without Mr. Purdy knowing they had been there.
I mean the watch and chain and some rings. Mrs. Res-
tell said she could not give them back, because she had
given the money to the Doctor, who had done it very
low. She said she had been sick and obliged to have a
doctor, and Madame Restell said, “Oh, it would have
cost you a great deal more, if you had gone your full
time.” Mrs. Purdy said “she must have them back, for
otherwise she must tell her husband.” To this Madame
replied, “Oh! you musn't do that, or it would be a State
Prison for me, as well as for you.”
Jordon—How came you to go down with Mrs. Purdy?
Witness—Why, I'd heard a great deal of Madame Res-
tell, and was very anxious to see her. I had two reasons
for going—one was idle curiosity, and the other a desire
to oblige Mrs. Purdy.
Jordon—Was there any body else there?
Witness—Yes, a lady who was a married lady. I'm sure
of that. Then two other ladies came in. Two gentle-
men also came in, but they went off again, and left all the
ladies behind. They then talked about the watch chain
and other things, and Madame Restell stated that she
could not give them back without the rest of the money,
which I think was $20. She said also that it had been
done very low, as they frequently had $100, and the $5
she paid had been given to the doctor.
District Attorney—Did the ladies buy any of the medi-
cines?
Witness—No, but the gentlemen did, and paid five dol-
lars for it, too.
Jordon—Oh, the gentlemen were in trouble then?
Witness—No, but they had ladies in trouble, I dare say.
Grand Jury.—On motion of the District Attorney, two
more members were added to the Grand Inquest. About
two hours after, the Grand Jury came into Court with a
number of bills of indictment, among which it was un-
derstood were three charging James Gordon Bennett
with libelling the judicial characters of James Lynch
and M. M. Noah.
The Grand Jury asked to be discharged, but the Re-
corder refused to comply, because the business before
them was incomplete, many witnesses being yet to be
examined. The Jury then left the Court.
Their Honors adjourned at half past three.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Tuesday Morning, July 20, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
GENERAL SESSIONS—Yesterday.
Trial of Madam Restell, resumed.—At the opening
of the Court the Recorder proceeded to read the deci-
sion of the Court, which was that the deposition of
Mrs. Purdy should be admissible as evidence on trial
of the accused. The first witness sworn was Gilbert
F. Hays, who deposed that he arrested the accused
...
Lucinda Van Buskirk, deposed that she went with
Mrs. Purdy to Mad. Restell's, for the purpose of get-
ting the watch and chain she had pledged for the
payment of her bill, the accused refused to give them
up as she had performed the operation at a low price.
Mrs. Purdy said she would tell her husband. Mrs.
Restell said it would not do, as it would be a State
Prison affair for both of them. A number of males
and females were there for advice.
Mrs. Restell finally said she would take $35, but
would not give up the trinkets, as she had paid the
Dr. $5.
Nothing was elicited on the cross examination of
this witness which went to prove either the innocence
or guilt of the accused.
The Court then took a recess until 5½ P. M. The
proceedings after that time we are compelled to defer
until to-morrow.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF SESSIONS, July 19.—Before the Recorder, Judges
Lynch and Noah, and Alderman Balis.
Madame Restell's Trial, continued.—Huron Betts, sworn for
defence, deposed that he knew W. W. Purdy; that he request-
ed witness two or three weeks ago to go to Madame Restell and
ask her if she would give him so much money to keep his wit-
nesses away from Court. He did not name any particular sum.
Witness went with Purdy from the Bowery down Chatham st.,
from Chatham st. to Broadway, and from Broadway down Ce-
dar to the corner of Cedar and Greenwich sts. where Purdy
left witness, promising to meet him at a barber's shop at or near
the corner of Courtlandt st. Witness went into the house of
Madame Restell and saw a woman.
Cross-examined—Purdy first proposed to witness to go; never
saw Mr. Lohman. Witness knew of the prosecution by seeing
the Recorder, District Attorney and Justice Merritt go there.
Purdy told witness he had got an indictment against Madame
Restell.
The testimony then closed on both sides. Mr. Morrill com-
menced and concluded an able and forcible summing-up speech
to the Court and jury for the defence. He was followed by Mr.
Jordan on the same side, in an eloquent and argumentative
speech, and Mr. J. B. La Forge and the District Attorney with
great ability and power, summed up for the prosecution.
The Recorder then charged the jury at length as to the law
and facts of the case, after which they retired to their chamber.
After an absence of about five minutes the jury returned into
Court with a verdict of GUILTY—on the third and fourth
counts of the indictment, which charge the operation with in-
struments.
Mr. Jordan moved an arrest of judgement, to give time to pre-
pare for carrying up the case to the Supreme Court, and the
Court gave time to the first day of the next term.
The accused was not in Court at the rendering of the ver-
dict, nor at any time during the summing up of yesterday.
The peroration of the summing-up speech of Mr. Whiting,
the District Attorney, was exceedingly eloquent, powerful and
pathetic, and drew tears of the eyes of Court and jury, and
also from his own. He spoke full three hours and a half.
The Grand Jury came into Court with a number of bills, re-
ceived the thanks of the Court and were discharged. They
found 70 bills during the term, and dismissed 26 complaints.
The jury were discharged for the term, and the Court ad-
journed to this day 11 o'clock.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Wednesday Morning, July 21, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
GENERAL SESSIONS—Yesterday.
Before the Recorder, Judges Lynch and Noah, and
Ald. Balis and Woodhull.
The Grand Jury came into Court and presented a
number of bills, and were discharged with the thanks
of the Court, for the term.
In the case of Madam Restell, Mr. Morrill, her
associate counsel, stated that since yesterday, he had
received information that a certain person had been
requested by the husband of Mrs. Purdy, to call on
the accused for the purpose of asking her if he,
Purdy, would absent himself and his witnesses from
the city and not bring the case to trial, if she would
give him a certain amount of money.
Mr. Whiting the District Attorney, objected to the
testimony being taken, as the whole of the evidence
was closed. The Court however decided that it
should be admitted.
Huron Betts (sworn,) was requested by Mr. Purdy
to go to the house of Madam Restell, three or four
weeks ago, and ask her if she would pay a certain
sum of money if Purdy would withdraw himself from
the city. He went and saw a lady there.
The Counsel, pro and con. then commenced sum-
ming up the case, which under the charge of the
Court was given to the Jury at 8 o'clock, P. M.
The Jury retired and after being absent about five
minutes returned with a verdict of GUILTY. Mr. Jor-
dan moved that Judgment be suspended until next
term, in order that the objections raised during the
trial might pass the ordeal of the Supreme Court.—
The motion was granted, and the Court adjourned.
The Court announced that the Grand Jury having
found three bills of indictment against James Gordon
Bennett, Editor of the Herald, for libels, he would be
required to give bail to answer in $1000 on each
charge.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
The Three Indictments—or Grand Farce for
1841.
At the instigation of Mordecai Manassah Noah,
formerly Judge in Israel, on Grand Island, now a
Judge of the Sessions, for trying petty rogues in New
York, we have been indicted by the Grand Jury, on
three several bills, for reporting the proceedings of
that Court erroneously, and for bringing two of its
judges, Noah and Lynch, into contempt with the
people.
...
Seriously, however, this affair is one of the most
farcical that ever took place. Ever since we started
the Herald, and gave signs of success, Noah, as edi-
tor of the “Evening Star,” has done all he could to
break down our establishment, and destroy our char-
acter. On two or three several occasions, this amia-
ble man, the same who traversed Grand Island in a
tragic costume from the Park, instigated the un-
thinking portion of the press, to denounce the Herald
and its editor. Last year he started and kept up the
“moral war” by every kind of libel and falsehood,
in order to break us down. Failing before this dis-
criminating public, he has, on the first occasion,
seized on a report of a petty larceny trial, issues an
informal edict against our reporter, and gets the
grand jury to indict us for contempt of him and his
talents. Be it so. It will, indeed, be a trial—not a
trial of us—but the veritable trial of Noah and Lynch,
to ascertain whether they have the right or the capa-
city to sit on that bench, and set as they have done.
We deny both, and shall calmly furnish the proof,
under the constitution of the state, which allows
the truth to be given in evidence in all such cases. It is,
therefore, in fact, the trial of Noah and Lynch—no
more—no less.
The following is a copy of the indictment No. 1:—
True Copy of Bill of Indictment.
(Taken in District Attorney's Office, July 20th, 1841.)
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, SS.
...
That James Gordon Bennett, of the City of New York,
editor, printer, and publisher of the New York Herald,
well knowing the premises, being a person of a depraved
and wicked mind, and of a malicious temper and disposition,
disregarding and despising the laws of this State, and
most unlawfully, wickedly, maliciously, and deliberate-
ly, devising, contriving, and intending to traduce, vilify,
and bring into contempt and detestation, the said M. M. Noah
and James Lynch, associate Judges as aforesaid, and to
insinuate, and as far as in him (the said James Gordon
Bennett) lay, to cause it to be believed that the said M. M.
Noah and James Lynch were unfit to preside at the said Court,
and to hold them up to public ridicule and scorn, and to
bring them into ridicule, scandal, contempt, and disgrace
on the 17th day of June, in the year 1841, with force* and
arms at the Second Ward of the City and County of New
York, most unlawfully, wickedly, and maliciously, did
print and publish, and cause and procure to be printed
and published in a certain newspaper, entitled the
“New York Herald,” of and concerning the said M. M.
Noah and James Lynch, so being such associate judges,
as aforesaid, in their office of associate judges, as afore-
said, respectively as aforesaid, and also of and concern-
ing their respective acts and doings as such associate
judges, a certain, false, wicked, scandalous, infamous, and
malicious libel, entitled “Court of Sessions,” in which
said libel are contained, among other things, divers
false, scandalous, and malicious matters, according to the
tenor following, to wit:—
* Note—Probably meaning steam power.
———
[Copy from paper of June 17.]
“ The proceedings in this miserable hole yesterday,
which is called by some the 'Henroost Court,' (meaning
the said Court of General Sessions of the Peace,) were of
little interest. George Rankin, the witness introduced
in Noah's (meaning the said M. M. Noah, associate
Judge aforesaid) celebrated coffee trial, was tried and
convicted of burglary, in breaking into and stealing cof-
fee from Mr. Merle's store.”
An in another part of the same libel are contained di-
vers other false, scandalous, and malicious matters, ac-
cording to the tenor following:—
[Copy from paper of June 17.]
“ A motion was made and argued at some length by W.
H. Attree, that the Court (meaning the said Court of Gen-
eral Sessions of the Peace) do rescind the order made in
relation to him the day before, because it was, as the Re-
corder said, informal, i. e. illegal, done without evidence
or notice to show cause; was written by Noah (meaning
the said M. M. Noah, associate Judge aforesaid) alone, the
Recorder considering it informal, and the two Aldermen
dissenting from it. The Court (meaning the said Court
of General Sessions of the Peace) will doubtless take
time to consider of it before they (meaning the said Court
of General Sessions of Peace) expunge their illegal
and ridiculous act. We (himself the same James Gor-
don Bennett meaning) shall give full particulars hereaf-
ter. M. M. Noah, (meaning the said Mordecai M. Noah,
associate Judge aforesaid,) the so-called Judge, for a very
short period shook like an aspen leaf, and was as red as an
old turkey hen (meaning the said M. M. Noah was red like
a turkey hen) the whole day, on account of what appear-
ed in the Herald, (meaning the said newspaper entitled
the 'New York Herald.') He (meaning the said M. M.
Noah, associate Judge as aforesaid) denied, like a false
old fool as he (meaning the said M. M. Noah was a fool)
is, that he had any thing to do with the 'Star,' and said
nothing till towards night, when he (meaning the said
M. M. Noah) fell asleep. Mr. Lynch (meaning the said
James Lynch, associate Judge as aforesaid) looked ridicu-
lous the whole day, and was laughed at by Tallmadge,
Whiting, the Aldermen, and all the lawyers for his folly,
(meaning the said James Lynch's folly)—to the great
scandal, infamy and disgrace of the said M. M. Noah and
James Lynch, so being such associate Judges as afore-
said, in manifest perversion and violation of the laws of
this State, and to the evil and pernicious example of all
others, and against the peace of the People of the State of
New York and their dignity.
“ WHITING, District Attorney.
Such is the first Indictment. We desire, there-
fore, the whole country to prepare for this funny,
curious, wonderful, strange, witty, legal, pitiful, far-
cical, philosophical, and poetical trial—not, in fact,
our trial, but the trial of Noah and Lynch for hold-
ing seats on the bench, to which they have no right
under the constitution of the State or the corpora-
tion immunities of this city. Our reporters are all
ready—their lamps trimmed and their lights shining.
[Col.6 / Col.6]
General Sessions.
Present—The Recorder, Judges Noah and one Alder-
man.
JULY 20—The Restell Case.—David D. Marvin examin-
ed by the District Attorney. I am a physician, residing
at No. 80 Green street. In the month of July, 1837, at-
tended Mrs. Purdy. Found her laboring under severe
pains. It was one or two days before she was delivered,
and I am inclined to believe that it was premature.
Cross-examined by Jordon—First knew Mrs. Purdy in
the spring of 1838. After her premature delivery she
partly recovered, but from exposure to inclement wea-
ther and other imprudent causes, was again laid up.—
She was a woman of ordinary intellect, very fickle mind-
ed, not illiterate, but easy, and in the habit of visiting
her neighbors considerably. I have seen her with a man
of the name of Moubray, both with and without her hus-
band. She said her premature pains had been brought
on by severe washing. I remember she made an affida-
vit about a pawn ticket, and I accompanied her to the
pawnbrokers for the purpose of getting some trinkets
and a watch which had been pledged. The Court call-
ed on the learned counsel to produce the affidavit. I had
the watch placed with me for safe keeping, but was de-
stroyed by accidentally coming in contact with quicksil-
ver. I do not know that the watch was ever taken to
Madame Restell. Neither myself nor my wife ever went
with Mrs. Purdy to see Madame Restell. Mrs. P. was
about until the winter of 1840—41, and her complaints
was pulmonary consumption.
The District Attorney rested his case.
John A. Morrill opened the case for the defence, and
offered the examination of Madame Restell, which the
Court overruled.
Barrow A. Cohen examined—I am a clerk in the pawn
shop of Mr. Levy, No. 5 Division street; was there in
1839. I do not recollect either last witness or Mrs. Purdy.
I have an affidavit made by Mrs. P. This document was
handed to Morrill, who read the papers. They were a
list of articles pledged, as the paper says, Feb. 12, 1839,
and an affidavit, signed by Emeline Purdy, swearing
that the pawn ticket for those articles had been lost. The
goods pledged were a watch, pencil case, and two rings,
worth $16.
W. W. Purdy recalled and examined—I never called at
Madame Restell's for the articles left with her. I now
live at Harlem and keep a public house, having been wor-
ried since my last examination in this case. I have often
been to newspaper offices to state that I had been dis-
charged by the Rail Road Company in consequence of
this charge against Madame Restell. Wigham told me
this. The President never charged me with embezzling
the monies of the company. I never offered to settle
this charge with Madame Restell for money. I never
sent any one to her to make such an offer, nor author-
ized any body to go on such an errand.
At this point of the case the testimony was said to be
closed, but on the Grand Jury coming into Court at a
subsequent period, Mr. Morrill applied to the Court for
permission to examine Mr. Huron Betts, a member of their
body, as to a particular fact deposed to by Purdy.
The District Attorney said this permission could not be
granted. First, it was irregular; secondly, it was irrel-
evant; and thirdly, the testimony was closed by the
consent of both sides and could not be re-opened.
The Recorder said that in a case like this even if there
was a little irregularity he should consent to the exami-
nation of the witness, for he should prefer erring on the
side of the defendant, than to shut out any portion of
testimony.
Huron Betts examined—I know W. W. Purdy. Saw
him yesterday, and have seen him occasionally for the
last three or four months. About three weeks since he
asked me if I would go to Madame Restell's for him. I
said yes. He then said if she would give him some mo-
ney he would leave the city himself and keep his wit-
nesses out of the way also. He did not tell me the price
he wanted. Purdy and myself accordingly started from
the Bowery, and went down Chatham square to Cedar
street, where he said he would wait for me in a Barber's
shop. I went to Madame Restell's house and saw the lady
to whom I delivered the message.
Cross-examined by the District Attorney—I had known
Purdy long before he asked me to go to Madame Restell.
I don't know Restell's husband.
The case was here closed.
Mr. Morrill then addressed the Jury on behalf of the
accused, and went over all the law applicable to cases of
this kind. The learned gentleman cited numerous au-
thorities from the books, and instanced numerous cases,
which he brought to bear on the case before the Court
and Jury, and wound up by a powerful and eloquent ap-
peal to the Jury to exert their judgement, and not permit
either passion, prejudice, or feeling to influence them in
condemning an innocent woman.
Mr. Jordon followed, in his usual eloquent invective,
and gave one of the witnesses such a dose of bitter aloes
as must have produced a very uncomfortable state of
feelings.
Mr. LaForge and the District Attorney performed their
parts, and then the Court charged the Jury that the first
and second counts in the indictment were bad, and that
if the accused was convicted at all, she must be under
the 3d and 4th counts, which charge the procuring of
abortion by instruments; and it would become a question
for the Jury, whether that charge was supported. His
Honor then took a review of the case, and left it for the
Jury to say whether the accused was innocent or not.
The Jury retired for about twenty minutes, and found
a verdict of GUILTY.
The counsel for the accused moved for a suspension of
judgement until the August term, which was granted.
And the Court adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.5]
☞ To the Public.—The testimony elicited on the trial of
the undersigned, and the verdict of a Jury upon that testimony, is be-
fore the public, and she has no objection, if correctly reported, that
they should stand side by side, for the judgement of the public. That
the undersigned is willing, unshrinkingly, to abide the issue, was in
evidence on the trial; that all overtures and proposals made to her to
compound with the witnesses for the prosecution to induce them to
absent themselves, &c., were spurned; and the public, perhaps, may
be aware, that important principles of evidence and law are involved,
to be adjudicated upon by the highest competent tribunals of the
country, which may completely reverse the aspect in the premises.
She indulges the hope that, as the whole matter will be carried up be-
fore another and higher court, the public will await the decision of
the courts of appeal. MADAME RESTELL,
jy22 1t 148 Greenwich st.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
The Great Indictments of 1841—The Real
Pickwick Papers.
The publication of the first indictment against the
Herald, for ridiculing Noah and Lynch, which in-
dictment, for distinction's sake, may be called the
great “Turkey Hen” indictment, (as the saying that
a similitude between a highly respectable old turkey
hen and the Judge is the gravamen of the libel) had
produced a wonderful sensation in this community.
Every body is asking—“who was the grand jury that
presented that bill?” “They have outstripped Field-
ing or Dickens in true literary genius.” “These in-
dictments are the real Pickwickian papers—yes,
even Pickwick himself must have been chairman,
and had a hand in them.” God bless this grand jury,
says poor I.
Be all this as it may, we give on this occasion the
second of these inimitable papers, which, for dis-
tinction's sake, may be called the “Grand Pork In-
dictment for 1841,” and the putting the word (not
the steak) pork into the mouth of a Hebrew judge
is the gist of the charge. [See Laws of Moses—also
Talmud, &c.] Here it is:—
Second Indictment—or the Pork Indictment.
CITY AND COUNTY OF }
NEW YORK, } SS.
The jurors of the people of the state of New York, in
and for the body of the city and county of New York, on
their oath, present: That long before, and at the time, of
composing, printing, and publishing the several scanda-
lous and malicious libels, hereinafter mentioned, and long
before, and at the several times and occasions, in and by
the said libels mentioned and alluded to, Mordecai M.
Noah was an Associate Judge of the Court of General
Sessions of the Peace, in and for the city and county of
New York, and as such Associate Judge, was duly em-
ployed and engaged in the exercise of his judicial duties,
in the said Court, as such Associated Judge; that the said
Court of General Sessions of the Peace was duly held in
and for the city and county of New York, at the Halls of
Justice of the said city, in the first Monday of June, in
the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, and
was continued, from day to day, from the first Monday in
June to and including the fourth Wednesday thereafter,
before the judges thereof; that the said Mordecai M.
Noah presided at the said Court, during the said term, as
such Associate Judge, as aforesaid; that James Gordon
Bennett, of the city of New York, editor, printer, and
publisher of the New York Herald, well knowing the
premises, being a person of depraved and wicked mind,
and of a malicious temper and disposition, disregarding
and despising the laws of this state, and most unlawful-
ly, wickedly, and maliciously, and deliberately devising,
combining, and intending to traduce, vilify, and bring in-
to contempt and detestation the said Mordecai M. Noah,
Associate Judge as aforesaid, and insinuate, and, as far as
in him, the said James Gordon Bennett, lay, to cause to
be believed, that the said Mordecai M. Noah was unfit to
preside at the said Court, and to hold him up to public
ridicule and scorn, and to bring him into ridicule, scan-
dal, contempt, and disgrace, on the sixteenth day of June,
in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one,
with force and arms, at the second ward of the city
...
infamous libel, entitled, “Another curious scene in the
Court of Sessions, in which Noah (meaning the said M.
M. Noah), the new judge in Israel, figures largely,” in
which said libel are contained, among other things, di-
vers false, scandalous, and malicious matters, concerting
to the tenor following, to wit:—
(Copy.)
“ No stranger should leave this city without paying a
...
(Copy.)
“ On this Judge Noah, (meaning the said M. M. Noah,
&c.,) who is so fat, and sleek, and slippery, that he frequent-
ly almost tumbles asleep on the bench, or looks like it,
which is much the same, roused himself, and cried out—
'Pork! pork! what's that about pork?' The Recorder,
who loves a joke as dearly as any man living, and who
frequently laughs in his sleeve at the ignorance of law dis-
played by his associates, turned round to Noah, (meaning
the said M. M. Noah,) and observed, 'Brother Noah,
(meaning the said M. M. Noah,) as this case of stealing
pork seems to lay legitimately on your side of the bench,
suppose you try it.' 'Pork! pork!' said Noah, (meaning
the said Mordecai Manasseh Noah said 'pork,') 'who'd
ever think of stealing pork?' to the great scandal, infamy
and disgrace of the said Mordecai Manasseh Noah,” &c.
&c. &c. &c. &c. &c. WHITING, District Attorney.
Here is a mess of pork steaks, fried and peppered
by the Pickwickian jury, which beats any thing in
Dickens, including Barnaby Rudge and all the num-
bers yet to be published by the New World or the
Brother Jonathan. To represent the venerable and
amiable Judge Noah, as using the word “pork” on
any occasion, is just as libellous as to force pork
steaks into his mouth to allay his hunger. Both are
contrary to the Talmud, which, in book 10, chapter
42, verse 101, sayeth—“He that tasteth pork is a
brute—he that toucheth pork is a beast—and he that
nameth pork is damned.” It must have been an
error, therefore, in our reporter, ever to have repre-
sented the mild and sweet-tem-pered Judge as using
such words.
To enter into a minute legal analysis of all the
various points in these indictments, would occupy
more time than we can spare to-day. If, however,
to charge those individuals, whose appointments as
judges are not recognised by the Corporation, with
being “red in the face like an old turkey hen”—or
“indifferent lawyers”—or using the terms “pork!
pork!” or any, or all the matters therein enume-
rated—if these are indictable for contempt, what
shall be said of the charges made, within a year and
a day, of Ex-Recorder Morris by all the respectable
papers in Wall street? Can any lawyer answer this
question? “Thief”—“paper snatcher”—“violator
of a man's hearth”—“midnight robber”—and scores
of such epithets were applied to the late Recorder
by the “pipe-laying press—to a judge too, of whose
authority and appointment no one else disputed—
whose legal attainments all believed. Why have not
the grand jury presented these much more malig-
nant cases? Noah and Lynch are not considered le-
gal or constitutional judges. Their appointment was
predicated on a law which violated the “vested
rights” of the city of New York. It is a sacred prin-
ciple of the whig party that a legislature cannot
annul or change a charter without the consent of
the chartered party, whose rights are touched upon.
This principle has been violated by the last two
legislatures—for to this day the Corporation of New
York refuses to sanction these two appointments.
If Noah and Lynch are not legal and constitutional
judges, what then?
This we shall examine hereafter.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, July 22, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3 / Col.2]
☞ TO THE PUBLIC.—The testimony elicited on the
trial of the undersigned, and the verdict of a jury upon
that testimony, is before the public, and she has no ob-
jection, if correctly reported, that they should stand side
by side, for the judgement of the public. That the un-
dersigned is willing, unshrinkingly, to abide the issue,
was in evidence on the trial; that all overtures and pro-
posals made to her to compound with the witnesses for
the prosecution, to induce them to absent themselves, &c.
were spurned; and the public, perhaps, may be aware,
that important principles of evidence and law are in-
volved, to be adjudicated upon by the highest competent
tribunals of the country, which may completely reverse
the aspect in the premises. She indulges the hope that,
as the whole matter will be carried up before another
and higher court, the public will await the decision of
the courts of appeal.
MADAME RESTELL, Female Physician,
148 Greenwich street, N. Y.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
The Opening of the Third Seal—The Grand
Coffee, or Tom Ritchie Indictment.
If the good, old, venerable Recorder Riker be
alive,—
“Blessings on his frosty pow,”
We trust and hope he will put on his silver specs,
and read these famous indictments from beginning
to end.
Recorder Riker was a choice one in his day.—
With extraordinary knowledge of criminal law—
great honesty and humanity—he, nevertheless, loved
a joke as he did his own soul—it was his bread, his
butter, his bitters and all. Yet he always preserved
the dignity of the bench and his own reputation,
amid all the shafts of opposition, envy, or malice.
Even the inimitable Halleck himself, gave immorta-
lity to “Dear Dick Riker” in his verses, and the
venerable X read and enjoyed them as much as any
body.
When we supported and recommended Noah for
the seat he fills, we thought and hoped that the
mantle of “Dear Dick Riker” would have fallen
upon him, and that he would have made a truly
great man in mind, as he is in fat. Alas! what a
vain hope! For some cause or other, probably be-
cause the Corporation, “being of a depraved heart,
wickedly, maliciously, and with malice aforethought”
refuses to pay his salary, our old friend and fellow
sufferer gets up indictments against us, of which the
annexed is the third, alias the great Tom-Ritchie,
or wig-shaking indictment:—
The Coffee, or Tom Ritchie Indictment.
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, SS.
The jurors of the people of the State of New York, in
...
Court, and James Pollock and Frederick R. Lee, Alder-
men of the said city, Judges of the said Court, one James
Ritchie, who stood indicted before the said Court, on a
charge of felony, receiving stolen goods, knowing them
to have been stolen, which goods, it was alleged, con-
sisted of a large quantity of coffee, contained in a large
number of bags, was arraigned at the bar thereof, and
put upon his trial, by a jury, before the said Court, ac-
...
certain newspaper, entitled the New York Herald, New
York, Tuesday morning, June 15, 1841, of and concerning
the said trial, and of and concerning the said Judges of
the said Court, and of and concerning the said M. M.
Noah, so being such Associate Judge as aforesaid, and of
and concerning the evidence given upon the said trial,
and of the questions put, and observations made, by the
said M. M. Noah upon the said trial, a certain false, ma-
licious, wicked, and scandalous, and infamous libel, en-
titled,
“A curious trial for receiving stolen goods.”
In which said libel are contained, among other things,
divers false, scandalous, and malicious matters, to wit:
“Judge Noah—(meaning to designate the said M. M.
Noah as the person putting a question)—How's that?
Did you, (meaning George Griffin, who was sworn and
then under examination as a witness on the said trial,)
steal the coffee?” “Surprised,” (meaning that the said
M. M. Noah appeared or looked surprised.) “Griffin—
(meaning to designate the said George Griffin as the per-
son answering)—I'll tell you; (meaning the said M. M.
Noah,) the first I (meaning himself, the said George Grif-
fin) saw of any coffee being stolen from Merle's store, was
when I saw George Rankin and Tom Ritchie.” “Judge
Noah—(meaning the said M. M. Noah)—laughing and
looking with a knowing nod and a chuckle towards the
Recorder, (meaning that the said Mordecai Manasseh Noah,
whilst presiding as judge on said trial, was laughing and
looking, with a knowing nod and a chuckle, towards the Hon-
orable Frederick A. Tallmadge, Recorder of the City of New
York, then also presiding as a judge of said Court on said
trial,) what's that you say?—Tom Ritchie?” “Grif-
fin—(meaning to designate the said George Griffin as the
person answering)—Yes, sir, Tom Ritchie.” Laughter,
(meaning that there was laughter in the court.) “Judge
Noah—(meaning to designate, &c.)—Did Tom Ritchie
steal any coffee?” (Laughter.) “Hays—(meaning Ja-
cob Hays, High Constable of said court, &c.) (Angrily,)
Silence in court. Gentlemen, this is no laughing matter,
if Tom Ritchie did steal coffee.” “Recorder—(meaning
the said F. A. Tallmadge,) to Noah (meaning, &c.)—Hays
calls you to order, Brother Noah,” (meaning that the said
Hays had called the said Mordecai Manasseh Noah to order,)
“Judge Noah—Oh, I (meaning, &c.) only laughed to
think that there is so little in the name of citizen Ritchie.
Go on.”
And in another part of the said libel are contained di-
vers other false, scandalous and malicious matters, ac-
cording to the tenor following:—
“Noah—Stop—not so fast—I want to get all this down
about Tom Ritchie.
Griffin—James Ritchie was not present.
Noah—But Tom Ritchie was. (Laughter.)
Griffin—Yes. The next time George and I went and
got six bags of coffee; and Tom remained below and took
them.
Noah—Tom Ritchie was on the ground that time?
...
“Judge Noah (meaning, &c.) we (meaning the judges
of the said court) found it difficult to identify the pork the
other day. (Roars of laughter.) And the man was dis-
charged. Coffee kernels are queer things to recognize.”
To the great scandal, infamy, and disgrace of the
Judges of the said Court, and particularly to the said
Mordeica Manasseh Noah, &c. &c. &c., and against the
peace and dignity of the people of the State of New
York. WHITING, District Attorney.
Here closes the third and last of these inimitable
papers. Talk no longer of the Glentworth papers—
the indictment papers take the rag off the bush en-
tirely. So exquisite are they, that we should not be
surprised to see some poetic genius transfuse the
whole into poetry, and give them to fame and to eter-
nity at once. In the meantime, we shall call upon
the next Grand Jury to indict the whole Wall street
press, for a worse contempt upon Ex Recorder
Morris.
Seriously, however, these indictments have pro-
duced such a singular effect upon the community,
that the “Evening Star,” Noah's old paper, for
which he yet writes, has to come to his rescue, and
try to give a tragic air to this curious farce. But it
will be seen that its terrible, violent, foolish tirade,
in only a re-hash of the old falsehoods and libels
which Noah published in the same paper last year.
There is not one word of truth in this tirade, from be-
ginning to end. We could enter into details, but it is
useless and unnecessary. The weak attempt to get
up indictments on such flimsy charges, cannot be
propped up by a whole column of libels. This is the
fourth, the last, and the cheapest edition of the
“moral war,” to put the Herald down—the mana-
ger's last kick, and it will end as that did.
================================================================
[Col.6]
☞ TO THE PUBLIC.—The testimony elicited on
the trial of the undersigned, and the verdict of a jury upon
that testimony, is before the public, and she has no objection,
if correctly reported, that they should stand side by side, for
the judgement of the public. That the undersigned is will-
ing, unshrinkingly to abide the issue, was in evidence on
the trial; that all overtures and proposals made to her to
compound with the witnesses for the prosecution to induce
them to absent themselves, &c., were spurned; and the pub-
lic, perhaps, may be aware, that important principles of evi-
dence and law are involved, to be adjudicated upon by the
highest competent tribunals of the country, which may
completely reverse the aspect in the premises. She in-
dulges the hope that, as the whole matter will be carried up
before another and higher court, the public will await the
decision of the courts of appeal.
MADAME RESTELL,
jy23 1t* Female Physician, 148 Greenwich st., N. Y.
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.6]
THE RESTELL'S CASE.—The counsel for Madame Res-
tell are engaged in preparing a bill of exceptions, for the
purpose of carrying this case up to the Supreme Court,
and if necessary to the Court for the Correction of
Errors, in order to test the admissibility of the deposition
of the witness Purdy. There are also other questions in-
volved in this controversy, which will come up before a
Court of Review, so that plenty of work is cut out for the
District Attorney and his coadjutor before the trial will
amount to anything.
================================================================
[Col.2]
MADAME RESTELL, has been found guilty in her
late trial for producing the death of Mrs. Purdy.—
Madame Restell was a celebrated female physician in
New York, who lent her aid to attain the most dis-
graceful results. She will now soon receive her re-
ward.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE ELYSIAN FIELDS.—Hitherto Hoboken has on the 4th
of July been pretty much used up for the season; but this
year it grows greener and fresher with each succeeding sun
and shower. Hundreds, who have hitherto gone into the
Country during the dog-days, this year stay at home, enjoy
its comforts, and add those of the Country to them by spend-
ing now a morning and then an afternoon at 'green Hoboken,'
and taking their lemonade amid the deep, delicious shades
surrounding Castle Point. In this way, they enjoy the plea-
sures and health-bearing breezes of the Country without pur-
chasing them at the dear rate of sweating over dusty roads,
up rugged steeps, in shackling vehicles, eating food that the
dog would not touch at home, and sleeping in temporary
quartes that do not bear to be thought of. The change is a
judicious one, and we commend the example to others.
———
…
———
DEATHS IN NEW-YORK.—The City Inspector reports the
deaths of 192 persons during the week ending Saturday last
—29 from Consumption, 29 Cholera Infantum, 21 Convul-
sions, 8 of Dropsies, 5 of Diarrhoea, 6 Drowned, 3 of Scarlet
Fever, 9 of other fevers, 8 Inflammation of the Brain, 15
of other Inflammations, 13 of Marasmus, 6 Small Pox, and 3
of Suicide. 66 were under 1 year of age, 63 were under 20;
none over 80. 146 were natives of the United States; 35 of
Ireland, 9 of other countries, 3 unknown.
================================================================
[Col.1]
On Sunday evening, during the thunder shower,
the house of Mr. Stuart D. Howe, in Thirty-sixth
street, near Eighth Avenue, was struck by the
lightning, which tore up several of the shingles of
the roof of the house, but did not communicate fire
to the building. Several individuals in the house
were stunned by the shock. Mr. Howe saw the
ball of fire descend from the clouds, which in an
instant disappeared on reaching the ground. A
gentleman in the upper part of the house was
thrown from his chair, but not injured.
[Col.4]
DREADFUL EFFECTS BY LIGHTNING.—During a
thunder storm on Thursday evening last, the house
of a Mr. Armstrong, on Wrightsville Sound, about
eight miles from town, was struck by lightning.
Mr. Armstrong, his wife and three or four children,
who were all on the lower floor, were laid prostrate
in a state of insensibility. Mrs. A. was the first
to recover. On looking about she found that one
of her children, a boy about twelve years of age,
was dead, and her husband so badly hurt as to be
helpless. It is doubtful now if he will live. Three
children abed in the garret room were uninjured.
A horse standing near the house and a hog under it
were also killed by the same shock.—Wilmington
Chronicle, 21st inst.
...
KILLED BY LIGHTNING.—During a heavy thun-
der storm on Tuesday of last week, Mr. James
Tolly, living on Spring Creek, was struck dead by
the lightning. His wife was also seriously injured
at the same time, but has since recovered.—Spring-
field (Ill.) Register.
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ The Free Circulating Advertiser has chosen to make war up-
on us most scurrilously and falsely. We did not know that this Ad-
vertiser had any thing to do with the authorship of that atrociously
blasphemous and filthy article entitled “Fanny Divine and the
Sculptor,” when it arrested our attention in The Sun. We spoke of
that article and The Sun's agency in circulating it as they deserved;
and for this the Advertiser (which we had never mentioned,) falls
foul of us, and basely accuses us of advertising Mad. Restell's medi-
cines, because we allowed a person on whose conduct we had severely
commented, and who had been convicted of misdemeanor, to request
through our columns a suspension of the public judgement upon her case
until her application for a new trial should be decided on. Could we
have decently refused this poor privilege to the vilest human being?
—But what had this to do with advertising her medicines? And yet
for admitting this Card, the Advertiser basely charges us with “advo-
cacy and support of Madame Restell!”—After this, who will wonder
at the impudent standing lie of that paper that it prints and circulates
“Ten Thousand Copies Daily?” Why not say 100,000 at once?
================================================================
[Col.5]
[Reported for the New York American.]
An inquest was held on the 16th instant, on the pre-
mises of William Stanton at New Durham, Hudson
county, New Jersey, by Justice Merritt, of Hoboken
on the body of Michael Burke* a native of Ireland, who
came to his death by the effect of a teapot thrown at his
head by one Timothy Mooney, also a native of Ireland,
which, from evidence, as well as from the decision of
the Jury, was not done with intent to take life. Verdict
accordingly.
Also, by Justice Merritt, at Castle Point, Hoboken,
on the evening of the 28th of July, on the body of Mary
C. Rogers, late of No. 126 Nassau street, New York,
who, from the decision of the Jury, came to her death by
evident signs of violence on her body, committed by
some person or persons unknown to the Jury, sufficient
to cause death. The deceased, from evidence, has been
absent from her home in New York since some time on
Sunday last, and appears to have borne an irreproacha-
ble character. Her body was found in the river, where
it was supposed to have been thrown, after the despe-
rate act of violence was committed.
* Name not known at the time, consequently the de-
lay of the report.
================================================================
[Col.6. More in Tribune]
COURT OF SESSIONS, July 20.—The case of Mad-
am Restell closed in her conviction on the third and
fourth counts of the indictment, which charge the
procurement of abortion with instruments. The
Court charged that the two first counts were not sup-
ported. It occupied the Jury only five minutes to
decide upon a verdict. Motion was made by pris-
oner's counsel that the sentence should be suspended
until the August term; and the Court so ordered.
In conducting this case the counsel on both sides
have shown great legal skill and industry; and the
court has evinced s leniency to the prisoner which
leaves her on no ground to complain. The husband
appears to have suffered as much by the evidence,
nearly, as Madam Restell, for evidence was addu-
ced that he has made distinct overtures to Madam to
go out of town, and withhold his witnesses for a
consideration.
================================================================
[Col.6]
MADAME RESTELL,
F EMALE PHYSICIAN, residence 148 Greenwich street,
where she can be consulted with the strictest confidence,
and where also her celebrated medicines can be obtained.
N. B. All letters must be post paid and addressed to box 868
New York. Medicines forwarded by mail. jy30 1w*
================================================================
[Col.6. As in American]
INQUESTS AT HOBOKEN.—An inquest was held
on the 16th instant, on the premises of William Stan-
ton, at New Durham, Hudson county, New Jersey,
by Justice Merritt, of Hoboken, on the body of
Michael Burke, a native of Ireland, who came to
his death by the effect of a teapot thrown at
his head by one Timothy Mooney, also a native of
Ireland, which, from evidence, as well as from
the decision of the Jury, was not done with in-
tent to take life. Verdict accordingly.— Also, by
Justice Merritt, at Castle Point, Hoboken, on
the evening of the 28th of July, on the body of Mary
C. Rogers, late of No. 126 Nassau street, New
York, who, from the decision of the Jury, came to
her death by evident signs of violence on her body,
committed by some person or persons unknown to
the Jury, sufficient to cause death. The deceased,
from evidence, has been absent from her home in
New York since some time on Sunday last, and
appears to have borne an irreproachable character.
Her body was found in the river, where it was
supposed to have been thrown, after the desperate
act of violence was committed.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Saturday Morning, July 31, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
The body of a man drifted ashore on the point of
Coney Island, on Wednesday last. He had been in
the water but a short time, is about 35 years of age,
about 5 feet 7 inches high, sandy hair, no whiskers.
His skull was broken in, and it appeared to have
been done by a blunt instrument. He had on a blue
coat, pantaloons, boots, black vest, and white shirt,
all new and fine.
================================================================
[Col.2]
A HORRIBLE MURDER.—On Sunday morning week, Miss
Cecilia Rogers, (who formerly attended John Anderson's
Tobacco Store in Broadway, and was known as 'The beauti-
ful Cigar Girl,') left her home, 126 Nassau-st., for a walk;
and at the corner of Theatre Alley she was met and accosted
by a young man, apparently an acquaintance, with whom she
proceeded toward Barclay-st. as if for an excursion to Hobo-
ken. Nothing farther was heard of her that day by her
friends; and, alarmed by her non-appearance, they advertised
for her in Tuesday's papers. Still nothing was seen or heard
of her till Wednesday, when Mr. H. G. Luther and two other
gentlemen, who were passing the Sybil's Cave, near Castle
Point, Hoboken, in a sail-boat, were shocked by the sight of
the body of a young female in the water. They brought it
ashore, a Coroner's Inquest was summoned, and it was proved
to be the body of Miss Rogers, and it was evident that she
had been horribly outraged and murdered! The Inquest re-
turned a verdict of Murder by some person or persons un-
known.
We understand that the deceased was a young woman of
good character, and was soon to have been married to a
worthy young man of this City. It is added that suspicion
rests on a young man who has absented himself from the City
since the murder was committed.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
POLICE—Saturday and Sunday—The torrents of
rain which poured down on Saturday proved rather a
damper to roguery, for with the exception of one
angle came of petit larceny, that day passed off with
...
They were pursued, arrested, taken to the Tombs,
and at once committed for trial.
Coroner's Office.—The coroner on Saturday held an
inquest on the body of Wm. Henry Plume, a native
of New Jersey, age 25, who was found in the North
River near 17th street. The deceased had been at
the fire on Wednesday night, and started thence to
go down on board the Providence boat, but in sup-
posed he fell into the river by mistake. Verdict, ac-
cidentally drowned.
On Sunday last, Miss Mary Ann Rogers, a beau-
tiful and estimable young lady, whose mother re-
sides at No. 126 Nassau street, left her home for the
purpose of going to church, as she stated. As she
did not return at night, great anxiety was felt for her,
but notwithstanding the most vigorous efforts they
failed to hear any thing from her until Wednesday
last. On that day, her body was found floating near
the Sybil's Cave at Hoboken, and with every ap-
pearance of having undergone the most brutal treat-
ment, and afterwards murdered. The coroner's jury
who sat there upon the body, returned a verdict of
wilful murder against some person, or persons, un-
known, and prompt steps have been taken to arrest
one young man upon whom suspicion strongly
fastens, but who has absented himself very sudden-
ly. It is most earnestly to be hoped that the perpe-
trator of this most diabolical outrage and murder
should be discovered, and we trust that our authori-
ties will offer such a substantial reward as shall sti-
mulate the efforts of our vigilant officers.
================================================================
[Col.6]
City Intelligence.
Saturday, July 31.
...
CORONER'S OFFICE.—An inquest was held on Saturday
on the body of William Henry Plugh, aged 25. It ap-
peared that the deceased was a native of New Jersey,
and worked on board of steamboats. On Wednesday
night he went with a friend to the fire in Desbrosses
street, being a little the worse for liquor. While at the
fire he worked with one of the engine companies and his
friend could not get him away from that exciting amuse-
ment and left him there. Plugh was to have slept that
night on board the steamer Providence, but did not, and
was not heard of until Friday night, when his body was
found in the North River with a cut across the lower
jaw. After a patient investigation, it was the opinion of
the Jury, that the deceased was accidentally drowned
while endeavoring to get on board the steamer. A ver-
dict was therefore recorded in accordance with those
facts.
Sunday, August 1.
...
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS AT HOBOKEN.—We be-
lieve no clue has yet been had to the perpetrators of this
deed of violence, by which a young and beautiful girl
has been seduced from her home and murdered within
hail of this very populous place. The city was full of
rumors yesterday, got up for the basest and most merce-
nary matters, but on inquiry in quarters likely to be well
informed, we could not find that any of these catchpenny
stories had the least foundation in truth. Some persons
even went so far as to say, that a young gentleman well
known in the fashionable world, had been arrested at a
brothel and had confirmed his guilt to one of the New
York Police, but this, like the other on dits, proved to be
a mere fabrication. Another story afloat was, that the
services of the city Police have been for some days in
requisition, and in order to ensure the arrest of a suspect-
ed person, when in point of fact our vigilant Police were
ignorant of the fatal occurrence until yesterday.
================================================================
[Col.5. A changed copy from Courier]
On Sunday, the 25th July, Miss Mary Ann Ro-
gers, a beautiful and estimable young lady, whose
mother resides at No. 126 Nassau street, left her
home for the purpose of going to church as she
stated. As she did not return at night, great anxi-
ety was felt for her, but notwithstanding the most
vigorous efforts they failed to hear any thing from
her until Wednesday last. On that day, her body
was found floating near the Sybil's Cave at Hobo-
ken, and with every appearance of having under-
gone the most brutal treatment, and afterwards
murdered. The coroner's jury who sat there upon
the body, returned a verdict of wilful murder a-
gainst some person, or persons, unknown, and
prompt steps have been taken to arrest one young
man upon whom suspicion strongly fastens, but who
has absented himself very suddenly. It is most
earnestly to be hoped that the perpetrator of this
most diabolical outrage and murder should be dis-
covered, and we trust our authorities will offer such
a substantial reward as shall stimulate the efforts of
our vigilant officers.—Courier.
———————
...
DEATH BY LIGHTNING.—Cornelius V. Seger was
struck by lightning on Sunday evening last, about 5
o'clock. The deceased was standing in his house,
(nearly opposite the residence of Captain Lewis
Bissell, on the bank of the Mississippi river, above
the city limits,) when the lightning entered through
the top of the house and struck him on the head,
and passed down his body, burning some parts of his
clothing, and killing him instantly.—St. Louis
Republican.
================================================================
[Col.4]
The Late Murder of a Young Girl at Ho-
boken.
It is now well ascertained that the unfortunate
young girl, named Mary Rogers, (who three years
ago, lived with Anderson, the cigar man) has been
cruelly murdered at Hoboken. Nothing of so horri-
ble and brutal a nature has occurred since the murder
of Miss Sands, which murder formed the basis of the
story of Norman Leslie. This young girl, Mary
Rogers, was missing from Anderson's store, three
years ago, for two weeks. It is asserted that she
was then seduced by an officer of the U. S. Navy,
and kept at Hoboken for two weeks. His name is
well known on board his ship.
Be that as it may, the mother of Mary kept a re-
spectable boarding house, for the last two years, at
126 Nassau st. Here Mary lived ever since the
house was opened, and was the main stay of her
mother. She did all the marketing, and conducted
herself with the utmost propriety. She has not
been at Anderson's hole for nearly two years.—
On Sunday sen'night, she left her mother's purposing
to go to church with the children of her aunt, who
lives in Greenwich street. As all the family were
out of town, the aunt does not know whether she
called there or not. The next time she was heard
of was on Wednesday last, when she was found
dead,—murdered,—near the Sybil's cave, at Hobok-
en. It now remains for the mayor of New York and
Jersey cities to do their duties.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Under our Police head, we yesterday reported the
murder of a young lady of this city, at Hoboken.—
There are circumstances connected with this bloody
deed of unusual atrocity, and we are therefore indu-
ced to call public attention more pointedly to it, than
in our wont with the crimes, of which unfortunately
this city, like all large cities, is so often the theatre.
The unfortunate girl, as far as we can learn, was of
blameless character, but was induced, probably in a
thoughtless moment, to accompany a young man to
Hoboken, where she was decoyed to a secluded spot,
violated and murdered. This could not have been
the act of one; it must have been committed by
more; it has every appearance of having been concert-
ed, and thus almost stands unparallelled among the
deeds of blood of which we read.
It seems incredible that men could deliberately plan
and commit a murder for such a motive, yet the facts
inevitably lead to the conclusion that this is one of
those unnatural instances of horrid crime, which sets
all reason at defiance. Ten days have now elapsed
since its commission; hitherto the tracks of its fero-
cious perpetrators have not been discovered, and the
blood of the hapless female will probably pass unre-
venged, unless the public authorities evince more than
ordinary activity. It would seem impossible that
their vigilance should sleep on an occasion which so
loudly calls for its exercise as this, yet we much fear
that unless some strong inducements are offered, the
diabolical crime will pass undetected.
Whilst writing, we receive the following letter from
the Coroner of Hoboken:
For the Courier and Enquirer.
COL. WEBB:—In consequence of the great, though
just excitement prevailing in this community, relative
to the mysterious and desperate murder of Mary C.
ROGERS, at Hoboken, and in answer, once for all, to
the many inquiries addressed to me, concerning this
most wretched tragedy, I must say, that it is far from
my duty as a Magistrate to give information, or to
answer questions of idle curiosity. On the other
hand, I deem it the duty of every individual that has
the least regard for the well being of society, possess-
ing any knowledge in the matter, to furnish me with
all the facts (however remote they may be,) relative
to her absence and her murder.
In the mean time, I will assure any one, giving
me information, that their communications shall be
held sacred and confidential, until after an interview,
or until restriction is withdrawn.
With respect Sir, Yours,
GILBERT MERRITT,
August 2nd, 1841. of Hoboken.
N. B. The character of MARY C. ROGERS, was
proved on the inquest, (by respectable witnesses,) to
be irreproachable—any published slander to the con-
trary, notwithstanding.
================================================================
================================================================
THE LONG-ISLAND FARMER, AND QUEENS COUNTY ADVERTISER.
Tuesday, August 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3. From Tribune]
A HORRIBLE MURDER.—On Sunday morning
...
committed.—N. Y. Tribune, August 2.
================================================================
================================================================
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Tuesday Afternoon, August 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5. From Tribune]
A HORRIBLE MURDER.—On Sunday morning
...
der was committed.—[N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.3]
COURT OF SESSIONS, August 3.—Before the Judge Noah, and
Alderman Williams.
...
In the case of Madame Restell, her counsel having prepared
a bill of exceptions, which, having been certified to as contain-
ing probable cause of error by a judicial magistrate, and having
been allowed and filed, the case will be carried up to the Su-
preme Court, for revision and re-adjudication. Adj.
——
[Col.4]
ARREST UPON SUSPICION OF MURDER.—Two young men
were yesterday arrested by officer A. M. C. Smith, and taken
before the Mayor, on suspicion of having been concerned in the
murder of Miss Rogers at Hoboken. Nothing appearing, how-
ever, to implicate them in the guilt of the transaction, they were
discharged.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
POLICE—Tuesday.
Nothing new has been developed, tending to un-
ravel the mystery which hangs about the fate of the
unfortunate girl, Mary C. Rogers, whose dreadful
end has been already chronicled.
Mr. Justice Merritt, of Hoboken, came to this city
yesterday to consult with our Mayor and Police Ma-
gistrates upon the best means of detecting, if possi-
ble, the perpetrators of this dreadful outrage, but we
could not learn that any immediate success was an-
ticipated. Blank warrants signed by Justice Merritt,
of New Jersey, and countersigned by our acting
Mayor, Ald. Purdy, have been left in this city, to be
used as occasion may require. The main difficulty
now existing, is the fact that the identity of the per-
son, with whom the unfortunate girl was last seen,
cannot be sufficiently made out to warrant positive
proceedings, and it is hoped that any persons having
any information which may aid the authorities in
their efforts to bring the guilty to punishment, will
come forward at once and give it.
As some of the papers in this city seem to have
forgotten that de mortuis nil nisi bonum should guide
them now, it is due to the memory of the unfortunate
girl to state that several gentlemen gave evidence be-
fore the Coroner's Jury that she was in every re-
spect an estimable girl.
Two young men were arrested yesterday by officer
A. M. C. Smith, on suspicion of being concerned in
the murder, but as there was no ground to warrant
their detention they were subsequently discharged.
It remains now for our authorities, and others more
directly interested, to offer such rewards as shall
arouse our officers to use all their efforts to discover
the murderers.
Officer Tappan yesterday brought up four young
market loafers, who had been detected in stealing a
pocket book, containing $37 in money and about $100
worth of pledge tickets, from a woman who keeps a
birds stand in the Washington market. Two or three
of the gang (for these young scamps work in gangs)
managed to engage the owner's attention, and while
thus employed, some one more adroit than the rest,
made off with her pocket book. They are remanded
for examination.
A man, apparently a German, who was either ex-
cessively stupid, or excessively tipsey, was brought
in last evening by some citizens, whose limbs and
lives he had endangered by driving on the side walk
in Pearl, near Fulton street. After a severe admoni-
tion from the sitting magistrate, he was discharged,
with a caution not to attempt such feats of horse-
manship again.
Two or three very small larcenies filled up the ba-
lance of the day; and beyond those, nothing at all
occurred worthy of mention.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE HOBOKEN MURDER.—There were a number of
gossipping rumors and much twaddle afloat again yes-
terday, respecting the perpetrators of this horried deed.
It would be worse than useless to give currency to
these mercenary lies, and therefore we refrain from ei-
ther repeating or revamping them. We know, on the
authority of a gentleman who went twice yesterday to
the residence of Gilbert Merritt, the Coroner and Ma-
gistrate of Hoboken, that nobody is in detention on that
side the water and it is equally certain that no person is in
custody here, although two young men were taken before
Elijah F. Purdy, Esq. yesterday on some pretence or
other, but discharged. Blank warrants, bearing the
signature of Judge Merritt, of Hoboken, have been for-
warded to the acting Mayor of this city, and by him en-
dorsed, in case suspicion should alight upon any indivi-
dual. We know this is a dangerous if not an illegal re-
sponsibility for a magistrate to assume, but the emer-
gency will go far in extenuation at the bar of public opi-
nion. It is satisfactory also to know that the warrants
thus endorsed in blank have been confided to the care
and custody of a magistrate, in whose hands they are
safe. From the time which has now elapsed since the
perpetration of this daring murder, we fear that it will
ever remain clouded in impenetrable mystery.
[Col.4]
The Murder of Mary Rogers at Hoboken—
Crowds Visiting the Scene.
The excitement which prevails in this city and in
Hoboken, relative to the bloody and mysterious mur-
der of Mary Rogers—the crowds daily hurrying to
the Sybil's Cave, to look on the scene of the deed,
and the shore where her body was first discovered—
are beginning to rouse the attention of the public au-
thorities to this foul outrage upon a civilized com-
munity. The coroner at Hoboken is even waked
up, and has published the following curious note:—
COL. WEBB:—In consequence of the great, though just
excitement prevailing in this community, relative to the
mysterious and desperate murder of Mary C. Rogers, at
Hoboken, and in answer, once for all, to the many inqui-
ries addressed to me, concerning this most wretched tra-
gedy, I must say, that it is far from my duty as a magis-
trate to give information, or to answer questions of idle
curiosity. On the other hand, I deem it the duty of eve-
ry individual that has the least regard for the well being
of society, possessing any knowledge in the matter, to
furnish me with all the facts (however remote they may
be,) relative to her absence and her murder.
In the mean time, I will assure any one, giving me in-
formation, that their communications shall be held sa-
cred and confidential, until after an interview, or until
restriction is withdrawn.
With respect, sir, yours,
GILBERT MERRITT,
August 2nd, 1841. of Hoboken.
How utterly ridiculous is all this! It is now near-
ly a week since the dead body of this beautiful and
unfortunate girl had been discovered, and yet no
other steps have been taken by the judicial authori-
ties, than a brief and inefficient inquest by Gilbert
Merritt. One of the most heartless and atrocious
murders that was ever perpetrated in New York, is
allowed to sleep the sleep of death—to be buried in
the deep bosom of the Hudson.
The murder of this girl must have been a horrible
affair. It was late in the afternoon of last Thursday,
that we were taking a walk along the sea shore, in
Hoboken, towards that beautiful promontory where
the Sybil's Cave pours forth its cool waters to lave
the parched lip of youth. It was a little before sun-
set. The last beams of day were struggling through
the groves above the high cliffs, and shedding a rosy
light across the broad Hudson, to New York. We
met several groups of people coming down. A man
stepped up—“Sir, there is a woman murder-
red up yonder.” “A woman found murdered!—
Where? who?” “I do not know who she is. You
will find the poor creature's corpse just beyond the
point and the cave. “Let us go—let us,” said our
companion.
We proceeded in the direction. The walk is
beautiful. On the left are the steep marble cliffs,
bare in most places, and overhung with deep green
trees of the forest. On the right, the waves of the
Hudson, rippling up the shore with a gentle murmur.
Beyond the promontory, about half way to the Ely-
sian Fields, there is a green bank that the tide em-
braces up to the edge, at high water. Here, after
jumping down from the bank, groups would stop a
while, stoop over the remains of Mary Rogers, and
pass along. When we saw her, she was laying on
the bank on her back, with a rope around her, and
a large stone attached to it, flung in the water. The
first look we had of her, was most ghastly. Her
forehead and face appeared to have been battered
and butchered to a mummy. Her features were
scarcely visible, so much violence had been done to
her. On her head she wore a bonnet—light gloves
on her hands, with the long watery fingers peering
out—her dress was torn in various portions—her shoes
were on her feet—and altogether, she presented the
most horrible spectacle that eye could see. It al-
most made our heart sick, and we hurried from the
scene, while a rude youth was raising her leg, which
hung in the water, and making unfeeling remarks on
her dress.
We hastened from the scene. The coroner's jury
was held afterwards, and the result is known.
Since that day, the crowds flocking to Hoboken
have been immense, and the legends circulated have
been innumerable. Only a few days ago, it is sta-
ted that a poor young man committed suicide, in
the woods above the Elysian Fields. The other day
a man fired a pistol on his wife, who barely escaped
with a deep laceration. All the unfortunate beings
that crowd a large city, seem to go to Hoboken to
get red of their sorrows, or rid of their lives. The
beauty of its groves—the picturesqueness of its cliffs
and creeks—the deep mystery of its wild woods
seem to charm all unfortunates to find their solace
there. It was but the other evening, that, while
wandering ourself under the frowning cliff, with the
big, bright, broad moon, just rising over New York,
and tipping with silver her spires and steeples, that
a poor youth accosted us—“Gentleman, will you
give money to pay my ferriage? I can find now work,
nor have I any thing to eat.”
We have not heard where Mary Rogers has been
buried.
================================================================
[Col.3]
[Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.]
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—Notwithstanding the
vigorous efforts of the authorities here and in New-
Jersey, we regret to state that no clue has as yet been
discovered to the perpetrators of this dreadful tragedy.
The two young men who were arrested here have
been examined and nothing being elicited to warrant
their detention, they were discharged. Justice Mer-
ritt, of Hoboken, caused a young man in Jersey City
to be arrested on suspicion, but after a tedious and
protracted examination he was discharged on Tuesday
night.
Justice Merritt has addressed a letter to Governor
Pennington, of New-Jersey, and there is no doubt
that he will at once offer a suitable reward for the de-
tection of the murderers. Our Mayor is only await-
ing the action of Gov. Pennington in the premises,
as he conceives that the first offer of a reward should
come from him.
In a conversation with Dr. Cook, of Hoboken, we
learned that the body of the unfortunate girl showed
evident marks that the most brutal violence had been
resorted to, one of her wrists having been clasped so
tightly, as to leave a mark as of a rope. There were
besides other marks and bruises, showing that the
poor girl had fallen into the hands of some worse than
brutes. It is now generally supposed that the de-
ceased was thrown from the cliff near the Sybil's
Cave, and that the marks on her face were not made
by fists, as was at first supposed, but by coming in
contact with the rocks in her fall.
As the public mind is generally and justly excited
on this subject, we have transcribed and annex here-
with the main part of the evidence adduced before the
Coroner's Jury, suppressing only such portions as
would, by being made public, interfere with the ends
of justice.
Since writing the above, officers John Davis and
Colvin have arrested a young man (whose name it is
not necessary to mention,) on suspicion of being con-
cerned in the murder. He was examined, but imme-
diately sent on board the U. S. ship North Carolina,
on board which ship he enlisted the day the body was
found, there being no evidence to warrant his deten-
tion.
JULY 28th, 1841—8 o'clock, P. M.
An inquisition taken at Castle Point, Hoboken, on
the body of a female, found fastened by a rope and
stone, near the shore—by a jury of thirteen men
duly summoned and qualified by Gilbert Merritt, a
Justice of the Peace—
When Alfred Cromeline, was duly sworn, saith,
that he recognises the deceased, and was well ac-
quainted with her. That her name is Mary C. Rogers,
a resident of No. 126 Nassau street, New York. That
he has known her for a considerable time—having
boarded in her mother's house about six months—
while deceased was the officiating manager of the
family and the main support of an infirm and aged
mother—with the whole charge of conducting the
boarding house.
Cross-examined by the Justice. The deceased was
seldom in the habit of going out on the Sabbath, ex-
cept to church, and then, not frequently with young
men. Witness is unable to account for her being at
Hoboken on Sunday, the 25th of July, except
decoyed there by artifice. The deceased was
formerly much attached to a young man in New
York,—but has some time since discarded him.
I had no knowledge of her going to Hoboken on the
25th of July—was generally at home and domestic.
To whom was she attached? She was for some time
attached to Mr. *******, but for some time past has
rejected him, and is now attached to Mr. *******, to
whom it was supposed she would have been married.
The deceased has, during the whole time the witness
has known her, borne an irreproachable character for
chastity and veracity. She was amiable and pleas-
ing, and rather fascinating in her manners. Never
heard her virtue questioned in the least.
Archibald Padley being sworn, saith—The deceased
has a strong resemblance to and no doubt is Mary
C. Rogers; that he has boarded in the house with
Mary C. Rogers, No.126 Nassau street, New York;
that she was a worthy girl, of irreproachable charac-
ter, was attached—[similar to former witness]—had
heard that she was at Hoboken on Sunday, the 25th
of July, but has no knowledge of her associates or
company on that occasion; and that the deceased has
been absent since some time on Sunday last, which
has caused great anxiety and alarm in the family.
Has no knowledge of hostile feeling or ill-will on the
part of any one towards deceased. She was respect-
ed and much esteemed. Cross-exam. Cannot ac-
count for the cause of her absence or murder.
John Bertram, being sworn—first saw the body
between 3 and 4 o'clock, P. M. in the River, a short
distance from the shore. Was not acquainted with
the deceased—nor had he any knowledge of the mur-
der.
William Waller, being sworn—saith, that he first
saw the body about half past three o'clock, P.M.,
and caused it to be secured by a rope and stone, until
the Coroner or Justice could be seen. Cross-exam-
ined. Has no knowledge of the deceased—or the
cause of her murder.
Richard F. Cook—when it was proposed, that Doc-
tor Cook's testimony should be written out by him-
self—and that he, together with Abraham L. Van
Boskirck, two of the jurors, should particularly exam-
ine the whole body, and report the result of such ex-
amination to the inquest, which proposition was duly
accepted by the same, and after a reasonable time, the
deputation reported to the inquest—that “in the per-
formance of their duty, that from marks and bruises,
and * * * * * there were evident signs of the body
having been violated; that * * * * *; and that, the
bruises about the head and face, as well as * * *
* * was sufficient to cause death. * * * .” (a)
The verdict, as recorded, in the Clerk's office of the
county of Hudson, New Jersey. Signed by the
Magistrate and thirteen Jurors.
(a) Dr. Cook's written testimony is in the posses-
sion of the Justice, and can be seen by proper appli-
cants, and only such.
The testimony withheld, the magistrate deems
improper to publish.
================================================================
[Col.4]
ARRESTS ON SUSPICION OF MURDER.—Yesterday two young
men, who had been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in
or privy to the murder of Miss Rogers at Hoboken on Sunday
the 25th ult., were examined before Justice Matsell of the Po-
lice, in presence of Justice Gilbert—Merritt of Hudson Co., N.
J., the acting Coroner; and nothing whatever appearing against
them, they were discharge. Another young man, a seaman,
who formerly was acquainted with the deceased, was then arrest-
ed and examined; but nothing appearing to implicate him in any
way in the murder, he was also discharged.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Second Edition]
THE HOBOKEN EXCITEMENT.—The curiosity and
crowds still continue at Hoboken—and the name of
poor Mary Rogers is on every lip. During the pre-
sent moonlight, the Elysian Fields, Castle Point, the
Groves—the winding sea shores, are full of pic-nics—
parties—serenaders, and all sorts of things. Every
week, two or three of the fashionable Ladies' Board-
ing Schools, make an excursion to Hoboken, and
have a pic-nic in woods and groves.
———
[Col.5 / Col.6 in Second Edition]
City Intelligence.
...
THE MURDER AT HOBOKEN.—Three individuals were
yesterday arrested, charged with being concerned in the
atrocious murder of Mary C. Rogers. The grounds of
this arrest did not transpire, but the result of a private
examination, which was fixed for an hour subsequent to
the meeting of the Common Council, was the discharge
of all the accused.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Miss Mary Ann Rogers, well known as "the beau-
tiful cigar girl," who attended Anderson's cigar
shop on Broadway, New York, left her home on
Sunday for the purpose of going to church, as she
stated. She did not return, and two or three days
afterwards her body was found in the river, with
the appearance of having undergone brutal treat-
ment. The Coroner's jury returned a verdict of
wilful murder by some person unknown. Suspi-
cion rests upon a young man who has fled the city.
Miss Rogers is said to have been of good character
and was to have been married soon.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.6]
THE HOBOKEN MURDER.—Yesterday afternoon a fur-
ther examination was held before Justice Merritt and
Parker into the charge brought against the young man
who was suspected of participating in the murder of
Mary Rogers, from the fact of his having entered as a
seaman on board the U. S. ship North Carolina, and go-
ing to do his duty the next day. The circumstances
which are said to implicate this man, are first, that he is a
relation of John Anderson, the cigar man, and had boar-
ded with Mary's mother. He admits the knowing of
Mary, but says very frankly that the last time he saw
her was before he went to New Bedford. That he was
there the day the deed was committed, and returned to
this city on the 27th from Boston. The same day he
went to a shipping agent and said he wanted to ship. The
man said in reply something about it being impossible to
get a ship that night and the next day, which was the
28th, the accused went to the Rendezvous, and enlisted,
got his fit out, with his advance money, and went on
board the same afternoon. This is said to have been the
day the body was discovered, and because sailors do not
usually go to their duty until they have spent their ad-
vance money, this is taken as one very suspicious circum-
stance.
He denied ever taking Mary out, or having been in the
habit of going out with young men who did. He says
that he never asked her to go out, because he had a girl
whom he was attached to, and he took her out if he took
any one. He says that he always had enough of rowing
and sailing in boats when at sea or on service, and con-
sequently had no inclination to go on the river in boat-
ing excursions when on the shore. He did not go out in
any small boat on Sunday week, and he asserts that he
has not been to Hoboken at all for more than a year.
On the other hand, John R. Robinson, of 319 Water
street, the shipping agent and boarding house keeper, to
whom this young man applied for a ship on the 27th,
produces a pair of blue canvass trousers and a jack knife,
such as used by sailors, which Robinson says this young
man left behind him. These articles are said to be
stained with something, but with what it would be diffi-
cult to say.
Then again the appearance, deportment, and mode of
answering questions put to him, and the quiet manner
of this young fellow, are all in his favor. His eye does
not quail nor his cheek blanch while under examina-
tion, and it was the opinion of the police magistrate and
of the majority of the persons admitted to the examina-
tion, that there was no foundation for the charge. Being
of this opinion, we shall not publish his name, unless
there is something more adduced against him.
As to the other two young men who were arrested on
Wednesday, it is now confidently asserted that their ar-
rest was brought about by the basest and most malignant
means. If this is the case, it is to be hoped that the
grand jury will immediately present the cause thereof
to a public nuisance.
CORONER'S OFFICE.—An inquest was held at No. 330
Water street, on the body of Ellen Long, a native of Ire-
land, aged 32—had been an habitual drunkard for many
years, and died from the effects of her intemperate habits.
Verdict accordingly.
The Coroner was summoned in the afternoon, to the
loot of 16th street, and had not returned when our re-
porter left the Egyptian Tombs.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition, Friday, August 6, 1841, NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition, Friday, August 6, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2. The INQUEST is slightly different in Courier]
MURDER OF MARY ROGERS AT HOBOKEN.—This
awful atrocity still continues to be agitated among
all classes. The following is a report of the Coro-
ner's Inquest at Hoboken:—
INQUEST.
HOBOKEN, July 28th, 1841—8 o'clock P.M.
An inquisition taken at Castle Point, Hoboken, on the
body of a female, found fastened by a rope and stone,
near the shore—by a jury of thirteen men, duly sum-
moned and qualified, by Gilbert Merritt, a Justice of the
Peace—
When Alfred Cromeline, was duly sworn, saith, that
he recognises the deceased, and was well acquainted
with her. That her name is Mary C. Rogers, a resident
of No. 126 Nassau street, New York. That he has known
her for a considerable time—having boarded in her mo-
ther's house about six months—while deceased was the
officiating manager of the family, and the main support
of an infirm and aged mother—with the whole charge of
conducting the boarding house.
Cross-examined by the Justice. The deceased was
seldom in the habit of going out on the Sabbath, except
to church, and then, not frequently with young men.—
Witness is unable to account for her being at Hoboken
on Sunday, the 25th of July, except decoyed there by
artifice. The deceased was formerly much attached to a
young man in New York—but has some time since dis-
carded him. I had no knowledge of her going to Hobo-
ken on the 25th of July—was generally at home and do-
mestic. To whom was she attached? She was for some
time attached to Mr. *******, but for some time past has re-
jected him, and is now attached to Mr. *******, to whom
it was supposed she would have been married. The de-
ceased has, during the whole time the witness has known
her, borne an irreproachable character for chastity and
veracity. She was amiable and pleasing, and rather fas-
cinating in her manners. Never heard her virtue ques-
tioned in the least.
Archibald Padley being sworn, saith—The deceased
has a strong resemblance to, and no doubt is Mary C. Ro-
gers; that he has boarded in the house with Mary C. Ro-
gers, No.126 Nassau street, New York; that she was a
worthy girl, of irreproachable character, was attached—
[similar to former witness]—had heard that she was at
Hoboken on Sunday, the 25th of July, but has no know-
ledge of her associates or company on that occasion; and
that the deceased has been absent since some time on
Sunday last, which has caused great anxiety and alarm
in the family. Has no knowledge of hostile feeling or
ill-will on the part of any one toward the deceased. She
was respected and much esteemed.
Cross-examined—Cannot account for the cause of her
absence or murder.
John Bertram, being sworn—first saw the body be-
tween 3 and 4 o'clock, P. M. in the river, a short distance
from the shore. Was not acquainted with the deceased,
nor had he any knowledge of the murder.
William Waller, being sworn, saith—that he first saw
the body about half past three o'clock, P.M., and caused
it to be secured by a rope and stone, until the Coroner or
Justice could be seen.
Cross-examined—Has no knowledge of the deceased,
or the cause of her murder.
Richard F. Cook—when it was proposed, that Doctor
Cook's testimony should be written out by himself, and
that he, together with Abraham L. Van Boskirck, two of
the jurors, should particularly examine the whole body,
and report the result of such examination to the inquest,
which proposition was duly accepted by the same, and
after a reasonable time the deputation reported to
the inquest—that “in the performance of their duty, that
from marks and bruises, and * * * * * there were evident
signs of the body having been violated; that * * * * *; and
that, the bruises about the head and face, as well as * * *
* * was sufficient to cause death. * * * .”
The verdict, as recorded, in the Clerk's office of the
county of Hudson, New Jersey. Signed by the Magis-
trate and thirteen Jurors.
From this evidence it seems probable that after the
poor girl was violated, she was thrown from the high
cliffs near Castle Point, and thus precipitated into the
water. There must have been several to perpetrate
this foul outrage. Can no discovery be made of the
felons?
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ The terrible Murder of Miss Rogers excites daily a
deeper and wider interest in our city. Well may it do so.—
A young woman leaves her home on Sunday morning, and is
unheard of till the following Thursday, when she is found
horribly outraged and murdered at Hoboken. A week has
since passed, and no clue to the perpetrator of the awful
crime is yet found. Our police are now on the alert, but we
fear too late. What has the Mayor been doing? We hear
that he awaits the offer of a reward from the Governor of
New-Jersey before offering one himself. This is wrong.
The criminal, probably, no more than the victim, belonged to
New-Jersey; the offence strikes at the safety and peace of
the citizens of New-York.—Who saw Miss Rogers at Hobo-
ken on Sunday week? Will any one who did, and hesitates
to go before the Police, please address a note stating the
facts to this office?
———
[Col.3]
ARREST ON SUSPICION OF MURDER.—Yesterday a young
man, a seaman attached to one of our National vessels, was ta-
ken before Justice Parker of the Police for examination touch-
ing his participancy in or knowledge of the murder of Miss
Mary Cecilia Rogers. He was supposed to be the person
whom two gentlemen saw walking with Miss Rogers on Sun-
day afternoon or evening; but although he was well acquainted
with the unfortunate young lady, the two gentlemen, on seeing
him, said at once that he was not the man. After long and
critical interrogatories by the Magistrate, in which nothing to
implicate him was elicited—he was discharged. Mystery, there-
fore, still broods over this dark tragedy, though some of the
Police Officers are constantly on the alert to find out and arrest
the murderer. It is stated that the Governor of New-Jersey is
about to offer a reward for the discovery and arrest of the au-
thors of the bloody deed.
———
[Col.4.]
CORONER'S OFFICE.—The Coroner yesterday held an inquest
at 330 Water st. on the body of Ellen Long, a native of Ireland,
aged 32 years. The deceased was very intemperate, and had
indulged in excessive drink for a considerable time past. Her
husband left home on Wednesday morning and returned about
7 o'clock in the evening, when he found her stretched out on
the floor, entirely dead. Dr. W. S. Tompkins executed a post
mortem examination on the body and found the mucus coat of
the stomach, also the intestines much congested, as in cases of
confirmed intemperance, and from his advisory statement, the
jury found a verdict of died from intemperance.
Also, at the corner of 10th avenue and 16th street, on the
body of Robert Lynn, a native of Ireland, aged 31, a milkman
by occupation. The deceased, in a state of apparent health, on
Tuesday night at 11 o'clock retired to a hay loft in the 10th
avenue, where he was wont, in warm weather, to sleep, and
where he was found dead on Wednesday morning. Dr. W.
S. Tompkins made a post mortem examination, and from the
state of the brain, liver, heart, &c. deduced the opinion that the
deceased died of congestion of the brain and lungs. Verdict
accordingly.
Also, at the foot of Clarkson st. on the body of a dead infant:
found in the water at the foot of said street. Verdict, still born.
———
☞ Halls of Temperance.—At a meeting of the friends
of Temperance, held Wednesday evening, August 4th, at the building
formerly known as Masonic Hall, for the purpose of considering the
...
———
☞ An agreeable and healthy Recreation...
================================================================
[Col.2]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
POLICE.
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—The young man
from the North Carolina who was arrested on suspi-
cion of being concerned in this dreadful affair, was
yesterday brought up again before the Magistrates, it
having been supposed that he could be identified as
the person with whom the deceased was seen on
Sunday morning when she was last seen alive.
Several persons were there for that purpose, but
they failed to identify him, and he was sent again on
board the North Carolina.
The circumstances which led to his arrest, are
these: His brother (it is not deemed necessary to
mention their names) was engaged to, or addressing
the deceased, and as the accused was known to have
lived in the house, search was made for him, and he
was found on board the North Carolina, where he
had shipped on the 28th ult. (the day the body was
found) and contrary to the usual custom of sailors,
he was apparently very anxious to get on board the
ship, and was at once sent on board.
He underwent a pretty close examination by Justice
Parker, as to his habits, occupation and whereabouts,
for the last few weeks, to which he gave pretty fair
answers. He asserted that he had not seen the de-
ceased since the 3d of July, when he staid a short
time at her mother's house, and that so far from
being on intimate terms with her, he had never walk-
ed out with her in his life.
If anything should occur which will render his
presence again necessary, he can be readily found on
board ship, but it is the opinion of a gentleman at the
Halls of Justice, well versed in all the art of rogue
catching, that this person is entirely innocent.
...
Coroner's Office.—The Coroner, yesterday, held an
inquest on the body of Ellen Long, a native of Ire-
land, who died at No. 3?? Water street The de-
ceased had long been of intemperate habits, and a
post mortem examination made by Dr. William G.
Tompkins, warranted the finding of a verdict that
her death was caused by intemperance.
================================================================
================================================================
SCHENECTADY REFLECTOR. Friday Morning, August 6, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.2. From Tribune]
A HORRIBLE MURDER.—On Sunday morning
...
murder was committed.—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
================================================================
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Friday Afternoon, August 6, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6. A changed copy from Courier]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Notwith-
...
contact with the rocks in her fall.
Since writing the above, officers John Davis
...
evidence to warrant his detention.—[N. Y. Cour.
& Enq. of yesterday.
================================================================
[Col.4]
THE MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.—The in-
vestigations of the police are still going on with a
view of discovering the authors of the murder of
this young woman, whose body was found the other
day at Hoboken.
There is no probability, it appears to us, that
the crime was committed at Hoboken. It is not
likely that a girl like her, of good reputation and
modest manners, could have voluntarily remained
there to a late hour in the evening, and unless that
were the case, there could have been no opportuni-
ty of committing the murder without alarm and
discovery. It is more likely that she was decoyed
into some of the retreats of infamy in this city,
places of surer concealment than any to be found
at Hoboken, that she was there violated and mur-
dered, her body thrown into the river, and after-
wards washed to the Hoboken shore. The testi-
mony given at the Coroner's inquest, the whole of
which is not of a nature to publish, establishes, in
the strongest manner, the purity of the girl's char-
acter, and adds to the horror of the deed which
has been committed. We find the following para-
graph in the Express of this morning:
ARREST ON SUSPICION OF MURDER.—A young
sea faring man, belonging to one of the United
States vessels here, was yesterday arrested and ta-
ken before Justice Parker, of the Police Office, for
examination, touching his participating in, or
knowledge of the death, by murder, of Mary Ceci-
lia Rogers. He was a former acquaintance of the
young lady, and was supposed to be person
who was seen in her company on the afternoon of
her death. Two gentlemen who had seen the lat-
ter, on seeing the prisoner, said at once he was not
the man—and after a long and critical examination
by the magistrate he was discharged, to return on
board his ship. The affair is still enveloped in
mystery; but the officers, or some of them at least,
are continually on the alert to discover and arrest
the murderer if possible. It is understood that
Governor Pennington is about to offer a reward for
the discovery and arrest of the murderer.
———
THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.—
A writer in the July number of the Westminister
Review seems to think that rail roads and the steam
engine were known to the ancient Egyptians, to say
nothing of other arts which they possessed, and
which we have not yet recovered. For example:
...
———
INQUESTS.—The Coroner yesterday held an in-
quest at No. 330 Water street, on the body of Ellen
...
Wednesday morning, and when he returned, about
5 o'clock, P. M. he found her stretched out on the
floor, dead. Dr. W. S. Tompkins made a post mor-
...
—Journal of Commerce.
================================================================
[Col.2]
SPEED.—A train of cars on the London and Birmingham
Railroad recently performed the distance of 112½ miles in
two hours and fifty-seven minutes.
———
...
———
SEVERE SENTENCE.—A negro named Lyttleton has been
sentenced, at New-Orleans, to receive seventy-five lashes
upon his bare back, and to wear an iron collar with THREE
PRONGS around his neck for three months, for striking a white
man! Since the late rumor of an attempt at insurrection,
the people of New-Orleans have been very much incensed
against the blacks, and seem determined to proceed with
needless severity against those who offend.
———
...
———
THE FEMALE SAILOR.—We have some farther particulars
in relation to the female who was for several days on board
the Algonquin in the disguise of a boy. She resided about
ten miles from Glasgow, Scotland, and according to her own
account, was treated so harshly by a step-father that she de-
termined at any and every risk to leave the country. She
started from home with but little money and few clothes.
The latter she sold and obtained a boy's suit. She was in
Liverpool several days looking out for a vessel, and during
the whole time readily succeeeded in deceiving those with
whom she came in contact as to her true character. She
got on board the Algonquin without the knowledge of her
officers, and did not make her appearance until the vessel
was fully under way. She then presented herself, and said
she had been a drummer in a Scotch regiment, and was treat-
ed with such severity that she determined to make her escape.
For the first few days she mingled freely with the sailors,
and once or twice slept in a berth with one without the slight-
est suspicion on his part as to the sex of his companion. In-
deed, she is described as decorous in her manner, modest in
her deportment, and exceedingly anxious to avoid any thing
improper, either in language or in action. At home, she
was employed as a housemaid at a shilling per week. Sev-
eral persons who have conversed with her, state that the im-
pression made by her answers and deportment was quite fa-
vorable. She is not handsome, but has a healthy appear-
ance, with a frank, good-humored face. No love story is
connected with her adventure. She has already obtained
employment in a respectable family in this city, and appears
delighted with her situation. On shipboard she went aloft
several times, and was nimble, active and fearless. She had
no clothes whatever but the dress she wore. Capt. Turley's
conduct to her, while on board, was humane and praisewor-
thy throughout. [Philadelphia Inquirer.
[Col.3]
IMPRISONMENT OF VAGRANTS.
OPINION OF THE COURT OF SESSIONS.
The summary Imprisonment of dissolute and vicious per-
sons by our Police Justices under a general charge of Va-
grancy had deservedly attracted much attention from the Bar
and the Public. On the one hand, it has been claimed as
necessary to the preservation of Morality and Order; on the
other, denounced as dangerous to personal liberty. It must
be obvious to all that such a process is liable to the grossest
abuses, and ought to be very carefully guarded; while, as a
prop to Public Morals, it seems to us exceedingly imper-
fect and unsafe one.
A case of this kind came up before the Court of Sessions
yesterday, in which, after hearing, Judge LYNCH delivered
the Opinion of the Court, as follows:
COURT OF SESSIONS—In the matter of Melinda Hoag, on Habeas
Corpus. Opinion of Judge Lynch.
The prisoner is brought before me on a Habeas Corpus directed to
the keeper of the City Prison, to which he has returned that he de-
tains her by virtue of a commitment which is in the words following:
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, SS.—By George W. Matsell, Esq.,
one of the Special Justices for preserving the peace in the City of
New-York, to the Constables and Marshals of the said City, and every
of them, and to the Keeper of the Penitentiary, of the City of New-
York: These are in the name of the People of the State of New-York
to command you, the said Constables and Marshals, to convoy to the
said Penitentiary the body of Melinda Hoag, who stands charged be-
fore me with being a vagrant, viz. an idle person and a common pros-
titute, who, not having visible means to maintain herself, lives
without lawful employment, and whereof she is convicted on
competent testimony. And you, the said Keeper, are hereby com-
manded to receive into custody, in the said Penitentiary, the body of
the said Melinda, and her safely keep for the space of six months, or
until she shall be thence delivered by our course of law.
Given under my hand and seal, this 20th day of July, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.
Copy. (Signed) GEO. W. MATSELL.
The Counsel for the prisoner contends that the prisoner should be
discharged on the ground that the commitment is void for defects ap-
pearing on the face of it.
1st. That the signature is by Geo. W. Matsell, without stating his
official capacity.
2d. That the offence of which the prisoner is convicted is not stated
with sufficient precision, and is not within the terms of any statute
defining what constitutes a vagrant.
3d. That there is no seal to the warrant, although it is stated that
it is under seal.
4th. That it does not appear by the commitment whether it was
upon confession of the party or competent testimony, and that if on
the latter, the names of the witnesses and their testimony should have
been stated.
5th. That there is no statement of any adjudication that the pri-
soner was an improper person to be sent to the Alms-House, or that
she was a notorious offender and not a proper object of relief.
1. There is no force in the first objection. In the body of the com-
mitment George W. Matsell is described as one of the Special Justi-
ces for preserving the Peace in the City of New-York, which is a suf-
ficient allegation of his authority, and it was not necessary to affix to
his signature his official character.
2. The offence stated in the commitment is that the prisoner is a
vagrant viz: “an idle person and a common prostitute, who, not hav-
ing visible means to maintain herself, lives without lawful employ-
ment.” As the Justice has undertaken to define in the warrant the
particular species of vagrancy of which the prisoner was convicted,
it must appear to be one of the cases which is specified by the statute,
and if it appears that it is not with any of the cases so specified, not
only the commitment but the conviction itself would be void. By the
Revised Statutes, Sec. 1st, Tit. 2d of chap. 20 of part 1st, “all idle
persons who not having visible means to maintain themselves, live
without employment,” are declared to be vagrants, and after con-
viction may be committed to the Alms-House for a term not exceed-
ing 6 months, or to the Bridewell for a term not exceeding 60 days.
By the 3rd sec. of the act relative to the powers of the Common
Council of the City of New-York and the Police and Criminal Courts
of the said City, passed 1838, it is declared that “all common prosti-
tutes who have no lawful employment whereby to maintain them-
selves, are vagrants,” and may, upon conviction, be committed, if not
a notorious offender, and be a proper object for such relief to the
Alms-House of said City for a term not exceeding six months, or if
an improper person to be sent to the Alms-House, then such person
shall be committed for the like time to the Penitentiary of said City.
It is obvious that the offence charged is made up partly of a charge
under one and partly under the other of these laws, and if it could
be allowed as contended for by the District Attorney to reject any
part of the description of the offence, (which I very much doubt,)
still there would be an insuperable difficulty in the way of supporting
this commitment. If we should reject the words, “and a common
prostitute,” the offence described would come within the description
of the act in the Revised Statutes above referred to; but as that
Statute prescribes a punishment of sixty days only in the Peniten-
tiary, and this commitment directs an imprisonment of six months—
the commitment is clearly void under that Statute. On the other hand,
if we should reject as surplusage the words “an idle person” and
“not having visible means to maintain herself” so that it would read
“a common prostitute who lives without employment” it is essential-
ly different from the words in the Statute of 1833, which are “a com-
mon prostitute who has no lawful employment whereby to maintain
herself.” Now a common prostitute who lives without employment,
but who has means to maintain herself, is clearly not within this
Statute, and therefore the description of the offence is uncertain and
does not correspond with the description of vagrancy in any Statute,
and the commitment is bad.
3. The objection of the want of a seal is not well taken. The sta-
tute only requires that the commitment should be under the hand of
the magistrate, and the words “and seal” may be rejected as surplus-
age.
It is not necessary in a commitment of this kind to state the evi-
dence of the facts in detail, or the names of the witnesses, although
it is indispensably necessary to be inserted in the record of convic-
tion. It is sufficient if the offence is described with certainty in the
commitment, and that the party has been convicted by a person hav-
ing authority for that purpose. 12 East. 69 82.
There is one other objection which I consider fatal as to the va-
lidity of this commitment.
If the prisoner was regularly convicted as a vagrant, the punishment
to be inflicted is in the alternative, if she is not a notorious offender,
&c. she is to be sent to the Alms-House, otherwise to the Penitentia-
ry. It is well settled that where imprisonment is inflicted by the
statute as an alternative punishment, or where there is a discretion to
commit either to one place at hard labor for a time not exceeding a
particular period, or to another place for the like time, the commit-
ment ought to notice that fact, 1 Lord Raymond, 545; Paley on con-
victions, 189. And in a case in 2d Burrow's Reports, 1165, the Court
lay down the rule emphatically that where the commitment is discre-
tionary as to length of time or as to place, there must be an adjudi-
cation by the magistrate as to the time and the place, and because
there was no adjudication on that point the conviction was quashed.
The Court said it was a conviction without a judgement. The time
and the duration of the commitment ought to be ascertained upon the
conviction. A conviction is equal to a verdict and judgement. But
this is a verdict without a judgement. The objection taken by the
Counsel for the prisoner on this ground is well taken.
An examination of the proceedings in the Police Court in this
case, as well as some experience in other cases, has satisfied me that
an idea prevails that in the administration of justice in inferior tribu-
nals, and in cases of the lesser grades of crime, it is only necessary to
have in view the substantial end of justice, and that a regard to forms
is not essential. This I consider to be a radical error. The power of
a Justice to commit a person to prison upon conviction without the
intervention of a jury, is a power which ought to be exercised with
great caution and prudence; it is one which is liable to all the abuse
growing out of an ignorance of duty on the part of the Magistrate—
out of prejudice or personal dislike, or out of interested motives, and
is ought to be sedulously watched by requiring a strict adherence to
those forms of law which have been wisely provided to guard against
those abuses. This exception to the right of trial by jury is founded
only upon the necessity of the case, is intended rather to provide for
the wants or necessities of the Vagrant than as a punishment, and
uses punishment only so far as it is necessary to compel the idle and
dissipated to provide for their own maintenance. The forms of law
make it necessary that the Magistrate should enter in the Record of
Conviction the testimony and the names of the witnesses, so that it
may appear when the record should be submitted for review to the
tribunal which has power to control it, whether the offence proved is
within the jurisdiction of the Magistrate, and to provide the means
of holding the Magistrate responsible for the correct discharge of his
duty.
We live in a country which has been remarkable for the respect
which is paid to the due and proper administration of justice; and so
long as the law is purely administered and magistrates conform to the
provisions of the law, and keep within the line of their duties, and
submit to the decisions made by the duly constituted authorities, a re-
liance on the virtue and good sense of the people induces the belief
that the same respect will continue to be paid; but if magistrates
choose to make rules for themselves, to depart from the rules settled
for their government, and to set up their own constructions of the
law in opposition to the law as legitimately declared and expounded,
it presents an example and forms an excuse to the depraved to set
the laws at defiance, and would lead to the most disastrous conse-
quences.
The proper forms are to be found in books of established prece-
dents, and I have no doubts that, if the arduous duties of the District
Attorney will permit, he would cheerfully give such advice as would
enable the magistrates in the Police Office to adopt proper forms, and
enable them to perform their duties in a manner which will be free
from objection.
The commitment in this case being void for the reasons I have sta-
ted, I order that the prisoner be discharged from custody thereon, and
direct the Keeper of the City Prison to discharge her accordingly.
[Col.5]
☞ Sunday Times.—TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.—The fol-
lowing will form a fractional part of its contents to-morrow, August
8th: all the particulars of the murdered Cigar Girl, with a full length
Portrait taken from life, and pronounced to be a most striking likeness
—no humbug; also a capital Portrait of Browne as Robert Macaire;
...
================================================================
[Col.2. From Tribune]
A Horrible Murder.—On Sunday morn-
...
[Col.3]
mitted.—N. Y. Tribune, Aug. 2.
———
Extraordinary Suicide.—The following
horrible suicide is related by the Cherbourg
Journal:
'A brigadier of the 5th Dragoons, named
Fabree, who was in confinement at Saint Lo
for drunkenness, being told by his command-
ant that he should be handed over to the
gendarme, exclaimed frequently that a soldier
who, like him, had served thirty years, would
not disgrace his comrades by allowing a
gendarme to lay hands on him. As there
...
discovered still living, but he died two hours
afterwards, perfectly sensible, and declared
that he had resorted to suicide to spare his
regiment from the disgrace of one of their
comrades being arrested by the gendarme.'
================================================================
[Col.3]
Supposed Murder.—The body of the beautiful “Ci-
gar Girl,” so well known at Anderson's store, Broad-
way, whose name was Mary Ann Rogers, was found
floating in the North River, near the Elysian Fields,
Hoboken, on Thursday afternoon, and from the marks
of violence upon it, it is supposed the unfortunate girl
had been murdered. She boarded at Mrs. Ball's, in
Nassau street, and left there early in the week. She
had been in one or two equivocal situations. About a
year since she was published as having fled with a
young man, and a cry of abduction was raised. This
was hushed, and a story was put forth that she had
been to Brooklyn visiting some friends there. There
is no doubt that she has been murdered.—N. Y. Sun.
================================================================
[Col.4]
The Outrage on Mary C. Rogers, and similar
Attacks in other places—A Public Meet-
ing.
We copy the following account of an outrageous
attack on a Baltimore lady from a Philadelphia pa-
per:—
“We are informed,” says the Baltimore Clipper, “by
the watchman of the neighborhood, that on Monday night
last a gentleman called upon him for aid under the follow-
ing circumstances:—The gentleman, accompanied by a
lady, was walking in the vicinity of the infirmary about
nine o'clock, when they were instantly surrounded by
eight or ten young men, some of whom beat him conside-
rably, whilst others forcibly bore the young lady off. He
hastened for the watchman, and on returning, neither the
lady nor the ruffians could be found.”
“This,” adds the Clipper, “is the second outrage of the
kind that has been perpetrated in our city within a few
days and the villians, in both instances, have thus far es-
caped detection. From the lawless disposition which has
thus been exhibited, and the perfect impunity with which
crime is committed, it will become dangerous for ladies
to appear in our streets after dark, even when accompa-
nied by gentlemen.”
Can this outrage throw any light on the murder of
Mary Rogers? A fortnight has now elapsed, since
the perpetration of one of the most daring and mur-
derous outrages ever perpetrated in a community call-
ing itself civilized. Yet we hear of no clue arrived at,
and but very little exertion made for the discovery
and punishment of the brutal ravishers and murder-
ers. The apathy of the people of this city, in some
cases, is most remarkable. If a great robbery, or a
bare-faced forgery is perpetrated, we find plenty of
people ready to pursue and capture the offender. If
a petty theft is effected, the indignation of the Court
of Sessions is aroused, and should it be a piece of
pork or some old clo', that are stolen, the poor, hun-
gry, half-starved mortal is brought up to the Special
Sessions, and sent to dig stone—but if a human be-
ing is suddenly and ruthlessly severed from the
thread of existence, we see the ministers of Justice
stand with their arms folded, waiting for a price to
be bid for their exertions ere they will start on the
trail of the murderers. Such a system offers an im-
punity to the rich ruffian, it holds a shield over the
violater of female virtue, and in but too many cases,
acts as the stimulant to outrages at which human-
ity shudders.
It is in vain to call upon the ministers of justice to
step in and stay the plague which is at our doors,
and the community—at least the virtuous portion—
must act for themselves. Let a public meeting be
set a foot, a subscription raised in order to offer a
reward for the murderers of Mary Rogers. We will
give FIFTY DOLLARS; and we doubt not that in less
then 24 hours a thousand dollars may be raised, to be
paid into the hands of the Mayor of New York, for
the purpose of stimulating the energetic and inde-
fatigible police of this—the commercial and intel-
lectual emporium of these United States.
If this course is not pursued, no woman will be
safe, even under the protection of a husband or brother.
For other attacks have since come to our knowledge
and although the fellows did not in all the instances
succeed in their brutal object, or take the life of
their victim, still it is evident that nothing but fear
saved them from the guilt of a capital crime. At
Brooklyn, a married lady was seized by a gang
of ruffians and violated. On Coney Island Beach,
two sisters, while bathing were attacked by a
brawny rascal, and but for the nerve and courage dis-
played by the younger of the girls, the brute would
have accomplished his purpose. In Philadelphia
and Baltimore, similar outrages have been attempt-
ed, as will be seen by the extract attached to this
article. About ten days since, a young lady was
violated in the open day light in one of the public
parks of the latter city, in the presence of several
respectable citizens who were unable to save the
daughter of a neighbor from the loathsome contami-
nation of a herd of wretches who are a disgrace to
humanity.
Let us, therefore, have a public meeting—a volun-
tary effort, to give dignity and force to the admin-
istration of justice. It is time—full time. Here are
our criminal judges making a great noise about petty
offenders—presenting in a breath all the “lower
classes”—but silently skipping over those dens of
assignation, frequented by the respectable classes—
and where it is probable that Mary Rogers was for-
cibly taken—forcibly violated—then murdered to
conceal the crime—and her body consigned to the
Hudson to bury the whole in the deep sea waves.
Yes, on every hand our criminal judges are assailing
the liberty of the press—and getting up indictments
on frivolous pretences, while the liberty, the life, the
virtue of an industrious and respectable young wo-
man, furnishes the staple of no charge to a Grand
Jury—does not excite the slightest attention in the
bosom of the tender-hearted Judge, that talks so
much of duty, character, virtue, and public order.
Out upon hypocrites in high places! Let the people
meet at once in the Park, and get up a subscription
that will make the officers of justice bestir them-
selves. Eight per cent. on the value of a human
life will surely call forth some Bill Wiley, as did the
like percentage in the case of Frederick County
Bank. Really—really, the newspapers are becom-
ing the only efficient police, the only efficient judges
that we have.
[Col.6]
☞ HOBOKEN FOR EVER.—We have already asserted
that a trip to Hoboken is preferable to any other place,
because there is no need of walking two miles under a
scorching sun in order to find a resting place and a cool
retreat. Go, friends, to the steamboats at the foot of Bar-
clay, Canal, or Christopher streets, and after having
sailed across to beautiful Hoboken, in three minutes you
arrive at the pleasant, shaded Hoboken house, kept by
the immortal Perries. A word to the wise, act.
================================================================
[Col.3. A changed copy from Courier]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Notwithstand-
ing the vigorous efforts of the authorities here and
...
ed—Has no knowledge of the deceased or the cause
of her murder.—Courier & Enquirer.
================================================================
[Col.4]
[FOR THE SUN.]
MR. EDITOR—I was at Hoboken the afternoon
that the murdered body of Miss Rodgers lay upon
the beach, and saw it before the jury of inquest
was held, and am surprised that these is so much
mystery about it, and that even the plain story
has never been laid before the public.
Upon enquiring of a man who keeps an oyster
stand near the dock bridge, at the Elysian Fields,
he replied that the young lady went out in a small
boat, with a gentleman, his wife, and daughter,
the Sunday previous, and while out in the river
another small boat, with seven men in it, came
alongside, and took her into their boat by force;
and that he (the oysterman) and his child were on
the dock bridge in the evening, and with others
distinctly heard her cries, which the men in the
boat tried to drown by singing and carousing.—
The oysterman stated, also, that persons who
heard her cries wanted to go out to her rescue,
but there was not a small boat about that could be
got.
Now, who is this gentleman with his wife and
daughter? And why is not this part of the story
published? (as I presume it was told to any others
who enquired.) And why is not a sufficient re-
ward offered for information that might lead to
the discovery of the murderers?
ANTI-MYSTERY.
We know not who is the writer of the foregoing,
and consequently cannot say to what degree of
credence it may be entitled. If true, its publica-
tion is all important; and we give it as it was giv-
en to us, in the hope that it may tend to draw the
facts of the fatal mystery to light—[EDS. SUN.
☞ Since the foregoing was in type, yester-
day's Evening Tattler appeared with a communi-
cation, and remarks by the Editor, from which it
appears that the two gentlemen spoken of by his
correspondent were a Mr. Fanshaw and a Mr.
Thomas—the former a brother, the latter a son-in-
law of Mr. Daniel Fanshaw; and that they fully
corroborate the statement of “T. D. W.,” which is
as follows:
TO THE EDITORS OF THE TATTLER:
Gentlemen,—If you consider what I am about
to communicate worth publishing it is at your ser-
vice. I have declined coming forward through mo-
tives of a, perhaps criminal, prudence and even
now I dare not reveal my name, because I fear
that by doing so I might become the victim of a
gang, who are all powerful to revenge any injury
that may be done to any members of their body—
such a gang, for instance, as went such lengths for
the release of Ezra White, from an apprehension
that if he came to the gallows he might implicate
many of themselves, in his “dying confessions.”
If you doubt the authenticity of my letter, or sup-
pose it to be a hoax, please keep possession of it,
and advertise for the two gentlemen alluded to in
it, to come forward—who, if they are not also too
fearful of the gang to make themselves known—
will probably call on you and corroborate the fol-
lowing statement:
On Sunday, the 25th of July, I was sauntering
towards evening on the banks at Hoboken. My
attention was suddenly arrested by a boat rushing
across the Hudson from New York, at great speed;
and when it neared the land, I perceived that there
were in the boat six men, and one young well dress-
ed female, whom I feel confident, from description,
as also from a dim recollection of my own, was
the Cigar Girl. Immediately as they touched the
strand, the six men and the female left the boat
and proceeded towards the woods. I then noticed
that the men were of that class denominated
“rowdies”—such men, for instance, as hang
about the doors of low gaming public houses, wear
flat-brimmed hats, and affect an air of vulgar de-
vil-may-care gentility. At this time I observed
two gentlemen conversing a short distance off.—
These gentlemen also noticed the boat, and I
think from their gestures, made some remarks
about the people that were in it.
Be this as it may, two of the boatmen lingered
behind and spoke to these gentlemen, for the
purpose, probably, of diverting their attention
from the road the others with the female took;—
and then these two likewise proceeded at a sharp
pace for the woods. I cannot say that the female
made any opposition—I rather think she did not,
or I would have observed it—but at all events she
was there.
Scarcely had this party passed out of sight, than
another boat came sweeping over the river. This
had three men in it, and when they landed, they
jumped from the boat with great rapidity, and
looked eagerly about them, as if in quest of some
object. The gentlemen I have alluded to before
being nearest these men, one of them asked him
if they had seen a female and several men landing
from a boat? The gentlemen replied in the affir-
mative. “Did you observe,” asked the same man,
“if they used any violence with her?” The gen-
tlemen answered “no.” And then the boatmen
being informed of the route the first party took,
followed after at a rapid stride—almost a run.
The above is all I know about this affair, but I
am firmly persuaded in my own mind, that the
young lady brought over in the first boat was the
“cigar girl” who was so brutally murdered a few
hours afterwards. I wonder the two gentlemen
have not made their experience in this matter
public, for I am sure that they must entertain the
same suspicions that I do. Yours, T. D. W.
[Col.7]
☞ SUMMER COMPLAINT—Dr. EVANS celebra-
ted Camomile and Aperient Pills, an excellent medicine for
the Summer Complaint, so prevalent in the city at the pre-
sent time—for sale at 185 Bowery. j24 6w*
================================================================
[Col.3]
☞ There is a circumstantial account in the last Evening
Tattler of a young woman being seen to land at Hoboken on
Sunday, July 25th, in company with five young men, while
three more young men landed from another boat soon after,
and inquired for the former party, and also if any violence
had been offered to the girl. They then followed the direc-
tion of the other party.—The inference which alone gives this
story any consequence is that the girl was Mary C. Rogers.
But we have made inquiries, and ascertained to our satisfac-
tion that the woman so seen was not Miss Rogers, but a com-
mon creature of the town, who had been taken out of the
boat of the weaker by the stronger party. It must be ob-
vious to every one that no decent woman would have been so
conveyed unless by force, and certainly not without outcry
past several persons who would have aided her rescue.
———
[Col.5]
☞ Life and Murder of Mary C. Rogers, the beautiful
Cigar Girl, in pamphlet form, with a splendid Portrait, declared to be
a perfect likeness, will be published at 31 Ann-street this morning at
6 o'clock, with further particulars of the Murder, the knowledge of
which is confined to the Police and the writer of this pamphlet. Nine
persons, Broadway Gamblers, supposed to be concerned in the Mur-
der; State's evidence expected. The Life is full of interest: it con-
tains an account of several attempts at courtship and seduction,
brought about her by manifold charms; as also of the early attach-
ments in which she was known to have been engaged. Price 6 cents.
au10 1t* Sunday Times Office, 31 Ann-st.
================================================================
[Col.2]
We have received a communication, signed
“Chirurgicus” on the subject of “the disgraceful
and unprofessional exhibitions at the Stuyvesant
Institute” and though we fully agree with every
observation of the writer, we cannot publish it
entire, many of his remarks having allusion to an
individual and to a press, so vile and base, that it
is with the utmost repugnance we bring ourselves to
notice either the one or the other. The exhibitions
themselves, our correspondent may rely, will become
objects of disgust not with the profession alone, but
with the whole community: and those who have got
them up, will soon be classed with the traveling
mountebanks, who infest with their booths the fairs
and market places of Europe, and exhibit to the gaping
multitude, the horrid spectacle of human nature suf-
fering under afflictions, which their wondrous skill
alone can cure. Were charity the aim, would it not
be better exercised in private? Were it to impart
surgical skill; is not the secluded room the proper
place, the student alone being spectator. Never be-
fore, that we know of, have regular bred physicians
or surgeons, sought to obtain notoriety, by tricks
which only come within the domain of the charlatan.
We annex the concluding part of the communica-
tion as it is addressed to one who all respect and who
should not suffer his name and fame to be thus pros-
tituted.—[EDITOR C & E.
The profession have seen with disgust, this man
[the Herald reporter] prominent among the most fa-
vored guests. He however, appears quite among his
friends, has his joke with one Professor, and grasps
another by the hand.—They assist him in taking
notes. All this degradation is submitted to—for
what? That the University may be lauded in the
same columns with Madam RESTELL. Among these
Professors there is one of whom his brethren expect-
ed better things. Can it be that the associate of
HOSACK, and POST, and McNEVEN, and MITCHELL,
can consent to play hail-fellow-well-met, with such
a vagabond, and all to be puffed in Madam RESTELL's
organ? I know he seeks to excuse himself by say-
ing—“I had nothing to do with it!” “I know nothing
about it.” This excuse however, will not avail. He
is art and part, and will be so considered—without
his name the whole fabric of quackery would fall to
the ground. The profession look to him. Of his as-
sociates, as he well knows, they know little and care
less—but to him they look to elevate the standard of
professional character.
Does he not feel that his fame must be tarnished
and his name soiled by being dragged through the
receptacle of filth and blackguardism, to which I
have alluded? Let him be assured, that if he does
not feel this, the profession do—and they will resent
it. Especially, will this be done by the junior por-
tion of the profession, whose proud aspirations in re-
gard to the future standing of the profession he is so
cruelly sacrificing. CHIRURGICUS.
———
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
POLICE—Monday.
...
One of the evening papers of yesterday mentions
the fact that two gentlemen, Messrs. Fanshaw and
Thomas, on the 25th ult. were witnesses to a circum-
stance which may possibly shed some light on the
deep mystery that now hangs round the fate of Mary
C. Rogers. It is there stated that on Sunday, the
25th, while at Hoboken, they saw a boat containing
six men and one female, all of whom as soon as they
landed at Hoboken, left the boat and started for the
woods. Soon afterwards another boat landed there,
rowed by three men, one of whom asked one of the
above named gentlemen if he had seen a boat with
the six men and a girl in it, and on receiving an affir-
mative reply, he asked if any violence had been of-
fered, to which he answered they had not. The
three last named men then started off apparently in
great haste in pursuit of the men with the young fe-
male.
This may or may not be the unfortunate girl, whose
fate has created such deep excitement, but at all
events, it is to be hoped that the above statement
(taken from the Tattler,) may be traced out, and if
indeed it was the hapless Mary C. Rogers, there may
be some hope that her murderers will be brought to
justice. We have not heard of any steps taken by
the Police in the matter.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.6]
THE MURDERED MARY ROGERS.—Nothing has yet
been found out definitely in relation to this murder;
which was even a far more horrible affair than the
murder of Miss Sands. As far as we know, there
has not even been a reward offered by the authorities
of this city or New Jersey. The whole thing—the
entire proceedings—commencing with the finding
of the body, the inquest, &c., in their manner, have
been most disgraceful. What are our criminal au-
thorities about? It really appears that since the pas-
sage of the new criminal court law, by which so
much milk and water and folly has been infused in-
to the bench, that the true administration of public
justice is shamefully neglected. The police judges
say that as fast as they act in certain cases for the
public good, some one or other of the other judges
of the criminal court undo all they have done; the
two branches of criminal justice are thus made to
war against each other, and in this way we suppose
murders and robberies and outrages of the most hor-
rible kind are perpetrated, and no one is punished or
even arrested therefor. How long is that sad state
of things to continue? How much has Gov. Sew-
ard to answer for, in thus disorganizing our criminal
court, which, when composed of Robert H. Morris,
two Aldermen, and James R. Whiting, was the
most honest and efficient criminal court in the coun-
try. We yet hope that the citizens will take this
matter up, and call a meeting in the Park or else-
where, and subscribe a reward for the detection of
the murderer of Mary Rogers. We do not believe
the story that she was taken out of a boat in the ri-
ver. We have heard that a female was taken out of
a boat on the river on that day or the day after, from
her own father, but that she was not Mary Rogers.
Dr. Cook says that almost every thing thrown into
the North River, near the Battery, floats over to Ho-
boken, and therefore thinks she was murdered in this
city and thrown into the river. We hardly think
this; and A. M. C. Smith says that one or two gen-
tlemen saw Mary Rogers sitting on a bench at Ho-
boken, late on Sunday afternoon, with a young man,
and that they were quarrelling severely. The whole
thing has been most miserably mismanaged. Let
us subscribe for a reward at once.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, August 10, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1]
THE HOBOKEN MURDER.—Nothing has transpired at the
Police office worth detailing to our readers on this me-
lancholy subject, notwithstanding the many stories
which are daily dished up for those who like to sup full
of horrors. The young sailor, who was arrested last
week, is staying in the Tombs, at his own request. He says,
that he shall be looked upon as a suspected person if he
goes, as he might, on board the North Carolina, and that
he wishes to remain in custody until the authorities are
fully satisfied of his innocence. We believe that one of
the Magistrates was out all yesterday, in company with
an officer, and that they both returned without obtaining
any clue to the murderers. It is still the prevailing opin-
ion that the deed was effected in this city, and that the
parties immediately fled, leaving no trace of their where-
abouts; and when it is considered that three days elap-
sed before the body was found, and six before any excite-
ment was raised at the atrocity, we thing it is not surpri-
sing that no discovery has been made.
—————
...
—————
☞ THAT DARK DEED.—The life and murder of Mary
C. Rogers will be published at the office of the Sunday
Times, this morning, in pamphlet form, with a splendid
full length portrait, declared to be a perfect likeness,
with further particulars of the murder, the knowledge
of which is confined to the police and writer of this
pamphlet—nine persons, Broadway gamblers, supposed
to be concerned in the murder. The life is full of inter-
est—it contains an account of several attempts of court-
ship and seduction, brought about her by manifold
charms. Office, 31 Ann street—Price six cents.
[Col.4]
MADAME RESTELL,
F EMALE PHYSICIAN, residence 148 Greenwich street,
where she can be consulted with the strictest confidence,
and where also her celebrated medicines can be obtained.
N. B. All letters must be post paid and addressed to box 868
New York. Medicines forwarded by mail. a10 2w*
================================================================
[Col.4]
From the New-York Express.
AN ATROCIOUS MURDER.
The murder of the unfortunate girl, Mary
Cecelia Rogers, noticed in another part of
our paper is of such an atrocious character
as to demand that it be taken forth from the
ordinary police Reports to be made a matter
of especial attention, in order, if possible to
arouse inquiry as to the murderers. This
girl has been seen by most persons who have
walked by the Cigar store of Anderson in
Broadway, where she was somewhat con-
spicuous as a vender of Cigars, whence she
obtained the sobriquet of “the Cigar girl.”
This girl was missed by her friends for
some days, who advertised for her at last in
the public prints, but on Thursday last, her
body was found in the water near Hoboken,
by some persons passing in a sail boat. The
discovery of the body bearing evident marks
of violence, aroused inquiry, and the Coro-
ner's Jury, while they bore testimony to her
general good character, also came to the
conclusion that she was murdered.
Nothing as yet is certainly known of the
manner of her death. According to the New
Era, she was crossing the river to Hoboken
in a small boat with a young man who was
paying her honorable attention, and that hav-
ing proceeded half way over, another boat
in which were 5 complete rowdies and soap-
locks came alongside, and who forced her
into the boat and pushed off, up the river,
and when an opportunity presented, and they
were concealed, as they imagined from ob-
servation, violated her person and afterwards
to prevent their infamous and diabolical acts
from coming to light, threw the unfortunate
victim of their nefarious and unruly passions
overboard.
The Courier well remarks, it seems in-
credible that men could deliberately plan
and commit a murder for such a motive, yet
the facts inevitably lead to the conclusion,
that this is one of those unnatural instances
of horrid crime, which sets all reason at de-
fiance. Ten days have now elapsed since
its commission; hitherto the tracks of its fe-
rocious perpetrators have not been discover-
ed, and the blood of the hapless female will
probably pass unrevenged, unless the public
authorities evince more than ordinary activ-
ity.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Is there to
be no extraordinary incentive offered to stimulate to
the discovery of the authors of this atrocious crime?
Do the authorities of the city where she belonged,
and whence she was probably decoyed, feel no obli-
gation to offer a reward for the detection of the ruf-
fian murderers? Should not the State Executive
issue his proclamation of reward, and pardon, if ne-
cessary, to any accomplice that shall convict the real
criminal?
We have seen something of these authorities wait-
ing for the action of New Jersey. But why so? It
may well be that the Governor of New Jersey
hesitates about staining the annals of his State with
a proclamation implying that a crime so atrocious
was perpetrated by its citizens or within its borders.
But whether or not she was from New York, the
body was found within the jurisdiction of New York,
which extends for purposes of police and legal service
to low water mark on the Jersey shore, and, more-
over, the more probable conjecture, it seems to us,
is, that this unfortunate victim of unbridled lust was
decoyed into a boat, and that there, on the broad
Hudson, and out of the reach of succor, the crime
was perpetrated, and the body loaded with stones,
thrown over to be sunk, as the murderers (for there
must have been more than one) probably hoped, for-
ever, from the reach of human eye.
We call, therefore, upon the Common Council—
we call upon the Executive of the State, to be stir-
ring in this bloody business, which cries to Heaven
for vengeance.
================================================================
[Col.7. Seems as in Troy Budget]
[From the New York Tattler.]
THE HOBOKEN MURDER.
FURTHER PARTICULARS—PROBABLE
TRACE OF THE MURDERERS.
...
do. Yours, T. D. W.
...
================================================================
[Col.1. A changed copy from Tribune]
A HORRIBLE MURDER.—On Sunday morning
...
abstracted himself from the city since the murder was
committed.—Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.4]
MURDER MOST FOUL.—Miss Mary C. Rogers, of
New-York, well known in town and country as
“the beautiful cigar girl” when attending the To-
bacco Store of John Anderson in Broadway, left
her house No. 126 Nassau street for a walk on
Sunday morning, the 25th ultimo. Shortly after,
she was accosted by a young man, apparently an
acquaintance, with whom it is supposed she went
on an excursion to Hoboken. She did not return,
and on Tuesday her friends alarmed at her pro-
tracted absence, advertised her in the papers of that
day. On Wednesday, two men as they were pass-
ing the Sybil's Cave, near Castle Point, Hoboken,
discovered the body of a woman in the water,
which they anchored by a weight until the Coroner
could be notified, when an inquest was held and
the body was proved to be that of Miss Rogers.—
It bore the marks of violence and it was evident
that her person had been horribly outraged before
she was murdered. The inquest returned a verdict
of “murder by some person or persons unknown.”
Several persons have been arrested and examined,
but as yet, nothing has been elicited by which the
perpetrator or perpetrators of this foul deed can be
identified. The deceased bore an excellent charac-
ter, and was the main support of a widowed mo-
ther.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
POLICE—Tuesday.
...
The case of Mary C. Rogers is still involved in mys-
tery. The statement in our paper of yesterday was
true in the main but it referred as it has since been
ascertained to another girl, and not to the unfortu-
nate deceased. A girl who was out in a boat with
one young man, was taken from that boat into an-
other by a party of young rowdies, and taken to Ho-
boken as stated, but she did not suffer any injury at
their hands.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Canadian Correspondence.
...
Were the privileged classes to go to war now-a-
days, it would be to turn the sword against them-
selves, and they are not such fools as to do anything
of the kind; that is to say, if it can be possibly
avoided. True, according to the system of Malthus,
England, since the last peace, has become overrun
with paupers or people, and, in the absence of a
moral check, a Madame Restell, or a pestilence,
it wants a war to sweep off a few hundred thou-
sands, in order to leave turning room for the rest;
...
[Col.5]
DREADFUL AFFAIR, BUT PROBABLY A HOAX.—
THREE CHILDREN MURDERED BY THEIR MOTHER.—
We copy the following account of the most distres-
sing and revolting infanticide that has ever come
within our knowledge, from the Louisville, (Miss.)
Tablet, of the 24th ult.
“One of the most awful deeds that has perhaps
ever come within our knowledge of the human race,
was perpetrated in the vicinity of this place, on Sun-
day morning last, by a Mrs. Roper. She killed three
of her own children, by cutting their heads off with an
axe. From the information which we have receiv-
...
ridding her husband of the burthen of supporting her-
self and their five youngest children, as he is a poor
and very hard working man.”
[Col.6]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—Nothing tending to elu-
cidate the mystery hanging over the murder of poor
Mary has yet transpired at the Police Office. On dits and
stories, made to suit the gullibillity of the gaping crowd,
there are to be picked up easily enough, but, on enquiry,
they are all found to be like the baseless fabric of
a vision. One fact has come to our knowledge.
Several anonymous letters have been received, all
written in a very neat female hand, pointing out a
young gentleman well known as a sort of genteel
loafer at the theatres, and a frequenter of gambling hou-
ses and other places of public resort, as having been seen
with Mary sitting on a rock—on the other side of the
North River on the fatal Sunday afternoon. We do not
think these letters likely to lead to any discovery, for
the person whom they point at has been guilty of pursu-
ing his usual avocations down town ever since. They
are most likely written by some fair intrigante whom
the party has piqued or made jealous. The Police have
their eye, of course, on the individual, and if he were to
leave the city suddenly he might find himself—in cus-
tody.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Wednesday, August 11, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
THE LATE MURDER.—One of the most singular
scenes in the administration of criminal justice in
this city is to see Judge Noah and Judge Lynch, en-
deavoring to assume the greatest gravity imaginable
in sentencing poor miserable creatures to Blackwell's
Island for six months, for stealing a few pounds of
pork,—no, not pork—beef, an old coat, and old hat,
an old pair of breeches, for blacking an eye, or bruis-
ing another's head, or for stealing something to sus-
tain life, or to cover their nakedness. It is amusing
and yet sorrowful to see these things, and to contrast
them with the apathy exhibited by the adjudicators
of justice here, when a young, lovely and innocent
girl has been ruthlessly torn from the arms of her
mother, violated, murdered, and thrown into the
river. It seems as if we had nothing to hope from
justice; and therefore we hope the citizens will take
this matter in hand themselves.
Singularly enough, since we penned the above,
we found the following in the “Star” of last eve-
ning:
All parties, however much they may differ in other
matters, are determined on the reorganization of the
police. Our safety requires it; and he who opposes
this determination, belong to what party he may,
cannot be a candidate, with any hope of success, for
either the Legislature or Common Council. All the
discreet and respectable part of this city will sacri-
fice all considerations to the safety and well being of
this community. Every friend of law and religion
will give his efficient aid to reform the criminal law
and the police, and to place Judges on the bench compe-
tent to the discharge of their duties.
Very well; this is what we want; this is what we
are contending for; and singularly enough, have
been indicted because we contend for it.
[Col.3]
The Late Murder of Mary C. Rogers.
The supineness of the authorities in relation to
the late brutal murder, has induced several of the
citizens to take the necessary steps to offer a reward
for the detection of the murderers. We theretofore
call attention to the following:—
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 1841.
The undersigned, having seen no public measures ta-
ken by the authorities of New York City, or the State of
New Jersey, to detect the murderers of Mary C. Rogers,
and deeming this matter to be one of the utmost mo-
ment to every parent, husband, and brother, in this com-
munity, do hereby call a primary meeting of their fellow
citizens, to be held at the house of James C. Stoneall, on
Wednesday, the 11th day of August, 1841, at eight o'clock
in the evening, for the purpose of adopting such prepa-
ratory measures as may be deemed necessary to bring
the perpetrators of the murder to speedy punishment.
Robert Sinclair, Joseph Ellis,
Thomas Bell, Amos Leeds,
Robt. A. Morrison, Jno Cook,
Ed. B. Tuttle, Robt. H. Elton,
Chas. P. Huestis, H. Pattinson,
Geo. F. H. Youngs, Ezra Mackenzie,
Jas. B. Rensel, D. Mosley,
Leonard T. Snithen, Mich'l. J. Gilooly,
J. Brown, John. W. Mulholland,
Edward Dunnigan, Alanson Nash,
Jos. F. Atwill, Wm. M. Tompson,
Daniel D. Howard, A. M. Tompson,
Samuel Nichols, John Conroy,
Chas. Cox, C. S. Woodhull,
E. E. Paige, Harper & Brothers,
John Lomas, H. M. Western,
Peter Lecount, Richard Adams Locke,
Peter Tamblingson,
NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Wednesday, August 11, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3]
The Late Murder of Mary C. Rogers.
The supineness of the authorities in relation to
the late brutal murder, has induced several of the
citizens to take the necessary steps to offer a reward
for the detection of the murderers. We theretofore
call attention to the following:—
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 1841.
The undersigned, having seen no public measures ta-
ken by the authorities of New York City, or the State of
New Jersey, to detect the murderers of Mary C. Rogers,
and deeming this matter to be one of the utmost mo-
ment to every parent, husband, and brother, in this com-
munity, do hereby call a primary meeting of their fellow
citizens, to be held at the house of James C. Stoneall, 29
Ann street, on Wednesday, the 11th day of August, 1841,
at eight o'clock in the evening, for the purpose of adopt-
ing such preparatory measures as may be deemed ne-
cessary to bring the perpetrators of the murder to speedy
punishment.
C. S. Woodhull, Leonard T. Snithen,
Harper & Brothers, J. Brown,
H. M. Western, Alanson Nash,
Richard Adams Locke, Wm. M. Tompson,
William H. Attree, A. M. Tompson,
John Conroy, H. Pattinson,
Edward Dunnigan, Ezra Mackenzie,
Jos. F. Atwill, D. Mosley,
Daniel D. Howard, Mich'l J. Gilooly,
Samuel Nichols, John W. Mulholland,
Chas. Cox, Robert Sinclair,
E. E. Paige, Thomas Bell,
John Lomas, Robt. A. Morrison,
Peter Lecount, Chas. P. Huestis,
Peter Tamblingson, Geo. F. H. Youngs,
Joseph Ellis, Jas. B. Rensel,
Amos Leeds, Jno Cook,
Robt. H. Elton Ed. B. Tuttle,
We have very little to say in addition to the above.
The call of this meeting has been got up in a hurry,
because the nature of the case seemed to require
speedy action. Mr. Aaron Clark has been waited
upon in connection with this matter, and the follow-
ing are his remarks in relation thereto. Mr. Clark
will, however, subscribe to a reward:
I am clearly of opinion that the murder of Mary C. Ro-
gers justifies and requires that a suitable reward should
be offered by the proper authority in this city for the ap-
prehension of the perpetrators. AARON CLARK.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 1841.
We have only to add a request that all our fel-
low citizens, who can do so, will attend the meeting
at Mr. Stoneall's, 29 Ann st. to-night! We will give
$50 ourselves towards convicting the murderers;
and, already, with the above names, there are $200
subscribed for this purpose. We call upon Mayor
Morris to move in this matter. What is Governor
Seward doing?
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ There is a foul compound of falsehood and malice in yester-
day's Sun, intended to defame this paper, but which bears on its face
the evidence of conscious villany. If any person has really paid for
the insertion of an advertisement in The Sun and found it published
this paper instead, give us his name. We ask it—we demand it:
if there be any such man, his name can easily be given. We never
heard of the like, and are confident that no such error or fraud has
ever occured.
It is true that, our paper being recently established and our office
not in the most public location, we have through Agents solicited the
patronage of our friends, both as subscribers and advertisers, and
their response has been most cordial and cheering. We have at this
moment twice as much patronage of all kinds as The Sun had when
no older than The Tribune now is, and we give twice as much read-
ing matter. As to the relative value of the two papers as an adver-
tising medium, very much depends upon the matter advertised. For
Madame Restell's surgery, 'Hunter's Red Drop,' &c. The Sun is
doubtless the best medium extant, and we cheerfully allow it the field.
But we have the assurance of many who have tried the experiment
that for Books, Fashionable Dry Goods, Boarding, &c. &c. The Tri-
bune is very far superior. One gentleman lately informed us casu-
ally that he recently advertised some property three times in The
Sun and had not a single call for it. A week after, he advertised it in
the Tribune, and had a dozen calls forthwith. This is but one case
of several. That The Sun feels this in the diminution of its Adver-
tising, any man can see who will take the trouble to compare its
columns now with a file of the same paper six months ago. Hence
this malignant attack upon us.
[Col.2]
STATE PRISON STATISTICS.—Capt. A. M. C. Smith, dep-
uty sheriff, who conducts the convicts from this city to Sing
Sing prison, informs us that 16 prisoners were discharged
from that prison by expiration of sentence during the month
of July. On the 1st of August inst. there remained in prison
at Sing Sing 752 males and 67 females; total 819. This is a
less number than there has been in the Sing Sing prison
at any period for the last seven years.
[Col.4]
A TALE OF HORROR.—Three Children murdered by their
own Mother.—We copy the following account of the most
distressing and revolting infanticide that has ever come within
our knowledge, from the Louisville (Miss.) Tablet of the 24th
ult.:
“One on the most awful deeds that has perhaps ever come
within the knowledge of the human race was perpetrated in
the vicinity of this place on Sunday morning last, by a Mrs.
Roper. She killed three of her own children by cutting
their heads off with an axe. From the information which
we have received on the subject, it seems to have been done
while she was in a fit of mental derangement. It was her
intention to have killed two more in the same manner, and
afterwards hang herself with a hank of yarn, but her husband
waking up, discovered something extraordinary in her actions
and seized her around the waist. After a strong effort on her
part to escape from him, during which she tried to draw one
of three knives from the ceiling, which she had previously
sharpened and put there, they reached the door, when he dis-
covered what she had been doing.
“She is the mother of eleven children, including the three
which she killed. She appears now to be restored to reason,
and is pitiable spectacle of the deepest and most bitter an-
guish. She says that while under the influence of a distorted
imagination, she thought she was doing a charitable action in
ridding her husband of the burthen of supporting herself and
their five youngest children, as he is a poor and very hard-
working man.”
================================================================
[Col.6. Partly as in Sun]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.
——
[From the New-York Journal of Commerce.]
The public mind continues agitated, as well it
may be, on account of the dreadful crimes perpe-
trated, about a fortnight since, upon the person of
Miss Mary Cecilia Rogers, often spoken of as the
“pretty segar girl,”—she having been employed
by Mr. Anderson, a segar dealer in Broadway, to
attend his shop. For a year or two previous to
her death, she, in connexion with her mother,
had kept a respectable boarding house in Nassau
street. It is generally admitted that she was a
girl of good character, and this adds to the mys-
tery of the circumstances connected with her
death. How such a girl could have been indue-
ced to accompany such a gang of ruffians; or how
they could have got possession of her person, and
compelled her to accompany them without giving
the alarm whe within hail of other persons, it is
not easy to imagine.
Several persons have been arrested, first and
last, on suspicion of having been concerned in the
affair, but no sufficient evidence appearing against
them, they were discharged. The circumstances
stated in the annexed letter from the Evening Tat-
tler, throw some light upon the transaction,—suf-
ficient, at least, to show that Miss Rogers was the
victim of a horrid conspiracy, in which several
persons were concerned, and that the murder was
committed at Hoboken, and not in this city as
some had conjectured.
New-York, Saturday, August 7th, 1841.
To the Editors of the Tattler:
...
same suspicions that I do.
Yours, T. D. W.
The two gentlemen alluded to in the above, are
William D. Fanshaw, (nephew of Daniel Fan-
shaw, printer to the American Bible and Tract
Societies,) and his brother-in-law, Mr Thomas.
We have called on Mr. Fanshaw, to ascertain the
correctness of the statements in the latter, and he
informs us that they are correct in every particu-
lar. From the clue thus furnished, it is to be ho-
ped that the perpetrators of this diabolical out-
rage and murder will yet be found out. Where
so many are in the secret, some one or more of
them are very liable to reveal it. Let the Police
be on the alert.
——
[From the N. Y. Sun.]
Mr. Editor—I was at Hoboken the afternoon
...
distinctly heard the cries which the men in the
boat tried to drown by singing and carousing.—
...
facts of the fatal mystery to light.—[EDS. SUN.
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly as in Sun]
[From the N. Y. Tattler.]
THE HOBOKEN MURDER.
FURTHER PARTICULARS—PROBABLE TRACE
OF THE MURDERERS.
NEW YORK, Saturday, Aug. 7, 1841.
To the Editors of the Tattler:
GENTLEMEN.—If you consider what I am about
to communicate worth publishing, it is at your
service. I have declined coming forward through
motives of a, perhaps criminal, prudence, and even
now I dare not reveal my name, because I fear
that by doing so I might become the victim of a
gang, who are all powerful to revenge any injury
that may be done to any members of their body—
such a gang, for instance, as went such lengths for
the release of Ezra White, from an apprehension
that if he came to the gallows he might implicate
many of themselves, in his “dying confessions.”—
If you doubt the authenticity of my letter, or sup-
pose it to be a hoax, please keep possession of it,
and advertise for the two gentlemen alluded to in
it, to come forward—who, if they are not also too
fearful of the gang to make themselves known—
will probably call on you and corroborate the fol-
lowing statement:
On Sunday, the 25th of July, I was sauntering
towards evening on the banks at Hoboken. My
attention was suddenly arrested by a boat rushing
across the Hudson, from New York, at great speed;
and when it neared the land, I perceived that there
were in the boat six men, and one young well dres-
sed female, whom I felt confident, from description,
as also from a dim recollection of my own, was the
CIGAR GIRL. Immediately as they touched the
strand, the six men and the female left the boat
and proceeded towards the woods. I then noticed
that the men were of that class denominated “row-
dies”—such men for instance as hang about the
doors of low gaming public houses, wear flat-brim-
med hats, and affect an air of vulgar devil may-
care gentility. At this time I observed two gentle-
men conversing a short distance off. These gentle-
men also noticed the boat, and I think from their
gestures, made some remarks about the people
that were in it.
Be this as it may, two of the boatmen lingered
behind, and spoke to these gentlemen, for the pur-
pose, probably, of diverting their attention from
the road the others with the female took; and then
these two likewise proceeded at a sharp pace for
the woods. I cannot say that the female made any
opposition—I rather think she did not, or I would
have observed it—but at all events, she was there.
Scarcely had this party passed out of sight, than
another boat came sweeping over the river. This
had three men in it, and when they landed they
jumped from the boat with great rapidity, and look-
ed eagerly about them as if in quest of some ob-
ject. The gentlemen I have alluded to before be-
ing nearest these men, one of them asked him if
they had seen a female and several men landing
from a boat? The gentleman replied in the affir-
mative. “Did you observe,” asked the same man,
“IF THEY USED ANY VIOLENCE WITH HER?” The
gentleman answered “No.” And then the boat-
men, being informed of the route the first party
took, followed after at a rapid stride—almost a run.
The above is all I know of this affair, but I am
firmly persuaded in my own mind, that the young
lady brought over in the first boat was the cigar
girl who was so brutally murdered a few hours af-
terwards. I wonder the two gentlemen have not
made their experience in this matter public—for I
am sure that they must entertain the same suspi-
cions that I do. Yours, T. D. W.
REMARKS—FURTHER PARTICULARS.
When we first received the foregoing commu-
nication we gave but little credence to the state-
ments contained in it. On reflection however, not
being able to see that the writer could have any ob-
ject in hoaxing us, we put all the force in our office
on the trail to see if we could not hunt up the “two
gentlemen.” All the evening of Saturday, how-
ever, they were unsuccessful—(or we should have
furnished the particulars to the Sunday papers, as
such important facts cannot be too early known or
widely dissseminated)—but this morning, when
we had almost come to the conclusion to throw the
letter by as an invention, we not only discovered
the fact that two gentlemen had seen the events de-
scribed by our informer, but had also the satisfac-
tion of learning their names. They are, Mr. Fan-
shaw—brother, we believe, of Mr. Daniel Fanshaw,
printer to the Bible Society—and his son-in-law,
Mr. Thomas, who is agent for Dr. Peters, the pro-
prietor of the celebrated Vegetable Pill. These
two gentlemen, we are informed, fully corroborate
the testimony furnished us by our correspondent,
and are likewise impressed with the idea that the
female they saw in the boat, and the “murdered ci-
gar girl,” may be one and the same person.
Our hurry and anxiety to place these important
particulars before the public, left us no time to go
to quest of Mr. Fanshaw, or Mr. Thomas; but we
shall be much obliged to them if they will commu-
nicate with us on the subject, and correct us if we
have made any mistake.
If the female and the boatmen spoken of above,
were the cigar girl and her murderers, which we
think more than probable, that diabolical affair will
soon come to light, as six or seven men cannot keep
so dreadful a secret. Some one will surely turn
evidence against the others. At all events, these
disclosures will give the police authorities a clue,
and we trust they may profit by it.
================================================================
[Col.2. A changed copy from Courier]
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—Notwith-
standing the vigorous efforts of the authori-
ties here and in New Jersey, we regret to
state that no clue has as yet been discovered
to the perpetrators of this dreadful tragedy.
The two young men who were arrested here
have been examined, and nothing being eli-
cited to warrant their detention, they were
discharged. Justice Merritt, of Hoboken,
caused a young man in Jersey City to be
arrested on suspicion, but after a protracted
examination he was discharged on Tuesday
night.
Justice Merritt has addressed a letter to
Governor Pennington, of New Jersey, and
there is no doubt that he will offer a suitable
reward for the detection of the murderers.
Our Mayor is only waiting the action of Gov.
Pennington in the premises, as he conceives
that the first offer of a reward should come
from him.
In a conversation with Dr. Cook, of Ho-
boken, we learned that the body of the un-
fortunate girl showed evident marks that the
most brutal violence had been restored to,
one of her wrists having been clasped so
tightly as to leave a mark as of a rope.—
There were besides other marks and bruises,
showing that the poor girl had fallen into the
hands of some worse than brutes. It is now
generally supposed that the deceased was
thrown from the cliff near the Sybil's Cave,
and that the marks on her face were not
made by fists, as was at first supposed, but
by coming in contact with the rocks in her
fall.
Since writing the above, officers have ar-
rested a young man (whose name it is not
necessary to mention) on suspicion of being
concerned in the murder. He was examin-
ed, but immediately sent on board the U. S.
ship North Carolina, on board which ship he
enlisted the day the body was found, there
being no evidence to warrant his detention.
July 28, 1841—8 o'clock, P. M.
An inquisition taken at Castle Point, Ho-
boken, on the body of a female, found fasten-
ed by a rope and stone, near the shore—by a
jury of 13 men duly summoned and qualified
by Gilbert Merritt, a justice of the peace.
Alfred Cromeline duly sworn, saith that he
recognises the deceased, and was well ac-
quainted with her—that her name is Mary
C. Rogers, a resident of No. 126, Nassau
street, New York—that he has known her for
a considerable time—having boarded in her
mother's house about six months, while de-
ceased was the officiating manager of the
family, and the main support of an infirm
and aged mother, with the whole charge of
conducting the boarding house.
Cross-examined by the justice—The de-
...
murder.—Courier.
———
The Murder of Mary C. Rogers.—This
shocking affair has produced a great sensa-
tion in this city. Every one is enquiring how
it can be that a girl so well known as Mary
was, should have been conveyed to Hoboken
and murdered, and none have seen her.——
There is no doubt that several persons have
been concerned, and the impunity which
seems to attend the act, has stricken terror
into the inhabitants.
What is the police doing—are they on the qui
vive, or are they waiting for the reward? If
any thing will convince the citizens of
the immediate necessity of a day police and
a new organization of the whole police es-
tablishment, the escape of the boy murderer,
and the murder of Mary Rogers, taken from
the very centre of our city, ought to con-
vince them. The police should be under the
direction of the best talent in the city. The
present plan is all wrong.
“A FRIEND TO REFORM.”
================================================================
[Col.5. Mostly as in Republican Advocate]
From the N. Y. Express.
AN ATROCIOUS MURDER.
The murder of the unfortunate girl,
Mary Cecelia Rogers, noticed in another
...
most of persons who have walked by the
Cigar store of Anderson in Broadway,
where she was somewhat conspicious as
a vender of Cigars, whence she obtained
the sobriquet of “the Cigar girl.” This
...
the New Era, she was crossing the river to
Hoboken in a small boat with a young
man who who was paying her honorable
attention, and that having proceeded half
way over, another boat in which were 5
most complete rowdies and soaplocks
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Yesterday afternoon,
Mr. Daniel C. Payne, of 47 John-street, the young man to
whom the unfortunate Miss Rogers was engaged in mar-
riage, went to the Police Office, at the request of Justice Par-
ker, to state what information he might possess calculated to
throw light upon the mysterious disappearance and murder
of Miss R. The examination, which was long and tedious,
elicited nothing which is likely to lead to the detection of the
murderers. He states that on Sunday morning, about 10
o'clock, she called at his room and stated that she was going
to her cousin's, Mrs. Downing's, and should return in the
evening. She then left, apparently cheerful and lively as
usual. He did not go to see her in the evening, as it rained,
and the next morning her family was alarmed, and he went
in search of her, but found no tidings or trace of her till her
lifeless remains were discovered in the Hudson on the Wed-
nesday following.
By order of the Acting Mayor, Purdy, her body was yes-
terday disinterred, in order that the deceased might be more
fully identified by some of the witnesses; but decomposition
had already taken place, and no trace of the once 'beautiful
cigar girl' could be recognized in the blackened and swollen
features.
There is one point in Mr. Payne's testimony which is wor-
thy of remark. It seems he had been searching for Miss
Rogers—his betrothed—two or three days; yet when he was
informed on Wednesday evening that her body had been
found at Hoboken, he did not go to see it or inquire into the
matter—in fact, it appears that he never went at all, though
he had been there inquiring for her before. This is odd,
and should have been explained.
[Col.3]
Indictment for Murder.—Peter Kain indicted for Murder,
in killing, by stabbing with a sword cane, a woman named Cathe-
rine Riley at the corner of the 9th avenue and 36th street, on
the night of the 17th July last, was brought into Court, informed
of the indictment against him, and the case sent to the Oyer
and Terminer for trial at the September term.
The Jury were discharged for the term.
================================================================
[Col.2. Partly as in Sun]
The Hoboken Murder.
In spite of the intensity of the public feeling on
this awful outrage, nothing but conjecture is known
of the perpetration, or even of the bloody locale of the
deed. An Evening paper has published the follow-
ing communication:—
NEW YORK, Saturday, Aug. 7th, 1841.
GENTLEMEN:—If you consider what I am about to com-
...
On Sunday, the 25th of July, I was sauntering toward
evening on the banks at Hoboken. My attention was
suddenly arrested by a boat rushing across the Hudson
from New York, at great speed; and when it neared the
land, I perceived that there were in the boat six men,
and one young well-dressed female, who I felt confident,
from description, as also from a dim recollection of my
own, was the Segar Girl. Immediately as they touched
the strand, the six men and the female left the boat, and
proceeded towards the woods. I then noticed that the
men were of that class denominated “rowdies”—such
...
as if in quest of some object. The gentlemen I have allu-
ded to before, being nearest these men, one of them asked
him if they had seen a female and several men landing
from a boat? The gentlemen replied in the affirmative.
“Did you observe,” asked the same man, “if they used
any violence with her?” The gentleman answered “no.”
And then the boatmen being informed of the route the
first party took, followed after at a rapid stride—almost a
run.
The above is all I know about this affair, but I am firm-
ly persuaded in my own mind, that the young lady brought
over in the first boat was the cigar girl who was so bru-
tally murdered a few hours afterwards. I wonder the
two gentlemen have not made their experience in this
matter public—for I am sure that they must entertain the
same suspicions that I do.
On this thin affair a morning paper speculates as
follows:—
The two gentlemen alluded to in the above, are Wm. D.
Fanshaw, (nephew of Daniel Fanshaw, printer to the
American Bible and Tract Societies,) and his brother-in-
law, Mr. Thomas. We have called on Mr. Fanshaw to
ascertain the correctness of the statements in the letter,
and he informs us that they are correct in every particu-
lar.
There must be some mistake in this statement.
On the Sunday evening in question, there was a vio-
lent thunderstorm, which began before sundown, and
did not clear away till 10 o'clock, P.M. Just before
the storm many left Hoboken for the city. Two gen-
tlemen residing in Hoboken, happened to have been
at the Elysian Fields when the storm began. They
remained till 10 o'clock, when it had cleared up, and
then returned to the village by the sea shore. It was
then clear. They saw no person or boat—heard
none—every thing was quiet. Again, Mary Rogers'
face was well known to all “young men about
town” from her having been in Anderson's store. If
she had been at Hoboken on that day, she would
have been seen by dozens of persons that would have
recognised her.
The theory, theretofore, that she was carried to
Hoboken and murdered there, is not founded on the
facts of the case. All the known circumstances re-
but such an idea. In this view of the case, another
paper has the following:—
Under the present excitement, produced by the mys-
terious outrage committed upon the person of Miss Mary
Rogers, I take the liberty of submitting the following
remarks for your consideration, as from the nature of
the case they have suggested themselves to me.
It is now a matter of general supposition, that the out-
rage was perpetrated at Hoboken, from the fact of the
body being found in its immediate vicinity, and the vic-
tim having been there during the day upon which it is
conjectured the murder was committed. These opinions,
in connection with the various statements in relation to
the tragedy, tend in a great measure to fix upon Hoboken
as the scene of the bloody affair, but when we take into
consideration the following facts, together with the lo-
cation of the body when found, it serves in my opinion to
lessen the probability of the act having been committed
at the above named place, and fixes an almost equal
amount of suspicion on our city.
It is well known, that at the time the body was first dis-
covered, there was, and had been a prevalence of north
and north-easterly winds for almost a week previous.
In all such cases a very powerful current is produced,
tending down the river, strikes Glass House Point, and
so sets across with great power, to the exact neighbor-
hood in which the body was found, so that any floating
substance, under such circumstances, would naturally
find its way to the Hoboken shore, and there remain
fixed, until a change of wind, and its consequent current,
should carry it elsewhere. Now then had the murder,
as alleged, been committed at Hoboken, the body could
not possibly have left the shore such a distance, while
so strong a current was setting in against it, and conse-
quently would have been discovered at a much earlier
period.
For proof of the foregoing argument, it is only neces-
sary to point you to the numerous instances in which de-
composed substances thrown from the docks in the up-
per part of the city, are found lying upon the opposite
shores; and such is the difficulty to remove them, that it
is necessary to tow them out a considerable distance
into the stream, to keep them from the influence of this
current, and give them an opportunity to pass down to
the lower bay, and yet the body of the murdered girl
was found some two or three hundred yards from the
shore.
With this view of the case, there is (in my opinion) as
great a probability of the murder having been commit-
ted in our city as elsewhere, and there should the pur-
suits of justice be directed, for some trace of the spot
where the tragedy was enacted. E.
This is the most rational conjecture, and is corro-
borated by residents at Hoboken, who state a great
many facts, showing the cause of the current. Doc-
tor Cook, of Hoboken, thinks that a body thrown
into the river near Castle Garden, would float to-
wards Castle Point, near the place where Mary's body
was found.
Every fact tends to confirm the conjecture that
Mary Rogers was violated and murdered in this city—
and if so, how? when?—by whom? Was it not per-
petrated in some of the hundred assignation houses
which are permitted to exist by our grave adminis-
trators of criminal police? Ought not every one of
these dens to be searched at once, for traces of vio-
lence, murder and blood? More then one person
had been engaged in this horrid crime—it cannot hide
itself forever. The murder will out, but proper
means must be adopted to help it out.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
The following, from our Reporter, throws but
little light on the fate of the poor girl. It shows,
however, that the Police are not idle:—
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—Yesterday afternoon,
the body of the unfortunate girl found on the shores of
Hoboken, and supposed to be that of Mary Rogers, was
disinterred for the purpose of identification. It was
brought over under an order issued by Elijah F. Purdy,
Acting Mayor, and placed in the Dead House. Of course,
it is one mass of decomposition, and cannot be identified
except by the clothes.
The following statement was made by a man who ap-
pears to have been a sort of a lover of the unfortunate
girl.
A man of the name of Daniel Payne came to the Police
Office at the request of the magistrate, and voluntarily
made a long statement, under oath, from which we have
condensed the following facts:—
Daniel Payne had been a boarder in the house of Mrs.
Rogers since last October or November, and been so in-
timate with Mary, that they were engaged to have been
married. On the Sunday of her disappearance, Mary
knocked at the bedroom door of Payne, about 10 o'clock,
as he was making his toilet, and told him that “she was
going to Mrs. Downings,” and he replied, “very well,
Mary, I shall look out for you in the evening.” She then
appeared well and cheerful, and Payne has not seen her
since.
Payne states that he went out about 11 o'clock that
Sunday, and went straight to his brother's in Warren
street, and remained in his company until 1 P. M. Part
of these two hours were spent in the house and part at
Scott's Bazaar, Dey street. After one o'clock Payne
walked up Broadway and thence to Bickford's in James
street, and read the papers until 2 o'clock—then to Ful-
ton street and dined at an eating house. About 3 P.M.
Payne went home and lay down till 6 o'clock, when he
walked to the Battery. As he left he says he met his
brother with his children, spoke to them at the gate and
parted. On reaching Ann street, Payne saw the storm
gathering, and walked to Bickford's in James street,
staid until 9 o'clock, and retired for the night.
Payne says he thought the omnibusses run on Sunday,
and should have waited for Mary had the night been
clear. Payne says he never knew of Mary keeping com-
pany with any person but himself, nor of any male per-
son calling on her casually. Her habits were domestic,
and she was not in the habit of leaving the house except
to visit her relations.
On Sunday evening about 9 o'clock, Mrs. Hayes, aunt
of Mary, said to Payne, “it is surprising that she, Mary,
has not returned home,” but added that her mother had
concluded, that she was prevented by the storm, and had
staid with Mrs. Downing all night. Nothing further
transpired that night.
[Col.3]
The next morning at breakfast, Mary's mother said
that Mrs. Hayes had gone home to her house to see if
Mary was there. She returned and told she was not
there. Nothing more transpired until dinner, when
Payne says he heard for the first time that Mary had not
been heard of either at Mrs. Downing's or at Mrs. Hayes.
He then commenced a search for her himself. First
went to a Mrs. Pitcher's, at Harlem, and ascertained she
had not been there—next went to Williamsburg, without
success, and next visited Hoboken, Staten Island, and
the South Ferry without getting any tidings. On Tues-
day put an advertisement in the paper and called
on the keeper of a public house at the corner of
Duane and William streets. Went there in consequence
of a note having been received, stating that a girl had
been to Collins', with a man, on Sunday afternoon, and
staid there three hours. This proved not to answer
the description of Mary, and Payne went again to Hobo-
ken, and made more particular inquiries—asked several
people at the ferry house, and at three different places
near the landing, and went along the shore to the Ely-
sian Fields, but without success. He returned to the
city, and shortly after heard from Mr. Luthur, of No. 90
Chambers street, that Mary's body had been found at
Hoboken, and an inquest was to be held. Mr. Payne did
not go to Hoboken, in consequence of this information,
but a Mr. Cromelin did, and he said it was the body of
Mary, that the inquest was held, and the body buried.
After this, it would appear that no further inquiries
were made until the press took the matter in hand. Of
course Mr. Payne was not detained, as no suspicion
rests on him.
—————
Public Meeting in Relation to the Late
Murder.
A numerous and highly respectable meeting was
held last night, at the house of James C. Stoneall, 29
Ann street, in relation to the above horrible affair.
Upon motion of William H. Attree, the meeting
was called to order, by the appointment of Roder-
ick N. Morrison to the chair; Thomas Bell, Vice
President, and Richard Adams Locke and Hugh
Pattinson, as secretaries.
W. H. Attree then offered the following preamble
and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:—
At a preliminary meeting held at the house of James
C. Stoneall, 29 Ann street, on the 11th day of August,
1841, to take measures for procuring the arrest and con-
viction of any or all those concerned in the above mur-
der, the following preamble and resolutions were adop-
ted:—
Whereas, the members of this meeting view with
alarm and horror the circumstances connected with the
shocking murder of Mary C. Rogers. They also recol-
lect, with deep regret, that within the last few years
several murders has been committed in this city and
neighborhood, for the perpetration of which no one has
been brought to punishment. And without desiring to
cast unnecessary censure upon any of the authorities,
they deprecate the apparent apathy that has character-
ized the Chief Magistrates of the States of New Jersey
and New York, and the authorities of the county of
New York, in not offering a reward for the arrest of any
or all those concerned in the late murder—and believing
that in the present inefficiently organized state of our
Police Department, that little will be done towards de-
tecting the authors or perpetrators of this awful crime,
without a reward:
Be it theretofore,
Resolved, That a Committee of Twenty be appointed
by this meeting, to collect subscriptions for a reward to
be placed in the hands of a Treasurer to be appointed in
like manner, the reward to be paid on the apprehension
and conviction of any one of the murderers, with power
to add to their numbers.
Resolved, That the same committee be called a “Com-
mittee of Safety,” with power to act in aid of the public
authorities, and to take such measures as they shall
deem proper (not conflicting with the foregoing reso-
lution) to effect the detection of the murderer or mur-
derers.
Resolved, That we earnestly request our fellow citi-
zens to convene in their respective wards, and orga-
nize as they shall deem proper, to co-operate with the
aforesaid Committee in carrying out the object of this
meeting.
Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be given to
the public press of this city, for having repeatedly called
public attention to this horrible case; and that all the
editors be requested again to aid the Committee in pub-
lishing these proceedings.
Upon motion of W. H. Attree, Mr. James C. Stone-
all was appointed the Treasurer.
The following gentlemen were then appointed:—
COMMITTEE.
Caleb S. Woodhull, James Nesbitt,
Revo C. Hance, William H. Attree,
William Thompson, J. C. Stonehall,
Thomas Bell, R. H. Morrison,
Robert Sinclain, Mr. Barton,
Robt. Elton, Vair Clirehugh,
Hugh Pattinson, Amos Leeds,
William C. Carl, John Lomas,
Dudley Pearce, Aaron Clark,
E. R. Yale, Charles H. Lovejoy,
Daniel D. Howard, John Cleveland,
Leonard T. Snithen, E. G. Paige.
Mr. Attree then stated, that within the last few
hours he had personally waited upon the following
gentlemen, who had severally agreed to pay the
sums placed opposite to their respective names, upon
the arrest and conviction of any one of the murder-
ers, independent of any reward that might be offer-
ed by the authorities of either State or coanty.
The reading of this list was received with loud
cheers.
The meeting was eloquently addressed by Messrs.
Morrison, Bell, Locke, Attree, &c. &c.
The Chairman then gave notice that a meeting of
the Committee would be called for Thursday (this
evening) at 8 o'clock.
The following resolution has been put and car-
ried:—
Resolvd, That the proceedings be published in all the
city papers.
Upon motion the meeting then adjourned.
RODERICK N. MORRISON, President.
THOMAS BELL, Vice President.
RICHARD ADAMS LOCKE, } Secretaries.
HUGH PATTINSON, }
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, August 12, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1]
GREAT DOINGS.—“WHERE'S BILL WILEY?”—Now
we can tell; for this same Bill Wiley, otherwise Wil-
liam Wiley, Esq, Justice of the 5th and 8th Ward
Courts, was yesterday arrested, on a bench warrant,
and taken before his Honor the Recorder. The
charge against the worthy Justice is, for receiving
valuables, knowing them to have been stolen from
the premises of the President and Directors of the
Frederick County Bank, Md. Justice Wiley imme-
diately proffered Joseph Tucker and Robert Smith,
Esquires, ex-Aldermen of the city, as sureties that
he would appear at the next term of the Sessions,
and these gentlemen having all bound themselves,
severally and individually, in $10,000 each, the Jus-
tice was set at liberty. Officers A. M. C. Smith, and
Jeffers of Baltimore, acting for the Bank Directors,
had the Honor of effecting the arrest of the renowned
“Bill Wiley, of that ilk.” The trial will elicit some
most superlative roguery.
—————
...
—————
City Intelligence.
...
YET ANOTHER MYSTERY.—Justice Merritt has hunted
up the young lady, who was taken out of a boat on the
North River by the crew of another boat. And this young
lady says that one of her captors took her to Hoboken,
and tried to ravish her, but did not succeed, and then let
her go. She is only fifteen years of age, and the captor
had No.27 on his dress. This appears to be a queer story,
for Hoboken is not a solitude of a Sunday afternoon.
[Col.2]
HEAVENLY HOBOKEN.—Millions can testify that a
jaunt to pleasant and airy Hoboken, contributes more
certainly to good health than any place within the range
of their knowledge. The beautiful objects which are
presented to the eye from the Hoboken House, which
stands on a beautiful eminence, and only a few yards
from the ferry, are calculated to excite admiration, and
create the most agreeable impressions on the mind. The
warm and hearty receptions which visiters receive from
the proprietors of the house—the matchless and far-famed
Charles and George Perries, must ever delight and happi-
fy. The grand saloon resembles paradise, and the rich
and sumptuous delicacies it contains would afford a feast
for the gods. With such powerful motives in view, who,
that has a heart or soul, will live one hour without in-
dulging in so innocent, delightful, and healthy a pleasure
as an excursion to the Mansion, the shades, the groves,
and the walks, of the indefatigable and enterprising Per-
ries. ONE, IN BEHALF OF MILLIONS.
================================================================
[Col.3]
If there is wanting any evidence of the utter inef-
ficiency of our present Police system, the annexed
statement, which is offered without comment, will
go far towards convincing the most sceptical.
We yesterday briefly mentioned the case of a girl,
who while in company with one young man in a
boat, was taken thence by a gang of young rowdies,
who took her to Hoboken. It was yesterday under-
stood that no violence had been offered to her, but
since that we have seen the affidavit of the girl, which
is to this effect. On the 25th of July, (Sunday,)
while in a boat on the Hudson with one young man,
another boat came alongside, in which were seven
young men averaging about seventeen years of age,
who beat and maltreated her companion, and forcibly
took her from the boat, landed her at Hoboken and
then took her into the woods, where she was treated
with the most brutal violence by the party. She
was then put back into the boat, and landed in this
city at a late hour. Every one of these hopeful gal-
lows birds had on their braces, backs, or bosoms the
figures 27. Of course they could not be members of
the Fire Department, and the question is who are
they. The girl does not know the name of one of
them. If they are volunteer boys, the quicker they
are turned adrift entirely by any company to which
they may have fastened themselves, the better. We
should judge it might be for the reputation of the
company.
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—Perhaps not the
least extraordinary feature of this horrid outrage is
the fact, that notwithstanding the most strenuous
efforts on the part of our authorities, not one trace of
the unfortunate girl has ever been discovered after
the door of her mother's house closed upon her forever.
Even up to this moment it is not fully known that
the body of the girl found at Hoboken is that of Miss
Rogers, that having been identified only by Mr. A.
Crommelin, who had boarded with her mother some
six months.
Yesterday Mr. Daniel Payne voluntarily came to
the Police office, for the purpose of being examined
and of shedding, if possible, some light upon the
darkness that now envelopes her fate. He states
that he had known Mary since October or Novem-
ber last, during which time, up to the past few days
he had boarded with her mother at 126 Nassau street.
That the acquaintance with her soon grew into a
warmer feeling, and they had been engaged to be
married some time previous to her final and myster-
ious disappearance.
On the morning of Sunday the 25th July, about
10 o'clock, while he was in his room shaving, she
came up stairs and knocked at his door. He opened
it and found her dressed for a walk, and she said she
was going to see Mrs. Downing, an acquaintance, re-
siding at No. 68 James street. He said very well, he
would come for her in the evening—she then appear-
ed as happy and cheerful as usual, and started off and
form that moment, all trace of her has been lost.
Mr. Payne stated that she had been up to Mrs.
Downing's two or three times, upon which occasions
he would go in the evening to the corner of Broad-
way and Ann streets and watch for her in the Omni-
buss. Upon this occasion he did no go to seek for
her, as a violent storm sprang up, and he felt sure
that she would not attempt to leave Mrs. D.'s that
night.
The witness then went on and gave a very detail-
ed and circumstantial account of the manner in
which he had passed that Sunday, after parting with
Mary at the door of his room. In the early part of
that evening, while he was up in his room, Mrs.
Hayes, an aunt of Mary's, came up to enquire about
her, saying that Mrs. R. was very uneasy; but he
told her where she had gone, and that from the na-
ture of the weather he did not expect her home that
night.
The next morning while at work in his shop, he
first heard the intelligence that she had not been
either to Mrs. Downings or to Mrs. Hayes. He
then set to work to discover her if possible, and
went to every place in and out of the city, where
there was any possibility of hearing of her. He went
to Hoboken, to Harlem, to Staten Island, Williams-
burgh, and in fact every where, and he caused ad-
vertisements to be inserted in the papers, noticing
her disappearance. Nothing, however, has to this
moment been heard, tending to throw any light
upon her dreadful end.
It will be seen that the testimony of Mr. Payne is
unimportant, except as far as it discloses her inten-
tions of visiting a friend on the fatal Sunday.
The body of the unfortunate girl was brought to
this city yesterday afternoon, upon requisition of the
authorities here, and the shell enclosing it was open-
ed, in order that Mr. Payne or any others might have
an opportunity of identifying her. The body how-
ever was so much decomposed, that recognition of
the features was impossible; but Mr. Payne thought
that the hat in the coffin was hers. One shoe only
was on, the other being in the possession of Mr. Crom-
melin. Such of the clothes as were left upon the
body, (for she was buried with every thing on,) are to
be sent to her mother to know if she can identify
them. It is pretty certain, however, that the body is
that of the unfortunate Mary. As yet, nothing has
been developed, that can at all implicate any person
as being concerned in the horrid outrage. Further
examination will take place this day.
[Col.5. Mostly as in Herald]
PUBLIC MEETING IN RELATION TO THE LATE MUR-
DER.
A numerous and highly respectable meeting was held last
night, at the house of James C. Stoneall, 29 Ann street, in rela-
tion to the above horrible affair.
...
================================================================
[Col.7. A changed copy from Tribune]
A Horrible Murder.—On Sunday
morning week, Miss Cecilia Rodgers,
(who formerly attended John Anderson's
tobacco store in Broadway, and was
known as the “The beautiful cigar girl”)
left her home, 126 Nassau st., for a
walk; and at the corner of Theatre
Alley she was met and accosted by a
young man, apparently an acquaintance,
...
the body of Miss Rogers, and it was ev-
ident that she had been horribly out-
...
city since the murder was committed.—
N. Y. Tribune. ———
Later.—Some doubt is expressed now,
(says the N. Y. Express of Monday)
whether Miss Rogers was murdered at
Hoboken, or in this city. It is supposed
that she may have been decoyed into
some den this side the river, violated and
then murdered, her violator subsequently
rowing her body over to Hoboken where
it was thrown into the river.
Mr. Justice Merritt has said it was a
matter of great regret that the body
was not exposed for a day or two,.to give
an opportunity to those who had seen
her on Sunday, the 25th ult., to identify
her, and perhaps to point out and des-
cribe with whom she was, and under
what circumstances she was seen. It
appears that a rope was tied round her
neck, over the top of her bonnet and
round her body in such a way that it
could easily be carried by means of it,
and Justiue Matsell is of opinion, from
the nature of the ties, knots, &c., that
they must have been made by seafaring
men.
———
A Steam organ.—The Belgium pa-
pers announce the invention by M. Sax,
of a steam organ—a monster instrument,
with vibrating plates, (huge steel bars, to
which immense pressure alone can com-
municate vibration)—capable of being
heard over a whole province.
================================================================
[Col.3]
A PUBLIC MEETING was held last night, and a com-
mittee appointed, to receive subscriptions for a reward to
be offered for the apprehension of the murderers of Ma-
ry Cecilia Rogers. Resolutions were passed, censur-
ing the Authorities for not moving in the matter.
———
[Col.4]
AT THE POLICE OFFICE, Daniel C. Payne, of 47
John street, the young man to whom Mary C. Rogers
was engaged, appeared, by request, to give what in-
formation he possessed as to the fate of the unfortu-
nate girl. His examination, which was long, elicit-
ed nothing of importance.
The body was disinterred, and is in the dead house
for examination.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Yester-
terday a meeting was held at Mr. Stoneall's, at
which a committee was appointed to collect sub-
scriptions with the view of offering a reward for
the detection of the murderers of Miss Rogers.
We must confess that we share in the surprise
which has been expressed that the public authori-
ties have not promptly offered a large reward for the
discovery of the perpetrators of a crime which has
filled the community with horror.
The sum of $445, we understand, was subscri-
bed, which will be paid upon the conviction of the
murderers, aside from any reward which the civil
authorities may offer.
In another part of the paper is a report of the ex-
amination of a friend of Miss Rogers in relation
to the circumstances under which she was last
seen.
[Col.3]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—The body of
this unfortunate girl was yesterday, at the request
of our city authorities, disinterred and brought
from Jersey to this city, and deposited in the dead
house in the Park. And difficult would it be for
the most imaginative mind to conceive a spectacle
more horrible or humiliating to humanity. There
lay, what was but a few days back, the image of its
Creator, the loveliest of his works, and the tene-
ment of an immortal soul, now a blackened and
decomposed mass of putrefaction, painfully dis-
gusting to sight and smell. Her skin which had
been unusually fair was now black as that of a ne-
gro. Her eyes so sunk in her swollen face as to
have the appearance of being violently forced be-
yond the sockets, and her mouth, which “no
friendly hand had closed in death,” was distended
as wide as the ligaments of the jaws would admit,
and wore the appearance of a person who had died
from suffocation or strangulation. The remainder
of her person was alike one mass of putrefaction
and corruption, on which the worms were revelling
at their will. And as if nothing should be want-
ing to send the moral home to men's hearts, and
render it more painfully impressive, the young man
who was to have been, in a few days, married to
her, now stood beside the rough box in which all
that remained of her he loved was lying. Her
whom but a few days back, he had seen, “exulting
in her youth,” filled with life, hope and animation,
whom he so ardently wished to make his wedded
wife, to fold to his bosom, to press to “his heart
of hearts,” now lay before him an inanimate mass
of matter, so hideous, horrible and offensive, that
the bare idea of coming in contact with it was al-
most sufficient to make the gorge rise. The re-
mains even of her dress, in which she had been
buried, were already so discolored and half rotten,
as to render it almost impossible to be identified,
and was so impregnated with the effluvia from her
person, that scarcely any person would venture to
touch or examine it.
The chief object in bringing the body over to this
city, was that it might be identified beyond all
doubt, which it appears had not been hitherto done,
at least to the satisfaction of our city authorities,
until yesterday. Amongst the strangest and most
mysterious circumstances of the murder, is perhaps
the fact that from the hour she last left her mo-
ther's door, to the time when her body was found
floating in the river, no trace whatever of her has
been discovered, nor can any person be found who,
for one moment saw her, in that interim.
Justices Parker and Merritt and Mr. Calender,
clerk of the Police Office, attended at the dead
house, for several hours yesterday evening for the
purpose of further examining the matter, but they
were unable to elicit more than had been already
known. In the course of the evening a coffin was
procured, into which the unfortunate girl's remains
were removed from the rough box in which they
had been buried, and they still remain in the dead
house in the Park.
The following is all the evidence which the Po-
lice have been as yet able to obtain on the subject.
CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Daniel C. Payne,
of No. 47 John street, cork cutter, went yesterday
to the Police office, at the request of Justice Par-
ker, to give any information he might possess, or
which might tend to throw any light upon the dis-
appearance of Miss Mary C. Rogers, said to have
been murdered at Hoboken, and made the follow-
ing statements:—“I have known Mary C. Rogers
since October or November last, at which time I
went to board at her mother's, at No. 126 Nassau
street. During my stay there, (which was until
within a few days of the time Mrs. Rogers gave up
keeping boarders,) myself and Miss Rogers formed
an attachment for each other, the result of which
was that we were engaged to be married. The last
time I saw her was on Sunday morning, the 25th
July last.
About the hour of ten o'clock on that morning, I
was busy shaving myself in my room, when she
came and knocked at my door; upon which I open-
ed the same, when she told me she was going to
Mrs. Downing's; when I replied, very well, Ma-
ry, I shall look out for you in the evening. At this
time she appeared cheerful and lively as usual.—
During the time that I had been acquainted with
her she had been to Mrs. Downing's some three or
four times to my knowledge; and two occasions as
she returned from there, I had waited for her about
dark, on the corner of Broadway and Ann street,
until she alighted from an omnibus, and then walk-
ed home with her.
Mrs. Downing lives in Jane street, No. 68. I
did not go to the corner of Ann street and Broad-
way on this occasion to wait for her, as I had done
before, on account of a very heavy storm coming on
about dusk, and I feeling in my own mind that she
would not leave Mrs. Downing's that night, but re-
main there, as she had done on another occasion.—
Upon leaving the house that morning, which was
about 11 o'clock, I walked directly to my brother's,
John Payne's, in Warren street, No. 33, and re-
mained in his company until 1 o'clock part of the
time in the house and part of the time out. When
out of the house, we went to Scott's Bazaar, in Dey
street, where we remained until about one, when
we left there and walked up to Broadway and
parted company near St. Paul's Church. I then
walked up into James street, at Mr. Bickford's,
and read the newspapers until about 2 o'clock, and
then came down, and took my dinner at Goslin's
eating house, in Fulton street. I then went home,
and at 3 o'clock was lying on my bed, and remain-
ed there until about 6 o'clock, when I dressed my-
self and walked down to the Battery, and remain-
ed there until about a quarter past seven o'clock.
When I left, my brother was coming off the Batte-
ry with his children, to whom I spoke for a mo-
ment or so, and then parted. I walked up Broad-
way, and when near Ann street, noticed a storm
was fast coming up, and thinking it was too early
to go to bed, I walked up to Bickford's, in James
street, and remained there until nine o'clock, and
then went home and retired for the night. I was
under the impression that the omnibuses run on
Sundays, and had the weather been clear, I should
have waited for Mary on the corner of Ann street
and Broadway, as usual. I have never known Ma-
ry, since I have been in the house, to keep compa-
ny with any person but myself, and do not know of
her ever having any male person to casually call
upon her.
Her habits were very domestic, she scarcely
ever leaving the house, and I do not think that she
ever left the house in company with any other per-
son but myself.
Daniel Payne, on his further examination, said:
—“On my return home on Sunday evening, about
the hour of 9 o'clock, I was asked by Mrs. Hayes,
the aunt of Mary, who was in the house, and who
had come there after I left at 6 o'clock, where Mary
was, when I replied that she had gone to Mrs.
Downing's, when Mrs. Hayes replied that her
mother was very much alarmed about her, and had
gone to her house, (that is Mrs. Hayes' house) to
enquire for her. Nothing further upon the subject
of Mary's absence then passed between us, except-
[Col.4]
ing that Mrs. Hayes made the remark, that she
supposed that she would be home in the morning.
Mrs. Hayes then offered me a light to take to my
room. I declined it, stating that I always went in
the dark. When I took my breakfast on the fol-
lowing morning, Mrs. Rogers remarked that Mrs.
Hayes had gone to her house to see if Mary was
there, and was to return immediately and let me
know. I then went to work, presuming, if all was
not right, that they would let me know at the shop.
I heard nothing more until I returned home to
my dinner, and then heard that she had not been
either at Mrs. Downing's or Mrs. Hayes', at which
the family were much alarmed. I then commenced
searching for her, and in the first place went to
Mrs. Pitcher's, at Harlem, and made enquiry there
for her, when they informed me she had not been
there. This was the only place that I knew of her
being acquainted out of the family. I next went
to Williamsburg to search for her. I did not know
any one there, and had no reason for going there
any more than any other place, but thought I must
make a general enquiry, and the next day proceed-
ed to Hoboken, also to Staten Island, and also
crossed over the South Ferry, and enquired of dif-
ferent persons at all those places, describing her to
them. On the evening of the same day, I carried
an advertisement to the Sun newspaper, respect-
ing her absence, &c. On the following day, Wed-
nesday, I made further enquiry and searched for
her, and first of all called upon a keeper of a public
house, on the corner of Duane and William streets,
kept by Callas, owing to a note having been received
at the house, by the mother, without signature, that
they could tell something about her, when on enquiry
I ascertained that a young girl had called there and
remained in company with a young man for three
hours; but the description of this girl did not at all
answer the description of Mary, and not only so,
the girl who was there they stated was in the prac-
tice of chewing snuff while she was there, and was
dressed in blue. I then proceeded to Hoboken, it
being between 9 and 10 o'clock, and made inquiry
about Hoboken, and also along the shore, as far as
the Elysian Fields House. I did not make any in-
quiry at the last mentioned house, but did before I
got there. I inquired for her at the ferry, and three
times between the ferry and the house. These in-
quiries were made of two different persons whom I
casually met on the road, and at a public house
close to Van Buskirk's, but obtained no trace of her
whatever. I then returned to the city about 1 or 2
o'clock, and in the afternoon went to my store, but
did not go to work, and returned home again about
7 o'clock.
After having been in the house a quarter of an
hour, a gentleman, whose name I was informed by
him was Luther, and residing at No. 90 Chambers
street, came into the dining room, where myself
and others were sitting, and informed me that a
body had been found by him in the water near Ho-
boken, which he supposed, form the description of
the dress, to be the body of Miss Rogers, who had
been advertised in the newspapers. I did not go
to Hoboken to identify the body at that time nor
since.
Before I was out of my bed on the following
morning, Mr. Crommelin came and informed the
family that he had been to Hoboken, and that the
body there found was the body of Mary. I think
it was about half past six (he afterwards said five
o'clock) in the morning when I arose. Mr. Crom-
melin also informed us that the inquest had been
held on the night before, which did away with the
necessity for myself or the family going to Hobo-
ken.—Journal of Commerce.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Mysterious Murder in Hoboken.—
An inquest was held at Castle Point,
Hoboken, on the 28th ult., on the body
of Mary C. Rogers, for some time
known as the 'beautiful cigar girl' in a
store in Chatham street, in New York,
who, from the decision of the jury,
came to her death by violence commit-
ted by some person or persons unknown,
sufficient to cause her death. The de-
ceased had been absent from her home
in New York since some time on the
preceeding Sunday, and appears to have
borne an irreproachable character.—
Her body was found in the river where
it was supposed to have been thrown,
after the desperate act of violence was
committed.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—There was another long
examination in this case at the Police Office yesterday, from
8 A. M. to 7 P. M. which resulted in little more than the
identification of body found in the river near Hoboken on
the 28th as that of Mary C. Rogers, who left her home on
the morning of Sunday the 25th. Alfred Cromeline, who had
boarded in the family and was at one time attached to Miss
R., swore positively that the body he saw at Hoboken was
hers, and produced one of her shoes, a sleeve and skirt of
her dress, part of her pantalettes, &c. which he took from
the body and brought home to her mother. Mrs. Phœbe
Rogers also identified the dress taken from the body found
at Hoboken as that which her daughter wore away on the
morning of the 25th. Cromeline, it appears, had been a fa-
vored suitor of Miss R. but was finally discarded for Daniel
Payne, the substance of whose testimony we gave yesterday.
Cromeline had told Mrs. and Miss R. that whenever they
should be in trouble, to send for him. A note from Mrs. Ro-
gers (in the hand-writing of Mary) asking him to call had
been left for him the Friday before Sunday the 25th, but
he did not go, as he had been coldly received when last there.
On Saturday the 24th, (as A. W. Padley testifies,) the name
of Miss Rogers was written on Cromeline's slate, and a rose
left in the key-hole of his door. Cromeline, it appears, went
over to Hoboken on Wednesday afternoon, staid till late at
night, during which time the inquest was held and the body
temporarily buried, (as the weather was very hot, and it had
become very offensive;) and when he started to come home,
the boats had ceased running. He walked round to Jersey
City, and found the boats there stopped also, and was obliged
to stay over night. This accounts for the burial of the body
without being seen by her mother or Payne.
William H. Kiekuck, the sailor, was again rigidly exam-
ined, but nothing elicited to implicate him at all in the affair.
Henry Mallin and James M. Boullard, of 333 and 331
Broadway, who first discovered the body floating in the water
near Hoboken, at 3 o'clock, P. M. of Wednesday, 28th,
were examined, and testified that no jewelry or rings were
on the body when found, though Miss Rogers wore such
away. There was no rope or other fastening about the body.
These were all the facts elicited of any moment. The ex-
amination will be continued from day to day until the mur-
derers are discovered. The Police, under the direction of
the Mayor and Recorder, are doing all that men can do
to ferret out the criminals. Any person who saw Miss
Rogers any where after leaving her mother's house on the
morning of the 25th, is earnestly requested to communicate
the fact to the Police Office.
———
[Col.3]
COURT OF SESSIONS, August 12.—Before the Recorder,
Judges Lynch and Noah, and Aldermen Benson and Williams.
...
In the case of Madame Restell, the Court remarked that they
had received information that the case had been laid before the
Supreme Court, but that the Court had not yet received any or-
der from the Supreme Court for a stay of proceedings. If the
Court did not receive such order by the first day of the next
term, they should proceed to the sentence of the prisoner.
[Col.5]
☞ Public Information demands it.—The life with
farther particulars relative to the Murder of Mary C. Rogers, the
Cigar Girl, with a full length Portrait, taken from real life, will be
published at the Sunday Times office, 31 Ann-street. Also, the evi-
dence of Mr. D. Payne, who was engaged to be married to the de-
ceased, in which evidence many curious circumstances transpire.
Price, 3 cents. au13 1t*
================================================================
[Col.2]
Reported for the Courier and Enquirer.
POLICE.—Thursday.
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—The Magistrates
and clerks were occupied yersterday in examining wit-
nesses in this exciting case. But by reference to the
testimony annexed, it will be seen that nothing new
or useful has been elicited—all doubts as to the identity
of the unfortunate girl are now set at rest, and the
only desideratum now is to discover if possible her
brutal murderers. To this end, we in common with
all the city papers have been requested to call pub-
lic attention to this fact—Mary on Sunday said she
was going to Mrs. Downing's in Jane street. Her
most direct route to that quarter of the city, would be
up Broadway to Chamber street, down Chamber to
Hudson, and up Hudson to Jane street, and we have
been devised to ask of any person who may have
seen her on that day, to call at the Police Office, and
give information as to where abouts she was so seen.
Once a single trace of her is discovered, the officers
will follow it up, and we think we may safely say,
that if they once only hear of her alive after she left
her mother's house, a discovery will inevitably follow,
of the inhuman murderers.
The examinations held yesterday, it will be seen,
shed no light upon the mystery, but the apathy which
has heretofore marked the course of her relations
and friends, and of the man to whom she was engag-
ed, is almost past credence. When they were in-
formed by Mr. Crommelin, who was comparatively
a stranger, that Mary's body had been found at Ho-
boken, not one of them took the pains to cross the
river, and take a last look at her remains. They took
this stranger's word that her body should be cared
for, and beyond that they seemed to have no care.—
Even Payne made no attempt to see her body, and in
fact, could not have positively known up to yester-
day, whether the girl to whom he was soon to be
married, was dead or alive. He heard that she was
dead—that she had been brutally outraged and mur-
dered, and he was satisfied. Even the last offices
were left to be paid to her remains by a stranger. No
parent, relation or friend was there to see her consign-
ed to her grave, and she was buried into her coffin,
if the box that contained her, can be so called, with-
out any regard to propriety, to decency, or humani-
ty. The veriest pauper that was ever thrown upon
charity would have been buried in a more decent
manner than was Mary C. Rogers. We learn that
it is now contemplated to have a public funeral.
It is but just to the magistrates and officers to
state, that they have thus far shown the most untir-
ing zeal in their efforts to ferret out the authors of
the outrage, and we are safe in predicting that if they
[Col.3]
once obtain a single clue, the rest will be soon trac-
ed out, and the murderers be brought to punishment.
———
[Annexed is the evidence taken yesterday.]
Alfred Crommelin, 19 John street, says that he
went to Mrs. P. Rogers 126 Nassau street to board,
on 7th December, 1840, and remained there till
about the first day of June last, and during that time,
a daughter of Mrs. R., Mary Cecilia had the charge
of the whole house. He did not visit the house after
he took away his baggage.
About three days before 25th July, Mrs. R. or
Mary called to see him every day, and left a note
signed by Mrs. R., although the note was written by
Mary, requesting him to call on them in Nassau st.,
which he did not do, although he intended to do so
on Sunday the 25th. He did not call for this
reason—that Payne who was addressing Mary, was
a dissipated man, and the family treated him very
coldly; and on reflection he determined to stay at
home and did so, on the 25th, all day. Archibald
Padley staid in the same house in John street all
day. In the evening they went to the battery, thence
to Atlantic Garden, and thence to 127 Cedar st.,
where he slept.
On Monday and Tuesday he heard that Mary was
missing, and on Wednesday he saw the advertise-
ment for her, and when he saw this he thought there
was something serious about it, as he thought she
was at Mrs. Downings or Mrs. Hays. He then felt
sorry that he had not gone to see them on Sunday
as he had intended, owing to the circumstance that
when he left Mrs. Rogers he told Mary he was sorry
for the step she was about taking, and that if she ever
was in trouble to call on him. He then (on Wednes-
day) went to Mrs. R.'s and saw her and Dan Payne.
Payne left the house as witness came in, which he
thought very singular. Witness asked Mrs. R. what
sent him off in such a hurry, and she said he had
gone to Bellevue to look for Mary. Witness after
hearing the story from Mrs. R. came to the conclu-
sion that Mary had been forcibly detained in some as-
signation house, or some other place, and came im-
mediately to the Police Office and intended to have
seen young Hays, the officer, knowing there was
such a man by reputation as an able officer, and on
enquiring did not see him. Then went to a tavern
near the Shakspeare Hotel, as he understood that
they received a note that Mary had been seen there
on Sunday, 25th July. I understood that a girl had
been there, from the Landlord Alman, about 2 o'clock
which did not answer Mary's description. He then
went down to Mrs. Rogers, and told them he was
going over to Hoboken to look for her, which he did
that afternoon, 28th July, in company with Arch'd
Padley. Went the river walk up along shore, and
saw a number of people standing on the shore, asked
the cause and received for answer that it was the body
of a drowned female; on looking at the person so
drowned recognized the body to be that of Miss Mary
C. Rogers. Remained with the body all the after-
noon, until the Coroner had taken an inquest, which
was at nearly 9 o'clock at night.
Witness took a part of the skirt of her dress and a
piece from off her sleeve. The Doctor who was with
the Coroner, gave him the flowers form the inside and
outside of Mary's hat, a garter, the bottom of her pan-
talette, a shoe and a lock of curl of her hair, which he
brought over to Mary's mother, and all of which were
recognized by her and the family. The body was
found a little above the cave at Hoboken. The ferry
being at this time (nearly 11 at night,) closed, he walk-
ed to Jersey city, and found that also closed, when
he slept there and crossed early in the morning. He
re-crossed the next day, at the request of Mrs. R. to
Hoboken, having the evening previous made an ar-
rangement with the Coroner and Dr. Cook to meet
them for the purpose of a further examination. Dr.
C. had written a note to Dr. Beck of N. Y. to meet
them there, but he did not come.
When he first saw the body he cut the sleeve open
and rubbed her arm for the purpose of identifying her,
and made use of ever proper means for that purpose.
He further says that at the meeting with the Coroner
and Dr. Cook, on the following morning, it was
deemed necessary, in consequence of the great heat
of the weather, to inter the body temporarily, subject
to a future examination, which was done at two feet
from the surface, and in a double coffin.
Henry Mallin and James M. Bowland, who first
discovered the body floating in the river, were also
examined, and state under oath, that the body was
free from rope or cords of any kind, and that she had
no rings, or breastpin, or jewelry of any kind about
her.
William Kurkuk, who has before been mentioned,
being the sailor from the North Carolina, was ex-
amined, but his evidence had no possible bearing on
the case, he not having seen her since the 3d of July
last. He has been discharged, and was sent on board
of his vessel again.
The mother, aunt, and an intimate friend of Marys
were yesterday at the office, and immediately recog-
nized the clothes which had been taken from the cof-
fin, which was brought from Hoboken yesterday, as
belonging to Mary C. Rogers, thus setting at rest for-
ever all doubts as to the identity of the unfortunate
girl.
By reference to Mr. Commelin's statement, it will
be seen that he says Mrs. Rogers or Mary called on
three different days, prior to the 25th July, to see him.
That is explained by Mrs. Rogers, who states that she
went to him to sell a due bill for $52, which a man
who had boarded with her, had given to her in pay-
ment. She had no other object in seeing him.
Archibald Padley, of No. 19 John street, says, that
he has a room in the same story of the house as Mr.
Crommelin—that they slept there on Saturday night,
and on Sunday night Mr. Crommelin slept at his
brother-in-laws in Cedar street. This witness cor-
roborates Mr. Crommelin's statement in every par-
ticular, as to his conduct, the finding and identifying
the body. On the 23d July, Crommelin showed
witness a note from Mrs. Rogers, requesting him to
call at her house, but the note did not state upon
what business she wished to see him. On Saturday,
24th July, he saw the name of Miss Rogers written
on Mr. C.'s slate, and at the same time he saw a rose
put in the key hole of his door.
This was the amount of Mr. Padley's testimony,
and as will be seen, is entirely unimportant, except
to corroborate that of Mr. Crommelin, and thus the
affair remains at present.
At a late hour last evening, His Honor the Mayor
and Justice Parker, were both engaged in examining
witnesses, who had been brought before them in the
evening, but their evidence was of immaterial import.
No new arrests have been made, nor has any fact as
yet been developed, which can in any way add light
to the mystery.
The only case at this office yesterday, except that
of Mary C. Rogers, worth notice, was that of two
men named Hoasey and Kennedy, who were arrested
by officer Lounsberry, having in their possession a
cow which they had stolen, and for which an owner
is wanted at the Police office.
================================================================
[Col.1]
MORE EXPLANATION WANTED.—The “Evening
Star” says that the statement of Mr. Payne, respect-
ing Mary Rogers, is very singular, and requires more
explanation. This is very true. More explanation
is wanted.
[Col.2]
UNPARALLELED ATROCITY.—Moses Y. Beach, the
poor drivelling vagabond, who keeps the penny Sun
in grease and hot corn, makes a savage attack upon
the humane meeting which was held on Wednesday
evening at Stoneall's, for the purpose of making sub-
scriptions to offer a reward for the murderer of Mary
C. Rogers. Beach is not alone losing his penny
subscribers and advertisers by dozens, scores, and
hundreds, but he loses his senses by wholesale. He
had long since lost his character—and very soon he
will lose the last handful of his own wool, by tear-
ing it off his head in pure vexation. We pity the
poor family of this unmitigated rascal. We shall
have to raise a subscription for them one of these
days. N. B.—Beach subscribed $2 to the Stone-
all subscription. Who did the fellow cheat out of
that sum?
—————
...
—————
ASK HIM.—A correspondent states that, a young
man, named Canter, at the Journal of Commerce,
was a suitor of Mary C. Rogers, and was in the con-
stant habit of walking out with her. He was se-
verely beaten about a year ago by three or four ri-
vals, in consequence of visiting her. He has not as
yet been questioned about who the others were in
the habit of visiting Mary C. Rogers.
[Col.5]
General Sessions.
Present the Recorder, Judges Noah and Lynch, and
two Aldermen.
This being the last day of the present term of the
Court, a batch of candidates for the honor of graduating
at the State University of Sing Sing were paraded at 11
o'clock. About an hour having been wasted in gossip-
ing, earwigging and talking over matters and things in
general.
William Henry, a negro, and Owen Lee, a white loafer
indicted for having four wives, were both discharged.
Nobody having ought to say, why they should not be
discharged, as Old Hays phrases it.
...
Madame Restell.—The Recorder stated that in this case,
unless an order was obtained from the Supreme Court
for a stay of proceedings in this Court by the first week
of next term, this Court would proceed to pass their sen-
tence on the defendant.
The Grand Jury, the Police, and the Press.—The Grand
Jury came into Court with a batch of bills, which the
Foreman presented to his Honor the Recorder, and his
Honor immediately rose and told the members of the
Grand Inquest that the Court had great pleasure in say-
ing that the Grand Jury had attended to their duty with
a degree of zeal and indefatigability almost unparalleled
in the annals of the Court. Their Honors could not let
this opportunity pass, without publicly thanking the
members of the Grand Jury for their constant attend-
ance to the public business, and for the unremitting zeal
they had displayed during the present session. The
Court said his Honor would also call the attention of the
Grand Jury to the vigilance displayed by the Police De-
partment of this city, and their Honors wished to bear
testimony to this zeal and vigilance at this present time,
because the public press had taken the advantage of cer-
tain painful occurrences happening in our city, to cen-
sure in a wholesale way the whole of the persons enga-
ged in the administration of the Police and of Criminal
Justice. The officers employed to trace out the offenders
against our laws did, at all times, make use of the most
urgent despatch, but it could not at all times be known to
the public, nor was it proper, or delicate, for them to
make explanatory statements in the public prints. The
public were necessarily ignorant how, or when the Po-
lice were employed by day and by night, and it was due
to them for this Court to make this explanation to the
Grand Jury, in order to repel the unjust and calumnious
insinuations which had been latterly preferred publicly
against them.*
His Honor said that with such a vigilant District Attor-
ney and a Court not backward in administering the laws,
it was impossible for offenders to escape; and with this
observation he thanked the Grand Jury and dismissed
them.
Their Honors then adjourned to the first Monday in
September.
———
* As this closing speech of his Honor to the Grand Jury
was intended as a sort of rebuke to the Press in general,
and to ourselves in particular, we will take the liberty of
reiterating one fact for our own justification, and for the
sake of enlightening his Honor. Mary Rogers it is sup-
posed, was murdered on the 27th ult. The inquest was
held at Hoboken on the 29th or 30th. On the Saturday
following an account of the facts was published in this
paper, and on the following day, Sunday, in the course of
our enquiries, we applied to one of the most courteous
and communicative of the Police functionaries to know if
any thing had been done or any discoveries made. His
reply was, on hearing the story of the girls fate, “Good
God! it is the first we or I have heard of it.” We have no
other comment to make now, in our own justification, and
the Court of Sessions may make the most of this fact.
REPORTER OF THE HERALD.
—————
Brother Jonathan.
Among the contents of the Brother Jonathan for Sa-
turday, August 14th, will be found:
...
THE RECENT MURDER—particulars as far as received,
relative to the mysterious murder of Miss Mary Cecilia
Rogers.
...
[Col.6]
City Intelligence.
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—We can only state that
nothing has been elicited calculated to throw any fur-
ther light on the whereabouts of, or the miscreants who
perpetrated this cold-blooded and heartless murder. The
Magistrates yesterday had the body recognized as that
of Mary beyond the shadow of a doubt. They also took
the following statements under oath, which implicate no
one, and leave the mystery just as much mystery as be-
fore.
Alfred Cromelin residing at 19 John street, went to
board with Mrs. Rogers on the 7th December, 1840, and
staid until the 1st of June, and during that time Mary
Rogers had the superintendence of the house. Mr. Cro-
melin did not visit the house after he took his baggage
away.
Mr. Cromelin then states that three days before the
25th of July, Mrs. Rogers or her daughter called every
day to see him, and left a note signed by Mrs. R. request-
ing him to call at their residence, which request Mr. C.
did not comply with, because Daniel Payne, who was
paying his addresses to Miss Rogers, was a very dissipa-
ted man, and the family treated him very coldly, and on
reflection he determined to remain home, and did so all
day. On Sunday, the 25th, Archibald Padley remained
in the same house in John street all day, with the excep-
tion of the evening, when he went to the Battery with
Padley, and from thence to Atlantic Garden and also to
No. 127 Cedar street, where deponent slept.
The next day Mr. C. heard she was missing; on Tues-
day he heard the same, and on Wednesday he was shown
the advertisement, and thought there was something se-
rious in it, or that she was either at Mrs. Downing's or at
Mrs. Hayes. Mr. C. then says he felt uneasy because he
had not called, owing to the circumstance that when he
left Mrs. Rogers' house he told Mary that he was sorry for
the step she was about taking, and that if she was ever
in trouble, to call on him. Mr. C. says he then went and
saw Mrs. Rogers with Payne sitting in the room. Payne
left when Cromelin went in, which Cromelin thought
singular at the time, and asked Mrs. Rogers what sent
Payne off in such a hurry. She replied, he had gone to
Bellevue to look after Mary. After having heard Mrs.
Rogers' story, he, Cromelin, concluded that Mary was
forcibly detained in some assignation house, or some
other place and came off to the Police Office to one Hays,
but did not see him. He then left the office, and called
at a small public house, opposite the Shakspeare, and left
word that he was going over to Hoboken along with
Archibald Pedley to look for Marry.
They went over and walked up by the side of the river,
when they saw a number of people looking at a drowned
female, which they recognized as the body of Mary Ro-
gers. Mr. C. says he staid until the inquest was over, and
took home a piece of the skirt of her dress, and the Doctor
gave him the flowers from out of Mary's hat. One of her
garters, the bottom of her pantalette, a shoe, and a lock
of her hair, which he gave to Mrs. Rogers, who recog-
nized them all.
The body was above the cave at Hoboken. Mr. C. found
the ferry that night to be shut, and walked to Jersey City,
but being unable to get across there, he slept at New Jer-
sey and returned in the morning. At the request of Mrs.
Rogers he re-crossed to Hoboken, to have an interview
with Dr. Cook, who had written to Dr. Beck, to meet
them there. At this meeting it was deemed necessary in
consequence of the heat of the weather to temporarily
inter the body.
Henry Mallen, of 333 Broadway, and James M. Boulard,
of 321 Broadway, stated that, being at Hoboken on the
28th of July, they saw a body floating between two
tides, and about three hundred yards from the shore.—
They procured a boat, rowed to the body and brought it
to she shore. It proved to be a female, and they under-
stood it was Miss Rogers. When found, it was free
from rope, cord or any thing attached to it. There were
no rings, breastpin or jewelry on her person.
William H. Kukuck, the sailor, states that he boarded
with Mrs. Rogers about a year back for two weeks and a
half. Left there and went on board the U. S. cutter Ha-
milton, Captain Sturges, at Boston, was discharged last
June, and came to this city about the 3d July. Called at
Mrs. Rogers, saw Mary, and had a conversation with her.
At this time he boarded with his sister, Mrs. Noon, in
Ludlow street. Has not spoken to either Mrs. Rogers or
her daughter since the 3d of July. He stayed with his
sister about nine or ten days, and went to New Bedford,
where he stayed about a week, and went to see a young
woman and came back to the city in a steamboat, and ar-
rived here on the 24th of July, and went to his sister's in
Ludlow street. While at New Bedford his clothes were
stolen, and he arrived here without a jacket or vest to
wear.
On the 27th he shipped on board the North Carolina.—
He received a jacket at the shipping office in Water st.—
He slept at his sister's in Ludlow street on the night of the
24th; took breakfast and left the house a short time after
10 o'clock; went to a Mrs. Anderson's in 17th street and
staid until 11 o'clock, and then went to the 8th avenue;
met a person called John Miller, who was watering a horse.
After he had finished, both went then to the North river
and took a bathe, and from there to a porter house and
got something to drink; he then left Miller and went to
his sister's, and after staying a short time went to the foot
of Barclay street, and then to Courtlandt street and home
to his sister's. In the evening Kukuck says he went to
Centre Market and to Walnut street, and slept at Ludlow
street. The next morning, the 26th, went to the ship-
ping rendezvous, but was too late, and returned home,
told his sister he had shipped to go on board the North
Carolina; went next to a sailor boarding house kept by
Robinson in Water street. He took tea at Robinson's and
on the following morning went with Robinson and ship-
ped. He then went up town, or rather to the Five Points
—went to bed with a girl; after that to the rendezvous,
got some clothes, and went on board the North Carolina,
it being about one o'clock.
Archibald W. Padley, the person spoken of in Crome-
lin's statement, corroborated that gentleman's story in
every particular.
The only part of this statement which need to be copied
verbatim is the concluding. Mr. Padley boarded with
Mrs. Rogers and knew Mary. He left in June last. On
the 23d July Mr. C. showed Padley a note from Mrs.
Rogers, requesting him to call at her house, but did not
state what for. On Saturday the 24th of July, Padley
saw the name of Miss Rogers written on Mr. C.'s slate,
and also saw a rose put in the key hole of his room at the
same time.
Pheobe Rogers says she has seen the dress taken from
the body, and that it is the clothing of Mary Cecilia
Rogers, and the same she wore on Sunday, the 25th of
July.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, August 13, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1]
☞ THE HOBOKEN MURDER.—The life and further
particulars relative to this dark deed, with full length
portrait, taken from life, and pronounced to be a perfect
likeness, will be published, in pamphlet form, at the
Sunday Times office, 31 Ann street; also the evidence of
Mr. Daniel Payne, who was engaged to be married to
the victim, in which evidence many curious circum-
stances transpire. Third Edition. Price three cents.
[Col.3]
$500 REWARD.—At a meeting this evening of the com-
mittee appointed by a large assemblage of citizens
convened at the house of James C. Stoneall, No. 29 Ann street,
on the evening of the 11th instant, in reference to the murder of
Mary C. Rogers, it was
Resolved, That the Committee offer a reward of $500 for the
purpose of bringing to conviction the perpetrator or perpetra-
tors of this most foul murder, and that, furthermore, the Com-
mittee will be unremitting in their exertions to increase the re-
ward to $1000. New York, Aug. 12, 1841.
E. C. BARTON, Chairman.
THOS. BELL, Secretary. a13 1t*[Col.3]
[COMMUNICATED.]
Moses Y. Beach, Esq.—In your paper of this
day an editorial article on the fifth column very
emphatically, and in a very harsh and ungenerous
manner, condemns the laudable enterprise of rais-
ing by subscription a sum of money to be offered
as a means, if possible, of ferreting out the wretch
or wretches whose hands are stained with the in-
nocent blood of the unfortunate Miss Mary C.
Rogers—a more foul and disgraceful murder than
which is not in the whole catalogue of crime.—
Now, sir, as a daily reader of your paper, and one
not wishing to be guzzled, allow me to ask, where
is the sincerity or consistency of your course, that
while condemning, if you please, the raising by
subscription the sum of money as above, you
yourself have subscribed to that very fund, and
your name may be found published in the list of
subscribers—by a reference to the Herald of this
day. How do you explain yourself? QUERY.
REPLY.—This particularly courteous communi-
cation can be fully replied to, in very few words.
In the first place the writer deceives himself in
regarding our remarks yesterday on this subject
as a “harsh and ungenerous” condemnation of
the enterprise in question. We said not a word
against the enterprise; we only said that the most
graceless vagabonds in our city had intruded
themselves into a prominent position in it; and
that, too, for sinister motives. This is true to the
letter, and we repeat it even more emphatically
than we yesterday asserted it. But of this, more
anon.
In the second place, and lastly, the name refer-
red to by the writer of the above epistle, if it is on
the list at all, was never put there by the proprie-
tor of this paper, nor with his knowledge nor con-
sent;—consequently, it can be nothing more nor
less than a rank forgery. So Mr. “Query” has a
full explanation of all he asks.
But “while our hand is in,” we will, with his
permission, add a few words “on our own hook.”
We will ask him to look at the proceedings of the
meeting held on Wednesday evening, ostensibly
to promote this “enterprise.” He appears to have
seen the report, and it is to be presumed he is
aware of the character of the print in which it ap-
pears;—for not a second one could be found in
the city that would disgrace its columns by and
insertion of it.
The first thing that will strike his attention is
the organization of the meeting. The report says
the meeting was “numerous and highly respecta-
ble,” and was organized by William H. Attree,
who called the meeting to order and appointed the
officers. How “highly respectable” it must have
been! Having got his preciously “numerous and
highly respectable” meeting so far, this same mas-
ter of ceremonies, Attree, says he “eloquently ad-
addressed the meeting,” and “offered the follow-
ing preamble and resolutions, which were unani-
mously adopted,” &c. “Mr. Attree” then pro-
ceeded and did all the other business of this pre-
cious meeting, and concluded by “Resolving una-
nimously that the proceedings be published in all
the city papers.” How they did publish them!—
Why there is not another paper in the city besides
the organ of the miserable scamp who drummed up,
organized, and used up this meeting, that would ad-
mit the report in its columns on any considera-
tion! His very name alone would prevent the re-
solved publication from being made in any print,
even though but tolerably decent and respectable,
in the city; but when to the odiousness of his own
name he adds that attached to some others paraded
in the committee he appointed to act ostensibly
with him, but in reality for him—and themselves
a little—the very idea of publishing “in all the
city papers” is as amusing as it is preposterous
and impudent.
The every-where-acknowledged-vagabond, and
no-where-tolerated scamp, who came from the
gutters of Grub street, (and had a narrow escape
from Bow street, at that,) to regulate the affairs of
our city, in his “unanimously adopted” preamble,
says for himself and for his officers and meeting,
that “without desiring to cast unnecessary censure
upon any of the authorities, they deprecate the ap-
parent apathy that has characterized the Chief
Magistrates of the States of New Jersey and New
York, and the authorities of the county of New
York.”!!
Shade of the Penningtons, the Clintons, the
Morses, what a spectacle is this! To what a
pass has society arrived in this city, when really
decent citizens can be wheedled into a company,
and be trumpeted forth as a “numerous and highly
respectable meeting,” held to enable a foreign va-
gabond, fresh from the stews and gutters of London
—an unwashed, bloated, besotted, degraded, dis-
graced, and universally despised fugitive from the
London police, to thus insult them, their fellow
citizens, their laws, their institutions, and their
“Chief Magistrates.”!! The thing out-Herods
Herod! Is it to be wondered at, that after re-
ceiving the countenance and aid of Roderick N.
Morrison, and two or three other decent men, in
such an “enterprise,” (as “Query” calls it,) the
wretch should push his audacity a little further,
and demand of all the city papers promulgation
through their columns, of his infamous and auda-
cious insults? And is it strange his demand was as
indignantly repelled by the city press, as his in-
trusion into the company of their conductors,
would be? We apprehend a further reply is un-
necessary.
[Col.4]
☞ We received yesterday no less than seven-
teen communications relative to the all-exciting
case of Miss Rogers, each of which propounded
to us one or more questions, all varying in the ob-
ject which appeared to enlist the special interest
of the enquirer. To answer them all, if it was in
our power to do so, would occupy a large portion
of our paper; but it is entirely out of our power—
for the reason that, not being gifted with the pro-
perties of omnipresence, nor even of clairvoyance,
we are no better informed in reference to the
causes and effects enquired about, than any one
else who will take the trouble to read the public
papers.
[Col.5]
POLICE OFFICE—YESTERDAY.
[Reported for the Sun.]
THE HOBOKEN MURDER.—The police authori-
ties were busily occupied yesterday in the inves-
tigation of this affair, and we present our anxious
readers with the results of their labors, in the fol-
lowing affidavits. We may state that the clothing
in which the mangled body was wrapped, were
yesterday fully identified as that worn by the ill-
fated Mary Rogers, by her mother, aunt, and
an intimate female friend.
Alfred Crommelin, of No. 19 John street, being
duly sworn, deposes and says that he went to
Mrs. Phœbe Rogers' house to board on the 7th
Dec., 1840, and remained there until about the
first of June last, and that during that time a
daughter of Mrs. Rogers, Mary Cecilia, had the
superintendence of the whole house. Deponent
did not visit the house after he took away his bag-
gage. That three days previous to the 25th of
July Mrs. Rogers or her daughter Mary called eve-
ry day for the purpose of seeing deponent, and left
a note for him to call on them at their residence
in Nassau street, which request deponent did
not comply with, although it was his intention to
do so on Sunday the 25th July following, for the
following reasons:—that Daniel Payne, who was
paying his attentions to Miss Mary, was a very
dissipated man, and the family treated him very
coldly, and on reflection he determined to remain
home, and did so all day on Sunday the 25th. Ar-
chibald Padley remained in the same house in
John street all day, with the exception of the eve-
ning, when he went in company with Padley to
the Battery, and from thence to the Atlantic Gar-
den, and from thence to 127 Cedar street, where
deponent slept.
On Monday, the 26th July he heard that Mary
was missing; on Tuesday he heard the same, and
on Wednesday morning he was shown the ad-
vertisement in the newspaper; when deponent
read the same he believed that there was some-
thing serious in it, for previously he thought she
was up at her cousin's, Mr. Downing's or Mr.
Hog's; deponent then felt extremely sorry that he
had not called upon her, owing to the circumstance
that when he left Mrs. Roger's house he told Ma-
ry that if ever she was in trouble to call on him.
I then went immediately to Mrs. Roger's home
and saw her and Payne sitting in the room. Payne
left the home in a hurry; asked what took him
off, and Mrs. Rogers said he had gone to Bellevue
to look after Mary. After I had heard the story
from Mrs. Rogers I left, and concluded in my own
mind that Mary was forcibly detained in some
assignation house or some other place, and from
thence went immediately to the police office,
and intended to have seen young Hays, the police
officer, knowing there was such a man by reputa-
tion as an able officer, but on enquiry did not see
him. I then left the office, and called at a little
tavern opposite the Shakspeare Hotel, as I under-
stood that Mrs. Rogers had received a note that
Mary had been seen there on Sunday, the ????
25th July. I understood that a girl had been there,
that did not answer Mary's description. I then
went down to Mrs. Rogers', and told them I was
going over to Hoboken, New Jersey, to look for
her, which I did that afternoon, (July 28th,) in com-
pany with Archibald Padley; went the river walk,
up along shore, saw a number of people standing
on the shore; asked the cause, and was told it was
the body of a drowned female, on looking at
which I recognized it to be that of Miss Mary C.
Rogers. I remained with the body all the after-
noon until the Coroner had taken an inquest,
[Col.6]
which was at nearly 9 o'clock at night—deponent
took a part of the skirt of her dress, and a piece
from off the sleeve. Doctor Cook, who was asso-
ciated with the Coroner, gave him the flowers
from outside and inside of Mary's hat, a garter, the
bottom of her pantalettes, a shoe, and a lock or
curl of her hair, which deponent brought over to
Mary's mother, and all of which were recognized
by her and the family. Her body was found a
little above the cave, at Hoboken—the ferry at
that time, nearly eleven o'clock, being closed,
deponent walked to the Jersey City Ferry,
and found that was also closed, when he
slept at the city of New Jersey that night
and crossed early in the morning. At the
request of Mrs. Rogers and her family, deponent
recrossed to Hoboken the next morning, having
the evening previous made an arrangement with
the Coroner and Dr. Cook to meet them for the
purpose of a further examination. Dr. Cook had
written a note to Dr. Beck of New York to meet
them there, but business prevented him from so
doing—deponent further says that when he first
saw the body he cut her sleeve open and rubbed
her arm for the purpose of identifying her, and
also made use of every proper means for the
same purpose—deponent further says that at the
meeting between the Coroner, Dr. Cook and himself
at Hoboken on the morning after the inquest, it
was deemed necessary, in consequence of the
great heat of the weather, to temporarily inter her
body, which was done at two feet from the sur-
face of the earth, and in a double coffin.
Archibald W. Padley was likewise examined.—
He corroborated the statements of Crommelin,
and also stated that on the 23d of July Crommelin
showed him a note from Mrs. Rogers, requesting
Crommelin to call at her house, without stating
the particular business—that on Saturday, the
24th he saw Miss Rogers' name written on Crom-
melin's slate, and also a rose which had been
placced in the keyhole of the door.
We add the following affidavit, made by one of
the persons who first discovered the body at Ho-
boken:
Henry Mallin, of 333 Broadway, deposes that
on Wednesday, the 28th of July, between 3 and 4
o'clock in the afternoon, he was at Hoboken in
company with James M. Boulard, and that whilst
walking on the river walk just above the cave,
they discovered a body floating between two
tides, between two and three hundred yards from
the shore, when deponent ran as far as the Elysian
Fields dock, in company with said Boulard, and
procured a boat, rowed to said body, and brought
it to the shore, which body proved to be that of a
female, and who deponent understands to be that
of Mary Cecilia Rogers, that when said body was
found it was perfectly free, without rope, cord,
or anything attached to the same, that they were
no rings, breastpin, or any other jewelry on her
person.
This affidavit is fully corroborated by Mr. Bou-
lard.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, August 13, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
☞ SUMMER COMPLAINT—Dr. EVANS celebra-
ted Camomile and Aperient Pills, an excellent medicine for
the Summer Complaint, so prevalent in the city at the pre-
sent time—for sale at 185 Bowery. j24 6w*
================================================================
[Col.3]
EXAMINATION IN THE CASE OF MISS ROGERS.—
William H. Kiekuck, seaman on board the United
States ship North Carolina, being examined, stated
that about a year since he boarded with Mrs. Ro-
gers, in Nassau street, for two and a half weeks,
and then left and joined the United States Revenue
Cutter Hamilton, at Boston, and was discharged
from her the end of last June, and came to this
city 3d July, and went again to Mrs. Rogers,
where he saw Mary C. Rogers, having previously
known her. Deponent at this time boarded with
his sister Moore, in Ludlow street, and has never
seen or spoken to Mrs. Rogers, or her daughter,
Mary, since the above mentioned 3d July. Depo-
nent staid with his sister nine or ten days, and then
went to New Bedford, where he remained about a
week; went there to see a young woman and came
back to this city in a steamboat, and arrived the
24th July last, again stopping with his sister in
Ludlow street. His clothes were stolen from him
while in New Bedford, and when he arrived in this
city he had neither jacket or vest to wear. On the
27th July, he shipped and went on board the Uni-
ted States ship North Carolina, received a jacket at
the shipping office at the time he shipped, in
Water street. Deponent slept at his sister's in
Ludlow street, on the night of the 24th July, took
breakfast and left her house a little after 10 o'clock,
and went to his sister's-in-law, Mrs. Anderson, in
Seventeenth street, near Broadway. Left there a
little after 11 A. M.; went to Ninth Avenue near
Seventeenth street, and met a person called John
Miller, and soon after went with him to the North
river at the foot of Twenty first street; walked
down the river a short distance and took a bath;
went to a porter house near Thirteenth street and
got some drink. There left Miller, and returned
to Mrs. Moore's, his sister's. Soon after went to
the foot of Barclay street, thence to Courtlandt
street, and then to Mrs. Moore's in Ludlow street,
took supper and went to Centre market, kept by
Charles Reynolds, there met his brother, got some
drink, and went to the Hook in Walnut street, and
after being there a short time returned to Mrs.
Moore's in Ludlow street, and retired to bed. On
the morning of the 26th July went to the shipping
rendezvous, but was too late, the doctor not being
there; returned home and told Mrs. Moore that he
has shipped on board the North Carolina. Be-
tween 12 and 1 o'clock dined; left home telling
his sister he was going on board; went to Robin-
son's sailor boarding house, in Water street, and
engaged board; talked with shipmates; took
tea at Robinsyn's about seven o'clock; then took a
walk and stopped at no particular place; returned
at ten o'clock and went to bed. Next morning he
conversed at Robinson's door; went to the shipping
office and shipped; then went to the Five Points;
returned to the rendezvous, got some clothes, and
went on board the North Carolina, it being then
about one o'clock.
Henry Mallin, of No. 333 Broadway, deposed,
that on Wednesday, the 28th July, between three
and four o'clock, P. M. he was at Hoboken, in com-
pany with James M. Boullard, and while walking
on the river walk, just above the cave, they dis-
covered a body floating between two tides, between
two and three hundred yards from the shore, when
deponent ran as far as the Elysian Field's Dock, in
company with said Boullard, and procured a boat,
rowed to said body, brought it to the shore, and
placed it on the beach; which body proved to be
that of a female, and which deponent understood
to be that of Mary Cecilia Rogers. That when
said body was found it was perfectly free, without
rope, cord, or any thing attached to it; there were
no rings, breast pin, or any other jewelry on her
person.
James M. Boullard, of No. 321 Broadway, cor-
roborated every thing in the statement of Mr. Mal-
lin.
Alfred Crommelin, of No. 19 John street, de-
posed, that he boarded with Mrs. Rogers, 126 Nas-
sau street, from the 7th December, 1840, to the 1st
June last, and that Mary C. Rogers had the whole
house during the time he was there.
Deponent did not visit the house after he took
away his baggage. That three days prior to the
25th July, Mrs. Rogers or her daughter Mary called
every day to the deponent's, and left a note for him
signed by Mrs. Rogers, although the body of the
same was written by Miss Rogers, requesting him
to call on them at their residence in Nassau street,
which request deponent did not comply with, al-
though it was his intention to do so on Sunday, the
25th of July following, for the following reasons—
that Daniel Payne, who was paying his attentions
to Miss Mary, was a very dissipated man, and that
the family had treated deponent very cooly, and on
reflection he determined to remain at home, and
did so all day, on Sunday the 25th. Archibald
Padley remained in the same house in John street
all day, with the exception of the evening, when
deponent went in company with Padley to the Bat-
tery—thence to the Atlantic Garden, and thence to
127 Cedar street, where deponent slept.
On Monday, the 26th, he heard that Mary was
missing; on Tuesday heard the same; and on Wed-
nesday morning he was shown the advertisement.
When deponent read the same he believed there
was something serious about it, for previously he
thought that she was up at her cousins, Mrs. Dow-
ning's, or Mrs. Hayes. Deponent then felt ex-
tremely sorry he had not called to see her, owing to
the circumstance that when he left Mrs. Rogers'
house, deponent told Mary he was sorry for the step
she was about taking, and that if she was ever in
trouble to call on him. Deponent then went im-
mediately to her house, and saw Mrs. Rogers and
Daniel Payne, sitting in the room. Payne left the
house when deponent came in, which deponent
thought was very singular at the time. Deponent
asked Mrs. Rogers what sent him off in such a hur-
ry. She said he had gone to Bellevue to look after
Mary.
After deponent had heard the story from the old
lady, he left and concluded in his own mind that
Mary was forcibly detained in some assignation
house, or some other place, and came immediately
up to the police office, and intended to have seen
young Hayes, the police officer; but on enquiry,
did not see him. Deponent then left the office and
went to a small tavern opposite Shakspeare Hotel,
as he understood that Mrs. Rogers had received a
note that Mary had been seen there on Sunday,
25th July. Understood that a girl had been there,
from the landlord, called Alman, at about 2 o'clock,
which did not answer Mary's description. Depo-
nent then returned to Mrs. Rogers, and told them
he was going over to Hoboken to look for her, which
he did that afternoon, in company with Archibald
Padley,—went the river walk along the shore, and
saw a number of people on the shore—asked the
cause, received for answer, that it was the body of
a drowned female. On looking at the person, de-
ponent recognized the body to be that of Miss Mary
C. Rogers. Remained with the body all the after-
noon, until the Coroner had taken an inquest,
which was at nearly 9 o'clock at night. Deponent
took a part of the skirt of her dress, and a piece
from off the sleeve.
Doctor Cook, who was associated with the Coro-
ner, gave him the flowers from inside and outside
of Mary's hat, a garter, the bottom of her panta-
lette, a shoe, and a curl of her hair, which depo-
nent brought over to Mary's mother, and all of
which was recognized by her and the family. Her
body was found a little above the cave at Hoboken.
The ferry at Hoboken at this time, nearly 11 o'-
clock at night, being closed, deponent walked to
the Jersey City Ferry, and found that was also
closed, when he slept at the Jersey City Hotel
that night, and crossed early in the morning. At
the request of Mrs. Rogers and her family, depo-
nent re-crossed to Hoboken the next morning—
having the evening previous made an arrangement
[Col.4]
with the Coroner and Doctor Cook, to meet them
for the purpose of a further examination. Doctor
Cook had written a letter to Doctor Beck, of New
York, to meet them there, but business prevented
him from so doing. Deponent further says, that
when he first saw the body he cut her sleeve open,
and rubbed her arm for the purpose of identifying
her, and also made use of every proper means for
the same purpose. Deponent also says, that at the
meeting between the Coroner, Doctor Cook and
himself at Hoboken, on the morning after the in-
quest was held on Mary's body, it was deemed ne-
cessary, in consequence of the great heat of the wea-
ther, to temporarily inter the body, which was
done, at two feet from the surface of the earth, and
in a double coffin.
Archibald W. Padley of No. 19 John street, cor-
roborated the statements of Mr. Crommelin, as far
as he was concerned and in company with him.—
In addition he stated that on the 23d of July last
Mr. Crommelin showed him a note from Miss Ro-
gers, requesting him to call at her house, but did
not state what the particular business was. On
Saturday, the 24th of July, last, he saw the name
of Miss Rogers written on Mr. Crommelin's slate,
and also a rose put in the key hole of his door at
the same time.
Phœbe Rogers, of No. 126 Nassau street, depo-
sed that she has this day seen the dress, now in the
police office, taken from the person of a drowned
female at Hoboken, and that it is the clothing of
her daughter, Mary Cecelia Rogers, who had the
same on her person when she left her house on
Sunday morning, the 25th of July last.—Express.
================================================================
[Col.6]
ITEMS .
THE MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.—At the Police
Office yesterday, parts of the dress taken from the body
of this unfortunate girl were identified by her mother,
aunt, and a young female acquaintance, as the dress
which she wore on the day she left home. The two
young men who found the body were re-examined, but
nothing elicited beyond what has already been publish-
ed, except that there was no rope or anything of the kind
attached to the body when found.
Other witnesses were examined, but their testimony
was not important. The matter is yet shrouded in
darkness.
The steamer North America was detained five
hours last night on Cuyler's Bar, near Albany, in con-
sequence of the low state of the river. The mail,
therefore, did not reach our Post-Office until a late
hour.
================================================================
[Col.4]
THE MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Nearly
three weeks have now elapsed, since the murder
of this girl, and yet there is no discovery of the
murderer, nor indeed, any clue or suspicion as to
who he is. The probability is, she was decoyed
into some one of the New York assignation hou-
ses and violated, and then to conceal that crime,
murdered and thrown into the Hudson on the Ho-
boken side. What was the mortal agony of that
poor girl, in her extremity, no mind can conceive,
It cannot be that such crimes shall go undiscov-
ered.
================================================================
================================================================
THE LONG-ISLANDER. Huntington. Friday, August 13, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4. A changed copy from Tribune]
A Horrible Murder.—On Sunday morning
...
City since the murder was committed.
================================================================
================================================================
SKANEATELES COLUMBIAN. August 13, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.1. From Tribune]
A Horrible Murder.—On Sunday morn-
...
murder was committed.—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ The Investigation of the Murder of Miss Rogers was
actively prosecuted yesterday at both the Police Offices. A
great number of persons were examined, but nothing impor-
tant elicited. The Police have strong hopes, however, that
a clue to the murder is not far off.
The impression gains strength among those best informed
that the unfortunate woman was not murdered at Hoboken
but in this City. Such is our opinion. How could she, so
well known, have visited Hoboken on a fair Sunday without
being recognized? No! her life was taken in some den of
infamy in this City. More anon.
[Col.3]
☞ The Sun of yesterday had a very unwarrantable attack on the
Meeting at Stoneall's on Wednesday evening last to aid the discov-
ery of the Murderers of Miss Rogers. Mr. Attree can defend himself
—but why assail others?—As to Mr. Beach's denial that he subscribed
$2 toward the Reward offered, it is a miserable evasion. The $2 was
subscribed by his son in the presence and by the direction of Beach.
How paltry, then, to assert that he did not subscribe, and pronounce
his signature a forgery?
[Col.5]
☞ Sunday Times.—Two splendid Engravings!—To-Mor
row's will be the most marvelous number yet. The following are
a mere fraction of its glowing contents:
...
6. Our Noble Selves! Clear the track! Self-gratification; another
rap at the Williamsburg Ferry; News of the week in Rhyme; The-
atrical Intelligence; latest information relative to Miss Rogers, the
Cigar Girl; Washington News, &c.
Office 31 Ann-street. Price three cents. Come quick, for they don't
stick! au14 1t*
—————
...
☞ An agreeable and healthy Recreation...
================================================================
[Col.4]
Reported for the Courier and Enquirer.
POLICE.—Friday.
The Case of Miss Rogers.—In the course of yes-
terday the Mayor examined two more witnesses, up-
on the subject of this outrage, but their testimony
was of no importance except to clear up some doubts
which remained upon some of the evidence previous-
ly taken. No new arrests have been made, nor have
any new facts been developed.
At the Upper Police Office the magistrates and of-
ficers have been very actively engaged in this affair.
Several arrests have been made, but no new facts
have been discovered. Until something more defi-
nate is brought to light, the authorities have request-
ed that no more publications be made, as they tend to
keep up a feverish excitements in the public mind.
The Grand Jury, which adjourned on Thursday,
have discharged all the complaints against Isaac J.
Wood, so that he stands now where he did previous
to his first arrest, with the exception that he is about
$12,000 out of pocket, that sum having been taken
from him at the Police Office and paid over to the
third hands.
Officers Baily and Horne last evening brought up
a man named Andrew Myers, a married man, who
keeps a vegetable market stand in Washington mar-
ket, charged with attempting to commit a rape on a
little girl aged 12 or 13 years of age, who lived in
the same house with himself in Washington street,
near Barclay. He was held to bail to answer the
charge.
================================================================
[Col.1]
[From the Journal of Commerce.]
The great excitement now prevailing in this city with
regard to the violation and murder of Miss Rogers, must
not be allowed to die away without producing some be-
neficial result to the morals and safety of the citizens of
our beloved commonwealth.
Look, if you please, to the history of our unfortunate
city for the last five years, and is not the page which re-
cords the events of that space of time, black with the
stains of gilt and crime? Crimes of the worst descrip-
tion have been committed, and are still unrevenged.
What punishment fell to the lot of those “round-rimmer
rowdies” who attacked the dwelling-house of Mr. Tap-
pan, and burned his furniture; or to the violators of the
house of religion in Chatham street; or to the sacrilegious
ruffians who destroyed Mr. Ludlow's church in Spring
street; or to the soap lock sackers of Mr. Hart's store; or
to the murderer of Ellen Jewett; or to the rowdy who
murdered the poor watchman at a gambling house in the
Bowery, whose butchered victim is yet unavenged; or
to the villain who killed the watchman in Coffee House
slip? Ezra White is still unhung, and the gallows has
been cheated of its due. What attempts were ever made
to arrest the “Hook rowdies,” who entered the house of
a German in Grand Street, on a New Year's eve, and rav-
ished his daughter—(a poor deaf and dumb girl)—before
the eyes of his family? During this same night, a gen-
tleman who was walking towards home with his wife,
was assaulted and shamefully beaten in a public street
(the Bowery,) his wife forced away from him and viola-
ted, by the same gang of ravishers, and not one of them
has ever been arrested.
The National Theatre has been twice burned down
from the act of incendiaries, and the last time a young
girl was crushed beneath the smoking ruins—and the
person accused of the crime, and against whom suspi-
cion is very strong, has never been tried—our city has
been disgraced by the villanies of pipe layers, procurers
of illegal voters, perjurers, forgers, bank robbers, swin-
dlers, ravishers, murderers, burners, burglars, thieves,
and watch stuffers, the most of whom are well known to
the police magistrates, and are the friends and compan-
ions of police officers, and are protected by the-stool-pi-
geon system. Are not these facts? It is unsafe and dan-
gerous for a female to walk the streets alone by day or
night. Can any man say that his life and his property
are his own, and not liable to be taken from him every
hour? Nothing is safe from the outrages of these ruf-
fians. And why have we no protection from the city
government? Let a public meeting be called; men of
influence and standing in the community are ready and
willing to join a movement of the kind. Whenever the
citizens rise in their strength, they can always gain
their object if it be a worthy one, and surely the safety
of our lives and property may be properly so denomina-
ted. Let us have a reform in the police system.
There will be no confidence in the administration
of justice here till such judges as Noah and Lynch
are expelled from the bench, and our Police system
be re-organized on the day and night preventive
method.
[Col.2]
ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY OCCURENCE.—CASE
OF MATILDA HOAG.—This woman has been long
known by the police to be most abandoned pros-
titute, in the employment of a man who, through
her agency, picks the pockets of her victims, under
circumstances that prevent prosecutions, and em-
boldens them in the continuance of these abomina-
ble practices.
The law declares that “all common prostitutes who
have no lawful employment, whereby to maintain them-
selves, are vagrants,” and may, on conviction, be sent
to the Alms House or Penitentiary for six months.
Justice Matsell, after much labor and the examina-
tion of several witnesses, interrupted by a habeas
corpus, allowed by his Honor the Recorder, and ano-
ther by his Honor Judge Lynch, consented, at the
request of the counsel of Matilda, to associate with
him in the proceeding his Honor the Recorder.
Jusice Matsell, with the knowledge and approval
of the Recorder, convicted her of the offence upon
clear evidence, and committed her to the keeper of
the Penitentiary. Before she could be conveyed to
the place assigned, Judge Lynch granted another
habeas corpus, upon which she was brought before
him; and in order to give greater dignity to the pro-
ceeding, the Recorder was associated with Judge
Lynch.
The commitment shows that she was convicted of
being “a vagrant, viz: an idle person and a common
prostitute, who, not having visible means to maintain
herself, lives without lawful employment.” This
learned judge refers to the Revised Statutes, §1, tit.
2 of chap. 20 of part 1st, to show that “all idle per-
sons who, not having visible means to maintain them-
selves, live without employment,” are vagrants. Now
this had nothing to do with the question before him.
He might have as well referred to the Koran. She
had been convicted under the Statute of 1833, and
the only question was, whether the commitment
showed that. Now he says, “it is obvious that the
offence charged is made up partly of a charge under
one and partly under the other of those laws.” With
all due deference to the accurate discrimination of
the Judge, no such thing is obvious. It is true that
every common prostitute who supports herself by
the wages of her sin, is an “idle person, not having
visible means to maintain herself, and lives without
(lawful) employment;” but it is not true that every
idle person within this last description is a common
prostitute.
The attempt here at mystification is so palpable,
that we pass on to other parts of this learned deci-
sion.
It appears that the District Attorney had given this
case some attention, and puzzled the Judge with the
maxim, “utile per inutile non vitiatur.” To rid
himself of its application, he attempts to render the
effort ludicrous. He then supposes that officer pro-
posed to strike from the commitment all the words
that describe the offence, so as to leave an absurdity.
Take the law and commitment, and compare them.
Strike out from the commitment the words italicised,
as proposed by the District Attorney, and compared
with the law, and it stands thus:—
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, August 14, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1]
☞ THE SUNDAY MERCURY of to-morrow will contain
a full and carefully written account of everything on in-
terest or that is new in relation to the Murder of Mary
C. Rogers, also a graphic description of the destruction
of the Erie steamboat, and the latest particulars of that
disaster up to the hour of going to press. Dow, Jr., will
...
================================================================
[Col.6]
HORRIBLE MURDER. On Sunday morn-
...
murder was commited.—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.3]
CASE OF MISS ROGERS.—Phe Police are still ac-
tively engaged in endeavoring to ferrit out the au-
thors of the horrid murder of this once lovely
young lady, but we regret to state, that as yet their
efforts have been of little apparent avail. Numer-
ous arrests have been made at both the Lower and
Upper Poliice Offices, and every person upon whom
the remotest suspicion has fallen, or those who
in any way were supposed to be able to state any
particulars concerning her, after her mysterious
disappearance, have been called before the Mayor
or the Police Magistrates, to detail under oath the
little they knew. The Mayor, Magistrates and
officers, notwithstanding all that their revilers may
assert to the contrary, have exhibited a commen-
dable zeal and unflagging industry, in seeking after
evidence and bringing before them persons and
parties to elicit information that would shed, if
possible, a ray of light on this dark and bloody
tragedy. It is deemed proper, by the authorities
having this matter in charge, to withhold the affi-
davits hereafter taken on this subject, from the
public, until the measures in train for the detec-
tion and arrest of the guilty parties are matured,
and the cruel culprits are within the grasp of jus-
tice. Hope of discovery brightens continually, and
it is not too much to predict, that the guilty, who-
ever they may be, will ere long be made known,
and that their “sin will find them out.” The be-
lief meanwhile increases that the murder was per-
petrated in some of the numerous dens of depravi-
ty in this city, and not in the neighborhood where
her lifeless body was found.—Express.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE LATE MURDER, of the “beautiful cigar girl,”
is still the subject of great excitement in N. York.—
No clue, has been, as yet, discovered, by which the
perpetrators can be discovered. The Evening Tattler
of that city, gives the communication of an anony-
mous correspondent, who says, that on the day which
is supposed to be the one, Miss Rogers was murder-
ed, he saw a boat land at Hoboken with a well dressed
girl and six men cross from N. Y.,—that a short time
after, another boat with three men, came from the
city, and made enquiry of two gentlemen, who wit-
nessed the crossing of the first boat, whether a girl
had been that way, and whether any force had been
used to detain her, &c. This is the substance of the
Tatler statement, and we think it carries improbability
on the face of it. It is no wise likely that six men
would decoy a young girl from her home in open day
light, to a place so public as Hoboken either for pur-
poses of revenge or violation. As base as the human
heart sometimes prove itself to be it can offer no mo-
tive why so dreadful a secret should be placed in the
keeping of so many individuals. If revenge, or dis-
honor was the object, one or two villains could attain
their end, as well as six, without half the risk of
detection. Again; it is improbable that Miss Rogers
would voluntarily accompany six men under the cir-
cumstances as related. If being in the boat was not
her own choice, these two gentlemen would have had
their attention called to it, as well as the hundreds of
people, who are continually wandering about Hobo-
ken and its neighborhood. Besides, the story is in-
credible from the fact as stated, that the second boat
was but a very short time behind the first; and they
immediately started in pursuit on the run. If the
three men in the last boat were friends, pursuing the
girl for protection, it is almost impossible that an
outrage or a murder could have been committed, with-
out their knowledge. If they were of the same gang
(which is alike improbable) why were they left behind,
only to add to the danger of detection. Our opinion
is, that the statement, so far as regards the murdered
girl, is inconsistent and improbable. If an All Wise
Providence should ever bring this foul murder to light,
we believe it will prove to be the work of but ONE
man.
Since the above was in type, we gather the follow-
ing additional information, which is corroborative of
our opinion above. We think the probability stronger
that she was both violated and murdered in the city of
New York.
In reference to the account published yesterday, of
a young woman having been taken out of a boat on
the river, by a party of six men from another boat, who
then rowed swiftly to the Hoboken shore and there
landed, with the girl,—the N. Y. Com. Adv. of Wed-
nesday, says “it has been ascertained—so we are in-
formed—that the young woman was not Miss Rogers,
and that no injury was done to her.”
The Com. Adv. says further—“There is no evi-
dence that we know of, that she went to Hoboken at
all on that fatal Sunday, and many are of opinion that
the murder was committed either in this city or upon
the river, in a boat. Yet, on the other hand, we know
that information, has been given to the police of a
[Col.2]
discovery upon the Jersey shore which perhaps may
indicate the spot where the atrocious deed was perpe-
trated.”
As far as we have heard (says the N. Y. Sun) the
mystery is just as far from being in a train for dissipa-
tion, as it ever was—notwithstanding the thousand ru-
mors that have found their way to the public.
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly as in Post, Courier]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.
[From the N. Y. Journal of Commerce, Thursday.]
The body of this unfortunate girl was yester-
day, at the request of our city authorities, disin-
...
CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Daniel C. Payne,
...
edge; and on two occasions as she returned from
there, I had waited for her about dark, on the
corner of Broadway and Ann st., until she alight-
ed from an omnibus, and then walked home with
her.
...
der the impression that the omnibuses ran on Sun-
...
Daniel C. Payne, on his further examination, said:
...
for her. I did not know any one there any more
...
I then proceeded to Hoboken, and also along the
shore, as far as the Elysian Fields House. I did
...
with the necessity for myself or the family going
to Hoboken.
——
[From the same paper of Friday.]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—The Moth-
er, aunt, and an acquaintance of the deceased,
yesterday attended at the Police Office and in-
spected parts of the dress, taken from the body,
and each of those three ladies identified it as
part of the dress worn by Miss Rogers, on the
day she left home. Her identity is therefore
now placed beyond all doubt. The two young
men who found the body were also examined,
[Col.2]
but nothing was elicited from their testimony,
which has not been published already, except
that when they found the deceased, there was no
rope or tying of any kind, on the neck or any
other part of the body. Two witnesses were al-
so examined, but their testimony cast no further
light upon the matter.
It is satisfactorily ascertained that the young
woman seen at Hoboken by Messrs. Fanshaw and
Thomas on the day of the disappearance of Miss
Rogers, was not Miss Rogers. Her affidavit, as
stated by the Courier and Enquirer, is to the fol-
lowing effect:
On the 25th of July, (Sunday,) while in a boat
on the Hudson with one young man, another boat
came alongside, in which were seven young men
averaging about seventeen years of age, who beat
and maltreated her companion, and forcibly took
her from the boat, landed her at Hoboken and
then took her into the woods, where she was
treated with the most brutal violence by the par-
ty. She was then put back into the boat, and
landed in this city at a late hour. Every one of
these hopeful gallows birds had on their braces,
backs, or bosoms, the figures 27. Of course they
could not be members of the Fire Department,
and the question is, who are they? The girl does
not know the name of one of them.
================================================================
[Col.4]
MARY C. ROGERS.—The remarks in our paper
of yesterday, relative to the extraordinary conduct
of Mr. Daniel Payne, have attracted considerable
attention. The best construction that can be put
upon it by no means creditable to him. The indif-
ference and apathy which, according to his own
account he manifested after being informed of the
discovery of the body of his affianced wife, stamp
him as a cold blooded and heartless individual. Sym-
pathy for the unfortunate victim, and the desire for
retributive justice on her murderers would seem to
be the necessary result of a knowledge of the facts,
even in the breasts of strangers, and it therefore
seems almost incredible that one professing to be
bound to the poor girl by the strongest ties of affec-
tion should suffer her body to be buried without
even desiring to look for the last time upon her
face. The circumstances seems so incompatible
with the impulse of a rightly constituted mind, that
it is difficult to avoid attributing it to something
more than mere indifference.
An examination took place yesterday at the police
office, of W. H. Kurkuck, seaman on board the U. S.
Ship North Carolina, Henry Mallin, No.333 Broad-
way, and James Boullard, 321 Broadway, (who first
discovered the body) Alfred Crommelin, Doctor
Cook, Mrs. Rogers, and A. W. Padly, who corrobo-
rated the statements of Crommelin as far as he was
concerned and in company with him. Nothing
was elicited furnishing any new clue to the actors
in this heinous affair. It would seem that the poor
girl was robbed as well as violated and murdered. She
had jewelry on her person when she left her moth-
er's house, but none when she was found. Possibly
the trinkets may have been pledged or sold. Strict
inquiry should be made at the pawnbrokers' shops,
&c. A portion of the dress taken from the corpse
by Mr. Alfred Crommelin was recognized by the
mother, and there is now no longer the slightest
doubt as to the identity of the body.—Times and
Star of yesterday.
================================================================
[Col.2]
POLICE REFORM.
We believe there is not and hardly can be a difference of
opinion among our citizens on this point, that the Police Sys-
tem of New-York is deplorably defective and needs immedi-
ate, energetic Reform. We cast no censure here upon indi-
viduals; we insist only on the palpable truth that the exist-
ing system is vicious and must be reformed. A shocking
murder has recently been committed in our City or vicinity,
probably in daylight, and at the end of the third week the
murderers remain wholly unsuspected! Four days after the
murder had been committed, two days after the body had
been found, our authorities and officers did not even know
that a murder had been committed!—Now they are hard at
work on a cold scent to trace out the offenders and bring
them to justice, but they can only discharge their public du-
ties at the sacrifice of their private interests. Some of our
best officers have been on the alert night and day for two
weeks, with a certainty that they receive not one farthing,
unless from private liberality, for their arduous and not im-
probably dangerous services. Is this right? Can we blame
the officer who, on learning that a great crime against human
life has been committed and another against individual pro-
perty, starts on the track of the latter where a reward is
offered, and leaves the former where there is none? Do we
not drive him to this course? How else can he support his
family? And is not the system—to make short work of it
—calculated to give impunity to violaters and murderers?
—We throw out these suggestions as introductory to the
following Plan for the Organization of a more efficient Police
by a well known and respected citizen, whose experience in
such matters entitle him to command attention. He pro-
poses—
First: To separate the strictly Judicial from the mixed,
partly Judicial and partly Ministerial business. To this end,
...
[Col.3]
safety; but for the arrest of murderers, highway robbers,
burglars, actual counterfeiters, singly or in gangs, I would
have them liberally paid out of the public treasury; and to
reimburse the treasury, I would assess all stolen or robbed
property which should be discovered and secured by the offi-
cers. This would, I believe, secure a fidelity and vigilance
in their department that would prove a terror to evil-doers
and a shield to the public.
Most respectfully, W. W. DOUGHERTY.
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, August 16, 1841 (CA)
[Col.2]
☞ The investigation into the mysterious circumstances
attending the Murder of Miss Rogers is still actively pursued
by the Police. We have great hopes that the strenuous
efforts now making will not be in vain. Nothing has yet
transpired, however.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
POLICE—Saturday and Sunday.
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—We are pleased to
be able to state, that at length a clue has beyond all
doubt or cavil been discovered, which will lead to
the detection of the perpetrators of this dreadful out-
rage. All the affidavits and examinations heretofore
taken, have no bearing whatever on the case, and
even the mother of the unfortunate deceased has
confessed, that the recent discovery is the only one
that can shed light upon the fate of her daughter.
The Reporter is not at liberty to state all that has
been told to him on the subject, but he is authorised
to say, that officers are now in pursuit of a man, who
was seen at Hoboken with Miss R. on the afternoon
of the 25th of July, (the day she was murdered,) and
that he was heard quarrelling with her. The investi-
gation has been followed up with the most scrupulous
minuteness, so as to leave scarce a shade of doubt as
to his guilt, by the gentleman to whom the commu-
nity owes the arrest of the most notorious scoundrel
that ever escaped the gallows, and he is entirely con-
vinced that the person now sought for is the guilty
party. He has the best wishes of the whole commu-
nity for his success in this outrageous affair.
As if two outrages of this kind were not enough for
one life time, we have already to record two others,
and although unlike the case of Mary C. Rogers,
death did not terminate the outrage, perhaps even that
would have been preferable to the treatment the un-
fortunate victims received.
On Thursday evening last, a gentleman accompa-
nied by his wife and daughter, the latter aged about
18 years, engaged a small boat, in which were four
men, in the upper part of the city, to take them to a
spot near Williamsburg—on landing the party left
the boat, but after they had proceeded a short dis-
tance, the daughter discovering she had left her para-
sol in the boat, went back to get it, her parents
continuing on their walk. When she reached the
boat she saw the parasol in the stern-sheets, where
she had been sitting, and stepped in to get it, when
the ruffians in charge of the boat, pushed from the
shore and pulled into the middle of the stream, where
they accomplished their hellish designs—they then
rowed to the New York side, and left the poor girl
on the dock here, more dead than alive. We believe
that this case has not been made known to the autho-
rities here, but surely if it were it could not be diffi-
[Col.2]
cult to detect these scoundrels. We hope that no
motives of delicacy will prevent the making of the
complaint. [The above case we have from a gentle-
man in Brooklyn.]
The other case is that of a young lady, who was
walking with some female friends in the woods, near
the shot tower on this Island. She got separated
from them in some measure, and was met by four
ruffians who took her into a more secluded spot, and
there brutally treated her. Only one of the villains
is known, but his arrest is certain, and we sincerely
trust that if ever brought to trial such punishment
may be meted out to him as will forever check the
perpetration of these outrages, so shocking to every
feeling of our nature.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Albany.
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
...[Col.5 / Col.6]
...
The Murder of Miss Rogers, of your city, is a truly
melancholy event; and what are your city authori-
ties doing to ferret out the perpetrators of this un-
heard of outrage? It strikes me that if your judges
would attach a little more importance to the legiti-
mate performance of their duties, and a little less to
the procurement of indictments against certain news-
papers, public justice and the cause of humanity
would be more properly subserved. You may de-
pend on it that Governor Seward will offer a re-
ward, and then the murder will out, not before.
Your officers will do nothing effectual till they see
they are to make money by it. The absence of the
Governor, I doubt not, is the reason that a reward
has not been promptly offered.
The great contracts for the enlargement of the
Erie Canal in the vicinity of this city, will be com-
...
the Wall street clique, headed by Webb, King et alli
amici. Political developments are about to transpire,
at this head quarters of state political operations,
which will not be uninteresting, I apprehend, to
your readers, and of which I intend to keep you
duly advised. Yours truly,
A. C.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Monday, August 16, 1841 (FH)
[Col.4 / Second Edition]
The Mary Rogers Mystery.
This dreadful deed seems to be shrouded in as
much mystery, as on the day we first called public
attention to the details of a crime which, if left un-
discovered, must fix an indelible stain on the charac-
ter of this city.
His Honor the Mayor has taken the matter in
hand, and from his untiring energy, united with the
labors of the Committee of citizens, we yet hope,
that the miscreants may be brought to justice. His
Honor has already dissipated the absurd notion,
which we alluded to on Saturday, of the girl having
committed suicide. The testimony of Dr. Cook on
the inquest, who has been re-examined, completely
settles that point. From the careful post mortem
examination which the Doctor made, he is confi-
dent that Mary Rogers was brutally violated by six,
or possibly, eight ruffians; of that fact, he had ocu-
lar proof, but which is unfit for publication. He
also testifies to another important fact, viz: that there
were marks of the pressure of fingers and thumbs
about the throat and in the region of the jugular
vein, which renders it highly probable that this poor
girl died while in the brutal and beastly embraces
of one of her murderers. There were also marks
as of a severe pressure from some hard substance
across the loins and shoulders, which renders it pro-
bable that her horrible violation was effected in
some stable or out-house, from whence the body
was then carried to the North River and thrown in
for the purpose of hiding this double crime forever
from the eye of the world.
Now these are facts clearly ascertained, and what
is the conclusion we must draw therefrom? why,
that the girl was taken by a gang of soaplocks or
gamblers, who may perhaps have had the deed in
contemplation for weeks or months, and who have
ere now fled the city. From her connection with
Anderson's cigar store and the proximity of that es-
tablishment to that resort of gamblers, blacklegs,
soaplocks and loafers, known as “Head Quarters,” it
is highly probable that the crime was perpetrated by
some of that lawless fraternity, who make this city
their home in the spring and fall, and who migrate
from city to city to spread the poison of their arts
among the young men and to ensnare the virtue of
all the women who may fall in their way.
Every city in the Union should, therefore, be
searched and the magistracy and police of every
town and village be put on the alert for the purpose
of bringing these offenders to justice.
Again, it is known that these bands of gamblers,
are wealthy, and that they are the pricipal support-
ers of the assignation houses of this and other cities,
and of certain other public houses where high play
is winked at, ought not all the keepers of such pla-
ces to be examined, in order to ascertain, if possible
what gamblers were in the city on the day this
crime was committed, and to ferret out the where-
abouts of those who left about that time, as also of
those who have since been missing from their usual
haunts of vies and dissipation. If measures of this
kind are adopted—and that too speedily—the strong
arm of justice may yet have these blood thirsty vil-
lains within her grasp, and innocent blood no long-
er cry from the ground for vengeance.
Other inquiries must also be set on foot—a free
pardon might be offered to any one who would con-
fess—and if necessary, the Police must scatter them-
selves all round this city and its environs, until they
do discover some trace or get hold of some clue,
which may lead to the satisfying of the public mind.
There is a growing feeling of the inefficiency of our
Police abroad—and public opinion, will raise a fear-
ful outcry against them if these murderers remain
undiscovered; and it will be too a deep stain on our
moral escutcheon, and one which will remain as an
eternal blot on our social, moral and political sys-
tem, which no time can efface. Foreigners will
point the finger of scorn at us, and we shall be cited
as a community where ravishers and murderers are
allowed to commit deeds of blood with impunity.
The following from our reporter contains the latest
particulars of this tragedy:—
Notwithstanding the many and confident rumors
that a man was in custody at the Upper Police, on
whom a strong suspicion of guilt rests, we can safe-
ly assure our readers that up to a late hour last night
no arrest has been effected. Justice Taylor has ta-
ken testimony which tends to fix the guilt of having
been seen with a female at Hoboken on the fatal
Sunday, answering the description of Mary Rogers,
on a particular individual who can be identified.—
That person has left the city. An officer with the
witness who is to identify him has been despatched,
with orders to spare neither time, trouble, nor ex-
pense, in order to effect his arrest. The Justice says
that this testimony taken before him, goes to fix
positively his interview with Mary Rogers at Hobo-
ken so late as 6 o'clock at night on the Sunday, and
that this witness has identified the bonnet the girl
wore, and described her parasol and dress with the
most surprising accuracy. If this fellow is above
ground he must be forthcoming.
At the Lower Police a note was received through
the post, written in a disguised hand, which ran
thus—
AUGUST 14.
MESSRS,—
E. Keyser, 43 Wasnington street, knows some-
thing of the murder of M. C. Rogers. Anonymous let-
ters speak truth sometimes. You would do well to ex-
amine him.
A summons was immediately issued by Justice
Merritt, for Mr. Keyser's attendance, and he will be
had up to-day, but this, like the former letters we
alluded to last week, will most likely lead to no-
thing.
Dr. Cook is also to be re-examined by the Mayor,
and his testimony, touching the state of the body, is of
very great importance now.
================================================================
[Col.3. From Courier]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—We are
pleased to be able to state, that at length a clue
has beyond all doubt or cavil been discovered,
...
for his success in this outrageous affair.—Courier
& Enquirer.
The Mysterious Death of Miss Rogers.—The
Police of our city are still actively engaged in fer-
reting out the circumstances attending the suppos-
ed murder of the above named unfortunate girl.
A number of witnesses have been examined since
Thursday, but no clue as yet has been discovered
that will tend to implicate any known person or
persons. There are many circumstances attend-
ing this transaction that would tend strongly to
convey the belief that this girl committed suicide.
Officer Cockefair informed us yesterday, that he
had learned from the colored servant woman lately
in the employ of Mrs. Rogers, that on the Sunday
that Mary left home, her mother stated that she and
Mary had had a serious conversation relative to her
intended marriage with Payne, and that she had in
the end obtained Mary's positive promise that she
would not marry him. And also, that on the af-
ternoon of the same day Mrs. Rogers expressed
much astonishment that Mary had not returned,
and stated that she feared she would never see her
again! It is also said that when the body was
found there was not the slightest article of jewelry
on her person. This would also lead to the suppo-
sition that she had determined upon suicide before
leaving the house, and consequently had purposely
avoided taking any with her. And further, so far
as we have seen any evidence that was presented
at the time she was found, or at the partial post
mortem examination, nothing had been elicited
that would show proof positive that she was mur-
dered. We also understand that at the time she
left home she took with her a silk parasol with
scroll handle, and a shawl trimmed with black
fringe. If either of these articles has been found,
the person having them in possession would aid in
the investigation now going on at the Police, by
stating the circumstances under which they be-
came possessed of them.—New Era.
——
ANOTHER OUTRAGE.—We heard this morning
of an occurrence, which happened a day or two a-
go, which we hope for the credit of human nature
is untrue. Four men were employed to carry a
family party, consisting of a gentleman, his wife
and daughter, from New York to Williamsburgh.
They were landed safely on this side, and the party
proceeded on their way; they had not gone far,
when the young lady discovered that she had left
her parasol on board the boat. She returned to get
it—the boat was close to the shore—she stepped in-
to it, and was immediately followed by the men be-
longing to the boat. They shoved off into the riv-
er, and with a fiendishness characteristic of hell it-
self, committed a deed too shocking to mention.
The poor girl was then put on shore on the New
York side, and the inhuman brutes left her to her
misery and despair. We hear this story from re-
spectable authority; but we cannot but believe
there is some mistake.—We sincerely hope so, al-
though from recent experience, there seems to be
monsters enough in New York capable of commit-
ting any deed of blood and horror.—Brooklyn
News.
================================================================
[Col.5]
ROWDIES AGAIN.—We are informed that, yesterday
afternoon, as a young gentleman and lady were re-
turning from a walk in the upper part of the city,
when in the 10th Avenue, above Jane street, they
were set upon by a gang of rowdies who hang around
the Greenwich and Spring street markets, and the
lady taken with violence from her companion, who
was beaten in a most cowardly manner.
A crowd having collected, some of the bystanders
interfered and rescued both the lady and gentleman
from the hands of the brutal scoundrels; none of
whom, as far as we can learn, were apprehended. It
is time, indeed, when such occurrences take place in
broad daylight, and are suffered to pass unnoticed by our
city authorities, that public attention should be roused
and some steps taken to remedy the present ineffi-
cient state of our Police. The recent awful murder
of Mary Rogers is still fresh upon our minds, and
yet here is another case, which, but for a timely
rescue, might have resulted in some similar outrage.
Something must be done, and that, too, quickly.
———
The Police, it is stated, are in pursuit of a man who
was seen with MARY ROGERS at Hoboken on the fatal
day, and quarrelled with her.
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ The horrible outrages upon females so thickly report-
ed in our City for a few days past cannot be traced to any re-
liable source. That alleged to have taken place upon a
young woman between this city and Williamsburg, seems
especially without foundation.
[Col.3]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—The Mayor and Magis-
trates of both the Upper and Lower Police Offices are yet
actively and earnestly engaged in endeavors to detect and ar-
rest the murderer or murderers of Miss Mary C. Rogers, for
murdered she assuredly was, and the idle stories that she
was the author of her own destruction cannot, for a moment,
be entertained. There is nothing as yet positive as to the
person who did the dreadful deed, as some of the public
journals have so vauntingly announced. It is true that sus-
picion has fallen with, perhaps, much propriety on an indi-
vidual who has been considered respectable in business and
connections; who was seen in company with the young lady
a little before six o'clock on Sunday evening, the 25th July,
in earnest conversation, but not quarrelling with her as has
been stated, and which individual left the City under suspi-
cious circumstances the day after the body was discovered,
and has not since returned. This person and a young fe-
male answering the description of Miss Rogers were seen
conversing as stated by two gentlemen who were strangers
to both the parties, and who can only describe their appear-
ance and dress, which correspond with those of the suspect-
ed person and the young lady. No warrants, however, have
been issued, but the authorities have sent an officer to a dis-
tance in pursuit of the suspected person, accompanied by
one of the gentlemen who saw them conversing, in order to
identify him when found.
There are also collateral circumstances attendant on the
flight of the suspected individual, that combined, tend great-
ly to strengthen the suspicion of his guilt. Still there is
nothing positive, as the person accused when arrested may
be able to account for his absence, and may be innocent, as
persons other than himself may have subsequently to his
leaving her, seen, conversed with and violated the girl and
then destroyed her. Still the Police acted promptly in the
matter, and the result of their efforts will be known in two
or three days, of which our readers will be duly advised.
The Police authorities are pursuing their investigations in
secret in order to prevent the guilty from becoming acquaint-
ed with the facts they elicit, and thus defeat the purposes of
the inquiry, which seems to be the object of some to do by
premature exposures, while they at the same time denounce
the authorities for the very inefficiency they assist in creating.
There is little doubt, we think, however, that an important
arrest will soon be made, that will in some measure relieve
the pressure of public anxiety on this exciting subject. Dr.
Cook of New-Jersey, and the Coroner of Hudson County,
who held the inquest, were examined yesterday before the
Mayor and confirmed the fact of her violation and murder, as
has been before stated.
[Col.4]
DEATHS IN NEW-YORK.—The City Inspector reports the
deaths of 30 Men, 29 Women, 67 Boys and 76 Girls—in all
202 persons—during the past week. Of these, 42 died of
Cholera Infantum, 25 of Consumption, 13 of Convulsions, 6
of Diarrhoea, 18 of Dropsies, 9 of Dysentery, 8 of Fevers, 29
of Inflammations, 12 of Marasmus. Of the 202, 116 were
under 2 years of age. 160 were natives of the U. States, 34
of Ireland, 6 of Germany, 1 of Scotland, 1 of Wales.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
Police.—Nothing new was developed yesterday in
the case of Miss Rogers. The Mayor was busily
engaged in taking examinations but we believe they
tended to throw no new light upon the case. We
trust that in a very short time we shall have some-
thing to state, that will relieve the public mind from
the feverish excitement which has spread so far and
wide.
================================================================
[Col.5. As in Evening Post]
ANOTHER OUTRAGE.—We heard this morning of
an occurrence, which happened a day or two ago,
which we hope, for the credit of human nature, is
untrue. Four men were employed to carry a family
party, consisting of a gentleman, his wife and daugh-
ter, from New York to Williamsburg. They were
landed safely on this side, and the party proceed-
ed on their way; they had not gone far, when
the young lady discovered that she had left her para-
sol on board the boat. She returned to get it—the
boat was close to the shore—she stepped into it, and
was immediately followed by the men belonging to
the boat. They shoved off into the river, and with
a fiendishness characteristic of hell itself, committed
a deed too shocking to mention. The poor girl was
then put on shore on the New York side, and the
inhuman brutes left her to her misery and despair.
We hear this story from respectable authority; but
we cannot but believe there is some mistake. We
sincerely hope so, although from recent experience,
there seems to be monsters enough in New York
capable of committing any deed of blood and hor-
ror.—Brooklyn News.
[Col.6 / Col.1]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—The officer dispatched
by Justice Taylor has not yet returned, nor is he expect-
ed for a day or two, so we have nothing to report from
the upper police, in relation to the mysterious murder of
Mary Rogers. We believe that the Mr. Keyser, alluded
to in the anonymous note received by Justice Merritt,
has not been got hold of, so that the public mind will be
kept in suspense for some time longer. The city was
full of rumors yesterday, of other outrages, but we be-
lieve most of them were of the kind known as made out
of whole cloth. At all events there have been no fresh
complaints.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, August 17, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3 / Second Edition]
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
The Mystery of Blood.
SIR:—It strikes me that the evidence is given in
newspapers, relative to the unfortunate Mary Ro-
gers, is extremely loose and disconnected—for in-
stance, Payne, to whom the poor girl was en-
gaged to be married, says that she knocked at
his bed room on the fatal Sunday, and said she
was going to Mrs. Downings—but no evidence is
given that she did actually leave her mother's house,
or that she did go to Mrs. Downing's—if she did not
go to Mrs. Downing's she must have called else-
where, and may there have been detained and mur-
dered—if she did go to Mrs. Downing's, then at
what hour did she leave to return home. These
points may already have been cleared up but it does
not so appear by any evidence yet published. Again
—a letter is published by some person, signed “T. D.
W.” stating that on the Sunday, (no hour is men-
tioned) whilst at Hoboken he saw a boat come
rapidly across from towards New-York, and a girl
and several men land from it—which boat was fol-
lowed by a second boat, from which three men lan-
ded and made enquiries respecting the party who
had landed from the first boat. The writer of that
letter mentions two young men who were standing
near to him at the time, and the Journal of Com-
merce gives the names of those young men—so far
so good—but it does not appear to have been ascer-
tained whether those young men had or had not
any acquaintance with Mary Rogers, either during
the period of her service in the cigar shop or since
—nor does it appear whether they noticed or knew
the writer of that letter, as he noticed them. Far
be it from me to cast any suspicion upon any one—
I merely notice these things now, as some proof (in
my opinion at least) of the looseness with which the
enquiries regarding this horrid murder have been
conducted—evidence to be made valuable in the
early stage of an enquiry of this sort, should be very
closely pursued. I don't see it stated either at what
hour she left her mother's, or the hour she got to
Mrs. Downing's if she did get there. Payne's evi-
dence is very inconclusive and unsatisfactory on
many points—he fancied the omnibuses run on Sun-
days, and because it rained he would not go and
meet her to whom he was engaged to be married—
and when her body was found, never went to see
it! Will you, if you think it worth while, point out
these things, for really there is a horrible mystery
?????????????????????????????????????????
[Col.4]
The Murder of Mary Rogers—Examination
of Dr. Cook before his Honor the Mayor,
and the Coroner, Dr. Archer.
His Honor the Mayor is now using the utmost pos-
sible exertions to detect and bring to justice the
murderers of Mary C. Rogers. Yesterday he ex-
amined Dr. Cook, of Hoboken, in the Mayor's
office, and our talented Coroner, Dr. Archer, was
also present.
We took full notes of the whole of the testimony;
but, under the directions of his Honor, we, of course,
suppress all that portion of it, the publication of
which would be calculated to defeat the ends of pub-
lic justice. Nevertheless, there is so much in his
testimony, calculated to clear up all doubts about the
manner of this poor girl's death, and the brutal vio-
lence she endured previous to being murdered, and
the testimony of Dr. Cook is so clear and positive
upon these points, that we fell a publication of those
portions of his evidence is due to an enquiring and
anxious public, who desire to be fully informed on
all those matters. Still, there are many details,
(medical and scientific,) in this portion of his evi-
dence, of so delicate a nature that they cannot be al-
lowed to meet the public eye through the columns
of a newspaper. These, therefore, we also sup-
press. From what we give below, however, the
public will perceive that their sympathies have not
been ill bestowed.
EXAMINATION OF DR. COOK.
Mayor—Dr. Cook, you examined the body of Ma-
ry Rogers after death?
Dr. Cook—I did.
Mayor—Did you find marks of violence upon her
person, sufficient to cause death?
Dr. C.—I certainly should say there were.
Mayor—Were they produced by the brutal viola-
tion of her person or otherwise?
Dr. C.—I think that she fainted; and that before
she recovered, her murderers tied a piece of fine
lace trimming, tight round her neck, which prevented
her breathing again.
Mayor—Did you ascertain that she had not been
killed by being smothered?
Dr. C.—I did for all practical purposes.
Mayor—Did you ascertain whether she had been
drugged or not?
Dr. C.—At the time she was found and under the
circumstances, it would have been impossible to
have distinctly ascertained that point. The ablest
writers have discussed and settled that subject.
Mayor—Was her chemise torn and bound round
her waist, as had been stated by some?
Dr. C.—Not her chemise, sir, but other parts of
her dress, which I will afterwards describe.
Mayor—Go on, sir, and describe the state in which
you found the body.
Dr. C.—It was found about 300 yards from the
shore, as has been stated, a rope was placed round
it by those who found it, and towed to the shore.—
The face when I examined it was suffused with
blood—bruised blood. There was frothy blood still
issuing from the mouth, but no foam, which issues
from the mouth of persons who die by drowning.
Mayor—Are you firmly of opinion that her death
was not occasioned by drowning.
Dr. C.—Most decidedly. Her face was swollen,
the veins were highly distended. If she had been
drowned there would not have been those particular
appearances that I found in the veins. The blood
was so much coagulated that it was with difficulty I
could get it to follow the lancet at all. If she had
been drowned the discoloration would have been in
the cellular tissue and not in the veins. There was
an echymose mark about the size and shape of a
man's thumb on the right side of the neck, near the
jugular vein, and two or three echymose marks on
the left side resembling in shape a man's fingers,
which led me to believe she had been throttled and
partially choked by a man's hand. Both arms were
bent over on the chest; and were so tight and stiff
that we had to use some force to straighten them.—
The right hand was clenched, and the left hand was
partially open, but rigid.
Mayor—What in your opinion was that position
of the hands occasioned by?
Dr. C.—It might have been, and did appear as if
the wrists had been tied together, and as if she had
raised her hands to try to tear something from off
her mouth and neck, which was choking and
strangling her. The fact of her arms being in that
bent position, also further convinces me that she
was not drowned. For I have attended 16 or 17
cases of deaths by drowning, and invariable found
that the arms were extended.
Mayor—What other marks did you see?
Dr. C.—There was excoriation of the left wrist
in the form of two circles around it, as if a rope had
been tied around it once or twice; the right wrist
was also excoriated, but only on the upper side; this
further confirmed me in the belief that the wrists
had been tied together, therefore the under part of
the right wrist was not excoriated. There was also
a slight excoriation of the middle metacarpal bone
on the right wrist. All this excoriation was no doubt
done by a cord.
Mayor—Might it not have been done by a man's
hands grasping her wrists and she struggling to get
her hands free?
Dr. Cook then took hold of the Mayor's wrist, and
explained to him that this could not be possible, be-
cause, in any such a case, the excoriation would
only be partial, and in spots, and could not be in a
complete circle. The hands had been tied, proba-
bly, while the body was violated, and untied before
she was thrown into the water.
Mayor—Were there any marks upon the back?
Dr. C.—There was considerable excoriation upon
the top of the back and both shoulder bones, and
excoriation also at the bottom of the back.
Mayor—How, in your opinion, was this produ-
ced?
Dr. C.—I think, by the young girl struggling to
get free, while being brutally held down on her back,
to effect her violation; and, therefore, that this out-
rage was effected while she was laid down upon
some hard substance, a hard board floor, the bottom
of a board, or something similar. It convinces me
fully that the outrage was not effected on a bed.
Mayor—Might or might not those marks and ex-
coriations have been caused by the body coming in
contact with some hard substance after death, either
in the river or elsewhere?
Dr. C.—They could not. Because the coagula-
tion was in these cases in the cellular tissues.
Mayor—In what state was the dress?
Dr. C.—The dress was much torn in several
places. The outer dress was torn in this way: a
long slip, say a foot wide, was torn up from the bot-
tom of the frock to the waist, but the piece was not
torn off; it was wound three times round the waist;
and secured by a sort of hitch in the back; The
dress immediately beneath the frock, and between
the frock and upper petticoat, was made of fine mus-
lin; a piece was torn clean out of this garment, about
a foot or 18 inches in width; this piece was torn very
evenly, and with great care, commencing at the bot-
tom of the garment. This same piece was afterwards
tied round her mouth, with a hard knot at the back
part of the neck; I think this was done to smother
her cries, and that it was probably held tight round
her mouth by one of her brutal ravishers. This
same piece of muslin was found by me around
her neck, fitting loosely to the neck with the
knot remaining. Over these were tied the hat
and hat strings, the strings were tied over this
piece of muslin in a slip knot; not a lady's knot. In
a sailor's knot. I consider that her hat was off her
head at the time of the outrage, and that after her
violation and murder had been completed, it was
tied on.
Mayor—What else did you find tied round her
neck?
Dr. C.—The piece of fine lace trimming I before
spoke of. This for some time escaped my attention.
I observed a crease round the neck, but as the flesh
appeared swollen, I thought it might be a natural
crease in the neck; but passing my hand behind her
ear, I accidentally felt a small knot; and found that
a piece of lace, which I supposed to have been the
trimming of her lace collar, was tied so tightly round
her neck as to have been hidden from sight in the flesh
of the neck; this was tied in a hard knot under the
left ear. This would have strangled her.
Mayor—Were there any cuts on the face or head,
or any marks thereon as though done with any blunt
or sharp instrument?
Dr. C.—None whatever.
Mayor—Was the body in such a state when you
first saw it that there could be no difficulty about the
recognizing of it.
Dr. C.—It was; and Mr. Crommelin appeared to
recognise it immediately.
The rest of Dr. Cook's examination is of such a
nature that it cannot be given in detail. It related,
however, to the appearances of the body, which en-
abled the doctor to state positively that the poor
girl had been brutally violated. The following,
however, in the substance of what he did say on this
subject. He said that previous to this shocking out-
rage, she had evidently been a person of chastity
and correct habits; that her person was horribly vio-
lated by more than two or three persons; he gave suf-
ficient reasons for coming to this conclusion. He
also stated distinctly, that he examined fully on that
point, and found that there was not the slightest
trace of pregnancy.
Such is as full an account as can be given to-day
of this shocking scene. Under the circumstances
would it not be advisable to offer a free pardon to
any one of the accomplices who will confess.
================================================================
[Col.2. Partly from Tribune]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Wednes-
day afternoon, Mr. Daniel C. Payne, of 47
John-street, the young man to whom the un-
fortunate Miss Rogers was engaged in mar-
riage, went to the Police Office, at the request
of Justice Parker, to state what information
he might possess calculated to throw light
upon the mysterious disappearance and mur-
der of Miss R. The examination, which was
long and tedious elicited nothing which is
likely to lead to the detection of the murder-
ers. He states that on Sunday morning about
10 o'clock, she called at his room and stated
that she was going to her cousin's, Mrs. Down-
ing's, and should return in the evening. She
then left, apparently cheerful and lively as
usual. He did not go to see her in the evening,
as it rained, and the next morning her fami-
ly was alarmed, and he went in search of
her, but found no tidings or trace of her till
her lifeless remains were discovered in the
Hudson on the Wednesday following.
By order of the Acting Mayor, Purdy, her
body was yesterday disinterred, in order that
the deceased might be more fully identified
by some of the witnesses; but decomposition
had already taken place, and no trace of the
once 'beautiful cigar girl' could be recognized
in the blackened and swollen features.
There is one point in Mr. Payne's testimo-
ny which is worthy of remark. It seems he
had been searching for Miss Rogers—his be-
trothed—two or three days; yet when he was
informed on Wednesday evening that her
body had been found at Hoboken, he did not
go to see it or inquire into the matter—in fact,
it appears that he never went at all, though
he had been there inquiring for her before.—
This is odd and, should have been explained.
The public prints seem to concur in the fact
that this unfortunate girl was amiable and vir-
tuous. She had not latterly been engaged in
Mr. Anderson's cigar store; during the period
she was in his employ, she won the good opi-
nion of him and his family, by the strict pro-
priety of her conduct. A report will be recol-
lected of her having disappeared for a time.
This it is said was the sheer invention of
a Newspaper Reporter, and, at the time,
caused the poor girl a fit of sickness. She had
for some time been boarding with her mother
who keeps a boarding-house at 126 Nassau-st.
and was 20 years of age.
No reward for the discovery of the murderers has yet
been offered by the Governor and Mayor. A reward
of $500 has been offered by the committee appointed on
Wednesday evening, with an intimation that it will be
increased to $1000.
The police magistrates were engaged during the past
week in the examination of a number of witnesses, but
their testimony has thrown no light upon the matter.
================================================================
[Col.4. Partly as in Tribune]
A HORRID MURDER.
On Sunday week, Miss Cecilia Rogers,
...
returned a verdict of murder by some per-
son or persons unknown.—N. Y. Sun.
Although great exertion has been made
to discover the perpetrator of this horri-
ble deed, nothing has yet transpired like-
ly to unravel the mystery in which it is
involved. But 'murder will out,' and
sooner or later will the guilty be brought
to punishment.
================================================================
[Col.6. A changed copy from Herald]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.
——
This dreadful deed seems to be shrouded in as
...
he is confident that Mary Rodgers was brutally
violated by six or possibly, eight ruffians; of that
fact, he had occular proof, but which is unfit for
...
pose of bringing these offenders to justice.
The following from our reporter contains the
...
must be forthcoming.
================================================================
[Col.5 From Tribune & as in Sun, more in Troy Budget]
A HORRIBLE MURDER
On Sunday morning week, Miss Cecilia Rogers
...
committed.—N. Y. Tribune
Additional intelligence concerning the above mur-
der has been furnished by a correspondent of the N.
Y. Tattler, as follows:
New York, Saturday, Aug. 7th, 1841.
To the Editors of the Tattler:
Gentlemen,—If you consider what I am about
...
must entertain the same suspicions that I do.
Yours, T. D. W.
The two gentlemen alluded to in the above, are
William D. Fanshaw, (nephew of Daniel Fanshaw,
printer to the American Bible and Tract Societies)
and his brother-in-law, Mr Thomas. We have called
on Mr. Fanshaw, to ascertain the correctness of the
statements in the latter, and he informs us that they
are correct in every particular. From the clue thus
furnished, it is to be hoped that the perpetrators of the
diabolical outrage and murder will yet be found out.
Where so many are in the secret, some one or more of
them are very liable to reveal it. Let the Police be on
the alert.—N. Y. Jour. of Com.
================================================================
================================================================
THE MIDDLEBURY PEOPLE'S PRESS. August 17, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.6 From Tribune]
A HORRIBLE MURDER. On Sunday morn-
...
================================================================
================================================================
MECKLENBURG JEFFERSONIAN. August 17, 1841 (NC)
================================================================
[Col.5. From Tribune]
A Horrible murder.—On Sunday morning week,
...
der was committed.—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.5. A changed copy from Herald]
THE LATE MURDER OF A YOUNG GIRL AT HO-
BOKEN.—It is now well ascertained that unfor-
tunate young girl, named Mary Rogers, (who three
years ago, lived with Anderson, the cigar man) has
been cruelly murdered at Hoboken. Nothing of so
horrible and brutal a nature has occurred since the
the murder of Miss Sands, which formed the basis
of the story of Norman Leslie. The Mother of Ma-
ry kept a respectable boarding house, for the last
two years, at 126 Nassau st. Here Mary lived ever
since the house was opened, and was the main stay
of her mother. She did all the marketing, and con-
ducted herself with the utmost propriety. She has
not been at Anderson's for nearly two years. On
Sunday night, she left her mother's proposing
to go to church with the children of her aunt, who lives
in Greenwich street. As all the family were out
of town, the aunt does not know whether she called
there or not. The next time she was heard of was
on Wednesday last, when she was found dead,—
murdered,—near the Sybil's cave, at Hoboken. It
now remains for the mayor of New York and Jer-
sey cities to do their duties.—N. Y. Herald.
The Police have no trace, as yet, of the murder-
er of the ill-fated Miss Rogers at Hoboken.
================================================================
[Col.2. Partly from American]
THE MURDERER OF MISS ROGERS.—We hear that
the steamboat Worcester, which arrived from Nor-
wich, Ct., this morning, brought the man who is
suspected of having murdered Miss Rogers. His
name is Morse, and he was brought on in irons. He
was arrested yesterday at the Boston Post Office,
just as he was opening a letter from this city. The
letter is reported to have been from Kiekuck, the
sailor on board of the North Carolina, who was
examined lately before the police. It recommend-
ed Morse to change his dress, since the police were
in pursuit of him, and stated at the same time that
the writer, should he be examined again, would be
obliged to make a full disclosure. It is supposed
from this that the letter referred to the case of Miss
Rogers.
—————
ROWDIES AGAIN.—We are informed that, yes-
...
whom, as far as we can learn, were apprehended.
—American.
We can add to this, that a gentleman and his
wife, walking in the upper part of the city on Sun-
day evening last, were followed for some distance
by a gang of four or five worthless fellows, who
were only deterred from making an assault by the
firmness and spirit of the gentleman.
—————
...
—————
DEATHS in this city for the week ending August
14, 202—126 were under 5 years of age. Consump-
tion, 25; cholera infantum, 42; convulsions, 13;
dropsy in the head, 12; marasons, 12; other deceas-
es, 98.
================================================================
[Col.5]
THE CASE OF M. C. ROGERS.—The Mayor and
Police are on the alert in ferreting out the supposed
murderer or murderers of this ill-fated young woman.
A person from this city was yesterday arrested at
Worcester, Mass., and was brought here this morn-
ing by officers from the Upper Police, on suspicion
of being implicated in the murder. The ostensible
cause of arrest was that he had abandoned his wife.
A person answering the description of this one was
last seen in the company of Mary Rogers, on the Ho-
boken shore, about 6 o'clock on Sunday evening—
and the individual arrested left this city abruptly
soon after the discovery of the murdered body.
When taken at Worcester, he was in the act of re-
ceiving a letter from New York, advising him to shave
off his whiskers, and change his clothes, as the police
were in pursuit of him.
No name is given, and therefore we abstain from
repeating that in general circulation, or from any of the
allusions to the outrage on the deceased, which, with
such revolting pruriency, even decent journals repeat.
================================================================
================================================================
ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Tuesday Evening, August 17, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6. From Courier]
[From the Courier & Enquirer.]
POLICE—Saturday and Sunday.
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—We are plea-
...
feeling of our nature.
================================================================
[Col.2]
ARREST OF THE SUSPECTED MURDERER OF MISS RO-
GERS.—Yesterday morning Officer Hillicker of the Upper
Police Office arrived in this city in the steamer from Nor-
wich, having in custody a man named Joseph W. Morse,
wood-engraver, late of No. 120 Nassau st. suspected of be-
ing concerned in the murder of Miss Mary C. Rogers at Ho-
boken on Sunday evening, the 25th July. He was arrested
at West Boylston, seven miles from Worcester, Massachu-
setts, on Sunday by the officer—having been loitering about
there for several days under an assumed name. Prior to his
arrest a letter was found in the Post Office at Worcester, di-
rected to him, and written, doubtless, by one of his compan-
ions in this city, informing him of the examinations that were
progressing here, advising him to shave off his whiskers,
change his dress and alter his appearance, so as to escape
detection and arrest. This was opened and read, and tend-
ed to strengthen the suspicions against him. As soon as ar-
rested he inquired what he was arrested for, and on being
told for assault and battery on his wife, he replied, “Oh! is
that all.” On being asked where he was on Sunday, the
25th July, he first said he was at Hoboken, and on the officer
echoing the answer, he then said he meant that he was at
Staten Island. He was conveyed to the Upper Police Office
and committed. Soon after he was brought out in the pres-
ence of the Mayor and Justice Taylor, and identified by two
gentlemen as the person they saw at Hoboken at 6 o'clock
on Sunday, the 25th ult. seated on a bench and conversing
with Miss Rogers. He was also identified by others, but
was not examined touching the crime with which he stands
charged. Several witnesses, however, were examined in
the case in private, and Mr. Daniel Payne, the lover of the
girl, who said he had boarded with a Mr. Morse, an engrav-
er, in James st. but had not seen to converse with him for a
year or more—went to see and ascertain if he were the same
—the result of which did not transpire. Morse assumes
considerable apathy and composure, and maliciously insinu-
ated that the gentlemen who identified him must have been
guilty of the murder themselves, and to exonorate themselves
charged it upon him. He will be examined to-day at the
Upper Police before the Mayor and Justice Taylor in the
presence of the counsel he may select.
Morse is a rather short but somewhat strongly built man,
with handsome black whiskers, very neatly and fashionably
dressed, has been exceedingly licentious in his conduct, the
companion of gamblers, and sometimes a gambler himself.—
He was a frequent inmate of the store of Mr. Anderson when
tended by Miss Rogers, and evidently knew her well. It is
well understood that, if guilty, he was not alone in the viola-
tion and murder, as the evidence at the inquest and of Dr.
Cook before the Mayor conclusively prove that more than one
were concerned.
To discover and arrest these accomplices is now the busi-
ness and duty of the Police, though no evidence is yet ob-
tained to fix the guilt on any others. The evidence against
Morse is his being seen with the young lady in the evening
shortly before her death—his absence from home all that
night—his having left home a day after, clandestinely getting
his three trunks from his house to his office, then into a cab,
and flying from the city the day after the body was discov-
ered, and leaving his business—his changing his name when
away, and the letter written to him at Worcester by his
friend in this city, advising a change of dress, cutting off his
whiskers, &c. More, however, will doubtless be elicited to
strengthen suspicion. One of his apprentices applied yes-
terday to the Police Office to have his indentures canceled,
as his master was absent, and was astonished to find him in
prison charged with murder. To Justice Taylor, who man-
aged this business, aided by the Mayor, and to the officer
who went in pursuit, great praise is due for the judicious
manner in which they conducted the affair to a successful re-
sult. Whatever additional information is elicited we shall
hasten to lay before our readers.
[Col.4]
Gamblers Arrested.—Four gamblers, named Simon Shohl, Larry
Schimsky, Simon Marks and Samson M. Gaspar, were arrested early
yesterday morning by officer Prince John Davis, charged with having
won at one sitting, on Monday, $420 of Abraham Johnson of No. 389
Pearl-st., with cards, and 16 sovereigns, equal to $77 44, the same day
at another sitting. Shohl won the money, and the others were
charged with dividing the spoils—one of them loaning Johnson $50
on his gold watch to enable him to continue gambling, all of which
was lost. Only $140 of the money was recovered. They were held
to bail in $500 each, which they gave and were discharged.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
Police.—The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—Officer
Hilliker of the Upper Police Office, arrived in town
yesterday morning, having in custody Joseph W.
Morse, a wood engraver of this city, whose office is
at 120 Nassau street, and who stands charged with
having participated in the murder of Mary C. Rog-
ers. The circumstances which first fixed suspicion
upon the accused, and eventually led to his arrest,
are as follows.
On Sunday the 25th July, in the morning, he left
his home in Thompson street, saying that he was go-
ing to Hoboken. He started and did not return un-
til Monday night, when he only remained about an
hour, during which time he was in a high state of ex-
citement. While at home on Monday night, he beat
and abused his wife shamefully, and on Tuesday
morning she went before Justice Taylor and made a
complaint of his conduct, upon which he issued a
warrant for his arrest. This was given to Hilliker to
serve, who went to his office and not finding him in,
he left a note stating the object of his calling. The
next day, Hilliker went down again, and then learn-
ed that he had left the city in a very clandestine man-
ner on Tuesday afternoon, 27th July.
After the discovery of the body of Miss Rogers,
Justice Taylor heard that two persons were in the
city, who had seen Mary at Hoboken on Sunday
afternoon with a young man, and on sending for and
examining those persons, they described Morse so
accurately, that no doubt remained of his being the
man. They also described the girl with such fidelity
that Mrs. Rogers said it must have been her daughter,
and under these circumstances Justice Taylor deter-
mined upon the arrest of Morse, as a participator in
the murder of Miss Rogers.
Hilliker was accordingly despatched, armed at all
points with affidavits, &c., and proceeded first to Bos-
ton. There he could learn no trace of Morse, and
he then started for Worcester, where he found many
Morses on the hotel books but not the one he
sought after. At that place he found a letter in the
Post Office addressed to Morse, which he opened,
and which was written by a friend in this city, ad-
vising him to shave off his whiskers, and not to wear
his Panama Hat, or Prince Albert Coat, as officers
were after him who only knew him by description.
Upon making enquiries around, Hilliker found that
there was a young man at Holden, about 7 miles
from Worcester named Morse and he accordingly
proceeded thither, and soon had the satisfaction of
seeing the real simon pure, whom he at once arrested.
Another circumstance, which came to the know-
ledge of the Police, the week before last, is singular
as connected with the arrest of Morse. On the Tues-
day afternoon that he left the city, a young gentle-
man of this city, who was on board the Norwich
boat, fell in with Morse on board, and in the course
of conversation he told this stranger a queer story
about his having taken a girl over to Staten Island on
Sunday, the 25th, and of the manner in which he had
treated her. The gentleman returned to New York
immediately, and hearing then for the first time of
the murder of Mary Rogers, the story told by Morse
came to his mind, and he promptly communicated it
by letter to Justice Merritt, of Hoboken, but by some
mishap the letter remained in this city four or five
days before it reached the Justice, but when it was
received, it was considered as one link in the chain
of evidence against Morse.
On reaching the city yesterday, Morse was taken
to the upper Police Office, and was placed in a room
with ten or twelve other persons. The gentleman
who had seen him at Hoboken on the fatal Sunday,
was then shown into the room, and he immediately
singled out Morse as the man. The Mayor was im-
mediately sent for, and he together with Justice Tay-
lor, was engaged nearly all of yesterday taking testi-
mony in the case. What the nature of that testimo-
ny was is unknown to the Reporter, but he is assured
that the circumstantial evidence against Morse is very
strong indeed, and that very great efforts alone can
succeed in taking the odium from him.
As many persons have wondered and asked what
could have induced Mary to go to Hoboken, on Sun-
day, it may as well be stated that she had frequently
been there without the knowledge of her mother or
friends. On the Sunday previous to the 25th July
she was over there, and on Wednesday preceding
that. She was there also, both times, without the
knowledge of her mother or friends, at least until she
had returned.
As far as the Reporter has been able to ascertain,
the evidence is deemed very strong against Morse in
this matter, but there are other circumstances which
may as well be mentioned now. The letter above
mentioned, as being intercepted at Worcester, was
written by one of his apprentices, who was of course
knowing to his absence, and also to the efforts made
to arrest him. Another apprentice on Monday after-
noon went to the lower Police office to have his in-
dentures cancelled, stating that his master had gone
suddenly away, and as he knew not whether he
would ever return, he desired to be free from further
service. He was directed to call yesterday morning,
which he did and then for the first time learned of
Morse's arrest and imprisonment here. The appren-
tice, who gave Morse the warning, was brought up
yesterday to be examined, but of the nature of his
testimony we are not informed.
On the other hand it is known that Morse on Sun-
day morning went to a barber in Ann street, and ask-
ed him to go to Hoboken with him, which he pro-
mised to do, but was prevented by business. On
Monday Morse called again for him to go, and he had
with him a very large and favorite dog, which he said
he wished to exercise, but the barber would not go,
and Morse went alone. On Tuesday morning he
called once more at the barber's and said he was go-
ing to leave the city for a short time; that he had
trouble with his wife, and feared she would get out a
warrant against him, and he promised to write to him
soon. Morse may have gone off under apprehension
of trouble from his wife, and also on account of pecu-
niary difficulties.
Thus stands the affair at present. If the girl seen
with Morse at Hoboken on Sunday was not Mary C.
Rogers, he can easily prove that. If, however, he
cannot disprove the evidence thus far given against
him, he stands a fair chance for being at least tried
for murder. He is committed for further examina-
tion which will take place this day.
================================================================
[Col.1]
The Veto Message of President Tyler.
This document, as we have elsewhere stated, we
received yesterday, by special express, before 10
o'clock in the morning, and published it in less than
an hour afterwards.
...
In Wall street, it was hardly possible to get one
of the speculators to talk upon the subject. John
Targee met Stephen Whitney, and said: “Well,
Steve, what do you think of the veto?” “There's
nothing in it, nothing in it, sir,” said Stephen Whit-
ney, “I don't care any thing about it.” A rich
locofoco next met another bank whig, and asked
him, “How do you like the veto?” The answer
was, “Ah! how do you do? Good morning!
Who's that man they have arrested for the murder
of Mary Rogers?” and he passed on.
...
[Col.2 / Col.6]
The Mysterious Murder.
The publication which we made yesterday, of the
examination of Dr. Cook, of Hoboken, before the
Mayor, produced a thrill of horror throughout the
community, and has increased the intensity of the
holy excitement on the awful murder of Miss Rogers.
It far surpasses the curiosity to see the Veto Mes-
sage.
The evidence thus far shows to every one that it
was without exception, the most horrid barbarity
that ever was perpetrated in any savage community,
to say nothing of the melancholy fact that such a
deed should have been committed in New York—in
a christian city—with legal institutions—a system of
morals and of laws—and all the elements of civiliza-
tion in full action.
We have no doubt that our very efficient Mayor
will exert himself to the utmost, and also the police
under his authority work to the same length—but
the apathy of the police for a week after that brutal
butchery shows that we require an immediate re-
form in that branch of the public service, as well as
in the Court of Sessions.
The sensation which all these developments have
made upon the community is most intense. All are
waking up from the dream of security, and the de-
moralized clubs of soaplocks and rowdies, which yet
hover around the city, are exciting the attention of
the people in all directions. Our system of educa-
tion, as well as that of the police, and of the admin-
istration of justice, is wrong in many essential parti-
culars. There exists no parental authority over
young men of thirteen to twenty of any kind. As-
sociating in clubs, gangs, or squads, they are as law-
less and barbarous as the savages of the Loo Choo
Islands. The hells, gaming houses, houses of ill-
fame, are permitted to exist unmolested by the judi-
cial authorities, and to corrupt and demoralize all
the youthful population of the city.
While the community at large is justly excited on
this subject, there is also a certain portion of the
press engaged in the very suspicious business of con-
cealing all evidence, palliating all efforts to ferret
out the perpetrators, and abusing those who assist
the authorities. Do not these gamblers, blacklegs,
soaplocks, and wicked portion of youth procure this
course of policy, in order to preserve their confeder-
ates from being brought to justice? It really ap-
pears to be so—and it ought to be inquired into. At
all events, no honest man—no good citizen—no
Christian will ever relax in this holy excitement, till
the foul perpetrators be discovered and brought to
justice.
With these remarks, we annex what furthur par-
ticulars we can procure.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
THE YOUNG MAN CARTER.—We were informed
yesterday, by the father of this young man, that he
left the city on the 1st of June. Of course the inqui-
ry of a correspondent the other day, whether he was
acquainted with the girl, or any of the parties, is set
at rest.
ANOTHER INQUIRY.—A correspondent inquires
what is the reason that Mrs. Rogers, the mother of
the girl, has not been examined—nor the house they
resided in, been searched and also examined? We
know not—but we suppose everything will be done
that ought to be done.
ARREST OF A PERSON SUSPECTED OF THE MURDER OF
MARY ROGERS.—On Sunday evening officer Hel-
liker, of the Upper Police, arrested a man of the
name of Morse, on suspicion of having violated and
murdered Mary C. Rogers at Hoboken, on the 25th
of July. This man had been for some days staying
at Worcester, Mass., which place he left last week.
The next day a letter arrived directed to him, which
fell into the hands of the officer, who immediately
proceeded to West Boyleston, seven miles from
Worcester, where he was fortunate enough to fall
in with the man he was in pursuit of, and they both
arrived here by the steamboat Worcester yesterday
(Tuesday) morning. This person proves to be Jo-
seph W. Morse, well known as a wood engraver,
carrying on business at No. 120 Nassau street. It is
said that he had some quarrels with his wife, who
complained to the Police magistrates of this ill treat-
ment of her, and that he left the city suddenly about
the time when Mary Rogers was first missed. The
grounds on which the suspicion of his being a par-
ticipator in this horrid act of violation and murder,
have not been disclosed by the magistrates.
Morse was taken to the Upper Police, whither
the Mayor immediately proceeded, but no examina-
tion took place, although if it had, it was to have
been au sécrét. We were present in the afternoon
when a member of the bar, who announced himself
as the friend, as well as legal adviser, of Mr. Morse,
was refused permission to see the prisoner by Jus-
tice Taylor, who said at the same time that no ex-
amination, or other procedure, would be taken un-
til this (Wednesday) morning at 10 o'clock.
We believe that the interception of a letter at
Worcester, led to the arrest of Morse, but we do not
pretend to know the contents thereof, or whether
the letter was got hold of by the Postmaster or the
officer. One of the evening papers gave the follow-
ing as the solution of this mysterious missive:—
“The immediate cause of the arrest of the pri-
soner, was a letter received at the Worcester post
office addressed to him. The postmaster, apprised
of the suspicion which attached to a man bearing
the name with which the letter was superscribed,
opened it. The contents were of great importance;
being in fact a warning to the individual in question,
that the police were in close pursuit of him, and that
he had better shave off his whiskers, change his
dress and shift his quarters forthwith.”
Another on dit which got afloat was, that when
first spoken to by the officer, Morse asked what he
was to go to New York for?
To which the officer replied, “On the complaint
of your wife.”
And then Morse rejoined, “Oh! is that all.”
And the officer should then say, “Yes, also for the
murder of Miss Rogers,” at which information Mr.
Mose is said to have refused to come voluntarily un-
til threatened with a requisition from the Governor
of the State, which threat changed his resolution.
We give these flying reports for what they are
worth, but we were assured by a gentleman who
came in the same boat, that Morse appeared calm
and collected, and that he did not manifest any of
the outward and visible signs of guilt which might
be expected from one accused of such a mass of
crime.
A few hours must, however, clear up some of this
mystery.
With respect to the whereabnots of Mr. Daniel
Payne on the fatal Sunday, the following affidavit
has been made:—
City and County of New York, the sixteenth day of
August, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, I,
Thomas D. Bickford, do swear, that Daniel Payne was in
my house on Sunday, the twenty-fifth day of July last,
between the hours of one and two o'clock, and also be-
tween the hours of eight and nine o'clock in the even-
ing of the same day. THOS. D. BICKFORD.
Sworn to before me, this 16th August, 1841.
WM. H. HARNED, Commissioner of Deeds.
Mr. John Payne, the brother of Mr. Daniel Payne,
has also testified, in another affidavit, that the latter
left him at the Battery at a quarter or half past 7
o'clock, for the purpose of proceeding to Bickford's.
The affidavits of Mrs. Rogers, the mother, and
Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. Downing, the aunts of Mary,
together with several others, fully account for every
remaining hour and even half hour of the day; but
none of them explain why the betrothed and attached
friend of a beautiful girl, permits her to remain out
in that pitiless storm, without going to Mrs. Down-
ing's to see if she was safe or not.
[Col.4]
GAMBLERS.—Simon Skohl, Somerville Caspar, Larry
Schilsky and Simon Marks, four Germans, blacklegs, from
the neighborhood of Cincinnati, were arrested by Prince
John, at the corner of Centre and Anthony streets, on the
complaint of one Abraham Johnson, who charged the Ger-
mans with swindling him out of $500 at some game of
chance or other. The four gamblers were transferred to
the tombs, but in the course of the morning Marks was
taken before Judge Lynch, or some other high legal
functionary, and the whole gang liberated on bail.
Johnson's story was that he had been victimized by this
gang at Cincinnati, and that he met them again here on
Sunday, when they gave him some drugged liquor, in
which state they induced him to play again, and got the
four hundred out of him. [Col.3]
ARREST OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERERS OF
MISS ROGERS.—The well directed efforts of the
Mayor and police authorities, prejudged, as they
have been, by the wholly uncalled-for and really
mischievous interference of busy intermeddlers,
have at last been successful in tracing out and ar-
resting two individuals, against whom suspicion
of implication in the horrible outrage upon the
person, and final murder, of Miss Rogers, rests
with a fearful degree of warrant. The names of
the persons arrested, are Joseph W. Morse, a wood
engraver, late of No. 120 Nassau street, and a man
of family, and an individual named Cromeline, of
whose occupation or residence, we are uninform-
ed. We learn, however, that he was formerly a
suitor of Miss Rogers, and that she was at one
time seriously attached to him; but, owing to a
quarrel which arose between them for some cause
or other, they had in a great measure become es-
tranged from each other.
The circumstances which led to the suspicion
and arrest of these persons are in substance as fol-
lows:—A few days after the body of Miss Rogers
was found on the Hoboken shore, Mrs. Morse, the
wife of the arrested person, applied at the upper
police office for a warrant against her husband for
an assault and battery, which, she alleged, he
committed upon her on the evening of the Sun-
day on which Miss Rogers disappeared.
In relating the circumstances attending the
cause of her complaint, Mrs. Morse stated that
her husband had been long in the habit of treat-
ing her in an improper and cruel manner; that
he was absent from home during the Sunday
in question; that he returned home late at
night, and his manner, appearance, &c. was
very confused and unusually agitated. She
questioned him as to the cause of his absence,
and singular appearance, to which he replied that
it was none of her business, applied to her a vile
epithet, and, by a blow with his fist knocked her
down. She also mentioned that she noticed the
head of his cane had become broken during his
absence. A few days afterwards—(the day after
the discovery of Miss Rogers' body)—he left home
and had not since been seen by his family; or any
of his friends, as far as his wife was aware; and
her object was to get out a warrant for his arrest
for the assault and battery, and by this means ob-
tain the aid of the police in hunting up and recov-
ering her recusant husband.
This singular correspondence of time stated by
Mrs. Morse, together with other particulars con-
nected with her story, induced Justice Taylor, to
whom she made her complaint, to question her par-
ticularly as to the personal appearance of her hus-
band and his dress at the time; and the descrip-
tion she gave of him resembled so precisely
that of a person seen by two gentlemen of this city
in company with a young lady, at Hoboken, on
the fatal Sunday evening, and who had also re-
cognized portions of the dress found upon the per-
son of Miss Rogers as those worn by that young
lady, that Mr. Taylor believed the absence and
conduct of Morse at that time might have some
connexion with or bearing upon the murder of that
ill-fated girl. Under this impression, he advised
Mrs. Morse to take out, instead of a warrant for the
assault and battery, one for the abandonment;
and she, following his advise, such a warrant was
issued upon a suitable affidavit made by her.
Justice Taylor then proceeded to Morse's estab-
lishment in Nassau street, and there found his ap-
prentice, whom he questioned touching the ab-
sence and whereabouts of his master, and from
whom he succeeded in drawing out the fact that
Morse was probably in or about Worcester, Mass.
To that place an officer was despatched, attended
by the gentleman who had given the informa-
tion to the police relative to what he had observed
pass between a male and female at Hoboken on
the fatal Sunday evening, who went for the pur-
pose of identifying Morse, if he was the same man.
At the post office at West Boylston, about seven
miles from Worcester, he was taken into custody
as he was in the act of receiving a letter—which
was immediately opened and found to have been
written in New York—advising him to shave off
his whiskers, and disguise himself as much as
possible, as the police were on the look-out for
him.
This letter was written by Cromeline, and was
the cause of his arrest in this city last evening.—
Morse was brought to the city yesterday morning
in the steamer Worcerster, and immediately con-
veyed to the upper police office, where he was
placed in close custody.
His Honor the Mayor and Justice Taylor were
indefatigably engaged yesterday in further investi-
ogating this horrible, and still in a great measure
mysterious affair; but as it is all-important to the
promotion of the ends of justice that such disclo-
sures as they may succeed in eliciting should not
be placed in the possession of others who may be,
and are believed to be, implicated in this diaboli-
cal outrage, it is not proper they should be
given to the four winds of heaven through the pub-
lic press. When we have the authority of the ef-
ficient, sagacious, and tireless public officers, who
have by their energy and perseverance succeeded
in obtaining what is believed to be the true clue to
the whole dreadful mystery, to lay further deve-
lopments and more minute particulars before the
public, we shall do so at the earliest practicable
moment.
================================================================
================================================================
THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, August 18, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.1. A changed copy from Sun]
ARREST OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERERS OF MISS
ROGERS.—The well directed efforts of the Mayor
...
mysterious affair.—Sun.
[Col.5]
ARREST OF GAMBLERS.—On Monday night offi-
cer Prince John Davis arrested four men, named
Simon Shohl, Lacy Schimshy, Simon Marks and
Somerville Gasler charged with being gamblers,
and with having won $420 on the 16th inst. at one
sitting, of Abraham Johnson, of No. 389 Pearl
street, and also with having won 16 soveriegns or
$77.44, on the same day at one other sitting, of the
said Johnson. Shohl won the money, and the
others, as was deposed, participating, one of them
loaning Johnson $50 on his gold watch, to enable
him to continue playing. They were each held to
bail in $500 to answer the charge.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.—
The city of New York is in a ferment,
and with good reason, about the mysteri-
ous murder of the beautiful “Cigar Girl.”
As yet not the slightest clue has been ob-
tained, which can lead to the detection of
the perpetrators of this fearful outrage.—
A publick meeting has been held, a com-
mittee appointed and a fund raised, to pro-
secute a thorough investigation.—Albany
Daily Advertiser.
================================================================
[Col.3]
A HORRIBLE MURDER.—On Sunday mor-
ning week says the Tribune of this morning, Miss
Cecilia Rogers, (who formerly attended John
...
murder was committed.—N. Y. Star.
================================================================
[Col.4]
CASE OF MARY ROGERS.—We stated yesterday that
a man, charged with the murder of this unfortunate
girl, had been arrested and committed for examination.
The investigation of the case was resumed this morning
before the Mayor and Justice Taylor, of the Upper Po-
lice, and was conducted, of course, with great privacy.
Several new witnesses presented themselves, and their
testimony though important, we are not now at liberty
to divulge. It is enough for the present to say that there
is every prospect this bloody mystery will be cleared up
and due punishment visited upon the guilty.
================================================================
[Col.5]
[From the N. Y. Times & Star.]
Mr. DANIEL PAYNE has placed in our possession
seven sworn affidavits, which furnish a connected and
consistent account of his movements during the whole
of Sunday the 25th of July, the day on which the
unfortunate Mary C. Rogers left her home, and was,
no doubt, murdered. No one can read the affidavits
without feeling that Mr. Payne stands exonerated
from even a shadow of suspicion. In a former article
we stated that his whereabouts during the interval
between the hours of seven and nine on the evening
of the 25th, was not clearly accounted for. The affi-
davit of Mr. Bickford, which we append, settles that
question.
City and County of New York, the sixteenth day
of August, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.
I, Thomas D. Bickford, do swear, that Daniel Payne
was in my house on Sunday the twenty-fifth day of
July last, between the hours of one and two o'clock
and also between the hours of eight and nine o'clock
in the evening of the same day.
THOS. D. BICKFORD.
Sworn to before me, this 16th August, 1841.
W. H. HARNED, Commissioner of Deeds.
Mr. John Payne, the brother of Mr. Daniel Payne,
testifies in another affidavit that the latter left him at
the Battery at a quarter or half past 7 o'clock, for the
purpose of proceeding to Bickford's.
The affidavits of Mrs. Rogers, the mother, and Mrs.
Hayes and Mrs. Downing, the aunts of Mary, to-
gether with several others, fully account for every re-
maining hour and even half hour of the day.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE EXAMINATIONS RELATIVE TO THE MURDER OF MISS
ROGERS.—The Mayor and Justice Parker were yesterday
diligently engaged at the Upper Police office up to a late hour
in the afternoon in the examination of witnesses, touching the
guilt or innocence of Joseph W. Morse, suspected of the mur-
der of Miss Mary C. Rogers. A number of witnesses brought
in by the officers Hilliker and Parker were examined and
discharged—but as the examination was in secret, we are
unable to state as to what new facts, if any, were elicited.
Morse's examination was deferred to another day, owing to
the necessary absence, for a short time, of the Mayor. He
will probably however be examined this day. A private ex-
amination of the mother of the murdered girl, conducted with
great delicacy out of respect to her age, infirmities and afflic-
tions—was had at her residence, for the ascertainment of
certain facts. That lady is now some 70 years of age, and
is literally borne down with sorrow. It is said that some
years since her husband was blown up in a steamboat on the
Mississippi and killed; that her son, who rented the house
in Nassau-street, was some months ago knocked overboard
from a vessel in leaving this port and drowned; and now her
only solace and support, her lovely daughter, being brutally
murdered, presses grief heavily upon her heart, and drives
“the iron deep into her soul.” The state of mind to which
she has been driven by her multiplied afflictions, added to
her age and infirmities, furnish sufficient excuses for her not
visiting her daughter's grave at Hoboken, or attending at the
Police office to interest herself in the investigations going on.
The public we hope will deeply commiserate her condition,
and reserve their censures for more befitting subjects.
There are various out-of-door rumors in relation to Morse,
which we cannot trace to any authentic source, and theretofore
withhold them from our readers. All facts we will be careful
to present, but cannot descend to fictions to gratify even a
laudable anxiety for news.
[Col.3]
MR. ALFRED CROMMELINE.—This gentleman, we regret
to state, has been unjustly published in some of the papers,
(not this,) as having been arrested on suspicion of his having
been concerned with J. W. Morse in the murder of Miss
Mary C. Rogers. We know Mr. Crommeline, who is a
highly respectable man, and know that he has not been ar-
rested, and that no such charge is now entertained or has
ever been brought against him. To disabuse public opinion
we make this statement, as also to remove suspicion from
the character of a worthy individual.
================================================================
[Col.2]
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—Our readers will
probably recollect that the individual who first identi-
fied the body of this unfortunate girl, and who was
most instrumental in stimulating the pursuits of this
Police after her murderers, was a gentlemen of the
name of ALFRED CROMMELIN, residing at No. 19 John
street. We are astonished to learn from him, that
some of the penny papers have in their reports of the
affair, most unaccountably connected his name with
that of the man now in confinement on suspicion of
having committed the murder. It no doubt must
have been by mistake; at any rate, in justice to Mr.
CROMMELIN, we would say that Mr. GILBERT MER-
RITT, the Magistrate and Coroner of Hoboken, and
Dr. COOKE, foreman of the Coroner's Inquest held on
the body, have both borne testimony in writing to
the philanthropic exertions of Mr. CROMMELIN; that
he does not know the man now in custody, and that
he has been only mixed up with the judicial proceed-
ings, from the laudable desire evinced by him, that
such an atrocious act should not be perpetrated in
this community and go unpunished.
—————
...
POLICE—Wednesday.
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—The Mayor and
Justice Taylor, were engaged the whole of yesterday,
taking testimony in this exciting case, but we have
no intimation of the nature of the testimony, except
that it in nowise exculpates Morse. On the contra-
ry, every thing that has thus far been discovered
tends to confirm this suspicion of his having partici-
pated in the outrage upon Miss Rogers. It will be
several days before the testimony against Morse can
be completed, until when every thing must remain a
mystery, the Magistrates being unwilling to give any
thing for publication, which may ??????? with the
ends of justice. Rumors in abundance are afloat,
which, however, we prefer to wait.
We have very few new facts to communicate to-
day, but we may as well notice one or two contradic-
tory statements made by Morse. On being brought
to the upper Police Office he ?????????? any of ???
?????????? ?? to his connection with the affair. He
stated that he was not at Hoboken on Sunday, but
was on Staten Island and could establish that fact.
?? ?? ???? ?? ???? make himself out to be a ????
[Col.3]
woful fibber at the least, for on Monday night when
he returned home he told his wife that he had been
to Hoboken, and being caught in the shower, he had
staid over night. These stories do not match very
well.
When officer Hilliker went to arrest him on Tues-
day morning on the complaint of his wife, he saw
the two apprentices there, one of whom told him,
that Morse was out, when in fact it has been since
ascertained, that he was then lying asleep in the
back room, having given orders to his boys to deny
him to every person except two gentlemen, whom he
named. The eldest apprentice, who wrote the letter
to him at Worcester, has been arrested, and will be
examined during the week. It is not true that Mr.
Crommelin, has been arrested on the charge of hav-
ing written a letter to Mr. Morse, nor has any other
arrest been made, except such as may be necessary
as evidence.
Williams, the English swindler, now in prison on a
charge of defrauding Messrs. E. Pricener of 30 baskets
of champagne, had another complaint against him by
Messrs. Smith, of Broadway, from whom he managed
to get 44 yards of carpeting for his office in Exchange
Place, by means of his enamelled cards and brazen
impudence. He refused to answer any question up-
on the subject, and is committed for trial. He goes
on to Boston for trial, this day.
Peter Jackson, a colored man, was arrested by
watchman Valentine, having in his possession a bag
of drugs neatly packed up. As he could give no good
account of himself, he was remanded for further ex-
amination.
John Herrick was caught stealing a box of segars
worth $12, from the store door of T. A. & S. Hope,
corner of Chambers-street and West Broadway, and
was locked up for trial.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Second Edition]
SHOCKING.—Horace Greeley, the correspondent of
the Washington Madisonian, writes as follows of
Mary Rogers:—
My own opinion is that she was murdered, not at Ho-
boken, but in this city; and I have a suspicion that her
death was not the result of malice or outrage, but of
some of the infernal practices to procure abortion, for
which our city has for some years been notorious. This
is a suspicion only; but I am confident that if her lover,
Payne, would frankly tell all he knows, it would be
easy to trace out this horrible affair.
With the evidence of Doctor Cook before him, we
do not envy the man's heart who could write this
most foul calumny on the character of the poor un-
fortunate, murdered girl.
—————
The Arrest of the supposed Murderer of Mary
C. Rogers.
We have already stated that Mr. Hilliker, the offi-
cer has arrested at Holden, near Worcester, Mas-
sachusetts, Mr. Morse, the wood engraver, of 120
Nassau street, as the supposed murderer of Mary C.
Rogers.
The Mayor and Justice Taylor were all day yes-
terday engaged in taking testimony from the Barber,
corner Theatre Alley and Beekman street, Mr. But-
ler, the engraver, Mr. Travis, a tailor, and two or
three others; all which tend to foster guilt upon
Morse.
All the examinations were strictly private, and the
Mayor has forbidden any publication of what tran-
spired on the subject.
The wife of Morse says, that he was not at home on
the Sunday night when Mary Rogers was murdered;
two respectable witnesses confirm her statement.
He came home on Monday night in a state of great
excitement, and beat his wife, and cleared out that
night. This led to his arrest. Justice Taylor says,
that up to this hour they have not been able to find
any one who knows where Morse was on the fatal
Sunday night.
In explanation of where he spent that fatal Sun-
day, Morse says this:—
“On Sunday, the 25th of July, I met a young lady
about noon, in Bleecker street, near Norton street.—
She was dressed in black; I had met her before, and
persuaded her to go with me to Staten Island. We
went there; to the Pavilion, had some refreshments,
and I kept her mind employed till after the last boat
started. I then persuaded her to agree to pass the night
with me and to sleep in the same room. She did so;
I tried to have connexion with her in the night, but
did not succeed. On Monday morning I came to
the city with her, and left her in good friendship at
the corner of Greenwich and Barclay street. This
was ½ past 11 A. M. I have not seen her since. I
don't know her name. I think she lives in Morton
street, with her mother. I think the house where
she lives has a brass plate on the door, with cypher
letters on it. I don't know the name on it. Her
name might be Mary Rogers. IF IT WAS I HAD NO
HAND IN MURDERING HER! as I left her in good feeling.
Her hair was rather light. Her complexion light.
I think her eye brows were rather dark. She was
slender made; of very genteel appearance; rather
tall and thin; she told me she was 17 years of age;
she had a very long, delicate hand, but no rings on
her fingers. She said she was going to board at the
Seminary at Staten Island. This is all I know about
her.”
We can only add to this that Morse appeared
cheerful up to last night. The Mayor went down
to Staten Island about 4 P.M. and had not returned
at 10 P.M. We shall have more details to-day.
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE ARREST of an individual named Cromelin
mentioned by us yesterday in connexion with that
of Morse, for his supposed participation in the late
dreadful tragedy at Hoboken, proves to be a mis-
take. No person by that name has been arrested,
nor, as far as now appears, was the author of the
letter putting Morse on his guard against the po-
lice. The Boston Transcript says, in reference to
that letter, that “on being opened in the presence
of Morse, it was found to be from Daniel Payne,
the intended husband of Miss Rogers.” On the
other hand, it is attributed by some of the papers
here, to an apprentice of Morse's. From the va-
riety of conflicting reports on this important point
it is most probable the author of the letter remains
unknown, or, at least, his name undivulged by the
police. Whoever may have been the author of it,
it may, after all, have been written wholly in re-
ference to the prosecution instituted by Mrs.
Morse, and without any reference whatever to
any suspicion entertained against him in the seri-
ous implication resting against him. That he was
most decidedly inclined to unlink himself from
future companionship with his wife, appears very
evident; and we do not see anything in the man-
ner of his leaving the city, and the provisions he
made for remaining away a length of time, incon-
sistent with the possibility that the purpose of
separating himself from his wife might have been
his only inducement in absenting himself.
Among all the numerous reports relating to him
which are rumored from mouth to mouth, or have
found their way into the public prints, there are
but two which, if totally true, militate at all
against the supposition of innocence to which he is
entitled by law and common humanity, until his
guilt is established. The most serious circum-
stance alleged against him is, that he was with
Miss Rogers shortly before the evening on which
she is believed to have met her cruel fate. This
is by no manner of means conclusive that he did
not part from her before she fell into the hands of
her ravishers and murderers; or that he may not
be as perfectly innocent of participation in, or
even knowledge of, the horrors of the evening, as
any other individual. The second is a circum-
stance related in the Courier—which may or may
not be true, though, unquestionably, it was be-
lieved to be so by the author of the publica-
tion. It is stated by that paper, that on the Tues-
day afternoon that Morse left the city, a young gen-
tleman of this city who was on board the
Norwich boat, fell in with Morse on board, and in
the course of conversation Morse told this stranger
a queer story about his having taken a girl over
to Staten Island on Sunday, the 25th, and of the
manner in which he had treated her. The gentle-
man returned to New York immediately, and
hearing then for the first time of the murder of
Mary Rogers, the story told by Morse came to his
mind, and he promptly communicated it by letter
to Justice Merrit, of Hoboken, but by some mishap
the letter remained in this city four or five days be-
fore it reached this Justice, but when it was re-
ceived, it was considered as one link in the chain
of evidence against Morse.
This very circumstance of being at Staten Isl-
and on the Sunday in question, is, we understand,
repeated by Morse now. In relation to his ab-
senting himself from the city, he says that he can
satisfactorily account for his doing so when the
proper time arrives, and says he was at Staten Isl-
and on the afternoon of the Sunday on which it is
said he was at Hoboken. He also endeavors to
create an impression that the men who pretend to
identify him were concerned in the murder them-
selves, and want to save themselves by accusing
him. On the other hand, the Tattler says, it is
known that Morse invited an acquaintance—a bar-
ber in Ann street—to go to Hoboken with him on
Sunday and on Monday, on both of which days
the friend declined to go. On Tuesday morning
Morse called once more at the barber's and said
he was going to leave the city for a short time;
that he had trouble with his wife and feared she
would get out a warrant against him, and he pro-
mised to write to him soon.
On the whole, we can sift from amongst the
mass of things printed and rumored on the all ex-
citing subject, little to rely upon, and quite as lit-
tle that is very material in itself, if true, though
each particular may eventually prove an import-
ant link in the chain of mystery yet to be unra-
velled. The examination of Morse, which com-
menced yesterday morning, at the upper police
is strictly private. If sufficient evidence is found
against him to commit him for trial, the public will,
till then, probably be ignorant of any evidence
which may be adduced, as the Magistrates enga-
ged in the examination very properly and judi-
ciously decline showing ex parte versions of the
matter elicited to get before the public to the pre-
judice either of the prisoner or of public justice.
================================================================
[Col.5. More is in Evening Post]
The Murder of Miss Rogers.
The body of this unfortunate girl was
yesterday, at the request of our city au-
thorities, disinterred and brought from
Jersey to this city, and deposited in the
dead house in the Park. And difficult
would it be for the most imaginative
mind to conceive a spectacle more hor-
rible or humiliating to humanity.—
There lay, what was but a few days
back, the image of its Creator, the love-
liest of his works, and the tenement of
an immortal soul, now a blackened and
decomposed mass of putrefaction, pain-
fully disgusting to sight and smell. Her
skin which had been unusually fair was
now black as that of a negro. Her
eyes so sunk in her swollen face as to
have the appearance of being violently
forced beyond the sockets, and her
mouth, which “no friendly hand had
closed in death,” was distended as wide
as the ligaments of the jaws would ad-
mit, and wore the appearance of a person
who had died from suffocation or stran-
gulation. The remainder of her person
was alike one mass of putrefaction and
corruption, on which the worms were rev-
elling at their will. And as if nothing
should be wanting to send the moral
home to men's hearts, and render it more
painfully oppressive, the young man
who was to have been, in a few days,
married to her, now stood beside the
rough box in which all that remained of
her he loved was lying. Her whom but
a few days back, he had seen, “exulting
in her youth,” filled with life, hope and
animation, whom he so ardently wished
to make his wedded wife, to fold to his
bosom, to press to “his heart of hearts,”
now lay before him an inanimate mass
of matter, so hideous, horrible and offen-
sive, that the bare idea of coming in
contact with it was almost sufficient to
make the gorge rise. The remains even
of her dress, in which she had been
buried, were already so discolored and
half rotten, as to render it almost impos-
sible to be identified, and was so impreg-
nated with the effluvia from her person,
that scarcely any person would venture
to touch or examine it.
The chief object in bringing the body
over to this city, was that it might be
identified beyond all doubt, which it ap-
pears had not been hitherto done, at least
to the satisfaction of our city authori-
ties, until yesterday. Amongst the
strangest and most mysterious circum-
stances of the murder, is perhaps the
fact that from the hour she last left her
mother's door, to the time when her body
[Col.6]
was found floating in the river, no trace
whatever of her has been discovered, nor
can any person be found who, for one
moment saw her, in that interim.
Justices Parker and Merritt and Mr.
Calender, clerk of the Post Office, at-
tended at the dead house, for several
hours yesterday evening for the purpose
of further examining the matter, but
they were unable to elicit more than had
been already known. In the course of
the evening a coffin was procured, into
which the unfortunate girl's remains
were removed from the rough box in
which they had been buried, and they
still remain in the dead house in the
Park.—N. Y. Journal of Com., Aug. 11.
—————
The Mormons.
Joe Smith's disciples celebrated the
4th at Nauvoo with great pomp. It
was a kind of military celebration, ac-
companied with an oration and feasting.
...
We waited to see the “Prophet” carve a
large and fat turkey, and distribute it to
the ladies around him, after which our
company left the ground. Thus ended
our visit to the Mormons.”
—————
An Insane Mother.—The Louisville
Tablet, of the 29th of July, gives the
following account of a most horrid mur-
der, committed in the vicinity of that
city by a Mrs. Roper:
She killed three of her own children
by cutting their heads off with an axe.
...[Col.7]
...
That she was a maniac at the time,
there cannot be a doubt.”
—————
The Drowned Lovers Identified.—
...
—————
The air was so close and suffocating
in Albany, the other day, that the editor
of the Microscope was compelled to
draw his breath with a corkscrew.
—————
That man who would cheat a printer
is mean enough to steal the pewter off
the head of a blind nigger's cane!
—————
We take from an exchange paper
the following good 'un:—“An artist
in this city painted an imitation of a
bottle of spruce beer so naturally, that
the cork flew out before he could paint
the string to fasten it.”
—————
A lady of extensive delicacy and
modesty in Richmond has all the flies
in her house caught and pantaloons put
on their legs.
—————
“Pray, young gentlemen, pity the
poor blind man.” “If you are blind,
how d'ye know we are young men?”—
“Oh! beg your pardon! I mean the
deaf and dumb.”
MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, August 19, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1. From Courier]
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—We
are pleased to be able to state, that at
...
in this outrageous affair.—Cou. & Enq.
[Col.5. From Evening Post]
The Murderer of Miss Rogers Arrested.
——
We hear that the steamboat Worces-
ter, which arrived from Norwich, Ct.,
...
letter referred to the case of Miss Rog-
ers.—Eve. Post of yesterday.
================================================================
[Col.5]
CASE OF JOS. W. MORSE—Arrested for the sup-
posed Murder of Mary C. Rogers.—On the 22d
July the wife of Morse complained at the Upper
Police office that her husband had beaten her the
night before. Officer Hilliker, with a warrant,
went to Morse's Office, 120 Nassau street, saw his
two apprentices to the wood engraving business,
asked for Mr. Morse, and was told by the older of
the two that Morse was not in, and could not say
where he could then be found. The officer left a
note for Morse to call upon him. At that time
Morse was asleep in his back office, as since ascer-
tained. On the succeeding Thursday, the same ap-
prentice told the officer that Morse had gone out of
town, but did not know to what place.
Mr. Ireland, who occupies the second floor of 120
Nassau street, said that Morse had taken away his
trunks on the previous Tuesday.
On Sunday evening, the officer called upon Mrs.
Morse, who said she had not seen her husband
since Monday night, when he left his house, No.
55 Green street. She said that he had not treated
her well; that as far back as Christmas he had left
off sleeping at home; except occasionally, generally
staying at his office; that on Friday night he slept
at home, and continued to live with her until Sunday
morning, the 25th July. He then told her and a
woman in the house that he had engagements at
Hoboken, and was going there. She did not see
him again until half-past 10 o'clock on Monday
night. Then he had a large dog with him. The
dog was wet. Said that he had just returned from
Hoboken—had staid there over night—that he had
been caught in a shower, which had detained him
over Sunday night, and the dog had on Monday
night been in the water. Morse was tired and ex-
cited—acted very strangely and went to bed. She
went to the pump for a pitcher of water, and on
her return found him dressing himself. Some
words passed—he said he was going out. She said
she would follow him if he did. He did go out, she
followed, and at the corner of Broome and Greene
street he struck her; since which she has not seen
him. These circumstances induced a suspicion in
Mr. Hilliker's mind that he knew something of the
murder. He mentioned the facts to Justice Taylor,
who concurred in opinion that Morse should be
searched for. Mr. Hilliker then called on the
mother of Miss Rogers, and received a description
of her daughter. The aunt of the young woman
stated that two gentlemen had seen at Hoboken,
on 25th July, between 6 and 7 o'clock in the even-
ing, a couple answering the description of Morse
and Miss Rogers as received by Hilliker from Mrs.
Morse and Mrs. Rogers. The officer then called on
these persons, and they made affidavits as to the
facts stated above before Justice Taylor. After this
Hilliker, was despatched to Boston, to which place
Morse was supposed to have gone, as his baggage
was sent to the Boston boat. It was supposed
Morse had gone to Nantucket, as his mother lived
there, but on examining the oldest apprentice, Ed-
ward Bookout, he stated under oath, that Morse had
directed him to write to him at Worcester. Mr.
Hilliker was too late for the Worcester line, and
proceeded to Boston, via Stonington. On Saturday
morning, 14th instant, Mr. Hilliker left Boston for
Worcester at 1 P. M. Arrived at 3, and immedi-
ately made arrangements with the Postmaster to
detain any letters addressed to Morse, until he
should hear from Hilliker.
In a tavern at the outskirts of Worcester, Hilli-
ker heard of a Mr. Morse then being at Holden, 7
miles distant, who answered the description of J.
W. Morse. He then proceeded to Holden, and
soon after, about half-past nine P. M., Morse ap-
peared on the stoop, when Hilliker invited him to
the bar room, where one of the persons who it was
supposed had seen Morse at Hoboken, and who ac-
companied Hilliker, might have an opportunity to
see his features and dress. He was recognized
though his dress was changed.* On returning to
Worcester, the Postmaster produced the letter ex-
pected by Morse, which M. opened and then han-
ded to Hilliker.
This letter was from the oldest apprentice, and
advised Morse to alter his dress and shave off his
whiskers, as the police was on the lookout for him.
Morse said that he was with a young girl at Staten
Island on the 25th July, but gave no name, and
said he did not know whether he could find her a-
gain. He had made a similar statement on his way
to Worcester, as appears by several affidavits. One
of the gentlemen who saw him at Hoboken, but not
the one who went on with Hilliker, had examined
the dress of Miss Rogers before Hilliker left for
Boston, and swore to it. His description tallies
with that of Mrs. Rogers. He has since seen Morse
and made affidavit as to his being the man seen
with the young woman at Hoboken. Neither of
these gentlemen knew Miss Rogers. The other
gentlemen describes the dress minutely. Another
person was told by Morse, before he left for Boston,
the same story about his having been at Staten Isl-
and with a young woman on the fatal Sunday, and
that he remained there until Monday.
The evidence so far is certainly very strong a-
gainst him, and the worst feature of the whole mat-
ter is, that Morse does not demand to be examined.
It is to be hoped that all persons who saw him be-
tween Sunday and the day he left, will give the Ma-
gistrates information as early as possible.—Stan-
dard.
———
* When arrested, he told Hilliker that he had been at Ho-
boken on the 25th July, with a young woman whom he had
met in Broadway by appointment, but next day afterwards
said he was at Staten Island not Hoboken.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Joseph W. Morse, supposed to be one of the mur-
derers of Miss Rogers, and who was arested in this
State a few days since, arrived at New York in the
custody of a Police officer on Tuesday, and was to
be examined the same day. He is a wood-engraver,
about 25 or 30 years of age, and like all rogues, is
said to be a very fine looking fellow. He fled from
New York the morning after Miss Rogers body was
discovered. The magistrates refuse to disclose yet
the manner in which suspicion was excited against
him. We presume the whole affair of this murder
will in some way, soon become public, revealing an
awful tale of guilt, and disclosing the most horrid
particulars.
[Col.6]
BY THE NOON MAIL.
...
Nothing further of much importance has been
elicited as to the murder of Miss Rogers. Morse
was examined before the New York Police, yester-
day, in private. The result is not yet known.
================================================================
[Col.5. From Courier]
[From the Courier & Enquirer.]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.
Officer Hilliker of the Upper Police Office
...
tion which will take place this day.
================================================================
[Col.2]
EXAMINATION IN THE CASE OF MISS ROGERS.—The in-
vestigation into the case touching the murder of Miss Mary
C. Rogers was continued yesterday at the Upper Police
Office, before the Mayor and Justice Taylor, in secret, during
which several witnesses were examined, as also Morse, the
accused, himself. The latter having, as is understood—
(though we are not officially advised of the fact)—asserted
on Wednesday that he was not at Hoboken on Sunday, the
25th of July, and did not see Miss Rogers that day, but that
he was at Staten Island, and remained there during the
whole of Sunday night in company with another female,
aged about 17 years, of Morton-street,—the Mayor, late on
Wednesday afternoon, proceeded to Staten Island, and there
ascertained that a man resembling the accused had lodged
in a public house there that night, and that a genteel looking
young female was in company with him, and also lodged in
the same room with Morse. To prove the correctness or
falsity of this statement, Morse was induced to reveal the
name of the young lady, who, he said, resided in Morton-
street; and in the course of yesterday she was sought out,
found, brought to the Upper Police Office, and examined.—
She stated, as we unofficially informed, that she was
about 17 years of age—had seen Morse once before—be-
lieved him to be a single man; and that on Sunday, the 25th
of July, he met her in Bleecker-street, and persuaded her to
take an excursion with him to Staten Island; that they went
early in the afternoon, about 2 o'clock, to the Island,
where Morse contrived to while away the time with her un-
til the last boat had left, when he pressed her to stay and
lodge in the same room with him that night, which she re-
fused; but that on his threat to expose her, and on his plight-
ing his honor that he would not molest her, she consented
and did lodge in the same room with him, in separate beds;
that during the night he forfeited his pledge, and came to
her bed and proceeded to improper liberties, which she re-
sisted, and that he then proceeded to use force, but that she
successfully resisted all his efforts; that on Monday forenoon
they left the Island together and arrived in this city, when
he accompanied her as far as the corner of Barclay and
Greenwich-streets, when he left her and she returned home.
As corroborations of the statement of the young lady, as also
that of Morse in part, we understand that Messrs. James
Conner, William H. Hicks, R. Backer and W. J. McKee
were examined, and all deposed that they saw Morse be-
tween 1 and 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, the 25th of July,
in Broadway, in company with a young lady, wending their
way towards the Battery, when one of the company, address-
ing one of the others, said, “There goes Morse with your
girl.”
From these several confirmations of the story told by
Morse, and which go to prove an alibi, it is pretty clearly
established that the Police have been again deceived—that
Morse is not the man who was seen with Miss Rogers at
Hoboken, and that he is not guilty of that charge, whatever
else may be his sins. He is still, however, kept in custody,
as there are charges of assault and battery on his wife, and
of abandoning her yet against him. It is also rumored a
third charge has been or will be preferred, of the nature of
which we are not specifically advised. As Morse then had
been found to be not the murderer, the next question arises,
who is he? and where is he to be found? This, we appre-
hend, none, save the guilty and He who sees all things,
knows; but the Police are determined to endeavor still to
find out. The inquiry has been, thus far, confined to evi-
dence relative to the commission of the crime on Sunday
evening. Might it not, we ask, have been committed on
Monday, or Monday evening, or even as early as Sunday
before noon? We submit these questions for the authorities.
—————
...
—————
☞ Great care should be taken in calling names or impli-
cating persons in regard to the awful death of Mary C. Ro-
gers. The Sun's atrocious implication of Mr. Cromeline
has been paralleled by a similar misrepresentation in several
papers which speaks of “a barber in Ann-st.” as an ac-
quaintance and crony of Morse, and engaged to accompany
him to Hoboken. This is all wrong. The only barber in
Ann-st. is Mr. James Grant, a most worthy man, who knows
nothing of Morse. A barber in Beekman-st. was mentioned
in the testimony.
================================================================
[Col.2]
POLICE—Thursday.
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—We regret to state
that the outrage upon this unfortunate girl remains
as much a mystery as ever, evidence having been
yesterday adduced, proving unquestionably that
Morse had no hand in the murder of Miss Rogers,
although it was satisfactorily proved that he is a most
consummate scoundrel, and deserves, what he will
doubtless receive, the full measure of punishment,
which the law allows. Up to Wednesday night all
the testimony which had been taken at the Upper
Office on the subject, tended as far as accurate de-
scription could go, to fasten the strongest suspicion
upon him. He then, however, made a statement to
the magistrates to this effect; that he was at Staten
Island on Sunday the 25th July, in company with a
girl, whose name he did not know, but who lived in
Morton street. He also gave a minute description of
her dress, and with this information the Mayor pro-
ceeded to Staten Island, where, upon making enqui-
ry, he was satisfied that the statement of Morse was
in the main correct, and the only difficulty then was
to discover the girl, as even Morse did not know her
name or residence. This difficulty was got over yes-
terday morning, and the girl was produced before the
Mayor and Justice Taylor. She is rather a hand-
some girl, not yet 17 years of age, and appeared ter-
ribly affected in giving her statement, which was to
the following effect, and which proves her at best, a
very weak-minded girl, easily led astray. Her name
we of course suppress.
She states that on Sunday afternoon, the 25th July,
he met her in Bleecker street, (he says by appoint-
ment, although he admits he never saw her but a few
times before,) and she was persuaded to go to Staten
Island with him. When they reached there, he ma-
naged to detain her until the last boat had left, and it
was found impossible to return to the city that night.
He then, by dint of threats that he would expose and
hold her name up to odium, and by other means, such
as might have been expected from a man like himself,
induced her to go to the hotel near the quarantine,
and stay for the night, and he promised most faithful-
ly that she should receive no harm at his hands. This
promise he violated, however, for after she had re-
tired, he used every argument he could think of, and
eventually some force, to accomplish his designs, in
which he was unsuccessful. In the morning they
returned to the city, and he left her between 10 and
11 o'clock, on the corner of Barclay and Greenwich
street.
This is the substance of her statement, obtained
indirectly, for none of the papers have as yet been ex-
hibited to the reporters, and as there is abundance of
evidence to prove that he was with this girl on the
Sunday, 25th July, of course the accusation as to
having participated in the murder of Miss Rogers
falls to the ground. He will undoubtedly, however,
have to stand a trial for the attempt to commit a rape
upon this girl, and if convicted, there is no doubt
that he will suffer to the fullest extent of the law.
Under these circumstances, the murder of Miss
Rogers is as great a mystery as ever, and we much
fear, that so much time has now elapsed since it
was committed, that the perpetrators will escape jus-
tice. Morse has not yet, however, been discharged
from the suspicion of murder, and will not be until
the statement of the girl is fully confirmed, to which
end the examination will be resumed this day.
Coroner's Office.—The Coroner, yesterday, held an
inquest on the body of a lad aged 11 years, named
Robert Farrell, residing with his aunt at No. 42
Ridge street, who was drowned on Tuesday. He
went with other boys to the foot of Broom street to
swim, and getting out of his depth, was drowned,
and his body was only recovered yesterday. Ver-
dict, accidentally drowned.
Also, upon the body of Ambrose Morgan, aged 55,
found in the East River, near the foot of Delancey
street, having fallen into the river on Wednesday
night. He was heard shouting for help by some
persons on board the sloop Splendid, but before any
assistance could be rendered, he sank to rise no more.
Verdict, accidentally drowned.
Also, upon an infant, the child of Mr. Robert Dun-
can, residing at No. 110 119th-street, who came to its
death by taking laudanum instead of paregoric, which
was intended and which was served out for that arti-
cle by a clerk in the drug store of Mr. Hinman, No.
145 Eighth Avenue. A witness testified to having
purchased the drug for paregoric, and administered it
to her own child, which fortunately sustained no in-
jury, and some of the same being administered to
Mr. Duncan's infant, it caused the death of the child
in a few hours. The jury returned a verdict in ac-
cordance with the above circumstances, and censured
in the most unmeasured terms the clerk who sold
the drug.
Also, upon the body of Rebecca Foohay, residing
on the corner of West and John streets, who died of
apolexy produced by intemperance. Verdict accor-
dingly.
Also, upon the body of the young man, Jacob
Wirtz, who was drowned on Sunday evening last,
between 9 and 10 P. M. by falling from the Ferry
Boat, crossing from Hoboken. As the only testimo-
ny before the Coroner on this inquest, was that of a
friend to identify the body, and of the person who
picked up the body, we will state a fact connected
with the deceased, which has come to us from good
authority, and which deserves attention. A few
nights since, Wirtz was walking on the Battery
with two young ladies, to one of whom he was en-
gaged to be married, and as they were about going
out, a ruffianly fellow stepped up and remarked that
two girls was too much for one man, and that he
wanted one. Wirtz wishing to avoid any disturb-
ance, crossed over, but the ruffian followed him up,
and after abusing him struck him a violent blow.—
The watchmen and citizens have interfered and the
fellow was taken and confined in the watch house.
In the morning Wirtz made his complaint, and was
bound over to appear and prosecute the man. As it
is well known that gangs of lawless men infest the
Hoboken boats at night, would it not be worth en-
quiring if some of this fellow's friends were not on
board, and whether his falling overboard was purely
accidental? Surely some person must have been near
him when he was sitting on the rail of the boat, for
the boat was densely crowded on that occasion. We
merely throw out these suggestions for the action of
the proper authorities.
================================================================
[Col.1]
STATUE OF FANNY ELSSLER.—This celebrated
chef d'ouvre by Stout, is now nearly ready for exhi-
bition. It represents Fanny in the Gipsey girl, in the
attitude of awaking from a deep sleep, and rising up
in a moment of surprise, and is said to be beautiful
design, conception and execution.[Col.2 / Second Edition]
The Murder of Mary C. Rogers—Further
Particulars—Innocence of Morse.
This is one of the most extraordinary cases that
ever came before a criminal court in any country.
At the very moment that some scoundrels were rav-
ishing and murdering Mary Rogers at Hoboken or
New York, Morse was trying to seduce a girl at the
Pavilion at Staten Island.
All our readers remember the statement we gave
yesterday, from Morse's own lips, as to where he
was on the fatal Sunday. Every word he said, and
we published, was true. The instant Mr. Hicks, of
the firm of W. & H. Hicks, Pine street, saw the
“Herald” yesterday, he went to Mr. James Connor,
the Type Founder, and reminded him that they had
seen Morse in company with a young lady in black, on
the fatal Sunday, in Broadway, at 3 in the afternoon!
On that occasion, Mr. Conner, Mr. Hicks, Mr.
Becker, and Mr. M'Kee the ship broker, &c. of
Wall street, were in company. The young lady is
the daughter of highly respectable widow lady,
living in Morton street. She has brothers and sis-
ters. They live on their means. We have her
name, and know her well; but it would be a
great outrage to publish the name. The above
four gentlemen met Morse and the young lady
in Broadway, between White and Walker streets,
on that Sunday, at half past three P. M. They
read the “Herald” separately, and then went to the
Upper Police, and told their story. The Mayor
detained them, and made Mr. M'Kee name the
young lady, and tell her residence. Officer Hilliker
was sent to the house, found her, brought her up to
the Upper Police Office, in tears. She corroborated
all Morse's statements, and when he was brought
out of the cell, she identified him as the man who
was with her from 3 P. M. on that Sunday, till 11 A.
M. on the next day, Monday morning. But we will
give part of her examination:—
Q.—You can swear that the man here called
Morse, is the man that was with you that Sunday,
the 25th of July?
Young Lady.—I can. He was the man.
Q.—Where did you first meet with him that day?
A.—In Bleecker street, near Morton.
Q.—What hour?
A.—The clock struck three as I left my mother's
house in the afternoon.
Q.—Had you seen him before.
A.—I had, and agreed to go to Staten Island.
Q.—Which way did you go?
A.—Up Bleecker street and down Broadway.
Q.—Did you meet any body you knew?
A.—I met Mr. McKee in Broadway.
Q.—Did you go to Staten Island with Morse?
A.—I did.
Q.—What passed there?
A.—He kept my mind occupied, and my attention
off the time until the last boat started for New
York.
Q.—What then?
A.—He persuaded me to stay at the Hotel; and I
did not know what was for the best, and stayed.
Q.—Did you pass the night in the same room with
him?
A.—I did.
Q.—What time did you retire?
A.—Not till near midnight.
Q.—Did he take any liberties with you?
A.—He kissed me and hugged me a good deal,
and he tried to persuade me to yield to his wishes;
but I resisted all night.
Q.—Did he use any force or violence?
A.—I can't say that he tried to use force.
Q.—Did you lay down on the bed?
A.—I did, for part of the night.
Q.—Did you undress?
A.—I did partly.
Q.—Did you wear any night clothes?
A.—He went down stairs to get some night clothes
for me.
Q.—Then you laid down on the bed with him in
the night clothes?
A.—I did.
Q.—Did you sleep any?
A.—I can't say I did.
Q.—Did he not try to force you?
A.—He tried to persuade me to consent to his wish-
es in every way; but I refused.
Q.—He did not violate your person, then?
A.—He did not.
Q.—When did you return to the city?
A.—About ten or eleven next morning.
Q.—Have you seen him since until to-day?
A.—I have not.
This is the substance of this poor girl's testimony;
and she was half deluged in tears the whole time.
She is very beautiful; tall, slim, genteel, and one of
the most modest looking young ladies in the city.
Thus Morse has proved where he was from 3
P. M., on that fatal Sunday, till 11 A. M. next day.
Mr. John Conroy, the celebrated fishing tackle ma-
ker, of Fulton street, saw him and spoke to him at
10½ A. M., on that fatal Sunday, in Ann street, near
Theatre alley. Morse has now to account for
where he was between half past 10 and half past 2
or 3 o'clock on that Sunday. We are not allowed to
say more to-night.
[Col.3]
THE GAMBLING HOUSES.—Is it not time for the po-
lice to do something toward the suppression of the
gambling houses?
—————
...
—————
WEATHER.—Thermometer, yesterday, in the
shade 84 deg.
—————
ROCKAWAY.—A splendid ball is given at the Ma-
rine Pavillion, Rockaway, to-night. All the fashion
and beauty of Saratoga are now at Rockaway—the
Pavillion was never so crowded, or so gay, or so
pleasant. The bill to-night is to be a splendid af-
fair.
[Col.4]
MORE ABOUT THE HORRIBLE ATROCITY IN MISSIS-
SIPPI.—The following, from a Mississippi paper,
gives farther particulars of the dreadful murder of
three children by their own mother.
“We understand that she commenced her bloody
work about day-break; hoping to get through with
it before her husband or her eldest children would
awake. We give such of the particulars as we can
recollect in her own words:
“I had it all arranged the evening before; had
sharpened the axe and fixed the meat block which
stands outside the door, and laid the axe beside it;
...
he jumped out of bed, and seizing me round the
waist, asked me what I was going to do; I told
him that I was going to hang myself; he held on to
me and screamed out for help, until our nearest
neighbors came to his assistance.”
NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, August 20, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.5, 6]
City Intelligence.
CORONER'S OFFICE.—An inquest was held at the cor-
ner of West and Jane streets, on the body of Rebecca
Foshay, aged 27, a native of Belfast, Ireland. It appeared
that the deceased had been very intemperate for the last
year past, and that her death was the consequence of her
addiction to that filthy vice.
The jury found a verdict of apoplexy, produced by in-
temperance.
Another inquest was held at No. 361 Rivington street,
on the body of Antoine Morgan, a native of Massachu-
sets, aged 55, who was accidentally drowned while saw-
ing wood on board a sloop at the foot of Delancy street.
Verdict, accidental death.
A third inquest was held at No. 42 Ridge street, on the
body of Robert Farrell, a native of this city, aged 11
years, who was drowned while bathing on Wednesday
night, at the foot of Broome street. The deceased was a
good swimmer, but subject to fits, and was seized with a
fit after he had been about ten minutes in the water. Be-
fore assistance could get to the lad from the shore, the
tide carried him under a raft of logs, where he sank.
Verdict, accidentally drowned.
A fifth inquest was held on the body of the infant child
of Robert Duncan, residing at 110 119th street, which
died in consequence of the administering of a dose of lau-
danum by mistake, the nurse and mother thinking it to
be a dose of paragoric.
The jury found “that the female infant came to her
death by having laudanum administered in the place of
paragoric, which was sold from the store of S. S. Hin-
man, 145 Eighth Avenue, in a mistake for paragoric, and
the jury conceive there was considerable negligence on
the part of the clerk who sold that same drug.”
PAUCITY OF BUSINESS.—Only one charge at the Lower
Police yesterday, and that was for such an unseasonable
offence, as stealing a feather bed in the dog days. The
guilty one was Ann Thompson, and she was, of course,
sent to the tombs to await the judgement of his Honor
Judge Noah.
—————
...
LOW LIVING.—In France, out of a population of
thirty-two millions, twenty-two millions have but six
cents a day to defray all expenses—food, lodging,
raiment and education. England and Ireland are in
no better condition.
...
—————
BROTHER JONATHAN.—The Brother Jonathan for
to-morrow (Saturday, Aug. 21) will be as interesting,
exciting, and various in its contents as any sheet ever is-
sued from the Jonathan press. It will contain half a
dozen complete Tales and Romances; four new chapters
of Barnaby Rudge; all the proceedings and develope-
ments relative to the Murder of Miss Rogers; Burning
of the Erie—full particulars; Foreign News by the Co-
lumbia; and a great variety of Foreign Miscellany,
News of the Week, Veto Message, Watch Returns, Gos-
sip, Editorials, &c. Price $3 a year—single copies 6
cents.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE HOBOKEN TRAGEDY.—The investigation
which the Mayor and Justice Taylor are indefati-
gably prosecuting at the upper police office, yes-
terday resulted in the discovery of evidence which
wholly and totally exonerates the prisoner Morse
from any participation in that horrid affair, and
established the truth of his assertion that, on the
afternoon, evening and night, of the fatal Sunday,
25th July, he was at Staten Island, in company
with another female. The witness who establish-
ed this alibi was a young girl, some 16 years of
age, of highly respectable character and connex-
ions, employed in one of the principal type foun-
deries in the vicinity of this office, and residing in
the upper part of the city. A partial acquaintance
had for some time existed between them; and ear-
ly on the afternoon of the fatal day they acciden-
tally met in the street; and Morse accosting her,
succeeded in persuading her to accompany
him on an excursion to Staten Island; and
when there, he managed to detain her until the
last boat had left, and it was impossible to return
to the city that night. He then, by dint of threat-
ening to leave her alone, to hold her name up to
odium, and by every other foul means that he
could invent, fairly compelled her to go to the ho-
tel, and he persuaded her to retire to bed, under
the most solemn promises that she should not re-
ceive any injury at his hands. During the night,
however, he got into her chamber, and used some
force in his endeavors to accomplish his rascally
purpose, in which, however, he was unsuccessful.
In the morning the young girl returned to the city
and went to her home in Morton street, and pro-
bably for fear of the consequences to herself,
would never have appeared at all, had the urgent
necessity of the case not demanded her attend-
ance.
Morse is thus, happily for himself, relieved from
the odium and responsibility of the murder of
which he has been unjustly suspected; but has he
not, by his rascally treatment of this young girl,
subjected himself to a criminal prosecution of an-
other, and scarcely less diabolical character?—
What say you, Mr. Whiting?
The allusion made to a barber in Ann street in
our paper of yesterday, as has having been spo-
ken to by Morse to accompany him to Hoboken,
was made on the strength of publications in oth-
er papers, which are evidently incorrect, as the
gentleman in Ann street has no acquaintance with
Morse. The person intended is, as we understand,
a barber in another street, and not the one in Ann
street.
================================================================
================================================================
THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS. Friday Morning, August 20, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.1. A changed copy from Tribune]
A HORRIBLE MURDER.
...
The inquest returned a verdict of murder by
some person or persons unknown.
================================================================
[Col.3]
CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—After all, it would
seem, that the man arrested at Worcester, and against
whom such apparently strong circumstancial testi-
mony was produced—as the probable murderer of
the ill-fated Mary Rogers was not at Hoboken with
her on Sunday. He has clearly proved an alibi, by
the testimony of a young girl with whom he went to
Staten Island that day, and remained until Monday—
as also by the evidence of the landlord in whose house
they lodged.
Thus, then, the mystery of the murder deepens.
Meantime, will not the decent press take a hint
from the false scent upon which, in this case, they
have opened, with such wide-mouthed and cruel
alacrity?
Will they not see that common fairness and jus-
tice, require that names and pretended circumstances
of character, and alleged antecedent misconduct,
should not be trumpeted forth against a man arrested
only on suspicion, and who may, as in this case, be
wholly guiltless of the crime imputed.
[Col.4]
☞ THE MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.—
The members of the Committee appointed at a public
meeting on the 11th instant, to collect subscriptions and
devise means for the apprehension and conviction of
the perpetrators of the above atrocious deed, are re-
spectfully invited to attend a meeting this evening, the
20th instant, at the house of JAMES C. STONEALL,
No. 29 Ann street, where business of the greatest im-
portance will be laid before them.
HUGH PATTISON, Chairman.
THOS. BELL, } Secretaries.
LEONARD. T. SNEETHEN, } au20 1t*
================================================================
[Col.4]
THE EXAMINATION INTO THE MURDER OF MISS
ROGERS.—The Mayor and Justice Taylor were en-
gaged again yesterday in secret in the examination
of witnesses touching the participancy of Joseph
W. Morse, in the murder of Miss Mary C. Rogers,
and also in the examination of Morse himself. In
some of his answers the previous day, as we are un-
officially informed, Morse stated that he was not at
Hoboken on Sunday the 25th July, and did not see
Miss Rogers that day, but that he was at Staten Isl-
and in company with a young lady of Morton street,
with whom he staid there on Sunday night, both
lodging in the same room, in different beds, &c.
To test the truth of this statement, the Mayor on
Wednesday afternoon proceeded to Staten Island,
and was informed at one of the hotels there, that a
man answering the description of Morse had staid
there all night of the 25th July, having a young lady
with him, both lodging in the same room. In ad-
dition to this, Morse having been induced in his
private examination to give the name of the young
lady in Morton street, the Mayor and Justice sought
for, found and brought her to the office, where, as
we understand, she deposed that she had seen Morse
once before—that he met her on Sunday, 25th July,
early in the afternoon, in Bleecker street, and per-
suaded her to accompany him on a pleasure excur-
sion to Staten Island, and that she went there;
and that under one pretext or another he continued
to detain her there until after the last boat
had gone, when he urged her to lodge with
him, which she refused, but that on his threaten-
ing to expose her and his promise not to mo-
lest her, she was induced at length to lodge in the
same room with him, in different beds—That du-
ring the night he approached her bed, and com-
menced taking improper liberties with her, which
she resisted, and that he then resorted to force to
effect his purpose, but that she successfully repel-
led all his efforts—That the next forenoon they left
the island, he accompanying her to this city, and
as far up Greenwich street as the corner of Barc-
lay street, where they separated, and she returned
to her home.
In corroboration in part of this statement,
Messrs. James Conner, William H. Hicks, R. Ba-
ker, and W. J. McKee, were severally examined,
and unitedly deposed, that they met Morse and a
young lady on Sunday, the 25th July, between 1
and 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in Broadway, pro-
ceeding downwards towards the Battery; and that
on seeing him, one of them remarked to the other,
“there goes Morse with your girl.” An alibi hav-
ing thus been proved—the evidence is almost ir-
resistible, that Morse, whatever may be his vices, is
guiltless at least, of the murder of Miss Rogers.—
He is, however, continued in prison, on other char-
ges, viz.:—those of assault and battery on and aban-
doning his wife, are yet unanswered—and rumor
says that a third charge is, or will be made against
him, of the nature of which we are not officially
able to speak. Who the murderer is, heaven, and
the guilty perpetrators only know.—Express.
[Col.6]
THE MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.
☞ The members of the Committee appointed at a pub-
lic meeting on the 11th inst., to collect subscriptions and
devise means for the apprehension and conviction of the
perpetrators of the above atrocious deed, are respectfully
invited to attend a meeting THIS EVENING, the 20th inst.,
at the house of James C. Stoneall, No. 29 Ann street, when
business of the greatest importance will be laid before
them. HUGH PATTISON, Chairman.
Thomas Bell, } Secretaries.
Leonard. T. Sneether, } au20 1t*
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE CASE OF MISS ROGERS AND MORSE.—As J. W.
Morse, who was arrested on suspicion of being the murderer
of Miss Mary C. Rogers, by proving an alibi has exonerated
himself from that horrid charge, and is now in custody only
to answer a charge of assault and battery on and abuse of his
wife until he can furnish bail in $500 for his appearance for
trial, it may not be improper to state the reason he assigns
for having fled from the city, and remained absent until
brought back hither on the suspicion of being a murderer.—
He states, we are informed, that he was not acquainted with
Miss Rogers, and firmly believed that the young lady with
whom he went to and staid all night at Staten Island
was no other than Miss Mary C. Rogers herself; that after
hearing of her death and the discovery of her dead body, he
thought she had destroyed herself on account of the treatment
she had experienced from him, and that he therefore fled for
fear of being brought into difficulty on her account; that he
did not discover his mistake until last Thursday morning,
when the young lady with whom he was at Staten Island was
brought to the Police Office and proved to be not Miss
Rogers, but the identical female he had endeavored to seduce
into a dishonorable connection at Staten Island.
Whether this is the reason of his hegira to the East, or a
mere fiction of his own, we leave to others to determine.
================================================================
[Col.2]
POLICE—Friday.
The testimony in the case of Mary C. Rogers, was
brought to a close yesterday, as far as J. W. Morse
was concerned, and the result was, that he has been
discharged from the complaint of having participated
in the outrage upon this unfortunate female. He was
examined yesterday, and corroborated in the most
minute particulars, the statement of the young girl,
which we gave yesterday, but he alleges that he used
no force, but that he did endeavor by persuasion and
arguments to induce her to consent to his wishes,
in which he was unsuccessful.
Perhaps not the least extraordinary part of this
case, is the fact, that up to Thursday morning, Morse
was laboring under the conviction that Mary C. Ro-
gers was the girl who was with him at Staten Island,
and he yesterday told the Magistrate, that he thought
up to that time, that they had been deceiving him as
to the dress of Mary Rogers. He added, that when
he was told of the body having been found, he felt
sure that it must have been that of the girl whom he
had so shamefully maltreated, and who he suspected
had committed suicide on account of his conduct to
her.
He adds that he left the city on account of the
trouble with his wife, and his affair with the young
woman, fearing that in the latter case, she might dis-
cover who he was and bring him to punishment.—
He does not up to this hour know the name of that
young woman. In this case the matter would more
properly be the subject of a civil action, as there is
not sufficient evidence to warrant a criminal prose-
cution. The only complaint against him now is that
of his wife for the assault upon her, in which case he
is required to give bonds in $500, in default of which
he remains in prison.
We can not conclude the mention of this affair,
without awarding to the Mayor, Justice Taylor and
Officer Hilliker the credit which they have deserved
for the promptness and perseverance in tracing and
following up a person, against whom such a mass of
testimony and apparently so conclusive had been
produced. We trust they will not cease their efforts
on account of their disappointment.
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Murder of Mary Rogers—Examination
of Morse.
Mr. Morse was examined yesterday, separately
from the young lady who was with him at Staten
Island, and he fully confirmed all her statements to
the most minute particular. The magistrates will
not allow his examination to be made public on the
young lady's account. Suffice it to say that the
Mayor, the District Attorney, and Justice Taylor
have given their full attention to this matter, and
have acquitted and released him of all criminal
charge in relation to Mary Rogers, or the Morton
street young lady. He never knew Mary Rogers—
he never used tobacco in any shape, and never was
at Anderson's. If the Morton street young lady
proceeds against him, her only remedy is a civil suit.
She swears he used no force.
In justice to her, we are bound to say, that after
the steamboat left Staten Island, she tried to get
some one to bring her over in a small boat, but could
not. She then consented to go to the village hotel,
above the quarantine landing, only because Morse
solemnly promised her that she should have a sepa-
rate room, and a female of the house to sleep with
her. He did not get the female. He brought her
night clothes. She put a chair against the door, and
her parasol or umbrella, and when she took off her
clothes and laid down, she took the precaution to
wrap the sheet around her. But he came into the
room, and came to bed, but used no violence—only
persuasion. As soon as she could, she got up—
threatened to cry “murder”—he desisted, and she
sat by the window, half dressed, till daylight.
Morse is now held only till he gets bail on the
charge of his wife.
The Lower Police have arrested a negro, said to
know something about the murder of Mary Rogers
by a gang of negroes, and he is now in jail.
[Col.4]
Theatricals.
The principal event, and the most important to the
lovers of the ballet, is the arrival of Fanny Elssler from
her tour to Trenton Falls, Lake George, and parts adja-
cent. Such was the enthusiastic delight with which
the divine Fanny viewed the Falls of Trenton, that it
was with great difficulty she could be prevailed upon to
leave that romantic vicinity for the dull routine of the
Atlantic seaboard. She is under an engagement to ap-
pear at the opening of the Chesnut Street Theatre on the
30th of this month. It is said, however, that there is a
little financial difficulty to be got over before the Phila-
delphians can be gratified, to wit, the payment of, or se-
curity for some $2000, said to be in arrears up to this
time, and if it should so happen that neither Manager
Pratt nor the energetic Peter Richings, can toe the mark,
why Fanny will seek an engagement elsewhere. Nous
verrons.
[Col.5]
☞ SUNDAY TIMES.—Three columns added!—Mira-
cles will never cease!!—Two magnificent Engravings.
No. 1, a Whig and a Democrat hard up after the Veto—
No. 2, Fanny Elssler in her dishabille, with her wig off,
and her bustle on—“Fine feathers make fine birds,” &c.
...
Theatricals; Foreign and Domestic News of the week
in Rhyme; Lover's Quarrels; All about Morse and
Mary Rogers; Mysterious Discovery of a Dreadful Mur-
der; War on the Infidels; Compend of Horrors, &c. &c.
Office, 31 Ann-street—Price 3 cents.
================================================================
[Col.5]
THE HOBOKEN MURDER.—A person who has
for some days been suspected of the murder of
Miss Mary C. Rogers, at Hoboken, was, on
the 16th inst., arrested by a police officer at
Worcester, Mass., and is now safely lodged
in the city of New York for examination. He
is a mechanic of that city, named Morse, a
married man, who is identified as the man seen
with Miss Rogers at Hoboken, on the fatal
day, near dark. He was not at home the fol-
lowing night, and soon after left secretly, with-
out informing his family. He was traced out
by a note he sent to an apprentice, directing
him to address him at Worcester, but inform
nobody of his whereabouts. The boy was
suspected, examined, and made to confess.
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly as in Evening Post]
From the National Gazette.
MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.
This case continues, as in justice it should, to ex-
cite deep interest. The latest account of the un-
fortunate girl is in the following evidence given be-
fore Justice Parker day before yesterday. We co-
py from the Journal of Commerce.
“CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Daniel C. Payne,
of No. 47 John street, cork cutter, went yesterday
...
my brother was coming off the Battery with his
children, to whom I spoke for a moment or two and
then parted. I walked up Broadway, and when near
Ann street, noticed a storm was fast coming
up, and thinking it was too early to go to bed, I
walked up to Bickford's, in James street, and re-
mained there until nine o'clock, and then went
home and retired for the night. I was under the
[Col.2]
impression that the omnibusses run on Sundays,
...
in the morning when I arose. Mr. Crommelin al-
so informed us that the inquest had been held the
night before, which did away with the necessity
for myself or the family going to Hoboken.
We are very much surprised to note that this
testimony is passed over by several New York
journals with the opinion that nothing important
was elicited from the witness. Now it appears to
us that very grave questions arise upon sifting the
statements of Mr. Payne, involving nothing less
than a suspicion that he has not told a perfectly rea-
sonable story. Cautiously as such a suspicion
should be mentioned, it is nevertheless right to ut-
ter it upon proper grounds. These are presented
by the New york Star, in which we find the an-
nexed comments upon Mr. Payne's testimony.
“Narration of Mr. Payne before the police offi-
cers, contains statements and admissions which
should lead to further scrutiny and examination.
He says they were engaged to be married, and he
[Col.3]
was a boarder in the house of her mother, where
she also had resided up to the moment she left the
house on the morning of her mysterious disappear-
ance and destruction. He is the last person who
saw her there on that fatal day. He says, “she
came up stairs and knocked at my door.” He
opened it, and found her dressed for a walk.
She said she was going to see Mrs. Downing.
He said very well, he would “come for her in the
evening.” The statement in an another paper is
that, he said “Very well, Mary, I will look out for
you in the evening.” If either be correct, here is
a positive engagement to meet her to whom he was
affianced, and which was not likely to be broken
under such circumstances without any reasonable
cause.
He says that “from 11 o'clock, A. M. until 1, P.
M. he was at his brother's, or went with him to the
Dey st. Bazaar. He then walked up Broadway,
and thence to Bickford's, in James street, until 2 o'-
clock—then went to Fulton street and dined at
an eating house; went home about 3, and laid
down until six, P. M., when he walked to the Bat-
tery.”
The question may be here asked: Why did he
pass his own boarding house (kept by Mary's mo-
ther) to dine at an eating house, in Fulton street,
but a block from her own residence? And again,
an important question may be suggested: From 3
to 6, when he alleges he was at the house, was he
seen by the mother or any of the family? Or was
he there without his usual intercourse with them—
for it must have been about their usual tea time.
At 6, he says he walked to the Battery, and re-
turning, on reaching Ann street, (which is but a
few doors from his boarding house,) he saw the
storm gathering, and walked to Bickford's in James
street (a distance, perhaps, over half a mile,) and
staid there until 9 o'clock and returned and retired
for the night.
The two hours of this awful thunder storm are
important, and his whereabouts should be most sat-
isfactorily ascertained, and so should every hour of
that melancholy day. He knew where she had
gone, of which even her mother was ignorant.
He had promised to meet her in the evening;
he went to the Battery at the very time he should
have taken the contrary direction to fulfil his en-
gagement with her who had confided herself to him,
and at Ann street he turns off for Bickford's, when
in the same space of time he could have nearly
reached her, and thus shown a reasonable solici-
tude for her.
In the searches he made for her, it does not ap-
pear that he held any consultations with her mo-
ther or friends, as to the places they might deem
proper to be searched.
After searching for her at Harlem, Williamsburg
and Hoboken, without success, he was afterwards
“informed by Mr. Luther, of No. 90 Chambers
street that Mary had been found at Hoboken,
and an inquest was to be held,” but HE DID NOT GO
TO HOBOKEN OR ATTEND THE INQUEST. A Mr.
Crommelin went. And can it be that he was so
lost to all feelings of humanity—of affection for
her who was his betrothed—of a regard for the afflic-
tions of her aged, widowed mother—that he could
remain, and not rush to the spot and call down the
vengeance of Heaven upon the seducer and mur-
derer. It requires more explanation than has yet
been given.
Is there not in the above suggestions sufficient
ground for examining this witness again and call-
ing upon him to substantiate his statements? His
conduct, according to his account was to say the
least very extraordinary from first to last, and re-
quires explanation.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.1]
Arrest of Moore, the supposed murderer,
of Miss Rogers.—The steamer Worcester
arrived this morning, brought to the city the
above named person. He was arrested at
West Boylston, about seven miles north of
Worcester, on sunday. He had been hover-
ing about Worcester ever since he left this
city, and was watched pretty closely by the
authorities at that place. He was taken into
custody as he was in the act of receiveing a
letter—which was immediately opened and
found to have been written in New York—
advising him to shave off his whiskers, and
disguise himself as much as possible, as the
police were on the look-out for him.
We understand that he is the person seen
in conversation with Miss Rogers, at Hobo-
ken, toward evening of Sunday the 25th
ultimo. He was then seen and recognized by
a gentleman of this city, whose name we
have, but do not think it requisite to mention;
immediately after the discovery of the body
this gentleman made inquiry and ascetained
that the prisoner had hastily left the city.
He thereupon communicated all he knew
to the police. The apprentices of the priso-
ner were taken before the magistrates, and
from one of them it was ascertaind that he
expected a letter; the letter was watched for
and obtained, and it bore no date or place
of writing, intimations were drawn from it
that the prisoner might be found at Worces-
ter, to which place an officer was despatched,
accompanied by the gentleman above referred
to. The rest is stated above.—N. Y. Com.
================================================================
================================================================
TARBORO' PRESS. Saturday, August 21, 1841 (NC)
================================================================
[Col.3. A changed copy from Tribune]
A Horrible Murder.—On Saturday
morning week, (says the New York Log
Cabin,) Miss Cecilia Rogers, (who for-
...
murder was committed.
———
The Insurrection.—A correspondent of
the New Orleans Bee, under date Bayou
Sara, July 26, says: I arrived here at one
o'clock to-day, and the trial of the negroes
had just terminated. It has all ended in
smoke. The negroes are all acquitted, as
no evidence whatever could be found
against them, and likewise the white man
named Mills. The latter will, however,
probably be invited to make himself scarce,
and will be obliged to leave the place. The
trial was conducted before Judge Wyms
and six jurymen, according to the black
code. All is quiet now, and the city is itself
again, which means as much that it is
exceedingly dull. Yours, &c.
================================================================
[Col.5]
MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—Morse was yester-
day discharged from the accusation against him for
the murder of Miss Rogers, it having been fully es-
tablished that he was not at Hoboken on that Sun-
day. Among the circumstances not hitherto ad-
verted to, which tended to support the supposition
that Morse was that day at Hoboken, was the fact
that Morse owns a small property in the neighbor-
hood of the spot where it was supposed he was
seen with Miss Rogers, to which property he was
in the habit of making constant visits.
So much for circumstantial evidence: which,
however strong and apparently incontrovertible as
it was in this case, is a dangerous sort of proof on
which to destroy men's characters or lives. It now
turns out, if Morse's statement can be relied on,
that he never had any acquaintance with Miss Ro-
gers, nor could he identify her from any other fe-
male in the city. Nor did he know the name of
the girl, as he has all along alleged, who so impru-
dently accompanied him to Staten Island. And
when he heard of the body of Miss Rogers having
been found in the river, he supposed that it was
Miss Rogers who had accompanied him to Staten
Island, and who felt so degraded by remaining with
him all night, that she had in consequence commit-
ted suicide by drowning herself.
This supposition on his part shows that he must
have a tolerably correct appreciation of the feelings
of a virtuous female, in consequence of having so
indiscreetly subjected herself to insult and loss of
character; for the young lady who did accompany
him, has been so deeply affected by the occurrence,
and the consequent ordeal she was obliged to go
through at the Police Office, in being most minutely
examined as to everything which occurred between
her and Morse, that she yesterday morning pro-
cured laudanum to destroy herself, and only for an
accident and timely discovery of her intentions by
her family, she would probably have succeeded in
her purpose.
Morse, although discharged from the complaint
against him for the murder of Miss Rogers, is still
detained in prison until he can procure unquestion-
able bail in the sum of $1000, to answer the com-
plaint of maltreating his wife.
The Mayor and Police having been thus foiled in
their first attempt to discover the murderers, are,
if possible, exerting themselves with greater energy
to bring the authors of this horrid tragedy to light;
and the Mayor and Justice Taylor have devoted the
greater part of yesterday to his business alone.—
Journal of Commerce
================================================================
[Col.3]
MISS ROGERS.—Nothing new, has been brought to
light, connected with the murder of this unfortunate
young lady. By the last advices, a man by the name
of Morse had been arrested, who had left the city, un-
der singular circumstances, the day after the murder.
Among the thousand rumors and stories of the day, it
is said that Morse was seen in her company on the day
of her disappearance. Morse is a married man, and
the probabilities are stronger for than against him. It
is very strange that the authorities do not offer a suit-
able reward, for the discovery of the perpetrator. The
Mayor of New York, and the Gov. of the State, are
both behind their duty in this respect.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.2 in Second Edition]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—There have been
no further developments respecting this melancholy
tragedy, and if any individual has been arrested, his
name and all particulars in relation to him—or of
the grounds for his arrest—have been carefully veiled
from the eye of the press. The Mayor and Justice
Taylor, are said to be disappointed (!) at their not
being able to fix the guilt on Morse, that they have
determined to keep all further proceedings strictly
private. If they arrest any one on suspicion, they
will not disclose his name, nor let any one connected
with the press know what are the suspicious grounds
therefore, or the circumstantial or other testimony in
existence against him. Now this is all wrong. First,
the public have a right to know what is done by the
magistracy; and, secondly, because the publication
of the suspicious facts leads either to their confirma-
tion or refutation. As a proof of this theory, we in-
stance the case of Morse, who would at this time
stand probably committed for trial, but for the con-
travention of the magisterial edict.
On Saturday morning, Morse was bailed by
Adams, the wood engraver, and Redfield, the stereo-
typer, in the sum of $500 each; but by some strange
hocus pocus or other, a writ of habeas corpus was
subsequently sued out, and all the parties taken be-
fore Judge Lynch, who not only dismissed Morse,
but released his sureties. Police Justices Taylor
and Palmer were very wrathy, and also indignant,
when they heard of this procedure, and intend to
direct the District Attorney to prosecute the bail.
This course may be very proper, but it strikes us as
beginning at the wrong end, for either the order of
his Honor Judge Lynch, is legal or not. If legal,
the District Attorney will only have to show his teeth
without biting; and if it is illegal, then in would be
better to set the District Attorney to prosecute Judge
Lynch for his presumption in interfering with the
orders and decrees of the Police Magistrates. As
to prosecuting—quere, persecuting the bail, that's a
small business for Mr. District Attorney, and we hope
his Honor the Mayor will put his veto thereon.
Since the above was written, we have been in-
formed, on good authority, that Mrs. Morse herself
went with the bail, before Judge Lynch, and agreed
to withdraw the complaint against Morse, a recon-
ciliation having been brought about by the inter-
vention of mutual friends. Morse is to keep clear
of Staten Island, and of young ladies in black espe-
cially, for the future. Thus ends that nine days'
wonder.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Police.—Saturday and Sunday.—On Saturday
morning Joseph W. Morse having procured the re-
quisite bail for his appearance to answer the
charge of assaulting his wife, was discharged
from custody. In the afternoon he was brought be-
fore Judge Lynch on a habeas corpus sued out by W.
J. Haskett, Esq. his counsel, who produced before
the Judge a full satisfaction piece from Mrs. Morse,
whereupon his bail was released and he was dischar-
ged from the complaint, and the husband and wife
left the office together in the most affectionate man-
ner.
How this consummation was effected is of course
known only to the parties most interested, but cer-
tainly very cogent arguments must have been used
with Mrs. Morse, to effect so sudden a change of
purpose, for the reporter was yesterday informed
that on Saturday morning Mrs. M. called at the of-
fice of an eminent lawyer of this city and advised
with him as to the necessary preliminaries to pro-
cure a decree of divorce from him, and she was to
call again the same afternoon at 2 o'clock. She did
not call, and soon after that hour, the legal gentle-
man had the satisfaction of seeing the husband and
wife walking home arm in arm.
The lesson which he has received will doubtless
be of more service to him than a hundred curtain
lectures. No other arrests have been made in this
case.
On Saturday night, about a quarter past 11 o'clock,
watchman Wm. H. Douglass, perceived a man,
named John Griffin, a cabinet maker by trade, shut-
ting up his shop in Elm, one door from Canal street.
Griffin first nailed a board across the window and
locked the door, after which he departed. The watch-
man then perceived a light in the shop, but thought
nothing was wrong, and he went on his round. Re-
turning that way in about fifteen or twenty minutes,
he perceived that the light in Griffin's shop had in-
creased, and he went up and tore off the board which
had been nailed up by Griffin. On looking in at the
window he then perceived that the premises were on
fire, whereupon he immediately gave the alarm, and
ran off to the Watch House for assistance, and by
the time he got back to the shop, the fire had been ex-
tinguished. Griffin was among the first that came to
the spot, when the alarm was raised, and he was
promptly arrested, on a charge of having fired the
premises. In extenuation of this, it may be mention-
ed, that Griffin who had all his stock and tools in the
shop, was not insured for one cent, neither was the
shop insured by the owner. It certainly looks very
suspicious against Griffin, the more so from the fact,
that when an entrance had been effected into the shop,
the shavings and rubbish were found gathered into a
heap in the centre of the shop, and were on fire. He
is at present committed for further examination.
...
On Saturday night, officers Colvin and Watts as-
sisted by some watchmen, and armed with a war-
rant from Justice Stephens, proceeded to a low den
in Anthony street, kept by a wench named Jane
Prince, where they found 27 human beings of the
very lowest and most degraded class, (among them
two white men) huddled together like pigs. The
whole posse was brought to the Watch House, and
in the morning they were disposed of in the most
summary manner, some being sent up to pick Oak-
um, as vagrants, others remanded to be tried, and the
head negress was committed for trial for keeping a
disorderly house. A few such operations as the
above would be of infinite service to that distinguish-
ed portion of the city.
================================================================
[Col.3]
JOSEPH W. MORSE FULLY DISCHARGED.—Morse
was brought on Saturday, on a habeas corpus,
by his counsel, W. Jay Haskett, Esq., before
Judge Lynch, at his chambers, and fully dischar-
ged from the custody of the law. There is now
but one opinion in relation to his innocence; and
all the circumstances surrounding him at the time
have been clearly explained, and leave him be-
yond suspicion in this melancholy affair. It
was at first supposed that his narration of the Sta-
ten Island affair, and its corroboration by the
young lady, was but an artful device of his wily
counsel to prove an alibi, but this proof was posi-
tively confirmed by the personal examination of
the inmates of the house on the Island, by the
Mayor himself.
On the hearing before the Judge, Mr. Haskett
read to his honors full satisfaction piece, signed
by the wife, who, despite her wrongs, clung to
her husband with the ardor of woman's love.—
They left in company together perfectly recon-
ciled, and went home. Mrs. Morse is a fine look-
ing woman, and her conduct towards her husband,
during his imprisonment, reflects credit upon her
heart. After this providential chastisement for
his infidelity, we trust that he may become sensi-
ble of the past, and make proper reparation for his
follies. He bears the reputation of a man of in-
dustrious habits, and stands at the very head of
his profession as an artist, and we leave him with
those kind words which our Savior spoke to fal-
len man—“Go, and sin no more.”
[Col.7]
☞ AT a meeting of North River Fire Engine Co. No.
27, held on Monday evening, 16th inst., the following extract
from an article in the Sunday Mercury, in relation to the
late murder of Mary C. Rogers was read to the Company:
“With regard to the carrying away of a young female by
a boat's crew, the circumstances are thus explained by the
girl herself, in the form of an affidavit, made at the police
office. In the boat that boarded the one in which she was,
were seven young men, averaging about seventeen years of
age, who beat her companions, and forcibly took her from
the boat, landed her at Hoboken, and then took her into the
woods, where she was treated with the most brutal violence.
After the young ruffians had glutted their beastly appetites,
the poor girl was carried back to the boat, and at a late
hour in the evening landed in this city. On their braces, or
on some part of their bodies were the figures 27, signifying
that they were members of, or in some way attached to the
fire company of that number. Every person who ventures
abroad with a female, owes it to himself and to her to be
well armed. We have no preventive police, and no guardi-
ans of the peace at all.
Whereupon, the following preamble and resolution were
adopted.”
Whereas, the above article contains an imputation against
the members of this Company which if true, would involve
them in a transaction of the blackest infamy and disgrace—
and whereas, as good citizens, it is our duty to investigate
the circumstances which led to the imputation, and endeav-
or if possible to ferret out the villains who perpetrated this
foul act, under the insignia of our Company, and bring them
to justice. Therefore
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to ex-
amine into, and investigate to the fullest extent the imputa-
tion contained in the said extract, and to spare no pains to
bring to justice the offenders, who have so wantonly com-
mitted the double outrage of villainy to an innocent female,
and to this company.
At a subsequent meeting, held on Friday evening, the
above committee reported—
That they had faithfully examined into the subject upon
which they were appointed, with a full estimate of its im-
portance, as well to the character of this company as to
the cause of public justice.
That after a strict investigation amongst all the “volun-
teers,” who are in the habit of running with the Company,
as well as amongst the members, (none of the latter, how-
ever, being under 21 years of age, and therefore not an-
swerable to the imputation,) your committee have to a sat-
isfaction to report, that they are all innocent of the charge.
During the course of the investigation your committee
have found that many persons in the vicinity of Clinton
market, totally unconnected with this company, either as
members or volunteers, or otherwise, are for causes un-
known to us, in the habit of wearing belts with the number
“27” on them, around their bodies, but it was not in the
power of this committee to ascertain who they are.
Your committee would therefore recommend for adop-
tion the following resolution—
Resolved, That this company, from its well known char-
acter for integrity and morality, after the investigation thus
had, appeal with confidence to the justice and magnanimity
of a generous public, to clear its members and volunteers
from any knowledge of, or participation in this horrible out-
rage.
It was also resolved that these proceedings be published.
JOHN WILLIAMSON, Foreman.
Alexander Crossett, Sec'y. a23 1*
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—The murder of this un-
fortunate young lady is still wrapped in mystery as to the
time when, the place where, and the circumstances under
which the bloody deed was done; and although suspicions
were permitted to settle on some individuals, and arrests
made and examinations instituted, with a view to fix the foul
offence on the guilty author, yet the murderer still remains
concealed from the eye of man, and the manes of the mur-
dered girl remain unappeased—her blood unatoned. The
efforts of the Police, which have been unremitted, have been
continually misdirected. The persons suspected have, with-
out exception, been acquitted of the suspicions entertained
against them; and no one has been found who saw the young
lady after she left her mother's residence on the fatal day,
notwithstanding the searching inquiries that have been made.
Speculative opinions have been advanced by some that the
girl has not been murdered; that the body found was not suf-
ficiently identified as hers; and that her sudden disappearance
is owing to some other cause than death. The proof of her
identity, however, particularly by means of her clothes, is
sufficiently established in the minds of the municipal and
Police authorities, to dissipate the seemingly delusive hope
of her surviving. And although incredulity may still disbe-
lieve, and fancy conceive that she is not numbered with the
dead, yet the evidence is satisfactory to our mind that she
has been brutally murdered; and that time, the revealer of
secrets, will yet bring the authors of the horrid deed to light.
A foolish story was yesterday started that she had returned
to her home and friends; but no one could tell how or whence
the rumor came abroad, and it was almost universally be-
lieved to be a hoax, or some device of an enemy to put the
authorities off their guard.
—————
☞ The Loco-Foco Standard very modestly advises a
Whig President to Veto every measure of a Whig Congress,
turn out his Whig Cabinet, and fill their places with Loco-
Focos. The Herald—late so sickening in its adulation of
Mr. WEBSTER and his colleagues—now clamors for their
dismissal. How can the President hesitate to adopt the
counsel of such advisers?
—————
DEATHS IN NEW-YORK.—The City Inspector reports the
deaths of 33 Men, 36 Women, 74 Boys and 81 Girls during
the past week—in all 224 persons. Of these, 52 died of
Cholera Infantum, 15 Consumption, 11 Diarrhoea, 18 Dysen-
tery, 17 Dropsy, 6 Drowned, 12 Fevers, 25 Inflammations,
3 Intemperance, 3 Small Pox, and 6 Teething. One was
over 90, three were over 80 years of age. 174 were native
of the U. States, 28 of Ireland, 7 of England, 1 of Scotland,
2 of France, 4 of Germany, 2 of Holland, 1 West Indies, and
5 unknown. 10 were blacks.
—————
CITY PRISON STATISTICS.—During the week ending on
Saturday morning there were received into the City Prison
113 white men, 57 white women, 19 black men, 13 black
women, total 202. Discharged during that time 115 white
men, 46 white women, 15 black men, 11 black women, total
187. Died 1 black woman. Remaining in prison 81 white
men, 21 white women, 12 black men, 8 black women, total
122.
================================================================
[Col.3]
POLICE.
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—Nothing new has
transpired to elicit light upon this mysterious case.
No new arrests have been made, nor any persons
that the Reporter could learn, suspected. The
opinion that Miss Rogers met her fate on this side of
the river, gains ground rapidly, and the general im-
pression seems to be, that she did not get many
blocks from her mother's house.
Whatever may be the truth of the case, time alone
can discover, and meanwhile we trust that our au-
thorities will not relax their vigilance.
Since writing the above, Mr. Crommelin has call-
ed upon us, and requested us to make known his
dissent from a very long and labored article of two
columns, which appeared in the Tattler penny paper,
urging the strong probability that Miss Rogers is still
alive, and that the body found at Hoboken was not
that of the unfortunate girl. Upon this point we
have heard but one opinion, and however strange
may have seemed the conduct of her relations, and of
Mr. Payne, her betrothed, we are entirely convinced
that the body was sufficiently identified. After being
disinterred and brought to this city, the clothes were
submitted to the mother, aunt, and an intimate friend
of the hapless girl, and all at once recognized them;
the mother even pointing out some particular repairs
done on the Saturday previous to her leaving home.
We should not have noticed this affair at all, were
it not that the ardour of the Police authorities might
be damped, were they become convinced that they
were pursuing a shadow. No doubt whatever rests
on our mind, that Miss Rogers was murdered, and
we are compelled to fear, that the mystery now
shrouding her fate, will remain long undiscovered.
At the Police yesterday, not one single case occur-
red worth noting; there was not even a petty larceny
to disturb the otium of the officers.
Coroner's Office.—The Coroner, on Saturday, held
an inquest on the body of Wm. Hope, one of the
crew of the U. S. Steamer Fulton. On Friday night
while the Gig (to which boat, Hope belonged) was
lying at Coenties slip, his hat fell overboard, and he
stooped down on the string piece of the wharf to
reach it. While in this position, he lost his balance,
fell overboard, and being unable to swim, was drown-
ed—Verdict, accidental drowning.
Also, upon the body of an unknown woman found
in the North River at the foot of Robinson street.—
Deceased was about 35 years of age, had on a dark
calico frock, but neither hat, shoes or stockings. In
one ear was an ear-ring, in the other a piece of string.
Verdict, found drowned.
Also—The Coroner yesterday held an inquest
on the body of James Rourke aged 18, who
fell in the East River on Saturday night at the foot
of Clinton street, about 10 o'clock. Some persons
on board the sloop Alfred, were aroused by cries of
some person in the water shouting for help, but be-
fore assistance could be rendered, the unfortunate
man sunk to rise no more. Verdict, accidently
drowned.
Also, upon the body of William Cooper, lying at
the City Hospital. The deceased fell into the East
River on the 21st inst., at the foot of Cathrine street,
while in a state of intoxication and was got out after
being nearly drowned. He was taken to the city
Hospital, where he died yesterday from congestion
of the brain produced by his ducking and intemper-
ance combined. Verdict accordingly.
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ We are requested by Mr. Conner to say, that
the statement in some of the papers, respecting the
female that accompanied Mr. Morse to Staten Island,
being employed in his foundry, is untrue, and that
he never had any knowledge of her until the day
the affair was made known to the Mayor. Mr.
Conner considers this statement called for, on ac-
count of the many females in his employ.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Farther Particulars,
Concerning the Murder of Miss Rogers.
We have just space enough for a condensed statement
of some new and important developments in this horrid
transaction. The authorities have without doubt, now got
upon the right track. Joseph W. Morse, the individual
who was seen in her company (and quarrelling with her) at
Hoboken, and who immediately fled the city, was arrested
at Holden, Mass. and brought back for examination. Let-
ters addressed to him from N. Y. were intercepted, con-
taining information that he was suspected, cautioning him
to shave off his whiskers and otherwise disguise himself.—
Daniel Paine, to whom the murdered girl was to have
been married, is supposed to be the writer of the letters,
and suspicions have been entertained against him ever
since he made his affidavit before the Court. His whole
conduct appears to have been singularly indifferent and
unlover-like. While the mysterious absence of the girl
was creating the greatest alarm among her friends, he cool-
ly went about his usual business; and when news was
brought him that her body had been found in the water
near the Hoboken shore, he did not even go there, but kept
on about his business!
We do not see it stated that Paine is under arrest, but
most likely is. Morse in undergoing a secret examination
before the Upper Police Court.
It is altogether the most horrible instance of brutality
on record. The physician who made a post mortem ex-
amination of the body states that it bore unerring evidence
of having been barbarously violated by more than three or
four different men in succession. Discolorations were
found about the mouth, neck, wrists, &c. as though she
had been bound and gagged.—portions of the under dress
were torn away, probably to make bands and gags of. A
cord was accidentally discovored tied tightly around the
neck and entirely imbedded in the flesd, and the supposi-
tion is, that towards the last of the tragedy the sufferer
fainted and in that condition the cord was tied to prevent
return of consciousness, and that when dead, the body was
thrown into the water.
Morse, just before leaving the city, had a quarrel with
his wife, which he probably brought about to furnish him
with an excuse for so abruptly absconding, if he should
afterwards need one. When apprehended he inquired,
“what is this arrest for?”—and was answered, “for abusing
your wife.”—“O, is that all?” said Morse, apparently feel-
ing much relieved by the intelligence.
================================================================
[Col.4]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS!
Arrest of the person who most probably com-
mitted the hellish deed.
Officer Hilliker, attached to our Upper Police,
yesterday arrived in this city by one of the Eas-
tern boats, having in charge a young man, named
Joseph W. Morse, a wood engraver at 120 Nas-
sau street, whom he arrested at Worcester, in
the State of Massachusetts, on suspicion of hav-
ing murdered this unfortunate girl. The circum-
stances affecting the guilt of the accused are
substantially as follows:—Morse, is a married
man, and for some time past has lived on terms
of any thing but that which should exist between
man and wife, consequently creating a natural
feeling in the breast of the partner his bosom,
strongly tending to excite suspicion of his infi-
delity. On the night of the murder he went to
his home, having been out all day, and from the
lateness of the hour was accosted by his wife in
terms of reproach on account of his neglect,
when an altercation ensued, and he arrose from
the bed with the intention of leaving her. With
all that inherent feeling natural to woman, she
expostulated with him for his rashness in quit-
ting at that unseasonable hour of night his
home and bed. Morse, losing all the attributes
belonging to a man, struck her a violent blow,
which prostrated her to the ground and fled the
house. As he did not return on the following
day, the wife instituted a process against him
for an assault and battery, and a warrant was
consequently issued, but Morse was no where
to be found, and as his manner of leaving the ci-
ty was attended with strong indications of some-
thing more than ordinary in matters where man
and wife are concerned in a mere family broil,
officer Hilliker was dispatched in search of him,
and found him at Worcester, in Massachusetts.
At the Post Office of which place the officer in-
tercepted a letter to Morse, in which a person,
whose name we could not learn, but as we have
reason to believe, has had something to do with
this foul transaction, recommended him to shave
off his whiskers, in order to disguise himself, as
he feared that he would be recognized as being
the perpetrator of this deed. When arrested,
he seemed to be much confused, and was anx-
ious to acertain what was the nature of the com-
plaint against him, and being told that it was
on the warrant of assault and battery committed
on his wife, seemed incredulous, and more than
once demanded of the officer to tell him if some-
thing of a graver nature was not his mission
with him. A ring was taken from his finger,
which was doubtless made for a female hand;
and, it is said, that there is proof indisputable
that he was in company with the unfortunate
Mary Rogers on the evening she was murdered.
The Mayor (R. H. Morris, Esq.) was active
during the whole of yesterday in investigating
this matter, but deferred the examination of the
accused till this day, and therefore all the partic-
ulars that could possibly be collected are given.
Our next will probably enlighten our readers on
this dark and appalling subject.
================================================================
[Col.4. Somewhat like in this Tribune, mostly as in Plattsburgh Republican]
The Murderer of Miss M. C. Rogers arrest-
ed!—The person who has for some days been
strongly suspected of the murder of Miss Mary
C. Rogers at Hoboken on Sunday, July 25th,
was yesterday arrested by a Police Officer at
Worcester, Mass., and is now safely lodged in
this City for examination.
He is a Mechanic of this City, named Morse,
a married man, who is identified as the man seen
with Miss Rogers at Hoboken, on the fatal Sun-
day, near dark. He was not at home the follow-
ing night, and soon after left secretly, without in-
forming his family. He was traced out by a note
he sent to an apprentice, directing him to address
him at Worcester, but inform nobody of his where-
abouts. The boy was suspected, examined, and
made to confess.—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.3. Partly as in Herald]
THE MURDERER OF MISS ROGERS has not been detected.
Our Police on Monday arrested a Mr. Joseph W. Morse,
engraver of this City, who had absconded to Worcester,
Mass, under very suspicious circumstances, and who
proved guilty of almost any iniquity except this mur-
der, which it appears conclusively he did not commit,
being at the time engaged in other villany at Staten Is-
land. Suspicion fixes nowhere at present.
The Lower Police have arrested a negro, said to
know something about the murder of Mary Rogers by
a gang of negroes, and he is now in jail.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.
The trace which it was expected would lead to
the detection of the murderers of this young woman,
is now broken, and pursuit is as much at fault as
ever. This should not discourage effort, for, to as-
certain error in the direct road to truth. Vigilance,
we trust, will never tire until the measureless vil-
lains who did this deed, have atoned for it with their
lives. There is proof which leaves no room for
doubt, that several ruffians were engaged in the hor-
rible tragedy. If the matter is followed up, it is
impossible that the secret will not escape from some
one of them. They have made the number of cir-
cumstances connected with their guilt as small as
possible; yet such a deed cannot be done without
being linked with many circumstances which reach
into the day-light.
We are persuaded that pursuit has hitherto been
on a false scent, so far as it has been directed to Ho-
boken. It is impossible that a person so well known
to thousands as this young woman was, should have
passed three blocks without some one having seen
her; and any one who saw her would have remem-
bered it, for she interested all who knew her. It
was when the streets were full of people that she
went out. See how soon the girl who accompanied
Morse to Staten Island was recognized, and how ma-
ny witnesses there are to her being out. Yet she
was but seventeen years old, and had always lived
secluded. Miss Rogers was twenty-three. A hun-
dred knew her to one who knew the other. It is
therefore impossible that she should have gone to
Hoboken, or to Jane street, without being recogniz-
ed by a dozen persons; yet no one has come for-
ward who saw her outside of her mother's door, and
there is no evidence except the testimony concerning
her expressed intention, that she did go out at all.—
Her gown was torn, bound round her, and tied; and
by that the body was carried as a bundle. If the
murder had been committed at Hoboken, there would
have been no necessity for any such arrangement. The
fact that the body was found floating near Hoboken,
is no proof as to where it was thrown into the water.
The murder must have been committed near to her
mother's house, and the nearer, the more likely.—
There are places within a few rods of the door,
where such a deed would be as likely to be commit-
ted as any where in the city. A piece of one of the
unfortunate girl's petticoats, two feet long and one
foot wide, was torn out and tied under her chin and
around the back of her head, probably to prevent
her screams. This was done by fellows who had no
pocket handkerchiefs.
Perhaps these considerations are not new to the
police, but they need, we think, to be considered by
the neighborhood. In our judgment the unhappy
girl had not proceeded many steps, when she was in-
duced for some purpose to step within a door, which
was closed upon her, and she was there murdered,
during Sunday. It was probably not a parlor, or
bedroom, or any part of a dwelling house, nor a pub-
lic place of any sort.—Jour. of Com.
================================================================
[Col.1]
For The Tribune.
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—The opinion I believe
is pretty general that Miss Rogers was not seen on Sunday,
25th July, after leaving her mother's house, and such, I per-
ceive, by the Tribune of this day, is also your opinion. I be-
lieve, however, that she was seen by two persons in the
morning of the 25th July, and I arrive at this conclusion as
follows:
1. G. W. Dixon says he saw her on the 25th July in com-
pany with a man (who answers the description given of
Morse,) in Ann st. near Theatre Alley, at about 10 o'clock,
A. M. This statement was made by him to Mr. Hugh Pat-
tison on the day or day after the finding of the body at Hobo-
ken.
2. Mr. John Conroy testifies that he met Morse in Ann
st. near Broadway on Sunday, 25th July, between 10 and
10½ o'clock, A. M.—That Morse was in company with a
very handsome and well dressed female—that he has known
Morse for several years and spoke to him as he passed in
Ann street.
3. If for any reason the statement of Dixon cannot be fully
relied on, is it not fully and satisfactorily corroborated by
the testimony of Mr. Conroy?
With regard to this mysterious murder I trust that you
and every other Editor will continue to keep it before the
people. When is the Mayor to offer a reward?
NASSAU-STREET.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.5]
The Mary Rogers Mystery.
No further developments have been made in rela-
tion to the alleged murder and violation of Mary C.
Rogers, not have any arrests been made by either
the Upper or Lower Police authorities. Many peo-
ple now begin to believe that Mary has not been
murdered, after all, and although the behaviour of
her family and especially of her quondam lover,
Payne, would seem to favor such an hypothesis, yet
still it does seem incredible that the clothes of Mary
should be found on the body of a stranger. For it
will be observed that although Mary's lovers and
family would not, or could not, recognize the body,
yet three of them swear to the clothes she had on.
It is also very strange that no one should see her
after her interview with Payne, at 10 o'clock on the
Sunday she disappeared, and that the object of her
leaving the rose at Cromelin's lodgings should never
have been explained, nor the public be able to learn
whether or not she repeated her visit to Mr. C., on
the Sunday after she had paid a farewell visit to Payne.
Then the fact which is alleged, that old Mrs. Rogers
told her negro servant after Mary had left for her
aunt's, “that in all probability they should never
see Mary again alive,” would seem to favor the no-
tion that Mary's fate was expected by her nearest
relative.
We throw out these facts, for just what they are
worth in the absence of all other testimony, than
what we have hitherto given to our readers. We
believe we have given every particle of evidence
adduced either at Hoboken or here, since the find-
ing of the body, and we shall not let the matter
sleep.
The house 126 Nassau street, is now unten-
anted, and Mary's mother has removed to the resi-
dence of a Mr. O'Hara, a surgeon, in Jane street.
Mrs. Rogers is not so infirm a woman, as people
would seem to believe, and this fact may be of im-
portance in any subsequent inquiries, as her age is
adduced as an excuse for her not going to Hoboken
to recognize the body of her daughter. There is
yet a mystery in this business, which time alone can
unravel.
================================================================
[Col.1]
M R. EDITOR—I have been called on to state, for the
benefit of those it may interest, that my place of resi-
dence is not in Morton st. Having been obliged to leave
the city, and not wishing to interrupt the study of my daugh-
ter, left her to board with a friend in that street; also she
was never at a ball, nor any other place of amusement; ne-
ver worked at the type foundry, nor any other trade; had
not arrived at her 16th year; did not intend to send her at
the Seminary at Staten Island, but was preparing to move
in the country, when I received a shock that nothing but
the grace of God will enable me to bear.
a25 1* FROM HER MOTHER.
================================================================
[Col.8. Mostly as in Republican Advocate]
From the New York Express.
AN ATTROCIOUS MURDER.—The murder of the
unfortunate girl, Mary Cecelia Rogers, noticed
in another part of our paper is of such an at-
...
The Courier well remarks, it seems incredible
[Col.1]
that men could deliberately plan and commit a
...
probably pass unrevenged, unless the public
authorities evince more than ordinary activity.
Several days have passed since the above
was published in the Express—A great feeling
has existed in the public mind—reports have
been numerous, but nothing has as yet occurred
to lead to the detection of the assassin.—Edt.
Aub. Jour.
================================================================
================================================================
JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. Wednesday, August 25, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.4. From Tribune]
The Murder of Miss Rogers.
The Mayor and Magistrates of both the Up-
per and Lower Police Offices are yet actively
...
fore stated.—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.5]
MORE LIGHT.—A letter was received in this
city, yesterday afternoon, dated at Pittsburg, in
which the writer states that he met Miss Rogers
there the day previous in company with a gentle-
man who was introduced to him by the name of
Gatchell.
The lady, with whom he was well acquainted
during a residence of two years in New York, in-
formed him she had left her mother's home in con-
sequence of disagreement with a gentleman (who
the writer afterwards found to have been her lover)
and was then travelling to visit a maternal uncle,
who resided in Milwaulkee, in the State of Illinois.
She further stated that she had wrote a letter to
her parent, and left it on the table in her room, in-
forming her of the course she was about to adopt,
which letter, from its not being produced, she sup-
poses was destroyed by her mother, as it contained
bitter reproaches on her for her strong persuasions
that she should marry her suitor, while her heart
was possessed by another.—Planet.
================================================================
[Col.1]
MISS ROGERS.—The New-London Gazette says that the
Miss Rogers whose tragic fate so deeply interests the com-
munity, was a native of New-London, and was connected
with highly respectable families still residing there.
================================================================
[Col.3]
POLICE.
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—An absurd story
was circulated yesterday in the city, by a penny pa-
per (the Planet,) that a letter had been received from
Pittsburg, Pa., stating that MARY C. ROGERS had
been there in company with a man named GETCHELL
—that she had left this city with him, having left a
letter on her table informing her mother of the step
she had taken, and that immediately upon hearing
this, Mr. Crommelin had started for Illinois. In the
first place, no such letter has been received. In the
second place, Mr. Crommelin was in the city yester-
day, P. M., as large as life, and we did not learn that
he had any intention of migrating to Illinois, and in
the 3d place, Mary C. Rogers being dead and buried,
could not very well have written any letter. These
stories at the best are ill advised, and have a tenden-
cy only to keep up a feverish excitement in the com-
munity; to check the efforts of the authorities in
ferreting out her murderers, and can only serve one
end, i. e. the sale of the paper that can say most up-
on the subject. The papers have have already been
filled to repletion with details of this case, and we
trust no more will be said until something definite is
known.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Second Edition]
THE MARY RODGERS MYSTERY.—This affair is
as much in the dark as ever. It has been stated that
Morse, on the fatal Sunday, was seen walking with
her through Ann street, as early as ten o'clock. We
are informed that this is not the fact. He never saw
her, and did not know her. One thing we should
like to know—“who are the two men who swore,
at the police office, that they saw Morse sitting with
Mary Rodgers, at Hoboken, on the fatal evening?”
They identified, as it was called, Morse, at the Police
office. Who are these men? Ought they not to be
examined at once before they attempt to swear away
the life of another man? Is not their evidence very
mysterious in the face of the girl in black, and the
Staten Island hotel-keeper?
While on this subject, a friend of Morse's has
handed us the annexed for publication:—
Mr. Morse.—Now that the press has sufficiently black
balled the character of Mr. Morse, owing to his very
shallowly supposed participation in the murder of Miss
Rodgers, and that he has entirely vindicated himself from
all shadow of suspicion in that matter, it may be time to
do him a little justice. Some of the papers have stated
that he was a rowdy and a gambler; if so, it has been
without the knowledge of himself, or of his nearest
friends; and he challenges any person to come forward
and prove the allegation. He has been accused of abusing
his wife; and this is also an error; Mr. Morse, owing
to some domestic difficulties, to which all families are
liable, has been separated from his wife for upwards of
six month, and she had threatened a suit against him
to the end of compelling him to return; by the advice of
a third person, however, who informed her that the Court
would not entertain the complaint unless she coupled
it with an accusation of personal ill treatment, she
took out a warrant for assault and battery, which is the
full truth of his much bruited about harsh conduct as
regards that matter. To this fact Mrs. M. will testify.
In reference to the affair on Staten Island, it finds a good
deal of paliation in the fact that Mr. Morse was six
months separated from his wife when it occurred; and
if this does not in all exonerate him from blame, why let
the man who thinks he is perfect come forward, and cast
the first stone. A statement has been made that Mr.
Morse commenced his business career in this city by
selling newspapers in the street; this is altogether a
gratuitous assertion, as he never sold newspapers in
the street or anywhere else. He arrived in New
York at the age of fourteen, and found immediate
employment in the store of Mr. Buckley, 48 South
street; from thence he went to attend store for Mr. James
Brown in Washington street. Preferring a profession,
however, to a clerkship, he engaged himself on trial to
Mr. Montania, a lapidary in Reed street. While here, he
amused himself with carving images on blocks of wood,
which were seen by a publisher, who perceiving that
the bent of his genius inclined that way, persuaded him
to adopt wood engraving as a profession, a suggestion
which met his approbation, and thereon he applied him-
self without any superintendence, or instruction, to the
graving of wood; and his present eminence in his pro-
fession, (for it is going not a whit too far to say, that he
is second to none in this city,) is the result. His first at-
tempt at cutting in wood was made with a three square
file, and even the rough production then and thus made,
found its way into a paper. In evidence of Mr. Morse's
high stand among the artists in his line in this city, it
may be observed en passant, that he has taken two sil-
ver medals for the best specimens of wood engraving;
one at the Mechanics' Institute last year, and the other at
the Fair of the American Institute the year before. This
latter fact says more than a volume in proof, that Mr.
Morse is neither rowdy or a gambler, but a gentleman
who attends to his business.
On the other hand, we have received the follow-
ing from the mother of the girl in black:—
MR. EDITOR:—
I have been called on to state, for the benefit of those it
may interest, that my place of residence is not in Morton
street. Having been obliged to leave the city, and not
wishing to interrupt the study of my daughter, I left her
to board with a friend in that street. Also, she was never
at a ball, or any place of amusement; never worked at
the type foundry, or any other trade; had not arrived at
her 16th year; did not intend to send her to Staten Island
Seminary; was preparing to move in the country, when
I received a shock that nothing but the grace of God will
enable me to bear.
Altogether, this murder is one of the greatest mys-
teries of blood that ever was perpetrated. Yet we
do not despair of discovering the monsters. The
murderers of old Captain White, of Salem, were en-
veloped in as deep a mystery for about six weeks,
but they were discovered at last. What, then, is to
be done? Let every fellow's face and actions be
watched when the tale of blood is told. The perpe-
trators cannot sit quietly under that story of blood.
They will betray themselves in some point. Such
was the case with the Crowningshields and Knapp
of Boston. As to the story told that Mary Rodgers
is still alive—it is base and foolish.
Since the above was written, our Reporter has as-
certained that nothing is known at present in rela-
tion to any trace of the murderers of Mary Rogers,
at either of the police offices. At the Egyptian
Tombs the magistrates say frankly that they give up
all hope of feretting them out; but the magnates
of the Upper Police shake their heads, and hope to
be more successful with the next runaway they get
hold of. All the authorities, however, concur in the
opinion that the identification of the body found at
Hoboken was full and complete. And they ask, too,
with great force, if that was not the body of Mary
Rogers, whose body was it, and how came the
clothes of Mary to be found thereon?
It is said that old Mrs. Rogers burnt up a bundle
of letters belonging to Mary on the day of the in-
quest. This ought to be explained.
================================================================
[Col.4]
HORRIBLE STATE OF AFFAIRS.—Since the oc-
currence of what is believed to have been a brutal
violation and murder of the ill-starred Miss Rogers,
we have received a large number of communica-
tions, informing us of the haunts in this city of
gangs of miscreants who are believed to be in the
habit of committing the most diabolical outrages
upon unprotected persons and property. To some
of the best authenticated of these, we have given
place in our columns; while others were either
not of a nature suitable for publication, or were
not sufficiently authentic to warrant us in making
them public. If but half of what has been com-
municated to us is true, the lives and safety of our
citizens are in most appalling and disgraceful jeo-
pardy, and it is safer to venture among the wildest
hordes of Bedouins than to hazard one's self be-
yond the eye and immediate protection of our po-
lice, or the reach of social protection. The su-
burbs of our city are at the mercy of gangs of
lawless desperadoes, who make reprisals and cap-
tures on the waters on either side of our island,
and perpetrate the most fiendish outrages upon the
adjacent shores. Who can read the following
statement—(and we believe every word of it)—
without shuddering at the boldness and impunity
with which the most demoniac wickedness
“Stalks unrevenged among us.”
Nor is the gang here spoken of the only one in
this city of like character, employed in like pur-
suits, of which we have recently become inform-
ed. The vicinities of several other markets and
public places near the water, are cursed with simi-
lar crews of wretches; and many of their mani-
fold transgressions that would put the blush upon
the cheek of the most heartless pirate that ever
dangled from a yard-arm, have been communicat-
ed to us.
Why is this horrible and disgraceful state of
things allowed to remain as it is? The police
cannot but be aware of its existence, and of some
of the horrors which it has produced. All that is
needed to put an end to it is a prompt and vigo-
rous interference on the part of the municipal au-
thorities—or, that not being attainable, on the part
of our citizens themselves. How long would
such a gang as our correspondent describes, be
able to perpetrate their iniquities without meeting
summary justice, in any other city in the Union?
Not forty-eight hours. An opportunity is now af-
forded to begin the work of reform in this matter
in an efficacious and certain manner. Our corres-
pondent offers to place the vindication of the laws,
and the retribution due to justice, in the reach of
the proper authorities, if the dreadfully injured
parties will but afford the facility they alone can
give. We doubt not he will fulfil his pledge.—
Shall it be done now, or shall we have to wait till
more outrages at which the thought revolts and
humanity shudders—more rapine, and more mur-
ders, were perpetrated? Let prompt and ener-
getic action in the right quarter answer for us.
We did not see the paragraph in the Sunday
paper referred to, and consequently are not aware
which of the many like transactions known to
have occurred, is referred to in it. Those more im-
mediately interested in it will however, readily
understand to what it alludes; and it is due to
the peace and safety and honor of our city, that
they without delay, extend the co-operation asked
for.
Our correspondent writes:
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN:—SIR—The
name of Roberts mentioned in a Sunday paper as
one of a party in a club boat who took a girl from
another boat and transferred her to their own, and
afterwards violated her in the thickets at Wee-
hawken, need not be mentioned only, as it is well
known in the neighborhood of the Clinton market,
(known from the boasting of the very parties them-
selves who were in the boat with Roberts and vi-
olated the woman alluded to in the Sunday pa-
per,) that a gang of the worst set of rowdies hang
around the porter houses in the vicinity of the
market. They own a club boat, and are in the
daily practice of prowling along the shores of Ho-
boken with their boat, and forcibly taking in any
females they can find, who may be but slightly
guarded, and then forcing them in the woods to a
consummation of their brutal wishes. These fel-
lows are skilful oarsmen, and can in a few mo-
ments outstrip almost any pursuers in speed. If
they be closely pressed by the friends of their vic-
tims, they will fight with the fury of demons and
overpower almost any opposition. They are a
very desperate set, nay, the terror of the neigh-
borhood, as the citizens around the market to their
sorrow can testify. These fellows make no se-
crets of their hellish tricks, but make a point of
boasting of the successful issue of their adven-
tures. Roberts is the best man among them all;
and it is only when intoxicated that he will ever
join them in evil fellowship. I heard one of the
gang telling another who had been out of town,
that one Friday afternoon ten of them took a girl
in the woods, and each one violated her, “till she
foamed at the mouth, by J—s!” These were the
very words—at which they set up a hearty
laugh—it being to them the most capital joke in
the world, to thus treat a poor female.
These chaps have no visible means of earning
a living, for they won't work, but have a nack of
getting along somehow. I heard them boasting on
Friday last of the “fun” they had with the girl
they took out of the boat in company with Rob-
erts, as alluded to in the Sunday paper, and I have
no reason to doubt of their guilt. Now, Mr. Edi-
tor, if the friends of the girl wish to confront these
fellows with the girl herself, in order to ascertain
their identity, I will give them their names in full,
by their merely requesting through your paper
such an announcement.
A RESIDENT IN WASHINGTON STREET,
NEAR THE MARKET.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, August 26, 1841 (FH)
[Col.7]
N O. 12 PECK SLIP.—MEDICAL ADVICE.
Doctor (having returned to the old stand) may be con-
fidentially consulted, day and evening. Young m?????
have tried the various quacks who infest this city, ap????
nostrums; you have spent much money, you find you ????
better; your disease growing worse and worse, ruining ???
constitution, destroying happiness, and a??????ting ???
you would be saved from a premature grave, and be ful-
ly restored to health, as hundreds of others have been ??
??? at the old office. N. B.—Strangers and all vi?????
indiscretion or mal-treatment should be particular ????
Old Galen's Head Dispensary, 12 Peck Slip. a22 ??
——————————————————————
D R. EVANS' Old Galen's Head Dispensary is re????
from Peck slip to No. 3 Murray street, near the ???
of Broadway, opposite the City Hall, where secret ????
under any form continue to be treated successfully ???
al; every vestige of the disease is thoroughly ???????
from the system, and all chances of after clap? ????
avoided. Charges reasonable. Office hours from ????
to 2 P. M. No. 3 Murray st., sign of the Galen's Head.
a26 3*
================================================================
[Col.5]
The Suspected Murderer.
Morse, the person arrested on suspicion of
being concerned in the murder of Miss Rogers,
has been discharged on that complaint, it hav-
ing been fully established that he was not at
Hoboken on the day of the murder—but is still
in custody for want of bail to answer the com-
plaint of his wife for maltreatment.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MARY ROGERS AFFAIR.—This bloody affair
seems to furnish a great deal of twaddle to the penny
papers. One attempts to prove that Mary Rogers
is still alive—another states that she is at Pittsburgh,
and another that her own friends had something to
do with her death. It is even sought to be proved,
that Doctor Cook of Hoboken, a very eminent phy-
sician, knows nothing of his profession—and that
his evidence is not to be believed.
What is the meaning of all this effort to mistify
and lead astray? Is it not produced by the arts and
appliances of those who may be the perpetrators?—
or who know who they are? It looks very suspi-
cious at least. As far as human testimony can go,
it is proved, beyond the possibility of a doubt, that
Mary Rogers was violated and murdered by more
than two persons—and, according to all probability,
that this horrid act was perpetrated in some stable,
outhouse, or such place, by one of those gangs of
rowdies, blacklegs, gamblers, or soaplocks, who
form the society of the houses of ill fame, and the
low gambling shops.
Can this be controverted with any degree of force?
What can be the motive of those who lead astray
the public mind? Certainly not good. Let it be
followed up.
[From our Reporter.]
Justice Stevens is of opinion that the police have ob-
tained some clue to the miscreants who perpetrated the
outrage and murder on Mary Rogers, but that it will be
some days yet before the inquiry will be in such a shape
as to justify the authorities in making the matter public.
The clerks of the upper police also profess to believe that
they have got on the right scent this time, and that if the
newspapers would cease “their agitation,” the truth
would be elicited. These gentlemen say that people will
not come forward, lest they should have their names
dragged before the public, and that, but for the discus-
sion which has been kept up, they think they should
have traced out Mary's whereabouts, on the fatal Sun-
day, before this. If there are any such people as these
in existence, all we have to say about them is, that they
are either very wicked, or very foolishly wicked, if
they neglect to aid the public authorities in tracing out
the hiding place of a gang of ravishers and murderers,
and foolish if they would suffer their own thin-skined-
ness to stand for one moment between their prejudices
and the sacred cause of public justice. If say man, rich
or poor, possessing the respectability of wealth or not,
has remained quiet whilst in the possession of any fact
which could tend to clear up this mystery, we envy not
his notions of right, or yet the advantages of such a ne-
gation of respectability as he seems to hug himself up in.
We are told, on good authority, that some such person
is to be examined, but think he must have been hoaxing
the magistrates. In the mean time, the actual fact of the
girl's murder is doubted by many well-informed persons.
—————
Not less than 1483 dogs have been killed in New
York since the corporation commenced war upon
them; and of these not less than a dozen were po-
sitively rabid. Still the number of dogs in that city
has not been apparently diminished. N. B. When
will they commence war upon the hogs?—Boston
Mail, Aug. 25.
We hope soon. Our streets are overrun with
them, and a greater nuisance never existed.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Friday Morning, August 27, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Madame Restell, a Chartist.—The Chartists in
England recommend as one means of relief to their
surplus population, “that all the children of the
working-people after the third, be disposed of by
painless extinction.”
================================================================
[Col.2]
☞ A correspondent writes us a revolting account of out-
rages habitually perpetrated on unprotected females—usually
supposed or alleged to be of bad character—by gangs of ruf-
fians who congregate about up-town markets, and who often
own or hire club-boats to enable them to execute their fiend-
ish designs. The facts stated by our correspondent cannot
be repeated here, nor do we see what can be done in the
premises. The Police of our City is notoriously wretched
and inefficient—we allude not to the men but the system—
and as the soaplocks and rowdies who perpetrate outrages
are nearly all Loco-Focos, they are not followed up so rigidly
as they might be. A Police Justice recently informed us
that it did very little or no good to apprehend rioters and put
them in the watch-house; he had done so time and again du-
ring the night, and when he came to the office in the morn-
ing to examine them he found they had all been discharged
by the Alderman of the Ward. This he did over and over
till he found it was of no use—that it only gave offenders im-
punity and audacity to apprehend them at all. Shall this
state of things never be reformed?
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, August 27, 1841 (CA)
[Col.3]
☞ Cheap Literature.—The Universal Yankee Nation of this
week is a rich and magnificent number. It contains a beautiful en-
graving, six by eight inches square, illustrating Natural History.
“The Green Gauntlet or the Traitor's Son,” is a splendid story from
Tait's Edinburgh Magazine. This tale of itself is worth six cents, a
full account of the Mary Rogers affair, together with a portrait of
Morse, of Staten Island celebrity. Poetry, News, Scribblings, and
all the variety of the Fun, Fashion and Folly of the week boiled down.
J. A. TUTTLE, Agent, 31 Ann-st.
Single Copies 5½ cents, neatly done up in wrappers. au27 1t*
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly as in Evening Post, Albany Evening Journal]
MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.
We stated last week that Joseph W. Morse,
had been arrested on suspicion of being the mur-
derer of this ill fated girl; but it seems he is in-
nocent of that crime although guilty of one but
little less heinous. He ought to be hung for his
bad character.
THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—Morse not
now supposed to be the Murderer.—Strange and
various as were the circumstances tending to im-
plicate Morse in the murder of Miss Rogers, sub-
sequent development seem to show that he had
nothing to do with it.
Morse, from the time he was first arrested, per-
sisted in saying that he was at Staten Island, on
the afternoon and night of the Sunday when it was
alleged he was seen at Hoboken. He, however,
could not tell the name of a female, who, he said,
accompanied him and remained there with him all
night; nor could he tell the name of any person
who had seen him there. His alleged ignorance
of her name rendered his statement incredible.—
The Mayor, however, went down to Staten Is-
land, on Wednesday afternoon, and ascertained
that a man answering the description of Morse,
passed that Sunday night at one of the hotels at
Staten Island, along with a young girl, about 17
years old. Yesterday morning the name of the
girl was discovered, and she was brought to the
upper Police Office, where she deposed that on
the afternoon of the Sunday in question, she met
Morse in Bleecker street, and that he induced her
to accompany him to Staten Island; that under
one or other pretext he detained her there until
the last boat for New York had left the Island,
and that he then persuaded her to pass the night
in the same room with him; and that during the
night he endeavored to have improper intercourse
with her, but that she did not allow him; and that
on the following day, Monday, he came back with
her to N. York and took his leave of her at the
corner of Barclay and Greenwich street. As the
young lady, however indiscreet she may have ac-
ted, is said to have hitherto maintained a good
character, we forbear to mention her name.
The testimony of the girl is further corrobora-
ted by the fact of four individuals, namely, Messrs.
John Conner, W. H. Hicks, R. Bucker and W. J.
McKee, having on that Sunday, about three o'-
clock in the afternoon, seen Morse and the young
lady walking down Broadway towards the Batte-
ry. These gentlemen knew both Morse and the
lady, and as one of the above gentlemen had been
known to pay particular attentions to the lady on
some former occasions, another of the party re-
marked to him, “There goes your girl.” There
can therefore be scarcely a doubt that the person
seen sitting on the bench at Hoboken, with Miss
Rogers or some other young lady on that Sunday,
was not Morse, and so far he seems to have ex-
culpated himself from the charge of murdering
Miss Rogers.—Jour. of Commerce of Friday.
The evening edition of the same paper contains
the following article.
It now turns out if Morse's statement can be re-
lied on that he never had any acquaintance with
Miss Rogers, nor could he identify her from any
other female in the city. Nor did he know the name
of the girl, as he has all along alleged, who so im-
prudently accompanied him to Staten Island.—
And when he heard of the body of Miss Rogers
having been found in the river, he supposed that
it was Miss Rogers who had accompanied him to
Staten Island, and who felt so degraded by re-
maining with him all night, that she had in con-
sequence committed suicide by drowning herself.
This suspicion on his part shows that the fellow
must have a tolerable correct appreciation of the
feelings of a virtuous female, in consequence of
having so indiscreetly subjected herself to insult
and loss of character, for the young lady who did
accompany him, has been so deeply affected by
the occurrence and the consequent ordeal she was
obliged to go through at the upper Police Office,
in being most minutely examined as to every thing
which occurred between her and Morse, that she
yesterday morning procured laudanum to destroy
herself, and only for an accidental and timely dis-
covery of her intentions by her family, she would
probably have been at this time another victim.
Morse, although discharged from the complaint
against him for the murder of Miss Rogers is still
detained in prison until he can procure unques-
tionable bail in the sum of $1000, to answer the
complaint against him for maltreating his wife.
We are persuaded that pursuit has hitherto been
on a false scent, so far as it has been directed to
Hoboken. It is impossible that a person so well
known to thousands as this young woman was,
should have passed three blocks without some
one having seen her; and any one who saw her
would have remembered it; for she interested all
who knew her. It was when the streets were full
of people that she went out. See how soon the
girl who accompanied Morse to Staten Island was
recognized, and how many witnesses there are to
her being out. Yet she was but seventeen years
old, and had always lived secluded, Miss Rogers
was twenty-three. A hundred knew her to one
who knew the other. It is therefore impossible
that she should have gone to Hoboken, or to Jane
street, without being recognized by a dozen per-
sons; yet no one has come forward who saw
her outside of her mother's door, and there is
no evidence except the testimony concerning her
expressed intention, that she did go out at all. Her
gown was torn, bound round her, and tied; and
by that the body was carried as a bundle. If the
murder had been committed at Hoboken, there
would have been no necessity for any such ar-
rangement. The fact that the body was found floa-
ting near Hoboken, is no proof as to where it was
thrown into the water. The murder must have
been committed near to her mother's house, and
the nearer, the more likely. There are places
within a few rods of the door, where such a deed
would be as likely to be committed as any where
in the city. A piece of one of the unfortunate
girl's petticoats, two feet long and one foot wide,
was torn out and tied under her chin and around
the back of her head, probably to prevent her
screams. This was done by fellows who had no
pocket handkerchief.
Perhaps these considerations are not new to the
police, but they need, we think to be considered
by the neighborhood. In our judgement the un-
happy girl had not proceeded many steps, when
she was induced for some purpose to step within
a door, which was closed upon her, and she was
there murdered, during Sunday. It was probably
not a parlor, or bedroom, or any part of a dwell-
ing house, nor a public place of any sort.—Jour.
of Com.
================================================================
[Col.5]
As we expected!—The story in the N. Y. Planet,
about a letter having been received in New-York,
from Mary C. Rogers, stating that she was then in
Pittsburgh, turns out to be a sheer, penny-a-line
fabrication. There is not the least doubt that this
unfortunate girl has been murdered, and did not
charity forbid the thought, the conclusion would be
almost irresistible, that those humbug stories which
fill so large a portion of sundry N. Y. penny papers,
and paid for by those who are interested in putting
the police of that city, upon a wrong scent. We
sincerely trust that the murderers may yet be
brought to speedy and condign punishment.
================================================================
[Col.6]
☞ THE undersigned has not deemed it proper to notice
the different statements made in the penny papers in relation
to his connection with the investigations which have been
made in the case of the unfortunate Mary C. Rogers. He
deems it however necessary now to state, for the satisfaction of
his friends, that the whole subject will become a matter of ju-
dicial enquiry in the course of the ensuing week, and that all
that then transpires will be laid before the public.
au28 ALFRED CROMMELIN, 126 Nassau street.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, August 28, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ THE SUNDAY MERCURY.—Tremendous success!
...
Buckingham's New York; A curious leader, contain-
ing some interesting speculations on the murder of Miss
Rogers; A capital Sketch, by M**** R; A great variety
...
—————
☞ SUNDAY TIMES.—Two Prodigious Engravings.—
...
A few particulars in the Life of J. W. Morse.
The Addle-Brained Public—Down with Fair Prices—
Monopoly for ever.
Prevalence of Suicide—Atheism the leading cause of
it; “Who would fardels bear,” &c.
Lynch Legislation—The Men Butchers of Arkansas—
Something for human nature to blush at.
...
[Col.4]
MADAME RESTELL,
F EMALE PHYSICIAN, Office and residence 148 Green-
wich street, where she can be consulted with the strictest
confidence on all complaints incident to the female frame.
Madame Restell's mode of treatment is such as to require
but a few days to effect perfect cure. “Preventive Powders”
for married ladies in delicate or precarious health will be sent
by mail to any part of the United States. Price $5 a package.
All letters (post paid) addressed to 'box 868, N. Y. city.' will
be received.
a28 1m*[Col.5]
THE HOBOKEN TRAGEDY.
So called, although, for aught we know,
it may have been a New York tragedy, re-
mains as great a mystery as ever. Mr. Jos.
W. Morse, wood engraver, of 120 Nassau
street, has been arrested and examined upon
a strong suspicion of his being concerned
in the murder. He has, however, proved
his innocence, by showing that during the
time the outrage and murder was commit-
ted, he was engaged in attempting to seduce
another girl at the Pavilion on Staten Isl-
and. A great exploit for a married man,
and the father of a family. Dr. Cook has
been examined by the mayor—he proves,
most distinctly, that outrage and murder
was committed upon poor Miss Rogers.
The whole affair is wrapped in a deeper
mystery than ever, and the probability is,
that the perpetrators of the horrible deed,
by this time, are on their way to that refuge
of delinquents, Texas. We fear that if the
deed is discovered, the doers will have es-
caped the vengeance of the laws, and will
be amenable to no other punishment than
that of a terrible conscience and an offended
Deity.
Morse is detained on a charge of assault
and battery on his wife, until he can furnish
bail in the sum of $500 for his appearance
on trial. Morse states, as his reason for
leaving the city, that he did not know Miss
Rogers nor the name of the young lady who
accompanied him to Staten Island, and that
on hearing of the death of Miss Rogers,
and of the discovery of the body; he tho't
his companion was the same person, and
that she had destroyed herself on account
of the treatment she experienced from him;
he, therefore, left the city for fear of being
brought into trouble, and that he was not
aware of the difference until the young la-
dy was brought to the police office on
Thursday.
Yesterday morning Morse procured bail
and was liberated.—N. Y. Atlas.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE AFFAIR OF MISS ROGERS, remains enshrouded
in as much mystery as ever. Morse, who was arrest-
ed as the murderer, and of whose innocence we ex-'
pressed our belief, has been found ???????? and his
dis???????? The mystery ???????????? his absence
was connected with difficulties between him and
wife, together with a rascally attempt on the honor of
a young female, whom he had decoyed from her home.
He proved himself to be only the villian of anoth-
er shade. The Journal of Commerce has some very
sensible remarks, in relation to the case of Miss Rodg-
ers. That paper says, that in all the stories connected
with her case, there is no evidence of her leaving her
home, other than her own assertion to do so. From
this fact, that paper reasons, that she met her death
in her own neighborhood, because had she traversed
but one block, so well was she known, she would have
been recognized. We have all along been of the
opinion that the police officers of that city, have been
on the wrong scent, in laying the scene of this tragedy
at Hoboken. We firmly believe that she was murder-
ed in the city of New York, and every probability
goes strongly to show that it was not far from her
home.
================================================================
[Col.4]
☞ The undersigned has not deemed it proper to notice the
different statements made in certain papers in relation to his connec-
tion with the investigations which have been made in the case of the
unfortunate Mary C. Rogers. He deems it however necessary now
to state, for the satisfaction of his friends, that the whole subject will
become a matter of judicial inquiry in the course of the ensuing week,
and that all that then transpires will be laid before the public.
au30 1t ALFRED CROMMELIN, 126 Nassau street.
================================================================
[Col.2]
POLICE—Saturday.
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—On Saturday a man
was arrested and committed for examination on the
charge of having participated in the outrage and mur-
der of Miss Rogers. As the evidence against him now
is purely circumstantial, we deem it most advisable to
omit his name until something at least definite shall
transpire, as it would hardly be fair to brand a man
with the suspicion of such an outrage, who may be
entirely innocent.
Beyond the above there was nothing at the Police
Office which would warrant us in occupying space in
the paper to record it.
[Col.4]
☞ Having by the advice of many friends and the often re-
peated assurances of the gentlemen connected with the Police,
which has as yet never been complied with, allowed a certain
class of the penny press to go on from day to day to calumniate
me, without their asking for one moment on what grounds,
whether slight or sufficient. And supposing their vituperation
to be well spent—as it is mere repetition—now to show my fel-
low citizens that I fear no questions and wear no mask. I in the
most public manner demand, wish and expect an open investiga-
tion of all and every part of my conduct in relation to the inqui-
ries respecting the murder of Miss Rogers—no secret inquisitio-
nal proceedings—we will have all the forms of law, and in open
Court, with the reporters and other members of the press pre-
sent, and one reporter sworn to report literally as spoken.—
I also demand that Mrs. Rogers, the mother, Mr. Payne, the
lover, and Mr. Hays, the cousin, shall be present, and also such
other persons as I will name as witnesses shall be summoned,
and that they all answer such questions as shall be put to them
by me, or my counsel, on my having sufficient notice. If such in-
vestigation is granted for me to ascertain the residence of a few
witnesses, say 2 or 3 days. To give some little plea of the
grounds of slander, and the accuracy of the information of the
papers before alluded to, it was near 6 o'clock before I made up
my mind to differ from my friends, and make any reply what-
ever in the papers. In 20 minutes I ascertained the remains
of Miss Rogers were not interred at the expense of the family,
as Mr. Hays states, confirmed by Mr. Payne, but by the
city. Mr. Callender, Clerk of the Police, paid the under-
taker the whole of the expense, $29 ??, also, it was not at
the early hour he states, but quarter to 12 o'clock, at noon; fur-
ther, no person followed, but a stout man in a brown coat, took
a cab, and went to the Carmine st. church, where it was depos-
ited. For the accuracy of this, I refer Mr. McCadden, the Un-
dertaker, who has kindly allowed me to make use of his name.
So one story is very good, but there is two sides to it.
au30 1t A. CROMMELIN
================================================================
[Col.6]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—The lamentable out-
rage, so disgraceful to the character of our “moral and
noble city,” seems to be involved now in the most im-
penetrable mystery. The authorities of the upper police
office who were so sanguine of their circumstantial tes-
timony, which was right, doubtless, in every point of
view, but that of identity, now confess that they cannot
make head or tail of the affair. After the acquittal of
Morse, it appears that they arrested some other “genteel
looking man with whiskers,” but he proved an alibi,
and on Friday last was honorably discharged. The de-
positions and the examinations of the accusers and ac-
cused, are carefully veiled from the public eye; the ac-
cusations are made in secret—the trial if it can be called
one, is held in a sort of star chamber to which the public
have no access, and the names of these very veracious
pair of sharp sighted witnesses, who first swore they saw
Morse sitting and quarrelling with the cigar girl at Ho-
boken, on the stormy Sunday night, and since to some one
else, are carefully withheld from the press and the pub-
lic. After this it would be futile to talk of the po-
litical accusations which were dropt into the Lion's
mouth at Venice, of lettres de cashets, and all that sort of
tyrannical machinery, because these proceedings have
been quite as shameful and might have proved as fatal
to both life and reputation.
The up town authorities having thus given the matter
up, the lower police intend to try their hand again, and
this time Crommelin is to appeal to a judicial tribunal;
and it was rumored on Saturday night, that his friend
Padley, is for some reason or other placed in the tombs.
Since the above was written, we have ascertained from
Mr. Hyde, the keeper of the city prison, that Archibald
W. Padley, was committed to his custody on the evening
of the 27th instant, by the order of Justice Parker; that
Padley stands charged with the abduction, rape, and
murder of Mary Cecilia Rogers. If the examination, on
the grounds for the accusation and imprisonment of this
person are ever made public, we suppose that the mystery
of the rose will be explained, and the probabilities ascer-
tained of Mary Rogers having visited Crommelin on the
Sunday, after she called on Payne. From the first we
have called attention to this circumstance.
ANOTHER OUTRAGE ON A DEFENCELESS FEMALE.—The
keeper of one of the most fashionable brothels in the
city, who is known to all the elite of the upper crust
soaplock fraternity, by the style and title of Madame la
duchese de Berry, was arrested by Prince John, and
brought before the Magistrate, charged with the perpe-
tration of one of the most violent and atrocious assaults
which one she-devil ever inflicted on another of the
same sex. Mary Capeto, a young and very beautiful
girl of seventeen, stated that she boarded for some
time with la duchesse, and that on Friday she entered
her apartment, seized complainant by the throat, threw
her on the bed, and then tore her face, neck and throat
in such a way that if assistance had not been at hand,
the consequences might have been fatal. The Magis-
trate ordered Madame to find bail in the sum of $500,
which, after some delay, she procured, in the person of
James McAllister, of Division street, and Madame was
then liberated from the tombs, with the comfortable as-
surance from “his eminence Prince John,” that a civil
suit would be instituted, and the damages laid at some-
where near five thousand dollars.
NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Monday, August 30, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
THE MARY ROGER'S MYSTERY.—The whole coun-
try is beginning to feel an interest in the brutal vio-
lation and murder of Mary Rogers. Read the fol-
lowing:—
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 27, 1841.
MR. BENNETT:—
The mystery which yet surrounds the terrible case
of Miss Rogers, excites in this community, intense
anxiety—the effects by your police to discover the
authors of this “murder most foul” are properly esti-
mated, and do receive merited commendation.
It has been intimated in your paper of yesterday,
that by persevering efforts the villians will eventual-
ly be brought to punishment, and it is to be hoped
that perseverence will be unremitted.
Whether you have any recollection or knowledge
of a case somewhat similar, which occurred in New
York, very many years ago, I do not know. It was
that of a certain Levi Weeks (whose brother, a most
estimable man, was then the owner of the City Ho-
tel.) Levi was charged with the abduction and
murder of a Miss Sands, who was taken from her
sister's house in Greenwick street, conveyed by her
lover, to whom she was engaged to be married, on
a cold winter night, and in a then lonely street,
thrown into a well of large size owned by the Man-
hatten Company. Being missed, she was sought for
and there found, with marks of violence on her per-
son, showing great resistence, and proving the strong
efforts made to preserve herself—her lacerated fin-
gers, &c.
Now, Sir, the circumstance excited an intense con-
cern, as does the case of Miss Rogers. So great was
the rush to see the body, that it was deemed proper
to place it in the public street, where many thou-
sands looked upon it—among them the writer of
this.
Weeks was arrested—circumstances were ex-
tremely strong against him, and although acquitted
by the Jury, public feeling was such that he left your
city and never returned to it—he died a vagabond.
Cadwallader D. Colden was then the Attorney Gen-
eral, and among the witnesses who were introduced
for the defendant, was one individual, whose name I
do not now recollect, who was one of the fatal
sleighing party. Mr. Colden was extremely close in
his examination of that man, and was impressed
with a belief that he was the actual murderer.
Some time afterwards the witness was indicted
for committing a forgery—and it was most re-
markable that, in that trial, circumstances were de-
veloped which induced Mr. Colden to say, “that is
the murderer of Miss Sands.”
It would therefore seem, that despite of all the
machinations of the Devil and his imp, that by a
wise Providence “murder will out.”
I refer you to the documents of that day, and
think you may make a good moral use of the facts.
Yours, W. C.
================================================================
[Col.4]
THE MARY ROGERS CASE.—A man was arrested
on Saturday and committed for examination on suspi-
cion of being connected with this mysterious case.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Mr. Archibald W.
Padley, recently of John st. who some weeks ago made a
voluntary statement under oath, touching his knowledge of
Miss Rogers, was on Saturday again brought up by order of
Justice Parker, and yesterday examined as to any facts or
circumstances that he might be in possession of relative to her
disappearance and death, and nothing in any way appearing
to implicate him in, or connect him with the transaction, he
was discharged from custody.
—————
DEATHS IN NEW-YORK.—The City Inspector reports the
deaths during last week of 35 Men, 34 Women, 56 Boys,
and 65 Girls: in all 190. Of these 41 died of Cholera In-
fantum, 24 of Consumption, 3 Convulsions, 6 Diarrhoea, 12
Dropsies, 13 Dysentery, 11 Fevers, 27 Inflammation, 14
Marasmus, 2 Small Pox. 2 were over 90 years of age. 146
were natives of the U. States, 23 of Ireland, 17 of other
countries, 5 unknown.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Nothing has yet transpired likely to re-
veal the names of the murderers of Miss
Rogers, “the cigar girl,” of New York.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, August 31, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Mr. Archibald
W. Padley, recently of John street, who some weeks
ago made a voluntary statement under oath, touch-
ing his knowledge of Miss Rogers, was on Saturday
again brought up by order of Justice Parker, and
yesterday examined as to any facts or circumstances
that he might be in possession of relative to her dis-
appearance and death, and nothing in any way ap-
pearing to implicate him in or connect him with the
transaction, he was discharged from custody.
================================================================
================================================================
THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, August 31, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—Archibald W. Pad-
ley, who had before made a voluntary statement
to the Police Magistrate, was brought up again on
Saturday, at the instance of Justice Parker, touch-
ing his knowledge of any facts connected with the
murder of Miss Rogers, and on being yesterday ex-
amined, and nothing appearing to implicate him in
the remotest degree, he was discharged—Express.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.5]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Much has
been said in the New York papers during the last
month respecting the sudden disappearance and
most villainous murder of Miss Mary C. Rogers,
who has been long and well known there as the
“beautiful cigar girl.” She was employed, usu-
ally, in a cigar store, and is reported to have pos-
sessed great personal beauty. It seems that she
was last seen on Sunday morning, on the 25th
of July, when she told a young man, David
Payne, to whom she was engaged to be married,
that she was going to visit at Mrs. Downing's
who resided in a distant part of the city. She
never went there, and for some days no trace
of her could be found; a body was soon after dis-
covered at Hoboken, which was recognized as
hers, though greatly disfigured. The police of
New York were unwearied in their efforts, but
for weeks no clue was found to trace out the per-
petrator of this inhuman crime. A young man,
by the name of Morse, was arrested, and for a
time it was thought that they had finally discov-
ered the murderer, but he proved that he was in
another place at the time the murder must have
been committed, and consequently was discharg-
ed. Every possible surmise has been made, and
every little circumstance seized upon to unravel
the mystery. Some papers have even denied that
the body found is that of Miss Rogers, and a let-
ter had been published, as coming from a gentle-
man in Pittsburg, who had lately seen her, and
the opinion has obtained some credence that she
had eloped to avoid an unpleasant marriage con-
nection that her mother would compel her to
form. But as far as we can learn, there seems to
be but little question but that the body found is
that of Miss Rogers. The following, which we
take from the Courier and Enquirer, seems to
contain the latest information, but yet we fear it
may prove erroneous:
“We are pleased to be able to state, that at
length, a clue has, beyond all doubt or cavil, been
...
community, for his success in this outrageous af-
fair.”
The letter referred to above in pronounced to
be a hoax, got up by the penny papers of the city.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.5]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—Every thing in re-
lation to this lamentable affair seems to be clothed,
not merely with some impenetrable mystery, but to
be conducted by the authorities with a greater de-
gree of secresy, and consequently of injustice, than
most other judicial investigations. We stated on
Monday that Archibald W. Pabley was arrested on
the 27th, and committed to the tombs by order of
Justice Parker. On Monday evening we applied to
Mr. Hyde, the keeper of the prison, to know if any
thing had been done in the premises, and were in-
formed that Pabley was still in custody. On the
following morning the keeper of the prison received
a discharge for Pabley, and on sending to the interior
for the purpose of liberating the innocent man, he,
the keeper, first learned officially, that Pabley had
been got out the day previous by Justice Parker and
discharged. We know of no greater act of tyranny
than this, even among the high handed measures of
of this said Milne Parker, Esquire, one of the special
justices, et cetera. He first causes a man to be ar-
rested on suspicion of three of the very highest of-
fences known to our laws, viz: abduction, rape and
murder. He subjects this man to the solitude of the
tombs, conceals the facts of his arrest from the pub-
lic, keeps him in durance for three days, then sub-
mits him to a star chamber examination, and finally
lets this man out of prison, so far surreptitiously, that
the keeper of the prison is not informed of the pri-
soner's release until some fifteen hours after the ac-
tion of this learned and astute special justice! Com-
ment on this procedure we could make, but we for-
bear, for Justice Parker has to appear to answer to a
whole catalogue of accusations on the 7th inst. be-
fore the County Court, and we may be charged with
a desire to prejudge his case, and for that reason
we forbear, and leave Pabley to his civil remedy, for
we presume, that though “he is only a foreigner,”
that the libery of the citizen cannot be thus out-
rageously violated without some remedy being pro-
vided under our laws. And it must not be forgotten
that he is the fourth person who has been arrested
and discharged without the shadow of proof being
exhibited against him. In the mean time, the names
of the accusers are carefully concealed. We ask if
this is right? It may be law, but it is not justice.
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ An anonymous correspondent writes us that he 'has
heard a man boast publicly that he was the first one who dis-
covered the body of Mary C. Rogers at Hoboken, that he
dragged it to the shore, and then ran off for fear of the Cor-
oner's inquest.' Why not give the information in some reli-
able shape personally or by giving in the name at the proper
quarter? A communication of this sort of course not worth
a straw without a name to substantiate the statements; and
with this it may be of the highest service.
================================================================
[Col.5]
MISS ROGERS.—We have heretofore in-
advertantly omitted to give an account of
the supposed murder of Miss Rogers, who
has, for some length of time attended the ci-
gar store of Mr. Anderson in the city of N.
Y. and was well known as the “beautiful ci-
gar girl.” The last that was seen of her
she was on board the ferry boat going to
Hoboken. A few days after the disappear-
ance a body was found in the River which
was supposed to be that of Miss Rogers, ha-
ving such marks upon as left no room to
doubt her fate. The person seen in compa-
ny with her on the evening of her disappear-
ance, has been arrested for the murder, but
acquitted upon his proving that he was not
in Hoboken on the evening specified. Much
excitement prevails in the city upon the sub-
ject. The Journal of Commerce says that
a letter has been received from Pittsburgh,
stating that Miss Rogers was in that city in
company with a gentleman, on her way to
her uncle's, in Illinois. The only thing that
gives credence to this story is the fact that
some two or three years ago, Miss Rogers,
while employed in the same establishment,
disappeared very mysteriously; for the pur-
pose, as was afterwards supposed, of help-
ing the sale of her employer's goods. After
the smoke of the extra cigars sold during the
excitement had cleared away, she returned
and resumed her station.
================================================================
[Col.1]
A Warning to Young Ladies, from the Grave.
Great excitement has prevailed in this city for some
days past, in consequence of the murder of a Miss Ro-
gers, who has been extensively known here as the “beau-
tiful Cigar Girl,” and who was for a length of time em-
ployed in a cigar store in Broadway. She left home on
Sabbath morning two weeks since, to go, as it was sup-
posed, to Hoboken, but did not return; and when, after
three days' search was made for her, the body was found
in the water, bearing marks of having been most shock-
ingly abused, and then murdered. No discovery of the
dreadful secret has yet been made, by the utmost vigi-
lance of the police, and a profound darkness hangs over
the whole transaction.
Two things, however, have been clearly proved by the
developments already made—that this unfortunate girl
had no respect for the sanctity of the Sabbath, and that
she was far from select in the choice of her associates.
Her own character is said to have been good, but that of
some of the men implicated in this matter, and who were,
it seems, her familiar acquaintances, is from their own
confession, far from reputable. The impression has
forced itself upon us from day to day, as the circumstan-
ces connected with her death are given to the public, that
the dangers in the pathway of the young female, espe-
cially in our large cities, have never yet been adequately
estimated or presented. If she has the almost fatal gift
of beauty, how many, on every side, will lie in wait to en-
snare and destroy! Hundreds of the young of our sex,
who are dependent on their own industry or ingenuity for
a subsistence, have no parents—others, though not liter-
ally orphans, have fathers or mothers, who, through vice,
ignorance, or imbecility, are incapable of guiding or re-
straining them, and thus they are left, at the most critical
period of life, to follow the dictates of interest, or vanity,
or passion, with none to warn or direct them. Acquaint-
ances are soon made with those of the other sex, who are
on the look-out for this very class—and then follows an
invitation to the public gardens, the theatre, or some
place of public amusement on the Sabbath. Tempters
are at hand to urge the inexperienced girl, who perhaps
from a lingering remembrance of Sabbath school instruc-
tion, hesitates—and as it is only the first step which counts,
when this is taken, her descent is easy. She becomes
impatient of control—reckless of her employers, and care-
[Col.2]
less in the choice of her associates; and the one idea of
dress and amusement fills up her sleeping and waking
thoughts. Now, without a special interposition of Provi-
dence, what is to save one on the brink of such a preci-
pice from making the last fatal plunge? True, she may
not find, like Cecilia Rogers, an early and bloody grave;
but is it no less true in one case than in the other—“the
companion of fools shall be destroyed?”
Mothers, who feel for the welfare of your own daugh-
ters, an intense anxiety which language is inadequate to
express, let us plead with you in their behalf, and in be-
half of others as innocent and lovely, who have none to
teach, and pity, and shelter them. The natural heart does
not love the commands of God. There must be line upon
line, and precept upon precept, to counteract its vicious
tendencies, and implant right principles. Let your chil-
dren learn from you, to keep God's Sabbath, and to rever-
ence his sanctuary, and to avoid the very appearance of
evil, in the character of those with whom they associate.
A man who has no regard for virtue—who will destroy
female innocence—will, if a sufficiently strong motive is
presented, murder her whom he has seduced from the
path of rectitude, and there can be no safety, either for
soul or body, in the society of such an one.
But it is not your own children alone, who have claims
on you in reference to this matter. Your domestics—
the youthful seamstress employed by you—in short, all
the young females around you, who have no mother to
guide and guard their steps—demand your sympathy and
your efforts in their behalf. One kind word of advice or
warning, given in the spirit of love, may arrest them when
on the verge of ruin, and save them for time and eternity.
The feeling that there are none to care for them, and that
the false friends who flatter but to betray, are the only be-
ings who have an interest in their welfare—has been fa-
tal to many an artless girl, who, under proper influen-
ces, might have been an ornament to society. There is
a vast amount of responsibility and of guilt resting some-
where in reference to this matter. Let each one of us
see to it, that our garments are not stained with the blood
of these murdered souls.
One word to the young ladies into whose hands this
paper may fall, and we have done. A voice from the
grave—from an untimely and dishonored grave—speaks
to you in tones of warning and entreaty. Had Cecilia
Rogers loved the house of God—had she reverenced the
Sabbath—had she refused to associate with unprincipled
and profligate men—how different had been her fate!
The penalty annexed to the violation of God's law, has
been, in this case, suddenly and fearfully exacted; but
though of the thousands who are following her example,
few may meet such a fate—the day of reckoning will
come, and their judgment slumbereth not.
Dear young friends, let this solemn warning sink deep
into your hearts when you are tempted to pride and vani-
ty—to be impatient of wise restraint—to seek your own
pleasure on God's holy day—or to listen to the syren
voice which would lure you from the path of virtue—re-
member the fate of the young and beautiful “cigar girl,”
and thank God that you may still choose the path of peace
and safety. Do not, we entreat you, believe for a moment
that the man, whose character is stained with impurity,
or who would tempt you to sin, can be, under any circum-
stances, a safe companion. He is a wolf in sheep's clo-
thing, and waits only his opportunity to deceive and de-
stroy.
================================================================
================================================================
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Wednesday Afternoon, September 1, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5. As in Evening Post]
MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—Archibald W. Pad-
...
him in the remotest degree, he was discharged.—
[Express.
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.6]
CORONER'S OFFICE.—The Coroner had his hands full
of business yesterday, although not one of the cases that
came before him, presented any feature of special inter-
est. The first case was at the foot of Herbert street on
the body of John Morehead, who was found drowned in
the North River. Verdict accordingly.
...
ALMOST A MARY ROGERS CASE.—And lastly at the cor-
ner of King and Varick streets, on the body of a good
looking young girl about 20 years of age, who had no
doubt been but a short time in the water. She was dress-
ed in a calico frock with purple fringes, muslin under
clothes, and had a plain ring on her forefinger, but neith-
er bonnet, shoes nor hat on. No testimony was adduced
to show who she was or how she came in the water.
Verdict, found drowned. The body was removed to the
dead house, in case any one should be able to identify it.
DOG KILLERS, BEWARE.—The only case of either in-
terest or importance before the police yesterday, was a
charge of assaulting with intent to kill, one of the regu-
lar licensed corporation slaughterers of the poor canine
race. The accused was an old Irishman named Patrick
Collins, who lives on his means at No. 360 Madison
street, and it seems that Pat had a favorite which had
grown old along with him, and was to him a friend.
Somehow or other Pat's dog got out of bounds, as other
puppies do, and Gerard Benson, the dog slayer, meeting
with old Pat's dog, gave him his quietus and poked him
into his cart. When Patrick heard what had happened,
he got a pretty ugly looking pistol, which he loaded, be-
ing enough to have killed all the dog slayers in the city,
and sought out the destroyer of his canine friend, whom
he found snug enough at a grog shop hard by. Pat im-
mediately reproached the dog killer with the cowardice
of the deed he had committed, and told him to prepare to
share the fate he had consigned so many other brutes
to. Gerard Benson who fancied all the ghosts of the dead
dogs were come to testify against him, began to quake
in his shoes; but luckily for all parties, old Pat's pistol
missed fire, which mishap as Pat called it, made him quite
ferocious, and he rushed on the other with intent cer-
tainly to do him some bodily harm, whereupon the by-
standers interfered, and prevented further mischief by
disarming the Irishman and bringing him before the
Justice, by whom he was held to bail in $1000.
There is no question but the conduct of the Irishman
was quite indefensible, but if, as we heard, the dog killer
took advantage of the absence of the owner to destroy a
favorite and valuable dog, he certainly deserved a cow-
skinning therefor. A difference should be made between
a pack of worthless curs, roaming the streets without
home or owner, and a dog properly taken care of, and
one, too, which was only at large by accident. We are
not quite such abstract constructionists as some people,
thank God!
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, September 2, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.3]
POLICE OFFICE.—An assault with intent to kill.—On Tuesday after-
noon Patrick Collins of No. 360 Madison street, went to the residence
of Gerard Benson, colored man, of No. 341 Madison street and saying,
“you are the man that killed my dog,” presented a large pistol loaded
with powder and ball, snapped it twice at Benson with evident intent
to take life. The pistol did not however go off, when Collins attacked
Benson, with dagger under the muzzle of the pistol, and endeavored
to stab him with it, but was prevented by the bystanders and the pistol
taken from him. It appeared that the dog of Collins had been killed
and Benson being one of those employed, under orders of the Mayor
to kill the dogs, was supposed by Collins to be the one that killed him.
Officer H. B. King arrested Collins, who was committed to prison by
Justice Stevens, but yesterday discharged, on giving bail in $1000 to
answer. Collins is 58 years old, a native of Ireland and a man owing
freehold property.
...
CORONER'S OFFICE.—The Coroner yesterday held an inquest at the
corner of King and West street, on the body of an unknown woman,
aged about 20, who was found in the slip, foot of King street yesterday
morning—recently drowned.
She was clad in a calico frock with small purple figures, muslin un-
der garments, a common ring on the third finger of her left hand, and
had no shoes, stockings or hat on. Verdict, found drowned.
The body will be left in the dead-house for recognition until noon
this day.
Also at No. 161 West-street, on the body of John Morehead, alias
Conologue, late a hand on board the sloop Three Friends, of Little
Egg Harbor. He was found early yesterday morning afloat in the
slip foot of Hubert street. Verdict, found drowned.
...
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Thursday Morning, September 2, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.2]
Coroner's Office.—The Coroner yesterday held an
inquest upon the body of a female, named Margaret
Gray, found in the North River, opposite King st.
The deceased was about 20 years of age, had on
a calico dress with small purple figures; no stock-
ings, shoes or hat. Verdict, found drowned.
Also, upon the body of John Mo???head, who was
found in the North River, at the foot of Hubert st.,
where it is supposed he fell in on Monday last. Ver-
dict, found drowned.
================================================================
[Col.4]
CORONER'S INQUESTS.—The Coroner, yesterday,
held an inquest at the corner of West and King
streets, on the body of an unknown female, aged
about 20, who was found afloat in the water at the
foot of King street, having been in the water but a
very short time. She was dressed in a calico frock
with small purple figures; a muslin under gar-
ment; a common ring on the third finger of the
left hand, and was without shoes, stockings or
hat. Verdict, found drowned. Her body will be
kept till noon this day in the dead house for iden-
tification.
Also, at No. 161 West street, on the body of John
Morehead, alias Conologue, late a hand on board
the sloop Three Friends, of Little Egg Harbor,
who was seen on Monday afternoon somewhat in-
toxicated, and was found yesterday morning float-
in in the slip foot of Hubert street. Verdict found
drowned.
...
[Col.5]
BY WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas Mary C. Rogers, a young woman residing in
the city of New York, was lately ravished and murdered
in the said city, or in the portion of the state of New Jersey
contiguous thereto; and whereas the efforts made by the
police of the city of New York to discover the perpetra-
tors of these crimes have, as appears from the public prints,
proved altogether unsuccessful, and whereas the peace and
security of society require that such atrocious crimes
should not go unpunished:
Now, therefore, I do hereby declare and make known,
that a reward of Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars will be
paid to whosoever shall give information resulting in the
conviction either in this state or the state of New Jersey,
of any person guilty of the said crimes.
And I do hereby enjoin upon all magistrates and other
officers and ministers of justice, that they be dilligent in
their efforts to bring the offender or offenders to condign
punishment.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the privy seal of
the state to be hereunto affixed, at the city of
[L. S.] Albany, this thirty-first day of August, one thou-
sand eight hundred and forty-one.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
By the Governor.
SAM'L BLATCHFORD, Private Secretary.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Thursday Evening, September 2, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
PROCLAMATIONS.—Governor Seward has issued his
Proclamations offering a reward of seven hundred and
fifty dollars for the apprehension of the murderers of
Mary Rogers, and a reward of nine hundred dollars
for the apprehension of Benjamin Lett, who made
his escape while on his way to the Prison at Auburn,
where he was sentenced to be imprisoned for seven
years. A reward of $250 was offered several months
ago; but as there is reason to believe that Lett has
lurking places within the State, the amount has been
increased. A further reward of two hundred and
fifty dollars is also offered for the conviction of any
one who aided Lett in his escape.
================================================================
================================================================
MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, September 2, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.7. As in Tribune]
Miss Rogers.—The New London
Gazette says that the Miss Rogers whose
tragic fate so deeply interests the com-
munity, was a native of New London,
and was connected with highly respect-
able families still residing there.
================================================================
[Col.1]
REWARDS OFFERED BY THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE.—
GOV. SEWARD has issued a Proclamation offering a reward of
Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars to any one who shall
give information resulting in the conviction, either in this
State or in New-Jersey, of any person guilty of the violation
and murder of Mary C. Rogers.
The Governor likewise offers a reward of Nine Hundred
Dollars for the apprehension of Benjamin Lett, who escaped
from the Sheriff, who was conveying him to the State Prison
for having been concerned in burning the steamboat Sir Robert
Peel on the River St. Lawrence in 1839.
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, September 3, 1841 (CA)
[Col.1]
A PROCLAMATION.
By WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Governor of the State of New-York.
Whereas Mary C. Rogers, a young woman residing in the city of
New-York, was lately ravished and murdered in the said city, or in
the portion of the State of New-Jersey contiguous thereto; and
whereas the efforts made by the police of the city of New-York to dis-
cover the perpetrator of these crimes have, as appears from the public
prints, proved altogether unsuccessful; and whereas the peace and
security of society require that such atrocious crimes should not go
unpunished:
Now, therefore, I do hereby declare and make known, that a re-
ward of Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars will be paid to whosoever
shall give information resulting in the conviction either in this State
or in the State of New-Jersey, of any person guilty of the said crimes.
And I do hereby enjoin upon all magistrates and other officers and
ministers of justice, that they may be diligent in their efforts to bring
the offender or offenders to condign punishment.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the privy seal of the State to
be hereunto affixed, at the city of Albany, this thirty-first day
L. S. of August, one thousand eight hundred and forty-one.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor:
SAM'L BLATCHFORD, Private Secretary.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, September 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.1 / Second Edition, Third Edition]
GOVERNOR SEWARD WAKED UP.—His Excellency
Wm. H. Seward, Governor of New York, has issued
the following Proclamation:—
BY WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
Governor of the State of New York.
A Proclamation.
Whereas Mary C. Rogers, a young woman residing in
the city of New York, was lately ravished and murder-
ed in the said city, or in the portion of the state of New
Jersey contiguous thereto; and whereas the efforts made
by the police of the city of New York to discover the
perpetrators of these crimes have, as appears from the
public prints, proved altogether unsuccessful; and
whereas the peace and security of society require that
such atrocious crimes should not go unpunished:
Now, therefore, I do hereby declare and make known,
that a reward of seven hundred and fifty dollars will be
paid to whosoever shall give information resulting in the
conviction, either in this state or in the state of New Jer-
sey, of any person guilty of the said crimes.
And I do hereby enjoin upon all magistrates and other
officers and ministers of justice, that they be diligent in
their efforts to bring the offender or offenders to condign
punishment.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the privy seal of
the state to be hereunto affixed, at the city of Al-
[L. S.] bany, this thirty-first day of August, one thou-
sand eight hundred and forty-one.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor,
SAMUEL BLATCHFORD, Private Secretary.
Better late than never. This ought to have been
done a month ago, but we suppose it could not be
attended to sooner. It comes from the proper quar-
ter, too. No Governor ever did more to bring the
administration of justice in New York into disre-
pute than Mr. Seward. His high-handed removal
of judges without trial—that of the late Recorder
particularly—his appointment of such old political
hacks as Noah and Lynch—his efforts to disorganize
the municipal government of the city, and to take
away the right of the corporation, have yet to be
atoned for at the bar of public opinion.
If the present reward, united with that of the peo-
ple's reward, can discover the murderers, we say,
“God speed.”
[Col.3]
MORE PRISONERS.—The Police have arrested six or se-
ven young scamps, who are charged with attempting to
ravish a young girl at Hoboken. Not having yet been
informed of the names and particulars of the evidence
against these juvenile soaplocks, of course we are unable
to give them publicity.
MORE ROWDYISM.—On Wednesday night, about twelve
o'clock, Captain Fisher, of the Sixth District Watch, was
on duty near Washington market, when he heard a cry
of “watch,” “fire,” and “the Captain” immediately di-
rected two of his subordinates to proceed to the spot and
see what was the matter. The officers could find no fire
or other cause of alarm, but were immediately attacked
by soaplocks, oyster boys, and other longshore loafers.
The Captain immediately advanced to the relief of his
subordinates, and was felled to the ground by a blow on
the head, and also received a stab with a knife, which
proved both deep and dangerous. One of the fellows,
named Mathias Birbank, was immediately apprehended;
subsequently three more of the gang, who gave their
names W. T. Baker, R. Simonson, and John Lowe. They
were all committed, in default of bail.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Friday Morning, September 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Rewards.—Gov. Seward has offered a reward of
SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS for the arrest
and conviction of the murderers of the unfortunate
Mary C. Rogers. There is now some prospect of get-
ting hold of the villains. The Governor has also in-
creased the reward offered for the arrest of Benjamin
Lett, who while under sentence for setting fire to a
steamboat, escaped from the Sheriff of Oswego Co.,
to NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS, and an additional two
hundred and fifty dollars for the discovery of any
person who aided Lett in his escape.
[Col.5]
BY WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
Governor of the State of New-York.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas Mary C. Rogers, a young woman residing in the city
of New-York, was lately ravished and murdered in the said city,
or in the portion of the State of New-Jersey contiguous thereto;
and whereas the efforts made by the police of the city of New-
York to discover the perpetrators of these crimes have, as ap-
pears from the public prints, proved altogether unsuccessful;
and whereas the peace and security of society require that such
atrocious crimes should not go unpunished,
Now, therefore, I do hereby declare and make known, that a
reward of Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars will be paid to who-
soever shall give information resulting in the conviction, either
in this State or in the State of New-Jersey, of any person guilty
of the said crimes.
And I do hereby enjoin upon all magistrates and other officers
and ministers of justice, that they be diligent in their efforts to
bring the offender or offenders to condign punishment.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the privy seal of the State
to be hereunto affixed, at the city of Albany, this thir-
[L. S.] ty-first day of August, one thousand eight hundred and
forty-one. WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor,
SAM'L BLATCHFORD, Private Secretary. s3
================================================================
[Col.6. Partly from Herald]
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY.
The whole country is beginning to feel an in-
terest in the brutal violation and murder of Ma-
ry Rogers. Read the following:—
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 27, 1841.
MR. BENNETT:—The mystery which yet sur-
rounds the terrible case of Miss Rogers, excites
in this community, intense anxiety—the efforts by
your police to discover the authors of this “mur-
der most foul” are properly estimated, and do re-
ceive merited commendation.
It has been intimated in your paper of yesterday,
that by persevering efforts the villains will event-
fully be brought to punishment, and it is to be
hoped that perseverance will be unremitted.
Whether you have any recollection or knowl-
edge of a case somewhat similar, which occurred in
N. York, very many years ago, I do not know. It
was that of a certain Levi Weeks, (whose broth-
er, a most estimable man, was then the owner of
the City Hotel.) Levi was charged with the ab-
duction and murder of a Miss Sands, who was ta-
ken from her sister's house in Greenwich street,
conveyed by her lover, to whom she was engaged
to be married, on a cold winter night, and in a
then lonely street, thrown into a well of large
size owned by the Manhattan Company. Being
missed, she was sought for and there found, with
marks of violence on her person, showing great
resistance, and proving the strong efforts made to
preserve herself—her lacerated fingers, &c.
Now, Sir, the circumstance excited an intense
concern, as does the case of Miss Rogers. So
great was the rush to see the body, that it was
deemed proper to place it in the public street,
where many thousands looked upon it—among
them the writer of this.
Weeks was arrested—circumstances were ex-
tremely strong against him, and although acquit-
ted by the Jury, public feeling was such that he
left your city and never returned to it—he died a
vagabond.
Cadwallader D. Colden was then the Attorney
General, and among the witnesses who were in-
troduced for the defendant, was one individual,
whose name I do not now recollect, who was one
of the fatal sleighing party. Mr. Colden was ex-
tremely close in his examination of that man, and
was impressed with a belief that he was the act-
ual murderer.
Some time afterwards the witness was indict-
ed for committing a forgery—and it was most re-
markable that, in that trial, circumstances were
developed which induced Mr. Colden to say,
“that is the murderer of Miss Sands.”
It would therefore seem, that despite of all the
machinations of the Devil and his imp, that by a
wise Providence, “murder will out.”
I refer you to the documents of that day, and
think you may make a good moral use of the facts.
Yours, W. C.
Since the above was written, we have ascer-
tained from Mr. Hyde, the keeper of the city pris-
on, that Archibald W. Padley, was committed to
his custody on the evening of the 27th instant,
by the order of Justice Parker; that Padley stands
charged with the abduction, rape, and murder of
Mary Cecilia Rogers. If the examination, or the
grounds for the accusation and imprisonment of
this person are ever made public, we suppose that
the mystery of the rose will be explained, and the
probabilities ascertained of Mary Rogers having
visited Crommelin on the Sunday, after she cal-
led on Payne. From the first we have called at-
tention to this circumstance.—N. Y. Herald.
MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—Archibald W. Pad-
ley, who had before made a voluntary statement to
the Police Magistrate, was brought up again on
Saturday, at the instance of Justice Parker, touch-
ing the murder of Miss Rogers, and on being yes-
terday examined, and nothing appearing to impli-
cate him in the remotest degree he was discharged.
Express.
================================================================
================================================================
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Friday Afternoon, September 3, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6. As in Tribune]
MISS ROGERS.—The New London Gazette
...
spectable families still residing there.
================================================================
[Col.4]
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.
The Planet—a penny paper—of this morning
tells a strange story about this young lady. It as-
serts that a letter was received in this city yester-
day, from Pittsburg, the writer of which alleges
that he had just seen and conversed with Miss Ro-
gers there, in company with a Mr. Getchell, to
whom she was supposed to be married. That she
told him she had left New York clandestinely, be-
cause her mother urged her to marry a man she
did not like, and that she was going to an uncle in
Illinois. Farther that she had left a letter on the
table addressed to her mother, telling her of the
course she was about to take, &c.
The Planet says that Mr. Crommelin, on seeing
the letter (the one from Pittsburgh,) set off imme-
diately for Illinois; and that Mrs. Rogers denies
having found any letter from Mary.
This is a strange and improbable story; and
there is so much recklesness, in some of the pa-
pers, about making statements on doubtful authori-
ty, or none at all, no matter how grave the sub-
ject, that we cannot but hesitate in giving to it the
least particle of credence. If it were true some of
the other morning papers would, we think, have
had some notice of it.
There is one circumstance, perhaps, that might
be cited in corroboration of the Pittsburgh letter,
which, from the first, has often caused us to doubt
as to her murder. Some two or three years ago,
while in attendance upon the segar-shop of Mr.
Anderson, Miss Rogers was abducted, or went in
to concealment that it might be believed she had
been abducted, in order to create excitement and
help the sale of the goods of her employer. After
[Col.5]
the smoking of the extra segars sold during the ex-
citement had cleared away, the young woman re-
turned as good as new.—N. Y. Com. Adv.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
REWARD.—Governor Seward has issued a Procla-
mation offering a reward of $750 for the apprehension
of the murderers of Miss Mary C. Rogers. Also,
another, increasing the reward to $900 for the arrest
of Benjamin Lett, convicted a year since of setting
fire to a British steamboat at Oswego, and who so
mysteriously escaped from the cars while in custody
of the sheriff, on his way to Auburn.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.1]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—It was currently
reported on Saturday, that the shawl and parasol be-
longing to this poor girl, had been discovered in a
tavern at Weehawken. One of the corps of inde-
fatigables immediately started to the place, but
what discoveries he made there, remains to be told.
[Col.3]
THE TWO JUDGES OF THE SESSIONS—NOVEL PRO-
CEEDINGS.—We stated the other day that Noah and
Lynch, the two Judges of the Sessions, had given
special instructions to the District Attorney to bring
several prosecutions against the members of the
Common Council, for giving negative votes in the
Board of Supervisors, on the salaries of these two
learned men. The following is an authentic copy of
this precious document:—
“NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 1841.
“FREDERICK R. LEE, Esq.
DEAR SIR:—
“James Lynch, Esq., one of the Associate Judges of
the Court of Sessions has entered a complaint against
you for refusing to vote in favor of paying his bill for
salary as such Judge, at a meeting of the Board of Su-
pervisors, held in this city on the 9th of July last.
“The statute imposes a penalty of $250 on every super-
visor who shall 'neglect or refuse to perform any of the
duties which shall be required of him by that law.'
1 R. S. 361.
“By the act of Sessions Laws, 1831, 64 session, p. 26,
sec. 4 the Legislature says the salary of those Judges
shall be a county charge, and the supervisors 'shall au-
dit and allow the account for such arrears and on or be-
fore the 10th day of July.' The Statute, also 1 R. S. p.
375, sec. 102, makes it my duty to prosecute for the
penalty.
“Your early attention is called to this matter, and as I
suppose the complaint to be made with no disposition
other than to enforce the payment of the salary claimed,
you will please inform me by an early day whether any
measures will be taken to audit the accounts which will
be satisfactory to the Judge.
Respectfully yours,
J. R. WHITING.”
In addition to the penalty of $250, the District At-
torney can also procure indictments for misdemean-
ors against each of the refractory Aldermen, for
their negative votes—and one committee can punish
these gentlemen each in a fine of $500 or imprison-
ment, probably at Blackwell's Island, for six calan-
der months each.
When Judge Lynch illustrated the law of habeas
corpus by his repeated decisions of that ancient writ,
every body thought he was a wonderfully learned
functionary—but the series of proceedings now be-
gun surpasses the whole history of law or cock-
fighting, from the time of Cain and Abel to the pre-
sent age. It would seem that Judge Lynch takes
the responsibility on himself, without the helping
hand of his brother in tribulation, Judge Noah—but
we know the character of the latter too well to ima-
jine that this movement did not originate in his fer-
tile mind, and now receives his ready concurrence.
This affair is the funniest thing that ever took
place in the criminal affairs of New York, and has
the same character of good natured absurdity which
have recently distinguished the long rigmarole arti-
cles on city affairs, published in the “Evening Star,”
on which Judge Noah has yet a mortgage of $7000,
and therefore controls its columns. As a practical
joke it beats any thing in Joe Miller, and we hope it
will be carried out, to the very digging of stone on
Blackwell's Isle.
We, therefore, beg the Recorder to take up the
subject himself in his charge to the Grand Jury,
which meets to-day, on the opening of the Court of
Sessions. This is too rich a movement to hand over
to Lynch and Noah. The indictment of nine or ten
locofoco aldermen, for presuming to vote against the
salaries of Lynch and Noah, is a very important
matter—and ought to form the staple of his charge.
Go ahead. Ten aldermen on Blackwell's Island
getting out stone—instead of oysters and champaigne
—what a rich sight!
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, September 6, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.1. As in Tribune]
A PROCLAMATION.
By WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Governor of the State of New-York.
...
SAM'L BLATCHFORD, Private Secretary. s4 1w
================================================================
[Col.3]
MORE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Referring to a no-
tice from the Mayor in another column, and to the
Governor's proclamation, we have now to state in ad-
dition, that the parasol and part of the clothing of
Mary C. Rogers have been found in the woods, near
Hoboken. The articles have been perfectly identi-
fied. Query—Why were they not found before this?
and may there not be good reason to believe that they
have been recently taken there from this city?
================================================================
[Col.5]
The Mayor desires to see all persons of either sex
who were on Sunday afternoon, 25th of July last,
along the embankment at Weehawken, New Jersey,
or at the public house at the end of the embank-
ment. They will please call on him at the May-
or's office in the City Hall, on any day between the
hours of 10 o'clock, A. M., and 2 o'clock, P. M., or
communicate to him by letter under their signa-
ture, when and where they may be seen.
The editors of each paper in the city, will please
give this two insertions, and send their bills to the
Mayor's office. 2t
================================================================
[Col.3]
POLICE—Yesterday.
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—The spot at which
this unfortunate girl lost her life, is believed to have
been discovered. A little boy living at Weehawken
brought some days since to his mother, a hat tassel
which he found in the woods or bushes in the neigh-
borhood, and some other articles of female apparel.
Information of this having reached the Mayor, he vi-
sited the mother, was shown by the boy to the place,
and there found other pieces of her clothes and indi-
cations around of a violent struggle having taken
place. In consequence of this discovery, the follow-
ing notice has been issued by the Mayor, to which
we invite public attention. We would further sug-
gest that the Governor should, in addition to the pe-
cuniary reward offered for the discovery of the perpe-
trators of this atrocious act, promise a pardon to any
informer, who though present, was not actually a
party to it.
The Mayor desires to see all persons of either sex
who were on Sunday afternoon, 25th of July last,
along the embankment at Weehawken, New Jersey,
or at the public house at the end of the embank-
ment. They will please call on him at the Mayor's
office in the City Hall, on any day between the hours
of 10 o'clock, A. M., and 2 o'clock, P. M., or com-
municate to him by letter under their signature,
when and where they may be seen.
The editors of each paper in the city, will please
give this two insertions, and send their bills to the
Mayor's office. 2t
...
BOARD OF ALDERMEN—Sept. 6th, 1841.
Present—Ald. PURDY in the Chair.
...[Col.4]
...
Resolutions—To have a reward offered for the de-
tection of the perpetrators of the outrage upon Mary
C. Rogers, and fixing the amount at $500. Alder-
man Benson opposed this, on the ground that the
Mayor had power to offer a reward to that amount.
He had not as yet seen fit to do so; and to author-
ise it now, would be charging him with remissness,
whereas it was well known he had made every effort
to discover the murderers. The resolution was lost
by a vote of 6 to 10.
...
To appoint a Committee to enquire into the truth
of the complaints against the Justices Court for the
9th, 11th, and 15th Wards—Rejected.
...
================================================================
[Col.5]
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.—September 6 —The Board met at 5 o'clock.
...
Resolutions—For equalizing the fees of Inspectors and measures of
Charcoal referred.
For the Mayor to offer a reward of $500 for the arrest of the mur-
derers of Mary C. Rogers, rejected—6 to 10.
For a Committee to inquire into the charges or complaints made
against the 9th, 10th, and 15th Wards Court, rejected.
...
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, September 7, 1841 (CA)
[Col.2. Partly as in Tribune]
A PROCLAMATION.
...
———————
☞ The Mayor desires to see all persons of either sex who
were, on Sunday afternoon, 25th July last, along the embankment at
Weehawken, New-Jersey, or at the public house at the end of the em-
bankment. They will please call on him at the Mayor's Office, in the
City Hall, on any day between the hours of 10 o'clock A. M. and 2 P.
M. or communicate to him under their signature where and when
they may be seen.
The Editors of each paper in the city will please give this two in-
sertions, and send their bills to the Mayor's Office.
New-York, Sept. 6, 1841. s7 2tis
================================================================
================================================================
ROCHESTER REPUBLICAN. Tuesday Morning, September 8, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3. From Courier]
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—On Saturday
a man was arrested and committed for examina-
...
tirely innocent.—N. Y. Courier.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE POLICE SYSTEM—RECORDER TALLMADGE'S
CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY.—We are happy to
perceive that Recorder Tallmadge has brought the
present condition of the police system to the notice
of the Grand Jury. There is some more sense indi-
cated in this movement, than we could find in the
charges of Lynch or Noah.
The police system of this city requires a full in-
vestigation—and a complete reform. The same
may be said of the fire department, which seems to
be in a state of insurrection all the time. In these
important municipal systems, no change has taken
place since the population of New York numbered
10,000 or 20,000 inhabitants. Having now a popu-
lation of nearly half a million, it is utterly impossible
that the peace of the city can be maintained, or
crime prevented, under the present system. We
trust the Grand Jury will suit the matter thoroughly.
The Recorder may now to dinner.
———————
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.—It is full time to break
up the present organization entirely, and to establish
a body of paid men—to the number of 500—who
will obey orders, put out fires, and do this business,
without quarreling and stabbing each other. Call
public meetings at once, and get the corporation to
move.
[Col.2 / Second Edition / Mordecai M. Noah...(1917), p.45 / Partly in Niles' Weekly Register. Nov. 26, 1831]
Signs in the Heavens—Religious Agitations
—Jo Smith, M. M. Noah, and the Lesser
Prophets.
The heavens are full of signs, and the earth is co-
vered with wonders. The intelligence which we
are daily receiving from every section of this mighty
republic, developing the religious movements of the
age, possess a character, a tone, a spirit, a light, a
...
The following are the records of the first extraor-
dinary religious popular movement, which have
marked the present century:—
[From the Evening Post of September 20, 1825.]
Interesting News.
BUFFALO, 14th Sept., 1825. }
9 o'clock, Wednesday Evening. }
All Buffalo is alive for the ceremonies to-mor-
row. The Jewish Government is revived, under
the protection of the American Constitution. Noah
is named Governor and Judge of Israel. The Mili-
tary and Masonic procession will take place in this
village, and the ceremonies in St. Paul's Church.
The town is filled with Indians—Red Jacket will be
here. [He was then drunk as a piper.] The Grand
Standard is to be hoisted at Arrarat to-morrow, and
the people are pouring in from all quarters. The
documents I will send you by next mail.
THURSDAY, Sept. 15th.
Enclosed are the documents which I promised
you yesterday.
BUFFALO PATRIOT EXTRA, }
Sept. 15, 1825. }
REVIVAL OF THE JEWISH GOVERNMENT—APPOINT-
MENT OF A JUDGE OF ISRAEL—FOUNDATION OF A
CITY OF REFUGE.
It was known at the sale of that beautiful and
valuable tract called Grand Island, a few miles be-
low this port, in the Niagara River, that it was pur-
chased, in part, by the friends of Mayor Noah, of
New York, [Jacob Barker, William Leggett, and
other large financiers of that day] avowedly to offer
it as an asylum for his brethren of the Jewish per-
suasion, who in the other parts of the world are
much oppressed; and it was likewise known that it
was intended to erect upon the Island a city called
Ararat. We are gratified to perceive, by the docu-
ments in this day's Extra, that, coupled with that
colinization, is a declaration of independence, and
the revival of the Jewish Government, under the
protection of the United Sates, after the disper-
sion of that ancient and wealthy people, for nearly
two thousand years, and the appointment of Mr. M.
M. Noah as first Judge. It was intended, pursuant
to public notice, to celebrate the event on the Island,
and a flag-staff was erected for the Grand Standard
of Israel, and other arrangements made; but it was
discovered that a sufficient number of boats could
not be procured in time to convey all those to the
Island who were desirous of witnessing the ceremo-
ny, and the celebration took place this day in the
village, which was both interesting and impressive.
At dawn of day, a salute was fired in front of the
Court House, and from the terrace facing the Lake.
At 10 o'clock the masonic and military companies
assembled in front of the Lodge, and at eleven the
line of procession was formed as follows:
ORDER OF CELEBRATION.—Music, military, citizens,
civil officers, State officers in uniform, U. S. officers, Pre-
sident and Trustees of the Corporation, tyler, stewards,
entered apprentices, fellow crafts, master masons, seni-
or and junior deacons, secretary and treasurer, senior
and junior wardens, master of lodges, past masters, reve-
rend clergy, stewards with corn, wine and oil.
{ Principal Architect, }
Globe { with square, level } Globe
{ and plumb, }
Bible, square and compass, borne by a master mason, the
Judge of Israel in black, wearing the judicial robes of
crimsoned silk, trimmed with ermine, and a richly em-
bossed golden medal, suspended from the neck; [it was
a tragedy dress borrowed of the Park Theatre;] a master
mason, royal arch masons, knight templars.
On arriving at the church door, the troops opened
to the right and left, and the procession entered the
aisles, the band playing the grand march from Ju-
das Maccabees. The full toned organ commenced
its swelling notes, performing the Jubilate. On the
communion table lay the Corner Stone, with the
following inscription, in Hebrew:
“Hear, O, Israel, the Lord is our God.—The Lord is
one.” Ararat, the Hebrew refuge, founded by Mordecai
Manuel Noah, in the month of Tisri, 5585, corresponding
with September, 1825, and in the 50th year of American
Independence.
On the stone lay the silver cups with wine, corn and
oil. The ceremonies commenced by the morning
service, read emphatically by the Rev. Mr. Searl, of
the Episcopal Church. “Before Jehovah's awful
Throne,” was sung by the choir to the tune of Old
Hundred. Morning prayer—first lesson from Jere-
miah, 31st. Second lesson, Zep. iii., 8th verse.—
...
The following is the proclamation, which will be
read with great attention and interest. A finer day
and more general satisfaction, has not been known
on any similar occasion.
PROCLAMATION TO THE JEWS.
Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God, to manifest to
his chosen people the approach of that period when, in
fulfilment of the promises made to the race of Jacob,
...
Therefore, I, Mordecai Manuel Noah, citizen of the
United States of America, late consul of the said States
for the city and kingdom of Tunis, High Sheriff of New
York, Counsellor-at-Law, and by the Grace of God, Go-
vernor and Judge of Israel, have issued this my procla-
mation,
Announcing to the Jews throughout the world, that an
asylum is prepared and hereby offered to them, where
they can enjoy that peace, comfort and happiness, which
has been denied them, through the intolerance and mis-
government of former ages; an asylum in a free and
powerful country, where ample protection is secured
their persons, their property, and religious rights; an
asylum in a country remarkable for its vast resources,
the richness of its soil, and the salubrity of its climate;
where industry is encouraged, education promoted, and
good faith rewarded; “a land of milk and honey,” where
Israel may repose in peace, under his “vine and fig tree,”
and where our people may so familiarize themselves
with the science of government, and the lights of learning
and civilization, as may qualify them for that great and
final restoration to their ancient heritage which the
times so powerfully indicate.
The asylum referred to is in the State of New York,
the greatest State in the American confederacy. New
York contains 43,214 square miles, divided into fifty-five
counties, and having six hundred and eighty seven port
towns and cities, containing one million five hundred
thousand inhabitants, together with six million acres of
...
The desired spot in the State of New York, to which I
hereby invite my beloved people throughout the world,
in common with those of every religious denomination,
is called Grand Island, and on which I shall lay the foun-
dation of a City of Refuge, to be called Ararat. Grand
Island, in the Niagara river, is bounded by Ontario on
the north; and Erie on the south, and within a few miles
of each of those great commercial lakes. The island is
[Col.3]
nearly twelve miles in length, and varying from three to
seven miles in breadth, and contains upwards of seven-
teen thousand acres of remarkably rich and fertile land.
...
Deprived as our people have been for centuries of a
right in the soil, they will learn with peculiar satisfac-
tion, that here they can till the land, reap the harvest,
and raise the flocks which are unquestionably their
own; and in the full unmolested enjoyment of their
religious rights, and of every civil immunity, together
with peace and plenty, they can lift up their voice in
gratitude to Him, who sustained our fathers in the wil-
derness, and brought us in triumph out of the land of
Egypt; who assigned to us the safe keeping of his ora-
cles; who proclaimed us his people, and who has ever
walked before us “like a cloud by day and pillar of fire
by night.”
In His name do I revive, renew and re-establish the
government of the Jewish nation, under the auspices
and protection of the constitution and laws of the United
States of America, confirming and perpetuating all our
rights and privileges, our name, our rank, and our
power, among the nations of the earth as they existed
and were recognized under the government of the
Judges. And I hereby enjoin it upon all our pious and
venerable rabbi's, our presidents and elders of syna-
gogues, chiefs of colleges, and brethren in authority
throughout the world, to circulate and make known this
my proclamation, and to give to it full publicity, credence,
and effect.
It is my will that a census of the Jews throughout the
world be taken, and returns of persons, together with
their age and occupation, be registered in the archives of
the synagogues where they are accustomed to worship,
...
I command that a strict neutrality be observed in the
pending war between the Greeks and Turks, enjoined
by consideration of safety towards a numerous popula-
tion of Jews now under the oppressive dominion of the
Ottomon Porte.
...
I abolish forever Polygamy among the Jews, which,
without religious warrant, still exists in Asia and Africa.
...
A capitation tax of three shekels in silver per annum,
or one Spanish dollar, is hereby levied upon each Jew
throughout the world, to be collected by the treasurers
of the different congregations, for the purpose of defraying
the various expenses of re-organizing the government, of
aiding emigrants in the purchase of agricultural instru-
ments, providing for their immediate wants and comforts,
...
glory of the Jewish nation. A Judge of Israel shall be
chosen once in every four years by the Consistory at
Paris, at which time proxies from every congregation
shall be received.
I do hereby name as commissioners, the most learned
and pious Abraham de Cologna, Knight of the Iron
Crown of Lombardy, Grand Rabbi of the Jews, and
President of the Consistory of Paris, like the Grand
Rabbi Andrade of Bordeaux, and also our estimable
Grand Rabbis of the German and Portugal Jews, in Lon-
don, Rabbis Herschell and Mendoza, together with the
...
I do appoint Roshodes Adar, Feb.7, 1826, to be observed
with suitable demonstrations, as a day of thanksgiving
to the Lord God of Israel, for the manifold blessings and
...
Given at Buffalo, in the State of New York, this second
day of Tisri, in the year of the world, 5586, correspond-
ing with the 15th day of Sestember, 1825, and in the fif-
tieth year of American Independence.
By the Judge,
M. M. NOAH,
A. B. SEIXAS, Secretary pro tem.
This religious revelation, so well arranged, did not
succeed at the time, because it was rather too early
in the field, and because the Jews are a stiff-necked
people, and want faith. But if Mr. Noah had per-
sisted in his purpose—exhibited the enthusiasm and
devotion of Jo Smith—of Margaret Bishop—we have
not the slightest doubt but he would become a much
better prophet and Judge in Isreal, than a political
editor, or a Christian Judge. Every great genius
in religious movements must possess unbounded
faith in himself—irrepressible enthusiasm in his pur-
suit—and great energy in effort. Mr. Noah was too
soon discouraged, and accordingly Jo Smith, with
less general knowledge, but more moral courage,
started on a like plan, a few years afterwards, in
Canandaigua, and originated the great Mormon
movement, which bids fair to be the most prosperous
that ever arose toward the setting of the sun. But
there is no reason why the Book of Jashar should
not beat the Book of Morman out of the field, and in
the movement recently made in Philadelphia, by a
new religious union, among the ancient people of
God, we trust that the Hebrews of this city will ap-
point Mr. Noah their delegate, and thus give him an
opportunity to overtake the great Mormon prophet,
or at least catch up to the apron strings of Margaret
Bishop, and hold on fast during the race for immor-
tality.
We desire all our religious, as well as irreli-
gious readers, to watch and pray. In the present
agitated state of the moral, financial, and political
world, we may expect some new and profound re-
[Col.4]
velation, that may set this wicked world once more
on its legs. We want an earthquake, a tornado, a
volcanic eruption, or some terrible commotion of
the moral, religious and social elements, to set all
things to right again.
———————
...
THE MARY ROGERS AFFAIR.—ASTOUNDING DE-
VELOPMENTS COMING.—On the subject of the murder
of Mary Rogers, we have received the following no-
tice from the Police:—
POLICE OFFICE, Sept. 5th, 1841.
SIR: I am requested by the magistrate of the Lower
P. O. to request you to suspend the publication of any
thing relative to the murder of Mary C. Rogers, for the
present. The reason will be given to your reporter to-
morrow.
Respectfully, yours
B. W. OSBORN, Clerk.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Esq.
Most certainly we will, although we know all the
horrible facts which have recently been discovered,
by, as it were, the interposition of Providence—facts
which will lead to the certain discovery of the per-
petrators of that horrid butchery. The evidence
and inferences of the eminent physician of Hoboken,
Dr. Cook, are all confirmed beyond the possibility of
a doubt. When we are permitted, we will lift the
veil, and show scenes of blood and brutality, that
will make the hair stand on end. The precise lo-
cality of the violation and murder is now known—
and her beastly murderers cannot escape. A young
boy of Weehawken, in wandering through a thicket
one day last week, came upon a spot where a wo-
man's petticoat, parasol, pieces of her dress, and poc-
ket handkerchief were found. It was in the centre of
a thick grove, a short distance from the river. He
gave notice of the facts to his mother—the mother
to the coroner or justice of Hoboken. On Saturday
and Sunday last, the Mayor and District Attorney,
in company with Doctor Cook and others, examined
the ground. They found three pieces of dress
which had belonged to Mary, besides other evidences
of murder—traces of blood—and the rails of the
fences, down to the water's edge, had been re-
moved or broken down, so as to take the body, when
the poor girl was dead, to the river.
Other facts are known of equal importance, but it
is now beyond a doubt that Mary Rogers was forced
across the river in a boat, and violated and murder-
ed by the crew of that boat. Let the Police move.
The Mayor has issued the following:—
Advertisement.
☞ The MAYOR desires to see all persons of either sex
who were on Sunday afternoon, 25th of July last, along
the embankment at Weehawken, New Jersey, or at the
public house at the end of the embankment. They will
please call on him at the Mayor's office in the City Hall,
on any day between the hours of 10 o'clock, A. M., and 2
o'clock, P. M., or communicate to him by letter under
their signature, when and where they may be seen.
The editors of each paper in the city, will please give
this two insertions, and send their bills to the Mayor's
office. 2t
[Col.6 / Col.4,5]
Common Council.
SEPT. 6.—BOARD OF ALDERMEN.—The Board met at 5
o'clock, the president in the chair. The minutes of the
last meeting were read and approved.
...
A communication was received from an individual,
asking for the office of “Reporter of Aliens.” Referred
to Committee on Applications to Office.
Resolutions.—Whereas great excitement has been crea-
ted in this city, in consequence of the outrage and mur-
der of Mary C. Rogers; therefore, a reward, at the dis-
cretion of the Mayor, be offered for the apprehension of
the murderer or murderers.
Alderman Baylis moved to fill the blank with $1000.
Alderman Purdy thought it was too large a sum, con-
sidering that a committee of citizens had offered a re-
ward of $600, which, with the sum offered by the Gov-
ernor, now made the reward $1,350.
Alderman Woodhull said the Mayor was opposed to
the object of this resolution. His Honor was now in
communication with the Governor of New Jersey, on
the subject of the outrage, and with great hopes of effect-
ing some discoveries.
Alderman Kimball was willing to leave the matter to
the discretion of his Honor the Mayor.
Alderman Purdy thought a reasonable reward should
be offered, and therefore moved to make the reward
$500.
Alderman Benson thought it was indirect censure on
his Honor the Mayor, who had been most active in his
attempts to ferret out the guilty. His Honor had now
the power to offer $500, if he thought it expedient so
to do.
The question was taken on the passage of the re-
solutions, and lost, six voting in the affirmative, and
ten in the negative.
To appoint a Committee of three, to investigate cer-
tain complaints made against officers attached to the
9th, 10th, and 13th Ward Court.
[Col.1]
The resolution was negatived without a division.
In favor of paying Dennis Cornell for certain services
performed during absence of the regular clerk of Essex
Market. Adopted.
The Mad-House on Blackwell's Island.—On motion of
...
================================================================
[Col.7]
☞ The Governor of this State has offered
a reward of $750 for the discovery of the mur-
derers of Mary C. Rogers.
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE MARY ROGERS' CASE.—We call attention again
today to the Mayor's notice, asking all persons who
were at Weehawken on the 25th of July, to call upon
or communicate with him. A clue has been found, we
are informed, which will reveal the mystery of this affair
and detect the guilty.
================================================================
[Col.5]
BOARD OF ALDERMEN—Sept. 6, 1841.
Present—Elijah F. Purdy, Esq., President. Aldermen—
Balis, Woodhull, Benson, Williams, Jarvis, O'Neil, Frank-
lin, Vandervoort, Leonard, Hatfield, Bradhurst, Timpson,
Jarvis, Kimball, and Lee.
...
RESOLUTIONS.
By Ald. Balis—Whereas, great excitement has prevailed
in this community and elsewhere, in consequence of a most
fiendlike outrage and subsequent murder of Mary C. Rogers
of this city; and whereas, this atrocious, brutal and bloody
transaction is enveloped in so much mystery, that the ma-
gistrates and officers of police have thus far been unsuc-
cessful in discovering the perpetrator or perpetrators:
Therefore,
Resolved, (if the board of Assistants concur,) That His
Honor the Mayor, be directed to issue his proclamation, of-
fering a reward of $500 for the apprehension and conviction
of the person or persons guilty of the violation of the
person and murder of Mary C. Rogers—which was reject-
ed.
...
By Ald. Leonard—Whereas certain complaints have been
made against the Assistant Justices' Court known as the 9th,
11th and 13th Wards Courts: Therefore,
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to in-
vestigate the same, and report to this Board at its next meet-
ing—rejected.
...
The Board then adjourned until this day two weeks, at 5
o'clock, P. M.
SAMUEL J. WILLIS, Clerk.
———————
The Mayor desires to see all persons of either sex
...
================================================================
[Col.4. Partly as in Sunbury American]
THE CASE OF MISS ROGERS.
The Planet—a penny paper—of this
morning tells a strange story about this
young lady. It asserts that a letter was
received in this city yesterday, from
Pittsburgh, the writer of which alleges
that he had just seen and conversed with
Miss Rogers there, in company with a
Mr. Getchell, to whom she was supposed
to be married. That she told him she
had left New York clandestinely, be-
cause her mother urged her to marry a
man she did not like, and that she was
going to an uncle in Illinois. Farther
that she had left a letter on the table
addressed to her mother, telling her of
the course she was about to take, &c.
The Planet says that Mr. Crommelin,
on seeing the letter (the one from Pitts-
burgh,) set off immediately for Illinois;
and Mrs. Rogers denies having found
any letter from Mary.
This is a strange and improbable sto-
ry; and there is so much recklessness,
in some of the papers, about making
statements on doubtful authority, or none
at all, no matter how grave the subject,
that we cannot but hesitate in giving to
it the least particle of credence. If it
were true some of the other morning pa-
pers would, we think, have had some
notice of it.
We may as well add here that the
Tattler has, within the last few days,
argued at length in support of the hy-
pothesis that the body found in the river
was not the body of Miss Rogers. We
can discover little or no force in its rea-
sonings.
The identification of the clothing worn
by Miss Rogers with that found on the
body was, and still is considered perfect
and conclusive.
Perhaps the strongest argument a-
gainst the conclusion of the Tattler is
the fact that no other young woman but
Miss Rogers has disappeared in an un-
accountable manner.
There is one circumstance, perhaps,
that might be cited in corroboration of
the Pittsburgh letter, which, from the
first, has often caused us to doubt as to
her murder. Some two or three years
ago, while in attendance upon the segar
shop of Mr. Anderson, Miss Rogers was
abducted, or went in to concealment, that
it might be believed she had been ab-
ducted, in order to create excitement
and help the sale of the goods of her em-
ployer. After the smoke of the extra
segars sold during the excitement had
cleared away, the young woman return-
ed as good as new.—N. Y. Com. Adv.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.4]
MARY C. ROGERS.—Nothing further seems to
have been discovered concerning the perpetrator of
this inhuman murder. Gov. Seward has just offer-
red a reward of $750 for the detection and convic-
tion of the murderer.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Another Arrest for the Murder of Miss Rog-
ers.—A person by the name of A. W. Padley,
was arrested in New York on Monday, charg-
ed with abduction, rape and murder of Mary
C. Rogers. The New York Tattler says:—
Mr. Padley is the man who testified to see-
ing the rose in Mr. Crommelin's door, and the
name of Mary on Mr. Crommelin's slate. He
professed to identify the body and to corrob-
orate all Mr. Crommelin's statements. He is
the person who testifies to the last trace of
Mary. His silence since the affair seemed to
have been settled, is a strong circumstance
against him.
The Grand Jury, who meet next week, will
unquestionably act upon the matter; and when
the trial or examination of Mr. Padley comes
up, Mr. Crommelin will have a chance for show-
ing the character of his connexion, as a wit-
ness in the case. Let us have no more star-
chamber work.
We trust that the public are now satisfied
that Venetian police examinations amount to
nothing. We hope that Mr. Justice Taylor
will be cited, as a witness, to say what result-
ed from his examination of Mrs. Rogers at her
house. We expect also to find out, whether
Mrs. Rogers ever saw any part of the clothing,
said to be Mary's, except what was carried to
her by Mr. Crommelin, on the morning after
the discovery.
================================================================
================================================================
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Tuesday Afternoon, September 7, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5. From American]
MORE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Referring to a
...
there from this city?—[N. Y. American.
================================================================
[Col.6]
ANOTHER McLEOD WAR.—One would sup-
pose that with the abundance of food for excite-
ment which prevails at present, the “rumor” mon-
gers might get along without turning aside as of-
ten as once a month to frighten our poor old
grand-mothers with a fresh declaration of war
against McLeod. Can they not find enough to sa-
tisfy their greedy appetites for the marvellous in
the steamboat burnings, the powder explosions,
the murder of Mary Rodgers, the fights of the
firemen, the hubbub at Washington, the vetoes,
debates, denunciations, burnings in effigy, break-
ing up of old cabinets and forming new ones, the
intrigues, “plots and counter-plots” that are in
progress?
...
In the midst of all these signs and wonders,
both in heaven and on earth, we can only pray
that the nerves of our good old grand-mothers
may be strengthened not only to hear these terri-
ble tidings, but to look calmly on the catastrophe
that is to follow. We have not the least doubt
that America will be invaded by thousands of
Britons in less than six months. But let us not
be alarmed. They will only come to help culti-
vate our fields and eat their bread in peace where
no barbarous corn laws will grasp one half of
each loaf from their hungry mouths.
================================================================
[Col.6]
Mary C. Rogers.—For a few weeks past the
New-York papers have been filled with accounts
of the murder of this young lady. The Police
have been on the alert ever since the body was
found, but as yet no trace of the murderer has
been discovered. The body was found floating
in the North River, her face and neck was horri-
bly mangled. A post mortem examination was
held on the body, and it was proved that she had
been violated before being murdered. She at-
tended a cigar shop in Broadway, next to the
N. Y. Hospital, and almost every one who has
strolled up and down that fashionable resort has
had a peep at the “pretty cigar girl.”
—————
Governor Seward has offered a reward of $750
for the apprehension of the murderers of Mary
C. Rogers. Also, an increased amount for the ar-
rest of Benjamin Lett.
================================================================
[Col.6]
BY WILLIAM H. SEWARD,
Governor of the State of New York.
A PROCLAMATION.
☞ Whereas Mary C. Rogers, a young woman residing in
the city of New York, was lately ravished and murdered in
the said city, or in the portion of the State of New Jersey
contiguous thereto; and whereas the efforts made by the po-
lice of the city of New York to discover the perpetrators of
these crimes have, as appears from the public prints, proved
altogether unsuccessful; and whereas the peace and secu-
rity of soceity require that such atrocious crimes should not
go unpunished:
Now, therefore, I do hereby declare and make known,
that a reward of Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars will be
paid to whosoever shall give information resulting in the
conviction either in this State or in the State of New Jersey
of any person guilty of the said crimes.
And I do hereby enjoin upon all magistrates and other
officers and ministers of justice, that they be diligent in their
efforts to bring the offender or offenders to condign punish-
ment.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the privy seal of the
State to be hereunto affixed, at the city of Albany,
[L. S.] this thirty-first day of August, one thousand eight
hundred and forty-one.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor
SAM'L BLATCHFORD, Private Secretary. s6 1w
———————————————————————
☞ The Mayor desires to see all persons of either
sex, who were, on Sunday afternoon, 25th July last,
along the embankment at Weehawken, New Jersey, or
at the public house at the end of the embankment. They
will please call on him at the Mayor's office, in the Ci-
ty Hall, on any day between the hours of 10 o'clock,
A. M. and 2 o'clock, P. M.; or communicate to him by
letter under their signature, where, and when they may
be seen.
New York, Sept. 6, 1841. 2t
================================================================
================================================================
JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. September 8, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.1]
Mary Rogers.
Astonishing as it may appear, no positive
evidence has yet been obtained, to implicate
any one in the brutal murder of this unfortunate
girl. The Governor of New York has at last
offered a reward of $750, for the detection and
arrest of any one engaged in the revolting trans-
action. We yet believe the guilty perpetrators
will be dragged to the light.—North Amer.
================================================================
================================================================
THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Wednesday, September 8, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Rewards.—Governor Seward has issued
proclamations, offering a reward of $750 for
such information as shall result in the con-
viction, either in this State or New Jersey of
any person concerned in the violation and
murder of Miss Mary Cecilia Rogers; and
a reward of $900 for the arrest of Benjamin
Lett. We are glad to see these proclama-
tions, and trust they will, in both cases have
the desired effect.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Governor Seward has offered a reward
of $750 for the apprehension of the
murderers of Mary C. Rogers. Also,
an increased amount for the arrest of
Benjamin Lett.
================================================================
[Col.2]
ARREST OF LETT.—The Buffalo papers bring in-
formation of the arrest of Lett, the incendiary, for
whom Governor Seward has recently offered a large
reward. He was taken in Buffalo, by Constables
Gates, Pierce, Smith, Best and Bottom, on board of
the steamboat Daniel Webster. When accosted by
the police, he made an attempt to escape, by draw-
ing his knife and threatening to kill the first man
who dared to approach him, but he was speedily dis-
armed and ironed. This Lett, it will be recollect-
ed, was tried in June, 1840, at Oswego, for an at-
tempt to set fire to the steamboat Great Britain,
when she was filled with passengers on one of her
usual trips. He was convicted on the clearest tes-
timony and sentenced to imprisonment in the state
prison, and while on his way there, under charge
of the deputy sheriff, escaped from the car in which
he was conveyed. He has since been at large not-
withstanding the efforts made to retake him.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Thursday Evening, September 9, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE RECAPTURE OF LETT.—This notorious scamp,
was, it will be seen, recaptured at Buffalo; and, as
we learn by the Auburn paper, is safely lodged in
the State Prison of that place.
[Col.4]
SCOUNDRELISM.—Some scoundrel placed two logs
of timber across the track of New Jersey Rail-
road last night, which might have caused a serious
disaster. The mail train from Philadelphia, which
was full of passengers, was going fortunately with no
great speed when they struck against the logs; and
the engineer having immediately chocked his engine,
succeeded in preventing the train from being thrown
off the track. The cow-fender in front, though fas-
tened down with an iron bolt, was raised up by the
violence of the blow, the timber being forced un-
der it.
What punishment is too severe for the villain who
could commit such an act?
———————
[Correspondence of the Albany Daily Advertiser.]
BUFFALO, September 6.
CAPTURE OF LETT.
I have the satisfaction of informing you that the
desperate Lett was this morning captured in this city
by constables Gates, Pierce, Smith, Best and Bottum,
and is now safely lodged in jail. Information was last
night communicated to Gates, that he was seen to go on
board the Daniel Webster, one of the steamboats laid
up, and which is moored some distance up the creek.—
Arrangements were concerted by the police to meet at
the boat at the same time from different ways, when
they made a rush into the cabin, where they found him
quietly eating his breakfast with a man named Hinton,
keeper of the boat. He immediately ran to a state
room, seized his bowie knife, and threatened death to
the first man who laid hands upon him. One of the con-
stables quietly told him that they had come to take him,
and take him they should, either dead or alive. While
one was in the act of seizing him, he made a pass with
his knife, but his arm was arrested by the others; when
he was disarmed, ironed, and safely secured.
The bodies of the unfortunate sufferers by the Erie
continue to come in—over 100 have been recovered.—
For a particular description I refer you to the Commer-
cial Advertiser of this city.
...
THE DEAD OF THE ERIE.—The Buffalo Commer-
cial gives a description of an additional number of
bodies which have been recovered from the Lake.
...
================================================================
================================================================
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Thursday Afternoon, September 9, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5. From American]
MARY C. ROGERS.—The American says: “a
clue has been found, we are informed, which
will reveal the mystery of this affair and detect
the guilty.”
[Col.6. A changed copy from Courier]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—The spot at
..
In consequence of this discovery, the following
notice has been issued by the Mayor to which we
invite public attention.
The Mayor desires to see all persons of either sex
...
under their signature, when and where they may be
seen.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Buffalo—Capture of Lett—Victims of the Erie—
Flour, &c.
Correspondence of the Tribune.
Extract of a letter to the Editors, dated BUFFALO, Sept. 6, 1841.
Gentlemen: The notorious Lett, concerning whom you
have heard so much, and for whose apprehension the Gov-
ernor recently offered a considerable reward, was apprehen-
ded in this city this morning, and is now secure in our jail
He was taken on board of one of the steamboats that is laid
up in the harbor. It was ascertained, some time since, that
Lett was occasionally in this city, on his way between the
Eastern and Western frontiers; and a watch was therefore
kept for him. On this occasion it is said he had just arrived
from Lewiston, and at the moment of his capture was seated
at breakfast, with the keeper of the boat. There were five
or six concerned in the capture, which was the result of a
surprise that they had planned, and executed without concert
with any one else. They had arranged and timed their
movements so as to approach the steamboat from different
points, and to arrive upon her deck at the same instant.
Lett, on seeing them, sprang for his weapons, but seeing so
many upon him, and being told that resistance could avail
him nothing, he submitted to be ironed.
Within the last three days great number of the bodies of
the victims of the late steamboat Erie have been brought to
...
Lett in the State Prison.
Correspondence of the Tribune.
AUBURN, Sept. 7, 1841.
Dear Sir: Alexander Lett, of Canadian notoriety, was
this day consigned to a place within the walls of the State
Prison in this place. You may remember he was convicted
in Oswego a year ago last June for an attempt to blow up
one of the steamboats in Oswego harbor as she was about
leaving the wharf, and sentenced to the Auburn State Prison
for seven years. On his way here, when within three miles,
he jumped from the cars (during the night) and escaped.—
He has been wandering about in this State and Canada from
that time to this.
On Sunday he crossed from Waterloo to Buffalo and was
secreted in the steamboat Daniel Webster. These facts
were made known to the authorities at Buffalo, and five Con-
stables on Monday came on him so suddenly while he was
in the lady's cabin, that he was not able to seize upon any of
his arms, consisting of a seven-shooter, pistols, dirks, &c.;
he was immediately lodged in jail, and within two hours
was on his way here. He had hopes of escaping on his
way, till he arrived within sight of Auburn, when he gave up.
He will now do the State some service in making silk. He
is well capacitated to be the leader of a desperate set of
men—not over five feet ten but every inch a man. A wild and
desperate eye, an expansive forehead, but thin face, high
cheek bones, with a head covered with fiery red hair, sur-
mounted upon a long neck well supported by a powerful
chest, and shoulders. He was betrayed by some of his as-
sociates. The large reward offered by the Governor and
Sheriff of Oswego was too tempting. Their patriotism gave
way at the sight of the glittering bait; the Governor visited
the prison this afternoon and conversed with him as to his
design, &c. Yours, &c. M.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Friday Morning, September 10, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
CAPTURE OF LETT.
It gives us great pleasure to announce the capture
of this notorious villain, and we not only hope that
proper care will be taken to keep him in custody
now that he is once more in the hands of the law,
but that measures will be taken to add such punish-
ment as is called for by his last act of violence.—
Seven years imprisonment is a very inadequate mea-
sure of punishment for such a wretch. Seven years
more for the attempt to murder the officers will be
none too heavy a retribution. The following parti-
culars of his arrest are from the Buffalo Commer-
cial Advertiser of Monday last:
“This desperado was captured this morning, and
is safely lodged in jail. The police learned that he
was lurking about the city, and last night constable
Gates got upon his track, and saw him go on board
the Webster, one of the steamboats laid up. A plan
of operations was immediately concerned, and this
morning constables Gates, Pierce, Smith, Best and
Burton carried it into execution. They divided into
two parties, met on the boat precisely at the minute
fixed upon, and made a rush into the ladies cabin,
where Lett, in company with a man named Hinton,
the keeper of the boat, was quietly seated eating his
breakfast. He ran into an adjoining state room,
seized a Bowie knife, and threatened with death the
first man who approached him. The constables told
him resistance was useless, they had come to take
him, dead or alive, and would. One seized his arm
as he was making a blow, the others sprang upon
and disarmed him, the handcuffs were put on, and
in spite of all his resistance, he was forthwith lodg-
ed in jail, and the Sheriff's certificate of deposite
taken.”
P. S. We have since received the Auburn Journal,
by which paper we learn that Lett has been duly de-
posited in the State Prison, and there, in our opinion,
he ought to remain at hard labor during the remain-
der of his life, unless it should be deemed in the mean
time that he better deserves hanging.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE PENNY PRESS.—A new penny paper has been
just started under this name, which bids fair from the
talents displayed—the size of the sheet—and the
enterprise with which it is conducted, to take the
wind out of its older and less energetic rivals.
...
In this city the “Sun” has been the leading penny
paper, principally because it was the first, and be-
cause its rivals wanted talents and enterprise to con-
tend with it successfully. Within a few months a
great change has been going on in the stability and
circulation of the Sun, and it is now generally be-
lieved that the “Tribune,” a rival penny paper,
started by a clique of politicians, has made serious
inroads upon its prosperity and business. We have
heard the increase of the Tribune stated at 10,000
circulation, and the decrease of the Sun to be as
much—perchance more. It is difficult to ascertain
the accurate circulation of the “Sun” in the city,
because it is generally taken by the poorer classes—
and it is got up so cheaply, for it is principally made
up of stale news, a day or two old—that its proprie-
tor a very money making man, can get nearly as
much for his paper from the grocers to tie up tea
and sugar with, as he gets from his carriers to serve
their subscribers. The quantity of the Sun that may
be printed, and its actual business circulation, was
very many thousands. In this respect, the Tribune
differs. It is read and perused by those who take it
for its news and its opinions. These opinions are
corrupt and rotten—and spring from bank specula-
tors, office-beggars—but still they have their advo-
cates. The Tribune who generally gives the latest
news—a thing which is entirely neglected by the
Sun till the next day. This has given the Tribune
another advantage over the Sun.
But both and all such papers would seem to be
destined to be superseded by the new “Penny Press”
which is large in size—conducted with great spirit—
not tinctured with party—beyond the reach of cliques
—and just such a penny paper as will merit the sup-
port of any intelligent community.
——————
WANTS FOR NEW YORK.—We want police reform—
we want criminal reform—we want another organi-
zation of the Sessions—we want a new organization
of the Fire Department.
[Col.5 / Col.2 / Col.2]
Buffalo.
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
BUFFALO, Sept. 6, 1841.
Capture of Lett, the Canadian Incendiary.
FRIEND BENNETT:—
I have just time to inform you, that the notorious
Lett, was arrested this morning about 10 A. M. on
boord the steamer D. Webster, lying up the creek.
He was engaged playing cards, and intended to
go on some boat up the Lake after dark, as they all
start at eight o'clock. He was well armed, but no
less than four of our police were on to him before he
could defend himself. He is now safely lodged in the
jail here. As soon as the news from New York ar-
rived last evening, there was at least twenty specula-
tors started for the west, to take advantage of the
present rise of flour. The steamboats are daily
bringing in dead bodies of those who were lost in
the Erie. Time is up to close mail.
[Correspondence of the Albany Daily Advertiser]
BUFFALO, Sept. 6.
CAPTURE OF LETT.—I have the satisfaction of in-
forming you that the desperate Lett was this morn-
ing captured in this city by Constables Gates, Pierce,
Smith, Best and Bottum, and is now safely lodged in
...
ed, and safely secured.
================================================================
[Col.6]
BENJAMIN LETT.—This man, whom oppres-
sion had driven to desperation, is now consigned to
seven years' imprisonment. He is a man of indomi-
table enterprise and daring. Having embarked with
McKenzie in the contemplated rebellion, his Farm
was confiscated, and then his Brother was shot and
his Sister outraged by soldiery. This was enough to
make a man desperate. He determined to live
henceforth for revenge. After his escape from the
Rail Road Car on his way to prison, he returned to
Canada, where he blew up the Welland Canal and
Brock's Monument. On the Saturday night before
he was arrested at Buffalo, he was in Canada, matur-
ing a plan to blow up a War Steamer.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.1(x)]
Case of Mary Rogers.—The notification
from the Mayor's office which we published
yesterday, seems to indicate that something
has turned up to give the investigations of the
police what we hope will prove a successful
direction. The morning papers inform us
that within a few days the parasol of the
murdered girl has been found in a thicket at
Weehawken, together with portions of her
dress; and that in the immediate vicinity of
the place where these were found, there were
indications of violent struggle.
Perhaps we may as well state now what
we alluded to some two or three weeks since
as a discovery which perhaps indicated the
spot where the murder was committed. A
party of gentlemen, in rowing along the
[Col.6(x) / Col.1]
Jersey shore, not far from the Weehawken
bluff, observed appearances on a tabular
rock, in a very secluded place, which they
took to be stains of blood; but as they
had ladies with them, in whom the discovery
might excite unpleasant feelings, they passed
on without remark. This was a day or two
after the murder.
The next day they went to the spot, and
examined the rock carefully. Rain had fal-
len during the night, and the stains were less
distinct than they were on the previous day;
but the gentlemen in question had no doubt
that the surface of the rock had borne large
and numerous spots of blood, the traces of
which were yet visible. The place was very
lonely, and entirely screened from observa-
tion except to persons in a boat upon the
river.
The discovery was made known to some
of the officials of the police office; but we
were surprised to learn from the Mayor,
whom we met at Rockaway the other day,
that it had not been communicated to him.
He first heard of it from us, and his surprise
and displasure at the conealment were very
freely expressed.
Whether there was any thing in it, of im-
portance we do not know.—N. Y. Com.
================================================================
[Col.3]
POLICE—Saturday and Sunday.
The case of Mary C. Rogers.—Affairs are now
in such a train, as we think will ere long lead to
the discovery of the perpetrators of the horrid out-
rage upon this unfortunate girl. A Mrs. Loss who
keeps a small tavern on the embankment near Wee-
hawken; has been examined before the Mayor of
this city, and states that Mary was at her house on
the evening of the 25th of July last, in company with
several young men, and that she drank some lemon-
ade offered by one of them. Mrs. Loss also identi-
fies the clothes found in the woods near there, as
part of those worn by the unfortunate girl on that oc-
casion. Whatever other clue may have been disco-
vered, has been kept profoundly secret, though we
are given to understand, that great hopes are now
entertained of the ultimate success of the endevours
to ferret out the authors of this dreadful tragedy.
================================================================
[Col.6. Partly from Albany Evening Journal]
BENJAMIN LETT.—This man, whom oppression
had driven to desperation, is now consigned to seven
years' imprisonment. He is a man of indomitable
enterprise and daring. Having embarked with Mc-
Kenzie in the contemplated rebellion, his farm was
confiscated, and then his brother was shot and his
sister outraged by soldiery. This was enough to
make a man desperate. He determined to live
henceforth for revenge. After his escape from the
Railroad car on his way to prison, he returned to
Canada, where he blew up the Welland Canal and
Brock's Monument. On the Saturday night before
he was arrested at Buffalo, he was in Canada, ma-
turing a plan to blow up a War steamer.
In such wise does the official journal of this State,
the Albany Evening Journal, speak of a desperado,
who, actuated by a malice nothing less than diaboli-
cal, endeavored to destroy by fire the steamboat
Great Britain, then full of passengers,—of whom
many could not have failed to become victims, if the
attempt had been successful.
He who embarks in rebellion knows before-hand
that he must do so with a halter round his neck; and
to seek to palliate acts of midnight murder and ar-
son, by the severities exercised towards a fugitive
conspirator, is to confound all sentiment of right and
wrong.
Especially at such a juncture as the present, does
the lenient, not to say admiring, tone of the official
paper of New York, towards such a scoundrel, seem
to us most misplaced.
[Col.7]
THE MARY ROGERS CASE.—The Courier states
that a Mrs. Loss who keeps a small tavern on the
embankment near Weehawken, has been examined
before the Mayor, and testified that Mary Rogers
with several young men was at her house on the
evening of the 25th of May, and that she drank some
lemonade offered by one of them. The clothes found
were also identified by Mrs. Loss as those worn by
the unfortunate girl. Whatever other clue has been
obtained is yet kept secret.
================================================================
[Col.3 / More in the version in Hazard's United States Commercial and Statistical Register / Partly at cincinnatilibrary.org]
RIOT AND MOBS, CONFUSION AND BLOODSHED.—
This city has been in the most alarming condition
for several days—and from about 8 o'clock on Fri-
day evening until about 3 o'clock yesterday morn-
ing, almost entirely at the mercy of a law-
less mob, ranging in number from two to three
hundred. Amidst the confusion of such a state of
things, it is almost impossible to collect a full or
accurate state of facts. But with deep regret, and
acknowledged humiliation, we detail what happen-
ed as well as we can.
On Tuesday evening last, as we are informed, a
quarrel took place near the corner of Sixth street
and Broadway, between a party of Irishmen and
some negroes, in which blows were exchanged,
and other weapons, if not firearms, used. Some
two or three of such party were wounded. On
Wednesday night the quarrel was renewed in some
way, and sometime after midnight, a party of ex-
cited men, armed with clubs, &c., attacked a house
occupied as a negro boarding house on McAlister
street, demanding the surrender of a negro, who
they said had fled into the house, and was there
secreted, and uttering the most violent threats a-
gainst the house, and the negroes in general. Se-
veral of the adjoining houses were occupied by ne-
gro families, including a number of women and
children. The violence increased and was resist-
ed by those in and about the houses—and engage-
ment took place—several were wounded on each
side—and some say guns or pistols were discharged
from the house. The interference of some gentle-
men in the neighborhood, succeeded in restoring
quiet after about three-fourths of an hour, when a
watchman appeared. But it is singular that this
violent street disturbance, elicited no report to the
police, nor arrest—indeed that the Mayor remain-
ed ignorant of the affair, until late in the day, when
he casually heard of it.
On Thursday night another rencontre took place
in the neighborhood of the Lower Market, between
some young men and boys, and some negroes, in
which one or two of the boys were badly wounded,
as was supposed, with knives—how the negroes
fared, we did not learn.
On Friday, during the day, there was considera-
ble excitement; threats of violence and lawless
outbreaks were indicated in various ways, and came
to the ear of the police, and of the negroes. At-
tacks were expected upon the negro residents in
MacAlister, Sixth and New streets. The negroes
armed themselves, and the knowledge of this in-
creased the excitement. But we did not know that
it produce any known measure of precaution on
the part of the police, to preserve the peace of the
city.
Before eight o'clock in the evening, a mob, the
principal organization of which, we understand,
was arranged in Kentucky, openly assembled in
Fifth street market, unmolested by the police or ci-
tizens. The number of this mob, as they delibe-
rately marched from their rendezvous towards
Broadway and Sixth streets, is variously estimated,
but the number increased as they proceeded. They
were armed with clubs, stones, &c. &c.
Reaching the scene of operations with shouts and
blasphemous imprecations, they attacked a negro
confectionary house on Broadway, next to Syca-
more, and demolished the doors and windows.—
This attracted an immense crowd. Savage yells
were uttered to encourage the mob onward to the
general attack upon the negroes. About this time,
before 9 o'clock, J. W. Platt, in a way highly cred-
itable to himself, addressed the mob, exhorting
them to peace, obedience to law, and to retire
without further violence. His voice was drowned
by the violent shouts of the mob, and the throwing
of stones. At this time, we verily believe, a de-
termined corps of fifty or one hundred men, would
have dispersed the crowd. The Mayor came up
and addressed the people, in a very proper way.—
The savage yell was instantly raised—“down with
him!”—“run him off”—were shouted and inter-
mixed with horrid imprecations to the mob to
move onward. We took some pains to ascertain
who these leading disturbers of the peace were, and
think a large portion of the leaders, and the most
violent, came from the other parts, were strangers
—some were said to be connected with river navi-
gation, and were strongly backed by boat hands of
the lowest and most violent order. They advan-
ced to the attack with stones, &c. &c., and were
repeatedly fired upon by the negroes. The mob
scattered, but immediately rallied again, and again
were in like manner repulsed. Men were wound-
ed on both sides, and carried off—and many re-
ported dead. The negroes rallied several times,
advanced upon the crowd, and most unjustifiably
fired down the street into it, causing a great rush
down the street.
These things were repeated until past 1 o'clock,
when a party procured an iron six pounder from
near the river, loaded with boiler punchings, &c.,
and hauled it to the ground, against the exhorta-
tions of the Mayor and others. It was posted on
Broadway and pointed down Sixth street. The
yells continued, but there was a partial cessation of
the firing. Many of the negroes had fled to the
hills. The attack upon houses recommenced with
the firing of guns, on both sides, which continued
during most of the night—and exaggerated rumors
of the killed and wounded, filled the streets. The
cannon was discharged several times.
About 2 o'clock, a portion of the military, upon
the call of the Mayor, proceeded to the scene of
disorder, and succeeded in keeping the mob at bay.
[Col.4]
In the morning and throughout the day, several
blocks, including the battle ground, were sur-
rounded by sentinels, and kept under martial law
—keeping within, the negroes there, and adding to
them such as were brought during the day, seized
without particular charge, by parties who scoured
the city, assuming the authority of the law.
A meeting of citizens was held at the Court
House on Saturday morning, at which the Mayor
presided. This meeting was addressed by the
Mayor, Judge Read, Mr. Platt, Sheriff Avery, and
Mr. Hart. They resolved to observe the law, to
discountenance mobs, invoked the aid of the civil
authorities to stay the violence, and pledged them-
selves to exertion in aid of the civil authority to ar-
rest and place within reach of the law, the negroes
who wounded the two white boys on Columbia
street. That the Township Trustees enforce the
law of 1807, requiring security of negroes—pledg-
ing themselves to enforce it to the letter, until the
city “is relieved of the effects of modern abolition-
ism,” assuring “our Southern brethren,” to carry
out that “act in good faith”—and to deliver “up,
under the law of Congress, forthwith,” every negro
who escapes from his master and comes within the
borders. They requested the Mayor, Sheriff, and
the civil authorities, to proceed at once to the
dwellings of the blacks, and disarm them of all of-
fensive weapons—and recommending search for
offenders against the laws, immediate legal pro-
ceedings against them, and an efficient patrol to
protect the persons and property of the blacks, du-
ring the existence of the present excitement, and
until they give the bonds required by the act of
1807 or leave the city. They requested the parents
and guardians of the boys to keep them at home, or
away from the scene of excitement. They “Re-
solved, That we view with abhorrence the pro-
ceedings of the Abolitionists in our city, and that
we repudiate their doctrines, and believe it to be
the duty of every good citizen by all lawful means
to discountenance every man who lends them his
assistance.” These resolutions were reported by
a committee composed by Messrs. J. W. Platt, J.
C. Avery, R. A. Madison, J. C. Vaughan, B. Sto-
rer, D. T. Disney, J. Read, J. Goodin, and N. W.
Thomas. They were adopted unanimously, signed
by the Mayor of the city, Col. Davies, as President
of the meeting, and Edward Woodruff, the Presi-
dent of the City Council, as their Secretary, print-
ed in handbills, and posted in all parts of the city.
The City Council also held a special session,
and passed resolutions invoking the united exer-
tions of orderly citizens to the aid of the authori-
ties—to put down the violent commotion existing
in the city, to preserve order and vindicate the law
against the violence of an excited and lawless
mob—requesting all officers, watchmen, and fire-
men to unite for the arrest of all rioters and viola-
tors of law, and the Marshal to increase his depu-
ties to any number required, not exceeding five
hundred, to preserve life and protect property—re-
quiring the Mayor and Marshal to call in the aid of
the county militia to preserve order, and the Cap-
tain of the Watch to increase his force. These
proceedings were posted in handbills. Intense ex-
citement continued during the day, the mob and
their leaders boldly occupying the streets without
arrest, or any effort to arrest any of them that we
have heard of.
The negroes held a meeting in a church, and
respectfully assured the Mayor and the citizens
that they would use every effort to conduct as or-
derly, industrious, and peaceable people, and to
suppress any imprudent conduct among their popu-
lation, and to ferret out all violators of order and
law—deprecated the practice of carrying about
their persons any dangerous weapon, pledged
themselves not to carry or keep any about their
persons or houses, and expressed their readiness to
surrender all such. They expressed their readi-
ness to conform to the law of 1807, and give bonds
or to leave within a specified time—and tendered
their thanks to the Mayor, watch officers, and gen-
tlemen of the city, for the efforts made to save
their property, their lives, their wives and chil-
dren.
At 3 P. M. the Mayor, Sheriff, Marshal, and a
porion of the police, proceeded to the battle
ground, and there, under the protection of the mili-
tary, though in the presence of the mob, and so far
controlled by them, as to prevent the taking away
of any negroes, upon their complying with the
law, several negroes gave bond and obtained the
permission of the authorities to go away with sure-
ties, some of our most respectable citizens, but
were headed even within the military sentinels and
compelled to return within the ground. It was re-
solved to embody the male negroes, and march
them to jail for security, under protection of mili-
tary and civil authority. From 250 to 300 negroes,
including sound and maimed, were with some dif-
ficulty marched off to the jail, surrounded by the
military and officers, and a dense mass of men, wo-
men, and boys, confounding all distinction between
the orderly and disorderly, accompanied by deafen-
ing yells. They were safely lodged, and still re-
main in prison, separated from their families. The
crowd was in that way dispersed.
Some then supposed we should have a quiet night
—but others more observing, discovered that the
lawless mob had determined on further violence, to
be enacted immediately after night fall. Citizens
disposed to aid the authorities were invited to as-
semble, enroll themselves, and organize for action.
The military were ordered out, and firemen were
out, clothed with authority as a police band. A-
bout 80 citizens enrolled themselves as assistants
of the Marshal, and acted during the night under
his directions, in connection with Sudge Torrence,
who was selected by themselves. A portion of
force was mounted. A troop of horse, and several
companies of volunteer infantry continued on duty
until near midnight. Some were then discharged
to sleep upon their arms. Others remained on
duty till morning, guarding the jail, &c.
As was anticipated, the mob, efficiently organ-
ized, early commenced operations, dividing their
force and making attacks at different points, thus
distracting the attention of the police. The first
successful onset was made upon the printing estab-
lishment of the Philanthropist. They succeeded
in entering the establishment, breaking up the
press, and running with it, amidst savage yells,
down through Main street to the river, into which
it was thrown. The military appeared in the alley
near the office, interrupting the mob for a short
time. They escaped through the by ways, and
when the military retired, returned to their work
of destruction in the office, which they completed.
Several houses were broken open in different parts
of the city, occupied by negroes, and the windows,
doors and furniture, totally destroyed. Among
such is the confectionary establishment of Burnet
near the upper market—a shop on Columbia, near
Sycamore—the negro church on 6th street, and
four or five houses near it—a small frame house
near the synagogue on Broadway, and several
houses on Western row near the river. One of their
last efforts was to fire or otherwise destroy the book
establishment of Messrs. Truman & Smith, on
Main street. From this they were driven by the
police, and soon after, before daylight, dispersed
from mere exhaustion, whether to remain quiet or
to recruit their strength for renewed assault, we
may know before this paper is circulated.
Mortifying as is the declaration, truth requires us
to acknowledge, that our good city has been in
complete anarchy, controlled mostly by a lawless
and violent mob for twenty-four hours, trampling
all law and authority under foot. We feel this de-
gradation deeply—but so it is. It is impossible to
learn the precise number killed and wounded, ei-
ther of whites or among the negroes, probably sev-
eral were killed on both sides, and some twenty or
thirty variously wounded, though but few danger-
ously. Several of the citizen police were hurt with
stones and brick bats, which were thrown into the
crowd by the mob. The authorities succeeded in
arresting and securing about forty of the mob, who
are now in prison—others were arrested, but were
rescued or made their escape otherwise. We have
attempted a plain general narrative of these dis-
graceful procedings—have endeavored to be accu-
rate in our facts, and to narrate them in their order
of occurrence without coloring or distortion. Such
a narrative, at this time, we thought necessary to
check the exaggerated rumors which have doubtless
spread in all directions. Many of these transac-
tions occurred under our own observation, during
Friday night, and the evening and night of Satur-
day.
We see in these outrages much to deplore, and
we see much which merits unqualified condemna-
tion, which has been done and omitted, during the
violence of these lawless excesses. But it behooves
all of us now to be calm, and firm, to prevent ano-
ther outbreak—to unite and draw out for the pre-
servation of the public peace, all good citizens.—
Many have hitherto done little to stop this destruc-
tive violence, who should unite, and we still trust
nearly all will yet unite, to restore the quiet of our
city, and efficacy to the law. Hereafter, when the
public mind is in condition to be reasoned with, we
shall speak as we think upon this subject, offend
whom it may.
The mob was in many cases encouraged, and in
some, led on, by persons from Kentucky. They de-
clared they had been sent for, and that hundreds of
others were organized and ready to come here to rid
the city of the negroes and abolitionists.
We ourselves heard one of these, a respectable
looking man, shouting to the mob to put down the
Mayor and others. In some cases the motions of
the mob were directed and managed by mere boys,
who suggested the points of attack and the object,
put the vote, declared the result, and led the way!
Think for one moment, a band calling themselves
men, disarming, carrying away and securing in
prison, the male negroes, promising security and
protection to their women and children—and while
they were confidently reposing in that security, re-
turn with hellish shouts, to attack these helpless
and unprotected persons! The cowardly character
of the attack distinctly shows the want of manly
feelings in the assailants. We cannot use terms
too strong to mark the leaders and instigators of
this mob—though we sincerely think there were
many honest, but misguided men engaged in it,
who will themselves regret it most deeply.
Excitement continued during yesterday. The
Council held a meeting, and a meeting of the citi-
zens succeeded, in which the Governor, who is in
this city, with other gentlemen, took part. Reso-
lutions were adopted for an efficient organization
for the night.
Monday Morning, 3 A. M.
No disturbances have occurred in our city du-
ring the night. The different military compa-
nies were stationed at various points through the
city. Captain Taylor's troop of horse, together
with a large number of citizens, formed them-
selves into companies of about thirty each, who
kept up a patrol until about two o'clock, when
the citizens generally retired, leaving the military
on duty.
ONE DAY LATER.—Our yesterday's narrative of
the violent outrageous movements against the
[Col.5]
peace of the city, was penned amidst confusion and
excitement, and is full of inaccurate expressions,
though we have learned nothing that leads us to
doubt the main facts. The city remained quiet
when we went to press, and no farther outbreak is
immediately apprehended. The police, strength-
ened and duly organized, will keep up the most vi-
gilant reconnoisance, with ample reserve at com-
mand, to act at a moment's warning.
We were informed yesterday, upon good authori-
ty, that the boys wounded up Columbia street, on
Thursday night, are doing well, and acknowledge
that they made the attack upon the negroes that
night. The number killed, if any, is yet unknown,
and the number is equally uncertain. The negroes
in jail, were examined yesterday by the Committee
of Safety. There is but one additional fact, we
learned yesterday. That is, that although free in-
gress to the prison had been allowed to our Ken-
tucky neighbors, in search of fugitive slaves, but
one has been claimed from the whole mass, and he
is separated from the rest and held for proof in sup-
port of the claim.
Since the above was written, we have learned
that the Committee of Safety have visited the jail,
and determined to proceed to-morrow to act upon
the cases of the negroes now held in confinement,
as follows: 1. To ascertain such against whom
there is any criminal charge, and detain them for
further examination. 2. As to those against whom
there is no accusation—to discharge natives and
those who have given bond under the law of 1807
—and to require bond of the others under that law,
and to discharge when it is given.—Cincinnati
Gazette, Monday 6th.
———————
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Affairs are
...
of the endeavors to ferret out the authors of this
dreadful tragedy.—Courier.
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE MARY ROGERS CASE.—The Courier states
that a Mrs. Loss, who keeps a small tavern on the
embankment near Weehawken, has been examined
before the Mayor, and testified that Mary Rogers,
with several young men, was at her house on the
evening of the 25th of July, and that she drank
some lemonade offered by one of them. The clothes
found were also identified by Mrs. Loss as those
worn by the unfortunate girl. Whatever other
clue has been obtained is yet kept secret.
================================================================
[Col.1]
REWARDS OFFERED BY THE GOVERNOR OF
THIS STATE.—Gov. SEWARD has issued a
Proclamation offering a reward of Seven Hun-
dred and Fifty Dollars to any one who shall
give information resulting in the conviction,
either in this State or New-Jersey, of any per-
son guilty of the violation and Murder of Mary
C. Rogers.
The Governor likewise offers a reward of
Nine Hundred Dollars for the apprehension of
Benjamin Lett, who escaped from the Sheriff,
who was conveying him to the State Prison
for having been concerned in burning the
steamboat Sir Robert Peel on the River St.
Lawrence in 1839.
================================================================
[Col.7]
More of Mary C. Rogers.—The N. Y. Ameri-
can says, “that the parasol and part of the clo-
thing of Mary C. Rogers have been found in
the woods, near Hoboken. The articles have
been perfectly identified. Query—Why were
they not found before this? and may there not
be good reason to believe that they have been re-
cently taken there from this city?”
The Pittsburgh papers state that Mrs. Collins,
the mother-in-law of Dr. Braddee, has been ar-
rested on suspicion of having been concerned with
him in the mail robberies of which he was recently
convicted. In default of bail to the amount of
$5000, she was committed to prison.
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly as in Evening Post]
THE CINCINNATI RIOTS.
——
The Cincinnati Gazette of Monday 6th inst. con-
tains a more complete history of the late riots in
that city than we have before seen. It is here
subjoined:
RIOT AND MOBS, CONFUSION AND BLOODSHED.
This city has been in a most alarming condition
...
[Col.2. Mostly as in Courier]
...
patrol until about 2 o'clock, when the citizens
generally retired leaving the military on duty.
——————————————————
...
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Affairs are
...
ultimate success of the endeavors to ferret out the
authors of this dreadful tragedy.—[N. Y. Cour. &
Enq.
================================================================
[Col.3. From Courier]
The Mary Rogers Case.
The New York Courier of Friday last, says:
The spot at which this unfortunate girl lost her
life, is believed to have been discovered. A
little boy living at Weehawken brought some
...
pardon to any informer, who though present,
was not actually a party to it.
“The Mayor desires to see all persons of
...
where they may be seen.”
[Col.4]
The Riot at Cincinnati.
A letter from Cincinnati, received at the of-
fice of the New York New Era, gives the fol-
lowing additional particulars:
CINCINNATI, Sept. 4th, 1841.
Our city is at this moment the threats of the
most terrible excitement I have ever witnessed.
The military are patrolling the streets, and her-
alds are out, by order of the Mayor, calling
upon the citizens to meet at 10 o'clock, this
morning, at the Market House, to devise meas-
ures for the preservation of the peace, and pro-
tection of our citizens. The whites and ne-
groes have had a terrible battle, in which sev-
eral men are reported to have been killed and
a number badly wounded. As I have but a
few minutes to write before the close of the
eastern mail, I can give but a brief narration of
this dreadful affair. On the evening before
last, it appears that a quarrel occurred between
several negroes and two white men, in which
the latter were badly wounded, with dirk knives.
This occasioned considerable excitement, and
added fresh fuel to the anti-negro flame, which
has been increasing in intensity and volume,
with threatening rapidity of late.
About 9 o'clock last evening, a large con-
course of people, without concert or arms, as-
sembled at the junction of Sixth street and
Broadway, in the immediate vicinity of the
“Five Points” of this city, or as it is called
here “Nigger-town.” A few persons in the
mob, (which consisted of 3 or 400,) apparently
without any deliberate design, threw stones
against the buildings of the negroes. The ne-
groes immediately poured into the mob a vol-
ley of bullets, from muskets and rifles, with
which they had previously provided themselves
in anticipation of an attack.
The mob being unarmed, fled precipitately,
and were hotly pursued for nearly a square by the
blacks, who yelled out a wild shout of triumph
and defiance, and then returned to their houses.
During the firing a number of the negroes were
stationed on the tops of their own and the ad-
joining houses, from which they levelled their
pieces at the crowd.
The mob continued at bay till after midnight,
by which time, perhaps, thirty or forty of the
assailants provided themselves with arms, and
a six-pounder cannon. Thus equipped they ad-
vanced to the position they occupied in the
early part of the evening, loaded their cannon
with fragments of iron, and levelled its muzzle
against a building about one hundred yards dis-
tant, in which a large number of armed negroes
were said to be stationed.
After a few ineffectual shots from the small
arms of the assailants, the cannon was dis-
charged, but without effect. The negroes quick-
ly rallied, and returned a heavy fire from their
houses, but the whites stood their ground, reload-
ing and discharging their six pounder cannon
several times, and kept up also a brisk fire with
their small arms. The conflict was terrible,
but fortunately for the lives of many, the prompt
arrival of the military silenced the firing, re-
stored peace and dispersed the mob.
Since three o'clock this morning our city
has enjoyed its usual repose, but these are ap-
prehensions of a dreadful and concerted attack
upon the blacks to-night, which of course the
law abiding portion of our citizens will exert
themselves to prevent. There are various re-
ports of the number killed and wounded on both
sides, but it is impossible to ascertain the truth
of these reports at present.
The negroes were the victors! What will
be the result of this? The negroes victorious!
think of that! A crowd of people have just
passed my window in pursuit of some blacks,
and I am informed by a friend at my elbow
that the city is all in confusion and uproar again,
and that terror-struck negroes are flying in all
directions.
There is no fighting or lynching, but the peo-
ple, the mob, are taking the negroes into custo-
dy as fast as they can be caught, with the de-
sign of enforcing a law of this State, which re-
quires all colored residents of Ohio to give bond
for their good behavior, or leave the State. I
will keep you advised of the progress of this
negro war.
[Col.5. More in A FEMALE HUMBUG: Rochester Republican. Aug. 17, 1841 (FH) / Sunbury American. Aug. 28, 1841 (CA)]
A Female Swindler.
The Rochester Daily Advertiser gives a
minute account of the operations of a female
imposter in that city, which are worth repeat-
ing, and which we will embody in a small
space. She came to that place four or five
weeks since; professed to be an English lady,
though recently from Toronto, in Canada;
claimed the maiden name of Ann Eliza Hunt;
said she had a large property just increased by
the death of her uncle and aunt; was richly,
though somewhat slovenly dressed, of good per-
sonal appearance, and aged about thirty-five.
As a lady of fortune she soon became a toast,
and a young man of the place tendered his heart
and hand. He was accepted; marriage settle-
ments were made; mine host where the lady
boarded was directed to furnish a sumptuous
wedding entertainment, which was done, and
the marriage was consummated in due form.
The next day, in the best carriage which could
be obtained, the happy pair rode about the city,
the bride ordering numerous articles of furni-
ture, besides wearing apparel for herself and
lord, to no small amount. In the afternoon of
the day she told her husband she wished to
take a short drive on some business, and hoped
he would not take it amiss if she preferred go-
ing alone, which he willingly assented to. She
went, and night came without her returning; so
did the next day and night; and days and nights
thereafter. People began to suspect that all
was not right, but the husband had full faith.
Finally, however, he presented a draft she had
given upon the bank for more than a thousand
dollars, and was met with a rebuff of “no
funds;” and then he gave in. The landlord, be-
sides the cost of the wedding supper, is minus
$56 of borrowed money. The young man is
married but without a wife, and has already
had bills to the amont of $1800 of her crea-
ting presented against him. This is a clean
shave on a big figure; and those who have been
imposed upon, while they will be pitied by
some, will be laughed at by all.—Poughkeepsie
Telegraph.
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Case of Miss Rogers.—Morse, who
was the individual arrested near Worcester,
Mass., on suspicion of having been implica-
ted in the murder of Miss Rogers, has proved
to the satisfaction of the police, at least, that
he was somewhere else on the fatal day and
night, and has consequently been discharged
from custody. He was subsequently arrest-
ed on the charge of assault and battery
against his wife, but that difficulty appears
to be settled, and Morse is now at large.
This throws the whole affair into impene-
trable mystery again. No clue can be dis-
covered in any direction. The opinion is
fast gaining ground that the poor girl met
her fate on this side of the river, and not
many blocks from her mother's door. It is
devoutly to be hoped, that such a shocking
outrage will not be suffered to be buried in
obscurity.
================================================================
[Col.6]
Governor Seward has offered a reward of
$750 for the apprehension of the murderers
of Mary Rogers.
================================================================
[Col.2. From Evening Post, Courier]
Arrest of Lett.
The Buffalo papers bring information
of the arrest of Lett, the incendiary, for
...
He has since been at large notwith-
standing the efforts made to retake him.
———————
Petrified Cucumber and Rattlesnake.
Some miners in prospecting near Bell-
view, in Jackson county, some time since
found a petrified cucumber embedded in
the rock about twenty feet below the sur-
face of the earth. This petrefaction is
now in our possession, and can be seen at
our office. It retains its shape perfectly,
and is in every respect a perfect cucum-
ber, except that it is now a stone.
A quarry was opened about a year
since on the east side of Rock River, Il-
linois, three miles above Dixon's Ferry,
for the use of the railroad. Between two
heavy layers of the rock was found a
petrified rattle snake. He lay in a loose
coil and was probably about four feet
long. We have examined the place
where it lay, but did not see the petrefac-
tion. The layers of rock were about 18
inches thick. From the face of the
bluff, to the spot where it lay, is about
thirty feet, and to the top of the same
one hundred feet. A gentleman from N.
York had been too quick for us and had
carried it away. We were informed by
the workmen, that it remained perfect in
every respect, the minutest scale, or pro-
tuberance, being as perceptible as if the
animal were yet alive. It had thirteen
rattles, and was of the species known as
the yellow Massassauger.—Dubuque
(Iowa) Express.
———————
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—Af-
fairs are now in such a train, as we
...
tragedy.—Courier.
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Mary Rogers Case.—The Mayor has
received such information as leads him to think
that the murderers of Mary Rogers may at
last be discovered; and his Honor, we find, is
is also fully persuaded that the girl has been
murdered.
The spot at which this unfortunate girl lost
her life, is believed to have been discovered. A
little boy living at Weehawken brought some
days since to his mother, a hat tassel, which he
found in the woods or bushes in the neighbor-
hood, and some other articles of female apparel.
Information of this having reached the Mayor,
he visited the mother, was shown by the boy to
the place, and there found other pieces of her
clothes and indications around of a violent strug-
gle having taken place.
Among the articles found, were a parasol, a
shawl, a pocket handkerchief, and an under
garment, supposed to be hers. Fragments of
garments were found on the bushes. The
place was visited by the Mayor, the District
Attorney, Dr. Cook, and others, on Saturday
and Sunday last, and the gentlemen were sat-
isfied from the scene, the centre of a close
thicket, and the general appearance of the
place, that it was the theatre of outrage. We
trust that this discovery will lead to an elu-
cidation of this mystery. As the evidence is
yet concealed, we have, as yet, no comments
to make, but merely state the conclusion to
which the mayor has arrived.—[N. Y. Tat-
ler.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Second Edition]
ANOTHER MYSTERY.—THE BODY OF A WOMAN
FOUND IN THE REAR OF A NEW HOUSE IN LISPENARD
STREET.—Yesterday a great excitement was created
by the discovery of the body of a woman, in the
sink or privy of an uninhabited house in Lispenard
street, one door from Broadway. The Coroner was
sent for, and the body taken out when it appeared
to be that of a good looking young woman, about
twenty-five years of age, auburn hair, braided in
front. Dress dark figured calico frock, white cot-
ton petticoat, but neither shoes or stockings. She
had a light common hood over her head, and bore
the appearance of some maid servant, who had run
out in a hurry. Probably the deceased had gone to
the building to meet some lover or other, and had
fallen into the hole, which was entirely uncovered.
A jury having been empanelled, the following tes-
timony was adduced:—
Patrick Dickie deposed that he owned the unfinished
building in which the body was found. Had been much
annoyed by dissolute people going there of nights and
taking up their quarters there. On Thursday morning
witness was called to see a negro, who was found in the
building, and on looking about discovered the body of
the deceased in the sink or privy. Does not know who
the deceased is, nor how she came there. The privy is
entirely new, had not been used, and contains about for
feet of water.
Dr. Abraham Crewsburg deposed that he made an ex-
ternal examination of the body, and found no marks of
violence. It is a female, and supposed to have been there
about 14 days. It is much advanced in putrefaction, and
a further post mortem examination would be unnecessa-
ry.
The jury found “that the unknown female died from
some cause unknown to them.”
[Col.3 / 2nd PIC]
VIEW OF
THE HOUSE WHERE MARY ROGERS WAS
LAST SEEN ALIVE.
[Col.4]
as there had been several noisy fights that day, she
thought no more of the screaming.
Time passed on, until the 25th of last month. On
that day her boys were out collecting sassafras bark,
and chanced to penetrate the small thicket between
the two roads, on the side of the hill where the mur-
der was committed. Here there are three or four
very large stones, forming a kind of seat, with back
and footstool to it. The boughs and briar bushes are
twined thickly around it, and there is not room
scarcely to stand upright in it. In fact, it is a place
fit for such a murder, and one from which the un-
fortunate girl could not have escaped, without viola-
tion, if ever she was forced into it. On the upper
stone lay a white garment. The little boy ex-
claimed, “Halloo! here's somebody has left their
shirt.” The big boy picked it up, and found it was a
woman's petticoat. On the second stone lay the
identical silk scarf (all crumpled up, as if torn off for-
cibly), which was worn by the young lady who was
at Mrs. Loss's house, and which has been identi-
fied as Mary Rogers' scarf. The petticoat had been
darned in a hurry, and that has been identified. In a
little hollow between the seat stone and a trunk of a
small tree, lay Mary Rogers' parasol and pocket hand-
kerchief, marked with her name. A little further off
lay her gloves, turned inside out, as if they had been
forcibly drawn from her hands in a hurry. And on
one of the briar bushes, hung two pieces of her dress,
which had evidently been torn out, as she was
dragged through this horrid place; one piece of the
dress was so doubled as to have a thorn three times
through it. The place around was stamped about,
and the branches were broken, and roots bruised and
mashed, all betokening that it had been the scene of
a very violent struggle. The marks of a high-heeled
boot were very plain. And it appeared from the po-
sition of the articles, as if the unfortunate girl had
been placed upon the middle broad stone, her head
held forcibly back, and then and there horribly vio-
lated by several rowdies, and ultimately strangled.—
The spot is not far from the river—the access to
the water easy—and the rails between it and the
river were all found taken down, as if the bodies of
Mary Rogers and the young man had both been
carried thence from the scene of the murder.
In order that it may not be supposed that these
things were placed there recently, it is proper to
state, that from their appearance this could not have
been the case. The things had all evidently been
there at least three or four weeks. They were all
mildewed down hard with the action of the rain,
and stuck together from mildew. The grass had
grown around and over some of them. The silk
and the parasol were strong, but the threads of
it were run together, within the upper part where
it had been doubled and folded was all mildewed
and rotten, and tore on its being opened. The white
linen handkerchief had a corded border round it,
and was mildewed also. So was the scarf. This
and the petticoat were crumpled up as if in a strug-
gle. The pieces of her frock torn out by the bushes
were about three inches wide and six inches long.
One part was the hem of the frock, and it had been
mended; the other piece was part of the skirt, not
the hem. They looked like strips torn off, and were
on the thorn bush, about a foot from the ground.
The petticoat, shawl, &c. were full of little bugs,
called by the Dutch, kellerasbe, that is, in English,
cellar jackass, an insect that always gets into cloth-
ing lying in wet places.
All the articles found were taken great care of by
Mrs. Loss, who took the earliest opportunity of de-
livering them up to the Mayor of this city, and ac-
quainting him with all the details of the case.
Such are some of the strong features of the late
movements in relation to this extraordinary murder.
We have a variety of facts and inferences bearing
on this mystery of blood, which we shall give ano-
ther day.
================================================================
[Col.2]
RUSSIA.—The Augsburg Gazette of the 19th
ult. furnishes details relative to the Russian loan
of 30,000,000 rubles of silver. The banks are au-
thorised to issue successively notes to the amount
of 30,000,000 rubles of silver, with a stipulation of
guarantees for the same on mortgages. It is said
that the new financial measures announce a
change of ministers, which intelligence is is the
more agreeable that it may be supposed the com-
mercial policy of Russia will be modified; it is
even affirmed that Russia has hinted the conclu-
sion of a treaty between herself and Prussia.
RUSSIA AND THE CAUCASUS.—BESSARABIA, Aug.
6th.—The efforts of Russia to subdue the moun-
taineers of the Caucasus continue without inter-
mission. The Russian general commanding the
4th corps of the Russian army, arrived on the 7th
of July at Belz, where he was received by the
General of Division, Von Bushan, and Brigadier
General Von Matias. On the following days there
were reviews of the troops evolutions, and firing
at a mark, and it is affirmed that a division of this
corps is in daily expectation of orders to march to
the theatre of war. The accounts, however, at the
theatre of war in the Caucasus, as well as in Geo-
rgia, are by no means favorable to the Russian
army.
The enemy fight desperately, to the astonish-
ment of every body, with continually renewed
vigor, so that the laurels gathered by the superior
Russian forces are very scanty, and accompanied
with the most lamentable sacrifices. To this
must be added the great difficulty of supplying the
troops with provisions, who in general receive
only bad nourishment, and sometimes, for days
together, none at all, which, with the influence of
the climate, fearfully thins the ranks of the Rus-
sian troops.
[Col.5]
CORONER'S OFFICE—YESTERDAY.
[Reported for the Sun.]
INQUESTS.—Mysterious Death.—The Coroner
yesterday held an inquest at 414 Broadway, on
the body of an unknown female, aged about 25
years, who was found yesterday morning in an
open sink in the rear of a house in the course of
erection in Lispenard street, near the corner of
Broadway. There was about 4 feet of water in
the sink, and the deceased appeared to have been
there some two weeks, and as there was nothing
to prevent a person walking into the sink, it is
most probable this female walked or fell into it,
when in a state of intoxication. She had auburn
hair, braided apparently in front, and was dressed
in a dark figured calico frock, white cotton petti-
coat, a common light colored muslin hood, and
was without stockings or shoes. Dr. Croveling
and the coroner, Dr. Archer, made an external ex-
amination of the body, but no vestige of violence
could be discerned, and the body was in such a
state of putrefaction, that a post mortem examina-
tion would have been of no use whatever.
Patrick Dickey, apothecary and druggist in
Broadway, stated before the jury that he is build-
ing the house in Lispenard street, to which there
are no doors, and that he has been greatly annoy-
ed by dissolute persons going into the building to
sleep when they were drunk, ever since it has
been enclosed; that yesterday he was called to
see a negro who had intruded himself into the pre-
mises, and in looking into the sink discovered
something afloat, which he at first supposed was
the body of some quadruped or animal, but soon
after it was discovered to be that of a woman.—
The jury returned a verdict that the deceased
came to her death from some cause to them un-
known.
================================================================
[Col.5]
COURT OF SESSIONS, Sept. 16.—Before the Recorder and
Judge Lynch.
Dr. Charles H. Jackson was put upon his trial for man-
slaughter in the 2d degree, charged with having produced
an abortion, in the person of Miss Susan Shaats, thereby
causing the death of her infant, in the month of March,
1840. The death of the unfortunate mother occurred soon
after, she having been taken ill at No. 235 Houston-street,
where she passed under the assumed name of Sarah Smith,
which was alleged to have been the consequence of her
premature delivery, subsequent exposure, &c.—with what
truth, may or may not appear. As the trial will probably
continue several days, and as the testimony generally is of
such a character as to preclude its publication, we shall
content ourselves with giving, at its close, a brief sketch
of the prominent facts of the clue, with the result.
The Court adjourned over to Monday, when the trial
will be resumed.
...
CORONER'S OFFICE.—Singular Death.—The Coroner
on Thurday held an inquest at 414 Broadway, on the body
of an unknown female, aged about 25, who was found yes-
terday morning in an open sink in the rear of a house, in
the course of building in Lispenard-street, near Broadway.
There were about 4 feet of water in the sink, and the de-
ceased appeared to have been there some two weeks, pro-
bably having fallen in there when drunk. She had au-
burn hair, which appeared to have been braided in front,
and was dressed in a dark figured calico frock, white cot-
ton petticoat, light colored muslin hood, and was without
shoes or stockings. Dr. Creveling and the Coroner (Dr.
Archer) made an external examination of the body, but no
evidences of violence were discoverable, and the body was
in such a state of advanced putrefaction that a post mor-
tem examination would have been without avail.
Patrick Dickey, apothecary and druggist in Broadway,
deposed before the jury that he was building the house in
Lispenard-street, to which there are no doors, and that
since it has been enclosed, he has been greatly annoyed by
dissolute persons going in there to sleep, when intoxicated
—that yesterday he was called to see a black fellow who
had intruded himself in the premises, and on looking into
the sink he discovered something afloat, which he at first
supposed was the body of some quadruped, but it was af-
terwards ascertained to be the body of a woman. The
jury found as a verdict, that the deceased came to her
death from some cause to them unknown.
================================================================
[Col.5]
General Sessions.
Present—Recorder, Judge Noah and one Alderman.
ABORTIONIZING.—Charles H. Jackson, a practitioner of
medicine, residing in the Bowery, was put on his trial on
an indictment charging him with manslaughter in the
second degree, in producing abortion on the person of a
young lady, named Susan Skaats, who died after the bill
had been found. The facts of this case have been re-
peatedly before the public.
The young lady went to board in the Bowery, in the
same house where the Doctor has his office, and it is sup-
posed that a liason was carried on there. At all events,
the young lady became pregnant, but no child ever ap-
peared.
We shall give a synopsis of the facts proven, when the
trial is over; but very little of the testimony is fit to meet
the public eye.
The Court adjourned at 3 P. M.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF SESSIONS—YESTERDAY.
[Reported for the Sun.]
Before the Recorder, and Judge Lynch.
Dr. Charles H. Jackson, of No. 209 Bowery, was
put upon his trial, on an indictment for manslaugh-
ter in the 2d degree, charged with having produc-
ed abortion on the person of Miss Susan Skaats,
with instruments, thereby causing the death of
the child, in the month of March, 1840. The mo-
ther also soon after died, at No. 235 Houston
street, under the assumed name of Sarah Smith—
as was alleged from disease produced by her pre-
mature confinement. The trial will probably con-
sume several days, and as the testimony is of a
character to render most of it unfit for publication,
we shall content ourselves with giving a brief
statement of the most important facts of it, when
the result of the trial is obtained.
The court adjourned to Monday, at which time
the trial will be resumed.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Police.—In our sheet of Monday last, we mention-
ed the fact that a Mrs. Loss, who keeps a small house
at Weehawken, had recognized Mary C. Rogers as
having been at her house on the 25th July, in the af-
ternoon, and that some articles of clothing found in
the woods near there, a spot showing strong evi-
dence of a violent struggle having taken place, were
recognized as those worn by the unfortunate girl on
that day. She was then in company with a young
man who was either a participator in the outrage
upon her, or who has perhaps shared the same fate
as he has not since been heard of. In publishing the
few facts we did on Monday, we unwittingly trans-
gressed the request of the Mayor, and it is now only
necessary to state that what we then published was
entirely correct, and that strong hopes are now en-
tertained of the ultimate discovery of the brutal vil-
lains concerned in the outrage.
The lad Murden, who ran away with the money of
...
The Court of Sessions was occupied yesterday with
the trial of Dr. Jackson, for producing abortion. When
the result is known, we shall publish a synopsis of
the case. The evidence however is mostly unfit for
publication.
================================================================
================================================================
PLATTSBURGH REPUBLICAN. Saturday Morning, September 18, 1841 (NN)
================================================================
[Col.6. Mostly as in Courier]
The Mary Rogers Case.—We learn by
the New York papers, that affairs are in
such a train that the unravelling of the
...
the unfortunate girl on that occasion.
================================================================
================================================================
THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, September 18, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3. From Courier, Sun]
Police.—In our sheet on Monday last, we men-
...
ry of the brutal villains concerned in the outrage.—
Courier.
———————
COURT OF SESSIONS—Yesterday.—Before the Re-
...
the trial will be resumed.—Sun.
================================================================
[Col.1 / A version at eapoe.org]
From The Gift for 1842.
ELEONORA.
——
BY EDGAR A. POE.
——
I AM of a race noted for vigor of fancy and ardor
of passion. Pyrros is my name. Men have called
me mad; but the question is not yet settled whe-
ther madness be or be not the loftier intelligence—
whether much that is glorious—whether all that is
profound—do not spring from disease of thought,
from moods of mind exalted at the expense of the
general intellect. They who dream by day are
cognizant of many things which escape the dream-
ers by night. In their gray visions they obtain
glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in awaking, to find
that they have been upon the verge of the great
secret. In snatches they learn something of the
wisdom which is of good, and more of that mere
knowledge which is of evil. They penetrate, how-
ever rudderless or compassless, into the vast ocean
of the 'light ineffable,' and, again, like the adven-
turers of the Nubian geographer, 'They are
caught in an ocean of difficulties because in that
they would adventure a discovery.'
We will say then that I am mad. I grant, at
least, that there are two distinct conditions of my
mental existence—the condition of a lucid reason,
...
She was a maiden artless and innocent as the
brief life she had led among the flowers. No guile
disguised the fervor of love which animated her
heart—and she examined with me its inmost re-
cesses, as we walked together in the Valley of the
[Col.2]
Many-Colored Grass, and discoursed of the mighty
changes which had lately taken place. At length,
having spoken, one day, in tears, of the last sad
change which must befall humanity, she thencefor-
ward dwelt only upon this one sorrowful theme, in-
terweaving it into all our converse—as in the songs
of the Bard of Shiraz the same images are found oc-
curring again and again in every impressive varia-
ation of phrase.
... And with
these words upon her lips she yielded up her inno-
cent life, putting end to the first epoch of my own.
...
I wedded, nor dreaded the curse I had invoked,
and its bitterness was not visited upon me. And
in the silence of the night there came once again
through my lattice the soft sighs which had forsaken
me, and they modeled themselves into a sweet voice
saying—“Sleep in peace; for the spirit of Love
reigneth and ruleth; and in taking to thy passion-
ate heart her who is Ermengarde, thou art absolved,
for reasons which shall be made known to thee in
Heaven, of thy vows unto Eleonora.”
—————
...
LESSONS IN PUNMANSHIP.—Mr. T. Hood, Pro-
fessor of Punmanship, begs to acquaint the dull
and witless that he has established a class for the
acquirement of an elegant and ready style of pun-
ning, on the pure Joe Millerian principle. The
very worst hands are improved in six short and
mirthful lessons. As a specimen of his capability,
he begs to subjoin two conundrums, by Col. Sib-
thorpe: COPY.
“The following is a specimen of my punning be-
fore taking six lessons of Mr. T. Hood: Q. Why
is a fresh plucked carnation like a certain cold with
which children are affected? A. Because it's a
new pink off, (an whooping cough.)
“This is a specimen of my punning after taking
six lessons of Mr. T. Hood: Q. Why is the differ-
ence between pardoning and thinking no more of an
[Col.3]
injury the same as that between a selfish and a gen-
erous man? A. Because the one is for-getting
and the other for-giving.”
...
A good laugher wanted. [London Charivari.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.3]
University Medical School.
It is scarcely necessary to state that the assertion
in Saturday's Courier that Professors Mott and Pat-
tison had authorized that paper to announce that the
non-professional public reporters were in future
to be excluded from the surgical clinique is totally
false; and we have the most unquestionable autho-
rity in saying that the silly falsehood has, as may
well be supposed, called forth the honest indigna-
tion of the respected Professors.
The first case presented last Saturday to a crowded
audience,—amongst whom we recognized several
literary and scientific gentlemen unconnected with
the medical profession,—was one of strumous in-
flammation of the knee joint, occurring in an adult.
...
The next case was a truly frightful one. It was
that of an elderly man, with a cancer of the tongue.
The disease had made such progress at altogether
to preclude the least hope of surgical relief.
...
“Did you ever show this to a Doctor?”
“I did, sir, several years ago.”
“And what did he say it was?”
“Why, sir, he said as how I had got tape-worms
in my mouth.” (Great laughter.)
The Professor then examined the poor man's
tongue more particularly, and found that the disease
had extended so far as to render it quite impossible
to apply a ligature for the purpose of removing the
ulcerated mass. The submaxillary glands were also
affected, and on one side were swollen very conside-
rably. The Professor after stating the hopelessness
of the case, remarked that medical men should
listen with great respect to the accounts of the opera-
tion of popular remedies for this terrible disease. He
himself always did, in the hope that something might
be found useful. It might well be a source of the most
poignant regret to every medical man, that as yet,
no available remedy for that purpose had been dis-
covered. The Professor then made some remarks
respecting the proper mode of removing portions of
the tongue by ligature, and referred to several inte-
resting cases, one of them a recent one, in which he
had performed the operation with gratifying success.
He then said that in the present case, he could only
recommend the exhibition of arsenic—or some of
the combinations of iodine and mercury. “Fow-
ler's solution” was recommended as a good form of
the former medicine, and Labbarache's solution of
the chloride of soda, was stated to be the best local
application.
...
[Col.5]
MORE OF THE HABEAS CORPUS SYSTEM.—The notori-
ous Melinda Hoag was arrested one day last week on a
charge of robbing preferred by a Southern gentleman,
who does not like to have his name in print, and commit-
ted to the tombs. On Friday, Melinda was arraigned in
the star chamber and committed for trial. On Saturday
a writ of habeas corpus was procured and Melinda taken
before Judge Lynch and admitted to bail in $400. In the
mean time the name of the southern gent is carefully
veiled from the vulgar eye.
JUSTICE PARKER.—The replies to the several charges
preferred against this high legal functionary have been
served on the counsel of the complainant, and the Dis-
trict Attorney is prepared to go with his accustomed furor
and zeal, into the cause of the complainant. The learn-
ed gentleman only waited for the order of the Court, and
did not decline the aid of his powerful talents from any
desire to screen a magistrate as some ignorant individu-
als have asserted. In the meantime the trial of Judge
Wiley must not be forgotten, or that certain charges were
published in the Board of Aldermen against the func-
tionaries of another of the civil tribunals. Great times
these, certainly. Three Judges on trial at one time, and
the pay of two others denied, and their authority ques-
tioned by those who hold the purse of the commonalty.
================================================================
================================================================
THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, September 20, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4]
UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL.
[Reported for the Sun.]
☞ In the Courier of last Saturday the Editor
stated that he was “authorized by Professors Mott
and Pattison to announce that in future the non-
professional public and reporters for newspapers
were to be excluded” from the Surgical clinique
of the Medical college. To those who are unac-
quainted with the Courier's proficiency in false-
hood, we beg to state that the above announce-
ment is entirely unauthorized and wholly untrue.
On last Saturday the amphitheatre was densely
crowded, and the number of patients was greatly
increased. The first case was one of disease of
the knee-joint. After patient inquiry and exami-
...
CANCER OF TONGUE.—An elderly man and a
ship carpenter by trade, was next introduced. The
poor man was affected with a carcinomatous affec-
tion of the tongue involving a great proportion of
that structure. The case was utterly hopeless in
a surgical point of view, and the professor express-
ed his deep regret that in the present state of medi-
cal knowledge nothing could be employed with
the even remote prospect of success. Cancer
...
Two o'clock having now arrived, the audience
dispersed, and the Professors retired to the ante-
room to afford many additional patients the ben-
efit of their experience and skill. H.
================================================================
[Col.4]
LIBEL SUIT.—At the Circuit Court held in this
village last week by Judge Gridley, came on the
trial of the libel suit brought by James Fennimore
Cooper against Park Benjamin, editor of the New
World. The publication of the offensive matter
was admitted in the pleadings, and being consid-
ered as a mere technical libel that would not jus-
tify exemplary damages, the only effort made on
his part by counsel was to impress the jury with
the same idea, and thus secure a nominal verdict
which if obtained would tend to the discredit of
the plaintiff. This attempt availed nothing, for
the defendant was mulcted in $375 damages.—
Richard Cooper and S. S. Bowne, for Plaintiff;
Mr. Edwards, of N. Y. for defendant. Let it not
again be said by Mr. Cooper's persecutors, that a
jury of his own immediate fellow-citizens would
never award him a verdict in his libel cases.—
[Cooperstown F. Journal.
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.5]
General Sessions.
Present—the Recorder, Judges Noah and Lynch, and two
Aldermen.
SEPT. 20.—The People vs. William Wiley.—The defen-
dant and his counsel, Charles O'Connor and W. M. Price,
appeared, to move that the indictment preferred against
William Wiley should be transmitted to the Court of
Oyer and Terminer for trial.
Judge Wiley, in making the motion, said that he had
mentioned the matter to the District Attorney; and
that his learned friend had consented to waive all oppo-
sition.
District Attorney: I have nothing to say, sir. I shall
leave the matter to the Court.
The Recorder said, the Court had some doubts about
the course which ought to be pursued, and wished the
matter laid over until Wednesday.
The District Attorney then called on the defendant to
plead.
Mr. O'Connor said that his client would have no ob-
jection to plead, but it might be set up in bar to their ap-
plication by the Circuit Judges, and he was not willing
to permit his client to plead, unless the District Attorney
would give a written stipulation not to let the fact of
their pleading operate against the application to remove
the indictment into a higher Court.
At this, the District Attorney said he should not inter-
fere at all, but let the case take its course like any other,
and eventually it was ordered to stand over until Tues-
day.
The People vs. Samuel H. Jackson.—The trial of this case
was then resumed, and about 5 P. M. it went to the jury,
under the charge of the Court.
The jury retired at half-past 5, and found the accused
guilty of a misdemeanour in procuring abortion, and re-
commended him to the mercy of the Court.
The Court then adjourned.
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, September 21, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
RUSSIAN STEAM FRIGATE KAMTSCATKA.—This
steam frigate par excellance, belonging to the Czar of
Russia, is now ready for sea, and will sail proba-
bly early next week, for Cronstadt. In the mean-
time, however, she will make an experimental trip
to Sandy Hook.
Seven hundred tons of coal, all her provisions, and
gun carriages, and the weight of twenty-two heavy
cannon, and her machinery, are on board, and her
line, as calculated by Captain Von Shoutz and Mr.
Pepin, when her keel was laid, is found to be per-
fectly accurate. Never so nice a calculation was
made in ship-building.
She will haul out into the stream in a few days, and
then every one can get a glimpse of her symmetry and
beauty of model, before she starts over the broad,
blue Atlantic. Her interior arrangements are splen-
did, neat and compact. All is fresh, fine and fair.
As a specimen of ship building, she will be the
greatest and best ever sent to Europe.
[Col.3 / Col.3, 2nd PIC]
THE ACTUAL SPOT WHERE THE
SHOCKING MURDER AND VIOLATION OF MARY ROGERS
TOOK PLACE.
A Sketch of Violation and Murder.
[From Unpub. Poems of McDonald Clarke.]
There are tales which Truth can tell,
That toll on the heart, like a funeral bell,
Or a howl from—Hell.
She moved amid the bland perfume,
That breathes of Summer's balmiest isle,
Her eyes had starlight's azure gloom,
And a glimpse of Heaven—her smile.
[Col.4]
Fairest of the fading girls,
Whom Want from Duty often lures,
Whose heart meets little from the World's,
But trials that the proud—endures.
Who, that has loitered up Broadway,
But mark'd her mid the evening light,
(Encircled by the young, and gay,)
With face that said her soul was right.
Ay—she was beautiful, in form,
More than beautiful, in mind,
Affections, more serene and warm,
We seldom in her station, find.
That form, so delicate and ripe,
Was bruised by the mangling clench of Lust,
The bosom that was virtue's type,
Bedaub'd with slime, and foam, and dust.
Time will the bloody mystery bare—
Lift the curst hand that grip'd her throat—
There did the foul Infernals lay her
When they dragg'd her from the clotted boat.
* * * * *
'Twas one of Summer's sighing eves,
When Sunset, with her scarlet glow,
Shed a rich twilight thro' the leaves,
As if Earth never dreamed of wo.
But wo, and wretchedness that night,
Suffer'd, as Woman only can,
When the grasp of guilt blows out the light,
And Lust has madden'd to a monster—man.
The body of that gentle girl
Was rip'd—but Shame forbids the tale,
Yet a night will surely come, to hurl
These wretches, where the damned wail.
They must have drank that frantic draught
That leaves the conscience drunk, and dumb,
For the deadlest Fiends have always laugh'd
O'er the flash of Hell, thro' the fumes of rum.
* * * * *
Young struggler—in the feverish dawn
Of passions, that inflame the soul,
Go not where Guilt's wild dupes have gone—
Grasp the stern arm of Self-Control.
Let not your dying pillow hold
A head, pierced thro' with harrowing thought—
A spirit, to Damnation sold,
The offals of rotten pleasure, bought.
Go where the glare of Lust lights up
Hearts, that ne'er knew a calmer light—
Taste but the Tempter's scalding cup,
And stagger to the sins of Night.
Drag out a pale, and bloated life
For a few dim years, with madness, trod.
But there will come a frightful strife
When you're left in the dark, with Death, and God.
These filthy slaves of Sin, and Wo,
That skulk from Memory, and Despair,
Are wretched, whereso'er they go,
That night is with them, everywhere.
They see an eye—Earth cannot see 't—
An eye, that never closed in sleep—
They feel the pang, whose poisoned heat
Cannot be quench'd—tho' Heaven should weep.
Wretches befoul this world, who give
No token in their artful face,
Of where their souls shall gasp, yet live,
When hurl'd down to their howling Place.
Among the mean, or ennobled vile,
Hid in bleak holes, or banner'd walls,
The delicate Beast they will hug a while,
Till the clod on—the coffin falls.
* * * * *
Poor girl—there have been prayers for thee,
And white hairs trembling o'er thy tomb,
Worn by childless Mother's knee,
When sundown scarf'd it with her gloom.
Time heard, in his dreams, a burial bell—
Saw a gallows, grinning, thro' the dark—
A corpse swung out 'mid a laugh, and yell—
And left, with the Midnight, cold and stark.
Sept. 15, 1841.
================================================================
[Col.4]
THE CINCINNATI MOB.—The Cincinnati Gazette
of the 14th gives a statement of circumstances out
of which sprung the late disgraceful riot in that
city. For some time past there seems to have been
a strong mutual aversion between the negroes and
white citizens. In 1826 the former numbered
960; in 1840 they had increased to 2,255, and at
present probably number 3,000. Many of these
are peaceable and industrious; others are idle and
vicious. Their labor comes into direct competi-
tion with that of the whites, and the feeling of
jealousy thus excited is kept alive by the collisions
growing out of their proximity to a slave state.
Many of the negroes too are noisy, swaggering
and extremely insolent. The adult males pro-
baably number six hundred. In June last a
Mr. McCalla went from Kentucky to Cincinnati
to reclaim a fugitive slave who had taken refuge
at the house of one Burnet, an Englishman; he
finally effected his purpose not without resistance
and the gathering of a mob. In the ovening a mob
of several hundred men and boys assailed the
house of Mr. Burnet but were soon dispersed by
the Police.
In August a German, while defending his gar-
den against their depredations, was assailed by
two negroes, and so badly wounded that he is since
dead. The negroes were immediately apprehend-
ed. Some months since, a lady walking in the
streets in the morning was grossly insulted by sev-
eral negroes, who escaped apprehension. About
the same time the blacks greatly disturbed the
peace of the city by noise, &c. in the night. On
the Tuesday night previous to the mob a quarrel
arose, in which a white man was shot by a negro.
On Wednesday night a party of Irishmen, armed
with clubs, went to a house inhabited by negroes,
and demanded the one who shot their companion
on the previous night. A gun was fired, consid-
erable disturbance created, and the mob dispersed
by the watch. Early on Thursday evening a negro
man and woman, while walking in the market,
were assailed by some boys, who threw sand upon
them, and a slight quarrel ensued. The negro
went away and returned with another, when a
new quarrel ensued, in which two young men who
had come to the assistance of the boys were se-
verely wounded. On Friday there was great ex-
citement; the negroes were apprised of their dan-
ger, and armed for defence. Several white men,
one of them called a Judge, assisted in preparing
for defending the houses. The women and chil-
dren were sent away for safety. The outbreak
soon followed, with the details of which our read-
ers are already acquainted. These facts are given
as the several steps by which the mob spirit ad-
vanced to its full development.
[Col.5]
COURT OF SESSIONS—September 20.—Before the Re-
corder and Judges Lynch and Noah.
William Wiley, Esq. appeared in Court with his coun-
sel, W. M. Price and Charles O'Conner, Esqs., and moved
the transfer of the indictment against him for receiving
stolen monies to the Court of Oyer and Terminer for trial.
The Court expressed themselves at the present stage of
the proceedings not prepared to grant the application, and
advised the renewal of it this morning.
The Court then resumed the trial of Dr. Charles H.
Jackson for manslaughter in the 2d degree, charged with
causing the death of the infant of Miss Susan Skaats by
procuring an abortion in March, 1840, and were occupied
therein the entire day. The testimony closed on both
sides at 3½ o'clock; the Recorder charged the jury at 4½
o'clock, and the latter returned a verdict of guilty of pro-
ducing an abortion.
================================================================
[Col.1]
From the Sun.
UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL.
[Reported for the Sun.]
☞ In the Courier of last Saturday the Editor
stated that he was “authorized by Professors Mott
and Pattison to announce that in future the non-pro-
fessional public and reporters for newspapers were to
be excluded” from the Surgical clinique of the Medi-
cal college. To those who are unacquainted with
the Courier's proficiency in falsehood, we beg to state
that the above announcement is entirely unauthorized
and wholly untrue.
Remarks.—The Sun then proceeds to make a full
report of the “operations” at the College on Satur-
day; which certainly would appear to warrant the
supposition, that we were not authorized to announce
that the doors of the institution would be closed
against every body not connected with the Medical
Profession.
It becomes our duty, therefore, to say, that we
made the annunciation on the authority of Dr.
HUGH McLEAN, who distinctly stated to us that he
was requested by Professors MOTT and PATTISON to
say to us, that henceforth the doors of the Institu-
tion would be closed against every body except Me-
dical men and Students, during their Surgical opera-
tions. We at first refused to made the announce-
ment without having it in writing from the Profes-
sors; but finally concluded to do so, well knowing
that no man in this City is worthy of more implicit
confidence than Dr. McLEAN. That the Professors
did authorize him to make the statement to us, no
person who knows Dr. McLEAN, his eminence in his
profession, and his unquestionable veracity, will for
a moment doubt. Why then this trifling with the
public? We shall sift this matter till the truth be
elicited.
[Col.2]
The Herald.—We have received an able commu-
nication exhibiting in its true colors the character of
Mr. TYLER's organ in this city; but here, it is too
well known to require any such “serving up.” The
communication like another of a similar character,
which we admitted in part, some weeks since, speaks
of the Herald as “the organ of JOHN TYLER, Mad-
am RESTELL and Dr. BRANDETH.” This is unjust to
the latter individual. Madam RESTELL is a disgrace
alike to her sex, to our city, to the paper in which her
advertisements appear, and to our Police; but not so
with Dr. BRANDRETH. He but advertises purely ve-
getable medicine in his own peculiar style, from which
tens of thousands think they have derived benefit,
and which the learned among the faculty, are ready
to admit can do no harm if they accomplish no good.
It is not proper therefore, to use his name in connec-
tion with that of the infamous RESTELL; and we are
free to admit, that in all slight cases, we would much
prefer his simple and harmless vegetable preparation,
puffed as it is, to the mineral drugs of the apothecary
shops.
[Col.4]
GENERAL SESSIONS—Yesterday.
Before the Recorder, Judges Noah and Lynch, and Aldermen
Jones and O'Neil.
...
The trial of Dr. Jackson, was then resumed, and the court
were occupied until a late hour in hearing the testimony on the
part of the prosecution. Mr. Nagle, on the part of the defence,
then opened the case to the jury, and proceeded to call a num-
ber of witnesses to the stand. The testimony here closed on both
sides, when the court took a recess until half past 4 o'clock.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF SESSIONS—YESTERDAY.
[Reported for the Sun.]
Before the Recorder, and Judges Lynch and
Noah.
...
The Court then resumed the trial of Dr. Charles
H. Jackson, on an indictment for manslaughter in
the 2d degree, in causing the death of the infant of
Mrs. Susan Skaats, by producing abortion in her
in March, 1840—and were occupied in the same
throughout the day, the testimony closing at 3 1-2
o'clock. At 4 1-2 o'clock the court charged the
jury, who retired and returned into court with a
verdict guilty of producing an abortion.
================================================================
================================================================
THE MIDDLEBURY PEOPLE'S PRESS. Tuesday Morning, September 21, 1841 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.3. From Courier]
THE CASE OF MARY C. ROGERS.—Affairs
...
[Col.4]
...
to ferret out the authors of this dreadful trage-
dy.—N. Y. Courier and Enquirer.
================================================================
[Col.2. Partly from Herald]
THE MARY ROGERS AFFAIR.—Although the
actors in this horrible tragedy have not been
discovered, some facts have come to light
which define the site of the murder with
plausible accuracy. It appears, from a state-
ment published in the Herald, that Mary
Rogers was seen to cross the ferry on the day
of the murder, by Adam a stage driver, who
recognised her. She was afterwards seen by
Mrs. Loss, who keeps a house, formerly oc-
cupied by Nick Moore at the foot of Wee-
hawken Heights. Mrs. Loss's attention was
particularly called to her in consequence of
her wearing a dress similar to one worn by a
deceased relative. She was accompanied by
a dark complexioned young man. She was
afterwards seen about a mile and half be-
yond the hotel, on the heights. In the
evening, soon after dark, Mrs. Loss had oc-
casion to send her child, Oscar, to drive a bull
home. Soon after he was gone, she heard
dreadful screams and cries, which sounded
like “Oh! Oh! God!” She was frightened
for the child, thinking the bull had tossed
him, and rushed out. She then heard a
stifled, suffering scream, and all was still.
She found her boy safe, and thought no more
of the matter, further, than supposing it was
some fight of the drunken rowdies in the hab-
it of coming over on Sundays, and who, on
that day, were there in great numbers. On
the 25th ult., her boys were out collecting
sassafras bark, and penetrating a small thick-
et, discovered the identical scarf worn by the
young lady at Mrs. Loss's on the night of the
murder, also a parasol, and a pocket hand-
kerchief, marked with Mary Rogers name,
and other articles of dress. The conclusion
drawn is, that Mary Rogers and her attendant
were belated in consequence of the rain, and
in passing this thicket were set upon by some
of the rowdies, and probably both murdered.
There yet remains the man to be accounted
far. Has his body been found, or has he not
been murdered, or is her so terrified, lest he
should be considered the murderer, that he
has not dared to come forward? He may do
so with safety, for the circumstantial evidence
points to the bloody act as the work of a gang
and not an individual.
================================================================
[Col.5]
OUR CITY.—There are yet among us violent and
reckless men, ready for any act of violence. The
row in Post Office alley, the night before last, and
the attempt to fire the Church on Longworth street,
mentioned in another column, show that beyond
doubt.
Let it however be known that an efficient volun-
teer police, in numbers sufficient to protect the peace
of the city at all hazards, HAS BEEN ORGANIZED, and
is ready for action. Rogues and rioters had better
take themselves off.—[Cincinnati Gaz.]
...
MURDER AT CAMBRIDGEPORT.—A most horrid
murder was committed yesterday at the Almshouse
in Cambridge. About 10 o'clock, A. M., one of the
inmates of the house, an Englishman, a native of
Halifax, N. S., by the name of William H. Brittain,
entered a room, where three female inmates were,
and with a large carving knife inflicted a mortal
wound upon Sarah Stevenson, a young woman of
Irish descent, about twenty years old, of which she
instantly died. He then attempted to take his own
life, but without success.
Brittain had made proposals of marriage to the
young woman, who, for some time past had been out
of health, and was of an exemplary moral character,
which she had rejected, and it is supposed that he in-
tended to destroy her and himself, as he had two ra-
zors in his pocket. Brittain is a man of good edu-
cation, about fifty-six years old, and had been enga-
ged in teaching children in the establishment.
He was examined before Justice Chamberlain, and
committed for trial.—[Boston Merc. Jour.]
[Col.7]
TO THE FRIENDS OF A FREE PRESS.
The presses of the Cincinnati Philanthropist, edited
by Dr. Gamaliel Bailey, Jun., having been destroyed by
a mob on Saturday night, 4th inst, an appeal has been
made by the editor, which is thus noticed in one of the
daily papers of this city:
“We have received a copy of the Cincinnati Philan-
thropist, (Abolition paper) printed after the destruction
of its press for the third time by a mob. The editor says
he has been advised to suspend the publication of his
paper for the present, but that he cannot do so, as it
would be a sacrifice of the right of free discussion. 'So
long as the friends of liberty shall aid, by the help of our
Father in Heaven, we abide at our post. All we ask is
the means. Our Society is in debt. Our printer is a
poor man, and has lost all but his type. Perhaps $800
will cover his loss, and $100 ours.' We hope this loss
will be made up to them; and that others beside Aboli-
tionists will contribute for this purpose. It is a mean
and dastardly business to make war upon printing mate-
rials; and mob violence, in any shape, ought be frowned
upon by every friend of order and law.”
Contributions for the editor, printer, or the cause, will
be received, acknowledged and transmitted, by request,
if sent to
LEWIS TAPPAN, No. 7 Dorr's Buildings,
Corner of Exchange and Hanover streets,
s21 3tis rear of Merchants' Exchange.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE DOG WAR.—It is announced that since
the work of killing dogs in this city began, on the
5th of June last, two thousand and sixty-one dogs
have been put out of the way.
Ah me! what boos it that the dogs are slain,—
Since the whole race of puppies yet remain?
Thus said St. John Honeywood forty years since,
on the occasion of a like slaughter of the canine
race, and his lines are as full of meaning now as
then.
[Col.4]
AWFUL MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN.—Yes-
terday forenoon, a most fiendlike murder was com-
mitted in the Cambridge Alms House, (Cambridge-
port) on the person of a young woman named Sa-
rah Stevenson, by a man named William H. Brit-
ton. He plunged a huge carving knife in between
her right foreshoulder and breast, clear through
her heart and lungs, and out under her left shoul-
der-blade.
Britton, as a pauper, became an inmate of the
Alms House in September, 1840, being aged and
somewhat infirm. He possessed some literary ac-
quirements, and was employed as a teacher to the
children in the establishment. In June last, Miss
Stevenson, then laboring under a painful disease,
became an inmate of the House, and, after she had
improved in health in some degree, she undertook
to learn to write under the instructions of Britton.
In consequence of the familiar intercourse natu-
rally arising thus, Britton conceived a violent pas-
sion for her, and proposed to marry her.
She declined on account of his age and inability
to support a family. He pressed his suit, and she
laid the subject before Mr. Valentine, the excellent
superintendent, who at once advised her to avoid
Britton as much as she could, and told her, when-
ever he entered her room, to leave it, and come in-
to his private apartment. She acted upon this ad-
vice for some weeks. On Sunday morning, he en-
tered her room, and she then left it, and went into
one occupied by two other women.
He did not immediately follow her, and she began
to read to her companions from a new testament,
which Mr. Valentine had presented to her. While
thus engaged, Britton entered, and said to the other
two women—“Is this your room?” Before they
returned any definite answer, he drew the carving
knife from under his shirt bosom, advanced towards
the deceased, seized her round the body, and flung
her on to a bed. One of the women caught hold
of him, but he turned upon her with the uplifted
knife, like a tiger, and she quailed before him.—
The other woman then grasped him round the
body, but was driven off in the same manner as the
first one. The deceased in the meantime was ex-
claiming—“Don't kill me! Don't kill me!” He
first made a violent pass at her throat, but she
partly stopped the knife with her right hand, in
which it cut a horrible gash, four inches long, but
only barely scratched her throat. He then struck
at her as above stated, and drove the knife clear
through the body.
In the spasmodic agony of the moment, she
sprang from the bed, advanced toward the door,
and fell dead on the threshold. Mrs. Valentine had
rushed up to her assistance, and as she fell, bent
over her to raise her, but Britton also struck at
her, and forced her to keep back. “Murder” was
cried in every quarter of the building, and reached
the ear of James Forriter, teamster, in the yard,
who ran up stairs, and seized Britton while in the
act of bending over his murdered victim. When
seized, he dropped the knife like a child.
A coroner's inquest was immediately held, and a
verdict of wilful murder returned. After a short
examination before Justice Chamberlain, a which
he confessed the deed, he was conveyed to the jail
at East Cambridge, kept by Mr. Watson.
The deceased was a native of Ireland, about
twenty years of age—quite handsome, and very in-
telligent, and exceedingly desirous of mental im-
provement. she was very much respected, on ac-
count of her excellent conduct, notwithstanding
her poverty.
Britton is fifty-seven years of age—a native of
Halifax, N. S., out of which port he has sailed ma-
ny years as master of a vessel. During the last
war he was taken by an American privateer, com-
manded by Capt. Crowninshield, and carried in a
prisoner at Salem. He is a widower, his wife ha-
ving been dead nine years, and during this period,
he has also buried two women-grown daughters.
Half an hour before he committed the awful deed,
he led the religious services in the Sabbath School
of the establishment, with apparent profound sin-
cerity and devotion, and joined the children in sing-
ing, with marked fervor, the hymn, from the “Sab-
bath School Harp,” beginning with
“How shall the young secure their hearts,
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts,
To keep the conscience clean.”
Boston Morning Post, Extra, Sept. 20.
================================================================
[Col.7 / Col.7. Mostly as in Courier]
MISS ROGERS.—A Mr. Loss, who keeps a tav-
ern on the embankment near Wehawken, has
been examined before the mayor of New-York,
and states that Miss Rogers was at his house on
the evening of the 25th of July last, in company
with several young men, and that she drank some
lemonade offered by one of them. Mrs. Loss al-
so identified the clothes found in the woods near
there, as part of the clothes worn by the unfortu-
nate girl on that occasion. Whatever other clue
may have been discovered, has been kept secret,
though we have hopes of the ultimate success of
the endeavors to ferret out the authors of this
dreadful tragedy.
================================================================
[Col.2]
PRACTICAL JOKES.—We understand that the
Grand Jury have found true bills against Messrs.
M. M. Noah, N. T. Eldridge and M. Y. Beach
for libels upon the character of James Gordon
Bennett, of the Herald. The gentlemen of the
Jury must be great wags; this is decidedly the
best joke of the season.
[Col.3]
☞ Mr. Samuel Adams, printer at the corner
of Ann and Gold-streets, left his office about nine
o'clock on Friday last, to do some business at the
office of the Missionary Herald, and has not since
returned or been heard of by his friends. Great
concern is felt for his fate. His pecuniary affairs
were not embarrassed, he had some money with
him, and was a man of exemplary moral and reli-
gious character. It is hardly possible that he
should have gone off voluntarily, if in his right
mind. Any information of him, directed to Mr.
Monahan, Adams's printing office, corner of Ann
and Gold-streets, will be gratefully received by his
afflicted family.
[Col.5. Partly as in Evening Post]
HORRID MURDER.—The Boston Post contains
an account of a most atrocious murder, committed
at the Cambridge Alms House, on Sunday last, by
a man named William H. Britton. The Post gives
the following particulars.
Britton, as a pauper, became an inmate of the
...
period he has also buried two women-grown daugh-
ters.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.4. As in as in Evening Post]
AWFUL MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN.—Yesterday
forenoon a most fiendlike murder was committed in
the Cambridge Alms House, (Cambridgeport) on the
...
“Sabbath School Harp,” beginning with
“How shall the young secure their hearts,
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts,
To keep the conscience clean.”
—Boston Post Extra, Sept. 20.
[Col.5]
General Sessions.
Before the Recorder, Judges Noah and Lynch and two
Aldermen.
SEPT. 21.—Case of Dr. Jackson.—On motion of the de-
fendant's counsel, the judgment of the Court in this case
was suspended until the first day of next term.
...
A Judge Indicted.—William Wiley appeared to plead to
the indictment found against him, and put in a plea, of
not guilty.
...
County Court.
SEPT. 21.—This tribunal met yesterday, pursuant to
adjournment, for the trial of Milne Parker, one of the
Special Justices, etcetera. At half past four the roll was
called by the clerk. Present, the Recorder, the Mayor,
and the three Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, to-
gether with seventeen Aldermen.
Mr. Russell, counsel for Isaac J. Wood, the complain-
ant, then addressed the Court in support of the charges
and specifications, which, in substance, are as follows:—
First.—For wrongfully arresting Wood on a com-
plaint of false pretences, and taking from his person
eleven one thousand dollar bills, three three dollar bills,
gold pencil, gold watch and chain, a due bill for two
thousand dollars, two pair of gloves, one penknife and a
draft for $175 75.
Second.—For looking up Wood in the city prison, and
for an unwarranted and violent assumption of power on
the part of the said Milne Parker, in locking said Wood
up in the prison, and for marking the word private on the
commitment.
Third.—For maliciously and in direct violation of law
and his oath of office, in issuing two temporary commit-
ments against said Wood and Henry E. Willard, without
any complaints under oath, and for causing said Wood and
Willard to be dragged down to the prison and again
locked up.
...
Fifth and Sixth.—In maliciously causing certain arti-
cles to be inserted in the newspapers, and in paying over
to Howland & Aspinwall the sum of $11,000, which act
is a violent assumption of power unauthorized by any
law, and inconsistent with the magisterial duties of said
Parker.
Second Charge—First.—In illegally arresting one James
Fitzsimmons, after he had been discharged by Justice
Matsell, and recommitting said Fitzsimmons to prison
without any of the requisitions of the statute being com-
plied with.
Second.—In causing one Jeremiah Primrose to be arrest-
ed and sent to the Penitentiary, contrary and in direct vio-
lation of law.
Third.—In illegally and without any complaint on affi-
davit, arresting one James T. Bacon, and confining him
in the City Prison for thirteen days.
Fourth.—In illegally committing one Emma Bowling
to the Penitentiary as a vagrant, in a manner cruel, un-
just and oppressive, and not warranted by law.
To these several charges the accused had put in long
answers, denying the malice as specified in causing the
arrest of Wood and Willard, and justifying himself in ta-
king the property of, and locking up Wood and Willard,
for reasons set forth respecting the minor charges.
Isaac T. Wood sworn and examined—Was arrested by
officer Collins at the Howard House, on the 13th of July,
and taken to Broad street at his (Wood's) request to see a
Mr. Willson. Went from there to the Police office be-
fore Justice Merritt. While there another officer came
and arrested witness on a bench warrant. Some short
time after this witness was taken into an inner room be-
fore Justice Parker, who, while sitting on the bench call-
ed witness a thief and other opprobrious words. Wit-
ness said he did not come there to be insulted. He re-
plied “you won't hey?” and then left the room by a
side door, and on his return he handed Collins, the offi-
cer, a paper, and told him “to search that man and take
any thing he has about him.” Witness requested to see
his attorney, to which the Justice replied “search him,
carry him off and lock him up.” Witness protested
against their right to search him in the presence of a la-
dy who was there, and after she was taken out he said
he had no objection provided they had a legal right so
to do. After some time five or six officers came in and
gathered round the witness. He asked for permission to
send for his counsel, but they paid no attention to his re-
quest, but proceeded to search, Parker telling Collins
“that if he did not do his duty immediately, he would
strike him off the list.”
...
The case had not concluded when the Court rose and
adjourned.
[Col.6. Mostly as in Daily Albany Argus]
LIBEL SUIT.—At the Circuit Court held in this
village last week by Judge Gridley, came on the li-
bel suit brought by James Fennimore Cooper against
Park Benjamin, editor of the “New World.” The
...
Let it not again be said by Mr. Cooper's persecutors
that a jury of his own immediate fellow-citizens
would never award him a verdict in his libel cases.
—Cooperstown F. Journal.
NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, September 22, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3 / Col.3]
Great Meeting in the Ninth Ward to oppose
the payment of Salaries to Messrs. Lynch
and Noah.
A very large and highly respectable meet-
ing was held last night at the Jefferson Hall, in the
9th Ward, to sustain those members of the Board of
Supervisors, who have voted against the payment
of salaries to Messrs. Lynch and Noah, and particu-
larly to sustain their very worthy and efficient Al-
derman, Mr. Leonard, in the course he has taken.
Mr. Gilbert called the meeting to order by nomi-
nating Stepen D. Gardner as Chairman. Thomas
H. Allaire and Jonathan A. Weeks were chosen
Secretaries.
The call of the meeting was read, and a commit-
tee of five were appointed to draft resolutions.
Messrs. Garrett Gilbert, J. V. Greenfield, Ed. Pat-
terson, Thomas Lloyd and J. McMillan, were ap-
pointed a committee, and they reported the follow-
ing resolutions:—
Whereas, the Board of Supervisors of the city and
county of New York have refused to pay James Lynch
and Mordecai M. Noah the salaries claimed by them as
Judges of the Courts of General and Special Sessions of
the Peace for the city and county of New York, on the
ground that the Act of the Legislature, by virtue where-
of the said James Lynch and Mordecai M. Noah were
appointed, was in direct and palpable violation of the
Charter of the city, inasmuch as it, in terms, attempted
to deprive the Aldermen of the city of their rights and
power as Judges of the said Court.
...
Resolved, That this meeting fully approve the course
of the Alderman of the ward Moses G. Leonard, Esq., in
refusing to vote for the payment of the salaries of Judges
Lynch and Noah, believing that refusal to be in accor-
dance with the opinions and feelings of the people of
the Ninth Ward, and fully justifiable as a means of de-
fending the charter of the city and the constitution of
the State from further invasions.
Resolved, That we regard the act of Wm. H. Seward
and the Senate, in removing judges from office without
cause or complaint being preferred against them, for the
purpose of filling their places with the supple tools of
his dictatorial will, as arbitrary and tyrannical, and for
which a precedent can only be found in the despotism
and ignorance of the dark ages.
...
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be
published in the Standard, Herald, Post, New Era, Planet
and Sun.
These were put and carried unanimously, with loud
cheering.
Mr. SWACKHAMMER, member of the Legislature,
was then called on to address the meeting. He
said:—
“In the object of this meeting, that of sustaining those
supervisors who are opposed to the payment of the sala-
ries of Messrs. Lynch and Noah, I do most heartily con-
cur; and I will use all the honest influence I can to sus-
tain the supervisors, and to drive those men from the
bench; they never ought to have been appointed,
and their salaries never ought to be paid. It is known
...
[Col.4]
...
The following resolution was then, after some dis-
cussion, carried unanimously:—
Resolved, That we, the democrats of the Ninth Ward,
do request Robert H. Morris, the Mayor of this city and
President of the Board of Supervisors, not to vote in that
Board for the payment of the salaries of Judges Lynch
and Noah.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the
meeting adjourned.
[Col.5 / Col.6]
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER.—An evening paper
says of the inside of this place, “there is not a flat
rock there, not a platform, or even surface, a foot
diameter.” What nonsense; there are three flat
rocks, and at least three persons could sit thereon
conveniently, and we think four could. This print
also says, “It can only be entered on all fours, or
on the hands and knees.” Nonsense again. The
entrance is rather difficult, but any one can enter
flat-footed, who will take the trouble to bend his
back a little, either at the upper or lower entrance.
[Col.6]
RIOTS AND ARSON IN CINCINNATI.—ATTEMPT TO
BURN A CHURCH.—Yesterday morning, about three
o'clock, an attempt was made to burn the Reformed
Presbyterian Church, on George, between Race
and Elm streets. The incendiaries had taken a
quantity of shavings into the church, which they en-
tered from a back window, placed them in a small
cupboard under the pulpit, and communicated fire
thereto. The people occupying an adjoining house
discovered the flames in time to save the church, and
probably much other property in the neighborhood.
We understand that on Monday night last the win-
dows of this church were broken, no doubt with a
view to further violence. Through the windows
then broken the incendiaries entered.
A serious riot took place in this city on Tuesday
evening, 14th inst. In the early part of the night in-
formation was given at the watch house of an as-
sault committed on a woman in a disorderly house
on Bank Alley, between Main and Walnut streets.
Some of the watchmen immediately went to pre-
serve the peace, and when in the house they were
attacked, and three of them, Capt. Ewan, Lieute-
nant J. B. Bowlin and Robt. Coppin, wounded; the
last two dangerously, and were insensible at day-
light. Mr. Saffin, the marshal, was as usual, imme-
diately in the discharge of his duty, and proceeded
to arrest the men, who are supposed to be butchers.
They were traced over the canal, and about two
o'clock one man was arrested, after considerable re-
sistance, and making threats to shoot the police with
a pistol he held.—Cincinnati Gazette, Sept. 16.
================================================================
[Col.5]
NINTH WARD.
☞ At a large meeting of the Electors of the Ninth
Ward, held at Jefferson Hall, corner of Hudson and Charles
streets, STEPHEN D. GARDNER, Esq. was called to the
chair, and Thomas H. Allaire and Jonathan O. Wickes,
were appointed secretaries.
...
Resolved, That this meeting fully approve the course of
the Alderman of the ward, Moses S. Leonard, Esq., in re-
fusing to vote for the payment of the salaries of Judges
Lynch and Noah, believing that refusal to be in accordance
with the opinions and feelings of the people of the Ninth
...
The meeting was ably addressed by Messrs. C. Swack-
hammer, G. Gilbert, and Edward Patterson.
STEPHEN D. GARDNER, Chairman.
Thomas H. Allaire, } Secretaries.
J. O. Wickes, } s23 1t
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.3, PIC]
VIEW OF WEEHAWKEN—THE THICKET—THE SCENE OF THE
MURDER—THE BAY, &c.
Weehawken! In they mountain scenery yet,
All we adore of nature in her wild
And frolic hour of infancy, is met;
And never has a summer's morning smiled
Upon a lovelier scene, than the full eye
Of the enthusiast revels on—when high
Amid thy forest solitudes, he climbs
O'er crags, that proudly tower above the deep,
And knows that sense of danger which sublimes
The breathless moment—when his daring step
Is on the verge of the cliff, and he can hear
The low dash of the wave with startled ear,
Like the death-music of his coming doom,
And clings to the green turf with desperate force,
As the heart clings to life; and when resume
The currents in his veins their wonted course,
There lingers a deep feeling—like the moan
Of wearied ocean, when the storm is gone.
In such an hour he turns, and on his view,
Ocean, and earth, and heaven, burst before him;
Clouds slumbering at his feet, and the clear blue
Of summer's sky in beauty bending o'er him—
The city bright below; and far away,
Sparkling in golden light, his own romantic bay.
Tall spire, and glittering roof, and battlement,
And banners floating in the sunny air;
And white sails o'er the calm blue waters bent,
Green isle, and cirling shore, are blended there
In wild reality. When life is old,
And many a scene forgot, the heart will hold
Its memory of this; nor lives there one
Whose infant breath was drawn, or boyhood's days
Of happiness were pass'd beneath that sun,
That in his manhood's prime can calmly gaze
Upon that bay, or on that mountain stand,
Nor feel the prouder of his native land.
Beautiful as are these lines, they are no less true
than beautiful; they have always given a tenfold
interest to the scenery around Weehawken, which
the late horrible affair will heighten rather than di-
minish. It is worse than idle on the part of many
persons who ought to know better, to attempt to
throw a doubt over the locality of the murder of this
poor girl. It was undoubtedly done at Weehaw-
ken. The spot already described as the thicket, is
comparatively close to the river. The route from
it to the river can be travelled even in the day time,
frequently without meeting a single soul, much more
in the night. The spot is just an one as would be
selected for such a murder. After dark, it frequently
happens that not a soul passes that place by the
hour together. A thousand persons may pass the
spot even now, and not notice it. Even if all the
articles once belonging to Mary Rogers, that were
recently found there, were to be replaced within
that thicket, with three times as many, we might
wager any sum with perfect safety, that at least a
thousand persons might pass and repass that spot in
broad daylight, and never notice one of the articles,
unless they were pointed out to him or her. Indeed,
it is perfectly impossible that any one could see
them till they reached the inside of the thicket, so
closely and densely intertwined are the leaves and
branches around there. So much, then, for the silly
statement that the articles must have been recently
put there, or they would have been discovered be-
fore.
With regard to another statement that has gone
abroad, that no one young woman would have gone
in there voluntarily, that amounts to nothing.—
Whether Miss Rogers went in there of her own ac-
cord with the young man who was with her, or
whether she did not, is a matter of very little mo-
ment, as far as the fact of her being there is con-
cerned. We have, it is true, once or twice, for a
moment supposed it possible that she did go there of
her own free will, or by persuasion, with the young
man who was with her; that whilst seated there
talking, or taking shelter from the rain, or other-
wise, they were discovered by the rowdies, who
murdered both. But this is mere surmise. The
more probable view is, that she, and the young man
who was at Mrs. Loss's with her, were coming
down the grassy middle road; that he was knocked
down senseless, and she was seized; that she then
screamed, and was heard by Mrs. Loss; then was
[Col.4]
chocked till she was senseless, and dragged into this
thicket out of the way, on the approach of Mrs.
Loss. And the body of a man might lay on the
grass road at dusk, and a person pass along the low-
er road, and never notice it, or see it. Or the young
man who was with her might on that very road have
been attempting to take liberties with her; she re-
sisted and screamed; he choked her, dragged her
into the thicket, and there violated and murdered
her. Then stayed by the dead and mangled body of
his victim, in that dark thicket, with no eye but that
of God upon the murderer and the murdered maid,
until all was still—perhaps till near midnight. Then,
tying the frock around her to form a handle, he car-
ried her to the river, and hurled her in, and fled, too
horror stricken to think of returning to the scene of
the murder, to remove the articles found by the
boys.
Who that young man was, yet remains to be as-
certained. The probability is, that neither his or
her murderers will be discovered until that great
day of reckoning for the sons and daughters of men,
when the just and the unjust shall stand in the pre-
sence of Him who made them, there to give an ac-
count of the deeds done in the body.
[Col.6]
ANOTHER OUTRAGE AND PROBABLY MURDER.—On Wed-
nesday afternoon as a woman in employment of Mrs.
J. Kenney, who keeps a feather store in Hudson street,
was passing through Hudson street, on her way to the
store, with a heavy bundle of picked hair for mattrasses
on her back, she was met by three young rowdies. One
of them made a jump on her back which brought her on
the side walk with great force. The cries of the poor
woman brought a number of persons to her assistance.
She was taken up and found to be very much hurt; a
cab was procured and she was conveyed to her residence
in Beach street. Two or three medical gentlemen were
immediately in attendance, and on examination, the spine
of the back was found to be broken, and the woman oth-
erwise severely injured. So much so, that the physi-
cians deemed it necessary to have her conveyed to the
Hospital. The fellows immediately made off, after they
saw what mischief they had done.
TRIAL OF JUSTICE PARKER.—The County Court orga-
nized, but, on motion of Alderman Benson, immediately
adjourned to this day at 4 P. M.
———————
OUTRAGE IN THE CAPITOL GARDEN.—We have just
been informed by Mr. Mather, the public gardener,
that in the course of Monday night, some ill dispos-
ed persons went into the beautiful garden attached
to the Capitol, and destroyed a great number of va-
luable plants and flowers, such as cabbage roses, &c.
Besides acting in this outrageous manner, the vil-
lains cut and carried away not less than 1500 of the
choice dahlias which have been raised with so much
care, and which were so beautiful and ornamental
to the public grounds.—National Intelligencer.
NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, September 24, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.1]
The New York Herald—Its Position—Its
Character.
We have the pleasure of announcing to our nu-
merous readers in America and Europe, that this
journal has now reached a position in the world
above all opposition—and a character—a moral one,
too—for early and accurate intelligence, that out-
strips every thing of the kind ever known in this
busy world. The wars are all over—we are at peace
with the whole world, and we can contemplate our
triumphs with pride and gratification—with full
pockets, and a fine young son that, at the age of four
months, can pronounce words of one syllable.
The position, the reputation, and the accuracy of
the Herald, are acknowledged in all quarters. Let us
give a brief résumé of the evidence on these points.
1st. A grave convention of highly respectable
whig members of Congress have acknowledged, in
their late “address” to the people, that the New
York Herald discovered and published the state se-
crets of the government before the members of the
late cabinet did it themselves, and that they had to
resort to the columns of the Herald for the most cor-
rect and accurate views of the President. [N. B.
Such blockheads were not fit for any cabinet.]
2d. A retiring cabinet minister, called by the
name of the Hon. Thomas Ewing, very properly ad-
mits, in a long letter to the President, that the se-
crets of their consultations were published in the
Herald as soon as the intelligence could reach New
York by express—and this same distinguished states-
man is so generous as to allow, in a grave public do-
cument, that he had to resort to our columns as to
the accurate exponent of the President's mind.
Great times for small potatoes these!
3d. The “National Intelligencer,” a highly re-
spectable print, published on the everlasting credit
system, in Washington City, states, substantially,
that their attention was first called to the Herald,
from the early and accurate intelligence of the
movements of the cabinet, which its columns con-
tained—and that to the remarkable intellectual in-
fluence of the Herald is the country indebted for the
suicide of the late cabinet, and the appointment of
a new and better one.
4th. The “Courier and Enquirer,” published in
Wall street, hitherto considered the organ of the
whig party, and the confidential avenue of a whig
President to the public, acknowledges itself com-
pletely out-generalled by the superior diplomacy of
the Herald, and freely admits that this journal is
the “organ of the Executive in New York”—the
“Court Journal” of the President of the United
States—and the favorite journal of the New York
University Medical School, besides been the repre-
sentative of all the other new and interesting move-
ments of the day.
5th. The “New York American”—the “New
York Evening Star”—the “Albany Evening Jour-
nal”—the “Richmond Whig”—the “Boston Atlas”
—and all the leading so-called whig papers, admit
the same facts, and give evidence of the same cha-
racter. Indeed the “New York American” goes
father in its kindness, and admits, without a quali-
fication, that the first intelligence of the recent po-
litical events in this country, the vetoes, the cabinet
explosion, &c. was communicated to the reading
rooms of London and Liverpool, from the Herald
office, by a sort of electro-magnetic power, which
we alone possess, that enables us to look into futu-
rity, and to predict events to take place, as accu-
rately as he that guides them.
...
The circulation of this journal is accordingly com-
mensurate with its reputation. Our aggregate circu-
lation, in Europe and America, is now over THIRTY
THOUSAND COPIES, and calculating that each
paper is read by ten persons, it gives a total of
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND persons in all
ranks of society, from the President of the United
States, and Louis Philippe of France, down to the
lowliest and steadiest mechanic, that read, study,
and feel with the spirit, facts, and doctrines of the
New York Herald. This vast number of readers
forms, with us, a centre and a distribution of thought,
in the midst of civilization, in finance, politics, mo-
rals and religion, and must have a great and good
effect on the progress of society and the improve-
ment of the present century.
Our vast newspaper system is, therefore, doing for
the soul and intellect of the masses, what the dis-
coveries in steam, electricity, and magnetism are
doing for the great physical movements of the age.
The crooked paths are made straight—and the long
ones short—the highways and byways of “th' olden
time” are abandoned, and every thing is new, bright,
and auspicious.
And thus we define the position of the Herald.
[Col.5 / Col.4]
EXPERIMENTAL TRIP OF THE KAMSCHATKA.—The
Russian steam frigate went down the bay yester-
day, on an experimental trip. She started from the
North river at ten o'clock in the forenoon, and re-
turned in the evening, a little after six o'clock. She
proved to be a sea ship of the first order, and of great
speed. About forty-five miles were run over, and
her average speed was ten miles an hour. She
started with eight inches of steam, and ran up to ten
and a half. Her speed against a head wind, with
yards squared, and a head tide, of three to four
miles, was nine knots per hour. No steam ship ever
rode so easy, so steady, and so gracefully as did the
Kamschatka on this trial trip. Not the slightest jar
was felt. Every one on board, including M. Bodis-
co, the Russian Minister, and the Belgium Minister,
expressed themselves as highly pleased and satisfied
with this, the first big American steam ship ever
built. More anon.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE SALARIES OF THE JUDGES OF THE SES-
SIONS.—The question before the Board of Supervi-
sors, yesterday, related to the propriety of paying
the salaries of Judges Noah and Lynch. It was
contended by those opposed to paying them, that
the law under which they were made judges was
unconstitutional, and inconsistent with the city
charter; that the services of the judges were not
required, and that, inasmuch as they had already
appealed to the supreme court to decide the ques-
tion, it were better to let the matter come to an issue
in that way. This was the ground taken by all the
democratic members of the Board, except the
Mayor and Alderman Pollock, who voted conscien-
tiously with the other side.
The Mayor said, in explanation of his vote, that
although he was strongly opposed to the law crea-
ting the Judges, he thought the legislature had a
right to pass it, and an unjust and oppressive as it
might be, the laws were only to be resisted in a le-
gal way. The legislature had been empowered to
establish Courts, and as the Court in dispute had
been made by the exercise of a rightful authority,
much as he detested the spirit and manner of the
act, he felt bound to acquiesce. Nothing could be
hoped from either the Supreme Court or the Court
of Errors, whose decisions on such a point any body
might easily anticipate.
The Board meet again to-day, when it is sup-
posed an order will be passed to pay the salaries
of the Judges.
[Col.4]
THE MOON..—M. Arago, the celebrated astrono-
mer, has been giving lectures to crowded audien-
ces, on the nature of the moon. He contends, that
this planet is not an inhabited body, and that it is
without any kind of vitality, either animal or vege-
table. He denies, also, that it has either seas, riv-
ers, or lakes, but admits that it has mountains and
valleys, which, however, he says, are of primitive
formation.
================================================================
[Col.3]
“KAMSCHATKA,” THE RUSSIAN STEAM FRIGATE.—
We stated yesterday, that this war steamer made
an experimental trip down the Bay last Thursday.
She left her anchorage, opposite Jersey City, at ten
o'clock in the morning, run up the river about three
miles, turned, and steamed to Sandy Hook, and a
few miles outside. In all, she run over forty-four
miles of water, and returned to the city at half-past
six in the evening. She was piloted by Mr. Vos-
burg, of the “New York.”
A small and select party of ladies and gentlemen
accompanied her. M. de Bodisco, the Russian
Minister, and the Belgium Minister, were among
the number.
This trip was purely experimental, and made pre-
paratory to the final departure of the steamer, early
next week, for Cronstadt. It proved highly satisfac-
tory; and it is now ascertained that in speed, the
“Kamschatka” is not equalled by any sea steamer
now floating on the Atlantic Ocean, or the Pacific,
or the Indian, or the Black Sea, or the Baltic.
When she started, she displaced 2,468 tons, and
consequently drew a good deal of water. She had
eight inches of steam on, and in running up the ri-
ver her wheels made ten revolutions per minute,
against a three knot tide. And in coming down the
Bay, the steam guage went up to ten and a half
inches, and the revolutions reached ten to ten and a
half per minute. Her speed was then nine miles
per hour, against a head wind, with yards squared,
and a two to three knot tide, which made her actu-
al speed to be at least twelve miles an hour! This
was produced by the use of anthracite coal exclu-
sively. Had bituminous coal been burned, greater
would have been speed. It must here be borne in
mind, that this was the first trip of the steamer, and
that her machinery had never before been used.
At one point in the Bay, where the wind was fa-
vorable, part of her sails were unfurled, and then
she made about thirteen miles per hour. She per-
formed this distance easily, notwithstanding the es-
cape of some steam, which will hereafter be saved,
by the expansion of the pipes and valves. We think
that when a vessel, displacing 2,468 tons, with every
thing about her new and untried, succeeds in mov-
ing through the water at the rate of twelve miles, or
even nine miles per hour, she must be perfect in mo-
del and line.
Her consumption of coal averaged at the rate of
twenty seven tons only per day, and she can therefore
carry one month's supply with no inconvenience
whatever. She burns the anthracite without the use of
blowers, which are used in many steamers burning
the same kind of fuel. This is a great improvement
and an immense saving. We do not believe that
ever a steamer had so cool engine rooms as the
“Kamschatka.” In any part of them, over the boil-
ers, or close to the fires, the air is cool, and the
rooms very light. Indeed, near the fires the draft is
so strong that it blows the lights out. When full
steam is on a person can go all over the iron grated
floors, around and about the boilers and cylinders,
and inspect every piece of machinery almost as
easily and comfortably, and as conveniently, and
as coolly, as they can paintings or statuary on shore,
and perhaps with equal pleasure, too. On Thursday
ladies visited the engine rooms while the machinery
was in motion, walked all around, and came out de-
lighted, and as clean as when they went in. We
must say that the cleanness and neatness of the whole
vessel is remarkable. There is none of that dirty,
dingy appearance, which is characteristic of steam-
ers burning bituminous coal—particularly of Eng-
lish steamers.
One of the principal features of the “Kamschat-
ka” is the steadiness, and easy, swanlike motion,
with which she moves through the water. There is
no jar, no disagreeable noise, arising from the ma-
chinery—all is quiet and firm. Standing on the deck,
persons do not feel as if the entire fabric beneath
them was tumbling to pieces. They feel safe and
secure.
To describe her as she ought to be described would
take several columns, there are so many improve-
ments in her model and her machinery. When she
passed between the “North Carolina” and “La
Belle Poule,” the officers of those vessels were on
their decks, and they remarked, particularly the
French, the beauty of her model and rig, and the
neat and nimble wheels as they ploughed through
the water. These wheels have been constructed on
a new plan, giving to an apparently slight wheel great
strength and increased power of propulsion.
Her engines are of six hundred horse power, and
her tonnage about two thousand. The proportion of
steam power to size is not far from one horse to three
and one-third tons, which is considered the best for
speed. The principle on which her engines are work-
ed is called the triangular. The piston moves hori-
zontally, and the connecting rod is on an incline of
about sixty degrees. The air pump is worked verti-
cally by a crank connected with the beam shaft.
All the machinery is of the most superb kind, fin-
ished in a masterly manner, and made entirely of
Livingston iron. Her four large boilers are made of
American copper, and there is not a bit of foreign
metal about her. Her cylinders weigh ten tons each,
and were the largest ever cast in this country, and
her shafts were the heaviest cast at the time of their
casting.
There is one feature in her machinery which ought
not to be overlooked. That which turnes the wheels
is new, and possesses greater power, and gives greater
steadiness, than any we have ever seen. It has three
joints, like the wrist, elbow, and shoulder of a man's
arm. Those on our steamers have only two joints,
hence the superiority of the propellors of the Rus-
sian steamer. There is no jerk about them.
Connected with the engine is an apparatus with
which the magazine, and in fact the whole vessel,
could be flooded with water in a very short time, so
there is no danger of being burnt up.
The station for the Chief Engineer is so construct-
ed that from one place he can manage and overlook
the whole, and tell in an instant when a neglect of
duty occurs.
Her hull is black, with splendid turned and pointed
bows, and round stern, each surmounted with a
large double-headed gilt eagle. She is rigged like
a ship. She will spread as much canvass as either
the England or Sheffield packet ships. Her spar
deck is flush fore and aft, and gives a clean run of
240 feet. On this are placed four Paixham bomb
cannons. Two are to throw shells of 96 pounds
weight, and two 64 pounds. Above these is the
hurricane deck, which runs across from wheel house
to wheel house. Connected with this is an awning,
which completely covers the spar dack. Around
the wheel houses are erected places for the painters,
carpenters, stewards, boat keepers, closets for the
sailors, as we mentioned last July. Aft are several
splendid state rooms, intended for the Emperor, and
other high officers. To each state room is attached
a small room for servants. Four boats are suspended
upon the davits, and hang even with the deck.
On her forward gun deck are ten port holes, out
of which run ten 36 pounders, mounted on mas-
sive carriages, made of African oak, and brass
mounted. This deck is spacious, light and airy, and
is shut from the after section of the same deck by
sliding or folding doors. These close just forward
of where the cook has an immense cooking appara-
tus, which is laid on the marble for the sake of neat-
ness, durability and safety. Directly astern of this,
runs up the funnel 45 feet, with a rake on a line
with the rake of the masts, and the hoops around it
beveling with the tops. This gives uniformity to
the appearance of the vessel. This funnel is seven
feet in diameter. Aft of it is the machinery which
runs down to the kelson, and is laid on copper.
Under her forward gun deck are the boatswain's
store rooms, magazine, medicine rooms, clerk's of-
fice, gunner's apartments, mess rooms for the sai-
lors, and places for them to sleep, keep their clo-
thing, and stow away their hammocks—and for
compactness and comfort we never saw their like.
Her cabins and drawing rooms are magnificent.
Her main cabin, the farthest astern, is large, the
whole width of the ship, high, spacious, and neatly
fitted up with settees, stuffed with hair, and covered
with haircloth. This cabin will carry six 36 pound-
ers, and they always remain therein ready for use.
Forward are two drawing rooms, fitted up in the
most splendid style, and are intended for the impe-
rial family. The wood work of these rooms con-
sists of mahogany, bird's eye maple, rose and satin
wood, and presents a very fine appearance. Beneath
these are the ward room, and cabins for the officers,
and around are cool pantries and closets, and also
the steward's bar and ample storage room.
For strength her hull is not surpassed by any ves-
sel afloat. She has iron straps innumerable, and
knees and cross knees beneath every deck.
Such is the “Kamschatka.” Her model was
drafted and her line drawn and calculated by Cap-
tain Von Shantz of the Russian Navy, and Captain
Pepin of the Russian Naval Engineer Corps, assisted
by Lieutenants Scharoubine of the Engineer Corps,
and Flotoff of the Navy. And never has so perfect a
model been presented to the public. Her line, as
calculated, has come out precisely, and her speed
fully, if not more than equal to expectation. And
her machinery, which was constructed by Messrs.
Schuyler of Jersey City, after plans of their own, and
of the Russian officers, is an honor to this country.
Its workmanship is superb, and its action beautiful,
easy and satisfactory. It was all put up under the
superintendence of Mr. Scott, an American, who
goes to Russia in the steamer in the capacity of
chief engineer. Her hull was built by Wm. Brown,
the largest steamboat builder in this city. As a spe-
cimen, no better can possibly be sent abroad. She
is the cheapest vessel of the kind we ever heard of,
and her cost is $200,000 less than either that of the
[Col.4]
“Missouri” or the “Mississippi,” the two steam
frigates recently built for our government.
What a reflection she casts upon our merchants.
Here is a vessel, the finest in the world, built in this
city by American shipwrights and American mach-
inists, at an expense of only $400,000, and of speed
unequalled. What a commentary it is too, for the
genius of this country to be brought out by the Czar
of Russia! If our merchants had formed a company
two years ago, with a capital of $1,200,000, they
might now have four steam ships, of the size and di-
mensions of the “Kamschatka,” crossing the Atlantic
in ten days, outstripping every other steamer, and ever
ready to enter the service of the United States in the
event of a war. But they have chosen to let Empe-
ror Nicholas teach them that “some things can be
done as well as others” in the United States.
In conclusion, we have a word to say respecting
the Russian naval officers. They will leave us in a
few days, and we cannot, therefore, lose this oppor-
tunity.
Within the last ten years great progress has been
made in Russia in the arts and sciences, and every
exertion made by the Emperor for the advancement
and improvement of his people. He has left no
stone unturned, and about three years ago he des-
patched Captain Pepin and Lieut. Scheronbine, of
the naval engineer corps, to England, for the pur-
pose of learning every thing in relation to steam na-
vigation, rail roads, dry docks and ship yards, and
to take drawings thereof. Not meeting with much
success in that country, they wrote home to the
Emperor to that effect. He instantly sent them an
order to “go to America.” They arrived here
about two years since, and travelled north, south,
east and west, and also to Texas. They visited
every ship yard, every naval station, every dry dock,
every ship and every steamer in the country. Their
gentlemanly deportment made them friends where-
ver they went. They have been cordially received
from the President down—every facility was afforded
them, and the result is, they have in their porte feuille
plans and drawings of docks and steamers, and steam
engines, and locomotives and spile drivers to the
number of three hundred and over. All these they
drew with their own hands, and a more valuable
collection is not owned by any other government.
After taking them they received instructions to at-
tach themselves to the “Kamschatka,” and assist
Captain Von Shantz in her construction.
With such officers, as the four named above, the
Emperor has reason to feel proud of his navy.
—————
...
PARK BENJAMIN ON FENNIMORE COOPER.—A friend
writes us from Otsego, Sept. 18th, as follows:—
Your very worthy and moral friend Park Benjamin
has, no doubt, them $375 ready to fork over, on that
judgment which J. Fennimore Cooper obtained
against him for libel, at the sitting of the Circuit
Court at Cooperstown this week, Judge Gridley
presiding. Cooper's counsel, the Hon. S. S. Bowne,
M. C. from this district, in summing up the cause,
read paragraphs from Benjamin's own paper, in
which he denounces you as a libeller, and goes on
to depict, in glowing colors, the infamy of such a
character. Mr. B. considered Park's own effusions
as sufficient reasons why the jury should immerse
him in exemplary damages after having the libel
fully proved against him. So did the jury. So the
world goes.
================================================================
[Col.2(1) / Col.6(x). Mostly as in Farmer]
The Mary Rogers Affair.—Although the
actors in this horrible tragedy have not been
discovered, some facts have come to light
which define the site of the murder with plaus-
ible accuracy. It appears, from a statement
published in the Herald, that Mary Rogers
was seen to cross the ferry on the day
of the murder, by Adam, a stage driver,
who recognised her. She was accompanied
by a dark complexioned young man. She
was afterwards seen by Mrs. Loss, who
keeps a house, formerly occupied by Nick
Moore, at the foot of Weekawken Heights.
Mrs. Loss's attention was particularly called
to her in consequence of her wearing a dress
similar to one worn by a deceased relative.
She was afterwards seen about a mile beyond
the hotel, on the heights. In the evening,
after dark, Mrs. Loss had occasion to send
her child, Oscar, to drive a bull home. Soon
after he was gone, she heard dreadful screams
and cries, which sounded like 'Oh! Oh!
God!' She was frightened for the child,
thinking the bull had tossed him, and rushed
out. She then heard a stifled, suffering
scream, and all was still. She found her
boy safe, and thought no more of the matter,
further, than supposing it was some fight of
of the drunken rowdies in the habit of coming
over on Sundays, and who, on that day, were
there in great numbers. On the 25th ult.,
her boys were out collecting sassafras bark,
and penetrating a small thicket, discovered
the identical scarf worn by the young lady at
Mrs. Loss's on the night of the murder, also
a parasol, and a pocket handkercheif, marked
with Mary Rogers's name, and other articles
of dress. The conclusion drawn is, that
Mary Rogers and her attendant were belated
in consequence of the rain, and in passing
this thicket were set upon by some of the
rowdies, and probably both murdered.—
There yet remains the man to be accounted
for. Has his body been found, or has he
not been murdered, or is her so terrified, lest
he should be considered the murderer, that he
has not dared to come forward? He may
do so with safety, for the circumstantial evi-
dence points to the bloody act as the work of
a gang and not an individual.
———
Awful Murder of a Young Woman.—
Yesterday forenoon a most fiendlike murder
was committed in the Cambridge alms house,
...
[Col.3(2)]
...
has also buried two women grown daugh-
ters.—Bost. Post.
================================================================
[Col.3]
MOST HORRIBLE MURDER
Our city has again been the theatre of a most
startling and murderous tragedy. Though less
horrible in its details than the hideous outrage and
murder of Miss Mary Rogers, it yet awakens in the
public mind as deep a thrill of dread excitement
and indignation by its black atrocity, as did that
terrible event. We give below all the well au-
thenticated circumstances which have come to
light respecting it.
Our readers may remember that on Friday the
19th inst. Mr. Samuel Adams, printer at the corner
of Ann and Gold streets, residing at 11 Elizabeth
street, was missed from his home and that from that
day no trace of him could be found. He was said
to have called on that day at the office of the Mis-
sionary Herald where he stated his intention of
going to a store in Canal street, which he never
reached. A notice of his disappearance was pub-
lished on Wednesday last in the Tribune and copi-
ed in various papers with a request that any one
who had seen or heard of him would give informa-
tion thereof to his friends. This notice called forth
the following narration given to the Mayor by Mr.
Wheeler, teacher of a writing academy in a room
in the second story of the large granite building on
the northwest corner of Chambers street and Broad-
way. His room is in the corner, looking into both
Broadway and Chambers street; next to it is the
room of a Mr. J. C. Colt, the author of a work on
Book-keeping, and brother of the well known in-
ventor of repeating firearms. In this room on the
Friday afternoon of Mr. Adams's disappearance,
at about 4 o'clock Mr. Wheeler, who was engaged
with his pupils, heard a scuffle which lasted for a
few moments and was followed by the fall of a
heavy body upon the floor. All noise instantly
ceased.
Thinking this somewhat singular, Mr. Wheeler
left his room, knocked several times at Colt's door,
but received no answer. He tried to get in, but
found the door locked. He then looked in at the
key-hole, and saw two hats upon the table, and a
man, whom from his dress and appearance he
judged to be Colt, busily engaged apparently in
washing the floor. He retired for a considerable
time, and, on returning, saw the same thing, Colt
being still engaged upon the floor. He requested
one of his pupils, whom he also employes as an as-
sistant teacher, to watch until Colt should go out.
The young man remained all night, and, on look-
ing, saw Colt similarly employed at several differ-
ent times. Early in the morning he saw Colt set
outside his door a box about four feet square, di-
rected to some person at “St. Louis via New-Or-
leans.” Colt then went out and soon returned;
shortly after a carman came and took away the
box, Colt going with him. The young man
watched no farther, but reported these occurrences
to Mr. Wheeler, who supposed the box to contain
some of Colt's property, which it was thought he
intended to remove, and thought little farther of
it. A day or two afterward, however, Wheeler
got into Colt's room, and saw several places which
had apparently been severely scrubbed and then
smeared with ink; he found, also, a broken look-
ing-glass and a hatchet, the handle of which had
been scraped and covered with ink. There were
also upon the wall spots of the same liquid.
On Wednesday morning, seeing a notice of Mr.
Adams's disappearance, and being suspicious, from
knowing that Colt was indebted to Adams, that his
mysterious absence might be connected with the
noise he had heard and the appearances he had
noticed, he gave information of them to Mr. Mayor
MORRIS, who forthwith commenced an investiga-
tion, which he has continued with most laudable
zeal and activity. In company with Justice Tay-
lor of the Upper Police, and Police Officers A. M.
C. Smith and Walker, whose efforts have also
been highly praiseworthy during the whole pro-
gress of the inquiry, he took the testimony of Mr.
Wheeler and his assistant. On Friday he sent
officers Smith and Walker to arrest Colt. They
found his room locked, and went into one adjacent.
They had been there but a short time when Colt
came in, went to his door, and with a key was
about entering it, when officer Smith sprang upon
and seized him, telling him that 'he wanted him.'
Colt asked him 'what for,' and Smith answered
that he would tell him directly. He was brought
before the Mayor, and on being interrogated, said
that he was not at his room on the Friday night
referred to, and denied all knowledge of any box
having left his room. He was, however, commit-
ted for farther examination.
On Saturday the Mayor advertised for the car-
man who took away the box, and directed Wil-
liam F. Godfrey, Superintendent of Hacks and
Carts, to endeavor to discover him. Mr. Godfrey
immediately addressed himself to his task, and
found a carman named Russel, who came wil-
lingly before the Mayor and testified that on the
Saturday previous he was employed and paid by
Colt for taking the box, directed as mentioned
above, to the ship Kalamazoo, lying at the foot of
Maiden Lane. He further testified that Colt ac-
companied him and took a receipt for the delivery of
the box on board. Upon learning this the Mayor,
with his officers, went on board the vessel, which
was about to sail, learned from the Mate the same
facts that had been stated by Russell, and took im-
mediate measures to detain the ship. Yesterday
the hatches were opened in presence of the Mayor,
and at 1 o'clock, P. M. the box was found in the
forward hold of the ship and placed upon deck.
It was there opened; upon the top was a piece of
sail-cloth, beneath which, sprinkled with salt and
chloride of lime, was a dead body. The box was
immediately closed and taken to the dead-house,
and there locked up.
At 3 o'clock the Coroner's jury was summoned,
and at half-past 3 the box was brought into their
presence and a post-mortem examination executed
upon the body by Drs. Gilman, Kissam and others.
The body, when taken out, had no clothing upon
it but a shirt. Around the neck was tightly fast-
ened a thick cord, which was passed down in front
and tied about the knee-joints, thus drawing them
up close upon the breast. At the bottom of the
box was a black coat without pocket-flaps or lap-
pels, and considerably torn, and a neck stock,
across which was a cut. Upon these, wrapped
about with a piece of sail-cloth, and bits of oakum
and other rubbish, was the body, doubled up as
above mentioned and tightly crowded down.
The body upon examination was found to be in
a state of advance decomposition; the whole
frontal bone of the forehead, with part of the tem-
porale bone, was beaten in upon the brain; the
right parietal bone was likewise fractured, and the
left separated from the rest of the skull and driven
completely in upon the brain. One cheek bone
[Col.4]
was fractured, and there was a deep wound in the
back of the head. There was also a cut upon the
side of the chin which matched perfectly with the
cut in the stock. Upon a finger on the right hand
was a small ring. The features were so entirely
decayed and the countenance so disfigured that
the body could not well be identified; but Mrs.
Adams testified that as nearly as she could judge
from the ring and coat, the body is that of her hus-
band. A scar upon the leg is also a mark of iden-
tification. A watch, known to have belonged to
Mr. Adams, as he repeatedly attempted to sell it,
has been found in the trunk of Colt at his lodgings
in Monroe-street, near Market.
Colt is known to have been indebted to Adams
to a considerable amount for printing his work on
book-keeping, and it is understood that the latter
had had some trouble in securing his pay. Colt
was about to ship a box of his books to Philadel-
phia and employed a third person to do this and to
receive the money for them in his stead. This third
person, we understand, was told by Adams that
the money for the books was to be paid to him as
Colt was in his debt. The former mentioned this
to Colt who denied it, and said he himself must
receive the money. On meeting Adams, on the
fatal Friday, the third person told him what was
said by Colt, and remarked that he was sure Colt
meant to cheat him of his money. Adams re-
marked that he should take care of that as he
meant to see Colt about it. He was last seen that
day going up Broadway, near the corner of Cham-
bers-street.
At a late hour last night the Coroner's jury re-
turned as their verdict that the body was that of
Mr. Samuel Adams, and that, in their belief, he
came to his death by blows inflicted by J. C. Colt.
The above are all the material facts that have
come to our knowledge concerning this most atro-
cious murder. They carry with them their own
comment. Mr. Adams was originally from Pro-
vidence. His parents are both dead, but most of
his relatives still live in that city. He had a wife
but no children. He came to this city some seven
or eight years since, and worked for a while as jour-
neyman printer. Soon afterward he entered into
partnership with a Scotchman named Scatchard,
and under the name of Scatchard & Adams, they
carried on business together as job and book prin-
ters. His partner soon died and he continued the
business in his own name. He lost nearly all his
property, partly by fire and partly by the failure of
those who owed him, and was in debt some $5000
at the time of his death. He was an honest, in-
dustrious, temperate and religious man, highly re-
spected by all who knew him. His age was not
far from 35.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.3 / Col.3]
Shocking Murder of Mr. Adams, the Print-
er—The Body Discovered on board a Ves-
sel—Arrest of the Supposed Murderer.
It will be remembered that we stated last week
that Mr. Samuel Adams, of the firm of Scatchard &
Adams, printers, 59 Gold street, was missing. He
was last seen alive at the office of the “Missionary
Herald,” about 4 or 5 on the afternoon of Friday,
Sept. 17th, where he went to take a proof. It was
rumored that he was met by an acquaintance in
Broadway about 5 P. M. that afternoon, who said to
him, “Colt is going to leave the city.” To which
he is said to have replied “Is he, then I'll go and
get the money he owes me from him.” He went
then, it is said, in the direction of Colt's place of bu-
siness, which is the second story of the granite build-
ings, corner of Chambers street and Broadway. The
Colt here spoken of is J. C. Colt, author of a “Trea-
tise on Book-keeping,” and brother of Mr. Colt, the
celebrated inventor of the repeating rifles and pis-
tols.
It appears that on the evening of Adams's disap-
pearance, the occupants of the upper stories of the
large granite building, corner of Broadway and
Chambers street, were disturbed by a mysterious noise
and scuffling in the room of J. C. Colt. A gentleman
named Wheeler, teacher of penmanship, occupying
a room adjoining Colt's, suspecting foul play, look-
ed through the key hole of Colt's door and saw Colt
washing the floor. At a late hour, looking again,
he saw him similarly occupied. He ordered his
young man to watch until Colt went out. Colt stay-
ed all night in his room and was constantly employ-
ed. In the morning, Colt went out and called a
carman, to whom he delivered a box of sufficient
size to hold a man, directed to some one at St.
Louis via New Orleans. The young man re-
ported the circumstances to his employer. The
gentleman alluded to, some time afterwards seeing
the advertisement of the mysterious disappearance
of Mr. Adams, made some inquiries, and ascertain-
ed that Mr. A. was then executing (or had previous-
ly executed) printing for Colt to a considerable
amount, and was in the habit of often calling at
Colt's rooms. This confirmed his suspicions that
foul murder had been done on the Friday night
above named—and he communicated the whole
circumstances to Mayor Morris. Colt was arrested
on Thursday last, and on being questioned then, de-
nied all knowledge of the affair, or that he was in
the room that night. The room is on the second
story, facing Chambers street, and the second room
from Broadway.
We have also learned from another quarter that
on the night of Friday, the 17th inst., the gentleman
occupying the adjoining room, with others, heard a
noise of some person falling, and fancied some
persons were fencing with foils, and one of them had
fallen. The parties waited, expecting to hear a
laugh, but from that moment a most profound and
deathlike silence followed. Surprised at the cir-
cumstance, the gentleman knocked several times at
Colt's door, but no answer was given.
On the following morning, a large box was ob-
served by many of the inmates of the granite build-
ing, standing in the entry. Some in the upper part
of the building thought at first that it was for them,
as it was about the length to contain two full sized
busts. Observing, however, that it was directed to
St. Louis via New Orleans, they saw that it was
going from the building, not that it had come to it.
Other persons in the building, who knew that Colt
had only taken the rooms for a short time, thought
he was removing. The box was removed between
half past 8 and 10 A. M., on Saturday, the 18th.
The gentleman who heard the noise spoken of,
thought no more of it, until he saw the advertise-
ment of Mr. Adams' disappearance. On mention-
ing it to another person, a female said that Mr. Colt
was indebted to Mr. Adams. (The sum we under-
stood to be $200, for printing.) The conviction
flashed upon the mind of this gentleman that Mr.
Adams was murdered on the night in question, and
he proceeded to acquaint the Mayor of the facts.—
Upon searching Colt's room, a glass was found
shattered—a hatchet, the handle of which was
newly scraped with broken glass—the end of
the handle of the axe was covered over with ink.—
The wall was also spotted with ink, as we conceive,
to conceal or obliterate the marks of blood. A por-
tion of the floor of the room has been sawn away
by the officers and carried to the Mayor's office. On
the examination of Colt, he said he made a box to
hold his trunk out of a large box which he had to
hold his stationery. This statement he probably
made to account for the use he had for tools, which
he borrowed from some person in the building. He
says that the box not answering, he threw the wood
out of the window into the street.
In consequence of the discovery of these facts the
Mayor advertised for the carman who had carried
the box, and whom Mr. Godfrey, Superintendent of
Hacks, discovered on Saturday night. He was
taken before the Mayor, where he stated that Mr.
Colt had employed and paid him to carry a box from
his room, corner of Broadway and Chambers street,
to the ship Kalamazoo, laying at the foot of Maiden
lane, on the morning of the 18th inst., and that he
had delivered it there accordingly. The Mayor or-
dered officers A. M. C. Smith and Waldron on board
the vessel, and the hatches, which had been closed,
to be opened, and yesterday afternoon, about one
o'clock, the box was found and brought on deck.
On opening it, the body of Mr. Adams, with only
his shirt on, was found therein, packed round tightly
with salt, and an awning wrapped tightly round the
whole, and then the box nailed up. It was con-
veyed to the dead house in the Park, and the coro-
ner called to hold the inquest. Justice Taylor of
the Upper Police (who, with the Mayor and officers
above named, have been indefatigable in ferreting
out the authors of this horrid murder), discovered
the woman kept by Colt, and in her possession found
the watch of Mr. Adams.
The following is the testimony taken on the in-
quest last night:—
TESTIMONY.
The first witness called was—
Dr. GILMAN, who deposed that he had made a
post mortem examination of a body in the dead
house. It was the body of a man rather under the
middle size. It measures 5 feet 9½ inches in height.
It is very considerably decayed in all its parts. Should
think it has been six or seven days dead. There are
no appearances of decay, as might arise from ema-
ciation. At the back part of the head there ap-
peared something like a bald spot. The scalp was
so much decayed, that it could be pushed off the
bone with the finger. There was a little beard un-
der the chin, and very thick whiskers. On the left
ancle outside, there was a black spot, extending
four inches upward, and covering a space of perhaps
one inch and a half. The skin was drier, firmer,
and thinner than in other parts of the body. On
the first examination, the body was much bent, the
head forward to the thigh, the body towards the
belly, and the leg up to the thigh. This position
was maintained by a rope passing round the neck,
and attached to the thigh, just above the knee joint.
The injuries were only on the head; on the right
side a very extensive fracture of the skull, the pieces
of bone beaten in and entirely loose among the
pulpy mass, which was the brain. The main frac-
ture extended from the cheek bone to the top of the
parietal bone. It also passed laterally on to the region
of the temple, so as to involve a portion of the
bone. On the right side of the cranium, near the
posterior inferior angle of the parietal bone, there
was a fracture with depression, but no hole. It was
an irregular oval, about an inch and half diameter.
On the left side of the forehead, another extensive
fracture, from which the bone was driven in. The
large hole on the left side communicated with that
on the right, but was higher up, and did not involve
the orbit nor the forehead for an inch above the or-
bit. Beside the injury on the left side of the head,
there was a fracture above and behind the parietal
protruberance. This wound was nearly circular, the
bone completely detached, leaving a hole as if made
by a musket ball, on the posterior part of the cra-
nium. It was not a fracture, but a chipping off of a
portion of the bone; a fragment was found which fitted
a portion of this injury. This chopping was proba-
bly done by a sharp instrument, or a blunt one act-
ing obliquely. Should suppose the injury of the pa-
rietal bone to have been effected by a blunt instru-
ment. The lower jaw was fractured. The body
had a shirt on, which had been ripped up, and was
hanging like a gown from the arms. There was a
small plain ring on the little finger of the left hand.
The ring now produced is the same, and was taken
off the finger by the Coroner.
The prisoner's counsel said they would waive any
cross-examination, as it was the intention to have an
examination on the part of the prisoner.
[Col.4]
The testimony of Dr. Gilman was corroborated by
Dr. Kissam.
The DEPUTY CORONER deposed that he assisted in
removing the body found in a box, from the ship
Kalamazoo, lying at the foot of Maiden lane. When
the box was opened, it contained the body which
the physicians had examined. Inside the box were
two large cloths, or awnings, a piece of matting,
some oakum, a dress coat, and a black stock. One
of the cloths was placed right under the body, and
the other thrown over. The coat was found under
the body, and was much torn. The buttons were
common bombazine. The stock was cut open in
front, and not unbottened behind. There were stains
on the stock, as of blood. On the upper lid of the
box there were marks, as if directed to some one at
St. Louis, via New Orleans. There were no panta-
loons or other clothing in the box.
THOMAS RUSSELL deposed that he was on board
the ship Kalamazoo, at the foot of Maiden lane, and
there saw a box taken out of the lower hold in the
forward hatch; it was placed on the lower deck, and
opened; saw some clothes inside, but could not
stand the stench which came from it; saw the box
put over the side, and placed on the deck; the depu-
ty coroner was there; looked at the direction; it
was directed to some man, to the care of “Grose;”
had seen that box before, on the corner of Chambers
street and Broadway, at the granite building; it was
in the Chambers street entry, and as witness believes,
on the 18th of this month; on Saturday morning,
about 9 o'clock, witness went there to his usual em-
ployment, carrying paintings for the Apollo Associ-
ation; a carman whom witness knew backed
his horse up to near mine, and I helped him to put
the box on his cart; believes the box found in the
ship to be the same; witness saw a gentleman at the
door, just before the carman came; he stood on the
first flight of stairs, while witness and the carman
were loading it; the carman drove off, and wit-
ness paid no more attention to the matter.—
Witness knows the gentleman by sight, and thinks
its the one sitting here (pointing to Colt) had been
employed frequently in the building and had seen
him often. Witness knew the box by its shape and
outward appearance before it was removed from its
location in the cargo.
RICHARD BARSTOW deposed that he was on board
the ship Kalamazoo, at the foot of Maiden lane, and
saw a box taken from the hold. It was the same
box witness carried to the ship. It was opened
on the lower deck and contained a dead body.—
On the morning witness took the box to the ship
he was coming up Chambers street, near Church,
with his cart when a man beckoned to him, who
employed him and paid him to take the box to the
ship. That man is here, (pointing to Colt). I asked
him what vessel it was to go aboard of. He said
he did not know the name of the vessel, but would
go down with it. Witness started and the man fol-
lowed. The box was directed to the care of some
one in New Orleans, and therefore concluded it
was to go by the packet. Witness pointed to the ship
and the gentleman nodded his assent. Witness drew
up to the ship Kalamazoo and backed up. The mate
said “never mind, I'll take care of it.” The person
now here paid for the cartage. Witness gave the
information which led to the search on board the
ship. Witness took notice of the direction, because
it was put on with blue ink, which is unusual.
LOWE HOCKTON lives in the granite building, cor-
ner of Chambers street and Broadway. Last Satur-
day week, in the morning, saw a box at the head of
the first flight of stairs from the street, and Mr.
Colt, the person now present, came and took hold
of the box, which he canted to the last flight of
stairs to bring down to the street. Colt went down
stairs backwards, guiding the box so as to prevent
its falling. Witness knew Colt by sight. He occu-
pied the next room to Mr. Wheeler. About fifteen
or twenty minutes after the time when Colt took it
down, I passed the place, and it was gone. The box
was about 3 feet long and 2½ high.
The affidavit of Mr. Asa Wheeler was now read,
the principal contents of which are already before
the public. It was to the effect, that on Friday,
about half past three, he heard a clashing noise, as
if some persons were engaged in fencing. He ap-
plied his eye to the keyhole, and there saw what he
thought was a person on the floor, and a man, whom
he supposed to be Colt, bending over him. He also
deposed to having knocked at the door, but received
no answer, and he left a pupil to observe what was
proceeding. He some time after saw Colt, and
mentioned the noise he had heard. Colt said it
could not be in his room as he had not been there
on the afternoon in question. On a subsequent oc-
casion Colt had complained of spitting blood, and
there were some marks, as if some person had spit
blood on a part of the room, which had been rubbed
until it was nearly white. Colt told the witness that
he had upset his table and spilt his ink, and expressed
a hope that witness had not been disturbed by it.
Witness also testified to having seen two men's hats
on the table when he looked through the key hole.
There were ink marks on the ground, but it looked
as if it had been thrown about on purpose.
JOHN DELNOCE testified to the hearing of the noise,
and also to having heard some person come up
stairs, and go into Colt's room, and tear something
like cloth. He had directed another individual to
watch while he went out, as he had heard unusual
noises in Colt's room on the afternoon in question.
DAVID DOWNS proved the absence of Adams.
The last witness ever heard of him was, that he
was seen on the south side of Chambers street oppo-
site the buildings where Mr. Colt was seen; that
was the last information witness got; witness has
got several pair of boots made for Mr. Adams; he
has looked at his foot; he wore 8½ or what witness
calls nines; the foot was slender, and the right toe
rather projects; he has seen the body, and examin-
ed the foot; it struck him when he first saw it, as
being Mr. Adams' foot; the hair also has the ap-
pearance of being Mr. Adams'; witness has always
seen the deceased with a dress coat, always a black
one; he measured the feet of the body; one foot mea-
sured 4½ full, but the skin was loose on the bottom
of it; the other one measured 6 scant; that would
require the sized boot which witness was in the ha-
bit of obtaining for Mr. Adams. From the circum-
stances witness has stated, he believes the body to be
that of Mr. Adams.
JAMES R. CHILTON deposed that on Friday last,
he went to the granite building, at the request of
the Mayor; found that functionary with Justice Tay-
lor, Colt, and one or two officers. A hatchet now
produced was found and given to witness, who has
had it ever since; the object of taking the instru-
ment was to discover if there were any traces of
blood about it. On holding it up to the light, and
permitting the light to stream through the eye of the
hatchet, found a red stain as if of blood; there was
also a spot on the hammer end of the hatchet, hav-
ing a similar appearance. Witness removed some
small portion of it carefully, and examined it by a
chemical process, and as far as witness is able to
judge, it is blood. On the handle of the hatchet,
there is stain of ink all round the handle, which ap-
pears as if put on intentionally. Through the ink
marks a reddish appearance can now be seen, and
witness thinks if the blade could be removed, some
further indications could be perceived. Witness took
two or three small particles from the wall which gave
the same indications of blood as the other. Found
two spots of oil on the floor, and all round the sur-
vace of the room oil had been spread, or poured.
The saturating of places with oil, where blood had
been spilt, would prevent the detection of blood on
an analysis, and would efface its appearance.
EMILY R. ADAMS deposed that she last saw her
husband, Samuel Adams alive, on Friday week at
noon—caused a search to be made, and he has not
been found, unless the body found to-day is his.—
Witness has been shown some pieces of a coat, a
stock and a finger ring now produced, which last
article she identifies as the ring of her husband,
Samuel Adams. The stock is her husband's, she
made it and knows the lining. Mr. Adams had a
watch, when he left home, which has been shewn
her this morning and the key of it. A watch and
key was here shewn the witness which she identi-
fies. The key was hers and has a mark on it where
she bit it.
JUSTICE TAYLOR, of the Upper Police, deposed
that he went to a place on Saturday last, where the
prisoner, Colt, lived with a woman who passed for
his wife—took a trunk from there, which was taken
to the Upper Police to be opened. Witness informed
Colt that a trunk was brought, and asked if there was
any objection to its being opened. He said he did
not wish it opened until his counsel was present.—
The counsel did not come, and on Saturday night
the Mayor and witness opened the trunk, and found
the watch now produced, rolled up in a piece of pa-
per.
The jury were locked up for about ten minutes,
and found a verdict of “wilful and deliberate mur-
der” against John C. Colt, who thereupon was com-
mitted to prison, to await his trial.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Murder.—We published some days since a notice
that an individual of the name of Samuel Adams, a
printer residing at the corner of Ann and Gold streets,
had left his office at about three o'clock in the after-
noon of Friday the 17th instant and had not since
been heard of. Facts now transpired, leave but little
doubt that he has been inhumanly murdered.
...
Mr. Wheeler thought no more of the circumstances
which had excited his attention, until the disappear-
ance of Mr. Adams, and learning accidentally that
Colt was indebted to Adams and had been seen with
him, he thought proper to give information of
the facts to one of the Lower Police officers, who paid
no attention to them. Mr. Wheeler then communi-
cated with Mr. Justice Palmer and it is chiefly to
this magistrate's activity and energy, that the proba-
ble murderer has been discovered.
...
Since the preceding was in type, we have receiv-
ed the proceedings on
The Coroner's Inquest.
The first witness examined before the Coroner's Jury was
Dr. Gilman, who deposed that he made a post mortem exami-
...
[Col.2]
foot of Maiden lane. When the box was opened, it contained
...
Thomas Russell deposed that he was on board the ship Kala-
...
Richard Barstow deposed that he was on board the ship Kal-
...
The affidavit of Mr. Asa Wheeler was now read, the principal
...
Lowe Hockton lives in the granite building, corner of Cham-
...
John Delnoce testified to the hearing of the noise, and also to
...
David Downs proved the absence of Mr. Adams. The lat wit-
...
James R. Chilton deposed that on Friday last he went to the
...
Emily R. Adams deposed that she last saw her husband, Sam-
...
Justice Taylor, of the Upper Police, deposed that he went to
...
The jury were locked up for about ten minutes, and found a
verdict of “wilful and deliberate murder” against John C. Colt,
who thereupon was committed to prison, to await his trial.
[Col.3]
The slain at Cincinnati.—The Cincinnati Repub-
lican remarks that the Eastern papers call for the list
of killed and wounded in the late disgraceful riots
in that city, but the Editors cannot learn that any one
has died of his wounds thus far.
================================================================
[Col.2]
HORRIBLE MURDER OF MR. ADAMS.
ARREST OF THE MURDERER AND DISCOVERY OF
THE BODY.
On Friday week Mr. Samuel Adams, a highly
respectable printer resided at 11 Elizabeth street,
of the firm of Scatcherd and Adams, of No. 59 Gold
street, suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.
He was a man of regular habits. He was adver-
tised, but nothing has been heard of him, except
that he had been at the office of the Missionary
Herald, and said he was going to see a book-seller
in Canal street, who owed him some money. He
was next seen in Broadway near Chambers street;
and it is stated that some person told him that J.
C. Colt, who owed him for printing, was about to
leave the city, when he said he would go and see
him and try to get his money. This is the last that
was seen of him, ad he did not go to Canal street,
as he intended, and it is supposed that he then
proceeded to Mr. Colt's room to demand paymen
for the debt.
Mr. Colt is the author of an able work upon book
keeping, and the brother of the inventor of Colt's
celebrated fire arms. He hired a room on the sec-
ond floor of the granite building corner of Cham-
bers st. and Broadway. The room is the second
room from Broadway, and the windows face
Chambers street.
...
In addition to the above it is proper to state that
the gold watch of Mr. Adams was found in Colt's
trunk, at his room, in Monroe street, near Market,
and a new shirt of Colt's, with the wristbands cut
off. After the inquest Colt was committed again
to prison. To the Mayor and Justice Taylor of the
upper Police, and to officers A. M. C. Smith and
Walker great praise is due for their indefatigable
exertions in searching out and arresting the author
of this diabolical murder, and in thus placing him
in a position to receive his deserts, as well as to
satisfy the demands of the law, which has been
violated by this terrible deed of blood and death.
[Col.3]
CITY PRISON STATISTICS.—During the last
week there were received into the city prison, 115
white men, 44 white women, 25 black men, 16
black women—total 200. Discharged some time,
101 white men, 40 white women, 21 black men, 12
black women—total 174. Remaining in prison,
90 white men, 26 white men, 26 white women,
18 black men, and 16 black women—total 150.
================================================================
[Col.4]
AWFUL MURDER.
We have another awful murder to record, perpe-
trated in the very heart of our city. Mr. Samuel
Adams, printer, of the firm of Scatcherd and Adams,
in Gold street, has been missing from home since
Friday week. The following statement explains the
fatal cause. On the afternoon of his disappearance, Mr.
Wheeler, a teacher in writing, occupying a room in
the Granite Building, corner of Chambers street and
Broadway, heard a noise in a room adjoining his, oc-
cupied by John C. Colt, the author of a work on
Book-keeping, which sounded like two men scuffling,
and ended by what appeared to be the fall of a heavy
body. His curiosity being excited, he knocked server-
al times at the door of Colt's room, but could obtain
no answer. On looking through the keyhole he saw
Colt, apparently rubbing on the floor. Throughout
the night Colt was heard hard at work, and in the
morning was seen to bring out a large wooden box,
directed to a firm in St. Louis, via New Orleans,
which he placed in the passage. He then went out,
and returned shortly afterwards with a carman, who
took away the box.
Having communicated these particulars to the Po-
lice office, a search was made in Colt's room, a glass
found broken on the floor, the wall spotted with ink,
and a hatchet discovered, the end of which had been
newly scraped. Colt was immediately arrested, but
...
The Coroner's Inquest.
The first witness examined before the Coroner's
Jury, was Dr. Gilman, who deposed that he made a
...
The Deputy Coroner deposed that he assisted in
...
Thomas Russell deposed that he was on board the
...
Richard Barstow deposed that he was on board
...
The affidavit of Mr. Asa Wheeler was now read,
...
Lowe Hockton lives in the granite building, cor-
...
John Delnoce testified to the hearing of the noise,
...
[Col.5]
David Downs proved the absence of Mr. Adams.
...
James R. Chilton deposed that on Friday last he
...
Emily R. Adams deposed that she last saw her
...
Justice Taylor, of the Upper Police, deposed that
...
The jury were locked up for about ten minutes, and
found a verdict of “wilful and deliberate murder”
against John C. Colt, who thereupon was committed
to prison( to await his trial.
It appears that Colt was in debt about $200 to
Adams, for printing his book; and this, it is sup-
posed, was the origin of the quarrel, which ended in
murder. Mr. Adams was a married man, without
children. His watch was found in Colt's trunk, at
his boarding-house. A large crowd was collected
last night and this morning, around the building at
the corner of Chambers street, and much excitement
prevailed.
Mr. Wheeler's first notification to the Police, on
the afternoon of the murder, was, we understand, dis-
regarded; and it was not until the Mayor himself
was apprized of the circumstances that the matter was
looked into and the murder discovered.
================================================================
[Col.3]
HORRIBLE MURDER.—Our readers will remem-
ber a paragraph which appeared in most of the city
papers last week, announcing the sudden and mys-
terious disappearance of Mr. Samuel Adams, prin-
ter, of No. 59 Gold street. It has since been as-
certained that he was murdered by J. C. Colt, in
the granite building on the corner of Chambers
street and Broadway.
...
The testimony which we give below, taken be-
fore the Coroner's inquest on Saturday evening last,
furnishes all the particulars of this dreadful affair.
Colt is a young man, apparently about twenty-
seven years of age, of fine personal appearance,
and respectably connected. For several years past,
he has taught book-keeping in various Atlantic and
western cities.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.—The first witness
examined before the Coroner was
Dr. Gilman, who deposed that he made a post
...
The Deputy Coroner deposed that he assisted in
...
Thomas Russell deposed that he was on board
...
Richard Barstow deposed that he was on board
...
The affidavit of Mr. Asa Wheeler was now read,
...
[Col.4]
...
Lowe Hockton lives in the granite building,
...
John Delnoce testified to the hearing of the noise,
...
David Downs proved the absence of Mr. Adams.
...
James R. Chilton deposed, that on Friday last he
...
Emily R. Adams deposed that she last saw her
...
Justice Taylor, of the Upper Police, deposed
...
The jury were locked up for about ten minutes,
and found a verdict of “wilful and deliberate mur-
der” against John C. Colt, who thereupon was com-
mitted to prison, to await his trial.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.4 / Col.4 / A version on p. 284]
Oswego.
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
OSWEGO, Sept. 24, 1841, }
Friday morning. }
SIR,—
The following lines were penned in a fit of the
“cacoethes scribendi,” not unfittingly, I trust, though
the subject of which they treat is a solemn one.
Should you deem them worthy of admission in your
excellent journal, will you favor me so far as to give
them an insertion. They refer to the death of Mary
Rogers, an event fraught with so many horrors, that
even the most callous and unthinking must deeply
deplore and feel it. Mingling pity for the unfortu-
nate girl with detestation for her horrible assassins,
I have rather endeavored to give expression to my
own feelings than to enter into an analysis of events,
the details of which would be too revolting to awaken
other feelings than abhorrence and loathing.
E. H.
Lines on the Death of M. R.
Death comes to all in wayward form,
In peaceful guise, or vengeful storm,
All must his presence share.
Around the dark and lurid bed
Of those whose tortured spirits shed,
A terror on the air.
He marks the dread of guilty souls,
The fear that shame no more controls,
The darkness of despair.
Aye! round the troubled couch of lust
Of perjured hearts, and broken trust,
Terrible death is there.
And in the sad, yet quiet room,
Where faith awaits our common doom,
Far from this world of care;
Where hallow'd spirits hover near,
To wipe away the falling tear,
And prompt the sorrower's pray'r;
Where the soul wings its flight above,
'Mid whispered sounds of gentle love,
Calm, peaceful death is there.
Hark! heard ye not that note of fear
Burst wildly on the palsied ear,
Far in the tangled wood?
Merciful God! what sound was there—
What deed of sin pollutes the air—
What sickening taint of blood.
Oh! shield me from that fearful sight—
That crime of darkest, blackest night,
Appalling even the brave.
Wild shriek on shriek, and pray'r on pray'r,
And deepest curses mingle there—
Oh God! in pity save.
Who heeds thy shrieks, poor hapless maid?
There is no arm with strength to aid—
No heart that has the will.
One last wild cry that reaches heaven,
One bitter prayer for mercy given—
'Tis past!—and all is still.
All still—the gentle song of birds—
The whispering winds, the lowing herds,
The scent of sweetest flowers.
And sunset's soft and purple light,
Sweet harbinger of coming night,
Proclaims the evening hours.
Alas! the scene is passing fair,
Yet foul pollution revelled there,
And crime, too black for name.
Far, far from all, whose arm might save,
Welcome the cold, and bloody grave,
That hides a wretch's shame.
Tho' tears above that grave be shed,
Not tears of blood may wake the dead,
Yet weep we when she fell.
But One is just to all alike,
And God's right arm is hard to strike
The coward down to Hell.
E. S.
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, September 28, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3 / Col.3 / Col.3]
PORTRAIT OF
JOHN C. COLT,
ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF
MURDERING
Mr. Adams, the Printer.
[Col.4]
he undoubtedly proceeded direct to Colt's room, in
the 2d story of the large granite building corner of
Broadway and Chambers street.
Mr. Adams was born in Providence, and served
his time with old John Miller. He has a sister
married to Mr. Sackett, of the firm Sackett &
Willett, jewellers. She was 35 years old. He was
33. He has also a young sister. His parents are
both dead, but most of his relatives still live in
Providence. He had a wife, but no children. Both
were members of Dr. Spring's Church, and likewise
members of the choir. Mr. Adams came to this
city some seven or eight years since, and worked
for a while as a journeyman printer. Soon afterward
he entered into partnership with a Scotchman
named Scatchard, and under the name of Scatchard
and Adams, they carried on business together as job
and book printers. His partner soon died and he
continued the business in his own name. He lost
nearly all his property, partly by fire and partly by
the failure of those who owed him, and was in debt
some $5000 at the time of his death. He was an
industrious and religious man, respected by all who
knew him. He married the daughter of Mr. Jane,
cabinet maker.
The relatives of Mr. Colt are very respectable
indeed; his brother is the inventor of the patent re-
volving pistols and rifles, and keeps an extensive es-
tablishment of this kind at 155 Broadway. He has
another brother who is Cashier of the Hartford
Bank. It is also said that he is a distant relative of
Dudley Selden, Esq., the eminent counsellor. On
being visited by the keeper of the prison, yesterday
morning, he presented the same stoical coldness of
countenance which has characterized him through-
out since his arrest; he expresses no desire for any
thing but that he may be shaved. Characteristic of
his coolness and determination is an instance: on
Thursday morning last he called at Mr. Adams'
printing office, and inquired of Mr. Monohan, the
foreman, if Mr. A. was in, and on being informed that
he was not, he hastily remarked, “Oh! Ah! I re-
collect I have seen a notice that he was missing.
Mr. Adams has done work for me for three years,
and he is a fine man, and always treated me well,
and I hope nothing serious has befallen him.”
The female in whose possession the watch and
other articles were found, is not the wife of Colt, as
was supposed even by her own relatives, who are
very respectable. She is by him enciente, and the
period of her accouchment is near.
Judge Taylor is still pursuing his inquiries in
search of other testimony. He has succeeded in
finding, at the residence of Colt's mistress, a carpet
bag, which, among other things, contained a quanti-
ty of paper covered with blood, as if wiped from the
hands; also at the same place was found a shirt,
nearly a new one, and of a size fitting the prisoner;
the wristband of which is stained with blood, and
the collar torn open as if to make haste is changing
the garment.
Capt. Hyde, keeper of the city prison, visited the
prisoner yesterday morning, and on Mr. H. being
introduced to him, coolly remarked, “Well, I sup-
pose I shall have to come down and stay with you;
you'll treat me well, won't you?” He also com-
plained to Justice Taylor that his food was brought
to him on plates that were not quite clean, and
hoped this might be rectified.
Those who believe in dreams we shall gratify, in
conclusion, by stating that some days before Adams
was murdered, his wife dreamed that she saw him
dead—murdered and stript naked and put into a box,
and his clothes thrown into a privy. She awoke
and burst into tears; but finding her husband asleep
by the side of her, she said nothing about it. The
next night she dreamed the same thing, and next day
concluded to tell her mother of it; but finally
laughed it off as an idle dream. There is no doubt
of the truth of these facts, and to say the least of it,
it was very remarkable.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE LATE MURDER.
Yesterday afternoon John C. Colt was brought
before Justice Taylor of the Upper Police, and
there examined according to law on the charge of
having, on the 17th instant, wilfully and delibe-
rately murdered Samuel Adams. He was in-
formed of the charge made against him, and told
that he was at liberty to answer any questions that
might be put to him. On being interrogated he
stated that he was born at Hartford, Ct.—that he
is now 30 years of age, a resident of this City, and
a teacher of Book-keeping.
Question by the Court. Are you married?
Answer. I decline answering, under the advice
of my counsel, that or any other question.
Question. Have you any thing to say in re-
lation to the charge now made against you?
Answer. I am innocent of the charge.
The prisoner, under advice of his counsel, DUD-
LEY SELDEN, ROBERT EMMET and JOHN A MOR-
RELL, Esqs., refused to sign his name to the ex-
amination, and was committed to prison in full to
answer the charge. The appearance of the mur-
derer, (for such he must now be deemed beyond a
doubt,) has greatly changed since he was first ar-
rested. His countenance, which at first was pale,
has now become livid and death-like in its hue and
his general aspect is haggard and repulsive in the
extreme. In consequence of the difficulty attend-
ing the summoning of witnesses, his indictment
was not made out yesterday; witnesses were how-
ever subpoened for to-day and he will probably be
indicted immediately. It is not likely, however,
that his trial will come on at the present session of
the Court as his counsel will undoubtedly obtain a
delay until the present intense excitement shall
have in some degree abated. There was a rumor
current in the lower part of the city yesterday af-
ternoon that he had committed suicide by hanging;
it is scarcely necessary to say that the precaution
of his jailor rendered any such report utterly with-
out foundation. In the morning he asked for a
razor with which to shave himself; but was told
by the keeper of the prison that he could not
be trusted with a razor and that none of the pri-
soners were ever allowed to use them.
Colt's family is said to be highly respectable.
His native place, as he stated on his examination,
is Hartford, Ct. where his parents still reside. We
understand that his father has been for many years
Comptroller of the State of Connecticut, one of the
highest offices in the Commonwealth, and also ex-
tensively engaged in the printing of silks and other
branches of manufacture. We have been told that
the family are highly esteemed but known to be of
violent passions, over which few of them have any
great control. One of the sisters of the prisoner a
few years since committed suicide. We believe it
is not true, as has been stated, that he has a bro-
ther who is Cashier of the Hartford Bank; that
gentleman, whose name is Colt, being at best but
a distant relative. While quite young, John C.
Colt, the prisoner, was employed as clerk in a
crockery store in his native city, of which a cousin
of his was one of the partners.
He remained there some time, until he was de-
tected in pilfering from his employers, at first small
sums, and afterward five or ten dollars at a time,
when he was dismissed as not trust-worthy. From
this beginning, which many are prone to think ex-
ceeding small, to what a depth of horrid guilt and
blasting infamy has he plunged! Thus may we
learn that Crime has a vital, growing power,
which, though contemptible to the outward eye in
its first shooting forth, soon spreads abroad its
branches, thrusts downward deep into the heart
its mighty roots, and overshadows the whole inner
being with its death-distilling shade. What trea-
sures would this wretched man now gladly give
could he again be placed upon the scenes of his
first lapses from honesty and truth—the bitter fruits
of whose 'foul flowering' he is now to reap!
In a freak of passion at an early age he fled
from his father's house to one of the Southern
States, where he remained for some four years,
procuring a support by various means, sometimes
by honorable labor, and at others by dishonest
tricks. Some years since a warrant was issued
for his arrest, but never served, for swindling
operations in Philadelphia; and in 1839 he was
brought before the Police of this City for having
burglariously entered the office of Judge Inglis, at
that time in Wall-street, and stolen sundry papers
therefrom. He then gave his name as Brown,
and his case was never brought to trial. He is
said to have lived for some time past with a
woman who formerly moved in high society in
Connecticut, whose husband has been gone for
some time to the West Indies. In this City,
among Colt's acquaintances, she has passed as his
wife.
It is said that the body of the murdered Adams
was robbed of a considerable sum of money, which
it is thought Colt knew he had in his possession.
[Col.2]
From this and other circumstances there is said
to be ground for the belief that this horrible mur-
der was planned beforehand, and executed with
cool deliberation, instead of having been the re-
sult of momentary passion, as is much the more
charitable supposition.
The imagination cannot avoid picturing to itself
this terrible murder, nor can it dwell for a moment
upon the scene without deep thrills of horror; that
one human being, with the warm, bright sunlight
streaming alike upon him and his victim, at the
corner of two of the most thronged streets in our
Metropolis, with the bustle of business and the
voices of men sounding in his ears, should thus
murder his fellow, with such aggravated atrocity,
and then proceed with such cool, heartless in-
difference to remove the corse and to stifle the
terrible voice which cried aloud, and all around
him, for swift vengeance upon his most unholy act,
seems almost impossible; and the mind half
dreams—and rejoices at the delusion—that some
fiend from the realm of gilt and woe has wrought
this awful ruin.
[Col.5]
DEATHS IN THE CITY.—The City Inspector re-
ports 176 death for the week ending Saturday,
the 25th instant; of whom 37 were Men, 36
Women, 65 Boys and 38 Girls. Of these, 3 died
of Apoplexy, 23 of Cholera Infantum, 12 of Con-
vulsions, 14 of Dropsy, 9 of Dysentery, 30 of Fe-
ver, 20 of Inflammation, 16 of Marasmus.—132
were natives of the United States, 29 of Ireland,
and 9 of Germany.
———
CITY PRISON STATISTICS.—During the week
ending on Saturday morning last, there were received
into the City Prison 115 white men, 44 white wo-
men, 25 colored men, 66 colored women—total
200. Discharged, 101 white men, 40 white wo-
men, 21 colored men, 12 colored women—total
174. Remaining in prison, 90 white men, 26
white women, 18 colored men, 16 colored women
—total 150.
================================================================
[Col.1]
The Murder of Adams.—In our account of this
horrid affair yesterday, we unintentionally did great
injustice to Justice Taylor, of the Upper Police. It
was through that gentleman's vigilance and exer-
tions, the train of evidence adduced before the Coro-
ner was brought forward, and not through Justice
Palmer, as we erroneously stated. Public excite-
ment is still unallayed, and various rumors were yes-
terday afloat in regard to the prisoner Colt, all, how-
ever, without foundation. He was yesterday after-
noon, about 3 o'clock, examined before Justice Tay-
lor, of the upper Police Office, on the charge of having
on the 17th instant, wilfully and deliberately mur-
dered Samuel Adams; and being informed of the
charge made against him, and that he was at liberty
to refuse to answer any questions that might be put
to him, he replied, that he was born at Hartford,
Connecticut; is 30 years of age; resides in New
York, and is a teacher of book-keeping.
Question. Are you married?
Answer. I decline answering, under the advice of
my counsel, that or any other question.
Question. Have you any thing to say in relation to
the charge now made against you?
Answer. I am innocent of the charge.
The prisoner was attended by his counsel, Messrs.
Selden, R. Emmett, and J. A. Morrill—and refusing
to sign his name to the examination, was committed
to prison in full, to answer.
================================================================
[Col.2]
INJUNCTION UPON THE COMMERCIAL BANK.—
An injunction was yesterday served upon the
Commercial Bank of this city, and its doors clos-
ed. It was obtained on the request of the Bank
Commissioners, who suppose the bad manage-
ment has made serious inroads upon the capital.—
...
We understand that the Bank is largely indebt-
ed to the Canal Fund. The bills of the bank will
be received this day, and hereafter, by all of
our city banks, under an arrangement made with
the Bank Commissioners, that they shall draw on
the Commissioners of the Safety Fund, at once,
to reimburse themselves.
Mr. Godfrey, who found out the carman that
carried the box, and who has been instrumental in
bringing this deed of blood to light, is the Super-
intendent of carts, and not of hacks, as has been
stated.
—————
THE MURDER OF ADAMS.—There are but few
facts of any importance to add to the account of
this tragic affair which we gave yesterday. The
remains of the murdered man have been consign-
ed to the tomb. The Coroner's jury found a ver-
dict of wilful murder against Colt. The proof is
perfectly conclusive.
Mr. Adams was originally from Providence.
His parents are both dead, but most of his rela-
tives still live in that city. He had a wife but no
children. Both were member of Dr. Spring's
Church, and likewise member of the choir.
Colt's connexions are highly respectable. His
brother is the inventor of the patent revolving pis-
tols and rifles, and keeps an extensive establish-
ment of this kind at 155 Broadway. He has ano-
ther brother who is Cashier of the Hartford Bank.
What could have been his motive for the perpe-
tration of this horrid deed no one can tell but him-
self. Of course a thousand idle rumors are afloat,
but they are not to be relied upon, and are only
picked up to excite a little additional wonder.
[Col.3]
EXAMINATION OF JOHN C. COLT.—Yesterday
about 3 o'clock John C. Colt was brought out of
...
Answer—I am innocent of the charge.
The prisoner, who was attended by his coun-
sel, R. Emmett, and J. A. Morrill, refused to
sign his name to the examination, looked pale and
haggard, and was then committed in full to an-
swer the charge.
[Col.4]
COURT OF OYER & TERMINER—Yesterday.
[Reported for the Sun.]
The autumn term commenced yesterday morn-
ing—the Oyer and Terminer before Judge Kent,
and Ald. Woodhull and Leonard.
...
The trial of James Gordon Bennett for libel on
Judges Noah and Lynch was called up, but Mr.
Morrill asked to have it postponed for the term,
owing to the absence of Mr. Bennett from the city.
The court will give its decision on the motion this
forenoon.
...
================================================================
[Col.4]
ARREST OF ONE OF THE MURDERERS OF
MARY C. ROGERS.
———
On Monday, James Finnegan, a rowdy, of con-
firmed rascality, was arrested in this city by offi-
cer Tompkins, of the New-York police, under
information amounting nearly to certainty, that
he is one of the wretches who committed the out-
rage and murder on Mary C. Rogers.
It seems that the New-York police have alrea-
dy two or three of the gang in custody; that one
of them confessed to the crime, and implicated
Finnegan; and that the keeper of a house, to
which they were in the habit of resorting, inform-
ed the police of F.'s whereabouts, he having quit
the city immediately after the murder. It is sta-
ted, that the gang consisted of six or seven per-
sons, whose atrocities in various forms are fami-
liar in the police annals; that two of them were
known to Mary Rogers, and meeting her in the
street, on the morning of her murder, invited her
to a sail to Hoboken, saying that they had hired a
boat with oarsmen; that she accompanied them;
was enticed, unsuspecting, to a retired part of the
shore, and there, after the accomplishment of
their hellish purposes, brutally murdered.
Finnegan when arrested wore a ring which is
said to have been identified as one belonging to
Mary Rogers. The Bee says that he is one of th
gang who about a year since committed a gross
outrage upon a young girl in this city.
================================================================
[Col.4]
EXAMINATION OF COLT.—At 3 o'clock, yesterday
afternoon, John C. Colt, attended by his counsel,
Messrs. Selden, R. Emmet and J. A. Morrill, ap-
peared at the upper Police Office, before Justice
Taylor, and was examined on the charge of having
wilfully and deliberately murdered Samuel Adams.
Being informed that he was at liberty to refuse an
answer to any questions that might be asked, he re-
plied only that he was born at Hartford, Conn.; is
thirty years old; resides in New York, and teaches
Book-keeping. The the question are you married?—
the reply was, I decline answering, under the advice
of my counsel, that or any other question. He as-
serted his innocence of the charge made against him,
and was committed to prison in full to answer.
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE LATE MURDER.—The horrible and appa-
rently cold-blooded murder, committed on the cor-
ner of Chambers street and Broadway, has pro-
duced a great excitement throughout the city.—
That a man should be killed, in broad day, in a
public building, every room of which was occu-
pied, and situated in the most frequented thorough-
fare of the city, and by a person who cannot be
conceived to have had any motive for the act, are
facts that have caused a great deal of alarm and
astonishment. Mr. Adams, the person murdered,
was a very respectable tradesman, of quiet and ami-
able demeanour and industrious habits. He was a
native of Boston, and has left a wife and several
children. It has been conjectured by some, that
Adams, in dunning Colt for money, might have
used insolent language, and in that way provoked
him into a fight, but we are told that he was a sin-
gularly mild and forbearing man in his manners.
Colt is a young man, about thirty years of age, of
fine personal appearance and address, and possessed
of no little ingenuity and talent. He is a native of
Hartford, where his parents now reside, and has
brothers of respectable standing living at Paterson.
It is not true, however, that Colt has always borne
an unimpeachable character; for, we are told, that
not long since he was suspected by the police to
have been concerned in a burglary, and once was
requested, we believe, to remove from the Astor
House because a number of false keys were found in
his possession. But nothing positive, in the way
of crime, has ever been proved against him. The
Express adds these particulars of his conduct:—
Yet Colt was an extremely irritable, and could
scarcely be asked for a debt without being thrown
into a violent passion.
The prisoner still maintains the same indiffer-
ence to his situation, that he has evinced ever
since his arrest. Indeed, the deep and well-laid
plans to destroy the evidence of his guilt, and his
coolness and self-possession in carrying them out,
exhibits a firmness of nerve most extraordinary.—
...
The female in whose possession the watch was
found, is not the wife of Colt, as even her own rela-
tives, who are very respectable, supposed. She
had been kept by him for some time, and is now
within a few months of her confinement. She was
discharged, it appears, after her examination—but
we presume is now in custody, as she will become
a material witness in the case.
...
Colt has been in close confinements in one of the
cells beneath the upper police office, and is kept in
irons, and every means taken to prevent his com-
mitting self-destruction—a result he evidently con-
templates. His great wish is to be shaved, and he
has made frequent and urgent requests to be al-
lowed a razor for that purpose, which of course has
been refused him.
Yesterday at three o'clock, Colt was brought be-
fore the magistrates for examination. He was hag-
gard and pale, and evidently suffering under deep
mental excitement. When questioned as to his
name, residence, and profession, he answered wil-
lingly; but when asked whether he was married, he
declined, under the advice of counsel, making any
reply. To the question, whether he had anything
to say in regard to the charge brought against him,
he merely answered, “I am innocent.” The case
will probably be tried at the next term of Oyer and
Terminer Court. His counsel are Messrs. Emmett
and Morrill and Dudley Selden, to whom he is re-
lated.
================================================================
[Col.4]
FOUL AND DREADFUL MURDER.
From the N. Y. Journal Commerce.
On Friday week Mr. Samuel Adams, a printer,
...
was, that Mr. Adams was wilfully murdered by
Colt.
—
The N. Y. Sun gives the following particu-
lars in relation to this horrible transaction:
Mr. Colt, who is now under arrest, is the author
...
Thus this affair of blood is revealed—and the
????? author known, and justice about to be satis-
fied
[Col.5]
ARREST.—Two of the persons engaged in a bru-
tal outrage upon a young woman at Hoboken, on
the day it is supposed Mary Rodgers was violated
and murdered, were arrested in this city on Sun-
day, by officers from New York, and went down
in the De Witt Clinton
James Finnegan, one of the persons arrested as
above, may possibly know something about the
Mary Rodgers affair. At least we judge so by the
following circumstances: Yesterday morning, Ald.
Simpson made a haul in the sinks of the First Ward
and brought up some dozen of the prostitutes who
swarm there. Among them there was one who
said Finnegan had a ring with the name of Mary
C. Rodgers on it. This ring was in possession of
the girl a short time on Sunday, but was again taken
from her by Finnegan. Finnegan is a notorious
character, and some clue to the Rogers mystery
may be obtained through him.—Albany Atlass.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE TRIAL OF COLT.—The Grand Jury of the
Court of Oyer and Terminer having found a true
bill against JOHN C. COLT for the murder of Sam-
uel Adams, the accused was yesterday taken from
the city Prison and brought, heavily ironed, into
the chamber of the Assistant Aldermen. His
irons were here taken off, and he was conducted
into Court, before Judge Kent and Aldermen
Woodhull and Leonard, to plead to the indictment.
His Counsel however moved the Court for a post-
ponement of the plea until Wednesday (this) morn-
ing, when he will be called upon to plead guilty or
not guilty to the indictment. At the request of
Counsel, a copy of the indictment was ordered to
be furnished them. Colt was then remanded, his
irons again put on him, and he conducted to prison.
His appearance is that of a man struggling with
intense energy to stifle terrible feelings that seem
to vex his soul; and this continued contest with
his own heart has already given to his countenance
a haggard and most repulsive aspect. He is con-
tinually attempting to converse with his jailer about
the murder, and has been repeatedly checked by
him when apparently on the point of making dis-
closures which would be greatly against him on
his trial.
—————
...
ARREST FOR A FELONY.—On Sunday evening
officers Hilliker and Tompkins arrested in the
City of Albany, a young man belonging to this
City, charged with the commission of a felony here
some two months since. He was not arrested for
the murder of Mary C. Rogers, as some of the
papers have stated, but for a distinct offence, and
was committed for examination at the Upper Po-
lice Office. His name we are not permitted to give,
as the charge may prove unfounded.
================================================================
[Col.1]
IMPORTANT FROM ALBANY—ARREST OF THE
BANK ROBBERS—ARREST OF A PERSON CHARG-
ED WITH THE MURDER OF MARY C. RO-
GERS.
Our correspondent at Albany has forwarded to
us the important intelligence which will be found
below. After recapitulating the circumstance of
the robbery of the Herkimer County Bank, and
the pursuit of the robbers to Albany, as stated by
us yesterday, our correspondent proceeds as fol-
lows, under date
ALBANY, MONDAY, 12 M.
The robbers here stopped at one of the public
...
Some of our police officers are in this city, hav-
ing been despatched hither by his honor the May-
or in pursuit of a young man who is believed to
have been engaged in the murder of Miss Rogers.
They arrested him yesterday, in the bar room of
the American Hotel, which he entered while they
were seated there, though he was entirely unsus-
picious of danger. His name I am not at liberty
to state. Two others, believed to have been his
accomplices in that horrible affair, are now, as I
understand, in prison in New York. If they are
the guilty wretches they are believed to be, Hea-
ven grant the fact may be made to appear beyond
the reach of doubt.
...
[Col.3]
DEVELOPMENTS AT THE ALBANY POLICE OF-
FICE.—We learn from the Albany Atlas of yes-
terday, that several girls of bad character were
arrested there on Monday, and that on their exa-
mination before the magistrate, one of them stated
that one James Finnegan was with her on Sun-
day, and had in his possession a ring with the
name of Mary C. Rogers upon it. He is one of
the individuals arrested in Albany, as stated in
the letter of our correspondent, and is said to be a
notorious bad fellow. The Atlas says that he and
his accomplice were arrested on the charge of be-
ing engaged in the outrage upon the other female
at Hoboken on the same day that Miss Rogers
was murdered.
—————
...
IN THE WRONG BOX.—In making up our yester-
day's paper, a paragraph belonging to the notice
of the murder of Adams was accidentally annex-
ed to the account of the burst up of the Commer-
cial bank. We suppose the foreman considered
the transactions so nearly on a par that it was lit-
tle matter how they were commingled.
—————
THE DIFFERENCE.—The young villains who
robbed the Herkimer County Bank will doubtless
be consigned to the state prison; while those who
have robbed and ruined the Commercial Bank
will walk abroad in the community as gentlemen
of respectability. Why this difference? The
former had no charter under which to commit
their crime—the latter had. Ergo, all rogues
should take the precaution to get incorporated.
—————
...
☞ The Journal of Commerce says that Colt,
the murderer, is not a brother of the Cashier at
Hartford.
—————
...
COURT OF OYER & TERMINER.
[Reported for the Sun.]
TUESDAY, Sept. 28, 1841.
...
Colt is a young man of rather slender form,
somewhat above a middling height. His counte-
nance is of the Grecian cast, mouth small, and
chin somewhat prominent. He wears his hair,
which inclines to curl, thick, and sports a large,
though not bushy pair of handsome whiskers. He
seemed calm, and his appearance created favora-
ble interest in the minds of the large audience as-
sembled. He will probably be arraigned to-day.
[Col.5]
☞ We are requested to state that Mr. Colt has
sold the right to his patent rifle and pistol to the
Patent Arms Company, and that he has now no
connection whatever with their store at No. 155
Broadway.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.3]
The Murder of Mr. Adams.
Late on Monday evening, and after his examina-
tion by the police magistrates, John C. Colt was
fully committed by Justice Taylor for trial at the
Court of Oyer and Terminer. On the same day,
our indefatigable and talented District Attorney,
James R. Whiting, Esq., (than whom this city
never had a better officer) presented all the papers
in the case to the Grand Jury, then in session; but
from the extreme difficulty of getting all the wit-
nesses to attend the Grand Jury, no indictment was
found against Colt on Monday. Yesterday, how-
ever, very early after they met, the Grand Jury
found true bill for wilful murder against Colt, and
the District Attorney had eim brought into the Court
of Oyer and Terminer, (then in session,) between
one and two o'clock yesterday afternoon, for the
purpose of having him arraigned.
The whole of this matter was done so quietly
that very few persons were present, besides those
necessarily connected with the court, and several of
the most eminent lawyers of the city. On the bench
was the young Judge, William Kent, Esq., Alder-
man Woodhull and Alderman Leonard. Around
and in the immediate vicinity of the bench were
David Graham, Esq., Henry J. Western, Esq., John
McKeon, Esq., Morris Franklin, Esq., Robert Em-
met, Esq., John A. Morrill, Esq. and over twenty
others, whose names we cannot now recollect, but
among the most eminent lawyers of the city. So
great was the curiosity to see the supposed murderer
of Mr. Adams, and so intense is the excitement that
this most extraordinary and unparalleled case has
occasioned, even amongst the legal fraternity.
The rapid manner in which this case has been
disposed of, may be imagined from the following
facts:—The body of Mr. Adams was discovered late
on Saturday night, on board of the Kallamazoo, by
Wm. F. Godfrey, the superintendent of carts, after
a tedious and painful course of inquiry. On Sun-
day, the body in the box was taken out of the ship,
and put into the dead house in the Park; the same
day the coroner held an inquest on the body, and
Colt was present at the inquest. The very next day,
Monday, the body was buried and Colt was brought
out for examination by Justice Taylor, and fully
committed for trial. And on yesterday, the Grand
Jury brought in a true bill of indictment for murder
against him, and he was brought into Court, and
arraigned with a view to put him on his trial imme-
diately.
As soon as he was brought into Court, those who
knew him pressed forward, and evinced the greatest
anxiety to see him. Colt was not so pale as he was
on Monday at the Police office; his eye was less
restless, and he was apparently firm, calm, and col-
lected. He, however, watched the proceedings of
his counsel, and the remarks made by the Court with
the most intense anxiety.
...
COURT—The Court allow you till to-morrow, sir,
to put in a plea.
MORRILL—Very well, sir; we now want a copy
of the indictment.
WHITING—It shall be furnished to you, sir, this af-
ternoon.
The prisoner was then taken back to his cell in
the Halls of Justice. His behavior, throughout, was
calm and firm.
Colt, we understand, is the grandson of the late
John Caldwell, of Hartford, for years a distinguished
merchant of Hartford. He is cousin (not brother)
of the Cashier of Exchange Bank. He is the son
of Christopher Colt, of Hartford, for many years a
merchant of that place, and subsequently president
of the Silk Manufacturing Co. of Hartford. Colt's
mother died many years ago—and one of his sisters
committed suicide in 1827. He has no sister living
at this time. He has many connections among the
most respectable inhabitants of that city. It is not
true that his father was Comptroller of the State of
Connecticut: it was his uncle, Elisha Colt, who was
Comptroller.
The manner in which the box was discovered by
Godfrey was thus: Godfrey took out a list of all
the carts that had a station on the North River,
above Chambers street. He overhauled 384 carts
before he found the furniture cart that was by the
side of the other cart when the box was put on it.
From this he traced out the carman, Barstow, and
thus found out the ship and the box.
[Col.6]
IMPORTANT ARREST.—One of the supposed mur-
derers of Mary Rogers has been arrested, and is
now in jail in this city.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE OYER AND TERMINER.—The papers relating
to the murder of Mr. Adams were laid before the
Grand Jury on Monday, and after spending the fore-
noon in the examination of the case, they brought in
a true bill against Colt. The prisoner was then
brought up to be arraigned on the indictment, but at
the request of his Counsel, who asked for time to
plead, he was remanded until this morning, at 10
o'clock, when he was again to be brought up.
—————
...
ARREST.—James Finnigan, an Albany rowdy, was
brought down here in Monday evening's boat by
officer Tompkins, of the New York Police, charged
with being concerned in the abduction and violation
of the young girl at Williamsburgh, and not Mary
Rogers, as stated in some of the papers. When
arrested, he had on his finger a ring, which has been
identified as the one belonging to the girl.
The Russian steamer Kamaskatta went to sea this
morning. The steamboat Aressoah accompanied her
to the Hook, to bring back a party of guests invited
to see her off.
================================================================
[Col.1]
COLT INDICTED.—The Grand Jury yesterday
found a true bill of indictment against John C.
Colt, for the murder of Samuel Adams.—Colt was
...
to prison. The trial has been set down for a week
from next Monday.
[Col.2]
ARREST OF PERSONS SUPPOSED TO BE CONCERN-
ED IN THE MURDER OF MISS ROGERS.—Two per-
sons have been arrested in Albany, by officers sent
thither by the Mayor of this city, who are suspect-
ed to have been concerned in the outrage commit-
ted upon Mary C. Rogers. The police have been
in search of them for two weeks; but they managed
to elude it till Monday last, when they were dis-
covered in one of the hotels in Albany. It is said
that one of these men was seen with a ring in his
possession, having the name of Mary C. Rogers on
the inside. Both of them have been brought in this
city for examination.
Since writing the above, we have received the
Albany Argus of yesterday, which says:
“On Monday, James Finnegan, a rowdy of con-
...
rage upon a young girl in this city.”
================================================================
[Col.4]
ARREST OF ONE OF THE MURDERERS OF MARY
ROGERS.—We learn from a gentleman who arrived
in town from Albany this morning, that a very im-
portant arrest has been effected in that city by two
New York officers. An individual for whom they
had been in search two weeks—and against whom
strong suspicions and circumstances exist that he
was engaged in the horrible Hoboken (or Weehaw-
ken) Tragedy, was discovered by them on Sunday
evening and taken into custody early the next morn-
ing. He will of course be brought on to this city
as privately as possible, and examined before the
Mayor.—Evening Tattler.
Similar statements appear in other papers. They
err, however, in saying that Finnegan, the person al-
luded to, is charged with any participation in the
murder of Miss Rogers. Messrs. Tompkins and
Hillsher, who had him in charge, informed us that he
was concerned in the outrage committed near Wil-
liamsburgh, L. I., where a young lady was taken
from a boat by several wretches by whom she was
inhumanly treated. One of the villains was in cus-
tody before the arrest of Finnegan, on whose finger
the ring stolen from the girl was found.
================================================================
[Col.3]
SELF-MARRYING.—A curious instance of pro-
fligate hypocrisy on one side and simplicity on the
other, was exhibited on Monday, before the Police
Court of Boston. A German named Hohnholz,
officiating as pastor of a German congregation,
was brought up on a charge of immorality. The
witness against him was a German girl named Re-
gina Hellmich, who deposed in substance that
Hohnholz met her in the street—offered to find a
place at which she could go into service—took her
to his boarding house—made love to her—per-
suaded her that he was authorized to marry him-
self to her—took her into his room and made a
prayer, which he represented as equivalent to the
marriage ceremony, and then made her accompany
him to Salem, where they passed the night as man
and wife.
Returning the next day, he looked her up in his
room and kept her from Friday to Sunday morn-
ing, when he took her to his Church and preached
as usual. The poor girl was firmly convinced that
she was lawfully married to her betrayer. We
presume that the upshot of the matter will be a
more efficient marriage secundem artem.
[Com. Advertiser.
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, September 30, 1841 (CA)
[Col.2]
THE TRIAL OF COLT.—At the opening of the
Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday morning,
John C. Colt was placed at the bar, guarded by
two officers, and his indictment read by the Clerk.
It contains four counts, the first and second charging
him with wilfully and maliciously killing Samuel
Adams by inflicting a mortal wound on the right
side of his head with a hatchet, the third with in-
flicting the said wound with some deadly instru-
ment to the jurors unknown, and the fourth charging
him with killing the said Adams by inflicting sev-
eral wounds upon his head with some instrument
unknown. He plead not guilty to the charge, and
on motion of Mr. Whiting, the District Attorney,
his trial was set down for Monday the 11th day of
October next. The District Attorney gave notice
that he should positively press the trial on that
day, at the same time saying that if the prisoner's
Counsel should then be unprepared to proceed with
it, and would give him three days' notice, he would
afford them all reasonable indulgence. It is said
that the prisoner's Counsel intend to make it out
a case of manslaughter in the first degree, by pro-
ving, mainly by the testimony of Mr. Wheeler, who
overheard the scuffle between Adams and his mur-
derer, excessive provocation on the part of the for-
mer, and that Colt inflicted the fatal blow in a mo-
ment of heated passion. There is little probabil-
ity, however, that they will be successful in this.
We stated on Friday that Colt was once indicted
for burglariously entering the office of Judge Inglis,
and that his case was never brought to trial. We
learn that the bill was found against him by the
Grand Jury on the 15th of May, 1839. He then
gave his name as simply John Colt, and was bailed
out, in the sum of $500, by one Samuel Colt, who
gave the Astor House as his place of residence.
In the ensuing September the case was called on
for trial, but the defendant did not appear, nor
could his surety be found; and thus the matter
stands to this day.
[Col.3]
THE KAMSCHATKA.—This magnificent Russian
steam-frigate went to sea yesterday morning in
charge of her gentlemanly commander, Capt. Von
Shauntz. A party of about one hundred ladies
and gentlemen went on board and accompanied
her to the Hook, which she left amid the hearty
cheers of the company. With only two inches of
steam she made he excursion from the City to the
Hook, a distance of sixteen miles, in two hours, to
the entire satisfaction of all on board. Through
the polite attention of the builders, Messrs.
Schuyler, the steamboat Arisseoh went down and
brought the party back. On their return they
were furnished by the Messrs. Schuyler with a
splendid entertainment on board, to which they
did most ample justice. PHILIP HONE, Esq. pre-
sided, and Messrs. Charles King, J. Prescott Hall
Esq., J. C. Stevens, J. Watson Webb, Capt. Funk
of the Havre Line, Gen. Dorsey of N. J., M. de
Bodisco the Russian Minister, Mr. Rhoades, the
Naval Constructor, and many other gentlemen, sat
down at the board, and by toasts, speeches and
social wit, made the occasion one of high festivity.
The only passengers on board the Kamschatka, on
her outward passage, are Madame Von Shauntz,
George L. Schuyler, one of the contractors, and
James A. Hamilton, Esq. The frigate carries in
her machinery and construction 200,000 pounds of
copper, 50,000 of wrought and 300,000 of cast
iron, and employed two hundred and fifty men for
eight months in building. Her machinery, made
by Messrs. Dunham & Co. of this City, is beyond
all question, the most splendid workmanship ever
produced in this country: her shafts, arms &c. are
all of wrought iron, unusually large, and the whole
worked without the slightest jar and with perfect
ease and efficiency. As a specimen of American
mechanism, she reflects the highest honor upon
our country.
—————
...
THE ALBANY ARREST.—We mentioned yester-
day the arrest at Albany, and arrival in this city,
of a young rowdy named James Finnegan, who it
is thought may know something of the Mary
Rogers affair. We see that most of the papers
state he is detained on suspicion of having
been concerned in that tragedy. This is not true.
He is charged with having committed an aggrava-
ted assault on Miss Mary J. Toole in the upper
part of this city some time since, and this is the
only crime for which he is under arrest. The
Albany Atlas states that several prostitutes were
brought before the authorities of that city on Mon-
day, and that one of them said that Finnegan
showed her a ring with the name of Mary C. Ro-
gers upon it. This is all the evidence which tends
in the least to implicate him in that affair; and
taking into consideration the infamous character of
the witness, and the extreme improbability that
any man could be so foolish as to wear publicly a
ring marked with the name of any one whom he
had murdered, the suspicion that he knows any
thing of the affair of Mary Rogers may well be
pronounced without any good foundation.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2 / Col.2]
STEAM FRIGATE KAMSCHATKA.—This steamer start-
ed yesterday for Russia. It is our opinion that she
will cross the Atlantic quicker than it has ever yet
been crossed. Of all ocean steam ships now in ex-
istence she has the most “bottom” and speed, and
could easily make the passage from New York to
England in ten days.
—————
WIND, RAIN, THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.—We ex-
perienced a slice of the equinoxial last night. We
had plenty of rain, some wind, a few flashes of
lightning, and several claps of thunder. Steam ship
Kamschatka was at sea in the midst of all it.
[Col.3]
The Late Horrible Murder—Arraignment
and Plea of the Prisoner.
As we stated in yesterday's Herald, John Caldwell
Colt, charged with the murder of Samuel Adams,
was brought into the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
yesterday morning, before Judge Kent, and Alder-
men Leonard and Woodhull.
The Court room was crowded to suffocation by
respectable persons eager to see Colt. A. M. C.
Smith and another brought him through the Sheriff's
office, heavily ironed. His heavy irons were here
taken off, and he was brought into Court with his
hands handcuffed behind him, under his coat tail.
These were taken off in the Court room, and he sat
down by the side of his counsel, Emmett and Mor-
rill. Colt was very pale, and his face was even more
haggard than before. He was quite cool, and col-
lected, and firm; but he sighed heavily and fre-
quently, and he had evidently suffered intensely du-
ring his confinement.
The District Attorney rose soon after he was
brought in, and said, “I now move that John C.
Colt be arraigned for the charge of murdering
Samuel Adams.”
THE CLERK (Henry Vandervoort)—John C. Colt,
stand up.
The prisoner stood up.
CLERK—Hold up your right hand.
He did so.
CLERK—Now put it down again.
He did so, and sat down.
CLERK—Now stand up again.
He stood up much agitated.
CLERK—Listen to the indictment that has been
found against you.
The Clerk then read the following verbatim:
City and County of New York, ss.
The jurors of the people of State of New York in and
for the body of the city and county of New York, upon
their oath present: That John C. Colt, late of the third ward
of the city of New York, in the county of New York afore-
said, laborer, not having the fear of God before his
eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of
the devil, on the 17th day of September, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, with
force and arms at the ward, city and county aforesaid,
in and upon one Samuel Adams, in the peace of God and
of the said people then and there being feloniously, wil-
fully and of his malice aforethought, did make an as-
sault, and that the said John C. Colt, with a certain
hatchet, of the value of six cents, which he, the said
John C. Colt, in his right hand then and there had and
held the said Samuel Adams, in and upon the right side
of the head of him, the said Samuel Adams, then and
there feloniously, wilfully and of his malice afore-
thought, did strike and cut, giving to him, the said Sa-
muel Adams, then and there, with the hatchet aforesaid,
in and upon the right side of the head of him, the said
Samuel Adams, one mortal wound of the breadth of three
inches, and of the depth of six inches, of which said mor-
tal wound he, the said Samuel Adams, then and there in-
stantly died. And so the jurors aforesaid, upon their
oath aforesaid, do say that the said John C. Colt, him, the
said Samuel Adams, in manner and form aforesaid, felo-
niously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought, did kill
and murder against the form of the statute in such case
made and provided, and against the peace of the people of
the State of New York and their dignity.
...
And so the jurors aforesaid, upon their oath aforesaid,
do say that the said John C. Colt him, the said Samuel
Adams, in manner and form aforesaid, feloniously, wil-
fully, and of his malice aforethought, did kill and mur-
der, against the form of the statute in such case made and
provided, and against the peace of the people of the State
of New York and their dignity.
JAMES R. WHITING,
District Attorney.
During the reading of this paper, the prisoner
changed countenance considerably; his face became
flushed, and then deadly pale; and his eye was very
restless, and flashed fire. As soon as he had got
through reading the indictment, the Clerk said, “Do
you demand a trial upon this indictment?”
Colt's lips quivered, and he was about to reply,
but apparently the words stuck in his throat, like
Macbeth's “Amen.”
EMMETT.—Yes, sir, we demand a trial.
CLERK.—Do you plead guilty, or not guilty?
The prisoner faintly said, “Not guilty.”
EMMETT.—We plead not guilty, sir.
JUDGE KENT.—When will you be ready for trial?
During the present term of the Court?
EMMETT.—It is impossible for us to say when we
shall be ready, on account of the great excitement
that prevails; we cannot name any particular day.
WHITING.—I wish counsel for prisoner to under-
stand distinctly that I intend to dispose of this case
during the present term. There is no good ground
for a postponement; and I therefore move the Court
that it be set down for Monday week. If the pri-
soners' counsel are not ready to go on with it on that
day, let them give me three day's notice, and I shall
be willing to grant any reasonable indulgence.
JUDGE KENT.—Then we assign Monday week for
the day of trial in this cause.
WHITING.—I desire the counsel to understand that
I shall press this case on to trial on that day.
EMMETT.—Very well, sir.
The prisoner's eye lighted up, and he watched
every word as it fell from Whiting's lips; but was
very calm. He was then removed to the Sheriff's
office, ironed, and sent back to the Egyptian Tombs.
[Col.4]
The Murder of Adams—Progress of Crime.
MR. BENNETT—
SIR:—
The odium that would appear to attach to authors,
or literary men, from the simple fact of Colt, the
murderer, being the reputed author of a system of
book-keeping, should have no weight. Any person
who will take the trouble to compare Colt's Book-
keeping with Bennett's Book-keeping, will at once
see that Colt is but a literary pirate, and, of course,
does not class among original writers. It requires
but a small quantum of talent in a mere mechanical
book-keeper, to alter, mangle, and copy an original
work, for the purpose of infringing on another man's
copy-right. But Colt is not the only person who
has pirated the work alluded to. The great popu-
larity of Bennett's Book-keeping has called forth,
within the last twenty years, a number of wicked
pirates, among whom is a convict of the name of
Hitchcock, of whose crime, (forgery) conviction
and sentence to the States Prison, we have a certi-
ficate from that great workhouse, accurately describ-
ing his person, which shall be published should oc-
casion require. It is most natural progress in crime,
forgery, piracy and murder. If then such men are
to be classed among literary and scientific authors,
we must say that “Othello's occupation is gone.”
But what has appeared to us most astonishing is,
that booksellers of respectability have been known
to keep such books on sale, after due notice that
they were infringements on original copy-right.—
Nothing but the pacific disposition of the real au-
thor, however, has saved them from the fangs of
the law.
The Harlot's Progress, by Hogarth, and the Gam-
bler's Fate, are among the finest warning lessons that
were ever offered to vice, this side the gallows. Men
seldom break out into the commission of high crimes
suddenly. Conscience, that monitor given by the
Almighty, to warn men against the violation of hu-
man and divine law, must first be blunted or deafened
by the smaller class of crimes and misdemeanors,
before the soul becomes fit for the commission of
the higher crimes of robbery, rape and murder. We
are perfectly aware, however, that there are many
minds so constituted or guarded, either by a princi-
ple of religion, or a principle of honor, or from both,
that they can never be led into base or vicious con-
duct, being shocked at the first appearance or sugges-
tion of wickedness. But when the greater number
are on the other side, they should take warning not
to lose their conscience, nor persuade themselves
that there are neither rewards nor punishments be-
yond the grave. JUNIUS.
[Col.5]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—The people who profess
to be acquainted with all the secret moves of the indefa-
tigable police, assert that the two persons who were ar-
rested in Albany, are not charged with the murder of
the pretty segar girl, but with attempting to ravish Mary
Jane Toole, the girl who was taken out of a boat by a
gang of juvenile soaplocks who had “No. 27” on their
belts or braces. Miss Mary Jane is in safe keeping, but
she confidently asserts that she was not ravished nor ill
used. The parties in custody on this charge now amount
to five, and they are kept apart, whilst their arrest and
the nature of the charge against them is so far consider-
ed as a “cabinet secret,” that even the advice of a law-
yer has hitherto been denied them.
[Col.6. From Argus]
ARREST OF SUSPECTED MURDERERS.—In relation to
the arrest of the suspected murderers in Albany, the
Argus of that city has the following:—
ARREST OF ONE OF THE MURDERERS OF MARY C.
ROGERS.—On Monday, James Finnegan, a rowdy of
...
upon a young girl in this city.—Albany Argus.
================================================================
[Col.1. Mostly from Argus]
Arrest of one of the Murderers of Mary C. Ro-
gers.—On Monday, James Finnegan, a rowdy of
...
upon a young girl in this city.—Albany Argus.
James Finnegan, the young man above alluded
to, was arrested on Sunday by officers Tompkins
and Hilleker, at Albany, and brought to this city,
(where he now remains in prison at the Upper police
office for examination) was arrested for having, with
others, committed an outrage upon the person of
Miss Jane Ann Tool, near Hoboken, on the 25th of
July—and not for the violation and murder of Miss
Mary C. Rogers. Several others are in prison for
participating in the same offence.
================================================================
================================================================
MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, September 30, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.2. From Argus / Col.2]
Arrest of one of the Murderers of Mary
C. Rogers.
On Monday, James Finnegan, a row-
...
Argus.
================================================================
[Col.3]
DEPARTURE OF THE RUSSIAN WAR STEAMER
KAMSCHATKA.—We yesterday morning went on
board this magnificent vessel to pay our respects
to her for the last time, and to see her under way
for St. Petersburgh. Never was a ship in more
complete trim from stem to stern. Her size, ton-
nage and machinery, we have before described,
and need not again repeat. Take her all in all,
we do not believe there is in the whole world a
more perfect specimen of naval architecture.—
Her neatness and beauty are only equalled by her
wonderful strength and solidity. Her furniture is
of the most rich and splendid character, corres-
ponding with her superiority in all other respects.
In passing through the midst of her gigantic ma-
chinery one seems to be lost in a forest of polish-
ed iron and brass. Her armament is of the most
effective description. On her forward gun deck
she carries ten 24 pounders, and on her stern gun
deck eight 24 pounders. On her forward upper
deck she carries three tremendous Paxham guns,
and one on her stern, which will make cruel work
with any thing that ever attempts to chase her.—
The guns upon the upper decks are all placed
upon circular railways, so they can instantly
be pointed in any direction that may be desired.
A great number of our citizens attended her as
far as the Hook, and she started on her watery
way with all the usual accompaniments of salutes,
cheers, and good wishes. We can only imagine
the delight with which the Emperor will receive
her into his service. She will be the lion of his
navy. She sails from here under American col-
ors, not having yet been formally delivered to the
Russian government. Of course the officers who
will hereafter command her are not yet appointed.
The following is a list of those under whom she
goes out:—
George Schuyler, American, Commander.
Capt. Von Schantz, Russian Navy.
1st Lieut. Flotoff, do.
2d. Lieut. Sherburne, do.
Capt. Pippin, Civil Engineer.
Joseph Scott, Chief Engineer.
Barnet Smith, } 1st assistants.
John Andrews, }
Charles T. Scott, } 2d do.
George Root, }
W. G. Lovenwood, } 3d do.
J. T. Conklin, }
—————
COLT ARRAIGNED.—At the opening of the
...
The clerk asked the prisoner if he demanded a
trial. He made no reply, but his counsel answer-
ed that he did. Judge Kent inquired when they
would be ready for trial? Mr. Emmett, counsel
for the prisoner, replied that he could not tell; as
...
—————
...
SELF-MARRYING.—A curious instance of profli-
gate hypocrisy on one side and simplicity on the
other, was exhibited on Monday, before the Police
Court of Boston. A German named Hohnholz,
officiating as pastor of a German congregation, was
brought up on a charge of immorality. The wit-
ness against him was a German girl named Regi-
na Heilmich, who deposed in substance that Hohn-
holz met her in the street—offered to find a place
at which she could go into service—took her to his
boarding house—made love to her—persuaded her
that he was authorized to marry himself to her—
took her into his room and made a prayer, which
he represented as equivalent to the marriage
ceremony, and then made her accompany him to
Salem, where they passed the night as man and
wife.
Returning the next day he locked her up in
his room and kept her from Friday to Sunday
morning, when he took her to his church and
preached as usual. The poor girl was firmly
convinced that she was lawfully married to her
betrayer. We presume that the upshot of the
matter will be a more efficient marriage secundum
artem.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE RUSSIAN STEAMSHIP.—The Kamschatka,
a steamship built for the Russian government, left
this harbor yesterday, on her passage for the ship-
ping port of St. Petersburg. The Express says:
“This ship is purely American, having been
built by our best skilled artizans, and as a ship, a-
side from her steam power, is one of the most ex-
traordinary hulls and models that has ever been put
together in any country. The strength and beau-
ty of this vessel is a subject of admiration of our
most experienced nautical men. Nothing can sur-
pass her strength. Her timbers, knees, ceiling,
deck plank, beams, &c., are put together with a de-
gree of nice workmanship, and fit, that would do
credit to cabinet work.
Her machinery is of a finish and perfection that
it appears impossible to surpass; nothing can excel
its performance. Indeed, as a ship of war, too much
cannot be said in her praise. She took her final
departure yesterday, on which occasion a very large
party of gentlemen were invited to accompany her
to sea. In two hours after she tripped her anchor,
off the Powles' Hook Ferry, she was abreast of San-
dy Hook. As she passed the wharves and the
various ships of war, and along the shores of our
bay and harbor, crowds assembled to witness her
departure. On reaching Hook, the party were
transferred to the steamboat Jersey City, (where a
most sumptuous and beautiful collation was pre-
pared,) and brought to the city. When the party
left the frigate, hearty cheers were interchanged,
and the frigate passed rapidly to sea, and was soon
lost sight of.”
The gentlemen who have contracted for, and who
have built this vessel, are Messrs. R & G. S. Schuy-
ler, under whose entire inspection and direction she
has been built. Mr. Wm. H. Brown is the builder
of the ship, and Mr. Dunham the engineer. On deck
she carries two Paixham guns, that will throw a 96
pound ball, besides two 32 pounders,—on her main
deck she has twelve 32 pounders.
—————
THE ARREST AT ALBANY.—The Journal of
Commerce says that James Finnigan, the young
man arrested on Sunday, by officers Tompkins and
Hilliker, at Albany, and brought to this city, (where
he now remains in prison at the upper Police Office
for examination,) was arrested for having, with
others, committed an outrage upon the person of
Miss Jane Ann Tool, near Hoboken, on the 25th of
July, and not for the violation and murder of Miss
Mary C. Rogers, as has been stated by some of the
papers. Several others are in prison for participa-
ting in the same offence.
[Col.4. Mostly as in Tribune, Sun]
SELF-MARRYING.—A curious instance of profli-
...
Court of Boston. A German named Hohnholn,
officiating as pastor of a German congregation, was
brought up on a charge of immorality. The wit-
ness against him was a German girl named Rigina
Hellmich, who deposed in substance that Hohnholz
...
efficient marriage secundum artem.—Commercial.
—————
...
ANIMAL MAGNETISM.—It seems that Animal
Magnetism can be applied to a useful purpose. Dr.
Collyer having magnetised a child three or four
years old, when Dr. Rich performed the operation
of cutting out a diseased eye, while the subject
was nearly insensible to pain, as Dr. Deane, who
was present, informs us.—Bangor, Me. Democrat.
================================================================
[Col.5]
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.—An extraordinary
piece of roguery was developed yesterday. A pre-
tended German preacher, in clerical attire, was brought
up for a very singular offence. His name is Henry
Ho??holz, and he has been preaching in Boston to
irregular congregations of his countrymen. He hails
from the interior of Pennsylvania. On Wednesday
last he fell in with a superstitious German girl, and
affected to take an interest in her, and got her a
place in a German family. In the course of that
evening and the next day, he persuaded her that he
was inspired by God to claim her as his wife, and
kept praying with her, and he made her believe that
he had the power to marry herself by their both go-
ing through certain acts of devotion. On Thursday
afternoon, he took her to a tavern out of town, and
consummated his purpose, and cohabited with her till
Sunday, and even introduced her as his wife to some
Germans, into whose society he had contrived to
thurst himself.
A family connexion of the girl found out what had
taken place, and went to a house in South Boston
where she was, and took her away. The scoundrel
then made preparations to run away, but Constable
Burns was upon him in the evening, and secured him,
but not before he had felt the weight of the preach-
er's knuckles. He was committed to jail for trial at
the Municipal Court. The girl's name is Heilnick.
—Boston Post.
[Col.6. From Tribune]
THE TRIAL OF COLT.—The grand jury of the
...
—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE ARREST AT ALBANY.—For the information
of those who still steadfastly contend that the ar-
rest of James Finnegan in Albany, was for the
murder of Mary C. Rogers, we again take the lib-
erty of stating that his arrest was not on that
charge.
From J. B. La Forge, Esq. the counsel of Fin-
negan, we derive the information that his client was
arrested, and is now in prison, on a charge of hav-
ing attempted the commission of an assault some
months since on a young girl of this city, named
Jane Ann Tool, but did not succeed in the un-
dertaking, and that there is no other charge what-
ever against him. That on Sunday the 25th July,
the day on which Mary C. Rogers was murdered,
Finnegan, who is a private coachman, drove part of
his respectable employer's family to church, both
morning and evening, and was not out of the City
that day—that on the night on which the frail girl at
Albany charged that he was with her and gave her
a ring with the name of Mary C. Rogers upon it,
Finnegan accompanied his mother (who resides in
Albany,) to church, again accompanied her home
and remained in the house with her all that night.
Of all this the proof is so conclusive that we under-
stand both the Mayor and Justice Taylor, une-
quivocally declare that there is not the slightest
reason for believing the Finnegan had any partici-
pation whatever in the violation or murder of Mary
C. Rogers. His own sins he should answer for—
not for those of others.
================================================================
[Col.4]
The arrest at Albany.—Notwithstanding the con-
tradictions that have appeared, some of the papers
still continue to assert, that the arrest of James Fin-
negan at Albany, by the New York Police—was on a
charge of being concerned in the murder of Mary C.
Rogers. This we again positively affirm was not the
case. From Mr. J. B. La Forge, the counsel of Fin-
negan, we assured that his client was arrested,
solely, on a charge of having attempted the perpetra-
tion of an outrage on a young girl (not Miss Rogers)
in which attempt he was unsuccessful. That Finne-
gan who recently was employed as a private coach-
man by one of our most respectable citizens—on the
day of the murder of Miss Rogers, drove a portion of
his employers' family to church, both for the morning
and evening service, and that he was not out of the city
that day. That on the night on which he was charged
by the dissolute female at Albany, with having been
with her and given her a ring, bearing the name of
M. C. Rogers—he accompanied his mother (who re-
sides in Albany) to church, returned with her home,
and remained in the house with her the whole night.
And so conclusive do the Mayor and Justice Taylor,
consider the evidence of the innocence of Finnegan
of all participation in the violation and murder of Miss
Rogers, that they unequivocally declare their convic-
tion of it—and concur with the counsel in stating that
there is not the least suspicion of his guilt, in con-
nection with that affair. On the other charge he will
be examined in two or three days.
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.6]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—The indefatigables who
were despatched to Albany, to arrest Finnegan, deny
that they informed any body there that they had found
a ring with the name of Mary C. Rogers on it. They
say the tarrididdle originated thus. On bringing Finne-
gan down to the boat one of the corps said to him “here
let us look at that ring you have on your finger, perhaps
that is one of Mary Rogers's rings, as she had several.”
The manacled soaplock of course complied, and this be-
ing carried quick as thought to a newspaper, got con-
verted into a most important chain of circumstantial tes-
timony against Finnegan, viz: that the ring had not
only belonged to the pretty cigar girl, but that it had her
name on it. So much for tarrididdles.
THE LAST MURDER.—The key of Colt's room in the gra-
nite buildings is held by the Mayor, who with Colt's
counsel, have been engaged there daily, making a strict
search after papers, or any other documents which may
throw a light on his career. Surely it may be said of
Colt in the language of scripture, “my guilt is already
greater than I can bear.”
================================================================
[Col.2. Mostly from Tribune]
From the Tribune.
Murder in New York, of Samuel Adams,
Printer.
Our city has again been the theatre of a most startling
and murderous tragedy. Though less horrible in its de-
tails than the hideous outrage and murder of Miss Mary
...
He was an honest, industrious, temperate and religious
man, highly respected by all who knew him. His age
was not far from 35.
[The grand jury being in session, Colt was indicted
on Tuesday last, for the wilful murder of Samuel Ad-
ams, and was arraigned on the indictment. Time was
granted him until the next morning, to plead. The pri-
soner's behavior was calm and firm. He is the son of
Christopher Colt, of Hartford, the late president of the
Silk Manufacturing Company of that city. A sister of
Colt, committed suicide in 1837.]
[Col.6. From Argus]
ARREST OF ONE OF THE MURDERERS
OF MARY C. ROGERS.
On Monday, James Finnegan, a rowdy, of con-
...
Finnegan when arrested, wore a ring which is
said to have been identified as one belonging to Ma-
ry Rogers. The Bee says that he is one of the gang
who about a year since committed a gross outrage
upon a young girl in this city.—Alb. Argus.
================================================================
[Col.3. Mostly as in Tribune, Sun]
SELF-MARRYING.—A curious instance of prof-
..
witness against him was a German girl named
Regina Heilnich, who deposed in substance that
...
a more efficient marriage secundum artem.—[N. Y.
Commercial Advertiser.
[The above impostor will be recollected in this
city, where he essayed to figure as a Lutheran
clergyman, last summer, and was brought before
the police, for some violence offered to the Rev.
Mr. Mayer, who refused to recognize him and
permit him to preach from his pulpit. The repa-
ration proposed for the poor girl, would offer but
a sorry prospect.]
[Col.4. Mostly as in Post]
THE ARREST AT ALBANY.—The N. Y. Journal
of Commerce says that James Finnigan, the young
...
stated by some of the papers. Several others are
in prison for participating in the same offence.
[Col.6. Mostly as in Post]
ANIMAL MAGNETISM.—It seems that Animal
Magnetism can be applied to a useful purpose.
Dr. Collyer having magnetised a child three or
four years old, when Dr. Rich performed the op-
eration of cutting out the eye, while the subject
was nearly insensible to pain, as Dr. Deane, who
was present, informs us.—[Bangor, Me., Dem.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Case of Mary C. Rogers.—In the past
week, something has occurred in relation to
this mysterious murder, which we hope will
lead to further developments in relation to
it. The daily papers say, that within a few
days the parasol of the murdered girl has
been found at Weehawken, together with
portions of her dress; and that in the vi-
cinity of the place where these were found,
there were indications of a violent struggle.
================================================================
[Col.2]
☞ The statement in some of yesterday's pa-
pers, which will most likely be repeated to-day,
that six persons are under arrest in this city on sus-
picion of having been concerned in the murder of
Miss Rogers, is utterly untrue. There is not the
slightest ground for suspecting any of them of the
atrocity in question; they are all detained on a
charge of having been engaged in another aggra-
vated assault.
———
...
☞ Philadelphia papers are inquiring whether
the John C. Colt awaiting his trial in prison in
this city for the murder of Adams, is the same
person who a short time since kept a bookstore in
that city, which he left very abruptly, after cheat-
ing two printers. We have been assured on good
authority that he is the same person; and although
we would not consider his case adequate proof,
that any man who will cheat two printers will not
hesitate to murder a third, still it is worthy of the
notice of all whom it may concern, how short was
the step from the former crime to the latter.
================================================================
[Col.6]
☞ THE ATLAS, the largest and most widely circu-
lated of the Sunday papers, will tomorrow contain a
sketch of the DRESS MAKER, illustrated with a finely en-
...
amusing, pleasant and instructive reading. The Assis-
tant Aldermen and their war upon the little ragged boys;
condensed particulars of all the recent murders; six
persons in the tombs, concerned in the murder of Mary
Rogers; the wonderful Mare's Nest, discovered by the
Courier & Enquirer; The McLeod Affair; Letter from
...
Price only three cents. Office 162 Nassau street—
served to subscribers by regular carriers, and for sale at
most of the public houses in this city, Brooklyn, and Jer-
sey City.
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly in Hazard's ... Register. October 18, 1841]
The Kamschatka.—We mentioned yesterday that
this noble steam Frigate, built in this city for the
Russian Government, and the largest ever construct-
ed, being larger than the British Frigates Cyclops or
Gorgon—went to sea on Wednesday. At the time
she was launched, we went somewhat at large into
a description of her, since which period, we are sorry
to perceive an effort on the part of an unscrupulous
print, to take from the Messrs. SCHUYLER, the credit
of having constructed this unrivalled steamer, in the
hope of conferring it all or in part, upon the Russian
officers who were sent here to overlook the work, and
one that it was in all respects equal to the contract.
The history of the ship is briefly as follows. On
Captain VAN CHANCE's first visit to the United
States, Mr. GEORGE L. SCHUYLER furnished him with
the drawings of the lines of a frigate, which had been
tendered to our Government and rejected. The Capt.
on his second visit, brought with him an order for
the construction of a frigate according to lines, to be
furnished by him, and which had been prepared in Rus-
sia—the engines to be whatever the Messrs. SCHUY-
LER might determine upon. After various inter-
views between the parties, the Messrs. SCHUYLER in-
timated that if the Russian captain adhered to his
Russian model for the hull of the frigate, all negoti-
ation between them might or will cease, as they
would not build a ship after the model proposed. This
resulted in a compromise; and the Messrs. SCHUY-
LER shortly after presented the present model for ap-
proval, which preserves the beautiful round stern, and
as much as practicable, of the upper works of the
Russian lines; but all of which form below the wa-
ter line, is entirely and exclusively the American mo-
del varied according to the skill and judgment of
Messrs. R. & G. L. SCHUYLER. For the Engines and
Machinery, they are solely responsible, as they are
for having selected for their construction Messrs. H.
R. DUNHAM & Co., manufacturers, who have no supe-
riors on either side of the water.
These facts in relation to the Kamschatka, very
clearly show that she is in all respects as regards
model for sailing and engines, an American produc-
tion; and we hazard nothing in saying, that she is at
this moment both in hull and machinery, very, very
much superior to any steamer afloat; and while she
is undoubtedly faster than any other war steamer,
we incline to the belief that she will be found quite as
fast as the Great Western or Cunard's steamers, al-
though her power in proportion to her tonnage, is
only about two thirds as great.
It affords us great pleasure to annex the following
interesting letter from Messrs. H. R. DUNHAM & Co.
NEW YORK, Sept. 30, 1841.
To J. Watson Webb, Esq.:
DEAR SIR:—At your kind request of information
about weight and proportions of engines and boilers
for Kamschatka, steam ship, for the Russian Govern-
ment, we have prepared the following statement:
The engines are two in number, each cylinder being
62 in. diameter and 10 ft. stroke, lying horizontal and
are placed in the bottom of the ship. The motion of
the piston rod is communicated in the ordinary man-
ner to a hanging beam of a triangular form; one angle
of which receives the link from crosshead and the
other passes the power to the cranks through the
connecting rod. The engine is technically known
as the Half Beam Engine. The whole of the work-
ing parts are included and supported by a connected
cast iron frame twenty-six feet long and twenty-four
feet wide, and firmly secured by wrought iron bolts
and stays, passing in the several directions of the
strains and through the entire bottom of the ship.—
The whole of the engines and frames were fitted by
machinery and were not tried together until set
in their places on board the ship, and so accurate,
that no one piece required fitting on board.
The shafts and cranks are of wrought iron and
weighed rough 38 tons, and when finished 30 tons.
The water wheels are also of wrought iron and weigh
32 tons. The engines are worked by double balanced
valves, with a double pair of the same, for cutting off
the steam in the cylinders; being arranged so easily of
adjustment, as to require but five minutes to set or
alter them to cut off at any given part of the stroke;
the cams being graduated from one to seven-tenth
parts of the stroke; the whole being so simple and
effective as to easily set by one of the ordinary
firemen.
The boilers are of copper, and four in number, built
on the flue and tubular principle, and possessing in
an eminent degree, the advantages of both. The
tubes receive the heat direct from the furnaces, and
from them it passes through large flues in its passage
to the chimney. The boilers are intended to burn
anthracite coal without the use of blowers, and which
in her trial, proved entirely satisfactory, though
much lighter in proportion to the cylinders, than
most boilers in use with blowers. The boilers with
smoke pipe and breeching for the same, weigh about
90 tons. The whole of the engines and boilers to-
gether with nearly all her fuel for St. Petersburg or
Cronstadt are included in two wrought iron bulkheads
placed at each end and measuring apart 70 feet. The
engines and boilers were manufactured by Messrs.
Dunham and Co., of this city, under the inspection
and from the plans of R. & G. L. Schuyler, engineers
and agents for Steamer Kamscatka.
Length of ship at water line 210 feet.
Breadth of beam 36 “
Depth of hold 24 “
Diameter of water wheels 30 “
Reefed when leaving port to 28 “
Length of Bucket 9 “ 6 in.
Dip of do 5 “ 6 “
Diameter of shaft journals 1 “ 4 “
Total weight of the engine and boilers about 450
tons, of which there are about 235 tons cast iron,
120 tons wrought iron, and 95 tons copper and com-
position. The whole has been under work nomi-
nally about eighteen months, but in reality not over
twelve; the preparations necessary for such an un-
dertaking requiring several months for their comple-
tion. But we could now build another from the
same parts and finished ready for operation in ten
months from commencement.
There has been employed in building the engines,
boilers and appurtenances an average of two hundred
and fifty hands for eight months, besides the numer-
ous plaining mills, lathes and other machinery used in
operation, and we are now prepared to execute orders
for engines for steam ships up to 3000 tons, with all
the machinery necessary for immediate use in the
manufacturing of the different parts of the engine as
well as for the light river boats engines, and all we re-
quire is but a liberal and fair encouragement to pro-
duce as good work in this city as can be made in any
part of the world. Respectfully, yours,
H. R. DUNHAM & CO.
From the American of Thursday.
THE KAMSCHATKA war steamer, built for the Rus-
sian government, went to sea yesterday, about 12
o'clock.
This fine vessel—perhaps the finest in the world
of her class—was built in this city under the care
and superintendence of Messrs. Robert and George
Schuyler, by whom the modelling of the hull and the
arrangement of the machinery were mainly devised
and regulated.
The builder was Mr. Wm. H. Brown, and by com-
mon consent, it seems to be admitted that a more
beautiful craft never sat upon the water. So perfect,
indeed, are her proportions, and so admirable the
workmanship, that even unaccustomed eyes are at
once struck with her fitness and finish. She mea-
sures about 2,000 tons.
The machinery was constructed by Dunham &
Co., and it too seemed to us, as we watched its work-
ing, to be as complete a piece of work as can well be
put up.
Mr. Geo. Schuyler who went out in charge of the
vessel, invited a numerous party of friends to accom-
pany him to the Hook, to see the working of the
ship; and abundantly were they gratified. We ran
down from the anchorage in the North River to the
Hook in about 2 hours—the engine gaining power as
we proceeded and as steam accumulated, but not
making, while we were on board, more than 9 revo-
lutions, which gave about the same number of miles
for her speed. She will, however, as she is lightened
reach probably 12 or 13 revolutions, and attain a
speed unequalled by any war steamer.
While under way, no one could imagine that we
were propelled by Steam power and ponderous ma-
chinery, so free was the vessel from vibration, and so
smoothly and silently did the machines work.
Arrived of the Hook, the company went on board
the Aressoah steam ferry boat which had accompa-
nied us, and giving three hearty cheers to the noble
Kamschatka, and uttering many patriotic wishes that
this fine American vessel might have a prosperous
voyage, we returned to the city, finding on board the
Aressoah, provided by the forethought of Mr. Schuy-
ler, a most sumptuous entertainment, in the enjoy-
ment of which by his friends, he was freshly remem-
bered.
We just learn that when the Pilot, Mr. Vosburg,
left the ship, she had a head of 10 inches of steam,
(the utmost when we left her was about 3 inches)
and that she was going off at a flying rate.
================================================================
[Col.2(1) / Col.6(x)]
Arrest of one of the Murderers of Mary
C. Rogers.—James Finnegan has been ar-
rested in Albany, charged with the murder of
Mary C. Rogers on the implication of two
or three others of the gang, who are also in
custody.
================================================================
[Col.3]
MARY ROGERS.—A correspondent inquires which
course is proper to be pursued, in order to become
State's evidence in the case of Mary Rogers. He
adds, “I shall be in New York on Saturday, perhaps
earlier, if the course is clear. I can keep close no
longer, come what may.” If this is intended as a
joke, it is a poor one, without meaning or object.—
If the writer is in earnest, the course is obvious.—
Let him apply by letter to the District Attorney, and
get an assurance of immunity, in case he shall tes-
tify.
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, October 5, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2 / Col.2 / Col.2]
MADAME COSTELLO,
F EMALE PHYSICIAN, is prepared at all times to receive
patients on the point of confinement, at 34 Lispenard street,
New York.
N.B.—Madame C. treats all diseases incident to women, and
cases where nature has stopped from colds, &c. &c. Some of
these cases will require a short time to effect a cure. Ladies
coming to the city out of health, may consult her at her resi-
dence. All letters post paid. s21 1m*[Col.6]
MADAME RESTELL,
F EMALE PHYSICIAN, Office and residence 148 Green-
wich street, where she can be consulted with the strictest
confidence on all complaints incident to the female frame.
Madame Restell's mode of treatment is such as to require
but a few days to effect perfect cure. Ladies desiring proper
medical attendance during confinement or other indisposition,
will be accommodated during such time with private and re-
spectable board. “Preventive Powders” for married ladies in
delicate or precarious health, will be sent by mail to any part
of the United States. Price $5 a package. All letters (post
paid) addressed to 'box 868, N. Y. city,' will be received.
o5 d&w 1m[Col.3. Mostly as in Herald, 2nd ed.]
From the New York Herald.
THE CASE OF MARY ROGERS — THE
PLACE OF THE MURDER.
The late investigations and discoveries in rela-
...
[Col.4]
...
petticoat, shawl, &c. were full of little bugs, called
by the Dutch, kellerasle, that is, in English, cellar
jackass, an insect that always gets into clothing ly-
ing in wet places.
...
Such are some of the strong features of the late
movements in relation to this extraordinary mur-
der.
================================================================
[Col.5]
Reported for the N. Y. Express.
HORRID MURDER.
ARREST OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERER, AND
DISCOVERY OF THE DEAD BODY. On Friday the
17th inst., Mr. Samuel Adams, a master printer of
great respectability, residing at No. 11 Elizabeth st.,
and carrying on business at 59 Gold st. under the
firm of Scatchard & Adams, left his establishment
...
Justice Taylor also on Saturday succeeded in dis-
covering the watch of Mr. Adams, which was
found in Colt's trunk at his boarding-house in
THE CALEDONIAN. Tuesday, October 5, 1841 (CA)
[Col.1]
Monroe-st. near Market. Great praise is due to
the Mayor and Justice Taylor, as also to officers A.
M. C. and Walker, for their zeal and activity in
bringing to a denouement this terrible deed of blood
and death.
...
Both the murdered man and his murderer are
members of Dr. Spring's church. This horrible
murder has caused great excitement in New York.
Colt, after his examination, was committed to
prison to await his trial for murder.
================================================================
[Col.1. Mostly as in Argus, Courier / Post]
ARREST OF ONE OF THE MURDERERS OF
MARY C. ROGERS.
On Monday, James Finnegan, a rowdy, of confirmed
...
girl in this city.—Albany Argus.
LATER.
The Arrest at Albany.—James Finnegan, the young
...
Several others are in prison for participating in the
same offence.—N. Y. Jour. of Com.
————————————
FOUL MURDER.
On Friday week Mr. Samuel Adams, a printer, of
the firm of Scatchard & Adams, of No. 59 Gold street,
N. Y. suddenly disappeared. He was a man of steady
habits, and was advertised.
A Mr. Colt, author of an able work on book-keeping,
...
nailed up. It was conveyed to the dead house in the
Park, and the Coroner held an inquest, the verdict of
which, we understand, was that Mr. Adams was wilful-
ly murdered by Colt.—[Journal of Commerce.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1 / Col.1]
MARY ROGERS.—A correspondent inquires which
...
get an assurance of immunity, in case he shall tes-
tify.
[Col.2]
Colt, the Homicide.
The trial of this wretched man is approaching, and
the interest in the awful tragedy, in which he was an
actor, will not subside, until it is past, and he is
handed over to the ministers of justice.
No doubt appears to exist that he took the life of
Adams. The only question seems to be whether it
was done with that deliberation and “malice afore-
thought,” which constitute the crime of murder, and
call for the doom of death; or whether it was a
homicide, committed in a whirlwind of sudden and
uncontrollable passion, calling only for a verdict of
manslaughter, and some years' incarceration in the
gloomy cells of a penitentiary.
Upon the examination, before the coroner, Colt
seemed like a man just wakened from some horri-
ble dream. His pale and quivering lips, his glaring
eyes, knit brows, and the beating of his forehead
with his clenched hand, all showed the agony of a
mind roused from its fancied security, with all the
fearful evidences of crime staring him in the face.
When the wife of the slain man passed by him
that day, the look she gave him was such as one as
few ever received from mortal. It seemed to freeze
the prisoner into stone. He glared upon her like
Macbeth upon the ghost of Banquo. She walked
as if a spirit moved her. Her face was deadly pale—
her eyes past weeping. She seemed to look into
eternity—she stood, as if she was confronting the
man of blood before the bar of doom.
No mimic tragedy ever came up to that scene in
real life. It was a calm, bright Sabbath evening,
the sun shining in the blue heavens, and the deeply
verdant foliage of the Park, was in a glow of beau-
ty; yet in its midst was the dead house, with the
mangled and decaying corpse of the murdered man,
and close by the man accused of the crime in all the
remorse of discovered guilt, and the widow in her
pale and tearless agony! And all around, filling the
atmosphere, filling the lungs alike of prisoner and
witness, was the horrible effluvia of the mouldering
dead.
Can it be wondered that that woman is now a ma-
niac? Warned as she was—three times, did she
dream, that her husband was murdered, and waked
to find him beside her, for most true it is, she was
thus strangely warned—her mind could not hear the
dreadful reality, and though expecting the blow,
she could not bear it. Her reason is a shattered
wreck, and it is probable that she will soon lie
peacefully beside her husband in the quiet grave.
================================================================
[Col.4. Partly as in Albany Evening Journal, Post]
Arrest of one of the Murderers of Mary
Rogers.—'We learn,' says the Tattler, 'by
a gentleman who arrived in town from Alba-
ny this morning, that a very important arrest
has been affected in that city by two New
York officers. An individual for whom they
had been in search two weeks—and against
whom strong suspicions and circumstances
exist that he was engaged in the horrible
Hoboken (or Weehawken) Tragedy, was
discovered by them on Sunday evening, and
taken into custody early the next morning.—
He will of course be brought on to this city
as privately as possible, and examined before
the Mayor.'
The Albany Atlas of Tuesday says that
Finegan, the individual arrested, had in his
possession a ring with the name of Mary C.
Rogers upon it. He and an accomplice were
arrested on the charge of being engaged in
the outrage upon the other female at Hobo-
ken on the same day Miss Rogers was mur-
dered.
———
The arrest at Albany.—James Finnigan,
the young man arrested on Sunday by offi-
...
papers. Several others are in prison for
participating in the same offence.
[Col.5. As in Tribune]
Self-Marrying.—A curious instance of
...
marriage secundem artem.
================================================================
[Col.5. Partly a changed copy from Argus, partly from Sun (October 1, 1841 ?)]
ARREST OF SUSPECTED MURDERERS.—It
would appear from the following, from the
Albany Argus, that the murderers of the un-
fortunate Mary Rogers are in a fair way to
be brought to justice.
ARREST OF ONE OF THE MURDERERS OF
MARY C. ROGERS.—On Monday, James
Finnegan, a rowdy of confirmed rascality,
...
girl of this city.
Since the foregoing was put in type we
have met with the following in the N. Y. Sun
of Friday last:
THE ARREST OF FINNEGAN IN ALBANY.—
Although repeated repetitions of the charge
that James Finnegan was arrested at Albany
for being concerned in the murder of Miss
Rogers have been published, yet as some of
the papers still persevere in the error, that
such was the cause of his arrest we again
take occasion to state that he was arrested on
a charge of attempting the commission of an
outrage on the person of another young fe-
male of this city, in which attempt he did
not succeed. Mr. J. B. La Forge, the coun-
sel of Finnogan, assures us that he was ar-
rested solely for this attempt, and not for any
injury to or destruction of Miss Rogers, of
which latter foul offence there is abundant
evidence of his innocence. There is proof
conclusive that on the Sunday of the murder
of Miss Rogers, Finnegan, (who was until
recently a private coachman of one of our
most respectable artizans) drove a portion of
his employer's family to church both for
morning and evening worship, and was in
the city the entire day.
That on the night charged by the abandon-
ed female at Albany, as having spent the
night with her and given her a ring bearing
the name of Mary C. Rogers—he accompa-
nied his mother, who resides in Albany to
and from church, and remained during the
whole night in the house with her. In the
entire innocence of Finnegan of all concern
in the murder of Mary C. Rogers, the Mayor
and Justice Taylor, who have examined the
subject, express their unequivocal and firm
conviction. Finnegan will be examined, in
two or three days, on the charge for which
he was arrested, and if the evidence be suffi-
cient will be committed to answer for that of-
fence.
================================================================
[Col.1 / The book at archive.org / Party as in Herald]
Shocking murder of Mr. Adams—our Printer—the
body discovered on board a vessel—arrest of the
supposed Murderer, and observations on the charac-
ter of both, showing them to be the creatures of cir-
cumstances.
Mr. Samuel Adams, of the firm of Scatchard & Ad-
ams, printers, 59 Gold street, has been murdered. He
was last seen alive at the office of the “Missionary Her-
ald,” about 4 or 5 on the afternoon of Friday, Sept.
17th, where he went to take a proof. It was rumored
that he was met by an acquaintance in Broadway about
5 P. M. that afternoon, who said to him, “Colt is go-
ing to leave the city.” To which, he is said to have
replied, “Is he, then I'll go and get the money he owes
me from him.” He went then, it is said, in the direc-
tion of Colt's place of business, which is the second
story of the granite buildings, corner of Chambers st.
and Broadway. The Colt here spoken of is J. C.
Colt, author of a “Treatise on Book-keeping,” and
brother of Mr. Colt, the celebrated inventor of the re-
peating rifles and pistols.
...
Mr. A. H. Wheeler, an eminent writing master,
whose rooms in the same building nearly adjoin that
of Colt's was the person who gave the information
which led to the detection of this most foul murder.
[Col.2]
Just before four o'clock on the Friday afternoon, he
heard a severe tussle between some persons in Colt's
room. Presently there was a heavy fall upon the floor
...
Mr. Wheeler enquired—“What was the cause of
the disturbance here this afternoon, Mr. Colt.”
Colt (apparently agitated(—“I know of no distur-
bance—I heard no disturbance.”
Wheeler—“I thought you were scuffling here as
though some one had attacked you—I certainly heard
some person fall upon the floor a couple of hours since.”
Colt—“There has been no scuffling here to-day—
you are mistaken.”
Wheeler—“There was a quarrel or scuffle here of
some kind, I am sure—and I know it was in this
room.”
Colt—“Perhaps you heard the upsetting of the
desk—nothing more, I assure you. One of my
scholars accidentally upset his desk a short time ago,
and has deluged the floor with ink. I am not aware of
any other noise.”
Mr. Wheeler then retired, but he was by no means
satisfied. The appearance and actions of Colt rather
confirmed his suspicions than otherwise. He therefore
communicated the circumstances to a young man in
his employ, and requested that he would watch the
movements of Colt the remainder of the time he
stayed in his room. This task the young man per-
formed with the greatest fidelity. Late in the evening,
he became so convinced by his observation that there
was a murdered man in Colt's room, that he actually
went to the City Prison and applied for the services of
an officer. Little notice was taken of his application,
though we believe he obtained the promise that one
should be in attendance in half an hour—but the
officer never came! So much for our efficient police.
On his return from the prison, the young man heard
Colt sawing some boards, and presently nailing up a
box. At last becoming tired of watching, he retired
to bed at an early hour in the morning, leaving Colt
still engaged in his room.
[p.141, Col.1 / Partly as in Herald]
On the following morning, a large box was observed
...
He shortly came in, and while in act of unlocking
his door, was seized on both his arms by the iron grasp
of Smith. It was expected he would make resistance,
...
[Col.2]
cover himself to speak audibly. Colt was then taken
to the Mayor's office; and, as it will be seen, his re-
plies to the interrogatories put to him, went fully to
confirm the suspicions previously entertained.
...
[p.142, Col.1 / Partly as in Tribune]
13 Chambers st., and printed by Mr. Adams the un-
fortunate deceased. He is a man of small means, and
the difficult task of getting up a book with little or no
money, can be easily imagined. When he applied to
Mr. Adams to print his work, he made an arrangement
to the effect that Mr. A. should receive his pay out of
the first sales. The book was accordingly printed and
...
cide. We believe it is not true, as has been stated, that
he has a brother who is Cashier of the Hartford Bank;
that gentleman, whose name is Colt, being at best but
a distant relative.
...
That was a dreadful mistake of Mr. Colt's. Such a
secret is safe nowhere. The whole creation of God has
neither nook nor corner for its safety from detection,
even by men. How true, therefore, is the adage,
[Col.2]
“Murder, though it hath no tongue, will speak with
most miraculous organs.” In this instance, speedy
detection has overtaken the guilty man in a most mira-
culous manner. In ordinary cases of murder a thou-
sand eyes turn at once to explore every man, every
...
fruits of whose “foul flowering” he is now to reap!
...
Mr. Adams has for some time past printed our pa-
per. We have always found him to be a man of plain
and inoffensive manners, of rather a bilious tempera-
ment, and therefore slow to act; a favorable organiza-
tion for the business in which he somewhat excelled, at
[p.143, Col.1]
least in management, if not in mechanically. He had
seven or eight presses, and carried on a large business.
He had large acquisitiveness, consequently inclined to
economy. Large secretiveness, small language, and
of course not very communicative, and not very likely
to excite his murder. He is a native of New Eng-
land, of respectable parents, and we always found him
a pleasant man to do business with.
We regret his death, for he promised to be of use to
our cause in affording facilities in publishing our paper,
and whether we shall meet with a printer with similar
kindness, remains a matter of question.
He has been the creature of circumstances over
which he had no control. If he had possessed free
will as many suppose, we doubt not but that he would
have preferred another kind of death, and at another
time; but alas what helpless and dependent creatures
we are, although we talk so loud and long about our
free will. We leave our favorite Printer, not doubting
but that he is perfectly free from all those corroding
cares, and vexatious circumstances and influences, and
opposing interests of the present vitiated state of so-
ciety.
================================================================
[Col.3]
MURDERS, &C.
AWFUL MURDER.
One of the most dreadful murders
that ever fell to our lot to record, was
committed yesterday at the Almshouse,
Cambridgeport. The victim was a
beautiful young woman, by the name of
Sarah Stevenson. The murderer is a
miserable looking old man, named W.
H. Britton. Sarah was admitted into
the Almshouse in June last, suffering
with a complaint termed 'passage of
gall stones.' She was fast recovering
and would have been discharged in a
few days. About a fortnight back she
complained to Mr. Valentine, the Super-
intendent, that Britton, who was tea-
cher in the house, annoyed her with im-
portunities to marry him; and was ad-
vised to give a decided denial. She
afterwards told Mr. Valentine that she
had done so, but he still persisted.
In answer to his entreaties she said
to him, you must be mad to think of
such a thing. Consider the difference
in age. I am but twenty years old and
you are sixty, and if I was to marry
you a pauper, how should we live? Mr.
Valentine desired her to tell him that
it was his express desire that he should
not speak to her again on that subject,
and in order that she might be enabled
to keep out of his way, told her to spend
her leisure time in his, Mr. Valentine's
apartments. Yesterday the inmates of
the house attended Divine Service, when
the prisoner who had been acting as
teacher in the establishment sang ac-
companied by the children under his
instruction the hymn, commenceing,
“How shall the young secure their
hearts
And guard their lives from sin,
Thy words the choisest rules imparts
To keep the conscience clean.”
This Hymn, so beautiful in itself,
was so well and so impressively sung
that at the request of the Superintend-
ant it was repeated. After the Service
was concluded the inmates went to their
different apartments, and the ill-fated
Sarah, in order to avoid conversation
with Britton, went to a room ocupied
by two women, where he could have
no possible excuse for entering. She
was there employed in reading a testa-
ment presented to her on Saturday,
and explaining it to the women, when
Britton suddenly opened the door and
asked her “Is this your room?” Be-
fore she could reply, he drew from un-
der his vest a large carving knife and
made a lunge at her throat.—She
threw up her right arm to ward off the
blow and received it on the fore arm,
leaving a cut four inches long and fully
two deep. One of the women seized
him by the skirt of the coat to pull him
back when he threatened to stab her;—
[Col.4]
in the intreim Sarah attempted to make
to the door but before reaching it, he
intercepted her, and with one plunge
DROVE THE KNIFE IN ABOVE THE RIGHT
BREAST CLOSE UNDER THE ARM, TRAV-
ERSING THE HEART AND LUNGS AND
COMING OUT UNDER THE SHOULDER-
BLADE AT THE BACK. By this time
the wife of the Superintendant and an-
other woman, alarmed by the cries of
murder, reached the room, and found
Britton flourishing the bloody knife and
threatening with destruction all who
should dare come nigh him. The only
words spoken by the girl from receiv-
ing the first blow was, “don't kill me.”
On receiving the last wound she fell
dead on her back. The alarm had by
this time spread through the house, and
reached James Ferrier, the teamster of
the establishment, who hastened in the
direction of the noise, and got to the
room just as Britton was stooping over
the corpse, apparently to kiss her. On
seeing Ferrier, he resumed his threat-
ening attitude, and said if he approach-
ed nearer he would stab him. Ferrier
drew back for a moment, and watching
an opportunity pounced suddenly be-
hind and pinioned the murderer's arms,
who on finding himself secured, imme-
diately dropped the knife and offered
no further resistance.
An examination was held before
Squire Chamberlain and the above
facts being fully proved, Britton was
committed to jail at East Cambridge.
Sarah Stevenson was a remarkable fine
looking young woman and was univer-
sally esteemed for her good conduct
and kind manner since her entry to the
house.
The murderer is an under-size, ill-
expressioned man, 57 years of age.
We had this morning an interview with
him at the Jail, and learned from him
that he was born in Halifax, N. S., out
of which port he sailed a ship belonging
to Mr. J. Prive for a number of years.
There is nothing in his manner or
appearance that would denote insanity.
On the contrary he appears quite col-
lected. Three years back he came to
Boston and was shortly after admitted
into the Almshouse in South Boston, in
a weakly state of health, and continued
there two years, during which time he
was employed as teacher, and was very
much respected.—On the 12th Septem-
ber last year, he was received into the
house at Cambridgeport, and up to yes-
terday was held in high favor by the
superintendant and inmates, for his mild
and gentlemanly behavior. He was
during the last war taken prisoner by
Captain Crowningshield and brought
into Salem. He buried his wife nine
years back, and since that says he has
lived a perfectly virtuous life. On the
subject of the murder he delines speak-
ing, further than that “he was in love
and cannot account for what he done!!”
—————
THE MARY ROGERS CASE.
From the Herald of Sept. 17.
Half way between the Elysian Fields
and Nick Moor's House there is a small
...
THE NEAPOLITAN. Thursday, October 7, 1841 (FH)
[Col.1]
...
little bugs, called by the Duch, kel-
lerasle, that is in English, cellar jackass,
an insect that always gets into clothing
lying in wet places.
All the articles found were taken
great care of by Mrs. Loos, who took
the earliest opportunity of delivering
them up to the Mayor of this city, and
acquainting him with all the details of
the case.
—————
THE MARY ROGERS AFFAIR.—We
learn from the Albany Atlas that two
of the persons engaged in a brutal
outrage upon a young women at
Hoboken, on the day it is supposed
Mary Rogers was violated and mur-
dered, were arrested in this city on
Sunday, by officers from New York,
and went down in the De Witt Clin-
ton.
James Finnegan, one of the per-
sons arrested as above, may possibly
know something about the Mary
Rogers affair. At least we judge so
by the following circumstances: yes-
terday morning, Ald. Simpson made
a haul in the sinks of the First Ward,
and brought up some dozen of the
prostitutes who swarm there. Among
them there was one who said Fine-
gan had a ring with the name of Mary
C. Rogers on it.—This ring was in
possession of the girl a short time on
Sunday, but was taken from her by
Finnegan. Finnegan is a notorious
character, and some clue to the Rog-
ers mystery may be obtained through
him.
The Argus says:—
On Monday, James Finnegan, a
rowdy of confirmed rascality, was
...
of F's whereabout, he having left the
city immediately after the murder.
...
[Col.2]
...
committed a gross outrage upon a
young girl in this city.
AN OLD OFFENDER.—In reference
to the case of Finnegan, on a charge
of participation in one or both of the
Hoboken outrages, the Albany Bee
says:
It will probably be recollected by
the readers of the “Bee” that about a
year ago an act of brutal violence was
committed upon a young girl of about
thirteen years of age, in the stable
belonging to Mr. Cowell, on the dock,
a short distance below the south mar-
ket. Some dozen lads, from 15 to 18
years of age, were arrested at the
time, and after an examination be-
fore justice Kane, several of them
were fully committed for trial. We
do not distinctly recollect what pro-
ceedings were had in the case after
this examination and commitment,
but the girl, having no friends here
and being destitute, we presume that
she was never brought before the
grand jury to substantiate her charge,
and that consequently the prosecu-
tion fell to the ground.—The accused
however, have been active in their
vocation of villainy, and have been
often before the police, on various
charges, and some of them are now
receiving their deserts at Sing Sing.
—————
...
the wife of Joseph Neally cut her
throat with a razor, in the midst of
her children. It is said that both of
...
—————
...
got in a rage, and tying a piece
of string around the horse's tongue
tight, and then pulled it with such vi-
...
—————
ANOTHER SHOCKING MURDER.—In
common with other city papers we pub-
lished, last week, a paragraph mention-
ing the unaccountable disappearence of
[Col.3]
Mr. Adams, the printer, formerly doing
business with Mr. Scatcherd, under the
partnership name of Scatcherd and Ad-
ams, which partnership was dissolved,
some time ago by the death of Mr. S.
The firm did the printing of Mr. George
Dearborn, when he was in the publish-
ing line; they were also printers of the
American Monthly Magazine when it
was edited by Mr. Park Benjamin.
Mr. Adams left his printing office
on Friday the 19th, intending to make a
business call in Canal street; and nev-
er returned. His fate and the manner
in which it came upon him are told
in the following dreadful narrative,
which we copy from the Tribune:
“A notice of his disappearance was
...
[Col.4]
...
death by blows inflicted by J. C. Colt.
Mr. Adams was originally from
Providence. His parents are both
...
age was not far from 35.”
The testimony taken on the inquest
is published in the Courier. The
principal witnesses examined were,
Drs. Gilman, Kissam, who made the
post mortem examination, the deputy
coroner, who was present at the finding
...
The verdict was “wilful and delib-
erate murder” against John C. Colt,
who was thereupon committed for tri-
al.
================================================================
[Col.2. Mostly as in Albany Evening Journal]
A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.—An extraor-
piece of roguery was developed yesterday. A
pretended German preacher, in clerical attire,
was brought up for a very singular offence. His
name is Henry Hohnholz, and he had been
preaching in Boston to irregular congregations
of his countrymen. He hails frm the interior of
Pennsylvania. On Wednesday last he fell in
with a supertitious German girl, and affected to
take an interest in her, and got her a place in a
German family. In the course of that evening
and the next day, he persuaded her that he was
inspired by GOD to claim her as his wife, and
kept praying with her, and made her believe that
he had the power to marry himself by their both
going through certain acts of devotion. On
Thursday afternoon, he took her to a tavern out
of town, and consumated his purporse, and co-
habited with her till Sunday, and even introdu-
ced her as his wife to some Germans, into whose
society he had contrived to thrust himself.
A family connexion of the girl found out what
had taken place, and went to a house in South
Boston where she was, and took her away. The
scoundrel then made preparations to run away,
but constable Burns was upon him in the even-
ing, and secured him, but not before he had felt
the weight of the preacher's knuckles. He was
committed to jail for trial at the Municipal Court.
The girl's name is Heilnich.—Bost. Post.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COLT'S CASE.—It is with sincere pain we have
witnessed the efforts of certain prints of this
city to prejudice the public mind in regard to the
young man, now confined in the city prison, on a
charge of murder. They have not only gone into
a discussion of the degree of his guilt, but have
indulged themselves in misrepresentations in re-
gard to the history and standing of his family and
connections. Whatever may be thought of Colt's
conduct, it is exceedingly unfair and ungenerous
to involve those who have been placed in the rela-
tion of friends, in the consequences of his mis-
deeds.
Let us state, then, from undoubted authority, that
the father of the young man is a person of the most
amiable disposition and irreproachable character.
He has been known among his neighbors, as a kind
and honest man, venerable in appearance as he has
been upright in deportment, highly esteemed by all
to whom he is known, and who has reared with
great care, and, as he supposed, with usefulness, a
large and interesting family. The report of his
son's crime is said to have instantly deprived him of
his reason. With one of the brothers of the accused
we are perfectly acquainted, and can testify that he
has always borne among his intimates a high repu-
tation for rectitude and manliness. The notoriety
given to his name, by recent events, is a deep morti-
fication, without being augmented by the unjust
and false criticisms of the press.
As to Colt himself, the New England Review con-
jectures that he was induced to commit the crime by
strong provocation. It says:
“Colt owed Adams about two hundred dollars for
printing; he had performed the work with an un-
derstanding that a consignment should be made of
the first copies of the publication ready for market
to a bookselling establishment in Philadelphia, and
that he (Adams) should receive an advance from
the firm in Philadelphia sufficient to discharge the
obligation. With this understanding between
himself and Colt, he went forward and completed
the work. It was then placed in the binder's hands,
who, by some means became aware of the agree-
ment existing between the other parties. The work
was hurried along and got ready for sale. On the
day before the murder, Colt concluded, very un-
wisely as the event proved, to go to Philadel-
phia himself and superintend the arrange-
ment of affairs there, but whether for the
purpose of defrauding Mr. Adams or not
does not appear, nor would it seem to be easily as-
certained; but as he had not given up his room,
where he was engaged in Book-keeping in New
York, we are inclined to think such was not his in-
tention, and the fact that he gave orders to the bind-
er to have a certain number of copies of the work
boxed and ready for shipment, as he was going to
Philadelphia himself, precludes the idea of a design
to cheat Mr. Adams. But it was sufficient for Mr.
Adams to know that Colt was about to violate his
part of the agreement, in order to discover a fraud
by which he was to suffer, when the binder inform-
ed him that Colt was going to Philadelphia, and
highly exasperated at the idea, and without any time
for consideration as to what would be the most pro-
per course for him to pursue, he hastens to Colt's
office, finds him there, charges him with a design to
wrong him, and in all human probability, used lan-
guage towards him of an exciting and provoking
nature, which led to blows, a scuffle and his death.”
================================================================
[Col.1]
REPORTED SUICIDE OF THE LATE LOVER OF
MISS ROGERS.—We were informed last night, by
highly respectable authority, that Mr. Daniel C.
Payne, the late lover of Miss Mary C. Rogers, yes-
terday afternoon was found with his throat cut
and dead on a bench, at Hoboken, near the place
where the body of that ill-fated lady was found.
From the evidence adduced before the Coroner's
jury summoned by Justice Merritt of Secaucus, it
is said there was no doubt that Payne had com-
mitted suicide. It is also stated there were im-
portant papers found in his pockets which it is
thought may shed some light on the perpetrator of
the murder of the lady to whom Payne was be-
trothed. The inquest, we were informed, would
be continued this morning at Hoboken.
================================================================
[Col.1]
SUICIDE OF MR. DANIEL C. PAYNE.—We re-
ceived information last evening, that Mr. Daniel
C. Payne, the former lover of Miss Mary C. Ro-
gers, committed suicide at Hoboken, yesterday,
by cutting his throat. It is said that he was found
dead on a bench, with his throat cut, near the
place where the body of Miss Rogers was found—
and that important papers were discovered in his
pocket, tending, it is believed, to furnish some
clue to the authorship of the murder of the ill-fated
young lady. Justice Merritt, of Hoboken, had
summoned a jury, as was stated, who had com-
menced holding the inquest, which is, we under-
stand, to be continued and completed this day.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Mary C. Rogers.—Extraordinary as it may appear,
we are informed by the active magistrate at Hobo-
ken, Mr. Gilbert Merritt, that the lifeless body of
Daniel Payne, the supposed lover of the unfortunate
Mary C. Rogers, was found yesterday afternoon near
the spot on the shore where her body was found in
the river. Mr. Merritt had summoned a Coroner's
Jury to set on the body of Payne last evening, at the
Perry Hotel, Hoboken, which he would adjourn to 11
o'clock this morning, to afford an opportunity to
Payne's friends to be present.
This much we state on Mr. Merritt's authority.
We are further informed, though we cannot vouch
for its accuracy, that when Payne's body was found
life was scarce extinct, and that it bore no marks of
violence—that Payne had been seen at Hoboken
the day before apparently half delirious, and that
about his body, papers were found which will throw
some light on the mysterious death of Mary C. Rogers.
The public will probably desire to be reminded of
the story told by Payne of his connection with Mary
Rogers, we therefore copy from our files the particu-
lars of his examination, taken at the time:
Mr. Daniel Payne voluntarily came to the Police
...
heard, tending to throw any light upon her dreadful
end.
On Mr. Alfred Crommelin's examination before the
inquest, he stated that Payne was a dissipated man,
and that he had cautioned Mary against marrying
him. That on hearing of Mary being missing, he
called at her mother's and found Payne there, who
immediately left the house, and that on his (Cromme-
lin) expressing his surprise at Payne's sudden depar-
ture, the mother said he had gone to endeavor to dis-
cover what had become of Mary. We find that we
also remarked at that time on the singular fact, that
Payne had not been to see the body of the girl to
whom he was affianced, or taken any pains even to
give her remains a decent burial.
================================================================
[Col.4]
More Mystery—Extraordinary Circumstance
—Suicide of the Lover of Mary Rogers.
We learn that Daniel Payne, the lover of Mary
Rogers, was found dead yesterday afternoon, at
Hoboken, near the spot where the body of that un-
fortunate girl was discovered, under circumstances
that warrant the belief that he committed suicide.
The Coroner, Mr. Merritt, summoned a jury of in-
quest immediately, but subsequently adjourned to
this morning, at eleven o'clock, in order to give op-
portunity for the friends of the deceased to be pre-
sent.
Payne called at the Phenix Hotel, Hoboken, on
Thursday afternoon. His appearance was singular
and attracted much attention. He had no hat on,
and asked a gentleman present to loan him one.—
He eventually obtained a hat, and as he was going
away, he remarked, “Perhaps you don't know who
I am—I am Payne, the lover of Mary Rogers. No
one knows my troubles.” He then left, and no know-
ledge was had of his movements, until he was found
dead yesterday afternoon. Important papers are
said to have been found upon his body, but of their
character we are not informed. Rumor says four
persons are implicated in the murder of the girl.
[Col.6]
HENRY HOHNHOLZ, the self-ordained German minister
who had been preaching “against the world, the flesh,
and the devil,” in this city, on his “own hook” recently
—was called upon to answer to three indictments: 1st,
representing himself to be a German Lutheran Reform-
ed Protestant Minister, and in that sacred capacity join-
ing together in holy matrimony Mr. John Force and
Miss Frances Richards, of this city, the said persons
thus conjoined having had their intention to become man
and wife lawfully published by the City Clerk, accord-
ing to the Revised Statutes. To the usual question of
“guilty or not guilty,” his yellow-haired reverence re-
plied—“My dear saire, I is von preacher, true—ten year
vas since ago, I vas send out here as de missionaire from
Hanover, in Europe, I go in Ohio, as the missioniare, and
I vas made member of de Luteran Senate of Ohio, and I
is von reglar member of dat Senate now, dis time.”
Court—Well then, you ought to know whether you
had a right to marry here or not, and so you can plead
either guilty or not guilty. If you think you had a right
to marry this couple, you ought to plead “not guilty.”
Hohnholz—Vell den, I am not guilty.”
2d—For lewdly cohabiting with Regina Heilnischz.
This is the woman whom he cajoled into living with
him as a wife, by assuring her that he had a right to mar-
ry her, by mumbling over certain prayers, and going
through some superstitious forms. Pleaded “not guil-
ty.”
3d—For assaulting Constable Byrnes, when he arrest-
ed him at South Coston. Pleaded “not guilty.”—Boston
Post Oct. 7.
—————
...
☞ DEPILITORY POWDER.—To remove all Superfluous
Hair. This Depilatory is prepared according to the re-
cipe published by Baron Larey, surgeon to Napoleon
Bonaparte, who obtained it in Egypt while attending the
French army during the memorable campaign in that
country. It is the preparation generally used by the
Egyptians. Its effects are certain.
Ladies whose beauty is frequently very materially
injured, and themselves subjected to much mortification,
by a growth of hair upon the lip, may rely with the ut-
most certainty on having the hair entirely removed
without any unpleasant consequences by the use of this
Depilitory. All necessary directions come with each
bottle. Sold only at 71 Maiden lane.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.1(0)]
The Mary Rogers Murder.—It is cur-
rently rumored that six persons are now in
custody, charged with being concerned in the
horrible tragedy at Weehawken. The author-
ities have taken infinite pains to conceal the
fact; but our informant states that one of the
Assistant Aldermen told him the circum-
stance. He also told him that the young
man who went to Hoboken with Mary, on the
fatal Sunday, was the son of a respectable
tinner in Pearl street—that he had never
been heard of since, and probably met a sim-
ilar fate with the unfortunate girl.—Eve. Tat-
tler.
================================================================
[Col.4]
SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF DANIEL PAYNE.—The
body of Daniel Payne, the lover of Mary C. Rogers,
was found yesterday afternoon at Hoboken, near the
spot where her body was first seen. A coroner's
inquest was to be held on the body this morning at
11 o'clock.
The report is, that Payne had been seen at Ho-
boken the day before in a state bordering upon in-
sanity, and that papers were found upon him which
throw some light upon the murder of Mary C. Ro-
gers.
P. S. The verdict of the jury had not been ren-
dered at the time of our paper going to press.
================================================================
[Col.3]
SUICIDE OF DANIEL C. PAYNE.—Yesterday after-
noon Daniel C. Payne, the lover of the murdered
Mary Rogers, was found dead at Hoboken. He had
been staggering about the place all day under the
influence of liquor, as it was thought. There is no
doubt, we understand, of his having committed sui-
cide. An inquest was to be held by Justice Merritt,
of Hoboken, this morning, and if we can obtain the
particulars in time, we shall publish them in this af-
ternoon's paper.
Two O'clock.
We have just had a report from the Coroner's Ju-
ry. They had not completed their proceedings, but
it appeared that Payne left his brother's house on
Thursday afternoon, and was wandering about at
Hoboken from that time until his body was found
lifeless yesterday afternoon, at 5 o'clock, near the
Sybil's Cave, where the body of Mary Rogers was
taken from the water.
This morning the hat of Payne, handkerchief,
spectacle case, and a phial that had contained lau-
danam, were found on the spot where the clothes
supposed to have belonged to Mary Rogers were
found.
No papers of consequence, or indication concern-
ing the perpetrators of the crime against Mary
Rogers, were found on his person.
It is manifest that Payne was partially deranged.
================================================================
[Col.4]
The Murder of Mary Rogers—The Inquest on
Daniel C. Payne, her Lover.
We stated in the “Herald” of Saturday, that
Daniel C. Payne, the lover of Mary C. Rogers, had
committed suicide at Hoboken, on Friday morning.
This news, which reached the city on Friday night,
occasioned great excitement; and the Mayor and
Justice Taylor crossed the river in a small boat, in
the midst of the storm. They decided that the in-
quest ought to be deferred till yesterday; and then
in the presence of the Mayor the following testimony
was elicited.
SAMUEL L. GRISWOLD—I saw the body just before he
died—it was about five o'clock, P. M.—I was going along
the walk with Dr. Clement—saw deceased lying on the
bank, head on the bench—loosened his collar and roused
him up, but he died in a few minutes. His hat, an old
straw one, was off. I did not know him. He was pulse-
less and speechless.
[Here a man came in and said a black hat was found,
which was brought in. It contained a white cambric
handkerchief. Another person brought a broken phial
with a label on it.]
Griswold's examination resumed—The man groaned,
but we set him on the side-walk where we found him.
I saw he was going to die and thought I would call some
friends who were round the corner. He did not breathe
many times after we saw him.
[At this point of the examination, it was discovered
that the witness was not sworn.]
He was then sworn.
Examination continued—He was dead when I got back.
I am a resident of New York, and a physician.
By the MAYOR—Dr. Clements said that he smelt his
breath, and it smelt sour.
EDWARD HOPKINS examined—We found the hat up in
the place by the rocks, between the two rocks, where
the young woman is supposed to have been murdered;
higher up than Nick Moore's house. I reside in Wil-
liamsburgh, L. I.; I knew the deceased and his brother;
being of the same trade as the deceased, I felt a curiosity
and came over to see about him; we made inquiry where
the place was, and there found the hat and handkerchief;
the neck was off the phial; from all accounts I believe
it to be the same place where Mary Rogers was found; I
left Williamsburg to come to New York to work about 8
o'clock; we made up our minds to come over here, and
thought we would go out of curiosity and see the place;
I have never seen deceased since the death of Mary Ro-
gers; left New York about 9 o'clock this morning, and
had to wait a little while before the boat came in.
JOHN PAYNE examined—I am the brother of the deceas-
ed; that is his hat; he bought it at the corner of Mulber-
ry street; I cannot speak to the handkerchief; he wore
a crape band on his hat since the death of Miss Rogers;
it was put on by Mrs. Payne.
[A pocket book was here produced by the coroner, and
that with some papers recognised by witness.]
By the MAYOR—That pair of spectacles is my brother's;
last saw my brother on Thursday; he was very dejocted
and appeared as if he had been drinking; he had board-
ed for some time in John street, but for the last week in
Ann street; he did not say where he was going; I asked
about the scratch on his nose, but he said he did not
know.
By the Coroner.—I should say he had out of his mind
since the affair of Mary Rogers. He was habitually a
drinking man. He appeared to be much attached to Miss
Rogers.
James Lawrence ex'd.—I am a cork cutter. Work at
194 Water street. Was present when most of the things
were found. We stopped at Mr. Payne's brather's and
found the door closed. When we stood on the corner of
Beekman street it was past 8 o'clock. We went to Nick
Moore's house, and there enquired for the place where
Mary Rogers was murdered, and when we got to the
two roads I saw the hat between a cleft in the rock, and
I found the phial. We then went to Ludlow's, thinking
the Jury would be there, and from there to Nick Moore's
and enquired for the Coroner. Just above here we met
two gentlemen who wanted to give up the hat or go back
with them.
By the MAYOR—We met a sort of a loafer before we
found the hat, but he did not give us any thing.
Mrs. Loss examined—I think I saw the person of de-
ceased once in New York and once out here last fall
gunning. He did not at all correspond with the person
I saw with Mary Rogers in July last. I have been from
home for two or three days, and cannot say if the deceas-
ed had been at my house.
AARON McKANE examined—I saw the deceased on
Friday, about 5 or 6 o'clock, A. M. A man came to me
in the evening, and told me that a man was dying in the
street. I went to him and asked him if he was a French-
man—he said “no, he was of any country.” We took
him on a stoop hard by, and he said he wanted a glass of
water, Scudder would not give it to him; said he had
been drinking, and would give no satisfaction as to who
he was; I told him he would not live five minutes.
By the Mayor—This was in the village of Hoboken,
a mile and a half from the place where the hat was found,
and it may be half a mile from the place where the body
was found. When he was first found, his head was lying
down in a hollow, and I said, my dear man, if you don't
get shelter, you'll not live fifteen minutes. A Mr. Borly
said he saw a man near the place where Mary Rogers
was found, and he said to me that the man who killed
Mary Rogers ought to be hung up. The man had some
writing in his hand, which appeared to have been done
some time.
SAMUEL WHITNEY examined—Was present when de-
ceased came into the Phœnix Hotel on Thursday night.
He had no hat on, and we gave him one. He seemed
very weak, and could hardly stand up. He was more
like a man sleepy than in liquor.
WARREN SMITH—I live at the Phœnix Hotel—the de-
ceased came to the house just before 10. He was bare-
headed—we gave him a hat. He had a glass or tumbler
half full of brandy, for which he paid a shilling. He
looked red and a little intoxicated—had no talk with him,
but he said, “Suppose you know me?” “No sir.” “Well,
I'm the man who was to have been married to Mary
Rogers—I'm a man of a good deal of trouble.” He did
not ask for lodging, but requested the way to Vauxhall
Gardens. He took the brandy when he first came in.—
He had lost his hat about half a mile off. He mentioned
no names but that of Mary Rogers.
WHITNEY recalled.—When Payne came in, he did not
appear to have money. He enquired if there was any
other way to get to New York beside the ferry.
JOHN WOODS examined—I saw the deceased yesterday
about 9 o'clock A. M., was lying on the ground, appar-
ly asleep. It was about 100 yards from the second bench
on the walk. There were a number of persons fishing
on Friday, but they were all strangers to me. The place
where I saw deceased lying, was just in front of the
Mansion House. I did not attempt to arouse him.
CROMMELIN examined—The body found is that of Dan-
iel Payne. I last saw him two or three days ago.
WILLIAM LATTARETT examined—Saw Daniel Payne
about a quarter past 4 Friday, lying in the stink weeds;
I was going to fetch a doctor, and he lay on his back
snoring and making a dreadful noise; it was near day-
light; another man picked him up, and put him on Riet-
ty's stoop, and from thence to Scudder's, and asked for a
drink of water; Scudder said he ought to go where he
got drunk, but he gave him a drink of water, and the de-
ceased stood about half an hour; he then got as far as the
ice house, and he stood there for three quarters of an
hour; then I did not see him again till the afternoon,
when he sat on a bench by the walk, and I made the re-
mark, “there's the man I saw this morning.”
SAMUEL GRISWOLD examined—I have been present du-
ring the post mortem examination of the deceased; the
stomach, heart, and lungs appear healthy; the last food
appears to be potatoes; the brain is much congested, but
whether from laudanum or alcohol, or from the position
in which he was found, I cannot tell; cannot find any
trace of poison or extravation of blood, to show he died
from appoplexy; cannot say from the phial now produc-
ed, that is has contained laudanum, though it is so label-
led; with respect to the cause of death, I should say that
any one who had been drinking and put in that position,
would die.
Dr. COOK examined—Myself and the last witness exa-
mined the deceased, and we agree in all important points.
In the stomach I could detect no trace of poison. The
lungs were healthy, but the heart somewhat wasted.—
The liver was merely congested in the veins of the dura
mater, which might be produced from fracture, falling
from a bench. His manner of living for the two or three
days, would be likely to induce conjestion. I could smell
alcohol in the brain but not laudanum. Alcohol would
perpetuate the smell of laudanum. My opinion, as a me-
dical man, is that he has probably fallen in a state of stu-
pefaction, and that peculiar position has been the cause
of his death.
O. W. C. Loss, a boy 12 years old, examined.—I think I
saw the man dead come into the bar and get a glass of
brandy. He asked if I could not trust. I said no; he
then asked if I knew where Mary Rogers was murdered;
I said yes, and asked if I should show him. He said no,
and went away; I do not know which day it was, either
Thursday or Friday; Ae appeared intoxicated, and went
down the lower road.
WILLIAM MUSBY, examined—I think I saw deceased on
Thursday afternoon, about 5 or 6 PM; it was on this side
of Weehawken Hill. It was the place where Mary Ro-
gers was said to be murdered, that he was sitting with a
pocket book in his hand, and appeared to be writing. A
Mr. Wilson who was with me, said, as we passed, “that
the murderer of Mary Rogers ought to be brought and
hung on this spot.” The deceased might have heard but
made no remark.
Charles Rietty examined.—I have not seen the deceas-
ed since Friday morning. He was seated on the scuttle
of my house. Scudder called me; and I saw him give
the man a glass of water, and tell him he must go away.
The Jury were locked up for about half an hour, and
then found the following verdict:—“That the said Daniel
C. Payne was found dead, with congestion of the brain,
supposed to be brought about by exposure and irregu-
larity of living, incident to aberration of mind.”
================================================================
[Col.1]
HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, INQUEST ON DANIEL C.
PAYNE, THE LATE LOVER AND BETROTHED HUSBAND OF MA-
RY C. ROGERS.—On Friday night and Saturday morning
Gilbert Merritt, Esq. acting as coroner of Hudson county,
held an inquest at Perry's Hotel, Hoboken, New Jersey,
on the body of Daniel C. Payne, a native of England, late
cork cutter of this city, who was found on Friday after-
noon about 5 o'clock lying on a bench by the side of the
walk near the Sybil's Cave, Hoboken, in a dying state,
and shortly after expired. The deceased acquired con-
siderable notoriety, soon after the death of Mary C. Ro-
gers, to whom he was engaged to be married, and whose
admirer and wooer he had been for months, having board-
ed with her mother at No. 126 Nassau street, up to the
time of her mysterious disappearance and untimely
and cruel death. Payne after her death, was by
some suspected of being privy to her abduction, or as
knowing where she was and with whom she went away,
and brought to the Police Office and interrogated closely
on this subject, but he being able to account satisfactorily
for every hour of his time on the Sunday of her disap-
pearance, was discharged from even suspicion by the
magistrates. After her lifeless body was found, and her
melancholy fate made manifest, Payne's feelings evident-
ly became too overwhelmed for his mind to endure, and
his sorrow and disappointed hope shook reason from her
throne, and he might be considered from that period as
lost to himself and to society. His business energies re-
laxed, his habits of indulgence in drink increased, and
on Thursday he left the city and wandered about the
woods and amongst the rocks and thickets of Hoboken,
exposed to cold, hunger, thirst and his own tormenting
feelings until nature became exhausted and he sunk into
the embraces of death, near the unhallowed spot where
his affianced bride had, (as supposed,) been brutally
outraged and murdered. He too was indirectly murder-
ed by the same hand that destroyed his intended wife, and
his blood rests on the head of her destroyer. From the
evidence adduced before the Coroner's Jury it appeared
that Payne had not committed suicide as was at first re-
ported, but had fallen a victim to his own melancholy and
insane wanderings while brooding over the memory of her
he loved. The first witness who testified before the Cor-
oner's Jury was
Dr. Samuel L. Griswold of this city, who was walking
along toward the Cave on Friday afternoon about five
o'clock, with Dr. Clements; saw the deceased lying on a
bench, his knees and head down; witness raised him up,
loosened his collar, and he soon after died. His eyes
were partially open.
Edward Hopkins deposed that he found the hat of a
man near the place where Miss Rogers was supposed to
have been murdered, and the phial that had contained lau-
danum near it—the hat between the weeds and the phial
near it. It was marked laudanum, Souillard & Delluc,
late Place, 2 Park Row. A little further witness found a
white pocket handkerchief.
John Payne, brother of deceased, deposed to the hat as
being his brother's—the crape was put on soon after Miss
Roger's death. He identified also a pocket-book, specta-
cles, &c. found on the body. The last time witness saw
his brother, was on Thursday after dinner; he appeared
to have drank some. He was much dejected, and had
been so ever since Miss Roger's death. Witness thought
that his brother had not been of sane mind since the death
of Miss Rogers, to whom he was much attached.
James Lawrence testified as to having been with Hop-
kins when the hat, phial, &c. were found near the spot
where Miss Rogers was supposed to have been murdered.
Mrs. Loss deposed to having seen the deceased once in
N. York, and once last fall gunning. He did not corres-
pond in appearance with the person she saw with Miss
Rogers in July last. That person was younger, thinner,
and not so tall.
James McShane saw the deceased on Friday morning,
6 o'clock; one of his men told him there was a man lying
in the thick woods near the village, about 100 yards from
witnesses house; went to him, touched him in the foot,
and asked him if he were a Frenchman or American—he
said no, but requested a drink of water; picked him up,
carried him to Riarty's tavern, and set him down on the
stoop; he then got up and went to Scudder's tavern, but
was refused admittance, and gave him no water, because
they thought something besides drink was the matter
with him. This was in the village of Hoboken 1½ miles
from where the body was found.
Samuel Whitney deposed he was in the Phoenix Hotel
when the deceased came there about 10 o'clock without
a hat; he asked for and they gave him an old straw hat;
he could scarcely stand; his eyes looked sleepy, not as if
he were in liquor.
Warren Smith saw the deceased at 10 o'clock on Thurs-
day night, he wanted liquor and drank a tumbler half
full of brandy; he said, “I suppose you dont know me;”
witness answered no; he then said “I'm the man that
was promised to Mary Rogers,” and as he went out, he
said “I am a man of great deal of trouble; he said he
lost his hat half a mile off, and wished to be shown
the way to Vauxhall Gardens, and went towards them.
The woods he was found lying in the next morning were
near this house.
John Wood deposed that he saw the deceased lying on
the ground on the walk, in front of the Mansion House,
about 9 o'clock on Friday morning. He appeared to be
asleep and witness did not disturb him.
Mr. Crommelin then entered the room, identified the
body, and said he saw deceased about three Sundays ago
—there was no coolness between them.
William Latourette saw the deceased about a quarter
past 4 o'clock on Friday morning, lying in the weeds. He
laid on his back, snoring and made a dreadful noise. Ano-
ther man picked him up and put him on a stoop. He
then went to Scudder's, got a drink of water, went to near
the ice-house, and stood there near an hour. Witness
saw him again in the afternoon, sitting on a bench by the
walk.
Ossian Loss, a boy, saw the deceased at his mother's
house on either Thursday or Friday, he could not say
which. He came in and asked for a glass of brandy and
water, which he took. He asked where Mary Rogers was
murdered; witness told him, and he went in the direction
of the place, staggering as he went.
William Busby saw the deceased on Tursdsay afternoon
at 5 o'clock on Weehawken hill, sitting on the spot where
Mary Rogers said to have been murdered. He had a
pocket book on his knees, writing, and took no notice of
witness or his companion.
Dr. Griswold executed a post mortem examination,
and found the stomach, heart and lungs healthy—the
brain much congested, but whether from brandy, lauda-
num or the position in which he was found, witness could
not tell; could not find any trace of poison or extravasa-
tion of blood, to show that he died of apoplexy; thought
the drink he had taken and the position he was found in
caused his death.
Dr. Cook generally concurred with Dr. Griswold—
found no smell or indication of laudanum at the stomach;
his heart however was wasted, which might account for his
melancholy. Witness thought he detected the presence
of laudanum on the brain—that his manner of passing
the previous twenty-four hours of his life must have tend-
ed to his death, and that he might have fallen from the
bench, which, with his peculiar position, was the probable
cause of death.
Amongst the papers found was one in pencil, in these
words:
“TO THE WORLD.
HERE I AM ON THE SPOT. God forgive me for my mis-
fortune, or for my misspent time.”
There was nothing to implicate him in the remotest de-
gree in the affair of the murder of Miss Rogers.
The jury found the following verdict: “Found dead
with congestion of the brain, supposed to be brought
about by exposure and irregularity of living, incident to
aberration of mind.”
================================================================
[Col.2]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
Inquest on Daniel C. Payne at Hoboken.—Samuel S.
Griswold, Physician, of N. York, testified that he was
walking along the bank of the North river, at Ho-
boken, in company with a friend, near the Sybil's
Cave, on Friday the 8th inst., about 5 o'clock P. M.
and he discovered a man lying with his feet upon a
bench, knees bended, and his body and head back
upon the ground, giving him the appearance of having
fallen backwards. He was not dead, but in the last
stage of existence—his breathing was prolonged, and
he gave very little indication of violent or acute pain.
He expired in two or three minutes. Did not see
him expire. He had friends at a very short distance,
but out of sight; he went after them, and when he
returned the man was dead; raised him and sustain-
ed him in an upright position; he saw no marks of
external violence; there was a slight scratch on his
nose.
[During the above examination, a man entered,
bringing a black hat with a crape around it, a dirty
white handkerchief, the neck and body of a vial,
broken, and a spectacle case.]
This man's name was Edward Hopkins, cork cut-
ter; he worked for J. D. Sparkman 139 Water street,
New York, said he saw in a newspaper early in the
morning an account of the death of Payne, and that
an inquest was to be held at 11 o'clock, so he pro-
posed to a fellow workman to go over to Hoboken
and attend the inquest. He arrived at Hoboken
very early, and being unable to hear exactly where
the inquest was to be, they proceeded to visit the spot
where Mary C. Rogers was murdered. (Here they
gave minute details of the enquiries which they made
to find the way, and which it is unnecessary to give.)
They discovered the place, where they found the
above mentioned articles. The hat they first found
and laying near was the neck of the vial, and at a
short distance they found the other part, a short dis-
tance from this was the spectacle case; the hat was
found between the fragments of a rock.
They then returned to attend the inquest.
James Lowerre, cork cutter, accompanied Hopkins
and confirmed his testimony.
Mrs. Loss, at whose house, at Weehawken, Mary
C. Rogers was last seen on the 25th July, said that
she thought she had seen deceased in New York,
and once last fall while he was gunning. There was
no resemblance between him and the man who ac-
companied Mary Rogers.
John Payne, brother of deceased—Recognized the
body; said he saw him last on Thursday soon after
dinner; he appeared greatly dejected; he asked him
how the scratch on his nose happened, deceased re-
plied that he did not know; he had not appeared in
his right mind since the death of Miss Rogers; he
was not intemperate; the hat he recognized as that
of his brother, he purchased it in Chatham street cor-
ner of Mulberry; the handkerchief he did not know;
the spectacle case he said was his brother's; a pock-
et book was produced which he also knew, and in it
some little memoranda, which he said was in his bro-
ther's hand-writing; the spectacles also he said belong-
ed to his brother; he wore crape around his hat in con-
sequence of the death of Miss Rogers, to whom he
was engaged to be married. Here some witnesses
testified to having seen him on Friday morning lying
on the grass in an apparently intoxicated or enfeebled
condition, and that they gave him some water; this
was about half a mile from where he was found dy-
ing.
[Col.3]
Saml. Smith and Warren Smith said that he came
to the Phenix Hotel about 10 o'clock on Thursday
night—was bareheaded—he got some brandy and
paid for it—looked red and intoxicated. Told who
he was—said he was engaged to Miss Rogers, and
spoke of his troubles. They furnished him with an
old straw hat—enquired the way to Vauxhall Gar-
den—said he had no money, and wanted to know if
there was no other way of getting to New York than
by the Hoboken ferry.
John Wood saw him lying on the grass on Friday
about 9 o'clock, 3 or 400 yards from where he died.
Mr. Latourette saw him laying on the ground about
half-past 4 o'clock where the other witnesses saw
him. After that he saw him on Mr. Scudder's stoop
—about 3 P. M. saw him near where he died.
Dr. Griswold examined—Attended the post mor-
tem examination. The stomach, heart and lungs ap-
peared in a healthy state. The brain was much con-
gested—and it might be from alcohol, laudanum, or
the peculiar position in which he was found dying,
could not tell which. No trace of poison or extrava-
sation of blood to show that he died from appoplexy.
Any one who had been in that position after drinking
he should think would die.
Dr. Cook agreed in the material points with Dr.
Griswold.—Could not discover the influence of lauda-
num—could detect no poison in the stomach—the
heart was somewhat wasted, the liver was congested
in he veins of the dura mater, and might be produced
by a fracture, such as falling from a bench. In the
brain could smell alcohol, but not laudanum. As a
medical man he gave his opinion that the immediate
cause of death was falling in his enfeebled state and re-
maining in such a position as to produce conjestion
of the brain.
Wm. Buxby examined—Was in company with a
Mr. Wilson, thinks they saw deceased between 5 and
6 o'clock P. M. at the place where Mary C. Rogers
was said to have been murdered. He was sitting
with a pocket-book in his hand and apparently writ-
ing. Mr. Wilson said as they passed him, that “the
murderer of Mary Rogers ought to be hung on this
spot.” Deceased was near enough to hear, but paid
no attention, not even looking up.
The jury found a verdict—that “the said Daniel C.
Payne was found dead with congestion of the brain,
supposed to be brought about by exposure, and irregu-
larity of living, incident to aberation of mind.
Payne was 32 years of age.
================================================================
[Col.3]
DEATH OF DANIEL C. PAYNE, THE BETROTHED
HUSBAND OF MISS ROGERS.—Our readers are
aware of the recent existence of a man named
Daniel L. Payne, a native of England, and a cork
cutter of this city, whose name was first present-
ed to the public generally, immediately after the
discovery of the murdered body of the beautiful
and unfortunate Mary C. Rogers. It then became
a matter of notoriety that Payne, who had been
for a considerable time a boarder in the house of
Mrs. Rogers, 126 Nassau street, was the accepted
lover and betrothed husband of the lovely girl in
her life time, and whom he would soon have led
to the hymeneal altar, had not the brutal and
bloody hands of the violator and murderer—sev-
ered forever their earthly destinies by death.—
Payne, although an industrious, was a somewhat
intemperate man, during the lifetime of his inten-
ded bride, and appeared to be deficient in those
refined feelings, nice sensibilities, and polite at-
tentions calculated to win and to retain the ardent
heart of a young and lovely lady. Still her affec-
tions had yielded to the solicitations of her lover,
who appeared devotedly attached to the object of
his attentions.
After the disappearance of Miss Rogers, and the
mystery that enshrouded her fate, Payne, who at
first exhibited an extraordinary apathy concerning
her, soon after became alarmingly alive to her
safety, and sought her in every direction; but with
a want of tact and judgment that evinced an im-
becility of mind or a partially disordered intellect
apparently the result of silent sorrow for her
loss. When the disfigured and rapidly decompo-
sing body of the once beautiful girl was found,
all bloated and loathsome, floating in the waters
of the Hudson, near the far famed Sybil's cave,
with the damning evidences of the spoiler's hand
upon it, Payne's mind, which before had been
shaken by the shock, sunk under the oppression
of his feelings and the blighting of his hopes—and
not possessing a sufficiency of philosophy to bear
up against the bitter disappointment that had bu-
ried in an untimely grave all his anticipations of
matrimonial bliss, he yielded to the tempter,
drink—indulged in repeated excesses, as a salve
for his lacerated feelings, neglected his business,
contracted a disrelish for society, and finally be-
came a derelict from the moral duties and obliga-
tions of manhood—and, broken in mind, and crush-
ed in spirit, abandoned himself to a melancholy
destiny.
In this state of warfare with his own hopes and
prospects, and with the sociabilities of life, he
strayed from his boarding house, at No. 4 Ann st.,
on Thursday morning last, and bent his brooding
way to the solitudes of the groves, and the nearly
deserted haunts of the recently gay scenes of
Hoboken. There, he could meditate on the me-
mory of her whom he had loved, and there indulge
a grief that was rapidly wasting his heart. Amidst
those woods and wilds he wandered on Thursday
and Friday as a voluntary outcast from society,
sitting and brooding over the unhappy fate of his
affianced bride, bewailing her melancholy death
among the rocks and caverns, lingering with a
mournful satisfaction near her late watery bed—
or seeking the tangled brake where her blood had
crimsoned the soil, and her honor and her life had
been torn from her possession by the ruthless de-
stroyer's hand. Or as an unhappy episode to his
painful reflections, he rushed into the temples of
intemperance, quaffed the intoxicating cup, drove
reason completely from its throne, and then to com-
plete the ruin, lodged upon the damp earth, recli-
ned upon the humid sod, abstained from food and
nourishment, and extending himself upon a bench
near the Sybil's cave, died by his own neglect and
tortured feelings, the second victim of a murder-
ous bond.
From the evidence adduced at the Coroner's
Jury, summoned before Justice Gilbert Merritt, of
Hudson county, it appeared that Payne, after go-
ing to Hoboken, roved about from that place to
Weehawken, visited the house of Mrs. Loss, at
the latter place, where Miss Rogers had last been
seen with a young man who left there with her
on the 25th of July—enquired of a boy the spot on
which she was murdered—indulged in drink—lost
his hat—engaged in reading scraps of manuscript
—spoke of his troubles—told of his engagement to
Miss Rogers—laid down in the woods, or reclined
under grape vines—suffered from hunger, thirst,
cold and constant exposures, with no house to
shelter—no bed to repose on—no hand to relieve
him—and finally died without a friend to close his
eyes. The testimony taken in brief is as fol-
lows:
Dr. Samuel L. Griswold deposed that he found
the deceased about 5 o'clock on Friday afternoon
lying on one of the benches, his knees down and
his head also. Raised him up, loosened his collar,
and he died almost instantly. His eyes were but
partially open.
Edward Hopkins deposed that he found the hat,
and phial that had contained laudanum, near the
spot where Mary Rogers was supposed to have
been murdered, above Nick Moore's house. The
hat was between the rocks, the phial a little way
from it.
John Payne, brother of the deceased, identified
the hat found as that of his brother. The crape
on it was put on at the time of the death of Miss
Rogers, to whom he was much attached; also iden-
tified a pocketbook, spectacles, &c., found on the
body. The last time witness saw his brother was
on Thursday; after dinner he appeared to have
drank wine. He was much dejected, and had
been so since Miss Rogers' death. Saw a scratch
on his nose—and asked him how it came—he said
he did not know. Witness thought deceased had
not been of sane mind since the death of Miss Ro-
gers.
James Lowerre deposed that he found the hat
and other things of deceased, except the phial.
Mrs. Loss deposed that she had seen the deceased,
and that his appearance did not correspond with
that of the person whom she saw at her house
with Miss Rogers on the Sunday she was mur-
dered. James McShean, stated that he was in-
formed on Friday morning by one of his men, that
a man was lying in the weeds near the village,
dying. Asked him several questions, what coun-
tryman he was, &c., but he did not reply distinct-
ly, but asked for a glass of water. The place
where he was, was a mile and a half from Mrs.
Loss's. Saw him get up and go to the house of a
man named Scudder, who refused him admittance,
and gave him no water. Witness supposed him
to be drunk. Samuel Whitney saw deceased
about 10 o'clock on Thursday night at the Phenix
Hotel without a hat; and an old straw hat was
given him; he appeared to be stupid, and could
scarcely stand. Warren Smith said the deceased
was at his house a little before 10 on Thursday
night—had a glass of brandy—a tumbler half full
—appeared to be drunk. He said he was the
man who was to have been married to Mary Ro-
gers, and that he was in a great deal of trouble.
Said he had lost his hat about half a mile above
—appeared to talk natural, and wished to be
shown the way to Vauxhall Garden. He wished
to know if the last boat had left for New York.
He had no money.
John Woods saw deceased lying on the ground
in front of the Mansion House, at 9 o'clock on Fri-
day morning; thought he was drunk; did not dis-
turb him. William Latourette saw deceased about
9 o'clock of Friday, lying on his back in some
weeds, moaning. He was taken up and walked
to Mr. Scudder's, where he asked for a drink of
water, which was given him. He then sat down
on the stoop, appeared to be drunk, got up and
pitched against the fence. Witness saw him again
about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, setting on a bench.
Ossian Loss, a boy, saw deceased on Thursday or
Friday at the home of Mrs. Loss, his mother, at
Weehawken, where he got something to drink.
He inquired of the boy if he knew where Mary
Rogers was murdered. Witness told him, and he
went in that direction. He then had on a black
hat and staggered when he left. William Busby
saw deceased on Thursday afternoon between 5
and 6 o'clock, on the side of Weehawken hill, un-
der a grape vine, sitting with a (written on) paper
in his hand.
Charles Ruddy saw deceased on Friday morn-
ing, sitting on Scudder's stoop, who gave him a
glass of water. Left there and went the opposite
side of the road, and held on the fence. Witness
supposed him to be crazy. [An ounce phial that
contained laudanum, was found in his pocket,
marked Place & Souillard.
The coroner stated that the papers found on the
deceased would in no way implicate him, as being
concerned in the murder of Miss Rogers, and that
as they were not important, it was not necessary
to lay them before the public.]
[Col.4]
Dr. Griswold made a post-mortem examination
of the body, and deposed that he found the stom-
ach, heart, lungs, &c. healthy. Examined the
brain, and found it congested; found no symptoms
of poison in the stomach; thought there was not
sufficient evidence that he died of apoplexy; thinks
that the fact of any person found in his situation
—with his head down—after hard drinking, would
cause death. Dr. Cook also assisted at the post-
mortem examination; agreed in the opinions ad-
vanced by Dr. Griswold; he said that the stomach
was taken out, and its contents would be subjected
to a chemical analysis; witness could not trace the
immediate cause of death, though he thought he
could smell alcohol in the brain; thought deceased
had not taken any laudanum, and opined that if
he had fallen from the bench in a state of stupor,
it would be sufficient to cause death. The coro-
ner's jury then rendered a verdict of “found dead
with congestion of the brain, supposed to be
brought about by exposure and irregularity of liv-
ing, incident to aberration of mind.”
Thus perished the lover and betrothed husband
of the murdered Mary C. Rogers, the victim of
feelings caused by her melancholy death.
Amongst the papers found on his person were
the following lines, written in pencil:
“To the World:—Here I am on the spot; God
forgive me for my misfortune in my misspent time.”
It is to be remembered, also, that in addition to
the loss Payne had sustained by the death of
Miss Rogers, he was also suspected by some as
the murderer, and was taken to the police and in-
terrogated touching his last interviews with her,
and the occupation of his time on the Sabbath of
her death. All this he satisfactorily accounted
for, and was by the police magistrates exonerated
from all suspicion. Still he was suspected by
some in words audible to his ear, which suspicion
drove the dagger still deeper into his soul, and
aided in the overthrow of his tottering mind in
his melancholy death. It is strange, however,
that those who saw him a wanderer about the
woods and walks of Hoboken, hatless, haggard,
and without money, food or lodgings, should not
have endeavored to relieve and rescue him from
death, rather than to gaze with idle curiosity up-
on his bewildered movements, and the ebbings
of a life a burthen to its possessor. But such is
the world, inhuman and unfeeling, when misery
crosses its path. Peace to the ashes of Payne,
and may his death and that of his beloved Miss
Rogers carry a pang to the bosoms of the mur-
derers, and compel them to confess their guilt.
———————
...
CITY PRISON STATISTICS.—There were recei-
ved into the City Prison the past week, up to Sa-
turday evening, 95 white men, 37 white women,
23 black men, and 15 black women—total 170.—
Discharged 82 white men, 31 white women, 27
black men and 16 black women—total 156. Re-
maining in prison 85 white men, 24 white women,
13 black men and 6 black women—total 128.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1 / Col.1 / Mostly as in Sunday's Herald]
The Murder of Mary Rogers—The Inquest on
Daniel C. Payne, her Lover.
We stated in the “Herald” of Saturday, that
Daniel C. Payne, the lover of Mary C. Rogers, had
committed suicide at Hoboken, on Friday morning.
This news, which reached the city on Friday night,
occasioned great excitement; and the Mayor and
Justice Taylor crossed the river in a small boat, in
the midst of the storm. They decided that the in-
quest ought to be deferred till yesterday; and then
in the presence of the Mayor the following testimony
was elicited.
SAMUEL L. GRISWOLD—I saw the body just before he
died—it was about five o'clock, P. M.—I was going along
the walk with Dr. Clement—saw deceased lying on the
bank, head on the bench—loosened his collar and roused
him up, but he died in a few minutes. His hat, an old
straw one, was off. I did not know him. He was pulse-
less and speechless.
[Here a man came in and said a black hat was found,
which was brought in. It contained a white cambric
handkerchief. Another person also brought a broken
phial with a label on it “laudanum.”]
Griswold's examination resumed—The man groaned,
but we set him on the side-walk where we found him.
I saw he was going to die and thought I would call some
friends who were round the corner. He did not breathe
many times after we saw him.
[At this point of the examination, it was discovered
that the witness was not sworn.]
He was then sworn.
Examination continued—He was dead when I got back.
I am a resident of New York, and a physician.
By the MAYOR—Dr. Clements said that he smelt his
breath, and it smelt sour.
EDWARD HOPKINS examined—We found the hat up in
the place by the rocks, between the two rocks, where
the young woman is supposed to have been murdered;
higher up than Nick Moore's house. I reside in Wil-
liamsburgh, L. I.; I knew the deceased and his brother;
being of the same trade as the deceased, I felt a curiosity
and came over to see about him; we made inquiry where
the place was, and there found the hat and handkerchief;
the neck was off the phial; from all accounts I believe
it to be the same place where Mary Rogers was found; I
left Williamsburg to come to New York to work about 8
o'clock; we made up our minds to come over here, and
thought we would go out of curiosity and see the place;
I have never seen deceased since the death of Mary Ro-
gers; we left New York about 9 o'clock this morning,
and had to wait a little while before the boat came in.
JOHN PAYNE examined—I am the brother of the deceas-
ed; that is his hat; he bought it at the corner of Mulber-
ry street; I cannot speak to the handkerchief; he wore
a crape band on his hat since the death of Miss Rogers;
it was put on by Mrs. Payne.
[A pocket book was here produced by the coroner, and
that with some papers recognised by witness.]
By the MAYOR—That pair of spectacles is my brother's;
last saw my brother on Thursday; he was very dejected
and appeared as if he had been drinking; he had board-
ed for some time in John street, but for the last week in
Ann street; he did not say where he was going; I asked
about the scratch on his nose, but he said he did not
know how he got it.
By the Coroner.—I should say he had been out of his
mind since the affair of Mary Rogers. He was not ha-
bitually a drinking man. He appeared to be much attach-
ed to Miss Rogers.
James Lawrence ex'd.—I am a cork cutter. Work at
194 Water street. Was present when most of the things
were found. We stopped at Mr. Payne's brother's and
found the door closed. As we stood on the corner of
Beekman street it was past 8 o'clock. We went to Nick
Moore's house, and there enquired for the place where
Mary Rogers was murdered, and when we got to the
two roads I saw the hat between a cleft in the rock, and
I found the phial. We then went to Ludlow's, thinking
the Jury would be there, and from there to Nick Moore's
and enquired for the Coroner. Just above here we met
two gentlemen who wanted us to give up the hat or go
back with them.
By the MAYOR—We met a sort of a loafer before we
found the hat, but he did not give us any thing.
Mrs. Loss examined—I think I saw the person of de-
ceased once in New York and once out here last fall
gunning. He did not at all correspond with the person
I saw with Mary Rogers in July last. I have been from
home for two or three days, and cannot say if the deceas-
ed had been at my house.
AARON McKANE examined—I saw the deceased on
Friday, about 5 or 6 o'clock, A. M. A man came to me
in the evening, and told me that a man was dying in the
street. I went to him and asked him if he was a French-
man—he said “no, he was of any country.” We took
him on a stoop hard by, and he said he wanted a glass of
water, Scudder would not give it to him; said he had
been drinking, and would give no satisfaction as to who
he was; I told him he would not live five minutes.
By the Mayor—This was in the village of Hoboken,
a mile and a half from the place where the hat was found,
and it may be half a mile from the place where the body
was found. When he was first found, his head was lying
down in a hollow, and I said, my dear man, if you don't
get shelter, you'll not live fifteen minutes. A Mr. Borly
said he saw a man near the place where Mary Rogers
was found, and he said to me that the man who killed
Mary Rogers ought to be hung up there. The man we
saw had some writing in his hand, which appeared to
have been done some time.
SAMUEL WHITNEY examined—Was present when de-
ceased came into the Phœnix Hotel on Thursday night.
He had no hat on, and we gave him one. He seemed
very weak, and could hardly stand up. He was more
like a man sleepy than in liquor.
WARREN SMITH—I live at the Phœnix Hotel—the de-
ceased came to the house just before 10. He was bare-
headed—we gave him a hat. He had a glass or tumbler
half full of brandy, for which he paid a shilling. He
looked red and a little intoxicated—had no talk with him,
but he said, “Suppose you know me?” “No sir.” “Well,
I'm the man who was to have been married to Mary
Rogers—I'm a man of a good deal of trouble.” He did
not ask for lodging, but enquired the way to Vauxhall
Gardens. He took the brandy when he first came in.—
He said he had lost his hat about half a mile off. He
mentioned no names but that of Mary Rogers.
WHITNEY recalled.—When Payne came in, he did not
appear to have money. He enquired if there was any
other way to get to New York beside the ferry.
JOHN WOODS examined—I saw the deceased yesterday
about 9 o'clock A. M., was lying on the ground, appar-
ly asleep. It was about 100 yards from the second bench
on the walk. There were a number of persons fishing
on Friday, but they were all strangers to me. The place
where I saw deceased lying, was just in front of the
Mansion House. I did not attempt to arouse him.
CROMMELIN examined—The body found is that of Dan-
iel Payne. I last saw him two or three days ago.
WILLIAM LATTARETT examined—Saw Daniel Payne
about a quarter past 4 Friday, lying in the stink weeds;
I was going to fetch a doctor, and he lay on his back
snoring and making a dreadful noise; it was near day-
light; another man picked him up, and put him on Riet-
ty's stoop, and from thence to Scudder's, and asked for a
drink of water; Scudder said he ought to go where he
got drunk, but he gave him a drink of water, and the de-
ceased stood about half an hour; he then got as far as the
ice house, and he stood there for three quarters of an
hour; then I did not see him again till the afternoon,
when he sat on a bench by the walk, and I made the re-
mark, “there's the man I saw this morning.”
At this point of the enquire the room was cleared to
admit of the post mortem examination. When the Jury
had been called on the following testimony was adduced.
SAMUEL GRISWOLD examined—I have been present du-
ring the post mortem examination of the deceased; the
stomach, heart, and lungs appear healthy; the last food
appears to be potatoes; the brain is much congested, but
whether from laudanum or alcohol, or from the position
in which he was found, I cannot tell; cannot find any
trace of poison or extravation of blood, to show he died
from appoplexy; cannot say from the phial now produc-
ed, that is has contained laudanum, though it is so label-
led; with respect to the cause of death, I should say that
any one who had been drinking and put in that position,
would die.
Dr. COOK examined—Myself and the last witness exa-
mined the deceased, and we agree in all important points.
In the stomach I could detect no trace of poison. The
lungs were healthy, but the heart somewhat wasted.—
The liver was merely congested in the veins of the dura
mater, which might be produced from fracture, or falling
from a bench. His manner of living for the two or three
days, would be likely to induce conjestion. I could smell
alcohol in the brain but not laudanum. Alcohol would
perpetuate the smell of laudanum. My opinion, as a me-
dical man, is that he has probably fallen in a state of stu-
pefaction, and that peculiar position has been the cause
of his death in my opinion.
O. W. C. Loss, a boy 12 years old, examined.—I think I
saw the man dead come into the bar and get a glass of
brandy. He asked if I could not trust. I said no; he
then asked if I knew where Mary Rogers was murdered;
I said yes, and asked if I should show him. He said no,
and went away; I do not know which day it was, either
Thursday or Friday; That man appeared intoxicated,
and went down the lower road.
WILLIAM MUSBY, examined—I think I saw deceased on
Thursday afternoon, about 5 or 6 PM; it was on this side
of Weehawken Hill. It was the place where Mary Ro-
gers was said to be murdered, that he was sitting with a
pocket book in his hand, and appeared to be writing. A
Mr. Wilson who was with me, said, as we passed, “that
the murderer of Mary Rogers ought to be brought and
hung on this spot.” The deceased might have heard but
if he did he made no remark.
Charles Rietty examined.—I have not seen the deceas-
ed since Friday morning. He was then seated on the
scuttle of my house. Scudder called me; and I saw
him give the man a glass of water, and tell him he must
go away.
The Jury were locked up for about half an hour, and
then found the following verdict:—“That the said Daniel
C. Payne was found dead, with congestion of the brain,
supposed to be brought about by exposure and irregu-
larity of living, incident to aberration of mind.”
[Col.4]
A MYSTERY SOMEWHERE.—It is rumored about town,
on such authority that would shake the doubts of the
most sceptical, that four persons are now in custody
charged with the murder of Mary C. Rogers. On inqui-
ry of the proper authorities at the Egyptian Tombs, it is
denied that any persons are in custody on any such
charge. Knowing the authority on which the rumour
is based, we believe that “the authorities” aforesaid are
throwing dust in the eyes of the press, in the expecta-
tion of some developments.
================================================================
[Col.5]
The wife of the late Mr. Adams, who was mur-
dered in New York by Colt, has lost her senses
in consequence of her husband's violent death.
[Col.6. Partly as in Sun]
DEATH OF DANIEL C. PAYNE, the betrothed
husband of Mary C. Rogers.
——
The New-York papers of Saturday, announced
that the body of Mr. Payne, the affianced lover of
the late Mary C. Rogers, was found on Friday
evening, at Hoboken, near the water's edge,
where the body of Miss Rogers was discovered.
The Journal of Commerce gives the following
particulars:
An inquest was held by Justice Merritt, of Ho-
boken, acting as coroner, on the body of this in-
dividual, at Hoboken, this morning. It appears
in evidence that since the death of Mary Rogers,
the deceased had been greatly dejected in mind,
which increased upon him. On Thursday after-
noon he left his brother's residence apparently
well. He was next seen, a few hours after on the
spot where Miss Rogers is said to have been mur-
dered with some writing before him, but took no
notice of any one. About ten o'clock at night he
called at the tavern in the village, having lost his
hat and apparently much intoxicated, but with ra-
ther an unusually sleepy appearance. He soon
left the house, having been provided with a hat,
and was next seen about daybreak on Friday morn-
ing lying beside the road, breathing in a stento-
rius manner, and almost senseless. He was rous-
ed up and was again seen in the forenoon in a sim-
ilar condition.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon he was seen sitting
on one of the benches near the cave, leaning his
head down. At five o'clock he was found, having
fallen off backwards from the bench, on which
his feet rested, he was taken up alive, but imme-
diately ceased to breathe.
This morning his hat and handkerchief and a
broken vial having the odour of laudanum were
found on the spot where Miss Rogers is supposed
to have been murdered. The papers found upon
his person prove to be of no value in relation to
the developement of the murder of Miss Rogers.
A post mortem examination is now taking place,
after which the Jury will render their verdict.
P. S. The Sun extra. of Sunday contains a
minute account of the catastrophe, and the find-
ing of the jury:
The coroner's jury then rendered a verdict of
“found dead with congestion of the brain, sup-
posed to be brought about by exposure and irreg-
ularity of living, incident to aberration of the
mind.”
Thus perished the lover and betrothed husband
of the murdered Mary C. Rogers, the victim of
feelings caused by her melancholy death.
Amongst the papers found on his person were
the following lines, written in pencil:
“To the World:—Here I am on the spot; God forgive
me for my misfortune in my misspent time.”
...
and may his death and that of his beloved Miss
Rogers carry a pang to the bosoms of the mur-
derers, and make them confess their guilt.
================================================================
[Col.5]
DANIEL C. PAYNE.—An inquest was held by
Justice Merritt, of Secaucus, acting as Coroner, on
the body of this individual, at Hoboken, on Satur-
day morning. It appeared in evidence, that since
the death of Mary C. Rogers, the deceased had
been greatly dejected in mind, which had increased
upon him. On Thursday afternoon he left his bro-
ther's residence apparently well. He was next
seen a few hours after on the spot where Miss Ro-
gers is said to have been murdered, with some
writing before him, but he took no notice of any
one. About ten o'clock at night he called at the
tavern in the village, having lost his hat and appa-
rently much intoxicated, and asked for liquor, and
drank half a tumbler full of brandy, said he was
the man who was to have been married to Mary
Rogers, &c. He soon left the house, having been
provided with a hat, and was next seen about day-
break on Friday morning lying beside the road,
breathing in a stentorious manner, and almost sense-
less. He was roused up, and was again seen in the
forenoon in a similar condition.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon he was seen sitting
on one of the benches near the Sybil's cave, lean-
ing his head down. At 5 o'clock he was found,
having fallen backwards from the bench, on which
his feet rested, and was raised up alive, but imme-
diately ceased to breathe.
Next morning his hat and handkerchief and a
broken vial, having the odour of laudanum, were
found on the spot where Miss Rogers is supposed to
have been murdered. The papers found upon his
person prove to be of no value in relation to the de-
velopment of the murder of Miss Rogers. Dr.
Griswold executed a post mortem examination of
the body, and deposed that he found the heart,
lungs and stomach perfectly healthy, the brain con-
gested, no signs of poison in the stomach, and not
sufficient appearances to induce the existence of
apoplexy. The Doctor opined that any person, af-
ter hard drinking, and found in his situation, with
his head down, would come to his death without
taking poison. He further stated that he could not
trace the immediate cause of death, though he
could smell alcohol in the brain; said there was
no pioson in the stomach, which was, however,
taken out, in order to analyze the contents, and
thought that if the deceased had fallen from the
bench in a state of stupor it was the cause of his
death. The jury found a verdict—Found dead,
with congestion of the brain, supposed to be
brought about by exposure and irregularity of liv-
ing, incident to aberration of mind.—Journal of
Commerce.
================================================================
[Col.1]
DEATH OF DANIEL PAYNE.—We stated on Saturday that
an inquest had been held on the body of Payne, though we
were unable to get the verdict of the jury, the testimony not
having been concluded until after our paper went to press.—
The verdict was in accordance with the testimony,—Found
dead, with congestion of the brain, supposed to be brought
about by exposure and irregularity of living, incident to
aberation of mind.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Mostly as in Chronicle & Gazette, October 13, 1841, p.4, col.3 / Partly as in Argus / Partly in Public Ledger, October 11, 1841]
[From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.]
ANOTHER MYSTERY!
The morning papers announced that the body of
Mr. Payne, the affianced lover of the late Mary C.
Rogers, was found last evening at Hoboken, near the
water's edge, where the body of Miss Rogers was
discovered.
Two of the penny journals add that he was found
with his throat cut. It was further stated that Mr.
Justice Merritt, of Hoboken, had last evening em-
pannelled an inquest to sit upon the body at 11 o'-
clock, this morning.
In consequence of these publications, we repaired
to Hoboken this morning, and were in attendance
upon the inquisition until one o'clock, when we left
in order to give the results of the investigation thus
far. We have no space, however, to give the testi-
mony elicited in detail, and a very summary nar-
rative must suffice.
In the first place it is not true that the throat of
the deceased was cut. On the contrary there is no
wound upon the body, but a severe mark upon his
nose, as though it had been scraped by a fall. This
mark, moreover, was upon his face, according to the
testimony of his brother—a very respectable looking
man—at dinner on Thursday.
It appears by the testimony of the witness that
the deceased was strongly attached to Mary Rogers.
—Since her death he has been moody, and as wit-
ness thought, not exactly in his right mind. He has
not been habitually intemperate. Witness had only
seen him in liquor once during the last three years.
On Thursday of the present week he dined at home.
—He appeared melancholy, and as though he had
been drinking a little. Observing the scratch upon
his nose, witness asked him how it came. He said
he did not know. Witness had not seen him after
dinner on that day, until he saw his dead body.
In regard to the time and manner in which the de-
ceased came by his death, a Dr. Griswold, of New-
York, testified that he was walking with a friend
along the gravel path toward the grotto at the point,
when they saw a man prostrate upon one of the seats
by the way-side, near where the body of Mary Ro-
gers was found.
His head was down upon the gravel, and his legs
across the bench. He ran and raised him up—saw
he was near his end—observed a convulsion of the
chest. He died in two or three minutes. He had no
hat on, but an old chip hat lay near him. (This hat
was produced.)
While another witness was under examination,
but testifying to no material point, additional inter-
est was created by the arrival of two young men
from the spot where it is supposed Mary Rogers was
murdered, bringing with them a hat, a white pocket
handkerchief, and the fragments of a vial, the body
of which yet contained a few drops of laudanum. It
was labelled laudanum, from Place & Souillard's.
Mr. Payne at once identified the hat as belonging
to his brother. He purchased it in Chatham street;
and it had the crape which the deceased had placed
upon it in mourning for Mary Rogers. Of the hand-
kerchief the witness knew nothing.
The pocket-book, or large walet, with some papers
together with a segar case, and the spectacles of the
deceased, were identified as his by Mr. Payne.
The manner of the discovery of the hat was this.
The deceased was a cork-cutter by trade. The two
young men who came in with the hat are of the same
trade.
Seeing the paragraph in the morning papers, they
went over to Hoboken at 9 o'clock, and supposing
that the inquest would be held where the body was
found, they walked up to that place—and falling in
with a straggler, proceeded on, and inquired the way
to the place where it is supposed Mary was murder-
ed. They went to Nick Moore's house, and Mrs.
Loss, the landlady, directed them to the place.
They found it—as has often been described—se-
cluded—overgrown with shrubbery, like an arbor.—
On looking in they saw the hat, and on going in dis-
covered also the handkerchief and the broken pieces
of phial. [With these they immediately returned, and
inquired for the coroner's inquest. The hat is nearly
new, newly brushed, or ironed, and quite glossy.]
From the other testimony which we heard, it was
proved that toward evening on Thursday a man,
supposed to be the deceased, was seen by two men,
who were passing by, sitting by the entrance into
the bower of the murder, apparently engaged in wri-
ting. One of the passers-by remarked—“the man
who murdered Mary Rogers ought to be hung up in
that tree.” The person writing did not look up, or
appear to notice the remark.
The next heard of the deceased was at about ten
o'clock on Thursday night, when he came into the
tavern of Mr. Smith, in the village of Hoboken,
without a hat. Said he had lost his hat half a mile
off and wanted another. He looked as though he
had been drinking somewhat. He called for brandy,
and drank about half a tumbler. Paid one shilling
for it. He talked rationally. Said he was the man
who was engaged to be married to Miss Rogers,
that he was a man of a good deal of trouble.
He talked of coming over to the city. Was told
that the ferry boats had stopped for the night, want-
ed to hire a passage over, but said he was short of
cash; inquired for Vauxhall Garden, and was shown
the direction, when he left.
By another witness it appeared that he was next
seen between five and six o'clock yesterday morn-
ing, lying among some tall weeds about a quarter of
a mile from the place last mentioned. He groaned
heavily.
The witness who found him, called another man,
and they went and lifted him up. He groaned again
and could hardly breathe—fell down several times.
They took him to a small tavern, but the landlord,
supposing him drunk, would not let him in. Gave
him a gentle shove back, and he fell down. Wit-
ness seated him upon the stoop, and left him to go to
his work.
The next notice elicited of him was the account of
his death, as stated by the first witness. The place
where he was found was about half a mile from the
tavern last mentioned.
Mrs. Loss, the landlady of “Nick Moore's
House,” testified positively that the deceased was
not the man whom she saw at her house with Mary
Rogers on the 25th of July. The man was both
younger and smaller than the deceased.
The strangest feature in this tragic story, is the
fact that the hat and hankerchief were perfectly dry
when found. It had rained, as we all know, yester-
day, nearly all day, and much in the night.
The Mayor of this city, and Justices Taylor and
Stevens, are assisting Justice Merritt at the exami-
nation.
——————————
DANIEL C. PAYNE.—An inquest was held by Jus-
tice Merritt, of Hoboken, acting as Coroner, on the
body of this individual, at Hoboken this morning. It
appeared in evidence that since the death of Mary
Rogers, the deceased had been greatly dejected in
mind, which had increased upon him. On Thursday
afternoon he left his brother's residence apparently
well. He was next seen, a few hours after on the
spot where Miss Rogers is said to have been murder-
ed with some writing before him, but took no notice
of any one. About ten o'clock at night he called at
the tavern in the village, having lost his hat and ap-
parently much intoxicated, but with rather an unusu-
ally sleepy appearance. He soon left the house,
having been provided with a hat, and was next seen
about daybreak on Friday morning lying beside the
road, breathing in a stentorious manner, and almost
senseless. He was roused up and was again seen in
the forenoon in a similar condition.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon he was seen sitting
on one of the benches near the cave, leaning his head
down. At five o'clock he was found, having fallen
backwards from the bench, on which his feet rested,
and was raised up alive, but immediately ceased to
breathe.
This morning his hat and handkerchief and a broken
vial having the odour of laudanum were found on the
spot where Miss Rogers is supposed to have been mur-
dered. The papers found upon his person prove to be
of no value in relation to the developement of the
murder of Miss Rogers. A post mortem examination
is now taking place, after which the Jury will render
their verdict.—Jour. Com.
[Col.4]
Colt, the Murderer.—The Bridgeport Standard
says—“His father is an aged man, whose years
have been embittered by the folly of his son, and this
last horrible act has “filled up the measure of his cup
of sorrow,” which may soon lay him in his grave.—
We are informed that the intelligence of the arrest
of his son, which he first learned by hearing a stran-
ger read it at the City Hotel, has completely driven
his reason from its throne, and made a wreck of all
his earthly peace and happiness.”
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.5. Mostly as in Argus, Albany Evening Journal]
From the Journal of Commerce.
DANIEL C. PAYNE.
An inquest was held by Justice Merritt of Hobo-
ken, acting as Coroner, on the body of this indi-
...
had increased upon him. On Tuesday afternoon he
...
parently much intoxicated, but with rather an un-
usual sleepy appearance. He soon left the house,
...
This morning his hat and handkerchief and a
broken vial having the odour of Laudlum were
...
after which the Jury will render their verdict.
Amongst the papers found on his person were
the following lines, written in pencil:
“To the World:—Here I am on the spot; God
forgive me for my misfortunes in my misspent time.”
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.6 / Col.6]
Court of Oyer and Terminer.
Present Judge Kent, and Aldermen Leonard and
Woodhull.
OCT.11.—The Trial of Colt.—At 10 o'clock pre-
cisely the prisoner was placed at the bar. His
face bore the same pallid, anxious appearance
which it did at the inquest. He appeared, howev-
er, a trifle thinner, but firmly prepared to bear the
brunt of his situation. His lips were compressed
together, and he kept his eyes on the Court nearly
the whole time. On the whole, his deportment
was as much in accordance as could be conceived,
with one in his hapless situation.
The District Attorney having moved on the
trial, Robert Emmett, Esq., with whom were as-
sociated Prescott Hall and John A. Morrill, rose
to move that the trial of John C. Colt be postpon-
ed until next term, on account of the absence of
important witnesses, necessary to the defence of
the prisoner at the bar. The learned gentleman
...
The motion was supported by J. PRESCOTT HALL,
in a very able address. The learned gentleman
alluded to the poor and friendless situation of the
prisoner, and to the fact that the Counsel had,
with considerable difficulty, and much inconve-
nience, made what progress they could towards ob-
taining evidence, and he believed, solemnly, on his
professional word, that from what he could gather
of the nature of the matter to be produced to the
Court and Jury, on the part of the prisoner, that it
would materially alter the color of the crime with
which he now stood charged.
The DISTRICT ATTORNEY opposed the motion, in
a very able and eloquent speech. He alluded to the
case of Ezra White, where, from repeated delays,
the ends of justice had been finally perverted. The
evidence in this case was to be sustained by up-
wards of thirty witnesses, and among them was the
mate of the ship, who had been detained in a mo-
neyless condition, and who, if he did not depart to
join his ship at New Orleans, would be thrown out
of employ, and probably compelled to seek his liv-
ing before the mast. The learned gentleman alluded
to the practice in the English Courts, where prison-
ers, charged with this awful crime, had been ar-
rested, tried, found guilty, and executed, within
the term; and, in conclusion, stated it to be his
firm intention to press this case on, according to
the notice he had given at the commencement of the
term of this Court.
... Judge Kent
delivered the opinion of the Court.
“The Court did not perceive any thing either in
the affidavit or the application of the counsel to au-
thorise the Court in putting off this trial be-
yond the present term. It was the most pain-
ful which the Court had to perform, but they
felt bound to discharge it strictly—impar-
...
The Court were willing to wait and give any rea-
sonable time. They would give a week or a fort-
night, or to the very verge of the term, but be-
yond that the Court would not delay the case. If
...
Mr. Prescott Hall subsequently applied for ano-
ther week's delay and then it was understood by all
parties that the trial was to commence next Mon-
day fortnight, the testimony of the mate to be taken
de bene esse.
Colt was immediately removed into the sheriff's
office, and from thence conveyed back to “the
tombs” in a cab.
And the Court adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.3. Mostly as in Albany Evening Journal]
DANIEL C. PAYNE. An inquest was held by Justice
Merritt, of Hoboken, acting as Coroner, on the body of
this individual, at Hoboken this morning. It appear-
ed in evidence that since the death of Mary Rogers,
to whom he was under marriage engagements, the de-
ceased had been greatly dejected in mind, which had
increased upon him. On Thursday afternoon he left
his brother's residence apparently well. He was next
seen on the spot where miss Rogers is said to have
been murdered, with some writing before him, but
took no notice of any one. About ten o'clock at night
he called at the tavern in the village, having lost his
hat, and apparently much intoxicated, but with rather
an unusual sleepy appearance. He soon left the house,
having been provided with a hat, and was next seen
about day break on Friday morning lying beside the
road, breathing in stentorious manner, and almost
senseless. He was roused up and was again seen in
the forenoon in a similar condition.
At 3 o'clock, in the afternoon he was seen sitting on
one of the benches near the cave, leaning his head
down. At five o'clock he was found, having fallen
backwards from the bench, on which his feet rested,
and was raised up alive, but immediately ceased to
breathe.
This morning his hat and handkerchief and a broken
vial, having the odour of laudanum, were found on the
spot where miss Rogers is supposed to have been mur-
dered. The papers about his person prove to be of no
value in relation to the developement of the murder of
miss Rogers. A post mortem examination is now ta-
king place, after which the Jury will render their ver-
dict.—[N. Y. Jour. Commerce of Saturday.
================================================================
[Col.6]
Daniel Payne, the supposed lover of Mary C. Rogers,
committed suicide at Hoboken on Friday last. His hat
and handkerchief and a vial having the odour of lauda-
num, were found on the spot where Mary C. Rogers was
supposed to be murdered.
================================================================
[Col.5. From Courier]
[From the New-York Courier and Enquirer.]
INQUEST ON DAVID C. PAYNE AT HOBOKEN.—
...
Wm. Busby examined—Was in company with a
...
no attention, not even looked up.
The jury found a verdict—that “the said Daniel C.
Payne was found dead with congestion of the brain,
supposed to be brought about by exposure, and irreg-
ularity of living, incident to aberation of mind.
Payne was 32 years of age.
———————
...
THE TRIAL OF COLT, for the murder of Mr.
Adams, was last week set down for to-day. Wheth-
er it has come on, we are not informed. We have
been desired by Mr. Lane, the father of Mrs. Adams,
whom we have long known as a member of Doctor
Spring's church, to state that the report going the
rounds of the papers, of her being deprived of her
senses, is entirely without foundation; and however
acute may be her sense of her loss, she bears it with
a becoming resignation to the Divine will.
In reply to our inquiries last evening, Mr. Lane
assured us that the current statements in some of the
papers, in relation to the remarkable pre-monitory
dreams of Mrs. Adams, are true. Two days before
her husband's disappearance, she dreamed, twice,
that he was murdered, and that she saw his body cut
into pieces and packed in a box. The dreams gave
her great concern, from their vividness, and she went
once to relate them to her mother, but did not, from
the apprehension of being laughed at.—Com. Adv.
================================================================
[Col.3]
☞ Daniel Payne, the lover of Mary Rogers, has
committed suicide near the spot where the body of the
unfortunate girl was found.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Daniel Payne, the lover of the murdered Ma-
ry C. Rogers, committed suicide at Hoboken, on
the very spot where she is supposed to have lost
her life, on Friday last. He was intemperate,
and a laudanum vial was found near him.
================================================================
[Col.3(2). Partly as in Albany Evening Journal, partly from Tribune]
From the N. Y. Commercial, 9th.
Another Mystery!—The morning papers
announced that the body of Mr. Payne, the
...
elicited in detail, and a very summary narra-
tive must suffice.
And which we will give in our next.
The city papers are filled, as well as those
from Boston, with damage done to, and loss
of shipping, both in harbor and on the coast.
———
The Kamschatka.—There are on board
this frigate, which have been used in her con-
struction, 200,000 pounds of copper, 50,000
pounds of wrought iron, and 300,000 pounds
of cast iron; 250 men were employed eight
months in building her.
================================================================
[Col.3. Mostly as in Albany Evening Journal]
DANIEL C. PAYNE.—An inquest was held by
Justice Merritt, of Hoboken, acting as Coroner,
...
breathing in a stertorous manner, and almost
...
This morning his hat and handkerchief, and a
broken vial, having the odor of laudanum, were
...
the development of the murder of Miss Rogers. A
post mortem examination is now taking place, after
which the jury will render their verdict.
[New York Journal of Commerce of Saturday.
================================================================
[Col.3. A changed copy from Argus]
Death of Daniel C. Payne, the betrothed
Husband of Mary C. Rogers.
——
The New York papers of Saturday, an-
nounce that the body of Mr. Payne, the affi-
anced lover of the late Mary C. Rogers, was
...
“To the World:—Here I am on the
spot; God forgive me for my misfortune
and my misspent time.”
...
the murderers, and make them confess
their guilt.
================================================================
[Col.1]
We received the following extract from a
subscriber, with a request to publish it for the
rising generation. He says he does not know
the author, or he would give him credit for his
piece; but he says, “they are his sentiments
exactly.” We hope our fair readers may pro-
fit by it, and that our subscriber may not be
made ever again to suffer from their feet (i. e.)
if he has ever been kicked by any of them.
Woman's Heart.—There will always be
a great deal of misery in the world, while
the present system of education, which
renders it unmaidenly to evince the hearts
emotions, continues. It has been said
that a man should not be discouraged at
his first ill success, and that a woman's
heart which is worth a seige; and will be
the more prized for the difficulty that is
experienced in obtaining it. This logic,
like a great deal of other logic, predicated
upon a false position, is unsubstantial. In
ninety nine cases out of a hundred, the
lover, whose whole soul is engrossed in that
of his mistress, and whose love is worth
obtaining, retires from the seige, under a
feeling of true delicacy, that his manifest
attentions have not met with that return,
which an apparent passion, if reciproca-
ted, would have caused; while a cold cal-
culating lover, whose heart is not worth a
fraction of that which felt so much for its
idol, by his very importunity, succeeds.—
We are not so Quixotic as to suppose that
we can, by our writing, change the current
of fashionable education; but if in one sin-
gle instance our remarks on this subject
can turn a good girl from the error of her
tutored ways, we shall be satisfied. Wo-
men have all enough of natural conquetry
in their disposition, without having recourse
to art, and yet bountiful as nature has been
in this respect, art not content with being
her handmaid, has become her mistress,
and lauded it over her in triumph. The
happiness of a life is not a small matter,
and an engagement that must last till death,
should be well weighed before being enter-
ed upon. So ladies—dear ladies—you
know that you are dear to us—when you
have found an object worthy your love,
whose passion is apparent—throw to the
winds, the precepts of schoolmistresses,
maiden aunts, and antiquated cousins, or
kind acquaintances, who are but jealous of
your good fortune. Reserve your rules
of etiquette for ordinary occasions.—
Evince the emotions that you feel—the
emotions of a true, warm and confiding
heart will make you doubly dear to him
who loves it. Remember that delays are
dangerous—that there is many a slip 'twixt
cup and lip. Throw aside at once, and
forever, all foolish affectations, and secure
your own happiness.
“Love is a sea upon whose swelling breast
Lie strewn the wrecks of fond affection lost;
And constant hearts beneath its waters rest,
By averse breakers on their passage crost.”
These adverse breakers are too often
the foolish scruples of propriety, with
which fashionable educated young women
are inoculated.
EDGEFIELD ADVERTISER. Thursday, October 14, 1841 (CA)
[Col.2]
CAUTION.
An exchange paper chronicles the death
of a young child in New York, produced
by taking a lucifer match in its mouth—
the composition on the end of the stick dis-
solved in the mouth—was swallowed by
the child, and the consequence was im-
mediate death. Parents and nurses should
be particularly careful to keep these match-
es out of the reach of children, as the pre-
paration in which they are dipt is a viru-
lent poison.—Asheville Messenger.
[Col.3]
ANECDOTE.
“We must be unanimous,” observed
Hancock, on the occasion of signing the
Declaration of Independence, “there must
be no pulling different ways; we must all
hang together.” “Yes said Franklin, “we
must indeed all hang together, or we shall
all hang separately.”—Thompsonian Re-
corder.
[Col.6]
INOCULATION OF ANIMALS.
The spread of the murrian among cattle
and sheep in the south—for, fortunately,
we are free from it in the Highlands—has
suggested a step which seems strange to
the uninitiated—the inoculation of stock
with the view of mitigating or preventing
the serious attacks of the distemper. This
has been tried in the south, and we believe
there is no instance of the innoculated ani-
mal taking the complaint when it is rife in
the district. At our wool fair last week,
Mr. Pagan, salesman in Liverpool, recom-
mended this subject to the attention of our
Highland farmers. The stock seized with
murrain suffer little on farms, and are ea-
sily cured; but when they are driven on
roads to the market while laboring under
its effects, it often proves fatal. As a meas-
ure of precaution, Mr. Pagan recommended
that all stock should be inoculated at home.
With respect to this inoculation of animals
Mr. Mackenzie, of Applecross, Mr. P., re-
marked at the same time, that a lady in
London (sister of Captain Marryatt) who
had several pet dogs, was in the habit of
innoculating them, and not one took the
distemper.—Inverness Courier.
================================================================
[Col.7]
DEATH OF DANIEL C. PAYNE.—This
person, the reputed lover of Mary C. Ro-
gers, was found dead at Hoboken on Friday.
The Express says,
“Payne, it is well known, was a very
intemperate man, and since the death of Miss
Rogers he had become even more so than
usual, having been rarely seen since that
time in a perfectly sober state.
He had not been at his lodgings since
Thursday last, an no trace of him had been
discovered until yesterday evening about 5
o'clock, when he was seen by a man who
was going fishing, siting on a bench in the
woods at Hoboken, close to the spot where
the body of the murdered girl was found.
He appeared to be either dozing or to be so
intoxicated as to be scarcely able to sit upright.
Soon afterwards he was seen to fall back-
wards, and when the person reached him he
was dying. He was immediately conveyed
to a house close by, but before they reached
it he was dead.
Several papers were found upon his per-
son, but none, so far as we can learn, will
be likely to throw any light on the mystery
of the murder. They were principally me-
morandums—he had written down the date
of every examination he under went before
the Mayor, and probably the last he ever
wrote was in pencil on the back one of the
papers, to the following effect:
“I am on the very spot—God forgive me
for my misspent time.”
The general impression is, that the un-
fortunate man has fallen a victim to his in-
temperate habits, and his death was caused
by delirium tremens, and such will probably
be the verdict of the jury.
================================================================
[Col.1]
JOHN C. COLT.—The New York papers give
many items of the history of this young man, some
of them perverted statements of facts, but mostly
mere fabrications to meet the craving demands of
excited curiosity. It may be a question how far
public curiosity should be gratified in such a case.
We are disposed to enquire whether this morbid
taste for the details of crime, may not help to pro-
vide materials for its own gratification; and whe-
ther the Newgate literature of our day has not in it
the elements of self-perpetuation. We do not ask
for apathy or indifference to crime; its frequent
recurrence, in such horrid forms, calls for the most
vigilant interest; but not for that fascinated inte-
rest, that shuddering admiration, with which we
have suffered ourselves to be drawn into sympathy
with vice, under the masterly delineations of per-
verted genius, until we have come to look upon
great wickedness as great romance.
The simple facts in the history of John C. Colt,
as they have been made known to us, by those who
were familiar with him from childhood, would need
but little adornment to present a tale as attractive
as any of its class. We could not ask for better
materials from which to furnish forth a hero, than
the fine person, the generous impulses, and the un-
bounded mental energy which we could vouch for
in him. He has shown a self-reliance, and a stern
resolution, in overcoming the difficulties of a devi-
ous course that, to interest, would need little help
from fictitious surroundings, and an eagerness and
perseverance in intellectual culture that would
command sympathy and just admiration.
We wish we could transfer to the minds of the
thousands who so eagerly read all that is said of
him, the one impressive lesson we are taught, as
we trace the evil in this case back to its germ.
That germ whose growth has been so bitter, was
insubordination from his childhood upwards.
His whole course has been marked by self-will,
breaking through all the common restrains of the
family, of the school-room, of the counting-house,
of social life, and of the law of God. John C.
Colt has been for fourteen years a voluntary
exile from the parental roof. Let the child who
will not submit to be checked and guided, tremble
for the end of his own career; and let the parent
tremble for the child who cannot be made to yield
to just authority, and let him never dare to hope
that the youth whom he cannot control, will learn
to control himself, and curb his own wild passions.
[Norwich, Ct., Courier.
================================================================
[Col.7 / More in Hunt's Merchants' Magazine. October, 1841]
THE COMMERCIAL STRENGTH OF RUSSIA.—
The last number of Hunt's Merchants' Magazine
contains an article upon this subject which devel-
opes the amazing power of Russia, and from which
we publish a brief abstract that will be found
highly interesting. It shows that there is abun-
dant reason for the jealousies existing in other
parts of Europe against that great and growing
nation.
The entire Russian empire is nearly twice and
a half times as large as all Europe—its population
is about one fourth of that of Europe, though its
Asiatic possessions contribute but about one
sixth of its whole population. Of the whole ex-
tent of over two billions of acres, less than one
sixth of the soil is under improvement. The mines
are a great source of wealth, the annual produce
being estimated in 1835 to be thirty-eight millions
of dollars.
In manufactures Russia has rapidly advanced
since their first establishment by Peter the Great.
From the returns of 1828 it is found that of linen
nine millions of yards are annually produced; of
woollen cloths, of all kinds, about 600,000 yards;
of cotton 40,000,000 of yards; of silk to the value
of 3,000,000 of Prussian dollars; of leather three
and a half millions of the same coin; of potash
2,000,000 pounds; of soap, 80,000,000 pounds; and
of tallow 16,800,000 of pounds are annually used
by the candle manufactories. Thirty-nine mil-
lions of pounds of sugar are annually refined—
and the various distilleries in the empire employ
over seven hundred thousand workmen.
In 1834 the total value of Russia exports was
$50,133,758, and of imports, $53,652,568. In 1832
5720 vessels entered, and 5721 vessels left the
Russian ports. England draws off one half, and
the United States one-twelfth of the exports.—
The amount realized by the government from du-
ties on both exports and imports, is about 25 per
cent, of the whole value, or in 1834 about four-
teen millions of dollars. Of the articles of im-
port, sugar forms one sixth of the whole importa-
tion; coffee, one thirty-sixth; cotton, one sixth; co-
loring stuffs, one tenth; silk goods, one twentieth;
woollens, one thirtieth; wine, one twentieth; tea,
one fortieth; and tobacco, one hundredth. Of ex-
ports, flax and hemp make one third of the whole;
tallow, one sixth; corn and meal, about one
sixth; bristles, hides and leather, one twentieth.
Were we so disposed, a piteous tale might be
told of the ridiculous impolicy of the popular pro-
tective system, as exhibited in Russia; for in no
country is this system so fully developed. It is
joined, we admit, with the most sickening despot-
ism and the most cruel monopoly ever invented by
man, yet more than enough of evil exists, which
may be laid directly at the foot of a system, in a
country where for every dollar admitted to its
ports, one-third accrues to the government. But
our only object, at present, is to present a few
facts, showing the tremendous commercial power
of Russia, yet in its infancy, and growing in des-
pite of all the chains with which the protective
system binds the energies of the country. For, it
so happens, that while we can plainly see how
much more rapid might have been and still be the
course of Russia, under more favorable laws, it is
equally true, that within the last century her
strides have been like the giant's of a fairy le-
gend. Russia, in the east, and America in the
west, seem destined to be THE nations for the fu-
ture, and their only but glorious difference in the
past seems to be, that while in America prosperity
has made happy THE PEOPLE, in Russia it has
added to the wealth and power of the masters, and
hung new fetters on the souls and bodies of the
slaves.
From the few facts we have presented may be
imagined the great and yet infant rival of England
in the councils of Europe.
================================================================
[Col.4]
For the Evening Post.
MR. EDITOR: So many journals have comment-
ed on my late verdict against Mr. Park Benjamin,
that every one will feel I have a right to insist that
the facts, at least, should be correctly stated. I
have hoped you would enable me to use a column
for this purpose.
I sued Mr. Benjamin for a libel. The issue made
by this suit, was the truth or falsehood of the inju-
rious imputations; as is always the case, in an ac-
tion of this sort. The truth is a complete justifica-
tion of any libel, in the civil action; the truth with
good motive, in the criminal proceedings, and in
the state of New York.
Mr. Benjamin published my declaration, and en-
deavored to ridicule the idea that he had wronged
me. He collected several similar opinions from
different journals, and published them also, under
the designation of a “verdict of the Press.” Had
this verdict been worth any thing, I should have
been defeated, out of all question. Viewing it how-
ever, as no more than an outbreaking of unrepressed
presumption, acting on an inflated ignorance, I let
the law take its course, and have already reversed
the decision.
Mr. Benjamin next demurred to my declaration.
The effect of this demurrer was to admit my alle-
gations, but to deny that the matter charged was
libellous. The question came before the Supreme
Court at the term of July, 1840. It was submitted
without argument. I proposed the latter course,
because I did not think the legal objections raised,
worth an argument; the counsel opposed con-
sented to it, for reasons I shall not pretend to give.
The judgment on demurrer was in favor of the
plaintiff, with leave to the defendant to amend, on
payment of costs.
The rule for judgment was entered on the 4th of
Nov., and Mr. Benjamin was bound to plead and
pay his costs by the 24th, or suffer a default. He
did neither; and we served an informal notice on
the 4th of January, to say if he did not plead and
pay his costs by the 20th of that month, we would
enter a default and resist any attempt to set it aside.
Even the 20th brought no plea, and we granted
more time. A special plea was finally served,
about the 22d of January. This plea was set aside
by the Supreme Court, on our motion, as FRIVO-
LOUS. Leave was given to the defendant to plead
anew, after notice; but he declined to do so, and
we finally entered our default.
There remained only to take an inquest. This
is ordinarily done before a sheriff's jury; but the
Supreme Court sent this inquest to the Circuit, on
our motion, on the ground that the defendant had
been discussing the merits of the suit in his news-
paper. The inquest was accordingly held before
Judge Gridley, at the last Otsego circuit. I got a
verdict of $375. The penalty of this libel, there-
fore, with all the costs, &c., will amount, I should
suppose, to some $700 or $800. Mr. Benjamin
seems to think it a very insignificant sum, from
which circumstance, I hope he intends to pay it.
Any one acquainted with the course of the law,
knows that when a defendant, in a libel suit, comes
into court without a plea, it is putting himself in
the most deprecating attitude before the jury. He
admits the falsehood of his charges, and substantial-
ly asks for mercy. The effect is always to lessen
the damages.
I proceeded against Mr. Benjamin, in this case,
for two reasons. His libel was prevaricating; first
stating charges and then protesting that the writer
“could not believe them.” It struck me that my
libeller wished to screen himself behind a subter-
fuge, that neither reason nor the law will tolerate.
Next, the libel appeared to me to be intended to
bully a citizen from pursuing his remedies at law;
being connected with a previous suit brought against
Mr. Wm. L. Stone, for a similar wrong.
That I was right in the first impression, was
shown by the special plea, which set forth that the
defendant had stated in the libellous article, that
he could not believe what were, virtually, his own
allegations; all of which, as already mentioned, the
court set aside as FRIVOLOUS. To show that I was
not mistaken in my second construction of the li-
bel, I extract a paragraph from the opinion of the
Supreme Court, given with the judgment on de-
murrer, which opinion will, no doubt, be found at
length in the next volume of Wendell.
——“There is another feature, which, if not
sufficient, in itself, to give it the character of a libel
against the plaintiff, renders it (Mr. Benjamin's ar-
ticle) at least criminal, and deserving of punishment
in some form. It did not require the avowal of
the defendant to see that it was intended to aid in
deterring the plaintiff from the prosecution of his
rights in a court of justice, either by the terror of
calumny, or by creating an influence adverse to
his recovery of damages.”
J. FENIMORE COOPER.
================================================================
[Col.3. Partly as in Argus]
Daniel C. Payne.
An inquest was held by Justice Merritt of Hobo-
ken, acting as Coroner, on the body of this indi-
...
in the afternoon in a similar condition.
...
rested, and was raised up alive, but immediately
ceased to breathe.
...
the Jury will render their verdict.—New York
Journal of Commerce.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, October 16, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6]
☞ THE SUNDAY MERCURY of to-morrow will contain
...
of the Militia System; the Mary Rogers Mystery, par-
ticulars and striking facts, not heretofore published—no
murder; Chit Chat, containing all the fun and news of
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
MORE MYSTERY.—On Thursday afternoon, as
a little girl residing in Williamsburg was gather-
ing nuts in the woods near that place, she found
the lifeless body of a good looking female lying in
the woods, her person perfectly denuded, and not
exhibiting any marks of violence and her clothes,
???????????????????? that escaped, lying in ash-
???????????????????????????????
[Col.2 / Extra Globe. Wednesday, October 20, 1841. Col.3 / The Daily Picayune. October 5, 1841]
BURIED ALIVE—ALMOST, NOT QUITE.—A
scene strange as any founded on fiction occurred
in New Orleans on the 3d inst.
It appears that a young Spaniard was lying in
the last stages of yellow fever, next door to the
printing office of Mr. G, in Chartres street. The
physician, Dr. B., was sent for, but before his ar-
rival, the young man had ceased to live, accord-
ing to the opinions of those in the house, so that
when he arrived he found his patient covered with
a white linen, and reported as dead. That very
evening they washed and cleansed the young
man, and having put on his burial dress, they laid
him on his bed until the morning. In the morn-
ing a coffin was got, and all the necessary prepa-
rations were made. He was then taken and put
in his coffin, but no sooner was he dropped in it
than he jumped up and asked where they were
going to place him. They then conducted him in
a carriage to a colored nurse woman's house. He
is yet very sick, but may perhaps live. It appears
that he was in a state of lethargy.
================================================================
[Col.2]
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.—Eliza Kelly
left the house of J. Montague, Eighth Avenue, (be-
tween 22d and 23d sts.) on Wednesday, in quest of
some articles for the kitchen, about 9 o'clock in
morning, and has not since been heard of. She was
about five and a half feet high, slim, about 26 years
old, light complexion—had on when she left, a cot-
tage straw hat, small plaid woollen shawl, calico
dress, (small plaid) buckskin shoes. Any informa-
tion of such a person having been seen, left with
Edwin Sexton, corner of Wall and William streets,
or at J. Montague's, 58 Cedar street, or at either of
the Police Offices, or with the Mayor of the City,
or at the office of this paper, will be gratefully re-
ceived.—Journal of Commerce.
================================================================
[Col.4]
A CUTE AND CURIOUS AFFAIR.—James E. Cole
who was sentenced to the State Prison for fifteen
years, about a year since, for highway robbery in
this city, contrived an ingenious mode of escape,
which, however, lacked the most material part, suc-
cess. It was after this wise: Cole has been employed
in the shop making boxes, in which materials are
sent from the prison to this city; he made one, and
put buttons on the lid, so as to fasten it inside, and
then drove nails around the edge, breaking them off;
thus giving it the appearance of being nailed down;
then directed it himself to Mr. John Larue, corner of
Madison and Pike streets in this city. Having thus
far arranged, he employed a negro convict to place
it, after he had fastened himself in, on board the
sloop Fanny, to be brought to this city. The box
was placed on the wharf, head down, and remained
there for about two hours, when it was put in the ca-
bin of the sloop.
The sloop started during the gale yesterday, but
was obliged to put back, and did not arrive until this
morning. In the meantime, Mr. Lent, one of the
keepers, missed Cole, and came down to the city to
look for him; not hearing of him here and learning
that the Fanny had not arrived, he mistrusted that
Cole was on board, he therefore boarded her this
morning on her arrival, and going into the cabin saw
the box and opened it where he found Cole nearly ex-
hasuted, from his close confinement and not having
eaten anything since yesterday. Cole was imme-
diately taken to the Tombs and will be returned to
his old quarters at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
================================================================
[Col.7. Mostly as in Sun]
BURIED ALIVE.—ALMOST, NOT QUITE.—A scene
strange as any founded on fiction occurred in this
city on Sunday last. We will give it in the words
of the gentleman who furnished us with the fact.—
His veracity and its truth may be relied on.
It appears that a young Spaniard was lying in the
last stages of yellow fever. The physician was sent
for, but before his arrival the young man had ceased
to live, according to the opinions of those in the house,
so that when he arrived he found his patient covered
with a white linen, and reported as dead.—That very
evening they washed and cleansed the young man,
and having put on his burial dress, they laid him on
his bed until the morning. In the morning a coffin
was got, and all the necessary preparations were made.
He was then taken and put in his coffin, but no soon-
er was he dropped in it than he jumped up and asked
where they were going to place him. They then
conducted him in a carriage to a colored nurse wo-
man's house. He is yet very sick, but may perhaps
live. It appears that he was in a state of lethargy.—
New Orleans Picayune.
================================================================
[Col.3]
ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE IN A BOX.—On the 3d
of August, 1840, a man named James C. Cole, of
desperately depraved character, who had been be-
fore in the State Prison, was again sentenced to
that institution for robbery in the first degree—in
pointing a loaded pistol at the breast of a broker
in Greenwich-street, and crying out, “Your money,
or your life.” Wearied of his imprisonment, Cole
last week conceived the plan of escaping; and as
he was engaged in box-making, he resolved to go
off from the prison in a box. For this purpose he
dressed off and fitted up an empty sugar-box, drove
nails through the top and broke the points off, and
placed wooden buttons inside the lid to fasten into
grooves in the sides; and having nailed it, and di-
rected it to John Lerue, corner of Pike and Madi-
son streets, and instructed two of the convicts to
put the box on board the sloop Fanny, he got in,
bent himself up, fastened the lid, and was carried
by the two convicts, soon after dinner, and placed
on the wharf, head downward, where he remained
half an hour before he was taken on board. The
sloop sailed, with Mr. Lent, one of the Prison
keepers, on board as a passenger, who had no sus-
picion of the contents of the box. A storm of wind
sprung up, however, which carried away one of
the sails when a few miles out, and the sloop put
back to Sing Sing to refit; when Mr. Lent, the
keeper, left her, and she soon after resumed her
voyage toward this city.
The box containing Cole having been placed in
the cabin where there was a rousing fire, the poor
inmate became almost completely roasted and near-
ly suffocated for want of fresh air, and twice faint-
ed in his “narrow house”—wishing himself back
in his old quarters, the prison. In the interim his
escape having been discovered, and communicated
to Mr. Lent, the keeper, he at once bethought him
of the boxes on board the sloop, and taking pas-
sage on board the first steamer, arrived in this city
before the sloop, and proceeded on board of her
as soon as she touched the wharf. There, on knock-
ing the lid off the box, he found Cole all doubled
and bent up, nearly dead from his confined posi-
tion, want of air and abstinence from food and
drink for about 18 hours. He was lifted out and
conveyed to prison in this city, where he recovered
sufficiently to be taken back to Sing Sing in irons,
on Saturday afternoon, there to suffer from the dis-
ciplinary appointments of the prison—a severe
punishment for smuggling himself off in a box,
and then to serve out his long term of imprison-
ment unless death shall grant a discharge.
[Col.5]
CITY PRISON WEEKLY RETURNS.—During the
week ending on Saturday morning there were re-
ceived into the City Prison 92 white men, 45 white
women, 20 colored men, and 17 colored women—
total, 174. Discharged same time, 87 white men,
37 white women, 16 colored men, and 12 colored
women—total, 152. One escaped. Remaining in
prison, 78 white men, 31 white women, 16 colored
men, and 6 colored women—total, 131.
================================================================
[Col.2]
A CONVICT IN A BAD BOX.—A desperado named
James C. Cole, who had before graduated in the
state prison, was on the 3d August, 1840, senten-
ced to the state prison for 15 years, for an aggra-
vated case of robbery in the 1st degree, (called
highway robbery) in presenting a loaded pistol to
the breast of a broker in Greenwich street, and
crying out “your money or your life.” In the
state prison he was employed in box making, and
last week planed off and fitted up an old sugar box,
driving nails through the edge of the top and break-
ing off the points putting wooden buttons under
the lid so as to turn into small furrows in the sides
and made small holes to let in the air. Having
secured the aid of two convicts, on Friday after
dinner he marked the box, directing it to J. Lane,
corner of Pike and Madison streets, and getting in-
to it and doubling himself up, secured the lid, and
was carried to the wharf to be put on board the
sloop Fanny, for New York, the convicts by mis-
take putting the box on end with his head down-
wards. In this state he continued for half an hour,
when he was carried on board the sloop and she
set sail with Mr. Lent, one of the prison keepers
on board, who knew nothing of the convict in the
box. The sloop, when a few miles on her voy-
age, was injured in her sails by a squall, and had
to put back to Sing Sing to refit, where the keeper
left her, and the repairs completed, the sloop re-
sumed her voyage towards this city.
On the passage, the box was placed in the cabin
near the stove, and used as a seat by those on
board, and became so tremendously hot that Cole
fainted twice with the heat and confined air, and
came near suffocating. Meanwhile, the keeper,
who landed from the sloop at Sing Sing, hearing
of the escape of Cole, and having seen the box
on board, rightly supposed he had stowed himself
in it, and taking the first steamboat, arrived in the
city before the sloop, which he boarded as soon
as it touched the wharf, and knocking off the lid
of the box, there found Cole, doubled up, nearly
dead, and so stiffened by his position that when
hauled out he was unable to stand. He was car-
ried to the City prison, and there locked up until
Saturday afternoon, when he was put on board a
steamer in irons, and taken by the keeper sent
back to Sing Sing, to serve out the remaining long
years of his term of imprisonment, and to taste
the bitterness of a terrible flagellation for his un-
successful attempt to escape.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Ingenious escape—almost.—A convict named James
E. Cole, sentenced to the State Prison at Sing Sing
for fourteen years, of which he had served out four
only, was near making his escape from his quarters
on Saturday, by a plan which certainly was very
ingenious though not so successful as he hoped.
He made a large boot box, with buttons on the in-
side of the lid, to catch on the sides and ends of the
box inside. The nails in this cover were driven
around the edges, but broken off even with the un-
derside of the lid, so as to appear as if the cover was
nailed snugly down. Into this box, which was di-
rected to a person in this City, Coles secreted himself,
and buttoning down the cover, in due time was taken
on board the sloop Fanny, plying between Sing Sing
and this city, and the vessel started off with a fair
wind. On the passage down the Fanny lost her top-
mast, and was thus delayed some five or six hours,
and reached this city about 7 o'clock on Saturday
morning instead of 2 or 3 o'clock as was expected.
In the evening when the convicts came to be return-
ed to their cells, Coles was missed, and suspecting
that he had smuggled himself on board the Fanny
some of the keepers started down by land, and reach-
ed here before the Fanny, and on her arrival she was
well overhauled, and just as the search was about to
be given up, the box in which Cole was secreted came
under their view, and the hapless prisoner was brought
to light. He was immediately ironed and conducted
to the City Prison, whence he started the same
morning for Sing Sing to finish his time of service.
[Col.2]
☞ It certainly is not worth while to make apolo-
gies for the almost unavoidable errors of a daily
morning newspaper, and we do not often undertake
to do it; but we cannot avoid saying that we are as
well aware as our readers of the unfortunate typo-
graphical blunders in the leading article of this paper
on Saturday morning. Our only comfort is that
they were corrected in the second edition, and in the
weekly impression of the Courier and Enquirer.
================================================================
[Col.5. From American]
A CUTE AND CURIOUS AFFAIR.—James E. Cole
who was sentenced to State Prison for fifteen
...
ters at 3 o'clock this afternoon.—[N. Y. American.
[Col.6. Mostly as in Albany Evening Journal]
BURIED ALIVE—ALMOST, NOT QUITE.—A scene
...
It appears that a young Spaniard was lying in
the last stage of yellow fever. The physician
...
a state of lethargy.—[N. O. Picayune.
================================================================
[Col.3]
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.—Eliza Kelly
...
dress, (small plaid) buskin shoes. Any informa-
...
[Col.4]
To the Editor of the Evening Post:
Since you have allowed Mr. J. Fenimore Coop-
er to encroach upon your columns so far as to regale
the public with a history of his late libel suit a-
gainst Park Benjamin, you will, of course, accord
to the latter humble individual the privilege of a
reply.
Mr. Cooper, rather disingenuously force me in-
to positions which I never occupied, and attributes
to me proceedings in which I had a little part
or lot as one man can have in a business which he
commits wholly to the discretion of another. That
I “published his declaration and endeavored to ridi-
cule the idea of my having wronged him,” is most
true; and it is equally true that I “collected se-
veral opinions from different journals and publish-
ed them also, under the designation of a 'Verdict
of the Press.'” But here the truth ceases, inas-
much as I was not directly active in conducting the
defence of the suit which he instituted; although
Mr. Cooper, taking a strictly legal view of the
matter, may say “qui facit per alium facit per se.”
The whole affair, from first to last, was en-
trusted to a gentleman “learned in the law,”
in whose skill and ability I reposed entire
confidence. The only opinion I ventured to
express, was soon after the service of Mr.
Cooper's declaration; and that was, that the
case should go immediately to a jury, and be tried
on its merits. My attorney, however, thought
differently, and so did other able counsellors, who
were consulted. They advised a demurrer, be-
cause there was no libel in the article on which the
suit was brought. I accordingly succumbed to the
lawyers, and did not afterwards suffer the subject
to molest me, except when it was urged upon my
attention.
Mr. Cooper says,—“the penalty of the libel,
with all the cost, &c. will amount to some $700
or $800. Mr. Benjamin seems to think it a very
insignificant sum, from which circumstance I hope
he intends to pay it.” I do not know from what
premises Mr. Cooper has inferred that I think the
penalty “an insignificant sum.” If he allude to a
careless remark made, some weeks since, in “The
New World,” I certainly did not mean, by what I
then wrote, to insinuate any contempt for the
amount of the damages, or any disrespect for the
judgment of the Court; but simply to show how
great a discrepance existed between the sum of
$375—the jury's estimate of the injury sustained
by the plaintiff—and $10,000—the estimate of Mr.
Cooper himself.
With regard to the “two reasons” given by Mr.
Cooper, why he proceeded against me, viz: that I
“wished to screen myself behind a subterfuge.”
and “intended to bully a citizen from pursuing his
remedies at law.” I have to state that the portion
of the paragraph in my paper, construed to be
libellous, was extracted from the Courier & En-
quirer. Mr. Cooper was charged by Mr. Webb
with having commenced a libel-suit against Mr. W.
L. Stone, editor of the Commercial Advertiser, for
the purpose of promoting the sale of his “Naval
History of the United States.” I expressed my
disbelief, and intimated that, whatever might have
been Mr. Cooper's former faults, he could “not be
capable of such baseness.” As to “bullying a citi-
zen from pursuing his remedies at law,” I never
dreamed of so broad an interpretation of my mo-
tives until now. Moreover, I was aware that Mr.
Cooper was neither to be bullied nor persuaded
into any course adverse to the dictates of his own
will, and consistent with the dignity of his ancient
reputation.
This view of the case, strange as it seems to me,
was also taken by the Supreme Court. In the
opinion of that Court, as quoted by Mr. Cooper, a
judgment is passed upon my intentions. Is not
this new, sir? Is it not indeed strange, that any
judge should assume for himself an attribute of the
deity, and pronounce upon the secret thoughts and
motives of men? Does not a sentence like this
fall within the prohibition, “judge not, that ye be
not judged?” It was declared by the Court, that
I “intended to aid in deterring the plaintiff from
the prosecution of his rights in a court of justice,
either by the terror of calumny, or creating an in-
fluence adverse to his recovery of damages.” I
solemnly asseverate, that I had no intention of this
kind—no thought like this ever entered into my
mind. On the contrary, I was honest in avowing
my disbelief of the charge made by the Courier and
Enquirer. I did not desire to propagate the libel,
if libel it were, but I desired to contradict it.
The brief paragraph, which was cited in Mr.
Cooper's declaration, was prepared in great haste
and without any reflection, and to supply a deficien-
cy of “matter” for the Evening Signal, a daily
newspaper which I then edited. It was after-
wards inserted in the New World, which was then,
to use a printer's expression, “made up” of the con-
tents of the Evening Signal.
I ask the further privilege, in conclusion, of dis-
avowing any personal hostility to Mr. Cooper. I
have not the honor of knowing, and cannot say
that I ever saw the gentleman. I have been from
my boyhood the admirer of his early novels, and I
can now heartily thank him for the pleasure which
I derived from them. The sole, existing cause of
the severe comments which I have made on him
and his late works, was his own libellous animad-
versions on American and Americans; his constant
ridicule of our national institutions, national cus-
toms, and national manners; his unrepressed sneers
at our styles of living and our very social enjoy-
ments. Nevertheless, a jury of my countrymen
have, under a direction of the court, given a ver-
dict against me; and I can now only look to public
opinion for that justice which has been deen de-
nied by the law.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
PARK BENJAMIN.
New-York, October 16, 1841.
———————
ESCAPING FROM THE STATE PRISON IN A BOX.—
A notoriously hardened offender, named James C.
Cole, who had previously served out one term of
imprisonment, was sentenced on the 3d of August,
1840, to fifteen years hard labor in the State Pri-
son at Sing-Sing, for robbery in the first degree,
commonly called highway robbery,—in presenting
a heavily loaded pistol to the breast of a broker in
Greenwich street, saying “your money or your
life.” During the last week Cole, who followed
the box-making business, contrived a plan of escape
in one of the boxes, and accordingly planed off and
prepared a sugar box, driving nails in the cover
and breaking off their points, securing it by wood-
en buttons on the inside, to turn into small gutters,
and thus prevent its coming off when handled, and
directed it to A. Larue, corner of Rutgers and Ma-
dison streets.
After dinner on Friday, having engaged two
convicts to carry the box to the sloop Fanny, he
got into it and was carried to the wharf, where the
carriers by mistake placed the box on the wrong
end, causing him to rest upon his head for full half
an hour before he was conveyed on board the sloop,
which then set sail with Mr. Lent, one of the
keepers, as passenger, on board. After getting
some miles, one of the sails was carried away by a
squall, and the sloop put back to Sing-Sing to refit,
where the keeper left her, and after repairing da-
mage the sloop again went on her voyage. As the
box in which Cole lay was supposed to contain
valuables, it was placed in the cabin, by the side
of a well heated stove, which rendered the interior
atmosphere so hot that Cole could scarcely breathe.
In this confined condition, nearly roasted alive, and
suffering the torments of thirst, he twice fainted,
and was near dying of heat and suffocation, without
the possibility of relief.
In the interim, the escape of Cole was disco-
vered and communicated to Lent, the keeper, who
took the first steamer for this city, and arrived here
on Saturday morning, before the sloop, which was
boarded as soon as it touched the wharf. The cover
was soon knocked off the box, and there laid Cole,
packed in, all cramped and crooked up, and nearly
dead from the effects of thirst, fasting, and confine-
ment for eighteen hours. He was hauled out of
the box, unable to stand, and conveyed to the City
Prison, and during the afternoon of Saturday was
reconducted to the Sing Sing prison, to receive a
severe castigation, and complete, if he survive, his
long term of imprisonment.—Express.
================================================================
[Col.5]
☞ The New-Haven Herald publishes a Letter
form Cincinnati, in which COLT, the murderer of Mr.
ADAMS, is shown to have been a man not unlikely to
perpetrate the crime for which he is imprisoned.—
By perfidy and abandonment he caused the death of
a respectable, young lady at Cincinnati.
[Col.7. A changed copy from American]
[From the N. Y. American.]
ALMOST AN ESCAPE FROM PRISON.
James E. Colt, who was sentenced to the State
...
eaten anything since yesterday. Colt was immedi-
diately taken to the Tombs and will be returned to
his old quarters at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
================================================================
[Col.5. Partly as in Herald]
SUICIDE OF THE LOVER OF MARY ROGERS.—Dan-
iel Payne, the lover of Mary Rogers, was found dead
recently at Hoboken, near the spot where the body
of that unfortunate girl was discovered, under cir-
cumstances that warrant the belief that he commit-
ted suicide. Payne called at the Phenix Hotel, Ho-
boken, on Thursday afternoon. His appearance
was singular and attracted much attention. He
had no hat on, and asked a gentleman present to
loan him one. He eventually obtained a hat, and
as he was going away, he remarked, “Perhaps you
don't know who I am.—I am Payne, the lover of
Mary Rogers. No one knows my troubles.”
He then left, and no knowledge was had of his
movements, until he was found dead. Nothing
important was found upon his body.
================================================================
[Col.5. Mostly as in Post]
From the N. Y. Jour. of Commerce.
DANIEL C. PAYNE.—An inquest was held by
Justice Merritt, of Secanus, acting as Coroner,
...
had been greatly dejected in mind, which has in-
creased upon him. On Thursday afternoon he
left his brother's residence apparently well. He
was next seen, a few hours after, on the spot
where Mrs. Rogers is said to have been murdered
...
At three o'clock in the afternoon he was seen
...
Next morning his hat, handkerchief and a bro-
ken vial, having the odour of laudanum, were
...
said there was no poison in the stomach, which
...
—Found dead, with congestion of the brain, sup-
posed to be brought about by exposure and irreg-
ularity of living, incident to abberation of mind.
================================================================
[Col.1]
PLEA OF INSANITY.—The St. Louis Pennant,
on the authority of a brother of John C. Colt, re-
siding in that city, advances the plea of insanity
in behalf of the supposed murderer of Mr. Adams.
Mr. Colt, who is a member of the St. Louis bar,
informs the Pennant that insanity is hereditary in
their family, and that he has not doubt his broth-
er was insane when he committed the dreadful
act with which he stands charged. He further
states that John has several times suddenly be-
come insane, generally after a period of intense
application to study or to severe mental exercise.
On such occasions, he has usually manifested a
strong desire to commit suicide, and his shrewd
contrivances for that purpose have been frustra-
ted only at the last moment. One member of
the family—a sister—being afflicted in like man-
ner, made several unsuccessful attempts to de-
stroy herself, until, at length, (in 1827) she suc-
ceeded in procuring and swallowing a dose of ar-
senic from the effects of which she died. During
her insanity she manifested the utmost caution
and sagacity, and, in order to procure the arse-
nic without suspicion, she wrote in a disguised
masculine hand in the order for it in Latin, as if
it were a prescription from a physician. All this
may be very true; but still it does not make out
what was evidently the phrenzy of ungovernable
passion the paroxysm of a maniac. The distinc-
tion between these two influences is not always
so distinctly marked by juries, or the public, as
it should be.
[Col.2 / Boston Morning Post. October 15, 1841]
THE SELF-MARRYING DUTCH PREACHER.—
Henry Hohnholz was put on trial in Boston on
Friday, for illicit cohabitation with Regina Heil-
nisch, a German girl—a state prison offence.—
Hohnholz, when arraigned last week, represented
himself to be a missionary sent over to this coun-
try from the kingdom of Hanover, and also that
he is at present a member of the synod of the
German Reformed order of Protestants in Ohio.
The testimony against him was conclusive.
Regina testified, through the medium of an in-
terpreter, that she met the prisoner in Washington
street about a week before she went to Mr.
Frost's; that he accosted her as a countrywoman,
and, after some conversation, proposed to get her
a good place in a family in which she could learn
the English language, and housewifery, as under-
stood among the Yankees. She gladly accepted
his kind offer, and went to Mr. Frost's according-
ly, on the following Wednesday. On Wednes-
day night, he called her into his chamber, and
prayed with her. He then asked her to marry
him, and said that he could read the service to
her, and did so. He told her she had nothing to
fear on account of the form of the marriage; that
he was a good man, and would make her fortune,
and that she should not have a common man for a
husband. The next day he took her down to Sa-
lem, and at a hotel there renewed his assevera-
tions—satisfied her that her own consent was all
that was necessary to make the marriage valid,
without the presence of any other minister. They
then joined hands and vowed eternal constancy
to each other. She believed that by this ceremo-
ny she was lawfully united to him in the bonds
of wedlock, and the marriage was fully consum-
mated there. They returned to Mr. Frost's the
next day, and lived there as man and wife till
Sunday. After his counsel had closed his argu-
ment in his defence, Hohnholz essayed to soften
the hearts of the jury by his own sweet voice, and
said—“Dis here be all von plan—trick—shame to
tak away mine own sweet yeweel—mine vife, as
is mine by all de law of God.”
His speech, however, was soon cut short by the
Judge, and in a few minutes the jury returned a
verdict of “guilty,” and no mistake.
================================================================
[Col.4]
For The New-York Tribune.
Lines
ON THE DEATH OF CHRISTINA M'GOWAN, AGED 10 YEARS.
——
I.
HAD she but died in earlier days,
Ere girlhood beam'd upon her brow,
And life was in its dawning rays,
We could not weep as we do now.
For she was then like some young tree
Whose flowers had not begun to ope,
Whose latent beauty none could see,
Whose balm existed but in hope.
II.
But thou, Christina, wert endear'd
By mental beauties freshly blown!
The heart that lov'd, the hand that rear'd,
Were lifted up in joys unknown—
Unknown save to a mother's heart,
When Love, and Hope, and shadowy fears
Would meet like spring-clouds and depart
In gladsome showers of sun-bright tears.
III.
Thy words mature enough to be
Of sympathy a faithful token;
Thy look mature enough to see
And read the heart before 't was spoken;
Thy will mature enough to twine
Around thy parents' guiding growth;
Thy heart mature enough to shrine
A most seraphic love for both.
IV.
Hence are the warm, embalming sighs
That o'er thy grave descend in dews;
Hence are the pray'rs that now arise,
Pure pray'rs which Heaven will not refuse.
And hence those hopings, dearer far
Than those of earthly souls can be,
That we shall meet above yon star
Which shineth near Eternity.
New-York, Oct. 19, 1841 J. A. SHEA.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Daniel Payne, the lover of Mary C. Rogers,
was found dead a few days since at Hoboken on
the same spot where the body of the unfortu-
nate girl was found. On a paper in his pocket
was found written these words:—“To the
world—Here I am on the spot.—God forgive
me for my misfortune or for my misspent time.”
[Col.2]
John C. Colt.—The trial of this man for
the murder of Samuel Adams, has been post-
poned on motion of the counsel, until Monday
the 1st of November.
================================================================
[Col.3. Mostly as in Corrector]
The Mary Rogers Murder. The New York Tattler
says,—it is currently reported that six persons are now
in custody, charged with being concerned in the hor-
rible tragedy at Wehawken. The authorities have
taken infinite pains to conceal the fact; but our infor-
mant states that one of the Assistant Aldermen told
him the circumstance. He also told him that the
young man who went to Hoboken with Mary, on the
fatal Sunday, was the son of a respectable tinner in
Pearl street, and probably met a similar fate with the
unfortunate girl.
[Col.4. Mostly as in Albany Evening Journal]
The Trial of Colt, for the murder of Mr. Adams, was
last week set down for to-day. Whether it has come
on, we are not informed. We have been desired by
Mr. Lane, the father of Mrs. Adams, whom we have
long known as a member of Dr. Spring's church, to
state that the report going the rounds of the papers, of
her being deprived of her senses, is entirely without
foundation; and however acute may be the sense of
her loss, she bears it with a becoming resignation to
the Divine will.
In reply to our inquiries last evening, Mr. Lane as-
sured us that the current statements in some of the pa-
pers, in relation to the remarkable pre-monitory dreams
of Mrs. Adams, are true. Two days before her hus-
band's disappearance, she dreamed, twice, that he was
murdered, and that she saw his body cut into pieces
and packed in a box. The dreams gave her great
concern, from their vividness, and she went once to
relate them to her mother, but did not, from the appre-
hension of being laughed at.—N. Y. Com. Adv.
RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, October 19, 1841 (CA)
[Col.2. Partly as in Sun]
THE CASE OF PAYNE.
The inquisition in this melancholy case was brought
to a close on Saturday afternoon. The following ex-
tract from the Express contains all that was elicited,
material to the case, after we left the jury on Saturday:
The coroner stated that the papers found on the de-
ceased would in no way implicate him, as being con-
cerned in the murder of Miss Rogers, and that as they
were not important, it was not necessary to lay them
before the public.
Dr. Griswold made a post mortem examination of
the body, and deposed that he found the stomach,
heart, lungs, &c., healthy. Examined the brain, and
...
Dr. Cooke assisted in the post-mortem examination;
...
'To the world: Here I am on the spot; God for-
give me for my misfortune and my misspent time.'
...
in the overthrow of his tottering mind and his melan-
choly death.
...
of his beloved Miss Rogers, carry a pang to the bosom
of the murderers, and compel them to confess their
guilt.
================================================================
[Col.4. Partly as in Sun]
THE SELF-MARRYING DUTCH PREACHER at Bos-
ton, of whom mention was made in our paper a short
time since, as having seduced a young German girl,
by leading her to believe that her own consent was
all that was necessary to make their marriage valid
without the presence of any other minister, was put
on trial on Thursday last. After his counsel had
closed his argument in his defence, Hohnholz essay-
ed to soften the hearts of the jury by his own sweet
voice, and said—“Dis here be all von plan—trick—
shame to take away mine own sweet jewel—mine
vife, as is mine by all the law of God.”
His speech, however, was soon cut short by the
Judge, and in a few minutes the jury returned a ver-
dict of “GUILTY,” and no mistake.—N. Y. Com.
Adv.
This is the same individual who figured so conspi-
cuous in our police office last summer, on a charge
of having committed a wanton and unprovoked as-
sault on the Rev. Mr. MAYER, of this city. He is
now in a fair way of receiving his just deserts. The
crime for which he has been convicted, is punished
????????????????????????????????
================================================================
[Col.5. Mostly as in Albany Evening Journal]
Buried Alive—almost, not quite.—A scene strange
...
that he was in a state of lethargy.—New Orleans
Picayune.
================================================================
[Col.7 / Col.7]
Daniel C. Payne, the lover of Miss Rogers,
lately died of grief and intoxication, near the
spot where Miss Rogers was murdered.
================================================================
[Col.6 / Col.6]
County Court.
All the Judges present.
OCT. 19.—Case of Miln Parker.—The members of the
Court, after due deliberation, dismissed all the charges
brought against Miln Parker, and recorded a verdict of
NOT GUILTY.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Wednesday Morning, October 20, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
COUNTY COURT.—Tuesday.
This court met yesterday to pass upon the case of
Justice Milne Parker, against whom articles of im-
peachment have been preferred by Isaac J. Wood and
Henry E. Willard, and after half an hours delibera-
tion the doors were thrown open, and the decision
pronounced, which was that all the members were
unanimous in their opinion of his innocence of the
charges preferred against him, and that there was no
foundation for them.
Judge Ingraham and Recorder Tallmadge deliver-
ed written opinion, to the same point, which are on
file in the office of the clerk of the Common Pleas.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Miss Rogers' Lover.—Daniel C. Payne, the
affianced lover of the murdered Mary C. Rogers
was found in a dying state at Hoboken, on the 8th
instant. He expired a few minutes after.—
He was lying near the spot where the murder is
supposed to have been committed. A broken vi-
al, containing a few drops of laudanum, was
found near, making it probable that he had swal-
lowed its contents, although the fact that he had
been an intemperate man, and particularly so
since the disappearance of Miss Rogers, induced
at first the supposition that he had died of deliri-
um tremens.
================================================================
[Col.1. A changed copy from Argus]
DEATH OF DANIEL C. PAYNE, the
betrothed husband of Mary C. Rogers.
The New-York papers of Saturday, an-
nounced that the body of Mr. Payne, the af-
fiancied lover of the late Mary C. Rogers,
...
bosoms of the murderers, and make them
confess their guilt.
================================================================
================================================================
THE COURTLAND DEMOCRAT. Wednesday, October 20, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4]
“When I have a cold in my head,” said a gen-
tleman in company, “I am always remarkably
dull and stupid.” “You are much to be pitied
then, sir,” replied another, “for I don't remem-
ber ever to have seen you without a cold in your
head.”
—————
Pretty Keen.—My dear,” said a gentlemad to
a young lady, to whom he thought to be mar-
ried, “do you wish to make a fool of me?”
“No,” replied the lady, “nature has saved me
the trouble.”
[Col.6. A changed copy from Argus]
DEATH OF DANIEL C. PAYNE,
THE BETROTHED HUSBAND OF MARY C. ROGERS.
The New York papers of Saturday announc-
ced that the body of Mr. Payne, the affianced lov-
...
derers, and make them confess their guilt.
—————
...
'Ma, ain't Joe Smith a courtin our Molly?'
'No, what makes you think so?' 'Why, always
when he comes near her, he sorter leans up to
her like a pig to a warm jamb.'
================================================================
[Col.1]
Daniel Payne, the lover of Mary Rogers,
was found dead on Friday 8th inst., at Hoboken,
near where the body of the unfortunate girl was
found, under circumstances which induce the
belief that he committed suicide.
The jury of inquest reported that he died of
congestion of the brain.
[Col.5. Partly as in Albany Evening Journal, Sun]
Colt, the Murderer.
A correspondent of the Boston Atlas says:
“I have learnt that Colt, the murderer of
Adams, the printer, whose trial comes on short-
ly in New York, was formerly a student of the
University of Vermont at Burlington. In 1830
or 1831, he studied the course of mathematics,
and was quite a proficient in that branch of ed-
ucation. He was a very quiet, gentlemanly
fellow—represented himself as an heir to a
large fortune, to be left to him by his grandfa-
ther, who resided at Hartford, Conn. While
at College, he was very much esteemed by his
classmates, and was a young gentleman gene-
rally supposed to be of a very amiable disposi-
tion. During one of the vacations, he travelled
to Detroit, Green Bay, and to other places in
the West, and gathered many and various In-
dian curiosities, which he presented to the Mu-
seum of the University on his return to Burling-
ton. The writer of this remembers the dog
harness “presented by J. Caldwell Colt, of
Hartford,” and other curiosities presented by
him. These facts are unimportant to many,
but to a few this gossipry may not be entirely
devoid of interest.”
———————
...
BURIED ALIVE—ALMOST, NOT
QUITE.—The New Orleans Picayune
says—A scene strange as any found-
ed on fiction occurred in this city on
Sunday last. We will give it in the
words of the gentleman who furnish-
ed us with the fact. His veracity
and its truth may be relied on.
It appears that a young Spaniard
was lying in the last stages of yellow
fever, next door to the printing office
of Mr. G., in Chartres street. The
physician, Dr. B., was sent for, but
before his arrival, the young man had
ceased to live, according to the opin-
ions of those in the house, so that
when he arrived he found his patient
covered with a white linen, and re-
ported as dead. That very evening
they washed and cleansed the young
man, and having put on his burial
dress, they laid him on his bed until
the morning. In the morning a coffin
was got, and all the necessary prepar-
ations were made. He was then ta-
ken and put into his coffin, but no soon-
er was he dropped in it than he jumped
up and asked where they were going
to place him. They then conducted
him in a carriage to a colored nurse-
woman's house. He is yet very sick,
but may perhaps live. It appears that
he was in a state of lethargy.
================================================================
[Col.4]
From Boston Times.
COLT, THE UNFORTUNATE.—It has been our lot
to be acquainted with this young man for several
years, and when we first read the awful intelligence
of his killing Mr. Adams, we set it down as entirely
unworthy of credit. But, alas! it is too true. This
circumstance awakens our memory to the train of
his acquaintance, and leads us on to some reflections.
Our first knowledge of J. C. Colt was at Cincin-
nati, some four or five years ago. He was at that
time engaged in teaching the science of Accounts,
and preparing a work on this subject for the press,
which has since appeared; and, we must say, giving
him justice for his labors, on a comparison of his
work with that of similar publications, he has
evinced in his production, in point of genius,
originality and talent, a degree of superiority,
which places him beyond all cavil far in the van of
his cotemporaries.
In Cincinnati, Colt's acquaintances were con-
fined almost exclusively to his pupils, who held
him in high esteem, and few persons that he had
business with from time to time. His general de-
portment was tacit and reserved, which was at-
tributed to his peculiar circumstances; as with
those whom business had caused an acquaintance,
he was not only communicative but instructive—
bland, affable, mild, gentlemanly—it was all the
same to him, whether in converse with the lord of
the soil or the beggar in the street. Among those who
knew him it was often spoken of as surprising that
he should be engaged in teaching, as he was evi-
dently qualified, both by nature and education, to
fill a much more distinguished rank in society.
This, we feel confident in saying, is the general
character and estimate in which young Colt was
held, not only in Cincinnati, but Louisville, Mays-
ville, and the other cities of the West, where he
was known as a teacher.
Although eminently successful as an accountant,
Mr. Colt has met several reverses of fortune within
the last three years, that has led many of his friends
to think, from an apparent change of countenance,
that these casualties were undermining his consti-
tution, and that to this he would soon yield. If
this be true, how far a broken spirit may have had
a tendency to make him irritable, and produce the
unfortunate result between himself and Mr. Adams,
we are unable to say. But this is not our opinion.
From our knowledge of Mr. Colt, we should have
taken him to be one of those who would bear
with fortitude any of the ordinary reverses of life.
He has but just passed that period in manhood
when the rose on the cheek, and the laughing eye,
change places for the grave, reflective, meditating
cast which envelope the countenances of persons
like Mr. Colt, whose habits have been sedentary
and given to study.
It was our intention when we commenced this
article to have spoken of some of Mr. Colt's mis-
fortunes, but as we have already drawn it out be-
yond our prescribed limits, we omit doing so for
the present. We have only to add that, we hope
he may be able to bear up with Christian fortitude—
that Christianity he professed when a youth—in
passing the ordeal of his trial, and resign with that
manliness to his fate, whatever that fate may be,
which has characterized his life; as we have it in
his own words, beautifully applied to Goddard the
Accountant, “a life of reverses, miscarryings and
misfortunes.”
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
THE NEWSPAPER REVULSION—ANOTHER WALL
STREET PAPER GONE.—Last evening the “Evening
Star,” established by M. M. Noah, went the way
of all flesh—gave up the ghost and took refuge in
the big bowels of Col. Stone of the “Commercial
Advertiser.”
The fate of that wicked, unprincipled, demoral-
ized organ of a demoralized clique we have always
predicted. The “Star” was the first paper which,
under the auspices and editorship of Noah, began
the “moral war” upon the New York Herald, for
which that man will yet be punished as he richly de-
serves. The paper was always a miserable, rickety
concern, for the man who started it had as much ta-
lent to manage such a business with energy and de-
cision, as he has to sit in a Court of Justice and give
decisions on pork law. The marvel is that it had
such a protracted existence. It has taken refuge in
Col. Stone's capacious bowels, but we should not
be surprised if it were to act as a dose of prussic acid
upon that philosopher, and make him rue the day he
swallowed such a bit of steak.
Thus goes out the light of the Wall street press—
one after one—like the flickerings of so many de-
caying lamps, without oil or wick. The whole
class of these newspapers are destined to meet the
same fate. Since we began the Herald, hardly six
years yet, we have seen five or six Wall street
prints die off, and in the next six years we expect
to see all the other follow.
================================================================
================================================================
THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, October 22, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE “TIMES AND EVENING STAR,” last even-
ing, bade the world good night. In its valedictory
it spoke something of hopes of arrangements being
made to reawake it about the first of November,
but the murmuring to that effect was so faint,
owing probably to complete exhaustion of health,
that little expectation need be entertained in that
behalf. The Commercial is to take its place till it
reappears on the stage of political strife—that is,
with those who will receive the substitute—and
we fancy that those who do receive it, will
scarcly ever be willing to relinquish the substitute
to made room again for the principal, should they
ever be called upon to do so. Of that, however,
we apprehend there will be but little danger.
Whose turn next, Messrs. “Respectable Sixpen-
nies?” Don't all speak at once.
================================================================
================================================================
THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, October 22, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4]
The daily evening journal, called the Times and
Evening Star, has ceased, for the present, to be
published. The Times was first established as a
morning paper by the conservatives; espoused the
political views entertained by N. P. Tallmadge,
and was understood to be the organ of his friends
in this city. After a year or two, it became united
with the Evening Star, and was turned into an
evening paper, the former editor of the Star with-
drawing from its management. When, not long
since, the division took place between the Tyler
whigs and the Clay whigs, it ranged itself, along
with Mr. Tallmadge, on the side of Mr. Clay.
Its editorial articles were various, both in temper
and ability, indicating a great diversity of parent-
age. Too many of them were stuffed with offen-
sive personalities, owing, probably, to the want of
a firm and practised hand at the helm. The lead-
ing article in last evening's Times and Star, says
that the paper is suspended only; that, for the
present, its subscribers are to receive the Commer-
cial in its stead; and that it is hoped its publica-
tion will be resumed under “editors of well-
known experience and reputation.” If the paper
should be revived, we wish it, in all good will,
an improvement in its manners.
================================================================
[Col.2. More in Sun]
JOHN C. COLT.—The plea of insanity, it seems,
is to be made in the case of John C. Colt, the mur-
derer of Mr. Adams. His brother, who is a mem-
ber of the St. Louis bar, has stated in a letter to
the Editor of a St. Louis paper that insanity is he-
reditary in the family; that his brother John has
several times become insane, and on such occasions
manifested a desire to commit suicide. A sister
also had been afflicted in the same way, and finally
poisoned herself.
================================================================
[Col.4]
From the Saturday Morning News, Oct. 1?
SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF DANIEL
PAYNE, THE LOVER OF
MARY C. ROGERS.
Coroner's Inquest, &c.—The Coroner yes-
terday held an inquest on the body of Pay-
ne, who was found dead near the spot where
Mary Rogers met her fate. Several wit-
nesses were examined, and the testimony,
if published at length, would occupy much
space. Witnesses deposed to having seen
deceased on Thursday and also on Friday
morning. He was seen in a liquor store at
Hoboken, and appeared to be under the in-
fluence of intoxication. One witness gave
him half a glass of brandy, which he paid
for. He was subsequently seen near the
spot where the murder of Miss R. was com-
mitted, seated on a bench writing. He
was seen on the morning of Friday, at a very
early hour, on the stoop of a Mr. Scudder,
and he there asked for a glass of water,
which was given to him. In one place
where he went, he said to the person keep-
ing the store, “I suppose you do not know
who you are talking to—I am the lover of
Mary Rogers, and a man of many troub-
les.”
Of another witness he inquired where
the spot was where Mary Rogers was mur-
dered. The person said he would show
him, but deceased declined, and said that
he could find it again for he had been there
before.
The whole testimony goes to show that
Payne was not under the influence of liquor,
but looked, as a witness described it, as if
he was wild.
When he left Scudder's stoop, he went
once to the ice-house and leaned upon the
palings for three quarter's of an hour.—
Other witnesses deposed to the finding of a
hat and handkerchief, which was near the
place of Miss R.'s murder. When he spoke
to one witness he was bareheaded, and re-
quested a hat, and one was lent him.
Dr. Samuel Griswold with Dr. Cooke,
made a post mortem examination. The
stomach was healthy, but exhibited the signs
of abstinence from food. The heart was
wasted away—the lungs were sound, and
no laudanum could be traced there. A
phial was produced which was found near
the hat and handkerchief, it was labelled
Laudanum, but neither of the medical men
could smell it. The brain was also examin-
ed, and was found in a congested state, with
much extravasted blood, but this might have
been produced by liquor or laudanum, the
position in which the body was found, or by
a variety of causes. On the whole, after
careful examination, the medical men were
of opinion that no traces were found of alco-
hol or laudanum.
The brother of deceased said that he was
not an intemperate man, he had only seen
him drunk once in three years. He had
been much affected since the death of Miss
Rogers. The crape on his hat was put on
for her. This witness was much affected
while giving his testimony. Several pa-
pers were found in the pocket of the deceas-
ed man, but they have not yet been allow-
ed to see the light, they are, we believe, in
the possession of the Mayor of this city.
The inquest was held before Mr. Merritt,
the Coroner, at Mr. Perry's Hotel at Hobo-
ken, yesterday morning. After going
through the evidence carefully, the Jury
gave their verdict, 'Found Dead with con-
gestion of the brain, supposed to be brought
about by exposure and irregularity of living,
incident to aberation of mind.'
The above are all the particulars of any
moment which have transpired in relation to
this event.
================================================================
[Col.5]
DANIEL PAYNE, the lover of Mary Rogers,
whose mysterious murder created so great a
sensation through the country, recently com-
mitted suicide, upon the spot where the un-
fortunate girl was supposed to have been
killed.
================================================================
[Col.6. Partly as in Sun]
The entire Russian empire is nearly
...
about one sixth; bristles, hides and lea-
ther one twentieth.—[Hunt's Mer-
chant's Magazine.
———————
THE SEA SERPENT CAPTURED.—
The Boston Post of Saturday, tells a sto-
ry of the capture on Hampton Beach,
of a sea monster 90 feet long, and 8 feet
6 inches in girth. It is intended to be
stuffed and placed by the side of the
“Nickerson Snake.” A curious pair of
spectacles they will make.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Australasian Chronicle. July 8, 1841 / Roberts' Semi-monthly Magazine. October 15, 1841]
No More.
——
BY HENRY M'CUDDEN.
——
'No More' is one of those brief phrases in which
a volume of meaning and sentiment is concentrat-
ed; excepting the word 'farewell!' there are, per-
haps, no two syllables in the English language
which say so much.
What heart but feels a painful sting
Whene'er these little words are said?
They tell of some departed thing,
Of pleasures from us ever fled;
They wake a sense of loneliness,
Of loss which naught can e'er restore;
What other words so much express
As these short ones, 'No More?'
In childhood's sunny, sportive time,
With thoughts but for the present hour,
We sometimes sigh for manhood's prime,
For vast possessions, wealth, and power;
And these obtained, what do they bring?
Cares which the heart make sick and sore,
From which remembrance turns to cling
Round that dear time, 'No More!'
They who have watch'd a parent's bed,
When racking pain its pillow press'd
E'er from them and the world had fled
The spirit to the realms of rest,
How earnestly they've gazed upon
The features which death's impress bore;
Then answered each inquiring one,
'Alas! she is 'No More!'
The friends whom trial prov'd most true,
The fast and warm, who knew not change,
'Mongst many false, a faithful few
Whose staunch regards nought could estrange,
What must we feel when destiny
Bids them depart for some far shore,
With something whispering us that we
Shall meet them here 'No More!'
They who have lov'd in earthly youth,
When all the soul felt love's pure flame,
E'er aught had power to taunt its truth,
Or blight had o'er the fair flower came,
They know the sadness of these words,
If harsh fate hath in sunder tore
Their young affection's finer chords
To re-unite 'No More!'
The emigrant, on that sad day,
He bids adieu to each loved scene
Where he in boyhood used to play,—
His valleys and his hills of green,
The parting grasp of every hand,
E'er he shall cross the salt wave o'er,
How well may he not understand
The meaning of 'No More!'
That outcast wretch, the lorn exile,
Whose days and nights are spent in sighs
For home and for its kindly smile,
Yet, knows these ne'er shall greet his eyes,
He thinks of that bright peerless form
Whom 'twas his pride once to adore,—
That cherished one, 'mid calm and storm,
He must embrace 'No More!'
The soldier, on the tented plain,
Keep's lent watch, till morning's light
Shall rouse his comrades up again
To bare their blades for bloody fight,—
His spirit feels a presage dread
That chills his brave heart's inmost core,
The morrow finds him 'mong the dead,
He'd lead the charge 'No More!'
The toil-worn seaman, homeward bound,
At times in dreary fancy sees
His little ones all gathering round,
Eager to climb their father's knees,—
Of home and all its joy he thinks,
When the black tempest's sudden roar
Bursts o'ver his barque, he struggles, sinks
To rise in life 'No More!'
* * * * * * *
The history of all the past,
Downward from Time's remotest age,
Present and future, must, at last,
Yield them to figure in its page;
Brief though it seem, its ample time
Will not be wholly fill'd before
The angel's trump sends earth's vast dome,
And time shall be 'No More!'
================================================================
[Col.3]
John C. Colt.—The trial of this individual for the
murder of Mr. Samuel Adams, is set down positively
for this day week, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
before Judge Kent, and will doubtless cause much
and very just excitement throughout the community.
We are informed that he does not suffer from mental
agony and terrors of conscience in so great a degree
as has been represented, and that beyond the pale-
ness and languor incident to a confinement in prison,
upon fare not of the most dainty description, his ap-
pearance has undergone very little change. No per-
sons are allowed to visit him except his two brothers,
who have arrived in this city, and his counsel, and
with them, as indeed with the keepers, he is very
talkative, but not upon the subject of the murder for
which he stands committed.
================================================================
[Col.5]
SERVED RIGHT.—Hohnholz, the German impostor
of Boston, who persuaded a credulous countrywo-
man of his own that he had authority to marry him-
self and her, has been sent to the house of correc-
tion for 18 months—and 3 months more for marry-
ing another couple.
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, October 26, 1841 (FH)
[Col.2]
TRIAL OF HARDENBURGH—PLEA OF INSANITY.—
It will be seen by our report that Hardenburgh has
been found guilty, by a jury of Monticello, of the
murder of Hasbrouck. The close of his trial is
deeply interesting, particularly in reference to the
plea of insanity, set up by the counsel for the pri-
soner. It has been the fashion of late years to im-
pute all murders to insanity. This is very like the
notion of the Rev.Doctor Potts, of Duane street,
and the Rev. Col. Stone of every where, in imput-
ing all the crimes, defalcations, &c., of the age, to
Extra Heralds and Extra Suns. On this point the
charge of Judge Ruggles is very opportune. There
are capital cases now pending in our courts, in which
the same defence will be set, with what success time
will tell.
[Col.5]
JUSTICE PARKER AGAIN—MORE BUSINESS FOR THE
COUNTY COURT.—What with the pusilanimous efforts
of the Board of Assistants, and the Grand Jury, to
hunt down the Sunday News Boys—The Indictment
at the instance of one of the Indefatigables against a
Sunday paper—The Impeachment of Magistrates,
for mal-practices, the star chamber and stool pi-
geon systems, and all that sort of thing taken into
view, it appears that we have a very pretty and in-
teresting state of things in prospective.
Some time in the month of August last, a very
gentlemanly individual, named Henry S. Pearson,
who officiated as ticket receiver at one of the
theatres, was assaulted, while in the discharge of
his duty, by a rowdy soaplock, one of the “forty
thieves” gang, named Henry Bouton, when the
life of Mr. Pearson was endangered, and his bodily
injuries very severe.
Mr. Pearson went before the Grand Jury, and
succeeded in obtaining a bill of indictment against
Bouton. A bench warrant was issued, and bail re-
quired, in $1000, to hold the offender for trial. On
the 20th instant, officer Fisby, to whom the warrant
was entrusted, transferred his power to an officer
named Parker, and the latter succeeded in getting
the rowdy in his clutches. Parker, Fisby, Bouton,
and one John Willis then proceeded—not to the
Tombs, as was their bounden duty—but to the resi-
dence of Justice Milne Parker, in Elm street.
Here a brief conflab was held, and the result was
that the prisoner was permitted to go on the word
of Willis until the next morning, when he was to
come up and surrender. Next morning came, but,
as might be expected, no prisoner came. Upon
proper inquiry being instituted, it was found that
Bouton had embarked, and is now on the “deep,
deep sea,” on the way to New Orleans.
The complainant in this case, determining not to be
foiled, went yesterday before the Mayor to make a
complaint against Justice Parker, who was called
up, and pleaded, in justification for his conduct,
“that he thought the accused was a pretty clever
fellow; that he had often taken Mr. Willis' word,
and all had been right.” The Justice was informed
by the Mayor that his act was a highly penal one,
that it was a contempt of a higher court, and for
which he ought to respond in a criminal suit.
Here the matter rested with the Mayor. Not so
with the complainant; he's a man of too much
mettle to suffer the affair to rest here. Legal ad-
vice was resorted to, and the necessary affidavits
were made, and the preliminary steps taken to
bring the matter, in a proper form, before the
County Court. The articles and specifications will
probably be preferred, and presented to the Com-
mon Pleas Judges during the present week.
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly from Sun]
DEATH OF DANIEL C. PAYNE.—The
New York papers of the 9th inst. an-
nounced that the body of Mr. Payne,
the affianced lover of the late Mary C.
Rogers, was found on the evening pre-
vious, at Hoboken, near the water's
edge, where the body of Miss Rogers
was discovered. The N. Y. Sun con-
tains the following particulars:
“The coroner's jury then rendered a
verdict of 'found dead with congestion
...
“To the World:—Here I am on the
spot; God forgive me for my misfortune
in my misspent time.”
...
the murderers, and make them confess
their guilt.
================================================================
[Col.3]
☞ Hohnholtz, the self-marrying German mis-
sionary at Boston, was on Saturday sentenced to
the House of Correction, for 21 months, for his
mad prank with Regina Heilnish.
Charles H. Newton was sentenced to the state
prison two years for adultery. For a year he had
maintained gross criminal intercourse with a wo-
man named Wentworth, a most abandoned crea-
ture, in the bosom of his own family, and in order
to gratify her, his lawful wife had been dethroned
from her station in the family, and driven into the
garret to sleep with her children, while he and his
paramour occupied the best room in the house.—
Here was the aggravation of the case. It consti-
tuted a domestic turpitude, which demanded the
severest admonition of the law. When the pris-
oner's wife heard this sentence she shrunk down
upon her chair as if a thunderbolt had riven her.
He took it more coolly.
———————
...
COLT'S INSANITY.—Pursuant to arragement
this wretched individual already begins to show
symptoms of monomania. It will doubtless be first
necessary to try him for insanity, before he can
take his trial for one of the most cruel murders
that ever disgraced any community.
———————
☞ A female slave, named Sarah, was sold at
the New Orleans Exchange on the 15th inst. for
eight thousand dollars! The purchaser was a free
colored man, said to be her husband. His anta-
gonist at the sale, a white man, bid up to $7,800.
================================================================
[Col.3]
For the Evening Post.
Mr. Editor.—The sole object of my communica-
tion, in relation to the libel suit against Mr. Park
Benjamin, being a statement of the facts, I trust
you will allow me to correct two essential errors
into which he has fallen in his answer:
Mr. Benjamin reasons as if all the libellous mat-
ter in his publication, was contained in his extract
from the Courier and Enquirer. This opinion is
opposed to that of the Supreme Court, the latter
distinctly pointing out libellous imputations in that
portion of the article that was editorial, as well as
in that which was extracted. It lays quite as much,
if not greater stress, on the first, than on the last.
Mr. Benjamin says it was his desire to contradict
the libel of the Courier and Enquirer, if libel it was,
and the Supreme Court, in effort, says—if we allow
Mr. Benjamin's statement to be true—that he libel-
led me in his attempt to vindicate me! I confess
that I am of the same way of thinking.
Again:—Mr. Benjamin says, that in commenting
on the amount of the verdict, his intention was
merely to show the difference between my estimate
of the wrong done me, and the estimate of the jury;
the first being $10,000, and the last only $375.
Now, any one who knows anything of practice,
will understand that the amount of damages set
forth in a declaration is never exactly graduated by
an estimate of the pecuniary injury done the plain-
tiff, on the one hand; while, on the other, except
in cases in which special damages are laid in the
declaration, and proved on the trial, the jury take
into consideration the ability of the defendant to
pay, as well as any mitigating circumstances that
may offer, in making up their verdict. In this case,
no special damages were alleged, and no testimony
in aggravation was offered, and it was doubtless a
strong mitigating circumstance that the defendant
did not attempt any other mode of defence, even in
his argument, than an effort to show the trivial
nature of the injury. So much for the principles;
as to the fact, it remains only to say, that Mr. Ben-
jamin, in making out his statement, has just doubled
the amount of damages laid in my declaration; the
sum having been $5,000, and not $10,000, as is
proved by the accompanying letter.
Yours, respectfully,
J. FENIMORE COOPER.
Dear Sir:—The statement in Mr. Park Benja-
min's letter in the Evening Post, wherein he alleges
that the damages laid in your suit against him, were
$10,000, is inaccurate; Mr. Benjamin having
doubled the amount. He also leaves a false
inference when he says “the portion of the
paragraph in my paper, construed to be libel-
lous, was extracted from the Courier and En-
quirer.” The Court distinctly decided that the
editorial comments accompanying this extract,
were also libellous.
R. COOPER, Plaintiff's Attorney.
J. Fenimore Cooper, Esquire.
———————
...
VALUE OF A SLAVE.—Yesterday, a slave named
Sarah was sold to the highest bidder at the Ex-
change, for the sum of eight thousand dollars.—N.
O. Bee.
[Col.4. / More in The New World. October 30, 1841. Col.1]
AN ADVENTURE IN THE AIR.—A perilous ad-
venture in the air with a Balloon, was made at St.
Louis, by Mr. S. Hobart and Miss Day, on the 9th
inst. After going up about two miles, he found by
the slow, rotary turn the balloon assumed, that she
was wearing into another current, and that that
current would take them over the Mississippi. On
applying himself to the valve cord, he found it
bound in the neck of the balloon, which hung in
folds, pressing on the small hoop over head, and en-
tirely out of reach. In a letter written at 8 o'clock
in the evening, Mr. H. gives this account of his
escape from this perilous dilemma:
“What was to be done? If the valve was forc-
ed open by pulling the cord with main strength,
there was no possibility that its springs would be
sufficient to close it again, and there remained but
the other alternative of riding out the moonless
night, and leaving to the Balloon the time and
place of descent. In this dilemma an expedient
presented itself, one that nothing but the emergen-
cy of the case could have induced me to try, that
of ascending by the cords to the hoop over my
head; seated on which, I might perhaps remove
the difficulty. Seating my little charge in the cen-
tre of the car, with a strict injunction not to rise, I
proceeded to what I considered pretty “tall climb-
ing.” With the utmost effort of my strength, I suc-
ceeded in gaining the hoop, and, resting myself up-
on it, introduced my head and shoulders into the
neck of the Balloon, disentangled the valve cord,
looking up through it to the valve, found all right;
then letting myself down the cords into the car, I
found that the little adventurer with me had been
asleep—affected as Æronauts used to be, at a great
altitude, with drowsiness. The valve operating
well, I descended slowly, and soon distinctly heard
the tramp of horses, and concluded to land.
“I then rose to an altitude of probably more
than two miles, and, after enjoying with my com-
panion awhile the landscape below, comprising a
view of St. Louis, Alton, St. Charles, and the Mis-
sissippi and Missouri far beyond them, I descended
at this place without the slightest injury.”
———————
...
BOSTON MUNICIPAL COURT.—Hohnholz, a Ger-
man preacher, has been convicted, in Boston, of il-
licit cohabitation with a simple-minded young wo-
man by the name of Regina Heilnich, and sentenced
to eighteen months imprisonment in the House of
Correction. Also, an additional three months for
marrying a couple contrary to law.
Charles H. Newton, for adultery, was sentenced
to two years imprisonment at hard labor in the
State Prison.
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ We insert a communication from a friend
of John C. Colt, not as concurring in all it says,
but as an antidote to the strong excitement against
Colt which we have necessarily united with all other
presses to create, by publishing revolting accounts
of the late Murder. The man is about to take
his trial for Murder; we believe him guilty; but
he ought to be convicted, if at all, from evidence
adduced on the trial, and not from impressions
created beforehand. It is but right that the friends
of his adversity should endeavor to stem the fear-
ful torrent of feeling against him.
[Col.5]
Communicated.
“The Cup of His Sorrow is Full.”
A life of constant struggles and adversity seems
to prepare some men to tread in the path of sor-
row and of suffering, and still bear up with
Christian fortitude to a degree that seems in-
comprehensible to the experience and under-
standing of most.
The subject of this article, John C. Colt, is
one of the most extraordinary cases of this kind
we have ever known. While all about him trem-
ble at the enormity of the crime of homicide, he,
the accused, coolly bears the charge, and un-
flinchingly hears that testimony which bears hea-
vily with him. His personal appearance is quite
prepossessing—no one would suppose him a cul-
prit. He looks like one who has spent a life of
rectitude, and of virtue. A devious and unfortu-
nate course has, in part, without doubt, prepared
him for this affliction. Still he has a firmer re-
liance than this world's worthlessness. Young
Colt was, in youth, a devout Christian. He has
now the most sublime and correct notions of the
Deity. And although he has fallen into the pit of
death, the God of the unfortunate will protect him.
We say to all be on the watch, for ye know not
how soon the hour of trouble cometh.
The day of trial will be a day of relief to young
Colt. Things not now generally known will be
then elicited, and greatly to his favor.
================================================================
[Col.6]
AFFECTING, VERY.—Hohnholz, the German im-
postor, whose sentence at Boston, for sham marry-
ing, we gave on Monday, when called on to say
why he should not brook the judgment of the law,
addressed the Court as follows:—
“Mein dear Judgeman—De girl swear before
Almighty God she would marry me, I ask her
three, four, six times—I say, mein dear gal, will
you marry me? I have chance to marry one thou-
sand beoble all round. She solemnly wowed she
vould, and that she vould never break her swear,
and now she leave me—she has breaked her swore.
She has done fornication as well as me—how could
she testify against me, then? De law in Germany
is dat if either party break deir wow, dey shall give
the other as much money as he is worth—but how
I know vot your law is here? De diwine law I
know, but nothing else. Mein dear real Chreestian
Judgeman—I have very veakly weins, owing to
too much study—mein bones strong, but mein weins
wery veak. Mein head crack open sometimes—If
I hadn't prayed to God so much, I could not stand
it”—and much more in the same strain.
================================================================
[Col.2]
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE—TRIAL OF COLT.—
We are informed that the trial of John C. Colt, for
the murder of Mr. Adams, which was set down for
Monday next, is to be put off for a more convenient
period, or until the excitement created by the bloody
deed shall have died away. It is supposed by his
counsel and his friends that he cannot have a fair
trial, under the present state of public feeling—and
accordingly great influence has been exercised to
postpone the trial, as we are informed.
This is a very curious affair—and the articles on
the subject which have recently appeared in certain
public prints, are equally curious and mysterious. A
short time ago, publications were made in Boston
and St. Louis, palliating the crime and making
statements which were republished here. In one of
them, it was stated that a brother of Colt's imputed
the act to insanity, he asserting also, under a strange
species of personal forgetfulness, that insanity was
hereditary in the family. We find also in the “Tri-
bune” of yesterday the following strange article:—
“The cup of his sorrow is full.”
...
We have had no desire to say a word to affect this
awful case, nor have we uttered a word till now.
We have a personal acquaintance with some of the
family connexions of the accused; but as the con-
ductor of a free and moral press, bound to support
the prompt administration of the laws as the only
sheet anchor of society, we must characterise this
effusion in the “Tribune” as the most impudent,
atrocious, audacious, and demoralizing paragraph
that ever appeared in any newspaper within the me-
mory of man. Look at the utter profanity and
blasphemy of these sentiments. If a poor devil of a
loafer steals three pounds of pork, or knocks down
his neighbor, or pilfers a pair of breeches, to cover
his nakedness, he is tried, convicted, and punished,
with railroad speed, and as a matter of course. But
when a person of respectable connexions, as they
are called, robs a bank of thousands, cheats the
public out of tens of thousands, or sends a fellow
creature into eternity at a blow, he is to be held up
as a hero—he looks like one “who has lived a life
of virtue”—“he has the most sublime and correct
notions of the Deity”—his trial is to be postponed,
in order to avoid newspaper excitement, and every
effort is publicly and privately made, to nullify the
laws and to render inoperative the administration of
prompt justice.
This is the very same demoralized feeling, the
very same unjust effort, which, in the case of Rich-
ard P. Robinson and of the various other murderers
who have escaped, that have made the administra-
tion of justice a word of reproach—and have in-
creased the fearful amount of crime that all are now
deploring. Look at the history of our Criminal
Courts and Criminal Judges during the last few
years, beginning with the fatal day when misguided
and mistaken efforts, set on foot by Joseph Hoxie,
effected the escape of the “Great Unhung.” Mur-
derer on murderer—rogue on rogue—cheat on cheat
—forger on forger have escaped, principally because
they belonged to respectable society, and were as-
sisted by the “respectable portion of the press.” At
this very moment, by the supineness, or something
worse, of the Court of Sessions, we see such crimi-
nals as Mitchell, the member of Congress, postpon-
ing his trial, till it gets out of the public mind—and
then he will get clear. Redfield, the late cashier of
the Commercial Bank, whose crimes were known to
Chandler Starr and the Bank Commissioners, was
also permitted to escape, without arrest or process
till it was too late to catch him. Yet in the midst of
this strange demoralization of justice, affecting
highly respectable criminals, we see the Court of
Sessions, Judge Noah presiding, sentencing week-
ly whole batches of loafers to the State Prison and
Penitentiary, without a tear of regret, or a para-
graph of sympathy. Out upon such a system of
equal and exact justice!
================================================================
[Col.3]
COLT'S STATEMENT.—We learn that Colt suffers
little, comparatively little mental agony, and the
terrors of conscience affect him little if any. His
brother, a lawyer of St. Louis, is here, and he, to-
gether with the one residing in this city, are the
only persons permitted to visit him, except his
counsel. To all he is said to be very communica-
tive, except on the subject of the murder.
His own statement of this dreadful affair he has
not been permitted to make on his public examina-
tions; whether wisely or not, we do not pretend to
say. Such a statement has, however, been made
to his friends, repeated to us, and we give it as we
received it, without comment.
He states that Adams came to his rooms on the
fatal afternoon to dun him for an unsettled account,
about which there was some dispute. They both
sat down at the table and settled the various items
except $3. About this a dispute arose between
them, and high words ensued, during which Adams
called him “a liar.” Exasperated at this he struck
him, and a scuffle thereupon ensued. Adams be-
ing the stronger man of the two, threw and fell up-
on Colt, and clutched him so violently by the throat
that he was in danger of choking. Colt was then
lying upon his back on the floor, and as his hand
was stretched out, it came in contact with some-
thing which he at once seized, (but as he avers he
knew not what it was) and finding Adams's grip
still hard upon his throat, he brought his hand
round and struck him on the back of the head; this
it would seem was hardly sufficient to stun him,
and he only rolled rather more on one side; Colt then
struck him again, and the blow must have fallen
on the other side of the head. These wounds,
dreadful as the subsequent examination proved
them to be, were not sufficient to release the pris-
oner's throat; but even in the agony of death,
Adams still continued to hold firmly on, until Colt
seemed to be at his last gasp, and then the dreadful
blow was given on the front of the head, which de-
prived the wretched being of life, and released the
other from his grasp. Colt then arose, and found
Adams a corpse.
For some time, he says, he remained stupified
with dread and horror—he knew not what to do,
and at length determined to make his brother ac-
quainted with the facts; for this purpose he went
to his lodgings, but he was not at home. He then
went into the Park, and walked there for some
time, being unable to make up his mind as to the
best course to be pursued—he at one time thought
to tell some friend, but knowing that some stains
rested upon his character, he refrained lest they
should not believe his story, and so deliver him up
to justice. After travelling the Park for many and
many a time, he at length returned to his rooms,
and took the dreadful means, with which the
public are already acquainted, to conceal the aw-
ful deed.
We offer no remarks on the above statement, but
simply give it, as given to us. The story is a very
plausible, and a very probable one; the wounds
on the head of the deceased, might well have been
given in the manner described. There are, how-
ever, no witnesses of the dreadful tragedy—to God
and to himself the secret alone is known.—Express.
================================================================
[Col.5. Mostly as in Post]
COLT'S CONFESSION.—The following strange state-
ment, has been published in the “Express,” as the
explanation given by Colt to his friends, of his mur-
der of Mr. Adams:—
We learn that Colt suffers little, comparatively little
mental agony, and the terrors of conscience affects him
little if any. His brother, a lawyer of St. Louis is here,
and he together with the one residing in this city, are the
only persons permitted to visit him, except his counsel.
To all he is said to be very communicative, except on the
subject of the murder.
His own statement of this dreadful affair he has not
been permitted to make on his public examinations;
whether wisely or not, we do not pretend to say. Such
a statement has however been made to his friends, re-
peated to us, and we give it as we received it, without
comment.
He states that Adams came to his rooms on the fatal
afternoon to dun him for an unsettled account, about
which there was some dispute. They both sat down at
the table and settled the various items except $3. About
this a dispute arose between them, and high words ensu-
ed, during which Adams called him “a liar.” Exaspera-
ted at this he struck him, and a scuffle thereupon ensued.
Adams being the stronger man of the two, threw and fell
upon Colt, and clutched him so violently by the throat
that he was in danger of choaking. Colt was then lying
upon his back on the floor, and as his hand
was stretched out, it came in contact with some-
thing which he at once seized, (but, as he avers,
he knew not what it was) and finding Adams's grip
still hard upon his throat, he brought his hand round
and struck him on the back of the head; this it would
seem was hardly sufficient to stun him, and he only
rolled rather more on one side; Colt then struck him
again, and the blow must have fallen on the side of the
head. These wounds, dreadful as the subsequent exami-
nation proved them to be, were not sufficient to release
the prisoner's throat; but even in the agony of death,
Adams still continued to hold firmly on, until Colt
seemed to be at his last gasp, and then the dreadful blow
was given on the front of the head, which deprived the
wretched being of life, and released the other from his
grasp. Colt then arose, and found Adams a corpse.
For some time he says, he remained stupified with
dread and horror—he knew not what to do, and at
length determined to make his brother acquainted with
the facts; for this purpose he went to his lodgings, but
he was not at home. He then went into the Park, and
walked there for some time, being unable to make up his
mind as to the best course to be pursued—he at one time
thought to tell some friend, but knowing that some stains
rested upon his character, he refrained, lest they should
not believe his story, and so deliver him up to justice.
After travelling the Park for many and many a time, he
at length returned to his rooms and took the dreadful
means, with which the public are already acquainted,
to conceal the awful deed.
We offer no remarks on the above statement, but simp-
ly give it, as given to us. The story is a very plausible,
and a very probable one; the wounds on the head of
the deceased, might well have been given in the manner
described. There are, however, no witnesses of the
dreadful tragedy—to God and to himself, the secret alone
is known.
================================================================
================================================================
THE NEW YORK SUN. Saturday Morning, October 30, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.4. Partly as in Post]
COLT'S STORY.—A publication appeared in the
Express of yesterday morning, which is given as
Colt's narration of the circumstances which led to
and resulted in the death, at his hands, of Mr.
Adams. It may be his story, and it may not. If
it is, it fully does away with the plea of insanity
urged in his behalf, and reduces the murder to
manslaughter of a very inferior degree, if not to
justifiable homicide. If it is not what it purport
to be, its publication is very improper and repre-
hensible. If it is a bona fide statement of the
wretched prisoner, why has it been kept from the
public so long. Whatever may be its character,
public curiosity requires for its place in our co-
lumns, though, under the circumstances, we most
unwillingly accord it. It is as follows:
We learn that Colt suffers little, comparatively
little mental agony. His brother, a lawyer of St.
Louis, is here, and he, together with the one resid-
ing in this city, are the only persons permitted to
visit him, except his counsel. To all he is said to
be very communicative, except on the subject of
the murder.
...
—to God and to himself the secret alone is known.
================================================================
[Col.2]
COLT'S STATEMENT.—We have reason to be-
lieve that the statement published in the Express,
and purporting to come from Colt, was not made
by him. He has had no communication, in rela-
tion to the crime with which he is charged, with
either of his relatives now in the city, the only per-
sons who are permitted to visit him.
================================================================
[Col.2. Partly as in Post]
JOHN C. COLT.—We published on Thursday a
communication from a friend of this unhappy man,
with an express dissent from its inculcations.—
Having published much directly calculated to in-
flame the public mind to frenzy against him—we
fear to justly—we did not think it just to shut
out from our readers what his friends had to offer
in his behalf. Were we wrong in this? Consider
that the wretched man is soon to take his trial for
Murder, under circumstances bearing very hardly
upon him. And shall he be convicted upon the
testimony adduced on trial, or on previous im-
pressions against him?—We hope it will be on the
testimony alone; and though the Herald has
meanly and falsely assailed us for the former arti-
cle, suppressing the fact that it was a communica-
tion, and our comments thereon—we shall not hes-
itate to copy from Friday's Express Colt's version
of the foul transaction which has branded him with
the mark of Cain. His story is as follows:
He states that Adams came to his rooms on the
...
should not believe his story, and so deliver them up
to justice. After travelling the Park for many and
many a time, he at length returned to his rooms
and took the dreadful means, with which the pub-
lic are already acquainted, to conceal the deed.
================================================================
[Col.7 / Partly in The Wide West. October 26, 1856]
RUSSIA DIAPERS.—It may not be generally
known that this useful article of manufacture, an
enormous quantity of which is annually intro-
duced into this country, is not fabricated in regu-
lar manufacturing establishments, but is exclu-
sively the work of the peasantry, many of them
of the poorest class. It is woven by hand labor,
in families scattered over the empire, principally
in the winter season, when there must be cessa-
tion of out-door employment. Some families ma-
nufacture but one or two pieces in a season, others
twenty or thirty. The quality does not material-
ly differ. They are carried to the nearest popu-
lous town, and sold to a trader, who packs them
in bales, and transports them to St. Petersburgh,
or some other seaport, where they are again sold
for exportation.
———————
LOVE'S TELEGRAPH.—If a gentleman wants a
wife, he wears a ring on the first finger of the left
hand; if he be engaged, he wears it on the second
finger; if married, on the third; and on the fourth
if he never intends to be married. When a lady
is not engaged, she wears a hoop or diamond on
her first finger; if engaged, on the second; if mar-
ried, on the third; and on the fourth if she intends
to die a maid. The last is seen about once in an
age.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 1, 1841 (FH)
[Col.3. Mostly as in Post]
AS WE SUPPOSED.—The Evening Post of Satur-
day says:—“We have reason to believe that the
statement published in the Express, and purporting
to come from Colt, was not made by him. He
has had no communication in relation to the crime
with which he is charged, with either of his rela-
tives now in the city, the only persons who are
permitted to visit him.”
———————
...
CITY PRISON STATISTICS.—There were receiv-
ed into the city prison on the week ending on Sa-
turday morning last 100 white men, 41 white wo-
men, 23 black men, and 20 black women, total 184.
Discharged 90 white men, 38 white women, 15
black men and 12 black women, total 155. Escap-
ed, 1. Remaining in the prison, 88 white men,
32 white women, 22 black men and 13 black wo-
men, total 155.
———————
TRIAL OF J. C. COLT.—Great effort, we un-
derstand, will be made by the counsel of Colt for
a postponement of the trial, (which had been set
down for to-day.) The delay will be grounded on
the absence of a material witness, affidavits to
which effect will be laid before the court.
================================================================
[Col.2]
In the Court of Oyer and Terminer, on Saturday,
J. A. Morrill, Esq. one of the counsel for J. C. Colt,
indicted for the murder of Samuel Adams, moved for
the postponement of the trial, on the ground of the
absence of a material witness, but Judge Kent re-
minded him, that as Monday (this day) was set apart
for that trial, it would be time enough then to make
the application. It will of course be made this day,
and will be doubtless very strongly opposed by the
District Attorney.
In the Court of Sessions the trial of the Ex-Hon.
C. F. Mitchell, is set down for Friday positively, and
the trial of William Wiley, Esq. will come on during
same term.
[Col.6]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
Before Judge KENT.
TRIAL OF JOHN C. COLT.
At an early hour this morning, the Court room
was thronged with citizens anxious to catch a view
the noted individual, whose trial for the murder of
Mr. Samuel Adams was set down for this day. The
appearance of the prisoner was certainly not that of
the haggard, conscience-stricken man—on the con-
tratry he seemed to have suffered no more than would
be natural from the confinement in a prison cell, on
prison diet; yet there was an uneasy contraction of
the brow, and restless movement of the features gen-
erally. He was dressed very genteely, in black, and
has the air of a gentleman.
...
The necessary papers having arrived, Mr. Selden
proceeded to read the—first, an affidavit, of the
counsel as to the absence of Caroline M. Henshaw,
a material witness for the defence, without whose
testimony it would be unsafe to proceed to trial—
next, a certificate of Dr. M'Collom of Philadelphia,
that she was in such a situation as precluded the pos-
sibility of her appearance here at present, on account
of her being enciente—next, an affidavit of Miss Hen-
shaw to the same effect, and upon these papers Mr.
Selden moved that the trial go off for the present
Oyer and Terminer. Mr. Selden said it was not ne-
cessary, after reading these papers, but it would be
obvious that it would be great injustice to the prison-
er, as well as unsafe to him, to proceed without this
witness. At all events, he said little time only had
elapsed since the commission of the deed with which
the prisoner stands charged, and all the previous pro-
ceedings had been carried through with a haste that
could not warrant the charge of delay on the part of
either party.
...
Mr. J. Prescott Hall, said that the next term of
the court commence on the fourth Monday in De-
cember next, and he had no doubt that the present
disability of the prisoner would disappear by that
time, and she would be able to appear and give her
testimony orally. But in case she should not be able
to come at the next term, a commission might issue
in which the prosecution might join.
After some few further remarks from counsel,
Judge Kent remarked, that if an application for a
postponement of a trial is made at the first term of
the court after finding an indictment, it was a matter
of right to the prisoner to grant it, unless it was made
with a colorable design, and a view to unnecessary de-
lay. In the present case, he could not see that there
was any ground for such a supposition. There was no
doubt that the absent witness was very important; on
that point they had, 1st,—the admissions of the Dis-
trict Attorney, and second, the affidavits of eminent
counsel, and the Court could not suppose these gen-
tlemen prompted by any other than good and honor-
able motives. Believing that then, the case must go
off.
...
For the prosecution, J. R. Whiting, District Attor-
ney, and James M. Smith, Jr.
For the prisoner, Messrs. J. Prescott Hall, Dudley
Selden, Robt. Emmett, and J. A. Morrill.
================================================================
================================================================
WESTERN TEMPERANCE JOURNAL. Monday, November 1, 1841 (GB)
================================================================
[Col.1]
Colt the Murderer.—The Bridgeport Stan-
...
[Col.3. From Herald]
SUICIDE OF THE LOVER OF MISS ROGERS.
We learn that Daniel Payne, the lover of
...
murder of the girl.—Herald.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
Before Judge Kent and Aldermen Woodhull and Leonard.
J. C. COLT.—Yesterday had been set down for the trial
of Colt, charged with the murder of Samuel Adams, in
September last. The prisoner was brought into Court at
an early hour, and before the doors were thrown open for
the admission of the multitude. He greeted those he met
with much ease and calmness, and seemed very little
changed in appearance from the period of his arraign-
ment. After some little delay, when the Court had
opened, Mr. Selden, one of his counsel, moved that the
trial be postponed, a very material witness for the de-
fence being absent. He then read an affidavit made on
Saturday last from Caroline M. Henshaw, [the young wo-
man with whom Colt resided in Madison street,] stating
that she was at present in Philadelphia, where she be-
longed, that she was in ill health, and expected every day
to be confined, and that it would be impossible for her
without great danger, to come on to New-York. The
affidavit was supported by another corroboratory of its
assertions from a physician at Philadelphia.
Mr. Selden and Mr. J. Prescott Hall, counsel, in con-
nection with Mr. Morrill and Mr. Emmet, for the prisoner,
urged the importance of having this witness present, and
the utter impossibility of her coming at present to New-
York. After conversation between the Court, the District
Attorney, and counsel, the trial was finally postponed
to the fourth Monday of December next.
A vast multitude of persons assembled with a view to
see the prisoner and hear the proceedings, thousands of
whom were compelled to go away disappointed, not being
able to obtain admission on account of the throng.
================================================================
[Col.4. Mostly as in Courier]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
Before Judge KENT.
TRIAL OF JOHN C. COLT.
At an early hour this morning, the Court room
...
For the prisoner, Messrs. J. Prescott Hall, Dudley
Selden, Robt. Emmett, and J. A. Morrill.
N. B. The young woman referred to in the above
report, on account of whose absence the trial was
postponed, Caroline M. Henshaw, was the chere amie
of the prisoner, and the materiality of her testimony
may be inferred from the fact, that the watch of the
murdered man was found in her possession.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.3]
COLT'S TRIAL POSTPONED.—It will be seen from
our report of the Oyer and Terminer to-day, that ac-
cording to our prediction (no court or cabinet secret
is hidden from us) the trial of Colt is postponed to
the 27th of December next, and when December
comes we suppose it will be postponed again. One
word on Mr. Seldon's allusion, one of the prisoner's
counsel, to the newspapers. Does Mr. Seldon know
who have been busiest with the newspapers? Cer-
tainly not the public. The prisoner's own friends
have made all the noise and uproar. They have
procured the publication of very reprehensible arti-
cles, palliating the crime, in newspapers throughout
the city and country, and yet Mr. Seldon turn round
and talks about the newspapers. Out upon such
humbug!
[Col.4]
The Case of John C. Colt, indicted for the
Murder of Mr. Adams.
The Case of Colt, indicted for the murder of
Adams, was set down for trial in the Circuit Court,
before Judge Kent, yesterday; and the knowledge
of this fact drew a large crowd to the Court room as
early as 9 o'clock yesterday morning. The excite-
ment on this particular point, (notwithstanding that
we are just on the eve of a very singular election)
appeared to be most intense; in two minutes after
the doors were opened the large space allotted to
the public outside the bar was completely filled; and
before 10 o'clock there was scarce standing room
inside the railing. All the leading members of the
bar were present, and many other distinguished in-
dividuals—and many persons had come from the
neighboring towns to witness the trial.
At 10 o'clock precisely Judge Kent and Aldermen
Woodhull and Leonard entered and took their seats
on the bench. The District Attorney, Mr. Whit-
ing, followed soon after. After waiting about two
minutes, Judge Kent said, “Mr. Attorney, are you
ready with any cause?”
WHITING—I move to bring on, sir, the case of John
C. Colt. Officer put John C. Colt to the bar.
Colt, who had been in Court nearly an hour, was
then brought to the end of the long table at which
the reporters sit, and sat down. He appeared more
calm, and less agitated than on any previous occa-
sion; but he was evidently laboring under great
mental excitement, which he strongly endeavored
to suppress. The skin over his cheek bones was suf-
fused with blood, resembling a man of a strong ner-
vous temperament after hard drinking; and his eye,
which is peculiarly deep and penetrating, and has
at times a wild savage look, was incessantly in mo-
tion. Mr. John A. Morrill sat by his side.
WHITING—Have you any motion to make, Mr.
Morrill?
JUDGE—Call a jury.
MORRILL—My associate counsel I expect here di-
rectly; if the Court please to wait a few minutes be-
fore calling the jury.
JUDGE—We'll wait a little, sir.
WHITING—In the mean time, call my witnesses,
to see if they are here. Crier, call the names.
The crier called the following names:—
PRESENT,
Judge Taylor, Hugh Monahan,
Asa H. Wheeler, Low Hocton,
John Delano, John Johnson,
Chas. Wells, Wm. Robinson,
Mrs. Hocton.
ABSENT,
Mr. Smith, Robert H. Morris, mayor,
W. L. Coffin, mate, Caroline M. Henshaw,
John P. Elwell, agent, David Kelsall,
Mr. Signette, Miss Charlotte Kelsall,
Chandler Gillman, Richard Barstow,
James Kissam, David Down,
Abner Milliken, J. R. Chilton,
Thos. Russell, Miss E. Adams,
Mr. Walker, Joseph W. Harrison.
After these names had been called, the Court told
Mr. Morrell he had better go and see after his asso-
ciate counsel in the case. The Court then waited
nearly ten minutes, during which time Dudley Sel-
den came into the room. At last, Judge KENT said,
“What is the reason of the delay in this case?”
SELDEN.—Mr. Robert Emmett is my associate
counsel in this case. The reason of the delay is
this; he thought that he should be able to be here
at the opening of the Court, to swear to an affidavit
which it is necessary counsel should swear to. His
son told me that he could not come this morning,
and I've sent the affidavit up to his house in 8th
street; there has been time enough, and I expect it
here immediately. There is another affidavit which
is connected with it—
JUDGE.—Better take them all together, sir.
In two minutes the affidavit was brought into
Court, and read by Dudley Selden. It stated that
himself and Robert Emmett, after duly weighing
all the merits of this case, and the facts for the de-
fence, deemed it unsafe to go to trial in the absence
of a material witness, Caroline M. Henshaw (Colt's
mistress) who was then sick at Philadelphia.
An affidavit was then read from Dr. McCollon, of
Philadelphia, which stated that Caroline M. Hen-
shaw was under his charge at Philadelphia; that he
knew her condition, that her health was delicate;
that she was then pregnant; that he expected the
period of her confinement hourly, and that it would
not be safe for her, that her life would be endan-
gered should she proceed to New York at this time
to attend the trial.
A third affidavit was read from Caroline M. Hen-
Henshaw herself. It stated that she was in bad
health, was pregnant, and expected to be confined
every day; that Philadelphia is her home, and all her
friends reside there; that she left New York on or
about the 30th of September; that Justice Taylor
knew of her leaving, and that she entered into
bonds to appear and testify at this trial; that before
leaving she saw the brother of John C. Colt, and
told him that she would appear and testify at his
trial for murder; that she was most willing and de-
sirous to do so; and that she would do so at this
time, if by coming on she should not risk her life
on account of her state of health.
The only symptoms of emotion shown by J. C.
Colt all the time, was once when his brother enter-
ed the Court room, whom he recognised with a
slight smile; once when the name of Asa Wheeler
was called, at the sound of which his eye lighted up,
his lip curled, and he looked eagerly in the direction
of the answer; and when the condition of Caroline
Henshaw was read; at this last his eyes filled with
tears, and it was with difficulty that he could restrain
himself from sobbing aloud. As soon as he had
read the affidavits,
DUDLEY SELDEN said—On these I move the Court
that the trial be put off for this Oyer and Terminer.
It is a right that defendants have to postpone a trial
both in civil and criminal cases, on the absence of a
material witness. We have all the facts here before
us. We show the absence of this important witness
from causes entirely beyond our control. And it
would be unjust to this witness to force her now to
come here, and unjust and unsafe to this prisoner to
proceed to trial without her. Besides, the Court
will recollect, that a very short time has elapsed
since the crime charged against the prisoner is said
to have taken place. The death of Mr. Adams is
said to have occurred about the 18th of September;
(here the prisoner slightly changed color, and the
tears stood in his eyes) the indictment was found on
the 28th of the same month, and the prisoner was
called upon to answer to an examination before the
committing magistrate and to plead to this Court to
the indictment, all in such rapid succession, that at
least no charge can be brought against the officer of
justice for delay, or those who act for the prisoner of
wishing unnecessarily to put off the trial. And I wish
to say a few words more in regard to the treatment of
this case by the press. This case has been more com-
mented upon by the press than almost any other I have
known, and I think rather unfairly. And I would
suggest, whether the prisoner is not entitled in his
condition to have a suspension of further remarks,
at least, until his trial. So much fiction has been
blended with some little fact, that it would be diffi-
cult for any—even unbiassed minds—to come to a
fair and impartial investigation of the case, if this
course be continued. And I would suggest as it is
my duty to do, whether the government on the one
hand, and the prisoner on the other, are not more
likely to have full justice dealt out by a suspension
of these fictitious statements, than if they are con-
tinued? And I say to those who have done this,
more in sorrow than in anger, that I trust they will
see the propriety of a cessation. And it is due, sir,
further, to all the counsel who have volunteered in
this case, (for all have volunteered their aid)
that they have never said—they never gave
utterance to any remark that they had
intended to adopt any particular ground of defence.
It has been charged on us that we intended to raise
insanity as a defense in this cause. We have not
said so—we have not intended it. And most un-
justly the counsel have been distinctly charged with
getting up a fraudulent scheme of defence, as it is
called, for the purpose of defeating the ends of jus-
tice. None of the counsel ever thought of such a
thing. And indeed no plan of defence has been
decided upon, other than what the real merits of the
case may justify an assumption of. There are also
other things which have been stated as coming from
the prisoner or his friends, and various matters in
relation to him, which are utterly untrue. And it
is not fair—it is not just that this course should be
continued. I make these suggestions, sir, because
the remarks I speak of have been directed against
the counsel themselves; and to suggest in a spirit of
kindness, whether there should not be a discontinu-
ance of them. I think, sir, that the public prosecu-
tor cannot object to a postponement, when he takes
into consideration all the circumstances connected
with this witness.
WHITING.—I shall not make any unnecessary ob-
jection, sir; but the counsel have not stated for how
long a time they require a postponement of this
cause. That this witness, Caroline M. Henshaw, is
a most important one, I do most readily admit. In-
deed I know she is.
JUDGE.—What was that last remark you made,
sir?
WHITING.—I consider this witness important. In-
deed I consider her testimony so important for our
side, that it was at my suggestion she was placed
under recognizances to appear and testify on this
trial. I consider her testimony quite as important
for the prosecution as for the defence; and for that
reason I have subpœned her; and it is for the con-
sideration of the Court, seeing there is no time
specified in those affidavits, as to whom this is to
be proposed to, to say what disposition shall now be
made of the case.
PRESCOTT HALL (Associate counsel)—The affida-
vit is drawn up with as much precision as it was
possible to employ.
JUDGE—There is another affidavit, Mr. Whiting,
which it seems you did not hear; it is that of Caro-
[Col.5]
line M. Henshaw, and was sworn to on the 30th Oc-
tober, 1841.
[The Judge then read all the material part of that
affidavit again.]
WHITING.—I, perhaps, sir, may not object to a
reasonable delay; but then I could wish that the
counsel on the other side be required to take out a
commission now to obtain her testimony, in case
anything should happen to prevent her appearing in
person to testify at the time to which this cause may
now be postponed, and so prevent a further post-
ponement. Because, if this cause goes off now be-
cause she is unable to appear, and when it is again
called on for trial should she again fail to appear,
the gentlemen may then move to take out a com-
mission, and so cause a further and unnecessary de-
lay.
SELDEN—I consider that there is no doubt but that
we shall be ready by the next Oyer and Terminer.
WHITING—In the case of Vermilyea, before the
Supreme Court, there was no provision made at
that time for taking testimony by commission in
criminal cases. And the court will see that this
witness is subpœned for the defence, and that I have
no power to make her testify under a commission.
It is for the gentlemen on the other side to take that
step.
HALL (To the Court)—When will the next Oyer
and Terminer take place?
JUDGE.—The next will be on the 4th Monday in
December.
HALL.—We move then, that, this cause be post-
poned till the next term of the Oyer and Terminer.
We do not wish the testimony of this witness to be
taken by commission. We desire earnestly, that
she should be examined in open court. We deem
that the most proper course; believing that her tes-
timony will have great weight in our behalf, and
more especially under all the circumstances when
delivered here in person, than if taken by commis-
sion. There is no doubt at all, that she will be here
in good faith, when the day of trial comes. (Colt's
eyes glistened with moisture.) And I would submit
to the Court, whether it would be right to urge on
this trial without her presence or testimony. Even
in a civil case, the mere absence of a witness sworn
to as material, is considered sufficient ground for
postponement; and if such is the practice in a mat-
ter of mere dollars and cents, how much more so
should it prevail in a case where the life and death of
a party is at stake. The time asked for is only
some six or seven weeks; and surely, surely, that
is not too long a time to enable this prisoner to look
about him; and if in the event of an unfortunate re-
sult, to prepare to meet his Judge before a higher
tribunal.
WHITING.—But suppose this woman should die
under her accouchment; if the gentlemen deem
her testimony so important to them, why object to
taking it by commission at once, so as not to be de-
prived of that evidence which they deem to them of
so much value, in case of an event, which is cer-
tainly within the range of possibility, though per-
haps not of probability.
JUDGE.—We suppose that since the case of Ver-
milyea, argued before the Supreme Court in 1827,
the claim to put off a cause on the part of the prison-
er, on account of the absence of a material witness,
if made at the first term after the indictment has
been found, is a matter of right, and the Court has
no discretionary power in the premises. In the case
of Vermilyea, which is familiar to the public, all
the Judges of the Supreme Court delivered
opinions; and though, it is true, that one of the
judges dissented on some ponts, yet all agreed in the
general doctrine, that where there was no ground to
suppose that the absence of a material witness
sworn to was done as a mere color to procure unne-
cessary delay, and to defeat the ends of justice, that
the postponement at the first time was a matter of
right; and the Court of Oyer and Terminer not hav-
ing heeded this claim of the prisoner, a new trial
was granted. The question for this Court, now, is
to ask is this motion made from motives merely co-
lorable to procure unnecessary delay. First, we
have the absence of this witness proved; then we
have the oath of the physician who swears to her
present condition, and the danger to her life of her
attendance here; and next we have the oaths of
two of her respectable counsel that her evidence is
so important that they cannot safely proceed to the
trial of this cause without her. And we have
no disposition to believe, and indeed no reason
to do so, that they make this statement for a
mere color to procure delay. The cause then
must go off for the term. The next thing to be con-
sidered is the condition that is asked to be annexed
to the postponement by the public prosecutor. At
the commencement or the next term of this Court,
this cause will undoubtedly come up for trial. This
witness has her home at Philadelphia; and should
she then not be present, that city can be reached in
a few hours; and then it will be right to issue a
commission to take her testimony. We think then,
that under all the circumstances, the cause must go
off for the term; and this conclusion arises not only
from our own belief, but is one to which we are
bound to arrive by the law of a higher tribunal.
At the conclusion of this decision there was some
murmuring out of Court by those who came to hear
the trial. The crowd dispersed instantly. Colt did
not seem much affected by the decision. He slight-
ly moved his head and smiled on his brother as he
left the room; but during the whole time that Judge
Kent was speaking, he kept his eyes fixed with a most
intense gaze upon him.
================================================================
[Col.2]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
THE PEOPLE VS. JOHN C. COLT.—The prisoner
arrived in Court, about half past 8 o'clock, in charge
of the gaoler, and about 9, the gentlemen of the
press were admitted. The prisoner appears to be
about 26 or 27 years of age, stands about five feet
10 inches high, is very good looking, and of gentle-
man-like appearance; and if his countenance and
features were to be taken as an index to his mind,
one would never suppose him to be guilty of the
atrocious murder with which he stands charged.
He appeared to be in excellent health and spirits,
and conversed freely with the gaoler and others.
...
Court—Let the trial go off until the next com-
mission of Oyer and Terminer; and if the witness
does not then attend, let the prisoner's Counsel issue
a commission for the examination of the witness,
in which the public prosecutor may join.
================================================================
[Col.1]
An Adventure in the Air.—A perilous ad-
...
scended at this place without the slightest injury.”
[Col.2]
THE MARY ROGERS CASE—AGAIN.
——
The New York Mercury gives some addi-
tional particulars, and takes a new view of the
subject.
“Nothing has yet been discovered that promis-
es to lead to a detection of the “murderers” of
Mary Rogers, nor do we think they ever will be
detected, because we begin to doubt that she was
murderad at all. This doubt has been created
by some facts in relation to the finding of the
body—that have come to our knowledge during
the past week—furnished us by an eye witness,
Mr. Henry Mallin of No. 333 Broadway. He
states, that he, Messrs. Thornton and Kavanagh,
vocalists, accompanied by two others, went to
Hoboken on Wednesday the 28th day of July.
While at the Cave, some boys who were fishing
cried out, “there's a dead body.” Mr. Mallin
and his friends went to the edge of the water and
saw the hair washed up from the forehead, and
they then went to the Elysian Fields dock, and
procured a boat and a pair of skulls, and rowed
round to where it was floating between the two
tides. A plank was taken out of the bottom of
the boat, and an attempt made to fasten the bottom
part of the dress to it, in which attempt the dress
was torn. The stern line of the boat was then
fastened round her chin, and they towed her with
the tide to the shore—close to the cave, the rope
was then taken from under her chin and fastened
round her body, and she was left partly in the
water and partly out, one end of the rope being
fastenee to a rock on the shore. At this time,
half past 3 in the afternoon, the only marks per-
ceptable about her were a bruise on the left eye,
and a scratch on the left cheek and shoulder,
which Mr. Mallin thought were caused by the
rocks, as she floated on her left side. The coro-
ner was then sent for, and Mr. M., and his party
left and did not return till near 7 o'clock in the
evening, when they found the body had been
drawn up into the foot path, where it had been
[Col.3]
exposed to the sun, and was then in a rapid state
of decomposition—no coroner had made his ap-
pearance.”
The Mercury complains of the slovenly man-
ner in which the coroner at Hoboken performs
his duties, and is of opinion that Mary Rogers
committed suicide.
———————
...
Burning Alive in England.—A London pa-
per states that “a girl was burned alive at Mon-
mouth, on the 1st of April, 1764, her crime be-
ing that of petty treason, or murdering her mis-
tress; that Ann Sowerby was burnt alive in the
city of York, on the 11th August, 1767, for
poisioning, and about ten years afterwards, Phœ-
be Harris was burnt alive in Smithfield, London
for copper coining.” These are the last instan-
ces of that horrid punishment in England.
[Col.6 / Niles' National Register. October 23, 1841 / Hazard's Register. October 27, 1841]
TRIAL OF 112 MEN FOR MURDER.
The correspondent of the Illinois Free Tra-
der gives an account of the trial of the persons
charged with the murder of the Driskalls, John
and William, from which the Editor of the Era
has made the following extracts:—
He says, “the September Term of the Ogle
Circuit Court has just closed, and its session has
been marked by a trial, which, in the number of
the accused tried in one indictment for the crime
of murder, is without a parallel. One hundred
and twelve men indicted for the murder of John
Driskall and William Driskall, in June last, near
Washington Grove, in this county. And one
hundred plead not guilty, and put upon their trial.
Judge Ford, whatever might have been his feel-
ings, (the accused were his neighbors, Judge F.
residing in Ogle county) exhibited upon the
bench a stern determination that the accused
should be fully and faithfully tried. However,
the very fact of the great confusion occasioned
by so many names in the indictment, left the ac-
cused without any evidence to contend against.
The two or three first witnesses, whose names
were endorsed upon the indictment, (and by the
laws of this State none, except those whose names
are so endorsed, can be called to prove the sub-
stantive part of the accusation) only knew some
of the preparatory steps taken, which led to the
supposed offence.
The facts connected with the killing of the
Driskalls are stated as follows: That the Driskalls
were a part of an organized gang embracing a
large number of persons in the county of Ogle
and the adjoining counties, who carried on a sys-
tematized scheme of operations against the lives
and property of the inhabitants. That murders,
robberies and larcenies had been carried on by
them for a number of years; and that, owing to
the extent and perfection of their combinations, it
had become impossible to convict them by the or-
dinary process of law. Perjured members of
their gang swearing to alibis or such defence as
were adapted for the occasion, had, for a long
time, defied and defeated the course of justice.—
That a few days previous to the execution of the
Driskalls, a Mr. Campbell, a citizen of the high-
est respectability, had been wantonly shot in his
own yard, for his presumed exertions against this
gang, and that there was sufficient evidence to
leave no reasonable doubt, that the Driskalls plan-
ned and incited, and probably perpetrated his
murder. Further, that the Driskalls were the
chief and most dangerous of the gang. They
were shot after an examination which satisfied
several hundred of the most respectable citizens of
Ogle and the adjoining counties, of the truth of
the foregoing facts.
The case was submitted to the jury who, with-
out leaving their seats, rendered a verdict of Not
Guilty. This verdict was partially from a want
of evidence, and from what the jury considered
the absolute necessity of the case. The writer
says the laws could not protect the community
where the banditti committed their many enormi-
ties—the occasion was too urgent to wait for their
uncertain amendment and adaption to the emer-
gency—individually they could not protect them-
selves—mob law they repudiated—they there-
fore resorted to a counter organization, ordained
new rules of evidence, and a new mode of pro-
ceeding, such, and such only, as in their judge-
ment were effectual to protect them. There
may be those who are disposed to cavil, perhaps
to condemn. The judgments and perceptions of
such, would be essentially invigorated, could
they have dwelt for a short time here, and suffer-
ed the murder of their friends, the burning of
their dwellings, and the plunder of their proper-
ty; and when they called on the law to redress
these wrongs, to see those whom they knew to
be the perpetrators, escape with impunity.”
================================================================
[Col.6]
BOUND TO HOLLAND.—Capt. H. W. Teal, of the
Custom House watch, on Tuesday night, found
an old woman named Mary Driscoll, swimming in
the river, off the Battery, crying out lustily “ship
ahoy!” and saying she was “bound for Holland.”
He got her out with difficulty and lodged her in
the watch house, where she was dried and made
comfortable. Yesterday she was taken to the po-
lice office, and sent to the Lunatic Asylum, as a
person laboring under insanity of mind. She said
she was the heiress of Ireland, and was the Prin-
cess of Rusky Fusky Musky.
...
JERSEY CITY POLICE.
[Reported for the Sun.]
Robert Lydeback, whose arrest together with
James Finnegan and Samuel T. Shreeves, on sus-
picion of being concerned in the murder of Mary
C. Rogers, we noticed sometime since, was brought
upon Monday last before Justice Merritt, of Ho-
boken for a hearing, he, together with Finnegan,
having been delivered at the requisition of the
Governor of New Jersey to the authorities of that
state, on the charge of attempting to commit a rape
on a young woman at Hoboken about the time of
the disappearance of Miss Rogers. No evidence
having been elicited on the examination except
the affidavit of Shreeves, which had been made
some time previously before Justice Merritt, the
counsel for the prisoner, M. R. H. Van Hoeven-
bergh, moved for his discharge. After a warm ar-
gument, the District Attorney opposing, he was
committed by Justice Merritt in full for trial.—
This is one of the many cases of a similar nature
brought to light by the melancholy tragedy of
last summer.
================================================================
[Col.5]
POLICE OFFICE.........Nov. 3.
GOING TO HOLLAND BY SWIMMING.—On Tuesday night,
as Capt. H. W. Teal, of the Custom House watch, was
passing along the Battery he saw an old woman named
Mary Driscoll, swimming in the water after a boat, and
crying out as loud as she could bawl, “ship ahoy,” and
when hailed, replied she was “bound for Holland.” The
Captain conceiving that the old woman was more likely to
get to a watery grave than to Holland, with much diffi-
culty recovered her from her perilous situation and con-
veyed her to the watch house, where she was dried off
and rendered as comfortable as possible. Yesterday
morning on being ushered into the Police Office, she said
she was the “Great heiress of Ireland, and the princess of
Rusky Tusky Musky,” and the magistrate to relieve her
mental malady, and prevent her swimming to Holland
again, sent her to the Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's
Island.
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE NEWSPAPER REVOLUTION.—The “Commer-
cial Advertiser” has announced the final death of
the “Evening Star,” established by Noah, and at
the same time enlarged its own size in order to give
room in its bowels for the accession of the latter.
We consider this movement as a strong indication
of the decay of the “Commercial.” Every “old
fashioned paper” has gone through the same pro-
cess before its final death.
...
Herald, for instance, has a universal circulation, and
it is out of the power of any bank, clique, or par-
ty, to control or overawe its course. The same is
the case with nearly all the other cash papers.
[Col.5 / Col.5]
CARE OF PRISONERS.—It is not a great while ago,
since we recorded the successful escape of a convict-
ed felon from the Egyptian Tombs, a “cove” who
walked out of the doors and past two of the keepers
in the most naive and pleasant manner possible. At
that time, it was thought to be an error of judgment,
but, if an on dit which was related yesterday by a
gentleman, having authority, is correct, we should
not be surprised if some other equally worthy fellow,
if not equal in respectability, had changed his quar-
ters from the Tombs to some better located and
more pleasant abode. The report is this—that a
most confirmed scoundrel, now fully committed to
take his trial, is allowed to have sufficient indul-
gence in the City Prison, to enable him, to carry on
the very same practices, for which he will have to
be tried at the present, or the next term of the Court
of General Sessions. The gentleman who related
this extraordinary report, said, that it was not en-
tirely the fault of Mr. Hyde the keeper—and subse-
quent enquiries of Mr. H. confirms that opinion—
but that the lenity was granted by the “understrap-
pers,” at the instance of one of the Police Magis-
trates. There needs no comment on this.
AN ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER.—The night before
last, as Captain Teale, of the city watch, was pe-
rambulating the Battery, he heard a loud splash in
the water, and on looking over the rails, he saw a
female figure, bobbling about in the water, and
swimming right out into the stream, shouting ship
ahoy! ship ahoy! The watchman called to the
woman to know where she was going, and her re-
ply was, that she was bound to Holland! As this
settled the point of her sanity, the watchman got a
boat, pulled after the intrepid voyageress, and by
great exertion induced her to alter her course, and
come ashore, which she did, and then she could
have said, like the man in Coleridge's tragedy of
Remorse—
Drip, drip, drip,
There is nothing here but dripping.
The poor creature was put in a coach, and trans-
ferred to the tombs, where her wants were attended
to. In the morning, when brought up for examina-
tion, she styled herself the Right Worshipful heiress
of all Ireland, and Princess of Rusky-fusky-musty-
tuskykuff. It turned out, on further inquiry, that her
name was Mary Driscoll, and that she was a little
wrong in the upper story. She had escaped, by
some neglect, form her home, and, having drank a
little, had jumped into the North River after a boat
which she fancied she could catch, and in which she
could take a voyage to Holland. She was, of
course, restored to her friends, who are highly re-
spectable.
================================================================
================================================================
ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Thursday Evening, November 4, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.6]
JERSEY CITY POLICE.
[From the New York Sun.]
Robert Lydeback, whose arrest together with
...
er, Mr. R. H. Van Hoevenbergh, moved for his dis-
...
================================================================
[Col.6 / +“On Female Influence” in Supplement to the Courant. December 25, 1841]
We welcome Flaccus once again; and are well
pleased to learn that his former “musings,” publish-
ed in this journal and others, are about to be pub-
lished in a volume. There is good poetry in them.
[For the New York American.]
MUSINGS—BY FLACCUS.
THE BACHELOR'S LAMENT.
They tell me to hasten, and marry—
But ah! 'tis the cost that I fear;
And prudence still warns me to tarry,
Ere seeking amusement so dear.
Oh! there's rapture unmeasured in wooing,
And sweet the confession when won;
But the house-keeping horrors, pursuing,
Are sure to make sentiment run.
Thus I mused t'other night, as fair Chloe
Swam round in the dance at my side;
I must furnish that wardrobe so showy,
If rashly I make her my bride.
That slim, fairy foot, and its fellow,
That tread the light measure so gay,
Must with satin be shod, and prunella,
And husband the piper must pay.
At a glance of that ankle so slender
My heart the dear bargain would close;
When my head bids me, ere I surrender,
Remember the price of the hose.
That hand, so desired beyond measure,
The suitor, that ventures to hold,
Can only secure such a treasure
By hooping the fingers with gold.
Those eyes, though their vision surpasses
The eagle's that pierces the light,
Must be aided with opera-glasses,
Howev'er they embarrass the sight.
Though made up of roses thy face is,
Such roses bloom not in the sun;
We must veil them in the best of point laces,
Or freckles will soon overrun.
Sweetest mouth that e'er smiled upon mortal,
Hides organs of hunger within;
And dainties must pass the red portal,
Or soon cherry lips will grow thin.
Ah! that charms so desired by a lover
Have duties so costly assigned—
That the pearls, which thy smiles now uncover,
The choice of the market must grind!
Thy form richest fabrics must cumber
With many a garment of show;
And with doubtless of others a number
That bachelors never may know.
Thy brow, the fair temple where towers
High honor in marble enshrined,
Must be thatched with straw, feathers, and flowers,
To keep out the sun and the wind.
Thy care must be constantly petting
With rarest cosmetics thy face—
Thy nose, be indulged in coquetting
With 'kerchiefs bewildered with lace.
Those tresses, ensnaring allurers,
With fillets of gold must be bind;
Thy ears must be fed with bravuras,
And hung with the jewels of Ind.
Strange! that man should embellish a creature
Already more fair than the morn;
That the being most gifted by Nature
Is the one we most love to adorn.
Why was Eden so pleasant to Adam—
So rid of connubial ills?
Because his ingenuous madam
Ne'er bored him with milliners' bills.
No bonnets had she for her tresses—
No silks did her person enroll;
So cheap were her costliest dresses,
For a fig one had purchased the whole.
Ah! that was the season to marry,
Ere fashion made woman her thrall,
Her trumpery-garments to carry—
Yes! clothes are the curse of the fall!
================================================================
[Col.4. Mostly as in Tribune]
JOHN C. COLT.—We copy from the Nor-
which, Ct. Courier, the following sketch of this
unfortunate man. It teaches a lesson that ought
never to be forgotten, viz.: that parental dis-
obedience and disregard to the laws of God, is
youth, is most generally followed by a life of
crime, ending in either a volent or disgraceful
death:
The papers give many items of the history of
...
curb his own wild passions.
================================================================
[Col.3]
What are Yankees?—This query seems to be an-
swered definitively. If there has been any question
in the premises, it is settled, and we hope hereafter
to have no more doubts expressed. The pupils of the
Deaf and Dumb Asylum in Philadelphia were lately
examined in “the Arts and Sciences,” and among
other difficult questions proposed, was this one—
“What are Yankees?” This poser was put to the
youngest female pupil; but she, either not being
learned enough to answer, or being unwilling to com-
mit herself upon a moot point, turned the interroga-
tory over to her mater, who, after pondering a little
upon it, took her pencil and wrote—“They are a peo-
ple living in the Eastern States, famous for making
wooden nutmegs.” It is astonishing to what perfec-
tion physiological science has arrived.
================================================================
[Col.3. Mostly as in Post, Courtland Democrat]
MURDER OF MR. ADAMS.
The Express gives the following as
Colt's account of the circumstances un-
der which he killed Mr. Adams:
He states that Adams came to his
...
lic are already acquainted, to conceal
the deed.
———————
THE MARY ROGERS CASE—AGAIN.
The New York Mercury gives some
additional particulars, and takes a new
view of the subject.
“Nothing has yet been discovered that
promises to lead to a detection of the
“murderers” of Mary Rogers, nor do
we think they ever will be detected, be-
cause we begin to doubt that she was
murdered at all. This doubt has been
...
He states, that he, Messrs. Thornton and
Kavannah, vocalists, accompanied by
...
out, one end of the rope being fastened
to a rock on the shore. At this time,
...
opinion that Mary Rogers commmitted
suicide.
================================================================
[Col.7]
The Kamschatka, that left this port on the 29th
September, did not reach Southampton (in the Brit-
ish channel) till 21st October.
At Liverpool Oct. 21, every vessel then known to
have cleared from the United States for that port, had
arrived, a matter heretofore unprecedented.
================================================================
[Col.4]
RUSSIAN STEAM FRIGATE KAMSCHATKA, hence,
after a passage of twenty-one days, reached South-
ampton, England, on the 21st ult. She entered that
port the same day that the great steamer Oriental
arrived from Alexandria, Egypt, thus giving the
English an opportunity to compare the most superb
built American steam-ship with the most superb
built English steam-ship afloat.
It is seen that the Kamschatka had apparently
rather a long passage across the Atlantic, longer than
fast steamers generally have. It must, however, be
borne in mind, that for some time after she sailed,
weather, most severe, was experienced by all ves-
sels in the latitudes and longitudes she must have
been in. It should also be borne in mind that she
was new, deeply laden, burned anthracite coal, used
no blowers, and had more untried principles about
her hull and machinery than any steamer on the
Atlantic, Pacific or Indian Oceans.
She has crossed the Atlantic in the worst season
of the year, and under disadvantages never so great,
which ought to be evidence enough to show that
her machinery, her half beam engines, invented by
Wm. A. Lighthall, engineer of the swift steamer
Troy, on the North River, are admirably adapted to
ocean steamers. That they work smoothly and pro-
pel a vessel through the water steadily was sufficient-
ly shown before the Kamschatka departed on her
final passage over the Atlantic.
These half beam engines on a pretty large scale
are soon to be tried on the North River in a steamer
of one thousand tons, and then those interested can
see their capabilities.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Partly in Hazard's Register. November 17, 1841]
The Steamer Kamschatka.—The arrival of this mag-
nificent war steamer at Southampton, England, was
announced in our columns on Tuesday morning.
Our readers are aware that a very severe gale oc-
curred shortly after her sailing, in consequence of
which, some little anxiety was felt for her by those
who were not familiar with her strength and model.
We however, felt no alarm on this subject. We have
repeatedly said that she was the most perfect ocean
steamer ever built, and that her speed would exceed
that of any other steam Frigate.
On her model we need not speak. That cannot be
surpassed; and in this respect as in all others, her
superiority will not only permanently establish the
reputation of the Messrs. SCHUYLER, but at the same
time prove the accuracy of their judgment in selecting
LIGHTALL's Engine.
It will be perceived by the following letter from
our friend GEORGE L. SCHUYLER, that this noble ship
has been tested in every way; and that in all respects
she equals the most sanguine anticipations of her
contractors.
In the first place, her Engines and their power have
been fairly tested in a very severe gale of wind with
a head sea; next, her speed is demonstrated to be su-
perior to that of any war steamer ever built; and
thirdly, her model, and consequently, her qualifica-
tions as a sailing vessel independent of her steam,
have been fully proved, by her making 197 miles in
twenty-four hours, without studding sails.
We congratulate Messrs. ROBERT and GEORGE
SCHUYLER, and all concerned in her construction,
and the country at large, upon the perfect success
which has attended this first experiment in building
war and ocean steamers in the United States. In
another column is an article on the subject of our
Navy Commissioners, written before the arrival of
the Great Western and crowded out on Tuesday and
yesterday, in which we give the cost of this noble
steamer and ventured to predict her superiority to all
others.
SOUTHAMPTON, (Eng.) Oct. 21, 1841.
MY DEAR SIR—I promised you, at parting, some
account of the first voyage of the Kamschatka; the
circumstances attending it have been of an unusual
character, and as she is the first American built war-
steamer that has crossed the Atlantic, I shall proceed
to give you a somewhat detailed account.
I regretted that there was not sufficient time to
warm the engines and allow our friends who accom-
panied us to Sandy Hook, an opportunity of judging
of the speed of the vessel; but very soon after you
left us we were going nine knots and continued to do
so regularly for two days, occasionally going up to
ten knots, with every prospect of a speedy run across
the ocean.
On Saturday night, Oct. 2d, it commenced blowing
very heavily from E. N. E. With a head wind the
boilers make any desired quantity of steam; we car-
ried 12 lbs., made 10 revolutions, and went 5½ knots
dead to windward.
Sunday morning, Oct. 3d—Gale increasing. Sun-
day night, carried away side houses forward of
wheels—still going 3 knots to windward.
Monday morning, Oct. 4th—Wind suddenly ceased,
leaving us with a very heavy sea, which tried the en-
gines more than the blow.
Tuesday morning, Oct. 5th—At 9 A. M. commenc-
ed blowing harder than ever—increasing all day, at
8 P. M. it was blowing a hurricane. At that time I
was working the engines with 14 lbs. of steam, mak-
ing 9 revolutions. Captain Von Shantz thought it
best not to risk the engines with so great a strain, and
at midnight the ship was laid to by placing canvass
bags in the rigging, and reducing the speed of the
engines to 6 revolutions.
In this manner we rode out the blow, which lasted
until the next day. During all this time we never
shipped a sea, or lost any thing but our houses on
the guards.
That you may not suppose that my inexperience
has exaggerated the violence of the wind and sea, I
will give you an example of its force.
The seas were so high that our trysails were be-
calmed between them, and when the roof of our
side house on the after guard was blown off, it
lodged twenty feet from the deck in the mizen
shrouds. It required many hands to get it down,
and it blew about on the deck very much like a large
sheet of paper on the ground in a gusty day. The
quarter boat, on the windward side, had its bottom
pressed in by the force of the wind, and the iron da-
vits to which it was suspended were bent inboard.
The wind continued to blow gales, form nearly ev-
ery quarter, for the next four days.
October 10th—Heavy gale from W. N. W. As it
was now impossible to make a short voyage, or to
avoid stopping in England for coals, as we wish to
carry out some of our Anthracite to Russia, Captain
Von Shantz determined to carry sail without steam
for several days, that he may make a full report upon
his arrival, of her general capacities as a war steam-
er, of which her speed and working under sail are
important items. Accordingly, from the 11th to the
14th, the ship was tried under sail in every possible
way—before the wind, close hauled, &c.; time of
connecting and disconnecting engines was noted, al-
tering buckets, &c., &c.
To show you her sailing qualities—from 12 o'clock
October 12th to 12 o'clock October 13th, 197 miles;
next day at 12, 176 miles—fair wind both days. We
had no sails bent but fore course, fore and maintop-
sail and fore and main topgallantsail, although the
wind would have allowed carrying studding sails.
On the morning of the 15th we again began to
steam—
15th, 12 o'clock to 16th, 12 o'clock, dist. run 240 miles.
16th do to 17th do 255 do
17th do to 18th do 246 do
18th do to 19th do 200 do
Commenced blowing very heavy, gale from North.
Made the Lizard at 8 P. M.—lay to for a pilot off
Plymouth. We came through the channel this day,
blowing fresh—we made 14 revolutions and passed
every steamer we saw.
We have had but one day of fine weather since we
left New York, and have never had a smooth sea af-
ter the first 12 hours.
By the above memoranda from our log book, you
will see that the speed of the ship, either under steam
or sails, will equal all that was expected of her. Of
her machinery I can only say, that it is just as per-
fect as when it left New York. At no time have the
engines complained—nothing has broken, nothing
is strained.
I had intended to send you for publication some
memoranda, as to the performance of these engines,
to the particulars wherein they differ from those of
English construction; but as my letter has reached
so great a length, I shall defer it until after my arri-
val at St. Petersburgh.
Very truly, your's, &c.
GEORGE L. SCHUYLER.
J. WATSON WEBB, Esqr.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE STEAMER KAMSCHATKA.—A letter dated
Southampton, (Eng.) Oct. 21, 1841, has been re-
ceived from Mr. Geo. S. Schuyler, who went out as
Commander of this vessel. It is conclusive as to
the success of the voyage, under the most trying
circumstances. The weather all through was un-
usually boisterous, and they had, during the entire
passage, but one fine day, and never and a smooth
sea after the first twelve hours. On arrival, the
machinery was as perfect as when she left New-
York, and fully justifies the most sanguine expect-
ations.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
THE KAMSCHATKA STEAMER AND THE MESSRS.
SCHUYLERS.—The gross misstatements published by
the “Courier & Enquirer” on the relative merits of
the engineers and others concerned in the Kams-
chatka steamer, shall be fully exposed on the most
satisfactory evidence to-morrow or next day. The
Messrs. Schuylers were only the disbursing agents
of the Russian government, and deserve all the cre-
dit for keeping accurate accounts—but they had little
or nothing to do with the designing or construction
of the ship or her machinery. We shall show this
on the most positive evidence.
[Col.3]
MURDER IN HAVANA.—There is a wide difference
between the characters of newspapers in different
countries. Whilst our papers teem with every par-
ticular, to the most minute item, of the murders of
Miss Rogers and Mr. Adams, we have in vain
looked into the Gazettes of Havana, for some par-
ticulars of a horrid affair said to have occurred there
—an American woman, of the name of Rewlett,
who formerly kept a hotel, had whipped her own
grand-child, a little girl of nine years old, so severe-
ly, that she died almost under the operation. The
body was disinterred, and process at once com-
menced against the woman, the result of which was
not known when our informant left the city.
NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, November 12, 1841 (FH)
[Col.6]
COUNTERFEIT.
FEMALE MONTHLY PILLS.
O WING to the celebrity, efficacy and invariable success of
Madame Restell's Female Monthly Pills in all cases of
irregularity, suppression, or stoppage of those functions of
nature upon which the health of every female depends, since
their introduction into the United States, now about four years,
counterfeits and imitations are continually attempted to be
palmed off for the genuine. Cheap common pills are purcha-
sed at twelve cents a box, put up in different boxes, and called
“Female Monthly Pills,” with the object of selling, if possible,
at one dollar. Females are therefore cautioned against these
attempts to impose upon them. It is sufficient here to state
that all Female Monthly Pills are counterfeits, except those
sold at Madame Restell's Principal Office, 148 Greenwhich st.,
New York, and No. 7 Essex street, Boston. Price $1.
Madame Restell's signature is written on the cover of each
box.
N. B. The married, under some circumstances, must abstain
from their use for reasons contained in the directions. n8 1m*[Col.3]
American Ocean Steam Navigation—The
Russian Steamer Kamschatka.
The entire success of the Russian steamer Kam-
schatka, built in this city for the Emperor Nicholas
—her recent arrival out in England, on her way to
Petersburg—and the new era it opens to this coun-
try in ocean steam navigation, have created much
rivalry and contest among the various persons con-
cerned in her construction, for the credit and honor
of the effort.
On several occasions we have stated facts on this
subject—and distributed the credit to all the various
persons concerned, with as strict justice and accu-
racy as we could ascertain. Meantime an effort
has been made in certain corrupt and degraded
journals in Wall street, to take away this credit
from those modest engineers and humble mecha-
nics who deserved it, and to place it altogether and
exclusively with the Messrs. Schuyler, of this city,
who were merely the disbursing agents of the Rus-
sian government, and are entitled to none of the
credit of the engineers and mechanics, whose ge-
nius combined in her construction.
As the best proof of this assertion, we annex the
following statement, made by Mr. Dodge, the very
eminent engineer who made the drawings of the
engine:—
MR. BENNETT:—
I have seen several times in your valuable paper, and
also in other papers, reports respecting the Steamship
Kamschatka. Now, to show you that these reports are
erroneous, and some of them wrong and foremost, and,
as you say in your paper, I would like to set the whole
affair right, and give each his due.
What you say respecting Captain Von Shauntz, and
Captain Pepin, and Lieutenant Scheronbine, being sent to
this country, is perfectly true; as also about Captain
Von Shauntz' going back from this country to Russia,
and there giving a statement to the Emperor, in person,
and not the Navy Board, is also right. As regards
their making the plans for the ship, and examining
every line of her model, making all the necessary ar-
rangements for armament, &c., is perfectly correct. I
can answer for their capability as Naval Engineers.
One and all of them were very intelligent men, and
perfect gentlemen. Now, sir, giving them all the
credit for what they have done about the ship, is, I pre-
sume, sufficient. As regards Mr. Wm. A. Lighthall giving
Captain Von Shauntz's plans of two marine engines, the
one the whole beam, and the other the half beam, that
is also true. But as regards Mr. Lighthall, or the Rus-
sian Engineers having any hand in arranging the
machinery, is incorrect.
Now to the whole history. It will be two years next
January, since Mr. H. R. Dunham called at my office in
Broadway, and said to me, if I could make a good ar-
rangement for a pair of marine engines, that he could
probably get the job. My answer was, that I would do
my best. (Now you must understand that for twelve
months previous to this I was acquainted with Lieut.
Scheronbine and Captain Pepin.) So I went to work by
myself, and no one to dictate, only having a small pen
sketch of the shape of the half beam engine, and that
merely the cylinder and beam—nothing to be called a
drawing. It was merely meant to convey the idea. I
went to work; I got the drawings of the ship which
were made by Captain Pepin and sent me, and in three
weeks finished my calculations and drawings. During
this time, however, Lieutenant Scheronbine called at my
office, and asked me whether the drawings were finish-
ed. I told him nearly so, not knowing that it was to be
kept a secret. He went and told Mr. Schuyler that I
was making the drawings; in answer to which Mr.
Schuyler said he knew no such man, and that it was false.
However, in the morning after, Mr. Dunham called on
me, and said I had done wrong as regards telling them
any thing about it, and to make the whole thing straight
he must introduce me to Mr. Schuyler.
Now, sir, you see that I did the drawings for Dunham,
“from” Dunham “to” Schuyler, and from thence to
the Russian officers. Such was the way of whipping
the cat around the post.
Two or three morning afterwards I went to the Rus-
sian officers' room in Park Place to get a drawing which
I had lent them, for I had lent and given them some hun-
dred dollars' worth of matter during their sojourn here,
and I should not have done so, had I not found them gentle-
men. On my entering their room, I was accosted with the
ordinary “How-d'ye-do?” &c.—sat down, smoked a segar,
saw all the models of their cannon, &c., and presently in
walked Captain Pepin, with my drawing in his hand,
laughing, and opening it, showed me where the name on
the drawing had been erased, and the name of R. & G.
L. Schuyler attached as “Engineers.” We all had a
hearty laugh. They told me that it was ever a great
mystery to them why I should have been denied the
credit of my work. However, I said nothing. I was
engaged to lay down the whole thing for the workmen,
and to proportion every piece of metal about it. This
was done by “me and no one else,” on he floor of the
factory at Jersey City, on paper seventy-five feet long
and twenty-eight feet wide. No one ever assisted me
but a lad, the brother of Mr. Dunham, for the purpose of
holding my straight edge. I completed the full size
drawing. This took me about three months more. I
then made the detailed drawings, to be sent to the No-
velty Yard, for the casting of the cylinders, air pump
and condenser, all of which Messrs. Ward and Silliman
know. After this, I got my money, and all seemed satis-
fied.
These are the facts. The original conception of that
form of engine was first thought of by Mr. Lighthall;
and it's his, and no man should rob him of it, be he whom
he may. But as regards taking the credit of arrang-
ing the machinery, he never knew the drawings
had been touched for a month after they were
finished. The credit of the frame of the engines be-
longs to Mr. R. S. Schuyler; and the engines were made
[Col.4]
by Mr. H. R. Dunham, both very competent men in
their way. In apportioning the credit I will do it
as follows:—Captain Pepin drew the lines of the
ship; Mr. Brown made the ship; Messrs. R. and G.
L. Schuyler were the agents for the Government and
arranged the boilers through the assistance of Mr. H. R.
Dunham. They are the best boilers in the world for
the burning of any kind of fuel, either for sea or river
purpose; and they will show to all the world, that tube-
lar boilers are as good to go to sea with, if not better
than any other, if properly constructed. I myself, ar-
ranged the machinery, with the exception of putting on
the cut off. I proportioned every piece of it, and can
produce twenty witnesses to prove it. Why then all
this blowing off about it? Shame gentlemen! But if
after all these facts, the credit for arranging the ma-
chinery is worth any thing to any body, take it, for its
my every day business; and if men would keep to their
business, take to themselves that which is due them,
and no more, they would find that an intelligent public
would better appreciate them.
Yours,
PAUL R. HODGE,
CIVIL ENGINEER, No. 10 Green Street.
As regards the credit of arranging the machinery to
Mr. Lighthall, it amounts to this—the shape of the pre-
sent marine engine now used in the Great Western and
other boats, was first suggested by Bolton & Watt, and
improved by David Napier of Glasgow. I would ask,
what has Bolton & Watt or David Napier had to do in
the getting up of the Western's machinery? Nothing—it
was Mr. Joshua Field and no one else. I would also state
that I saw a drawing making of Mr. Lighthall's engine
for him some eight months prior to the Russian frigate's
keel being laid, by a young man of the name of Glass,
so that he had not thought that any one wanted to rob
him of the credit of it. It is a very good engine, and
with some alterations, I believe to be equal to any thing
extant for sea-going boats. P. R. H.
From this plain statement it is evident that the
assumptions made by the Wall street prints in favor
of the Messrs. Schuylers are utterly without foun-
dation. These gentlemen, both lawyers, are very
respectable worthy men and good agents—but we
do not see why the credit of constructing this splen-
did steamer should be taken from the engineers and
mechanics, and monopolized by money agents and
lawyers. The Kamschatka is undoubtedly a proud
monument of American skill in mechanism, but it
happens oddly enough that the Emperor of Russia
was the first man who had the sense to appreciate
that genius—the talent to combine that skill—and
the energy to bring it forth in triumph and per-
fection before the world, and thus “at one fell
swoop” beat England at her own game.
What a strong lesson this ought to teach our own
government! Why should not the President and
cabinet think of this, and combine the same talent
in the service of their own country?
================================================================
[Col.3]
Correspondence of the Tribune.
Mr. Fenimore Cooper and his Libels.
FONDA, Nov. 17, 1841.
The Circuit Court, now sitting here, is to be oc-
cupied chiefly with the legal griefs of Mr. FENI-
MORE COOPER, who has determined to avenge him-
self upon the Press for having contributed, by its
criticisms, to his waning popularity as a novelist.
The 'handsome Mr. Effingham' has three causes
at issue here, two of which are against Col. WEBB,
Editor of the Courier and Enquirer, and one against
Mr. WEED, Editor of the Albany Evening Journal.
...
The Jury retired under a strong charge against
Mr. Weed from Judge Willard, and after remain-
ing in their room till 12 o'clock at night, sealed a
verdict for $400 for Mr. Effingham, which was
delivered to the Court this morning.
This meagre verdict, under the circumstances,
is a severe and mortifying rebuke to Cooper, who
had every thing his own way.
The value of Mr. Cooper's character, therefore,
has been judicially ascertained. It is worth ex-
actly four hundred dollars.
Col. Webb's trial comes on this afternoon, his
Counsel, A. L. Jordan, Esq. having just arrived in
the up train. Cooper will be blown sky-high.
This experiment upon the Editor of the Courier
and Enquirer will, I predict, cure the 'handsome
Mr. Effingham' of his monomania for Libels.
================================================================
[Col.6]
MARY ROGERS AGAIN.—What has become of all
the “supposed murderers” of Mary Rogers that
the Police had arrested? Who knows? Can no
one let us into the secret.
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Cooper Libels.—We are compelled to omit to-
day a report of our trial at the Montgomery circuit
last week, on an indictment for libel upon J. FENNI-
MORE COOPER, alias “the Handsome EDWARD EF-
FINGHAM.” Suffice it to say, that after a full hearing
upon the merits of our review of “Home as Found,”
the Jury reported to the court that they could not
agree—announcing at the same time that the vote
within five minutes after they retired, stood ELEVEN
to ONE in favor of an acquittal!! Thus much for
his anticipated and boasted triumph over the press.
We venture to predict that he will not again ap-
peal to the people for a verdict in his behalf, unless
indeed, he should find some new pretext again to
change the venue. Otsego and Montgomery have
both repudiated him; and we do not believe twelve
men can be selected in any one county in the United
States, who do not think that he merits even greater
severity from the Press than he has yet received.—
The people every where, appear to entertain very simi-
lar opinions of his slanderous publications in relations
to America and Americans; and we doubt not but he
will now acquiesce in the decision which all but him-
self have long since arrived at, viz: that it is very
silly and very ridiculous to imagine that he or his
books are of sufficient importance to occupy the time
of courts with no other earthly object but to cater to his
love of notoriety,—and equally idle to suppose that
they will attempt to muzzle the Press when exhibi-
ting him in his true colors.
================================================================
[Col.2]
☞ JAMES B. GLENTWORTH has been discharged
from the indictment hanging over him by a nolle
prosequi—his counsel insisting on a trial or a re-
lease, and the District Attorney refusing to pro-
ceed afresh until our Loco-Foco Corporation shall
pay the cost of the former trial, which has thus far
been withheld. The conduct of these gentlemen
is to us unaccountable. Who can explain it?
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, November 24, 1841 (CA)
[Col.1]
COURT OF SESSIONS.
TUESDAY, November 23.
CASE OF JAMES B. GLENTWORTH.—James M. Smith, Jr.
Esq., of counsel, addressed the Court in behalf of Mr.
Glentworth, indicted for a misdemeanor in introducing
illegal votes into this city from Philadelphia, and stating
that the accused, having been once tried, and the jury be-
ing unable to agree, and that the accused having been at
all times ready for trial, and although notice having been
given to the District Attorney at a former term that the
accused was ready for trial, and that unless the case were
called up and tried at the present term, he should move
for a nolle prosequi,—now moved the Court to enter a
nolle prosequi to the indictment. The Court suggested
that they would discharge the recognizance which held
the defendant to bail, but this the counsel refused posi-
tively, stating that he would have a nolle prosequi or no-
thing. After some remarks from the District Attorney,
tending to show the length of the former trial, occupying
a week, the great difficulty in re-assembling the witnesses
from another State, the constant occupancy of his time
in multiplicity of business of his office, and his unwilling-
ness to subject the County to the heavy expenses of an-
other trial the result of which was involved in much
doubt, he submitted the matter to the Court without en-
tering further objections. The Court ordered the nolle
prosequi to be entered.
CASE OF GEORGE BELL.—In the case of George Bell, a
heretofore highly respectable young man, who was tried
at the present term for bigamy, and in whose case the
jury were unable to agree upon a verdict, Mr. D. E.
Wheeler, his counsel, renewed his motion to the Court
for a nolle prosequi, which, after a few remarks from the
District Attorney, the Court allowed to be entered, and
the accused was discharged from custody.
The Court adjourned over to Friday next.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, November 24, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.3]
ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT THE
SESSIONS.—We have only time to-day, to refer our
pious readers to another chapter of the history of the
Court of Sessions, during its present curious organi-
zation. It will repay perusal. The charge of Re-
corder Tallmadge is reported by the same gentleman
who was excluded from the Court by an illegal or
informal order of Noah's—on the ground of not re-
porting accurately. It was on his report, also, on
which this Journal was indicted by Lynch and Noah,
for the heinous crime of bringing these two function-
aries into contempt. But more than this. That much
abused patriot and pipe-layer, Master Glentworth,
has been released by the order of the same Court—
and also a man charged with bigamy, or marrying
two wives, was let off at the same time. Can the
Herald bring such a Court into more contempt than
its own acts do? We put this question to marines.
[Col.4]
GLENTWORTH DISCHARGED.—On motion of James
M. Smith, jr. Esq., one of the counsel for James
B. Glentworth before the Court of Sessions, yester-
day a nolle prosequi was entered in the suit against
this individual by the Court. The counsel for Glent-
worth in asking for this discharge stated that they
had been ready for trial for the last several terms,
and as the Court had stated at the last term, that
unless the District Attorney brought the case to
trial at the present term they would order a nolle
prosequi to be entered; they now asked
the Court to carry out their previous decision.
The Court stated that they were ready to dis-
charge his recognizances at once, but desired to
hold him ready for trial on the indictment whenever
called for, on his own recognizance. To this his
counsel objected, stating that they would have a nolle
prosequi or nothing. The District Attorney stated
that the delay, doubt and expense attending the trial
of this notorious personage was such as to induce
him to leave the matter entirely to the Court for de-
cision; when they immediately entered a nolle prose-
qui, which terminates the recent charges that have
been lying against him, and on which he cannot be
again tried.
[Col.5]
☞ In the Cooper vs. Webb case of Cooper against
Webb for libel, tried last week at Fonda, the jury stood
eleven to one for acquittal. But in the great case of
Ring's Candy versus all others, for the perfect and
speedy cure of colds, coughs, asthma, consumption, &c.
the verdict, with the whole people for a jury, is unani-
mous to a man in favor of Ring, and well does the evi-
dence which each day is putting in bearing upon this
question, sustained this verdict. Witnesses are on the
stand from all parts of the country joyfully testifying to
the cures perfected by this powerful remedy. It is for
sale at Ring's, 644 Broadway, and Sands 79 and 100 Ful-
ton street, Aymar 132 Nassau st., and most Druggists.
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Currency—Little Biddle's Operations.
We understand that the public continue to return
the Ulster Manufacturers' Bank notes, and the Jack-
sonville bills, upon the Sun office, for instant redemp-
tion. From the outcry of that shaving concern, we
should believe it so. In Ulster County, few of these
bills are in circulation—the attempts to push them
out have been made principally in New York and
Boston. Yesterday we received the following correc-
tion from the Ulster County Bank, which is a legiti-
mate concern, and ought not to be mixed up with
Little Biddle's schemes:—
...
[From the Boston Mail.]
THE BEAUTIES OF RED DOG CURRENCY IN NEW YORK
—CONTINUED.—Some time since, we gave a somewhat
lengthy article upon the “free” banking system in New
York, as exemplified by a penny-whistle concern called
the “Manufacturers' Bank” at Ulster. This concern,
although nominally located at Ulster—an out-of-the-
way place, where no one would ever think of carrying
a bill to be redeemed—is in reality located at the office
of a scurrilous paper in New York city called the “Sun,”
the advocate of rag banks, and the organ of quack doc-
tors in general, and Madame Restell in particular. The
bills of the bank aforesaid are all, or nearly all, issued at
the “Sun” office; but instead of being redeemed in good
faith at par, at the same place, are shaved at a half per
...
From all these notices, it is evident that there is a
healthy spirit in the country, that never will submit
to these impudent financiers, who leave the jack-
plane to manufacture money. Such is Beach, alias
Little Biddle—and such are they all. Another sin-
gular feature, is the probability that an extensive
confederacy of the penny press, in our large cities,
was engaged in this scheme. The central organ
was the “New York Sun;” but we have reason to
believe that the “Boston Times,” “Philadelphia
Ledger,” and “Baltimore Sun,” were in the same
scheme, and pledged to the same doctrines. As it
was nipped in the bud by our vigilance at head quar-
ters, it has failed—but it ought to be a warning to
the honest portion of the public, from trusting in the
integrity of such prints. More sketches hereafter.
——————
QUESTIONS.—Where are the murderers of Mary
Rogers? Where is Bill Wiley? Where is the
man who fired the National Theatre? Where is the
devil? And last, but not least, where is Little Bid-
dle?
================================================================
[Col.4]
MR. FENIMORE COOPER, AND HIS LI-
BELLERS.
——
We insert in another column, a plain and di-
rect statement by Mr. COOPER, of the facts, in
relation to the recent verdict taken against the
editor of the Ev. J. at the Montgomery circuit.
...
[Col.5]
Editor of Albany Argus.
The New York Tribune, and Albany Evening
Journal, having both published false statements
concerning the proceedings connected with the
inquest taken in my suit against Thurlow Weed,
at the late Montgomery circuit, I ask room for
the following statement of facts.
The cause was first noticed for trial in May last.
Mr. Weed then appeared without counsel, and ask-
ed for delay on the plea that he had forgotten that
the cause had been noticed! The judge granted a
delay of six months on this plea, saying at the
time that the application was exceedingly feeble.
At the late Circuit we appeared the first day,
and Mr. Weed did not. The Evening Journal
says, “Cooper's cause against us stood nearly at
the foot of the calendar, and would not have been
reached in the ordinary course of business, until
the last of the week.” It was number thirteen,
in a calendar of forty, and was reached the first
day. The allegation of the Tribune, that “Coop-
er moved for judgment by default” is utterly un-
true. When the case was called, we merely said
we were ready, and when the statement was made
that Mr. Weed was detained by the indisposition
of a child, the court distinctly refused to grant a
delay on such a plea presented in such a manner.—
My counsel were opposed to the delay, believing
the whole to be a trick. An appeal was then
made personally to myself, and I consented to a
delay until the cars should arrive on the follow-
ing day, in direct opposition to the advice of my
counsel, openly expressed in court, and at a mo-
ment when the judge said that this delay entirely
rested with myself. It was clearly expressed by
me at the time of granting this delay, and as
clearly assented to by Mr. Sacia in behalf of Mr.
Weed, that I was to take by inquest the next day,
unless some one should appear to defend the suit.
Mr. Sacia had openly stated on the authority of
Mr. Webb, and as coming from Mr. Weed, that
Mr. Hill, a lawyer of merit, was to appear for the
defendant; but, at the time when this statement
was made, a person of respectability informed
me that he was confident that Mr. Hill had no
such intention. The cause lay over for twenty-
four hours.
The next day, two trains arrived from Albany,
with intervals of two or three hours, before the
cause was moved by us. Neither Mr. Weed, nor
Mr. Hill had arrived. I may say here that the
latter did not attend the circuit at all. Mr. Sacia
asked for further delay; the court answered it
would grant no delay without the consent of par-
ties. I then stated, I left the matter with the
court, and that I had no faith in the excuses. The
result was an inquest, and a verdict of $400.
It remains only to say that Mr. Weed had plead-
ed the general issue, without notice. Of course he
could not justify. We held his full admission of
publication, &c., and of course he was totally
without defence. These facts were stated by the
judge to the jury as reasons why the defendant's
rights could not materially suffer by taking the
inquest. The attorneys on record for Mr. Weed
are Messrs. Parmelee and Loveridge, of the city
of Albany; neither of those gentlemen has ever
appeared in this case at Fonda, nor was any affi-
davit, but one founded on hearsay, offered.
I have directed legal proceedings to be com-
menced against the editors, publishers, &c. of the
Tribune and Evening Journal.
Yours respectfully,
J. FENIMORE COOPER.
================================================================
[Col.2]
MORE EVIDENCE OF THE WONDERFUL INFLUENCE
OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.—Little Biddle, proprie-
tor of the New York Sun, and financier of the Ulster
and Jacksonville shinplaster banks, has come forth at
last and given, unasked, his evidence in favor of the
astonishing influence and power of the Herald over
public opinion. Heretofore “Col. Webb, of the re-
gular army,” and his coadjutors, have proved to the
world that we broke up the “coon-skin cabinet”—
that we defeated the new bank bill at the Extra Ses-
sion—that we exploded the whig party—and that
we ruined the United States Bank, the North Ame-
rican Trust Company, and all State stocks in Eng-
land. The Colonel also admitted and asserted that
the London Times merely copied and imitated the
Herald, and that when we were in England, at-
tending the coronation in 1838, we entered into ne-
gociations in a “high quarter,” to accomplish all
those events, meaning no doubt that we were closet-
ed with Queen Victoria and her cabinet, at Buck-
ingham Palace, for a whole day, on this subject.—
To all this we put our finger on the nose and per-
form the usual gyrations—but on theatrical matters,
Little Biddle of the Sun, has alone furnished us with
the following affidavit, which may be found in his
paper of Saturday last:—
[From the Sun.]
FANNY ELSSLER AND BENNETT.—We need not hazard
the conjecture, that Bennett has turned a pretty penny
by Fanny Elssler since her arrival in this country. In-
deed, so little doubt is expressed on this point, that the
only question asked is, “How much has the fellow re-
ceived?” Mad'lle Elssler arrived in this country at an
inauspicious season, both as to time, and as to the condi-
tion of our Theatres. With all her admitted grace and
attractions, she had become in a measure passé, as the
French call it, and her noble and distinguished friends
and admirers performed the last act of grace and kind-
ness, by giving her flattering letters of recommendation
to highly respectable gentlemen in this city. She was
engaged at the Park Theatre at fifty pounds sterling per
night; but Mr. Simpson, alarmed at the time, and ap-
prehensive of the result, offered to share with her night-
ly, after deducting expenses. Mlle. Elssler had with
her, as a friend and agent, a very clever American, re-
spectably connected, who finding every thing unsettled
in the dramatic way, agreed of her engagement. It be-
came necessary, therefore, to conciliate the press, as it is
called—in other words, to bribe it, in order to sustain and
extol the lady. When the question arose, “which is the
press to be bribed?” the agent was unanimously in-
formed that it was the Herald. Accordingly, negotia-
tions were opened with Bennet, for that purpose. Whe-
ther the bribe was to consist of a per centage on her
earnings, or a sum monthly, we, of course, cannot say;
but from the unwavering, constant, and we may add ful-
some praise of the “divine Fanny,” with which his co-
lumns have unceasingly overflowed, we have not a sha-
dow of doubt that the lady has bled to a vast amount for
this foreign renegade. But it has not stopped here. We
are informed that the avaricious scoundrel, placing the
highest value on his puffs, or rather his “protection,”
has succeeded in a more important arrangement. Mrs.
Bennett, we are credibly informed, is in possession of
certain jewels—the presents, no doubt, of crowned heads
and nobility in Europe—which that liberal lady, Md'lle
Elssler, has “in the kindest manner” entreated Mrs. Ben-
nett to accept as a small consideration for her husband's
services and powerful aid—including, now doubt, some-
thing neat and costly for that little squinting monkey
he calls “de jeune editeur.” Of this, probably, we have
no right to complain. “Light come, light go.” When
a fellow is hired, he must be paid; but can there be a
greater indignity to the American press, than to allow
this foreign scoundrel to disgrace it by such acts?
Now, setting aside the utter degradation of the
vulgar and vulnerable being, who could bring such
private names into a newspaper controversy about
the character of Ulster and Jacksonville shiplas-
ters—a degradation that can only be paralleled by
that of John O'Sargeant, once of the “Courier,” and
Eppes Sargeant, once of the “Signal,” last year,
when these persons attacked the proprietors of the
Astor House, because we happened to reside there
a few weeks—setting aside this utter, inextinguisha-
ble, eternal degradation and disgrace, which even
“Col. Webb, of the regular army” has too much
manliness to commit—setting aside this unprece-
dented, unrivalled, unequalled disgrace, we consi-
der the statement as further confirmation of the vast
power and influence of this journal—and as a proof
of the good sense of Fanny Elssler in ascertaining as
soon as she set her foot in New York, the right
quarter where existed the power to aid and assist
her through her late brilliant and successful cam-
paign.
In this campaign, the immortal Fanny has cleared
an aggregate of $100,000, in 18 months—her ex-
penses have been $21,000—leaving her a balance of
$79,000 cash in hand. Of course we suppose that
the Herald's per centage is included in the $21,000,
but how much, we are precluded from saying, be-
cause it is a cabinet secret, as yet the injunction
of secresy not being taken off. Again, as to the
jewels—Fanny has certainly in her possession some
splendid jewelry, worth near half a million of dollars,
which she received from kings, emperors, popes,
nobles and nabobs, throughout Europe. Diamonds,
amethysts, beryls, and every species of precious
stone are in her possession. We presume she may
have presented a tiara of diamonds, worth $15,000
to one personage in this country, and a rattle of em-
eralds worth $4,500 to another personage—besides a
pap spoon, adorned with sparkling brilliants, worth
$6,769 12½ in New York funds. At all events, what-
ever Fanny Elssler has presented in the way of fe-
male ornament, we will venture to say, that these
very jewels will receive more grace, beauty, and
excellence from the receiver than they ever can give
to her. We may say the same of the “young editor”
who is without spot, “squint” or blemish—and if
Beach will wash his face, shave his beard, put on a
clean shirt, and give security in two bonds of $2000
each that he will behave like a gentleman, we can
show him a little boy of seven months old, that in
health, strength, intelligence, grace, and bright blue
eyes, cannot be exceeded in this or any other city,
in this or any other country. Above all he is a Yan-
kee and native American to the back-bone.
Meantime the divine Fanny reappears at the Park
on Wednesday evening, when she will run through
her former pieces, with the addition of several new
and interesting ballets that have been got up for her.
And further, if Little Biddle will only redeem all
his dirty shin plasters at par, to the poor people of
New York who call hereafter at his office, he shall
have the whole of the per centage Fanny has paid
us for our influence, and a few of the jewels. What
say Beach?
================================================================
[Col.3]
Mr. Fennimore Cooper—his whole name as written
out by himself is J. Fennimore Cooper—has writ-
ten a letter to the editor of the Albany Argus in which
he denies the statements of the Albany Evening Jour-
nal and the Tribune of this city, with respect to the
verdict which he (Fennimore aforesaid) obtained
against Mr. Weed by default. We have stated that
he denies those statements, but it really seems to us
that he does not precisely disprove them by any
thing he says in his letter.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Mr. J. Fenimore Cooper.
Instead of the grace which we have for the last
two days been quietly expecting from this gentle-
man, we received yesterday a very courteous and
civil, though not altogether reasonable, letter from
his counsel, Mr. R. Cooper, in relation to our ob-
noxious publication. We should be most happy
to publish this letter, but, considering that it is one
of business and may be regarded by the writer as
a private one, we shall not take the liberty of so
doing. Suffice it, then, that it very civilly calls on
us for a “retraction” of what was said, not by
us, but by our Fonda correspondent, consisting of
a statement of the circumstances attending the
taking of the inquest in the case of Cooper vs.
Weed, and comments thereon. How shall we be
required to retract what another has stated? and
how retract the entire statement, when the great-
er part of it is sustained by Mr. Cooper's own ver-
sion of the matter? Finally, we are required to
retract our correspondent's inference that, the Ju-
ry, in awarding Mr. Cooper but $400 damages for
a libel which was not defended, have settled that
amount as the value of his character. This infer-
ence is either just or unwarranted; if just, it
ought not to be retracted; if unwarranted, it can
do no possible harm to Mr. Cooper. In either
case, we cannot regard it as any more a libel than
if we had called one of his books a failure.
Mr. Cooper takes hold of the wrong end of
things, and will persist in doing so. If he felt ag-
grieved by any thing we had published, he had only
to write us, pointing out the errors, and we should
have published his letter most cheerfully. This we
do uniformly, as a matter of right and principle,
in every case of alleged grievance from statements
in our columns. Instead of this, the first com-
plaint we have from him reaches us in the Albany
Argus, accompanied by a statement that he has
directed a prosecution to be commenced against
us as libelers!
This is just the way of correcting the errors of
the Press that we do not admire. Now we cannot
“retract” all our correspondent has stated or in-
ferred; for we do most undoubtingly believe that
Mr. Cooper's course, in pushing his libel suit
against Mr. Weed to a default on the first and then
the second day of the term, while Mr. W. was de-
tained away by the dangerous illness of his family,
was the reverse of honorable or magnanimous.—
Such is our conviction; if a Court and Jury shall
pronounce it a libel, we shall be careful not to say
so again, but we cannot help thinking so all the
time. And now, as the very best amende to Mr.
Cooper that we can make, we publish his own ver-
sion of the affair, which is as follows:
From the Albany Argus.
The New-York Tribune, and Albany Evening
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
Licentiousness and Murder, or the “connection
between the vices.”
The recent fearful developments of crime in this city,
which have sent a thrill to the hearts of thousands
throughout the country, prove clearly what has formerly
been asserted in this paper, by an able correspondent,
that there exists a most intimate connection between the vices.
In the case of the unfortunate Mary C. Rogers, we have
already seen the immediate agency of licentiousness in
causing her death—and while our ears still tingled with
the horrible details, another murder, perpetrated in open
day, in the very heart of the city, furnishes an impressive
commentary on the words of the wisest of men—The
“end” (of a strange woman) “is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death
—her steps take hold on hell.” “The dead are there,
and her guests are in the depths of hell.” “None that
go unto her return, neither take they hold of the paths of
life.”
How true has this been in the case of the murderer,
who is now awaiting his trial for a deed of unparalleled
cruelty and guilt! The watch of his victim was found in
the possession of Colt's mistress, and how great may
have been her agency in the dreadful business, by drawing
continually on his resources, none can yet know. One
...
There are undoubtedly many who look upon Colt's con-
nection with an abandoned woman, as an item in his his-
tory too unimportant to be regarded in his present cir-
cumstances. But we do not so consider it. True, he is
only one of hundreds living in the same way, who are
still called gentlemen, and in no danger from the penalty
of the law. But no man becomes a hardened villain all
at once; and very few are so in love with crime, for its
own sake, as to commit an act which jeopards their own
lives, without some motive. Now, we believe licentious-
ness, more than any other vice, hardens the heart, sears
the conscience, and prepares the way for the commission
of more open sins. Who that has viewed the sub-
ject attentively and philosophically, can doubt this?
[Col.2]
...
rising generation! Indeed, almost the only notice taken
of it, is the cool announcement, that the testimony of his
paramour, and probable accomplice, is so important to the
prisoner, as to warrant the delay of his trial one month,
for the purpose of obtaining it. We might say much on
the inconsistency of admitting, in a case of life and death,
the testimony of a woman whom neither judge or jury
would regard as worthy of trust in the most trifling mat-
ter—but we have already exceeded the limits prescribed
to ourself in the commencement of this article. We re-
fer our readers to an extract in the Advocate for Novem-
ber 1st, entitled, “Habit of Lying among Prostitutes,”
for some remarks on this subject, which deserve the se-
rious attention of all classes who have rights to be pro-
tected by the laws.
There is one more feature in the history of this unhap-
py man, which is fraught with instruction and warning to
parents. It forcibly illustrates the—
RUINOUS EFFECTS OF DISOBEDIENCE IN CHILDHOOD.
It is said, by those who know the facts in the case of
J. C. Colt, that insubordination in early life, was the germ
...
[Col.3]
...
Parents, remember these evils may all be avoided
by faithfulness and decision on your part, while yet the
future man or woman is a child in your hands, as clay in
the hands of the potter. You are now making an impress
for time and eternity—be careful that it is such an one
as shall not cover you with shame and confusion, when
you meet it among the records of the last great day.
================================================================
[Col.6]
The “Bachelor's Lament,” by Flaccus, published in
the American a few days back, has called forth the fol-
lowing reply from a correspondent of the Newark Daily
Advertiser:
Mr. Editor—In yesterday's paper you republished
some “Musings by Flaccus,” entitled “The Bachelor's
Lament.”
From which wise strain—constrain'd am I—
To draw this sage deducement:
“Wives are but toys which rich men buy,
And marry for amusement.”
In other words the like to say,—
A Wife's more ornamental
Than useful—at the present day,
To one with a small rental.
In times long past, folks different thought;
And lovers rarely tarried;
But ardently together wrought
To live—and soon got married.
Now, mutual love and toil—are things
Found in romantic stories;
But deep regret her marriage brings
To ev'ry dame who poor is!
Hence, modern Belles reject the man
Who only love advances;
And guided by a cautious plan,
They marry Circumstances!
================================================================
[Col.2]
Robin Hood and his Merry Foresters—By Stephen
Percy—MONROE & FRANCIS, Boston; New York,
C. S. FRANCIS.—We don't know how it is with
young readers now-a-days, but we can remember
when this history of the gallant outlaw, got out as
this is with fine prints, and beautifully printed and
bound, would have been a perfect treasure.
Mr. FRANCIS has also published another pretty
little book of Tales by Mrs. HOFFLAND, embellished
by plates; among which we see “Girls I have
known,” “New Flitterte Gibbet,” “Dapple and his
Friends,” “The Young Emigrants,” &c. It is a
charming little work.
================================================================
[Col.3]
For the Evening Post.
HALL, Cooperstown, Nov. 25th, 1841.
MESSRS. EDITORS.—The Courier of Tuesday,
contains what professes to be an account of the re-
cent trial of James Watson Webb, for a libel on
myself. To all who are acquainted with the man-
ner in which the journal in question is apt to state
facts, in matters affecting its editor, it will scarce-
ly be necessary to say, that this statement is inac-
curate in most of its essentials. Some of these in-
accuracies are of a character that will call for a re-
futation hereafter, but; as it is my intention to give
a history of all these libel trials, I am quite content
to let the matter rest until this history can be given
in connection, and with propriety. I will only say,
here, that Mr. Webb will be tried again in the
spring, unless justice is denied me, a result I nei-
ther anticipate nor apprehend.
There is one point, however, which it may be
well to clear up on the spot. Mr. Webb gives an
account of the retraction of the libel, on which the
second indictment was found, with a looseness that
requires explanation. He says, that the District
Attorney entered a nolle prosequi upon his address-
ing him the letter which he publishes. All ac-
quainted with the law, know that the District
Attorney can do no such thing. He must move
the Supreme Court before he has power to enter a
nolle prosequi. But the statement might induce
the public to suppose I had no agency in this affair.
The facts are as follows, viz:—Counsel came to me,
on the part of the District Attorney, to say that Mr.
Webb wished to make an “honorable retraction” of
the libellous matter. After a consultation with
counsel, it was thought that this was the most credit-
able victory we could gain. I asked for a written
proposition. One was sent, which I rejected.
A second was sent, and rejected also. After seve-
ral hours of fruitless negotiation, through the coun-
sel, Mr. Spencer, on behalf of Mr. Webb, came to
my rooms in person, and between us, the letter to
be published was agreed on.
A large portion of the defence in the case tried,
was made in the opening, which lasted for hours.
I was not present half the time, being compelled to
prepare arguments, &c. for my own counsel, on
whom the duty of summing up was suddenly
thrown by the judge, just as the trial commenced,
in consequence of the defendants objecting to my
being permitted to sum up, as the court had pre-
viously said I might. I, therefore, state on hearsay;
but I am told that Mr. Jordan occupied several
hours in trying to convince the jury I had endea-
vored to glorify myself in the character of Mr. Ef-
fingham. Two modes were adopted to sustain this
charge; one by stating facts, that it was said would
be subsequently proved; and the other, by reading
description of Mr. Effingham, from the book.—
Take an example of what I mean. Mr. Jordan
commenced by saying that Mr. Effingham sailed
from England on such a day, and that he was fifty
years old the day he embarked, and that he had
been twelve years abroad, &c. &c. “Now, gentle-
men, we will show you that Mr. Cooper embarked
from England at the time mentioned in the book,
and that he was then about fifty years old, and that
he had been abroad the same period, &c. &c. All
this was to prove the identity, and to prejudice the
jurors. After working in this manner, in the
opening, for ten or twelve hours, the judge decided
that all the matter relative to the identity between
Mr. Cooper and Mr. Effingham, was not pertinent
to the issue, and we were precluded from disproving
it, as we could have done, by direct and unanswer-
able testimony. Thus, I did not sail from England
in the autumn of 1835, as is stated of Mr. Effing-
ham, but in 1833; I was not absent twelve years,
but less than eight; nor was I fifty when I embark-
ed, but just forty-four years and twelve days old,
having been born in 1789. My motive for alluding
to these particular circumstances is as follows:
You well know, that a wide-spread attempt has
been made to persuade the public that I wished to
represent, or rather to misrepresent myself in the
character of Mr. Effingham. Perhaps there is not
a case in the annals of literature, in which one of
these imaginary resemblances has been supposed to
exist, that is susceptible of being so triumphantly
disproved as this between myself and Edward
Effingham. Of course, I have known this from the
first, but have refrained from doing anything in the
premises on two accounts. One is, the most pas-
sive feeling of the human mind, contempt for the
asses who could believe it. The other was a respect
for justice, whose decision I did not wish to in-
fluence extra-judicially. As a court has now dis-
tinctly said, that this identity has nothing to do with
the issue to be tried, I shall take an early occasion
to ask a column or two in one of the large weeklies,
and dispose of this resemblance in a way that I
think will leave it no believers. I shall do this, in
order to have a fair trial next spring.
It is due to Judge Willard to say, that the charge
given by the Courier, resembles the charge actually
given by the court, on this occasion, about as much
as the logic of the Courier and Enquirer usually re-
sembles that of Locke.
Yours, respectfully,
J. FENIMORE COOPER.
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Mild, the Amiable, the Dignified, and the Hand-
some Mr. Effingham.—If there are any who doubt
that this notorious individual is laboring under a
most lamentable monomania in all that regards him-
self, his recent letter to the Albany Argus giving
notice that he had prosecuted the Evening Journal
and Tribune for libels, and the annexed letter which
we find in the Post of last evening, should forever
settle the question.
Vain, arrogant, and foolish in all that relates to
himself, Mr. J. FENNIMORE COOPER is the veriest
egotist that ever made himself the laughing stock of
an intelligent community. His vanity however, we
could tolerate, were it not that he seeks to indulge
it at the expense of his country and countrymen, and
by slandering in “Home as Found” all classes and
conditions of society in the United States. This we
may not, will not tolerate; and neither courts nor
juries, indictments nor civil actions, shall ever deter
us from holding up Mr. COOPER as the author of the
most wholesale libel on America and Americans, that
we have met with.
In the report of our recent trial at Fonda and
triumph over Mr. COOPER, we treated him with more
than usual respect, because we looked upon him as
a man in adversity—one who had been prostrated,
humbled, condemned by an American Jury out of
his own Books. We reflected upon what his posi-
tion once was—contrasted it with what it now is—
and pitied, truly and sincerely pitied the poor mono-
maniac, whose egotism and vanity had so humbled
him in public estimation. Contempt we did not feel
for an author who had written good and praiseworthy
works; and who, before he had become ashamed of
his humble ancestry, was an honor to our country.
Even now, when his egotism has caused him to forget
the very first duty of a gentleman, and he grossly and
palpably, not only suppresses the truth but wilfully
and deliberately pens a falsehood, we cannot feel con-
tempt for the author of the Pioneers, much as we ex-
perience that feeling for the monomaniac whose
whole course is calculated to render him an object of
pity. In common with the reading public, we pity
the egregious vanity of the author which prompts a
resort to falsehood, and the pusillanimity of the man
which drives the coward blood from his blanching
cheek when his falsehoods are exposed by those who
ever hold themselves responsible for their acts.
We regret that we have not room in our columns
to review to-day, this last epistle from “the Hand-
some Mr. EFFINGHAM”; but we shall do so next
week, and if we mistake not, his friends will be well
pleased to enter in his behalf the plea of monomania,
to screen him from the charge of being the most mi-
serable coiner of deliberate falsehoods, of any Ame-
rican who ever claimed to be considered a gentleman.
For the Evening Post.
HALL, Cooperstown, Nov. 25th, 1841.
Messrs. Editors.—The Courier of yesterday, con-
...
================================================================
[Col.3]
To the Editors of the Evening Post:
In Mr. J. Fenimore Cooper's note, published in
the Evening Post of yesterday, it is remarked, in
...
think will leave it no believers.” As “the New
World” is one of the largest of “the large week-
lies,” and as it has nearly double the circulation of
either of them, I take the liberty to offer the use of
one, two, or a dozen columns to Mr. Cooper, for the
purpose he specifies. I am led to do this, because
the charge of Mr. Cooper's identity with Mr. Ed-
ward Effingham has been made in that journal, and
because I now am, as I always have been, quite
ready to publish any correction of misstatements
concerning Mr. Cooper. I have judged of him on-
ly by his books and by his public acts; and, if those
have led me to form a wrong opinion of his person-
al character, and to impart that opinion to my
readers, I shall be happy to publish his “plea,” as
widely as I have disseminated my “declaration.”
PARK BENJAMIN.
================================================================
[Col.6]
General Sessions.
Before Judges Lynch and Noah, and Aldermen Purdy
and Bradhurst.
DEC. 7.—WM. SHALER, Esq., appeared as Acting Dis-
trict Attorney.
...
Trial for abduction, with intent to commit a rape.—Tho-
mas Moore, one of the young rowdies concerned in en-
deavoring to ravish Jane Ann Toole, in July last, was
put on his trial.
JAMES McALVIN was sworn, and deposed that on the
4th of July last, between 2 and 3 o'clock, there were
some ladies with us at the cave at Hoboken, and the pri-
soner said, pointing to the ladies, “there goes three old
cats,” at which the brother of Jane Ann Toole knocked
him down—prisoner then asked some of his companions
to go and get the other boats. I then proposed to leave the
shore, when Ann Toole asked me to let her get into my
boat, which I agreed to, and we then started to go to the
city—immediately after three boats came up, and Fran-
cis Moore jumped into my boat and beat me. Francis
Moore then swore if she did not get out of my boat they
would sink the boat—he then said, wait until my brother
Thomas comes up, and get satisfaction. He came up in
another boat, but did not get out—after taking Ann out,
the three boats went off together towards the big rock.—
I told them to take satisfaction out of me, but not to hurt
the girl.
Cross-examined.—I went over with Mrs. Smith, to
take care of the boat. I took Jane Ann Toole and her
mother and father to Hoboken, also Mr. and Mrs.
Smith and the engineer of the foundry. I was out of
low water mark when they attacked me in the boat.
George Hawkes, impleaded with the prisoner, was
then sworn. On the 25th of July, myself with some
others, went to Hoboken in a row boat, and while cross-
ing we saw a boat containing a man, that several persons
from another boat alongside were beating—we went to
the boat to see fair play, and afterwards saw a girl in
the boat with Francis Thomas—the girl did not ask ei-
ther one of us in our boat to protect her or take her out;
when asked, Frank Thomas said he was going up the
river—the girl was not in our boat any time—the per-
sons with me were Wm. Robbins, James Sherrod, Ben-
jamin Hadley, and Austin Rankin—we landed on the
shore some one hundred yards above the boat in which
Frank Thomas was.
Jane Ann Toole was then sworn and deposed that six
of us went over to Mr. Ludlow's and then went to Ste-
ven's, where we got some oysters, and there met some
boys, and among them was Thomas Moore, the prisoner
—he called three of us “old cats,” when my brother
struck him—immediately afterwards several boats came
down, and being frightened I asked McCalvin to let me
get into his boat, which he did—as soon as we were out
in the river some distance three boats came up, and Fran-
cis Moore and some of the others in one of the boats
beat McCalvin and compelled me to get into their boat
—they said they would sink the boat if I didn't—after
Frank Moore had beat him he said wait till my brother
comes up and he'll get his revenge—when Thomas came
up he said that Frank had beat him enough for satisfaction;
after getting into the boat I asked him if he did not intend
to take me home, he said he would or he'd eat my hat, they
then took me up to Bull's ferry on the Jersey shore.—
They then took me ashore up in the woods and there they
used violence with me; the prisoner was with them at
the time; afterwards they put me in the boat and cross-
ed over to the Glass House; they there compelled me to
get out of the boat and abused me a second time, when
the prisoner said they had done enough to me; the name
of the boat was “Echo”—I had been there ten or twen-
ty minutes before John Moore said they had done enough
to me; they had me down on the ground and done all
they could to me; John Moore said he had connection
with me once—he told the girls in the prison so; he
had connection with me on the New York side, and they
all had against my will; I hallooed murder once or
twice.
[At this point the District Attorney enquired of wit-
ness whether she was abused while ashore there? And
contended that the question was relevant to show the in-
tent to commit a rape.]
================================================================
[Col.2]
COURT OF SESSIONS.
TUESDAY, Dec. 7.
Before the Recorder, Judges Lynch & Noah and Al-
dermen Purdy and Bradhurst.
...
Thomas Moore, impleaded with several others, was then
put upon his trial for abduction with intent to ravish and
defile Jane Ann Toole, on the 4th of July last.
James McAlvin deposed that after being at Stevens, at
the cave, in Hoboken, the prisoner called Miss Toole and
other girls an indecent name, and her brother knocked
him down; that Moore then told some one to go and get
the other boats to come down; and after the girl and her
mother and another girl took a walk, when witness, hear-
ing them threaten to stove his boat, rowed out into the
river, and soon after Jane came running down, being
frightened and saying she wished to get into the boat, and
he took her in and rowed towards the New-York shore;
that other boats then approached, in one of which prison-
er was, and his brother, Francis Moore, boarding the boat,
gave McAlvin a terrible beating, and threatened to sink
the boat unless he was suffered to take the girl, and she
was forced to enter the boat, and they rowed off with her
up the river and landed with her. The boys were chas-
ing Miss Toole, and threatened her before they started
for this city. The prisoner did not enter the boat of wit-
ness.
George Hawks, one of the accused, witnessed that he
saw the girl in the boat with Francis Moore and others,
but is not certain the prisoner was in the boat. He cor-
roborated the stronger part of the other witness.
Jane Ann Toole deposed to being at Hoboken with her
mother; that the prisoner called them bad names, when
her brother knocked him down; that she and her mother
and another girl took a walk, got frightened by the chas-
ing of young men, ran off from her mother, got on board
the boat with McAlpin, was rowed out into the river,
when three boats came up, in which were Frank Moore
and his brother, with three others. Frank got on board
the boat she was in, beat McAlpin terribly, threatened to
upset the boat unless she went with them, and she did.—
Prisoner was urged by his brother to beat McAlpin, but
refused. They then rowed her up the river to Bull's
Ferry, landed, took her into a retired place in the woods,
and there held and all outraged and abused her, when
prisoner said they had kept her long enough. They then
went off in the boat, took her with them, landed near the
Glass-House, and again all outraged her person, including
the prisoner. After this they suffered her to go home.
Benjamin Hadly corroborated in part the testimony of
the three other witnesses, and the prosecution rested.
The defence commenced at 5 o'clock, and two witnesses
named George Creighton and Peter Steward deposed to
most of the facts stated by the former witnesses, but said
that the prisoner did not participate in the taking of the
girl from the boat, and that she was taken to Bull's Ferry
into the woods; but said there was nothing improper done
to her as far as they knew.
For the prosecution, Mrs. Phœbe Smith, mother of Miss
Toole, deposed to the facts as stated by her daughter up
to the time of her being taken from the boat and carried
up the river, and finally of her return home.
The case was summed up by Mr. Benedict for the de-
fence, and by Mr. Shaler for the people; and, after a
charge from Judge Lynch, the jury retired, and returned
with a verdict of guilty.
================================================================
[Col.8]
GENERAL SESSIONS—Yesterday.
...
Thos. Moore, impleaded with others, was tried for abducting
Jane Ann Foole, a girl aged 15 years, with the intent to ravish
her, on the 4th of July last. The occurrence took place in the
vicinity of Hoboken, and the whole of the particulars at the
time of the transaction was laid before our readers, and the tes-
timony given on trial is unfit for publication. Suffice it to say
that the prisoner took no active part in the outrage, which was
sworn to by the complainant, who also swore that after they ar-
rived on this side of the river the same outrage was repeated on
her person. The prisoner has since acknowledged that he was
engaged in the affair. The Court here took a recess until 5 o'-
clock.
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, December 9, 1841 (FH)
[Col.4]
Execution of Patrick Russell.—The sentence of
the law was carried out upon this miserable man
yesterday, in the Court yard of the City Prison, in
the presence of a large number of persons whose cu-
riosity to witness such a scene had drawn them thith-
er. The prisoner was attended to the gallows by the
Rev. Messrs. Curran and McDowall, and maintained
the same stupid indifference which had characterized
his conduct since his conviction, up to the last mo-
ment. After hanging about fifteen minutes the body
was lowered into a handsome mahogany coffin
provided by his friends, and was taken off by them,
for the purpose of interring it in the Catholic bury-
ing ground.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.4]
THE EXECUTION OF PATRICK RUSSELL, for the mur-
der of his wife, in June last, took place yesterday in
the rear avenue of the city prison. He was attended
at an early hour, in his cell, by the Rev. Dr. Curran,
and the Rev. Mr. McDonough, Catholic clergymen,
who remained with him until the execution. The
gallows used was the same on which Coleman, the
negro, was hung, for the murder of his wife, in
Broadway, by cutting her throat in the street. It
consisted merely of two upright posts, and one
transversely placed. Through the centre of the
transverse piece, over a pully wheel, the rope was
passed, and to the opposite end five fifty-six pound
weights were suspended by additional blocks and
tackle. It was placed in the centre of the yard,
and immediately opposite the rear window of the
cell in which Colt is confined, he therefore having
a view of the whole ceremony by raising himself to
the top of the window, which we understand he did!
A few minutes previous to the hour fixed for the exe-
cution, the prisoner's coffin was brought in and placed
on the side of the gallows. It was neatly made, and
had been provided by his brother-in-law, Mr. Logue.
The time drawing near, the officers stationed them-
selves in front of the pavement, on each side of the
avenue, forming a line enclosing the persons present,
who numbered about 150. Every thing being in
readiness, and his spiritual advisers having informed
the Sheriff that he was prepared, a procession was
formed at the outer door of the prison, consisting of
the Sheriff, Monmouth B. Hart, Esq.; the Under
Sheriff, John I. Westervelt, Esq., in full black dress,
with swords and chapeaus, followed by the twelve
citizens, selected by law to witness the execution,
and Deputy Sheriffs appointed for the occasion, and
a number of other persons. Previous to leaving the
cell, the short rope, with the noose, was placed
around his neck by the under Sheriff, John I. Wes-
tervelt, Esq., and directions given him not to move
his head while under the gallows, as it would change
the position of the rope, and thus cause him to
struggle much before life was extinct. He obeyed
these injunctions explicitly while under the gallows.
He was clad in a white muslin frock coat and
pantaloons, trimmed with black braid, and a white
cap, also trimmed and ornamented with a tassel.—
At twenty minutes before eleven he left his cell, and
proceeded in procession around the centre building
to the gallows. The Rev. Drs. Curran and M'Do-
nough walking on each side of him, and the Sheriff
and Under Sheriff leading the procession, followed
by a number of citizens, Deputy Sheriffs and
Police Officers. The prisoner evinced no emo-
tion on perceiving the gallows, but walked slowly
and steadily forward without support until he
reached it, and then knelt by the side of his
coffin with the clergymen. He held a crucifix
in his hand and his face appeared of a livid hue.
On kneeling his whole frame trembled with emotion.
He then joined the Rev. Dr. Curran in prayer,
still holding the crucifix in his hands with his
eyes intently fixed upon it. On the response being de-
livered by Dr. McDonough, he appeared to repeat it in
a low tone, and on concluding he pronounced audi-
bly the word AMEN. This was the only loud word
spoken by the wretched man, after leaving his cell.
The Reverend clergymen then kissed him on the
cheek, and he rose with their aid and took his stand
beneath the rope. At this point he evinced no particu-
[Col.5]
lar sensibility or emotion. The sheriff, aided by his de-
puty, having previously placed the noose around his
neck, then attached the upper end to the hook lead-
ing from the main rope. The Rev. Dr. Curran here
stepped forward, and whispered in the prisoner's
ear, “O merciful God, have mercy on my soul for
Christ's sake,” which Russell continued to mutter.
At this moment, twenty-five minutes before 11, the
cap was drawn, the rope sustaining the weights cut
by the under sheriff, and in an instant the unfortu-
nate man was suspended between heaven and earth.
Not a movement of the body was perceptible for
nearly a minute, when a slight shudder passed over
it that shook the gallows frame; this was followed
by several convulsive efforts, which continued at
intervals for upwards of six minutes, when the vital
spark appeared to be extinct. Dr. Curran continued
reading prayers until the last gleam of life ap-
peared to have departed, when he retired with his
associate. Although his hands were partially grasp-
ed immediately after he was drawn up, yet from the
fact that the ends of the fingers on each had been
frozen off some years since, the crucifix and hand-
kerchief that he had held dropped to the ground on
the third convulsive movement. The body remained
forty-eight minutes on the gallows, when it was
lowered down and placed in the coffin, the lid of
which was put on without removing the cap from
his face. His remains were then handed over to his
friends for burial in the new Catholic ground, cor-
ner of Eleventh street and Second Avenue, the fu-
neral of which takes place this morning. He main-
tained, throughout the whole ceremony, the same
apparent insensibility that has characterised him
form the time of his trial, and although penitent and
satisfied of the justice of his sentence, yet he died
as one feeling no apparent solicitude as for his
fate. His two children, both girls, one aged four
and a half years and the other three, visited him in
his cell on Monday, for the first time since his incar-
ceration, and though it has been only since June
last, he did not recognise them as belonging to him.
The eldest one ran out of the cell, at first stating
that she was afraid of him, “because he looked
so wild,” but the youngest remained until he came
to his recollection, when he wept over them with
considerable demonstration of feeling.
An application was made to the sheriff for the
use of his body to experiment upon by the galvanic
battery, but owing to the omission of Judge Kent in
his sentence to authorize the delivery of it to the phy-
sicians, and the application of his friends to obtain it
for burial, the sheriff delivered it to his brother-in-
law, Mr. Logue, who took it in charge, and remo-
ved it from the prison yesterday at 2 o'clock.
Dr. Cornelius B. Archer, and Dr. James H. Hart
attended as physicians during the execution, by the
request of the sheriff, and we cannot close this no-
tice without alluding to the orderly manner in which
the whole ceremony was conducted, both on the
part of the sheriff as well as the persons assembled.
The prisoner's counsel, Henry M. Western, Esq.,
was present, and in alluding to the scene, observed
that the sheriff had so well performed his duty that
the prisoner must have died in the most easy man-
ner that such a death could possibly be effected.
It will be remembered that the law compelling
the execution of prisoners within the jail yard,
makes it incumbent on the sheriff to summon two
Judges of the Court of Sessions, two physicians,
and twelve citizens to witness the execution and
give a certificate that the penalty of the law was
properly put in force at the time selected. He there-
fore summoned the gentlemen whose names are at-
tached to the following certificate for that purpose.
CERTIFICATE.
We certify that on the eighth day of December, 1841,
PATRICK RUSSELL, was executed in the yard of the City
Prison of the City of New York, at the corner of Elm
and Leonard Streets, and within the walls thereof, for
the crime of murder, in conformity to the sentence of
the Court, and the provisions of the act in such case
made and provided. We further certify, that we were
present at such execution, and that the prisoner, the
said Patrick Russell, was executed at the hour of ten
o'clock and thirty-five minutes, A. M.
FREDERICK R. LEE,
Alderman of the 17th Ward.
MOSES G. LEONARD,
Alderman of the 9th Ward.
J. Sherman Brownell, John Ryker, Jr.
Aaron Butterfield, John Asten,
Jacob Bogert, Michael G. Hart,
Thomas C. Doyle, S. Stuart,
Wm. Jay Haskett, James E. Beers,
Wm. B. Shotwell, John C. Coachman.
Dr. C. B. ARCHER, } Physicians.
Dr. JAS. H. HART, }
An occurrence took place in front of the prison,
while the execution was going on, that created con-
siderable sensation. It appears that Mr. Hubbard
Sice, a brother-in-law of Sheriff Hart, made appli-
cation at the jail door for admission, but, the pri-
soner having left his cell, he concluded it was too
late to witness the execution, and immediately
stepped out of the prison entrance on Franklin street,
and was accosted by Mr. Thomas Day, who remark-
ed to him that he had applied at a late hour. He
answered in the affirmative and, turning round, fell
headlong to the side walk. The force of the fall
caused a profuse flow of blood from his nose, and
upon raising him up, it was found that he had been
attacked with a fit of apoplexy. He was imme-
diately conveyed across Centre street to the hotel
kept by John Garland, and placed in the back room,
where every attention was rendered him by the in-
mates of the premises. Some fifteen minutes elapsed
before a physician could be obtained, when Drs.
Smith, Wood and Pennel arrived, who were joined
by Drs. Hart and Archer immediately after the exe-
cution had terminated, and every means was resort-
ed to to restore his life, but without effect. He re-
mained in a state of insensibility until 6 o'clock last
evening, when death terminated his agonizing con-
vulsions. Truly may we say—“in the midst of life
we are in death.”
A COUNTRYMAN CHEATED AND THEN FLOGGED.—
...
THE RIVER ROWDIES.—There are three more of
the boys to be tried for the charge of rape on Jane
Ann Toole, in July last, at Bull's ferry. The pun-
ishment in the case of Thomas Moore who was
found guilty on Tuesday night, is states prison for
ten years.
================================================================
[Col.4]
THOMAS MOORE, one of a gang who was con-
cerned in the infamous outrage upon a young girl
at Hoboken, in July last, was tried in the Court of
Sessions on Wednesday, and found guilty. He was
remanded for sentence.
EXECUTION OF RUSSELL.—The sentence of the
law was duly executed upon Patrick Russell, con-
victed of murdering his wife, on Wednesday at half
after 10 A. M. He was hung in the interior of the
prison yard, in the presence of about 150 people.—
Query.—Can this be called a private execution?
FANNY ELSSLER had an overflowing house at the
Park on Wednesday. She was encored in the Ca-
chuca, and afterwards called out and made a
speech. She dances again to-night.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.5]
SUPPOSED MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN BY
DROWNING—A MARY ROGERS CASE IN BOSTON.—
A young woman named ANN McALLISTER was
found drowned in the Canal near Traverse street,
on Tuesday night, under circumstances which lead
to the belief that she was murdered.
The history of this melancholy affair, as we
learn it from the officers of the Police, and others
acquainted with the facts, is as follows. The
young woman is a native of Ellsworth, Maine.
Her parents were respectable persons, and are said
to be still living. She came to this city about six
years since. She was then scarcely sixteen years
of age, and was extremely beautiful and intelligent.
He parents had paid much attention to her educa-
tion, and she was well fitted by her natural grace of
manners, and her acquirements, to be an ornament
to society.
She came to this city by invitation of a female
friend, who promised to aid her in learning a trade.
This friend unfortunately died in about a year af-
terwards, and Miss McAllister was thrown abroad
upon the world, without a protector to guard her
from the snares which beset her path. Being of
an affectionate and confiding character, she natu-
rally won the esteem of her female associates, and
the grace and beauty of her person, attracted the
attention of the other sex. She received many in-
vitations to balls and parties, which she readily
accepted, and her brilliant appearance was the
theme of conversation wherever she appeared.
Hundreds of young people who read this sketch,
will remember a tall, graceful, dark-eyed girl, with
long raven curls, and a step of pride—a wild, laugh-
ing creature—who delighted to dress in blue Turk-
ish robes, and green velvet, and always wore a large
garnet gem upon her brow, secured with a chain of
small white pearls. She was the toast of clubs,
and the bell of every general ball, for more than
three years.
Among the number of gay gallants who fluttered
about her, was one who is now supposed to have
been her murderer, if she died by other hands than
her own. The name of this man is well known to
the Police, and is common talk in the streets, yet
sufficient is not know to justify us in giving, to the
world. It is said that the unfortunate girl was en-
gaged to be married to a young artist in this city,
when the brute, who is supposed to have caused her
death, fixed his eye upon her, and determined to
accomplish her ruin. He whispered false stories
in the ear of her lover, and excited his jealousy by
various stratagems, until he finally brought on a
quarrel between them, and by pretending to take
the part of the woman, won her confidence, and
gained access to her heart. She felt grateful to
him for his pretended protection, and not knowing
his villainous character, admitted him to her
society.
Her utter and irretrievable ruin soon followed.
She left her trade, and lived as the mistress of her
vile seducer—lost her standing in society—and in-
stead of being the toast and admiration of clubs
and drawing rooms, she was a mark “for scorn to
point her slow, unmoving finger at.”
About three weeks ago, the vile wretch who ef-
fected the ruin of this beautiful and accomplished
girl, turned her off upon the town, and refused
any longer to contribute to her support. Driven
to desperation by her unhappy condition, the mis-
erable girl sought relief for her sorrows in the in-
toxicating cup, and the means of subsistence by
visiting the theatre—the last sad refuge of the
abandoned. In one of the recent midnight expedi-
tions made by Marshall Blake, with the Captain of
the Watch, among the haunts of these miserable
beings, the chamber occupied by the deceased was
broken open, but no person was discovered with
her, and she was so beautiful and so interesting,
even in her ruin, that the officers concluded to
spare her the disgrace of a public exposure at the
Police.
Since that night, she has been frequently seen at
the theatre, and always in a high state of intoxica-
tion. It is said by those who pretend to know,
that she took great quantities of opium to stupify
her senses, and render her less susceptible to her
horrid fate. On Tuesday night she attended the
theatre, and was observed to be unusually wild
and strange in her appearances. She told one of the
officers that she had had some difficulty with her
seducer, and that he had sworn to be revenged
upon her. The man himself told another person
the same story about the difficulty, and said he
meant to be rid of “the nuisance,” as he had form-
ed another connection. When the poor girl left
the theatre, she asked the officer to go down with
her and see that she was not assaulted at the door,
but he declined. She went out, and soon after
several persons ran up and called the officer, and
told him there was a rew at the door about a lady
who was getting into a hack. He went down im-
mediately, but the hack had gone. Who went
away in it we have not been unable to learn. But, in
a short time afterwards, a lad who has been found
by Coroner Shute, saw a man standing on the small
bridge which crosses the canal near Traverse
street, holding a woman by the wrists. He heard
the woman cry “let go of me!” two or three
times, with great earnestness, and in a few min-
utes both parties disappeared. His description of
[Col.6]
these persons agrees very nearly with that of the
girl and her seducer; but he cannot testify posi-
tively to the identity of either. The body of the
young womon was afterwards found in the canal,
and an inquest was held upon it yesterday, by
Coroner Shute. A number of persons were call-
ed, but no material facts were elicited; but there
was so much that was mysterious in the circum-
stances, that the matter was left open for further
investigation.—Boston Mail, Dec. 9.
================================================================
[Col.1]
General Sessions—Yesterday.—We have a long re-
...
In the case of the boy, Thomas Moore, tried in the
Sessions, for the abduction of the girl Mary Ann
Toole, as reported on Friday, the jury found him
guilty, and he was remanded for sentence.
================================================================
[Col.1]
COURT OF SESSIONS.
SATURDAY, Dec. 11.
Before the Recorder, Judge Lynch and Aldermen Purdy
and Bradhurst.
The case of William Roberts, impleaded with Thomas
Moore (now convicted) and several others in an indict-
ment charging him and them with the abduction with in-
tent to ravish and defile Jane Ann Toole, a young girl un-
der 15 years of age, on the 4th of July last, was called on
for trial; but on calling the name of James McAlvin, an
important witness for the prosecution, it was discovered
that he was absent; and Mr. Shaler, for the People, deem-
ing it unsafe to proceed to trial without him, the case was
postponed, and the Court, after hearing the argument of
Mr. McKeon, of counsel, in favor of quashing the indict-
ment against the prisoners charged in this case, on which
there was no decision, adjourned to Monday.
================================================================
[Col.4]
GENERAL SESSIONS.—Saturday.
...
In the case of William Roberts, impleaded with
Thomas Moore, (who has been convicted) and others,
on an indictment, charging them with abducting
Jane Ann Toole, and with the intent to ravish her on
the 4th of July last, was called on for trial; but James
M'Alvin, an important witness on the part of the
prosecution in the case being absent, Mr. Shaler act-
ing District Attorney, thought it would be unsafe to
proceed to trial without him, the case was put off,
and the court after hearing the argument of Mr.
M'Keon, of counsel for the accused, in favour of
quashing the indictment against the prisoner, gave
no decision, and adjourned to Monday next, at 11
o'clock, A. M.
================================================================
[Col.6]
THE MARY ROGERS CASE IN BOSTON.—A man
named Lewis Clark has been arrested in Boston on
suspicion of being the murderer of “the Mary
Rogers of Boston.” The prisoner is the same
Clark who stands indicted with Ames, et al., for a
combined assault on Mr. Lull. He is not yet
twenty one years of age, and said to be a native of
Valparaiso, and first came to the United States in
the frigate Columbia, about two years ago. He
does not manifest the least anxiety about the accu-
sation against him; not nearly so much as he did
when he was first brought up for the attack on
Mr. Lull. During the discussion of the question
of postponement, he leaned over the bar, and re-
marked to us—“this is a pretty case; but I am not
in the least alarmed about it.”—Bost. Post, Dec. 11.
================================================================
================================================================
ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Monday Evening, December 13, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.8. Partly as in Herald]
[From the Evening Tattler.]
SUPPOSED MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN
BY DROWNING—A MARY ROGERS CASE
IN BOSTON.
A young woman named Mary McAllister was found
drowned in the Canal near Traverse street, on Tues-
day night, under circumstances which lead to the be-
lief that she was murdered.
...
ducer, but he cannot testify positively to the iden-
???????????????????????????????????????
================================================================
[Col.1]
COURT OF SESSIONS.
MONDAY, Dec. 13.
Before the Recorder, Judge Lynch and Aldermen Purdy
and Bradhurst.
...
William Roberts, impleaded with Thomas Moore, (now
convicted,) and with Francis Moore and others in an in-
dictment charging him and them with the abduction of
Jane Ann Toole, a young girl of less than 15 years of
age, with intent to ravish and defile her, by taking her
forcibly out of a boat in the Hudson River, off Hoboken,
then taking her to the woodsn ear Bull's Ferry, and vio-
lating her person there, on Sunday afternoon, the 25th of
July last. As the testimony in this case was substantially
the same generally as that in the case of Francis Moore,
which was published as far as propriety would permit,
we shall forbear to repeat it. Suffice it, however, to say
that the violation of the person of the girl at Bull's Fer-
ry, in common with others concerned, was proved against
the prisoner; but that he being in another boat, did not
participate in the taking the girl out of the boat, and did
not return in the boat with Francis Moore and the girl to
the city from Bull's Ferry, but came back in the boat
with a man named Hadly, landing at the foot of Spring-
street, and did not participate in the second violation of
the girl on this side of the river. It was also proved that
when Roberts heard of the accusation against him, he
voluntarily gave himself to officer Lester. The case was
summed up for defence by Mr. James McKeon, and by
Mr. Shaler for the prosecution. Judge Lynch charged
the jury, who found the prisoner not guilty. On motion
of Mr. Shaler, he was remanded to prison as a fugitive
from justice from New-Jersey, to be there tried for the
rape committed in that State.
================================================================
[Col.6]
MYSTERIOUS—SUSPICION OF MURDER.—On
Tuesday night, the body of a woman of the town,
named Ann McKinnister, alias Jane Steele, alias
Clark, was found in Mill Creek, near the site of
one of the bridges. Yesterday there were vari-
ous rumours in circulation about the affair. One
was that near midnight a man and a woman were
seen walking together near the bridge—then a
woman's voice was heard saying—“Let go my
wrist.” Suddenly a splash and piercing cry were
heard, and a man was seen to move rapidly from
the bridge. The neighbors near the scene heard
some noise, obtained lights, and found the body,
which they took into a house, and endeavoured to
resusitate it, but in vain. It is known that she
had a quarrel in the third row of the Nation-
al Theatre, with a certain man, but it is also cer-
tain that she left the theatre in a hack, only in
company with a girl of similar character with
herself, and at the same time stated to the of-
ficer that she wanted to get away for fear the
person alluded to should find her and beat her.—
[Boston Post.
================================================================
[Col.2]
COURT OF SESSIONS.
TUESDAY, Dec. 14.
Before the Recorder, Judge Lynch and Aldermen Purdy
and Bradhurst.
Austin Rankin, impleaded with Thomas Moore (now
convicted), Francis Moore, James Sharrott, William Rob-
erts and others, was put upon his trial for the abduction
with intent to ravish and defile Jane Ann Toole by forci-
bly taking her from a boat in the Hudson River, carrying
her to the woods near Bull's Ferry, and there violating
her, on the afternoon of the 25th of July last. The testi-
mony in this case having been published on the trial of
Thomas Moore, will not be repeated here. Mr. Shaler,
acting District Attorney, proposed to prove the consum-
mation of the outrage at Bull's Ferry, New-Jersey, out of
the jurisdiction of this Court, to show the quo animo or
previous criminal intent of the accused, which Messrs.
Rudd and Josiah Merritt, of counsel for prisoner, objected
to and the Court sustained the objection, confining the
counsel of the People, first, to a proof of the participation
of the accused in the abduction of the girl from the boat.
There was no proof of his having participated in the origi-
nal abduction, and the Court then allowed proof of the ac-
tual violation of the girl near Bull's Ferry, in New-Jersey,
and it was proved that he was the first person that out-
raged her person there. It was also proved that the pris-
oner came in Hadley's boat to within hailing distance
after the girl was taken out of the boat, and then followed
up to the scene of the outrage, in which he was a promi-
nent actor. The case for the prisoner was summed up
for the accused by Messrs. T. Rudd and Josiah Merritt,
and by Mr. Shaler with ability and energy for the People.
Judge Lynch charged the jury, who retired and returned
into Court with a verdict of guilty.
================================================================
[Col.3]
Lewis Clark, the young man recently arrested in
Boston on the suspicion of having murdered Mary
Ann McAllister, a girl of the town, has been dis-
charged by the Police Court, it having been clearly
proved by several witnesses, that the deceased had
committed suicide.
================================================================
================================================================
ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Friday Evening, December 17, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
[From the Evening Tattler.]
Lewis Clark, who was arrested on a charge of
murdering Mary Ann McAllister, who was found
drowned in the Canal, after a full examination, was
discharged. The Jury came to the conclusion that
the deceased, who was intoxicated, threw herself
into the Canal.
================================================================
[Col.1]
MARY ROGERS CASE IN BOSTON.—Lewis Clark,
arrested on a charge of murdering Ann McAllister
in Boston have been discharged.
================================================================
[Col.3]
PRESENT COURT OF SESSIONS.—The corporation
intend to appeal from the decision of the Supreme
Court to the Court of Errors, in the question, involv-
ing the unconstitutionality of Noah and Lynch's
seats on the bench of the Sessions. Do so. We
have no doubt that that opinion will be reversed,
and both the Judges turned out, if a general act of
the new legislature shall not get the start of the de-
cision, and turn them out to grass first.
[Col.4 / Col.3]
SUPPOSED MURDERER OF MARY C. ROGERS ARREST-
ED.—Among the arrests made of suspicious persons,
supposed to have been guilty of the murder of this
girl, none has created more interest, or presented
as much evidence calculated to prove guilt, as a re-
cent case before the Mayor. A few days after the
body of Mary C. Rogers was found, in the North
River, a person, residing in this city by the name
of EDWARD C. SANDELL, formerly engaged in the
dry goods business, was missing, with his family, and
subsequent inquiries on the part of the public autho-
rities, led them to suspect that he was acquainted
with the fate of this unfortunate girl. His where-
abouts, for a length of time, was unknown, but the
vigilance of the police was such as to ascertain it a
few days since, and measures were immediately ta-
ken for his arrest. Having in the early part of this
transaction felt a deep interest for the discovery of
those guilty of the crime, we were then made ac-
quainted with the suspicions of the police, and con-
sequently kept a close eye to their movements. We
had even allowed our curiosity to lead us to ascer-
tain the precise spot where SANDELL had removed
himself and family, which was in a retired cottage
in Bergen county, New Jersey, located in a neigh-
borhood where suspicion would hardly dare to
breathe its taint, and where he, in all probability, if
guilty, presumed that the searching eyes of the po-
lice would never prompt them to visit. Keeping our
Argus-eyed police reporter on the watch, he acci-
dentally discovered Justice Taylor, of the upper po-
lice, and officer A. M. C. Smith, of vision keen,
crossing the Jersey ferry on one of the evenings of
the latter part of last week, in a close carriage, in
company with SANDELL, and knowing that some-
thing was in the wind, he set his wits to work to as-
certain the result, which proved as follows:—
Sandell had been arrested on suspicion of the
murder of Mary C. Rogers, at Hoboken, on Sunday,
July 25th. He was fully examined before the Mayor,
and, although it was shown that he was at Hoboken
on the day above mentioned, in company with a
girl resembling Mary Rogers in every particular,
both of dress and person; and, although, he admit-
ted that he was there on that day with a young lady,
yet he gave no clear explanation as to who she was,
or why he was with her! He neither explained in
a satisfactory manner the cause of his leaving the
city, and settling himself in the secluded spot select-
ed, or why his absence was called for at the partic-
ular period alluded to above.
He proved by several persons, that he was in this
city from 5 to 11 o'clock, on Sunday evening, July
25th, and that he was seen in company with his wife
on the same evening, at 9 o'clock. The evidence
offered to prove an alibi was conclusive, so far as re-
gards his presence in the city that evening, but un-
less an explanation is given as to who the young
lady was that he was seen with at Hoboken on that
memorable day, we fear that it will be difficult for
him to eradicate the suspicions that have already
been created against him. The examination is not
yet concluded, and we trust that Mr. Sandell will be
able to explain every thing to the entire satisfaction
of his Honor, the Mayor, and the public.
LOUISE LORING, celebrated as a barber in William
street for years, and also for dressing herself in men's
clothes in 1838, and voting in the twelfth ward, yes-
terday made application at the Police Office for a
commitment as a vagrant. She was accordingly
sent up for six months.
...
SENTENCED.—Thomas Moore, one of the boys
found guilty of the abduction and rape of Jane Ann
Toole, on the North River, in July last, was yester-
day sent to the House of Refuge, his mother making
an affidavit that he was under 16 years of age. The
sentence of Rankin was suspended, by request of
his counsel, Theron Rudd, Esq., until Friday next.
A warrant has been issued from the office of Justice
Merritt, of New Jersey, on the oath of Jane Ann
Toole and George Hawkes, for the arrest of Francis
Moore, Austin Rankin, William Bennett, James
Sharrott and Wm. Roberts, the latter of whom was
acquitted of the charge before the Court of Sessions.
On the oath of officer Stokely he has been delivered
up to the Jersey authorities, as a fugitive from
justice, and will be tried in that State.
...
A MONSTER.—A man named Patrick Smith, of
108 Water street, was arrested yesterday on two
charges that were calculated to show his beautality
in the strongest sense. About a month since, in a
paroxysm of rage, produced from rum, he threw a
girl named Eliza Moffatt, who was living in his
house, into the fire, by which means she was so se-
verely burned that her recovery is now considered
doubtful, and on the 11th inst. he threw his wife up-
on the floor, and while in that posture, took a can-
dle and set her clothes on fire, the result of which was
that the poor woman is now lying at the point of
death. He was arrested yesterday, and committed
to answer for his brutal treatment. [Col.1]
COURT OF SESSIONS.
MONDAY, December 20.
...
James Williams, a stout boy, convicted of grand
larceny, stealing a gold watch, worth $40, from
Thomas Cochrane, was sentenced to the State Prison
2 years and 9 months.
...
Thomas Burton, a boy, convicted of grand larceny,
stealing $50 from the window of Levi Hall, broker,
Broadway, was sentenced to the House of Refuge.
...
Thomas Moore, a boy under 16 years of age, con-
victed with others in the abduction with intent to rav-
ish and defile Jane Ann Toole, was sentenced to the
House of Refuge.
[Col.2]
ARREST FOR VAGRANCY.—A female “of the baser
sort” named Louisa Loring, who in 1837 or '39 when
in better repute than at present, dressed herself in
male attire and went to the 12th Ward poll, and voted
in the name of some man, was yesterday arrested by
officer Stokeley for vagrancy, and being a night
walker was sent to the Penitentiary for 6 months.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Tuesday Morning, December 21, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Thomas Moore, impleaded with others, convicted
of the abduction of Jane Ann Toole, with the intent
to commit a rape. The punishment for this offence
is imprisonment in the State Prison, for a term not
less than 10 years. But on account of his being un-
der the age of 16 years, the law provides that he
should be sent to the House of Refuge.
In the case of Austin Rankin, convicted of the
same offence, on motion of counsel, sentence was
postponed until Friday next.
================================================================
[Col.6]
MURDER OF MARY C. ROGERS.—No new evidence
has been elicited in the case of Sandell before the
Mayor. Some few witnesses are yet to be exa-
mined, when the Mayor will give the result of his
investigation.
================================================================
[Col.3. Partly as in Herald]
A Mary Rogers case in Boston.
A young woman named Mary Mc-
Allister, was found drowned in the Ca-
nal near Traverse street Boston, on Tues-
day night, under circumstances which
led to the belief that she was murdered.
...
Her parents had paid much attention to
her education, and she was well fitted
by natural grace of manners and her
acquirements, to be an ornament to soci-
ety. She was seduced by a young man
of Boston, cast off a short time ago on
the town, and abandoned by him she fled
to the intoxicating cup.
...
heard the woman cry, “let go of me,”
two or three times, with great earnest-
ness, and in a few minutes both parties
disappeared. His description of these
persons agrree very nearly with that of
the girl and her seducer; but he cannot
testify positively to the identity of eith-
er. The body of the young woman
was afterwards found in the canal.
================================================================
[Col.5]
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
MONDAY, December 27, 1841.
The Court of Oyer and Terminer, and Circuit
Court, opened yesterday, Judge Kent, and Alder-
men Purdy, Benson, and Lee on the Bench.
While waiting for the hour to arrive at which the
Jury had been summoned, the Court inquired of the
District Attorney if any business was ready.
That officer replied that they were ready to pro-
ceed with the trial of Mr. Wiley.
Mr. Price, one of his counsel, said they were not
prepared to-day, on the part of the accused.
...
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.—Mr. Morrill, one of the
Counsel for prisoner, requested permission to read an
affidavit relative to the absence, in this case, of a most
important witness. He then read the affidavit of
Charles H. Bibighans, a physician of Philadelphia,
taken before Justice George Griscom, of that City,
which states that he is acquainted with Caroline M.
Henshaw—that she was delivered of a male child on
the 17th day of Dec. inst.—that her health, was
good as can reasonably be expected under such cir-
cumstances, but she must necessarily be confined to
her room or dwelling for some time, but in all proba-
bility may be unable to travel with safety at the end of
five or six weeks from this time. This deponent fur-
ther says that the said Caroline M. Henshaw is of
delicate constitution and cannot possibly leave for
New York at this time, or even submit to an exami-
nation as a witness in the above mentioned case (the
People vs. Colt) without great risk to her health, and
possibly her life.
Mr. Morrill said he would therefore move that the
trial be postponed to next term.
The District Attorney replied that this case was
put off from last term with the express understand-
ing that a commission should issue in relation to this
witness, if such was found to be necessary.
...
The Court stated that it was necessary the trial
should be proceeded with at as early a day as possi-
ble, even if this testimony is taken by commission.
It would not do to keep the same jury here for 4 or
5 weeks.
...
Judge Kent.—The Court decides that this day
three weeks be set down for the trial of John C. Colt.
If, in the mean time, it is ascertained that the witness
in question cannot come here, her testimony may be
taken by commission.
The trial was accordingly set down for Monday,
17th.
...
CASE OF JAMES GORDON BENNETT.—The District
Attorney moved that the trial of James Gordon Ben-
nett for libels on the Judges of the Court of Sessions,
and on Judge Noah individually, be set down for
Thursday week.
...
It was finally set down, agreeably to the motion of
the District Attorney for Thursday week, with intim-
ation that it could be further postponed at that time
if found to be necessary.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, December 28, 1841 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.5]
Court of Oyer and Terminer—December
Term.
There was a most tremendous crowd yesterday,
in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, to hear and see
the various important proceedings that were expec-
ted to take place. The Court Room has undergone
a most astonishing improvement; and evidently
shows that there has been a most important change
in the presiding genius of the place.
A new round table, covered with green cloth has
been placed in front of the bench, for the accommo-
dation of the bar. The bench itself has been greatly
improved; carpets have been placed upon and around
it; and immediately behind it have been placed beau-
tiful mahogany cabinet book cases, containing law
books of reference, for the use of the Judges. The
reporters also have two new tables, admirably situ-
ated for hearing and seeing; and the Jurors have
now large easy arm chairs—a great desideratum.—
The whole arrangement reflects great credit on the
master-spirit of the place—the presiding judge.
As there was some little difficulty in obtaining a
Grand Jury, the Court proceeded to the hearing of
motions. The first case brought up was, that of
JOHN C. COLT.—In this case, the counsel for the
defendant stated that they were not ready. John A.
Morrill, Esq., however, rose and read an affidavit,
of Charles H. Brekenham, physician, of Philadel-
phia; this affidavit stated that Mr. Brekenham, had
attended on Caroline Henshaw, (the woman who
lived with Colt) during her recent accouchement; that
she had been delivered of a boy on the 17th of De-
cember inst.; and could not possibly attend the trial
of Colt, as a witness, at present, without endanger-
ing her life. Mr. Morrill, therefore, wished the
trial to go off for the present term, as the witness
would be unable to attend at this inclement season.
Mr. WHITING said, why I see no reason why the
trial should be put off for the term, even if the lady
has been confined. For the most delicate lady gets
over that in a month; and some German women get
over it in two or three days.
Ultimately the trial of Colt was set down for that
day three weeks. The next case was that of
SALLY ANN ROBB.—This woman, it will be re-
membered, stands charged with killing her baby.
(The case has been fully reported in the Herald.)
...
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, fora libels on Judges
Noah and Lynch. This case was set down for
Thursday week. Mr. Whiting objected to any
longer delay. The next case of
THE STATE, vs. THE PHENIX BANK.—This was al-
so postponed to next week. The next was
JUSTICE WILLIAM WILEY.—In this case, Judge
...
================================================================
[Col.5]
Board of Supervisors.
The Mayor in the Chair.
DEC. 28.—A bill of Mr. Lynch against the Corporation
for hack-hire—Was ordered to be paid.
...
A bill against the Corporation from A. H. Wheeler,
for the rent of the room in which Samuel Adams was
murdered, corner of Chambers street and Broadway, was
presented. The Mayor stated that the room had been
shut up for a long time, so that the Jury might see it—
but the trial not coming on, it was given up at the end
of eight weeks and two days, for which $25 has been
charged. There was also a charge of 50 cents for re-
pairing the floor, a plank in which had been taken up
before the body was found, in order to discover if there
was any blood under it. The bill was ordered to be
paid.
...
The bill of Dr. J. R. Chilton, for $180, for scientific
services performed, was ordered to be paid on his mak-
ing affidavit of the correctness of his bill.
A bill of Francis F. Smith, amounting to $8, for labor,
&c. in removing the dead body of Samuel Adams, was
presented. The bill was said to be high, but the duty, on
the other hand, nauseous and unpleasant. It was order-
ed to be paid.
A bill for $5 was presented from Mr. Relyea for at-
tending the door while the inquest was held on the re-
mains of Adams, on Sunday, Sept. 26. Objection was
made to the amount, but the Mayor stated that there had
been, throughout the whole of the evening, such a rush
of persons desirous to get in, that the labor had been ve-
ry arduous. Reduced to $3, and ordered to be paid.
[Col.6]
TO MARRIED LADIES.
M ADAME RESTELL'S PREVENTIVE POWDERS.
These invaluable Powders have been universally adopted
...
—————————————————————————
FEMALE MONTHLY PILLS.
P REPARED BY MADAME COSTELLO, No. 34 Lispe-
nard street.
...[Col.7]
ADDRESS
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
FELLOW CITIZENS—The object of my addressing
you at this time, is not for the purpose of justifying
myself for the participation which I have had in the
frauds on the elective franchise, in the State of
New York, in the years 1838 and 1839, which
produced so much excitement after their disclosure,
and which were so widely, justly, and severely
commented upon in the public prints, not only in
this country, but in England. That I did partici-
pate in these transactions, I admit, and can only,
so far as I am concerned, frankly acknowledge my
error. The evil is done, and I sincerely regret that
I ever, in any way, allowed myself to participate
with others in a transaction for which I have been
compelled by circumstances to be the only sufferer.
In justice to my country—in justice to my family
—in justice to my friends—in justice to myself—I
am determined now, be the effect on myself what
it may, to present to the public a full, candid, true
and impartial account of those frauds, in which I
shall
“Nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice.”
I am well aware that duty required me to adopt this
course long since, but, through force of circum-
stances, my hands have been tied and my lips closed;
and while my name has been branded from one ex-
tent of the country to the other, I have been com-
pelled to be silent, and tamely bear the whole odium
attached to those transactions. I was in the power
of men equally guilty with myself, and both threats
and promises were resorted to to obtain the “mer-
cy of my silence.” An indictment was pending
over me for participating in these frauds, and until
that was removed, my personal liberty required
me to keep secret that which justice demanded
should be known. That necessity is now removed.
I am released from that indictment, (it having been
discharged on the 22d ultimo,) and the truth shall
now be laid before the people, and the guilty, be
compelled to bear their just proportion of that,
which heretofore, I have singly and alone, been
forced to sustain.
No one but myself knows what I have suffered.—
I have, since the first disclosures were made, seen
friend after friend desert me, and out of all that nu-
merous host with which I was on terms of intima-
cy, but few remain that call themselves my friends.
... I expected them
to act honorably towards me; and it was not until
I discovered, upon several occasions, an evident de-
sign (notwithstanding repeated assurances to the
contrary) to sacrifice and destroy me, to load me
with ignominy, and “whistle me down the world,
a prey to fortune,” that I understood the true posi-
tion in which I was placed. They appeared to con-
sider it necessary to so far ruin my reputation that
aught I could say in relation to them would be of
no avail. They acted as if they considered their
safety dependant of their success in affixing infamy
and odium upon my character. How far they have
succeeded depends upon a verdict of the people.
...
With politics I have done—I have no hopes or ex-
pectations from party. The disclosures I shall
make will be made free from any bias, and on ma-
ture deliberation, after having carefully collected
the facts and memoranda upon which to base it.—
...
Independent of any evidence, let us apply the or-
dinary rules of logic to the transactions in relation
to these frauds, and see whether they are for or
against the truth of my statement. If the statement
which I made to Mr. J. D. Stevenson in relation to
these frauds was not true, (and it has always been
denied by the leaders of the whig party,) why was
I removed from office? It was admitted that I had
faithfully and ably performed the duties of the sta-
tion I held, and if the charges against me were
false, then I was a persecuted man; and as they
admitted I was competent, and had rendered essen-
tial services to the party, was it not their duty to
sustain me? I had their written acknowledgement
of my services, not in measured terms, but in terms
of unqualified approbation. Let us look also at the
other side of the question. If the charges were
true, and known to Governor Seward and the pro-
minent leaders of the whig party, (which I solemn-
ly aver they did know,) were they not bound to sus-
tain me, instead of attempting to degrade me, and
leaving me to contend against the other party un-
aided (except secretly) and alone? It is well
known that the whig leaders would neither openly
carry me through my difficulties, nor permit the
whig party to rally around me. If I alone was
guilty—if they had no participation in the frauds—
if they were ignorant of the transactions—if I accu-
sed and charged upon the innocent a gross violation
of the laws of the land—then I deeply injured them.
I merited their severest censure. Why, they, did
they secretly aid and assist me, but publicly calum-
niate me? Such was the course they pursued, un-
til they supposed their public slanders had so
far blasted my reputation that their victim could
be sacrificed without danger to themselves.
Unless I was guilty of the charges against me,
there was no reason why I should not have receiv-
ed the confidence and support of the whig party.
During a period of nine years, I labored like a slave,
as thousands can attest, in the organization of that
party; and after the result of the election in 1838,
I was solicited to accept office, and declined it. I
was satisfied with the business in which I was then
engaged; and subsequent events have convinced
me, that the most unfortunate era of my life was
that in which I accepted office. It was conceded
that I merited the office; it was conceded that the
duties were ably and faithfully discharged; yet I
was removed from it before the expiration of the
term for which I had been appointed. Was there
not some cause why I was removed? What was
that cause? If I was guilty of the frauds charged
upon me, was I alone guilty? were they known
only to me? If innocent, why remove me from
office, and thus add the persecution of my own par-
ty to that of my political opponents? These are
questions which I wish the public to solve. If
those charged as participators in the election
frauds were innocent, why did they not court in-
vestigation, nay, demand it? Their innocence, seal-
ed by a verdict of a jury of their country, would have
made for them party capital, because they would
have been looked upon as persecuted men. But
the guilty generally reason from false premises—
they shunned investigation—they created a disas-
trous issue for themselves. Instead of endeavor-
ing to screen me, their efforts were directed to re-
moving all suspicion from themselves. Had they
reasoned correctly, they would have seen, that had
I been convicted of the charge, the public would
have known that I could not, unaided, have perpe-
trated such stupendous frauds. Some saw the
question in its true light—some felt the danger of
their situations; and it was probably in consquence
thereof, that I was indebted for the friendly visits
and letters of some of the members of the Grand
Jury, who were impannelled during the term that
the first attempt was made to indict me. Had
that responsible body been tampered with? and if
so, by whom, and for what purpose? Such high-
handed acts would not have been perpetrated with-
out strong motives. One thing is certain, I did
not tamper with the jury, neither was it done by
my request. Did those who have been accused
know of the frauds? If so—if I alone was guilty—
what motive could others have had to assist me, in
the least, during the judicial proceedings against
me? By my actss they had been accused—if in-
nocent, how deeply had I wronged them! Who
retained, and so heavily feed the counsel employed
to defend me, both on the examination and on my
trial? Charles O'Conner and David Graham, jr.,
Esqrs., were employed and paid by some one, not
by myself. James M. Smith, jr., Esquire, was the
only counsel employed by me. My trial came on
—the jury did not agree, and were discharged.—
Up to this time, my confederates—some of them,
at least—deemed it essential that I should not be
[Col.8]
convicted. Up to this time I had been silent as to
their participation with me in the frauds for which
I was justly suffering. The Grand Jury had failed
to indict them; my personal safety was their guar-
antee for my silence. The indictment was pend-
ing, and they knew that a word against them would
furnish evidence against myself. They also knew
that the statute of limitations would soon protect
them from any indictment for the part they acted
in the frauds for which I was indicted. That time
expired the beginning of November, 1841. Three
attempts were made by my counsel, James M.
Smith, Jr., Esq., for my discharge, urging at each
time, either a trial or a discharge from the indict-
ment; but it was deferred by the Court from term
to term, until the statute of limitations would
protect the persons implicated, and then my dis-
charge was granted!!!
For some time after the trial, my confederates
ceased to hold any communication with me in re-
lation to the election frauds. But a circumstance
occurred which again brought them to ask of me a
favor, humbled as I was. Trampled upon as I had
been, I had still, as they knew, the power to harm.
I had certain papers in my possession which were
dangerous to them. I was in possession of some
facts, and they feared that information might pos-
sibly leak out that would defeat the confirmation of
certain nominations under the general government.
Again, therefore, negociations were set on foot,
and I confess openly to the public, that, convinced
as I had been, by their acts, of their utter turpi-
tude and treachery towards me, I professedly ac-
ceded to their offers, and availed myself, by strata-
gem, of additional evidence to fortify myself against
my powerful adversaries. Their foot was on my
neck—thousands to one against me; and while
thus prostrate, strategy was my only hope of deliv-
erance. How well my plan succeeded, the public
hereafter shall know. In the expose which I feel
it my duty to make, many will be mentioned whose
feelings I would not willingly wound; but it is not
my fault if others, less immediately connected and
inculpated in these transactions, are pointed out.
The act was their own; and as my statement must
be a faithful one, I cannot pass them by. The
whole transactions shall now be given to the pub-
lic, with such evidence as I have to substantiate
the charges. All I ask is a candid perusal; and I
appeal to all who shall read these written, and
now complete documents and narratives, to mark
the connected, unbroken and lucid chain of evi-
dence they present, of locality, names, dates, per-
sons, incidents, conversations, &c. &c. to say,
whether they believe it to be within the compass
of possibility, that any human being, however gift-
ed in intellect, base in moral depravity, or mad-
dened by despair, could, with the most fertile and
ingenious inventive powers, have fabricated such a
story, or forged such papers as are presented.
Almost all the original letters and memoranda
have come into my possession within a few days;
and those who deserve the censure cannot now, by
any subterfuge, escape the just and merited re-
proach which a people, jealous of their rights,
will visit upon those who attempt, by fraud, to
wrest them from them.
It will be seen, in the sequel, that the reproach
and the ignominy which they strove to fix on me
alone, should be shared by others who hold higher
stations, and have more friends, more wealth, and
more influence to sustain them, than myself; and
though I am aware that their participation will
not screen me from the reproach I merit for the
part I have performed, it will, at least, teach them
that neither wealth, place, influence, or perjury,
are safe guarantees against the exposure of guilt.
To the public I appeal, confessing and regreting
my errors, and by their verdict I must abide, be it
for or against me.
Very respectfully,
JAMES B. GLENTWORTH.
New-York, December 2d, 1841.
================================================================
[Col.2]
GLENTWORTH'S DISCLOSURES AT LAST.—We re-
ceived late last evening a pamphlet, containing the
long expected disclosures of James B. Glentworth.
He positively asserts the truth of all the charges
heretofore made against Blatchford & Co.—gives
copies of the original papers—and adds a whole
history of the pipe-laying business, that is perfectly
astounding for its villainy and corruption. The
statements of J. D. Stevenson, are all confirmed.
What becomes now of the pipe-layers?
———————
Chronology for the Year 1841.
JANUARY.
Florida was renewed with great spirit.
Missouri steam frigate, begun July 1839—launched
Jan. 8, 1841.
...
Appointment of M. M. Noah, a Judge of the Court of
Sessions.
...
The Glentworth affairs before the Grand Jury.
...
Florida war terminated.
FEBRUARY.
Florida war broke out with new violence.
...
MARCH.
President's steamship's last arrival at this port, 3d March.
...
President steamship left this port forever, 11th.
...
Madame Restell arrested and confined in the tombs.
...
APRIL.
...
R. H. Morris elected Mayor, 15th.
...
The Apostle Biddle is writing Epistles.
MAY.
Florida war renewed with savage ferocity.
Intense anxiety for the ill-fated President steamship.
...
Glentworth and “them papers” before the General
Sessions.
...
The National Theatre burned down, 30th.
Extra session of Congress, 31st.
President (of Senate) Southard excludes the Herald
from the Senate.
The Florida war finally terminated.
JUNE.
The Florida war broke out afresh.
All hope of the steamship President forever abandoned.
The persons who burnt down the National Theatre
never punished.
...
The Herald's reporter admitted to the Senate.
Trial of the famous Tom Ritchie before Judge Noah—
also, about these times, several important decisions on
the pork law.
...
JULY.
...
James Gordon Bennett is indicted by the grand jury—
first, for bringing one M. M. Noah, and a certain James
Lynch into contempt—second, for representing that the
said M. M. Noah said, “Pork! pork!” and other scanda-
lous words—third, for taking Tom Ritchie's name in
vain, or for using bad coffee.
Judge Edwards retires from the Circuit Court.
The famous murder of Mary C. Rogers at Hoboken, Ju-
ly 25.
The Florida war closed finally.
AUGUST.
A war with the Indians broke out in Florida.
...
The Russian steam frigate Kamschatka, nearly ready
for sea.
Great bank robberies in the West.
Terrific conflagration of the steamer Erie—loss of 100
lives—Aug. 9.
The Murderers of Mary C. Rogers not found—intense
excitement on the subject.
...
Not convicted—the villain who burnt the National
theatre.
The murder of M. C. Rogers continues to be an ama-
zing mystery—great efforts to detect the murderer.
The Whigs begin to kick out of the traces.
Awful intimacy of the Herald's correspondent with
President Tyler.
Auguste Belmont and Mr. Hayward amuse the public
with a pistol fight, all for love.
...
SEPTEMBER.
...
The Whig Party broken up by the N. Y. Herald.
More Grand Forgeries.
Samuel Adams murdered by J. C. Colt, 17th.
...
The body of Samuel Adams discovered, 27th.
...
OCTOBER.
...
Russell tried for the murder of his wife and con-
victed.
...
Daniel C. Payne, the lover of Mary C. Rogers, committed
suicide very singularly, at Hoboken, 8th.
...
[Col.3]
...
The Evening Star died of a lingering consumption.
...
NOVEMBER.
...
Them Glentworth Papers is published at last, and the
Florida war is ended and no mistake.
The year 1841 died at 12 o'clock, P. M. on the 31st of
December.
reigner.
...
DECEMBER.
President's Message, 7th.
Patrick Russell hung, 8th.
The news of the Birth of Prince Royal, on Tuesday,
9th of November, arrives in New York on the 9th of De-
cember.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.1]
PORTRAIT OF JOHN C. COLT.
JUDGE KENT—Mr. Whiting, the Aldermen will be
detained till eleven o'clock, when they will be here.
—An interpreter has applied for pay in the arson
case.
WHITING—Very well, sir.
About eleven o'clock, Alderman Purdy and Lee
entered and took their seats, and the Court of Oyer
and Terminer was opened.
Mr. WHITING then rose and said, “I now call on
the case of John C. Colt.
JUDGE KENT—Put the prisoner at the bar.
COLT then rose and walked to the end of the long
table where his counsel sat, with a firm steady step,
an unblanched cheek, and an eye that did not
quail; he then sat down by the side of Mr. Em-
mett.
Mrs. ADAMS was present, dressed in deep mourn-
ing, but looked uncommonly well in health and ap-
pearance.
The female who lived with Colt, and who has
recently been confined in Philadelphia, was also
present, with two other females.
The CLERK, HENRY VANDERVOORT, then rose and
said—“The gentlemen who are summoned as petit
jurors, will please to answer to their names as they
are called.”
Wm. E. Bailey Ebenezer Howe,
Francis Clark, George Hurry,
George Dixon, John Huestis,
Hampden D. Gage, Cornelius E. Jacobus,
Hiram Harrison, Morris Ketchum,
Samuel Frost, Charles Pearsall,
Thomas King, James W. Quackenboss,
Vincent LeCompte, Andrew Quackenboss,
Wm. Leggett, John Quackenboss,
Wm. Key, John Harris,
James Pearson, J. L. Garrow,
James Raisbeck, Wm. Chase,
Wm. W. Shirley, Wm. Curring,
Cornelius Westerfield, John Dunn,
John Vanderbilt, Horatio M. Fryer,
Matthias Truesdale, Wm. Anderson,
Robt. Snow, Saml. C. S. Brown,
George B. Sprall, Henry Brown,
Cornelius Smith, John S. Bailley,
George Spicer, Joshua Brush,
Charles Oakford, Benjamin E. Brennan,
Francis Olderhousen, Samuel W. Henman,
Thomas Hollahan, Nicholas ——.
Of all this number, only nineteen answered to their
names.
CLERK—Only nineteen jurors anwwer, sir.
JUDGE KENT.—Nineteen jurors only answer to
their names, Mr. Attorney.
SELDEN—Do you demand a tales?
WHITING—Yes, sir.
JUDGE KENT—The statute says, that when 24
jurors do not answer to their names, the Court shall
direct the Sheriff to summon a sufficient number
from the city and county; and, considering the cir-
cumstances of this case, which render it likely that
it will be difficult to form a jury, the Court therefore
will order the Sheriff.
SELDEN—Before the Court makes the order, I
have a question to propose as to the organization of
the Court, which, without attempting to throw any
unnecessary objections in the way, I deem it the
duty of counsel to propose. I would therefore ask,
if the record exhibits the fact as to who constitute
the Court.
JUDGE KENT—Certainly, the Circuit Judge, and
two Aldermen only. What motion do you intend
to found on that, sir?
SELDEN—No motion, your Honor. But does the
record exhibit that fact?
JUDGE KENT—Most unquestionably it does; and
the Court, in considering the circumstances of this
case, and the difficulty in getting a jury, do order
the Sheriff to summon 300 persons from the county
at large to be in attendance here at 10 o'clock on
Wednesday morning.
SELDEN—Will that be time enough?
JUDGE KENT—In the case of Ezra White, the
Sheriff was directed to summon 200 witnesses the
next day, but there was some difficulty in getting
them together. It is thought that Wednesday will
allow sufficient time.
SELDEN—I have no desire to create any delay.
JUDGE KENT—The Court also order the Sheriff to
have ten additional constables to keep order.
The Court then adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.1]
TRIAL OF JOHN C. COLT.
——
Court of Oyer and Terminer.
JUDGE KENT presiding.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 19.
The same intense excitement prevailed through-
out the community that was seen on Monday
last. By eight o'clock in the morning, all the
avenues to the City Hall were blocked up with
a dense crowd, eager to obtain admittance to the
...
Mr. SELDEN then made a very able argument
to show that the meaning of the statute was,
that the Counsel for prisoner ought to have more
time than had been allowed where they had to ex-
amine a panel of 300 persons; and he moved that
the trial be postponed till Friday morning to allow
time to examine the panel; which was put into
his hand only this morning.
Mr. WHITING made an able, but brief reply.
The COURT ruled that the trial must proceed; in
the case of Ezra White only 5 jurors were got out
of pannel of 200. And if they adopted Mr. Selden's
course the trial would be interminable protracted.
The Court would afford all the patience, protec-
tion, impartiality and justice that could possibly
be given to the cause, mixed with kindness for the
prisoner.
The prisoner's counsel then put in an affidavit
relative to the time they obtained the panel, and
also that the jurors were selected from the Grand
Jury list.
WHITING.—The affidavit is put in after the bal-
lots had been put in the box.
Mr. SELDEN excepted to the ruling of the Court.
The cause then proceeded. The Court decided
that questions might be asked of the witness be-
fore he was challenged.
The following were then called as jurors.
JAMES B. AYRES, 198 Fulton street. He had
formed no opinion, and was sworn.
...
JOSEPH BISHOP, grocer, 552 Grand street—Had
read all the statements in the papers, but they
made no impression on him. Sworn.
...
NATHAN R. HUESTED, keeper of North Ameri-
can Hotel, Bowery—sworn.
...
EPENETUS HOWE, 53 Libery street—Had tried
to form an opinion in order not to serve on the jury,
but he could not. Sworn.
JAMES SUYDAM, corner of Grand and Forsyth
street, has such a natural antipathy to robbery and
murder, that he is not free from bias. Stood
aside.
Here the Court took a recess till four o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
S. J. BARRY, not present.
...
Mr. HOBBY, 274 Grand street—Had no opinion,
and was sworn.
...
HIRAM M. FORRESTER, dry goods merchant, 242
Broadway—Have not formed a positive opinion; I
should be unwilling to convict him on the testimony
I have heard; subscribe to the “Journal of Com-
merce,” and occasionally to the small papers.
Sworn.
Here Mr. AYRES, the foreman of the jury, asked
leave to be discharged; his wife was dangerously
ill. He was sworn to this. The counsel on both
sides said they would raise no objection to these
proceedings, as far as they have gone, if this juror
was discharged. The Court discharged him.
...
[Col.2]
...
HOSEA M. CLARK, 167 Greenwich street, dry
goods dealer, had read all, but formed no opinion.
Sworn.
...
ELIAS HATFIELD, 472 Broadway, formed no
opinion, knows none of the parties, has no con-
scientious scruples. Sworn.
...
CHARLES H. DELAVAN, has read the papers;
knows none of the parties; except Colt's brother;
what he read did not influenced his mind; has no
conscientious scruples about serving. Sworn.
...
Mr. DODSWORTH read two stories; they clashed
so with each other that I could not make up my
mind. I've seen so many instances where the ac-
cused has proved innocent, that I'm slow in mak-
ing up my mind. Sworn.
...
[Col.3]
...
[Col.4]
...
A. H. DUNSCOMBE, 337 Pearl street, brush maker;
has no bias one way or another. Sworn.
...
GEORGE T. TRIMBALL, and SAMUEL F. MOTT,
were then sworn.
JOHN H. WILLIMS, 315 Pearl and 199 Madison
streets, was satisfied there had been a killing, had
an impression that it was done by Colt, but wheth-
er it was a justifiable homicide or not, I have no im-
pression. He was sworn.
...
HAMPTON D. GAGE; formed an opinion. Set
aside.
JACOB A. WESTERVELT and WM. B. CROSBY.
Here the pannel was exhausted. The Court
then driected the Sheriff to summon one person to-
morrow morning at 10 o'clock, duly qualified to
serve.
The usual directions were then given by the
Court to the jury, and the Court adjourned till 11
o'clock this (Thursday) morning.
NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, January 20, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
Trial of John C. Colt.
We give to-day the first day's proceedings in the
trial of John C. Colt. The most intense interest is
felt. The whole of yesterday was spent in procur-
ing a jury. To-day the opening speech will be giv-
en—and the evidence begin. This afternoon, at four
o'clock, an EXTRA HERALD will be published,
containing the proceedings up to that date.
P. S.—Since writing the above, we find that the
Court adjourned at eleven o'clock last night to
eleven o'clock this morning. The entire panel of
there hundred talesmen was exhausted, and also
the original panel of thirty-six. Out of these three
hundred and thirty-six, eleven jurors were sworn to
try the cause. The twelfth will be sworn this
morning.
The following are the names of the eleven:—
Charles H. Delevan, Hiram Forrester,
Joseph Bishop, Hosea F. Clark,
Nathan R. Husted, Elias Hatfield,
Epenetus Howe, Francis Dodsworth,
Jas. R. Hobby, Alfred H. Dunscomb,
John H. Williams.
The prisoner's counsel exhausted sixteen peremp-
tory challenges out of his twenty, having only four
left, and challenged two for the favor.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
GRANITE BUILDINGS,
CORNER OF BROADWAY AND CHAMBERS STREET,
THE PLACE WHERE ADAMS WAS KILLED.
COLT'S TRIAL.
—
SECOND DAY—THURSDAY.
—
The same excitement prevailed this day through
the whole city, to see and hear this extraordinary
trial.
...
The following is a complete list of the Jury:
1. Joseph Bishop, 552 Grand street.
2. Nathan R. Husted, North American Hotel, Bowery.
3. Epenetus Howe, 53 Liberty street.
4. James R. Hobby, 274 Grand street.
5. Hiram M. Forester, 242 Broadway.
6. Horace F. Clark, 167 Greenwich street.
7. Elias Hatfield, 472 Broadway.
8. Charles H. Delevan.
9. Thomas Doddsworth.
10. Alfred H. Duncombe, 337 Pearl street.
11. John H. Williams, 315 Pearl and 199 Madison sts.
12. John Roshore.
...
Mr. WHITING called ASA H. WHEELER: Am a
teacher of Writing and Book Keeping, corner of
Chambers and Broadway, his place of business;
northwest corner of granite buildings.
Am married; live 20th street, near Broadway;
my office has been in the Granite Buildings since
one year last May; second floor.
WHITING—Bring me that diagram, if Justice
Taylor is in court.
(Diagram of the second floor produced.)
WITNESS—I know prisoner; he called on me in
1838, to have me examine a work on book-keeping;
he introduced himself; that was our first acquaint-
ance; next called on the second day of last August;
[Col.2]
wished to take a room of me; I let him have the
room for six weeks, according to agreement, from
the second of August, I think it was; room adjoin-
ing mine in the granite buildings; I occupied then
two rooms; they joined each other—folding doors
between; my entrance is in Chambers street.
...
[Col.3]
...
[Col.4]
...
[Col.5]
...
(Here, at three o'clock, the Court took a recess
of one hour.)
Afternoon Session.
WHEELER—Cross examination continued—I went
up stairs and found Mr. Hockson in his room. I
told him I wanted him to go down stairs—there
was something wrong going on. We came down
—went direct to Colt's door—Believe I didn't knock
till Hockson left me. I looked in at the key hole,
and saw the drop down. I told him I apprehended
foul play. He staid down one or two minutes.—
...
[Col.6]
...
ARZAC SEIGNETTE examined—Resided corner
4th and Wooster, did so last September. was a
pupil of Wheeler's; I went to Wheeler's between
...
NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, January 21, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.1]
SELDEN—That's all, Sir.
...
JOHN DELNOSE—Is 26, a book-peeper, and reside
at 139 Broadway; in September last I resided on
Staten Island; was in town every day; at that
I partly made an arrangement to have that room of
Wheeler's (Colt had) if Colt left, and had slept in
Wheeler's room when I was left by the Staten Is-
land boat; on that Friday, September 17, I went to
Wheeler's about four o'clock; when he then told
me what he had heard, and though I laughed at
the idea, and wouldn't believe it; till I saw him go
and look through the key-hole of Colt's door; I
then got on the desk and listened at the folding
doors, the key-hole of that door being stopped; I
listened and heard no noise whatever; every thing
was perfectly silent; don't know what transpired
till Mr. Wheeler asked me if I would go for an of-
ficer; I proceeded to the Halls of Justice in Centre
street, and asked for Mr. Boyer; was told he'd be
in in a few minutes; I waited a few moments, hav-
ing a young man in his charge, an I nodded to
him and told him I wished to see him; he re-
turned in a few minutes, and I told him what had
occurred at the Granite Building; he said he'd
go in a few minutes. He stepped to a room and
asked if any one there would go to the Granite
Buildings; he said he would go. I returned to
Wheeler's office, told him one would be there in
half in hour; I staid a little while, then went to
tea; this was a little after six; we had tea then at
half-past six; I then went back to Wheeler's office;
...
[Col.2]
By SELDEN—I think I could hear footsteps go
from or to Colt's door, near the door, although the
omnibuses might be running at the time.
Judge KENT—Do you recollect meeting Mr. Sei-
gnette or any person from your return from the po-
lice or from tea.
WITNESS—Saw no person at either time.
Here the Court adjourned at 20 minutes past 8 to
half past 10 o'clock, on Friday.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
THIRD DAY.
COLT'S TRIAL.
——————————
Court of Oyer and Terminer.
JUDGE KENT, PRESIDING.
FRIDAY, 21st January.
The excitement in this extraordinary case in-
creases with every succeeding day. The crowds
...
Colt's father was not present; nor was Caroline
Henshaw. The jury passed the night at the Knick-
erbocker Hotel, Park Row; all newspapers were
carfully kept from them.
The Court came in at 10, precisely.
Mr. WHITING called Mr. Octon to the stand.
Mr. SELDON and Mr. EMMETT made affidavit
complaining of two wood-cuts in the “Tattler” and
the “Extra Herald.” Mr. Selden made a speech
requesting the court to issue warrants for the ar-
rest of the publishers of the Tattler and the He-
rald.
The Court declined interfering in the matter, un-
less a plain and palpable case of contempt was
brought before them.
Mr. WHITING called the fourth witness.
LOW OCTON (colored man) examined—Is 57
years old; resides in the granite buildings; been
there 26½ months; was first one that lived in the
building; I am on the third story, Nos. 14 & 15.
At the first, I lived in the upper part of all; last
September I was in the third story; my duty is
to open and close the building; I am sexton of
a small Baptist Church; I know John C. Colt, pri-
soner at the bar; his room was No. 9 on second
floor; it adjoined Mr. Wheeler's; Wheeler's was
No. 10; I did not see what furniture Colt brought
in; I had nothing to do with his room; I never
was in Mr. Colt's room; he generally did his own
business, on the day Colt was took out of the room
by four gentlemen, I was in there; that was the
only time, I was called to that room by request of
an officer; I was called to go down to that room by
Mr. Wheeler, on the 17th of Sept., about 4 P.M.;
he said something had transpired in the next room
to him that had frightened him; I came down with
him; I went slowly or softly with Mr. Wheeler,
as he told me that he had——
[Stopped.]
WITNESS—I walked softly to the door; Mr.
...
end of that day with me. On next day, the 18th,
as I swept down the stairs, as I turned the last
flight of stairs but one, as I turned the bannister, I
saw a box standing in the hall at the head of the last
flight of stairs leading to the street; it was on the
second floor, about a foot from the stairs; on the
left side of the stairs coming down, by the bannis-
ters; it was a pine box; stood up on the end,
when I saw the box; I felt sorry that I had seen
the box; for it struck my mind——
[Stopped.]
WITNESS—The box stood alone, when I first saw
it; at the end of a minute or two, I saw Mr. Colt
come to the box, from his room, or the direction
of his room; Mr. Colt had no coat on or jacket;
he had his waistcoat and shirt sleeves open; Mr.
Colt took hold of the box; he put it sideways and
slid it down toward the stairs; he went before
the stairs after he had started it, so as to keep
it from coming too fast; the box hitched once, did
not slip easy; Mr. Colt put his feet firm against
the stairs, and his shoulder against the box to start;
every now and then he put his left shoulder by
main force to start the box. I wanted to get away
from that box. (Here Colt smiled.) I was never
called into court; I had to stop sweeping to give
Mr. Colt a chance To get down with his box; when
he got down nine out of eighteen steps, I went up
stairs; no cause to do so, but to give him chance to
get his box down; I came down in six or seven
minutes, and the box was at the bottom of the stairs,
just round the bannisters. (Where Delnose de-
scribed it to have been.) I saw Mr. Colt stand
then out on the stoop in his shirt sleeves; he ap-
peared to be as if he was looking out for a carman;
I swept down, and came away and went up stairs
to dust the banisters; there was a mark on the box;
I thought not very skilful; made as it was marked
with a course pen, and the liquid was not black;
looked like blueish ink; I saw on it “New Or-
leans;” I did not see the rest; was not desirous to
do so; the box was three feet long; two and a half
feed wide, and about two feet deep; when I first
saw the box it was about quarter to eight; the time
from when I first saw it till I saw it at the foot of
the stairs, and he on the stoop, was about twenty
minutes; after that I saw no more of the box; I no-
ticed that about a quarter to nine, it had been re-
moved; during the time he was taking the box
down, he did not speak to me, nor I to him, not a
word; I had not seen that box before nor since; I
did not see the box in which the body was found.
Cross-examined by SELDEN—My family lived in
the third story, the whole of September. The
front door is sometimes opened by me—seldom.
...
I am paid for looking after the building by the
owners; I am paid for looking after the rooms by
the tenants themselves; what I do for their rooms;
I had nothing to do with any room that month; on
the 4th story—none lodged on the 4th story as I
know—there were 28 and 29, Mr. Ridner, Apollo
Rooms, large exhibitions of pictures. They were
very large rooms, designed to exhibit pictures;
one particularly; the other for those concerned in
the exhibition; the other particularly for the ex-
hibition.
No. 26, Mr. Stanton—He was a portrait drawer.
...
The 5th story was Deggretype—Mr. Vanlower—
to take profile—nothing else.
On the 3d story, Mr. Charles Adams himself oc-
cupied two rooms—the proprietor, Nos. 21 and 22.
...
The second story has 7 and 8. I am not certain
if it was occupied then; it is not now; they are in
the right hand of the passage way, and the right
hand of the stairs, on the second story; they are on
the same side as Mr. Wheeler's room, and be-
tween it and the stairs.
No. 9 was occupied by Mr. Colt.
No. 10 was occupied by Mr. Wheeler.
On the other side was a large room which used to
be occupied by Mr. Brackett, sculptor—a large
room. No. 11, in September it was occupied by
the self same gentleman that has it now, Mr. Os-
good, a portrait drawer.
...
[Col.2]
...
By SELDEN—There were two doors between the
stairway and the door of Mr. Colt, on the lower
side; on the other side of that hall, there are but
two doors from the stairs to Broadway. There
used to be but one large room occupied by Dr. Ar-
noux—he had it divided. Mr. Osgood's door is
opposite Wheeler's. The other door is most op-
posite No. 7; the next door to the stairs. The
Apollo Room is general exhibition room to receive
visiters who pay to see pictures. It was so in
September. But they have removed their pic-
tures. It was generally lighted up at night except
on unpleasant weather—when no likely visiters—
no encouragement. But other times open 10 o'clock
in the morning to 10 o'clock at night. I raise up
the windows in the hall and passage when I sweep
in the morning, and leave them up in warm weather
till 11 at night, when I put the latch down. When
there is no fire called for, gentlemen generally
take charge of their own room. When the
windows of the hall are open there is con-
siderable draught. I had charge of no rooms
in September. Mr. Slocum's druggist's store; there
is a large door open into Broadway—another large
door open into Chamber street, and a door at back
of the store open into the main house—into the
passage way; this last is all thick boarded door—
no glass in it. Mr. Slocum's establishment is a
great resort in summer season. It was warm wea-
ther. I frequently see great many people go in
there. That more or less till cold weather stop it.
It closes week day at 11 o'clock, and Sunday eve-
ning it closes at 10 o'clock. In the warm weather
the druggist's large doors are generally left open.
About September Slocum's boys did not open that
store so early as present person occupy it now.—
They used to open it about 7 o'clock in summer—
between 7 and 8. Could not tell when Slocum left—
it was business a little out of my reach. He staid
till October. I never spoke to Mr. Colt on morn-
ing of 18th Sept. He never spoke to me but one
word all time he there, and that was to ask
me for key of privy. I told him Mr. Wheeler
had key answer for him both. That was all the
one word I ever spoke to him. I was always in the
habit to keep my bound, and only speak as I spoke
to him. It was a minute or two from the time I
saw the box till Mr. Colt came up to it. I first saw
the box as I turned the bottom of the flight of stairs
from the third story. The stairway is not spiral
like a corkscrew.
Mr. SELDEN asked witness if the stairway from
second to third story did not go in a reverse direc-
tion from the first flight of stairs form the street to
the first landing?
The witness was a good deal puzzled, and could
not explain himself for some time, except by say-
ing this:
WITNESS—There is a bannister on the right all
the way; and as you go up the second flight of
stairs, you go higher and higher every step—
(laughter.)
There was a great deal of foolish and unneces-
sary delay occasioned here by the counsel not in-
forming themselves of the state of the stairway
before they came into court. And the tiresome
repetitions of the same questions about the re-
lative situation of the second and third flight of
stairs, were very silly.
...
to the 1st story; it was four o'clock in the after-
noon of 17th of September that wheeler came to my
room; he staid two or three minutes talking; he
and I staid 6 or 8 minutes at Colt's door; I made
no attempt to look through he key hole of Colt's
...
and also a cistern in the yard; that's how we
supply ourselves with water; the privies in the
back yard are detached from the main building.
...
There were but six separate privies in that back
yard. They were distributed among the differ-
ent tenants of that building; keys were gene-
rally given to each gentleman that hired the
rooms; and several gentlemen had to go to
one place, because, the six privies could not
afford to accommodate one each for so many;
one of the officers has recently called for the key
and examined that privy; that is the officer there;
(pointing to Relyea); the key I gave to the officer
was the one that opened the privy belonging to, or
used by Wheeler; some keys opened several
doors; there were two or three men with the offi-
cer; it was ten or eleven o'clock at night; it was
a month or six weeks ago. Mr. Adams gave me
permission to give the officer the key; I saw no-
thing they did; the same officer returned me the
key; there has been no farther inspections of that
privy.
...
RICHARD BARSTOW ex'd.—Is 34 years old. Am a
carman, live at 272 Nineteenth street. I know
John C. Colt, the prisoner at the bar. I first saw
Colt at abot 90 or 100 on Chambers street, the right
hand side of the way. I came down Hudson street,
to Chambers street—left home quarter to nine.
About Church street, in Chambers street, I saw a
man standing on the South side-walk by the curb-
stone, as if looking for some body. He asked me
if I was engaged and I said not particularly. He
stepped into the street to me. I asked him what
he wanted—he said to take a box to Maiden lane.
I said as my business lay that way, I'd take it. I
told him I would take it. I drove up the street;
he followed; and crossed over to the north side.
I drove passed the door of the granite build-
ings; he went past it and then beckoned
me into the door of the granite buildings, as if to
say the box was there. There was a spring cart
stood sideways in front of the door; I backed in,
in front diagonally, as near as I could get to the
door—that's the gentleman sitting there that beckoned
[Col.3]
to me then, (POINTING TO COLT.) He went into the
building; he had got up three or four steps of the
first stairway as I went into the door; he then point-
ed to the box. [Diagram shown to witness, and
he described it as standing where Delnoce said it
stood.] Mr. Colt did not say a word; the other
carman who had the spring cart, took hold of one
end of the box, and helped me put it on the cart.
Colt stood still on the stairs whilst I was doing
this; I went back to ask what vessel it was to go on
board of; he said he didn't know the name of the
vessel; he said the vessel was at the foot of Maiden
Lane; I then took a look at the man so as I'd know
him again; I drove into Broadway, down Broad-
way to Maiden lane, down Maiden lane to the foot
of it; I looked back several times, to see if the
man followed me, and he did; when I got at
the foot of Maiden lane, I saw the box
was marked “New Orleans.” I saw it was mark-
ed before, and I thought it was to go on board a
packet or vessel going there. I saw a sign up for
New Orleans at foot of Maiden lane, and I stopped
and saw him (Colt) close by and pointed to the
sign to see if that was the vessel and he nodded;
he was on the right side of Maiden lane going down.
This was the pier on the right hand side of Maiden
lane; the vessel was the Kalamazoo. I backed
up to the side of the pier, and shot the box off as
I would a box of sugar. He came up and paid me
2s 6d in change; he had said nothing to me at the
time of asking me to take the box about the price,
or I should have charged him 3 shillings; but I
thought I should have more trouble to get the other
sixpence out of him than it was worth. He said
not a word to me at the time he paid me, and I
went away about my business.
(Here the Aldermen left the bench for a short
time.)
Mr. BARSTOW continued—The mark on the box
was on the upper side, as I placed it on the cart; so
it was on the dock; I drove up Peck Slip as I left;
I made no entry in any book, of the load; I never
do; I next saw the prisoner before the coroner's
jury, when he was fetched.
Cross-examined by SELDEN—I saw Colt two-thirds
of the way down Chambers street, between Church
street and Broadway; it was from nine to half-past
nine; he beckoned to me; not later than half-past
nine; between the time I removed the box from
the building, to getting to the vessel, was as ordi-
nary fast; the person who asked me to take the
box, followed me down to the pier; when there, I
turned round, and found him close by; he paid me,
and I left; said nothing; 2s 6d is the price for a
common load; that was an uncommon load; I had
never seen the prisoner before that time; and never
afterwards till I saw him before the coroner's in-
quest.
By WHITING.—I next saw the box in the ship the
following Sunday week; I helped to get the box out
of the hold of the vessel; I worked hard to do it;
I knew it as soon as I saw it in the hold, before it
was taken out; it was opened between decks; it
contained a dead body, a human body; the box was
then closed and put on a cart, and taken I presume
to the dead house; I didn't see it at the dead house;
...
By WHITING—When I left the box there; the
chief mate of the vessel stood on the deck by the
cargo; I think I saw Colt advance towards him,
and I think the mate said something about a receipt.
The mate wast the same that afterwards over-
hauled the cargo and helped get the box out.
THOMAS RUSSELL—is 29 years old; a carman;
live at 213, Seventeenth street. On 18th Septem-
ber I called at usual place of employment from
three to half-past nine, at Granite Buildings; my
employer was John P. Ridner. I waited at the
door; drove my horse lengthways off the
curb stone; very shortly a gentleman came in
and a cart drove up; and as I saw a box stand-
ing in the entry of the buildings, I thought it
easiest to help to put the box on the cart, than
to untie my horse; that's the gentleman there
(pointing to Colt); whilst we were loading the
box, that gentleman stood on the lower flight of
stairs, apparently unconcerned about the box; he
said nothing all the time; the box stood on the
end, mark towards the druggist's door; there
was a large G on it; we put it on the cart,
the marked side previous. On Saturday the
26th I went to the Mayor's office; he told me the
circumstances; I gave him a description of the
box as near as I could, and I went in search of the
horse and cart. I did'nt know the carman, but
knew his horse; I found him that night. We all
went to the Mayor, and then were told to go to the
ship Kalamazoo; we went; saw the mate; staid
till 9 at night; went to the Mayor's office; told to
go to the ship next morning at 9. The agent of the
ship looked a his bills of lading, and found a re-
ceipt was given for every thing but that box, but
the dimensions of the box he had. We then
searched the forward hold, and the other carman
pointed out the box from its size, before we
could get hold of it. We got out of the hold;
saw the box brought upto the between decks,
and opened; I saw some cloths; awning I suppose
it was. The stench was so great I could not stay,
and went on the upper deck. I saw it no more till
the box was hoisted to the upper deck. I did not
see it put on the cart, nor on the dock; I kept back
on account of the stench; I did not see if there
was a body in the box.
...
By SELDEN.—My cart had been there about five
minutes that morning before Colt and the cart came
up to the door.
WM. F. GODFREY.—Is superindent of carts.—
On Friday, Sept. 24th, I was at the Mayor's office.
The Mayor told me there was a box missing from
the corner of Broadway and Chambers street; he
thought some carman had taken it away. He asked
...
It was Sunday Sept. 26th. The box was marked
“R. C. Gross, St. Louis, care of De Gray & Co.,
New Orleans.”
Cross-examined.—Don't recollect making a bet as
to the result of this prosecution; I said if I wasn't
a witness I might; don't recollect for what; we
were all talking about this affair; there was a hat
talked about; I was talking with Mr. Fallon; I
didn't offer to bet; I said “if I wasn't a witness,”
after this was all over; I made no offer of betting
with any one about this transaction; Mr. Fallon
proposed betting me a hat that the man would go
clear; I didn't take up the offer; I first saw first
[Col.4]
mate with the chloride of lime; he was sprinkling
...
By WHITING—Fallon, keeper of the City Prison,
offered to bet with me. He knew I had been en-
gaged in getting the body. I've had oceans of appli-
cations—a thousand after me to bet money, hats and
every thing about this; whether they were sent to me or
not, I can't tell.
By SELDEN—I did not know Colt was arrested
till that Saturday before we found the body. On
the Friday before the Mayor did not mention Mr.
Colt's name to me.
The witness subsequently named Mr. Kipland,
and a man in Bank street, who had offered to bet
with him.
[The Court adjourned at 3 to 4 o'clock.]
Afternoon Session.
JOHN S. ELWELL.—Resides in Brooklyn; is
agent for ship Kalamazoo; she belongs to A. & B.
Kingsland, and Capt. Skerrin. She sailed for New
Orleans about the 1st of October; we advertised
her to sail under a freight; she sailed as a transient
ship; it was expected she'd sail about the 20th of
September; she commenced taking in cargo in
August. She laid at the end of the pier at first
time of taking in cargo, then drew up to the end of
the dock. Wm. L. Coffin was chief mate; he went
to New Orleans to join his ship and went with her
to Europe. On Saturday morning, Sept. 18th, I
went on the dock to see after the cargo; at first the
box before mentioned was not there; I was on
board, and saw the mate writing a receipt, and told
him it was not correct; he merely put the names
and not the residences on the receipt, so I filled up
the balance of the receipt myself,—“Gross, St.
Louis; care of De Gray & Co., New Orleans.”
...
By a JUROR.—The receipt, I don't know wheth-
er it had the name of the person from whom the
box was received. I know of no such house as De
Gray in New Orleans, nor no such house as R. P.
Gross in St. Louis.
Here the testimony of the mate in writing was
read as follows:—
DEPOSITION OF THE MATE OF THE KALAMAZOO.
CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, ss.—WILLIAM L.
COFFIN, being duly sworn, says, that he is a mariner, and
was mate of the ship Kalamazoo of the City of New
...
[Col.5]
...
stated; and deponent further says that before said box
was taken from said ship, and while it was between
decks, deponent threw a quantity of chloride of lime on
said box.
WM. L. COFFIN.
Sworn to this 11th day of October, 1841, before me,
ROBERT TAYLOR,
Special Justice in and for the city of New York.
The above deposition having been taken under an or-
der of this court, that the same be so taken as a condi-
tion to the postponement of the cause, all objections to
its being read on the trial, on the ground of its having
been sworn to before Justice Taylor, is waived, but the
same is taken, subject to all other legal objections, I ha-
ving attended the examination on behalf of the prisoner,
and waived the necessity of taking the same in his per-
sonal presence. R. EMMET,
of counsel for prisoner.
Mr. DELNOSE recalled.—The night I went to
sleep in Wheeler's room I had a lamp burning. It
...
ABNER MILLIKIN—Is deputy Coroner. On Sun-
day, 26th September, I was informed this box had
been found on board ship Kalamazoo, at the foot of
Maiden lane; I went down on board the ship and
found the Mayor, magistrates, and several officers,
hoisting out goods from lower to second deck. Af-
ter an hour or an hour and a half, the box was hoist-
ed out on to the second deck; this box was mark-
ed—
R. P. Gross, New Orleans,
Care of
De Gray & Co.
St. Louis.
The carpenter of the ship opened the box. When
we lifted the lid the stench was so great that all
went on deck except the coroner, myself, Mr. God-
frey and the carpenter of the ship. On taking off
the cloths off the body, I discovered a white sub-
stance, which I took to be common table salt; fine salt;
there were two quarts of it; there were worms in
amongst it and very offensive. The coroner then
sent for chloride of lime, which was thrown into
the box; it was closed up, hoisted out, put on a
cart, taken to the dead house, and I locked the
door and kept the key. I was present when the
box was opened and helped take the body out; I
found a dress coat in the box much cut to pieces,
...[Col.6]
...
Here the District Attorney directed Mr. Milli-
ken to bring the box and coat and stock and all to
the Court room to-night.
Mr. MILLIKEN said he could not get them to-
night.
JUDGE KENT said that as the box, &c., was very
offensive he wished them to be examined the last
thing to-night; that we might adjourn immediate-
ly after, and have the room ventilated.
Mr. WHITING said, that if the whole box was
brought in, it would make every body sick.
The Court directed Mr. Milliken to bring the
lid of the box to court about nine o'clock.
...
ROBERT H. MORRIS examined.—Is Mayor of the
city. On Thursday, (the 23d of Sept.) I was first
spoken to in relation to this matter; on that evening
after a statement had been made to me about some-
thing wrong at the Granite Buildings, I went over
there, saw and spoke to several; saw a colored man
and wife, and spoke to them; next day I associated
Judge Taylor with me to make the investigation;
he took down testimony of two gentlemen I had
seen night before and others; and sworn them to it;
and on those affidavits I issued the warrant to arrest
of Mr. Colt; I thought best to go down with them
to arrest him; A. M. C. Smith and other officers
went with me; Colt's door was locked; there was
a slate on it saying Colt would be back at two
o'clock; an officer was at the foot of the stairs, ano-
ther at the head; we and Justice Taylor sat in
Wheeler's room; we soon heard persons walking
in the entry, and found it was Mr. Colt and the offi-
cers who had arrested him; I told Mr. Colt who I
was, and we all went into his rooms and closed the
door; I told him then he was arrested, on suspi-
cion of causing the death of Adams; we searched
him, and he assisted us in showing us what he had
with him; I showed him the affidavits, and he read
them, to see what he was charged with; He was
taken to my office, Mr. Selden sent for, and Colt
was committed; that night I sent an advertise-
ment to the papers calling for the carman who took
the box from the Granite Buildings; we found the
carman through Mr. Godrey, as he stated next
day, Saturday; from that carman we found he had
taken the box to the ship Kalamazoo; we went on
board the ship that night; could not find the book
of the packages that night; next day we found the
box; I assisted in getting out the box myself; we
took it to the second dock, and I was there when
it was opened; I was not sufficiently near to the
box to see any substance like salt, even if it had
been there; I saw the box sent to the dead house.
...
Justice TAYLOR examined—On Thursday, 23d
Sept. last, I was sent for by the Mayor; I took
...
WITNESS examined—On the Saturday morning
Mr. Samuel Colt called on me, and told me his bro-
ther lived at 42 some street (thought it was Thomas
street); he then said it was near Franklin street;
however, from information he gave me, I found he
lived at 42 Monroe street; I went there and asked
for Mrs. Colt; was introduced to a woman as Mrs.
Colt; asked what room she occupied; and from a
recess near the door she drew out a trunk; I asked
her for Mr. Colt's trunk; she gave me his trunk.
[Here the trunk was brought into Court, and
placed on the table before the jury. It was a plain
square black trunk, about two feet six inches long,
and 16 inches wide, and 18 inches deep.
Mr. SELDEN objected to the introduction of the
trunk, because the statements of a third party did
not make this trunk the property of Mr. Colt.
Mr. SMITH said they had a right to introduce
their testimony when they pleased.
Mr. SELDEN said the trunk was not legal evi-
dence as yet; at the best it was only hearsay evi-
dence, and was not admissible. It must be proved
to be testimony in itself, before it could be intro-
duced in evidence. It must be proved to be Mr.
Colt's trunk first. What this woman said to Jus-
tice Taylor cannot be evidence between the people
and the prisoner.
Judge KENT said—He should exclude the state-
ments of this woman; but shall Justice Taylor
show that he got this trunk from Mr. Colt's resi-
dence, and show what are the contents of that
trunk. We shall allow him to do so.
Mr. EMMETT said there was nothing to connect
Mr. Colt with 42 Monroe street as yet.
Mr. WHITING said that if they did not prove
more than that they would let the taunk go for no-
thing.
Witness continued—The trunk was taken from
3d story—front room. Officer Dennison was with
me. The female who drew it out went to the of-
fice with me. Colt was brought into the room,
and saw me and her. He could have seen the trunk
from the position in which he stood. I did not
open it in his presence. It is now as it was then. I
found several books in it. One had a name in it. There
is more in the trunk now than then. [The trunk
was here opened,] a book with a name in it, taken
out, with J. Caldwell Colt” written on it. Several
stereotype advertisement heads of “Colt's Book-
keeping,” on them—600 cards with “Colt's Lec-
tures” on them.
WITNESS.—I took a watch from the trunk—it is
not now in it.
The Deputy Coroner here produced a gold
watch with a string and key attached to it.
WITNESS.—That is the watch I took out of the
box; the watch passed ultimately to the hands of
the coroner, at the Coroner's inquest.
Cross-examined.—We first went to Mr. White,
watchmaker in the Bowery, to see who made the
watch; he sent us to Dubois, Fulton street; there
we learned he had turned the case by an engine; he
sent us to a watch case maker in John street, for
whom he made the watch; and he sent us to Platt
& Brothers; Chilton was in Colt's room with us;
he scraped from the wall on the west side
of the room, rather nearer the door than
the centre of the room, and quite high
up; at one time we stood on a chair. The spots
there were larger than elsewhere; it was as high
as a man's head. The spots were not very large
there. On the 21th of September the carpenters
cut a piece out of the floor; it was right opposite
the first folding door towards the entry; it was on
the north east square of the room, if it was divided
into four parts. It was ten inches long and six
inches wide; we took it up there because there
was a darker spot than anywhere else. There was
a place between it and the west wall that looked as
if it had been scrubbed. From the Mayor's office
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, January 22, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.1]
Mr. Colt was carried to the Upper Police prison.
...
Here the Court adjourned till this morning at 10
o'clock.
[Col.2]
COLT'S TRIAL—DUDLEY SELDEN.—We have no-
ticed the remarks and the motion made yesterday
by Dudley Selden, in the Court of Oyer and Ter-
miner, relative to an Extra Herald, published on
Thursday evening.
After the termination of the trial, we shall take
up the point of Mr. Selden's harangue, and show
that he had not the slightest foundation to attribute
to us any desire—any wish—any intention to preju-
dice Colt before the jury or the community. We
are very much astonished at this conduct, on the
part of Mr. Seldon, because we have always consid-
ered him a superior man—of great tact—and equal
industry and genius. But we forbear further remark
till this trial is over.
...
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
COLT'S TRIAL.
FORTH DAY.
——————————
Court of Oyer and Terminer.
JUDGE KENT, PRESIDING.
FOURTH DAY—SATURDAY.
The crowd, the interest, and the excitement,
consequent upon this trial increases, with every
succeeding day.
This (Saturday) morning the Court met at ten
o'clock, and then allowed the Jurors to go home to
their families to change their clothes, &c. in charge
of sworn officers. The Court then adjourned over
for an hour.
SECOND SITTING.
The Court met again at eleven o'clock. Colt
was occupied all the morning, as usual, in reading
the newspapers, particularly the debates in Con-
gress on the Bankrupt Law.
Before examining any witnesses, it was found
that the lid, of the box in which Adam's body was
found was missing. This was a most important link
in the testimony; we are told it was left in charge
of the Coroner; but of this we know nothing. It
seems that the lid has either been accidentally or
purposely, stolen, bought, sold, burnt, or otherwise
got rid of. This is worth remembering.
Judge NOAH made his appearance in Court this
morning, and sat by the side of the counsel for the
prosecution. The crowd in the Court and out of
it, was very great.
Mr. WHITING first called the Mayor to the stand,
and asked him to produce the articles he found in
Colt's room.
ROBERT H. MORRIS examined.—After Mr. Colt's
room was locked up by the officers, I had the key,
...
Cross-examined.—I had charge of Colt's room
...
pocket book was handed to the Mayor,) and he
read the following as an envelope of one of the pa-
pers:
“Hair of Sarah Colt, mother, and Margaret Colt,
deceased.”
Here Colt for the first time during the trial
evinced considerable emotion, and at last burst into
tears, covered his face with his hands and wept
bitterly for some time.
The Mayor also read as follows:—
“Letters to my little old Aunt, also one to E. B.
Hedman and one to E. W. Carr.”
Also, several endorsements thus:—
“Little old Aunt, No. 1 “Little old Aunt, No. 5
“ “ 2 “ “ 6
“ “ 3 “ “ 7
“ “ 4 “ “ 8
“ “ 9
These the Mayor said were found by him in
Colt's room.
MAYOR.—There were a great many books and
papers found there, and a hatchet found there which
was given to Mr. Chilton; I saw the Assistant Co-
roner have the hatchet.
Here the hatchet, a small common hatchet, like the Ro-
binson hatchet, was produced.
MAYOR.—This hatchet was given to Mr. Chilton
in the state I found it.
By SELDEN.—I found no rope or pieces of rope
round that trunk.
DAVID KELSO, examined.—Is 38 years old; live
at 42 Monroe street; am a pilot; knew John C. Colt;
first saw him middle last May; he came to board at
my sister-in-law's where I boarded; a lady came
with him; she was called Mrs. Colt; they lived
together as man and wife; ate at the same table
with our family; had front room third story; they
brought two black trunks and a carpet bag with
them.
(SELDON admitted that the trunks produced last
night was one one the trunks.)
...
Dr. J. R. CHILTON, examined.—Am a
practical chemist, I was called to Colt's
room in the Granite Buildings on the twenty-
fourth of September. My attention was first di-
rected to a spot on the floor which had been oiled
over on the west side of the wall. I saw some very
small spots of blood about one-eight of an inch in
diameter; I removed these spots for examination.
There were an immense number of spots of blood
on the folding doors, but very minute. I also had
a hatchet given me in charge (hatchet identified)
also a piece of the floor. I applied my chemical
tests to the spots from the wall, and to some spots
I got from the hammer end of the hatchet, and also
from the handle, and they proved to be blood; the
end of the hatchet handle had been covered with
ink. I also examined a piece of the floor, and in
the crack the dust looked red—this also gave an
indication of blood. Under the oil the board had
a reddish appearance, like blood. I also examined
a piece of paper given me by Justice Taylor.
[Here Mr. Chilton produced a copy of the “New
York Herald,” of June 13, 1841; it was also literal-
ly covered with blood on both sides. The hatchet
and piece of floor was handed to the jurors.]
...
Mr. MILLIKEN.—I have made search for the lid
of the box, but it is lost. It was placed in a cell in
the halls of justice leading from the police office,
or communicating with that office; I have not
seen the lid for two months past; almost every one
of the debtor's side of the prison has access to the
cell; it was put into the cell with the coat, cloths,
&c.
[Here the witness stated that the box and cloths
were still very offensive; that the coat and stock
were less so; and the shirt; and he was ordered to
bring them at once into Court.]
Cross-examined—These articles were never re-
moved to any other place in Leonard street. The
box was moved from one part of the city prison
to the other, but not the cover. They were all
placed in a cell with a stone bottom, plastered over
head about four feet wide by 10 or 12 feet long; its
a perfectly tight cell except the window.
...
By EMMET—The box was never put into a cell;
it was moved from the hall to the yard; it was af-
terwards moved up to the upper part of the prison;
all those things were put first in the hall of the
Egyptian Tombs, and then taken into that cell in
the debtor's side of the prison; and never removed
thence; the box lid was put there too.
A. D. PURDY examined—I am a Deputy Keeper
of the Tombs; the box was placed over the grand
jury room; I never saw the cover of the box; never
knew where it was put; knew nothing about it;
...
MALACHI FALLON examined—Is a deputy
keeper of the prison. Knows nothing about the
cover; never saw it; searched this morning where
Milliken said it was; could not find it. There are
padlocks on all the cells.
Cross-Examined—Have no recollection of offer-
ing to bet Godfrey. There were bets offered by
half a dozen; can't say if he offered to bet, or I of-
fered to bet.
CHILTON recalled by SELDEN—There would be no
new composition or decomposition if salt and chloride
of lime are put in a box together.
By WHITING—If a dead body were put into a box
[Col.2]
there would be no exhumation from it resembling
salt.
ROBERT W. BOWYER examined.—Was called on
in September last by Delnose, to go to the granite
buildings, about some difficulty that had occurred;
he could not tell what it was; it was late in the af-
ternoon; he heard a noise, clashing of foils or
something; I had a young man arrested—with me—
just returned from Yorkville; could not go
then; promised to go in half an hour; asked some
other officers to go, but they did not or would not
go. I was delayed with my prisoner longer than I
expected. The next morning I met the young man
in the street, and asked him what the difficulty was,
he told me it did'nt amount to anything, or some-
thing of that kind.
...
By WHITING—I think I may have seen him Bell's
auction-room next day; he didn't find fault with
me, but asked why I didn't come. I told him. He
said it didn't amount to anything.
Mrs. MERCY OCTON examined—Am the wife of
Low Octon. Know the prisoner at the bar. Was
...
JAMES E. HYDE, examined—Is keeper of the
city prison; the box and lid was not put under my
charge; the box was put up in the attic part; as the
only part where it could be put under lock and key;
I gave Mr. Milliken a cell to put the things in;
knew nothing of the cover of the box.
Cross-examined.—I gave the Deputy Coroner a
cell in the watch house corridor to put the things
in, and gave him the key; he's had it ever since;
the locks used to be all alike, but padlocks have
been put on; I presume they are different locks; the
key of that cell will not unlock the two next
to it.
Capt SWAIN.—Is one of the turnkeys; knows
nothing about the cover of the box; never saw it.
Mr. ASTEN.—Is one of the deputy keepers of the
city prison; knows nothing about “that box or
kiver” or the cell or the key.
Mr. H. PATRICK examined—Knows nothing about
...
Mr. HUTTON examined—Is deputy keeper of the
...
Mr. LUMMERE examined—Is engineer of the pri-
son. Knows the cell the things were put in. Mrs.
Lawrence, who looks after the prisoners, told me
she saw the watchman break the cell open to get
wood out. I locked the cell and gave Mr. Milliner
the key, when he put the things in.
JOHN DAVIS examined—Is a police officer. Don't
know the box—never see it. I know that cell—
there was a strong smell come from it; I was asked
by the watchman if I'd like to see the box Mr.
Adams was in, or that made the smell; I said no.
The cells along that watch corridor were frequent-
ly left open.
Mr. MILLIKEN recalled—Never left that cell door
open; never found it open; this is the key; I have
kept it in my possession. I've no doubt there are a
great many keys to fit that same padlock among the
police officers and watch. It is a very common lock.
He here produced the coat, stock, and shirt of
Adams.
Dr. GILMAN examined—Is a practising physician;
...
[Col.3]
...
[A cast of the head was here produced, marked
by the doctor, and shown to the jury. By this it
appeared that all the forehead, right and left, was
beaten in, and the right eyebrow and part of the
cheek, but the left eyebrow was not beaten in.]
...
Here the Court adjourned for an hour, at half
past 3.
Afternoon Session.
Dr. GILMAN examined—There was no cleansing
of the body at the time I examined it; we examined
...
By a JUROR.—If a body had lain on its face
eight day's would the sail-cloths absorbed much of
the brain?
[Col.4]
Dr. GILMIN.—No. After death the body appears
moist.
Dr. KISSMAN examined.—Was present at examina-
...
Dr. ARCHER.—Is coroner, and a physician; was
present at the preliminary part of the post mortem
examination. Heard Dr. Gillman testify; agreed
with him in his description of the injuries on that
scull; don't think I ever knew a scull that had been
pierced by a bullet; don't think this hatchet could
produce that round hole; I took a ring from the
little finger of the right hand, and showed it to
Mrs. Adams.
...
Dr. KISSAM re-called—The body was that of the
ordinary muscular power; about 130 to 140; not a
fat man; the muscles were fully developed.
Mrs. EMELINE ADAMS examined—(She was in
deep mourning. Her appearance created much
sensation in Court; she was not at all agitated.)
My husband's name was Samuel Adams; he would
have been 30 on the 2d day of October; he was a
printer. His place of business was corner of Gold
and Ann. He had a foreman named Monahan; he
was last home alive the 17th day of Sept. at noon
—between 12 and 1 o'clock. He ate dinner at home.
He left home a little before 1, I think. Don't
know where he intended to go when he left home.
He never returned home again that day. Nor the
next day. The first advertisement was put in the
Tuesday's paper. It appeared in Wednesday's pa-
per. He had on a black coat, buff vest, of a kind
of corded stuff, cotton; and mixed pantaloons,
gambroon; cotton shirt; a black stock round his
neck; he wore a ring on the smallest finger; I
don't know which hand; his name was on his shirt.
I did not see the body at the dead house. A ring
was shown to me by the Coroner at the Inquest.—
I think that I can say that that is the ring he wore.
The stock was shown to me; I recognised that;
The coat I saw; it was his. (Here the coat and
stock was produced.) I made the stock myself.—
The body was afterwards buried from my father's
house. He had a watch on when he left home that
day, with a chain and key attached. (Watch shown
to her.) I know the watch and key; wore the key
2 years myself; know it by the dents in it, bit
them myself; he had that watch at dinner that day;
I'd been into the country five or six weeks, and
got home on the 14th September. He hadn't it
when I went away; about the 15th he sat on the
foot of the bed, I took the key off from my watch
and put it on his, and took the pincers and tried to
get the dents out. The day or two before he was
missed (Wednesday or Thursday evening) we
were out visiting at Mr. Concklin's, 90 Chatham
street.
We never saw a witness evince so little feeling.
There was no cross-examination.
HUGH MONAHAN examined—Is a printer; knew
Adams; was his foreman; at corner of Gold and
Ann st.; was his foreman 14 months; there was
business transactions between him and Colt; I
knew Colt personally, Mr. Adams printed Mr.
Colt's book-keeping; Mr. Sparks, the administrator
has his books; he made his own entries in his
books; Mr. Adams left his office, corner of Gold st.
and Ann st., on Friday, Sept. 17th, at 3 o'clock P. M.;
...
back. He was missing three days before the ad-
vertisement was published. I wrote the advertise-
ment on Tuesday; first published on Wednesday
morning. Mr. Colt was in Adams' office about a
week before Adams was missing; after this never
saw Colt there till after the advertisement was pub-
lished. When he was missed, Colt's work was
finished. On Tuesday, September 23d, I saw Colt.
He called at Adams' office, and inquired for Mr.
Adams; between 10 and 12 o'clock; the day after
the advertisement was published. He inquired of
me. I was in the second story. He came in rather
suddenly upon me, and asked whether Mr. Adams
was in. I said he was not; he said he'd seen ad-
vertisement in newspapers, saying he was missing;
I told him he'd been missing since the previous
Friday, at 3 o'clock. I don't know as he replied.
I observed if I'd known where his office was,
I should have called on to know when he'd seen
Mr. Adams last. He then said Mr. Adams done his
printing for three years, and had always found
him kind and accommodating to him. A gentle-
man then came in about some work, and Colt in-
troduced himself to him, and they had some con-
versation together. I don't know what it was. I
told Colt his plates, and part of his sheets were in
the office. He desired me to take care of them.
He told me of some work Mr. Adams had done,
[Col.5]
and Mr. Willis had bound. I don't know what it
was; I saw it interested Mr. Wells, and referred
him to Mr. Wells. Adams had his watch with
him the day he was missing, and a plain gold
ring; I asked him if he didn't owe Mr. Adams
about $200; he replied that he owed him about $50;
he then left me, and went over to see Mr. Wells;
he was a bookbinder in Gold street, nearly opposite
Mr. Adams; saw Colt no more till his arrest.
...
A Juror here expressed a wish for longer ses-
sion. The Court said they'd meet at three o'clock
hereafter, and sit later.
That box was ordered to be brought in. It was
so.
Judge KENT again gave his usual instructions to
the Jurors as to how they were cautiously to act
during the interval between Saturday night and
Monday morning. Speak to no one on the trial,
and only move in the custody of officers. He said
the Juror's Room should be provided for their use
on Sunday; and they might go to church in a
body.
Mr. WHITING was afraid this might give rise to
exceptions hereafter, if they heard a sermon about
this matter, as influencing their verdict.
Judge HUNT said that
Judge COWAN had decided on this matter, if the
prisoner consented they might conset to this. The
prisoner, Mr. Colt, consented that the jury should
go to church.
That box was brought in amidst a terrible
commotion, rising from seats, and rattling of
staves. The box was put before the jury.
The quantity of canvass—old sail-cloth—was really
tremendous; as much as would make a large awn-
ing. There were four rails projecting in on one
side of the box; projecting into the box about three
quarters of an inch. And three on the other side of
the box. There were two cleets on each end of the
box, through which the nails were driven. The end
pieces at one end were three, and at the other were
two. The bottom consisted of two peices, and the
sides of two pieces.
Mr. MILLIKEN continued.—The body laid nearer
the top than the bottom of the box. There was a
space of six or eight inches between the head and
feet of the body and the ends of the box; between
these ends and the body there was stuffed some
oakum and a quantity of this sail cloth. The head
was drawn down to nearly the knees, on the
breast.
By a JUROR.—The body laid on the back.
The Court directed Mr. MILLIKEN to examine
the cloths and see if there were any nail holes in
them.
The Court then adjourned, 'till Monday, at 10
o'clock.
The smell from the cloths and box was most in-
tolerable.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.2]
MARY ROGERS AGAIN.—Sandell, the man who
was arrested in New Jersey, on a charge of sup-
posed knowledge of the death of Mary C. Rogers,
has been finally discharged by the Mayor, there not
being evidence sufficient to detain him. One sin-
gular fact, however, has resulted from this investi-
gation, which is, that he was at Hoboken, on the
Sunday that Mary Rogers is supposed to have been
murdered, in company with a girl, and it is alleged
that she has been among the missing ever since!
Who was she, and what has become of her?
================================================================
[Col.4]
CASE OF BENJAMIN RATHBUN.
——
From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser and Journal.
By the letter below it will be seen that Governor
SEWARD has again refused to exercise the pardon-
ing power in favor of Benjamin Rathbun.
No more delicate duty devolves upon the Execu-
tive than that of a just and discriminative exercise
of that power. He holds it as the conservator of
the rights of the community and the convict, and
the responsibility thrown upon him is often immense
and of the most painful character. As the imper-
sonation of the principle of justice in the most ex-
tensive sense, he is bound to suppress all those sym-
pathies in which others feel at liberty to indulge,
or yield to them only so far as they are not incom-
patible with the reverence due to the majesty of the
offended laws. The decision of Gov. SEWARD in
the case of Rathbun, will, we think, upon cool re-
flection, command the approbation of every good
citizen:
BUFFALO, May 9, 1842.
To the Editors of the Commercial Advertiser:
GENT.: I send you the enclosed communication,
just received from Governor SEWARD, without com-
ment, which I think should be made public by an
insertion in your paper. S. S. CASE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
Albany, May 5, 1842. }
Several respectable citizens, some of whom reside
in Buffalo, and others in Batavia, together with more
than fifty members of the Legislature representing
various parts of the state, have united in expressing
a wish that I would reconsider my decision made in
May, 1840, denying an application for a pardon to
Benjamin Rathbun.
...
Under these circumstances it was concluded that
the selection of Benjamin Rathbun to be a recipi-
ent of Executive clemency would have an injurious
[Col.5]
effect by impairing the public confidence in the
firm and equal administration of justice. The high
excitement under which the prisoner labored dur-
ing the period when his offence was committed, his
previous good character, his enterprising disposition,
and his great public usefulness, the deep affliction
of his family and relatives, and the sympathy of his
fellow citizens, were all considered; but they
seemed insufficient to justify the interposition of
the Executive department in his behalf. The chief
features of the case remain unchanged, and unhap-
pily can never be forgotten, and I am obliged, there-
fore, to conclude that the decision before made ought
not to be reversed.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
The Honorable Mr. CASE,
of the Assembly, Buffalo.
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly as in Albany Evening Journal]
Case of Benjamin Rathbun.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
Albany, May 5, 1842. }
Several respectable citizens, some of whom re-
side in Buffalo, and others in Batavia, together
...
Under these circumstances it was concluded that
the selection of Benjamin Rathbun to be a recipi-
ent of Executive clemency would have an injurious
effect by impairing the public confidence in the
firm and equal administration of justice. The
high excitement under which the prisoner labored
during the period when his offence was committed,
his previous good character, his enterprising dis-
position, and the great public usefulness, the deep
affliction of his family and relatives, and the sym-
pathy of his fellow citizens, were all considered;
but they seemed insufficient to justify the interpo-
sition of the Executive department in his behalf.
The chief features of the case remain unchanged,
and unhappily can never be forgotten, and I am
obliged, therefore, to conclude that the decision
before made ought not to be reversed.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
The Honorable Mr. Case,
of the Assembly, Buffalo.
================================================================
Saturday Afternoon, May 14.
[Col.5. Partly as in Albany Evening Journal, Tribune]
From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser.
Case of Benjamin Rathbun.
By the letter below it will be seen that Governor
Seward has again refused to exercise the pardoning
power in favor of Benjamin Rathbun.
...
To the Editors of the Commercial Advertiser—
Gentlemen—I sent you the enclosed communica-
tion, just received from Governor Seward, without
comment, which I think should be made public by an
insertion in your paper. S. S. CASE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
Albany, May 5, 1842. }
Several respectable citizens, some of whom reside
in Buffalo, and others in Batavia, together with more
...
his great public usefulness, the drep affliction of his
family and relatives, and the sympathy of this fellow
citizens were all considered; but they seemed insuf-
ficient to justify the interposition of the Executive de-
partment in his behalf. The chief features of the
case remain unchanged, and unhappily can never be
forgotton, and I am obliged, therefore, to conclude that
the decision before made ought not to be reversed.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
The Honorable Mr. Case,
of the Assembly, Buffalo.
================================================================
[Col.3]
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
—— FRIDAY, May 27.
...
In the Supreme Court the case of Madame Restell,
(brought up on a writ of error,) in relation to the death of
Mrs. Purdy, was argued by Mr. Jordan for the accused and
Mr. Whiting for the People. The defence is that the depo-
sition of Mrs. Purdy, taken before Justice Merritt, is illegal,
the counsel for Madame R. not being present. The Court
will render its decision in due course.
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.—The Bill of Exceptions in this
case was called up. Messrs. Selden and Morrell, counsel for
prisoner, had been in Court during the forenoon, but were
absent on the cause being announced. The Court ordered
a nonsuit, and directed the District Attorney to proceed by
default. The Court of Oyer will probably pass to sentence
at the end of the present term.
CASE OF AUSTIN RANKIN.—This young man had been
convicted of a rape on the person of Jane Ann Toole, and
the cause had been brought up on a writ of error. New
trial denied, and the case sent back to the Court below, with
orders to proceed to sentence.
================================================================
[Col.3]
⌂ COUNTRY RESIDENCE TO LET—A house
pleasantly situated 1½ miles from the Hoboken
ferry; the house contains 3 large rooms, 4 bedrooms,
kitchen, pantry and cellar, fruit trees and shrubbery sur-
round the house; possession given immediately. Apply
to Mrs. Loss, on the premises, at the foot of Weehaw-
ken Hill. je6 2w*[Col.5]
COUNTY COURT.
WEDNESDAY, July 27.
Present, Judge Ulshoeffer, President, Judges Ingraham
and Inglis, His Honor the Mayor, Recorder Tallmadge,
and the Board of Aldermen.
Judge Lynch, was also in Court and took a seat.
Judge Ulshoeffer, said the Court had met pursuant to
adjournment, to test the title of the associate Judges of
the Courts of Sessions to seats in this Court.
Alderman Davies rose and read a lengthy list of com-
piled legal opinions and sections of statutes, in favor of
Messrs. Lynch and Noah taking their seats as members
...
His Honor the Mayor, rose and stated that upon a full
and careful examination into the subject as to the right
of the Associate Judges of the Court of Sessions to sit
in this Court, he had come to the conclusion that the
Court of Common Pleas of the city and county, com-
posed of the County Court of the city and county, there-
fore the question would simply be, have Messrs. Lynch
and Noah, who were appointed by the statute of May,
1840, with power, as Judges, merely to sit in the Court
of Sessions, a right to a seat as Judges or members
of this Court. Certainly they could not. This Consti-
...
A motion was then made to recognize the associate
judges as members generally of this court, which was
lost by a tie vote of 11 to 11, the Recorder and the 10
whig Aldermen voting in the affirmative, and the Mayor
and the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and the 7
democratic Aldermen in the negative.
...
[Col.6]
JULY TERM SUPREME COURT——UTICA.—
The Supreme Court adjourned on Saturday, the
23d instant, after a session of three weeks, having
gone through the calender, and heard all the causes
which were ready for argument.
The following decisions were made:
...
New trials granted.—Madam Restell, ad the
people; George Thomas, ad the people.
...
New trial denied, proceedings remitted to the
New York Oyer and Terminer, with directions
to proceed and render judgment.—William Wi-
ley, ad the people; John C. Colt, ad the people.
Motion denied.—The Mayor, Aldermen, &c.,
of the city of New York, ad Daniel N. Lord.
...
================================================================
================================================================
ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Thursday Evening, July 28, 1842 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.7]
Supreme Court—July Term—Utica.
From the Oneida Observer.
...
New trials granted.—Madam Restell, ad the peo-
ple; George Thomas, ad the people.
...
New trial denied, proceedings remitted to the New
York Oyer and Terminer, with directions to proceed
and render judgment.—William Wiley, ad the
people; John C. Colt, ad the people.
...
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.—This Court, at its
recent sitting at Utica, granted a new trial in the
case of Madame Restell, and denied the application
of the Mayor and Democratic Supervisors, who
voted to refuse to pay Lynch and Noah their
salaries as Judges.
================================================================
[Col.3]
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
Mr. President BALIS in the Chair.
...
Ald. Woodhull presented a report on a bill for the
lodging of 12 jurymen and 6 officers with cigars, &c.
The committee reported in favor of paying for the
lodging but not for the cigars. The committee also
refused to pay for the lodging for the officers, as it
was their business to attend to the jurors and not to
go to sleep.
The Mayor was in favor of pay for the lodgings,
but not for cigars.
The bill for lodgings was ordered to be paid after
some debate.
The Committee reported in favor of paying Mr.
Barton's bill for boarding and lodging the Jurors in
the trial of John C. Colt, which was adopted.
Several other small bills were ordered paid, among
them was one of $35 for coach hire for the Grand
Jury, and a charge of $14 for coach hire during Colt's
trial.
...
================================================================
================================================================
THE EVENING POST. Thursday, August 11, 1842 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.8]
Board of Supervisors.
...
The next, was a bill of Barton's, for board of jurors
and officers during the trial of Colt and Munroe Edwards.
The committee thought the charges too high, but were
willing to pay at the rate of fifty cents per meal. The
report was adopted.
A number of small bills for arresting offenders, were
ordered to be paid. One for $10, to John Hall, for ser-
vices rendered, under the orders of the Mayor, in rela-
tion to the Mary Rogers mystery. Another for seven
coaches, for the Grand Jury to take a ride in, to see the
public buildings. The charge for this was $35.
A charge of $14 for coach-hire, during Colt's trial,
was also ordered to be paid.
...
================================================================
[Col.3]
Case of Madame Restell.
To the Public and the Press:
It will be recollected that, about fifteen months since, the
undersigned was the object of much newspaper vitupera-
tion and abuse; every variety of opprobrious invective the
language afforded, was brought into requisition by which
to stigmatize the atrocious “woman.” No epithet was
considered too gross, too vile, to express the holy horror en-
tertained by the truly pure and purely virtuous writers of
the newspaper anathemas. Had the undersigned been con-
victed of the most foul and atrocious crime, stronger or
more bitter terms than those already lavished upon her,
would have been wanting—the vocabulary being in this par-
ticular, bankrupt.
A reflecting and impartial mind would naturally inquire
the cause of all this malediction. Was it that the object of
it was tried and convicted, on proper and legal testimony,
of some unheard of and most horrid atrocity!—Of murder,
of manslaughter, of arson, or of some other heinous felony!
No, not so. Worse than all this. She was charged with the
commission of a misdemeanor! It was this charge, unsus-
tained (as the Supreme Court declare) by a particle of legal
testimony, which caused this mighty newspaper volcano to
burst upon her devoted head.
An exparte affidavit was drawn up by one of the Police
clerks, embellished with the horrid, revolting, and disgust-
ing. This affidavit (which, be it remembered, was all there
was to sustain the charge upon trial) was seized with eager
zeal and greedy avidity, and published, far and near, long
before trial, accompanied with such virtuous outpourings,
as would lead one to suppose the writers to be either the
veriest saints or the veriest hypocrites in Christendom. Long
before trial it was settled that the accused was guilty. Every
person read one or more of the public journals, each of
which deemed it necessary or polite to say something about
the 'woman,' and thus lay claim to a proportion of morality,
since this was an opportunity to gain it cheaply, supposing,
doubtless, that he who prates loudest and longest against
“iniquity,” &c. will be sure to be considered excessively
virtuous.
After public opinion was thus effectually poisoned, it is
neither reasonable nor probable to expect that the minds of
those individuals composing the Court before whom the
accused was yet to have a hearing, could be in a condition
for that calm, cool, and dispassionate adjudication, without
which, that intended to be safeguard and anchor of our
civil institutions—trial by jury—is an idle ceremony, a
mockery, a deception. Judges are but men—some of them
with minds not the strongest, or most clear, very often with
hankerings after popular favor—who will, in trying emer-
gencies, hesitate between their duty as impartial adminis-
trators of the law, and the possible personal consequences
of displeasing a supposed “public opinion.”
I do not wish here to intimate that the Court of Sessions
acted from other than correct motives, notwithstanding that
it seems a “remarkably singular coincidence” that through-
out the whole of their proceedings against me, in not one
single particular, (so says the Supreme Court,) did they act
in accordance with the plainest, simplest, and best estab-
lished and most fundamental principles of common law,
statute, or precedent; but, on the contrary, in every in-
stance, doubtless unintentionally, violated the clearest and
dearest rights of every citizen. This is certainly singular;
extremely so. But so it is nevertheless. I intend merely to
suggest the gross impropriety and flagrant injustice of the
public press; thus, in effect, destroying the glorious privi-
lege of a fair, unbiased, and impartial trial by jury contem-
plated by the Constitution, as guaranteed to the veriest
wretch, though he should have the sins of the world to an-
swer for. How can this be attained, if, on the first blush of
a complaint, on an ex parte affidavit, however false, howev-
er unfounded, or however abandoned and wicked the party
by whom made, a simultaneous and savage yell from the
press astounds the public ear; the matter is seized hold of,
exaggerated, perverted, misrepresented, magnified; the
enormity of the supposed offence is freely and unreservedly
commented upon to exhaustion, as though the party, as yet
only accused, and whose innocence or guilt is yet to be tested,
were actually and beyond all peraduenture, guilty?
But this is not all. This might, perhaps, be tolerated, if, on
finding themselves in the wrong or misled or deceived
they had the manly honesty to acknowledge themselves
premature in their surmises, and forthwith correct, with
the utmost publicity any error of judgement or of fact
into which they may have fallen. But not; not even
this partial act of common justice is scarcely ever ren-
dered. And I will venture to affirm that not one press
in ten, loud-mouthed in my abuse, will even lisp that the
Supreme Court have decided that the evidence upon which
a conviction was obtained against Madame Restell, was
illegal, unauthorized, and inadmissible. No. I expect it
not. I respectfully submit it to the press whether such a
course is not repugnant and dangerous “to the liberty of the
citizen,” certainly not less to be prized than the “liberty of
the press.”
I take this opportunity to set the public right in relation
to the matter preferred against me, by presenting to their
notice such facts as will enable them to judge how much
credence is to be given to the affidavit of the miserable,
wicked, and abandoned woman, who affixed her signa-
ture to it.
It will be recollected that in the affidavit, taken in March,
1841, she states that she called upon me, two and a half years
before, viz: in 1839. That on that occasion she gave me a
pledge-ticket, consisting of some articles enumerated. But
on the trial it was discovered that she had made a previous
affidavit, a year before, which was produced in Court,
swearing in that affidavit that she had lost that self-same
ticket, consisting of the same enumeration, by which oath
she succeeded it appeared in obtaining the articles pledged.
Here, then, she must have sworn falsely either in the one
affidavit or in the other. Either she swore false in stating
that she lost the ticket, or else she swore falsely in alleging
that she gave it to me. It did not appear in evidence upon
the trial that I ever had the pledge-ticket, except by her af-
fidavit, which was set aside by her previous affidavit, taken
a year before, in which she swears as having lost it. Had
this woman testified on the stand in open Court, or where
she would have been subjected to cross-examination, she
would have convicted herself of perjury. Such was the
character of the testimony upon which a conviction was ob-
tained, and it would have been surprising indeed if the Su-
preme Court would permit such proceedings to have passed
without administering a quiet, but severe and well-merited
rebuke.
Dr. Marvin, her family physician, testified that “she was
a woman of weak intellect, silly, and easily influenced.”—
This being so, it was not to be wondered at that such a wo-
man, in the hands of her notoriously abandoned and despe-
rate husband, should have been prevailed upon to testify
in a manner which would have subjected her to the penal-
ties of the law. I wish the public to bear in mind that this
W. W. Purdy, her husband, testified under oath that he nev-
er made overtures to me, either personally or otherwise, to
compromise; when a gentleman, then one of the Grand
Jurors, came forward and testified as follows:
“Huron Betts, sworn for the defence, deposed that he
knew W. W. Purdy—that he requested witness two or three
weeks ago to go to Madame Restell and ask her if she
would give him so much money to keep his witnesses away
from the Court. He did not name any particular sum.—
Witness went with Purdy from the Bowery down Chatham-
street, from Chatham-street to Broadway, and from Broad-
way down Cedar to the corner of Cedar and Greenwich-
[Col.4]
streets, where Purdy left witness, promising to meet him at
a barber's shop at or near the corner of Courtlandt-street.—
Witness went into the house of Madame Restell and saw a
woman.”
The immateriality of this Purdy's testimony upon the
main question at issue was all that saved him from an in-
dictment for perjury and attempt to extort. Such was the
prosecution and such the testimony; and I refer with pride
and pleasure to the decision of the Supreme Court as a
shield and protection against injustice and oppression.
I have, in conclusion, but one other point to broach upon.
The beautiful and high-wrought specimen of a literary com-
position, drawn up by one of the Clerks of the Police, be-
fore alluded to, contained, among other things, intended to
shock alike the moral sense and decency of the community,
the allegation that a “man,” hoodwinked, muffled up, and
wrapped up—doubtless, a very demon—was in attendance
on that special occasion. The composition, as a production
intended to be startingly horrid, would have been incom-
plete without some adjunct equally preposterous, ridiculous
and absurd. The only drawback upon it being that it is
false from beginning to end. I need only add that in no case
do I engage a “man” or physician, for the simple and all-
abundant reason that, whatever I undertake, I feel myself
competent, as well by study, experience and practice, to
carry through properly; and, so far from requiring a physi-
cian in my practice it is not unusual for me to be called for
in preference to a “doctor” in confinements, where a pro-
per delicacy forbids the presence of a male practitioner, and
also in such other cases in which it is more fitting and pro-
per, and more in consonance with our ideas of propriety,
that a lady, provided always she is skilful, should attend in
preference to a gentleman.
It will be perceived that every one of the exceptions taken
by Mr. Jordan, on account of illegality, are sustained by the
Supreme Court. A sufficient commentary upon that gen-
tleman's legal acquirements, to whom I return my sincere
thanks for the faithful, able and fearless manner in which he
conducted himself throughout, regardless alike of the
frowns and caresses of all.
MADAME RESTELL, Female Physician,
148 Greenwich-street, N. Y.
——
Supreme Court—The People v. Restell.
OPINION OF THE COURT.
BRONSON J. The depositions of Mrs. Purdy, who had
died before the trial, were offered in evidence upon two
grounds—1st, as depositions taken de bene esse, in the Court
of General Sessions; and, 2d, as examinations before Mr.
Merritt, the committing magistrate. There is a difficulty in
the outset in allowing them to be read as depositions taken
in the General Sessions; for at the time they were taken
there was no suit or proceeding against the defendant pend-
ing in that Court. The defendant had just before been com-
mitted to prison by a magistrate on a criminal charge; but
no indictment had been found, and whether she would be
indicted, if at all, in the Sessions or the Oyer and Terminer,
was a question about which nothing could then be known.
I do not see how the Sessions could acquire jurisdiction of
the matter except by indictment found in that Court, or in
the Oyer and Terminer and transmitted to the Sessions for
trial. If the Court had no jurisdiction, the depositions are
extra-judicial, and consequently void. But as this difficulty
was not mentioned at the bar, there may be some legal pro-
vision on the subject which I have overlooked, or there may
have been an understanding between the counsel that the
objection should not be made. It is proper, therefore, to
consider the case upon the broad ground discussed at the
bar.
Can the public prosecutor have depositions taken de bene
esse in criminal cases, and read them in evidence without
the consent of the defendant? I think he cannot. The gen-
eral rule certainly is, that the witnesses must appear in
Court and be confronted with the accused party. On trials
for homicide the dying declarations of the person murdered
may be given in evidence against the defendant. This is,
I think, the only exception to the general rule which has
been mentioned, except such as are based upon some statute
law. A practice sprung up in this State at an early day, of
taking depositions de bene esse in civil suits, which were af-
terward read in evidence on proof of the death or absence
of the witness. [Mumford v. Church, 1 John. Cas. 147;
Sandford v. Burrell, Anth. N. P. 184; Jackson v. Kent,
Cow. 59; Wait v. Whitney, id. 69; Packard v. Hill, id. 489.]
This practice has since been sanctioned by the Legislature
[2 R. S. 391, Art. 1] But this statute does not, nor does the
prior practice extend to criminal cases.
We are referred to another statute, which provides that
“the proceedings prescribed by law in civil cases, in respect
to the impanneling of juries, the keeping them together,
and the manner of rendering their verdict, shall be had upon
trials of indictment; and the provisions of law in civil cases
relative to compelling the attendance and testimony of wit-
nesses, their examination, the administration of oaths and af-
firmations, and proceedings as for contempts to enforce the
remedies and protect the rights of parties, shall extend to
trials and other proceedings on indictments, so far as they
may be in their nature applicable thereto, subject to the
provisions contained in any statute.” [2 R. S. 735, sec. 14.]
It was not the object of this section to give new remedies in
criminal cases, but to direct the mode in which existing
remedies should thereafter be applied. “The provisions of
law in civil cases,” in relation to the matters particularly
specified, are extended to like proceedings on indictments;
but it is only “so far as they may be in their nature appli-
cable thereto.” Much stress has been laid upon the words
“their examination,” as applied to witnesses. But those
words must be restricted to cases where the examination
was already provided for by law; and there is ample scope
for their operation. They apply where the witness is pro-
duced in court, when he is examined on commission, and
when examined conditionally at the instance of the defend-
ant. [2. R. S. 731, sec. 73, 75.] The Legislature did not in-
tend by this general provision in relation to the forms and
mode of proceeding in criminal cases to introduce a new
rule into the law of evidence. This is the more evident
from the fact that special provision had already been made
in the same chapter for the examination of witnesses out of
court. After issue joined upon the indictment, the defend-
ant may have a commission to examine witnesses residing
out of the State, and the prosecuting officer may join in the
commission and name witnesses on the part of the people.
[2 R. S. 731, sec. 73.] After having thus especially provided
for particular cases, it is impossible to suppose that the Le-
gislature, in the general provision which follows on page
735, sec. 14, intended to cover an entirely new class of cases,
and provide for the examination of witnesses de bene esse on
the part of the people.
... [Col.5]
...
In this case the first and principal deposition was origin-
ally prepared and sworn in the defendent's absence, and
could not therefore be used on the trial, unless the difficulty
was obviated on what took place after the arrest. And here
there are several objections. Although the defendant con-
sented to go with the Justice to the house of Mrs. Purdy
without waiting for the return of her husband with counsel,
she gave the consent on being told by the Justice that the
only object in going was to have the defendant identified by
the witness. When they got to the house, the Justice not
only prepared an affidavit identifying the defendant, but he
proceeded to re-swear the witness to the original deposition,
and did what, as is now said, will make that paper good
evidence against the defendant. Although nothing wrong
was intended, I think this was not a proper course of pro-
ceeding. The husband had gone after counsel for the very
purpose of having assistance on the examination, and if the
defendant had been made to understand how much was to
be done on this visit to Mrs. Purdy, it is highly probable that
she would have declined going there until sufficient time
had been allowed for the return of her husband. There
was no occasion for urging the woman away with so much
haste after she had desired to have counsel, and when the
return of her husband might be expected within fifteen or
twenty minutes. The witness, so far as appears, was not
then dangerously ill, and she did not die until the lapse of
more than a month from that time. The language of the
statute is, “if desired by the person arrested, his counsel
may be present during the examination.” 2 R. S. 703, §14.
A reasonable time after the arrest should be allowed for the
employment of counsel, and I think the Justice misjudged
of his duty in proceeding to an examination before a rea-
sonable time had elapsed for the return of the husband.
But what was this supposed examination of the witness?
The Justice did not pursue the course which was adopted
in Rex vs. Smith—the case on which the District Attorney
relies. In that case the magistrates in the first place re-
swore the witness in the presence of the prisoner, and then
very distinctly and slowly read over so much of the depo-
sition as had been previously written. The witness was
then asked whether what had been written was true, and
what he meant to say; and he answered, that it was per-
fectly correct. The magistrates then proceeded and com-
pleted the deposition. There was an examination of the
witness on oath and in the presence of the prisoner, and when
the direct examination was through the prisoner was in-
vited to cross-examine. How was it here? The Justice
without swearing the witness to answer questions touching
the complaint, read over the original affidavits, then pre-
pared another and read that; and then swore the witness to
both depositions in the gross. After all had been thus com-
pleted, the defendant was told that she could put questions.
She did put questions; but if the witness had answered
falsely, she could not have ben convicted of perjury. She
had just sworn that the depositions were true; but she had
not sworn to answer questions at all. The whole matter
was accomplished and the parties left the house within
twenty or thirty minutes after they had entered it. It will
never do to hold this, such an examination as will make the
depositions evidence against the accused. The witness was
not examined “on oath, in the presence of the prisoner,” as
the statute requires. 2 R. S. 708, §13. In our zeal to punish
crime, great care should be taken not to make precedents
which may prove dangerous to the innocent, and it should
never be forgotten that even the guilty have rights which
should be scrupulously regarded.
I think the Justice also erred in not giving the answer of
the witness to the questions put by way of cross-examina-
tion. If, as the Justice understands the matter, “there was,
in point of fact, but one question,” and the defendant “put
the same question over and over again,” it is evident that
the defendant thought that a very material inquiry. The
Justice does not deny that the questions and answers were
pertinent, but he thought it was not material to put them
down; and the reason assigned is, that “the answer had
been given before any question was put by Madame Res-
tell, as witness considered, and was already in the affidavit.”
It must be recollected that this was the first time that the
witness had been confronted with the accused, and if the
witness had answered the same question before, it was when
she did not stand face to face with the defendant. The
statute provides that the magistrate shall proceed “to ex-
amine the complainant and the witnesses produced in sup-
port of the prosecution on oath, in the presence of the pris-
oner, in regard to the offence charged, and in regard to any
other matters connected with such charge, which such ma-
gistrate may deem pertinent.” (2 R. S. 708, §13.) The evi-
dence given by the several witnesses examined shall be re-
duced to writing by the magistrate, or under his direction,
and shall be signed by the witnesses respectively.” (§19)
I see nothing in these provisions to warrant the magistrate
in refusing to take down the answers to pertinent questions
put upon the cross-examination. If the same question is put
more than once and receives a uniform answer, one inser-
tion in the deposition will be enough; but I see no reason
why the answer should be rejected altogether.
When the examination is produced and the magistrate
swears that it was taken in pursuance of the statute, and
nothing appears to the contrary, it may be presumed that
all the necessary forms were duly observed. (The People
vs. Moore, 15 Wend. 419.) But it may be, and was shown
in this case that the deposition was not duly taken. [Col.6]
It was thought important on the trial to prove that there
was a subsequent offer by the magistrate to examine the
witnesses for the People in presence of the defendant and
her counsel, and to allow a cross-examination. But this
could not aid the defective depositions which had been
taken ten days before the offer was made. If it was not
then too late, the Justice should have gone on and had an
examination de novo, instead of contenting himself with
making a proposition to that effect.
...
The objection is presented in another and a more conclu-
sive form. The principal deposition when offered on the
trial purported to be a deposition in the court of “General
Sessions of the peace in and for the city and county of New
York,” and to have been taken pursuant to an order of that
court. And although the defendant excepted to the evid-
ence, the District Attorney was permitted to prove by parol
that it was a deposition taken before the committing magis-
trate. The case comes plainly within the general rule that
a written document shall not be contradicted or impeached
on parol evidence. And besides, there are decisions going
to the precise point under consideration. The prisoner is
to be examined without being sworn. In the King v. Smith
1 Stark Rep. 242, the examination of the defendant was re-
jected because it purported to have been taken on oath, and
Le Blanc J. refused to receive evidence that no oath had in
fact been administered to the defendant. A like decision
was made in Rex v. Rivers, 7 C. & P. 177. 1 Phil. Er. 113,
114, 370. In Rex v. Walter, 7 C. & P. and 67, the written ex-
amination of the prisoner stated that he had answered, “I
decline to say any thing,” and Lord Abinger would not al-
low the prosecutor to prove that the prisoner had made a
confession of his guilt when under examination, before the
magistrate. After these papers had been turned into deposi-
tions in the court of General Sessions, they could only be
used for what they were worth as depositions taken in that
court. They could not be reformed by parol evidence into
depositions before the committing magistrate. In every
view which I have been able to take of the case, the deposi-
tions were improperly admitted.
☞ Philadelphia Chronicle, Ledger, and Spirit of Times,
also Boston Daily Times, Boston Daily Mail, and Boston
Morning Post, will please copy. [Col.2. Mostly as in Tribune]
Case of Madame Restell.
To the Public and the Press:
It will be recollected that, about fifteen months since, the un-
dersigned was the object of much newspaper vituperation and
abuse; every variety of opprobrious invective the language af-
forded, was brought into requisition by which to stigmatize the
atrocious “woman.” No epithet was considered too gross, too
vile, to express the holy horror entertained by the truly pure
and the purely virtuous writers of the newspaper anathemas.—
Had the undersigned been convicted of the most foul and atro-
cious crime, stronger or more bitter terms than those already
lavished upon her, would have been wanting—the vocabulary
being in this particular, bankrupt.
...
It will be recollected that in the affidavit, taken in March,
1841, she states that she called upon me, two and a half years be-
fore, viz: in 1839. That on that occasion she gave me a pledge-
ticket, consisting of some articles enumerated. But on the trial
it was discovered that she had made a previous affidavit, a year
before, which was produced in Court, swearing in that affidavit
that she had lost that self-same ticket, consisting of the same
enumeration, by which oath she succeeded, it appeared, in ob-
taining the articles pledged. Here, then, she must have sworn
falsely either in the one affidavit or in the other. Either she
swore false in stating that she lost the ticket, or else she swore
falsely in alleging that she gave it to me. It did not appear in evi-
dence upon the trial that I ever had the pledge-ticket except by
her affidavit, which was set aside by her previous affidavit, taken
a year before, in which she swears as having lost it. Had this
woman testified on the stand in open Court, or where she
would have been subjected to cross-examination, she would
have convicted herself of perjury. Such was the character of
the testimony upon which a conviction was obtained, and it
would have been surprising indeed if the Supreme Court would
permit such proceedings to have passed without administering
a quiet, but severe and well-merited rebuke.
Dr. Marvin, her family physician, testified that “she was a
woman of weak intellect, silly, and easily influenced.” This
being so, it was not to be wondered at that such a woman, in
the hands of her notoriously abandoned and desperate husband,
should have been prevailed upon to testify in a manner which
would have subjected her to the penalties of the law. I wish
the public to bear in mind that this W. W. Purdy, her husband,
testified under oath that he never made overtures to me, either
personally or otherwise, to compromise; when a gentleman,
then one of the Grand Jurors, came forward and testified as
follows:—
“Huron Betts sworn for the defence, deposed that he knew
W. W. Purdy—that he requested witness two or three weeks
ago to go to Madame Restell and ask her if she would give him
so much money to keep his witnesses away from the Court.—
He did not name any particular sum. Witness went with Purdy
from the Bowery down Chatham street, from Chatham street to
Broadway, and from Broadway down Cedar to the corner of
Cedar and Greenwich streets, where Purdy left witness, pro-
mising to meet him at a barber's shop at or near the corner of
Courtlandt street. Witness went into the house of Madame
Restell and saw a woman.”
...
It will be perceived that every one of the exceptions taken by
Mr. Jordan, on account of illegality, are sustained by the Su-
preme Court. A sufficient commentary upon that gentleman's
legal acquirements, to whom I return my sincere thanks for the
faithful, able and fearless manner in which he conducted him-
self throughout, regardless alike of the frowns and caresses of
all. MADAME RESTELL, Female Physician,
148 Greenwich street, N. Y.
——
Supreme Court—The People vs. Restell.
OPINION OF THE COURT.
BRONSON J. The depositions of Mrs. Purdy, who had died
before the trial, were offered in evidence upon two grounds—
...
[Col.3]
...
[Col.4]
...
fore the committing magistrate. In every view which I have
been able to take of the case, the depositions were improperly
admitted.
——
* And after indictment found, the defendant may also exa-
mine witnesses conditionally, as in civil cases. [Sec. 75.]
☞ Philadelphia Chronicle, Ledger, and Spirit of Times;
also Boston Daily Times, Boston Daily Mail, and Boston
Morning Post, will please copy.
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, Evening Edition, August 27, 1842 (FH)
[Col.2]
Madame Restell—Virtue and Morality.
The other day, the newspaper press of this city
with one or two exceptions, was characterised by
the immortal Mike Walsh in the following lan-
guage:—“I know that there isn't a more pitiful,
contemptible, degraded, corrupt, lying, stinking set
of scoundrels than those that are connected with the
public press.” When that sentence was uttered, we
did not know that we should so soon afterwards
have such a striking specimen of its accuracy.
It is well known, that for some time past, certain
papers laying claim to a large share of morality, if
not all of it in the city, raised a tremendous clamor
against Madame Restell for what they termed her
immoral practices. Yet we have since seen, and,
within a few days, in the “Tribune,” the “Sun”
and other moral papers, the whole of her case stated
as by herself and an elaborate defence of her; the
whole of which we give to-day as a specimen of the
honesty, morality and consistency of these pious
papers.
This woman, it is very doubtful, has not been
guilty of any thing more in reality than is practised
by many medical men in this country. Yet these
papers have all come down upon her, open-mouth-
ed, ready to destroy her, and abused her in order, as
we now see, to levy black mail upon her in every
conceivable shape. One of the specimens of this
sort of conduct is that of Noah, (who in his little
paper is a sort of jackall to Beach,) who lately open-
ed on her with the lowest species of abuse, in order
to compel her to walk up to the Captain's office and
settle. The effect of this abuse of Noah's was to
cause her immediately to go to his principal,
Beach, to get him to insert the defence, which we
have copied from the “Sun.” Beach very kindly
enters into the object of her visit, which he had been
expecting, and tells her that he will insert her de-
fence in his paper for $25, and caused it to be in-
serted in the Union, (Noah's paper) for $10 more.
Hereafter, therefore, when any one shall see
themselves violently abused in Noah's little paper,
they will understand it as a hint to “step up to the
Captain's office and settle!”
================================================================
[Col.4]
BOZ ON BROTHER JONATHAN.—Boz's work on the
United States will, no doubt, be sharp and caustic.
He and his clique of literateurs are preparing the way
for its reception. The following is an extract of a
letter from a friend of Dickens to one in this
country:—
“The Dickens are down on the Kentish coast, and I am
daily expecting to hear of his projects, both literary and
locomotive, for the autumn. I rather think he will not
publish any thing directly about your country; but if he
does, I am sure you will be more irritable and thin-skinned
than becomes your actual and growing greatness, if you
take serious offence at any of the pleasantries with which
so perfectly candid and kind-hearted a man can possibly
visit any of your infirmities. It is too childish to suppose,
either that your are without them, or that they are not to
be laughed at, as well as the ridicules of other nations;
and surely D. has not spared either these, or the vices of
his own countrymen. At all events, as it is, and always
must be, apparent that he has no malice in his heart, you
will only put yourselves egregiously in the wrong, if you
take amiss any playful liberties he may take with your pe-
culiarities, and make indifferent people laugh longer and
louder at you. I know that he was delighted (as he well
might be) with his reception, and has a deep and grateful
sense of the kindness he everywhere met with.”
If Dickens cuts up his toadies and committe men,
we have no objection; otherwise—otherwise.
[Col.5]
SODOMY.—A beast in the outward shape of a man, named
James Greigg, was arrested yesterday morning, on the
complaint of one of the most disgusting looking brutes
that ever graced the watch-house, for an attempt to com-
mit this crime. They were both exhibited in the Police
office during the day, and then discharged.
...
COURT OF SESSIONS.—Assistant Alderman SCOLES called
up the resolution which had passed the other board regu-
lating the time for holding courts, and also abolishing
the pay of Aldermen sitting there as judges.
Assistant Alderman WATERMAN spoke in favor of the
Aldermen being continued as judges. He thought the
gentlemen taken from among the body of the people are
better qualified to pass upon the subjects presented there
than those not practically acquainted with the minutia
of daily events. The Aldermen had enjoyed the right for
a century, the members of the Supreme Court are divided
in opinion as to the constitutionality of the law tearing it
away from them—and the law will, in all probability,
soon be repealed by the Legislature. He moved that the
report lay on the table, to await the decision of the courts.
Assistant Alderman SCOLES replied. He said that the
Supreme Court had decided that the law is constitutional.
It is useless to be paying gentlemen four dollars a day for
what they have no legal right to receive. How much
benefit the Aldermen are in the Sessions can be seen by
any one visiting the court. We have to pay the Judges,
and it is hard that the city should also be burdened with
the pay of Aldermen claiming to sit as such.
Assistant Alderman WATERMAN rejoined. He read the
opinion of Justice Bronson, opposed to the idea of con-
stitutionality and made further remarks.
Assistant Alderman SCOLES alluded to the opinion of the
majority of the Court in favor. He thought this board
had nothing to do, however, with ulterior matters. It is
now the law, and should be obeyed by the Common Coun-
cil.
Assistant Alderman W. DODGE supported Mr. Scoles.
He read the opinion of Justice Cowen in favor of the con-
stitutionality of the law, which was approved of by Chief
Justice Nelson. He thought the acts of the Supreme
Court should be looked upon as the acts of a superior
being, until reversed by a higher Court. In paying the
Aldermen, we are supporting them in rebellion against
the laws of the State.
Concurred in, 9 to 7.
...
[Col.6]
SENTENCE OF
JOHN C. COLT,
CONVICTED ON THE MURDER OF
SAMUEL ADAMS,
ON THE 17TH SEPTEMBER, 1841.
——————
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
For a considerable time before the opening of the Court,
the lobby was filled by a dense crowd, anxious to hear
the dreadful sentence of the law pronounced on the ill-
fated Colt. When the door was opened the crowd, as
usual, rushed in, in a rather tumultous manner, and in a
few minutes afterwards the Court room was filled.
About ten minutes past ten o'clock, the prisoner was
led into the court room by officers Colvin and Smith.
The unhappy man looked much worn, although not so
much so as might be expected. His countenance, how-
ever, was very pallid, his step had lost its firm,
elastic tread, and he hurriedly, and with a somewhat
faltering gait, walked towards the usual seat
taken by convicts on receiving their sentence. He
glanced round the room, and then immediately sat
down with his back towards the spectators. After
conversing, in an apparently cheerful manner, for a few
moments, with a young member of the bar named Field,
Colt asked for a morning paper, which was handed to him
by officer Smith, and he occupied himself in reading it,
and conversing with Mr. Morrill, one of his counsel, and
his brother Charles, until Judge Kent, and Aldermen Pur-
dy and Lee, the other members of the Court, (who presi-
ded at the trial) made their appearance.
At half past ten Judge Kent and the Aldermen entered
the Court.
Judge Kent had a few words of private conversation
with Mr. Whiting, the District Attorney, and Messrs. Gra-
ham and Morrill, the counsel for the prisoner Colt.
Judge KENT—Place John C. Colt at the bar.
Colt was then placed at the bar.
Mr. WHITING read a certified copy of the decision of the
Supreme Court, approving of the finding of this Court.
Mr. SELDEN said he had not before seen that document.
Mr. WHITING—You were served with a copy.
Mr. SELDEN—It was that the exceptions be overruled.
The expression there is that a new trial be denied. The
Supreme Court had stated that upon a previous decision
made upon a case coming from the county of Madison, it
was decided that they had not the power of reviewing de-
cisions of the court on the interlocutory question. I sup-
pose from my communication with counsel who argued
that motion, that at the time it was under discussion, it
was a question capable of review.
Judge KENT.—What motion do you offer?
Mr. SELDEN.—I would be happy to be permitted to ar-
gue that point to which I allude. I am satisfied that the
ruling of this count is not in conformity with the opinion
of the Bar or of the judges.
Judge KENT—We cannot give you the permission you
seek.
SELDEN—Courts have sometimes consented to have a
question reviewed.
Judge KENT—Any thing farther Mr. Selden?
SELDEN—Nothing, Sir.
The Clerk of the Court then desired Colt to stand up,
and addressed him in the usual form—
“You may remember you have heretofore been indicted
for a murder, on that indictment you were arraigned,
you pleaded not guilty and put yourself on the benefit
of a trial, you were found guilty,—what have you now to
say why judgment should not be pronounced against
you?”
The PRISONER.—I have prepared a few remarks which I
wish to go to the court.
Judge KENT.—Do you wish it read aloud?
COLT.—Certainly, sir.
Judge KENT then read the following paper handed to
him from the prisoner at the bar.—
“The position I now hold is to a sentient being the most
agonising possible. It is more painful than the struggle
of death itself. But it is a form of procedure that I am
obliged to pass through before my case reaches the last
tribunal of the State to which it will be carried in accord-
ance with the justice which cannot be denied to the mean-
est of mankind. Most cheerfully will I submit my case
to final examination by the Court of Errors. I fully be-
lieve it will set aside the judgement of the Jury, who were
so far led aside by prejudice and error as to trample on the
evidence—to trample on the law—to trample on the
Judge's charge. Amid the thousand false rumors in cir-
culation at the time of, and before my trial, it may not,
however, be considered surprising that the Jury were
misled from coming to a right conclusion. For it is a
truth, that no man can question, that the most reputable
characters have often been prejudiced, even without
themselves being aware of the fact. How far these pre-
judices affected the Jury, may be inferred from the
act that one of them, Mr. Husted, remarked before the tri-
al, that “Colt should be hung first and tried afterwards,”
which will be proved by the affidavits of several respecta-
ble witnesses. All that, unfortunately situated as I am, I can
expect is an impartial trial by jury. This is all I desire,
and this the meanest vagrant in the streets has a right to
demand. Misfortune, not crime, has placed me in this po-
sition, and although as low down as possible without be-
ing annihilated, still, rest assured I have not so lost my
self-respect, nor regard for the credit of the species, as to
submit calmly to this injustice. As this consequently is
not to be the end of this business, I desire that the Court
will spare me the pain of all unnecessary powers of sen-
tence, especially the accompanying comments.”
Judge KENT—The Court has no desire, I can assure you
to make unnecessary comments. The scene is as painful
to the Court as it can be distressing to you. I only now
refuse to accede to your request by making a few remarks
on the conduct of the Jury. It is due to justice, and it is
due to one of the most intelligent Juries that ever sat in a
Court of Justice, that I should not allow them, in this
their appropriate tribunal, to be traduced (for I must use
that expression), without entering my solemn protest
against it. That Jury was selected out of three hundred
of our most respectable citizens, taken indiscriminately from
the city, selected under a most vigorous exercise of the pe-
remtory challenge by the prisoner; and in my case when
objections were raised and allowed it was in favor of the
prisoner. Thus selected, their demeanor in court
was such as to entitle them to the highest
consideration of the tribunal in which they ap-
peared. Cut off from intercourse with their fami-
lies, separrted from their business and the world—enclo-
sed here in a sort of prison for eleven days—I never seen
one of them exhibit the slightest impatience, on the con-
trary they bore bore with most exemplary patience and
dignity even unnecessary delays in the progress of the
trial; calmly, honestly, unfalteringly, earnest only to dis-
cover the truth from the appalling evidence spread before
them. Had these men been followed to the room, we
would have seen the same quiet, calm, impassive,
honest inquiry attending and characterizing their de-
liberations. In so far, therefore, as this paper expresses
dissatisfaction with, and contempt of the Court and Jury,
it is the conscientious opinion of him who now addresses
you, that it is entirely incorrect and unsupported. If that
Court erred at all I believe it did in too lenient a con-
struction of the circumstances of your offence, and happy
will it be for innocence in all future time to be brought
before a tribunal as willing to hear, as ready to
believe, as humane to forgive. I do not wish to prolong
this distressing scene. You are a man of educatien—a
man of talent. We have had the most striking and im-
pressive evidence that you can calmly contemplate and
coolly meet the most alarming crisis in human life. I will
not therefore address to you any of the common-place—
ordinary topics addressed to criminals on the approach of
death. I leave that to your reflections, simply adding,
that so far as the Court is concerned, they are now about to
appoint the ultimate hour of your existence; and I trust
you will meet that hour, relying not on human means
and that when earth is disappearing from your view, not
on earthly things will your thoughts be placed. It is my
duty to say in addition that it appears to me that you
evince the most total insensibility regarding the crime,
whose commission has brought you to that bar. For be
it remembered, that though lawyers and juries debated
what degree of offence it came to—whether it were tech-
nical murder, or technical manslaughter, no man ever
doubted that it was a crime of the greatest mag-
nitue and enormity, and which has left the stain
of blood-guiltiness on your soul! It is a crime, too,
which has sunk deep in the community. Leaving out
of view all those appalling circumstances which followed
the commission of that homicide, which I will not distress
you nor myself by summing up now—leaving out of view
all but those gaping wounds themselves, no doubt can ex-
ist that the deed was marked by ferocious passion and
sanguinary cruelty.
COLT here rose and made an effort to speak. Judge
Kent paused, and the prisoner proceeded in a loud voice
and hurried manner—“I wanted not to convey the idea
that the Jury acted wilfully wrong, but that they were
misled. The Judge's charge is the best argument to prove
that. I do not impugn the motives of the Jury—I only
speak of them as having been in error, which is, I believe,
now the opinion of nine-tenths of the community. As
far as regards my own conscience in this affair, I assure
you, sir, that I would rather trust the whole affair to God
himself than to man. I never committed an act in my life
that I would not have done again under the same circum-
stances. Depend upon it, I am not the man who could
receive an insult without making some retaliation. The
retaliation was not made with any idea of killing the
man, but he made the assault and was responsible for con-
sequences. I think, sir, you have misapprehended en-
tirely the sentiment I meant to convey on that bit of
paper. I am ready for the sentence, as I know it cannot
be avoided.
Judge KENT.—The sentence will now be pronounced,
with an expression of the regret with which the Court
have marked such morbid insensibility which you exhi-
bit in your last speech, and which convinces me that any
further remarks would be lost. The sentence of the court
is that you, John C. Colt, on the 18th of Nov. next, be
hanged by the neck until you be dead, and may God have
mercy on your soul! Remove the prisoner.
The prisoner was then removed and left the court appa-
rently without the least emotion.
——————
SENTENCE OF WILLIAM WILEY.
JUDGE KENT—Place William Wiley at the bar.
The prisoner then took the usual seat in such cases,
attended by his counsel, Messrs. O'Conner and N. B.
Blunt
DISTRICT ATTORNEY (to the Court). I hold in my hand,
sir, a certified copy of the approval of the Supreme Court
...
================================================================
[Col.3. Mostly as in Herald]
Sentence of Wiley and Colt.
In the Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday
morning considerable interest was excited by the
fact the sentence of the law was to be pronounced
upon WILLIAM WILEY, convicted of having re-
ceived $120,000 stolen from Maryland Bank, and
JOHN C. COLT, convicted of the murder of Samuel
Adams.
In passing sentence upon Wiley, Judge KENT
remarked that his original intention of pronouncing
the severest sentence the law would allow had
been changed by the recommendation by the jury
of the prisoner to mercy, by the consideration that
the offender had already suffered much in the
depth of infamy to which his crime had sunk him,
and that his crime was the first of the kind ever
presented in the State. He then sentenced him to
imprisonment in the County Jail for six months,
and to pay a fine of $250. Mr. Blunt stated that
he had an order from Judge Cowen, of the Su-
preme Court, to stay execution of the sentence as
the case would be carried up.
COLT was then placed at the bar. Mr. SELDEN,
Counsel for the prisoner, asked leave to argue a
technicality in the decision of the Supreme Court,
but it was refused. COLT then rose to receive his
sentence. He was neatly dressed in black, and
though somewhat thinner and more pale his ap-
pearance had not greatly changed since his trial.
He exhibited the same cool indifference and in
reply to the formal question, “what have you to
say why judgement should not be pronounced
against you?” handed to the Court the following
paper which was read by Judge Kent:
“The position I now hold is to a sentient being the most
agonising possible. It is more painful than the struggle of
death itself. But it is a form of procedure that I am
obliged to pass through before my case reaches the last tri-
bunal of the State to which it will be carried in accordance
with that justice which cannot be denied to the meanest of
mankind. Most cheerfully will I submit my case to final
examination by the Court of Errors. I fully believe it will
set aside the judgement of the Jury, who were so led aside
by prejudice and error as to trample on the evidence—to
trample on the law—to trample on the Judge's charge.—
Amid the thousand false rumors in circulation at the time
of, and before my trial, it may not, however, be considered
surprising that the Jury were misled from coming to a right
conclusion. For it is a truth, that no man can question,
that the most reputable characters have often been pre-
judiced, even without themselves being aware of the fact.
How far these prejudices affected the Jury, may be in-
ferred from the fact that one of them, Mr. Husted, remarked
before the trial, that “Colt should be hung first and tried
afterward,” which will be proved by the affidavits of sev-
eral respectable witnesses. All that, unfortunately situated
as I am, I can expect is an impartial trial by Jury. This is
all I desire, and this the meanest vagrant in the streets has
a right to demand. Misfortune, not crime, has placed me
in this position, and although as low down as possible with-
out being annihilated, still, rest assured, I have not so lost
my self-respect, nor regard for the credit of the species, as
to submit calmly to this injustice. As this consequently is
not to be the end of this business, I desire that the Court
will spare me the pain of all unnecessary powers of sen-
tence, especially the accompanying comments.”
Judge KENT said that the Court had no desire to make
unnecessary comments. The scene, said he, is as painful to
the Court as it can be distressing to you. I only now refuse
to accede to your request for the purpose of making a
few remarks on the conduct of the Jury. It is due to
justice, and it is due to one of the most intelligent Juries
that ever sat in a Court of Justice, that I should not allow
them, in this their appropriate tribunal, to be traduced (for
I must use that expression), without entering my solemn
protest against it. That Jury was selected out of three
hundred of our most respectable citizens, taken indiscrim-
inately from the city, selected under a most vigorous exer-
cise of the peremptory challenge by the prisoner; and in
any case where objections were raised and allowed it was
in favor of the prisoner. Thus selected, their demeanor in
Court was such as to entitle them to the highest considera-
tion of the tribunal in which they appeared. Cut off from
intercourse with their families, separated from their business
and the world, enclosed here in a sort of prison for eleven
days, I never saw one of them exhibit the slightest impa-
tience; on the contrary they bore with most exemplary
patience and dignity even unnecessary delays in the pro-
gress of the trial; calmly, honestly, unfalteringly—earnest
only to discover the truth from the appalling evidence
spread before them. Had these men been followed to their
room, we should have seen the same quiet, calm, honest in-
quiry attending and characterizing their deliberations. In
so far, therefore, as this paper expresses dissatisfaction with
and contempt of the Court and Jury, it is the conscientious
opinion of him who now addresses you, that it is entirely
incorrect and unsupported. If that Court erred at all, I
believe it did in too lenient a construction of the circum-
stances of your offence, and happy will it be for innocence
in all future time to be brought before a tribunal as willing
to hear, as ready to believe, as humane to forgive. I do
not wish to prolong this distressing scene. You are a man
of education—a man of talent. We have had the most strik-
ing and impressive evidence that you can calmly contemplate
and coolly meet the most alarming crisis in human life. I
will not therefore address to you any of the common-place,
ordinary topics addressed to criminals on the approach of
death. I leave that to your reflections, simply adding, that
so far as the Court is concerned, they are now about to ap-
point the ultimate hour of your existence; and I trust you
will meet that hour not relying upon human means, and
that, when earth is disappearing from your view, not on
earthly things will your thoughts be placed. It is my duty
to say in addition that it appears to me that you evince the
most total insensibility regarding the crime, whose commis-
sion has brought you to that bar. For be it remembered,
though lawyers and juries debated what degree of offence
it was—whether it were technical murder, or technical
manslaughter, no man ever doubted that it was a crime of
the greatest magnitude and enormity, and which has left
the deep stain of blood-guiltiness on your soul! It is a
a crime, too, whose commission has sunk deep in the com-
munity. Leaving out of view all those appalling circum-
stances which followed the commission of that homicide,
which I will not distress you nor myself by summing up
now—leaving out of view all but those gaping wounds
themselves, no doubt can exist that the deed was marked by
ferocious passion and sanguinary cruelty.
Colt here manifested a wish to speak, and
Judge K. paused. In a loud voice and with a
greatly excited tone the prisoner said—
He did not want to convey the idea that the Jury acted
wilfully wrong, but that they were misled. The Judge's
charge is the best argument to prove that. I do not impugn
the motives of the Jury—I only speak of them as having been
in error, which is, I believe, now the opinion of nine tenths
of the community. So far as regards my own conscience in
this affair, I assure you, sir, that I would rather trust the
whole affair to God himself than to man. I never committed
an act in my life that I would not have done again under the
same circumstances. Depend upon it. I am not the man who
could receive an insult without making some retaliation.—
The retaliation was not made with any idea of killing the
man, but he made the assault and was responsible for con-
sequences. I think, sir, you have misapprehended entirely
the sentiment I meant to convey on that bit of paper. I am
ready for the sentence, as I know it cannot be avoided.
Judge KENT—The sentence will now be pronounced, with
an expression of the regret with which the Court have
marked such morbid insensibility as you exhibit in your
last speech, and which convinces me that any further re-
marks would be lost. The sentence of the court is, that you,
[Col.3]
John C. Colt, on the 18th of November next, be hanged by
the neck until you be dead, and may God have mercy on your
soul! Remove the prisoner.
The prisoner was then removed, having exhibi-
ted but little concern or emotion.
The trial of Edwards was set down for the 4th
Monday of the term (Oct. 17.)
================================================================
[Col.3]
Ladies' Companion.—We believe the November No.
which came out this morning, as it always does on
the first day of the month, is fully equal to its well es-
tablished reputation. Mrs. Embury, always our fa-
vorite, leads off in “Lady Alice Lisle,” a very beauti-
fully told tale of the Olden Time. Willis contributes
a characteristic, and therefore a spirited sketch which
he calls “The Ghost Ball at Congress Hall.” There
is also a strange and curious tale by Mr. Edgar A.
Poe; or the first part of such a tale, which we are
told is coincidental with the case of the murder of
Miss Mary Rogers in this city a year or two since.
We can tell rather, better as to the coincidence, when
the story is completed. It is, however, of itself ro-
mantic and interesting enough. The “Covenanter's
Burial,” by Mr. Herbert will be read with great inter-
est by the class of admirers to which we profess to
belong ourselves. The “Ups and Downs of Lot
Wyman,” By Seba Smith, is pure, unadulterated
Yankee. There are the usual contributors from the
poetical correspondents of the Magazine, the best of
which is “Purity's Pearl,” by Mrs. Osgood, and
“Parnassus,” by Rufus Dawes. The Editor's Ta-
ble is done up in good taste as usual, and the embel-
lishments are perhaps better than common—certain-
ly quite as good. They consist of the “Mantilla,”
a fine steel engraving by Dick, from one of Land-
seer's paintings; “The Invalid,” also engraved by
Dick; a Plate of Fashions, and two pages of Music
—“Flow gently Sweet Croton,” and a Bohemian
Air. On the whole, this popular Magazine maintains
its ground most manfully, and that we take it will
always make it an agreeable “Ladies' Companion.”
Office 109 Fulton street.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Original.
THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET.
A Sequel to “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.”
——————
BY EDGAR A. POE.
——————
Es giebt eine Reihe idealischer Begebenheiten, die
der Wirklichkeit parallel lauft, Selten fallen sie
Zusammen. Menschen und zufalle modificiren
gewohnlich die idealische Begebenheit, so dass sie
unvollkommen erscheint, und ihre Folgen gleichfalls
unvollkommen sind. So bei der Reformation; statt
des Protestantismus kam das Lutherthum hervor.
There are ideal series of events which run parallel
with the real ones. They rarely coincide. Men and
circumstances generally modify the ideal train of
events, so that it seems imperfect, and its consequen-
ces are equally imperfect. Thus with the Refor-
mation; instead of Protestantism came Lutheran-
ism.—Novalis. Moral Ansichten.
THERE are few persons, even among the calmest
thinkers, who have not occasionally been startled into
a vague yet thrilling half-credence in the supernatural,
by coincidences of so seemingly marvellous a character
that, as mere coincidences, the intellect has been unable
to receive them. Such sentiments—for the half-creden-
ces of which I speak have never the full force of thought
—such sentiments are seldom thoroughly stifled unless
by reference to the doctrine of chance, or, as it is tech-
nically termed, the Calculus of Probabilities. Now
this Calculus is, in its essence, purely mathematical;
and thus we have the anomaly of the most rigidly exact
in science applied to the shadow and spirituality of the
most intangible in speculation.
The extraordinary details which I am now called
upon to make public, will be found to form, as regards
sequence of time, the primary branch of a series of
scarcely intelligible coincidences, whose secondary or
concluding branch will be recognized by all readers in
the late murder of MARY CECILIA ROGERS, at New
York.
When, in an article, entitled “The Murders in the
Rue Morgue,” I endeavored, about a year ago, to de-
pict some very remarkable features in the mental cha-
racter of my friend, the Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin,
it did not occur to me that I should ever resume the
subject. This depicting of character constituted my
design; and this design was thoroughly fulfilled in the
wild train of circumstances brought to instance Dupin's
idiosyncrasy. I might have adduced other examples,
but it should have proven no more. Late events, how-
ever, in their surprising development, have startled me
into some farther details, which will carry with them
the air of extorted confession. Hearing what I have
lately heard, it would be indeed strange should I remain
longer silent in regard to what I both heard and saw so
long ago.
Upon the winding up of the tragedy involved in the
[Col.2]
deaths of Madame L'Espanaye and her daughter, the
Chevalier dismissed the affair at once from his atten-
tion, and relapsed into his old habits of moody and fan-
tastic reverie. Prone, at all times, to abstraction, I
readily fell in with his humor; and, continuing to
occupy our chamber in the Faubourg Saint Germain,
we gave the Future to the winds, and slumbered tran-
quilly in the Present, weaving the dull world around us
into dreams.
But these dreams were not altogether uninterrupted.
It may readily be supposed that the part played by my
friend, in the drama, at the Rue Morgue, had not failed
of its impression upon the fancies of the Parisian police.
With its emissaries, the name of Dupin had grown into
a household word. The simple character of those
inductions by which he had disentangled the mystery
never having been explained even to the Prefect, or to
any other individual than myself, of course it is not sur-
prizing that the affair was regarded little less than
miraculous, or that the Chevalier's analytical abilities
acquired for him the credit of intuition. His frankness
would have led him to disabuse every inquirer of such
prejudice; but his indolent humor forbade all farther
agitation on a topic whose interest to himself had long
ceased. It thus happened that he found himself the
cynosure of the policial eyes; and the cases were not
few in which attempt was made to engage his services
at the Prefecture. The only instance, nevertheless, in
which such attempt proved successful, was the instance
to which I have already alluded—that of the murder of
a young girl named Marie Rogêt.
This event occurred about two years after the atro-
city in the Rue Morgue. Marie, whose Christian and
family name will at once arrest attention from their
resemblance to those of the unfortunate “segar-girl,”
was the only daughter of the widow Estelle Rogêt.
The father had died during the child's infancy, and
from the period of his death, until within eighteen
months before the assassination which forms the sub-
ject of our narrative, the mother and daughter had
dwelt together in the Rue Pavée Saint Andrée;
Madame there keeping a pension, assisted by Marie.
Affairs went on thus until the latter had attained her
twenty-second year, when her great beauty attracted
the notice of a perfumer, who occupied one of the shops
in the basement of the Palais Royal, and whose custom
lay chiefly among the desperate adventurers infesting
that neighborhood. Monsieur Le Blanc was not una-
ware of the advantages to be derived from the attend-
ance of the fair Marie in his parfumerie; and his libe-
ral proposals were accepted eagerly by the girl, but
with somewhat more hesitation by Madame.
The anticipations of the shopkeeper were realized,
and his rooms soon became notorious through the
charms of the sprightly grisette. She had been in his
employ about a year, when her admirers were thrown
into confusion by her sudden disappearance from the
shop. Monsieur Le Blanc was unable to account for
her absence, and Madame Rogêt was distracted with
anxiety and terror. The public papers immediately
[Col.1]
took up the theme, and the police were upon the point
of making serious investigations, when, one fine morn-
ing, after the lapse of a week, Marie, in good health,
but with a somewhat saddened air, made her re-ap-
pearance at her usual counter in the parfumerie. All
inquiry, except that of a private character, was of
course immediately hushed. Monsieur Le Blanc pro-
fessed total ignorance, as before. Marie, with Madame,
replied to all questions, that the last week had been
spent at the house of a relation in the country. Thus
the affair died away, and was generally forgotten; for
the girl, ostensibly to relieve herself from the imperti-
nence of curiosity, soon bade a final adieu to the perfu-
mer, and sought the shelter of her mother's residence
in the Rue Pavée Saint Andrée.
It was about five months after this return home, that
her friends were alarmed by her sudden disappearance
for the second time. Three days elapsed, and nothing
was heard of her. On the fourth her corpse was found
floating in the Seine, near the shore which is opposite
the Quartier of the Rue Saint Andrée, and at a point
not very far distant from the secluded neighborhood of
the Barrière du Roule.
The atrocity of this murder, (for it was at once evi-
dent that murder had been committed,) the youth and
beauty of the victim, and, above all, her previous noto-
riety, conspired to produce intense excitement in the
minds of the sensitive Parisians. I can call to mind no
similar occurrence producing so general and so intense
an effect. For several weeks, in the discussing of this
one absorbing theme, even the momentous political
topics of the day were forgotten. The Prefect made
unusual exertions; and the powers of the whole Pari-
sian police were, of course, tasked to the utmost extent.
Upon the first discovery of the corpse, it was not sup-
posed that the murderer would be able to elude, for
more than a very brief period, the inquisition which
was immediately set on foot. It was not until the
expiration of a week that it was deemed necessary to
offer a reward; and even then this reward was limited
to a thousand francs. In the mean time the investi-
gation proceeded with vigor, if not always with judg-
ment, and numerous individuals were examined to no
purpose; while, owing to the continual absence of all
clue to the mystery, the popular excitement became
greatly increased. At the end of the tenth day it was
thought advisable to double the sum originally pro-
posed; and, at length, the second week having elapsed
without leading to any discoveries, and the prejudice
which always exists in Paris against the police having
given vent to itself in several serious émeutes, the Pre-
fect took it upon himself to offer the sum of twenty
thousand francs “for the conviction of the assassin,” or,
if more than one should prove to have been implicated,
for the conviction of any one of the assassins.” In the
proclamation setting forth this reward, a full pardon
was promised to any accomplice who should come for-
ward in evidence against his fellow; and to the whole
was appended, wherever it appeared, the private pla-
card of a committee of citizens, offering ten thousand
francs, in addition to the amount proposed by the Pre-
[Col.2]
fecture. The entire reward thus stood at no less than
thirty thousand francs, which will be regarded as an
extraordinary sum when we consider the humble con-
dition of the girl, and the great frequency in large cities,
of such atrocities as the one described.
No one doubted now that the mystery of this murder
would be immediately brought to light. But although,
in one or two instances, arrests were made which pro-
mised elucidation, yet nothing was elicited which could
implicate the parties suspected, and they were dis-
charged forthwith. Strange as it may appear, the
third week from the discovery of the body had passed,
and passed without any light being thrown upon the
subject, before even a rumor of the events which had so
agitated the public mind, reached the ears of Dupin
and myself. Engaged in researches which had ab-
sorbed our whole attention, it had been nearly a month
since either of us had gone abroad, or received a visitor,
or more than glanced at the leading political articles in
one of the daily papers. The first intelligence of the
murder was brought us by G——, in person. He
called upon us early in the afternoon of the thirteenth
of July, 18—, and remained with us until late in the
night. He had been piqued by the failure of all his
endeavors to ferret out the assassins. His reputation
—so he said with a peculiarly Parisian air—was at
stake. Even his honor was concerned. The eyes of
the public were upon him; and there was really no
sacrifice which he would not be willing to make for the
development of the mystery. He concluded a some-
what droll speech with a compliment upon which he
was pleased to term the tact of Dupin, and made him a
direct, and certainly a liberal proposition, the precise
nature of which I do not feel myself at liberty to dis-
close, but which has no bearing upon the proper subject
of my narrative.
The compliment my friend rebutted as best he could,
but the proposition he accepted at once, although its
advantages were altogether provisional. This point
being settled, the Prefect broke forth at once into
explanations of his own views, interspersing them with
long comments upon the evidence; of which latter we
were not yet in possession. He discoursed much, and
beyond doubt, learnedly; while I hazarded an occa-
sional suggestion as the night wore drowsily away.
Dupin, sitting steadily in his accustomed arm-chair,
was the embodiment of respectful attention. He wore
spectacles, during the whole interview; and an occa-
sional glance beneath their green glasses, sufficed to
convince me that he slept not the less soundly, because
silently throughout the seven or eight leaden-footed
hours which immediately preceded the departure of the
Prefect.
In the morning, I procured, at the Prefecture, a full
report of all the evidence elicited, and, at the various
newspaper offices, a copy of every paper in which, from
first to last, had been published any decisive infor-
mation in regard to this sad affair. Freed from all
that was positively disproved, this mass of information
stood thus:
Marie Rogêt left the residence of her mother, in the
[Col.1]
Rue Pavée Saint Andrée, about nine o'clock in the morn-
ing of Sunday, June the twenty-second, 18—. In going
out, she gave notice to a Monsieur Jacques Eustache,
and to him only, on her intention to spend the day with
an aunt who resided in the Rue des Drômes. The
Rue des Drômes is a short and narrow but populous
thoroughfare, not far from the banks of the river, and at
a distance of some two miles, in the most direct course
possible, from the pension of Madame Rogêt. St.
Eustache was the accepted suitor of Marie, and lodged,
as well as took his meals, at the pension. He was to
have gone for his betrothed at dusk, and to have
escorted her home. In the afternoon, however, it came
on to rain heavily; and, supposing that she would
remain all night at her aunt's, (as she had done under
similar circumstances before,) he did not think it
necessary to keep his promise. As night drew on,
Madame Rogêt (who was an infirm old lady, seventy
years of age,) was heard to express a fear “that she
should never see Marie again;” but this observation
attracted little attention at the time.
On Monday, it was ascertained that the girl had not
been to the Rue des Drômes; and when the day elapsed
without tidings of her, a tardy search was instituted at
several points in the city, and its environs. It was not,
however, until the fourth day from the period of her
disappearance that any thing satisfactory was ascer-
tained respecting her. On this day, (Wednesday, the
twenty-fifth of June,) A Monsieur Beauvais, who with
a friend, had been making inquiries for Marie near the
Barrière du Roule, on the shore of the Seine, which is
opposite the Rue Pavée Saint Andrée, was informed that
a corpse had just been towed ashore by some fishermen,
who had found it floating in the river. Upon seeing the
body, Beauvais, after some hesitation, identified it as
that of the perfumery girl. His friend recognized it
more promptly.
The face was suffused with dark blood, some of which
issued from the mouth. No foam was seen, as in the
case of the merely drowned. There was no discolora-
tion in the cellular tissue. About the throat were
bruises and impressions of fingers. The arms were
bent over on the chest and were rigid. The right hand
was clenched; the left partially open. On the left
wrist were two circular excoriations, apparently the
effect of ropes, or of a rope in more than one volution.
A part of the right wrist, also, was much chafed, as well
as the back throughout its extent, but more especially at
the shoulder-blades. In bringing the body to the shore the
fishermen had attached to it a rope; but none of the
excoriations had been effected by this. The flesh of
the neck was much swollen. There were no cuts
apparent, or bruises which appeared the effect of blows.
A piece of lace was found tied so tightly around the neck
as to be hidden from sight; it was completely buried
in the flesh, and was fastened by a knot which lay just
under the left ear. This alone would have sufficed to
produce death. The medical testimony spoke confi-
dently of the virtuous character of the deceased. She
had been subjected to brutal violence. The corpse was
in such condition when found, that there could have
been no difficulty in its recognition by friends.
[Col.2]
The dress was much torn and otherwise disordered.
In the outer garment, a slip, about a foot wide, had
been torn upward from the bottom hem to the waist,
but not torn off. It was wound three times around the
waist, and secured by a sort of hitch in the back. The
dress immediately beneath the frock was of fine muslin;
and from this a slip eighteen inches wide had been torn
entirely out—torn very evenly and with great care. It
was found around her neck, fitting loosely, and secured
with a hard knot. Over this muslin slip and the slip of
lace, the strings of a bonnet were attached; the bonnet
being appended. The knot by which the strings of the
bonnet were fastened, was not a lady's, but a slip or
sailor's knot.
After the recognition of the corpse, it was not, as
usual, taken to the Morgue, (this formality being
superfluous,) but hastily interred not far for the spot
at which it was brought ashore. Through the exertions
of Beauvais, the matter was industriously hushed up, as
far as possible; and several days had elapsed before
any public emotion resulted. A weekly paper, how-
ever, at length took up the theme; the corpse was
disinterred, and a re-examination instituted; and noth-
ing was elicited beyond what has been already noted.
The clothes, however, were now submitted to the
mother and friends of the deceased, and fully identified
as those worn by the girl upon leaving home.
Meantime, the excitement increased hourly. Several
individuals were arrested and discharged. St. Eus-
tache fell especially under suspicion; and he failed at
first, to give an intelligible account of his whereabouts
during the Sunday on which Marie left home. Subse-
quently, however, he submitted to Monsieur G——,
affidavits, accounting satisfactorily for every hour of the
day in question. As time passed and no discovery
ensued, a thousand contradictory rumors were circu-
lated, and journalists busied themselves in suggestions.
Among these, the one which attracted the most notice,
was the idea that Marie Rogêt still lived—that the
corpse found in the Seine was that of some other
unfortunate. It will be proper that I submit to the
reader some passages which embody the suggestion
alluded to. These passages are literal translations
from “L'Etoile,” a small daily print conducted, in
general, with much ability.
“Mademoiselle Rogêt left her mother's house on Sunday
morning, June the twenty-second, 18—, with the ostensible
purpose of going to see her aunt, or some other connexion, in
the Rue des Drômes. From that hour, nobody is proved to
have seen her. There is no trace or tidings of her at all. * *
* * There has no person, whatever, come forward, so far,
who saw her at all, on that day, after she left her mother's
door. * * * * Now, though we have no evidence that
Marie Rogêt was in the land of the living after nine o'clock on
Sunday, June the twenty-second, we have proof that, up to that
hour, she was alive. On Wednesday noon, at twelve, a female
body was discovered afloat on the shore of the Barrière du
Roule. This was, even if we presume that Marie Rogêt was
thrown into the river within three hours after she left her
mother's house, only three days from the time she left her
home—three days to an hour. But it is folly to suppose that
the murder, if murder was committed on her body, could have
been consummated soon enough to have enabled her murderers
to throw the body into the river before midnight. Those who
are guilty of such horrid crimes, choose darkness rather than
light. * * * * Thus we see that if the body found in the
river was that of Marie Rogêt, it could only have been in the
water two and a half days, or three at the outside. All expe-
rience has shown that drowned bodies, or bodies thrown into
the water immediately after death by violence, require from
[Col.1]
six to ten days for sufficient decomposition to take place to
bring them to the top of the water. Even where a cannon is
fired over a corpse, and it rises before at least five or six days'
immersion, it sinks again, if let alone. Now, we ask, what was
there in this case to cause a departure from the ordinary course
of nature? * * * * If the body had been kept in its man-
gled state on shore until Tuesday night, some trace would be
found on shore of the murderers. It is a doubtful point, also,
whether the body would be so soon afloat, even were it thrown
in after having been dead two days. And, furthermore, it is
exceedingly improbable that any villains who had committed
such a murder as is here supposed, would have thrown the
body in without weight to sink it, when such a precaution
could have so easily been taken.”
[The editor here proceeds to argue that the body
must have been in the water “not three days merely,
but, at least, five times three days,” because it was so
far decomposed that Beauvais had great difficulty in
recognizing it. This latter point, however, was fully
disproved. We continue our translation:]
“What, then, are the facts on which M. Beauvais says that
he has no doubt the body was that of Marie Rogêt? He ripped
up the gown sleeve, and says he found marks which satisfied
him of the identity. The public generally supposed those
marks to have consisted of some description of scars. He
rubbed the arm and found hair upon it—something as indefinite,
we think, as can readily be imagined—as little conclusive as
finding an arm in the sleeve. M. Beauvais did not return that
night, but sent word to Madame Rogêt, at seven o'clock, on
Wednesday evening, that an investigation was still in progress
respecting her daughter. If we allow that Madame Rogêt,
from her age and grief, could not go over, (which is allowing a
great deal,) there certainly must have been some one who
would have thought it worth while to go over and attend the
investigation, if they thought the body was that of Marie.
Nobody went over. There was nothing said or heard about
the matter in Rue Pavée St. Andrée, that reached even the
occupants of the same building. M. St. Eustache, the lover
and intended husband, of Marie, who boarded in her mother's
house, deposes that he did not hear of discovery of the
body of his intended until the next morning, when M. Beauvais
came into his chamber and told him of it. For an item of news
like this, it strikes us it was very coolly received.”
[In this way the journal endeavored to create the
impression of an apathy on the part of the relatives of
Marie, inconsistent with the supposition that these rela-
tives believed the corpse to be her's. Its insinuations
amount to this:—that Marie, with the connivance of
her friends, had absented herself from the city for
reasons involving a charge against her chastity; and
that these friends, upon the discovery of a corpse in the
Seine, somewhat resembling that of the girl, had availed
themselves of the opportunity to impress the public
with the belief of her death. But the “L'Etoile,” was
again over-hasty. It was distinctly proved that no
apathy, such as was imagined, existed; that the old
lady was exceedingly feeble, and so agitated as to be
unable to attend to any duty; that St. Eustache, so far
from receiving the news coolly, was distracted with
grief, and bore himself so frantically, that M. Beauvais
prevailed upon a friend and relative to take charge of
him, and prevent his attending the examination at the
disinterment. Moreover, although it was stated by
“L'Etoile,” that the corpse was re-interred at the
public expense,—that an advantageous offer of private
sepulture was absolutely declined by the family—and
that no member of the family attended the ceremonial:
—although, I say, all this was asserted by “L'Etoile,”
in furtherance of the impression it designed to convey—
yet all this was satisfactorily disproved. In a subse-
quent number of the paper, an attempt was made to
throw suspicion upon Beauvais himself. The editor
says:]
[Col.2]
“Now, then, a change comes over the matter. We are told
that, on one occasion, while a Madame B——, was at Madame
Rogêt's house, M. Beauvais, who was going out, told her that
a gendarme was expected there, and that she, Madame B.,
must not say any thing to the gendarme until he returned, but
let the matter be for him. * * * * In the present posture
of affairs, M. Beauvais appears to have the whole matter locked
up in his head. A single step cannot be taken without M.
Beauvais; for, go which way you will, you run against him. * *
* * * For some reason, he determined that nobody shall
have any thing to do with the proceedings but himself, and he has
elbowed the male relatives out of the way, according to their
representations, in a very singular manner. He seems to have
been very much averse to permitting the relatives to see the
body.”
[Some color was given to the suspicion thus thrown
upon Beauvais, by the following fact. A visitor at his
office, a few days prior to the girl's disappearance, and
during the absence of its occupant, had observed a rose
in the key-hole of the door, and the name “Marie,”
inscribed upon a slate which hung near at hand.
The general impression, so far as we were enabled to
glean it from the newspapers, seemed to be, that Marie
had been the victim of a gang of desperadoes—that by
these she had been borne across the river, maltreated
and murdered. “Le Commerciel,” however, a print of
extensive influence, was earnest in combatting this
popular idea. I quote a passage or two from its
columns:]
“We are persuaded that pursuit has hitherto been on a false
scent, so far as it has been directed to the Barrière du Roule.
It is impossible that a person so well known to thousands as
this young woman was, should have passed three blocks without
some one having seen her; and any one who saw her would
have remembered it, for she interested all who knew her. It
was when the streets were full of people, when she went out.
* * * It is impossible that she should have gone to the
Barrière du Roule, or to the Rue des Drômes, without being
recognized by a dozen persons; yet no one has come forward
who saw her outside of her mother's door, and there is no evi-
dence, except the testimony concerning her expressed inten-
tions, that she did go out at all. Her gown was torn, bound
round her, and tied; and by that the body was carried as a
bundle. If the murder had been committed at the Barrière du
Roule, there would have been no necessity for any such arrange-
ment. The fact that the body was found floating near the
Barrière, is no proof as to where it was thrown into the water.
* * * * * A piece of one of the unfortunate girl's petti-
coats, two feet long and one foot wide, was torn out and tied
under her chin around the back of her head, probably to pre-
vent screams. This was done by fellows who had no pocket-
handkerchief.”
A day or two before the Prefect called upon us, how-
ever, some important information reached the police,
which seemed to overthrow, at least, the chief portion
of Le Commerciel's argument. Two small boys, sons
of a Madame Deluc, while roaming among the woods
near the Barrière du Roule, chanced to penetrate a close
thicket, within which were three or four large stones,
forming a kind of seat, with a back and footstool. On
the upper stone lay a white petticoat; on the second a
silk scarf. A parasol, gloves, and a pocket-handkerchief
were also here found. The handkerchief bore the name
“Marie Rogêt.” Fragments of dress were discovered
on the brambles around. The earth was trampled, the
bushes were broken, and there was every evidence of a
struggle. Between the thicket and the river, the fences
were found taken down and the ground bore evidence
of some heavy burthen having been dragged along it.
A weekly paper, “Le Soleil,” had the following
comments upon this discovery—comments which
merely echoed the sentiment of the whole Parisian
press:
[Col.1]
“The things had all evidently been there at least three or
four weeks; they were all mildewed down hard with the action
of the rain, and stuck together from mildew. The grass had
grown around and over some of them. The silk on the parasol
was strong, but the threads of it were run together within.
The upper part, where it had been doubled and folded, was all
mildewed and rotten, and tore on its being opened. * * * *
The pieces of her frock torn out by the bushes were about
three inches wide and six inches long. One part was the hem
of the frock, and it had been mended; the other piece was part
of the skirt, not the hem. They looked like strips torn off,
and were on the thorn bush, about a foot from the ground.
* * * * * * There can be no doubt, therefore, that the
spot of this appalling outrage has been discovered.”
Consequent upon this discovery, new evidence ap-
peared. Madame Deluc testified that she keeps a road-
side inn not far from the bank of the river, opposite the
Barrière du Roule. The neighborhood is secluded—
particularly so. It is the usual Sunday resort of black-
guards from the city, who cross the river in boats.
About three o'clock, in the afternoon of the Sunday in
question, a young girl arrived at the inn, accompanied
by a young man of dark complexion. The two re-
mained here for some time. On their departure, they
took the road to some thick woods in the vicinity.
Madame Deluc's attention was called to the dress worn
by the girl, on account of its resemblance to one worn
by a deceased relative. A scarf was particularly noticed.
Soon after the departure of the couple, a gang of mis-
creants made their appearance, behaved boisterously,
ate and drank without making payment, followed in the
route of the young man and girl, returned to the inn
about dusk, and re-crossed the river as if in great haste.
It was soon after dark, upon this same evening, that
Madame Deluc, as well as her eldest son, heard the
screams of a female in the vicinity of the inn. The
screams were violent but brief. Madame D. recog-
nized not only the scarf which was found in the thicket,
but the dress which was discovered upon the corpse.
An omnibus driver, Valence, now also testified that he
saw Marie Rogêt cross a ferry on the Seine, on the
Sunday in question, in company with a young man of
dark complexion. He, Valence, knew Marie, and
could not be mistaken in her identity. The articles
found in the thicket were fully identified by the rela-
tives of Marie.
The items of evidence and information thus collected
by myself, from the newspapers, at the suggestion of
Dupin, embraced only one more point—but this was a
point of seemingly vast consequence. It appears that,
immediately after the discovery of the clothes as above
described, the lifeless, or nearly lifeless body of St.
Eustache, Marie's betrothed, was found in the vicinity
of what all now supposed the scene of the outrage. A
phial labelled “laudanum,” and emptied, was found
near him. His breath gave evidence of the poison.
He died without speaking. Upon his person was found
a letter, briefly stating his love for Marie, with his de-
sign of self-destruction.
“I need scarcely tell you,” said Dupin, as he finished
the perusal of my notes,” that this is a far more intri-
cate case than that of the Rue Morgue; from which it
differs in one important respect. This is an ordinary,
although an atrocious instance of crime. There is
nothing peculiarly outré about it. You will observe
[Col.2]
that, for this reason, the mystery has been considered
easy, when, for this reason, it should have been con-
sidered difficult of solution. Thus, at first, it was
thought unnecessary to offer a reward. The myrmi-
dons of G—— were able at once to comprehend how
and why such an atrocity might have been committed.
They would picture to their imaginations a mode—
many modes—and a motive—many motives; and be-
cause it was not impossible that either of these nume-
rous modes and motives could have been the actual
one, they have taken it for granted that one of them
must. But the ease with which these variable fancies
were entertained, and the very plausibility which each
assumed, should have been understood as indicative
rather of the difficulties than of the facilities which must
attend elucidation. I have before observed that it is
by prominences above the plane of the ordinary, that
reason feels her way, if at all, in her search for the true,
and that the proper question in cases such as this, is
not so much 'what has occurred?' as 'what has occur-
red that has never occurred before?' In the investi-
gations at the house of Madame L'Espanage,* the
agents of G—— were discouraged and confounded by
that very unusualness which, to a properly regulated
intellect, would have afforded the sweet omen of suc-
cess; while this same intellect might have been plunged
in despair at the especially ordinary character of all
that met the eye in the case of the perfumery girl, and
told of nothing but easy triumph to the functionaries of
the Prefecture.
“In the case of Madame L'Espanage and her daugh-
ter, there was, even at the beginning of our investiga-
tion, no doubt that murder had been committed. The
idea of suicide was excluded at once. Here, too, we
are freed, at the commencement, from all supposition
of self-murder. The body found at the Barrière du
Roule, was found under such circumstances as to leave
us no room for embarrassment upon this important
point. But it has been suggested that the corpse dis-
covered, is not that of the Marie Rogêt, for the convic-
tion of whose assassin, or assassins, the reward is
offered, and respecting whom, solely, our agreement
has been arranged with the Prefect. We both know
this gentleman well. It will not do to trust him too
far. If, dating our inquiries from the body found, and
thence tracing a murderer, we yet discover this body to
be that of some other individual than Marie; or, if
starting from the living Marie, we find her, yet find her
unassassinated—in either case we lose our labor; since
it is Monsieur G—— with whom we have to deal.
For our own purpose, therefore, if not for the purpose
of justice, it is indispensable that our first step should
be the determination of the identity of the corpse with
the Marie Rogêt who is missing.
“I know not what effect the arguments of 'L'Etoile'
may have wrought upon your own understanding.
With the public they have had weight; and that the
Journal itself is convinced of their importance would
appear from the manner in which it commences one of
———
* See murders in the Rue Morgue.
[Col.1]
its essays upon the subject—'Several of the morning
papers of the day,' it says, 'speak of the conclusive
article in Monday's 'Etoile.' To me, this article ap-
pears conclusive of little beyond the zeal of its inditer.
We should bear in mind that, in general, it is the object
of our newspapers rather to create a sensation—to make
a point—than to further the cause of truth. The latter
end is only pursued when it seems coincident with the
former. The print which merely falls in with ordinary
opinion (however well founded this opinion may be)
earns for itself no credit with the mob. The mass of
the people regard as profound only him who suggests
pungent contradictions of the general idea. In ratio-
cination, not less than literature, it is the epigram which
is the most immediately and the most universally ap-
preciated. In both, it is of the lowest order of merit.
“What I mean to say is, that it is the mingled epi-
gram and melodrame of the idea, that Marie Rogêt
still lives, rather than any true plausibility in this idea,
which has suggested it to 'L'Etoile,' and secured it a
favorable reception with the public. Let us examine
the heads of the argument; endeavoring to avoid the
incoherence with which it is originally set forth.
“The first aim of the writer is to show, from the
brevity of the interval between Marie's disappearance
and the finding of the floating corpse, that this corpse
cannot be that of Marie. The reduction of this inter-
val to its smallest possible dimension, becomes thus, at
once, an object with the reasoner. In the rash pursuit
of this object, he rushes into mere assumption at the
outset. 'It is folly to suppose,' he says, 'that the mur-
der, if murder was committed on her body, would have
been consummated soon enough to have enabled her
murderers to throw the body into the river before mid-
night.' We demand at once, and very naturally why?
Why is it folly to suppose that the murder was com-
mitted within five minutes after the girl's quitting her
mother's house? Why is it folly to suppose that the
murder was committed at any given period of the day?
There have been assassinations at all hours. But, had
the murder taken place at any moment between nine
o'clock in the morning of Sunday, and a quarter before
midnight, there would still have been time enough 'to
throw the body into the river before midnight.' This
assumption, then, amounts precisely to this—that the
murder was not committed on Sunday at all—and,
if we allow it to assume this, we may permit it any lib-
erties whatever. The paragraph beginning 'It is folly
to suppose that the murder, etc,' however it appears as
printed in L'Etoile, may be imagined to have existed
actually thus in the brain of its inditer—'It is folly to
suppose that the murder, if murder was committed on
the body, could have been committed soon enough to
have enabled her murderers to throw the body into the
river before midnight; it is folly, we say, to suppose
all this, and to suppose at the same time, (as we are
resolved to suppose,) that the body was not thrown in
until after midnight'—a sentence sufficiently inconse-
quential in itself, but not so utterly preposterous as the
one printed.
[Col.2]
“'Were it my purpose,' continued Dupin 'merely
to make out a case against this passage of L'Etoile's
argument, I might safely leave it where it is. It is not,
however, with L'Etoile that we have to do, but with
the truth. The sentence in question has but one mean-
ing, as it stands; and this meaning I have fairly stated;
but it is material that we go behind the mere words, for
an idea which these words have obviously intended, and
failed to convey. It was the design of the journalist to
say that, at whatever period of the day or night of Sun-
day this murder was committed, it was improbable that
the assassins would have ventured to bear the corpse to
the river before midnight. And herein lies, really, the
assumption of which we complain. It is assumed that
the murder was committed at such a position, and
under such circumstances, that the bearing it to the
river became necessary. Now, the assassination might
have taken place upon the river's brink, or on the river
itself; and, thus, the throwing the corpse in the water
might have been resorted to, at any period of the day
or night, as the most obvious and most immediate mode
of disposal. You will understand that I suggest nothing
here as probable, or as coincident with my own opin-
ion. My design, so far, has no reference to the facts
of the case. I wish merely to caution you against the
whole tone of L'Etoile's suggestion, by calling your
attention to its ex parte character at the outset.
“Having prescribed thus a limit to suit its own pre-
conceived notions; having assumed that, if this were
the body of Marie, it could have been in the water but
a very brief time; the journal goes on to say:
'All experience has shown that drowned bodies, or bodies
thrown into the water immediately after death by violence,
require from six to ten days for decomposition to take place to
bring them to the top of the water. Even when a cannon is
fired over a corpse, and it rises before at least five or six days'
immersion, it sinks again if let alone.'
“These assertions have been tacitly received by every
paper in Paris, with the exception of Le Moniteur.
This latter print endeavors to combat that portion of
the paragraph which has reference to 'drowned bodies'
only, by citing some five or six instances in which the
bodies of individuals known to be drowned were found
floating after the lapse of less time than is insisted upon
by 'L'Etoile.' But there is something excessively
unphilosophical in the attempt on the part of 'Le Moni-
teur,' to rebut the general assertion of 'L'Etoile,' by a
citation of particular instances militating against that
assertion. Had it been possible to adduce fifty instead
of five examples of bodies found floating at the end of
two or three days, these fifty examples could still have
been properly regarded as exceptions alone to 'L'-
Etoile's' rule, until such time as the rule itself should
be confuted. Admitting the rule, (and this 'Le Moni-
teur' does not deny, insisting merely upon its excep-
tions,) the argument of L'Etoile is suffered to remain
in full force; for this argument does not pretend to
involve more than a question of the probability of the
body having risen to the surface in less than three days;
and this probability will be in favor of 'L'Etoile's' posi-
tion until the instances so childishly adduced shall be
sufficient in number to establish an antagonistical rule.
(To be continued.)
================================================================
[Col.4]
COLT'S PORTRAIT.—An artist was engaged on Tuesday
in taking the portrait of John C. Colt. He was removed
to the large room of the Court of Sessions for that purpose,
under the charge of one of the deputy keepers.
================================================================
[Col.1]
GREAT PROJECT FOR THE
Advancement of Morals, Religion
and Civilization.
BANKRUPTCY
AND
FINAL EXPLOSION
OF THE
NEW YORK HERALD
ESTABLISHMENT.
The Day of Judgment Approaching.
The undersigned, not having been able to find any cap-
italist in these hard times, in possession of $150,000 in ready
money, the sum required to purchase this establishment,
has come to the resolution to break at once—to take the
benefit of the bankrupt law—to run away with as much
money as he can—and then to carry out the valuable
financial and moral principles of the present enlightened
era of the world, as far and as fast as he can.
He, therefore, respectfully calls upon all those persons
to whom he is indebted, not to call upon him for any more
money—the honest bankrupt law will pay them all in due
time. There is no use any longer to pay debts, such acts
only create jealousy and dislike among respectable people.
Also, according to the Rev. Mr. Miller, who opens his
tent this day in Newark, the day of judgment is set down
for the 23d of April next. This awful approaching event
is also another motive for the undersigned to become a
highly respectable bankrupt, and to chest as much in as
little time as he can, so as to acquire the esteem and con-
sideration of the financial and fashionable classes of socie-
ty, and also the good will of the newspaper press, who are
generally bankrupt too.
Yesterday it was reported in Wall street that the paper
of the undersigned was protested by the banks and bro-
kers of that avenue of public and private virtue. This is
too true. The paper of the undersigned has been protest-
ed by these persons and corporations for nearly seven
years—and he has come to the resolution to break and
take the benefit of the act, as the best and wisest thing he
can do in acquiring their esteem and confidence. The
undersigned, like Napoleon, whom he resembles in the
magnitude of his ambition, and the extent of his resources,
has at last been conquered in the field of Waterloo, and
should the Rev. Mr. Miller have made a miscalculation
about the day of judgment, the undersigned has resolved
to retire to Coney Island, and henceforth to make that his
St. Helena for the rest of his natural life.
In the mean time, until the undersigned shall have got
his certificate of bankruptcy, or positively run away
with $1,200,000 of somebody's funds, or till the day of
judgment be set down for certain, he begs to leave to say
that the following periodicals are issued at his office—
viz:—
DAILY HERALD—Published every day of the year, except
New Year's Day and Fourth of July—two cents per
copy—or $7,26 per annum—cash in advance.
WEEKLEY HERALD—Published every Saturday—6½ cents
per copy, or $3,12½ per annum—cash in advance.
NEW YORK LANCET—Published every Saturday—price
12½ cents per copy, or $6,00 per annum—cash in ad-
vance.
THE CLINTON PAPERS, OR REVOLUTIONARY RELICS—Pub-
lished every week, in a beautiful octavo form—price
12½ cents per copy—cash in advance.
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FAIR FOR
1842—price 6½ cents.
Besides these, several other periodicals are in prepara-
tion, which will be announced in due time.
Advertisers throughout the city and country are also
informed that the aggregate circulation of the HERALD is
THIRTY THOUSAND, being greater than that of any
other newspaper in the world, and, therefore, it is a better
vehicle for giving publicity to their business notices than
all the others in New York put together. Prices of adver-
tising are also moderate—but invariable cash in advance
—cash in advance—cash in advance.
JAMES GORDON BENNETT,
proprietor of the New York Herald Establishment,
North-West corner of Fulton and Nassau streets.
NEW YORK, 3d Nov., 1842.
[Col.6]
COLT'S CASE.—The application for a Writ of
Error, in Colt's case, was denied yesterday by the
Chancellor, he declaring that justice, to be worth
any thing, should be speedy and certain. No further
legal proceedings can take place, and the sentence
of the Judge must either be carried into effect, or
be commuted by the action of the Governor.
We understand that great efforts are making to
procure a pardon—and that a long petition is now
before the Governor, signed by Dudley Selden,
James Watson Webb, M. M. Noah, Moses Y.
Beach, and such like persons. The probability is that,
from the influence exerted, Colt's punishment will be
changed to imprisonment for life, or for a term of
years. Luck is every thing in such things. When
Murphy, the poor Irishman, took the life of his wife,
in a drunken and insane fit, mourning over the fa-
tality till his death, no mercy was shown him—he
was executed promptly. He humbly acknowledged
his crime—and did not treat the Judge or Jury with
impudence. The petition of clergymen to commute
his punishment had no effect. Colt, however, is al-
together a different character, and no doubt he will
be pardoned to a certain extent. His system of
answering a dun and paying a debt was novel—a
new mode of repudiation with a vengeance—and
deserves special attention and mercy.
================================================================
[Col.5]
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.—We understand that
the application of the counsel of John C. Colt to
the Supreme Court for a Writ of Error, to carry
up the case to the Court of Errors for argument,
with a view to the obtainment of a new trial, was
unanimously denied by the Judges. Application
was then made by the counsel of accused to Chan-
cellor Walworth, who also refused to allow the
Writ. Colt, therefore, remains in prison, subject
to the penalty of the law and the judgement of the
Court sentencing him to be executed on the 18th
instant, from which only a respite or commutation
of punishment by the Governor can save him.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Friday Morning, November 4, 1842 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.2]
Court of Chancery.—Case of John C. Colt.—In the
case of this very notorious individual, an application
had been made to the Chancellor, under the Revised
Statutes, praying that he would allow a Writ of Er-
ror to the Court of Oyer and Terminer to carry this
case to the Supreme Court or to the Court for the
Correction of Errors, as he should deem proper, and
also for a certificate that there was probable cause
for reversing the Judgment of that Court so that the
Governor might respite the execution of the sentence
until the final decision of the Court of last resort.—
This motion was predicated on the Bill of Exceptions
which was argued before the Supreme Court and the
grounds for the application were:—that the two Al-
dermen were not entitled to sit as Judges of the Court
of Oyer and Terminer—that the Circuit Court Judge
had erred in his decision relative to the empanelling
of the Jury—also in excluding testimony as to the
good character of Caroline Henshaw (Colt's mis-
tress)—and also in admitting testimony to shew that
the death of Adams might have been caused by a
pistol shot. It was also contended that the Court
for Correction of Errors was bound to weigh the tes-
timony in the case and to decide whether it was suf-
ficient to sustain the verdict that had been rendered.
The Chancellor having reviewed the objections,
said he was clearly and decidedly of opinion that the
Judge of the Circuit Court was right in his decisions
on the points ruled by him,—that the Court was le-
gally and constitutionally organized, and that the
Court for the Correction of Errors would not review
the question of fact, that being exclusively the prov-
ince of the Jury to judge of and decide upon. On
these grounds he therefore refused to allow the Writ
of Error.
It will thus be seen that the last resort of the law
[Col.3]
has been had in this case, and there only remains for
the prisoner to have resource to the clemency of the
Governor in order to avoid the execution of the sen-
tence of the law, which unless that clemency is so
exercised must be carried into effect, this day fort-
night.
================================================================
[Col.4]
COLT'S CASE.—The application for a Writ of
Error, in Colt's case, was denied yesterday by the
...
deserves special attention and mercy.
================================================================
[Col.4]
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.—The Supreme Court
having unanimously refused to grant a writ of error
in the case of this wretched man up to the Court of
Errors, in order to obtain a new trial, his counsel
then applied to Chancellor Walworth, who also
denied the application, which leaves no alterna-
tive in his case than to suffer the penalty of the
law, and to be executed on the 18th instant, or to
receive the Governor's pardon or commutation of
his sentence.
Monmouth B. Hart, Esq., the High Sheriff of
the County, yesterday made known to him his
awful situation, on the receipt of which intelli-
gence he seemed much depressed and desponding.
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Herald.—A correspondent enquires whether
the advertisement which appeared in our paper a
few days since offering the Herald establishment for
sale, was genuine. Undoubtedly it was, or the Pro-
prietor would not have paid us $9,37 for three in-
sertions.
Those who are aware that the daily circulation of
the Herald, has fallen off from eleven thousand, its
greatest circulation, to about four thousand; and that
its advertisements are less numerous than those of
any other penny paper in the city, have long been
prepared for its rapidly impending fate. And the fact
of offering it for sale, and at the same time giving
orders for the insertion of the advertisement by all
who exchange with it—besides paying for for its in-
sertion in this and other papers—at a cost of not less
than five hundred dollars, proves sufficiently the des-
perate state of the concern, and the anxiety of the
Editor & Proprietor, or “Head Devil” as he calls
himself, to get rid of it. But this he finds as imprac-
ticable as it is to get rid of the heavy libel suits re-
cently instituted against him by Drs. MOTT and PAT-
TISON, and other members of the University Medical
School.
The truth is, that ruin which he has so often pre-
dicted as about to overtake what he denominates the
“Wall street Press,” has already overtaken himself.
He finds he has got entirely beyond his depth; and
although he has undoubtedly made money in differ-
ent ways, he begins to feel that it will all be lost un-
less he can get rid of his paper. If as is generally
believed, it is now published at a very heavy daily
loss, we need not be surprised at the extraordinary
announcement made in its columns on Thursday
morning, under the following characteristic caption.
“GREAT PROJECT
For the advancement of Morals, Religion and Civilization.
BANKRUPTCY AND FINAL EXPLOSION
OF THE
N. YORK HERALD ESTABLISHMENT.
The Day of Judgment Approaching.
The undersigned, not having been able to find any
capitalist in these hard times, in possession of one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars in ready money,
the sum required to purchase this establishment, has
come to the resolution to break at once—to take the
benefit of the bankrupt law, &c. &c. &c. &c.
* * * * * *
JAMES GORDON BENNETT.”
The offer of the Herald for sale under the circum-
stances of the case, was conclusive with the public
as regards its future fate; and we have never wit-
nessed more general satisfaction about town than
was created by this admission that the fate of that
infamous sheet was at length sealed; and the an-
nouncement, coupled as it was with a confession that
he who had for years been assailing the peace of fam-
ilies and exposing to the public gaze domestic scenes,
had at length been made to feel in his own person that
misery which he has so constantly meted out to oth-
ers,—inspired a hope at least, that no other and sim-
ilar adventurer, would dare to follow in his footsteps.
Far be it from us to justify, or even palliate the re-
cent assaults upon the Editor's family or the expo-
sure of his domestic affairs. And although we have
frequently witnessed with disgust and pity the man-
ner in which he has brought forward in his columns
his domestic affairs—the occupations, appearance,
&c. &c. of his wife and child—we do not hold excu-
sable those who seize upon this as a plea for conside-
ring them fair subjects for comment. True, he has
destroyed the peace of many a family, and caused a
greater degree of misery in our city and country,
than the whole thirteen hundred presses of the
Union combined; and if he could be made to feel
without striking through those who are not respon-
sible for his conduct, we should rejoice in his richly
merited punishment. But as this cannot be, the
press canot be held excusable for assailing his
family for transactions with which the public have
no concern; and the instant that they do so, they
place themselves on a par with the individual whose
reckless and unprincipled assaults upon the peace of
families, have so justly rendered him an object of
universal execration.
The only punishment which can be inflicted upon
such a creature, is through appeals to the law against
his libels, and the refusal of the public to purchase
his filthy sheet. Both of these means have of late
been resorted to; and the result is, the well ascer-
tained fact, that in a very short time our country
will be rid of this moral pestilence. This is a subject
of congratulation to all; and although we fully admit
that he has caused throughout our land a degree of
misery for which the lives of a thousand such as he,
could offer no expiation, we would not that that
misery be increased by striking at him through those
who are not responsible for his conduct, and who
have constantly been brought by him before the pub-
lic in a disgusting and offensive manner, without
their agency, and in hope, against their feelings of
propriety.
A few brief months will inevitably put an end to his
career, unless a false sympathy is excited in behalf
of those he has so repeatedly and offensively paraded
in his columns; and we therefore call upon the press
to leave him to his fate. His power to do mischief
has measurably ceased; and what is more, is daily
decreasing in consequence of the refusal of the pub-
lic to buy his worthless sheet. Rats, it is said, run
from a sinking ship; and now that he is going down,
even those in his employ help to give him a kick,
and freely expose the real character and extent of
his diminished daily sales. The work is done; the
Herald is virtually dead; and in its death the cause
of good morals and the people of this city and of the
whole Union, have great cause for rejoicing.
[Col.5]
COUNTY COURT—Yesterday.
Chief Judge Ulshoeffer, presiding.
Trial of Justice Miln Parker, continued.—The pro-
ceedings in this case were commenced yesterday
by recalling.
Barney Osborne, who produced certain proofs on
which some of the discharged vagrants had been
committed.
...
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
AMERICAN NOTES
FOR
GENERAL CIRCULATION.
BY
CHARLES DICKENS.
————
[CHAPMAN AND HALL.]
————
Mr. Dickens made himself so pleasantly familiar
with the public of the British isles, in his monthly
meetings with it under the guise of the facetious and
fine-hearted “Boz,” that his announced departure
for the land of Brother Jonathan, and his consequent
exposure to all the dangers of the sea, was looked
upon as something little short of a national calamity.
There was, however, some consolation entertained
by his clients in the anticipation that, if ever he
came back, it would be with a port-folio replenished
with such sketches from the life of the people at the
other side of what is irreverently styled the herring-
pond as would throw even the Pickwickian fancies
into manifest depreciation—into a perfect clear ob-
scure. From Sam Slick's New England, into the
heart of Old Kentuck, and thence, with an angle
down to Mrs. Trollope's land of promise on the Mis-
sissippi, the hunting grounds for the oddest “criturs”
of game for sportsmen of the Yorick vein, would
have seemed to extend far away; and what shafts
like those feathered by the hand of Boz to take down
these feræ naturæ? That they would, moreover,
be dished up with the most pungent sauce, and con-
seqeuntly devoured with unspeakable relish, was, no
doubt, also a dream fondly indulged in. Any such
airy fabric must quickly vanish upon the inspection
of the two volumes, which this day make their ap-
pearance in all the bibliopole establishments in the
island.
EXTRACTS .
LANDING AT BOSTON.
“When I landed in America, I could not help being
strongly impressed with the contrast their Custom House
presented, and the attention, politeness, and good humor
with which its officers discharged their duty.
...
gravity and decorum, and were certainly calculated to in-
spire attention and respect.”
AMERICAN LAW COURTS AND LAWYERS.
“To an Englishman, accustomed to the paraphernalia
of Westminster Hall, an American court of law is an odd
...
THE LADIES OF BOSTON. (WHAT WILL MRS. TROLLOPE
SAY?)
“The tone of society in Boston is one of perfect polite-
ness, courtesy, and good breeding. The ladies are un-
questionably very beautiful—in face; but there I am
compelled to stop. Their education is much as with us;
neither better nor worse. I had heard some very marvel-
lous stories in this respect; but not believing them, was
not disappointed.”
DINNER AT BOSTON.
“The usual dinner hour is two o'clock. A dinner party
...
AN AMERICAN RAILROAD.
“I made acquaintance with an American railroad, on
...
[Col.2]
...
NEW YORK—SAM VELLER GLANCE.
Warm weather! The sun strikes upon our heads at
...
NEW YORK AT NIGHT.
“But how quiet the streets are? Are there no itinerant
bands; no wind or stringed instruments? No, not one.
...
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC.
“The President's mansion is more like an English club-
house, both within and without, than any other kind of
establishment with which I can compare it. The orna-
mental ground about it has been laid out in garden walks;
...
[Col.3]
...
AMERICAN NEWSPAPER PRESS.
When any man of any grade of desert, in intellect or
...
STEAMER ON THE POTOMAC.
“It is ten o'clock at night—say half-past ten—moonlight,
...
VIRGINIA CHARIOTEERING.
“Soon after nine o'clock we come to Potomac Creek,
...
[Col.4]
...
SLAVERY AND ITS RESULTS.
“This singular kind of coaching terminates at Freder-
icksburgh, whence there is a railway to Richmond. The
...
A BROWN FORESTER OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
“We had another odd specimen on board, of a different
kind. This was a thin-faced, spare-figured man, of mid-
...
JONATHAN IN THE DUMPS.
“At dinner (on board the steamer) there is nothing to
drink upon the table but great jugs full of cold water. No-
body says any thing, at any meal, to any body. All the
passengers are very dismal, and seem to have tremendous
secrets weighing on their minds. There is no conversa-
...
A NATIVE CHIEFTAIN.
“There chanced to be on board this boat, in addition to
the usual dreary crowd of passengers, one Pitchlynn, a
chief of the Choctow tribe of Indians, who sent in his
card to me, and with whom I had the pleasure of a long
conversation.
...
[Col.5]
...
REPUBLICAN INDEPENDENCE.
The republican institutions of America undoubtedly
...
THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.
Between 5 and 6 o'clock in the morning we arrived at
Buffalo, where we breakfasted, and, being too near the
...
have Niagara before me, lighted by the sun and by the
moon, red in the day's decline, and gray as evening slowly
fell upon it; to look upon it every day, and awake up in
the night and hear its ceaseless voice;—this was enough!
NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, November 7, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.1]
The New York Herald—Its Position, Pros-
perity, Circulation and Prospects in two
Hemispheres.
We are, beyond the possibility of a doubt, the Na-
poleon of the press in both hemispheres. The New
York Herald is unquestionably the greatest and
mightiest intellectual institution of civilized socie-
ty in the present century. Look a the excitement,
the ferment, the fuss, and the fury which its exis-
tence, progress, power, circulation and influence
cause in both the old and the new world—in Lon-
don and in New York—in the grave quarterly
reviews and in the newspaper press of both conti-
nents.
It is a phenomenon in the history of civilization.
During the last month, on the other side of the wa-
ter, the “London Foreign Quarterly Review” and
the London newspaper press, have endeavored to
stop our career as they did Napoleon's, by all sorts
of abuse, falsehood and a solitary truth here and
there. On this side of the water, we have an-
nounced our establishment for sale, then withdrew
it—then proposed to take the benefit of the bankrupt
law—then postponed that solemn scene of
whitewashing till doomsday—and straightway the
whole newspaper press, little and great, daily and
weekly, have been in a state of general excitement
and amusing effervesence ever since. They have
stormed, and fumed, and raved, and lied, and puffed,
and sworn, and abused us in all manner of ways.
This most amusing, most laughable, most absurd,
most silly, most foolish excitement among the co-
temporary newspapers in New York and elsewhere,
have produced one most astounding and curious re-
sult. The circulation of the HERALD, both in city and
country, has increased so much and so rapidly since
this new war broke out in London, that we have
had to give a large additional order to our paper
manufacturers, for an additional supply of paper, so
as to be able to meet the vast requirements and de-
mands of the community. The following is a copy
of our new contract:—
NEW YORK, HERALD OFFICE, Nov. 1, 1842.
MESSRS. PERSSE & BROOKS:—
GENTLEMEN:—
Please to deliver at the Herald office, New York
750 reams per week of the small sized paper 23X32—for
the daily Herald.
Also 60 reams per week of the large sized 32X46 for the
Weekly Herald for one year from this date, to be of quali-
ty equal to this specimen—Payments to be made each week
in cash, in full for that week.
JAMES G. BENNETT.
We accept the above order and will deliver it as di-
rected. PERSSE & BROOKS,
No. 61 Liberty street.
JAMES ROWE, } Witnesses.
SAMUEL BEMAN, }
The only paper in this city—we may say in the
world, which requires a supply of paper, or has a
circulation, at all approaching the Herald, is the
New York Sun, a penny paper, circulating only
among the poor people, and through the lanes and
alleys in the city, conducted by one Moses Y. Beach,
a sort of “cod-fish aristocrat.” From his journal
of last Saturday, we extract the following, show-
ing his consumption of paper, and his comparative
circulation:—
SUN OFFICE, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1842.
MR. H. V. BUTLER—
SIR—Please deliver at the Sun Office, N. Y. five hundred
reams of paper per week, for six months from the 15th of
October, 1842, to be of this quality, size, and weight,
the same to be paid for in cash every two weeks.
M. Y. BEACH.
I accept the above order, and agree to furnish the paper
accordingly. H. V. BUTLER.
Aug. 31, 1842.
Witness, M. S. BEACH.
From these official and authentic documents, it
will be seen that the circulation of the New York
Herald is already nearly double that of the New York
Sun, and as the Sun is acknowledged by all to be
ahead of its cotemporaries, the Herald is ahead of
all, large and small. And, further—without saying
any thing in disparagement of the article manufac-
tured by Mr. H. V. Butler, who is a good paper ma-
ker, we will be permitted to declare that the paper
on which the Herald is printed, is far superior in
quality, in strength, in durability, to that of any
other in the country. For three or four years we
have been supplied by Messrs. Persse & Brooks
having paid them nearly two hundred and fifty thou-
sand dollars in money, during that period—and in all
that time, they have executed our orders with a
promptitude, celerity, integrity and courtesy, with-
out spot or blemish.
Such are some of the first fruits of the renewal of
the “moral war” against us, and our family, down
to the very babe that cannot yet speak—a moral
war—or rather an immoral war, on a larger scale,
extended to both continents—breaking out simul-
taneously in London and in New York, and set on
foot by cliques of the greatest reprobates and bank-
rupts, that ever disgraced any country, or human
nature itself. With a private life, passed mostly in
New York for nearly twenty-five years, perfectly un-
assailable in every point—perfectly unstained by
any weakness, or any immorality of any kind—
with a public life, open, bold, energetic, industrious
honest, honorable in all our transactions, we have
been assailed by our cotemporaries of the press—and
by cliques of financiers and traders in religion, with
a ferocity and a malignity that makes poor old Sa-
tan, down below, tremble for his laurels in wicked-
ness. We plant ourself on the impregnable rock of
truth, of honor, of humanity, of genius, of decorum,
of pure morals, and of undefiled religion—and we
smile at their puny efforts, and trample in the very
dirt the whole confederacy of Satan, whether in
London or New York—whether in Europe or the
United States—whether in Wall street or its coun-
terpart, the bottomless pit. We possess the sympa-
thy of the age—we are actuated by the true spirit
of civilization, and, armed with the weapons of truth
and virtue, we shall go forth conquering and to con-
quer, until the revolution be complete, and morals,
religion and true philosophy shall triumph.
Encouraged, therefore, by the vast increase of
our establishment—by its impregnable solidity—by
its great resources, we now announce to the world,
that the NEW YORK HERALD will not be sold—that the
benefit of the bankrupt law shall not be taken—(that
was a sarcasm which they feigned not to under-
stand)—and that the original project of establishing
branches of the Herald in London and Paris, for
the renovation of the old world, and the future
triumph of the new, shall be carried out without
fail, at an early day. We value the whole estab-
lishment of the Herald at $150,000. It is wholly
without encumbrance or debt, except a mortgage of
$20,000 on a building, worth $30,000, given to
Mr. Temegnio, of Fulton street, of whom it was
bought, and who receives his interest regularly.
...
The present era is favorable for the advancement
and improvement of the newspaper press, and the
folly, avarice, and malevolence of our rivals, have
made us that master spirit of the age, which in our
most halcyon days we never dreamed of. The
[Col.2]
millennium is begun. These weak men have made
us that Napoleon of the press whom they fear—
and we suppose, willing or unwilling, we must com-
plete the great work of revolution in the civilized
world, which that great and mighty man failed to
carry out. He took the reins of the great move-
ment of the last century, which originated in the
French Revolution, and which, for a few years, he
seemed to understand. But he was lured from his
principles, decoyed from his position, and, leaguing
himself with the old feudal monarchies of Europe,
he lost his prestige, fell into errors, and ended his
days as a solitary outcast on St. Helena.
The great moral and philosophical revolution was
thus stopped “in mid career,” and since then, except
in this holy land of freedom, the age has stood still
—the pool of Bethsaida has been stagnant—the an-
gel has not descended on its waters. The time has
now come to renew the great work, under more fa-
vorable auspices, with different weapons, and higher
hopes of ultimate success. War has ceased, never
more to be. Steam and the press, applied by skil-
ful engineers, are attaining their legitimate position
...
With these brief views we submit our position,
our prospects, our purposes, our case and our char-
acter to an enlightened community, and have no
fears of an unfavorable response. Indeed, we have
already their approbation—their decided approba-
tion in their ample and substantial patronage—in our
wonderfully increasing circulation—in our growing
advertising custom—and in the generous indigna-
tion which is felt among all the honest classes of so-
ciety against the ferocious assaults made upon our
reputation and character by a league of political,
literary, financial, medical, and editorial bankrupts
of all shades and all sizes. If they do not repent, and
that quickly, we may consign them to unutterable
perdition.
N. B. The following popular periodicals are pub-
lished at this office, Herald Buildings, north west
corner of Fulton and Nassau streets:—
NEW YORK LANCET, published weekly, price
12½ cents per single copy—8 cens by the quantity.
...
ADVERTISERS are informed that the circula-
tion of the Herald is over THIRTY THOUSAND,
and increasing fast. It is, therefore, the best channel
for business men in the city or country. Prices
moderate—cash in advance.
[Col.3]
HIGHLY IMPORTANT
FROM ENGLAND.
———————
ARRIVAL OF THE
GREAT WESTERN
———————
FIRST COPY OF
Chas. Dickens' Work on America.
His terrible Attack on the American News-
paper Press in his Book—Certainty of his
Authorship of the Article in the Foreign
Quarterly Review.
———————
INTELLIGENCE ON POLITICS, LITERA-
TURE, TRADE, &c.
———————
The Princess of American steamers, the Great
Western, Captain Hosken, arrived last evening at
half past six, at which hour we received our papers
and letters, together with a copy of Dickens' Work
on America, as published in London on the 19th, en-
titled as follows:—
Now ready,
M R. CHARLES DICKENS' AMERICAN NOTES
for GENERAL CIRCULATION, in 2 vols. post 8
vo. price 21s. Chapman and Hall, 186 Strand.
Of this singular and curious work we have no
time to speak. The principal passages—those con-
taining his most racy and bitter opinion of society
in the United States, will be found at great length
in this day's paper. The rest of the work will be
published to-day in an EXTRA HERALD, if we possi-
bly can accomplish the job, and at as early an hour
as possible. This brochure will cause a sensation
throughout the United States. Don't burst—keep
cool. Be quiet.
The Great Western, owing to the new tariff, has
a cargo very limited in quantity, but contains some
valuable property. She brings out considerably more
than one hundred passengers, among whom are W.
Virgil Maxcy, Esq., United States Ambassador, and
...
================================================================
[Col.3]
ARRIVAL OF THE GREAT WESTERN.
...
There is nothing better to send by the Great Wes-
tern, than the Notes for general circulation, by Mr.
Charles Dickens—which will reach the United States
by this steam-ship. The work could not be obtained
in time for the Caledonia, and is yet not much be-
fore the public here—but it is thought to be general-
ly a much more sensible and valuable production than
was anticipated from the forte of the writer and the
foolish title under which it was announced. There
is, however, a laboured, stilted and absurd paragraph
against the newspaper press of the United States—
but in which Mr. Dickens must be supposed to be
honest, because the newspaper trumpet was blown
immeasurably too high in his own praise. The re-
marks on the factory girls at Lowell, are very fine
and as this part of the work will go the round of the
kingdom in the weekly papers, Mr. Dickens will
have probably done excellent service to the manu-
facturing population here. To the aristocracy there
is much in these notes which will be gall itself.
...
—————
Boz.—The Great Western has brought out DICK-
ENS' “American Notes for General Circulation.” In
running our eye over its pages, we find nothing in it
of a very striking character, except that after speak-
ing very disparagingly of the “American Press,” he
endorses in all its length and breadth, the late article
in the “Foreign Quarterly,” for which we doubt not,
he furnished the material, and which he caused to be
written, if he did not write himself.
The following extract, will satisfy the friends of
Mr. DICKENS that if he be not the writer of that in-
famous review, he is willing to endorse it and vouch
for its accuracy:
“Or let him refer to an able and PERFECTLY
“TRUTHFUL article in The Foreign Quarterly
“Review, published in the present month of October,
“to which my attention has been attracted, since
“these sheets have been passing through the press.”
================================================================
================================================================
THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 7, 1842 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.1]
ARRIVAL OF THE
GREAT WESTERN.
THREE DAYS LATER.
The Great Western, from Bristol 22d ult., arri-
ved at six o'clock last evening, bringing London
and Liverpool papers to her day of sailing, to-
gether with a large number of passengers, and
Dickens' new book entitled “Notes on Ame-
rica,” for a copy of which we are indebted to our
attentive and enterprising Liverpool correspon-
dents, Messrs. Wilmer and Smith.
We find no political news of interest in our
ample files. Mr. Dickens' book is largely ex-
tracted from by the London press, and from a
cursory glance over those extracts, we judge that
he has made out a work which the Americans
will have some little reason to find fault with.
His observations upon the public and charitable
institutions of Boston, including the lunatic asy-
lums and gaols, contain matter not only of ab-
sorbing interest to the philanthropist, but of the
very highest importance to the legislator and
economist.
He has some pointed and stringent remarks
upon the American representatives, to which we
can now do more than simply refer our readers,
and with an account of his presentation to the
President Mr. Dickens concludes his first volume.
The London Chronicle thus closes a summary
view of the general character of the work:—
“We have here, we believe, an impartial book
on America, so far as it professedly extends, and
for so much as it professedly comprises. The
author praises when he is pleased, and blames
when he is annoyed or disgusted; but his praise
and blame are alike referable to broad principles
of right and wrong, and are not the indiscriminate
outpourings of personal petulance or national pre-
justice.
...
“He has not conceived it his bounden duty to
abuse every thing in exact ratio to the extent of
its difference from the “English fashion,” nor,
because he is an ardent lover of liberty, has he
imagined a necessary perfection in every thing
American because it is republican.
“His volumes have not the air of being manufac-
tured to a publisher's order, because former books
by the same hand have “taken the town,” but are
fresh, stirring and vigorous. He never twaddles—
indeed to Dickens that would be impossible—but,
which is better praise, he never Trollopises.”
[Col.2]
Boz's AMERICAN NOTES.—This anxiously-
looked for new work came in the Western; and
the first volume, which contains an account of
Mr. Dickens's reception in this country, is adver-
tised to appear in an Extra Brother Jonathan
early this morning. The complete work will also
be published in a double sheet Jonathan in the
course of the day.
[Col.5]
☞ NEW WORK BY BOZ.☞
☞ AMERICAN NOTES FOR GENERAL CIR-
CULATION—by Charles Dickens, Esq.—The publishers
of Brother Jonathan received per Great Western, last
evening, this long-looked for publication.
In order to gratify public curiosity, we shall issue the
FIRST VOLUME,
(which gives an account of Mr. Dickens's reception in
America) in an
EXTRA BROTHER JONATHAN,
early this morning—price 6½ cents.
The complete work will be published in an Extra Dou-
ble Sheet this afternoon—price 12½ cents, or 6 cents for
each volume.
WILSON & COMPANY, Publishers,
n7 1* 162 Nassau st., New York.
——————————————————————
...
BOZ, BOZ, BOZ.
☞ DICKENS'S WORK ON AMERICAN, enti-
tled, “American Notes for General Circulation,” recei-
ved by the Great Western, will be published in a
DOUBLE EXTRA NEW WORLD,
THIS DAY, at 4 o'clock P. M., at 30 Ann st. Price
12½ cents n7 1*
================================================================
[Col.4]
AMERICAN NOTES
FOR
GENERAL CIRCULATION.
BY
CHARLES DICKENS.
————
[CHAPMAN AND HALL.]
————
ADDITIONAL EXTRACTS .
HARTFORD.
We tarried here four days. The town is beautifully sit-
...
NEW YORK.
The beautiful metropolis of America is, by no means,
...
FIVE POINTS.
Our reader has his hand upon the latch of “Almack's,”
...
NEW YORK THEATRES.
There are three theatres. Two of them, the Park and
...
[Col.5]
...
PHILADELPHIA.
My stay in Philadelphia was very short, but what I saw
...
TOBACCO CHEWING.
As Washington may be called the head quarters of to-
...
THE CAPITOL.
The principal features of the Capitol, are, of course, the
...
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House of Representatives is a beautiful and spa-
...
[Col.6]
...
LAKE CHAMPLAIN.
This steamboat, which is called the Burlington, is a
...
GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE AMERICANS.
One great blemish in the popular mind of America, and
the prolific parent of an innumerable brood of evils, is uni-
versal distrust. Yet, the American citizen plumes himself
...
that closed upon an iron muzzle.
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, November 8, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
Dickens' Notes on America.
We continue to give to-day a few more racy ex-
tracts from the brochure of Boz on the United States.
These passages, including those of yesterday, com-
prehend the principal portions of the “Notes,” and
the results, or the conclusions he draws from the
facts, scenes, incidents and events, with which that
famous penny-a-liner became acquainted in this
country. The rest are all “leather and prunella,”
hardly worth the trouble of perusal, and certainly
not entitled to any further attention from any sensi-
ble man, either American or European.
The first point that strikes the reader in these last
passages, is the bold endorsement by Charles Dick-
ens, under his own name, of the remarkable article
in the “Foreign Quarterly Review,” which, on its
first appearance here, excited the astonishment of
those who got up fetes, dinners, and balls to his
glorification, and the general wonder of the whole
country, at the audacity and ingratitude of the cock-
ney. We believe that not one in this city, not even
the gentlemen of the committees, with their
badges in their button holes, will doubt now that
Charles Dickens is the author of that Review—or at
least that he furnished all the materials and ideas.
The circumstantial evidence, by comparing the con-
cluding chapter of his brochure with the “Review,”
is so strong, so conclusive, that any honest jury of
twelve men would hang a culprit on such testimony.
...
The identity of authorship being established, di-
rectly and indirectly, between the Book and the
Review, we may proceed at once to consider them
as one emanation, divided into two parts, from the
same mind—and that mind, the most coarse, vul-
gar, impudent, and superficial, that ever had the
courage to write about the ideas and institutions of
this original and remarkable country. His view
of the fermenting character of this land, is the
view taken by a narrow-minded, conceited cockney,
without a single spark of philosophical elevation to
separate the dross from the gold, or to take in a
correct general idea of the multitude of principles
and interests that are effervescing in the republic.
...
Of all the travellers that ever visited this land,
Dickens appears to have been the most flimsy—
the most childish—the most trashy—the most con-
temptible. He has neither common grammar,
sense, arrangement, nor generalization. He sur-
passes Hamilton, Fiddler, Trollope, Marryatt, and
seems to be the essence of balderdash reduced to
the last drop of silliness and insanity.
...
There is every appearance, from this and other
works, that a grand conspiracy has been concerted
by the stock-jobbers, book-jobbers, and government
jobbers of Europe, to depreciate and libel the cha-
racter of the American people, in all the elements of
society and government. The credit of the Gene-
ral Government has just been crushed by such a
combination among their capitalists, on the ostensi-
ble ground that some of the States repudiate, or are
unable to meet their engagements. American
literature, manners, and morals, are to be deprecia-
ted by a like conspiracy among the penny-a-liners
and book-makers. And there are cliques of block-
heads in this city, so recreant to every feeling of
self-respect and patriotism, as to aid and assist such
a detestable movement in order to destroy the in-
fluence of America upon Europe and the world.
Out upon all such miserable creatures! We shall
now proceed to give a full and real history of Dick-
ens' tour in the United States—with all the amusing
and ridiculous scenes, illustrated with engravings,
done up to the life, just as they took place between
him and his toadying committees in Boston, Hart-
ford, New York, and elsewhere. It will make a much
racier brochure than he has yet written, and will be
interspersed with appropriate philosophical conclu-
sions at the end of every chapter. It will be
“Specie” to the “Notes.”
———————
A MORAL SPECTACLE.—We have every reason to
believe that the election which begins and ends to-
day, will be a moral spectacle of order, decency
and propriety, sufficient to stamp falsehood on the
assertions made by Charles Dickens on the public
manners of this country.
Let every man vote quietly such a ticket as he
chooses—let all those that hang round the polls be-
have properly—let there be no riots—no disputes—
no rows—no differences. The eyes of the world
are upon you, and you must give an example of the
order which can prevail, during a general election,
in a city of half a million of inhabitants, and voters
over 40,000 freemen. Democracy is not disorder.
[Col.5]
??????????????????????????????????????
in circulation. Probably about 50,000 of “American
Notes” were exchanged for specie.
...
principal streets were full of newsboys, bawling out
at the top of their lungs—“Dickens's work”—“Boz's
notes”—“Here goes Boz—only a shilling!”
Probably more copies of “Boz's Notes” were
sold yesterday in New York than will be sold in
England in 10 years. Yet we are an ignorant, bar-
barous people in literary taste. So we are when we
can relish such trash.
================================================================
[Col.3]
☞ Who will forego his Right of Suffrage if it
should rain to-day? Where is the man of soul so
nerveless, of purpose so feeble, of patriotism so
negative as this? Remember the watchword of
1840—“Any rain but the reign of Loco-Focoism!”
———
☞ WHIGS OF THE FIRST DISTRICT! examine
your tickets closely. Let no dishonest juggling
cheat you of your votes!
———
...
CAUTION.—We have been informed that a few
scratched tickets have been seen in the Third Con-
gressional District. Whigs, examine well your
tickets!
[Col.4]
☞ The HARPERS publish Dickens's new book
to-day—at one shilling a copy.
[Col.5]
UNEQUALED ENTERPRIZE.—DICKENS'S new
work reached this city by the Great Western on
Sunday night at about 6 o'clock. At 1 P. M. yes-
terday—only nineteen hours after its arrival, Mr.
WINCHESTER of the New World issued the com-
plete work in a neat octavo form, sent it to every
part of the United States by mail, and deluged the
city with thousands upon thousands of copies. If
there be anything in the history of Printing to ex-
cel this, we are ignorant of it. It is but a fair
specimen of the expedition with which foreign
works are reprinted at the New World Office.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 8, 1842 (CA)
[Col.1]
FASHIONABLE MOVEMENTS.—The Celebrated Fejee Mer-
maid arrived this morning and took up her quarters at the
American Museum, where the Manager will take thousands
of “quarters” for a peep at her Fish-ship.
———
☞ How to make a Fudge Mermaid: take the head of a
howling Monkey and tail of a Fish. For further informa-
tion apply to the manager of the American Museum.
———
☞ The New-York Museum had a crowded house again
last night. That inimitable droll Jenkins kept the audience
in a roar; his banjo playing surpasses every thing of the
sort and is equal in no way to Diamond's dancing. The
duet's by Rosalib and Boyce, were excellent. The Ethi-
opian Extravaganza was rich in the extreme.
[Col.2]
☞ End of the World in 1843! —Lectures
on the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will be de-
livered, God willing, by Wm. Miller, G. Storrs and others,
every evening during the present week in the Church, cor-
ner of Catharine and Madison streets. Service to com-
mence at 7 o'clock. Also on Sabbath next at 10½, 3 and 7
o'clock. Seats free. “What I say unto you I say unto all.
WATCH.”
[Col.3]
☞ Notice to Inspectors of Elections by the
Provisions of the late Election Law.—The original state-
ments by the District Inspectors must be delivered by one
of them, to be deputed for that purpose, to the Alderman of
the Ward, who is by law the Supervisor, within twenty-
four hours after the same shall have been subscribed. If
there be no Supervisor, or he shall be disabled from attend-
ing the Board of County Canvassers, such original state-
ment shall be delivered to one of the Assessors of the town
of Ward in which such Election was held.
...
[The forms in compliance with the above provisions are
furnished by the Clerk of the Common Council.] n8 1t
———
☞ We Dined at the Kremlin Yesterday.
As this is Election Day, we publish the following for the
benefit of our readers. It should be borne in mind that
you should vote first, and afterwards go to the
KREMLIN DINING SALOONS, 111 BROADWAY.
ELECTION DAY—BILL OF FARE.
SOUPS. Fowls, Mutton Chops,
Mock Turtle, Ham. Veal Cutlets,
...
———
☞ Lectures to Ladies. —Mrs. FARNHAM invites
the attention of the Ladies of this city, to the following
course of Lectures, which she intends delivering in the
Lecture room of the Society Library, corner Broadway
and Leonard.
Lecture 1. The Natural Position of Woman in the scale of
being.
2. Her present Physical Condition and the causes which
have led her to it.
3. Her present Mental Condition.
4. The means of improving her Physical Condition or
Physical Education.
5. On Digestion and Dietetics.
6. The True Natural Constitution of Woman.
7. Mental Education and Training.
8. On the treatment of Domestics, and the Duties which
we owe to those in the humbler walks of life, in elevating
and improving their condition. The Introductory to this
course will be delivered on Wednesday next (Nov. 9) at 11
o'clock A. M. Admission free.
Mrs. Farnham will be in readiness to receive calls, at No.
63 Barclay-st., from all who may wish to see her, between
the hours of 11 and 12 A. M. and 2 and 3 P. M. until farther
notice.
Tickets for the course $1 50, to be had at the door. Sin-
gle Lectures 25 cents. n7 3t
[Col.5]
A MERICAN MUSEUM.—P. T. Bar-
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 8, 1842 (CA)
[Col.1]
AMERICAN NOTES, BY Boz.—We extract the
following passages from this new work—all for
which we to-day have room. We shall speak of it
again ere long.
THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.
Between 5 and 6 o'clock in the morning we ar-
...
——
A NATIVE CHIEFTAIN.
There chanced to be on board this boat, in addi-
...
He took his leave; as stately and complete a
[Col.2]
gentleman of Nature's making as ever I beheld;
and moved among the people in the boat, another
kind of being.
================================================================
[Col.4]
J. C. COLT'S CASE.—This is, indeed, an unfor-
tunate young man. Unfortunately, certainly, if
guilty of the awful crime of wilful murder; and
pitifully unfortunate, if executed, yet innocent of
the wicked intent. “When I am satisfied,” said
the generous La Fayette, “of the infallibility of
human testimony and human judgment, I shall be
satisfied of the legalized death of a human being,
but not till then.” Such was the sentiment of one
of the noblest hearts that ever throbbed with hu-
man tenderness. Now that passion has subsided,
and sober reason resumed her sway, candor will
listen to argument, and humanity thirst for truth
in this case. Frail humanity may be enthralled in
inflexible difficulties without seeking them, all
will admit. There is no crime in leaning to the
side of mercy and humanity, for the most for-
giving and merciful said, “It is better that nine-
ty and nine guilty persons should go unpunish-
ed, than that one innocent person should suffer.”
[Col.5]
☞ Our office was fairly besieged yesterday
for copies of our edition of Dickens's Notes on
America, uniform with the cheap novels. We
were unable to supply the demand, but having had
one night's start, we hope to keep some on our
counter till noon to-day; but should be unwilling
to warrant the supply to last longer than that.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Sacs and Foxes.
The Editor of the Iowa Gazette attended the late
treaty-making Council between Gov. Chambers
and the Sacs and Foxes, and in his last paper has
an article on the subject, from which we extract
the following:
The Sacs and Foxes are perhaps the finest look-
ing Indians on the globe—of large, athletic and
perfect forms, and most graceful carriage—and a
brave, highminded and honorable set of fellows.
There are few men in this world equal to the cele-
brated Keokuk, whose commanding oratory raised
him even in his youth from the common ranks of
his tribe, and placed him, without hereditary right
and in despite of all competition, at the head of
his nation. Many statesmen in our own govern-
ment might learn useful lessons in diplomacy, and
many of our best orators receive profitable instruc-
tions form this gifted Indian.
The younger son of Black Hawk is the Adonis
of his tribe, and is probably the handsomest man
in the world. He is six feet three or four inches
high, graceful and elegant in his manners, and al-
though weighing perhaps two hundred, he treads
as lightly as an infant. Kish-ke-kosh, a chief of
much distinction among them, is also a talented
and fine looking man, and though brave as Cæsar,
he is a regular built Brummel exquisite. He usu-
ally sports an ebony cane, with a gloriously large
and bright brass head, which he twirls in his fin-
ger in the most elegant style imaginable, and when
sitting rests his chin and lips upon the brilliant or-
nament a la 'the fine old English gentleman.' He
is a smiling chap, and celebrated as a gallant, as
your smiling gentlemen usually are. It was rather
amusing to witness his efforts to come the polite
thing over his brother savages.
Every night the Indian camp was converted into
a vast ball-room, and every variety of dances
known among them, from the 'clothing of the
dead,' to the flat-boat 'double shuffle,' were per-
formed by them. The squaws have no part in
these amusements, and usually manifest but little
curiosity to witness these performances. It is any
thing but dancing, according to our notions, con-
sisting as it does of violent stamping upon the
ground to the measured beat of a drum—a regular
tearing up of the earth—or, as the Mississippi in-
dictment expresses it, “kicking up a d—d fuss
generally,” though there is a system in it, and we
noticed that the dancers preserved excellent time.
The chiefs and braves are the principal performers
in these scenes.
In addition to the beating of the drum, the
dances are enlivened by perhaps the wildest and
most hideous yells that ever issued from the
throats of human beings. And although a good
Christian might think that all Pandemonium had
been turned loose upon our prairies yet, strange
to say, there is music in the horrid compound.—
When all things are put into full blast—the drum
beating, the dancers moving, and singers yelling—
hundreds of Indian dogs join in the delightful cho-
rus, and it is then that the air is made redolent
with savage sound, which makes the listener
quake while he laughs at the superlatively ludi-
crous character of the whole scene before him.—
The younger members of the tribe amuse them-
selves, some by aping the dancers at a respectful
distance, and others by wrestling, foot races, &c.
Most of these young rascals have horses of their
own, and it was laughable while pitiable to see them
abuse the poor animals by running them from morn-
ing till night, sometimes in races, and at others
without any apparent motive but to “cut a
plunge.”
This is the only thing we have against the Sacs
and Foxes—they have no mercy on horses. The
abuse of these noble animals is the meanest sin
which any one, white, red or black, can commit.—
It is a great mistake that Indians are stoics, mis-
anthropics, or any thing of the kind.
A more sociable, communicative, happy or laugh-
ing set of fellows then the Sacs and Foxes do not
exist any where. But we believe it not only im-
possible but impolitic to civilize them. They are
happier as they are—and we should regret any at-
tempt to interfere with their domestic policy.—
Place them beyond the corrupting influence of the
white settlements—keep from them that destroyer
of human happiness among all colors, the death-
dealing “fire-water”—and Government will then
have conferred the best blessing upon the Indians,
and the only one for which they will feel thankful.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, November 9, 1842 (CA)
[Col.4]
INDIAN DIFFICULTIES.—Col. Taylor has given
notice to the Seminoles, who have taken posses-
sion of a portion of the Cherokee country, that they
must remove by the 1st instant. Alligator, who is
at the head of that band of Seminoles, has avowed
his determination to remain where he is. He says
there are not United States soldiers enough in the
country to force him off, and he will not leave. It
is, therefore, probable that the war with the Semi-
noles will be renewed on our Western frontier.
[Louisville Journal.
...
TREATY WITH THE INDIANS.—The Burlington
Hawk-Eye informs us that the reported treaty
with the Sauks and Foxes turns out to be correct.
From ten to fifteen millions of acres of land are
ceded to the U. States, for a little more than a
million of dollars. If the treaty be confirmed, the
Indians are to be moved to White Breast, near
the forks of the Des Moines, by the 1st of May.
[Col.5]
☞ It is said that Barnum is squibbing himself in order
to keep up the excitement in favor of the Mermaid. At all
events that is the effect produced. No less than eight hun-
dred persons visited this wonderful creature yesterday. All
ideas of its being fabulous vanish at once on beholding it.—
It is beyond all question the most extraordinary and aston-
ishing curiosity ever seen in New-York, and should be visit-
ed by all without delay. It remains but a short period.
—————
☞ The New-York Museum still maintains the superiority
...
☞ The real FUDGE Mermaid will shortly arrive from
the FUDGE Islands.
[Col.6]
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND COPIES
Of Charles Dickens's “AMERICAN NOTES FOR
GENERAL CIRCULATION” have been printed and
sold in Extra Numbers of the NEW WORLD, 30 Ann-street,
since once o'clock P. M. on Monday, at which hour was pub-
lished the first American Edition, ahead of all competition.
As demand for copies for the country still continues un-
abated, our double cylinder press is kept running night and
day, and probably will be kept in motion till one hundred
thousand copies are in “general circulation,” according to
the intention of the author.
Copies can now be had at the office—also put up in
wrappers for the malls—price 12½ cents. To Agents, Book
sellers, &c. $8 per hundred.
1t (2) J. WINCHESTER, 30 Ann-st. N. Y.[Col.2]
THE HARPERS have published in book form Dick-
ens' new work on this country for one shilling. The
price at which his book sells in this country, will
prove not a little annoying to its author. As to its
merits we have not yet had curiosity or leisure
enough to do more than glance at a few extracts,
and from these it is hardly fair to form an opinion of
the whole book.
[Col.3]
[For the N. Y. American.]
Mr. EDITOR—The eccentricities and inconsisten-
cies of the law are often made the subject of bitter
denunciation, especially by parties coming fresh from
a conflict within its arena, and with their animosities
excited by defeat. How far these may be just at
times it is not worth while at present to conjecture.
It is sufficient merely to say that where the contro-
versy affects the civil rights only of individuals, if there
be an absurdity in the legal adjudication of the diffi-
culty, the consequences are not fatal and may be said
to be confined to the party in interest; because the
injury, if it arise from any glaring impropriety in the
law, will be sure to be stopped in its further progress
by a speedy adjustment and cure, applied by the pro-
per authorities entrusted with that duty. But it is a
very different thing when a manifest wrong occurs in
a legal adjudication which affects the life of an indi-
vidual. And I am induced to this remark by what I
have seen in the papers respecting the refusal of the
Circuit Judge, the Supreme Court Judges and finally
of the Chancellor, to allow a writ of error in Colt's
case for the purpose of having his trial reviewed by
the Court for the Correction of Errors. The Stat-
ute declares a writ of error to be a writ of right; but
makes it necessary in criminal cases, if a convict
wishes a stay of proceedings for the purpose of ap-
pealing, to apply to certain officers who have power
to grant a stay until the decision of the Supreme
Court.
The statute is silent as to what may be afterwards
done for a further stay, if the criminal wishes to ap-
peal to the Court of Errors. But as the statute de-
clares there shall be no stay without an order, and
as that stay only continues until the decision of the
Supreme Court, the criminal is in the awkward po-
sition of one entitled by the Law of the Land, as
matter of right to have his case reviewed by the
Court of Errors, who have power to reverse his judg-
ment, and for whom no provision is made to stay the
executon of his sentence, (which in Colt's case is
death,) until that decision is given. This is an
absurdity, which were it a case of mere property,
which the parties could recover back if the judgment
turned out erroneous, would be endurable; but in the
present case, which is one of life and death, it is too
solemn and serious a defect to be calmly considered.
In Colt's case, it seems application was made to the
Chancellor for a stay of proceedings. By what
authority the Chancellor is invested with power to
grant or not a stay of proceedings in such a case, I
know not. He has no such power. A writ of error
is a writ of right; and what I complain of, is that this
being so, a man who is convicted of a capital of-
fence has no benefit of this writ of right, because the
Law has no provision for the stay of his execution,
after the decision of the Supreme Court—and it
struck me as a solemn farce, that the Chancellor
should sit on the woolsack and gravely deny in effect
the right of a criminal, situated as Colt was,
to have the decision of the Supreme Court;
reviewed by the Court of Errors, or, if admit-
ting the right, that he should seriously announce
from his own mouth, and with his own unaided
judgment, what the decision of that Court must ne-
cessarily be. Have the Court of Errors never re-
versed a decree of the Chancellor? Have they
never reversed a decision of the Supreme Court?—
And with the power now vested in them to reverse
the decision in Colt's case, whereby he might be re-
stored to liberty, or at any rate saved from death,
we find him handed over summarily to the execu-
tioner, before he can have any benefit of this privi-
lege which the law gives him as matter of right.
There is a sad defect, then, in this, that no pro-
vision is made for such a case. And there being
none, it is somewhat awful to hear the Chancellor, to
whom application was made from the necessity of
the case, in effect, that a man under sentence of
death, was an exception to the whole community,
in respect to the enjoyment of this common privi-
lege, because he thought the Court of Errors ought
not to reverse his judgment.
================================================================
[Col.3]
DICKENS'S BOOK ON AMERICA.—The Harpers,
yesterday, issued Dickens's “American Notes for
General Circulation,” in a pamphlet of ninety-two
pages, for the price of one shilling. It appears
likely to fulfil the promise of its title, and to be
a work for general circulation, at least in this city.
Every body buys it, and every body reads it. It
consists of notes made in a hasty journey through
the country, in which much that is just and true
is mingled with mistaken views and inaccurate
conclusions. Mr. Dickens was but four months in
the United States, and allowing him to make the
best use of his opportunity, must have gone back
without knowing much of the country or its people.
He reprehends many things, it is true, very prop-
erly, and satirizes others amusingly. Of the latter,
what he says of the national abomination of tobacco
chewing and spitting is an example; of the former,
his reprobation of the ferocity and malignity of par-
ty spirit and the licentiousness of the press. In
regard to the newspaper press, however, though its
character is bad enough, he has overcharged his
censures. The journals of several of our principal
cities, Boston, Philadelphia and Charleston, are
quite as decorous, for aught we see, as the best of the
English journals. In this city, the newspaper
press is worse than any where else in the United
States; but the example of two or three presses in
New-York does not prove the general profligacy
with which all the newspapers in the Union are
conducted. It is true that the best of us probably
have something to amend, and it is true also that the
standard both of morality and of decorum, is not
sufficiently high among the greater number of
those who manage our newspapers. Without at-
tempting to justify them by the example of the
London journals, which perhaps would not be dif-
ficult, if comparison were a fair mode of justifica-
tion, we have no objection to see the scourge of
reproof well laid on, and let those wince who feel
the smart.
[Col.4]
THE TREATY WITH THE SAC AND FOX INDIANS.
—We give below the Burlington Gazette account
of this treaty. One of the editors of that paper,
was present at the agency when the treaty was
made, and therefore the account given may be re-
lied upon as correct.
THE NEW TREATY.—It is with feelings of sin-
cere pleasure that we announce to our readers, at
home and abroad, the successful result of the re-
cent negotiation with the Sac and Fox nation, for
all their country adjoining our western frontier.—
After a week spent in talks with the Commissioner,
and in anxious councils among themselves, the In-
dians, on Saturday last, agreed to the proposition
which had been made for the purchase of their
country. The principal terms of the treaty are as
follows:
The Indians relinquish their right to all their
country, embracing some twelve millions of acres,
for the sum of one million of dollars, out of which
they are to pay two hundred thousand dollars of
their debts, the General Government assuming the
balance which it is supposed, will amount to about
sixty thousand dollars more. The remaining eight
hundred thousand dollars are to be invested in five
per cent. stocks, and the interest (forty thousand
dollars) to be paid annually and forever to the In-
dians. The Indians are to give possession on the
first of May next, of all that portion of country
(adjoining our western boundary) which lies east of
a line running due north to the neutral ground and
south to the State line of Missouri, beginning at
the Painted or Red Rocks of the White Breast Fork
of the Des Moines River, which are said to be lo-
cated about eight miles west of the point of junc-
tion of the two streams. The Indians are to be
permitted to occupy the country west of this line
for three years—meantime government is to pro-
vide them a country on the south and west side of
the Missouri River. No reservations were made
for the benefit of half-breeds, although anxiously
desired by the Indians—but a section of land em-
bracing the Agency House and improvements, was
donated to the heirs of the late able and faithful
Indian Agent, Gen. Street—the Indians to pay the
government the estimated value of the house. A
national fund of thirty thousand dollars, is to be
provided from their annuities, and replenished
yearly, for the support of their poor, the employ-
ment of physicians for their sick, &c. &c.
The scope of country which will be delivered
into our possession by the first of May next, em-
braces from four to six millions of choice farming
lands, abounding in streams and springs of purest
water, lead and iron ore, mill seats and water pow-
er unequalled, with every desirable quantity of tim-
ber and bituminous coal. Altogether, it is the
richest and most desirable country ever purchased,
and better than any now in possession of any other
tribe of Indians. We predict that the rapidity of
its settlement will be without a parallel in the his-
tory of the world.
It was stated by the Indians, in the course of
their talks with the Commissioner, that in addition
to the coal, lead and iron known to exist in the
country, there was also an abundance of metal un-
derstood to be copper, and a salt lake and numer-
ous salt springs embraced within the limits of the
purchase. Should this be true, (and we have no
reason to doubt it) Iowa will possess more sources
of natural wealth than all the balance of the Union
put together, and can be equalled only by the In-
dies. It will be susceptible of supporting not only
millions upon its surface, but thousand under
ground.
But with all this magnificent acquisition of ter-
tory, we are still an hundred miles from the Mis-
sourie, the Pottowattomie reservation of five mil-
lions of acres intervening between our western
boundary and the banks of that noble river. It is
not reasonable to suppose that such a state as Iowa
will soon be numbering hundreds of thousands of
people, and teeming with wealth from every mine
and over every plain and along the banks of every
stream, will halt in her march to greatness untill
she shall have encompassed within her limits eve-
ry foof of land lying between these two great arte-
ries of the commercial world, the Mississippi and
the Missouri. The former already washed the whole
length of our eastern boundary; and it is the uner-
ring decree of destiny that the latter only shall put
limits to our western border.
A state, bounded on two sides by such rivers as
the Mississippi and the Missouri, and traversed
throughout its width by numerous smaller ones—
some of them navigable and all of them affording
any amount of water-power; a state more than
three hundred miles square, affording a fine farm to
every section, and unequalled in the wealth and in-
exhaustible in the amount of its minerals; what is
there to prevent such a state from speedily taking
the front rank in our confederacy in the matter of
business and population?
================================================================
[Col.1]
Boz's New Work.
——
AMERICAN NOTES FOR GENERAL CIRCULATION. By
CHARLES DICKENS.
By a certain class of American critics this book
has been laid upon the table—a predestined vic-
tim—dedicated to the knife and scorching flame,
in thought, even before it was born, and bodily as
soon as it made its appearance upon our Republi-
can shores. At the hands of its author these men
feel that they have received some deep insult—
some terrible wrong—in return for which they
have vowed to immolate all his luckless offspring
that from this day forth may venture to look out
upon the earth, though they be lovely as their el-
der brethren and plead for mercy with eloquence
like the music of an Angel. Why this should be
so, they are puzzled to tell; they once thought
him 'one of the gods,' and are, beyond all doubt,
not a little chagrined to find that their worship
does not meet as prompt payment as they demand
for all such religious deference. He has ventured
to hint, moreover, in their presence, and without
their fear before his eyes, that he has Rights as
well as the rest of the world; and he makes no
scruple of asking them to recognize and respect
those rights. There is something in this to their
minds superlatively impudent, and their spleen
rises that a foreigner should dream of his rights,
in a land where the rights of all are respected
and secured. Still he perseveres in his proclama-
tion of wrongs unredressed—and they too in their
wrath. Their anger begets fear. They know
...
We have read the book very carefully, and are
forced to say, in the face of all this stormy denun-
ciation, that, so far as its tone toward this Coun-
try is concerned, it is one of the very best works
of its class we have ever seen. There is not a
sentence in it which seems to have sprung from ill-
nature or contempt; not a word of censure is ut-
tered for its own sake or in a fault-finding spirit;
the whole is a calm, judicious, gentlemanly, un-
exceptionable record of what the writer saw—and
a candid and correct judgement of its worth and
its defects. How a writer could look upon the
broadly blazoned and applauded slanders of his
own land which abound in this—how he could run
through the pages of LESTER's book—filled to the
margin with the grosses, most unfounded and il-
liberal assaults upon all the institutions and the
social phases of Great Britain—and then write so
calmly of this country, with so manifest a freedom
from passion and prejudice as DICKENS has done,
is to us no slight marvel. That he has done it is
infinitely to his credit, and confirms us in the opin-
ion we had long since formed of the soundness of
his head and the goodness of his heart. So far as
our space will permit we propose to give some
hasty account of the book—though the extent of
its circulation throughout the city has in no slight
degree forestalled our endeavor.
The first two chapters are entitled 'Going
Away' and 'The Passage Out';—they are mainly
descriptive, and are strongly marked by that mi-
nuteness of detail which always give such exact-
ness and life to his pictures. His description of
sea-sickness is more vivid than any other we have
ever read, and not the most inveterate weeping-
philosopher, at least of modern times, could re-
fuse to laugh—long and heartily—at the state of
things on board the vessel—which in his descrip-
tion, in all their grotesque reality, stand close before
him. Is not this a lively and perfectly accurate
picture of the performances of a vessel in a storm,
and of the ludicrous feeling of confused astonish-
ment with which a passenger on first awaking be-
holds them all?
“It is the third morning. I am awakened out
of my sleep by a dismal shriek from my wife, who
demands to know whether there is any danger. I
rouse myself and look out of bed. The water-jug
is plunging and leaping like a lively dolphin; all
the smaller articles are afloat, except my shoes,
which are stranded on a carpet-bag, high and dry,
like a couple of coal-barges. Suddenly I see them
spring into the air, and behold the looking-glass,
which is nailed to the wall, sticking fast upon the
ceiling. At the same time the door entirely dis-
appears, and a new one opens in the floor. Then
I begin to comprehend that the state-room is stand-
ing on its head.
...
Of Boston—which was the first city he visited—
its citizens and charitable institutions, he speaks in
terms of the warmest admiration. The candor
[Col.2]
with which their high merits are set forth is most
marked and honorable; and the frequency with
which he contrasts the charities of his own land
with those of this, proves that his object in coming
hither was, not to spy out the nakedness of our
land, but to gather motives and means for he im-
provement of his own. He examined carefully the
charitable institutions of all the principal cities
which he visited, and gives the marked preference
in all respects to those of Boston. In the Lunatic
Asylum, the Alms House, the Long Island Jail,
and the Tombs of our own City he saw much to
censure—their uncleanliness, their lack of suitable
ventilation, and above all, the madness with which
their care is made dependent upon the strife of
party politics. Still he does not forget the pecu-
liar difficulties under which New-York, as the
largest Commercial City on the Continent, un-
avoidably labors. The system of solitary impris-
onment practiced in Philadelphia he most elo-
quently condemns. He paints most vividly the
mental horrors which hang around these gloomy
cells, and expresses censure of the system in the
following conclusive paragraph:
“My firm conviction is, that, independent of the
mental anguish it occasions—an anguish so acute
and so tremendous, that all imagination of it must
fall far short of the reality—it wears the mind into
a morbid state, which renders it unfit for the rough
contact and busy action of the world. It is my fixed
opinion that those who have undergone this punish-
ment, MUST pass into society again morally un-
healthy and diseased. There are many instances
on record, of men who have chosen, or have been
condemned, to lives of perfect solitude, but I
scarcely remember one, even among sages of strong
and vigorous intellect, where its effect has not be-
come apparent, in some disordered train of thought,
or some gloomy hallucination. What monstrous
phantoms, bred of despondency and doubt, and
born and reared in solitude, have stalked upon the
earth, making creation ugly, and darkening the
face of Heaven!
“It seems to me that the objection that nothing
wholesome or good has ever had its growth in such
unnatural solitude, and that even a dog, or any of
the more intelligent among beasts, would pine, and
mope, and rust away beneath its influence, would
be in itself a sufficient argument against this sys-
tem. ...
Of Lowell and its manufacturing establishments
he speaks in terms of unqualified admiration. Of
the Lowell Offering, a monthly published by the
factory girls he says, that “putting entirely out
of sight the fact of the articles having been written
after the arduous labors of the day, it will compare
advantageously with a great many English An-
nuals.” The cheerful happiness, the thrift, indus-
try and intelligence which he saw there could not
fail to remind him of similar establishments in his
own land; and of the contrast between the two he
thus speaks:
“The contrast would be a strong one, for it
would be between the Good and Evil, the living
light and deepest shadow. I abstain from it, be-
cause I deem it just to do so. But I only the
more earnestly abjure all those whose eyes may
rest on these pages, to pause and reflect upon the
difference between this town and those great haunts
of desperate misery; to call to mind, if they can
in the midst of party strife and squabble, the efforts
that must be made to purge them of their suffer-
ing and danger; and last and foremost, to remem-
ber how the precious Time is rushing by.”
Is this the language of a man who takes delight
only in denouncing all Institutions but his own?—
The defects of Colleges and higher Seminaries of
learning in this Country have been a standing
theme for exaggeration and abuse by foreigners;
how nobly does the following paragraph contrast
with their blind and heedless denunciation:
“There is no doubt that much of the intellectu-
al refinement and superiority of Boston is refera-
ble to the quiet influence of the University of
Cambridge, which is within three or four miles of
the city. The resident professors of that universi-
ty are gentlemen of learning and varied attain-
ments; and are, without one exception that I can
call to mind, men who would shed a grace upon,
and do honor to, any society in the civilized world.
...
We have not space to follow Boz in his travels
through the Country, or even to refer to the many
occasions for applause, or the fewer for censure,
which he found. He does not fail to notice—
nor does any English traveler who has ever been
among us—the universal and most disgusting habit
of tobacco-chewing, with its attendant abomina-
tions, which met his view in every part of the
land. Those addicted to the practice will of
course be indignant at the liberty he takes; but
few can doubt for a moment the propriety of his
censure. The scenes of brutality too often exhib-
ited in the Halls of Congress, the choice epithets
bandied about among 'honorable members,' the
amiable promises to 'cut each others' throats' in
which some of the chosen spirits among them oc-
casionally indulge, and the shameful exhibitions of
party hatred, of personal malignity and all base
passion which are too often witnessed there, are
spoken of precisely as they deserve, and precise-
ly as every man who loves his country and hates
those who stamp upon its character indelible dis-
grace and proclaim its infamy to all the world,
would expect and wish to hear. Does not the
[Col.3]
conscience of every fair-minded man tell him that
the following words, burning as they are, are found-
ed in essential truth?
Where sat the many legislators of coarse threats;
of words and blows such as coal-heavers deal upon
each other, when they forget their breeding? On
every side. Every session had its anecdotes of
that kind, and the actors were all there. Did I
recognize in this assembly, a body of men who,
applying themselves in a new world to correct
some of the falsehoods and vices of the old, puri-
fied the avenues to Public Life, paved the dirty
ways to Place and Power, debated and made
laws for the Common Good, and had no party but
their Country? I saw in them, the wheels that
move the meanest perversion of virtuous Political
Machinery that the worst tools ever wrought.—
Despicable trickery at elections; under-handed
tamperings with public officers; cowardly attacks
upon opponents, with scurrilous newspapers for
shields, and hired pens for daggers; shameful
...
That there are, among the Representatives of
the people in both Houses, and among all parties,
some men of high character and great abilities, I
need not say. The foremost among those politi-
cians who are known in Europe, have been already
described, and I see no reason to depart from the
rule I have laid down for my guidance, of abstain-
ing from all mention of individuals. It will be
...
Towards Slavery Mr. DICKENS entertains no
very decided affection; nor could any reasonable
man expect that he should. He might have men-
tioned, however, that the system was entailed
upon the Southern States by England—that it was
sustained and nursed into life by her, and that
for all its enormities, for its very existence,
we are indebted to her 'motherly' care. Nor
does he seem to understand that, had it not been
for the wild efforts of his countrymen, founded
quite as much in patriotic hatred of America as in
love for humanity, tending solely to inflame and alarm
those upon whom they sought to operate, many of
its harshest features would long since have been
destroyed. We presume it is difficult for an Eng-
lishman to feel this truth; it is certainly next to
impossible for the best of them to acknowledge it.
His strictures upon the Press, strange as it may
seem for us to say so, are essentially true. The
Newspaper Press of this country delights to dwell
upon the might of its influence—the absolute om-
nipotence of its sway; nor is exaggeration easy.
The power of the Press here is as great as the
Press itself represents it. But no man seems to
understand, or willing to acknowledge, that its
power for evil is infinitely greater than its power
for good. Where one heart will receive an im-
pulse in favor of truth and goodness and purity
by the most eloquent appeal in their behalf, in a
hundred a single sentence of ribald slander, a soli-
tary paragraph of unprincipled licentiousness,
plants seeds which will bear fruit through the
countless ages of eternity. It is utterly impossi-
ble for any man to exaggerate, or paint in colors
more vivid than the truth, the pestiferous power
of a single press which sets all moral principle
at defiance, and marches on, with unblushing
front, to its work of death. The guilt of murder
is perfect innocence compared with that of those
who direct these great engines of misery and sin.
How could an intelligent foreigner come among
us and open his eyes upon any thing else than
these infamous sheets? From one end of the
year to the other—at every hour of every day—
they are cried in our ears, and their pestilent rot-
tenness pollutes every breath of air we inhale.—
How does it mend the matter to say that they are
conducted by foreigners? WHO SUPPORTS THEM
—and why are not these 'foreigners' themselves
thrust into the dungeons they have helped to fill,
or banished from the land they have blasted and
cursed? It is folly, it is cowardice, it is crime,
to seek to shift upon others the responsibility we
have ourselves incurred. Manliness and honesty
would seek a remedy for the foul plague, instead
of cloaking it with lies and hiding its deformity
from themselves and the world. While we see,
and know, and most deeply feel, these things to
be so, how shall we blame any man for telling the
truth?
Two things in this work will strike two classes
of persons unpleasantly: the first is the frequency
and apparent gusto with which Boz alludes to
'brandy and water'—and the very unbecoming tone
in which he speaks of what are termed the 'ortho-
dox' professors of religion. To say nothing of
their relation to truth and morality, both these
features of the book are decidedly vulgar and un-
worthy the author, who thus sinks himself much
more nearly to a level with Capt. MARRYAT than
would please his best and warmest friends. He
speaks with great contempt of Temperance Hotels,
Temperance Societies and the principled hostility
to theatres and kindred amusements which char-
acterizes the religious community especially of
New-England.
As a literary performance the 'Notes' do not
claim, or reach, any high degree of merit. The
[Col.4]
chapters are hastily and carelessly written, and
contain manifest faults of style and taste. But the
genius of DICKENS shines through them all, and
they are full of the beauty, the easy power and the
genial humanity which have made his previous
works beloved by all the world. He has caught
and portrayed, with a vivid truth none of his pre-
decessors have equaled, the prominent points of
American character—its virtues and its faults, its
strength and its weakness; and he shows himself
as keenly alive to the former as to the latter. He
has proved himself more truly our friend than
those who preceded him in the path he pursued.
If the vanity and conceit of our sensitive people do
not blind them to the truth, they cannot fail to
profit by his kind and well-founded censure. No
man in his senses can for a moment suppose that
we are destitute of faults—or that others will not
see them; and before we denounce those who
come among us for venturing to speak of them
above their breath, we should call to mind the
treatment England has uniformly received from
American book-makers who have traveled within
her borders. There is far more illiberality, un-
founded prejudice, and uncharitable judgement in
a single chapter of LESTER's 'Glory and Shame
of England' than in all that DICKENS has written
concerning us; and we should do well to call to
mind the shouts of patriotic and national applause
with which his book was hailed upon its first ap-
pearance—though we rejoice to say that reflection
brought saner thoughts and more just judgement to
our people.
We have little doubt that newspaper critics
throughout the country will deem it not only a
duty, but a high privilege, to abuse this book with-
out stint or measure; but from those who read it
attentively, not for the bare purpose of finding fault
with its statements or carping at its tone, we be-
lieve it will meet a far different reception. Its pre-
vailing spirit is one of kindness, of friendly regard,
of warm sympathy, with all that is excellent in our
character and institutions—and of boldness and
freedom towards what, beyond all doubt, must be
esteemed our faults. We feel quite sure that this
spirit will be met with a feeling of liberality—and
of gratitude, not less for his approval than his cen-
sure; for both are founded alike upon a clear and
discriminating estimate of our merits and our faults.
His closing words indicate the prevailing spirit of
the work, and speak at once the noble feeling of
the author, and the estimate which every consider-
ate man will put upon its worth:
“It is enough for me, to know, that what I have
set down in these pages, cannot cost me a single
friend on the other side of the Atlantic, who is, in
anything, deserving of the name. For the rest, I
put my trust, implicitly, in the spirit in which they
have been conceived and penned; and I can bide
my time. I have made no reference to my recep-
tion, nor have I suffered it to influence me in what
I have written; for in either case, I should have
offered but a sorry acknowledgement, compared
with that I bear within my breast, towards those
partial readers of my former books, across the Wa-
ter, who met me with an open hand, and not with
one that closed upon an iron muzzle.”
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, November 10, 1842 (CA)
[Col.1]
JOHN C. COLT.—We understand Mr. John B.
Hasty of this city has gone to Albany to see Gov.
Seward in reference to this unfortunate man. Mr.
Hasty was present when the box containing the
body of Adams was brought down stairs, and in-
tends to swear that Colt did not take it down or
rest it upon his shoulder, as sworn to by the keeper
of the building upon the trial. This testimony is
exhibited to disprove his and thus to confirm
Colt's statement that the black marks upon his
neck were occasioned by Adams and not by the
box. Upon this representation a commutation of
his sentence is asked.
================================================================
[Col.5]
THE ASYLUM JOURNAL.
Our Village has witnessed the past week the ap-
pearance of a new publication under the above title,
and we ascertain by a perusal of it that it is to be
printed and edited by the inmates of the Asylum.
Judging from the first number, it will undoubtedly
not only be a valuable means of imparting informa-
tion relative to the many forms of the disease of in-
sanity, and the various modes of treatment through
the world, but will afford a channel of relief to the
teeming minds that are now suffering from its fearful
visitations. It is asserted by medical authors that
this disease so far from paralyzing or enervating the
mental power, not unfrequently invigorates and
adds brilliancy to the exercise of them; and that a
peculiar fineness of sensibility, almost inseparable
from disease, is the most essential constituent of
Genius. If such be the fact, (and who that has
searched the records of the infirmities of Genius
can doubt it?) we may expect from the Asylum
Journal such emanations as will not merely gratify
an idle curiosity, but regale the intellect, enlist the
best sympathies of our nature, and illustrate the
fact, that where our Heavenly Parent administers
painful discipline, he accompanies the affliction
with more alleviating compensations than we are
led to imagine from a careless survey of the evils
of society.
We trust this interesting paper may be encourag-
ed by the liberality of our citizens, for we feel the
Hospital to be a benefit to the Village in more ways
than one; as it not only affords us the immediate
means of alleviating a fearful disease, but it provides
a market for much of the substance that might oth-
erwise remain unconsumed. Its humane Physi-
cian is devoting all his energies to its firm estab-
lishment and just administration, and surely when
opportunity occurs, we as a people ought to contri-
bute our portion to the same object, either by kind
effort or liberal subscription. We can give the pa-
per a wide circulation, and the proceeds over and
above the expenses of printing will be devoted to
those of the inmates who are suffering under the
double pressure of poverty and disease. Here, then
we have an opportunity, and by a very trifling ef-
fort, hardly worth the name, of evincing our personal
gratitude for the gift of reason, and our willingness to
alleviate the misfortunes of those who are deprived
of it in imitation of Him who said “All things what-
soever ye would that men should do unto you—do
ye even so to them.”
Brattleboro, Oct. 6th.
VERMONT PHOENIX. Friday, November 11, 1842 (CA)
[Col.2]
Case of John C. Colt.—An application to
the Chancellor, by the counsel of this un-
happy man, for the allowance of a writ of
error, has been denied—as a similar appli-
cation had previously been by the Circuit
Judge and the Supreme Court. The alleged
errors were that Aldermen had no right to
sit as judges of the Court of Oyer and Ter-
miner, and that the Circuit Judge erred in
his decision relative to the empannelling of
the jury, and also erred in excluding testi-
mony of the good character of Caroline
Henshaw, and in admitting testimony tend-
ing to show that Adams might have been
killed by a pistol shot. It was also contend-
ed that the Court of Errors were bound to
weigh the evidence in the case and decide
whether it was sufficient to sustain the ver-
dict.
The Chancellor held that there was noth-
ing in either of these exceptions, and refused
to allow the writ. The case, therefore, can-
not go before the Court of Errors, and on
the 18th of this month, Colt must die, unless
the Executive shall think his crime a proper
one for commutation or pardon—of the lat-
ter of which, at least, we think, there is no
probability.—N. Y. Com. Adv.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Impeachment of Police Justices.—Strange indeed
appears to us, the indifference manifested by the peo-
ple to the trial now going on in the County Court,
involving as it does, a question of gross miscon-
duct in a judicial officer, and a flagrant assault on
the elective franchise. The circumstances connected
with it too are such, as we might have supposed
would have excited the greatest interest. The jail
almost emptied of its inmates, before the sentence of
the law on them had taken full effect, these carried
thence on the eve of an election, stealthily by night
in boats, landed in the city, there supplied with lodg-
ing, food and drink—the latter to excess—and on the
following day made to vote the locofoco ticket, con-
taining on it, the names of some of those who were
cognizant of the alleged misdeeds. We say it is
strange, and we may add painful in the extreme, to
witness the apparent apathy with which a proceed-
ing, so pregnant with results bearing on the very
foundation on which our political institutions mainly
repose, is regarded.
But the strangest of all, on this occasion, is the
conduct of the Mayor of the City, he, who above all
others should exhibit the greatest solicitude to bring
the perpetrators of crimes, such as those in question,
to punishment. At least we might expect from him
the impartiality of a Judge, instead of which we see
him acting the part of a paid advocate of the accused.
There is not a technical objection urged in his favor,
that the Mayor does not support by his voice and
vote. Every impediment that can be thrown in the
way of a fair enquiry, meets his support and encour-
agement. It may be, that this is the way to gather
laurels at the hands of his party, but we cannot
bring ourselves to believe, it will meet with the other,
than the severest condemnation, at the hands of the
people.
[Col.4]
COUNTY COURT.
Chief Judge Ulshoeffer presiding.
Trial of Justice Miln Parker continued—The roll
having been called, this case was proceeded with by
the examination of Peter Collins, another of the dis-
charged vagrants, who gave similar testimony to that
of the others, with the addition that 10 or 12 men
were turned out of bed in the hospital to be dischar-
ged, and one was so ill that he fell down and was put
to bed again and died the next day.
Philip Mulkerrin, another discharged vagrant of-
fered his vote at the poll at the corner of James and
Water streets, in the 4th ward, but it was refused.
Doyle went with him to the poll and saw him offer
his vote. He saw two or three of those who come
off the island with him vote at the same poll. The
first he knew of his discharge was that Ruckles the
deputy keeper, sent for him and told him to go and
get his clothes and be ready to go with the others.
That was between three and four o'clock in the after-
noon of the 11th April.
Peter Adams, also one of the vagrants, applied for
his discharge to M. Gallagher two or three times in
the latter end of March, and about 7 or 8 days before
the election he saw Mr. Ruckles and went to him and
asked him if he could get his discharge, and he told
him he would see about it. The next he heard about
it was Mr. Ruckles sent his runner to say Ruckles
and two gentlemen wanted to see him. He went,
and Ruckles told him that perhaps those two gentle-
men could get him his discharge, and they took him
into a room and shut the door, and asked him if he
voted the democratic ticket, and he told them that he
had in the 3d ward, when they said they wanted men
to vote in the 4th and 7th wards, and asked him how
many men he could get to vote in those wards, and
he told him he might 2, or 5, or 10, or 15, or per-
haps 20—he could not tell how many. They said if
he would do so they would get his discharge, and
that of those who might agree to vote as they wished
and he was to go among the men and talk to them,
but must not get more than two or three or so at a
time, as it would look bad to apply at the police of-
fice for too many discharges at once. He went
among the men and got at first two names. He told
them they would get their discharges if they voted
the democratic ticket. The first he told, were na-
med McPeters and Slater, and he gave their names
to the two gentlemen who had asked him to get the
names. Altogether he got 14 persons with himself
whom he told if they voted the democratic ticket
they would be discharged. All the names but the
two first he gave to Ruckles two or three at a time.
They were all discharged with a lot more. This con-
versation took place about 8 days previous to the
election. He voted the democratic ticket. It had
the name of Mr. Morris on for Mayor. He voted in
the 4th ward. Culbertson went with him to vote
and voted after him.
Andrew McPeters, another vagrant was one of
those who went to Tom Doyle's. He got drunk that
night and was drunk all the next day, so that he did
not know whether he voted or not. He first heard
of his discharge from the last witness, who said he
was sent to get the men for the election and they
were to be discharged. He was asked what ticket
he voted, and the witness said he would vote the
Dimmikratick ticket to get out. He was to vote in
the 4th and 7th Wards.
...
[Col.6]
Reported for the Courier & Enquirer.
An inquest was held at Hoboken yesterday by
Judge Gilbert Merritt of Hudson county, New Jer-
sey, acting Coroner, on the body of Mrs. Frederica
Loss, for some years the keeper of the “Nick Moon
House,” at the foot of Weehawken hill, who came
to her death by the accidental discharge of a gun
held in the hands of one of her sons. Verdict of
the jury accordingly.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Review of the Week.
AMERICAN NOTES FOR GENERAL CIRCULATION.
BY CHARLES DICKENS. 1 vol. New York: Harper
& Brothers.—A careful perusal of this book con-
firms the impression which all the previous works of
its author had left on our minds—that his heart is
ever open to sympathy with suffering, and bold to
resist oppression and cruelty; that he reverences hu-
manity, without reference to its clothing or social
position; and that he delights in smoothing what is
rugged, and cheering what is sad in the path of
life.
His Notes on this country, hastily written, and
sometimes founded in misconception, are, never-
theless, such as, in the main, intelligent Ameri-
cans will confess to be just. He enters into no
long disquisitions on our laws or Constitution; nor
does he, in any instance, violate the decencies of
social life, by referring to individuals who received
and entertained him; but, in the Boz vein, takes
the reader out with him in his journeys and in his
city strolls, and thinks out aloud for and with him.
There is nothing very new, and no attempt at be-
ing very profound in his observations on American
habits, institutions, and character; but there is a
spirit of intelligence, of manliness, and fairness,
and a benevolent sympathy with the wants and suf-
ferings of the helpless and miserable, which will
commend the work to impartial readers, in spite of
the sharp truths mingled with the narrative.
The faults of the book are in occasional strains
of exaggeration in the description of disagreeables,
which really almost disposes one to doubt of the
general truthfulness of the more sober parts. We
mention, as examples, the description of the state
room, and general accommodation of the Britannia
steamer, in which the passage out was made, that of
the motion of the vessel in a storm,—the stage-drive
from Fredericksburg to Richmond, and that from
Columbus to Tiffin—which are in the broadest vein
of caricature, though given as serious.
We suppose most of our readers will possess
themselves of the work, which is a single volume,
and costs but one shilling, though published in Lon-
don in 2 volumes, for ß5,—and therefore shall make
only such extracts as may afford us some special
cause for remark.
We take first the trip to Lowell:
Visit to Lowell.—I happened to arrive at the first
factory just as the dinner hour was over, and the girls
were returning to their work; indeed the stairs of
the mill were thronged with them as I ascended.
...
[Col.2]
...
The next extract is nearer home, and refers to
the prison of detention of this city, commonly known
as the Tombs. See how the system there pursued
affected a benevolent stranger:
The Tombs.—What is this dismal-fronted pile of
bastard Egyptian, like an enchanter's palace in a me-
lo-drama!—a famous prison, called the Tombs.—
...
[Col.3]
...
The readers of this paper, may remember that not
many months ago, we commented upon the case of
a poor woman, tossed into one of these horrid cells,
on suspicion of being intoxicated, left there alone,
and unvisited during the night, and in the morning
found dead! Yet no inquiry was ever instituted,
and the same thing may happen any other night.
Surely, surely, this should be cared for.
There are many other passages we had marked as
texts for comment, but find the space we can afford,
already filled, we must therefore close here for the
present—with the purpose possibly, of making a se-
cond notice of this very readable book.
[Col.5]
An inquest was held at Hoboken yesterday by Judge
Gilbert Merritt of Hudson county, New Jersey, acting
Coroner, on the body of Mrs. Frederica Loss, for some
years the keeper of the 'Nick Moore House,' at the
foot of Weehawken hill, who came to her death by the
accidental discharge of a gun held in the hands of one
of her sons. Verdict of the jury accordingly.—(Cou.
and Enq.)
================================================================
[Col.3]
JOHN C. COLT.—A report was yesterday current
in this city, that the Governor had refused to in-
terfere with the sentence of Colt. If so, the con-
vict has only a few days to live, having been sen-
tenced to be hung on the 18th.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE SENTENCE OF COLT.—The opinion of Gov-
ernor SEWARD, which we publish this day, re-
fusing to commute or in any way disturb the
sentence of Colt, was communicated to the
wretched prisoner yesterday morning. He re-
ceived it at first with apparent coolness and un-
concern; but when he saw his fate was sealed be-
yond all possibility of change, all the audacious
boldness which has marked his bearing since the
day of the commission of his crime, gave way, and
he seemed overcome with grief and dejection. He
sent for his brother who remained with him
through the afternoon; he also desired the atten-
dance of a clergyman. During the first few hours
he wept much, but this emotion afterward gave
way, we learn, to an appearance of wildness bor-
dering on insanity. To prevent his self-destruc-
tion he will be kept shackled until the day of his
execution; and no one will be admitted to see him
except in presence of the Keeper of the Prison.
[Col.3]
John C. Colt's Case.
The following is a copy of Governor SEWARD'S
OPINION in the case of JOHN C. COLT, who was
sentenced to be executed on the 18th November,
instant, for the murder of Samuel Adams:
ALBANY, November 11th, 1842.
John C. Colt was convicted on the 27th day of September
last, at a Court of Oyer and Terminer in the city of New
York, on an indictment for murder, and was sentenced to
suffer death on the eighteenth day of the present month.—
The trial was humanely conducted. Peculiar advantages
of defence were allowed. Every objection raised by the
counsel was deliberately considered; the charge of the
court manifested unusual tenderness towards the accused;
and the jury examined the evidence with extraordinary
patience and attention.
When the verdict had been rendered, an application for a
new trial on the grounds of alleged prejudice by a juror,
improper conduct by the jury, and other supposed irregu-
larities, was considered by the court of Oyer and Terminer
and justly denied. The presiding judge then allowed a
writ of error, by which the cause was removed to the Sup-
reme Court, and in the mean time the sentence consequent
on the verdict was delayed. That tribunal reviewed and
affirmed all the decisions of the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
which court then performed its remaining duty by render-
ing final judgment. The accused then again demanded a
writ of error, with a view to obtain a reconsideration by the
Supreme Court, and in the event of an adverse adjudication,
then to remove the record for revision to the Court for the
Correction of Errors. Such a writ could only be allowed
by a Circuit Judge, a Justice of the Supreme Court or the
Chancellor. The Circuit Judge who tried the cause; the
Chancellor, and one of the Justices of the Supreme Court,
with the concurrence of his associates, have severally refus-
ed to allow a writ of error, and the accused now appeals to
the Executive authority for its interposition.
The application is urged with a degree of earnestness and
sustained by an array of influence, unusual even on such
occasions, which never fail to awaken the apprehensions
of the conscientious and the sympathies of the humane.
The subject is supposed to involve the following in-
quiries:
1st. Whether any error in law has occurred in the trial
and conviction.
2dly. Whether the conviction was contrary to evidence.
3dly. Whether the prisoner is a proper subject for cle-
mency.
In regard to the first of these questions, the Governor is
by no means prepared to say that he is not bound to abide
by the decision of the Supreme Court. It is the right of
that tribunal to expound the laws, and their expositions are
conclusive upon every other department of Government
until overruled by higher judicial authority. The Govern-
or does not constitute an appellate tribunal to review
the proceedings, correct the errors, and reverse or
modify the judgments of courts of either civil or criminal
jurisdiction. Nevertheless, the pardoning power might
properly be exercised to save a convicted person from the
consequences of a privation of any legal right or form of
defence resulting either from accident or neglect, preju-
dice or misconduct from judicial officers. The accused
complains that a writ of error has been unjustly denied, and
it therefore becomes necessary to examine the grounds on
which it was demanded.
When proceeding to the trial, the Court of Oyer and Ter-
miner discovered that there was a deficiency of unbiased
jurors, and thereupon ordered that three hundred persons
should be summoned. After the order had been executed,
the accused applied for a list of the three hundred persons,
and also to be allowed two or three days to make inquiries
concerning them. The request was denied. The Govern-
or is not aware that any statute, rule or custom of courts of
justice was violated by the decision.
The accused then challenged the panel of three hundred
persons on several grounds, all of which were overruled
by the Court, to wit: First—Because the number was too
large. But it was within the discretion of the Court to de-
termine how many should be summoned, and the result
showed that the number selected was not large enough.
Secondly—Because only two days were allowed the Sheriff to
execute the order. It was nevertheless executed. Thirdly—
Because the Sheriff had not furnished the counsel for the ac-
cused with a copy of the list. No such duty was enjoined
on that officer. Fourthly—Because the Sheriff selected the
three hundred persons by taking their names from the roll of
grand and petit jurors of the city and county of New-York.
But the Sheriff was not forbidden by law to choose the
three hundred persons in that manner, and there would
have been just ground of complaint if he had summoned
persons not legally ascertained to be jurors.
The accused next insists that the ballots for the 45 persons
on the original panel should be drawn and exhausted before
those containing the names of the 300, subsequently sum-
moned, should be put into the box. But the Court directed
otherwise. After drawing all the ballots there was a defi-
ciency of one juror; and when a further person was sum-
moned, the accused required that a ballot containing that
person's name should be put into the box with those of the
45 first summoned who had not appeared when called.
The Court overruled the request. The person so last sum-
moned was found not impartial and was set aside. The
accused then insisted that those among the 45 first sum-
moned who had not appeared should be again called, but
the Court awarded an order to summon another person,
and the individual then summoned, being found impartial,
was received as a juror. No irregularity occurred in these
proceedings.
A trunk, proved to have been found in the dwelling
of the prisoner, and in which a watch belonging to
the deceased had been discovered, was produced. The
Court overruled an objection, and admitted testimony to
prove the contents of the trunk. The decision seems to
have been reasonable, and in harmony with the rules of ev-
idence.
It was proved that all the wounds on the person of the
deceased, except one, might have been made with a hatch-
et. The Court admitted testimony designed to show that
the one would might have been effected by the discharge
of a pistol. One count in the indictment charged that death
was produced with a hatchet; another charged that it was
inflicted with some unknown instrument. The evidence,
even if inadmissible under the first count, was unquestiona-
bly proper under the last count.
The remains of the deceased having been exhumed dur-
ing the trial, the head was produced in Court with a view
to enable the jury to apply the testimony with greater cer-
tainty. The proceeding, although deemed erroneous by
the accused, was necessary and proper, and sanctioned by
the law of evidence.
Caroline M. Henshaw, a witness for the accused, during
her direct examination testified that she cohabited with
him, and he thereupon offered to prove her good charac-
ter for veracity, so as to rebut an adverse presumption sup-
posed to result from the fact thus disclosed. The District
Attorney objected, but at the same time admitted that the
witness had given her evidence with an intention to testify
only the truth. The Court, thereupon, very properly de-
clined to receive unnecessary evidence of the veracity of a
witness who had not been impeached by the prosecution,
and whose truthfulness had been conceded.
The 4th Section of Article 1, Title 2, Chapter 1, Part 4
of the Revised Statutes, if in the following words;
“Such homicide is excusable when committed,
“1. By accident and misfortune, in lawfully correcting a
“child or servant; or in doing any other lawful act by law-
“ful means, with usual and ordinary caution, and without
“any unlawful intent; or
“2. By accident and misfortune, in the heat of passion,
“upon any sudden and sufficient provocation, or upon a
“sudden combat, without any undue advantage being
“taken, and without any dangerous weapon being used,
“and not done in a cruel or unusual manner.”
The accused objected to the charge of the Court because
the Judge did not instruct the Jury that the words “By ac-
cident and misfortune,” in the second subdivision of the sec-
tion, were to be rejected as surplusage. But no authority
is found for rejecting the words thus alledged to be neces-
sary.
The Court also charged that if the Jury believed under
the evidence that the homicide was effected in a cruel and
unusual manner, the case would not fall within the last sub-
division of the section. This portion of the charge was con-
sidered erroneous by the accused, but it seems to have been
in harmony with the spirit as well as the letter of the law.
The Court also charged the Jury that a homicide, to be
excusable, must be committed without a design to effect
death. The counsel for the accused questioned this posi-
tion. But the law declares that homicide can only be ex-
cusable when it happens by accident and misfortune, and it
cannot so happen if it proceed from design.
The ground upon which the accused demanded a writ of
error was that several decisions of the Court of Oyer and
Terminer which have been noticed were erroneous. But
he was allowed to present them for the consideration of
the Supreme Court, and they were solemnly considered and
affirmed by that tribunal before the judgement was ren-
dered against the prisoner by the Court of Oyer and Ter-
miner. The Governor not only concurs with the Court of
Oyer and Terminer and with the Supreme Court in the
opinion that the objections raised by the accused were un-
tenable, but he sees no reason to distrust the absolute confi-
dence in the correctness of that decision manifested by the
Circuit Judge, the Chancellor and the Justices of the Su-
preme Court in their refusal to allow a second writ of error.
Therefore the denial of this writ thus demanded does not
seem such a hardship toward the accused as would call for
redress by the exercise of executive power.
After the cause had been adjudicated by the Supreme
Court and sentence had been pronounced in the Court of
Oyer and Terminer, the accused for the first time assumed
the ground that the two Aldermen who were associated with
the Circuit Judge on the trial were not Judges, because the
laws by virtue of which they acted in that capacity conflict-
ed with the Constitution. That instrument contains a pro-
vision declaring that all judicial officers (with an exception
which has no application to the present question) shall be
appointed by the Governor and Senate. Aldermen are not
so appointed, but are elected by the People. But Alder-
men in the city of New-York have always been recognized
by law as Judges. They were acting as such when the
Constitution came into existence, and since that period their
judicial powers have been confirmed by many statutes.—
The Supreme Court has heretofore decided that those stat-
utes were constitutional; that the Aldermen were Judges
de jure, and that even if they were not Judges de jure, they
were Judges de facto; that their proceedings were valid
until the Aldermen should be removed from the bench by
the judgement of a competent tribunal, and that their judi-
cial powers could not be questioned in collateral prosecu-
tions in which they were not parties. Whatever opinion
the Governor might entertain concerning this decision, he
is bound to acquiesce. He has no power either to oblige
the Supreme Court to reconsider the question or to submit
it for the examination of the Court for the Correction of Er-
rors. Under such circumstances, to grant a pardon to the
prisoner on the ground of the incompetency of his Judges
would be an acknowledgement that every judgement ren-
dered by any Court of Oyer and Terminer in the city of New-
York since the constitution was established with one exception,
was not merely erroneous, but void, and would draw after
it an obligation to pardon all persons who have been, as
well as all who may hereafter be, convicted of crimes in
those courts—the chief tribunals of criminal jurisdiction in
the metropolis. In adopting such a course, the Governor
would necessarily appear in an attitude of resistance to the
laws and defiance of the courts instead of performing his
proper office of executing the laws as expounded by the Ju-
diciary; and the pardoning power, granted only for occa-
sional purposes of justice and humanity, would thus be per-
verted and made an agent of disorder and revolution.
Was the conviction contrary to the evidence? This im-
portant question has not been and could not be in any form
submitted to the Supreme Court or to the Court for the
Correction of Errors, because in every criminal case, the
Jury have an exclusive right to pass upon the facts submit-
ted to them. Their verdict cannot be reviewed by any
legal tribunal, and the right of the Governor to examine it
is only incidental to the pardoning power.
Samuel Adams resided in New-York; was about the
age of thirty years, in active business as a printer of books,
and extensively known. He disappeared on Friday the
17th of September, 1841. Inquiries concerning him were
published on the next Wednesday, and on Sunday the 26th,
his remains were found in a rude box, such as is used for
[Col.4]
transporting merchandize, in the hold of a vessel about to
sail for New Orleans. The proof on the trial left no doubt
...
Each of the wounds would have been mortal, and which
ever of them was first inflicted, must have instantly de-
prived the deceased of consciousness and of all power of
resistance.
Such a homicide could not have been accidental or ne-
cessary for self-defence. It was committed with a deadly
weapon, in a cruel and inhuman manner, upon a defence-
less, powerless man. Reason and law agree that the homi-
cide could not have been innocent, justifiable or excusable.
...
[Col.5]
their instructions to set down the whole truth. Yet while
it purports to give an account of an affray following re-
proachful words, it does not state which of the parties used
the words. It states that mutual blows were given before
the prisoner seized the hatchet, but does not inform us how
many blows, nor describe any of them, except one received
by himself more severe than the others, and which he re-
turned with violence. It states that the parties grappled
and he was pushed against the wall while the deceased was
twisting the prisoner's neckloth, and then the prisoner
seized the hatchet and inflicted one blow—then lost all pow-
er of reason by strangulation, and remembered nothing far-
ther distinctly or coherently until afterward, when he was
roused by a knocking at the door. Since his conviction the
prisoner has submitted a series of letters written by himself
to various friends during his imprisonment. In one of the
letters written after the trial, he says that he did but de-
fend himself against a wanton, vile and unpardonable attack.
That he asked the deceased to be just, who thereupon ac-
cused him of injustice. For calm words, the deceased gave
him insulting language. His peremptory denial was re-
turned by the deceased with blows. In a subsequent letter
he excused himself by haste and want of consideration for
having set down in the statement produced on the trial, that
“he was obliged to stand on the knees of Adams, to crowd
him into the box;” says that the first part of the statement
was quite imperfect, and did not convey the whole truth;
admits that he retorted language of unmeasured reproach,
and gives farther details, so important, if true, that they
could not have been forgotten when preparing his previous
statement; and which cannot now be admitted as true, be-
cause they were not made known by him until that state-
ment had proved insufficient for his defence.*
The letters of the prisoner furnish other reasons to dis-
trust his veracity. To receive such an ex parte statement,
and permit speculation based upon it to overthrow a ver-
dict, would be subversive of the administration of justice.
...
inflicted. Penitence and resolutions to amend are indispen-
sable, among other conditions, of pardon. No such condi-
tions are offered in the present case. The prisoner has for-
gotten his victim, heaped insult upon his humbled and be-
reaved family, defied the Court, denounced the Jury and
presented himself before the Executive as an injured, not
as a penitent man.
In making known to the prisoner that the expectation of
pardon, the last hope of life, must be relinquished, the Gov-
ernor cannot forbear from expressing an earnest wish that
the few days which yet remain to the prisoner may be
spent in preparing to appear before that dread tribunal ap-
pointed for all men, before which none can offer any other
justification than sincere repentance for every error and
humble yet confiding faith in the REDEEMER OF MANKIND.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
——————
* Extract from John C. Colt's letter dated February 15th,
1842: “He almost instantly seized hold of my neckcloth,
which placed me in his power—pressing me to the table
and wall, he struck me three or four times in the breast, and
seized me per privas partes. Every thing seemed to turn
black. I was in agony, and exerting myself for relief, how
I know not. The last distinct recollection I have, before I
was relieved by his fall, was, that of trying to press him off
with my left hand, as I held on his collar, endeavoring with
my right hand, at the same time to raise myself from the
table, as he had me pressed over backwards upon it. It
was in this painful position that I seized that accursed
hatchet and gave him the unfortunate blows that I did.—
When relieved from his horrid grasp, I beheld for the first
time my awful defence. Heaven only knows the number
of blows I struck him. There may have been four or five.
And when I reflect upon the instrument most unfortunately
seized and instantaneously used, it is only to be wondered
that his head was not dashed into a thousand pieces.
† Extract of John C. Colt's letter dated March 8, 1842:—
“My counsel considered my case a perfectly clear one and
believed that I should be acquitted. To produce this result
they conceived that the evidence of Adams' coming to my
office in bad blood, and evidence of the scuffle, and the
evidence of his account being wrong, was quite sufficient
when taking into consideration the fact that this unfortunate
man had before, in several instances, shown himself a
kind of dare-dog and had been consequently turned from
the houses of several citizens for abusive and insulting lan-
guage. Had this not have been the conclusion I could ea-
sily have slipped through the fingers of the law. The body
of that unfortunate, foolish man was never identified, and
the only positive evidence connecting me with the box con-
taining it, was the drayman's. He swore that I was the
man that delivered it to him, consequently it was alone ne-
cessary to prove that I was not about the granite building
that morning, to have been acquitted. But I should forever
despise myself for slipping through the fingers of the law
by such means.”
[Col.6]
☞ The Real Fudge Mermaid is to be seen at the New-
York Museum. It is formed of the head of a monkey and
the tail of a fish, so admirably fitted together as to deceive
the most experienced person. The Hughes family, the
wonderful musical prodigies, comprising two brothers and
a sister, are engaged. Master D. E. Hughes displays ex-
traordinary powers on the Harp. The intant Violinist per-
forms with a skill and science that cannot be surpassed.
Master Diamond, Rosalie and Boyce appear.
================================================================
[Col.1]
The case of John C. Colt.—More than an ordinary
degree of interest has been felt by our fellow-citizens
during the past week, to know the result of an ap-
plication to the Executive for the pardon of COLT,
the convicted murderer of ADAMS, sentenced to be
executed on Friday next.
We have never entertained a doubt of the justice
of the verdict rendered by the Jury in this case; al-
though we certainly supposed it quite possible that
the very general feeling of the Bar in relation to the
technicalities of the law, might find sympathy in the
breast of the Executive, himself a lawyer. Such how-
ever, it appears from the able and conclusive docu-
ment which we publish this morning, has not been
the case; and COLT is accordingly apprised that the
sentence of the Law will certainly be executed upon
him at the time designated.
While we deeply sympathise with the respectable
friends and relatives upon whom this blow will fall
far heavier than upon the criminal himself, and kind
feelings towards whom, have induced us to observe a
studied silence upon the disastrous consequences to
the administration of justice which would have
grown out of his pardon—we must now be permitted
to remark, that the determination of the Governor is
entirely in harmony with public sentiment, and in our
opinion, all-important for the preservation of that re-
spect for the laws which can alone render society se-
cure in the enjoyment of life and property.
We cannot imagine a more delicate or difficult po-
sition for a man of feeling and a just sense of his re-
ligious and legal responsibilities to be placed in, than
that recently occupied by Governor SEWARD; and
for the fearless and honest discharge of his high and
imperative duty under such circumstances, he is, most
assuredly, entitled to the thanks of all our well dis-
posed and orderly citizens, at the same time that his
motives cannot fail to command the respect of those
who with equally good and pure motives, sought
the interposition of Executive clemency.
We commend this document to the impartial consi-
deration of all our fellow citizens in every condition of
life, as one honorable alike to the head and the heart
of the writer, and at the same time invaluable to the
cause of law and order in this metropolis, doomed as
it is, to be the refuge of the lawless and unprincipled
from every quarter of the civilized world. No indi-
vidual can rise from a careful perusal of it, without
feeling that the writer has had much to struggle with
in resisting the importunity of friends based upon ap-
parent sound legal claims for a pardon, and backed
by appeals and solicitations which found a ready res-
ponse in his own bosom; but over all which he has
nobly triumphed, because it was right to do, and
because his duties as the Chief Magistrate of the
State, were, in his estimation, paramount to the
claims of private friendship and the pleadings of his
own feelings in behalf of the life of a fellow-being.
This is probably the last official document which
will issue from the pen of WILLIAM H. SEWARD, du-
ring the brief period remaining for the exercise of his
official duties; but it is one which adds another leaf
to that civic wreath which four years of faithful and
incessant labour in the service of the state, has secu-
red him, and during which period he has won for
himself a reputation for honesty and abilities of which
even a CLINTON might have been proud, and which
is the more to be appreciated, because freely accord-
ed by men of all parties in every section of our wide-
ly extended country.
[Col.2]
Trial of Special Justice Miln Parker, continued.—
...
Michael Dollard left in a boat which was under the
charge of Ruckles and Bogert, two of the Deputy
Keepers. They crossed the ferry and got into an
omnibus, stopping and getting out to get some drink
before they got to the end of their journey—at the
Watch-house. Bogert took them from the Watch-
house to a house in Hammersley-street, where they
had crackers and cheese, and drink.
The next morning they went to another place and
had breakfast, being taken by a man named Preston.
Some then went to vote and some went away. The
witness did not vote. He told Ruckles he had not
been long enough in the state though he had been
in the country, and Ruckles replied that if he had a
vote he had a right to vote somewhere.
Patrick Butler left the Island on the night of the
11th April, and was taken to Cherry street and
furnished with food, drink and lodging. Did not
vote, as he is not a citizen.
...
[Col.3. Mostly as in Tribune]
From the Albany Evening Journal.
JOHN C. COLT'S CASE.
The following is a copy of Governor SEWARD's
OPINION on the case of JOHN C. COLT, who was sen-
tenced to be executed on the 18th of November, in-
stant, for the murder of SAMUEL ADAMS:—
Albany, Nov. 11, 1842.
John C. Colt was convicted on the 27th day of
...
[Col.4]
...
[Col.5]
...
In making known to the prisoner that the expecta-
tion of pardon, the last hope of life, must be relin-
quished, the Governor cannot forbear from express-
ing an earnest wish that the few days which yet re-
main to the prisoner may be spent in preparing to
appear before that dreadful tribunal appointed for all
men, before which none can offer any other justifica-
tion than sincere repentance for every error and
humble yet confiding faith in the Redeemer of Man-
kind. WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
* Extract of John C. Colt's letter dated February
...
the fingers of the law. The body of that unfortunate,
foolish man, was never identified, and the only posi-
tive evidence connecting me with the box containing
it, was the drayman's. He swore that I was the
man that delivered it to him, consequently it was
alone necessary to prove that I was not about the
granite building that morning, to have been acquit-
ted. But I should forever despise myself for slipping
through the fingers of the law by such means.”
================================================================
[Col.2]
COLT'S FATE SEALED.—All hope for a melio-
ration of the dread fate which the law has pro-
nounced against the unfortunate John C. Colt, has
vanished, and he has now no alternative left him
but to resign himself composedly to the embrace
of death, to which on Friday next he must inevi-
tably yield. The Governor has refused the in-
terposition of his Executive power between the
sentence of the law, and its execution; and the
hopes entertained by many, and the expectations
of many more, that the exertions which had been
made to obtain an interposition of the execu-
tive clemency would be successful, can no longer
be cherished.
In the Albany Evening Journal of Saturday,
we find the Decision of Gov. Seward published at
length, occupying three closely printed columns
of that large sheet. In that document his Excel-
lency says:
“The Circuit Judge who tried the cause, the
...
“In making known to the prisoner that the
expectation of pardon, the last hope of life, must
be relinquished, the Governor cannot forbear from
expressing an earnest wish that the few days
which yet remain to the prisoner may be spent in
preparing to appear before that dread tribunal ap-
pointed for all men, before which none can offer
any other justification than sincere repentance
for every error, and humble yet confiding faith in
the Redeemer of Mankind.
“WILLIAM H. SEWARD.”
...
[Col.3]
THE REFUSAL OF THE EXECUTIVE to exercise
his pardoning prerogative in the case of Colt, ap-
pears to have excited some little degree of sur-
prise in the minds of a portion of the community.
It is a principle acknowledged by all, friends as
well foes of capital punishment, that if a shade
of doubt exists of the guilt of a prisoner, his life
should not be taken. This is a feeling implanted
in the breast of every human being, and is one
which does honor to our natures; for life is pre-
cious—precious indeed—and when once taken can
never be restored.
For our own part, we have no disposition to
censure either judges or jury in the case of Colt.
We believe they acted honestly and conscien-
tiously, and that any attempt to cast odium upon
them is unjust and improper; but the perusal of a
document to be found in another column of our
paper, has strengthened us in the opinion that a
new trial ought to have been granted, and from
what we have seen and heard within the past
few weeks, we believe that a great portion of our
citizens are of the same opinion.
[Col.4. Mostly as in Courier]
☞ An inquest was held at Hoboken on Fri-
day by Judge Merritt, on the body of Mrs. Fre-
derica Loss, for some time keeper of the “Nick
Moon House,” at the foot of Weehawken Hill,
who came to her death by the accidental dis-
charge of a gun in the hands of her sons.
[Col.6]
?????????????????????????????????????????????
Adams, during the rencontre ??????????????????????
the latter, the undersigned giv???????????????????
which he has arrived, and the facts, exp????????? rea-
sonings by which he has arrived at such conclusions.
I. Adams was in an erect position at the time the fatal
blows were inflicted.
Proof 1. Blood was found on the wall in large spots and
greater abundance at the height of a man's head than else-
where. See testimony of Justice Taylor and Doctor Chil-
ton.
Proof 2. After the fall of Adams no blow was inflicted.
“About a quarter past 3,” says Asa H. Wheeler (See Bill
of Exceptions) “I heard a noise in the adjoining room
which sounded like the clashing of foils. This was but
momentary. It was followed by a fall on the floor of some-
thing quite heavy. I immediately left my seat, opened the
door, went into the hall to Mr. Colt's door, and listened—
all was still.” Close attention was paid to Colt's room for
many hours after the fall, and not a sound was heard.
II. One of the parties at least must have firmly grappled
the other while the blows were inflicted.
Proof. Several blows were received by Adams, any one
of which would have felled him if unsupported—yet he
did not fall till after the infliction of all the blows.
III. All the blows were inflicted without material
change of position.
This proposition results from the last, namely that one
of the parties at least firmly grappled the other when the
blows were inflicted. It is strongly supported too by the
facts to which I shall shortly allude.
IV. There is nothing in the form of the fractures that
gives probability to the notion that any other other weapon
was used by Colt than the hatchet produced at the trial.
Proof. To this proposition no objection has or can be
raised, except that which arises from the form of the frac-
ture on the left side of the head—to this fracture therefore
we will confine our attention.
“On the left side of the head, posterior to the ear,” says
Dr. Gilman, (See Bill Exceptions) “there was a small round
hole that you could thrust you fore finger into without
any fissure or cracks. All the injuries about the head might
have been inflicted by such a hatchet except the small
round hole. I confess I cannot see how that wound could
be made with such an instrument, it might however, possi-
bly, by striking obliquely. I stated on my examination be-
fore the coroner's jury that this fracture looked as if it had
been made with a ball.”
Dr. Kissam said in relation to this fracture, “I don't
know whether the small round hole could have been made
with the hatchet. It was more likely to have been made
with a nail. I have never seen a wound in a skull from a
ball, but I think the edges of the hole were too rough for
a ball to have made it. The back of the hatchet striking
obliquely might, I think, have produced the small hole.—
The skull there is quite thin.”
Dr. Archer said “I think it very unlikely that a blow
with an instrument like the hatchet would have produced
such a round hole as that on the left side of the head—I
do not mean to say that such a hole might not have been
produced by the hatchet, but I think it very unlikely.”
Owing to the difficulties felt by the Court in relation to
this fracture, the body of Adams was exhumed and the
skull examined, after which Dr. Gilman testified as fol-
lows:—
“My opinion has been changed by the examination this
afternoon as to the hole being made by a ball.”
The undersigned examined the skull, and have not the
slightest doubt that the hole on the left side of the head
was made by the posterior or inner corner of the edge of
the hatchet. He put that part of the hatchet to the frac-
ture, and it fitted exactly. The anterior part of the frac-
ture bearing the impression of the thick posterior edge of
the hatchet, the upper line of the fracture being a straight
cut edge, the posterior part of the fracture corresponding
with the sharp edge of a hatchet, and the inferior part be-
ing a rough broken surface. This exact correspondence
he exhibited to the court and jury. Dr. Mott was equally
positive in regard to this. “I have examined the skull in
connection with the hatchet,” says he; “and it is clear to
me that the small hole was made with the hatchet. I have
tried the hatchet into the hole, and it fits it.” This posi-
tive testimony must, it appears to me, set this question en-
tirely at rest, and remove all doubts as to the correctness of
our fourth conclusion. The weapon produced at the trial,
it may be remarked was both a hatchet and a hammer, be-
ing one of the description very commonly used in stores
and offices.
V.—Colt and Adams were face to face at the time the
fatal blows were given.
In considering this proposition, it will be necessary to
take into account the number, situation, form and direc-
tion of the fractures found on the skull of Adams.
The fractures were five in number, one at the back of
the head, one on the left side of the head, one on the right
side of the head, and two on the forehead.
1. That on the back part of the head was, as described
by Dr. Gilman, “a fracture of a peculiar character, on
what is called the occipital ridge, a piece was chipped
off.” This fracture was the least dangerous of those in-
flicted.
2. The fracture on the left side we have already de-
scribed. Its situation is particularly noted by Dr. Kissam
as “above and behind the parietal protuberances,” those
projections of bone which are found on the side of the
head above the ear. The skull there is quite thin. The
direction of this fracture was slightly oblique from below,
upwards and backwards.
3. The fracture on the right side of the head was, as is
described by Drs. Kissam and Gilman, near the posterior
parietal angle, that is, behind the upper part of the ear.
There was a fracture, “with depression, but not detach-
ment of the bone—the bone was broken and dented it, but
not detached. This fracture was quite small.” The un-
dersigned who examined the skull remarked that the ante-
rior superior part of the indentation was more deeply de-
pressed than the inferior posterior part.
4 and 5. There were two severe fractures on the fore-
head one on the left, the other on the right side, in causing
which much more force was obviously employed than in
causing the others. The posterior and left fractures were
undoubtedly made by the cutting edge of the hatchet, the
right and two frontal fractures by the blunt end or a ham-
mer.
In considering the various questions which have arisen
in the course of this part of the investigation, I have been
governed by the following general principles, namely:—
That there is a discoverable relation between the form
of the weapon employed and the form of the wound inflic-
ted, and also between the position of the attacking party
and direction of his blows, and the situation and direction
of the wound, so that within certain narrow limits of un-
certainty, if the weapon—the position of the attacking
party, and the direction of a blow he given, the form, sit-
uation and direction of the wound may be inferred; and
the form, situation and direction of the wound being giv-
en, the form of the weapon, the relative position of the
attacking party and the direction of the blow may be in-
ferred. By the light of these principles of relation, I
have investigated and experimented. To any one who is
sceptical as to the correctness of their conclusions, the un-
?????????????????????????????????????????????[Col.7]
could be given only with the deliberate intention to kill,
it may be fairly inferred that he would have struck a per-
pendicular blow with all his force on the posterior superior
part or crown of the head; this would have been the most
severe and probably the only blow inflicted. Instead of
such a blow the one actually inflicted on the back part of
the head was comparatively slight; “a piece was chipped
off,” to use the language of Dr. Gilman. “This chipping
could not have been occasioned by a blow from behind un-
less Adams had had his head turned on one side sufficiently
far to see what Colt was about.”
If Colt being behind Adams with intent to kill had con-
cluded to forego the great advantage of a perpendicular
blow for a side blow, his determination may be fairly in-
ferred to have arisen from a belief in the common notion
that a blow on the temple is one which proves the most
severely and quickly fatal. But both the side wounds on
the head of Adams were behind the ear and about as far
from the temple as possible.
Independently of this consideration however, and that
arising from the difficulty of inflicting a blow on the left
side of the head from behind, it is clear that the fracture
on the left side could not have been produced by a blow
from the position now under consideration. The direction
and form of the fracture leaves no room for doubt concern-
ing this. If the blows of Colt had been given from be-
hind on the side of the head, it may be fairly granted that
as a blow on the right side could be the most easily and
forcibly, so it would have been the first given, and that it
would have been made with the whole force of Colt. But
the fracture on the right side is not of the severe charac-
ter which the employment of much force would occasion.
As Dr. Gilman remarked, there was “depression but not
detachment of bone. This fracture was quite small.”—
The circumstance of the greatest indentation being at the
anterior superior part of the fracture, is also greatly
against the probability of this fracture having been occa-
sioned by a blow from behind.
That the fractures in front could be occasioned by
blows from behind no one will pretend. It would be
worse than useless therefore to make an argument on the
subject.
2d. Colt did not inflict the blows on Adams from either
side.
The proofs of this are many. A blow from the side
could hardly be inflicted unawares. Any unusual move-
ment on the part of Colt would have attracted the atten-
tion of Adams and caused him to confront Colt.
Had Colt struck a side blow it would most probably
have been about the middle of the head on the lateral part
of the coronal region, but the blows were given on the
posterior part of the side of the head behind the ear.
Blows on the side of the head inflicted from the side
must have been perpendicular, producing perpendicular
fractures; but neither of the side fractures were of this
description.
It may be readily ascertained by experiment, that one
standing on the left side of the head and using the right
arm it would be impossible to inflict the right and frontal
wounds, and that standing on the right side of the head it
would be impossible to inflict the left and posterior wounds
found on the head of Adams.
I have ascertained by experiment that standing on the
left side it is impossible to drive into the left side of the
the skull that corner of the hatchet which is nearest to the
handle, and that standing on the right side it would be ex-
tremely difficult and only by contorting the position of the
body and arm possible to make such a fracture as was
formed on the right side of the head of Adams.
I have now exhausted the consideration of all the posi-
tions except the frontal. By supposing Colt to have been
in front of Adams during the infliction of the blows all the
fractures can readily be accounted for. It can be shown
too, that from no other single position could all these
wounds have been given. Experiments prove this, and
whoever makes the investigation will become satisfied, I
think, of the truth of another proposition—namely:
VI. THAT WHEN THE WOUND ON THE LEFT SIDE
OF THE HEAD WAS INFLICTED COLT AND ADAMS WERE
WITHIN A FOOT AND A HALF OF EACH OTHER.
Experiment. Two persons, A and B, were placed op-
posite and fronting each other, at the distance of a foot
and a half. B grasped in his right hand a hatchet similar
to that used by Colt, contracted his arm towards his shoul-
der and then struck forwards and downwards. He found
that he could thus inflict a wound similar in form and situ-
tion to that described on the left side of the head of
Adams. B. further found that such a wound could not be
inflicted in any other position or by any other movement,
for on keeping the same distance from A, but extending
the arm and then striking, his blow passed beyond the head
of A, and on extending the distance between himself and
A, and when striking he found that the situation or shape
of the wound would be altered.
Having thus ascertained, as I believed, the relative po-
sition of Colt and Adams during the infliction of the
wound on the left side of the head I wished to ascertain
whether the other wounds could have been inflicted with-
out change of position or distance, I had little difficulty in
coming to a satisfactory conclusion.
On receiving the blow on the left side the face of
Adams would be instinctively averted and the head thrown
towards the right shoulder, which would bring the back of
the head towards the left shoulder. After this change of
position it was found that a blow similar to the last made
while the parties remained at the same distance would
strike the occiput in the situation of the wound on the back
of the head of Adams and produced such a chipped frac-
ture.
This second blow would drive the posterior part of the
head backwards, and cause it to reassume its natural posi-
tion, and I found that if the parties retained the same re-
lative distance, and the assailant lifted his arm, extended
it obliquely towards the right side of his antagonist, ro-
tated his hand, and then struck downwards and inwards,
he would bring the head of the hatchet in the precise sit-
uation of the wound on the right side of the head of Ad-
ams, and cause just such an indention.
The fractures found on the forehead of Adams, could
not have been inflicted in the above mentioned position of
the parties; they required a more extended distance and
freer blows, nearly the length of the arm. The infliction
of the three wounds above mentioned would occasion pros-
tration, or great diminution of strength. If Adams grasp-
ed Colt his grasp would become enfeebled. If he had
been pressing against him he would be unable to continue
the effort; in either case the distance between the parties
would have become extended, and would have afforded
opportunity for the infliction of the last mentioned blows.
Such are the facts and reasonings which have led me to
the conclusion that Adams and Colt were face to face dur-
ing the whole of the fatal rencontre.
VII. ADAMS WAS GRAPPLING WITH COLT AT THE TIME
THE FIRST BLOW WITH THE HATCHET WAS GIVEN, AND WAS
THE FIRST TO CLOSE AND GRAPPLE.
It would be foreign to any investigation to enter into an
argument on this subject, founded on the improbability of
a predetermined attack on the part of Colt, connected
with time and place of the fatal rencontre or on the great
improbability of a man of acknowledged intellectual quick-
ness and power selecting a mode of attack that could not
but attract the attention of a neighbor separated from him
by a folding door merely, and one in the execution of
which the walls would necessarily be sprinkled, and the
floor almost deluged with blood, but there are a few con-
siderations in proof of our last proposition, on which we
would briefly dwell.
1. If Colt had been the assailing party he would have se-
lected his position, and that it may be fairly granted would
have been one which would have given to Adams no chance
of outcry and no chance of opposition; he would have ap-
proached from behind, which he evidently did not.
2. Had Colt commenced the attack and approached
Adams, in front with the hatchet, Adams would doubtless
have made an outcry which would have arrested the atten-
tion of Mr. Wheeler. The cry of alarm is one of the
most piercing and far-reaching.
3. Had Colt commenced the attack he would have se-
lected his distance, a distance which would have given to
him the full sweep and force of his right arm; but it is
demonstrable, I think, that when the blow which occa-
sioned the fracture on the left side of the head of Adams
was inflicted, the parties were not more than about a foot
and a half asunder. And that blow I do not doubt was the
first inflicted.
4. Adams was stouter than Colt—Colt was taller than
Adams. The blow on the left side must have been struck
forwardly, with a downward motion of the hand. Colt
must have been in a lower position than Adams on the in-
fliction of that wound. Had he been above him he could
not have struck the posterior corner of the edge of the
hatchet into the side of Adams' head, so as to make
fracture of the form inflicted.
5. Had not Adams been grappling Colt at the time Colt
struck his first blow, Adams would naturally and instinctive-
ly have protected his face at the expense of his arms. On
a blow being struck at the head or face, the upward move-
ment of the arms is as much a matter of course as the with-
drawal of the head. The annals of the crime and of surgery
prove this in the most conclusive manner. But the arms of
Adams were uninjured. The testimony of Dr. Gilman
shows that the body of Adams was most minutely examined,
yet no injury, not even the slightest on the arms was disco-
vered. Such freedom from injury is incompatible with the
notion that the arms of Adams were disengaged during the
rencontre. DAVID L. ROGERS, M. D.
We, the undersigned, having witnessed the experiments
described and alluded to in the foregoing report, testify to
the correctness with which they are stated therein.
JNO R. McCOMB, M. D.
JOHN JAY LASHER, M. D.
M. M. ROGERS, M. D.
JNO R. VAN KLECK, M. D.
ELIAS T. REUTH, M. D.
LEWIS HALLOCK, M. D.
JAMES M. WOOD, M. D.
JAMES R. CHILTON, M. D.
We have read the report of David L. Rogers, ????
hereto affixed, and witnessed the experiments therein men-
tioned, and assuming the correctness of the facts, we have
opinion that the inferences and deductions stated in the re-
port are warranted by the facts, and are in a high degree
probable. AMOS DEAN,
Professor of Medical Jurisprudence.
EBENEZER EMMONS,
Professor of Materia Medicine.
JAMES H. AIMSBY,
Professor of Anatomy.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 14, 1842 (FH)
[Col.4]
W ANTED—126 Nassau, 3 partners, 1 runner, 4 clerks,
4 agents, 2 seamstresses, refectory purchaser. 1*[Col.5]
AMERICAN MUSEUM.
C ORNER of Broadway and Ann st, opposite St. Paul's
Church.
P. T. BARNUM, Manager.
NEW AND EXTRA ATTRACTIONS.
Day visitors admitted free in the evening.
Entire new scenery, drop curtains, decorations and en-
largement and cushioning of the Lecture Room.
THE WONDERFUL MER-
MAID, taken near the Fejee
Islands, which has been visited
by fifty thousand persons in this
city and in Boston, and of the
genuineness of which all natural-
ists, and other persons, are con-
vinced upon beholding it, is en-
gaged, at an extraordinary ex-
pense, for one week only. Many
scientific gentlemen of celebrity
have staked their reputation that
this extraordinary nymph of the
sea is all she is represented.
MR. O'CONNEDL, the Tat-
tooed Man, will appear in his ce-
lebrated Dances, and give an his-
torical account of his sufferings for eleven years, while a
prison in the hands of barbarous savages in the North Pa-
cific Ocean.
T. G. BOOTH,
The comic singer and Ethiopian extravaganzist.
THE LILLIPUTIAN FAMILY.
Consisting of ten performers; Miss Hood, the vocalist;
Celeste, the danseuse, &c.
THE NORTH RIVER ON FIRE!
A new invention, by which the bottoms of rivers, lakes,
&c., may be illuminated. This is the most curious, beau-
tiful, and valuable invention of the age.
Day performances every Wednesday and Saturday after-
noons.
Admission to the whole 25 cents—children half price.
n14 3*
—————————————————————
NEW YORK MUSEUM AND
PICTURE GALLERY.
Broadway, opposite the City Hall.
T REMENDOUS ATTRACTION!—UNPRECE-
DENTED COMBINATION OF NOVELTIES!—
Mr. H. Bennett, Manager,
begs leave to state that, in ac-
cordance with his announce-
ment of last week, he has ma-
nufactured
A FUDGE MERMAID!
and he willingly leaves to the
public to pronounce whether
it is not infinitely superior to
any other ever exhibited. It
is formed of the Head of a
Monkey and the Tail of a
Fish, so skilfully connected,
and admirably united, as to
elude the closest scrutiny of
the most experienced eye, and
set discovery at defiance. As
a manager of a place of pub-
lic amusement, he considers
he is bound to procure the passing novelties of the day.—
—The current of public opinion setting in favorably to-
ward Mermaids, the Manager conceives it to be a super-
fluous piece of Quixotism on his part to attempt to
stop it, but he thinks he may, at a trifling expense, direct
it into a proper channel. If the public are disposed to be
deceived, he will humor them to the top of their bent; or,
in plain terms, if they desire to be hoaxed, he will ac-
complish it in a superior style, and charge only HALF
PRICE—a serious consideration these hard times.
The manager announces with pleasure, that he has en-
gaged the HUGHES FAMILY—the wonderful Harpists,
consisting of the two Master Hughes and the Sister.—
These children possess a precocity of talent, unparalleled
in the annals of music, never before presenting so singu-
lar an instance. They execute with a style and finish not
inferior to the most eminent performers.
Also Frank Diamond, the unrivalled Ethiopian Dan-
cer; Mr. B. Boyce, the celebrated comic singer; Miss Ro-
salie, the charming songstress.
Fancy and Miniature Glass Blowing, by Mr. Owens.
A performance on Wednesday and Saturday at three
o'clock.
Admission to the Museum, Picture Gallery, and ente-
tainments, one shilling. n14 6tis*
================================================================
[Col.6]
THE CASE OF COLT.
——
The murderer of Adams, after conviction and
an unsuccessful effort for a new trial before the
Oyer and Terminer, after having had the benefit
of a review of all the decisions of the court of
Oyer and Terminer, under a writ of error to the
Supreme Court, and after being sentenced to
death, again demanded a writ of error, with a
view to obtain a reconsideration of the case by
the Supreme Court, and ultimately to the court
for the Correction of Errors. This having been
denied by the Circuit Judge who tried the cause,
with the concurrence of the Chancellor and the
Justices of the Supreme Court, the interposition
of the Executive has been at last applied for
and urged with even more than the usual earn-
estness and as unusual an array of influence.
The opinion of the Executive upon the ap-
plication, appears at length in the Eve. Journal
of Saturday. It is scarcely necessary to say,
that the Governor, after a patient examination
of the whole case, comes to a conclusion adverse
to the application—and that the culprit accord-
ingly expiates his crime by an ignominious
death on Friday next.
The points presented for the consideration of
the Executive were these,
1st. Whether any error in law has occurred in
...
On all these points, and particularly in its
analysis of the evidence in the case, the opinion
of the Executive is clear, able, and as it seems
to us, conclusive. We shall transfer it to our
columns to-morrow. Meanwhile we copy the
concluding portion of it:—
“The laws are always to be executed except
...
the Executive as an injured, not as a penitent
man.”
================================================================
[Col.1]
From the Albany Evening Journal.
JOHN C. COLT'S CASE.
The following is a copy of Governor SEWARD'S
OPINION on the case of JOHN C. COLT, who was sen-
...
[Col.5]
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.—On our first page will
be found Governor Seward's decision in the case of
John C. Colt, condemned to die on Friday next for
the murder of Samuel Adams. The Governor, it
will be seen, after deliberate examination, determines
that the sentence of the law must be carried into ef-
fect. The decision was communicated to the prison-
er yesterday morning, and according to the Tribune,
though at first received with apparent unconcern,
Colt afterwards gave way, and seemed overcome
...
[Col.6]
MEETING OF THE BAR.—A meeting is called for to-
morrow morning, at 9 o'clock, of those members of the
Bar who are opposed to the action taken by which
leave was refused to John C. Colt, to take the opinion of
the Court of Errors, whether the Court which tried
him, was legally constituted or not.
—————
...
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE.—In the Runinsas (Iowa) Ga-
zette we find the most extraordinary and cruel relation
of circumstances that we believe ever went forth in type.
An old man lived alone, and had forbidden a daughter,
who lived near, and her husband, or even their children,
ever to approach his place, on account merely of some
whimsical pique that the old man had taken against his
child. One morning the inhuman being found his grand-
child, under three years of age, climbing upon his gar-
den rail, and he deliberately went for his rifle and shot
the boy dead. The victim fell inside of the fence. The
old man reloaded and sat watching. Not long after the
mother came seeking her child, and the minute she
touched her father's garden rail, as she did with a shriek
the instant she perceived her dead child, the old brute
shot her in the temple and killed her stone dead on the
spot. The hoary maniac (as he is now accounted) shot
the father also when he came, and he is now in prison
to answer for the three murders.
================================================================
[Col.5]
JOHN C. COLT.—The Sheriff has given directions that
the irons placed on Colt shall be removed, and in place
thereof has appointed two deputy sheriffs to guard his
cell until the hour of execution. His friends and relatives
are to be allowed to see him, but to prevent any thing
being given him for self-destruction, one of the deputies
is to be present, or within sight, during the interview.
Thousands of applications have been made to the Sheriff
to witness the execution, but he has resolved on the only
proper course, that is, to allow none to be present except
those authorized by law, and a reasonable number of de-
puties to keep proper order, giving the city press one
representative each, and those the regular acknowledged
reporters.
Several gentlemen who visited Colt yesterday state that
his appearance and manner is much changed since the re-
ception of the letter of Governor Seward, as he had placed
great reliance upon a pardon or commutation of his
sentence. He looked the very picture of wretchedness
yesterday, and talked relatively to his fast approaching fate
in a manner not such as would eminate from one disposed
to commit suicide. On being questioned as to such an in-
tention, when his penknife and razors were taken from
him, he said that depriving him of them would not prevent
the accomplishment of such a deed, as he could open a vein
with his teeth if he desired, and thus bleed himself to
death.
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, November 15, 1842 (FH)
[Col.3]
The Miller Camp Meeting at Newark—The
Closing Scene.
NEWARK, Monday, Nov. 14.
As far as regards Mr. Miller's connection with
Newark; personally, the long agony is over. Mr.
Miller took his departure to-day for New York
about two o'clock, by the steamboat; and what
further transpires must be chronicled by your do-
mestic crops of reporters.
The farewell ceremonies took place in the Free
Church. The performances commenced at nine
o'clock in the morning with a hymn, the burthen of
which was:—
My old companions fare you well—fare you well.
Will you go?—will you go?
I'm not going down to hell,
Will you go?—will you go?
This was set to the tune of:—
Will you go?—will you go?
All for to see the monkey show?
Will you go?—will you go?
After this, and one or two more hymns, Father
...
[Col.4]
MRS. FARNHAM'S LECTURE ON WOMAN.—Seeing a
notice of a lecture at the Society Library yesterday
at 11 o'clock, A. M., we sent one of our reporters
to attend it. He reached the place at the appointed
hour, but finding only some dozen females present,
and that Mrs. Farnham had not yet arrived, he lin-
gered a few minutes at the door to converse with
the door-keeper, and make a few experiments in
physiology. From the philosophical door-keeper,
he learned much wisdom and logic; he learned
that Mrs. F. is a married woman, but not attended
by her husband—but whether they have been blessed
with children, the door-keeper did not say. This
is the second gratuitous lecture, which this excel-
lent lady has given, preaching for the benefit of the
age; the first was to about twenty-five persons.
The door-keeper further said, that reporters were
to be admitted to this lecture, although it was ad-
dressed to ladies only.
During this physiological conversation, Mrs.
Farnham arrived at the door. She appeared to be
about thirty-five years old, and many persons per-
haps might think her tolerably good looking—but
as our reporter idolizes the sex, he was in raptures
with her bright eyes, elegant figure, and benevolent
face. After some private conversation with the
door-keeper, she went away to enter by the private
entrance. When our reporter proposed to enter,
the door-keeper asked him what paper he belonged
to? Answer, “the Herald.” He replied that the
orders he had just received were, to admit no
members of the press except from the Tribune, or
some such paper. Never baffled at any difficulty,
our reporter, immediately, though a little late in the
season for butterflies, assumed, through the power
of magnetism, which he possesses in a greater de-
gree than Col. Stone, the shape of a very beautiful
blue and pink fly, with ten legs and forty wings,
flew through the key-hole, and took his position on
the left ringlet of Mrs. Farnham's madonna's face
during the whole of the lecture. Here he heard
unutterable things—the whole secrets of nature de-
veloped—but not a word of cooking or of darning
stockings.
It seems, therefore, that Mrs. Farnham is tread-
ing in the illustrious footsteps of the learned Mrs.
Gove, who had a husband, but instead of doing the
cooking and washing of her own family, went
through the world, contrary to the doctrine of Saint
Paul, trying to teach philosophy, philology, and
physiology. Now on this important subject—“the
position and duty of woman,” we coincide with the
opinion of Paul the Apostle, who was a pretty sensi-
ble man on many questions, considering that he was
merely a tent maker. Saint Paul thought that wo-
man's true “position and duty” was in confining
herself, it is true to the ologies, but it was cook-
ology—make-the-pudding-ology, darn-the-stocking-
ology—that the private parlor was her natural posi-
tion—not the public desk—that a peep into the
kitchen was more amiable and becoming than a
hop-step-and-skip into the lecture room.
Instead, therefore, of attempting to deliver public
lectures in the city of New York, if Mrs. Farnham
would return to her home and husband, attend to
the affairs of her family—and mind the philosophy of
her parlor and kitchen, she would be giving a much
better practical lecture on the “position of woman,”
than by the course she is pursuing. Let her study
the following stanzas:—
1742.
Man to the plough,
Wife to the cow,
Girl to the yarn,
Boy to the barn,
And your rents will be netted.
1842.
Man tally ho,
Miss piano,
Wife silk and satin,
Boy Greek and Latin,
And you'll all be gazetted.
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, November 15, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
☞ MRS. FARNHAM'S FIRST LECTURE TO
Ladies only, this Morning at 11 o'clock, at the Society
Library. See Advertisement.
[Col.3]
M RS. FARNHAM'S FIRST LECTURE TO LADIES
ONLY, this morning at 11 o'clock, at the Society Library,
corner Broadway and Leonard street. Subject—Natural Posi-
tion of Woman in the scale of being. The lectures of the
course will be continued daily. Second lecture, Nov. 16—The
present physical condition of woman. Third, Nov. 17—Her
present mental condition. Fourth, Nov. 18—Means of im-
proving her physical condition. Fifth, Nov. 19—Same subject
continued. Sixth, Nov. 21—The mental constitution of wo-
man. Seventh, Nov. 22—Mental education and training.
Eighth—The duty and the means of elevating and improving
the condition of domestics and others in the humble walks of
life.
Tickets for the course $1 50, single admission 25 cents, to be
had at the door. n15 1t*r
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, Evening Edition, November 15, 1842 (FH)
[Col.6]
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.—This person, sentenced to
be hung on Friday next, is now under deep concern
of mind relative to his future state, produced mainly
from the efforts of the Rev. Dr. Anthon, of St.
Mark's church. The first visit of this gentleman,
which was a few days since, was followed by no
result, but on the second, on Monday, Colt's stub-
born nature gave way, and he expressed the utmost
earnest desire to listen to the consoling aid of this
reverend gentleman. Several others of the clergy
had previously visited him, but without any effect.
He now refuses to see any other except Dr. Anthon,
and was this morning most earnestly engaged in
prayer with this reverend gentleman. He is now a
full and sincere believer in a state of future rewards
and punishments.
Hundreds were flocking to the city prison this
morning to see him, but no one was admitted except
his friends, or those introduced by them. A deputy
sheriff is present to prevent any instrument being
given to him whereby he might destroy himself,
although he disavows any intention to commit such
an act. His physical appearance is wonderfully
changed since Sunday, and he looks as though he
had been confined to a sick bed for months.
Until this morning the had given up all hopes of
either pardon or respite, but from the proceedings of
a meeting of a party of the members of the Bar of
this city, held in the Sessions Court room, this morn-
ing, as given below, no doubt that a hope is again
revived in his bosom that he may live over the time
now fixed for his execution. Should such not be the
case, the result will be met with a severer pang than
if these efforts had not been made.
The meeting was called to order by appointing J.
H. Raymond, Esq. Chairman, and Francis Tucker,
Secretary. There were about two hundred persons
present, and some of the speakers were received by
hisses, and other marks of disapprobation from some
of the audience. Messrs. J. W. Edmonds, E. Paine,
and M. C. Patterson, Esq. addressed the meeting,
and James T. Brady, Esq. introduced the following
resolutions:—
Resolved.—That the right to revise the decision of infe-
rior tribunals in the Court of last resort is a right so es-
sential to the due administration of the laws, that a refu-
sal except in cases free from all doubt amounts to a denial
of justice.
Resolved.—That the question whether under the Con-
stitution of this State, a Court of Oyer and Terminer can
be held otherwise than by judges appointed by the Gover-
nor and Senate, although discussed, remains undecided in
the Court of Errors, and deserves serious deliberation,
[Col.1]
the words of the Constitution being “The Governor shall
nominate and with the consent of the Senate shall appoint
all judicial officers except justices of the peace.”
...
Resolved.—That the execution of any convict, (what-
ever his crime,) is of no greater importance to the com-
munity than such an administration of the laws as will
produce implicit confidence in the decisions and decrees of
our courts of justice.
The resolutions were then adopted, and a com-
mittee of five was appointed to forward copies to
the Governor, Chancellor, and Judges of the Su-
preme Court, to decide upon publishing the same,
and to ask a temporary reprieve of the Governor.
The chairman appointed Messrs. James T. Brady,
Ward, Griffith, Paterson, J. W. Edmonds; and on
motion, the Chairman and Secretary were added.
The meeting then adjourned.
================================================================
================================================================
MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER.
Tuesday Morning, November 15, 1842 (FH)
================================================================
[Col.1]
John C. Colt.—The decision of the Governor on
the case of this unhappy man was communicated to
him on Sunday, at about 1 o'clock in the day, by J. L.
Graham. Esq., who was accompanied to his cell by
several gentlemen. At the reading of the paper to
Colt, he shew strong marks of emotion, but it was
not until he had been long urged, that he consented
to allow a Clergyman to visit him. At last he se-
lected for that purpose, the Reverend Mr. Anthon,
who was with him in his cell for some hours yester-
day. His demeanor is now much more suitable to
his unfortunate situation, though we understand he
still expresses no compunction for the commission of
the crime, which he is about to expiate with his life.
He was manacled and chained to the floor on Sun-
day, but yesterday the Sheriff released him from his
irons, and he is now under no more restraint than
he was before.
It is to be hoped that no ill-judging friends will, by
raising hopes that may not be gratified, prevent him
duly preparing to meet the awful fate, which awaits
him.
================================================================
[Col.3]
MR. FARNHAM'S LECTURES.—The Introductory
to this course was delivered yesterday to a highly
respectable audience. The object of these Lec-
tures is so important to the community, and so di-
rectly interesting to Women, to whom they are ex-
clusively addressed, that we take particular pleas-
ure in calling public attention to them. See ad-
vertisement.
———
...
NEWS.—The Cahawba (Ala.) Democrat an-
nounces that Governor Seward has pardoned Colt,
and proceeds to preach a crusade against such
manifestations of mercy towards notorious crimi-
nals. The Editor must have got his information
from the Foreign Quarterly Review.
———
MEETING OF THE BAR.—A meeting is called for
to-day at 9 o'clock, of those members of the Bar
who are opposed to the action taken by which
leave was refused to John C. Colt to take the
opinion of the Court of Errors whether the Court
which tried him was legally constituted or not.
———
...
☞ A young man named R. W. Nichols was
accidentally killed at Gaines, Orleans Co., on the
4th, by the premature discharge of his gun while
hunting.
[Col.5]
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE.—In the Kuninsas (Iowa)
Gazette we find the most extraordinary and cruel
...
swer for the three murders.
———
...
INDIANS.—Some twelve or fourteen of the finest
looking Indians we have ever seen, attached to the
different tribes in Iowa, arrived in our city on the
7th. They are on their way to Washington to
conclude the arrangements for the lands which
they recently sold to Government. [Cincin. Gaz.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 15, 1842 (CA)
[Col.2]
☞ Mrs. Farnham's First Lecture—TO LA-
DIES ONLY—This Day, at 11 A. M., at the Society Li-
brary, corner of Broadway and Leonard-street.—Subject—
Natural Position of Woman in the scale of being. Admis-
sion 25 cents. Tickets for the course $1 50, to be had at
the door 1t
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
MEETING OF THE BAR ON THE CASE OF
JOHN C. COLT.
We annex the proceedings of this meeting with-
out comment, other than to say that a wide differ-
ence of opinion exists among the members of the bar
themselves, and that before the adjournment of the
meeting, Mr. Paine rose to ask whether, under the
terms of the call, any one opposed, as he was, to the
course about to be taken, and who approved of the
decision of the Chancellor and the Supreme Court,
could be heard.
Mr. Raymond, the Chairman, read the call, and
decided that he could not—whereupon Mr. Paine
sat down.
Friday is the day appointed for the execution.—
We understand the Sheriff has been advised that the
warrant for execution being signed by one of the
Aldermen, is illegal, and therefore should not be
carried into effect. What the result is to be, re-
mains to be seen. Meanwhile, we cannot but hope
the wretched prisoner may be kept in ignorance of
these proceedings, whatever is to be their issue.
At a meeting of the Bar held at the Supreme
Court Room, on Tuesday, the 13th November inst.
SAMUEL G. RAYMOND was called the Chair, and
THOMAS W. TUCKER appointed Secretary. The
following resolutions were presented by James T.
Brady, and seconded. Messrs. M. C. Paterson, and
John W. Edmonds supported the resolutions which
were unanimously adopted, as follows:
Resolved, That the right to review the decisions
of inferior tribunals in the Court of last resort, is a
right so essential to the due administration of the
laws, that to refuse a writ of error, except in cases
free of all doubt, amounts to a denial of justice.
...
Resolved, That the execution of any convict,
whatever his crime, is of no greater importance to
the community, than such an administration of the
laws as will produce public confidence in the decis-
ions and decrees of our Courts of Justice.
On motion these resolution were referred to a
committee of five, to be appointed by the Chair,
with power to publish and forward copies to the
Governor, Chancellor, and Judges of the Supreme
Court.
The following gentlemen were appointed such
Committee, James T. Brady, Richerd R. Ward,
Wharton Griffith, M. C. Paterson and John W. Ed-
monds.
On motion of John B. Scoles, it was further re-
solved, that this Committee have the power of com-
municating with the Governor, for the purpose of
obtaining a temporary reprieve, until action could be
had by the Court of last resort in the case of John
C. Colt.
The President and Secretary were added to the
Committee, and the meeting adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.2]
In publishing yesterday Governor Seward's opin-
ion in the case of John C. Colt, we might well
have accompanied it with some notice of the abili-
ty with which it is drawn up. It is clear in the ar-
rangement, full without prolixity, and expressed
with simplicity and directness. As to the conclu-
sion to which he has arrived, we are inclined to
think him right, although in a case involving the
life of a fellow creature, in which the evidence is
of so complicated a nature, no man should express
himself positively, without a most careful consider-
ation of the testimony.
================================================================
[Col.5]
From the Courier and Enquirer.
Case of John C. Colt.
More than ordinary degree of interest has been
...
section of our widely extended country.
——
From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.
The Case of John C. Colt.
The Governor has refused to interfere between
this convict and the doom of that law to which he
has made himself amenable. His Excellency's let-
ter, announcing his decision and setting forth the
grounds upon which it is sustained, will be found
on the fist page, and will no doubt be read with
attention by every one into whose hands it may
come. Without expressing any opinion as to the
correctness of the result arrived at—which notwith-
standing the example set us by other journals, we
conceive to be improper while the convict is yet
living, and within the possibility of mercy—we have
no hesitation in saying that the Governor's letter
is one of the ablest—perhaps the very ablest—state
paper he has had occasion to write in the whole
course of his administration. In the becoming gra-
vity of its tone, the acumen of its legal distinctions,
the force of its argumentation and the evidence it
bears in every line of deep, dispassionate and earn-
est thought, we look upon it as a model for Execu-
tive communications of this nature.
On Friday next, therefore, unless there be an in-
terposition by that power in the sight of which all
human power is but weakness, John C. Colt must
die upon the scaffold. The end, so long and so ve-
hemently resisted, at last is drawing nigh. The
spectacle is sublime but fearful. For nearly a year
we have seen this unhappy man struggling with des-
perate energy within the coils of that invisible yet
mighty force which to human guilt rewards human
retribution. Slow, unimpassioned, alike unsway-
ed by anger, or sympathy, or fear—moving on-
ward to its dread purpose with deliberate yet inevi-
table progress, and grasping the object of its dire
intent with a hold so subtle that it seems not to ex-
ist, yet so tenacious, so terrible, that only death can
shake it loose—the LAW, the invisible, intangible
impersonation of all the force that is in banded mil-
lions, having held within its clutch for so many
months the struggling victim of its justice, endu-
ring calmly, yet not the less irresistibly defeating,
all his efforts to escape, is now about to sweep him
from the face of the earth, the helpless subject of
its mighty power.
Of his agonies, his hopes, his terrors and his re-
morse, as of the tears and anguish that may be at-
tendant upon his doom, and of the shame and sor-
row that may hereafter be associated with his name
in the memories of kindred—of all these it can take
no heed. Its mission is to do justice upon the guil-
ty; and for this it must have no heart, no affections,
no chord of human feeling to vibrate at the touch of
grief or the frenzied grasp of despairing misery.
And the fulfilment of its mission is needful—in-
dispensable—to the well-being of society. In its
resistless might, its stern impassibility, its relent-
less execution of its own decrees, lies the safeguard
of our lives and property; and painful as its minis-
tration is to the kindly feelings of our nature, we
must burrow a portion of its own stony-hearted in-
sensibility and approve, if we may not choose but
grieve for, the fulfilment of its terrible awards.
——
From the Daily Advertiser.
Gov. Seward's Examination of Colt's Case.
Among all the able State papers which have pro-
ceeded from Gov. Seward, not one of them, as it
strikes us, does him more credit, by its acute and
sound discrimination, and its compact and well-put
argument, than his examination of Colt's case, as
published in our paper yesterday, on the petition for
pardon. It will, we think, entirely satisfy every
mind—at least every mind that admits the right and
expediency of capital punishment—that the case
was not such a one as to call for the exercise of the
Governor's pardoning power.
——
From the Brooklyn News.
John C. Colt.
Governor Seward refuses to interfere or commute
the sentence of Colt, and he will, in all probability,
suffer the extreme penalty of the law on Friday
next. The opinion of the Governor, as published
in the New York papers of this morning, is a mas-
terly argument, and if doubt existed heretofore as
to the justice of Colt's sentence, a perusal of the
opinion of Gov. Seward will go far to remove it. The
fact of any hope of respite or pardon having ceased,
was yesterday conveyed to Colt, and it is said, that
for the first time he evinced symptoms of dejection.
================================================================
[Col.5]
☞ A meeting of the members of the Bar op-
posed to the action of the Judges in the case of
Colt, was held yesterday morning. Some thirty or
forty were present—most of whom were opposed
to the proceedings, but were not allowed to ex-
press their opinion or to vote. The following
Resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That the right to review the decisions of infe-
...
[Col.6]
RUINS OF CENTRAL AMERICA!
Eight Superb Engravings!
☞ A GLORIOUS NEW WORLD IN PREPARA-
TION.—Next Saturday we shall shine! See: We shall give
a full review of Mr. Norman's new and deeply interesting
work “RAMBLES IN YUCATAN,” with copious extracts
descriptive of the magnificent ruins of Central America,
...
☞ Office of publication 30 ANN STREET, where may
be had Dickens's work and all the popular romances and
scientific books of the best authors, for 12½ to 25 cents each.
Gentlemen from the country wishing the best family paper
in America are requested to call and subscribe. Terms $3
a year. (n16 3t) (2) WINCAESTES, Publisher.
———————
☞ John B. Scoles, Esq. will deliver the Intro-
ductory Lecture before the Mechanics' Institute at the So-
ciety's Rooms, No. 12 Chambers-street, on Friday Evening,
18th inst. n16
================================================================
[Col.1]
Extraordinary Proceedings.—The evening papers
of Monday, contained the following anonymous call
for a meeting of a certain portion of the Bar.—
Whence it emanated we know not; but the simple
fact that the authors did not think proper to attach
their signatures to it, is prima facie evidence that
they knew it was an improper and unjustifiable pro-
ceeding.
“MEETING OF THE BAR.—A meeting is called for
to-morrow morning, at 9 o'clock, of those members
of the Bar who are opposed to the action taken by
which leave was refused to John C. Colt, to take the
opinion of the Court of Errors, whether the Court
which tried him, was legally constituted or not.”
In pursuance of this call at about 11 o'clock yes-
terday, seventeen members of the Bar assembled and
organized a meeting. Subsequently the number was
increased to twenty-eight, and finally the whole num-
ber present amounted to thirty-six! Of this number
our informant and old Practitioner of high standing,
could recognize as members of the Bar but eight in-
dividuals—the others being young men who have re-
cently joined the profession. The Bar of New York
numbers upwards of eleven hundred; and we cannot
but congratulate that highly respectable body, that so
small a portion of them met in pursuance of this
anonymous call.
We gave in another column the proceedings of the
meeting, copied from the American; and we feel it a
duty to express our decided disapprobation of this
whole proceeding as calculated to bring the adminis-
tration of justice in our city into disrepute, at the
same time that it is cruel and inhuman towards
the unfortunate convict who is so shortly to suffer
the sentence of the law.
Beyond all question the parties to this meeting,
knew that there is not the shadow of a shade of pro-
bability, that Governor SEWARD will interfere in be-
half of the prisoner, after the full and deliberate
opinion which he has placed before the public of the
justice of his conviction and of the legality of the
proceedings upon his trial. It was therefore, cruel
and inhuman to excite a hope in the breast of the un-
fortunate criminal which cannot possibly be realized;
and it would be an act of mercy to COLT if some of
his friends would call his attention to that passage of
the Executive's opinion wherein he says:
“By a humane provision of law, a full report of
every conviction of a capital case is required to be
made to the Governor, who in considering the same
is entitled to the advice of the Chancellor, the Jus-
tices of the Supreme Court, and the Attorney Gene-
ral. The Justices of the Supreme Court have care-
fully reviewed the report in the present case, and
unanimously certified that the verdict was just. If
the Governor entertained doubts of its correctness,
he might, perhaps, rightfully relinquish them and
confide in the opinions of his learned judicial advi-
sers. But justice to the jury, and a proper regard
for the security of society, as a desire to temper the
administration of the laws with mercy, have induced
an examination of the testimony independantly of the
of the jury and legal tribunals, and the result is a
conviction, UNDISTURBED BY ANY DOUBT, that the ac-
cused was guilty of the murder of SAMUEL ADAMS.”
But say this meeting of the Bar, “the Court was not
legally constituted.” Here again let COLT be assu-
red that the objection is not a new one and has been
deliberately weighed and finally passed upon by the
executive. That high functionary says in the docu-
ment referred to:
“The Supreme Court has heretofore decided that
those statutes were constitutional; and that the Al-
dermen ware judges de jure, and that even if they
were not judges de jure, the were judges de facto;
...
would thus be perverted and made the agent of disor-
der and revolution.”
We make this extract to show how utterly hope-
less is this effort for a reprieve or pardon; and in the
hope that the friends of COLT, will not permit the
proceedings of this ill-timed, cruel, and in our judg-
ment, highly improper meeting, to inspire him with
a hope of either respite of pardon. In common
with all humane persons, we cannot but commisse-
rate his fate; and it is because we do commisserate
it at the same time that we believe it to be just and
necessary, that we would guard him from the indul-
gence of a hope, which all who know the firmness of
the Executive, are well convinced, can never be re-
alized. The time has passed for all hope in man;
and he should be warned that he must look to his
GOD only, for consolation and comfort in this hour
of need.
But while we thus condemn the cruelty of this
meeting towards COLT; let its offensive character
against the peace and good order of this community
not be overlooked. A venerable citizen remarked to
us while this meeting was in session—“Were Colt as
popular as Ezra White, this meeting would be deem-
ed good grounds for a rescue. Thank God the pub-
lic feeling and the sentence of the law are in harmo-
ny, or I should tremble for the peace of our City.”
And this is the general feeling of our fellow citizens,
openly and unequivocally expressed yesterday.—
What? After the law has gravely consigned its vic-
tim to his fate, and after an appeal has been granted to
the Supreme Court, and after the Executive of the
State has calmly and most ably reviewed the whole
proceedings and refused to stay the execution—after
all this, shall a meeting of the Bar convene under an
anonymous call, and attempt to arrest the sentence
of the Law and put at defiance the Jury, the Courts,
the Judges, the Executive and the public? Surely
this is wrong; and what is more, as a precedent,
dangerous to the peace and welfare of this commu-
nity. Never before have we heard any public meet-
ing so universally and so unsparingly condemned as
this has been; and we are proud to know, that of the
eleven hundred members of our Bar, only thirty-six
could be induced for a single moment thus to commit
themselves and permit their feelings for a condemn-
ed fellow-being, to blind them to their duty to them-
selves and to the society of which they are mem-
bers. It is however, we do not doubt, an error
founded on generous impulses, and one which the
reflecting portion of the public may readily for-
give, because reflection will unquestionably induce all
the parties concerned, to see the heinousness of this
proceeding, and deeply to regret their hasty and ill-
advised action. As a general rule, we would
advise all young men never to attend a meeting call-
ed for such questionable purposes that the instigators
of it, dare not append their names to the call. Such
was the meeting of yesterday; and if as reported, a
lawyer of some standing has give a written opin-
ion to induce the Sheriff to omit to execute COLT
on Friday, we cannot but feel that we have indeed
fallen upon evil times. If this be really so, the soon-
er it is known to the public the better; and the name
of the lawyer should be published in order that all
may know who it is that could presume thus to tam-
per with a public officer. There can be no apology
whatever for such conduct; and it will be condemned
even by those who may honestly doubt the guilt of
the Prisoner.
[Col.2]
Case of John C. Colt.—Yesterday a meeting of the
Bar was held in the room of the Court of Common
Pleas, to take into consideration the refusal to allow
the case of this prisoner to be carried to the Court
for the Correction of Errors.
The meeting having been organized by the ap-
pointment of S. G. RAYMOND, Esq. as President, and
Thomas W. Tucker, Esq. as Secretary.
Mr. J. T. Brady moved the adoption of the follow-
ing resolution.
Resolved, That the right to review the decisions of
...
Resolved, That the execution of any convict, what-
ever his crime, is of no greater importance to the
community than such an administration of the laws
as will produce implicit public confidence in the de-
cisions and decrees of our Courts of Justice.
M. C. Paterson, Esq. then briefly addressed the
meeting, arguing that it was the right of every mem-
ber of the community to be allowed to take his cause
before the Court of last resort in the most trifling
cases, and much more ought it to be so in a case
which affected the life of any individual.
J. W. Edmonds, Esq. followed, arguing against
the impolicy and injustice of the law, if it had been
correctly represented, as in a case respecting the
most trifling amount in value of property, it was the
inalienable right of a citizen to obtain a writ of error
and so procure the decision of the Highest Court in
the State. He thought that if the Chancellor—one
member of the 34 of which the Court of Errors was
composed—had a right to say to his 33 brethren, in
a case touching the life of a citizen, that they should
not decide upon that case at his request, then it was
high time that the community should knaw the posi-
tion in which they stood and be warned in turn.
Elijah Payne, Esq. then enquired of the Chairman
whether this mas a meeting held for the purpose of
discussion, or whether it was merely of those mem-
bers of the bar who were opposed to the action of the
Judges and Executive, as if the former was the case
he should wish to express his opinions, approving as
he did of all those decisions.
The Chairman decided that the meeting was called
to consist of those opposed to the action which had
been had.
Mr. Payne acquiesced in the decision and left the
room.
The resolutions were then unanimously adopted,
and on motion, they were referred to a Committee to
consist of the Chairman, Secretary, Mr. Brady, R.
R. Ward, H. W. Griffith, M. C. Paterson, and J. W.
Edmonds, with directions to print them and have
copies forwarded to the Governor, the Chancellor,
and the Members of the Supreme Court.
On motion of Mr. Scoles, the Committee was also
directed to endeavor to obtain a reprieve for Colt, to
enable the case to carried before the Court for the
Correction of Errors.
The meeting then adjourned.
—————
...
JOHN B. SCOLES will deliver the introductory lec-
ture before the Mechanics' Institute at the Institute
Rooms No. 12 Chambers street, on Friday evening,
18th inst.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Father Miller's Great Camp Meeting
Will be published this day at 12 o'clock, in a splendid
EXTRA HERALD, in the quarto form, being a full ac-
count of each day's proceedings, for ten days, of the
Second Advent believers, in Newark, including their ser-
mons, songs, prayers, &c., together with the sayings of
the Rev. Mr. Brownlee against them, illustrated with
three beautiful engravings, a portrait of the Prophet, and
several scenes on the camp ground. Price 6½ cents per
copy—or 4 cents by wholesale. Newsboys look out.
This brochure exhibits human nature in a new, racy
and original shape, far superior to all the flimsy fictions
of Boz. It is fact, more wonderful than fancy.
[Col.2]
FATHER MILLER, AND HIS ENEMIES—Seven of
our cotemporaries are making themselves marvel-
lously savage upon Father Miller and his men call-
ing them “ignorant, superstitious and credulous”—
a “corps of illiterate and besotted disciples”—
“preposterous nonsense”—infernal orgies”—“idi-
otic proselytes”—“illiterate quacks”—“idiots and
knaves,” &c. &c.
We are not surprised at this disgusting and extra-
ordinary language. History furnishes us with a
thousand examples of similar intolerance during the
progress of civilization. Miller, with the Bible in
his hand, and pointing to the Book of Daniel, be-
lieves and preaches that the world will end next
year—and with this belief he unites morals and pu-
rity of life and conduct. We do not believe as Mil-
ler believes—but we doubt whether it is manly or
candid to call him bad names, and impute crimes to
him, merely on account of his opinions. We be-
...
rash-lights? Old Miller is a very moral, pious, good
sort of a man—and if his calculations are wrong, as
we believe he has missed a figure or two, a few
months will set him right. After a great deal of re-
flection we have come to this conclusion—that it is
best to encourage and promulgate all views on eve-
ry subject, as the best method to reach the truth in
the end. This is the true ground. Every sect in
religion or philosophy has some gold in the midst of
much dross. Pick out the gold, and let the dross fly
away with the next wind of forgetfulness.
—————
COL. WEBB AGAIN INDICTED.—Our old friend and
fellow sufferer, Col. Webb, of the “regular army,”
has been again indicted for that “duel,” by the
present grand jury now in session—bail demanded
and given for $10,000. We also understand that
...
—————
LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.—Fennimore Cooper's
new novel is in press, and will be out in a few days.
Its characters and scenes are taken from the age of
the French revolution, and will be rather curious.
Cooper himself is now in the country, preparing
more cases of libel against Webb, Weed, and half a
dozen other editors.
...
[Col.3. A changed copy from Herald]
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.—This person, sentenced to
be hung on Friday next, is now under deep concern
...
Until yesterday he had given up all hopes of
either pardon or respite, but from the proceedings of
a meeting of a portion of the members of the Bar of
this city, held in the Sessions Court room, yester-
day, as given below, no doubt that a hope is again
revived in his bosom that he may yet live over the
time now fixed for his execution. Should such not
be the case, the result will be met with a severer
pang than if these efforts had not been made.
We also understand that David Graham, Esqr.,
has intimated, or given notice to Sheriff Hart, that
if he proceeds to execute Colt under the warrant of
the Court of Oyer and Terminer, he will be liable
to a prosecution for homicide, as the Court is not, in
his opinion, constitutionally organized, with the Al-
dermen acting as Judges! This is, altogether, in-
cluding the meeting yesterday morning, a queer and
strange proceeding, and particularly so when it is
considered that the attempt is made to retard and
defeat the due administration of the laws by the pas-
sage of a set of resolutions! This is a strange coun-
try, and we are a strange people truly.
The meeting was called to order by appointing J.
H. Raymond, Esq. Chairman, and Francis Tucker,
...
Resolved, That the execution of any convict, (what-
ever his crime,) is of no greater importance to the com-
munity than such an administration of the laws as will
produce implicit public confidence in the decisions and
decrees of our courts of justice.
...
The chairman appointed Messrs. James T. Brady,
Ward, Griffith, Patterson, J. W. Edmonds; and on
motion, the Chairman and Secretary were added.
The meeting then adjourned.
[Col.4]
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT—Father Miller drew an
immense audience last evening at the large church
corner of Madison and Catherine streets. The
building was crowded to overflowing at a very
early hour, and before the sermon had commenced,
every avenue of entrance was closed. His sermon
was similar to one previously reported. He will
preach again this evening at the same place, but the
house will not be large enough to hold half who
wish to hear him.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Boz's New Work.
Charles Dickens's long looked for Book on the
United States, has at last made its appearance in
this country. It was received in New York the
beginning of last week, and 60,000 copies at 12½
cents a piece, were sold in two days. We have
not yet had an opportunity of reading the whole
of it; but if we may form an opinion form the nu-
merous extracts which we have met with in the
newspapers, it is a mixture of good and bad. Some
of his reflections and suggestions upon our insti-
tutions and national manners are just, and worthy
of consideration and adoption. Whilst others are
as unjust and libellous as the very worst passa-
ges in Mrs. Trollop or Captain Marryatt. The
extracts are written in a blundering manner, and
will add nothing to Boz's reputation either as an
author or a man! We are glad to see our coun-
trymen beginning to place a proper estimate upon
such books as this. They laugh at their misrep-
resentations, and treat their slanders with proper
contempt.
———————
...
A Tale of Horror.
In the Runisas (Iowa) Gazette, we find the
most extraordinary and cruel relation of circum-
stances that we believe ever went forth in type.
An old man lived alone, and had forbidden a
daughter, who lived near, and her husband, or
even their children, ever to approach his place,
on account merely of some whimsical pique
that the old wretch had taken against his child.
...
Colt's Case.
The application for a Writ of Error, in Colt's
case, was denied last week, by the Chancellor,
he declaring that justice, to be worth any thing,
should be speedy and certain. No further le-
gal proceedings can take place, and the sen-
tence of the Judge must either be carried into
effect, or be commuted by the action of the Gov-
ernor. It is stated that great efforts are ma-
king to procure a pardon—and that a long pe-
tition is now before the Governor, signed by
Dudley Selden, James Watson Webb, M. M.
Noah, Moses Y. Beach, and many others.
[Col.3]
A Man may marry his Wife's Sister.
The Presbyterian Synod of New Jersey,
which convened last week at Elizabethtown,
decided that it was not incestuous for a man to
marry the sister of his deceased wife, and the
Synod calls upon the General Assembly to re-
scind the rule forbidding such marriages.
[Col.4]
John C. Colt.
Gov. Seward, of New York, having
refused to pardon or commute the
sentence of this wretched man, he
will therefore, expiate his crime upon
the gallows on Friday next, the 18th
instant. Great efforts have been made
in his behalf to influence the Gover-
nor to mitigate his sentence, but that
functionary under the solemn convic-
tion of his guilt, fears that the execu-
tive interference in his case would be
a violation of public justice, and an
act of clemency entirely uncalled for,
and at variance with a full and im-
partial administration of the laws.
...
prison.—Daily Chronicle.
———————
PREACHING VS. PRACTICE.—It ap-
pears that Parson Miller is coming
the “humbug” strong over his deluded
followers, and does not seriously think
the world is so near a close as he
wishes them to believe. He is put-
ting up a solid brick wall around his
farm, near White Hall, New York,
which will probably endure for a
thousand years. A person offered
him $2,000 for the farm, and not to
take possession till after 1843; the
prudent prophet refused, alleging that
such an offer, depending as it does,
upon a future event, is nothing more
than gambling.
———————
...
Cicero says, “that it does not so
much matter what an orator says, as
how he says it.“
================================================================
[Col.2. Mostly as in American]
MEETING OF THE BAR ON THE CASE OF JOHN
C. COLT.—We annex the proceedings of this meet-
...
ask whether, under the terms of the call, and one
opposed, as he was, to the course about to be
taken, and who approved of the decision of the
Chancellor and the Supreme Court, could be
heard.
...
At a meeting of the Bar held at the Supreme
Court Room, on Tuesday the 15th November,
...
On motion, these resolutions were referred to
a committee of five, to be appointed by the
chair, with power to publish and forward copies
...
The following gentlemen were appointed such
committees:—James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward,
...
[Col.5]
ALBANY POLICE.—A CURIOUS CASE OF FEMALE
DECEPTION.—One of those strange and almost un-
accountable cases of deception which we hear of
once or twice in an age, was developed at the po-
lice office Saturday afternoon. A person who has
for the last four years followed the business of a
tinker and teamster alternately in this city, and
who is well known to many of our citizens, was
brought up before Justice Osborn, charged with
hanging out false signals—being not exactly what
outward appearances would lead honest and un-
suspecting persons to believe—sailing under false
colors.
About two weeks since this person was married
to a very respectable and hard working girl, who
by her industry had laid up a considerable sum of
money. The poor girl found out in a few days
that all is not gold that glitters—that appearances
are deceitful—in short, that her dear husband was
a woman! This fact being fully established to
the satisfaction of all parties, the faithless swain
—or rather deceitful jade—was arrested, examin-
ed at the police, and sent to jail. A crowd of the
curios followed her ladyship to her new lodgings
making many original and spirited remarks, called
out by the novelty of the case.
No other reason can be assigned for this strange
marriage alliance, except the desire on the part of
the husband to posses himself of the money which
the object of his affections had saved up from her
hard earnings and unwearied industry.
[Albany Citizen.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, November 16, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
TREATMENT OF THE INSANE IN RUSSIA.—The
behaviour of the attendants is polite and courte-
ous; every fresh patient is received very respect-
fully, and first taken into the society of the most
rational of the lunatics, who have likewise ac-
quired the same tone of politeness. Here he is
shown the interesting collections and productions
of art; refreshments are brought him; he is invited
to a game at billiards or backgammon, or may
converse if he likes it better; he is indulged in
every thing as far as possible, and thwarted only
in that which might be hurtful to him. Employ-
ment, the beauties of nature, pleasant society,
and recreation; and, on the other hand, darkness,
solitary confinement, and ennui, are the principal
engines employed to excite and to encourage, to
soothe and to tame. Next day, therefore, the
new comer is conducted to the work-rooms of the
patients, where they are engaged in carpenters'
and pasteboard work, spinning, knitting, sewing,
embroidery, &c., and asked whether he likes any
of those occupations. If he takes a fancy to one
or other of them, pains are taken to teach him,
as it were in play; but, if he shows and continues
to show an aversion to all kinds of bodily exer-
tion, intellectual employment, reading in the se-
lect library of the institution, is allowed to those
only who are far advanced towards a cure, he is
led out of the work-rooms, lest as it is observed,
the industrious gentlemen there should be dis-
turbed, and taken to a solitary apartment, where
sometimes he is attacked ere long by ennui. If
he complains of it, he is led back to the work-room,
and repeatedly invited to join in some of the ope-
rations going forward there, with a promise that
he shall then join in the pleasant tea-parties also.
...
* * A particularly diary is kept about every
patient; also concerning his work, for which a
small sum is allowed him, that the insane see-
ing the profit accruing from labor may be in-
stigated to greater industry. Most of the men
employed themselves with pasteboard work, a
trade which is easily learned, and the products
of which, as they speedily lead to some results,
are not long in affording pleasure and profit. Of
the 130 patients in the house, in 1835, fifty were
dismissed, half of them cured, and the other half,
as incurable, delivered up to their friends, at the
desire of the latter; and twenty-four died in the
course of the year.
[Kohl's Russia and the Russians in 1842.
[Col.7]
TO FEMALES.
M ADAME RESTELL, Female Physician, Office and
residence No. 148 Greenwich st, between Courtlandt
and Liberty streets, where she can be consulted with the
...
All letters, post paid, addressed to “box 868,” N. Y.—
Boston office, No. 7 Essex st. N. B.—Madame Restell
would inform ladies out of the city, whose health would
not admit of travelling that she would devote her personal
attendance upon them in any part of the U. States within
reasonable distance. o19 1m*
——————————————————————
CAUTION TO FEMALES.
MADAME RESTELL, Female Physician, would in-
form ladies who, with a proper delicacy, have a repug-
nance to the treatment of their complains except by one
of their own sex, that, in all cases she attends to them
personally; her experience, practice and knowledge
enables her to do so. She deems it necessary to state this,
as she does not wish to be classed with the pretenders con-
tinually appearing and disappearing, advertising as “fe-
male physicians,” who, too ignorant and incompetent
themselves, are obliged to get some quack, scarcely less
ignorant to experiment instead. Consulting parlors and
residence 148 Greenwich street, between Courtlandt and
Liberty streets. Hours of attendance from 9 A. M. to 9
P. M. o19 1m*
——————————————————————
TO FEMALES—BEWARE OF IMPOSITION.—
Madame Restell, Gemale Physician, would caution fe-
males against a contemptible imposition attempted to be
...
CAUTION—No “Femal Monthly Pills” are genuine
...
Restell's signature is written on the cover of each box.
o19 1m*
——————————————————————
FEMALE PHYSICIAN, 83 Duane st.
M RS. BIRD has just received a quantity of the most
harmless yet efficacious Pills and other medicines
adapted to the various diseases and affections to which fe-
males are subject. Her scientific as well as practical know-
ledge of the structure of the human frame has rendered her
skill wonderful, as is often expressed by her patients. Mar-
ried or single ladies are rely with confidence on her ma-
ternal solicitude as Female Physician. He medical ap-
plications will prove adequate to the most extreme cases,
and require but a few days for certain relief and a perfect
recovery. Mrs. B.'s Female Monthly Pills, first introdu-
ced into the United States from Europe by herself seven
years since, will, from the improvement they have under-
gone, prove effectual in all cases of irregularity, from
colds or whatever cause. Ladies on the point of confine-
ment can be accommodated with pleasant and retired
apartments at her residence; likewise ladies who wish to
stop a few days for medical treatments. Mrs. B. guarantees
to cure the failing of the womb, and also the piles, and so-
licits the patronage of females who are suffering under the
above diseases.
Ers. B. has constantly on hand her celebrated Soothing
Syrup, for children teething. It prevents convulsions by
allaying inflammation and opening the pores of the gums.
Price 50 cents per vial. Also, salve for sore niples, a ne-
ver failing remedy—to be had at her residence. Medi-
cine forwarded to any part of the United States.
N.B.—All letters and communications should be post
paid. Dont forget the number, 83 Duane st, a few doors
south of Broadway. s10 3m*
——————————————————————
...
FEMALE PHYSICIAN, 34 Lispenard st.
M ADAME COSTELLO, Female Physician, still con-
tinues to treat, with astonishing success, all diseases
peculiar to females,
...
n14 1m*
——————————————————————
M ADAME COSTELLO—Female Periodical Pills
guaranteed in every case where the monthly periods
...
by Madame Costello, 34 Lispenard st, where the pills are
sold genuine. Price $1 per box. n14 1m*
================================================================
[Col.5]
JOHN C. COLT'S CASE.
————
[From the Evening Journal.]
The following is a copy of Governor SEWARD'S
OPINION on the case of JOHN C. COLT, who was
sentenced to be executed on the 18th of November,
instant, for the murder of SAMUEL ADAMS:—
ALBANY, November 11th, 1842.
John C. Colt was convicted on the 27th day of
September last, at a Court of Oyer and Terminer
...
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Wednesday Morning, November 16, 1842 (FH)
[Col.3]
COLT.—There was to have been a meeting on
Tuesday of such members of the bar of the city
of New-York, as are opposed to the decision re-
fusing to allow Colt the opportunity to take the
opinion of the Court for Correction of Errors
as to whether the court which tried him was le-
gally constituted or not. The opinion of the
Executive, on Colt's application, was read to him
in his cell on Sunday, by John L. Graham, esq.,
to whom the papers were sent with a request to
that effect.
[Col.5]
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE.—In the Runinsas (Iowa)
Gazette we find the most extraordinary and cruel
...
================================================================
[Col.3]
For the Evening Post.
MRS. FARNHAM'S LECTURES.—Having by acci-
dent seen some remarks, in an infamous morn-
ing paper, in disparagement of Mrs. Farn-
ham's lectures on the appropriate duties of the fe-
male sex, I consider it an act of justice to that lady
to take off, so far as truth may, any thing of the
ridiculous, which the reporter for that print en-
deavors to attach to them.
Mrs. Farnham believes that the exposition of
certain duties, peculiarly feminine, may dispose
her own sex to allow more importance to those
duties; and that thus their peculiar work of self-
culture, as well as the right discharge of sex-like
duty, may be promoted. She invites those ladies
who are concerned in the welfare of society, and
who may be desirous to know if they can be better
enabled to bear their part in its great interests, to
hear what she has to say that may enlighten their
minds.
She invites none of the other sex—not because
she has any thing to announce that those modest
creatures would blush to hear—but because female
diffidence revolts at speaking, in their presence, of
matters which essentially concern the female sex,
and moreover do not principally concern the other.
To men belong great public responsibilities, which
rational females never desire to interfere with; but
it does not follow that they are not desirous to be
instructed in the best means of doing and gaining
good for themselves, in their own distinctive walk
of life, and that they are not at liberty to choose
the mode of giving and receiving such instruction.
The appropriate sphere of woman is undoubtedly
in the care of herself, her household, and her chil-
dren. But what sort of care is demanded of her?
—that of her own body and theirs, or the super-
added care of her own mind, her own moral nature,
and theirs besides? Mrs. Farnham's notion of a
woman's moral power is, that her influence, good
or bad, leads to great issues; and that as “they,”
(man or woman either,) “are best, who best know
why,” it would be well for women to learn wherein
they fail and come short, and how they may fulfil
their whole function in life. This is her honest
purpose. If it appear to any matter of indifference
—to any unlikely that she can afford them instruc-
tion—it is unquestionably well for such persons to
stay at home from her lectures. But if other fe-
males are curious, from any fair and just motive, of
hearing what she has to say, as one of her hearers,
the writer is disposed to prevent false impressions
from deterring them.
The prospectus issued by Mrs. Farnham an-
nounces that she will give some instructions in
those laws of nature that must be regarded for the
preservation of personal health, the successful
treatment of children, and the mitigation of dis-
ease. Men are not so fond of paying doctor's bills,
that they are afraid of that knowledge in the other
sex which may avert illness, foster the sound mind
in the sound body of the rising race, and guide the
compassionate heart of woman to skilful effort for
sick and disabled man. To such ends tend Mrs.
Farnham's physiological details. If there is no
need of such instructions—if there are no ignorant,
prejudiced and inexperienced women in the world,
that do harm and might do good—then instructions
of this sort can be of no use.
Mrs. Farnham, proposes, also, to illustrate the
moral functions of women—to show that if much
good has been done by some of them, much good
still remains to be done, which the indolent, or the
untaught, under authority of better information,
might effect.
She looks abroad upon the sin and misery that
abound in our great half-taught, and wholly
neglected classes, and enquires, if these frivolous
and profligate among the opulent, these paupers
and felons among the indigent, had had wise and
good mothers, or wise and good counsel of those
who might have acted a mother's part, where
mothers were not,—at that age when the human
soul “is wax to receive and marble to retain,”—
whether other fruits would not have grown out of
other culture? And she further asks, if more than
have yet exerted themselves to advance human
virtue and happiness might not exalt themselves
to the whole work given to be done, if they knew
and felt the whole of their ability and obligations?
The eight hours of so many successive lectures
that she proposes to give, are not likely to be un-
profitably employed in speculations upon an in-
creased cultivation of the mind—the diminution of
needless expense—the enlargement of useful
charity—the prevention of superinduced crime—
the preparation of youth for the services of matu-
rity, and the defences of wisdom against the rivalry,
vanity, and prodigality which form the daily lessons
and example of the world—to women, old and
young, in the present day.
Mrs. Farnham's first lecture, was written ex-
tremely well—with good sense, and reason, and in
good style, and taste. A HEARER.
================================================================
Monday Afternoon, November 14.
[Col.1. Mostly as in Albany Evening Journal]
THE CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.—The Governor has
refused to interfere between this convict and the doom
of that law to which he has made himself amenable.
His Excellency's letter, announcing his decision and
setting forth the grounds upon which it is sustained,
will be found in another column, and will no doubt be
read with attention by every one into whose hands it
...
prove, if we may not choose but grieve for, the fulfil-
ment of its terrible awards.
[Col.3]
JOHN C. COLT'S CASE.
The following is a copy of Gov. Seward's opinion
on the case of John C. Colt, who was sentenced to be
executed on the 18th of November, instant, for the
murder of Samuel Adams:—
ALBANY, November 11th, 1842.
John C. Colt was convicted on the 27th day of Sep-
...
[Col.5]
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE.—The Runinsas (Iowa) Ga-
zette contains the following:—An old man lived a-
...
stant she perceived her dead child, the old man shot
her and killed her on the spot. The hoary maniac
(as he is now accounted,) shot the father also when
he came, and he is now in prison to answer for the
three murders.
================================================================
[Col.4]
From the New York Daily Express.
John C. Colt's case.
We have seldom read a more talented and learned
opinion than that given by Governor Seward in the
case of this unfortunate man, and which we publish-
ed yesterday. It is a summing up of the whole
case, by a most masterly hand. It is alike touching,
feeling and dignified, and the conclusion his Excel-
lency has arrived at, although painful, and most fa-
tal to the last lingering hope of the prisoner, is ne-
vertheless just, and one that will be approved of by
nineteen-twentieths, at least of this community.—
Governor Seward is now about to retire from his
present elevated station. It is therefore a fitting
occasion to speak of him, in his exercise of the par-
doning power—a power which has been in former
times most shamefully abused. In years past it has
been too frequently the case, that after all the trou-
ble, vexation, and expense that has been incurred
in convicting offenders, it was found exceedingly
easy to obtain a pardon, and criminals that had been
a terror to the public, were found after a short de-
tention, committing new depredations. Governor
Seward has pursued a course of a high and com-
manding order, and which ought to be a model for
those that may come after him. The pardoning
power in him has been safely lodged. It has rarely
been exercised, but when it has, it has been under
circumstances when every man who was at all ac-
quainted with the facts, was perfectly satisfied with
the justice of the mercy extended. In most cases,
when even family, political, and benevolent interest
has been made, as was the case with Rathbun, it
has been denied. We believe all parties will unite
in one expression of approbation of the Governor's
conduct in regard to his exercise of the pardoning
power.
——
From the New York Evening Post.
In publishing yesterday Governor Seward's opi-
nion in the case of John C. Colt, we might well
...
——
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Case of Colt—Gov. Seward's Opinion.
We are indebted to the New-York Herald for an
Extra, containing Gov. Seward's able opinion in the
case of Colt, who is to be executed on Friday next,
for the murder of Samuel Adams. The opinion is
of much interest and importance, and is likely to ar-
rest much attention. The Governor, upon whom
we have long looked as one of the ablest men of his
age in the country, and destined, perhaps, one day
to occupy its very highest honors, reviews the whole
case with signal ingenuity, force and skill.
[Col.7]
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE.—In the Runinsas (Iowa)
Gazette we find the most extraordinary and cruel
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
McDONALD CLARKE.—The remains of this un-
fortunate man, who died in utter poverty some
months since, were removed, as we learn from the
Commercial, last week from their first resting
place and deposited on a knoll near the Stranger's
Vault in Greenwood Cemetery. A neat monu-
ment has been erected over them, consisting of a
single square block, resting upon a slab supporting
a pyramid—the whole of white marble resting
upon a block of granite. The monument is in ex-
cellent taste and has suitable inscriptions upon
each of its sides.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, November 17, 1842 (CA)
[Col.4]
For the Tribune.
☞ The undersigned having seen an article in the Ex-
press of 15th instant, purporting to be a series of conclusions
and opinions of the innocence of John C. Colt, drawn from
“experiments, &c.” with their signatures affixed—beg leave
to state, that the publication of any such article was entirely
unauthorized—that they did attend and witness some of the
experiments alluded to—the correctness of which expe-
riments (as performed) alone and not to any deductions or
conclusions drawn therefrom they attested, as may be seen
in the following original certificate:
“We, the undersigned, having witnessed the experiments
described and alluded to in the foregoing report, testify to
the correctness with which they are stated therein.”
JNO R. VAN KLEEK, M. D.
LEWIS HALLOCC, M. D.
M. M. ROGERS, M. D.
JAMES J. R. WOOD, M. D.
New-York, Nov. 16, 1842.
[Col.5]
MYSTERY EXPLAINED.—Mr. Isaac Bolton whose
mysterious absence we mentioned on Saturday,
and who was supposed to have been accidentally
drowned in the mill-race on the east side of the
river, returned to his home yesterday a confirmed
maniac. [Rochester Eve. Post.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
FEMALE LECTURING.—Some exquisite booby, who
calls himself a “Hearer,” but who does not say
whether he wears petticoats, is very savage upon
our reporter, because he advised Mrs. Farnham,
who is giving lectures here in the style of Mr. Gove,
to go home to her husband, and mind her family
affairs, instead of attempting to deliver lectures.
The propriety of this advice may be seen in the
very “hearer” himself. Mrs. Farnham professes,
we suppose, to teach her auditors how to behave
with decency, propriety and decorum. These les-
sons have had very little effect upon her hearers,
when we see one of them coming out in the news-
papers, and denouncing another person who only
gave good advice, with all the vehemence and viru-
lence of a regular Xantippe.
Mrs. Farnham, by this example, would seem to
succeed better in teaching her hearers how to scold,
than any thing else. Women lecturing! Oh! fie!
The only kind they should indulge in, is curtain-
lecturing.
[Col.2]
FATHER MILLER AND HIS DOINGS.—At the recent
Camp Meeting at Newark, Father Miller made about
100 converts; one man is about to sell his property
and join them; and one man in Patterson has sold
his to the amount of $17,000. At Newark, the con-
cern lost $100, which had to be made up by the con-
verts there. He has preached three days in this city
on the prophecies of Daniel, similar to the reports
we gave last week. The church at the corner of
Catherine and Madison streets has been crowded
to suffocation all the time. We are sorry to
hear that on Tuesday night some ruffians threw
stones at the window; and that last night when Fa-
ther Miller left the church a mob surrounded and
followed him down to Pearl street, shouting and
hooting, although he had a lady on his arm. This
is the worst way in the world to attempt to put him
down.
—————
...
BALDERDASH.—The trial of the Police Justices,
for doing what every one in their place have done
before them.
[Col.3]
AMERICAN CRITICISM ON DICKENS' NOTES.—With
some very few and very silly exceptions, the whole
American newspaper press is out, hot and heavy, on
“Charles Dickens, Esq.” for the ignorance, bad
grammar, bad logic, and bad heart, exhibited in his
brochure on this country. Mr. Ritchie, one of the
oldest and most amiable and kind hearted of Ameri-
can editors, speaks as follows:—
We have read the work with disappointment, regret,
much disgust, and we must add, some indignation. We
expected from Mr. Dickens's talents, and the professions
of gratitude he evinced, a much better production—more
just in its views of American society—more liberal in its
temper—more worthy of him and of ourselves. We had
admired many of his works—and we confess, liked the
man. But the present production will lose him friends in
America. It will circumscribe the range of his future
productions. It will nearly cut off the whole region of
the south, once his most ardent admirers, from the circle
of his readers. It will weaken the moral force of all his
...
other subjects. We agree with “Nile's Register,” that
“the work will sadly lower the estimate in which the
author was held—both as a writer and a man—although
there are many well written and some wholesome para-
graphs in it.” There are some spirited sketches in it, of
...
He had leisure and bad taste enough to witness a negro
dance at the Five Points. He had condescended to give a
full and silly account of it. He can stoop to the low and pro-
tracted dialogue with a negro stage driver who drove him
from the Potomac to Fredericksburg. He has found time
to describe con amore the hogs of New York and of Louis-
ville—the coarser manners of his follow passengers on
canal boats and steamers. And yet he had no taste for de-
scribing the distinguished men whom he saw at Washing-
ton and in the north. Let any one read his whole western
tour, from his leaving Richmond to his arrival at Niagara,
being one fourth of his book, and then say how many
grains of wheat he can collect in all this bushel of chaff.—
Except a very few facts which he has given us in his ac-
count of Cincinnati and St. Louis, almost the whole pas-
sage might be spared, without the slightest loss to the
beauty or the value of his “Notes.”
[Col.5]
JOHN C. COLT.—The proceedings of a portion of the
Bar relative to Colt, having been presented to him yester-
day morning through the public press, he appeared to be
more cheerful and communicative through the day, as the
hope of a respite now bouys him up. The Rev. Dr. Anthon
visited him in the morning, and remained some time in
earnest conversation and prayer. The result of the mis-
sion of the gentlemen of the Bar who went to Albany on
Tuesday afternoon, with the proceedings of the meeting,
will probably be made known this morning, as they must
have left Albany in yesterday afternoon's boat. There is
but one expression relative to the imprecedented course of
those concerned in this meeting, and that is astonishment
and surprise that such proceedings could be countenanced
in a Hall of Justice.
...
☞ “THE MIDNIGHT CRY.”—A new daily paper
will be published this day, at two o'clock, P. M. at 36
Park Row, up stairs, (Brick Church Chapel.)
It will contain a short memoir of Mr. Miller, his princi-
ples of interpreting the Scripture—Miller's influence on
the people—notice of the recent Camp Meeting at New-
ark, &c. &c.
Price two cents per copy, a liberal discount to carriers
and newsmen.
[Col.6]
☞ THE END OF THE WORLD, FATHER
Miller says, comes next April. Dr. Smith says it has ex-
isted millions of years, and will exist for millions to
come. Dr. Sherman says no man knows when it will
come; but every body knows, or ought to know, that his
Lozenges cure coughs, colds, asthma, consumption, head-
ache, sea-sickness and worms, even where all other
means fail. Dr. S. is none of your upstart doctors, but an
educated and experienced one, and a member of the Me-
dical Society of this great and wicked city. His ware-
house is at 106 Nassau streets. Agents, 3 Ledger Build-
ings, Philadelphia; 4 Stanwix Hall, Albany, and 8 State
street, Boston.
NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, Evening Edition, November 17, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
Case of Colt.
We present below the official opinion of Govern-
or Seward, refusing to grant a respite to Colt on the
application of the members of the New York bar,
who took part in the meeting in the Superior Court
Room on Tuesday. It is addressed to Sheriff
Hart, and will be found conclusive.
We understand that a second application has been
made to the Chancellor, by the prisoner's counsel,
to grant a writ of error, backed by the opinion of
Benjamin F. Butler, Esq. and Joseph C. Hart, the
counsel of the sheriff.
The answer of the Chancellor will be received by
the Albany boat that arrives to-morrow morning, at
about day light. This is the only hope left the pri-
soner for the stay of execution.
He was quite cheerful this morning, until his mis-
tress, Caroline Henshaw, visited him for the first
time since his sentence, when the recollections of
past and anticipations of future appeared to pros-
trate all his physical faculties.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
ALBANY, Nov. 16, 1842 }
James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward, R. Wharten Griffith,
and Samuel G. Raymond, Esqrs, counsellors of law, have
submitted to the Governor resolutions passed yesterday at
a meeting of members of the legal profession in the city
of New York, asserting that the right to review the de-
cisions of inferior tribunals in the Court of last resort is a
right so essential to the due administration of the laws,
...
The Governor is informed by a communication which
accompanies the resolutions that the meeting was nume-
rous and was convened to take into consideration the case
...
Samuel Adams, a citizen of this State, was found dead
...
The presiding Judge then allowed a writ of error, not
from any distrust of the decisions which the Court
had pronounced, but from solicitude to avoid every possi-
ble error in so grave a case, and from a becoming deference
to higher tribunals; and in the mean time the judgment le-
gally consequent on the verdict was delayed. The record
was submitted to the Supreme Court and after a careful
examination of the case, and hearing counsel who main-
tained the objections of the accused, that high tribunal
unanimously declared that no error had been committed
by the Court of Oyer and Terminer and that the objec-
tions were not merely groundless but frivolous. The re-
...
Writs of error in capital cases are not writs of right, but
are writs of grace, and they are rendered so for the obvi-
ous reason that crime would flourish over the community,
and society be shaken to its foundations if every offender
was allowed to procrastinate the punishment denounced
against his crime, by appeals without grounds and without
reason from court to court until final judgment should be
rendered in the court for the correction of errors—a tribu-
nal constituted not to hinder justice by drawing all the
proceedings of all other courts, whether probably right
or wrong, under review, but to correct such few impor-
tant errors as may remain uncorrected by the Court of
[Col.2]
Chancery and the Supreme Court. After the sentence
...
The sentiments expressed in the resolutions of the mem-
bers of the Bar and the address of their Committee, have
been considered with the respect justly due to those who
united in the meeting as members of an enlightened pro-
fession, and as patriotic and enlightened citizens; and it
remains only to announce that the Governor is still of the
opinion that the course of legal proceedings in regard to
the offender, has been regular and humane; that exposi-
tions of the Constitution and laws by the Supreme Court
are binding on the Executive and all other authorities, if
not inconvenient with adjudications of the Court for the
Correction of Errors; that no abuse of power or discretion
has been committed by the judicial officers in the case of
John C. Colt, and that to put forth the pardoning power
under the circumstances in which it is now solicited,
would be not only inconsistent with the equality which
ought always to govern its exercise, but would be subver-
sive of law and public order.
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor,
HENRY UNDERWOOD, Private Secr'y.
================================================================
[Col.2]
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.
——
OPINION OF THE CHANCELLOR UPON THE AP-
PLICATION OF JOHN C. COLT FOR A WRIT OF
ERROR. ——
John C. Colt, }
vs. } Nov. 3, 1842.
The People of the State of New-York. }
THE CHANCELLOR. This is an application on
the part of John C. Colt, who has been convicted
of the crime of murder, for the allowance of a
writ of error to the Court of Oyer and Terminer
...
testimony of Dr. Rogers, however, is that the
[Col.3]
corner of the hatchet's edge, if held by a person
standing in front of the deceased while he was on
his feet, exactly fitted the hole in the skull. And
as the skull and the hatchet were placed together
before the jury, they could, of course, see wheth-
er he was correct; as it required no surgical skill
to see that the corner of the hatchet filled the
hole with the handle towards the face.
As the statute uses the words “by accident and
misfortune, and not done in a cruel or unusual
manner,” in defining excusable homicide, I do
not see how any one can doubt the correctness of
the judge's charge in telling the jury that those
expressions were not to be rejected as surplussage
for the purpose of bringing the case within the
second subdivision of the fourth section of the
statute on this subject.
...
gether. Having therefore arrived at the conclu-
sion that there is no probable cause for supposing
that there is any error in the judgment in this
case, nor any reason to doubt that the prisoner
has been properly convicted, if the jury came to
a correct conclusion upon the question of fact
which it belonged to them exclusively to decide,
I must do, as the Justices of the Supreme Court
have done, refuse to allow this writ of error.
[Col.4]
CASE OF COLT.
——
We are enabled to give to-day, the opinion
of Chancellor WALWORTH, on the application
on the part of Colt, for the allowance of a writ
of error to the court of oyer and terminer in
the city of New-York, to remove the record
into the Supreme Court, and ultimately into the
Court of Errors. The opinion is in the usual
able manner of that distinguished jurist, and
will be read with much interest. This, and the
able opinion of gov. SEWARD, cover the whole
ground, and it may be supposed would have
disposed of the question. But we understand
that a committee of the bar of the city of New-
York, appointed at a meeting in that city on
Tuesday morning, waited upon the Governor
yesterday, and urged a review of his opinion,
and a reprieve of Colt until his case could be
reviewed by the Court of Errors. We can ap-
preciate the delicacy of the Governor's position,
and the regret which he may well experience
in being called to the discharge of this most un-
pleasant and responsible duty. But it is due to
him to say, that thus far he has brought to the
task a most commendable firmness, along with
a proper appreciation of the condition of the
prisoner, the appeals of his friends, and the due
administration of justice.
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ The woman in breeches who married the
widow in Albany the other day, has been dischar-
ged from custody, there being no law in the state
that covers the deception.
...
☞ The remains of M'Donald Clarke have
been removed to a lovely spot in the Greenwood
Cemetery, and an elegant and substantial monu-
ment has been erected over them, by private sub-
scription.
[Col.7]
☞ “THE MIDNIGHT CRY.”—A new daily pa-
...
☞ MILLER'S LECTURES—Mr. Miller ????
...
second coming of Christ in 1843.
================================================================
[Col.1]
American Notes for General Circulation, by Charles
Dickens.—We did intend to write a review of this
book; but upon a second reading of it, cannot resist
the conclusion that both book and author, are alike
unworthy of serious notice.
Mr. DICKENS is a young man who knows nothing
of the world, of society, or of Government, but what
he picked up in his capacity of a “flash Reporter”
and penny-a-liner when connected with some of the
most scurrillous of the vile Presses with which Lon-
don abounds; and no person of ordinary intelligence
can get up from the perusal of these “Notes,” with-
out feeling that the great aim of the writer is to pro-
duce the impression among English readers, that he
is really somebody, and possesses all those niceties of
feeling and sensitiveness of contact with the vulgar
mass, so frequently assumed by the low-bred scul-
lion unexpectedly advanced from the kitchen to the
parlour.
That Mr. DICKENS has written of late years
much to admire, we freely admit; but we deny
that he is in any way conversant with the habits,
thoughts, feelings, or intercourse of gentlemen.—
Of this he is himself conscious; and therefore it
is, that we find every page of his “Notes” filled
with commentaries upon the manner—the disgust-
ing manner, in which our people eat, drink and
sleep! With the exception of the few individuals
who did no honor to themselves or this country by
honoring him, we are all described as a dirty, filthy,
gormandizing race, almost beneath the contempt of
such and Englishman as CHARLES DICKENS. That
same Charles Dickens who for more than half his life
has lived in the stews of London and eaten his daily
bred at “cold wittal” shops supplied from the re-
fuge garbage of hotels and the tables of gentlemen,
finds faults forsooth, with the humble fare and plain
but frugal habits and manner of hour industrial
classes. He who came among us on an impudent
speculative trip in relation to the Law of Copy-right,
complains that our people are fond of money! and
he whose love of dollars and cents prevented his
availing himself of the usual comfortable means of
travelling through our country, and forced him into
canal boats to be caged up for days in succession
among the starving emigrants from his own land,
sends forth pitious cries of our want of comforts
in travelling, and complains of the associates among
whom his natural tastes and his niggardly penu-
riousness, prompted him to seek companionship!
From Washington he went to Richmond via Fre-
dericksburg; and from this specimen of stage coach
travelling he presumes to form an opinion of that
mode of travelling throughout the country. In jour-
neying West he reaches Harrisburg; and here he
has three different modes presented to him of reach-
ing Pittsburg. First, he might have taken a Post
coach for himself, wife and servant, and been accom-
modated with continual relays of better horses than
he could find in similar employ in England. Then
again, there was the usual line of post and mail
coaches; and finally the Canal Packet crowded with
the honest but humble emigrants to the far west. Like
a true English penny-a-liner, he consulted his purse
instead of his comfort; and having discovered that
his ignorance and disregard of the common courte-
sies of life, had in all probability, ruined the specula-
tion which brought him to our shores, he very pru-
dently determined to take the cheapest mode of
travelling through the country; and of course, em-
barked on board a Canal Boat! There he was ne-
cessarily doomed to meet with a class of persons and
a description of fare and attendance, graduated to
the mode of travelling and the price paid; and from
what he then saw and experienced, he makes up his
“notes!”
Now it so happened that we visited England in
1838, and on our arrival at Bristol found three differ-
ent modes presented to us of going to London—the
Rail-road being not then completed. The first was,
to Post it; the second, to go by the mail coaches,
and the third, to crawl inside of what is well known
to all who have ever travelled in England, as a VAN.
Let us suppose that we had taken the latter convey-
ance because it was the cheapest, and with a full
knowledge that we would have had for associates
beggars, thieves, and vermin, such as no foreigner
ever met with on board of an American Canal Boat,
and that from this company and this mode of con-
veyance, we had written an account of this as the
usual mode of travelling between Bristol and Lon-
don! We ask of the intelligent Englishmen among
us, what they would have said of our fairness or ve-
racity, if we had thus travelled, and from what we
thus saw and experienced, presumed to slander
a whole people?
Yet this is precisely what Mr. DICKENS has done in
relation to the United States; and to those who have
a taste for reviewing or meddling with such a pic-
ture of our people, we leave Mr. Boz—the inimitable
Boz—the glorious Boz—and his “notes for general
circulation.”
His affected horror at American manners; his con-
tinual recurrence to his refined tastes and his supe-
rior cleanliness; and his repeated assurances that to
this day he cannot sleep without dreaming of the
shocks his too sensitive nerves experienced in this
country; might be excused or only laughed at, in a
young and effeminate scion of nobility who from the
cradle had experienced nothing but the most gentle
nurture, and who had never known a want but it
was anticipated by his countless servants in livery;
but for CHARLES DICKENS to assume such airs—that
identical DICKENS who for more than half his life
has been the daily associate and boon companion of
the poorest of the poor, and who has lived upon “the
crumbs which fall from the rich man's table”—is
disgusting and contemptible in the extreme.
We therefore turn him over to the tender mercies
of his especial admirers, with the single remark that
his Book is the most trashy of all the publications
ever issued in relation to the United States, unadorn-
ed by a solitary evidence of the talent of those wri-
ters who have abused us with a hearty good will,
but who at the same time were capable of apprecia-
[Col.2]
ting what they saw, even when it was not their in-
terest fairly to represent it.
[Col.4]
We find the following horrid details in an Iowa
paper, and it strikes us as it does one of our contem-
poraries, as the “most extraordinary and cruel rela-
tion of circumstances that ever went forth in type.”
An old man lived alone, and had forbidden a daugh-
...
prison to answer for the three murders.
================================================================
[Col.1]
The Case of John C. Colt.
The rumor that Gov. Seward had granted a re-
prieve, is unfounded, as will be seen by the follow-
ing opinion, received this morning, reinforcing his
earlier views, for a copy of which we are indebted to
the Evening Post.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Albany, Nov. 16th, 1842.
James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward, R. Wharton
Griffith, and Samuel G. Raymond, Esq's, counsel-
lors at law, have submitted to the Governor reso-
...
[Col.2]
...
(L. S. WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor,
Henry Underwood, Private Secretary.
We are apprized, of the persevering and un-
paralleled influence which, from all parts of the
State—nay, as we have heard, from almost eve-
State in the Union—has been brought to bear on the
Executive, in order to induce him to respite or par-
don Colt; and we can well conceive, that a more
painful duty could not be imposed upon a humane
man, than that of deciding, in such a case, for justice
rather than mercy, for the law and safety of so-
ciety, against the earnest arguments, entreaties, and
prayers of petitioners for the convict's life.
But the Governor has decided, deliberately de-
cided, and we confess our opinion goes with him en-
tirely.
In connection with this subject, we publish the
following communication; so far as it pur-
ports to state the fact connected with the meeting,
we believe it to be correct. But when it ascribes as
the motive for the interference of these members of
the bar “a desire to let loose on society a blood-
stained murderer,” it does great injustice to the gen-
tlemen who attended the meeting. Some of them
are our personal friends, and we know that their ac-
tion in the matter sprang from the conviction that
the legal rights of the convict had been denied, and
that, without any sympathy whatever with the crime
or the criminal, they felt it due to the character of the
profession, and as they conceived, to the common
interests of all, for all are interested in maintaining in-
violate the rights and privileges secured by the law
to every man, to make the effort they did to arouse
public attention to what they deemed so great a
wrong.
We differ in opinion from them, but for their mo-
tives we have the highest respect, while we condemn
the meeting.
It may not be amiss to add, that neither D. Gra-
ham, Esq, nor as far as we have heard, any other of
the Counsel of Colt, took part in the meeting. Mr.
Graham, we know, was not present.
Mr. Editor—As a member of the bar, I must protest
against the profession's being held, in the slightest de-
gree, responsible for the proceedings of the meeting
lately held in reference to John C. Colt.
That meeting was summoned by a call, not of the Bar,
but of those members of it who were opposed to certain
proceedings of the Courts in Colt's case.
At the meeting no one was allowed to speak in sup-
port of those proceedings.
There were present at the hour of meeting eight per-
sons, half an hour afterwards twenty-eight, and one hour
after thirty-six, who constituted the meeting, and passed
the resolutions “unanimously,”—unanimity not being of
very difficult attainment, when all opposition is silenced.
These facts show that it is a gross libel as the pro-
fession to call the meeting referred to, a meeting of the
bar; and that not the Bar, but those who got up the
meeting, and the thirty-six individuals (out of some ten
or eleven hundred,) who voted for the resolutions, are
responsible for this attempt to check the course of jus-
tice, by a recourse to popular excitement.
For the laudable purpose of letting loose on society a
convicted murderer, with blood-stained hatched in hand,
they are willing to give whatever influence their profes-
sional standing may have, to the support of a proposi-
tion which would make every execution that has occur-
red in our city a murder under the forms of law, and re-
lease from our State Prisons every pest of society, who
is now suffering the well deserved penalty of the law,
through the agency of the Court of Oyer and Terminer.
The humanity of these benevolent gentlemen is of
course too expanded to be confined to the solitary case
of Colt. While redressing the wrongs of the “victims
of society”, they will not forget much injured Mun-
roe Edwards, who, despoiled of his whiskers, and de-
graded to a base mechanical occupation, is now suffer-
ing the pangs of imprisonment through a sentence of the
same court. A meeting of those opposed to his righte-
ous sentence will no doubt be called, which will be quite
as well attended, and quite as much approved by the legal
profession as that which has been misnamed a meeting
of the BAR.
We understand the Counsel of Colt, have drawn
up their objections to the Chancellor's refusal to per-
mit the case to be carried up to the Court of Errors,
setting forth the law of the case as they view it—
that Mr. B. F. Butler has concurred in this opinion,
and written a letter to the Chancellor, advising him
to reconsider his decision.
A messenger went up last evening to the Chan-
cellor at Albany, and will be back here tomorrow
morning.
If the Chancellor yields—of course the Governor
will grant a reprieve.
================================================================
[Col.1]
From the Argus.
CASE OF COLT.
——
We are enabled to give to-day the opinion
...
[Col.4]
THE CASE OF COLT.—The Bar Meeting cal-
led in the city of New York, to make further efforts
to avert the sentence of law upon John C. Colt, was
attended by less than forty gentlemen, by whom a
committee was appointed to ask a respite from the
Governor, who has not, we understand, felt at lib-
erty to grant this request.
The New-York Tribune of yesterday contains a
PROTEST signed by DAVID GRAHAM, DUDLEY SEL-
DEN and ROBERT EMMET, addressed to the Sheriff,
against the Execution of COLT. The Protest is
based upon the ground of the alledged unconstitu-
tionality of the Court by which Colt was tried, two
Aldermen having been associated with Judge KENT.
———————
...
From the Catskill Recorder.
The case of John C. Colt.
This wretched man, the murderer of Samuel Ad-
ams, is to expiate his bloody crime upon the gallows
in the city of New York, to-morrow. Every con-
ceivable effort has been made, to turn aside the un-
relenting sword of justice. Appeals have been made
to every tribunal without success. A weak and
morbid sympathy has manifested itself in some
quarters from which better things should have been
expected. As a last resort, a powerful influence
was arrayed and brought to bear upon the Govern-
or, to induce him to pardon the culprit, or com-
mute his sentence. This the Governor has after
calm and deliberate investigation refused to do;
and he assigns the reasons for his decision in the
ablest paper that we ever have seen from his pen.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Case of John C. Colt.
The Committee appointed at a meeting of mem-
bers of the Bar on Tuesday to proceed to Albany
and solicit the Governor to grant a reprieve to
Colt, for the purpose of giving him another chance
for a new trial, have done their errand, but with
no success. They waited on the Governor
on Wednesday, but could not move him. The
following in his answer to their representations:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
Albany, Nov. 16, 1842. }
James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward, R. Wharten Griffith,
and Samuel G. Raymond, Esqrs., counsellors of law, have
submitted to the Governor resolutions passed yesterday at
...
The sentiments expressed in the resolutions of the mem-
bers of the Bar and the Address of their Committee, have
been considered with the respect justly due to those who
united in the meeting as members of an enlightened pro-
fession, and as patriotic and enlightened citizens; and it re-
mains only to announce that the Governor is still of the
opinion that the course of legal proceedings in regard to
the offender has been regular and humane; that exposi-
tions of the Constitution and laws by the Supreme Court
are binding on the Executive and all other authorities, if
not inconsistent with adjudications of the Court for the Cor-
rection of Errors; that no abuse of power or discretion has
been committed by the judicial officers in the case of John
C. Colt, and that to put forth the pardoning power under
the circumstances in which it is now solicited, would be not
only inconsistent with the equality which ought always to
govern its exercise, but would be subversive of law and
public order. WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor,
HENRY UNDERWOOD, Private Secretary.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (CA)
[Col.1]
☞ The Counsel of Colt, DAVID GRAHAM, Jr.,
DUDLEY SELDEN and ROBERT EMMETT, Esqrs., a
day or two since, prepared a long and elaborate
PROTEST against the Execution of COLT, addressed
to the Sheriff of the County. It was handed to us
for publication, and some 3,000 copies were struck
off; but it was finally suppressed through fear that
it might wear the semblance of an attempt to over-
awe the Sheriff in the discharge of his duty. These
copies were therefore sent to our country subscri-
bers, which will account for its having returned to
this city reprinted in other papers. We publish
this important document complete in an Extra
Tribune this morning. Copies may be obtained
at the desk.
...
The Execution of Colt.
This is the day appointed for the execution of
the wretched murderer of Samuel Adams. More
strenuous and persevering exertions to rescue him
from this fate than we have ever known in any
similar case have utterly failed of their intended
effect, and only serve to show the impotence of
all individual resistance to the power and majesty
of the Law. Colt, we understand, has requested
that the sentence may not be carried into effect
until sunset to-day; and as the Sheriff is disposed
to acquiesce so far as he can, consistently with a
strict discharge of his duty, in all reasonable re-
quests of the prisoner, we presume the execution
will not take place until that hour. An answer to
the application to the Chancellor to review his
former decision, and to grant a hearing of the case
before the Court of Errors, is expected from Al-
bany this morning; but of course no one expects a
reversal of his former opinion on the part of the
Chancellor. Colt appears subdued, and to some
degree penitent. He has steadily refused the at-
tendance of any clergyman except Dr. Anthon.
Miss Henshaw, his former mistress, has visited
Colt several times during the past week; and a
consultation was held as to the propriety of their
being married—for the purpose, of course, of se-
curing the legal rights of herself and child. The
result is not well known outside the prison, though
it is most likely the ceremony was performed; it
is certain that it has been contemplated.
[Col.2]
☞ Mr. Stephen Mitchell, a respectable citizen
of Kennebunk-port, Maine, in a fit of mental de-
rangement, cut his throat, on Saturday the 29th ult.
His insanity was caused by religious excitements,
produced by the Miller delusion.
[Col.4]
The Mary Rogers Mystery Explained.
The terrible mystery which for more than a
year has hung over the fate of Mary Rogers,
whose body was found, as our readers will well
remember, in the North River, under circum-
stances such as convinced every one that she was
the victim of hellish lust and then of murder, is at
last explained—to the satisfaction, we doubt not
of all. It may be recollected that associated with
the tale of her disappearance was the name of Mrs.
Loss, the woman who kept the refreshment house
nearest the scene of her death. About a fortnight
since—as we have already stated—this woman
was accidentally wounded by the premature dis-
charge of a gun in the hands of her son; the wound
proved fatal; but before she died she sent for Jus-
tice Merritt, of New-Jersey, and told him the fol-
lowing facts. On the Sunday of Miss Rogers's dis-
appearance she came to her house from this city
in company with a young physician, who under-
took to procure for her a premature delivery.—
While in the hands of the physician she died and
a consultation was then held as to the disposal of
her body. It was finally taken at night by the son
of Mrs. Loss and sunk in the river where it was
found. Her clothes were first tied up in a bun-
dle and sunk in a pond on the land of Mr. James
G. King in that neighborhood; but it was after-
ward thought they were not safe there, and they
were accordingly taken and scattered through the
woods as they were found. The name of the phy-
sician is unknown to us, nor do we know whether
it was divulged or not. The Mayor has been made
acquainted with these facts by Mr. Merritt, and
we doubt not an immediate inquiry after the guilty
wretch will be made. The son of Mrs. Loss, as
an accessary after the fact, we suppose will be—if
he has not already been—arrested. No doubt, we
apprehend, can be entertained of the truth of this
confession. It explains many things connected
with the affair which before were wrapped in mys-
tery—especially the apathy of the mother of Miss
Rogers upon the discovery of her body. It will
be remembered that she did not even go to iden-
tify it and made no enquiries concerning the affair.
Thus has this fearful mystery, which has struck
fear and terror to so many hearts, been at last ex-
plained by circumstances in which no one can fail to
perceive a Providential agency. Besides the guilty
murderer, the secret rested with two persons.
One of these, through the involuntary agency of the
other, is laid upon her death bed—and then Con-
science, no longer able to keep silence, breathes
its accusation into the ear of Justice. We rejoice
most deeply at this revelation, and that the scene
of the unhappy victim's death is relieved of some
of the horrors with which conjecture, apparently
well-founded, had surrounded it. If we recollect
aright some physicians of this city testified with
great professional confidence as to the manner of her
death—describing very minutely the kind and de-
gree of personal violence to which she had been
subjected. There statements are now shown to
be baseless. Should not this tend to diminish
somewhat the implicit reliance often placed upon
the testimony of physicians in similar cases?
[Col.5]
☞ The New-York Museum was well attended last night
notwithstanding the weather. Fair or foul the performance
will take place as usual. The Manager's manufacturing
the Fudge Mermaid in opposition to the Feege, is a rich
joke. People appear to appreciate it. The Hughes family
give their extraordinary performances on the harp, violin
and concertina; Rosalie, Diamond, Boyce, &c.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (CA)
[Col.2]
Affghanistan.
We believe that Affghanistan has been but par-
tially known to the English themselves, till within
the last eight or ten years. Though the seat of
many great events in ancient periods of history,
it is now said to be inhabited by a wild and unciv-
ilized race. The mountain passes are filled by
robbers, and the mass of the population are fierce
and treacherous. The country that bears the gen-
eral name of Affghanistan is quite extensive, occu-
pying the greater part of the space between Hin-
dostan and Persia; being about eight or nine hun-
dred miles in length east and west, and five or six
hundred in breadth north and south. It is watered
by the Indus and its branches. The northern por-
tion is mountainous, and exhibits the variety of
climate within a small compass which is peculiar
to mountain regions. Caubul, or Cabool, or Ca-
bul, as it is differently spelled, and Jellalabad, or
Julalabad, between which the destruction of the
British army was effected, are near the northern
boundary. They are about ninety miles apart, al-
most in a line east and west upon Cabul river;
Cabul being farthest west and most elevated. Be-
tween the two, and about twenty-five miles west of
Jellalabad, is the boundary between the hot and
cold regions; the country thence becomes rough
and hazardous along the mountain passes, from
frost and snow during half the year, and from the
lawless and ferocious character of the population
at all times.
Cabul is a noisy and bustling city, situated at an
elevation of 6,000 feet, or 11,000 as another au-
thority has it, above the level of the sea. It is a
place of great trade, and contains 60,000 inhabit-
ants. The natives say it is 6,000 years old, and
the popular belief is that when Satan was cast out
of Heaven he fell in Cabul. The snow lasts for
five months of the year, but the remainder of the
season is delightful, and the fruits and flowers are
abundant. The passes between this city and Jel-
lalabad are occupied by predatory bands of moun-
taineers.
Jellalabad is a dirty town, with a regular popu-
lation of 2,000 residents; but in the cold season
the people flock to it from the surrounding villa-
ges. Between that town and Cabul is the mount
of Noorgill, or Kooner, covered with perpetual
snow, on which the Affghanistans believe the ark
of Noah to have rested after the deluge. Not ma-
ny miles distant the natives point out the tomb of
Lamech, the father of Noah.
The Affghans call themselves “Beni Israel,”
children of Israel, yet consider the term Jew to
be one of reproach. They say they were transla-
ted by Nebadhadnezzar, after the overthrow of
the temple, to the neighborhood of Bemeean a
town west of Cabul, and lived as Jews till they
were converted to Mohammedism. They have
all the appearance of Jews, and retain the Hebrew
custom of the younger brother marrying the widow
of the elder. The question of their descent is,
however, considered a doubtful one.
Shah Shooja, whose name is conspicuously men-
tioned in the newspaper accounts of the massa-
cre, is the uncle of Shah Kamraun, an Affghan
monarch, having his capital at Herat, nearer the
borders of Khorassan. This Kamraun, some years
since, put to death his Vizier, Futteh Khan, in a
fit of jealousy. Upon this the brothers of the Vi-
zier rebelled, and succeeded in gaining possession
of a great part of the Affghan empire. British
troops were now introduced into the country.—
Their alliance was courted by Shah Kamraun, a
prince as weak as cruel, or by his uncle Shah
Shooja, and the proposed object has been to resist
the just indignation of the brothers of the Vizier
and to reinstate the authority of the ancient mon-
arch. Candahar, a city with about 60,000 inhab-
itants, situated southeast from Herat and south-
west from Cabul, and about equally distant from
each city, is one of the principal places posses-
ed by the brothers. Cabul was another of their
cities.
In 1828 this country was penetrated by a Brit-
ish gentleman named Stirling, who gave it as his
opinion that a European army would meet with in-
superable difficulties in attempting to invade the
Affghan territories. Our facts chiefly gained
from the notes of Lieut. Burns, who made a sim-
ilar journey two or three years afterward.
[Nat. Ægis.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.
The annexed able, calm and dispassionate com-
munication is given to the public by Governor Se-
ward, in reply to the recent extraordinary applica-
tion from certain lawyers of this city, for a suspen-
sion of the execution of the sentence of John C. Colt
...
One only chance yet remains for him. We under-
stand the counsel of Colt have drawn up their ob-
jections to the Chancellor's refusal to permit the
case to be carried up to the Court of Errors, and
that these objections are supported in writing by
the opinions of Mr. B. F. Butler and the counsel
of the Sheriff. The whole was sent by a special
messenger on Wednesday to the Chancellor; this
messenger will no doubt return by the boat which
arrives this morning. We shall endeavor to ascer-
tain what tidings he brings and give their purport in
a postscript. If the Chancellor should yield, it is
probable the Governor will grant a reprieve.
Colt himself we understand is tolerably calm and
collected. Caroline Henshaw, the female with whom
he cohabited, visited him yesterday and he was much
agitated by her presence, but afterwards regained his
apparent fortitude. The Rev. Mr. Anthon has con-
tinued to visit him.
We also copy below from the Newark Daily Ad-
vertiser, some extracts from the protest, which the
Counsel of Colt have served on the Sheriff, against
executing the sentence of the Court.
Colt has expressed a wish to the Sheriff that the
execution of his sentence should be delayed to the
last possible moment, before the setting of the sun.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
Albany, Nov. 16, 1842. }
James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward, R. Wharton
Griffith and Samuel G. Raymond, Esqs., counsellors
at law, have submitted to the Governor resolutions
...
[Col.2]
...
be subversive of law and public order.
(L. S.) WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor,
HENRY UNDERWOOD, Private Secretary.
——
Protest of his counsel against the legal competency
of the Court before which he was convicted, and
of the warrant under which he is held subject to
execution.
MONMOUTH B. HART, Esq., Sheriff of the City and
County of New York:
SIR—As the counsel of John C. Colt, who is now
lying under sentence of death for the alleged murder
of Samuel Adams, the undersigned would feel that
they had failed in the full performance of their duty to
their unfortunate client, were they to omit to call
your attention to the grave and more than doubtful
questions connected with the legality of the warrant
requiring you to execute the sentence upon the priso-
ner. In making this communication we design dis-
tincltly to confine it to the question of legal duty and
responsibility on your part in the premises, disclaim-
ing on the one hand any intention to deter you from
the performance of your painful duty, if you are le-
gally bound to perform it, and resolved on the other
to afford the prisoner the benefit of every right which
may yet remain to him.
The warrant by which you are directed to execute
the prisoner is as follows:
[After reciting the warrant, signed by Judge Kent,
and Ald. Purdy and Lee, they proceed to reason the
case through what would occupy three columns, and
conclude as follows:]
The whole case, then, resolves itself into this—that
the sheriff is justifiable in inflicting the punishment
of death only in obedience to the judgment of a com-
petent Court, and under a warrant to be signed by the
members of such Court; that the warrant in the pre-
sent case has been issued by an unconstitutional and
illegal, or at the most, very doubtful authority, and
that if its legality cannot be sustained upon its face,
it will afford no protection to the sheriff in its execu-
tion.
The undersigned regret that, by what they believe
to be the unwise, if not illegal refusal to the prisoner,
of an opportunity to present the grave questions here
discussed to the judicial tribunals of the country,
whose decision would have protected the rights of the
prisoner on the one hand, and of the sheriff on the
other, a refusal for which they were not prepared in
a case presenting questions so grave and doubtful,
and involving consequences so awful as the present,
they have been constrained by an imperious sense of
duty to their client, to present to the sheriff the views
which they deliberately entertain of the solemn re-
sponsibility he is called upon to assume.
If, under any circumstances, they could have hesi-
tated in the performance of this duty, they are re-
lieved from embarrassment, in the present instance,
by the fact that, if the necessary time for the exami-
nation of the question by the sheriff or his legal ad-
visers, should carry the execution of the warrant be
yond the day fixed for that purpose, the ends of pub-
lic justice if they require a victim in the person of the
prisoner, cannot be defeated by the delay. It is pro-
vided by the revised statutes that “whenever, for
any reason, any convict sentenced to the punish-
ment of death shall not have been executed pursuant
to such sentence, and the same shall stand in full
force, the Supreme Court, on the application of the
Attorney General, or of the district attorney of the
county where the conviction was had, shall issue a
writ of habeas corpus, to bring such convict before
such Court, or, if he be at large, a warrant may be is-
sued by the said Court or any Justice thereof.”—2 R.
S. 659, sec.23. “Upon such convict being brought
before the Court they shall proceed to inquire into the
facts and circumstances, and if no legal reasons ex-
ist against the execution of such sentence, they shall
sign a warrant to the sheriff of the proper county,
commanding him to do execution of such sentence,
at such time as shall be appointed therein, which
shall be obeyed by such sheriff accordingly.”—Ibid,
sec. 24.
These provisions abundantly secure the ultimate
enforcement of the law, should the judgment against
the prisoner be sustained; while they afford entire
protection to all who may assume any responsibility
in affording an opportunity for the discussion and
consideration of the questions which the undersigned
can never be convinced the prisoner should not have
the right to present to the legally constituted tribu-
nals of his country.
D. GRAHAM, Jr.
DUDLEY SELDEN,
ROBERT EMMET.
New York, Nov. 15, 1842.
[Col.4]
Murder of Mary C. Rogers.—Reports have been in
circulation for some days past, that discoveries have
been made as to the manner in which this unfortu-
nate female came to her death. They rest on the
following circumstances. On Saturday last we
gave a report of an inquest which had been held
by Justice Gilbert Merritt, of Hudson county, act-
ing Coroner, on the body of Mrs. Frederica Loss,
who has for some years past been keeper of the
Nick Moore House, at the foot of Weehawken
Hill, and who came to her death by the accidental
discharge of a gun held in the hands of one of
her sons. This woman—who, it will be recol-
lected was examined at the time of finding the
corpse, as to any information she might possess of
the causes of the poor girl's death—it is said, before
she died, charged her two sons to make known the
circumstances attending the death of Mary Rogers,
which she had before concealed. These two sons,
we are informed were yesterday arrested at Hacken-
sack. We give these reports without vouching for
their accuracy, although we are inclined to believe they
are not without foundation.
[Col.6]
We have not been able to obtain any intelligence
on board either of the Boats from Albany this morn-
ing, of any reprieve of the execution of COLT having
been sent.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE EXECUTION OF COLT.—This day, between
the hours of 10 and 12 M., is the time appointed
for the execution of the unfortunate J. C. Colt.—
Every obstacle that has been raised by the inde-
fatigable exertions of his friends to avert the
consummation of the dread sentence of the law,
has been swept away by the firmness and inflexi-
ble decisions of the Chief Magistrate of the State,
...
Notwithstanding all this, however, there is a
broad and strong current of feeling, in this com-
munity, against taking the life of Colt, by hang-
ing, at this time, and under existing circumstan-
ces. A large share of this feeling arises from the
very general and growing repugnance to capital
punishment which exists among our fellow citi-
zens, and which is fast extending itself through-
out the land. The possibility that the death of
Adams was the result of a violent encounter in
which the victim might have been equally to
blame with his unhappy victor, strengthened as
that possibility is—(till it almost amounts to a
probability in the minds of many)—by the elabo-
rate opinion of many of our most eminent medi-
cal and surgical practitioners, published in our co-
lumns a few days since, and by other known facts
and reasonable presumptions, has also added
greatly to the originally very limited number who
????????????????????????????????????????
this feeling, that we are morally certain that
should some circumstance yet arise which would
at least for a time delay the awful consummation
of sentence, and afford the unfortunate man fur-
ther time and opportunity to vindicate himself
from the imputation of wilful murder, and avert
the doom attached to that imputation, the pub-
lic mind in this city would experience a
most welcome relief. With a view to obtain for
him such respite and opportunity, his counsel,
we learn, on Wednesday evening despatched a
messenger to the Chancellor, at Albany, with an
able and learned series of objections to the Chan-
cellor's refusal to permit the case to be carried up
the Court of Errors, setting forth the law of the
case as they view it; and that Mr. B. F. Butler
has concurred in this opinion, and written a letter
to the Chancellor, advising him to reconsider his
decision. The return of the messenger is expect-
ed by this morning's boat from Albany. If the
Chancellor yields, of course the Governor will
grant a reprieve.
In the mean time, Colt has, we are informed,
applied himself diligently to a spiritual prepara-
tion for the expected close, with him, of all things
temporal, to-day; and to a resignation to his im-
pending fate.
[Col.3]
GOV. SEWARD AND THE NEW YORK BAR.—
Yesterday morning's mail from Albany brought
Gov. Seward's Reply to the resolutions passed at
a meeting of some of the members of the Bar of
this city, a few days since; and the importance of
the document as an exposition of the legal conside-
rations involved in the subject of the reply, as well
as the intense and all-absorbing interest which per-
vades all classes of the community on the subject, re-
quires its general publication. Whatever diver-
sity of opinion may exist in the public mind as to
the righteousness of the sacrifice to be made to-
day to the outraged laws, we think none will deny
that both in his decision upon the application
made to him for an interposition to executive
clemency in behalf of Colt, and in this Reply,
Gov. Seward has exhibited himself in a light, both
as a magistrate and a lawyer, which does him
infinite credit. It is impossible for an unprejudiced
and candid mind to arrive at any other conclusion
upon a perusal of these documents.
Executive Department, }
Albany, Nov. 16th, 1842 }
James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward, R. Whar-
ton Griffith, and Samuel G. Raymond, Esqr's,
counsellors at law, have submitted to the Gover-
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
AFFGHANISTAN.
——
We believe that Affghanistan has been but par-
...
afterwards.—[National Ægis.
[Col.3]
THE CASE OF COLT.
——
The Governor, as we learn from the Ev. Jour-
nal—and as we had a right to expect from his
published opinion on the application in behalf of
Colt for an opportunity to bring his case for re-
view before the Court of Errors—has not felt at
liberty to accede to the request of the committee
deputed by the meeting of members of the bar,
in the city of New-York, that the prisoner might
be respited, until his case could be carried up.—
The sentence of the law will, of course, be exe-
cuted to-day.
—————
...
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.—A bill to abolish cap-
ital punishment has been lost at the present ses-
sion of the Vermont Legislature.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE CASE OF COLT.
——
The murderer of Adams, after conviction and an
...
injured, not as a penitent man.”—Alb. Argus.
[Col.4]
CASE OF COLT.
The opinion of Gov. Seward, refusing to reprieve
or respite John C. Colt, who is sentenced to be exe-
cuted in New York, to-day, for the murder of Sam-
uel Adams, is too long for insertion in our paper.—
In another column, however, will be found a brief
extract from the concluding portion of it, and which
we commend to the reader. The opinion of the
Governor is a dispassionate, able, and to our mind,
conclusive argument on the merits of the case.—
We appreciate fully the responsibility and delicacy
of the Governor's position, and we are not disposed
to withhold the expression of our approbation, of the
integrity and firmness with which he has discharged
his duty. We are not able to call to mind an in-
stance of any importance, in which we are disposed
to find fault with Gov. Seward in the disposition of
the cases submitted to him for the exercise of the par-
doning power. Whatever opinion may be enter-
tained of his political conduct and measures, he is
nevertheless, entitled to the approbation of the Peo-
ple for the tender regard for the efficacy and suprem-
acy of the Laws, and the firmness with which he has
exercised the executive power of pardon.
After the refusal of the reprieve to Colt, a meeting
of a small and not very distinguished portion of the
Bar of New York, met, and among other things
deputed a committee to wait upon Gov. Seward, and
ask for a reprieve of Colt until the Court of Errors
might decide as to the legal competency of the
Court that tried him: it being alleged that the Court
was illegally constituted inasmuch as two Aldermen
were associated with the Circuit Judge during the
trial. It is understood the reprieve was denied by
the Governor, and, we think, very properly.
[Col.6]
THE SENTENCE OF COLT.—The opinion of Gov.
...
the Keeper of the Prison.—Tribune.
================================================================
[Pg.2,Col.3 / THE MIDNIGHT CRY! 1842, Volume 1]
JOHN C. COLT.
Dies to-day—and many million hearts will thrill at the
recital. Zealous and able lawyers have labored long and
hard to delay or avert his doom, but in vain. Reader,
we are all under condemnation to the first and second
death, unless we have laid hold on the free offers of sal-
vation, which Christ invites us to accept. He died to
obtain your pardon, and it is offered to you freely. Oh!
spurn it not!
================================================================
[Col.3]
Case of John C. Colt.
PREPARATIONS FOR EXECUTION.—HIS INTENDED
MARRIAGE.—ATTEMPTED BRIBERY.—The execution
of Colt will in all probability take place this day.
The only prospect or hope of respite is, that the
Chancellor, who is now at Albany, will grant a
writ of error on the second application of prisoner's
counsel, backed by the opinion of Benjamin F.
Butler, Esq., and the Sheriff's counsel, Joseph C.
Hart, Esq. A messenger was sent to Albany on
Wednesday evening for that purpose, who will re-
turn by the boat this morning. It is supposed, that
if the Chancellor consents, which is not very proba-
ble, that Governor Seward will grant a reprieve, in
order to allow the case to come before the Court of
Errors.
The counsel of prisoner have presented to Sheriff
Hart a protest against the legal competence of the
Court of Oyer and Terminer, in which they deny
the constitutional power of the Court with an Alder-
man sitting as one of the Judges. The Sheriff is a
ministerial officer only, and must obey the order of
the Court, without any discretion on his part as to
consequences.
Colt's mistress, Caroline Henshaw, visited him in
his cell yesterday for the first time since his sen-
tence, and on Colt's proposition, they were to have
been married during the morning, but owing to the
interposition of some of his friends, the ceremony
was not performed, although it is expected that it
will take place this morning. Their child was not
with her, and we believe Colt has never seen it.
She has recently resided in Philadelphia, where
the child now remains.
From rumors that have been quietly in circulation
in certain circles for the past few weeks, we have
had reason to believe that a most extended system
of bribery had been in operation to effect the escape
of Colt, and last evening ascertained that the sum
of $1000 had been offered to each of three of the
deputy keepers of the City prison, provided
they would connive at the escape of Colt by allow-
ing him to dress himself in the clothes of Caroline
Henshaw, his mistress, who would be sent into his
cell for that purpose. It was this disclosure that
prompted Col. Jones to place Colt in irons, and
which, on their being removed, induced the sheriff
to put him in charge of two of his deputies. The
deputy keepers of the prison communicated the
proposition made them to the principal keeper as
soon as the corrupt motive was made apparent.—
The whole affair, together with the authors of the
bribery, will be exposed after the execution.
It has been supposed by many that Colt would
commit suicide before the day of execution, and a
few day since he sent for Dr. Macomb, physician
of the prison, and requested to borrow some medi-
cal work on anatomy, which was refused. He then
made a number of serious enquiries as to the loca-
tion of the large veins and arteries of the body, evin-
cing a disposition to ascertain at which particular
point death would be the most easy and effectually
produced.
Since the decision of the Governor, as read to him
on Sunday, he has not evinced any of that dare-
devil recklessness of spirit that existed before, and
under the influence and counsel of the Rev. Dr.
Anthon, has appeared to have been partially re-
signed to his fate, and given demonstrations of pre-
parations for the future.
The answer of Governor Seward to the applica-
tion of a portion of the members of the New York
Bar, was first communicated to him yesterday mor-
ning, by Dr. Anthon, and afterwards confirmed by
the sheriff, accompanied by his counsel, Joseph C.
Hart, Esq. He evinced much feeling on the recep-
tion of the final decision of the Governor, and
wept most bitterly. The last application of counsel
for a writ of error, the result of which will be made
known this morning, has not been communicated to
him, and he therefore gave up all hopes of pardon or
respite when the decision of the Governor was com-
municated to him yesterday morning.
The gallows was taken into the prison yard last
evening, and will be erected early this morning in
the rear avenue, and immediately opposite the
window of the cell in which he is confined.
He made a request yesterday, that the execution
might be postponed until the last hour of day, as
Judge Kent had not specified any precise hours be-
tween which it should be carried into effect. Should
the Sheriff comply with this request, he will not be
executed until four o'clock in the afternoon.
Deputy Sheriff Vultee, was selected by the Sheriff
to guard his cell last evening, in company with
deputy keeper Pierce. He remained in his cell
alone, his brother leaving him about dusk.
The preparations to preserve order and quiet about
the city prison during the day, have been made by
that vigilant officer A. M. C. Smith, Esq., who has
selected under the direction of the Sheriff, thirty
officers to aid him in this arduous duty.
The following is the official opinion of Governor
Seward addressed to Sheriff Hart, in reply to the
application for respite of the members of the New
York Bar, convened in the Superior Court Room on
Tuesday last:—
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
ALBANY, Nov. 16, 1842 }
James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward, R. Wharton Griffith
and Samuel G. Raymond, Esqrs, counsellors at law, have
...
[Col.4]
...
opinion that the course of legal proceedings in regard to
the offender, has been regular and humane; that exposi-
tions of the Constitution and laws by the Supreme Court
are binding on the Executive and all other authorities, if
not inconsistent with adjudications of the Court for the
Correction of Errors; that no abuse of power or discretion
has been committed by the judicial officers in the case of
John C. Colt, and that to put forth the pardoning power
under the circumstances in which it is now solicited,
would be not only inconsistent with the equality which
ought always to govern its exercise, but would be subver-
sive of law and public order.
[L. S.] WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor,
HENRY UNDERWOOD, Private Secr'y.
NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, Evening Edition, November 18, 1842 (FH)
[Col.6]
Colt's Execution.
The preparations for the execution of John C. Colt
were all made at an early hour this morning.
The messenger sent to Albany returned this morn-
ing, with the information that the Chancellor had
peremptorily refused to grant a writ of Error on the
second application of the counsel of Colt. Senator
Verplanck has also replied to a letter of Colt's coun-
sel in which he agrees with the position taken by
Benjamin F. Butler, Esq. counsel of the Sheriff,
who backed the last application to the Chancellor,
for the purpose of having the question of Aldermen
setting as Judges of the Court of Oyer and Terminer,
constitutionally decided.
Colt was engaged in writing nearly all night, pre-
paring, as we understand, a full confession of all ap-
pertaining to the murder of Adams. He was under
the charge of Deputy Sheriff Vultee and Green, du-
ring the night. And upon being asked during the
evening if he wanted anything, he desired a cup of
coffee, and then told the Deputy that he wished to
see all the keepers of the prison between 12 and 1
o'clock this day, when he would bid them adieu
forever. He also stated that the Sheriff had com-
plied with his request, and postponed the hour of
execution until the last of the day, as published in
the Herald this morning. It will not take place
therefore before four o'clock, which will be too late
for our second edition.
Colt's brother was at the prison door as soon as it
was opened in the morning, and remained with him
about a quarter of an hour.
The Rev. Dr. Anthon had not visited him at ten
o'clock this morning.
He afterward dressed himself and was shaved by
Bill Dolsens, of Centre street, commonly called Deaf
Bill.
At early dawn persons began to assemble around
the City Prison, and at about 8 o'clock, the avenues
and entrances began to be blocked up with anxious
enquirers, who were asking—“Will he be hung?”
—“Can't you let us in?” &c. The gates to the en-
trance of the prison were closed about eight o'clock,
and officers stationed under the charge of A. M. C.
Smith, to prevent the ingress of any except those
who had tickets of admission.
The position of the gallows was in the rear court
yard of the prison, and the noise of the workmen in
its erection could be distinctly heard through the
massive walls of the prison.
The gallows was erected early in the morn-
ing. It consisted merely of two upright posts,
and one transversly placed. Through the centre of
the transverse piece, over a pully wheel, the rope
was passed, and to the opposite end weights of about
230 pounds were suspended by additional blocks
and tackle. It was placed in the centre of the yard,
and immediately opposite the rear window of the
cell in which Colt was confined.
At 9 o'clock the outer door of his cell was opened
and the usual breakfast of the prisoners served up in
the different cells to the prisoners. The sliding of
locks, bolts and bars, and the chit chat and excite-
ment among the inmates of the prison as well as the
spectators that had been admitted, all tended to add
a peculiarity to the scene within the walls of the
Tombs that must be ever remembered to all who
were present. Nothing was talked of, hinted at or
thought about but the execution, the execution,
which to the ears of Colt, if he could catch the
sound, must have been aught but agreeable.
The excitement about the prison was intense at
about 11 o'clock, and the doors of the Police Office
were closed in order to prevent the intrusion of the
crowd.
Franklin street was filled with the multitude
as well as the vestibule of the city prison on Centre
street, and the street in front.
Dr. Anthon visited the cell of Colt at about 11
o'clock, in company with Colt's brother, for the
purpose of making preparation for his marriage with
Caroline Henshaw.
At about half past 11 o'clock Messrs. Graham and
Emmitt, his counsel, visited his cell and remained
about half an hour. A little before 12 o'clock, Caro-
line Henshaw made her appearance in company
with the brother of Colt and John Howard Payne,
who entered the cell with her. They were then
married by the Rev. Dr. Anthon, in presence of Da-
vid Graham, Robert Emmett, Justice Merritt, the
Sheriff, John Howard Payne, and his brother. She
was dressed with a straw bonnet, green shawl, a
claret colored cloak trimmed with red cord, and a
muff. Her appearance denoted much anxiety, and
she was much thinner than when a witness on the
trial.
After their marriage, Dr. Anthon remained in the
cell with them a few minutes and then left them
alone, she remaining for nearly an hour.
There was considerable excitement among the
prisoners in the various cells, and Sears, who is
confined for the murder of McDonough, was ex-
ceedingly inquisitive as to all the preparations for
the execution. It may be his turn next. The pri-
soners in the upper cells, the windows of which
overlook the rear court yard, where the gallows
was erected, contrived to get a view of the scene by
holding a piece of looking glass out of the small
apertures in the side of the cell, the reflection of
which brought it to their sight. From every cell an
arm could be seen with a piece of glass in the fingers,
evincing that the holder was anxiously waiting for
the hour of execution, which will take place at
about half past three o'clock. It is now half past
twelve, and, in accordance with his request, the
keepers of the prison will take a last farewell.
His wife, Caroline Henshaw, now Caroline Colt,
is still in the cell alone with him.
Dudley Selden, one of his counsel, has just entered
the prison.
Colt has been engaged for the past two days in
writing a reply to the letter of Gov. Seward.
It is now one o'clock, and Colt has just ordered a
quart of hot coffee, which has been brought in and
himself and wife are drinking it.
The following is the letter of the Chancellor in
reply to the second application of Colt's counsel for
a writ of error. It is addressed to Joseph C. Hart,
Esq., the counsel of the sheriff, and we present an
exclusive copy:—
ALBANY, Nov. 17, 1842.
DEAR SIR—
I heard the questions upon the writ of error in Colt's
case, argued at great length at New-York, and came to the
deliberate determination that there was none of them on
which there was any room to doubt, as you will see from
my written opinion, which I left in the hands of Colt's
counsel when I left New-York, and which is now pub-
lished in the Argus of this morning. You will therefore
see that it is out of my power to violate my oath of office
by allowing a writ of error in the case, even if the appli-
cation was now regularly before me on an application up-
on notice to the Attorney General. Neither would the al-
lowance of the writ stay the execution of the sentence, as
I could not certify that there was a probable cause for
staying the proceedings, and the Governor would not in-
terfere without such certificate.
I have never heard any lawyer, except the counsel for
the prisoner, express any doubt as to the legality of the
conviction before the court which tried him. Nor have I
been able to find any member of the Court of Errors who
would have voted to reverse the judgment on the ground
of the organization of the court. It is perfectly natural
that the friends of this unhappy man should endeavor if
possible to stay his execution, but their anxiety to pre-
serve his life cannot excuse the officers of justice in ma-
king the laws bend to their wishes; although the course
which has been pursued in this case has placed, not only
those officers, but the Governor, in most painful and try-
ing situations. The prisoner's counsel had the right to
apply to the Chancellor, the three justices of the Supreme
Court, or to any of the eight circuit judges, for the allow-
ance of a writ of error, and if any one of those twelve of-
ficers had any doubts as to the legality of the conviction,
he would of course have allowed the writ. They have
tried four or five, and have failed, and if they were not sa-
tisfied with that, they should have applied to others; but
cannot ask those who have fully examined the subject,
and have no doubt to violate their duty by acting against
their consciences.
Yours, with respect,
B. HYDE WALWORTH.
J. C. HART, ESQ.
There will be an EXTRA HERALD issued at
4 o'clock, containing all that transpires after one
o'clock, and the particulars of the execution.
NEW YORK HERALD.—EXTRA. Friday Evening, November 18, 1842 (FH)
[Col.2]
(From our Morning Edition.)
Case of John C. Colt.
PREPARATIONS FOR EXECUTION.—HIS INTENDED
MARRIAGE.—ATTEMPTED BRIBERY.—The execution
...
[Col.3. A changed copy from Herald]
...
HENRY UNDERWOOD, Private Secr'y.
Colt's Execution.
TWO O'CLOCK, P. M.
The preparations for the execution of John C. Colt
...
[Col.4]
...
It is now one o'clock, and Colt has just ordered a
quart of hot coffee, which has been brought in and
himself and wife are drinking it.
At this period of the eventful day, the scene was
exciting and thrilling in the extreme. Within that
narrow cell were the husband and wife, but just mar-
ried, yet bidding each other farewell for the last
time on earth, with the awful certainty that one
would be a lifeless corpse, and the other a widow,
before the setting of the sun that was then throw-
ing its rays into the otherwise cheerless place. At
the door stood Vultee, the deputy sheriff, one hand
on the sliding bolt of the cell door, and the other
holding the padlock and key. On the corridor, con-
nected with his cell, was the sheriff, pacing up and
down on one side, evidently deeply affected with
the contemplation of the shocking ceremony he
was about to perform. Pacing up and down on the
other side of the corridor, might be seen a small
made man, with a highly intellectual countenance,
the natural brilliancy of which was overshadowed
by deep solemnity, his hands behind him, and his
whole mental energies evidently absorbed in profound
reflection on the things of another world; this was
Dr. Anthon the spiritual adviser of the prisoner.
Close by the little bridge which united the two cor-
ridors, stood two friends of the prisoner, in conver-
sation on his unfortunate career—these were John
Howard Payne, and Lewis Gaylord Clarke. In the
corridor below were about thirty persons, principally
those connected in some way or other with the ad-
ministration of justice; and on the faces of the
whole there was a most extraordinary aspect of so-
lemnity, altogether different from what has usually
been seen in that building, even just previous to an
execution. It appeared as if a terrible event was
about to happen that they could not avert, and that
would plunge them all in profound regret. At last,
about one o'clock, Colt's brother, Samuel, again
arrived, and entered his cell; he was still engaged
in conversation with his wife, who was sit-
ting on the foot of the bed, convulsed
with his tears. At Colt's request, John Howard
Payne and Lewis Gaylord Clarke then went into
his cell to take their leave of him. Colt appeared
exceedingly pleased to see them; shook them cor-
dially by the hand, and conversed with apparent
cheerfulness with them for five minutes, when they
bid him farewell, both of them in tears. Colt's bro-
ther, Samuel, and his wife, remained in the cell
about ten minutes longer, when both left. His bro-
ther was deeply affected, and looked more ghastly
even than Colt himself. His wife could scarcely
support herself, so violent were her feelings and
acute her sufferings. She stood at the door of the
cell for a minute—Colt kissed her passionately—
strained her to his bosom, and watched her rece-
ding form as she passed into the corridor. Here she
stood and sobbed convulsively as though her heart
would break, for five minutes. At last she was led
away by Colt's brother, and his friends followed.—
He then desired to see the Sheriff, who went into
his cell. Colt then told him emphatically that he
was innocent of the murder of Adams, and that he
never intended to kill him; he also told him that he
still had hopes that something would intervene to
save him from being hung, and begged him not to
execute the sentence of the law upon him. The
Sheriff told him to banish all hope of that kind, for
that he must die at 4 o'clock. He then requested to
see the Sheriff's watch, and set his own by it to a
minute. He then asked to see Dr. Anthon, and
the latter went into his cell, and remained in
prayer with him for about ten minutes. At the close
of this, Colt again sent for the Sheriff, and said to
him, “If there are any gentlemen present who
wish to see me, and take their leave of me, I shall
be happy to see them.”
This was announced by the Sheriff, and all pre-
sent with one or two exceptions passed up to his cell
door, shook him by the hand, and took their leave
of him. To one gentleman connected with the press
he said, “I've spoken harshlyly of some of the
press, but I do not blame you at all; it was all my
own fault; there were things that ought to have
been explained; I know you have a good heart;
and I forgive you from my soul freely; may God
bless you and may you prosper.”
He then requested his keeper, Mr. Greene, to let
him be left alone until the last moment. This was
about 2 P. M. His cell was closed and he was left
alone till 20 minutes to 3, when some friends of the
Sheriff apprehended that he might attempt to com-
mit suicide, one of the Deputy Sheriff's, Hillyer,
went to his cell door; I requested to wish him “good
bye.” Colt was then walking up and down
his cell, but turned round on the door opening, smiled
on Hillyer, shook him by the hand, and kissed him,
as he did several of those who had just previously
bid him farewell in this life. He said to Hillyer—
“God bless you, and may you prosper in this life,
[Col.5]
which is soon to close on me.” From this time to
three o'clock, the excitement around the prison in-
creased tremendously; and the feelings of those in
the prison were also worked up to a pitch of great
intensity. Several eminent surgeons came into the
prison a little before three, and the universal topic of
discussion, all round, among the little knots of spec-
tators, was, whether he had been furnished with the
means, and whether he would commit suicide or
not. Many prophecied that “by four o'clock
there would be a dead man without hanging.”
——
SUICIDE OF JOHN C. COLT.
Five minutes past 4, P. M.
We had written the whole of the above at a ¼ to 3
P. M. this afternoon. At that time Colt was alive.
No one entered his cell till precisely 5 minutes to
four o'clock, at which time Sheriff Hart and Wes-
tervelt dressed in uniform with Dr. Anthon proceed-
ed to the cell, on the keeper opening the
door, Dr. Anthon who was first, drew back, threw
up his hands and eyes to Heaven, and uttering a
faint ejaculation, turned pale as death, and retired.
“As I thought,” said the keeper. “As I thought,”
said we. And going into the cell, there lay Colt
on his back, stretched out at full length
on the bed, quite dead, but not cold.
A clasp knife, like a small dirk knife, with a broken
handle, was sticking in his heart. He had stabbed
himself about the fifth rib on the left side. We felt
his temples, and they were warm. His vest was
open, the blood had flowed freely, and his hands,
which were placed across his belly, were very
bloody; he had evidently worked and turned
the knife round and round in his heart after he had
stabbed himself, until he made quite a large gash.—
His body was laid out quite straight on the bed as if
laid out for a funeral by others. His mouths was
open, and his eyes partly open. Dr. Hosack and
others went into his cell, and pronounced him dead.
The Coroner was ready at hand, took charge of
the body, and locked the cell.
Most strange to say, just at this moment, the large
cupola of the Tombs was discovered to be on fire;
and burned furiously; so that, if he had not killed
himself, in consequence of the execution being post-
poned to the last moment, it is very probable,
that in the confusion arising from the fire, and the
mob breaking into the Tombs, Colt would either
have made his escape, or he would not have been
hung.
The conduct of those concerned needs no com-
mentary. The public will pass judgment on them!
We have more to say about his visitors hereafter.
——
The following is the letter of the Chancellor in
reply to the second application of Colt's counsel for
...
================================================================
[Col.4]
J. C. COLT.—The boat from Albany this morning
brought no intelligence of the Chancellor's consenting
to reconsider his opinion. We learn that ano-
ther delegation waited upon the Governor yesterday,
urging a pardon; and that when he courteously but
firmly declined, they manifested rude and unbecom-
ing behaviour. We could not ascertain who and from
where these parties were.
It is therefore a settled point that Colt will be ex-
ecuted today about 4 o'clock.
The rumor that Colt was yesterday married to
Caroline Henshaw is unfounded, though it is re-
ported the ceremony was performed this morning.
The Rev. Mr. Anthon, of the Episcopal Church,
is in attendance upon the prisoner.
[Col.5. From Tribune]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY EXPLAINED
The terrible mystery which for more than a year has
...
founded, had surrounded it.—Tribune.
[Col.6]
McDONALD CLARKE.—The death of this poor wan-
derer along the high-ways and bye-ways of an un-
sympathizing world, and the melancholy circumstan-
ces by which it was attended, must be fresh in the
remembrance of our readers. It may be borne in
mind, too, that a private subscription was set on foot,
among a few of those kind-hearted friends who, while
he lived, were not wont to pass him by with cold in-
difference, for the purpose of erecting a modest tomb-
stone over his lonely grave. This monument is now
completed and in its place.
The remains of poor Clarke were buried in the
Greenwood cemetery, some distance beyond Mount
Washington; but the trustees of the property having
a generously given resting-place for his mouldering
body, with permission to select the spot, it was exhum-
ed last week, and removed to a lovely little knoll, just
on the margin of the Sylvan Lake, and not far from the
“stranger's vault.” Here Clarke now lies, in the
midst of rural beauty such as would have called forth
the most rapturous strains of his distempered muse.
The monument is simple, chaste and elegant. It
consists of a single block, square, resting upon a slab,
and supporting a truncated pyramid—the whole in
white marble, and having for its foundation a square
platform of granite.
On the side of the block which meets the ap-
proaching spectator is a profile medallion of “the
mad poet,” in high relief—not a perfect likeness,
but yet a very good one. Beneath it are inscribed
the dates of his birth and death—June 18th, 1798,
and March 5th, 1842.
On the next side is this inscription:—
(Epitaph written by himself.)
SACRED
To the Memory
of
POOR McDONALD CLARKE.
Let silence gaze—but curse not his grave.
McD. C.
On the third side, facing the Sylvan Lake, are
four lines, selected from his own poetry:—
But what are human plaudits now?
He never deemed them worth his care.
Yet Death has twined around his brow
The wreath he was too proud to wear.
On the fourth side are also four lines, written by
a friend:—
By friendship's willing hand erected—
By genius, taste and skill adorned—
For one too long in life neglected,
But now in death sincerely mourned.
The monument is in excellent taste, and does
much credit to the sculptor, Mr. Battin.—[Com.
Advertiser.]
================================================================
[Col.7. From Argus]
From the Albany Argus.
CASE OF COLT.—We are enabled to give to-day
the opinion of Chancellor Walworth, on the appli-
...
Case of John C. Colt.
OPINION OF THE CHANCELLOR UPON THE AP-
...
THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, November 18, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
...
Court have done, refuse to allow this writ of error.
—————
The counsel of John C. Colt have entered the
following protest against his execution:
Protest of his counsel against the legal competency
...
—————
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY EXPLAINED.—
...
wretch will be made. The son of Mrs. Loss, as an
accessory after the fact, we suppose will be—if he
has not already been—arrested. No doubt, we ap-
...
will be remembered, that she did not even go to
identify it, and made no inquiries concerning the
affair.—Tribune.
[Col.4]
We are requested to state, that the suggestion in
some of the papers, that Mr. B. F. Butler had ex-
pressed his concurrence in the objections contain-
ed in the Protest delivered to the Sheriff, against
the competency of the court by which the warrant
of execution, in the case of Colt, was issued, is er-
roneous. Mr. Butler was consulted by the Sheriff,
as to the course he should pursue in relation to
that protest, and in view of the painful and em-
barrassing position of that officer, and of other seri-
ous considerations connected with the matter, Mr.
Butler advised, that the application to the Chan-
cellor, for the allowance of the writ of error, should
be renewed; and he, as well as Mr. J. C. Hart, the
particular counsel of the Sheriff, wrote to the
Chancellor on the subject, expressing the hope,
that unless prevented by an imperative sense of
judicial duty, the writ might be allowed. The
reasons suggested in these letter, were those of
expediency merely. By this step, Mr. Butler ad-
vised, that the Sheriff had done all that humanity
required, or the public safety would permit, and
that it would be his duty, should the application
to the Chancellor be denied, to execute the process
in his hands, as to the validity of which, Mr. But-
ler expressed his decided concurrence with the
Chancellor and the Judges of the Supreme Court.
—————
JOHN C. COLT.—This unfortunate and wretch-
ed man, who is doomed inevitably to die this day
by the hand of the public executioner, agreeably
to the sentence pronounced upon him by Judge
Kent, in accordance with the verdict of a jury, for
the wilful murder of Samuel Adams, yesterday was
visited in his drear and gloomy habitation by seve-
ral of his friends. Caroline Henshaw, the female
with whom he had cohabited for nearly two years,
was among the number. She paid him two visits
during the forenoon, and the interviews, from what
we could gather, were painful in the extreme. It
will be recollected that a child (a boy) was the
fruit of the illicit intercourse between this ill-fated
man and Caroline Henshaw, for the welfare of
whom the father, for the two or three last days,
has displayed the greatest anxiety.
Much curiosity and interest was manifested
during the day, by a numerous assemblage col-
lected around the prison, to ascertain the correct-
ness of a report that, through the medium of his
minister, Dr. Anthon, he had become her hus-
band, and that the solemn compact of the marriage
vow had made them man and wife. No such cer-
emony took place; we aver it, as coming from the
lips of the doomed man.
[Col.6]
The execution of Colt, it is understood, will take
place between three and four o'clock this afternoon.
it is not possible, therefore, to obtain the particu-
lars for this day's paper.
[Col.7. Mostly as in Tribune]
AFFGHANISTAN.—We believe that Affghanistan
has been but partially known to the English them-
selves, till within the last eight or ten years.—
Though the seat of many great events in ancient
periods of history, it is now said to be inhabited by
a wild and uncivilized race. The mountain passes
are filled with robbers, and the mass of the popula-
tion are fierce and treacherous. The country that
bears the general name of Affghanistan, is quite
extensive, occupying the greater part of the space
between Hindostan and Persia; being about eight
...
Cabul is a noisy and bustling city, situate at an
...
In 1828 this country was penetrated by a British
gentleman named Stirling, who gave it as his opin-
ion that an European army would meet with insu-
perable difficulties in attempting to invade the Aff-
ghan territories. Our facts chiefly gained from
the notes of Lieutenant Burnes, who made a simi-
lar journey two or three years afterwards.—Na-
tional Ægis.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Affghanistan.
We believe that Affghanistan has been but par-
...
[Col.5]
JOHN C. COLT.—This misguided and unfortu-
nate individual undergoes the severest penalty of
our laws between the hours 10 and 2 this day.
Every effort has been made to avert the execution
of the fatal sentence but in vain. In another column
will be found the answer of Gov. SEWARD to the
application from the Bar of New York for a stay of
the execution. In reference to that decision, the
Commercial Advertiser has the following just re-
marks:—
The Governor's reply to the application of the meeting
held on Tuesday, for a delay of execution upon this convict,
has been received. Like his reply to the application for a
pardon, it is able, firm and eloquent. The Governor briefly
reviews the whole proceedings in the case, insisting on their
regularity and justice; vindicates the verdict and sentence;
alludes pointedly to the hardened demeanor of the convict
at the time of passing the sentence; denies the right of con-
victs in capital cases to a writ of error; dwells upon the
evils that must result from allowing the strong arm of the
law to be paralyzed by continual delays; reiterates his con-
viction that in the execution of the sentence the interests
and even the safety of society are promoted; and concludes
with a renewed refusal to interfere.
[Col.6]
Final decision of Governor Seward in the
case of John C. Colt.
——
The following is the Governor's Decision on the
application of the Members of the bar for a respite
to the offender:—
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
ALBANY, November 16, 1842. }
James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward, R. Wharton
...
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
By the Governor,
H. UNDERWOOD, Private Secretary.
================================================================
[Col.1]
John C. Colt.
The closing scene in the career of this wretched
man occurred yesterday. All the desperate ef-
forts of his counsel and friends to obtain a new
trial, a reprieve, or a mitigation of his sentence,
having utterly failed, and his last hope of avoid-
ing an immediate and shameful death being at an
end, he was married yesterday at noon to his mis-
tress, the mother of his child. At 3 o'clock P. M.
his brother and his wife took leave of him for ever,
and at his earnest solicitation, he was allowed to
pass his last hour alone. At a quarter before 4,
when the Sheriff went to his cell to prepare him
for execution, he was found dead! having driven
a knife to his heart!
The life and death of this hapless being must
afford a solemn warning to the Youth of our City
and Land. Few of them are entering upon life
with fairer prospects, with nobler opportunities,
than were those of John C. Colt. Of a respected
and influential family, possessing good talents and
a winning address, enjoying and profiting by lib-
eral opportunities for mental culture, he might
fairly have looked forward to a life of usefulness,
honor and happiness, closing at ripe maturity in a
death-bed soothed by the attentions of loving and
sorrowing hearts. This might have been, but for
the canker in the heart—the selfishness, and pride,
and recklessness, which entered deeply into his
character—a disposition to measure every thing
by the standard of personal interest or gratifica-
tion. On this rock has he been wrecked; and
now, after a career neither exemplary nor happy,
we see him, at the early age of thirty, following in
ignominy and blood to the grave one victim of his
fierce, ungoverned passions, and leaving behind
him another, far more to be pitied, to a desolate
widowhood of anguish and shame. His orphan
child, too—an infant of few months—to what a
heritage of undeserved dishonor does it succeed!
while a most respected and worthy circle of rela-
tives are plunged in distress and doomed to endure
the hauntings of a painful, humbling remembrance!
And all this ruin is the work of one perverse spirit
—of one who might have been a blessing and an
honor to them all!
Human justice has been robbed of its appropri-
ate sacrifice, yet to the Divine requirement the sat-
isfaction is complete. The blood of the victim no
longer cries from the ground for retribution. Let
the grave, then, cover his errors, save as they may
be rendered beacons to the pathway of Life.
We will hope that this tragedy, viewed in all
its proportions, has done much to hasten the Abo-
lition of the Punishment of Death. We have re-
fused to take any part in the efforts made to obtain
a mitigation of Colt's punishment, for we felt that
if there ever was a case in which the public safety
required a bloody expiation of crime, this was such
a one. We do not believe that Colt premeditated
the death of Adams; we believe he was killed in
a phrenzy of passion, with no intent of robbery or
concealment. But we believe Colt was endeavor-
ing to send away the books, which Adams had
printed for him, clandestinely, and in violation of
his engagement that they should remain under the
control of Adams until paid for. But Colt was
proud and necessitous, and he thought only of rai-
sing money for his imminent wants. Adams
went to his room to reproach him with his bad
faith, when Colt repelled his imputations and struck
him, and then Adams clenching him to avoid fur-
ther beating, Colt seized the hatchet which lay at
hand and dealt blow after blow on his victim's
skull, any one of which must have occa-
sioned death. The circumstances render the case
one of murder, and the subsequent conduct of
Colt—his night of horrid effort—his packing and
shipping off the corpse—his taking away the watch
of Adams to his lodgings—his rigid concealment
of the whole tragedy, even from his brother and
his mistress—his reckless bearing on the trial, on
receiving his sentence, and generally since his ar-
rest—all stamp the deed with the character of a
felonious taking of life, and bespeak a mind callous
to the consequences of such a crime. If this case
were to be treated as one of something else than
murder, we do not see how a murder could ever
after be proved except in the bare case of human wit-
nesses observing its perpetration. “We quarrelled,
and I killed him,” would be the murderer's uniform
plea; and how should we resist it? It seems a just
rule to consider the act of killing a human being
a murder where the homicide himself, in his at-
tempts to avoid detection, clearly puts that con-
struction upon it.
But what has been the influence of the Punish-
ment of Death in this case? What moral effects
have been produced by its existence? Have we
not seen the community divided—not equally, in-
deed, but still divided—with regard to the justice
of the sentence? And will not all admit that on
those who believe a punishment unjust its inflic-
tion on a criminal will exert an influence most per-
nicious—an influence adverse to reverence for and
attachment to the laws? Will not reflecting men
feel that the excitement and the concussion of the
last five days, as to whether Colt would or would
not, should or should not, be hung, has been pre-
judicial to that filial regard for the laws and their
administration which all ought to feel? If the
punishment of murder had been solitary confine-
ment for life, without chance of pardon, would not
the acquiescence of the community have been hearty
and universal, and the moral influence far more
salutary than now? And here at last we see the
gallows cheated of its prey, and the culprit hur-
ried out of existence by his own deadly hand, in a
manner which may well throw doubt on the sin-
cerity of his professions of penitence, or at least
on the healthy character of that compunction
[Col.2. Partly as in Herald]
which he undoubtedly felt, in view of a life so spent
and so closing.
We have said nothing, done nothing, in behalf
of John C. Colt, or with a desire to mitigate his
sentence. In view of the ideas of crime and pun-
ishment which generally prevail, and on which
law is based, we have considered a speedy death
of penitence and example more merciful to him
than a life of solitary imprisonment. Not from
compassion to criminals but from regard to the com-
munity—whose sympathies and whose feelings are
so unhealthily excited by public executions—
whose abhorrence of Crime and reverence for Law
are confused and disturbed by these deeds of legal
butchery—we demand the abolition of the Punish-
ment of Death.
———
The Last Scene.
Yesterday COLT, the convicted murderer of Sam-
uel Adams, was sentenced to be hung; but he
chose to take upon himself the office of execution-
er and rushed into eternity by staining his soul
with a crime as black as that which brought up-
on him the fate he so desperately sought to shun.
Preparations for his execution were made at an
early hour in the morning. A messenger had gone
to Albany with an application to the Chancellor to
review his decision and allow a writ of error; by
the morning boat he returned with the following
decisive letter addressed to the Sheriff:
ALBANY, Nov. 17, 1842.
DEAR SIR: I heard the questions upon the writ of error in
Colt's case argued at great length at New-York, and came
to the deliberate determination that there was none of them
on which there was any room to doubt, as you will see from
my written opinion, which I left in the hands of Colt's coun-
sel when I left New-York, and which is now published in
the Argus of this morning. You will therefore see that it is
out of my power to violate my oath of office by allowing a
writ of error in the case, even if the application was now
regularly before me on an application upon notice to the
Attorney General. Neither would the allowance of the
writ stay the execution of the sentence, as I could not certify
that there was a probable cause for staying the proceed-
ings, and the Governor would not interfere without such
certificate.
I have never heard any lawyer, except the counsel for
the prisoner, express any doubt as to the legality of the
conviction before the Court which tried him. Nor have I
been able to find any member of the Court of Errors who
would have voted to reverse the judgement on the ground
of the organization of the Court. It is perfectly natural
that the friends of this unhappy man should endeavor, if
possible, to stay his execution; but their anxiety to preserve
his life cannot excuse the officers of justice in making the
laws bend to their wishes; although the course which has
been pursued in this case has placed not only those officers
but the Governor in the most painful and trying situations.
The prisoner's counsel had the right to apply to the Chan-
cellor, the three Justices of the Supreme Court, or to any of
the eight Circuit Judges, for the allowance of a writ of er-
ror; and if any one of those twelve officers had any doubts
as to the legality of the conviction, he would of course
have allowed the writ. They have tried four or five, and
have failed; and if they were not satisfied with that, they
should have applied to others; but not ask those who
have fully examined the subject, and have no doubt, to vio-
late their duty by acting against their consciences.
Yours, with respect,
B. HYDE WALWORTH.
J. C. HART, ESQ.
Colt was engaged nearly all night in writing a
reply to the letter of Governor SEWARD, which it
is said he ordered to be left sealed until his child
should be old enough to understand it. He was
under the care of Deputy Sheriffs Vultee and
Green, and in the morning was shaved and dressed,
and received a brief visit from his brother. The
gallows was erected in the centre of the area. It
was the same one used at the execution of Robin-
son in New-Jersey, and bore upon it marks of
twelve strokes of that hatchet, which never falls
but it sends to eternity a human soul. It consisted
simply of two upright posts, and one transversely
placed, with a rope over a pully—one end being
attached to a heavy weight, and the other being
formed into a noose. At 11 o'clock Dr. Anthon,
in company with Samuel Colt, visited his cell, and
made preparations for his marriage with Miss
Henshaw, which was soon after performed in
presence of Samuel Colt, David Graham, Robert
Emmett, Justice Merritt, the Sheriff, and J. H.
Payne. After their marriage they were left alone
for nearly an hour. At about half past 12 Dudley
Selden went into his cell, and at 1 Colt took a
cup of coffee with his wife.
His brother Samuel soon arrived and en-
tered his cell. He was still engaged in earnest
conversation with his wife, who was sitting on the
foot of the bed, convulsed and in tears. At
Colt's request, John Howard Payne and Lewis
Gaylord Clarke then went into his cell to take their
leave of him. Colt appeared exceedingly pleased
to see them; shook them cordially by the hand,
and conversed with apparent cheerfulness with
them for five minutes, when they bade him farewell,
both of them in tears. Colt's brother Samuel, and
his wife, remained in the cell about ten minutes
longer, when both left. His brother was deeply
affected, and looked more ghastly even than Colt
himself. His wife could scarcely support herself,
so violent were her feelings. She stood at the door
of the cell for a minute—Colt kissed her passion-
ately—strained her to his bosom, and watched her
receding form as she passed into the corridor.—
Here she stood and sobbed convulsively as though
her heart would break, for five minutes. At last
she was led away by Colt's brother, and his friends
followed.
He then desired to see the Sheriff, who went into
his cell. Colt then told him emphatically that he
was innocent of the murder of Adams, and that he
never intended to kill him; he also told him that
he still had hopes that something would intervene
to save him from being hung, and begged him not
to execute the sentence of the law upon him.
The Sheriff told him to banish all hopes of that
kind, for he must die at four o'clock. He then re-
quested to see the Sheriff's watch, and set his own
by it to a minute. He then asked to see Dr. An-
thon, and the latter went into his cell, and remained
in prayer with him for about ten minutes. At the
close of this, Colt again sent for the Sheriff, and
said to him, “If there are any gentlemen present
who wish to see me, and take their leave of me, I
shall be happy to see them.”
This was announced by the Sheriff, and all pre-
sent with one or two exceptions passed up to his
cell door, shook him by the hand, and took their
leave of him. To one gentleman connected with
the press, he said, “I've spoken harshly of some of
the press, but I do not blame you at all; it was all
my own fault; there were things that ought to have
been explained; I know you have a good heart;
and I forgive you from my soul freely! may God
bless you and may you prosper.”
He then requested his keeper, Mr. Greene, to
let him be left alone until the last moment. This
was about 2 P. M. His cell was closed and he
was left alone till 20 minutes to 3, when some
friends of the Sheriff apprehending that he might
attempt to commit suicide, one of the Deputy Sher-
iffs, Hillyer, went to his cell door. Colt was then
walking up and down his cell, but turned round on
the door opening, smiled on Hillyer, shook him by
the hand, and kissed him, as he did several of those
who had just previously bid him farewell. He said
to Hillyer—“God bless you, and may you prosper
in this life, which is soon to close on me.”
At a few minutes before 4, Sheriffs Hart and
Westervelt went to his cell to announce to him
that his hour had come—but their summons was
not needed. Dr. Anthon stepped into the door,
but started back in horror. On looking in at the
cell, the body of Colt lay stretched at full length
upon his bed, his hands crossed upon his abdomen
and covered with blood, and a small Spanish dirk
[Col.3]
driven to his heart, was sticking in his body. His
mouth and eyes were slightly open, and the knife
had not been moved after its deadly thrust. He
was pronounced dead by physicians in attendance,
the Coroner took charge of the body, and the cell
was locked.
At this moment a volume of smoke and flame
burst from the large cupola on the prison; a tre-
mendous rush was made by those outside towards
the door and by those within to make their escape.
The great bell on the City Hall struck the alarm
at the precise hour fixed for the Execution; the
engines were promptly on the ground, but as the
fire was in the very summit of the cupola, the wa-
ter could not be made to reach it, and it continued
to burn downwards for an hour until the whole was
consumed to the roof. The greatest excitement
prevailed without. The multitude refused to be-
lieve in the story of his death, and a very general
impression prevailed that the whole was a ruse to
secure his escape.
There prevailed a very general suspicion that
the cupola was set on fire; but there is no good
ground to believe it. A fire is constantly kept
there for the accommodation of the person em-
ployed to keep a look-out for fires. He had made
a very large fire yesterday, and went to see the
execution. The pipe, without doubt, became red
hot, and thus set the cupola on fire.
The following report of the Inquest held by the
Coroner's Jury over the body, contains many par-
ticulars of interest concerning the last scene:
Inquest on the Body of John C. Colt.
This wretched man having been found dead in his cot in
his cell in the City Prison, five minutes before the period
allotted for his execution, with a knife sticking in his left
breast, and his body and hands covered with blood, Dr. Ar-
cher, the Coroner, at 7 o'clock, summoned a jury of 22 men,
which convened in the Court of Sessions Chamber, into
which hundreds of spectators, anxious to see the self-immo-
lated man, and to hear the testimony, the explanation of the
cause and manner of his tragic death, were admitted, in or-
der to gratify, as far as possible, the intense solicitude that
existed on the subject, as also to allay the unreasonable out
of door excitement consequent upon the rumor that had been
bruited abroad that Colt was not dead, but had been suffered
to effect his escape.
Among the number of those assembled were the Mayor,
Register, Sheriff, many of the Aldermen, Justices, and oth-
er public functionaries of the city, besides several members
of the bar and numerous representatives of the press.
The following Jurors were sworn as the inquest, viz:—
Allen N. Sniffen, Joseph Keeler, William H. Prall, Fenelon
Hasbrouck, David D. Bradford, Henry McShee, Robert
Sands, Thomas Betts, Dr. John Sickels, George Pirnie, D.
D. Adison, Dr. J. W. Duval, George Fisby, Lester, Jr.
Gen. John Burrows, John Riker, Jr., John Horsepool, Jr.
David Vandervoort, Samuel Greenman, Thomas Donnelly,
Farrand S. Stranchan and Samuel Nichols, Jr. After be-
ing sworn, the Jurors proceeded to the cell of the prison,
where the body was, to view the same, after which they
returned to the Sessions Chamber and the following wit-
nesses were examined.
Monmouth B. Hart, Sheriff, sworn—I had a warrant for
the execution of John C. Colt, who was to have been exe-
cuted to-day—I have seen him several times to-day—the ex-
ecution was to take place at four o'clock, or at sunset at
his request—I had seen him about one hour prior to the time
fixed for his execution in his cell—I did not go in—He was
then alone—I know what persons have been in his cell, viz:
his attorneys, David Graham, Dudley Selden, Samuel Colt,
Robert Emmett, Caroline Henshaw, Mr. Vultee, Deputy
Sheriff, and Dr. Anthon, and a number of other gentlemen
whom I did not know who came in at his request, a number
of physicians and the officers of the prison. I went to his
cell door about 5 minutes before 4 to admit the Rev. Dr.
Anthon—had the cell door opened, Mr. Anthon attempted
to go in and stepped back when he saw the body on the cot.
Then I passed him, went in myself, and saw Mr. Colt ly-
ing on the cot, with a knife sticking in the left side. I at-
temped to put my hand on his face, but having gloves on,
did not; saw blood on him and thought he was dead. The
execution did not take place. The Coroner then took
charge of the body and relieved me. I had him in charge
since the sentence. I had not examined the cell, but was in-
formed by Col. Jones, that he had. Never saw any knife
there, except a penknife. The knife found on him had a
four inch blade. I have no knowledge of any person car-
rying any knife to him. He wished his penknife to mend
his pen. When I saw him, about an hour before death, he
was on his feet, apparently making a prayer. All things
then appeared to be right.
John J. V. Westervelt, Deputy Sheriff, sworn.—I visited
the prison very seldom during Colt's confinement. I was
not in his cell to-day, but I saw him at his cell door looking
out and shaking hands; saw him the last time at 2 or 2½
o'clock; have seen his body since he is dead, and recognized
it as the body of John C. Colt; the body was in the cell on
the bed, with a knife sticking in it. Have no knowledge of
any person conveying a knife into the cell to him.
Frederick L. Vultee, Deputy Sheriff, sworn.—I have had
charge of John C. Colt, commencing with Tuesday morn-
ing, 3 o'clock, and watched him alternately every 6 hours.
I was released by David H. Green, Deputy Sheriff. Have
seen Colt often since he was in my charge, two or three
times every watch. I have conversed with him. Never
saw any dangerous instrument in his cell, except the knife
and fork he ate with. (Dirk knife shown.) I never saw
such an instrument in his cell. First saw one like it sticking
in his body since death. I have no knowledge of the means
by which he procured that instrument. Saw him last alone
about 2 o'clock. The first person who visited him was
Samuel Colt, about 6½ o'clock this morning. At about 20
minutes to 8 o'clock William Dobson, barber, was sent for
to shave him.
I was present in the cell while he was shaved. Samuel
Colt called again and brought with him Caroline Henshaw;
Dr. Anthon also called with them and went in. John How-
ard Payne was also with them, the High Sheriff and I think
also Robert Emmett and David Graham, Jr. I omitted to
state that his breakfast was brought in by a man from Mr.
Cowdrey's victualing cellar. The contents of the basket
were emptied and the young man left. I remained and
saw the contents of the basket. There was no knife, only
the knife and fork he ate with. Dudley Selden was in the
cell during my relief, when Mr. Greene had changed. Sam-
uel Colt was in the cell with the prisoner alone awhile this
morning. When the number of persons was there the mar-
riage ceremony of Colt with Caroline Henshaw took place.
During the whole time I had charge since Tuesday morn-
ing, no one was alone with the prisoner except Samuel Colt.
After they were married, Caroline his wife was in the cell
awhile with Colt. I have no knowledge how the knife
came into his possession.
Abner Milliker, Deputy Coroner.—I have seen the body
of John C. Colt, and recognized it. The knife here was
taken from the body of John C. Colt by Drs. McCombe and
Hosack.
Abraham H. Green, Deputy Sheriff, sworn.—I commenced
watching Colt, and took the keys of the cell Monday after-
noon, 4 o'clock. I never saw the knife before I saw it in
the body of John C. Colt. I have no knowledge how that
instrument came in his cell. I cannot tell of any other per-
son visiting Colt's cell and being with him alone except
those named by preceding witnesses. I made no examina-
tion or search of Colt's Cell. This witness said he obeyed
the instructions of the Sheriff as to the manner of taking
care of prisoner.
Rev. Henry Anthon, D. D. sworn—I as a clergyman at-
tended upon John C. Colt—my relations commenced on
Monday and I took notes of all my visits to the prisoner;
these, which he read, were very voluminous—they relate to
the conversations he had with Colt on religious subjects,
the belief of the latter, his apparent penitence, his assertion
that he prayed, his general converse regarding his future
state, the instruction the Rev. gentleman gave, the advice
he imparted to him, &c. &c.—the remark of Colt that the
Sheriff had taken his knife, &c. from him, which he said was
a needless persecution—Colts opposition to other ministers
seeing him to converse on doctrinal points—his avowal of
belief in the Christian creed, the divinity of Christ, his
power to save, &c.—altogether tending to induce the Rev.
gentleman to believe that Colt was a penitent man, having a
just sense of his sins and that he was deeply anxious about
his eternal welfare. He declared most solemnly that he
killed Adams in self-defence and said he would carry that
declaration to the bar of God—though man would not be-
lieve him. He complained much of the newspapers, of their
mis-stating and abusing him, &c.—gave a history of his ac-
quaintance with Caroline Henshaw, expressed his regard for
for her, and his wish to marry her.
He disavowed on Thursday all intention of taking his
own life, to Mr. Anthon, and stated his determination to die
in the faith of the Gospel, and was melted to tears. To-
day Colt expressed great anxiety for Miss Henshaw and his
child, and gave Dr. Anthon $500 to put into the Savings
Bank for his wife and child, directing him to pay her $20 a
month from it while it lasted. He wished the child reli-
giously brought up and its mother to lead a virtuous life.
About 12 o'clock Mr. Anthon married Colt and Miss Hen-
shaw; Colt exhorted her most earnestly to lead a Godly
life and to take care of the child; at his request he was left
alone a short time with her. Mr. Anthon detailed his con-
versations with Colt concerning his death and burial, the
order for a coffin, Colt's request to have the coffin brought
in at 3 o'clock, his praying, &c. After 2 o'clock, Mr. Anthon
saw him and after conversation and prayer, Colt said he
thought he would be able to die with Christian fortitude.
About twenty minutes after this, Colt wished to be alone.
[Col.4]
awhile before his execution. I was to come again at near 4
o'clock; I did so, and on opening the cell door, found Colt
on his bed; at first thought him asleep, but saw something
on him, and the Sheriff cried out, “Oh God! he is dead!”
and I came away.
The instructions of the Sheriff to his Deputies were read,
in which he ordered his irons to be taken off, but that he
should be strictly guarded, and all humanity, consonant with
his safety, extended to him.
Col. William Jones, Keeper of the Prison, sworn.—Colt
was in my custody from the 2d July until Monday last, in
the afternoon, when I gave him up to the custody of the
Sheriff. I took a receipt from the Sheriff when I delivered
the prisoner to him. I have not seen the prisoner since
Monday; he continued in the same cell he was in before.
I searched his cell on Monday morning—the apertures, bed,
&c., and made a thorough search; no knife was there at
that time. I have no knowledge of how this knife got into
the cell; I never saw it before. I had his feet chained, but
not his hands.
Dr. John R. McComb, sworn.—I am physician of the
City Prison—visited the prisoner almost every day until
Monday afternoon—have not seen him since then. I have
seen his dead body. A hole had been cut in his vest, a
piece taken out, and the knife sticking in his left side, about
half an inch below the left nipple, on the upper margin of
the fifth rib, between that and the fourth rib. A piece was
cut out of his vest and shirt, as with a knife, where the
knife was indented in the body. I have made a post mor-
tem examination of the body with Dr. Alexander Hosack.—
On raising the sternom or breast-bone, and in the pericar-
dium, found much blood, and the knife 1½ inches in the left
ventricle of the heart, which caused death. It was driven
in as well as I could do it; it would not require much
force to insert the knife. On Monday he wanted me to lend
him a work on anatomy, which I refused telling him I
feared he wanted it for no good purpose. He then wished
me to point out the vein in the arm which could be most
easily reached, which I utterly refused to do, saying you
must not ask me such a thing.
Dr. Alexander Hosack, sworn—Concurred with Dr. Mc-
Comb in the description of the wound and the cause of
death of John C. Colt.
Samuel Colt, sworn.—I am the brother of the deceased.
I have no knowledge of the means by which the knife was
procured.
Mrs. Caroline Colt, wife of John C. Colt, sworn.—I have
no knowledge how the deceased came into possession of the
knife found in him.
Dr. Archer, the Coroner, charged the jury that if any evi-
dence had been furnished of any person having given the
knife to Colt, he could be indicted for manslaughter; but
as no such evidence was furnished, the jury would simply
find what was the cause and manner of the death of the de-
ceased.
The jury then retired, and after a brief absence returned
with a verdict—that John C. Colt came to his death by a
wound inflicted by himself, with a knife, on the left breast
but the jury are unable to say in what manner he became
possessed of the said knife.
After the inquest the body, which had been put in a coffin,
was placed in the dead-house, to be taken thence for inter-
ment by his friends this night in a vault in St. Mark's
Church.
It seems clear, from this, that since Sunday last
when he felt that he had no hope of escape—not-
withstanding all his protestations of faith and re-
pentance, and his solemn disavowal of any intent
to commit suicide, this wretched man has steadily
cherished the purpose to escape the gallows by
killing himself. The dread tragedy has closed,
and his soul has met his victim at the bar of their
common God.
—————
☞ As it was formally given out in the public prints that
one reporter from each newspaper, regularly employed
thereon, would be admitted by the Sheriff to witness the
execution of Colt, the Police and Criminal Courts reporter
for The Tribune presented himself, and on our behalf
claimed admittance. This was refused by Mr. Deputy
Sheriff Westervelt, on the ground that The Tribune had
said harsh things of Sheriff Hart and his brother, Dr. Hart!
We place on record the fact and the reason, leaving the pub-
lic to judge of its relevance and sufficiency. Since the
Sheriff and his factotum appear to imagine the admission of
proper persons on such occasions a personal perquisite of
theirs, to be dispensed according to their ideas of the favor
to which the applicant is entitled at their hands, we trust
they will have the manliness to give notice accordingly at
another time, and not mislead us by a false publication. Of
favors at their hands we ask and will have none.
—————
...
☞ Mr. WILLIAM MILLER, who has been lec-
turing in this city on the Second Coming of Christ
at hand, is announced for this evening at New-
Haven, Ct.
[Col.5]
☞ We heard yesterday of a man who came
300 miles, from New-Hampshire, for the express
purpose of witnessing the execution of Colt. The
officers very properly declined to gratify his brutal
appetite, and refused him permission to enter.
—————
☞ The planet Venus was distinctly visible yes-
terday from 3 o'clock P. M. to its setting—even
when the sun was shining very brightly—owing
doubtless to the unusual purity of the atmosphere.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, November 19, 1842 (CA)
[Col.3]
BROTHER JONATHAN
This days number contains the following important arti-
cles, besides its usual varieties:
Particulars of the Death of JOHN C. COLT.
The MARY C. RODGERS Mystery fully explained.
The FOREIGN NEWS by steamer Acadia.
Also, a new American Novel complete, entitled 'THE
HUNCHBACK: A Tale of Pennsylvania.'
☞ Single copies may be had at the office, 162 Nassau-
street, neatly enveloped in wrappers for the mails. Price 6
cents. n19
—————
☞ Fire at the Tombs.—GREAT EXCITE-
MENT .—Never was such a scene witnessed as that exhib-
ited in and about the Egyptian Tombs yesterday afternoon
and evening. Death in the most horrible form was the
theme of discussion, and thousands of anxious people
thronged the streets. And yet no greater sensation has
been produced within the last half century than that occa-
sioned by the remarkable cures effected by
DR. RUSH'S INFALLIBLE HEALTH PILLS,
the best medicine ever prepared for the cure of Dyspepsia
...
[Col.4]
☞ Second Advent Lectures. —Rev. Josiah Lit-
tle will lecture this evening at 7 o'clock at the corner of
Catharine and Madison streets, on the subject of Christ's
Coming at hand—and also to-morrow at the usual hours of
public worship.
No. 3 of the MIDNIGHT CRY (a daily paper) will be
issued to-day at 1 o'clock. It will contain a “Clue to the
Time,” and other interesting articles. Price 2 cents. 1t*
================================================================
[Col.1. Partly as in Herald, Tribune]
THE EVENTS OF YESTERDAY.—Seldom indeed
has the city of New York been in such a ferment
of excitement, as it was during yesterday. In
all quarters of the city, and in all circles, the ap-
proaching execution of Colt was the all-absorbing
topic of conversation, and apparently of thought.
There was an evident gloom pervading our streets
and overshadowing the countenances of our citi-
zens. Some of the morning papers were crowd-
ed with fictitious rumors and reports of all sorts
in relation to the unfortunate culprit, and those
connected with him, which had an effect to more
universally excite public curiosity, and unsettle
the public mind from the even balance which it
generally holds; and one of the results was, that,
though it had become generally known that the
Sheriff, at the request of prisoner, had consented
to postpone the execution till 4 o'clock, P. M., as
early as 8 o'clock large crowds assembled about
the prison, remaining, and constantly accumula-
ting, till the arrival of the fatal hour. As the
execution was, however, to be as private as the
Sheriff could consistently make it, none of the
crowd were admitted within the prison precincts;
but thousands appeared to take an unaccountable
satisfaction in crowding around and gazing at the
high and impenetrable walls.
From 8 o'clock in the morning, till 2 o'clock P.
M., the prisoner was visited by a large number of
persons, including his brother, the Rev. H. An-
thon, who has been his faithful and devoted spir-
itual adviser, his counsel, and numerous personal
friends; with all of whom, previous to the latter
hour, he had taken an affecting and eternal fare-
well.
At 12 o'clock, agreeably to previous arrange-
ment, Caroline Henshaw, who had lived with him
as his wife a length of time prior to the fatal
event which tore them apart, was conducted to
his cell by two of his most devoted friends, and
in presence of several witnesses the marriage ce-
remony between them was performed by Mr. An-
thon. This marriage, the bridegroom being un-
der sentence of death, and already dead in the eye
of the law, has no legal validity, and can only
have the effect of redeeming in the eyes of some,
the character of this unfortunate woman.
After the marriage Mr. Anthon was left alone
with them a few minutes, and he then left them
to themselves till 1 o'clock, when she took her
last sad farewell of him. After a brief visit from
Dr. Anthon for the purpose of prayer, at his re-
quest his cell was closed, and he not disturbed
for over half an hour; at which time, owing to a
suggestion that he might commit suicide, Mr.
Hillyer, deputy sheriff, opened his cell door and
found him pacing the floor. He took an affec-
tionate farewell of Hillyer, and was again left
alone, never to be looked upon again a living man.
In the mean time some three hundred persons
had, by permission of the Sheriff, collected in and
about the passage between the prison and the
Elm street wall, in which the dread instrument of
death had been erected. The gallows was erect-
ed early in the morning, under the prisoner's
window.
Twelve indentations made by the hatchet,
where the rope is cut, were counted by some of
the curious, which testify that the instrument has
done service in twelve executions. It is the gibbit
on which Robinson, of New Jersey, was hung.
A box containing the hatchet and two or three
nooses was standing near. Some looked with
horror, and some were making themselves merry
at the sight of these implements of death.
A few minutes before 4 o'clock, Sheriff Hart and
Deputy Westervelt, attended by Dr. Anthon, pro-
ceeded to the cell for the purpose of bringing the
condemned out to execution; but upon the keeper
drawing the bolt and opening the door, they found
that, during the hour he had thus been left entire-
ly to himself, he had forestalled the hangman, and
put an end to his life with his own hand. He was
found lying on his back, stretched out at full
length on the bed, quite dead, but not cold. A
clasp knife, like a small dirk knife, with a broken
handle, was sticking in his heart. He had stab-
bed himself about the fifth rib on the left side.
His vest was open, the blood had flowed slightly,
and his hands, which were placed across his belly,
were bloody; he had evidently driven the fatal
the fatal knife directly into his heart. His
body was laid out quite straight in the
bed, as if laid out for a funeral by others.
His mouth was open, and his eyes partly open.
Dr. Hosack and others went into his cell and
pronounced him dead.
The Coroner was ready at hand, took charge of
the body, and locked the cell; and after summon-
ing a jury last evening held an inquest on the re-
mains of the ill-fated suicide.
The finale to this exciting and extraordinary
case was not unexpected to many, and but little
surprise was felt, either among those within the
prison walls, or the crowds in the streets, when it
was announced to them. Nevertheless, it tended
to add to the prevailing excitement; and as the
intelligence flew like wildfire throughout the city,
it seemed to appall all minds, and absorb all
thought.
Still further fuel was added to the popular ex-
citement by the most singular fact, that at the
instant the death of Colt was proclaimed, the
large new cupola of the front building was dis-
covered to be on fire, at or very near its top. The
alarm produced by this event instantly swelled
the concourse of people assembled to double its
former numbers; and caused great confusion and
most intense excitement. The cupola being
above the reach of the hydrants, and the wind
being high, it was totally destroyed before the pro-
gress of the flames could be stayed; but beyond
some injury to the roof, no further damage was
done. The fire is attributed to a stove pipe in the
cupola; but the coincidences connected with it,
and with the peculiar time of its occurrence, gave
rise to surmises among the public that the confla-
gration was, to say the least, a very strange oc-
currence.
INQUEST ON THE BODY OF JOHN C. COLT.—
This wretched man having been found dead in his
bunk in his cell, in the city prison, Halls of Jus-
tice, about 5 minutes before 4 o'clock, the period
allotted for his execution, with a knife sticking in
...
[Col.2]
rently making a prayer. All things then appear-
ed right.
...
The jury then retired, and after a brief absence
returned with a verdict that John C. Colt came to
his death by a wound inflicted by himself, with a
knife, in the left breast, but the jury are unable
to say in what manner he came possessed of the
said knife.
The deceased was 32 years of age, a native of
Connecticut.
After the inquest the body, which had been
placed in a coffin, was placed in the dead house,
to be taken thence for interment by his friends
in a vault in St. Mark's church.
Thus ends this truly tragical affair—beginning
in murder and ending in suicide—a warning to oth-
ers, to beware how they indulge their evil and des-
tructive passions.
[Col.3]
THE TERRORS OF THE LAW.—Again the awful
doom of death has been carried into effect, though
in a manner not contemplated by our statutes, in
obedience to the stern demands of those laws
which compose the barrier and safeguard of socie-
ty. Without laws to control the violence of uncon-
trolled passion, it would be impossible for society
to exist, and men would become like savage beasts,
knowing no rule but force and stratagem. The
punishment of crime is one of the sacred duties of
the social compact. It is a solemn obligation
which the community at large owes to each indi-
vidual member, and on the faithful performance of
this duty each one relies for security in life, limb,
reputation and worldly possessions. Whatever
opinions may be entertained with regard to the ex-
pediency of capital punishments, or whatever
views may have prevailed in reference to the ex-
tenuating circumstances of this case, it must be
conceded by all that the wretched self-murderer
has had the benefit of a full, fair and impartial trial,
and an anxious and minute examination of his
case in the various tribunals before which it has
been brought, and has suffered the last terrible
extremity of punishment strictly in accordance
with the existing laws of his country. Surround-
ed by influential friends, and himself of more than
common intelligence, a degree of sympathy has
been excited in his behalf which is very un-
usual. Counsel able, eloquent and ingenious,
have labored untiringly to obtain his release—
means have been used to influence public opinion
in his favor, and a great change has actually been
wrought in public sentiment, in regard to the sub-
ject of capital punishment. Yet amid all, the
law takes its course with unwavering precision.
Pity may weep over the fate of the victim, thus
unseasonably cut off from life—that life, which
but for one act of ungoverned passion might long
have been spared to the improvement of his own
moral condition, and the reformation of those
false ideas which subsequently actuated him to
justify the bloody deed. Mercy may deprecate the
inexorable decree—but the better judgment of all
must rejoice to discover, amid the laxity of moral
order which has stained the annals of the country
for several years past, that law and justice have
not entirely fled the land.
In the life and end of John C. Colt may be read
a terrible lesson upon the necessity of controlling
the temper. The habitual indulgence of pride,
anger, and those absurd notions of dignity arising
merely from self love, and falsely called a sense
of honor, had fostered in his breast a spirit of
haughtiness and severity which rendered him
impatient of contradictions and little regardful
of the sacred rights of others, when opposed to
the gratification of his own feelings. A few mo-
ments of forbearance and reflection would proba-
bly have saved him from the commission of the
awful crime, with all its disastrous train of con-
sequences, and the unhappy victim of his
wrath, instead of being “sent to his account,
with all his imperfections on his head,” might
still be living to repent of and amend his
faults, if such he had, and to discharge his duties,
as a husband, a father, and a member of the com-
munity. Here too we see how one crime brings
???????????????? and how completely the
???????????????????????????????????????
[Col.5]
LIVERIES.—Mr. Dickens, the aristocratic
young Englishman, who takes special pains, in
his “invaluable” work on America, to sneer at
the poor Gothamites because he saw but one
hand-organ and monkey, and one carriage in live-
ry in our streets, would find, were he now to re-
turn amongst us, that we had somewhat improv-
ed in these respects during his brief absence, and
that our republican aristocracy, as if ashamed of
his having seen them in such humble plight, have
increased the number of their liveried establish-
ments, to what he would undoubtedly consider a
very creditable extent. It is now no rare thing
to see half a dozen splendid carriages standing
before the door of Stuart's, or some of the other
aristocratic establishments in Broadway, with a
groom and footman, “as big as lords,” strutting
or lounging before them, flaming in great gilt
buttons, jaunty hats, and white top boots. To be
sure, these exquisite gentlemen are none of them
Americans—our benighted people being as yet
too awkward and boorish for this sort of work;
but, by the time the next general bankrupt law
shall have become necessary, and Mr. Dickens
succeeds in establishing the international copy-
right, it is to be hoped that the sturdy young
Americans will have become more civilized!
—————
...
THE CHANCELLOR ON COLT'S CASE.—We yes-
terday morning received, through the columns of
the Albany Argus, the Chancellor's opinion on
the application of John C. Colt for a writ of er-
ror. It is in the usual able manner of that distin-
guished jurist, but of such length that, though in-
teresting, its insertion in our crowded columns at
this late day, seems hardly called for.
As will, of course, be known without a mention
of the fact here, the second application to the
Chancellor, of which we made mention yester-
day, was as unsuccessful as the first; and we re-
fer to it here to correct an error into which we and
our cotemporaries were led in relation to the part
alleged to have been taken by B. F. Butler, Esq.,
in that application. He merely wrote to the
Chancellor on the subject, expressing the hope,
that unless prevented by an imperative sense of
judicial duty, the writ might be allowed.
[Col.6]
☞ There is a report current about town, said
to have originated in some confessions alleged to
have been made by the late Mrs. Loss, of Wee-
hawken, on her death bed last week, that Mary
Rogers came to her death under the hands of a
physician in an attempt to produce a premature
delivery—that her body was sunk in the river,
her clothes scattered through the woods, &c. At
present there is nothing known authentically
which gives to this report a greater degree of
credence than a dozen other contradictory re-
ports in relation to the girl are entitled to. Ac-
cording to this report, Mrs. Loss made one of her
sons accessory to the homicide, after the fact;
and it is said he has been arrested in New Jersey.
Within the past week a report has been quite cur-
rent that the girl is alive, and in the keeping of
her former employer; and another, that she was
a few days since seen in Albany by a gentleman
of this city who knew her well. We place little
reliance on any of these rumors.
[Col.7]
CORONER'S OFFICE, Friday, Nov. 18.—EX-
TRAORDINARY SUICIDE.—The Coroner held an
inquest today at the City Hospital, on the body
of Robert Darris, a native of Ireland, who was a
carpenter by trade, had lived for the last 14
years with Mr. Morris, of Morrisiana, Westches-
ter county, and was still in his employ, but for the
last 3 or 4 days was observed to be somewhat
deranged. Yesterday morning his fellow work-
men found him in the carpenter's shop, with a
chisel in one hand and the edge of it to his throat,
while with the other hand, which he used as a
mallet, he drove the instrument to the bone of the
neck, which was partially chipped off by the
force that was used. The blood was so far stop-
ped as to permit his being conveyed to the City
Hospital between 2 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
where he died this morning about 8 o'clock, des-
pite the efforts of the physicians. Verdict, that
he committed suicide by cutting his throat with a
chissel, during a fit of insanity.
================================================================
[Col.1]
JOHN C. COLT.
The place of Execution.—At ten minutes before
four o'clock yesterday afternoon, some five hundred
persons were ranged in two rows from a gallows
erected at the extreme end of the Court yard in the
City Prison to the door at the opposite end commu-
nicating with the interior, and every spot around,
that commanded a view of the place of execution,
was filled with the spectators. In front of the row,
Police Officers were stationed with staffs to keep the
line unbroken. All eyes were turned to the place at
which the criminal was expected to enter, in painful
anxiety, when suddenly a Deputy Sheriff appeared
announcing “that he had killed himself”—and won-
derful to say, in the midst of the confusion that en-
sued, it was discovered that the cupola, seventy
feet high, was on fire. Fanned by the high wind,
the whole wooden fabric was soon enveloped in
flames and burned intensely for an hour,—a strange
funeral pyre, that told, though the extreme sentence
of the law had been evaded, its majesty had been vin-
dicated by the death of the murderer.
The engines arrived speedily on the spot and pre-
vented the fire extending to the main building. It
was caused by a stove in the cupola, which had been
filled by the persons usually stationed there, with
coal, previous to leaving it to see the execution, and
becoming very much heated had set fire to the wood
near it.
We had flattered ourselves that when the grave
had closed over this unhappy man, we should have
been free to express our opinions on many circum-
stances connected with his case, but the excitement
from early dawn till late at night, among an immense
mob, has been so great, that the peace of the city,
we think, demands silence of us, at the present mo-
ment.
The particulars elicited by the Coroner's Inquest,
which we give below, render it unnecessary for us to
seek further to expose the scenes which passed
throughout the morning in the convict's cell. His
marriage with his mistress, Caroline Henshaw, at
about 12 o'clock we believe, however, is not adverted
to in it. The motives which led to such an extraor-
dinary proceeding, are to us inscrutable. Neither re-
ligion nor morality, nor affection, one would think,
could have prompted it.
The clearness of the sky in the afternoon, when
the strong west wind had blown away the thick
clouds which have covered us for some days, was
very remarkable and beautiful. The planet Venus
was distinctly visible in the West in the broad glare of
day, notwithstanding the brilliancy of the sun's
rays. The many singular events and coincidences
of that wonderful day will make the 18th of Novem-
ber a day long remembered in the New York city.
Inquest by the Coroner on the body of John C. Colt—
At 7 o'clock last evening, the Coroner, Dr. A. B. Ar-
cher, held an inquest on the body of the deceased
criminal, in the Sessions Court Room. The large
room with the surrounding gallery, was crowded in
every part to excess.
The following named gentlemen, were empanelled
as a jury of inquest:
Allan M. Sniffen, Foreman, Joseph Keeler, Wm.
H. Prall, Fenelon Hasbrouck, David D. Bradford,
Henry McShee, Robert A. Sands, Thomas Betts,
John Sickels, George Pirnie, D. D. Addison, J. W.
Duvall, George Fisby, Lester Wilson, Jno. Burrows,
Jno. Ryker, Jr., Jno. Horspool, Jr., David Vander-
voort, James B. Greenman, Thomas Dunlap, Samuel
Nichols, Jr., and Farrand S. Stranahan.
The Jury having viewed the body, and on returning
several of them answered that they recognized it as
that of John C. Colt. Whereupon Monmouth B.
Hart, Sheriff, was called to the stand. On being
sworn, he stated that he was Sheriff of the County.
Received a warrant for the execution of the prisoner.
He was to have been executed this day.
I have seen the prisoner a number of times to-day;
the time of the execution was fixed at 4 o'clock, or
at the going down of the sun. I saw him about one
hour previous to calling him for execution. I stood
on the outside of the cell and saw him inside; he was
alone in the cell.
Coroner—Do you know what persons have been
in his cell to-day?
His Attornies, Alderman Graham, Mr. Selden,
Samuel Colt, Robert Emmett, Caroline Henshaw, as
I suppose, I never saw her before. I think I saw
Mr. Vultee, a deputy sheriff, in there, and a number
of gentlemen whose names I can't recollect, went in at
his request, or were requested to do so; among them
were several physicians; Rev. Dr. Anthon also went
in; the officers of the prison also, whose names, all
of them, I dont know.
I went to his cell five minutes before four o'clock;
I did not go there to lead him out to execution; I
went to admit Rev. Mr. Anthon; the cell door was
opened; Mr. Anthon attempted to go into the cell,
and retired immediately on seeing the body lying on
the cot; I then passed Mr. A. and went in myself;
I saw Colt lying on the cot with a knife sticking
in his left side; I put my hand on his face; I had
my glove on, but thought he was dead; I then
came out, and ordered the door closed; I thought it
would prevent excitement; I heard the physicians
say he was dead; the execution did not take place;
has not seen the body since this time.
I have made no examination of the cell since his
sentence, to look for dangerous weapons; but learn-
ed that Col. Jones had done so. When last I saw
him he had a pen knife; the knife I saw in his body;
I think the handle was about four inches in length,
and the blade probably the same. He said he could
not use steel pens, and therefore he was allowed a
penknife. When last I saw him, he was standing
with his face to the wall; I thought in prayer; I dis-
turbed him and said as an excuse, Mr. Hillyer, depu-
ty sheriff, wishes to see you; he was all right and
well then.
John J. C. Westervelt sworn, am under Sheriff.—
I was not in Colt's cell to-day; I saw him shaking
hands with several persons at the cell door; I last
saw him at about half-past 2 o'clock; have seen the
body since his death; the body was in the cell when
I saw it; It was in every respect as described by the
Sheriff; I have no knowledge of any person's con-
veying the knife to him.
Frederick L. Vultee, Deputy Sheriff, sworn. Have
since the sentence of Colt had charge of him. I
commenced watch last Tuesday morning, 3 o'clock,
and resumed the watch every alternate 6 hours, and
was relieved by Abm. S. Green, deputy sheriff. Have
seen Colt two or three times every watch since he
has been in my charge, and have conversed with
him. I never saw him have any dangerous weapon
but the knife and fork with which he ate. I never
saw (fatal knife shewn) this knife in his cell. Saw
one like it sticking in his body after his death.—
Have no knowledge of the means by which he pro-
cured the knife. Saw him last, alive, about 2 o'clock.
Can tell who visited him from 2 till 9 o'clock this
morning; the first person was Samuel Colt, at about
half past 6 o'clock this morning; at about 20 min-
utes to 8 o'clock, Wm. Dolson, Barber, of Centre st.
was sent for to shave him; I was present inside the
cell during the shaving. Samuel Colt called subse-
quently with Miss Henshaw. Dr. Anthon and Dr.
Francis also called. Colt and Miss H. called during
a relief to Mr. Green, who went to get his (Colt's)
dinner. John Howard Payne was also in the cell
with the parties named at this time; the High Sher-
iff was also there, and also Messrs. Graham and
Emmett; I think I have omitted to state that his
breakfast was brought in by a young man from Mr.
Cowdrey's Victualling Cellar in Center st.; the bask-
et was emptied and the young man left in my pres-
ence.
Mayor Morris—Any thing farther of persons do
you remember?
Dudley Seldon, I believe. The barber could have
left nothing without my knowledge. When the
large number of persons were present the marriage
ceremony between Colt and Miss Henshaw, took
place. I have neither remote or distinct, knowledge
as to how the knife came in his cell. Miss Henshaw
was left alone in Colt's cell a little while after the
marriage.
Abner Milliken, Coroner's Clerk, called. Have
seen the body of John C. Colt, and recognized it.
The knife now shewn was taken from the body by
Drs. McComb and Hossack. I have had no know-
ledge of Colt's custody or keeping, being attached to
the Coroner's office.
Abraham H. Green, Deputy Sheriff, sworn—Have
had Colt in custody at alternate watches, since Mon-
day last about 3 o'clock. Saw the knife here shewn,
or one similar, in Colt's body, but never saw it be-
fore. I know of no person but those mentioned by
previous witnesses having visited Colt's cell. Have
never searched his cell for dangerous weapons
otherwise than to look carefully around, nor has any
one else to my knowledge. (Witness here produced
a written letter of instructions for guarding the pri-
soner, from the Sheriff.)
J. C. Hart, stated that he wished the witness exa-
mined to show the reasons why the custody of the
prisoner was transferred from the keeper to the She-
riff.—Mayor objected.
Rev. Henry M. Anthon, sworn. I am the clergy-
man who attended deceased. I commenced visiting
him on Monday. I have made notes at my various
visits—the notes extend from Monday till Thursday.
Here the Rev. gentleman read a long account of the
various interviews with the prisoner, which was lis-
tened to throughout, with much interest by the
crowded auditory.
The witness proceeded—The foregoing notes re-
late to my visits up to Thursday. On Friday mor-
ning he expressed a wish to marry Miss Henshaw.
He gave me $500, which he had received from his
brother, which he wished me to deposite in some sa-
vings bank, and allow Miss H. after she was mar-
ried, and for the child's benefit—she to receive $20
per month. I wanted him to give me the child, to
which he objected. I agreed to stand as sponsor for
the child, and give it a religious education, as far as
I could, to which he assented. About 12 o'clock
married them, and retired, leaving them together—
about 1 o'clock, had an interview with Saml. Colt
respecting the interment. He seemed much affected
and said he had made none, and “didn't think it
would come to that.” I gave orders for the inter-
ment myself. At 20 minutes to 2 o'clock, prayed
with him and left him, wishing him to bear up with
Christian fortitude to the end.
At 20 minutes after 3 o'clock, the Sheriff called
on me, where I was in a neighboring cell, and stated
that some arrangements were necessary previous to
four o'clock; I recommended not to disturb him till
the latest moment, to which he acceded; at 4 o'clock
the Sheriff called me; we went to the cell; I was
going in, and saw something I thought unusual; the
Sheriff saw my perplexity, and exclaimed Oh! my
God he has killed himself; I was taken to one of the
other cells and know nothing more of the matter.
[The letter of instructions here read.]
Col. Wm. Jones, keeper City Prison sworn.—Have
had Colt in my custody from the second of July last
till last Monday, when the Sheriff took charge of
him; have not seen prisoner since Monday last; he
was continued in the same cell; while in the Sher-
iff's custody the opinion of the Governor was com-
municated to him on Monday morning; I then
searched his cell thoroughly and found no dangerous
weapon; his person was not searched; never saw
the knife now shewn before, nor have I any know-
ledge of the means by which it got into his posses-
sion; I had him chained, his feet manacled, last
Monday.
Dr. Jno. R. M'Comb, Physician to the City Prison,
sworn.—Previous to last Monday have visited Colt
every day, and saw him on Monday afternoon; have
seen the body since his death; the knife now shewn
was found in his body. A hole two inches square
was cut through the vest and shirt, and through this
hole and into the body about half an inch from the left
nipple, between the fourth and fifth rib, the knife was
lodged—the hole in the clothes appeared as though
done with a knife rather than scissors. I have made,
with D. Hossack, a post mortem examination of the
body. Upon raising the sternum the knife still ad-
[Col.2]
hered, and beneath the pericardium, found a great
quantity of suffused and coagulated blood. It was
the wound from the knife, which was an inch and a
half deep, was the cause of death. The heart was
pierced with the blade. On Monday he desired of
me the loan of a work on anatomy; I refused the
loan. He then put out his arm and wished me to
point out the arteries the easiest of access; I refused
to reply—thinking he meant no good—and said “you
must not ask such questions. He was much distress-
ed a the time.
Dr. Hossack, sworn—Corroborated the statements
of Dr. McComb.
Samuel Colt, brother of the deceased, sworn—I
have no knowledge of how the knife was conveyed to
the cell.
Caroline M. H. Colt, wife of deceased, sworn—I
have no knowledge as to how John C. Colt got pos-
session of the knife. The testimony here closed, and
the Coroner stated that the object of prolonging the
enquiry was to discover whether any person had
conveyed to the deceased the fatal knife. Had such
been proved, the person who committed the act
would be liable to indictment for manslaughter. As
no proof however on that point had been adduced,
they had only to find on the manner of the death of
the deceased.
The Jury rendered a verdict that, “John C. Colt
came to his death by a wound inflicted by himself
with a dirk knife in his left breast—how the knife
came into his possession, is to the Jurors unknown.”
[Col.4]
DEATH OF MARY ROGERS.
To Col. Webb:—
I noticed a statement in the Tribune of this morn-
ing, relative to a confession said to have been made
before me by the late Mrs. Loss, which is entirely
incorrect, as no such examination took place, nor
could it, from the deranged state of Mrs. Loss' mind.
Respectfully Yours,
GILBERT MERRITT.
Hoboken, Nov. 18, 1842.
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Last Day of John C. Colt—His Extra-
ordinary Suicide and Death.
In another part of this day's paper, will be found
the extraordinary suicide and death of John C. Colt,
before the hour appointed by law for his execution,
and the no less extraordinary circumstances of his
marriage to Caroline Renshaw, his final separation,
and the firing of the cupola of the Halls of Justice
about the hour at which he committed the fatal act
that closed his course on earth.
We hardly know where to begin, or how to ex-
press the feelings and thoughts which rise up in the
mind in contemplating this awful—this unexampled
—this stupendous—this most extraordinary and most
horrible tragedy. The death of Adams and the cir-
cumstances attending the fatal deed, can only be
paralleled by the trial, sentence and awful suicide of
Colt. The history of this case cannot be equalled
in its horrors by that of any criminal trial on re-
cord.
Yet it will not probably end here. The public
will demand a full investigation of the circumstan-
ces through which such a catastrophe was permit-
ted. How came Colt to ask for religious con-
solation from a clergyman, and yet to commit
suicide? The prayers said over him by
the Rev. Mr. Anthon, seem to have had little influ-
ence on his mind, when we look at the horrible ter-
mination of his life. Christianity had not penetra-
ted or pervaded the last moments of his existence
in the remotest degree. Taking all the horrid cir-
cumstances of his end into consideration, we have
every reason to believe that Governor Seward will
order an investigation into the facts—and ascertain
that no one is to blame for such a death but the un-
fortunate being himself. Toward him that was,
none can have any feeling but that of pity, commis-
seration, and deep anguish of heart. From the first
moment of his trial to the last pulsation of his ex-
istence, he seems to have been under the influence
of a false system of morals—a perverted sense of
human honor—and a sentiment that is at utter vari-
ance with the mysterious revelations of Christianity
or the sacred institutions of justice in civilized
society. The perverted principles of honor and re-
spectability, that spring from modern philoso-
phy and human pride, have precipitated him
upon the fatal precipice. These principles
arising from materialism in philosophy, and unbe-
lief in all revelation, are too rife in the world,
and may be looked upon as the principal cause of
all the licentiousness, private and public, which
seems to overwhelm the whole institutions of civi-
lized society in one mass of uproar, confusion and
despair.
We cannot say more to-day—nor could we say
less at this most momentous crisis. We have no
doubt Governor Seward will order an investigation
at once into this most unheard of—most unparallel-
ed tragedy.
—————
Colt's Suicide—Persons who were alone
with him in his Cell Yesterday.
Rev. Dr. Anthon.
Dudley Selden.
Samuel Colt.
Caroline Henshaw.
Sheriff Hart.
In addition to the above, David Graham and
Robert Emmett visited him together, when no other
persons were present. Also John Howard Payne,
and Lewis Gaylord Clarke visited him with Samuel
Colt. Who gave him the knife?
—————
STAR GAZING.—Yesterday afternoon a bright star
was seen in the southeastern sky—the sun shining
bright at the time. The weather was clear, and dry
and cold. Hundreds of people were gazing from
the corner of every street. Some supposed it had
reference to Colt—others that it was only the ap-
proach of the 23d of April, 1843, as prophesied by
Father Miller. It was only the planet Venus.
[Col.4. Mostly a changed copy from Herald]
[From our Extra of yesterday afternoon.]
Colt's Suicide and Burning of the City
Prison.
FRIDAY, TWO O'CLOCK, P. M.
The preparations for the execution of John C. Colt
were all made at an early hour this morning.
The messenger sent to Albany returned at an early
hour with the information that the Chancellor had
peremptorily refused to grant a Writ of Error on the
second application of the counsel of Colt. Senator
Verplanck has also replied to a letter of Colt's coun-
sel in which he agrees with the position taken by
Benjamin F. Butler, Esq. and Joseph C. Hart, Esq.
counsel of the Sheriff, who backed the last appli-
cation to the Chancellor, for the purpose of having
...
The gallows was erected early in the morn-
ing. It consisted merely of two upright posts,
and one transversely placed. Through the centre of
...
At nine o'clock the outer door of his cell was
opened and the usual breakfast of the prisoners
served up in their different cells. The sliding of
...
At about half past 11 o'clock Messrs. Graham and
Emmett, his counsel, visited his cell and remained
...
Sheriff, John Howard Payne, and Colt's brother. She
...
was erected, contrived to get a view of the scaffold
by holding a piece of looking glass from the small
apertures in the side of the cell, the reflection of
which brought it to their sight. From every cell an
arm could be seen with a piece of glass in the fingers,
evincing that the holder was anxiously waiting for
the hour of execution.
At this period of the eventful day, the scene was
exciting and thrilling in the extreme. Within that
...
[Col.5]
Colt then desired to see the Sheriff, who went into
...
he said, “I've spoken harshly of some of the
press, but I do not blame you at all; it was all my
own fault; there were things that ought to have
been explained, which were left unexplained; I
...
Sheriff apprehending that he might attempt to com-
mit suicide, one of the Deputy Sheriff's, Hillyer,
went to his cell door, and requested to wish him
“good bye.” Colt was then walking up and down
...
——
SUICIDE OF JOHN C. COLT.
FOUR O'CLOCK, P. M.
We had written the whole of the above at a ¼ to 3
P. M. this afternoon. At that time Colt was alive.
No one entered his cell till precisely 5 minutes to
four o'clock, at which time Sheriff Hart and Wester-
velt, dressed in uniform, with Dr. Anthon, proceed-
ed to the cell. On the keeper opening the
...
open, and his eyes partly open. Dr. Hosack and
several others went into his cell, and pronounced
him dead.
...
that in the confusion arising from the fire, and the
mob breaking into the Tombs, Colt would either
have made his escape, or he would not have been
hung.
It caught accidentally from a stove that was in
the cupola, the whole outside work of which was
consumed.
The conduct of those concerned needs no com-
mentary. The public will pass judgment on them!
We have more to say about his visitors hereafter.
EIGHT O'CLOCK, P. M.
THE CORONER'S INQUEST.—At the hour of seven
o'clock Coroner Archer, with a jury selected by his
deputy, Abner Milliken, Esq., assembled in the
Court Room of the General Sessions in order to in-
vestigate the cause of the death of John C. Colt.
The Court Room was crowded to excess as soon as
the doors were opened, and the galleries filled to
overflowing by the anxious spectators. The Coro-
ner was accompanied by His Honor Mayor Morris,
Aldermen Crolius, Stewart and Smith. Order be-
ing restored, the following gentlemen were sworn
as jurors:—Allan M. Sniffen, Joseph Keeler, Wm.
H. Prall, Fenelon Hasbrouck, David D. Bradford,
Henry McShee, Robert A. Sands, Thomas Betts,
Dr. John Sickels, George Pirnie, D. D. Addison,
Dr. J. W. Duvall, George Fisby, Lester Wilson,
John Burrows, John Ryker, Jr., John Horspool, Jr.,
David Vandervoort, James B. Greenman, Thomas
Dunlap, F. S. Stranahan, Samuel Nichols, Jr.
The jury having been qualified they proceeded to
the City Prison in order to examine the body of
Colt, and on their return—
MONMOUTH B. HART, sheriff of the county of New
York, was called and sworn and deposed as follows:
—I have a warrant for the execution of John C.
Colt, who was to have been executed this day—I saw
the deceased to-day several times—his execution
was to have taken place at 4 o'clock, on the going
down of the sun, according to his request—I had
seen him one hour before the time that I found him;
he was alone in the cell at that time—David Gra-
ham, Dudley Selden, Samuel Colt, Robert Emmett,
Caroline Henshaw, Deputy Sheriff Vultee, and a
number of other gentlemen whose names I cannot
recollect were in his cell during the day—a number
of physicians were also in his cell during the day.
The Rev. Dr. Anthon was in his cell several times,
as also the officers of the prison whose names I do
not know—I went to his cell to open the door at five
minutes before 4 o'clock in the afternoon to admit
Dr. Anthon—he attempted to go into the cell, and
upon seeing the body immediately stepped back—
I then passed him and went in myself and saw
Colt lying on the cot with a knife sticking in his left
side. I put my hands on his face, and supposing that
he was dead I retired, and ordered the doors to be
closed; it was afterwards ascertained that he was
dead, and the execution did not take place. I have
not seen the body since, as the Coroner took charge
of it and locked the cell door. I have not examined
the cell of Colt since he has been in my charge, that
is since the sentence. Col. Jones, the keeper of the
prison, has informed me that he examined the cell
thoroughly. I have no knowledge of any person
carrying a deadly weapon into his cell. He was
allowed to keep his penknife, because he said he
did not use steel pens, and I left the knife with him
that he might use it to make pens to write with; the
penknife is not the one that he killed himself with.
I saw him the last time when Mr. Hillyer parted
with him at about a quarter before 3 o'clock.
JOHN J. V. WESTERVELT, under sheriff, was called
and sworn.—I saw the deceased at half past two for
the last time; I have seen the body since and re-
cognize it as the body of John C. Colt; I have no
knowledge of any person having conveyed the
knife to him with which he committed suicide.
FREDERICK L. VULTEE, Deputy Sheriff called and
sworn. I have had charge of prisoner since Tues-
day morning last at 3 o'clock, and resumed my
watch every alternate six hours. I was relieved by
Abraham H. Green, deputy sheriff. I have seen
him frequently since he has been in my charge; two
or three times during my watch have conversed
with him. I have never seen any dangerous instru-
ment in his cell, except a knife and fork with which
he ate. I never saw the knife here exhibited
before to-day, and then it was in his body.—
I have no knowledge of the means by which
he procured his instrument. The first per-
son who visited deceased this morning, was Samuel
Colt, which was at about half past six o'clock. At
about twenty minutes of 8, William Dolsen was
sent for to shave him; I was present in the cell
while he shaved him. Samuel Colt was the next
person who called, and brought Miss Caroline Hen-
[Col.6]
shaw with him. Then came Dr. Anthon, who
also entered the cell. John Howard Payne also
went it, and the Sheriff, Robert Emmett and David
Graham, Jr. His breakfast was brought in at
this time by a young man from Mr. Cowdrey's
victualling celler—it was brought in a basket
and the contents taken out in my presence—
Dudley Selden was also in his cell during my relief
of Mr. Green. His brother, Samuel Colt, was with
him alone this morning; at the time that these per-
sons were in the cell, I was informed that the mar-
riage ceremony took place between the deceased
and Miss Henshaw. I have no knowledge of the
manner in which the knife was given to him. Miss
Henshaw came into the cell for the first time on
Thursday morning.
ABNER MILLIKEN, deputy coroner, was sworn.—
I have seen the body in the city prison, and recog-
nize it as the body of John C. Colt; the knife brought
in by me was taken from the wound inflicted on
the body of Colt; it was taken out by Drs. Hosack
and Macomb.
WILLIAM H. GREEN, deputy sheriff, sworn.—I
have had charge of Colt since Monday afternoon at
intervals. I saw the handle of a knife resembling
the one here shown sticking from the body of Colt.
I do not know how it was brought into the cell; I
never made any search in the cell to ascertain whe-
ther there were any instruments in it to cause death.
The instructions given to these deputies by the
Sheriff were handed to the Coroner.
REV. HENRY ANTHON was called and sworn.—
My visitations commenced on Monday, and before
I proceed to be examined, I would wish to read the
notes I have taken each day. The Reverend gen-
tleman here commenced reading his notes, which
occupied some length of time. They contained a
diary of each day's interview with :Colt, in which
it appears that deceased expressed a belief in fu-
ture rewards and punishments, and that he united
with Dr. Anthon in prayer on Tuesday, at his se-
cond interview. On the third meeting he confessed
his belief in Christ, and the justice of his Creator.
He solemnly declared that he committed the mur-
der of Adams in self-defense, and said that he
should not die with a lie upon his lips, and that he
was prepared to meet his God with such a declara-
tion. He also complained against the publications
in some of the penny papers. The third interview
the question of suicide was alluded to, when he re-
plied that he had no such intention. His child and
mistress were spoken of, and upon a suggestion of Dr.
Anthon in relation to his marrying Miss Henshaw,
he said he would consult his friends and decide upon
it. In the interview on Friday he handed me the sum
of $500, which he said had been given to him by
his brother. I counted the money, and he requested
me to pay over to his intended wife $20 per month
as long as it lasted. I told him that I would stand
sponsor for the child, and give a receipt for the mo-
ney, as soon as they were married. I married them
about 11 o'clock, and Colt exhorted his wife to lead
a religious life, and endeavor to bring up the child
and educate it. I offered to take the child, and
bring it up as far as was in my power; but he said
his relatives desired to have the care of it. In the
last interview with him, which was about two
o'clock, he asked for a watch, which was given him
by one of the deputies, and he compared it with
the time of the Sheriff. On leaving him, I told him
to die with Christian fortitude—and he said, “Yes,
I will die with Christian fortitude.” I went to the
door of the cell in company with the Sheriff, and
found deceased lying dead on the cot. I know
nothing of the manner in which the knife was given
to deceased.
COL. WM. JONES, keeper of the city prison, call-
ed and sworn:—John C. Colt was in my custody
from July 2nd to Monday afternoon last—since then
he has been in charge of the sheriff. I took a re-
ceipt from the sheriff when I delivered him over. I
have not seen deceased since Monday last. He
remained in the same cell after the sheriff took him
into custody as before. I searched his cell on Mon-
day morning of this week, but found no dangerous
instruments. We gave it a thorough search, and
was satisfied that there was nothing in his cell at
that time that we could find of a nature to destroy
life. I have never seen the knife here shown be-
fore, nor have I any knowledge as to how it came
into his cell. I had chains placed on his feet on
Monday.
DR. JOHN R. MACOMB, physician of the city pri-
son, sworn:—I visited the prisoner frequently until
Monday last, but have not seen him since. I have
seen his body—the knife here shown was in his bo-
dy—a hole was cut in his vest and shirt, about three
inches in diameter, and the knife was inserted half
an inch below the nipple of the left side, and be-
tween the fourth and fifth ribs—on the upper margin
of the fifth rib. I made a post mortem examination
of the body in company with Dr. Hosack—the knife
was inserted an inch and a half in the left ventricle
of the heart—he must have understood the anat-
omy of his body to have produced such a result. I
could not have done it better myself.—
On Monday last, deceased desired to borrow a
work on anatomy from me, but I refused to let him
have it—he then desired to know which of the ves-
sels in the arm would produce the easiest death, but
I told him I should not tell him.
Dr. ALEXANDER HOSACK was called and sworn,
and confirmed the statement of Dr. Macomb.
SAMUEL COLT, brother of deceased, was then
sworn. I have no knowledge of the manner in
which the knife, here exhibited, was procured or
given to deceased.
Mrs. CAROLINE COLT, late Henshaw, was sworn.
I have no knowledge of the manner in which John
C. Colt became possessed of the knife with which he
committed suicide.
The Coroner then addressed the Jury, stating that
the investigation had been continued for the pur-
pose of endeavoring to ascertain whether any per-
son had given the knife to deceased, in order that
he might commit suicide, as such an act would
render the person liable to an indictment for man-
slaughter. There being no proof to establish evi-
dence against any particular person, he said he
should pass the matter into their hands for a verdict
in accordance with the evidence.
Some of the jurors requested to see the knife,
which was handed them, and they retired to a pri-
vate room to prepare their verdict.
The Jury returned a verdict that John C. Colt
came to his death by a wound inflicted by himself
in his left breast with a knife, but the Jury are un-
able to say by what means he became possessed of
the knife.
The body was enclosed in a coffin, and interred
in a vault in St. Mark's burying ground last even-
ing after the inquest was held.
——
The following is the letter of the Chancellor in
...
—————
...
FIGHTS YESTERDAY.—One in Broadway, near Canal;
two in Water; one at the Hook, and about half-a-dozen at
the Five Points and elsewhere. Where were the police?
================================================================
[Col.3]
From the N. Y. Sun, EXTRA, of yesterday.
SUICIDE OF JOHN C. COLT.
This unfortunate man was condemned to die this
afternoon at 4 o'clock. The gallows was prepared,
the spectators eagerly assembled to witness the exe-
cution, when Mr. Callender, clerk of the Police
Office, announced that John C. Colt was dead—
had committed suicide in his cell.
It appears he had asked, at 1 o'clock, to be left
alone in his cell so that he might prepare for death.
On going to his cell at the time appointed for exe-
cution it was found that he had committed suicide
by stabbing himself to the heart with a dirk-knife.
Thus perished this unhappy man.
An alarm of fire immediately succeeded, and the
cupalo of the prison, with a portion of the front
building, were in a short time destroyed.
When John C. Colt found the sentence of death
must be carried into effect, he resigned himself to
his fate with the most perfect composture. Some
friends who had exerted themselves in his behalf,
and who had his warm and affectionate confidence
called on him to say there remained no farther hope
of reprieve, and receive his last wishes. We alone
of those connected with the press are in possession
of the substance of this conversation, and though
it was not intended for publication, we are permit-
ed to give it to the world, in order to set at rest the
numerous assertions and surmises that are afloat
with regard to his last sentiments.
John C. Colt had an intelligent face, a frank, win-
ning smile, that prepossessed one involuntarily in
his favor—an easy and graceful figure, and man-
ners at once cordial and self-possessed. After a
few words of sympathy, and request that he would
repose all his hopes on the clemency of Eternal
Truth, he leaned his arm on the little table in his
cell, and shading his face with his hand, seemed
lost in thought.
“His face was not so completely covered,” says
our informant, “but that I could observe the sad
but resigned gentleness of its expression.” After
a pause he said in a low tone, as if communicating
with himself, “If from my grave the voice of truth
would be heard, I am willing to pay even this price.”
I ventured to express regret and surprise that the
application to the Governor had been unsuccessful,
and particularly after the opinion of so many able
physicians had been cautiously and solemnly ex-
pressed that the unfortunate Adams must have
come to his death precisely as he had stated, by
blows inflicted in a sudden and violent quarrel—in
self-defence, and without forethought or premedita-
tion. Colt raised his head, and steadily and calm-
ly met my eyes as he said, “God, who will judge
me in a few hours, knows that it is true. I was
his friend, and he abused my friendship—I asked
him to be just, and he insulted me—I remonstrated,
and he struck me—I resisted, and he was the vic-
tim then as I am now, to hasty and ill-regulated
feelings.”
He was silent for a moment, and then said with
a quiet smile, “Why should man fear to die—the
real evil would be to live always in this world of
sorrow and injustice. Without the sympathy of
my kind, and the confidence of friendship, life
would be intolerable. A right conscience might
enable me to endure it, but there could be no enjoy-
ment.”
“It seems to me,” he said after another pause,
“that when the spirit of vindictive justice is ap-
peased by my death, community will examine
with more patience and candor than Gov. Seward
has done, the evidence in palliation of my fault,
and with one voice acquit me of premeditated mur-
der.”
“I too,” said his afflicted friend, whose emotion
hardly allowed him to speak—“I too firmly be-
lieve, that when they have taken your life, with
every formality, and put it beyond their own pow-
er to be just, they will recollect that you did not
seek Adams—that you had no interest in his death
—and that it was evident you struck while in his
angry grasp. Yes—you will be acquitted of every
thing but that terrible concealment.”
Colt covered his face, and a shudder—half-con-
trolled, but still perceptible—ran through his frame,
as he whispered—“that terrible attempt at conceal-
ment was the concentrated energy of desparation.”
I saw that point was inexpressibly painful, and
again led him back to speak of the efforts of a large
number of citizens in his behalf. He manifested
an earnest and touching gratitude for their kind-
ness, and canvassed the conduct and motives of
those who wished his death, without resentment,
and in an astonishing tone of cool impartiality.
“I think,” said he, “that standing as I do in the
shadow of the gateway of death, I see men and acts
with the more distinctness, undazzled by its glare
and excitement. * * It would seem Jesuitical,
if it were not so boyish, in Governor Seward to
talk of refusing to pardon me—as if a pardon had
been sought instead of a respite of a few weeks. *
* I little thought when, previous to his election,
I told silly anecdotes that I hardly believed myself,
of his timidity, self-love and insincerity, that he
would ever hold my destiny in his hands. * *
He knows my thoughtless disrespectful expressions
—I am aware some persons conceived it their duty
several months ago to repeat them to him, but that
is not the reason he ran counter to all his former
declarations in favor of mercy and refused my
friends a short respite that might have saved a hu-
man life, and could in no case thwart the course of
justice. I know what influence it is that was more
powerful over his mind than the petition of some
thousand citizens and the opinion of the physicians
and lawyers who desired a review of the case. * *
It is useless to give the true causes—it could do no
good, and here on the brink of the grave I lay aside
anger and uncharitableness with this useless rai-
ment.” Who are so severe in their ideas of right
that nothing but the death of the sinner can satisfy
them? “But the Gov. says it is your obduracy,”
I took courage to say.
“It is obduracy to adhere to the truth? I am
conscious I have many sins to atone for, but I did
not mean to shed blood. I know not what I did;
and it would be falsehood, and not repentance, to
say the contrary. They must, at least. I am no
hypocrite.”
“But I trust you feel at peace with all men, I ob-
served; “with the jury who condemned—the
judge who sentenced—and those who did not think
it their duty to grant a new trial?”
“Yes, I am at peace with all—every one,” said
Colt softly. “I have said, and still think, that
there was a strong current of prejudice against me;
and, after my trial, there was a professional pride,
which would, on no account, suffer its decisions to
be contradicted, and which would think my execu-
tion of little moment compared to the vexation of a
judge being convicted of an error of judgment.”
“I heard you were reconciled to your fate,” I ob-
served; “but I fear you are not.”
“I am resigned, but not reconciled to die a shame-
ful death, knowing, as I do, the law would not pro-
nounce me guilty if the whole truth could be told.”
There was an energy and decision in his words,
that, when repeated, gave them an air of hard-heart-
edness, which they have not heard in connection
with his open and sincere manner. He has evident-
ly been accustomed to look at things in a bold and
independent way, without the least regard to the
opinion of others. An incessant, unfriended strug-
gle with adverse fortune has taught him in all cases
to depend on himself only—to look abroad neither
for counsel or aid—hardly for sympathy; and his
iron self-reliance,—in most cases a tower of
strength to its possessor,—was to him, in an unfor-
tunate crisis, the rock of destruction. A firm adhe-
rence to his own views has armed public opinion
against him. “A more timid or more hypocritical
man would have bent to the popular feeling and
escaped,” he said on another occasion; “but the
world will not pardon a man who does not fear it.”
Yet with this unyielding temper, there seemed
mixed no shade of anger, and there was an expres-
sion difficult to describe, and amounting almost to
a kind of foregoing contempt, in his manner of
speaking of Gov. Seward. Yet, withal, there was
a deep and solemn recollection that he had done
with life. The one leading and strong feeling was
a wish intense to agony, to have his case wholly and
perfectly understood. For that alone he wished
for life. It had dwelt and burdened in his mind
until it almost amounted to monomania. But un-
bending as he was in his declaration that his death
was a cold judicial murder, he did not seem unre-
pentent or stern. When he turned to his brother,
and spoke of his true and tender kindness, and his
devoted self-sacrificing friendship, his eyes filled
with tears, and his voice faltered. “For his sake
—for his sake alone, would I readily die, if my
death will bring in full light of truth. A little more
time—six weeks more of life, and my fellow-men
would have been more just.”
“Think no more of this world, my dear friend,”
said my companion, taking his hand; “a better
one lays before you.”
“You are right,” said Colt, affectionately pres-
sing his hand. “You are right. It is only my
boundless trust in the infinate goodness of our Cre-
ator that has kept me from madness. A year in
these narrow walls would have crushed me, if I had
not felt that God is present even here—had not for-
saken me.” With that quiet sad smile which is
more melancholy than a sigh, he laid his hand on
a bible that lay on a pine table, and said, “some
have supposed that I was dead to the instruction
and consolation contained in this volume, but I am
not so lost.” He continued to speak of the cheer-
ing hopes he entertained of a happy hereafter—of
[Col.4]
his trust in the efficacy of the Divine Atonement—
and his disbelief in endless punishments—“He
could not so understand the Scriptures.” His re-
ligious opinions were fixed. When, at last he
spoke of “his poor Caroline,” he was completely
unmanned. “When our acquaintance commenc-
ed,” he said, “I had never reflected on the nature
and consequences of such offences. I even took a
sort of credit to myself for being less criminal than
most young men. Our situation was peculiar, and
I was weak enough to think a marriage impossible.
At the very time of my arrest, however, I was con-
templating the only reparation I could make for the
injury she had sustained through me. I do not say
it to excuse myself, but to condemn the general
tone of feeling on the subject; but situated precise-
ly as I was, had I obeyed the dictates of justice and
pure morality, the whole world would have pronounced
me a fool. Had Caroline been a cold selfish, cal-
culating woman, instead of a confiding, enthusiastic
true-hearted girl, she would have saved her repu-
tation. Society will good naturedly tolerate cer-
toin phases of vice, while virtue herself will be de-
cried if “she walk not not in the fashion.” Colt
was eager to do whatever remained in his power
for Caroline.
It appears, that, from the beginning, Colt was anx-
ious to sanctify by marriage their unlucky connec-
tion; but that, at first, it was delayed because her
testimony was thought of importance to Colt, as, if
she was his wife, she could not be a witness—
though he was willing to forego that advantage, if,
by so doing, she could be benefitted. For herself,
she seemed to have no thought, wish, or purpose
beyond his life—on that hung her existence. If he
was spared, all was well; if he was not, the world
was nought to her. The advice of friends had
thus far arrested his intentions, but now he would
not be refused. “He wished to die the husband by
every rite of the woman he had taught to consider
herself his wife. Whenever he attempted to speak
of her sufferings, and the bitter dowry of scorn and
insult his name would entail upon her, and their
innocent helpless child, tears and sobs “such as
break the strong man's heart” would choke him.
“This, this,” said he, “will unman me at the last
hour.”
The erring pair had not met since his sentence,
and the heart-broken Caroline Henshaw was led
to the cell of the condemned man, to decide wheth-
er she would bear unmarried, or as the widow of
an executed murderer, her inevitable life-long infa-
my. The sad interview overcame them both, yet
each felt only for the other. Either would have
borne their burden with patience, if assured it could
be borne alone. Neither would admit the other
was to blame, and only deplored the separation. It
was an ill-fated and criminal love, but it was stron-
ger than death—and is full of deep warning to the
young.
The marriage ceremony was solemn. Two be-
ings, yet in the glory of life, were to be united, only
to be separated again by a fearful death. They
clasped hands over a yawning grave. In the nar-
row cell of a prison, the clergymen gave to the
weeping Caroline for one day the name of wife.—
Colt was firmest of the party; he would have sooth-
his distracted partner—but she would not be com-
forted. The clergyman, unable to endure the scene,
withdrew, and for a few moments they were per-
mitted to converse; but the rulers of the prison
bounded this indulgence—and unable to endure the
eyes of indifferent observers in this hour of misery,
the wife, paralyzed and passive with extreme grief
was led away. After her departure, Colt address-
ed himself to his last preparations, and continued
to the end, calm, if not resigned.
——————————
From the N. Y. Tribune.
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY EXPLAIN-
ED.
The terrible mystery which for more then a
...
even go to identify it, and no enquiries concerning
the affair.
================================================================
[Col.3. Partly from Tribune]
THE LAST ACT OF THE TRAGEDY.
All applications for the pardon or reprieve of Colt
having failed, the Sheriff of the county made the
necessary preparations yesterday for carrying into ef-
fect the sentence of the law. The prisoner having
requested that the hour of execution should be put
off as long as possible, the Sheriff agreed to delay it
until 4 o'clock, at which hour—in answer to an ap-
peal from Colt that he would hot hang him—the
Sheriff assured him that he must die. From an ear-
ly hour in the morning there was a constant rush to
the Tomb for admission to witness the awful cere-
mony, and some three hundred persons, it is stated,
were collected in the prison yard when the gallows
was erected. Of the events of the day we take the
following account from the Tribune:
Colt was engaged nearly all night in writing a reply
...
became red hot, and thus set the cupola on fire.
An inquest was held last evening upon the body,
the report of which we have placed on our outer
page. Long after the verdict of the Jury was pro-
nounced, however, the crowd remained around the
Tombs, and it was impossible to satisfy the mass of
spectators that Colt was really dead. The long de-
lay, the repeated though fruitless trials for pardon or
reprieve, the announcment of the suicide, the ex-
traordinary coincidence, certainly, of the fire, at the
very moment almost of execution—for, as Dr. An-
thon opened the cell door, the bell tolled out its first
alarm—all together, roused the feelings of the
crowd to a high pitch of excitement. As the night
advanced, however, the crowd began to disperse;
and thus ended a day, which, for excitement, has
been rarely equalled in this city—at all events, of
late years.
[Col.4. Partly from Courier]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY is, as will be seen
by the annexed denial from Justice Merritt, yet a
mystery as far as the late developments are con-
cerned.
To COL. WEBB—DEATH OF MARY ROGERS—I no-
ticed a statement in the Tribune of this morning, rela-
tive to a confession said to have been made before me
by the late Mrs. Loss, which is entirely incorrect, as no
such examination took place, nor could it, from the de-
ranged state of Mrs. Loss' mind.
Respectfully yours, GILBERT MERRITT.
Hoboken, Nov. 18, 1842.
—————
...
The planet Venus was distinctly visible yesterday
from 3 o'clock P. M. to its setting—even when the sun
was shining very brightly—owing doubtless to the unu-
sual purity of the atmosphere. Groups of people were
collected at the corners of the different streets, speculat-
ing as to the cause of this unusual appearance; and the
popular imagination, what with the star, the suicide, and
the fire, ran wild.
We have rarely witnessed more excitement than was
exhibited at and about the Tombs until a late hour last
night.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MIDNIGHT CRY!—Those who believe that
the conflagration of the world is to take place on
the fourth of July next—we think that is the
day—have established a daily evening paper in
this city, of which the first two numbers are before
us, bearing the title of the Midnight Cry.
It gives some account of the breaking up of the
camp meeting at Newark. The substance of cer-
tain addresses made on that occasion by Miller, the
founder of the Second Advent sect, and Brother
Joshua V. Himes, editor of the Midnight Cry, are
given. Mr. Himes vindicated the sect from the
charge of fanaticism, and said that they pretended
to no inspiration or supernatural light, but merely
appealed to scripture history and sober argument.
He remarked:
“We have continual calls to give lectures all
over the country; as we can't do this, we publish
books to speak for us. This they call a specula-
tion, and they say Brother Miller has made a for-
tune by his writings. Why he hasn't made enough
to pay for the paper and ink on which his books
were written. Others go round to preach against
us and charge 25 cents admission; we charge
nothing. We have pitched our great tent eight
times, in places 500 miles apart. The devil has
gone before us and circulated that we charge $1
for admission. We never did; we never thought
of such a thing. Our enemies have manufactured
the lie out of whole cloth.
...
Mr. Miller vindicated himself from the charge of
making a pecuniary speculation of his doctrines.—
He had nothing to do with the finances or the
books of the denomination. He owned, he said, no
property in the world, but a farm at Low Hampton,
and had erected no buildings except a small shed
or outhouse twelve feet square, on his farm, and
this was done by his son three or four years ago.
It appears that the Second Advent Christians
have another newspaper at Boston, styled The
Signs of the Times. There is a number of cham-
pions of the doctrines of Miller, who are travelling
the country and giving public lectures.
The Midnight Cry gives the following account of
Miller:
William Miller was born at Pittsfield, Mass.,
Feb. 15, 1782. When he was four years of age, his
father removed to the town of Hampton, Washing-
ton County, New York, the present residence of
Mr. Miller. The country was then new, and his
means of education, till nine years of age, were
very small. His mother, however, taught him to
read, so that when he was sent to the common
school, he could read in the Bible, Psalter, and
an old Hymn Book, which at that time constituted
the whole of his father's library. After his ninth
year, he was sent to school three months in the
year, till he was fourteen. During this time he
was noted by his companions as a prodigy for learn-
ing, as they called it, particularly in the branches
of spelling, reading, and writing. At the age of
fourteen, he became anxious to obtain books to
read. The first history he obtained was Robinson
Crusoe; and the first novel he ever saw was Rob-
ert Boyle. He read them with avidity, and being
...
In the last war with Great Britain, he received
a captain's commission in the United States' ser-
vice, and served in the army until the twenty-fifth
of June, 1815, after peace was declared. He then
moved to his present residence, Low Hampton,
where, in the year following, 1816, he was con-
verted from deism to the Christian faith, and
united with the regular Baptist church in that
place, of which he is now a member in good standing.
[Col.4]
SUICIDE OF COLT.—John C. Colt was to have
been executed yesterday morning, according to sen-
tence, for the murder of Samuel Adams; every
effort having been made to respite him, without
effect. Accordingly, the Sheriff (Monmouth B.
Hart, Esq.) yesterday, at an early hour, repaired to
the prison, the necessary preparations having been
previously made for the consummation of the awful
sentence of the laws. He visited him in his cell;
and, to appearance, Colt seemed to have regained
a possession of mind that he previously had main-
tained throughout the trial, &c., but which, within
the last few days, had deserted him.
He was visited by several persons during the
forenoon, and about 12 o'clock, (no time having
been definitely fixed for his execution,) his brother,
accompanied by Caroline Henshaw, his mistress,
went to his cell, and at his urgent request the
Revd. Dr. Anthon united the ill-fated and wretched
man with that female in the holy bonds of matri-
mony, Messrs. John Howard Payne, David Gra-
ham, Justice Merritt, the Sheriff, Robt. Emmett
and his brother Samuel Colt being present to wit-
ness the ceremony.
Soon after this, his brother and Caroline Hen-
shaw left the prison, and he then made a request to
be left alone as he had considerable writing to do
previous to the time of his execution, and which
he had himself requested might be deterred to the
latest moment that the law would allow.
The Sheriff complied, and he was left alone from
about two o'clock, with the exception of one or
two persons visiting him in his cell to bid him
adieu.
At about fifteen minutes before four o'clock,
(that hour having been appointed for the execu-
tion,) the Sheriff proceeded, in company with Dr.
Anthon and some other citizens, to apprize him
that the time for his execution had arrived, when
on the door being opened he was discovered lying
on the bed a corpse, having added the crime of
suicide to that of murder, by taking his own life
with a bowie knife, the blade of which was about
six inches long, and which had perforated his
heart.
The interior of the prison was crowded, some
three or four hundred persons being present, and
anxiously awaiting his being brought out of his
cell to undergo the sentence of the law.
On the fact being communicated that he had
destroyed himself, the excitement was intense, and
it was scarcely possible to convince the vast as-
semblage outside of the prison that such was the
fact.
At this moment, an alarm of fire was given; and
it was discovered that the wooden tower, recently
erected over the vestibule of the prison, was on
fire.
THE INQUEST.
The Coroner immediately apprised the Mayor
of the fact and issued his warrants for the appear-
ance of Dr. Anthon, Samuel Colt and the female
Henshaw, and at 7 o'clock convened a Jury of
twenty-two persons, consisting of the following
persons:
Allen M. Sniffen, Joseph Keeler, Wm. H. Prall,
...
The panel having been sworn, the Coroner pro-
ceeded to the examination into the death of the
ill-fated man; the inquest being held in the Ses-
sion Court Room. The Mayor and Alderman
Smith supporting him on the right, and Alder-
man Crolius and Stewart on the left. The room
was crowded to excess.
The Jurors were desired to leave the Court room
and view the body; this having been done, and
on their return from his cell, the theatre of the
suicidal act, the examination was proceeded
with.
Monmouth B. Hart, (the Sheriff,) was the first
...
John W. Westervelt, the under sheriff, sworn—
...
Frederick L. Vultee, one of the deputy sheriffs,
swornhad charge of Colt from three o'clock on—
Tuesday morning; resumed his watch every six
...
Abner Milliken, the clerk to the Coroner, testi-
...
Abraham H. Green, a deputy Sheriff, who was
the relief at every six hours with Mr. Vultee, was
...
The Rev. Dr. Henry Anthon, sworn—attended
Colt as his minister of the Gospel; had visited him
since last Monday, and had taken notes from that
time up to Thursday of what had taken place be-
tween Colt and himself—(he read his memoranda)
—it was merely a relation of religious interviews
or conversations, from which he came to the con-
clusion that the frame of Colt's mind in nowise in-
dicated any idea or intent to commit suicide, and
his averment of having committed the act in de-
priving Mr. Adams of his life in self-defense, com-
plaining bitterly of the stand the press had taken
against him; spoke of his child and the mother,
and felt disposed to make that mother his wife.—
Saw him this morning about 9 o'clock; expressed
his desire to be united to Miss Henshaw, and ma-
nifested a deep interest in the child—handed a
package containing $500, for its benefit, to the
witness, who proffered to become sponsor for it,
which was eagerly accepted by him. Soon af-
ter this, Mr. Saml. Colt, (his brother,) appeared
with Miss Henshaw and some other persons, and,
at his request in their presence, I united the pris-
oner to the female in the bonds of matrimony. My
last interview with Colt was about 2 o'clock; I
prayed with him, and he asked the time, and re-
quested that all who wished to take leave of him
would do so, as he wished to be left alone. I then
left him and went into an adjoining cell, where I
remained till the Sheriff came to me, nearly 4 o'-
clock, to give the signal for the execution, and
on going to Mr. Colt's cell beheld him lying dead
on the bed; had no knowledge how he obtained
the knife.
The instructions of the sheriff to the deputies,
Vultee and Green, was here read, in which he di-
rected them to allow any intercourse to be permitted
between the prisoner and his friends, such inter-
course being always in the presence of one or other
of those deputized by him.
William Jones, the keeper of the City Prison
was next examined, he delivered the prisoner over
to the sheriff last Monday evening, searched his
cell in the morning and found no dangerous wea-
pon. [The knife was here produced,] had never
seen that knife before. Colt was manacled while
I had charge of him.
Dr. John R. McComb, (the prison physician)
sworn, I visit the prison daily, have done so for a
...
day, he requested the loan of a book on anatomy,
[Col.5]
and to point out the arteries most easily reached, I
told him I could not comply with either request.
Dr. Alexander H. Hosack, sworn, assisted Dr.
...
Samuel Colt, (the brother of the deceased,)
...
Catharine Henshaw, (now Mrs. Colt,) sworn—
Had no knowledge how John C. Colt became pos-
sessed of the knife.
There being no evidence that the knife was given
to the deceased by any person whilst in his cell.
The jury found a verdict of death by a wound in-
flicted by himself with a knife in his left breast, but
the Jury are unable to say by what means he came
possessed of the knife. He was 32 years of age;
born in Connecticut.
Thus has terminated the mortal career of John
C. Colt, and perhaps a scene of such excitement
has never before been witnessed in this city as that
which seemed to pervade a large portion of the
community yesterday. Every avenue to the pri-
son was densely thronged throughout the day and
when the fact of his having committed suicide was
made known, the excitement can better be ima-
gined then described.
His body remained in the prison, and will be re-
moved by his relatives this day for interment.
The burning of the tower over the vestibule of
prison was purely accidental, a stove was lighted
and left burning, the attendants, from the excite-
ment and curiosity, having left it, and by some
means the wood work became heated and ignited.
—————
SUICIDE.—A man named Robert Darris, a native
of Ireland, a carpenter by trade, and who for a
number of years had lived and worked for Mr. Mo-
ris, of Morrisiana, Westchester county, was dis-
covered on Thursday morning in the work-shop,
in the act of committing suicide by cutting his
throat with a chisel, one of the implements of his
trade; he had so far accomplished his purpose
that it was found necessary to convey him to our
City Hospital, where he died yesterday morning at
eight o'clock, from the effect of the wound. He
had been partially deranged for the last three or
four days. Verdict, suicide by cutting his throat
with a chisel, being at the time deranged.
================================================================
[Col.1. More in Courier / Partly in Pleasantries about Courts and Lawyers of the State of New York. 1867]
LIFE and LETTERS of JOHN C. COLT.
——
From the N. Y. Sun.
The sentence of the law has been passed, and the
time of its execution is drawing hourly nearer to the
prisoner. Let us look at the life, adventures, and
character of a man whose approaching end is so tra-
gical.
John C. Colt is of English descent, and he traces
his ancestry back to Sir John Coult. His first Ame-
rican ancestor, John Colt, was born at Hartford, in
1658, his father having emigrated at an early period
of the history of that colony, from Colchester, Eng-
land. John Caldwell Colt was born at Hartford in
1810, and is consequently thirty-two years of age.
His juvenile characteristics were a fondness for
boying sports, extreme bravery, or decision of cha-
racter; and great generosity of disposition, inclining
him to take sides with the weaker party in all juve-
nile quarrels. His daring was remarkable; so that
he seldom came to blows; and though often called in
as an arbiter, he had no quarrel of his own.
At the age of twelve, Colt went to reside with an
uncle at Burlington, Vermont, an excellent man, who
appreciated his nephew's character, and was ex-
tremely attached to him. In one of his letters, this
uncle says—“I'll tell you what, John is made of good
stuff, and you need not give yourself any uneasiness
about him. He likes to have his own way rather too
much; but then he is always more than half right,
and where is the harm in giving him a little play?—
He is as kind hearted a fellow as ever was; and,
take him all round, I never saw a better boy in all my
life.”
The following simple anecdote will illustrate one
point in his youthful character:—Going out one cold
winter morning to feed his uncle's sheep, our subject
found a stray lamb frozen to the ground in the snow,
and nearly dead. He told his uncle. Orders were
given for one of the men to kill it. Our subject im-
plored for the lamb, but in vain. When the man
came in with a stick to despatch it, he stood over the
little sufferer, and protested he would be killed him-
self sooner than let the lamb be killed. The uncle
coming up at the time, our subject renewed his en-
treaties, and was told, “Well you foolish fellow, take
the lamb to yourself, and do with it as you like.”
He flew for an axe, carefully cut the little creature
from the snow, put it into a basket, and carried it to
the house; where, after some six weeks' nursing, it
became hardy enough for removal to the stables, and
throve well, though from its once frozen feet, always
a cripple. And the grateful little cripple, followed
him about the farm.
At this age, as often happens to boys of genius, a
singular change came over his mind. He thirsted for
knowledge. Heretofore, he had been more attached
to play than books; but now, the love of study, and
the desire to know, became a passion.
He had attended school; and his application and
rapid acquirements gained him universal praise.
He now wished to get a presentation for the Mili-
tary School at West-Point, his early passion, like that
of most young men of ardent and ambitious tempera-
ment, being for military glory. But he had a step-
mother, who ruled in his farther's house; and as is too
often the case, made it any thing but a comfortable
home to his children. She had decided that he should
engage in mercantile pursuits. He begged to be al-
lowed to attend Captain Partridge's Military School,
but this was denied. He then entreated to be sent to
College, but all the aspirations of his young ambition,
his misjudging relatives opposed.
At fourteen, he was placed in a store belonging to
the Union Manufacturing Company, at Marlborough,
Connecticut. He performed the duties of this station
with such zeal and fidelity, though so contrary to his
inclinations, that he was made the agent's assistant
book-keeper at Manchester. His father, about this
time, took him on an excursion to New-York. It
seemed to him a paradise. On every hand were stores
of knowledge and food for thought. He found, too,
excitement, which, for a time, he entered into with
the zeal of early youth. His ambition to acquire an
education increased, and he determined to have one
at all hazards; with the profits of a year's clerkship
in his pocket, he left his situation, and came to New-
York. He, soon after, got from his father a promise
that he should be allowed to fit himself for College.
At an academy near Hartford, he vigorously re-
sumed his classical studies. He labored night and
day, and astonished every one with his progress.—
Three months had glided away insensibly, though not
unprofitably; when, at the quarter's close, he was
surprised by a mandate from his father, requiring his
return home in the next mail stage.
The influence of his stepmother was at work
against him. He left the home which she made un-
endurable, and went to Baltimore, unfriended, almost
pennyless, and but seventeen years of age. But it
was not long before he found employment as a teacher
of mathematics in a ladies' seminary; to which he
soon added further occupation, as assistant in a high
school.
He made many friends by his excellent conduct
and remarkable talents; and among the rest, a gen-
tleman by the name of Everett, a canal contractor,
was so charmed with his energy, acquirements, and
excellent traits of character, that he offered him a
large salary to go upon the work, as an engineer, and
entrusted to his charge one of the most extensive as
well as difficult jobs on the north branch of the Sus-
quehannah.
The young teacher was struck dumb with delight
and wonder. The work was beyond his expectations
and the salary offered him greatly beyond his hopes.
At the age of eighteen, and entirely inexperienced,
he performed the labor of a Hercules, to the satis-
faction of his employer, but to the ruin of his own
health, and with the money he had saved of his wa-
ges, he went to Wilbraham, Massachusetts, resolved
to devote himself to study. He accordingly placed
himself under the tuition of the late President Fisk,
late President of the Wesleyan College.
At home he had one beloved sister, around whom
twined every tendril of his heart. She was the only
being who made the thought of that home endurable
—and she became a victim to the persecution which
had twice driven him from the parental roof. She
could not fly into the world for refuge—but she found
it in the grave. Sarah Ann Colt died from taking
arsenic, in 1829, at the age of twenty-one!
The brother's soul was paralyzed. Every prompt-
ing of his ambition was drowned in the despair which
this most unhappy event occasioned. He resolved to
quit the country. Accident brought beneath his eye
a navy order for fitting out the frigate Constitution for
the Mediterranean. He resolved to get on board of
her, in any capacity. He hastened to Norfolk. But
how could he get on board the Constitution? He met
an intelligent acquaintance, attached to the marines,
and was persuaded to enlist in that corps. He pro-
posed to go to Constantinople, then to Alexandria, to
Calcutta, to Canton, and return home through South
America. It was a mad project, and he had not re-
flected that, enlisted as he was in the corps, such a
thing was impossible.
The coarse fate, uncouth companionship, and ar-
duous duties of a soldier, soon cured him of his folly.
The excitement died away, and the state of mind
and body brought on by his situation produced a vio-
lent fever. After several weeks confinement in the
hospital, during which time the Constitution had
sailed on her cruise, he recovered, and procured a
discharge from Washington.
We next find him engaged for one year, as a clerk,
at a small salary, in the office of Dudley Selden, Esq.
of this city, a distant relation of Colt. Mr. Selden
found his young kinsman regular, studious, and in-
dustrious, and became sincerely attached to him, as
he has shown in defending him in his late trial. Not
intending to study law, but wishing to qualify himself
as a civil engineer and teacher, he made arrange-
ments to take a year's instruction in mathematics in
the Vermont University. When his year was expired,
and he was about to take his departure, Mr. Selden
said to him, “Your father has sent me a hundred
dollars for you.” “Give it back to him, with my
thanks,” replied the son. He has said that he could
not, even destitute as he was, bear to receive sup-
plies from a fountain which had been sealed to his
poor sister.
At the Vermont University, our subject was an in-
mate of the house of President Marsh, to whom he
became much attached. During his stay, he thorough-
ly mastered the theory of his designed profession. He
also became distinguished in a debating society of the
institution.
The severity of his studies produced an attack of
bleeding at the lungs. His intended employment was
too full of exposure for his health, and he accepted a
partnership in a trading voyage up the lakes. He re-
gained his health, made a small sum of money, and
bought him a farm in the most beautiful portion of
Michigan.
But he was obliged to leave it, just when he had
become attached to it—for the terrible sickness that
prevailed made him fly for his life when reduced to
almost the last extremity. He sold his farm, and
made a tour in the South, visiting nearly all the valley
of the Mississippi, Florida and Texas. At New Or-
leans, to replenish his funds, he gave a series of lec-
tures on chemistry, with experiments. But getting
more pain than money, he engaged in more attractive
speculation, with more success.
He spent the summer of 1834 in Louisville, Ken-
tucky, and at this time he gave his attention to book-
keeping, and in a year or two had amassed the ma-
terials for the work he afterwards published in Cin-
cinnati. For several years, 1835, 1836, and 1837,
he spent the summers in Ohio and Kentucky, teaching
and lecturing on book-keeping, and his winters in
trade and speculation in the South.
Here we come to a romantic passage in his history.
He became acquainted with the daughter of a Nor-
wegian, a girl of singular character, rare beauty,
considerable accomplishments, and of a very roman-
tic disposition. Her manners, talents and situation,
won his friendship. His kindness won her devoted
attachment. He pursued toward her a course of vir-
tuous resolution—hers toward him was one of con-
cealed passion, to which she became a victim. Find-
ing her love returned by friendship only, she commit-
ted suicide.
* * * * * *
He published his work on book-keeping, for which
his celebrity as a teacher and its own merits made an
extensive sale. He became deeply connected in the
book trade, opened a store with a partner, but while
he was absent at New-Orleans, he found that the af-
fairs of the firm had been so mismanaged that he was
obliged to close up his business with as little loss as
possible; and in April, 1839, he came to New-York,
and opened an office for the sale of his books.
When he had accumulated, by exchange, a stock
of books, he would pack cases of them off to some
point for auction sale, or for a fresh exchange, and
thus kept his chances moving. He made his abode
at his office, and lived in a most frugal manner; sel-
dom visiting, and ever devoted to business. He per-
formed not only the manual labor of packing, but all
other duties of such an establishment; even, some-
times, that of a porter to convey packing-cases from
the ware-room to the passage below, without assist-
ance. The few friends who frequented his office, and
who remember these particulars, often, at the time,
used to smile at the array of boxes and the profusion
of paper strips, and the nails, and the hatchet or ham-
mer, and other tools—and the master's appearance
stripped to his shirt, and his sleeves rolled up, offici-
ating as his own man.
He was moral and temperate in his habits, but was
on two or three occasions hurried into excess in wine,
by companions who took advantage of his general ab-
stemiousness; but after an affair of this kind, a few
[Col.2]
years since so common, he found himself, or rather
was found by the watchmen, in a state of glorious
obliviousness, trying to get into an office in Wall street.
He was taken to the watch house, and discharged,
when he had slept off the fumes of the wine, next
morning. We should not have alluded to so trifling
an affair, had it not been used in the excitement at-
tendant upon his arrest for murder, and upon this
ground he was charged with an attemp at burglary.
A reference to the police records will satisfy any one
who has the curiosity to make it.
To stem the current of adverse times, he lectured
successfully in Boston and Philadelphia. In the lat-
ter place he became acquainted with a female in hum-
ble life, named Catherine Henshaw. He had the
opportunity to do her some kindness, and she was
grateful—gratitude easily ripens into love. She threw
herself upon his protection—he educated her, even
teaching her to write. She joined him in New-York,
and they lived together, enjoying all the happiness
and living in all the proprieties of wedded life. Colt
had become so attached to her, that he had resolved
to have the marriage ceremony performed previous to
the birth of their child. He lived at No. 42 Murray
street, and had his office for the sale and package of
books in a room in Granite building.
With the subsequent events the public is well ac-
quainted.
On the 30th of August there was to be what is
called a trade sale at New-York, and, on the 7th of
September, another at Philadelphia. On these occa-
sions new works go off in large quantities to the as-
sembled dealers, who frequently buy from a sample,
and pay either cash or bankable notes as soon as the
goods are furnished, for which some two or three
weeks are allowed.
It appears that the balance of an unadjusted ac-
count was claimed by Samuel Adams. The account
was stated by him at $71.15, but only $55.80 was
admitted by Colt, of whose property at that very mo-
ment, stereotype plates, worth $500, were in the
hands of Samuel Adams, beside unbound books worth
as much more. It appears also that our subject was
impatient about some delay on the part of his prin-
ter in supplying the stock of books needed for realiz-
ing the proceeds of sales which had been effected to
the trade. While there was hurrying on the one side
and procrastination on the other, a suspicion on the
17th of September, 1841, was excited in the mind of
Samuel Adams that moneys expected by and belong-
ing to our subject, and “promised,” it is said, “by
him to Samuel Adams, would be withheld.”
Under the excitement of this suspicion, Samuel
Adams went abruptly to the office of Colt, who, per-
haps, may himself not have entirely overcome his
chagrin at the want of promptitude in supplying his
work, to which we have already referred. It is on
record under oath, that Samuel Adams, when he heard
the remark that took him to Colt's room, “seemed
surprised, and there was a great change of counte-
nance,” and that a responsible person supposed it
likely that Samuel Adams was going to our subject's
office, “without doubt to insult him.”
Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon of
Friday, the 17th of September, 1841, Samuel Adams
entered the office of our subject.
Samuel Adams was seen no more; and at 2 o'clock
on Thursday, the 23d of September, 1841, John C.
Colt was arrested for his murder.
This is a brief review of the life of John C. Colt.
The following is an account of him, given by one who
visited him in prison:—
We found the prisoner writing at the table,
seated on the foot of the bed. I noticed a one-
volume octavo edition of Goldsmith's works by
his side. As the iron gates flew open, he rose,
he was not chained. His dress was a neat morn-
ing dishabille; he wore slippers and a dressing
gown. He received us with a very affable smile,
but not unmingled with an expression of anxiety
—handed one of us a chair, and waved the other
two to a seat on the bed, observing that he would
make no apologies about the scantiness either
of the space or furniture.
I noticed his appearance intently. In height,
he is about five feet eleven. He is firmly built,
though slender. His head is large, his face oval,
his complexion light, his hair profuse, light
brown and richly curling; his nose aquiline; his
lips in silence always compressed; his eye of a
dark brown hazel, lighting up in conversation or
in listening, with great expression. The pre-
vailing characteristic of his countenance appears
to be gentleness, and his bearing is courteous
and manly. The tones of his voice are sweet
and mild but firm.
The conversation, by some accident, presently
glanced upon the recent trial. The prisoner
spoke of it calmly, and commented on the conclu-
sions to which the jury had been led, as a mis-
take. He examined points in the evidence and
pleadings, and earnestly praised the eloquence
and skill of the Public Prosecutor, Mr. Whiting,
and of some others, who had acted most unre-
lentingly toward him. I was not a little asto-
nished to hear a person, under such circumstan-
ces, treat an event of the deepest possible solem-
nity in its consequences to him, as a mere spec-
tator. It struck me that in all he thought, there
appeared to be an entire self-reliance, coupled
with almost an incapability of admitting impres-
sions from other minds into his. This is the ef-
fect of misanthropy; but misanthropy is churlish,
and this man's manner is gracious and kind.
Surely some events of his life must have created
a spirit of distrust in him, without extinguishing
an innate spirit of amiableness.
Such is the character, such has been the career
of a man, now chained in a cell in yonder prison
under sentence of death.
The misfortune of being mistaken has followed him
through his life, and seems to have been a sport of
destiny. Judge Kent mistook the feeling of the re-
marks he was handed to read, and when the prisoner,
under the firmly endured but not less terrible agita-
tion of the moment, tried to explain, he made a re-
mark which was taken and reported more unfortu-
nately. He meant to say that his disposition led him
to resent an insult, and that the same causes operat-
ing upon his mind, would produce the same effect—
unknown and beyond control. There are thousands
of men, who, upon being called liar—scoundrel—or
swindler, would strike the man who said it—a blow
might lead to a scuffle—in a scuffle men become mad-
dened, the mildest are infuriated, and consequences
are no longer in their control.
Where is the motive for a wilful murder—where
the advantage possibly to be derived from it, and
what is there in this man's character to induce us to
believe that he would deliberately take the life of
another? Yet a jury has convicted him, the judge
has sentenced him, the hour of his execution ap-
proaches, and thousands, we doubt not, are impa-
tient to have the awful punishment of death inflicted.
——
CORRESPONDENCE.
NUMBER ONE.
PRISON HOUSE, Oct. 2, 1842.
Dear Friend—
* * * * * * *
Do not believe the thousand false statements
you see heralded from day to day in the papers.—
Let them blow their blast. All that you hear now
is passion—passion. It is true there is a great
deal to excite; but at the same time, they use me
very unjustly. One-half that is said is for the pur-
pose of extorting black mail—at least with some
prints. Pay the very honest conductors of some
papers in this city, and they would soon turn the
current of public opinion, so far as to cause passion
to subdue, and set the reader to thinking and calm
reflection. They will hear nothing in my favor, re-
ceive no statements from me or my friends, unless
they are paid ten-fold the charge of an advertise-
ment—consequently they have all their own way.—
Since things are so, my friends have advised me to
keep cool, and bear all their horrid and unmerciful
inflictions. The tables may be some day turned,
and those who now seem to glut their appetite in
feeding upon my misfortune, may yet feel the scor-
pion lash of the pen to their soul's satiety.
The man that meets with a misfortune now days,
becomes at once the victim of a certain portion of
the press. If he is poor, his friends are brought in
for a share, as mine have been, and placed upon the
rack, and tortured till money is forthcoming. But
in this case they will spill their ink to no purpose,
for it is not only my misfortune, but that of my
friends, as you know, to be without any very exten-
sive means.
I will write you again more at large when in the
mood for scribbling. I cannot close without renew-
ing again my heartfelt gratitude for the kindness
proffered by you and friends, but let there be no
move to the effect you have proposed, as I assure
you it is entirely unnecessary.
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To H—— R——, Baltimore.
——
NUMBER TWO.
PRISON HOUSE, Oct. 3d, 1841.
* * * * * *
I know and pity the motives in which by far too
many of the severest attacks are made, and would,
I assure you, if in my power, award to every writer
in the country as much gold as he could wish, and
say to them “henceforth, prey not on the calamities
of the unfortunate.”
Do not believe that the statements made affect
me. I understand too well the motives that prompt
to abuse. It is only so far as they hurt the feelings
of my friends that they can cause me pain.
Remember me to H—— and S——, and all the
dear little ones. Give yourselves no uneasiness.—
“All's well that ends well.” I have much more
to say, but unfortunately, have come to the end of
my sheet. More anon.
Yours, &c. &c. J. C. COLT.
To L—— G——, Boston, Mass.
——
NUMBER THREE.
PRISON HOUSE, Oct. 18, 1841.
Dear Friend—Yours of the 11th inst was duly
received. Many of your inquiries, I cannot now an-
swer, although I should be glad to. After my trial
I shall feel at liberty to write more freely. I know
as little as you what will be the defence. My law-
yers are acquainted with all the facts. They say I
must leave all to them. The best way of managing
would be for me to state the facts, seal it up and
hand it to the court, and after the testimony is taken,
to open and read it. Should my statement be sus-
tained in analysis by the evidence, it would, in jus-
tice, in the mind of every reasonable being, amount
to an entire acquittal of the charge.
This last plan may be considered by counsel too
risky, as the public press has excited the passions
of the people to an alarming degree. But I assure
you it would best accord with my feelings. The
idea of going forth in the world a suspected mur-
derer, is worse infinitely than much suffering. If I
throw myself upon my peers they will be likely to
believe me; but if I prove an alibi they will let me
go, but always wrongfully suspect I desired to kill
my antagonist. Were I west or south, I could
with perfect safety throw myself upon the country,
and with the evidence of Wells and Wheeler, if
they will but state the truth, be certain of an ac-
quittal. But in this city I am so little known, it is
[Col.3]
to be feared that passion and not evidence will de-
cide the case.
Wells stated to my friends in some of their first
interviews, that “Adams left him in a vexed mood
or passion, and that he had no doubt but that he
went to my office and insulted me.” In some later
interviews he seems desirous of modifying his lan-
guage, or making a different statement. He is a
very timid man, and has I fear been cowed from
telling the truth.
My keepers tell me that the prosecuting counsel is
going to Congress on my hanging, and I am told this
is publicly spoken of. Very pleasant, ah! If he be
an unprincipled, ambitious man, there is no doubt
but that he will do anything to win his case, and it
would certainly be quite a feather in a lawyer's cap
to get an innocent man hung. There was a time,
however, when men acquired popularity by defend-
ing the unfortunate, but now-a-days it would seem
by such reports that they are sent as legislators by
trampling upon the unfortunate. One thing is very
certain the prosecuting counsel never gave utterance
to such sentiments himself. I have no doubt, how-
ever, as he is a man of great professional pride, that
he will use his utmost to convict me.
* * * * * * * *
Yours confidentially,
J. C. COLT.
C—— H——, Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER SIX.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 6, 1842.
My Dear Sir—Although I stand condemned by
twelve men, do not think that it causes me so much
pain as you imagine. No—no. Death hath no ter-
rors for me. There is a world above this, and I
believe a just one. Men, at the worst can only de-
stroy the body. I did but defend myself against a
wanton, vile and unpardonable attack.—This I
would do again, at any time, when insulted and as-
saulted. No man would do less. His very nature
compels him to this.
I have been tried and condemned for endeavoring
to secrete a misfortune, not for killing a man. Pre-
judice or error misled or governed the whole pro-
ceedings of the trial—justice took no part. The
time will come when men will look upon this whole
affair in its proper light—at least I believe so; per-
haps after I have suffered; and, believe me, truly,
sir, that I should prefer a thousand deaths and be
thought innocent, than live a single life, to be point-
ed at as guilty of a crime that my very soul would
shudder at the mention of, even from my boyhood
up. Do not think that I fear death. I have nothing
in this affair to reproach my conscience with. Be-
fore my God, within the frontal of Heaven, I can
exclaim to the man, “I was your friend—for this
you abused me. I asked you to be just—for this
you accused me of injustice. For calm words, you
gave me insulting language. For peremptory de-
nial, you gave me blows; for this you accidentally
fell a victim in a resistance to your wanton and un-
justifiable assault. Heaven protect the innocent
and unoffending in this affair—Heaven will be just!”
My great suffering is for my friends. I care but
little for myself. This will be to them a heavy
blow. 'Twill wither up the very charity of their
hearts, and they will look with distrust upon all
around them.
Yours, hurriedly, J. C. COLT.
To R—— T——, Baltimore, Md.
——
NUMBER SEVEN.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 8, 1842.
Dear Friend: Your kind letter was received
this morning. It is truly a great satisfaction to find
that it weighs nothing with you and friends; be-
cause I have been condemned by just twelve men.
One half were doubtless prejudiced, although they
may not half known it. Several we now know had
expressed an opinion that was hostile, before the
trial. There is so much said here by the press, on
all such affairs, that a man is first tried and condemn-
ed without a hearing. There is many an honora-
ble, worthy, and upright man connected with the
press; but there is at the same time many a con-
summate scoundrel. The good and just meaning
among them are, consequently, often forced into
such unjust reflections. Many an editor catches
half his ideas from rival prints, and not from the
multitude; and being honest himself, he believes
his contemporaries to be so likewise; consequently,
ignorance, falsehood, and prejudice are promulgated,
and the people placing too much confidence in what
they read, are lead in error, and give vent to feel-
ings and expressions, that they in their calmer
moods would lament, could they but see correctly,
canvass facts, and separate truth from falsehood.—
A man must have been worse than blind not to
have observed this. Every thing is made to move
by excitement. Money is the great god that can
alone stay it. If a man is not rich, and meets with
a misfortune, he must expect to be damned. Mo-
ney, through the medium of the press, has, in this
country, as great an influence over courts of law, as
land, wealth and aristocracy under a monarchial
government, when the poet wrote——
“Each wanton judge new penal statutes draws,
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the laws.”
Justice is but a name, liberty but a shadow; give
me wealth, and I could put my foot upon the neck
of the universe. All the evidence of the least
importance in the case, in strict justice, was in my
favor.
My case will be carried up on a bill of exceptions.
Perhaps it is best that the decision is as it was. I
may get a new trial, and be justly dealt with.—
Says Hume, “In many things the extremes are
nearer to one another (justice) than the means.”—
Had the verdict been milder than it was, it might
have proven a total, irrecoverable, damnable blast.
There is ever a hope beyond injustice, rising like a
star of a cloudy night; true, it may come late, still
it replaces the heart, and the longer absent the more
welcome. But of the worst let come the worst, I
shall die as calm as ever man died. I have ever
had hopes beyond this world. Did I believe that
this existence was the beginning and the end, I
should curse the giver. No—impossible—it cannot
be. The universal world—the mighty heavens—
speak in signs more convincing than words, more
conclusive than argument, more appealing than pa-
rables—that there is a God above—just, mighty,
all-powerful. The palmy sunbeams, the sweet ze-
phyrs, the all-bountiful earth, proclaim his goodness
far more than justice, in myriads and myriads of
developments. No man should fear to shake off
this mortal coil—this dying, sickening, painful body
—this incarcerating prison-house to the mind—this
incubus to the heart—this chain of disease and cor-
ruption to the soul; give me the home of my fa-
thers!
I am already at the close of the sheet. I did not
feel, when I commenced, like writing ten words.
But I no sooner take pen in hand to speak of myself
than my mind rolls to a fearful vividness, and my
bosom heaves and burns with pain that I cannot
quiet without too great a struggle. Say to J. and
F. that this must answer for you all. Do not ask
any more questions for a month. So long as life, I
shall remember the kindness of my friends. It is
enough now for me to know that they believe me
innocent. Yours truly,
J. C. COLT.
To C—— H——, Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER NINE.
PRISON HOUSE, 11th Feb., 1842.
Dear Tom: As you say, indeed mine is a hard
fate. All this misfortune has fallen upon me for
befriending that man. Had I not taken my binding
away from Mr. Ballow, and given it to Wells, for
the sake of throwing work in the way of Adams,
as Wells was to give work to Adams in accordance,
I should not now have been here by many degrees
of probability. Ballow is one of the finest men in
the world. He had done binding for me for the
past three years; and I had spoken to him about
binding the last edition, which he expected to have
done, as he state in his evidence.
But after this arrangement, Adams came to me
three or four times, and teased me till I consented
to give it to Wells, alleging that Ballow was well
to do, and that he himself had hard work to get cus-
tom. I knew that Adam's circumstances had been
in a sinking condition since the death of Scatchard,
his old partner, owing, I supposed, to his bad man-
agement. I never did any thing more reluctantly
than when consenting to let Wells do the work in
place of Ballow, and should not have done so with-
out the purest feelings of charity.
Adams was at times a most aggravating fellow
in his language; but I had before always attributed
his manner to his ignorance, not to illwill. Howev-
er, I was mistaken. * * * *
He has been represented as one of the mildest and
meekest man the world has seen—a member of the
Church, &c. &c. In all which there is not the least
truth. While, on the other hand, my whole family
and myself have been abused—shamefully and
grossly abused. * * * * *
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To B—— F——, Washington, D. C.
——
NUMBER TWELVE.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 22, 1842.
Dear Friends: That my pecuniary circumstances
as has been too frequently repeated, were “strait-
ened and desperate,” was wantonly untrue. So far
from this, I felt myself well off in comparison with
the thousands I saw around me. The truth is, that
Adams was the man that was in straitened and des-
perate circumstances, and had been notoriously so
for the two previous years, and only permit-
ted to go on in his business by the lenity of his
creditors. The report that I was in straitened and
desperate circumstances originates from the fact of
my closing business in your city but a few months
before, that had proved unprofitable. But this was
done in good time, and had I not met with my pre-
sent misfortune, all my creditors would ere this have
been equitably settled with, as they were all secur-
ed.
On winding up my business, I reserved means to
pay all my necessary expenses for eighteen months,
such as board, clothing and other necessaries of life,
and this means I would not appropriate to any other
use. I could have paid Adams' two-penny debt on
any day in the week. I offered to pay Wells to
hurry on the binding, which he refused, as he stated
in his evidence. It was also stated in evidence that
I had property valued, at a low estimate, at one
thousand dollars—stereotype plates, and the last
edition of the book keeping.
Apart from this, I had diamonds and other jewel-
ry I could have turned into two or three hundred
dollars at pleasure. Besides, I was surrounded by
friends, as you are aware, from whom I could have
got money or credit, if I had wanted it. Notwith-
standing all this, in the very face of truth and evi-
dence, I was charged in court with killing this man,
(as the whole argument could rest on no other
ground,) for the paltry sum of fifty-five dollars and
eighty cents, the amount of my obligations, or as he
[Col.4]
had it on his books, seventy-one dollars and fifteen
cents, and that too under circumstances that render
such a supposition decidedly preposterous. But I
am wandering from the promises of my last letter.
Though not in “desperate and straitened circum-
stances,” as has been frequently alleged, yet my
circumstances were such as to require future and
not far distant exertions, which a succession of mis-
fortunes warned me to prepare for. This I had an-
ticipated on winding up my business in Philadel-
phia, and, consequently, I reserved my works on
accounts; works that I had been led to believe,
from a general adoption into our schools, and by un-
precedented and extensive sales, had done me some
credit.
During the three months previous to the unfortu-
nate encounter with Adams, among other matters,
I had employed myself in revising parts of this
work and getting out a new edition, as well as pre-
paring public addresses and a series of lectures on
accounts, as I contemplated and expected to re-
sume my old business as a public lecturer, so soon
as the fall season for lecturing commenced. An
occupation 'tis very true 'tis very humble, but at
the same time one such that does no shame to an
honest man. So far as making money as a lecturer
on accounts, I felt no doubts of success. It was
what I had before succeeded in, what I had been
accustomed to, and as a public lecturer on this
branch of science, I had no competitors, as those
engaged on the subject were simple teachers of
what they found in books, after the common rou-
tine of school-teaching. With such reflections I
thought but little of past miscarryings, and felt as
though I could baffle and hurl back this tide of mis-
fortune with a stronger arm than ever, and though
“down I'd sunk, the higher up I'd rise.”
Adams being a printer, and hereby connected
with the fraternity of the press, and the circumstance
of having killed him in my office, to which there
was no evidence then appearing to me, to hold up
to the public, of the one most in the wrong in the
quarrel, excepting the error in his accounts, I feared
if I divulged the misfortune that I might bid farewell
to my anticipated success as a lecturer; as all such
are greatly dependent on newspaper paragraphs.—
I was fearful that I should be followed with re-
proach, however unjustly, wherever I went, and that
to degree that would render success doubtful, if
not indeed futile in attempting.
Together with my exertions as a public lecturer,
my future hopes were all wrapped up and dependent
upon the continuation of the popularity of my works
in our schools where they had been extensively in-
troduced, and were on the increase both in sales
and of adoption. It was used in seventeen semina-
ries out of twenty-three that instructed the science
in this city. It was used in about two hundred and
sixty schools throughout the country, and was the
only work sold in the great valley of the Mississip-
pi, where I had formerly held the field as a lecturer.
To what extent such a calamity would affect a
school book, in the midst of numerous excellent
authors, was impossible to conceive, and could only
painfully be reflected upon.
Oppressed as you see from peculiar circumstances,
and the very natural and evil forebodings arising
from the developement of so great a misfortune,
when, too, a secretion by odds favored an entire
oblivion, right or wrong, I made up my mind, after
much struggle, to secretion, in the most rapid and
best way I could. If I came out with the misfor-
tune, ruin stared me in the face, while in an attempt
to secret there was a hope, although a heavy hope,
to carry.
My peculiar circumstances, as I above stated, al-
most alone took possession of my mind, and con-
trolled me. But, you may ask, “if you had not
thus been peculiarly situated, would you have come
out with the misfortune?” I think not, and the
reasons I will give in my next.
Truly yours, J. C. COLT.
To C. H., etc., Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER FOURTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, March 12, 1842.
Dear Friend—
* * * * * * *
You have indeed sent me a beautiful pack of ques-
tions, quite a number of which I have already an-
swered, as you will see by reading over my letters.
I will quote several of them, however, and give as
short answers as consistent.
“When you had killed Adams, how came you
afterwards to go to his shop? and why did you call
on Mrs. Adams?”
It was five or six days after the catastrophe that
I went to Adams's shop. You must recollect that
it was stated in evidence that I had about a thou-
sand dollars in property there, and it was necessary
to look after it. My only object in going at that
time was to request Mr. Monahan to see that the
stereotype plates were put into the vault, as they
had lately been used, and thus to preserve them
against fire or other accident.
I might here enter into an argument showing the
positive absurdity of the grounds of the prosecu-
tion, which was, that “I killed Adams to get hold of
this property,” for there was never any attempt to
do so. So far from this, I even neglected to attend
to the binding and other business, from the great de-
pression of business and the unhappiness I felt.
So far from calling on Mrs. Adams, I had never
seen her, to my knowledge, till she appeared in
court, and did not know till after the catastrophe
that Adams was a married man. You must have
read some of the mistaken newspapers to have ob-
tained this information. What kind of a woman
she is, is more than I can say.
“Why did you strip the body of its clothing?”
The clothing would have identified it years after-
wards. Any simpleton making up his mind to se-
cretion, would have done as much. See old letter.
“Why did you ship the box to New Orleans?”
Because it was a warm climate and the voyage
to said city would take from seventeen to twenty
days, and, consequently, agreeable to the common
course of nature, it would decay before any informa-
tion could be obtained to identify it. See old let-
ter.
“I heard a person remark that the part of your
statement where you say you went to see your broth-
er in the evening, to relate to him this affair, and
ask advice, and then altered your mind, and did not
disclose it to him, looks improbable.”
Whoever says this must speak without reflection,
or believe me quite ignorant and incapable of rea-
soning. The first natural impulse was to seek the
advice and aid of a friend. But had I related the
fact to him, it would have made him an accomplice
in the secretion; and if by any accident during
that attempt a developement had been made—such
as the box sliding from the stairs and bursting open
or had the drayman's horse ran away, or it had fal-
len from the tackel when being lowered into the ship,
or that the building had taken fire during the time and
persons had bursted into the room. Under such a de-
velopment it would readily have been constructed
into a conspiracy, and both certainly been hung.
To have related the facts to him, would have been
to have endangered his life as well as to render my
situation more precarious.
* * * * *
Yours truly,
J. C. COLT.
To C. H., Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER FIFTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, March 5, 1842.
Dear Friend,—
* * * * *
I have no doubt if I had at first returned Adams'
abusive language after his own manner, instead of
being mild as I was, that the quarrel would have
ended in smoke. But the man evidently construed
my mildness into fear, and when he became so abu-
sive that I could no longer contain myself, and turn-
ed his language upon him, he gave me a slap with
the back of his hand across the mouth, which blow
was instinctively returned and we were in a strug-
gling fight, which soon ended in his fall, but which
I assure you has left me in immensity of pain, and
deep and lasting sorrow. I even wish sometimes
that I had fallen myself.
* * * * *
Your unfortunate friend, J. C. COLT.
To C. O. H., Cincinnati.
——
NUMBER SEVENTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, March 15, 1842.
Friend R.—To your inquiry, “what kind of a
man was Adams?” I will leave you to form your
own opinion from a simple fact that has been rela-
ted to me since my trial.
Three or four years ago Scratchard, the partner
of Adams, died. His property was invested in his
printing establishment jointly with Adams. On his
death-bed he left all in charge of this man, Adams,
having received a promise from him that he would
first pay out of his effects his funeral expenses, then
the debts he owed, and the balance he would pass
over to his wife and children. So far from fulfilling
the promise he contrived to wrong Scratchard's
widow out of everything, and carried his principles
to so far a length as to refuse to pay even the five
dollars to the grave digger of poor Scratchard, which
sum was subsequently raised by Mr. George Long,
bookseller, in this city, by subscription, with other
small sums that bought shoes, etc., for poor Scratch-
ard's children.
This was perhaps a development of his true cha-
racter. But all that relates to the truth of this
man's character has been most artfully and assidu-
ously kept hid from the public. Those of his own
craft, but a few of them do not know his real cha-
racter. Why, there are not five printers in the
country that would not sell the very coat from off
their back before they would refuse to pay for dig-
ing the grave of a partner in business that they had
lost. But he suffered too much from my hand for
me to mention his faults. I hope sincerely, most
sincerely, that his spirit now exists happily in hea-
ven.
The widow Scratchard and her family now reside
at Brooklyn, and will at any time testify to this
fact, as well as Mr. George Long, in this city.—
What kind of a man do you think Adams was?
* * * * * *
Yours in fond remembrance,
JOHN C. COLT.
To H. R., Baltimore.
——
NUMBER EIGHTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, June 10, 1842.
Dear Madam—
* * * * * *
Do you ask me, “Do I read and believe in the
Bible?”
One at all fond of history, or of a curious book,
will certainly read the Bible. As a book of history
it is invaluable from its antiquity; and regarding it
only as a fable, it certainly is the most curios book
extant. But what is and what is not the intent and
meaning of many of its passages, admits of very
different degrees of opinion.
I hardly know by your question what kind of an
[Col.5]
answer you seek. If you wish to know whether
I spend weekly so many hours upon my knees in a
repetition of so many words and phrases, denoting
in language ideas—or so many hours in conning
over the chapters of the Bible, I must say that I
do not. I only do those things when the spirit
moves. I assure you that I have read the Bible
more than once thoroughly, and parts of it often,
and with love and admiration. Christ's sermon
on the mount, as given in Matthew, chaps. 6 and 7,
may be read with never-tiring pleasure. There is
in it a beauty of language enchanting the soul, and
a purity of thought which carries man in concep-
tion beyond his nature. It has never been equalled
by the eloquence of any other being. It is only
surpassed in the mute, but all-powerful and never-
ceasing eloquence of Nature and Nature's God.
I believe in the Spirit of the Bible, at least in the
first religion therein taught on the infinite punish-
ment:—Man we hope is intended from the begin-
ning of his existence to remain for ever a being in
existence—in a spiritual existence if not physical.
His acts, however, all of them in this corporal exis-
tence, are finite, and although he may sin, and that
too against an infinite God, still that God is one of
infinite goodness. Agreeably to my views, it is as
absurd to suppose that the Creator would inflict an
infinite punishment upon one of his creatures for a
finite action, as it is to suppose in the first place
that he created man as sin. Man is doubtless pun-
ished according to the deeds done in the body.
Religion I believe is, and ever has been an insepa-
rable ingredient with man's soul, that it consists
in a simple love, thankfulness and reliance in God.
The Indian, who never saw the Bible but worships
the Great Spirit, and thinks his Maker moves at
times in the music of the bubbling waters and the
swift wind, is, in my mind, as certain to be saved
as we who repeat long prayers in the synagogue and
listen to the music of organs.
I sincerely think that the Bible is an inspired book,
and intended as a guide to man. It is certainly
marked with such features as will keep it a thing
apart, or in contradistinction with all other works.
With all earthly consideration,
and hopes in the future
I remain, yours, &c.,
J. C. COLT.
To S. A. G., Boston, Mass.
——
NUMBER NINETEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, Sept. 28, 1842.
Dear Friend—
You will see by looking over the New York pa-
pers of this morning that I was sentenced yesterday.
This was necessary before my case could be carried
up to the Court of Errors. It had been my inten-
tion on this occasion to make some remarks to the
Court of a very different meaning to those you see
reported. But I supposed I should not be sentenc-
ed till the last day's sitting of the Oyer and Termi-
ner, and consequently, had kept my mind as much
occupied as I could in other matters, that I might as
far as possible forget my troubles.
I did not know till late on the day before that I
was to be sentenced so soon, and the remarks you
see printed which I handed to the Court to read,
were written under intense feeling. The object of
writing them was to avoid the customary remarks
of the judge that usually accompany such sentences.
I see nothing now in the remarks that the Court
read for me that I think should have been altered,
excepting the word “trample,” used in three con-
secutive sentences. It would have been better to
have used the word “mistook.”
The word “trample,” as there used, seems harsh,
although not intended to be so. But you know how
it is when one desires to do any thing exactly right,
when not prepared, nine times out of ten it is done
exactly wrong. I suppose I wrote over twenty
different statements the night before, for I was up
and down all night, and in too much distress to
sleep. * * * I should have read the paper
myself, instead of handing it to the Court, had I not
felt at the time so unnerved and weak as to have
rendered me incapable of getting through with it.
The Judge unfortunately for me, you will per-
ceive, took the statement in high dudgeon. He mis-
took entirely the meaning of the statement itself,
as well as the purity of my own intent, and came
down upon me like a hurricane, as he struck the
paper upon the desk, in a manner of probably un-
conscious violence. Had the Court received my
statement with kindness, I believe I should have
sunk entirely down. But the way it was received
thrilled through and strengthened me as a breath
of prot-oxyd of nitrogen; and, consequently, in ad-
dition to the Court, had I have had the whole City
Hall upon my back, I should irresistibly have shaken
it off. Push any man, under any and every circum-
stance, beyond a certain point, either by miscon-
struction or other wise, and irresistibly he turns
upon you, although by every sense of inward feel-
ing, he sincerely desires to avoid all differences be-
tween himself and his fellow men.
By reading my explanation, as you will see re-
ported, you will perceive that I spoke from an invo-
luntary impulse, as my language was entirely un-
guarded. One expression that I used is particular-
ly unfortunate in my present situation. It was this,
as I said, “I never committed an act in my life that
I would not have done again under similar circum-
stances.” This is not an uncommon expression for
the best of men to make. But to render it intelli-
gible to many readers, it requires a metaphysical
construction. The meaning is simply this:—“In
all my acts of life, so far as within my own control,
I have endeavored to do what I conscientiously tho't
was right at the time I acted.” To construe such
a sentiment, used by any one, so as to make it ap-
pear that he never lamented a misjudgment, or
would not profit from experience, is to make him out
no less than a madman or a fool.
We all know, from the experience taught by ma-
ny of our acts in life, that we should act very, very
differently, had we to go over them again, from the
fact, that the same causes or influences operating
upon the mind produce, at different times, different
effects—at another, from physical or mental disabil-
ity—while, at all times, the heart is pure, and the
intent is to do what we suppose to be right at the
time we act.
Why is the question asked, why sentence of death
should not be pronounced, if the prisoner is not pri-
vileged to make a reply? And if any reply is made,
be it ever so exceptionable, should it not, under
such extreme circumstances as this, be received
with kindness, if it be singly with an eye to the frail-
ties of poor human nature?
* * * *
Your unfortunate friend, J. C. COLT.
To L—— G——, Boston, Mass.
————————
Morbid Sympathy with Criminals.
A savage murder is committed, the barbarity
horrifies the public, the assassin is execrated; he
is tried, convicted and sentenced to death, and from
that moment the horrible murderer becomes the ex-
emplary penitent, with whom pious ladies pass hours
in prayer and tender discourses. The local paper
which before teemed with details of the criminal's
atrocities, is now full of traits of his saintly state of
mind, his devout spirit, his edifying resignation, and
above all, his sayings in acknowledgment of the
services of the chaplain, who has opened to him
the promise of the glories of the other world; and,
...
And the Lady Lucy Smith's beautiful camellia
was pinned over the heart that had not revolted
against a most barbarous murder. Such are the
honors and favors peculiarly reserved for crime and
the condemned cell, or the drop. If a thousandth
part of the tenderness were extended to the virtu-
ous poor, resisting evil temptations and all suffering
in patience, how much guilt would be averted,
how much goodness sustained!—London Examiner.
[Col.6]
JOHN C. COLT.
This man of violence and blood terminated his
own existence yesterday in a violent and bloody
manner. The persevering and determined efforts
of his Counsel, to avert the execution of his sen-
tence, had awakened deep and pervading public
feeling. Up to 8 o'clock yesterday morning, Colt
and his friends were confident that a respite would
be obtained. The answer of the Chancellor to the
application made to him on Thursday, cut off their
last hope; and the Sheriff, notwithstanding the
Protest of Colt's Counsel, reluctantly proceeded to
make the necessary preparations for the discharge of
his painful duty.
Colt requested that his Execution should be de-
ferred until the last moment, and in pursuance of
that request, FOUR o'clock was designated as the
fatal hour.
During the previous day and night Colt was en-
gaged in writing, for publication, a Review of Gov.
SEWARD'S Letter and a more detailed account of
his conflict with Adams.
In the forenoon of yesterday Colt's Brother and
his Counsel, Messrs. GRAHAM, EMMET, and SELDEN,
passed some time in his cell.
At 12 o'clock COLT was married to CAROLINE M.
HENSHAW, by the Rev. Mr. ANTHON, in the pre-
sence of a few of the convicts friends. She remain-
ed with him until after 2 o'clock and then left the
Prison with Colt's Brother, neither of whom re-
turned.
Having now taken leave of other friends, COLT
requested to be left alone in his cell, the door of
which was closed.
A few minutes before 4 o'clock Sheriff HART,
Deputy Sheriff WESTERVELT and the Rev. Mr.
ANTHON proceeded to his cell, upon opening which
COLT was found upon his bed with a dirk thrust be-
tween his ribs into his heart! Doct. HOSACK pro-
nounced him dead!
Simultaneously the Cupola of the Prison was dis-
covered to be on FIRE! The cry, “Colt has commit-
ted suicide!” “The Tombs are on Fire!” resounded
through the city. Thousands rushed among the
thousands that already surrounded the Prison, the
Dome of which was enveloped in flames, while the
interior of that great reservoir of crime and misery
was appalled by a scene of self-murder!
Outside the prison, whose walls were beleaguered
with tens of thousands of citizens, all intensely ag-
itated by scenes so exciting, ORDER REIGNED! We
mingled for a long time with that vast multitude
without hearing an expression or witnessing an act
inconsistent with that SUPREMACY OF THE LAWS
without which there would be no security for our
Government, our Institutions, or our Lives.
The first impression of the People collected about
the Prison was that the suicide was a ruse, but this
opinion, to a great extent, gave way to the positive
assurances of gentlemen who came out, saying they
had seen the dead body.
The Coroner had locked the cell and proceeded to
summon an Inquest, which we understood was to
be held over the body at 7 o'clock last evening.
The fire was evidently designed to create, at the
moment of the expected Execution, alarm and con-
fusion, and with the hope of a rescue or an escape.
It was generally understood in New York that an
effort was made to induce two of the Keepers to
allow Colt to escape in female attire.
———————
Colt's Life and Letters.—The Life and Letters
of JOHN C. COLT, which we copy to-day, from the
New York Sun, were all, or in part, among the
Papers submitted to Gov. SEWARD, and upon which
the Application for Pardon was based.
———————
☞ There were many and strong doubts existing
in New-York, when the Boat left at six o'clock last
evening, whether COLT was dead. The conduct of
the Sheriff and Keepers, in leaving him for an hour
and a half alone, in his cell, immediately before the
time of execution, excited general surprise and sus-
picion.
———————
...
☞ The dark curtain which concealed the horrid
fate of Mary Rogers, is at length withdrawn. The
Physician referred to in the article we copy from
the Tribune was, we understood, to undergo an ex-
amination to-day.
[Col.7]
FOR THE EVENING JOURNAL.
VENUS.—This lovely planet which now shines so
brilliantly after sunset in the western sky, is at pre-
sent at its greatest brilliancy, and may be distinctly
seen in the day time with the naked eye. The pe-
culiar coldness and clearness of the atmosphere at
present renders it even more than usually distinct.
Even in New York, notwithstanding the smoke and
impurities of her atmosphere, it was seen by thou-
sands during the clear cold weather of yesterday.
Broadway itself seemed to have lost its attractions
for the time, and every eye was upturned to obtain
a view of the 'lovely goddess.'
It will continue to be visible even at noonday, for
some weeks to come. It follows some ten degrees
below the path of the sun, and about 40 degrees to
the east. In another month it will again be lost in
the more brilliant light of the sun. M. J. N.
[Col.8]
Case of Colt.
The opinion of Gov. Seward, refusing to reprieve
or respite John C. Colt, who is sentenced to be exe-
...
has exercised the executive power of pardon.—
Schenectady Reflector.
ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Saturday Evening, November 19, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
The Mary Rogers Mystery Explained.
From the Tribune.
The terrible mystery which for more than a year
...
physicians in similar cases?
================================================================
[Col.1]
The Exciting News of the Day.
The local intelligence which we give to-day, of
all sorts, continues to be of the most exciting and
horrible character. New York was never in such
a state of excitement as it has been for the last
two days.
The horrible tragedy of Colt, and the mysterious
knife by which he set at naught the execution of
the law, and the administration of justice, conti-
nues to agitate the public mind in a most extraor-
dinary degree. Masses of the people disbelieve in
his suicide, and persist in saying that “he is still
alive,” and that the conflagration of the Tombs and
the Coroner's Jury, are only dust in their eyes.
Alas! his suicide is too true!
Such further particulars of this strange mystery as
were developed yesterday, will be found in our pa-
per to-day.
But this is not all. The mysterious murder of
Mary Rogers, at Hoboken, is again revived with
all its horrors, with the addition of more doubt—
more surmises—and more developements in pros-
pect. An examination took place, yesterday, at
Hoboken, all the particulars of which will be found
in this day's paper. It will be seen from this singu-
lar evidence, that the article on this subject, re-
cently published by the decent paper called the
Tribune, is a series of audacious and unexampled
falsehoods. We happen to know for what purpose
the gross imposition in the Tribune was manufac-
tured, and we shall expose its wickedness at length
at a proper time. For the present, all that is known
of the mysterious end of Mary Rogers, will be
found in the police examination published in this
day's paper.
We have also the case of Mr. James W. Webb
again on the tapis, in a more serious light than it
has yet been presented. Webb is now in prison,
awaiting his sentence for going out of the State to
fight a duel, and unless a pardon is given him by
Governor Seward, he must be sentenced to the
State Prison, not less than two years, nor more
than seven years. Notwithstanding all the evil Mr.
Webb has sought to do us for the last seven years—
...
Such are the events of the past two days, and next
week promises to be equally exciting. To-morrow
the Court of Oyer and Terminer in Westchester
county opens, and then will commence at White
Plains the trial of the prize-fighters for the murder
of McCoy. We have dispatched our inimitable
corps of reporters to that place—and shall run two
rapid expresses each day to bring us the latest intel-
ligence for both the morning and evening editions
of the Herald. These trials will be deeply interest-
ing, and we mean to beat the whole newspaper
press in New York, in the accuracy of the reports,
and in the rapidity of the publication.
This is a great country—this is a mighty city—
we are a wonderful people—and the age we live in
is the most wonderful that the sun ever shone upon.
[Col.2]
CASE OF COLT.—All sorts of rumors were in circu-
lation yesterday relative to the suicide of Colt, and
many of those who had not perused the city press,
still doubted that he was dead. The vicinity of the
prison was occupied here and there with little knots
of persons enquiring anxiously, and doubting as to
his fate. Bets were offered and taken on Friday,
that he would not be hung; and one gen-
tleman, connected with the theatrical profession,
won $150 on the result. There is much contrariety
of opinion as to the course of the Sheriff, many
blaming him for allowing Colt to be alone, and
others contending that as it was the man's last
dying request, he could not refuse it. The general
opinion is, that the immediate friends and relatives
of Colt knew his intention to commit suicide, and
the fact of their parting with him at one o'clock in
the day, when he had three hours yet to live, would
appear to confirm this opinion.
There were upwards of five hundred persons with-
in the walls of the prison, waiting to witness the
execution, which forms a curios reflection to the
idea of a private execution, as contemplated by
the legislature.
The cell in which Colt had been confined, was
thoroughly examined yesterday, and his clothing
and other et ceteras removed to the coroner's office
to be given to his brother. A small buck horn
handled pen knife, was found in the drawer of the
table of the cell, and a pair of small scissors, nearly
new, with either of which he coud have committed
suicide during the time he was left alone in his cell
on Friday.
Dr. Anthon had supposed that Colt would have
left some paper or writing in his cell for his particu-
lar eye, or that of the public, but no such paper was
found.
An investigation will take place in a day or two,
before which all the persons who have entered
Colt's cell, and have been with him alone, will be
arraigned.
In addition, the particulars relative to the at-
tempted bribery of the deputy keepers of the City
Prison by Colt's friends, to allow him to escape in
female clothing, as well as the peculiar reasons for
removing him from the hands of Col. Jones, the
keeper of the City Prison, and placing him in that
of the Sheriff, and the second attempt at bribery as
proposed to one of the deputy sheriffs, should also
be investigated.
These, and other mysterious and yet hidden trans-
actions, must all be exposed, and we should not be
astonished to see some action taken by the Common
Council of our city on this subject to-morrow even-
ing.
The body of Colt has been placed in one of the
vaults of St. Mark's Church, as previously noticed,
only until arrangements can be made to forward it
to his place of birth, in Connecticut, where it is to
be finally interred.
—————
THE MARRIAGE OF COLT.—Nothing, perhaps, in
the whole career of Colt, has excited more atten-
tion, particularly among the females of our city,
than the marriage of Colt to Caroline Henshaw,
within a few hours of the time fixed for this execu-
tion. The fact that Colt had never proffered mar-
riage before the hour when he knew his fate was
fixed, and the consent of Caroline Henshaw to
unite in matrimony with a man destined for the
scaffold, has naturally created much discussion and
enquiry, as to the causes that could have produced
such an extraordinary result.
From circumstances that have recently come into
our possession, we have every reason to believe
that Colt was married to Caroline Henshaw in Phi-
ladelphia before the murder of Adams took place in this
city. After this deed was committed, it became
necessary that she should be used as a witness, and
knowing that her testimony could not be received,
as the wife of Colt, she was introduced as plain
Caroline Henshaw, and for the purpose of carrying
out the deception, as originally practised, the mar-
riage ceremony was again performed, in order to
blind the eyes of the world to the previous transac-
tion. This will fully account for the commission of
an act that, under any other circumstances, appear
perfectly inexplicable. In case an investigation is
commenced in this city relative to the extraordi-
nary cause of his death, certain developments will
be made relative to the marriage that will astound
the community. We therefore call upon the gen-
tlemen in Philadelphia to speak out.
[Col.3]
The Mary C. Rogers Mystery—Examina-
tion of Mrs. Loss' Boys yesterday at Jersey
City.
The examination was held before Stephen H. Lut-
kins, Esq., Justice. It was conducted on the part of
the prosecution, by L. D. Hardenburgh, Esq., the
District Attorney. Counsel for prisoner, N. Chase,
M. Ogden, and T. W. James, Esqrs. There were pre-
sent, James G. King, Esq., Mayor Alexander, of
Jersey City, R. Gilchrist, county clerk; E. R. V.
Wright, Esq., and several magistrates. Judge Lut-
kins offered every facility to the Herald's reporter.
The following is a copy of the affidavit made be-
fore Judge Lutkins, upon which the two boys were
arrested and imprisoned last Monday.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, HUDSON COUNTY, SS.—Personally
appeared before a Justice of the Peace of said county, Gil-
bert Merritt, of said county, in the State of New Jersey,
who being duly sworn by me, deposeth and saith:—That
in the month of July, 1841, he (this deponent) as a magis-
trate, held an inquest on the body of Mary C. Rogers, at
Hoboken, in said county of Hudson, who this deponent
believes was murdered; and this deponent further saith,
that from information he has obtained, and facts in his pos-
session, he verily believes that the murder of the said
Mary C. Rogers, was perpetrated in a house at Weehaw-
ken, called “the Nick Moore House,” then kept by one
Frederica Loss alias Kellenbarack, (now deceased) and
her three sons, to wit—Oscar Kellenbarack, Charles Kel-
lenbarack, and Ossian Kellenbarack, all three of whom
this deponent has reason to believe are worthless and profli-
gate characters; and this deponent further saith, that he
has just reason to believe that the said sons and their mo-
ther, kept one of the most depraved and debauched houses
in New Jersey, and that all of them had a knowledge of,
were accessory to, and become participators in the mur-
der of said Mary C. Rogers, and the concealment of her
body. GILBERT MERRITT.
Sworn and subscribed the 14th of November, 1842, be-
fore me,
STEPHEN H. LUTKINS, Justice of the Peace.
The examination was conducted by his Honor
Mayor Morris, ex gratia.
MRS. NANCY LUDLAM, being sworn, (the oath
administered required any and all information
touching and concerning the death of Mary C. Ro-
gers) says:—I was with Mrs. Loss for nine days af-
ter she was shot; I did not on any occasion during
her sickness hear her say a word about Mary C.
Rogers—not in English; she might have said
something in German. She was crazy, or delirious
—raved terribly—talked of some female whom she
imagined to be present; thought her an evil spirit;
would cry out “Shoo away!” “shoo away!” &c.,
but called no name. I never heard the boys say
any thing about a secret to be kept. On that Sun-
day (25th July, 1841, the day of Mary C. Rogers'
death) in the afternoon, I saw a female and a
young man coming down from the mountain, fol-
lowed by four others; two of the four had on light
jackets; they came down on to the turnpike. The
lady had on light clothes and a straw bonnet; it was
about opposite to my house where they struck
the turnpike. This was after the shower.
My daughter-in-law said she could not be any great
things, to be followed by such fellows; I was at
home that evening all the time. A few days after,
I walked down to Mrs. Loss' house; while I was
there we were discoursing about Mary C. Rogers;
it was while Mrs. Loss was gathering up chips; she
talked about the bull, which she was afraid had
gored one of her boys. On the evening of the 25th
July, after milking, she [Mrs. Loss,] went to pick
up some chips—heard screams—thought a bull had
been injuring her sons—she went up towards Lud-
lam's house to find her child, and met the boy re-
turning. Witness asked her how she come to
keep the clothes in the house so long before she in-
formed of it? She answered, that she supposed
something might turn up to make them more useful
than if she had handed them over at once; she was
sorry she had not burnt the clothes, as her sister
wanted her to do, and thus there would have been
no fuss about it. Mrs. Loss' son Oscar had been
at my house that evening. That is all I know about
it; can't think of any thing more. I shall ever
think that was her coming down from the moun-
tain.
Q.—Has any thing been said to you about $50
offered by any one for any purpose?
A.—I never heard any thing about it.
Q.—Did Mrs. Loss state why it would have “saved
her trouble” to have burnt the clothes?
A.—No.
The name of that sister was Louisa Van Draler.
MR. JAMES LUDLAM.—I reside under the hill at
Weehawken, above Hoboken; I have not before
been examined; I recollect the Sunday 25th July,
1841; I was about home that day and evening; I
have thought a good deal about the occurrences of
that day; I heard no screams or cries. On the
morning the mother died, Oscar, one of the boys,
told me the secret would now come out, and that
the secret was about a receipt to cure the rheuma-
tism. I was with Mrs. Loss every day during her
sickness—she raved—I did not understand what she
said—she was delirious; I heard nothing about
$50.
MR. JAMES LUDLAM, JR., (son).—Have been ex-
amined before; I have heard nothing more about
the death of Mary C. Rogers; have never heard the
two boys say anything about the death of M. C. R.;
nor about $50; I know nothing more about it at all;
I heard my brother-in-law say the boys told him
that now the great secret would come out.
HENRY FREDERICKS.—I lived at Hackensack
when Mary C. Rogers was murdered; was at Mrs.
Loss's when she was sick; when Oscar was going
to Jersey City for the Doctor, he told me that the
great secret would come out now that his mother
was going to die; he said he should tell Dr. Gautier
all about the great secret; never heard any of them
say anything about Mary C. Rogers affair; the
elder son said that loose characters had been at his
mother's house; he had looked through the key-
hole and seen them.
ANTHONY LUDLAM.—Am son of James Ludlam;
have been living at Hoboken. On the 25th of July
I was one of the jurymen when the inquest was
held on the dead body. The second son of Mrs.
Loss, when the mother was going to die, said a
great secret would now come out after his mother's
death; Mrs. Loss, while sick, would say, “take her
away,” &c.; she talked all sorts of nonsense.
MR. JAMES STEPHENS.—Never before examined
in relation to the death of Mary C. Rogers; have
known these boys for ten years; smart active boys;
never heard the boys say anything at all about the
Mary C. Rogers affair; was home on the 25th July;
not at home when she was found; knows nothing
at all about the affair.
JAMES LEE.—Reside at Weehawkin, under the
hill, at Mr. Ludlam's; lived there at the time of
Miss Rogers' death; passed by the place where her
clothes were found—between 7 and 8 o'clock—after
the rain—after sunset; but heard nothing, nor saw
anything at all; was driving my cows home; the
sun might have been set half an hour when I first
passed Mrs. Loss' house to go after the cows,
the bull was left on the meadow; he was
not with my cows that night; when I got home
the cows were in the yard; they went on a little
ahead of me, and I followed on leisurely after them;
I was at home that evening, but heard nothing; no
noise, nor anything at all; nor did I hear any one
else say that he heard any noise; have not heard
Mrs. Loss' boys say anything at all about the mat-
ter.
CHARLES W. KELLENBARRACK, (son of Mrs. Loss, who
had been divorced from a man by that name, and as-
sumed the name of Loss, her maiden name.) [The
Mayor assured this boy that no harm should come
to him for anything which he might say, that he
might fearlessly tell the whole truth.] I am the
second boy; I was examined before Justice
Merritt, when my mother was examined; I
and my brother found the clothes; I know nothing
more than what I before told you at the other exam-
ination; I carried over the clothes and handed them
to Dr. Cook; I often saw the man Crommelin after
the death of the girl.
Q.—What secret was that which you spoke of?
A.—I stated to Fredericks that my mother would
die, and then would know the big secret, all about
the dead people, what became of them after they were
dead; that is all what I meant by it, whenever
I have said it to any one; Henry Frede-
ricks, I believe, knew what I meant by it;
I have never heard that any one came to our
house on that 25th July for assistance. Dr. Cook
talked with me on the day of the inquest about
this subject; asked me, if Mayor Morris had
seen and talked with me; nothing was said about
the secret which would come out. My mother had
a great many receipts for all kind of things; she has
got a receipt for rheumatism; she has got lots of
them of all kinds. My mother proposed to my sister
that she would take the clothes over to the Mayor;
it might lead to the discovery of the murder; my
aunt wanted her to burn the clothes; never have
known any sick person brought to my mother's
house to be attended upon; I saw the boy who came
down here after the doctor, and Henry Fredericks
was with me; in ever instance, whenever I may
have spoken of the great secret, I have always
meant that my mother would know when she died,
what became of the souls of people who died. I did
not see my mother till the third day after the wound;
when my mother was sick she talked German, and
English, and all sorts of languages; did not say a
word about Mary C. Rogers, or mention her name;
her talk was all about the ill-treatment of her rela-
tions, because they treated her so bad; I understand
German, and all my mother said; we never took
any lodgers at our house; had no accommodations
for strangers; and then we did not like to, because
we were alone; I did not mean, nor say that I, or
we, who were alive, would now find out the big
secret, but that my mother would find it out. There
was no one sick at my mother's when the clothes
were found and handed to Dr. Cook; I believe there
was some one sick at Mrs. Mount's but am not certain;
There is no garret to Mrs. Mount's house—there are
rooms in the second story of Mrs. M.'s; their is no
place in her house where any one can go behind
the chimney; nor is there any such place in our
house. My mother brought the clothes down stairs
and gave them to Dr. Cook; this was the first time
[Col.4]
Dr. Cook ever saw them; they were given to him
in the bar-room; they were brought down after the
Doctor came down. [This boy says he will be 18
the 29th Nov.]
OSSIAN R. W. KELLENBARRACK.—Was examined be-
fore Justice Taylor in New York. Since that time
I have discovered no clue, nor nothing at all, nor
heard any thing from any one else, which will give
any light about the death of Mary Rogers; knew of no
one ever being brought to our house to receive at-
tendance; don't know that my mother acted as
midwife in any case; the secret talked about was to
tell Dr. Gautier how to cure the rheumatism; my moth-
er said she would tell the Doctor how to cure the
rheumatism; this was when she was sick; she said
it to a number of persons in the room; my father
found it out; something about a steam pipe to go
from over a kettle; don't know anything at all which
will throw any light on the subject.
OSCAR KELLENBARRACK.—Has been examined be-
fore. Was at home on that 25th July towards night. In
respect to the secret, my mother, after she was in-
jured, and before she became delirious, said to me,
“I mean to tell Dr. Gautier the secret—what will
cure him of the rheumatism.” I told this to Doct. G.
the same day of her death. The Doctor asked me
what the secret was? and I told him I did not
know what it was; I don't know who told Dr. G.
that my mother had a secret to tell him. My little
brother told me what the secret was. The secret
was a receipt to sure the rheumatism. I told it to
Dr. G. after I was in jail; there was never any sick
persons came to my mother's house, as boarders to
be cured; I was with my mother during her last
illness. She talked all sorts of things. My mother
preferred Dr. Gautier to Dr. Cook to attend her.—
Have never heard anything of a story about $50;
have heard stories that people guessed the clothes
were brought from New York and left there. On
that evening I was out driving away an ox. My mo-
ther came out and called me—she thought I had
been hurt. I returned home. Know of nothing
which will throw any light on the subject.
DR. GAUTIER.—At Hoboken, 6 or 7 days before
Mrs. Loss's death, I heard a story about a grand
secret which would now come out, and I thought I
would tell a white lie to the oldest boy in order to
get at it; I feigned the story therefore to him that
his mother had a secret, and that she promised to
tell it to me, but could not because she became de-
lirious; and that I wanted those boys, if they knew
anything about the secret, to tell me what it was.
Oscar said he did not know of anything except-
ing it might be something about a change of
life—(his mother was about forty years old).
“No,” said I, “I rather think it was something
about Mary C. Rogers”; he said it could not be, as
his mother had already told all she knew about it;
this was just after his mother's death; I first dis-
covered what this secret was after the boy was in
prison, when I went round to see him on Tuesday
morning; this was the same boy Oscar; I asked him
what he was in there for? He said that Merritt had
put him in there on account of Mary C. Rogers; he
said his brother Ossian had found out what the se-
cret was, and that it was a receipt to cure the rheu-
matism; this was the first time that I found out that
this secret, so much talked about, was a receipt to
cure the rheumatism; I had no conversation with
Dr. Cook about it, except when I was riding up in
the waggon, when I asked him as to the propriety of
taking this course with the boys (telling the white
lie) to get the secret; Dr. Cook approved of the
course. Mrs. Loss died on Wednesday morning of
last week, and I made an examination that same
day—the inquest was held the next day; I have
been the family physician of Mrs. Loss for some
fifteen years; have known her all that time; I
always thought she bore a good character; every-
thing was very correct, moral and good. She was
an accomplished woman; and I never saw any
thing derogatory to her character. She was an ex-
emplary woman; I took special pains to ascertain
if in her delirious moments she said anything about
Mary C. Rogers, or if at any time the name of M.
C. R. when pronounced suddenly and loudly, would
produce any effect upon her. The experiments
were tried and no effect was elicited, showing that
she knew nothing at all about it.
[This testimony of Dr. Gautier, respecting Mrs.
Loss' character, was elicited at the special request
of Nelson Chase, Esq, counsellor at law.]
When the examination of witnesses was closed,
the boys were discharged from arrest and went
home. The mayor then requested that the room
might be cleared, as he wished to have a private
conversation with Justice Lutkins. This was done.
It is understood that there is something more of
deep and overwhelming interest yet in the wind.
The magistrates are on the scent, and these in-
vestigations will not end here. Gilbert Merritt,
Esq. informed us that there is no truth whatever in
the article published in the Tribune, and copied
into some of the other papers, respecting this af-
fair.
[Col.5]
CUT HIS THROAT WITH A CHISEL.—On Thursday morn-
ing a man named Robert Darris, a native of Ireland, and a
single man, was found in a shed at Morrisiana with his
throat cut, and a carpenters' chisel, with which he had
committed the act, lying by his side. He had not suc-
ceeded in taking his life, and was immediately brought to
the City Hospital, where he expired on Friday. He could
not speak after committing the deed, but communicated
his wishes by writing until the hour that he expired. He
gave no cause for the act.
================================================================
[Col.4]
The Mary Rogers Mystery.
With reference to our statement concerning this
affair we find the following note in Saturday's
Courier:
To Col. Webb:
DEATH OF MARY ROGERS.—I noticed a statement in the
Tribune of this morning, relative to a confession said to
have been made before me by the late Mrs. Loss, which is
entirely incorrect, as no such examination took place, nor
could it, from the deranged state of Mrs. Loss' mind.
Respectfully yours, GILBERT MERRITT.
Hoboken, Nov. 18, 1842.
We gave the facts as they were told to us by
two Magistrates of this city, and as we understood
them on the authority of a statement made by Mr.
Merritt himself to Mayor Morris. We said noth-
ing about any 'examination' of Mrs. Loss and
erred in stating that the confession was made to
Mr. Merritt. That it was made to some one we
have little doubt; and we firmly believe that the
statement we gave embraces the true explanation
of the manner of this unfortunate woman's death.
An examination was held before Justice Lut-
kins, at Jersey City, on Saturday, founded upon
the following affidavit, made by Mr. Merritt:—
State of New-Jersey, Hudson Co. ss.—Personally appeared
before me a Justice of the Peace of said County, Gilbert Mer-
ritt, of said County in the State of New-Jersey, who being
duly sworn by me, deposeth and saith, That in the month
of July, 1841, he, (this deponent,) as a magistrate, held an
inquest on the body of Mary C. Rogers, at Hoboken, in said
County of Hudson, who this deponent believes was mur-
dered; and this deponent further saith, that from informa-
tion he has obtained, and facts in his possession, he verily
believes that the murder of the said Mary C. Rogers was
perpetrated in a house at Weehawken called “the Nick
Moore House,” then kept by one Frederica Loss alias Kel-
lenbarack (now deceased) and her three sons, to wit, Oscar
Kellenbarack, Charles Kellenbarack, and Ossian Kellen-
barack, all three of whom, this deponent has reason to be-
lieve are worthless and profligate characters; and this de-
ponent further saith, that he has just reason to believe that
the said sons and their mother kept one of the most depraved
and debauched houses in New-Jersey, and that all of them
had a knowledge of, were accessory to, and became par-
ticipators in the murder of said Mary C. Rogers, and the
concealment of her body. GILBERT MERRITT.
Sworn and subscribed the 14th of November, 1842, before
me, STEPHEN H. LUTKINS, Justice of the Peace.
Nothing material was elicited, as the two sons
of Mrs. Loss—who are represented as most de-
praved and profligate characters—denied any
knowledge of the matter. Mrs. Ludlam, the nurse
who attended Mrs. Loss after she was shot by
one of these boys, testified that she was delirious,
and raved terribly—talked continually of the ghost
of some female which she imagined to be present,
and would cry out 'take her away,' &c., but called
no name, and said nothing about Mary Rogers, at
least in English, though she talked German much
of the time. Mrs. Loss once told her that “she
was sorry she did not burn the clothes that were
found, as it would have saved her much trouble.”
It was proved that while their mother was sick
both the boys said, at various times, that when she
died the great secret would come out; and one
of them said he should tell of it. When placed
upon the stand, and asked what they meant by
this great secret, one of them, Charles W. Kellen-
barrack, by name, said that all he meant by it was
that his mother, when she died, would know all
about the great secret—what became of the souls
of dead people. The other, named Oscar, said
that the secret he meant was what would cure the
rheumatism. It will be seen at once that there is
something quite as mysterious in this testimony as
in the death of Mary Rogers. The boys were both
discharged, however, as nothing could be made
out against them. The investigation, we under-
stand, will not end here; and we repeat our belief
that the true explanation of the matter will be
found in the facts we have already published.
[Col.5]
THE LONG ISLAND MURDER.—The Long Isl-
ander contains the result of a post mortem exam-
ination of the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The
body of Mr. Smith was nearly burnt to a crisp—
the head alone presenting evidence of identity;
upon it were three large wounds, produced by
some blunt instrument. On the head of Mrs.
Smith were six distinct wounds, either of which
would have produced death. She must have strug-
gled some time before death, as the knees were
much bruised and denuded of skin. A canister of
powder was found on the step of the front door.
Antoine Keysler, the supposed murderer, has
been examined and committed. He denies all
knowledge of the murder, and says he left the
house of Mr. Smith because Mr. S. told him in
Dutch to get some wood, and laughed at him for
not speaking English, and he said he was tired of
being laughed at. He says also that Mr. Smith
owed him some money for wages, and gave him
the boots he had on for pay. He has been in this
country but 14 weeks, and came over in the Silvie
de Grass. He slept in a barn on Sunday night,
and was found in a barn belonging to Mr. Lewis
Husler, near Port Jefferson, about 8 o'clock on
Tuesday morning, by Deputy Sheriff Penny.
[Col.6]
From Boston.
The mail due on Saturday morning at 7 o'clock
did not reach this city until 9 o'clock last evening,
the boat having been compelled to put back in
New-London by a heavy gale. We are indebted
to the Express of Messrs. ADAMS & Co. for pa-
pers and for the following letter from our Corres-
pondent:
The Slave Set Free, and made a Witness
in Court!
Correspondence of The Tribune.
BOSTON, Nov. 18, 1842.
Since my last notice of the Slave Latimer, the
excitement which grew out of his arrest and im-
prisonment, without warrant or other legal pro-
cess so far from abating, has been continually on
...
The trial of the colored men indicted for an at-
tempt to rescue Latimer, some weeks since is now
going on in the Municipal Court; and Latimer
himself was this forenoon examined as a witness.
He is about 22 years of age, and a very fine look-
ing fellow indeed. His appearance in Court ex-
cited much interest. Yours, REVILO.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.3]
The Long Island Murder.
HUNTINGTON, L. I., Nov. 18, 1842.
HORRIBLE MURDER!—Never has it been our me-
lancholy task, on any former occasion, to present to
our readers the details of a murder, so atrocious in
every feature, as the one committed a few nights
ago in the vicinity of our village. We do not re-
member to have heard of one so appalling, for ma-
ny years.
On Sunday evening last, Mr. Alexander Smith,
extensively known as a worthy and wealthy farmer,
resided at Old Fields, and his wife, were murdered.
Their bodies were discovered on the following
morning, lying on the hearth; that of Mrs. Smith
nearly consumed by the fire into which it had fallen,
on receiving a blow from the assassin; and that of
Mrs. Smith, near by, weltering in blood which had
flowed from several wounds inflicted on the head.
A German, named Antoine Keisler, who had been
in the employ of the deceased about two weeks, is
supposed to be the fiends who perpetrated the act;
he was seen at the house on Sunday afternoon—but
had absconded when the murder was discovered
the next morning. His objet unquestionably was
plunder, as Mr. Smith was a man of wealth, and is
supposed to have kept a large quantity of money al-
ways in the house. It was proved before the coro-
ner's inquest the Keisler had enquired of a man in
the neighbourhood, on Sunday, whether Mr. Smith
was not very rich. But the villain, after all, did not
obtain that for which he destroyed his employers;
for it is supposed that after he had committed the
murder, and before he could rifle the drawers and
chests in the house, he became alarmed at the
noise occasioned by some wagons passing, and made
a precipitate retreat through an end window. A
pocket book containing the remnants of several
bills, which had been burnt, was found in a pocket
of the coat which Mr. Smith had on at the time; and
a watch belonging to Mr. Smith was found in a
desk in his bedroom, which had been left unlocked.
It is quite probable, that he wretch was frightened
away before he had commenced his search for mo-
ney. It was undoubtedly his design to set fire to
the house, as the finishing scene to his atrocity, had
he not became alarmed. A canister of powder was
found on the step of the front door, where he had
placed it, to accomplish his purpose.
Mr. Smith kept a large dog about his premises,
which he always permitted to sleep in his bed room
at night; and the German, dreading the ferocity of
the dog, took the precaution to commit the deed be-
for the old gentleman had retired to bed—and in
order to avoid the interference of the animal, had
him secured in an outhouse.
...
Such are the leading particulars of this dreadful
tragedy. It will serve to admonish us all against
the too frequent practice of employing persons who
come among us as entire strangers, before we can
obtain satisfactory assurances that they are worthy
of our encouragement, or deserving of our confi-
dence.
POSTSCRIPT.—WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, 4½ O'CLOCK
—CAPTURE OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERER!—Keisler,
the supposed murdererer of Mr. Smith and wife,
was arrested by deputy Sheriff Penny, in a barn be-
longing to Mr. Lewis Hulse, near Port Jefferson, in
the town of Brookhaven, about 8 o'clock on Tues-
day evening, and brought to this village in custody
of Sheriff Brush and Deputy. The prisoner is about
24 years of age, with a countenance rather noble
and frank, exhibiting none of that savage ferocity
which marked the commission of the crime with
which he stands charged.
EXAMINATION BEFORE JUSTICES CONKLIN, CARLL
AND UDALL.—Prisoner said he was born in Ack
Ern, is now twenty-four years old—has been in
this country about 14 weeks, and landed in New
York—came in the ship Silvie de Grasse. On board
the ship he went by the name of Anthony Keisler.
He was seven weeks in the hospital at Staten Is-
[Col.4]
land sick—when he went there he was almost dead
with the dropsy. His passport was stolen from him
while in the hospital—don't know what became of
his clothes; they were stolen from the ship or the
hospital. Went from New York to Goshen, where
he staid three days with a carpenter—don't know
his name—from there he went back to New York.
...
The prisoner is to be committed to prison, and
have his trail at the Circuit Court in May next.—
Long Islander.
—————
Letters of John C. Colt, written in the
New York Prison.
PRISON HOUSE, Oct.2, 1842.
DEAR FRIEND:—
* * * * * * *
Do not believe the thousand false statements you see he-
ralded from day to day in the papers.—Let them blow
...
[Col.6]
...
Why is the question asked, why sentence of death should
not be pronounced, if the prisoner is not privileged to
make a reply? And if any reply is made, be it ever so ex-
ceptionable, should it not, under such extreme circum-
NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.1. Mostly as in Troy Budget]
stances as this, be received with kindness, if it be singly
with an eye to the frailties of poor human nature?
* * * * * * * *
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To L—— G——, Boston, Mass. When John C. Colt found the sentence of death must be
carried into effect, he resigned himself to his fate with the
most perfect composure.
John C. Colt had an intelligent face, a frank, willing
smile, that prepossessed one involuntarily in his favor—an
...
[Col.2]
COLT'S LETTERS.—The extraordinary letters and
last conversation of this miserable, misguided man,
written in prison, will be found on our first page.
—————
COL. WEBB'S CASE.—We gave in our yesterday's
paper a full report of the arraignment, pleading and
imprisonment of Mr. Webb, on the duel indictment.
If Colt's strange and mysterious end had not taken
place about this time, Webb would have been a
leading subject in the public mind. As it is, he
must take a subordinate part. Only his particular
friends attend to him, and as we are one of them,
we beg to ask every humane person to come into
our office to-day and sign the following petition:—
TO HIS EXCELLENCY, WILLIAM H. SEWARD, GOVERNOR
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The undersigned would respectfully represent, that
whereas J. Watson Webb, editor of the New York Cou-
rier and Enquirer, has pleaded guilty to an indictment for
leaving the State with the intent to accept, and for ac-
cepting a challenge to fight a duel with the Hon. T. F.
Marshall, and is now in prison awaiting the sentence of
the Law; and believing that the case is one justly claim-
ing the clemency of the Executive, we do most respect-
fully ask the interposition of your Excellency, and that
you may be pleased to grant the said Webb a full and un-
conditional pardon.
Yesterday Col. Webb spent a tolerably pleasant
time in prison. A number of his friends called
...
—————
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY — We gave in our
paper of yesterday a full report of the Police examina-
tion which took place on Saturday at Hoboken, rela-
tive to the murder of Mary Rogers, from which it ap-
pears that the following story published in the Tri-
bune, is all falsehood, and absolute fabrication: —
[From the Tribune.]
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY EXPLAINED.—The terrible
...
lence, breathes its accusation into the ear of Justice.
Of all this wonderful development, not one word
is true. It seems to have been manufactured in the
same way that the other statements in the Tribune
are got up—to serve some dirty purpose. The fol-
lowing is in adition to the evidence we gave yester-
day:—
Death of Mary Rogers.
I noticed a statement in the “Tribune” of this morning,
relative to a confession said to have been made before me,
by the late Mrs. Loss, which is entirely incorrect, as no
such examination took place, nor could it, from the deran-
ged state of Mrs. Loss' mind.
Respectfully Yours,
GILBERT MERRITT.
Hoboken, Nov. 18, 1842.
But it is due to the public to say, that, although
the “mystery” thus developed in the Tribune is ut-
terly without foundation, there is a “mystery” which
we have fathomed, and which we can give at the
proper time. To say more at present might defeat
the ends of justice—to say less would have encour-
aged the imbecile, blundering beings of the Tri-
bune, to go on in their ridiculous fabrications about
a matter that they cannot know, and cannot appre-
ciate.
[Col.3]
??????????????????????????????????????????????
in relation to the mysterious juggle that was perpe-
trated at the Egyptian Tombs on Friday last, by
which the ends of justice were defeated, the majesty
of the law made a miserable mockery of, and the
poor unfortunate wretch himself died a more horri-
ble, revolting and disgraceful death than even had
he perished by the hands of the common hangman.
The whole community, as with one voice, cry
out “Shameful,” “Disgraceful,” in regard to the
shocking negligence which brought about this dis-
graceful result; and they demand that those who
neglected or violated their duty in the matter, should
be speedily and properly punished.
In this most revolting affair, from first to last,
Judge Kent, Mr. Whiting, the Jury who tried Colt,
Governor Seward, the Judges of the Supreme
Court, the Chancellor, and Colonel Jones, the
keeper of the City Prison, deserve great praise, and
will have the unceasing thanks and respect of their
fellow citizens, for their stern integrity and determi-
nation, at all hazards, and under all influences, to
support the integrity and majesty of the laws, and
see the ends of justice carried out. How does their
conduct contrast with that of Sheriff Hart? Let
him walk round among his fellow citizens, and get
the answer; and hear the universal cry of condem-
nation against him for gross negligence in not pre-
venting the prisoner from rushing into the presence
of his Maker unbidden.
Disguise the matter as we may, he is morally an
accessory to the self-murder of that poor wretch!
If he believed, as he said, that Colt had made this
peace with God, was prepared to die as a Christian
and felt sure of his eternal salvation, through the
atonement of the Savior of Men, why, it was ten-
fold more incumbent on him to watch Colt narrow-
ly, and see that he did not condemn his soul to
eternal infamy by committing self-murder. Now,
then, how did he act? He never searched Colt's
cell—he never searched his person—he never had
those persons searched who went in to see Colt. A
hundred weapons of destruction might have been
given to Colt, on account of the Sheriff's negli-
gence, and yet under all these circumstances he was
left alone for one hour and twenty-five minutes be-
fore the hour he was to be executed.
The Sheriff knew that Colt had meditated suicide
—he knew (for it was published in this paper on
Thursday) that Colt had asked to borrow works on
anatomy, for the express purpose of learning how to
kill himself quickly, and had asked the doctor of
the prison to point out those arteries which, when
cut, would most readily destroy life. He knew that
Colt or his friends were determined to prevent his
being hung, if any earthly means in their power
would prevent it; he knew that they had attempted
to bribe three deputy keepers, and even tried to
bribe his own deputy sheriff, Vultee, with $500;
which, when he found Vultee incorruptible, he
gave to Caroline Henshaw with so much parade.
He knew that the prisoner at 2 o'clock in the after-
noon of that fatal day had begged him to refuse to
perform his duty, and let the hour pass by without
hanging him; even going so far as to tell the She-
riff that if the mob in their rage and vengeance
should tear down his house, that he would have an-
other house given him, and be amply remunerated
for all he might lose. And yet, in the face of all
this, he allows him to be alone for the last hour and
a half; whilst with the 30 persons in the jail it was
common talk that Colt would never be hung, but
commit suicide. And the tone and temper of Colt's
mind at half past two o'clock might easily be seen.
When the Sheriff and Hillyer went to see him, he
said angrily, “I thought I was to be left alone till
four; I thought you pledged your word to me that
I should not be disturbed by any one on any pre-
tence, before four o'clock.” And yet he was left
alone.
The violated majesty of the law, and the outraged
feelings of the public, demand a full and thorough,
and impartial investigation of the whole affair; and
we trust that both the Common Council and the
Governor will enter upon the task without delay.
================================================================
[Col.2]
The Case of Mary C. Rogers.—We stated on Fri-
day that the two sons of Mrs. Loss, who kept the
house at Weehawken, called the Nick Moore House,
had been arrested on suspicion of being in some way
or the other connected with the death of Mary Ro-
gers. The following is a copy of the affidavit made
before Judge Jenkins, upon which the two lads were
apprehended:
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, HUDSON COUNTY, SS.—
Personally appeared before a Justice of the Peace of
said county, Gilbert Merritt, of said county, in the
State of New Jersey, who being duly sworn by me,
deposeth and saith: That in the month of July, 1841,
he (this deponent) as a magistrate, held an inquest on
the body of Mary C. Rogers, at Hoboken, in said
county of Hudson, who this deponent believes was
murdered; and this deponent further saith, that from
information he has obtained, and facts in his posses-
sion, he verily believes that the murder of the said
Mary C. Rogers, was perpetrated in a house at Wee-
hawken, called the “Nick Moore House,” then kept
by one Frederica Loss alias Kellenbarack, (now de-
ceased,) and her three sons, to wit:—Oscar Kellen-
barack, Charles Kellenbarack, and Ossian Kellenba-
rack, all three of whom this deponent has reason to
believe are worthless and profligate characters; and
this deponent further saith, that he has just reason
to believe that the said sons and their mother, kept
one of the most depraved and debauched houses in
New Jersey, and that all of them had a knowledge
of, were accessory to, and became participators in
the murder of said Mary C. Rogers, and the conceal-
ment of her body. GILBERT MERRITT.
Sworn and subscribed the 14th of November, 1842,
before me.
STEPHEN H. LUTKINS, Justice of the Peace.
Mrs. Nancy Ludlum was the first person exam-
ined and testified that she was attending on Mrs.
Loss for nine days after she was shot, during which
she raved a good deal in German, which the witness
did not understand, and seemed to be frightened at
some female whom she imagined to be an evil spirit
and to whom she would cry “shoo away,” “shoo
away.”
Mr. James Ludlum the husband, and James and
Anthony the sons of the last witness, knew nothing
except that when Mrs. Loss had been shot, one of her
sons said that now the great secret would come out
and that the great secret was a receipt how to cure
rheumatism.
A number of other witnesses including the three
sons of Mrs. Loss were examined, none of whom
knew any thing further. The youngest son howe-
ver, said that what he meant by the great secret was
that his mother would now know where the soul
went to, while both the others said it was a secret to
tell how to cure the rheumatism.
Dr. Gautier had tried to find out the secret from
the sons, but all he could learn was that it was to
cure the rheumatism. He gave Mrs. Loss an excel-
lent character and said that during the time she was
delirious he had tried whether Mary C. Rogers'
name pronounced in a loud tone would have any
effect but found it had not.
The three young men were then discharged and
went home, Mayor Morris and the other magistrates
remaining for some time in consultation.
We have received the following communication on
this subject.
To Col. WEBB,—
I was present at the examination of witnesses in
the case of the murder of Mary C. Rogers, at Jersey
City this day, and understood that as the examina-
tion was to be public by allowing Reporters to be
present, and others as attorneys, deeply interested
for suspected persons not apprehended, Justice Mer-
ritt declined taking any active part in the examina-
tion, and that it was wholly conducted by the Mayor
with the witnesses sworn by Justice Lutkins. That
the examination was well conducted by His Honor
the Mayor, is beyond question or doubt—and that
nothing new was elicited from a number of wit-
nesses sworn and examined; therefore, this mys-
terious matter sleeps for the present. Yours,
A LOOKER ON.
—————
The Long Island Murder.—In the paper printed
at Huntington, in the vicinity of Oldfields, the resi-
dence of the late Mr. and Mrs. Smith, whose mur-
der we noticed a few days since, we find the follow-
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
EXTRA SUN
IN PAMPHLET FORM.
Life, Letters, Last Conversation, Suicide and In-
quest of
JOHN CALDWELL COLT,
who was sentenced to be Hung on the 28th Nov.
1842, for the Murder of
SAMUEL ADAMS, PRINTER,
together with
GOVERNOR SEWARD'S REPLY
to the resolutions passed at a meeting of the
NEW YORK BAR.
Published at the Sun Office—Price 3 cents.
It will be found very suitable for friends in the
country, giving a clear succinct account of the
whole. Copies in wrappers, for the mails, can be
had.
[Col.2]
THE FEVER OF EXCITEMENT into which our city
was lashed on Friday, by the occurrences connec-
ted with the death of J. C. Colt, has subsided but
little, and continues to rage to a greater or less
degree in all circles. The tragedy of that day,
the circumstances which led to and which imme-
diately preceded it, and, indeed, the whole histo-
ry of it, from the 18th Sept., 1841 to the equally
fatal day which saw our city prison in flames, a
doomed culprit weltering in his life-blood shed by
his own hands, and a convulsed community—the
horrible 18th Nov., 1842—has been brought up
again, in all its various and exciting phases, be-
fore the public mind, and forms the all-engrossing
themes of discussion, conjecture, speculation and
opinion amongst all, every where. Many are yet
far from satisfied that Colt is really dead, and
still not yield belief to the evidences furnished
before the Coroner's jury that the ill-starred man
has yielded up his life to the law. More are of
the belief that his suicide was a matter of conni-
vance between himself and friends, and those
who had immediate charge of his safe-keeping.
Still a more numerous body believe, and not
without at least a strong show of reason, that
the prison was fired by some person or other
in the interest of his friends, for the purpose
of favoring a rescue of the culprit from the gal-
lows, had his courage failed him in consum-
mating the suicidal arrangement he carried out
with such fearful fortitude. In one place there
are believers in the story that at the time the
alarm of fire pervaded the precincts of the prison,
he was seen to issue from the prison yard,
through the great north gate, get into a carriage,
and ride off. In another, it is the current belief
that he left the prison disguised in the garb of a
fireman; and, indeed, there is no shape in which
human invention could imagine a way of es-
cape which has not been framed, and found
believers. A thousand reports and conjec-
tures are bruited about, and gossip, humbug, and
twattle, are running riot all over the city. The
women, especially, can talk of nothing else, think
of nothing else, and dream of nothing else. A
perfect Colt-mania appears to pervade the whole
sex, and unfit them for the sober realities which
surround themselves and their own concerns.—
Where the frenzy will leave them, and when it
will end, we dare not venture a prediction; but if
some do not take leave of the little sense yet left
them before they recover from the mania, there
will have to be a reaction in their brains very
shortly.
That there are considerations of a very grave
nature connected with the tragedy of Friday, its
attending circumstances, and its coincidences,
there can be no question; but they are of a na-
ture far different from the pervading gossip of the
town. That Colt has expiated his transgressions
by a self-inflicted death, is as certain as that the
victim of his uncontrolled passions perished by
his hand. Whatever designs may have been
formed by himself or others, with a view to an
escape from the dread fist of the law, by his own
hand he put an eternal bar to their consummation.
For good or ill he passed to the eternal judg-
ment seat, and no earthly tribunal can again
claim from him expiation of his transgressions.
But there are, connected with this event, cir-
cumstances which the public look for an investi-
gation into, and an explanation of—if they are
susceptible of explanation—cannot be gainsayed.
What these circumstances are, are too self-evi-
dent to need recapitulating here; and we doubt
not the proper authorities will lose no time in
doing their duty in the premises.
????????????????????????????????????????
[Col.4]
THE BAR, AND THE WRIT OF ERROR.—The
meeting of some of the members of the bar, held
a short time since, at which sundry resolutions
were passed, has occasioned no little remark in
the community in regard to the propriety of the
step then taken. Some, indeed, have gone so far
as to affect a feeling of contempt for those who
participated in that meeting. But we really be-
lieve that if the true object of the meeting was
understood, there would be but one opinion, and
that a favorable one, on the subject. By the pro-
visions of our law, in an action concerning pro-
perty, no matter how paltry the amount in ques-
tion, either party has the right to carry it before
a higher court, if he considers his rights affected
by the determination of the court below. But
strange to say, in a criminal prosecution, if life
itself is in peril, the prisoner must make applica-
tion to the Chancellor, Judges of the Supreme
Court, or Circuit Judge, and if they refuse him a
writ of error, he is debarred from having his
case passed upon by the court of last resort.—
That this is a very apparent and cruel error in our
judicial proceedings, cannot be denied.
The principal object of the above meeting, as
we understand it, was to call the attention of the
public to this fact, and so far as it was meant to
influence the people in taking mesures for the
better protection of the citizens, it was praisewor-
thy. The prisoner should have every privilege
extended to him consistent with the due adminis-
tration of justice, which would never be material-
ly affected by the little delay which would be oc-
casioned by allowing prisoners in all cases the be-
nefit of writs of error. There is another very im-
portant question as yet unsettled, and that is whe-
ther the Court of Oyer & Terminer, constituted
by the Circuit Judge and two Aldermen is proper-
ly constituted. The sooner this mooted point is
solemnly settled by the proper court, the better.
If men are to be tried, they must be tried by the
competent tribunal, or if an error occur in the or-
ganization of a court is to pass unnoticed, it will
be a precedent most pernicious in its conse-
quences.
—————
AS WE SUPPOSED.—The following card from
Judge Merritt, of Hoboken, whom the report we
alluded to on Saturday made the confidante of the
late Mrs. Loss, which puts that report upon the
same baseless fabric upon which rest so many
other in relation to the same subject:—
To the Editor of the Sun:
I noticed a statement in the Tribune of this
morning, relative to a confession said to have been
made before me by the late Mrs. Loss, which is
entirely incorrect, as no such examination took
place, nor could it, from the deranged state of
Mrs. Loss' mind. Respectfully, yours,
GILBERT MERRITT.
Hoboken, Nov. 18, 1842.
The fiction which has called forth this denial of
Judge Merritt's, was set afloat some ten days
since, for a purpose well known to its originators,
and well known, also, to the veritable print which
has aided them in their design. The only object
it has effected, however, has been to cause the ar-
rest, and the imprisonment for a week, of three
sons of a Mrs. Loss, who on Saturday succeeded
in obtaining an examination of the pretended
cause for suspicion against them, and of the
trumped up story upon which that fictitious cause
was predicated. The result was, that after the
examination of a score or so of witnesses, who
could tell nothing more about the fate of Miss
Rogers than was told immediately after her dis-
appearance, they were discharged, without the
production of a particle of testimony sustaining
the allegations against them, or of a single fact
or circumstance tending to throw the slightest
light on the subject of the enquiry. We have rea-
son to believe, however, that justice is now on the
right scent, and that the current week will wit-
ness a development of the whole mystery, and of
the “why and wherefore” of the industrious pro-
mulgation of the exploded fiction.
================================================================
[Col.7]
CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.
——
Final decision of Governor Seward in the
case of John C. Colt.
——
The following is the Governor's Decision on the
application of the Members of the bar for a respite
to the offender:—
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, }
ALBANY, November 16, 1842. }
James T. Brady, Richard R. Ward, R. Wharton
Griffith and Samuel G. Raymond, Esquires, coun-
sellors at law, have submitted to the Governor re-
...
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
the judicial officers in the case of John C. Colt,
...
H. UNDERWOOD, Private Secretary.
—————
BOZ AT LOWELL.
...
—————
MORBID SYMPATHY WITH CRIMINALS.
——
A savage murder is committed, the barbarity
...
[Col.3]
JOHN C. COLT—THE LAST ACT OF THE
TRAGEDY.
——
[From the N. Y. Tribune.]
Yesterday Colt, the convicted murderer of Sam-
...
[Col.4]
...
of their common God.
—————
We have received (says the N. Y. Commercial
Advertiser of Saturday) the following letter from
Dr. Anthon, giving, it will be seen, a promise of
[Col.5]
interesting details for our readers and the public.
To the editors of the Commercial Advertiser:
It was my intention to give to the public thro'
your columns of this day, the “notes of inter-
views” which I read to the Court at my examina-
tion last night, and my recollections of the scenes
in the city prison, so far as I was a witness on the
18th. I find myself, however, not equal to-day
to discharge this painful duty, which I owe to the
Church, of which I am a minister, to the com-
munity and to myself. I hope on Monday to place
my statement at your disposal.
I am respectfully yours,
HENRY ANTHON,
Rector of St. Mark's Church.
Saturday, Nov. 19.
—————
...
JOHN C. COLT closed a life of passion and
crime, with self-murder, at a few minutes before
4 on Friday afternoon. The concluding scenes
of the tragedy, will be found described in our
columns; and will be read with the interest—
the morbid interest, some will say—which at-
taches to the progress and fate of crime.
The result, in this instance, however censur-
ed, may have been anticipated, from the char-
acter and habits of the convict. And now that
he has gone to his long account, and sealed by
a terrible retribution, his atrocious though
scarcely premeditated murder, let us pity and
deplore, while we condemn.
It is at least a grateful reflection, that through
the firmness and elevation of the Authorities, the
majesty of the law has been fully vindicated.
The final and appropriate replies of the Gover-
nor and Chancellor, to the application of a por-
tion of the Bar of the city of New-York, are
published to-day, the former on the first page.
[Col.6]
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY EXPLAINED.—
The terrible mystery which for more than a year
...
ries concerning the affair.—[Tribune.
——
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY.—The follow-
ing from the Courier and Enquirer of Saturday
morning is a point blank denial of the reported
confession by Mrs. Loss relative to the death of
Mary Rogers.
To Colonel Webb:—
I noticed a statement in the Tribune of this mor-
...
================================================================
[Col.4. Partly as in Troy Budget, Tribune, Courier]
SUICIDE OF JOHN C. COLT.—This unfortunate
man was condemned to die on Friday afternoon at
4 o'clock. the gallows was prepared, the specta-
tors eagerly assembled to witness the execution,
when Mr. Callender, clerk of the Police Office, an-
nounced that John C. Colt was dead—had commit-
ted suicide in his cell.
It appears according to the Sun, he had asked,
at 1 o'clock, to be left alone in his cell so that he
...
building were in a short time destroyed.
The following additional particulars we copy from
the Tribune:
At a few minutes before 4, Sheriffs Hart and West-
...
pipe, without doubt, became red hot, and thus set
the cupola on fire.
A Coroner's inquest was held upon the body of
Colt at 7 o'clock. The following is an extract from
the testimony:
Rev. Henry M. Anthon, sworn. I am the cler-
gyman who attended deceased. I commenced vis-
...
in a vault in St. Mark's Church.
It seems clear from this, that since Sunday last
...
soul has met his victim at the bar of their common
God.
—————
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY EXPLAINED
...
the horrors with which conjecture, apparently well-
founded had surrounded it.—Tribune.
[Col.5]
THE MARY ROGERS CASE.—We find the fol-
lowing letter in the Courier in relation to the con-
fession said to have been made at Hoboken:
“I noticed a statement in the Tribune of this
...
================================================================
[Pg.3,Col.1]
JOHN C. COLT.
Relieved the sheriff of his unwelcome task, and accu-
mulated murder on his own soul by killing himself, about
four o'clock on the afternoon of Friday last. The cupola
of the prison was on fire at the same time. Probably no
event affecting one person ever caused such intense ex-
citement in this city. The “Sun,” of this morning,
says:
“The fever of excitement into which our city was
lashed on Friday, by the occurrences connected with the
death of John. C. Colt, has subsided but little, and con-
tinues to rage to a greater or less degree in all circles. A
thousand reports and conjectures are bruited about, and
gossip, humbug, and twattle, are running riot all over the
city. The women, especially, can talk of nothing else,
think of nothing else, and dream of nothing else. A per-
fect Colt mania appears to pervade the whole sex, and
unfit them for the sober realities which surround them-
selves and their own concerns.”
Reader, the word of God teaches us to expect a tragedy
in which all mankind will be involved, except those who
are Christ's, at his coming. Are you of that happy num-
ber? If so, lose no time in warning all your friends and
neighbors to be ready.
[Pg.4,Col.1]
CHRIST IS COMING
TO JUDGEMENT NEXT YEAR!
BY THE AUTHOR OF “A CLUE TO THE TIME.”
—————————————
JESUS CHRIST, who now sits on the right hand of power, is
coming in the clouds of heaven; a when every eye shall see him,
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
J. C. COLT AND WATSON WEBB.
The former of these two personages was quarrel-
led with by an individual (Adams) who was doing
business with him. The quarrel was succeeded by
a fight. The fight resulted in the death of his an-
tagonist. For the dead—or rather only for his con-
duct towards the dead body of the deceased—Colt
was tried and convicted of wilful murder. He ask-
ed simply a brief respite from the Governor (not a
pardon) perhaps with the hope that justice might
be induced to a more favorable decision, or at least
that more time might be alloted to make prepara-
tion for eternity. But the Governor, for motives
which we shall not here or now attempt to question,
asserting the awful and repugnant principle that so
much of a criminal's confession as went to prove
his guilt should be taken as evidence, and so much
as went to establish his innocence or justification
should be set aside as deserving of no consideration,
refused to show the unfortunate man any lenity.
J. Watson Webb quarrelled with a member of
Congress, (Marshall,) and in the face of the laws
of his country met in cool blood and with a deadly
weapon attempted to take the life of his enemy.—
For this act he has been indicted by a jury of his
countrymen, has pleaded guilty, and will be sen-
tenced to imprisonment as the law requires. The
criminal has nothing to plead in self-justification.
He acted deliberately, and made an effort to take
the life of a fellow being. It was no fault of his
that his attempt to kill was ineffectual. Nor was
it the first instance where he was connected with
such a deed. An effort is already on foot, (before
the criminal is sentenced,) to reach Executive cle-
mency and procure his pardon.
Webb has been lavish in his adulation of the Ex-
ecutive. Colt's opinions of the man have already
been made public. The fate of the latter has been
decided. The other remains to be. If the law had
demands to be satisfied in the one case, it has also
in the other. Let us see the result.
[Col.3. Partly as in Courier, Tribune, Troy Whig]
J. C. COLT—CORONER'S INQUEST.
A Coroner's Inquest was held on Friday night
over the body of Colt, and all the persons who had
visited him were sworn. They all, and severally
testified that they were not aware of the means by
which he became possessed of the instrument of
his destruction. The following is an extract from
the testimony.
REV. HENRY M. ANTHON, sworn. I am the cler-
gyman who attended deceased. I commenced
...
up with Christian fortitude to the end.
After hearing the testimony, Dr. Archer, the
Coroner, charged the jury that if any evidence had
...
in a vault in St. Mark's Church.
—————
☞ We have received (says the N. Y. Commer-
...
Saturday, Nov. 19.
—————
THE MARY ROGERS CASE.—We find the follow-
ing letter in the Courier in relation to the confesion
said to have been made at Hoboken:
“I noticed a statement in the Tribune of this
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
TRIAL OF THE POLICE JUSTICES.—Amid the strife
and din of elections, the public attention has, we ap-
prehend, not been sufficiently directed to the trial of
Milne Parker, before the County Court, for illegally
discharging convicts from Blackwell's Island previous
to the last spring election, with a view to their voting
under the direction of the persons who escorted
them from the prison.
The enormity of these proceedings, which were so
strenuously denied by the Locofoco papers, when
fires charged, and the zeal and pertinacity which Mr.
Mayor Morris displays, and from the commencement
of the investigation has displayed, to throw obstacles
in the way of inquiry, are well fitted to arouse public
attention.
Mr. Morris, it cannot be forgotten, obtained his
celebrity by violating the law, and the sanctity of a
private dwelling, under the pretext of vindicating the
purity of the elective franchise. We now see him
using all his influence to defeat, or render unavail-
ing, a legal inquiry, having in view the same ob-
ject.
...
Already the proofs are overwhelming that prison-
ers were discharged long before the expiration
of their sentences; that they were kept together,
and together brought to the city on the eve of the
election; and finally that they were led to the polls
to vote, and did vote, under the bidding of those
having them in charge.
And all this was perpetrated through the instru-
mentality of Locofoco Magistrates, and for the bene-
fit of Locofoco candidates; and yet these are the
men who have the impudence to charge the Whigs
with pipe-laying. We do not perceive that the
Evening Post, which was so full of virtuous indig-
nation in the Glentworth case, has any expressions
of condemnation for this ten-fold greater outrage.—
But perhaps when it has done rejoicing over Loco-
foco triumphs, it will have some leisure and virtue
for the reproof of Locofoco crimes.
—————
...
The alleged slave LATIMER about whose case
there has been so much excitement in Boston, has
been liberated on the payment to the claimant, a Mr.
Gray of Va., of $400.
It seems the jailor had become alarmed about the
legality of keeping him prisoner, and had announced
his intention of discharging him—whereupon the
claimant agreed to receive $400, and manumit the
slave, although he had before asked $1000.
The Boston Courier asks if the laws of Massachu-
setts permit the sale of human beings and insists that
the pretext of paying $400 for the manumission of
the slave, in no wise alters the fact that he was
bought.
—————
MORE OF THE MARY ROGERS CASE.—It seems
the Justice G. Merrit, of New Jersey, made oath
on the 14th inst. of his belief that Mary C. Rogers
was killed in the Nick Moore house, kept by the late
Mrs. Loss, and that she and her sons were cogniz-
ant of the murder.
Thereupon an examination was held on Saturday
at Jersey City, before Justice Lutkin, of which the
Tribune gives this summary.
Nothing material was elicited, as the two sons of Mrs.
Loss denied any knowledge of the matter. Mrs. Lud-
...
we repeat our belief that the true explanation of the mat-
ter will be found in the facts we have already pub-
lished.
Our own belief is, from what we can learn from a
well informed source, that there is no foundation
whatever for this story.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MARY C. ROGERS AFFAIR.—On Saturday
the sons of the late Mrs. Loss, as well as some
other persons, underwent a long examination be-
fore Justice Stephen H. Lutkins, in Jersey City,
touching the death of the unfortunate Miss Rogers.
A rumor was afloat that the three boys Kallen-
bach, (the sons of Mrs. Loss,) who, after her
divorce from her husband, resumed her maiden
name of Loss, had stated that soon after her demise
a great secret would be divulged, which induced
the authorities to have them arrested, and to place
them in custody to undergo an examination in re-
lation to the mystery.
It will be recollected that Mrs. Loss lived at
Weehawken, at the time that Mary C. Rogers was
supposed to be murdered, and that the girl had
visited her house on the afternoon that she was
missing.
The boys, in their examination, all stated that
the secret that was to be imparted, was to tell Dr.
Gautier, a physician, residing in the neighborhood,
how to cure the rheumatism, a recipe for which
their mother possessed, and which she, a short
time previous to the accident that deprived her
suddenly of life, had promised to impart to him.
The investigation was somewhat tedious, but
after the boys' story was heard, they, as well as all
the other parties summoned, were allowed to de-
part, and the whole matter rests in the same state
of mystery as it did at the commencement of the
investigation, and immediately after Miss R. was
found murdered; thus ends the singular affair.
The prevalent opinion now is, that her death
was occasioned by an attempt of a medical man to
produce abortion—who that person is we know
not—and that her body after death, was thrown in-
to the river to avoid disclosure—in short, that the
story imputed to Mrs. Loss, whether made by her
or not, is in substance a true account of the cir-
cumstances under which the young woman came
to her death.
================================================================
[Col.1]
From the Tribune.
The Last Scene.
Yesterday COLT, the convicted murderer of Sam-
...
[Col.4. Seems mostly as in Argus]
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY.—The following
from the Courier and Enquirer of this morning is a
point blank denial of the reported confession by Mrs.
Loss relative to the death of Mary Rogers.
To Colonel Webb:—
...
[Col.6]
From the Freeman's Journal.
JOHN C. COLT.—Probably the last official docu-
ment which the citizens of the State of New York
will receive from the best Governor they ever had,
is the Reply of Gov. SEWARD to the application for
a reprieve made by the friends of the wretched man
whose name heads this paragraph.
...
Throughout this matter, Governor Seward though
placed in the most difficult and trying positions,
has acted in a manner worthy of all praise, and
which, as one out of many instances in his career,
will be a bright example to his successors in the
gubernatorial chair.
——
From the American Masonic Register.
COLT, THE MURDERER.—This unhappy man, was
probably executed yesterday, pursuant to his sen-
tence, for the murder of Samuel Adams. Perhaps
no case, since the foundation of our government,
has excited more attention, or enlisted stronger ef-
fort to save a guilty victim from the just retribution
of violated law than this. But the even scales of
justice have not swerved from their course—the su-
premacy of the law has been vindicated, the pow-
erful efforts of influential counsel and friends, has
been of no avail, and we trust, that forever, here-
after the fact will have gone forth that certain ex-
piation must follow the commission of crime.
Without it, our laws are utterly valueless, and the
wholesome citizen can have no safety, no protection
nor confidence in the stability of our boasted insti-
tutions.
...
body of community. We firmly believe, that the
sooner the depravity of the age is made to feel, that
money nor influence, can save the felon, the sooner
the lives and property of our citizens will be respect-
ed, and hence a decrease of the monstrous crimes,
now so prevalent through the land.
——
GOVERNOR SEWARD.—The chief magistrate of
this State has again performed a high and impor-
tant service for the cause of law and virtue, by re-
fusing to extend pardon to Colt for his murder of
Samuel Adams. He has left this among the last
acts of his magistracy, and we hesitate not to de-
clare that on no occasion has he been more true to
the lofty trust confided to him, than in this painful,
but clear and important case.
We learn that Colt received the intelligence of
the Governor's decision with great agitation—the
confidence based upon a presumptuous hope of es-
cape at once giving away, and leaving him in a
state of awful desolation. He now probably begins
to realize the value of human life, and the guilt of
murder.—New York Evangelist.
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY is yet to be
explained—the story published by the Tribune
not being confirmed, although that print now
says that it erred only in giving the name of Mr.
Merritt as the person to whom the confession
of Mrs. Loss was made, and still believes that it
was made to some one. The account publish-
ed seemed very plausible, and we, too, have
little doubt that the unfortunate girl met her
death in the manner described, as it is the only
one which would seem satisfactorily to account
for the appearance of the body, when found.
An examination was had at Jersey City on
Saturday, founded upon an affidavit of Merritt,
setting forth his belief that Miss Rogers was
murdered at the house of Mrs. Loss, and that
her three sons were accessaries. These latter,
together with a Mrs. Ludlam, who nursed Mrs.
Loss, during her last illness, were examined,
but nothing was elicited tending to criminate
either, and they were discharged. The investi-
gation, it is thought, will becontinued.
================================================================
[Col.1. Mostly as in Courier]
Rev. Dr. Anthon's Statement.
The following statement of Dr. ANTHON of his
pious interviews with John C. Colt, during the
last few days of his existence, is copied from the
commercial Advertiser of yesterday. It has a
deep and painful interest. It is prefaced by the
single remark that the writer called upon Colt at
the request, made through J. L. Graham, Esq.
MONDAY, Nov. 14, 1842.
I called at 10 A. M., by agreement, on Colonel Graham,
at the Post Office, and he accompanied me to the prison in
Centre-street; was introduced to the keeper, Colonel Jones,
and he was apprised of the object of my visit. He men-
tioned that the prisoner had passed the night in “tears,”
and probably would be willing to admit me. On proceed-
...
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 22, 1842 (CA)
[Col.1]
☞ The statement of Dr. ANTHON concerning
the conversations which he held with Colt during
the last few days of his existence may be found
upon our first page. It will excite general atten-
tion. On our last page is a notice of COOPER'S new
novel—with copious extracts.
[Col.2]
The Punishment of Death Defended.
To the Editor of the Tribune:
In your interesting article upon the wretched
end of that unfortunate man John C. Colt, you
make some remarks upon the subject of Capital
Punishment, to which I wish to call your attention.
I have long observed, and been much gratified
with the high tone of moral sentiment which
has so uniformly characterized your Edito-
rials; and I regret that you should entertain, what
I think is so clearly erroneous opinion, on that
subject. No matter how sincere or forcible may
be your views, if they accord not with the Divine
Law, they will not prove satisfactory to those of
your friends who believe in the Bible.
...
the life. But that the murderer must die by vio-
lence at the hand of man, is as surely a binding
command of God, as it is that a man “shall not
kill.” The penalty is affixed to the crime, and
cannot be annulled. There is no other punish-
ment which, with the sanction of the Bible, can
be inflicted upon the wilful murderer, but DEATH.
JUSTICE.
Reply to the above.
Our correspondent having been allowed to state
his whole case as strongly as he may, we shall take
room barely to hint at the heads of our reply. They
are these:
1. If there be any man who feels himself Di-
vinely commanded to imbrue his hands in the blood
of a murderer, let him do it, and take the respon-
sibility. We do not; and therefore protest against
being dragged in to share the responsibility of a
deed from which we shrink with horror.
2. Government is not founded on Divine Reve-
lation, but on the consent of men of all creeds and
opinions. To require a community to engage in
killing men because the religious views of a part
require it, is to transform Government into a The-
ocracy, and ultimately a Hierarchy, since the Cler-
gy are the virtual interpreters of the Word and
Will of God. Should the views of our correspond-
ent be accepted as sound, Colt should have been
tried, not according to the Revised Statutes but
the Bible, and prosecuted, not by Mr. Whiting,
but Dr. Brownlee and Rev. Mr. Cheever.
3. God does not need nor require the aid of
human Governments to enforce His judgements.
('Vengeance is mine—I will repay, saith the
Lord.') The commands of God are not addressed
to Governments, but to the individual consciences
of men. If Government is to take upon itself the
duty of executing one law of God, as such, and
punishing its violation, must it not do so with all
God's laws? Must it not inevitably determine
what are God's laws throughout? And does not this
imply more than a 'union'—a perfect consolida-
tion of 'Church and State?'
4. We think the Scripture, Gen. ix. 6, ('Who-
so sheddeth Man's blood, by Man shall his blood
be shed: for in the image of God made He man,')
is by no means a command to any human being—
much less to Governments—to shed blood, but a
prediction—a Divine appointment—an indication
of the unfailing order of Providence, under which
violence and wrong unfailingly return upon the
head of the violent and the wrong-doer. 'He
that killeth by the sword shall be killed by the
sword'—not because any man is or all men are
required so to kill him, but because a just Retri-
bution is the unerring law of God, who will him-
self take care of its execution.
5. We are not strict constructionists, and do
not pretend to be; yet we think the absence from
all our Constitutions, State and Federal, of any
grant to Government of power to determine, ex-
[Col.3]
pound and execute God's laws, should be consid-
ered in this connexion.
6. Our correspondent cites the solemn command
of God, 'Thou shalt not kill,' with its repetitions,
as sustaining his view of the question—in effect
interpolating a qualification, so that it practically
reads, 'Thou shalt not kill' any but murderers.
We accept and insist on the command as it reads,
without qualification. Fearful is the responsibility
assumed by him who ventures to violate this com-
mand. Were we to do so under any circumstan-
ces, we should expect to die a bloody death, no
matter what might be the laws of man on the sub-
ject.
—We cannot make room for long discussions on
questions so abstract, though important, as this.
Our readers will readily fill up this outline. Ed. Tr.
———
...
☞ Our envious neighbors, who cannot endure
the knowledge that we gave the first develope-
ment of the Mary Rogers mystery, may as well
forbear their snarling. They only set the public
laughing at their ludicrous misery. That our first
statement was substantially correct we are confid-
ent, and that we made it on good authority, we
know. Those who doubt can satisfy themselves
by proper inquiries; those who can wait shall be
publicly satisfied.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 22, 1842 (CA)
[Col.1]
Cooper's New Novel.
——
THE WING AND WING, or Le Feu Follet: A Tale by the
Author of 'The Pilot,' &c. In two volumes. Philadel-
phia: Lea & Blanchard. New-York: Jas. Stringer, 155
Broadway.
This work has just been published, and we avail
ourselves of its first appearance to cite two or three
extracts—all for which we now have room, from
which some opinion may be formed as to its gene-
ral merits. The Sea is, in the opinion of many,
COOPER'S element, and his best friends divide
...
AN EXECUTION AT SEA.
The yellow flag, and the signal gun, brought
every thing, in the shape of duty, to a stand-still,
...
[Col.2]
...
LOVE AND DEATH.
An hour passed, all on, or near the rock sleep-
ing, overcome by fatigue, but Ghita and the dying
man.
“That star haunts me, Ghita!” Raoul at length
muttered. “If it be really a world, some all-pow-
erful hand must have created it. Chance never
made a world, more than chance made a ship.
Thought—mind—intelligence must have governed
at the formation of one, as well as of the other.”
...
================================================================
[Col.3]
REV. DR. ANTHON'S STATEMENT.
To the Editors of the Commercial Advertiser.
In pursuance of my promise of Saturday, I place
the following statement at your disposal, with a sin-
gle word of explanation. On Saturday evening, No-
vember 13th, at 10 o'clock, John L. Graham, Esq. a
former parishioner of mine, called upon me and sta-
ted that the prisoner, the confirmation of whose sen-
tence had that day been received, at his (Mr. Gra-
ham's) suggestion, would give me an interview the
following morning. Having had no previous ac-
quaintance with the prisoner, Mr. Graham promised
to accompany me to the prison.—The public will
bear in mind that these “notes of interviews” from
Monday to Thursday evening inclusive, were writ-
ten immediately on my return from his cell.
NOTES OF INTERVIEWS WITH JOHN C. COLT.
1842, November 14—Monday—I called at 10 A.
M., by agreement, on Colonel Graham, at the Post
Office, and he accompanied me to the prison in Cen-
tre street; was introduced to the keeper, Colonel
Jones, and he was apprised of the object of my vis-
it. He mentioned to us that the prisoner had passed
the night “in tears,” and probably would be willing
to admit me. On proceeding to the cell, we were in-
formed that Mr. Colt's brother was with him. He
was called out at our request, and told that I was
ready to see the prisoner, but that if the hour was
inconvenient, any other might be named. Mr. Colt
readily acquiesced and expressed his willingness
that the interview should be had. He re-entered the
cell, and in a few minutes apprised us that his bro-
ther was prepared to admit us. I passed in with Col.
Graham, was introduced, and after a few words of
explanation from the Colonel, was left alone with
the condemned. He courteously requested me to be
seated, and after a short pause I said that I had
come to visit him, in consequence of the intimation
he had sent to me the evening before, by Col. Gra-
ham—that I felt therefore that it was not an act of
intrusion on his privacy by a stranger. I was there
in compliance with his own expressed wish, and that
as the servant of my master, and “your servant,” I
added, “for Christ's sake,” I sought to do him all
the good in my power, and would willingly minister
to his great need. He thanked me and said in reply
that my visit was in compliance with his desire, ad-
ding to this effect, that he had “in his youth been
educated religiously—brought up in the strictest
sect of Presbyterians—under the Rev. Mr. Hawes,
whom” said he “you must know by reputation if
not personally,” but that there were certain tenets to
which, as held by them, he could not subscribe, viz:
their views of “original sin and infinite punish-
ment.” It was at this point of the conversation, I
think, that he mentioned also that “he thought he
once had experienced religion under Mr. Maffit.”—
After alluding thus briefly and hurriedly to his early
bringing up, he went on to complain of certain indi-
viduals “seeking interviews with him for religious pur-
poses,” and “dealing with him severely,” and then
observed that he had sent for me as one “who, he
supposed from what he had heard, held more liberal
views.”
He complained also of the course pursued towards
him by the press—the conduct of his trial, and the
concluding act of the Executive. Without interrup-
ting him, I seized the first opportunity to say that he
ought to harbor no unkind thoughts toward the in-
dividuals of whom he first had spoken—(who they
were I know not)—that they probably meant well,
even if they had wounded his feelings. To this he
readily assented. That with reference to the recent
course of the press, I knew nothing. As to his trial,
I came not to discuss the verdict or the subsequent
action of the Governor. As a citizen, I bowed to
both. As a fellow creature and an ambassador of
Christ, I came to remind him that time to him
was measured out, not by days, nor by hours, but by
moments, and to beg him to prepare to meet his God.
Was he prepared to meet him? He spoke somewhat
hurriedly in reply. “Yes,” said he, “my time is mea-
sured by moments,” and he paused.
He went on to remark somewhat to this effect, that
he had endeavored “to live justly and fulfill his obli-
gations to men,” and at this stage of the interview
expressed, I think, his belief in the Bible. I endea-
vored to meet him on this ground, and my remarks
were made to bear upon the character and require-
ments of God's holy law, and the consequent nature
and evil of sin as a transgression of that law—as re-
bellion against God. And I implored him to search
his heart and examine his life by God's standard and
not by his own; to look at his condition by nature,
and by actual manifested transgressions during his
entire career; to say nothing at present of the one
last act which had brought him there. Here it was,
if I mistake not, that I asked—“If these things are so
—what is your hope, your refuge, your stay?” He
covered his face with his handkerchief and wept.—
During our interview of three quarters of an hour, he
acquiesced in several of my observations, and in a
general way acknowledged his sinfulness, and a reli-
ance on the Saviour. What that reliance must be
if he would entertain any valid hope in Christ, I
pointed out and referred him to several texts which I
thought were applicable.
Supposing his brother to be waiting at the door of
his cell, as I had interrupted their interview when I
came to the prison, I prepared to leave. I asked if
he would let me visit him again? and when. He
said “certainly, it was his wish that I should do so
every day,” and 9 o'clock to-morrow was the hour
agreed on. When I rose to leave him I took his hand
and reminded him that his hours were hurrying to
their end—that here in his cell the eye of God—his
offended God—was fixed upon him, and I begged him
to call mightily and earnestly for mercy through his
Son. “Have you prayed? Do you pray?” I asked.
“I do, I do,” said he much affected. Commending
him to God, as I held his hand, the painful interview
ended, and I hurried away.
Note.—I left him a tract on repentance, a copy of
Bishop Meade's Prayers, referring him particularly
to the latter part, viz: “A Guide to the Penitent,”
and the following Scripture references—Isaiah 1, 18;
Isaiah 57, 15; Proverbs 28, 13; 1 John 1, 9; Luke
15th chapter.
1842, Nov. 15, Tuesday.—I repaired this morning
at 9 o'clock to the prison, and on reaching the cell
found Mr. Colt was taken his breakfast, and that the
sheriff was with him. I waited in the hall a short
time by his request, and when the sheriff came out
was admitted. The prisoner seemed glad to see me,
and apologised for the detention. He was proceeding
after we were seated, to make some remarks in refe-
rence to the sheriff's being timid, &c. [In reference
to this remark I have a word of explanation, which I
made to the coroner's inquest. While I was wait-
ing near the cell some remark was made by some
one, whom I took for an officer, to another person
near me, as to the desperate character of some of the
prisoners then in confinement—that if they were
permitted to walk about they would be ready to take
any one's life in order to escape. I did not hear the
whole of the conversation, but it left the impression
that perhaps some of the prisoners had been turbu-
lent, and trying to escape. When Mr. Colt there-
fore made the above remark about the sheriff's timi-
dity, my first thought was that he had heard that
that officer had been making arrangements to prevent
an outbreak. In the evening, however, in conversa-
tion with my son, he mentioned that he had heard
that the sheriff had deprived the prisoner of his
knife and razor, and that Mr. Colt had told him that
he was timid, and that such precautions were use-
less, inasmuch as if he wished to kill himself he
could open his veins with his teeth.] I interrupted
him as soon as it could be done, to bring before him
the object of my visit. I told him that I had come
again at his own request, and was there with the in-
tention of speaking the truth to him in love—that I
had a duty to discharge as a minister of God, and
that he (the prisoner) must bear with me while I
endeavored to do so, even if I wounded his feelings.
The truth must be told to him. He acquiesced in
these remarks, and expressed his belief that I meant
him well, and that from what he had learned of my
character he had thought that I could feel for one
in his situation. He was seated on the foot of the
bed, near the table, on which was lying the volume
I gave him yesterday. Perceiving me to cast my
eyes in that direction, he took up the book and ob-
served that “he had read portions of it, together
with the tract, and derived great comfort from the
perusal of both and the prayers. That he had not
noticed at first the part which I had marked, viz:—
'The guide for the penitent'—but that he had after-
ward read it, and found it applicable to himself,” or
something to this effect. He then took up a Bible
and observed that he had found among the portions
of scripture which I had handed him yesterday on a
slip of paper, I had noticed one which he had him-
self chosen as applicable to his situation.” I asked
which it was. He said “the 15th of St Luke—the
parable of the prodigal.” Availing myself of a pause
in his remarks, I observed that my aim in leaving the
book and tract, and in noting certain texts, was to
minister to his great necessity, but I begged him
“not to deceive himself.” “Comfortable as such
declaration of Holy writ are, sir,—rich and abun-
dant as are the promises of God in his own book,
you must bear in mind that they are for the penitent
alone. You have no right to lean upon them, or
to appropriate them to your case, unless yours is a
broken and contrite heart.” He admitted the jus-
tice of what I said; and this led the conversation to
the nature of repentance, its consistent and essential
parts—the grievious character of sin making so wide
a separation between God and man that nothing but
the blood of his beloved Son could suffice as an
atonement—the ingratitude of sin and its conse-
quences.
I pressed upon him “the indipensable necessity, as
one mark of true penitence, of the confession and
bewailing of his sinfulness to Almighty God, with a
full purpose of reparation and satisfaction, to the ut-
termost of his power, for all injuries and wrongs done
by him to any other, and the necessity, likewise, of
his being ready to forgive others who had offended
him, as he would have forgiveness at God's hand.”
The unhappy man was not offended at the course of
remark. I may be mistaken, but I would fain be-
lieve that the motion he exerted was the work of
God's powerful grace, and that He who of his infi-
nite goodness did accept the conversion of a sinner
on the cross, was opening upon him an eye of mer-
cy. And now I know not how to pen what followed.
I proposed to him that we should unite in religious
exercises. He eagerly assented. [And here he apo-
logised that he had not asked me on Monday to pray
with him. I said in reply “that I had also to blame
myself; that being an entire stranger to him I did not
[Col.4]
know how far I might venture upon a first interview;
that I had deeply reproached myself for the omis-
sion as soon as I left his cell on Monday.” This ex-
planation I gave the inquest on my examination.]
I then said to him, “before we pray, I feel it my
duty as a minister of God and a servant of his Church,
to address to you words of monition, some of which,
perhaps, you may think severe, but I conceive them
suited to your situation, and hope that God will ac-
company them with his blessing.”
He rose from the foot of his bed, and taking a fold-
ed blanket from under his pillow, laid it on the floor
by my chair, knelt upon it and buried his face in the
coverlid. I commenced reading the exhortation to a
“Criminal under sentence of death,” and when I
reached the second sentence: “You are shortly to
suffer death in such a manner that others, warned by
your example, may be the more afraid to offend; and
we pray God that you may make such use of your
punishment in this world that your soul may be
saved in the world to come.” [I would ask it as a
favor of the reader to refer, when he comes to this,
to the “Exhortation” in the "Office for the Visita-
tion of Prisoners,” in the Prayer Book.] His sob-
bings were audible and continued. From the exhor-
tation I proceeded at once to pray with him as “a
malefactor after condemnation.” He wept bitterly;
repeated after me the petitions and expressions, and
at the conclusion said more than once “Amen.”—
When I rose from my knees he remained in the same
position, with his face hidden, for at least two mi-
nutes, murmuring, it seemed to me, broken supplica-
tions. I offered to leave him my Prayer Book, and
opened it at the Office for the Visitation of Prisoners.
He gladly accepted it, saying, “that he was not ac-
quainted with such prayers.” I offered him also a
prayer which I had written out for him before I left
home, and several scripture references. He thanked
me for them, and when I reminded him of Ps. 50, 15, and
implored him to profit by its advice there in his soli-
tary cell—“Call upon God in the day of trouble”—
he wrung my hand begged me not to think him so
great a wretch as some did, or something to this ef-
fect. I told him I came not to judge him; I was but
“a sinner endeavoring to minister to a wretched
fellow sinner, and I prayed to God to bless the work
to his soul's salvation.” We parted.
1842, Nov. 16, Wednesday. At half past 10 o'clock
this morning I went to the prison, and on entering
was informed by one of the door-keepers that two
ministers of another denomination were desirous of
an interview with Mr. Colt. He asked if I had seen
either of them, and seemed to wish my opinion as to
the propriety of their admission to the cell. I said in
reply that I had not seen either of the gentlemen,—
that I came at Mr. Colt's request, and that it was for
him to decide, I thought, whether others should be
admitted. While an officer went to apprize him that
I was there, another individual asked if I had any ap-
prehensions as to his committing suicide. I observed
that such an apprehension had not crossed my mind
since I had seen him, and that such a result in my
judgment, in the prisoner's present frame, was not
to be expected. I then passed into the cell. Mr. Colt
extended to me his hand, and saying to him “God
be with you, Sir,” I apologised for being somewhat
behind the hour appointed. He replied that such an
apology was unnecessary, and as soon as I seated
myself, took a letter from his table, and asked me if
I knew a clergyman named James.
I replied, not personally, but by reputation; that I
believed he belonged to the Presbyterian denomina-
tion and was of highly respectable character and
standing. He said he only wished to know inas-
much as Mr. James had written to him a very kind
letter. I took occasion to mention to him, what I
understood was the desire of other clerical gentlemen
to visit him, and that it was of course a matter which
he must decide. He said that he would rather decline
the offer, for the reasons which he had before as-
signed, and objected to people coming there to ascer-
tain his views and afterward distorting them through
the press or the pulpit, and examining him on “doc-
trinal points.”
“Now doctrinal points”—I understood him to say,
“have nothing to do with my case.” Such a decla-
ration startled me, and I immediately said, “the first
principles and doctrines of Christ certainly bear on
your case? There are cardinal, vital doctrines, the
glory and life of the Gospel, which, from what has
passed between us I have been led to entertain the
hope, would prove in this hour your stay.” You
must have found them summed up in the visitation
office,” taking up as I spoke the Prayer Book, which
I had left with him, and repeating, as I did so, the A-
postles' creed—“here,” said I, pointing to the creed
in the morning service; here is a summary of the
essential doctrines of Christianity, held to by other
Christian denominations as well as by the church of
which I am a minister. A humble and living faith
in these we hold to be essential to salvation.”
He said very promptly, “Oh, I believe all these—
I believe in Christ, and I don't see how any man can
do otherwise.” He then proceeded to say to this
effect: that the “doctrinal points” to which he had
referred were certain views in reference to the sin of
our first parents and predestination. He professed his
belief that our first parents having fallen from God
and corrupted themselves, all who descended from
them must be corrupt—but his disbelief that our first
parents' sin was our personal sin. Nor could he sub-
scribe to the views entertained on the subject of pre-
destination and reprobation, as held in the denomina-
tion in which he had been educated. Man was ac-
countable for yielding to his corrupt propensities—for
giving way to temptation—but that the Son of God
had died for original and actual transgression, and
that His atonement would avail the sinner who had
faith and applied it to his heart and conscience.
The general tenor of his remarks at this point inter-
ested me much. I can only attempt an outline. He
held that man was born with 'religious instincts.'—
He dwelt upon the case of the savage believing in
the Great Spirit, and compared with him an individu-
al living under the Gospel. The errors and mistakes
of man in religion proved him a religious being. I
could coincide with much that he said on this latter
topic, and when I referred in corroboration of his re-
marks to the heathen system of religion, their sacri-
fices, &c, I recollect his observation. “Yes, seeking
for something not revealed to them but to us—an
atonement for sin.” Mr. Colt asked me several di-
rect questions as to human responsibility, and ex-
pressed it to be his full conviction that God would
deal hereafter with every one according to his privi-
leges, means and opportunities; that he was a just
God, and would do right. Among other questions he
said to me in words to this effect:—“Why, now, take
the case of a poor laborer, with a family of children
growing up in want and without the means of in-
struction, and compare it with your situation, sir, and
your children, and don't you suppose that God will
make allowances for one which he will not for the
other?”
After some farther conversation on these topics, I
turned it to a point on which I was aware the com-
munity felt, as I did myself, a deep interest, and
where they had a right for information if it could be
obtained.
The Episcopal Church, in the office for the “Vis-
tation of prisoners,” requires her ministers, after an
examination of the individual concerning his faith
and repentance, to exhort him to a particular confes-
sion of the sin for which he is condemned. I called
Mr. Colt's attention to the rubric on this subject, and
found that he was aware of its requirements. Re-
minding him then of the circumstances under which
we had first met, and the character and results of
our interviews, I appealed to him in the strongest
and kindest terms I was master of, for the manifes-
tation on his part of farther confidence. He met the
appeal as it was meant. He solemnly declared that
he committed the act in self-defence.
“I have said so,” said he, “again and again,” but
where is the use? They will not believe it, they will
not believe it.” His face was covered with his hand-
kerchief, and he wept bitterly. His manner and
words affected me deeply, I asked him, after a pause,
several questions. Among others, this, “Will you
carry this as your confession to the bar of God?”—
He assured me solemnly that he was prepared so to
do, and not to die with a lie upon his lips. I inquired
of him, “Taking your own account then to be the
truth, do you think God has dealt harshly with you,
under present circumstances?” “No,” said he, “God
has not done it. Man has done it.” I inquired of
him further, “You declare that you acted in self de-
fence. Still must you not feel deep sorrow and dis-
tress for having hurried a fellow creature without a
moment's preparation into the presence of his God,
and brought such woe upon his family?” He assent-
ed with much emotion. I told him that I was con-
strained to believe he spoke the truth.
I then prayed with him—offered him after conclu-
ding, a prayer which I had written out that morning,
and several scripture references, such as the six pe-
nitential psalms, &c. He thankfully accepted them.
Rising to depart I quoted Matthew xi, 28, &c., and
closed an interesting though painful visit of one hour
and a half. I have omitted to mention that Mr. Colt
complained of the course taken by the press, especial-
ly the false and unwarrantable statements of some
of the “penny papers.” I gave him every assurance
that I was not the author, or responsible for one jot
or tittle, and begged of him not to look at any news-
paper. I took his Bible as I left the cell and put it
into his hands—“there,” said I, “my dear sir, is
Heaven's best gift to one in your situation; read
that, and let lying oracles alone.”
Six o'clock, P. M.—At the prisoner's request I
was to renew my visit to-morrow morning. But
upon reflection, and for the purpose of ascertaining
his determination in relation to one point in particu-
lar, I repaired at this hour to his cell. He seemed
glad to see me, and his attention was asked at once
to the matter on my mind. He was much affected
as soon as I touched upon it—the situation of his
child and its mother. Upon my expressing a hope
that he was ready to repair to the utmost of his pow-
er the wrong done, he said, “Oh, certainly, it was
his wish,” and when I added, “perhaps you do not
fully take my meaning. Are you ready to admit her
to the rights of a wife?” He gave his ready assent,
but added—“Perhaps his relatives ought to be ask-
ed. He did not know what their feelings were,” or
words to this effect. He then went on of his own
accord to detail the circumstances under which the
acquaintance was formed, spoke of ——— with kind-
ness, and whenever he referred to the child manifest-
ed great emotion. He promised to mention the mat-
ter to his friends as soon as he had an opportunity.
I prayed with him and bade him farewell.
1842. Thursday, Nov. 17.—When I reached the
prison at about quarter past 11 to-day, I was inform-
ed of a rumor being in circulation that the Executive
had respited the prisoner until January. Thinking it
very important to have certain information on this
point before an interview with Mr. Colt, I called on
Mr. Graham, who coincided with me in opinion, and
kindly accompanied me to the sheriff's office. The
result of an application for delay was made known to
us, and I was requested to communicate it to Mr.
Colt, together with a request that he would fix the
hour on the morrow. Before I reached his cell he
had been informed by some friends of the Governor's
renewed refusal to interfere. He grasped my hand
as I entered, and we were both too much overcome
to say a word. I prayed at his side for some time,
both audibly and silently, and he remained on his
knees for some minutes after I had concluded. His
acknowledgments of his sinfulness and of his hope
that he would find mercy at his heavenly Father's
hand for his Saviour's sake, came unprompted and
were humble and fervent.
To comfort him, I found myself unequal to any
thing more for a while than simply to repeat God's
own assurances to the penitent and believing, from
the holy volume, and put up brief ejaculations that
he would strengthen and support my brother sinner
in this hour of his sore calamity. Inexpressibly
painful as this interview was, before it closed I im-
plored him and adjured him as well as I was able, to
tell me once more whether he would stand by his
acknowledgments of yesterday touching the sad act
for which he was to suffer, as the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth. “O yes—yes,”
was his reply. “Can you, my dear Sir,” I asked,
“throw any more light upon what passed? If so,
confide in me. I will do what I can to have justice
done to your memory.” “No,” said he, “I have
nothing more to add to what these letters contain,”
handing me at the same time a printed copy, in an
envelope, of a paper, called “Extra Tattler, Oct. 23,
1842.” When the sheriff and another gentleman (I
believe Mr. Hart's brother) entered the cell to an-
nounce, as it was their painful duty, his approaching
end, “O Mr. Hart, may God forgive you,” I think
was the exclamation of the unfortunate man, as he
threw himself upon his face on his bed and wept.
When asked at what hour? “Let it be,” said he,
“at the setting of the sun.” I did not remain very
long after they withdrew, as he had, as he said, let-
ters to write, and many friends who would wish to
see him, and must for a time be left alone. I recol-
lect well before we separated how he took his hand-
kerchief from his face, and looking up with stream-
ing eyes to Heaven, said, “O, I believe God—I be-
lieve God will, for the Saviour, forgive me.” After
again praying with him I bade him farewell with a
promise to return on Friday morning at 9 o'clock, to
be with him from 9 to 10 at his own request.
[Col.5]
Memorandum—Before I visited Mr. Colt this day,
I rode over at 9, to my friend, the Rev. Dr. Smith,
rector of St. Peter's, and laid all my notes before
him, and asked his advice. He thought I ought to
mention to the prisoner the apprehension on the
minds of some that he would commit suicide, which
I did at this point of the conversation; and told him
solemnly if such an idea crossed his mind at any
time, to dismiss it at once as the delusion of the ad-
versary, as he valued his hopes of eternal salvation.
He was much affected at the time, and disavowed
expressly all such intention. Dr. Smith, so far as he
could form an opinion from my “notes” and conver-
sation, encouraged me in the course I was adopting.
We discussed for some time whether in what I sup-
posed to be the prisoner's state of mind, it was expe-
dient that I should mention to him the apprehension
which others entertained of his destroying himself.
After much conversation with my reverend and dear
friend we came to the conclusion that it was my duty
to do so. Again, I do not remember to have stated
in my examination why I threw all mention of this
matter into the form of a memorandum and not into
the “notes of interviews.” On Thursday night, af-
ter consulting with one in whose judgment I could
confide, we came to the conclusion that in case the
prisoner met his death according to the sentence of
the law, and I should deem it my duty to lay before
the public these “notes” as they were first written, it
would be better, in order to spare the feelings of sur-
vivors, to avoid all mention of my having made to
him this appeal.
The statement which follows, the public will bear
in mind, is founded upon a few notes in pencil taken
hastily on Friday, which I read at my examination
before the inquest, and upon my subsequent recollec-
tions of the events in the prison, where I remained
from 9 until 5 o'clock.
18th, Friday, 9 A. M.—When I reached the cell
door, I stated to the officer on duty that as I was to
be with the prisoner by his own appointment from 9
to 10, I begged that we might not be interrupted, to
which he kindly consented. As I entered Mr. Colt
advanced and received me in a manner so calm and
kind as affected me deeply. I cannot describe it.—
The remains of his breakfast he hastened to remove,
and as I stood opposite to him, before seating myself,
he informed me that Miss Henshaw would soon be
present—of his wish to have the marriage ceremony
performed—that he had no doubt she would consent
—that his brother had gone to bring her to the prison,
and would be there shortly.
He sat down on the foot of his bed, and I drew a
chair near to it. He immediately handed to me a
small package containing as he said $500, and asked
me to count it. I opened the package so as to see
that it was a sum in gold and notes, and without
counting it, took it in charge, saying that I supposed
it was correct. (The sum was subsequently counted
in the presence of witnesses, and found to be $250 in
American gold, and the remainder in notes of the
city banks.) He then showed me a receipt drawn up
by himself to the above effect, and finding upon ex-
amination of it that it referred to Miss Henshaw as
his wedded wife, I advised him to defer the comple-
ting of this instrument until she had become so, and
then have my signature attested by a competent wit-
ness. He acquiesced. (It was afterwards signed by
me and attested by Mr. Payne.)
He then went on to explain more fully his wishes,
and the arrangements which he had made in the mat-
ter—read a letter which he intended to give, as he
said, “to Caroline,”—spoke of both mother and
child with deep emotion, and said how anxious he
was that the mother should lead a virtuous life, and
the child be duly educated. Here it was, I recollect,
he gave his views with so much correctness, in my
opinion, of the influence of the “associations of
home,” in training up children, that my feelings gave
way. I expressed, as soon as I could, my thoughts
at seeing him so disposed—my readiness to comply
with his wish in reference to the marriage, and my
hope that this anxiety on his part to repair in this
matter wrong done, was evidence of sincere repent-
ance. He at once, and so cordially, responded to my
sentiments, that I was overpowered. I suggested
the propriety of having the marriage over immedi-
ately, and at his request knocked at the cell door to
ascertain if his brother had completed the arrange-
ments. I understood him to say he had gone for
Miss Henshaw and witnesses. But we could not
make ourselves heard in consequence of the unlock-
ing of several cell doors.
He observed that they were “feeding the prison-
ers,” i. e. “giving them breakfast, and we must
wait.” A little circumstance at this time struck me
as a proof of his collectedness. He had touched his
face with his hand as he seated himself, and happen-
ing to look at his hand he said—“I have somehow
blackened my face.” He examined himself with a
looking glass, and either with his handkerchief, or
a towel, removed the stain. Finding that we could
not make ourselves heard by knocking at the inner
iron door, I look up his Bible, as we resumed our
seats, and remarked that we could spend, I hoped,
the time profitably, and inquired if there was any
passage in particular he wished to have read. My
object was to turn conversation at once into the only
proper channel. He left the selection to myself.—
The Bible, I found on opening it, was folded down at
several places.
One of the first I struck upon was the 15th of St.
Luke. I dwelt for a time upon the first seven verses
—the joy in Heaven over a repenting sinner. I tried
him again here; and I distinctly recollect, in the
course of my remarks, touching upon the situation of
one in his terrible circumstances, having a conscience
clear from wilful blood-guiltiness, and asking him
again (as I was sitting directly in front of him,) if it
was so with himself? his protestations were the same
as they had been. Several passages of Scripture
caught my eye in consequence of the pages being
turned down, and led to brief comments, such as my
feelings prompted. I can now recollect 2d Corinthi-
ans, 5th chapter, 1st and 2d verses—“For we know
if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved,”
&c.—which led to his asking me some questions as
to the resurrection body, its identity, &c., all of
which points (the difficulties as to a resurrection,) he
appeared fully to accord with me in the sentiment,
could be solved and dissipated by simply recognizing
the power of God. At the third verse, “If so be that
being clothed upon we shall not be found naked,” I
now have it on my mind how I struggled to find
words simple yet strong to show him how naked in-
deed is the sinner if he be not covered with the Son
of God's righteousness, and all was as pointed to him
by questions as I was able.
The case of the blind man begging of Jesus by
the way side (Luke xviii, 35,) was also brought be-
fore this unfortunate man, and the only available
plea for acceptance in such an hour—Mercy through
the Saviour—urged I cannot tell how often, nor can
I tell the effect produced upon me by his manner and
his expressions at this interview. There seemed to
be a load lifted from off me. If I mistake not, about
10, or a little before I knocked again at the door, at
his request, or his brother entered to make some in-
quiry. My recollection here is not so clear. My
pencil note, which I made some time afterward, is as
follows: “His brother entering, arrangements were
made to bring C. H. and we left the cell together,
Mr. Colt wishing to be alone. I am to wait until his
brother returns.” The time intervening until 12
o'clock was passed by me in the galleries adjacent to
the prisoner's cell, and in a vacant cell, which one of
the keepers allowed me to occupy.
There was a great anxiety manifested by many in-
dividuals as soon as the first interview ended, to learn
from me the unhappy man's behavior and state of
mind, so far as I could judge; and I could not avoid
expressing my humble hope and belief, to such as ac-
costed me, that he was prepared to submit to his sen-
tence. About 11 o'clock, Mr. Colt's brother informed
me that all the arrangements were made for the mar-
riage. I entered the cell again, and at once proceed-
ed with the ceremony, several persons being present
as witnesses. I dwell not upon the scene. When
left with the parties I counselled, comforted and
prayed with them. When I had concluded he spoke
to her with an intensity of feeling, respecting her fu-
ture course of life and the welfare of the child. His
request to be left alone with his wife was indeed to
me a great relief.
I think it was about 1 P. M., when I was request-
ed to ask Mr. Samuel Colt if he had made arrange-
ments to provide for the interment. He came at my
request to the vacant cell, the third from his broth-
er's, where I was sitting, and upon my putting to him
the question he was completely overcome, and ex-
claimed, “Oh, I did not think it would come to
this”—showing me that until that moment he enter-
tained a hope of his brother's reprieve. Finding
that he had made no arrangements, and that he wish-
ed a place for temporary interment, to relieve him
from his agony I felt no hesitation in offering the
temporary use of a vault at St. Mark's, and the ser-
vices of the Sexton. He referred me to Mr. Sel-
den, and after conferring with that gentleman, the
necessary order was sent by me to Mr. Disbrow.
It was, if I recollect, about half past one, when
the prisoner again asked to see me. As soon as I en-
tered his cell and the door was closed, he advanced
and taking me by the arm said, “now let us pray.”
We knelt and first he poured out (as it seemed to me)
his soul in prayer. I recollect that his first words
were “Oh, my God, I come to thee.” He supplicated
for his wife, child, friends and enemies. His expres-
sions were without effort, fervent and touching. I
cannot say how long he prayed. In conclusion he
implored God's blessing upon me, and all was asked
through our Lord and Saviour. When he ended I
prayed with him, and when he rose from his knees,
“I have asked,” said he, “for a watch.”
I gave the signal at the door of the cell, and when
it was opened, and the watch handed to him, he ask-
ed to compare the time with the sheriff's, and found
that it wanted 20 minutes of 2. “Now,” said he, “if
any wish to bid me farewell let them come, as I wish
to be left alone—I wish to pray.” As they were en-
tering, I took him by the hand and hoped that he
would meet the end with christian fortitude, and say-
ing so paused. “Yes,” said he, and before I relin-
quished his hand, I begged of him to lean upon the
Saviour for acceptance, and look to Him, the Lord
Jehovah, for everlasting strength.
It was his request as we parted that I should come
at 4 o'clock. The intervening moments were spent
by me in the adjacent cell. About twenty minutes
after three the sheriff came to me and observed to
this effect, that there would be but little light after
four, and as some preparations were to be made when
the religious services were ended in the prisoner's
cell, he asked my opinion about shortening the time
stated. It was agreed between us that the sheriff
should give the signal a few minutes after I had
been in the cell. At four the sheriff called me. The
public are informed already of what followed.
The prisoner, instead of dying as the sentence of
the law demanded, passed to his final account by
laying violent hands on himself.
I have nothing more to add, except to put up for
my readers and myself a prayer which is taught by
the Church to which I belong to her people, at the
Advent season just opening:
“Almighty God:—Give us grace that we may cast
away the works of darkness and put upon us the ar-
mor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in
which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great
humility, that in the last day when He shall come
again in His glorious majesty to judge both the quick
and dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through
Him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Ghost, now and ever—Amen.”
HENRY ANTHON,
Rector of St. Mark's Church, New York.
November 21, 1842.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2. Mostly as in Courier]
Rev. Dr. Anthon's Statement.
Notes of Interview with John C. Colt.
1842, November 14—Monday—I called at 10 A. M.
...
[Col.5]
...
November 21, 1842.
————————
Common Council.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.—Monday evening, Nov. 21.—
Present, the President and a full Board. The minutes of
the last meeting were read and approved.
...
[Col.6]
...
Mr. WATERMAN, of the Ninth ward, presented a pream-
ble, setting forth the extraordinary excitement in the pub-
lic mind, in regard to the occurrences, last Friday, at the
Tombs, and the remarkable coincidence of the cupola on
that buiding bursting forth in flames at the very moment
John C. Colt was to have been brought forth for execution,
implying a great neglect of duty, at least on the part of
some of our officers, and concluding with a resolution di-
recting the Police Committees of both boards to fully in-
vestigate the cause of the burning of cupola, and re-
port the same to the Common Council.
Mr. SCOLES did not think the Police Committee the
proper one for the matter to go before; he thought it
should be placed in the hands of the Fire and Water Com-
mittee, as the bell-ringers were under their immediate di-
rection, and it was clear that if the bell-ringer at the
Tombs had attended to his duty, there would have been
no fire.
Mr. WATERMAN rejoined that all this might be perfectly
clear to the gentlemen residing in the vicinity of the
Tombs; but there were many people in the upper wards
who were not so easily satisfied, and many of them believ-
ed that John C. Colt, instead of having escaped this life
had merely escaped the country, and that the remarkable
coincidence of the fire at the cupola at the moment he was
to have been led forth to execution, was believed by some
to be the management of some one of the Police to enable
him to escape, and, therefore, the matter should go to a
committee conversant with the movements of that depart-
ment.
The resolution was then unanimously adopted.
...
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, November 22, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.1]
THE REV. DR. ANTHON.—We give to-day the
“Notes” made by the Rev. Dr. Anthon relative to his
interviews with Colt in jail. So far as Dr. Anthon
is concerned, they exhibit the feelings and conduct
of a pure mind, and truly christian spirit—full of pie-
ty and amiability, benevolence and love. On the
part of the poor suicide, they exhibit the extraordi-
nary workings of an ill-regulated mind, bent on de-
ceiving others to the last.
Dr. Anthon has been censured by many very re-
spectable and intelligent persons, for suffering him-
self to be so duped by Colt, and for allowing him the
chance which he did to commit suicide. Some take
the blame from the sheriff, and say that had it not
been for Dr. Anthon, the sheriff would not have
left Colt alone. But this should not be. Because
the sheriff ought to know his duty and to perform it
to the letter in such a case, without being influenced
by any man. Dr. Anthon's error arose from the pu-
rity of his own heart, and the goodness of his own
character; he could not believe so much duplicity
under such awful circumstances, in matters of so
much moment, could exist in the breast of any hu-
man being. This was his error; and for this he will
have many a bitter pang, to think that even in the
remotest degree he was accessory to self-murder.
But we are surprised to see a man of Dr. An-
thon's intelligence joining Colt in his preposterous
tirade against the press. Every criminal makes it a
point to rail against the press—this was the favorite
cry of Monroe Edwards, of Colt, of Robinson, and
has been the never-failing resort of all the distin-
guished thieves and murderers of late years. They
are all victims of the press. When the fact is, that
the press simply narrates facts, as in Colt's case,
and leaves the public to judge till the trial is over.
And this was one of the greatest errors committed by
his counsel, Dudley Selden, and did much to pre-
judice the public mind against Colt. Instead of
confining himself to the best means of defending
his client, he launched forth invectives against the
press, and wanted the Judge to commit some one
or more for contempt. Contempt of what? Why,
simply telling the truth. Out upon such trifling with
a court of justice and the rights of a client. Every
whipper-snapper two-penny lawyer now-a-days,
thinks he is accomplishing a great feat if he can
have a fling at the press. And it, therefore, asto-
nishes us to see a man like Dr. Anthon following
the wake of such persons.
—————
THE COLT EXCITEMENT IN PHILADELPHIA.—It ap-
pears the the excitement in Philadelphia in relation
to the late tragedy, is as great as it is here, if we
may judge by the following from the Philadelphia
“Chronicle”:—
[By the Mail Pilot Line of last night.]
JOHN C. COLT.
PREPARATIONS FOR HIS EXECUTION—MARRIAGE—SUI-
CIDE.
By the Pilot Line from New York, last evening, we re-
ceived full particulars of the whole preparations, etc. con-
nected with the execution of John C. Colt, convicted of
the murder of Samuel Adams, in that city, 14 months
since. To the kindness and attention of Mr. Bennett, of
the New York Herald, we are indebted for the subjoined
account of all the transactions connected with the last
moments of Colt. By the attention on the part of our
friend, we are enabled to furnish more full and accurate
particulars than can be given by any other paper in this
city.
The whole proceedings are so full of deep and appall-
ing interest that we have devoted considerable space to
the recital.
Never, within our recollection, have so many singular
occurrences, connected with the fate of a murder, trans-
pired on one day. * * * * * *
We published in the Chronicle of Saturday morning,
exclusively, the full particulars of the strange, mysteri-
ous, dangerous, and appalling incidents connected with
the preparations for the execution, in the New York pri-
son, on Friday, of John C. Colt—his marriage in that
dreary cell, and in sight of the gallows, with Miss Caro-
line Henshaw—his taking leave, forever, with those
friends whom, in this world, he had held in high esteem—
and finally, the taking of his own life, and the burning of
the cupola on the prison, which was first discovered at the
same moment it was known Colt had committed suicide.
As the Chronicle was the only paper in Philadelphia
which published ALL these most strange, novel, and ro-
mantic incidents, there was a great rush to obtain copies,
and persons connected with other papers, annoyed at not
having even a mention of the intelligence, busied them-
selves during the forenoon of Saturday in circulating sto-
ries denying the occurrences published in the Chronicle,
and others went so far even, as to paste up notices in the
vicinity of the Exchange, on which it was stated that
Colt had not committed suicide—that Colt was not marri-
ed, as stated in the Chronicle—that the cupola on the pri-
son had not been burnt—in fact, that our account was in
all respects false. These paltry subterfuges had little or
no effect, except, indeed, upon the weak and incredulous.
That our account was correct in every particular, is not
necessary for us to say—we have yet to be detected for the
first time in giving publicity to falsehoods; and we know
that the very papers which had not the intelligence on
Saturday, will contain it at length this morning, just two
days after it first appeared in the Daily Chronicle.
* * * * * * * * * *
All the transactions connected with Colt cause one to
start with astonishment, at the mere contemplation of the
many singular and romantic incidents. If Colt was mar-
ried to Miss Henshaw in this city, there are, in all proba-
bility, persons cognizant of the fact; but will they volun-
tarily go forward and state all they know? Law and jus-
tice require that they should; but the thought of having
their names bruited to the world, we fear will deter them.
The singular conduct of persons, as stated in the first ex-
tract from the Sunday Herald, on the part of the officers
of the prison and the Sheriffs should be closely examined
into. Of the heartlessness of those persons who made
wagers on the fate of Colt, we know no words sufficiently
strong to express our disgust.
In this city, we regret to state, there were similar evi-
dences of the want of feeling.
The doubts, presentiments, minute calculations, ques-
tions and queries that we heard expressed and propound-
ed as to Colt's escape, substituting another body for his,
&c. &c. during Saturday, were no less strange than silly.
There are many things connected with Colt, the circum-
stances of his arrest, trial, sentence, attempts for a new tri-
al and pardon, his marriage, suicide, etc., which we will
examine at length hereafter.
These extracts, while they show the horrible ex-
citement which this most shocking affair has created,
also show the advantage which country papers re-
ceive from this establishment. We were the only
paper in this city that had the ability and the enter-
prize to send the account on to Philadelphia on Fri-
day, at 5 P. M. We sent to the “Chronicle” and
“Times,” the former published the whole, the latter
only a paragraph. Owing to the meanness of the
“Ledger,” in never giving us credit, we did not
send to them, and they were therefore beaten in
the news, and, with characteristic meanness, they
tried to throw discredit on it.
[Col.2]
THE SUICIDE, AND THE BURNING OF THE CITY
PRISON.—We see that one or two of the papers ex-
press their determination to say no more about this
matter, under any circumstances. As far as the un-
fortunate and wretched suicide alone is concerned,
no one could wish to utter another syllable; for him
we feel deep pity and sorrow, that he lived such a
life, and died such a death, and with his surviving
and highly respectable relatives we can profoundly
sympathize. We have no wish to, nor will we if
we can avoid it, add to their misery.
But this is not all. We have a sacred duty to per-
form to the public, that is paramount to all other
considerations. A man is condemned to expiate on
the gallows, the crime of killing his fellow man.
He has wealthy and influential friends and rela-
tives, one of the latter a man of wealth and much
influence with a particular class, is also a lawyer and
acts as one of his counsel. The prisoner is himself a
man of talent. Every conceivable engine is set at
work to prevent his being hung on the gallows.
Some of his friends make oath that he shall not suf-
fer the penalty of the law. His case is carried from
court to court; additional counsel are employed;
but all to no purpose. The most extraordinary ap-
peals are made to the Governor for a reprieve or
commutation of the sentence; but the Governor
knows his duty and does it fearlessly. Again, un-
precedented steps are taken by a few lawyers; a
public meeting is held; resolutions are passed; the
press, the judiciary and the executive are all de-
nounced for their integrity by a small body of law-
yers; protest after protest is published by them; the
Governor is literally besieged with all sorts of appli-
cations, influences, and requests to violate his oath;
and as a last resort, these impudent men actually
threaten the sheriff if he dares to do his duty. How
far that may or may not have caused him to neglect
his duty, the public can judge. At the same time
the public demand a full investigation of this most
extraordinary—this barefaced juggle; and they will
have it.
It never can be said that in a city like this, after
such brilliant examples of integrity as Judge Kent
and Governor Seward exhibited in this business, that
the rights of the public are to be trampled upon, and
public justice made a miserable mockery of, by the
gross negligence of a sheriff, who, having been repeat-
edly forewarned, should have been forearmed. As
things exist at present, many believe that the sheriff
never meant to hang him; and really by his delaying
the execution till within a few minutes of the go-
ing down of the sun, any accident, (like the
breaking out of the fire,) would have prevented his
hanging the prisoner. Again, the sheriff declared,
about two o'clock, that he believed Colt was innocent
of the murder of Adams! Can it be supposed, then,
that with such feelings he would have hung him?
And yet he might have intended honestly to do his
duty, had he not been influenced by others. But
who were those others? The sheriff owes it to him-
self to come out over his own name with a full and
explicit statement of all the facts connected with
this sad case. If the sheriff thought he was getting
rid of the onus of hanging an innocent man, by
shutting him up alone in his cell, with a dirk knife,
so as to allow him to come to a much more horrid
death, he has committed a most fatal mistake that
he can never atone for in the eyes of the communi-
ty, and which will destroy all his prospects as a pub-
lic man for life.
Again, let him see the state into which his fatal
negligence has thrown the community. Thousands
will not even now believe that Colt is dead; and
say that it was a juggle, a trick—that he escaped,
and that it is impossible for a man with rich and in-
fluential friends to be hung here. They point to the
opening of the large gates at the side of the prison,
close to the gallows, precisely at ten minutes past
four, the moment when Colt, if living, would have
been in the yard; to the carriage that was standing
all day at the back wall of the prison; to the firing
of the cupola at the same time, in order to get the
fire engines in, and the gates opened; and taking all
these things into the account, they laugh to scorn
the idea of any thing like a regard for public
justice being carried out in this case.
Such is the sad but true state of the public mind
in relation to this matter. Therefore it is vitally ne-
cessary that there should be a full investigation into
this case. If hereafter a Sheriff intends to allow a
desperate criminal, under sentence of death, to have
every facility for obtaining knives, scissors, poison,
&c. for committing self-murder, and kindly, and
out of sincere compassion for that prisoner's feel-
ings, and the eternal welfare of his immortal soul,
allows him an hour and a half to murder himself in,
whilst that Sheriff walks coolly about the corridor
outside, why the sooner the public are aware of it,
the better for all parties.
—————
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.—The “Tribune,”
yesterday, after finding its former statement in re-
lation to this matter explicitly contradicted by Jus-
tice Merritt, and others, comes out and says that the
statement was received from two Police Magistrates
of this city. Now let us look at the singular and
reckless conduct of this paper. In the first place
they publish a story of the most remarkable charac-
ter, calculated to destroy the reputation of some one
or more persons; and it is published with all the af-
fectation of truth and authenticity—and this by a
paper that pretends to superior sanctity. It publishes
the account as though it was a well known and ad-
mitted fact. But when cornered, it says that the
story was a hearsay matter—emanating from two
City Magistrates. Who were these two Magistrates?
Let the “Tribune” immediately give their names.
We demand the names of these two men, and we
shall continue to demand them till they are given
up.
[Col.3]
The Prize Fight Trials.
The following is the first letter from our corps of
reporters sent to White Plains, Westchester county,
...
[Col.5]
COL. WEBB'S CASE.—Yesterday we laid out on a
desk at the Herald Office, a petition praying the
Governor to grant an unconditional pardon to Mr.
Webb, in his duel affair, and before 12 o'clock
nearly one hundred and fifty signatures were at-
tached to the paper. Before we sent it up to Albany
by the afternoon boat, nearly three hundred had
signed it. Good.
We also directed to be sent to the Egyptian
Tombs, for his comfort and solace during his im-
prisonment, six bottles of the best champagne from
the celebrated wine cellars of Gilbert Davis, corner
of William and Pine streets, and also one hun-
dred of the best Cuba segars from the celebrated
segar store of Henriques, 51 William street. We
selected the articles from those two stores, because
we know, by experience, that none in New York
can surpass them. The wine, we learn, was ca-
pital, and the segars first rate. Good. During the
afternoon, a number of Webb's friends called to
see him, and they pronounced the articles prime.
...
The following is a part of the list of signatures
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
The Mary Rogers mystery NOT explained.—
The reported confession of a Mrs. Loss, rela-
tive to the mysterious murder of Miss Rogers,
the cigar girl, turns out to be a hoax. It is
pronounced such on the authority of Mr. Jus-
tice Merritt, to whom the confession was said
to have been made.
================================================================
[Col.2]
John C. Colt.
This wretched man, convicted of the mur-
...
The following account of the closing scene
we copy from the New York Tribune.
Colt was engaged nearly all night in writ-
...
[Col.5]
The Mary Rogers Mystery Ex-
plained.
The terrible mystery which for more then
...
tial agency.—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.2. Partly as in Tribune]
JOHN C. COLT.
This unhappy man who was sentenced to be hung
...
After marriage, they were left alone in the cell for
...
covered with blood, and a small Spanish dirk knife
...
are unable to say in what manner he became posses-
sed of the said knife.” Thus has closed the tragic
scene, a warning to young men just entering upon
the career of manhood, to be guided in their course
by the rules of strict morality, and the light of re-
vealed religion.
[Col.4]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY EX-
PLAINED.
...
ny of physicians in similar cases.—N. Y.
Tribune.
—————
From the N. Y. Com. Adv. of Friday last.
THE LATE MURDER ON LONG ISLAND.
We have before us a letter from one of the
relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who were
so cruelly murdered at Old Fields, near Hun-
tington, on Sunday night. It says:—“We
have this day attended the funeral of uncle
Alexander Smith, and aunt Rebecca. Mr.
R. C. who was at the inquest, informs us that
...
It appears that the girl who lived with
them had gone home to her parents, not be-
ing well, and leaving no person in the house
but Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and the German,
who is now in custody. On Monday morn-
ing a neighboring farmer went to the barn,
and was surprised at not finding aunt Rebec-
ca milking; the dog was found shut up in
the crib, and the door fastened upon him.—
...
The person taken up had been in the em-
ploy of Mr. Smith only a fortnight. Mr. and
Mrs. Smith were an aged and respectable
couple, and he supposed to have been worth
about $15,000, but kept very little money
about him. They have but one son, who
resides, we understand, somewhere in West-
chester county.
[Col.5. Partly as in Tribune]
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE
MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.
An examination was held before Justice
Lutkins, at Jersey City, on Saturday last,
nothing material however was elicited, as the
two sons of Mrs. Loss—who are represented
as most depraved and profligate characters—
denied any knowledge of the matter. Mrs.
...
we repeat our belief that the true explana-
tion of the matter will be found in the facts
we have already published.
================================================================
[Col.1]
The Rev. Dr. Anthon's statement of his inter-
views with J. C. Colt was published in the Com-
mercial of last evening. We had it in type, when,
owing to accident, a portion of it was broken down,
so as to render its publication today impossible,—and
as it is published in all the other papers, to give it
tomorrow would be a day too late. We therefore
shall not publish it at all; and we confess we the less
regret this, because the effect of the statement, as it
seems to us, unavoidably is to mislead public opinion
as to the justness of Colt's sentence.
It is obvious that Dr. Anthon was impressed, as was
very natural, with the belief, both that Colt was truly
penitent, and that the killing of Adams was in self-
defence. This Colt again and again reiterated, but
as he also solemnly assured Dr. Anthon, that he had
no intention to commit suicide—the fact of his
having afterwards done so, with every circumstance
of deliberation, gives the lie to the whole story, and
establishes conclusively to our mind, both his guilt and
impenitence. Such too we suppose to be the gene-
ral conclusion of the public mind.
[Col.3]
BURNING OF THE CUPOLA OF THE TOMBS.—Among
the business last night, was a resolution by both
Boards to inquire into the circumstances of the fire
on the 18th, and whether any blame attaches to any,
and to whom. We trust the Governor will institute
a like inquiry as to the circumstances under which
the convict Colt was permitted to be alone and thus
have the opportunity of committing suicide. The
Sheriff is responsible only to the Governor.
================================================================
[Col.4. Partly as in Courier]
REV. DR. ANTHON'S STATEMENT.—The Rev.
Dr. Anthon, the Rector of St. Mark's Episcopal
Church in this city, has published the notes of
his interviews with John C. Colt, in the Commer-
cial Advertiser.
The first visit was made to him on the 14th of
November, or the Monday preceeding the day
fixed on for the execution. In the course of the
conversation, Mr. C. mentioned “that he had in his
youth been educated religiously—brought up in
...
already of what followed.”
================================================================
[Col.3]
JOHN C. COLT.
The closing scene in the career of this wretched
...
[Col.4]
...
his victim at the bar of their common God.—Tribune
of Saturday.
[Col.5]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY EXPLAINED.
...
upon the testimony of physicians in similar cases?—
Tribune.
———
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY.—The following
from the Courier and Enquirer of Saturday morning
is a point blank denial of the reported confession by
Mrs. Loss relative to the death of Mary Rogers.
To Col. Webb:—
...
The N. Y. Herald of yesterday contains the par-
ticulars of the examination of the three sons of Mrs.
Loss, on Saturday at Jersey city, on a charge of be-
ing participators in or accessories to the murder.—
There not being any evidence to warrant their deten-
tion, they were discharged and thus the matter rests
for the present. The Herald says:
“It is understood that there is something more of
deep and overwhelming interest yet in the wind.—
The magistrates are on the scent, and these investiga-
tions will not end here.”
—————
HORRIBLE OUTRAGE.—In the Runinsas (Iowa) Ga-
...
[Col.6]
☞ Mr. Dickens' emoluments from the sale of his
Notes on America, amount to £5,000, or nearly $25,000.
His profits from the sale of his works during the last
five years, it is said, amount to $35,000 per annnum.
This is writing to some purpose.
—————
...
☞ We copy the Tribune's account of the particulars
attending the tragical end of Colt; but we cannot agree
with that journal in its desire to mitigate the punish-
ment so justly due him, and all others so deserving the
name of murderer. There appears to us to have been
an unpardonable degree of looseness on the part of the
Sheriff, or Colt could not have obtained the means of
self-destruction; and the efforts made on the part of
gentlemen high in the legal profession, to influence the
Executive to grant a pardon or otherwise stay the exe-
cution of the sentence, and to intimidate the Sheriff in
the discharge of his duties, are greatly reprehensible.
================================================================
[Col.1]
There is no truth in the story of the murderers of
Mary Rogers being discovered.
[Col.4. Mostly as in Vermont Phoenix]
From the Boston Courier.
THE DEATH OF COLT.
The New York papers of Saturday are filled with
accounts of the preparations for the execution of
Colt, of his marriage, his suicide, and the fire at
the jail. We have abridged the account, which we
find in the Plebeian, as relating all the particulars
in a plain manner.
...
conveyed to him remains a matter of mystery.
The Inquest of the Body. The Coroner held an
...
names of, went in at his request; a number of phy-
[Col.5]
sicians, also; the Rev. Dr. Anthon was in more
...
The testimony of John J. V. Westervelt and
William Vertter, both Under-Sheriffs, amounts to
about the same as that of the Sheriff. Both per-
sons swear positively that they never saw the knife
before they saw it sticking in his body. The latter
was present during the marriage ceremony. Abner
Millikin and Abraham H. Green recognized the
body, but knew nothing as to how the knife got in-
to the cell. The following is Dr. Anthon's testimo-
ny:—
Henry M. Anthon sworn. I have attended Colt;
my visitations commenced on Monday. Mr. Anton
...
The Jury having retired and deliberated on the
evidence, rendered a verdict that John C. Colt
came to his death by a wond inflicted by himself
with a dirk knife, in the left breast, but this Jury
are unable to say by what means he obtained pos-
session of the knife.
By request of his friends, the body was delivered
to them for interment.
Notwithstanding the very positive testimony be-
fore the Coroner's Jury, we do not believe that the
public will ever be satisfied that there was not a
gross and palpable connivance with the friends of
Colt and himself, on the part of some of the public
officers. The Coroner's examination was a mere
mockery, and as if to make it appear so more fully,
he states, that whoever abetted in the suicide is
liable to indictment for manslaughter, and then clo-
ses the case without calling any further witnesses.
Why was not every man and woman who visited
the cell that day called upon to testify what he or
she knew of the matter? Many people think that
the whole of the visitors, Dr. Anthon, the Sheriff,
and all, ought to be indicted as accessaries.
The fire, too, is a suspicious circumstance. It is
said in some of the papers that it took place in con-
sequence of some defect in the stove pipe. It it not
possible; nay, is it not, under the circumstances,
probable, that this fire was intentionally caused for
the purpose of creating confusion at the moment of
the execution, and thus affording the friends of
Colt an opportunity of rescuing him, or to delay
the execution beyond the time set, by which a law
question might be raised whether, having lived be
yond that time, he could legally have been hanged
at all?
[Col.6]
Millenium backed up!—The Troy Budget says
that an egg—new laid—was found in hen's nest
in that city, on Tuesday, with the following couplet
legible on the shell:
“The end of time will be
In eighteen hundred and forty-three.”
If the hens have taken up for Miller, it will be
hard resisting them—especially if their arguments
come in the shape of “new laid eggs!”—N. York
Atlas.
================================================================
[Col.3 / Col.3]
COL. WEBB—HIS CONDITION OF MIND IN PRISON.—
We are afraid that our old friend and fellow suffer-
er, Col. Webb, of the regular army, is hardly in the
right frame of mind to receive acts of kindness, mer-
cy or pardon. The Rev. Dr. Anthon should by all
means visit him, for since his confinement he has
exhibited some strange aberrations of temper.
...
In addition to all this, I sent a note to Mr. Gilbert
Davis, corner of William and Pine streets, who keeps
a famous wine cellar there—ordering half a dozen
of Champagne to be sent to Webb's apartments in
the Tombs—also a similar order to Henriques, 51
William street, an equally famous segar store, to
send a box of his best Regalias. The following con-
tains the order for the latter:—
ORDER.
DEAR SIR,
A man called on us and requested us to send up to Col.
Webb, 100 good Regalias. Do you mean it? If so, please
acquaint the bearer, and it shall be promptly done—say so
in writing. 100 good Regalias cost $5, but we have a good
article for $3 the 100.
Your obedient servant,
HENRIQUES, 51 William st.
MONDAY afternoon.
ANSWER.
Send the best.
J. G. BENNETT.
By some mistake the wine was not sent—but on
Monday afternoon the segars reached Webb's apart-
ments. On the young man entering, he found Webb
attended by four friends, a black servant waiting be-
hind. He presented the box of segars, and stated
the message. What was Webb's reply? Any thing but
what we expected. Col. Webb looked at him like an
old-fashioned thundercloud, saying:—“I have nothing
to say to you, but tell Henriques that if he had
brought them himself, and dared to offer them,
I would have kicked him out.” The messenger
astonished at such treatment on a mission of kind-
ness, retreated precipitately, while the four persons
present laughed outright. He returned to 51 William
street, segars, reply, and all in one general box of as-
tonishment. A further correspondence, verbal and
written, has passed between Col. Webb and Mr.
Henriques, in relation to this unnecessary insult, but
what is its tenor we do not yet know. Henriques
has spunk, and will hardly brook it.
...
[Col.4]
THE COLT EXCITEMENT.—It appears that the ex-
citement in relation to this matter was as great
in Boston almost, as it was here. The following is
from the “Boston Bulletin” of Monday:—
“THE EXCITEMENT YESTERDAY.—Probably for many
months there has not been a greater excitement in State
street than we witnessed yesterday. Early in the morn-
ing a large number of persons assembled near the post-
office, anxious to learn the real end of the New York Tra-
gedy; their disappointment may be imagined when they
saw Messrs. Redding &Co.'s large placard announcing
that no mail had arrived from New York. This only in-
creased their curiosity, and at twelve o'clock the whole
space around the City Hall was densely crowded. In a
few minutes it was known that the Norwich mail had
reached this city, and the rush of the crowd into Messrs.
Redding & Co.'s was unparalleled. They had a large
package of New York papers, which they distributed to
the eager multitude immediately. We regret to say that
in the rush and confusion, glasses were broken, and many
papers were lost or stolen. Extras were soon afterwards
distributed all over the city, and we are informed that
many thousands were disposed of by the news boys. Such
an excitement is of rare occurrence in Boston.”
The “large package of New York papers” refer-
red to were New York Heralds. Of the same
affair the “Boston Times” thus speaks:—
“The interest felt in the fate of this unfortunate man,
increased to such a degree, as the term of his life was
drawing to a close, that the whole city of New York, on
Friday afternoon, was a scene of unparalleled excitement.
In the immediate vicinity of the prison, the crowd was
immense, while curiosity, agitation and anxiety were de-
picted in every countenance. The closing scene of the
tragic drama wound the general excitement in the highest
pitch—the vast throng assembled to learn the fate of the
doomed man, gave utterance to confused sounds, that
seemed like the noise of a troubled sea, while the confla-
gration that broke out in the upper part of the prison,
added to the wild and dramatic effect of the scene.
“In this city, so great was the anxiety to learn the par-
ticulars of the tragedy, that we were compelled to put an
extra to press, and issued an edition of 10,000 copies, which
was purchased with the greatest avidity. All the intelli-
gence we have been able to collect, is given below. Our
paper of to-day is literally filled with horrors, but we
fervently hope that it may be a long time before we shall
be again called upon to perform the painful duty of recor-
ding so many scenes of violence and distress. There is a
moral lesson in the fate of John C. Colt, which ought to
sink deed in every bosom.
“It seems clear that since Sunday last, when he felt
that he had no hope of escape—notwithstanding all his
protestations of faith and repentance, and his solemn disa-
vowal of any attempt to commit suicide, this wretched
man has steadily cherished the purpose to escape the gal-
lows by killing himself.
“The dread tragedy has closed, and his soul has met
his victim at the bar of their common God.”
In addition to the above, the “Boston Courier”
has a very bitter article on those concerned in this
matter. Here it is:—
Notwithstanding the very positive testimony before the
Coroner's Jury, we do not believe that the public will ever
be satisfied that there was not a gross and palpable conni-
vance with the friends of Colt and himself, on the part of
some of the public officers. The Coroner's examination
was a mere mockery, and as if to make it appear so more
fully, he states that whoever abetted in the suicide is lia-
ble to indictment for manslaughter, and then closes the
case without calling any further witnesses. Why was
not every man and woman who visited the cell that day
called upon to testify what he or she knew of the matter?
Many people think that the whole of the visiters, Dr.
Anthon, the sheriff, and all ought to be indicted as ac-
cessories.
The fire, too, is a suspicious circumstance. It is said in
some of the papers that it took place in consequence of
some defect in the stove pipe. Is it not possible; nay, is
it not, under the circumstances, probable, that this fire was
intentionally caused for the purpose of creating confu-
sion at the moment of the execution, and thus affording
the friends of Colt an opportunity of rescuing him, or to
delay the execution beyond the time set, by which a law
question might be raised, whether, having lived beyond
that time, he could legally be hanged at all?
In one point, the “Courier” is right; the Coro-
ner's examination was a miserable mockery, about
which we shall have more to say hereafter. The
“U. S. Gazette” has the following about the mar-
riage:—
The scenes exhibited for a few days before the death of
Colt; and the last day of his life, in particular, in the New
York Prison, are of a kind that would be regarded as too
extravagant for fiction. And “Ainsworth,” whose gloo-
my imagination has been so fruitfully active of late, has
nothing, in any of his works, which can compare with the
seeming repentance, the sealed letter, the marriage, the
suicide, and the fire in the New York Prison on Friday af-
ternoon.
The miserable woman who is called his wife, must
have felt the awful mockery of a solemnity, which seem-
ed to give her the name of wife, after she had become a
mother; to wed her to one who, while he promised to
love and cherish, was looking into his grave; and which
called upon her to take him, for better or for worse, to
love, honor, and obey. She must have turned from the
cell with inexpressible anguish,
“In one day wedded and a widow.”
From these extracts our city authorities may
learn how indignant the people of other cities feel
about the matter, as well as the citizens of New
York.
[Col.6]
Baltimore.
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
BALTIMORE, Nov. 21, 1842.
DEAR BENNETT:—
Yesterday was one of the finest days that we have
had for a long time; and it was duly taken advan-
tage of by persons of all classes, sizes and sexes,
thronging our principal streets. The news of the
suicide of John C. Colt reached here on Saturday
evening and produced a startling effect upon the
minds of all, and was the chief topic of yesterday's
conversation.
Forrest closed his engagement at the Front Street
...
NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, November 23, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1 / Col.1]
Philadelphia.
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22, 1842.
The weather continues cold and clear, with but
little animation along our wharves, or in our busi-
ness thoroughfares. As for news, the Colt excite-
ment absorbs every thing else, and occupies the pub-
lic mind with vague conjectures and idle reports.
In our Courts, but little is going on. A case of
...
================================================================
[Col.3]
DR. ANTHON'S STATEMENT.—On our last page
this morning will be found a portion of the Rev.
Dr. Anthon's statement of his interview with
Colt during the last few days of the life of that
unhappy man. It was put in type for yesterday's
Sun, but was crowded over by a press of adver-
tisements. It is obvious that Dr. Anthon was
impressed, as was very natural, with the belief,
both that Colt was truly penitent, and that the
killing of Adams was in self defence. This Colt
again and again reiterated, and died with the so-
lemn asseveration lingering on his lips.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, November 23, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1. Partly as in Courier]
REV. MR. ANTHON'S NARRATIVE.—The edito-
rial page of Monday's evening's Commercial Ad-
vertiser is mostly occupied by a very interesting
narrative, written by the Rev. H. Anthon, of his
several interviews with the ill-fated Colt, the
means he took, and the course he adopted, to
bring the unhappy man to a sense of his spiritual
condition, and of the necessity of making his
peace with God. The narrative of the merciful
mission of the reverend gentleman commences
with the morning of Monday, the 14th instant,
when, in pursuance of a request, sent to him by
Col. Graham, he made his first visit to the wretch-
ed man in his cell. His first reception by Colt was
cordial, and on succeeding visits the apparent cor-
diality increased to an apparently deep sense of
kindness, of contrition, and repentance. From
the relation of the interview between them on
Thursday, we select the following:
“He grasped my hand as I entered, and we
were both too much overcome to say a word. I
...
[Col.3]
...
—Amen.” HENRY ANTHON,
Rector of St. Mark's Church, New York.
November 21, 1842.
—————
A FRENCH BEGGAR GIRL.—In describing some
of the beggar girls who throng the principal roads
to Paris, Dr. Hagan says:
“Sometimes after their appeals to sympathy
have been sufficiently tested in vain, they resort
to other modes of extracting a sous. They will
turn summersetts, walk on their hands, &c. One
little girl, about 6 years old, actually turned round
on her hands and feet, alternately, like a cart-
wheel, and beat the diligence down hill. She
turned round sideways, and so rapid were her mo-
tions that I could not distinguish between her
arms and legs as she turned over. If any one
wishes to bring up a young Fanny Elssler, they
will find her on the road to Paris, a few miles
from Cambray. She is decidedly the greatest
character I have seen on the continent of her
age.”
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MYSTERY of the fate of Mary Rogers,
the Cigar girl, whose death produced so much
excitement in New York more than a year since,
is at length explained. We learn from the Tri-
bune that a Mrs. Loss, who was lately fatally
injured by the accidental discharge of a gun, be-
fore her death, sent for a justice, and related the
following facts:
On the Sunday of Miss Roger's disappearance
...
not even go to identify it and made no inquiries
concerning the affair.
[Col.3]
DEATH OF COLT!
An extra N. Y. Herald, dated 5 minutes past
4, on Friday afternoon last, says:
No one entered his cell till precisely 5 min-
...
them! We have more to say about his visitors
hereafter.
================================================================
Monday Afternoon, November 21.
[Col.6]
The Mary Rogers Mystery Explained.
...
placed upon the testimony of physicians in similar ca-
ses?—Tribune.
Tuesday Afternoon, November 22.
[Col.4]
Reported for the New York Express.
Proceedings in the Case of Mary C.
Rogers.
The circumstances which gave rise to this investi-
gation were as follows:—A Mrs. Frederica Loss,
who kept the 'Nick Moore House,' at Weehawken,
lately died from the effects of a gun shot wound in-
flicted on her by accident. For some days previous to
her death she became delirious, and raved incessant-
ly. In the course of her ravings, it was thought she
made some allusion to Miss Rogers. In connection
with this circumstance, it got abroad that one of her
sons had said that if his mother died “the great secret
would come out.” These circumstances having come
to the knowledge of Judge Merritt, of Hudson coun-
ty, New Jersey, he felt it his duty to make the follow-
ing affidavit, upon which the two Kallenbachs were
arrested and committed to close custody on this day
week, where they were kept until Saturday last.
State of New Jersey—Hudson county: ss.
Personally appeared before a Justice of the Peace of
...
ricka Loss, alias Kellenbach, Charles Kellenbach, and
Ossian Kellenbach, all three of whom this deponent
...
14th November, 1842, before me,
STEPHEN A. LUTKINS,
Justice of the Peace.
The investigation was held in the presence of Ste-
phen H. Lutkin and — Miller, Esqs., justices. It was
conducted on the part of the people by S. D. Harden-
burg, district attorney. Nelson Chase, M. Ogden and
T. W. James, Esqrs., attended as counsel for the
prisoners. There were present at the investigation
James G. King, Esq., Mayor Alexander, of Jersey
City, Mayor Morris, of New York city, R. Gilchrist,
county clerk, E. R. V. Wright, Esq. and several other
magistrates.
Mrs. Ludlum testified as follows: I attended Mrs.
Loss during her illness; I attended her for nine days
previous to her death. She was delirious during the
whole of the time I attended her; not a word was
spoken by her about Mary C. Rogers; she raved
continually. She spoke in English and German; if
she spoke of Miss Rogers she must have done so in
German. I do not speak German. She spoke fre-
quently of some female, whom she called a devil, a
hussey, &c.; never mentioned the name of any fe-
male during her delirium; never heard from either of
the boys that the secret would now be out; heard it
from her husband; never heard any one say that
Mary Rogers was seen walking with two men.
She now recollects that she, the witness, and her
daughter-in-law, saw a young man and a female co-
ming down from the mountain on the evening of the
25t of July. They were followed by four men at
the distance of about fifty yards. Two of those men
had on light jackets. They struck out on the road
opposite to witness's door. The female was dressed
in light clothes and a straw bonnet. Her daughter-
in-law remarked that she thought the female was no
great things. She and her daughter-in-law afterward
walked down to Mrs. Loss's house. Mrs. Loss told
them that after she had milked her cows she went to
gather up chips, and, while doing so, she heard
screams. She said she was much alarmed, and was
afraid the bull had gored her son. She ran up toward
Ludlum's house, and met the boy returning with a
bundle.
I asked Mrs. Loss why she kept the clothes in the
house so long. She said she supposed that something
might turn up that might make them more useful,
than if she had handed them over immediately. She
said she was sorry she had not burned the clothes as
her sister had wished, and then there would be an end
of it—thinks that one of the boys had been at her
house that night—thinks that it was the boy Oscar—
knows nothing more about it.
James Ludlum, the husband of the former witness,
sworn, testifies as follows—Resides at Weehawken.
I was never examined in this matter before. I recol-
lect that it was on the 25th of July, 1841, Mary C.
Rogers was murdered. I was at home that evening.
I knew nothing about it except that the boys told me
they found the clothes. It was Charles, the middle
son of Mrs. Loss, that told me. The morning that
Mrs. Loss died, Oscar said the secret would come out
—the secret was about a receipt for curing the rheu-
matism, which his mother intended to give to Doctor
Gautier. He told me that that was the secret. It
was in the same conversation he told me both—heard
nothing more—saw Mrs. Loss during her last ill-
ness every day—she was raving. I did not under-
stand what it was she said during her delirium. I
saw a woman and five men going across the mea-
dows in the afternoon, but it was after the murder of
Mary C. Rogers. I never heard Mrs. Loss say any
thing of $50.
James Ludlum, son of the two former witnesses, ex-
amined. I was examined before in relation to the
murder of Mary C. Rogers—found out nothing since
then, that could throw any light on that affair. I was
at Mrs. Loss's during her illness, but she was out of
her mind. The boys did not tell me any thing about
the murder of Mary C. Rogers.
Henry Fredericks sworn—Lived at Hackensack
when Mary Rogers was murdered. I was at Mrs.
Loss's during her sickness. I was told by Oscar
when we were ????ing in the wagon to Doctor
Gautier's, in Jersey City, that the great secret would
come out at last, when his mother died. The day
after his mother died he was going to tell Doctor
Gautier about the great secret—never heard any of
them say anything about Mary C. Rogers—saw per-
sons in a room in Mrs. Loss's house—looked in the
key hole, and saw them have dealings with each o-
ther—does not know who they were.
Anthony Ludlum, son to the two first witnesses—I
lived at Hoboken in July, 1841. I was one of the
jury upon the inquest held on the body of Mary C.
Rogers—do not know any thing that would throw
light on that subject. I heard Mrs. Loss's middle son
(Charles) say that the big secret would come out af-
ter his mother's death. He did not say what the se-
cret was.
James Lee sworn. I lived at Weehawken in July,
1841, when Mary C. Rogers disappeared. I can
throw no light on the subject of her death. I passed
by the road where the clothes were found, on that
evening—it was after sunset, and after the rain was
over. I was driving my cows home. There was no
bull with them. The cattle got home and were in the
yard before me. I was about the house all that even-
ing. I heard no screams—I heard no unusual noise
that evening. I did not hear it said that two men had
been seen taking a woman across the meadow.
Charles Kallenbach, aged 18 years, son of Mrs.
Loss, sworn. Previous to the examination of this wit-
ness, his honor the Mayor of New York explained to
witness that there was no charge whatever against
his brothers, and that any thing he could say on the
matter under consideration, could not and should not
prejudice either himself or his brothers, or any mem-
ber of his family. His Honor then exhorted him
earnestly to tell the truth and all he knew that could
give any clue as to how Mary C. Rogers came by her
death.
The witness then said: I was examined before
Justice Merritt on a former occasion. I have not
heard any thing since that examination that would
throw any light upon the subject. My little brother
and I found the clothes, and we fetched them over
to you. I have seen Crommelin since the death of
the girl. I mentioned to Henry Fredericks that the
big secret would be known after my mother's death.
What I meant by the big secret was, that my mother
would know what became of people after their death.
That is all I intended by it. No person asked me to
give any other version of the story. Henry Freder-
icks knew what I meant—never heard that any
body came to the house that day, (the 25th of July)
for assistance; never said the big secret related to a
recipe, nor to any thing but that my mother would
know where the souls of people would go after their
death. My mother had lots of recipes about every
thing; does not remember any thing of a recipe
which his mother was to give Dr. Gautier. My aunt
asked my mother to burn the clothes that he and
his brother found, to prevent any muss being made
about them; mother would not do so; she said she
would not, something might turn up by them that
would give a clue to the murder of Mary C. Rogers;
no sick persons were ever brought to his mother's
house to be cured; is the boy that came down to Dr.
Gautier with Henry Fredericks after his mother's
death; when I talked of the big secret, I never
meant to refer to any thing but that mother would
know what became of people's souls after their
death.
Dr. Gautier attended mother in the course of her
indisposition; she did not speak of Mary Rogers du-
ring her illness; it was all about the treatment she
received from her relations. My grand-mother lives
in the same neighborhood; I do not know of any
sick person having been taken to any other house in
the neighborhood; my mother never took lodgers;
had no accommodation for them; I saw my brothers
to-day; at the time the clothes were found, there was
no one sick in our house; I believe there was some
one sick at Mrs. Mount's; there is no space behind
any chimney in which a person could conceal himself
in my mother's house, nor is there any such place be-
hind a chimney in Mrs. Mount's house; my mother
brought down the clothes to the bar and showed
them to Dr. Cook; this was the first time Dr. Cook
saw them.
Oscian R. W. Kallenbach, brother to the last wit-
ness, sworn. I was examined before about finding
the clothes. I have not since then discovered any
thing that would be likely to show how Mary C.
Rogers came by her death—I do not know of any sick
persons having ever been brought to my mother's
house except one woman, whose head had been in-
jured by being thrown out of a wagon—I do not
know of any person who keeps a house for the recep-
tion of sick persons in the neighborhood—I do not
know of my mother having ever acted as a midwife
—the big secret talked of was about a recipe for the
rheumatism, which she was to give Doctor Gautier.
She told the folks in the room that she was to give it
to Doctor Gautier to cure his rheumatism—my brother
asked me what was the secret she had to tell Doctor
Gautier—Doctor Gautier asked his brother the day
after his mother's death, what was the secret mother
wished to tell him, Dr. Gautier—the Doctor has been
at the prison door to see me and my brother—we
were arrested on Monday last. Doctor Gautier called
on us next day—the secret had not been the subject
of conversation since we were arrested—I do not
know any thing that can throw any light on the sub-
ject of Miss Rogers's murder—I do not recollect any
thing now that I did not mention before—I do not
know Crommellin, my brother knows him.
Oscar K. Kallenbach, brother to the two last wit-
nesses, sworn. I was examined upon a former occa-
sion at the Bowery, before Mayor Morris, in relation
to the death of Mary C. Rogers. I was at home the
evening of the murder at five o'clock. I remained
[Col.5]
at home during the night. I was at home during the
time of my mother's indisposition. After she was in-
jured and before she became delirious, she wished to
see Doctor Gautier, to tell him what would cure him
of his rheumatism. At another time she said she
meant to tell him the secret. Tuesday after her death
he came up to the house, and asked me about the se-
cret. I said I did not recollect what it was she had to
tell him. I do not know who told Doctor Gautier.
My brother told me what it was the next day after
her death. I told Doctor Gautier since I was arrest-
ed. I do not know whether I told the Doctor or
whether he asked me.
I heard before I was arrested the people were talk-
ing of the great secret, and then my brother told me
what it was. There never was any sick person
brought to my mother's house, nor was there ever a
person of that description attended by a physician
there. I do not know of any other person in the
neighborhood who keeps a house for that purpose.—
Doctor Cook attended the inquest on my mother. He
advised us to have the inquest held. I heard some
person say they thought the clothes we found were
brought and left where we found them by some per-
son in New York. I was at home the entire of the
evening of the 25th July, 1841; my mother told me
that she heard cries and screaming—I know nothing
that would throw any light on the subject of the mur-
der—I was examined before by Judge Merritt and the
Mayor of New York—I never heard my mother say
any thing about fifty dollars.
Doctor Gautier examined—Six or seven days be-
for the death of Mrs. Loss, I heard she had a secret
which she wished to tell me. I was up at Hoboken.
I thought I would talk to the boys about it, and get
from them any information I could; I spoke to the
eldest boy, and asked him if he knew anything about
it to tell it to me; he said he did not know anything
about it. In about half an hour afterward, I said to
him I thought it was something about Mary Rogers;
he said it could not be that, for his mother gave all
the information she had to Mayor Morris, on her ex-
amination before him; and he said he himself knew
nothing about it. I first discovered what the secret
was after the boys were imprisoned. I went to them
the next morning; I asked them what they were im-
prisoned for. One of them said that Merritt had put
him there on account of Mary C. Rogers. He then
said his brother told him that the secret was about
curing the rheumatism. This was the first time I
heard what the secret was.
To a question put by Nelson Chase, Esq.—I have
been her family physician for 15 or 16 years previous
to her death. She had always borne an excellent
character, as far as I know. She was a very accom-
plished woman. I never saw any thing derogatory to
her character. Dr. Cook and I held a post mortem
examination—he returned with me to Hoboken.
To a question by Judge Merritt—I never heard
Mrs. Loss say, previous to her death, that she was
averse to a coroner's inquest held upon her body.
Mr. Chase offered to produce James King, Esq. to
testify to the correctness and propriety of Mrs. Loss's
character, but the Justices thought it unnecessary.
Nothing have been elicited in the course of the exami-
nation to implicate the boys, Justice Lutkin ordered
them to be discharged.
—————
...
FIRE IN THE MOON.—A writer in the Philadelphia
Inquirer denies the fact mentioned in the New Bed-
ford Mercury, that the volcanoes of the moon could
be seen blazing. The writer surveyed the appearance
indicated, with a powerful telescope, at the High
School observatory. The appearance he ascribes to
another cause. The mountains in the moon, he says,
after examining them at the time specified, were just
enjoying their sunrise—it was not yet sunrise at the
base of the peaks, and the illuminated sides of the
mountains, sloping as stated in the account, presented
the appearance of bright gleams of light on a dark
field, viz, the unenlightened base of the mountains.—
New Haven Palladium.
================================================================
[Col.5]
THE INQUEST ON THE BODY OF COLT.
——
The Daily Adv. finds fault with the manner
of conducting the inquest on the body of Colt,
which it characterizes as “uncommonly loose
and careless,” and particularly because “it does
“not perceive that the dead body was positively
“and distinctly identified by a single witness.”
And yet, it professes to believe that “the body
“found in the cell with the fatal knife left in
“the mortal wound, was Colt's body.”
The Adv., it strikes us, is disposed to be
captious. If the body was not distinctly and
positively identified by a single witness, how
came the Adv. itself to the belief that the body
found, as described, was actually Colt's body?
The Adv. has no means of forming an opinion
on that point, except from the testimony which
has been published; and if it will look at it
again, particularly the testimony of Sheriff
Hart, it will find that he positively identified the
body as Colt's, and that the coroner's jury, after
viewing the body, (some accounts say several
of them—others that all) in reply to a direct
enquiry by the coroner, answered that they re-
cognized it as Colt's from their own personal
knowledge of the man.
The other objection taken by the D. Adv.
that the jury did not sit in actual view of the
body, has more foundation in fact, though quite
as little force as the other. The jury did view
the body, recognized it as Colt's, and then re-
tired to the court of sessions to conduct the ex-
amination of witnesses. They had the body in
view, to all intents and purposes as much as if
they had been in the same cell with it; and the
idea that witnesses should testify and the jury
listen, in the same room with the dead body, in
order to ascertain the truth fully, strikes us as
something new in this age of the world.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.2(x)]
John C. Colt.—This unfortunate man,
who, it will be recollected was to be execu-
ted on the 18th, was married to Miss Hen-
shaw between 10 and 11 o'clock, on Fri-
day, and killed himself, by running a pen-
knife into his heart, a little before 4 o'clock,
at which hour he was to be executed. Thus
[Col.6(x)]
disappointing the New York Rabble, of the
expected fun.—We must beg pardon, we
suppose, of Colt's Judge, for making use of
this term, as his new made honor, did his best
to make some small capital, in denying that
there were any such refuse in that city!!
We shall give some of the particulars in
our next paper.
——
...
We hear from Hoboken that there is some
hope that the murderers of Mary Rogers will
yet be discovered. [Newark Daily Adv.
================================================================
[Col.1]
John C. Colt.
This wretched man, who murdered Samuel Ad-
ams, of New York, last summer a year, and who
was condemned to be hung on Friday last, put an
end to his life a few minutes before the sentence of
the law was to have been executed on him, by stab-
bing himself to the heart with a dirk. In order to
secure his child its legal rights, he was married
to Miss Caroline Henshaw, his former mistress,
about 12 o'clock. He was to have been hung at
4 o'clock, and at his request he was permitted to
pass his last hour alone in his cell in the City
prison. At five minutes before four, when the
Sheriff, and the minister who had attended him,
entered his cell, he was lying on his cot dead,
with the dirk still sticking in his left side. A
Coroner's jury was summoned, and every person
who was known to have visited him examined, but
no one appeared to know how he had got in pos-
session of the dirk. About the same time he was
found, the Cupola of the prison was discovered to
be on fire, and great excitement prevailed among
the people outside, who supposed the prison had
been set on fire to afford Colt an opportunity to
escape. For a long time they would not believe
the story of his death. The fire was the result of
accident. The body, after the Coroner's inquest,
was put in a Coffin, placed in the dead house, and
thence taken by his friends to a vault in St. Mark's
Church.
[Col.2]
JOHN C. COLT,
PREPARATIONS FOR HIS EXECU-
TION—MARRIAGE—SUICIDE.
From the New-York Herald, Extra, of Friday evening.
The preparations for the execution of John
...
[Col.3]
...
it is very probable, that in the confusion arising
from the fire, and the mob breaking into the
Tombs, Colt would either have made his escape
or he would not have been hung.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
THE COLT EXCITEMENT.—The enquiry meets us at
every turn, “Is there to be no legal investigation as
to the negligence which caused Colt's death?” We
trust there will. We trust that after the firm man-
ner in which the Governor resisted all the appli-
ances that were brought to bear on him to get Colt
clear of the gallows, that he will finish the good
work by making a thorough investigation of the
whole affair, and punishing those who deserve it.
The excitement still continues to spread over the
country.
We trust that we shall have no more such trash as
we saw in one of the morning papers yesterday,
that some of the papers are endeavoring to create a
bad feeling against Sheriff Hart. This is idle talk.
No one is desirous to create any bad feeling against
him; we have the highest respect personally for Mr.
Hart; but that cannot and shall not prevent us from
criticising his public acts; and especially the late
extraordinary one of allowing a condemned mur-
derer to escape from the gallows by his (the She-
riff's) negligence, to use the mildest term.
At any rate, our own private feelings have nothing
to do with this matter; the public feeling has been
outraged, public justice has been trampled on, and
unless a thorough judicial investigation takes place,
we shall review the whole matter ourselves, and
speak in a language that may be far from pleasant
to some of the parties concerned. Let the whole
affair be fully investigated and exposed.
—————
TWICE.—We again demand of the “Tribune” to
give us the names of the two magistrates who fur-
nished them with their story about Mary Rogers!
Twice.
================================================================
[Col.7. Partly as in Albany Evening Journal]
THE CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.
——
CORRESPONDENCE.
——
NUMBER ONE.
PRISON HOUSE, Oct. 2d, 1841.
Dear Friend—
* * * * * *
Do not believe the thousand false statements you
see heralded from day to day in the papers. Let them
blow their blast. All that you hear now is passion
—passion. It is true there is a great deal to excite;
but at the same time they use me very unjustly.—
One half that is said is for the purpose of extorting
black mail, at least with some prints. Pay the very
honest conductors of some papers in this city, and
they would soon turn the current of public opinion,
so far as to cause passion to subside and set the read-
er to thinking and calm reflection. They will hear
nothing in my favor, receive no statements from me or
my friends, unless they are paid ten-fold the charge of
an advertisement, consequently they have all their
own way. Since things are so, my friends have ad-
vised me to keep cool, and bear all their horrid and un-
merciful inflictions. The tables may be some day
turned, and those who now seem to glut their ap-
petite in feeding upon my misfortune, may yet feel
the scorpion lash of the pen to their soul's satiety.—
The man that meets with a misfortune now a days, be-
comes at once the victim of a certain portion of the
press. If he is poor, his friends are brought in for
a share, as mine have been, and placed upon the
rack and tortured till money is forthcoming. But
in this case they will spill their ink to no purpose,
for it is not only my misfortune, but that of my
friends, as you know, to be without any very ex-
tensive means.
I will write you again more at large, when in the
mood for scribbling. I cannot close without renew-
ing again my heartfelt gratitude for the kindness prof-
fered by you and friends, but let there be no move
to the effect you have proposed, as I assure you it is
entirely unnecessary.
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To H—— R——, Baltimore.
——
NUMBER TWO.
PRISON HOUSE, Oct. 3d, 1841.
DEAR FRIEND—I am aware from other sources
than your kind letters that you feel great solicitude
for my welfare. From my knowledge of the past, I
may rightly judge that your expressed kindness is
but the overflow of your natural and wonted good-
ness. I must assure you that it is a source of in-
describable pleasure to lake up one of your letters,
or those of other friends, and read them, after
looking over some of the morning prints, and
seeing their mistaken zeal and error, or catch penny
abuse.
Were it not for the feelings of my friends, I should
care very little about those who are obliged to keep
the public mind in a state of excitement in order to
live. These men at heart are not so bad as you may
suppose. The conducting of the press now-a-days
is too generally reduced to a system of extorting mo-
ney from whom they may, and the advancement of
private ends, without the least regard to public mo-
rals or welfare. One must have read certain prints
in this city for the last few years to but little pur-
pose, not to have plainly observed these facts. You
will see new papers start up every month. They
open fairly—intend to be honest, but the truth is that
they cannot live by their first marked out course,
and consequently, they have to change their posi-
tion, and on every opportunity that seems to present
itself turn to abusing private individuals, for the
purpose of extorting black mail to buy bread with.
It is to be hoped, however, that the penny press,
like good wine that is at first is thick and muddy, will
ultimately work itself clear, to the great and lasting
blessing of the country. There are at present a few
leading individuals not of the best principles, that for
the time being, control the whole, directly or indi-
rectly. A few years will sweep them off the boards,
and a new set, more pure and just, will take their
places. They have already commenced exposing
each other's method of getting along, and the more
we have of them, the sooner the community will be
disabused in supposing all that they read is true.
I would advise you to read no more of the cla-
morous stuff you see printed about me. You cannot
rely upon any thing you see published as being true
which relates to myself.
* * * * * *
I know and pity the motive in which by far too
many of the severest attacks are made, and would, I
assure you, if it were in my power, award to every
writer in the country as much gold as he could wish,
and say to them “henceforth, prey not on the cala-
mities of the unfortunate.”
Do not believe that the statements made affect me.
I understand too well the motives that prompt to
abuse. It is only so far as they hurt the feelings of
my friends that they can cause me pain.
Remember me to H—— and L——, and all the
dear little ones. Give yourself no uneasiness—
“All's well that ends well.” I have much more to
say, but unfortunately, have come to the end of my
sheet. More anon.
Yours, &c., &c.
J. C. COLT.
To L—— G——, Boston, Mass.
——
NUMBER THREE.
PRISON HOUSE, Oct. 18, 1841.
DEAR FRIEND—Yours of the 11th inst. was duly
received. Many of your inquiries I cannot now an-
swer, although I should be glad to. After my trial I
shall feel at liberty to write more freely. I know as
little as you what will be the defence. My lawyers
are acquainted with all the facts. They say I must
leave all to them. The best way of managing would
be for me to state the facts, seal it up and hand it to
the court, and after the testimony is taken, to open
and read it. Should my statement be sustained in
analysis by the evidence, it would, in justice, in the
minds of every reasonable being, amount to an entire
acquittal of the charge. This last plan may be con-
sidered by counsel too risky, as the public press has
excited the passions of the world to an alarming de-
gree. But I assure you it would best accord with
my wishes. The idea of going forth in the world a
suspected murderer, is worse infinitely than much
suffering. If I throw myself upon my peers they
will be likely to believe me; but if I prove an alibi
they will let me go, but always wrongfully suspect I
desired to kill my antagonist. Were I west or south
I could with perfect safety throw myself upon the
country, and with the evidence of Wells and Wheeler,
if they will but state the truth, be certain of an ac-
quittal. But in this city I am so little known, it is
to be feared that passion and not evidence will decide
the case.
Wells stated to my friends in some of their first
interviews, that “Adams left him in a vexed mood
or passion, ane thae he had no doubt but that he went
to my office and insulted me.” In some later inter-
view he seem desirous of modifying his language, or
making a different statement. He is a very timid
man, and has, I fear been cowed from telling the
truth.
My keepers tell me that the prosecuting counsel is
going to Congress on my hanging, and I am told this
is publicly spoken of. Very pleasant, ah! If he be
an unprincipled, ambitious man, there is no doubt
but that he will do any thing to win his case, and it
would certainly be quite a feather in a lawyer's cap,
to get an innocent man hung. There was a time,
however, when men acquired popularity by defend-
ing the unfortunate, but now-a-days it would seem
by such reports that they are sent as legislators by
trampling upon the unfortunate. One thing is very
certain—the prosecuting counsel never gave utter-
ance to such sentiments himself. I have no doubt,
however, as he is a man of great professional pride,
but that he will do his utmost to convict me.
* * * * * *
Yours confidentially,
J. C. COLT.
C—— H——, Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER FOUR.
PRISON HOUSE, Nov. 2, 1841.
FRIEND P.——: I have been shown to-day a
notice published in “The Index at Alexandria, D.
C.,” which gives me great pleasure; the more so, as
I doubt not from some of the concluding remarks
that it emanated with yourself.
I consider this altogether the most favorable arti-
cle that has been published; its tendency will be of
infinitely more service than direct and open praise.—
This quoted into some of the prints in this city would
be of great benefit here, but as the press is disposed
to admit nothing favorable to me, without being paid
about ten prices of an ordinary advertisement, it is
beyond my power to comply and by no means meets
the views of my friends. Consequently the public
must remain ignorant of my real character.
No poor devil needs friends connected or influen-
tial with the public prints—the respectable portion
of them—more than myself. They are prone in this
city, particularly the penny papers, to make “the
better reason appear the worst;” and simply because,
if they can make me appear in print to-day as a
hideous monster, to-morrow their readers will be anx-
ious to get hold of the same prints, expecting to find
some more wonderful discoveries—something more
about “the monster.” All this is pictured forth for
the good of the public—excellent creatures, they al-
ways have in mind so much good for the public—men
with just knowledge enough to pervert misfortune
into crime, without heart enough to feel for its con-
sequences. But they are the gainers—let them go
on. So you see, all are not injured by my misfor-
tune.
My trial was put off yesterday (Monday) till Mon-
day, the 27th of December next, at which time I am
in hopes it will come on. I shall stand much more
favorable before the public after the trial than now.—
And although it is beyond the power of man to ob-
literate from memory so unfortunate an occurrence
as having stood once charged with killing a human
being, still the evidence of that day will clear me
from crime, at least in the minds of my friends, (if
there be any now that doubt) and that portion of
the public who impartially weigh the circumstances.
I beg that you would not believe a word that you
see published about my being insane—wishing to
kill myself—the plea of insanity upon my trial, etc.,
because you see such things repeated over and over
again in certain daily papers. It is of no use to con-
tradict any of these statements. The more that is
is said to palliate, the more they must say to villify.
I repeat again, it is too much on this principle by which
they live.
As I read over daily a repetition of their heartless
accusations, and oftentimes calumny, 'fabricated
out of whole cloth,' without the remotest shadow of
foundation, I cannot but pity the miserable and un-
happy motives by which the originators are actuated,
and would, I assure you, under some of these impul-
ses, were it advisable, write an article or two on the
subject of murder for their special benefit, that would
have some power to move the soul, more than a bare
repetition of the word murder, murder, murder.—
This word is repeated by many, with all the seeming
frolick that a boy cries fire! fire! fire! but not with
half the feeling; and in mos cases entirely discon-
nected with sentiment.
I have every thing as comfortable at my quarters
as you at Brown's or F????s in a small room. My
apartment is about twelve feet deep, seven feet wide,
and eleven feet from floor to ceiling. My window is
about five by thirty inches, protected by glass, and
it admits a surplus of light. My apartment is warm-
[Col.8]
ed by means of iron pipes through which steam is
constantly passing. I have a nice little table to
write on, and as for my bed, it is far superior to what
I have had at many of our hotels at a charge of two
dollars per day. With the exception of the confine-
ment, I am as well off as any man in New York, and
better than most. My keepers, Captain Hyde, Mr.
Purdy and the rest, are excellent men—they have
souls and feelings.
The most unpleasant part of all is attending court,
or rather returning from court. The curiosity to see
unfortunately is very great. But, however, the pas-
sion is very sparingly indulged in. I was calmly
and unsuspectedly seated at one of the windows in
the City Hall, seeing the crowds running hither and
thither, eyeing every gruff fellow, till the dense mass
had gradually dispersed and collected by dozens at
the corners of the streets towards the Prison House,
when Smith and Colvill, the conductors—and who,
by the by, are the most capital fellows on such busi-
ness in the world—said, step between us, one leading
the way about ten steps, and the other as many be-
hind, and thuswise we moved up Broadway, turned
a few corners, and soon found myself at my quarters,
unfollowed by any one, and unsuspected by any of
the pretty smiling girls or dandy humbugs that we
met. This was certainly a very agreeable promenade
after a week's confinement.
I have plenty of books, and spend most of my time
in writing and reading.
A letter from Philadelphia, some ten days ago, in-
forms me of your extended kindness in that quarter
—thank you for it. It could not have come in better
time—hope you have not been put to inconvenience
in consequence. Let the balance stand till further
advised.
All communications directed to “——, Box ——,
marked Post Office,” I shall receive.
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To ——, Washington, D. C.
——
NUMBER FIVE.
PRISON HOUSE, Nov. 10, 1841.
My dear Friend—I should have written you long
ago in answer to your letters had I not been so very
busy with some matters that have indispensably oc-
cupied my entire time. But you have not been for-
gotten. Your letters renew in mind a thousand as-
sociations that will be dear to memory as long as
life. I sincerely thank you for the favors proffered,
and assure you that I am as well conditioned here in
point of comfort as I should be in half the hotels.
I have my my meals brought from an excellent res-
taurant, and have means to pay all my personal ex-
penses for a year to come, and still longer should
some debts be paid me that are now due. My cell is
better furnished than one half the rooms in the
hotels, of course at my own expence, and in it there
is as much spare room as in many of them. Say to
my friends that they must feel no anxiety for me. I
cannot speak of certain matters at this time. It is
a great satisfaction when you tell me you do not be-
lieve but little you see in the public prints, as indeed
you should not. Black Mail runs through every line
of the very pure and spotless characters that conduct
some presses in this city. But New York is an ex-
ception to all other places. An editor here is at at
liberty to say what he pleases. The abuse heaped
upon my works on account, will in the end be of
more benefit than injury.
* * * * * *
Public opinion may be slow in coming to a just
conclusion in this affair of mine. In the end, how-
ever, I firmly believe they will not take me to be the
man I am at this time represented to be, but far
otherwise and of a very different nature. Like your-
self, those who know me best are best capable of
judging of this unfortunate affair.
* * * * *
Direct to —— Box, Park Post Office, and
yours will be daily received. Remember me to all
inquiring friends.
Believe me, truly, as of old, yours,
J. C. COLT.
To G—— D. O——, New Orleans.
——
NUMBER SIX.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 6, 1842.
My Dear Sir:—Although I stand condemned by
twelve men, do not think that it causes me so much pain
as you imagine. No—no. Death hath no terrors
for me. There is a world above this, and I believe a
just one. Man, at the worst, can but destroy the
body. I did but defend myself against a wanton,
vile, and unpardonable attack. This I would do
again, at any time, when insulted and assaulted. No
man would do less. His very nature compels him
to this. I have been tried and condemned for en-
deavoring to secreet a misfortune, not for killing a
man. Prejudice or error misled or governed the
whole proceedings of the trial—justice took no part.
The time will come when men will look upon this
whole affair in its proper light—at least I believe so;
perhaps after I have suffered; and believe me truly,
sir, that I should prefer a thousand deaths and be
thought innocent, that live a single life, to be pointed
at as guilty of a crime that my very soul would
shudder at the mention of, even from my boyhood up.
Do not think that I fear death. I have nothing in
this affair to reproach my conscience with. Before
my God, within the frontal of Heaven, I can exclaim
to THE MAN, “I was your friend; for this you abused
me. I asked you to be just—for this you accused me
of injustice. For CALM WORDS, you gave me insulting
language. For peremptory denial you gave me blows;
for this, YOU accidentally fell a victim in a resistance to
your wanton and unjustifiable assault. Heaven pro-
tect the innocent and unoffending in this affair—
Heaven will be just.”
My great suffering is for my friends. I care but
little for myself. This will be to them a heavy
blow. 'Twill wither up the very charity of their
hearts, and they will look with distrust upon all
around them.
There was a fiendish appetite evidently burning
in the bosom of many witnesses, and much that
was sworn to was entirely false. But this is now
unimportant. These twelve men are welcome to all
the happiness of their conclusion. I would not
change places with any one of them. Thank God
that those who know me best believe me innocent
—'tis only those that do not know me condemn.
The great mass of the community are evidently pre-
judiced in this affair. This comes not from a just
and impartial consideration of the facts and evidence
in the case, but from reading and believing every
catch-penny statement that has been heralded
through the streets. The very community are to be
pitied for believing that so vile a monster as I have
been represented to be, ever bore the image of his mother.
The time will come that they will not believe it—
no—no 'tis not possible for them to believe—some
misfortune to themselves, some calamity to a friend,
will cause them to halt, reflect and be just.
I cannot answer your numerous enquiries, they
would fill a volume; but will write more at large,
when more in the mood. Yours, hurriedly,
J. C. COLT.
To R—— T——, Baltimore, Md.
——
NUMBER SEVEN.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 8, 1842.
Dear Friend:—Your kind letter was received this
morning. It is truly a great satisfaction to find that
it weighs nothing with you and friends; because I
have been condemned by just twelve men. One
half were doubtless prejudiced, although they may
not have known it. Several we now know had ex-
pressed an opinion that was hostile, before the trial.
There is so much said here by the press, on all such
affairs, that a man is first tried and condemned
without a hearing. There is many an honorable,
worthy, and upright man connected with the press,
but there is at the same time many a consummate
scoundrel. The good and just meaning among them
are, consequently, often forced into unjust reflec-
tions. Many an editor catches half his ideas from
rival prints, and not from the multitude, and being
honest himself, he believes his contemporaries to be
so likewise, consequently, ignorance, falsehood and
prejudice are promulgated, and the people placing
too much confidence in what they read, are lead into
error, and give vent to their feelings and expres-
sions that they in their calmer moods would lament
could they but see correctly, canvass facts and sepa-
rate truth from falsehood. A man must have been
worse than blind not to have observed this. Every
thing is made to move by excitement. Money is the
great god that can alone stay it. If a man is not
rich, and meets with a misfortune, he must expect to
be damned. Money, through the medium of the
press, has in this country as great an influence
over courts of law, as land, wealth and aristocracy
under a monarchial government, when the poet
wrote—
“Each wanton judge new penal statutes draws,
Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the laws.”
Justice is but a name, liberty but a shadow; give
me wealth and I could put my foot upon the neck of
the universe. All the evidence of the least import-
ance in the case, in strict justice, was in my favor.
My case will be carried up on a bill of exceptions.
Perhaps it is best that the decision is as it was. I
may now get a new trial, and be justly dealt with.
Says Hume, “in many things the extremes are
nearer to one another, (justice) than the means.”
Had the verdict been milder than it was, it might
have proven a total, irrevocable, damnable blast.
There is ever a hope beyond injustice, rising like a
star of a cloudy night; true it may come late, still it
replaces the heart, and the longer absent the more
welcome. But of the worst let come the worst, I
shall die as calm as ever man died. I have ever had
hopes beyond this world. Did I believe that this ex-
istence was the beginning and the end, I should
curse the giver. No—impossible, it cannot be. The
universal world—the mighty heavens speak in signs
more convincing than words, more conclusive than
argument, more appealing than PARABLES, that there
is a God above, just, mighty, all powerful. The
palmy sunbeams, the sweet zephyrs, the all bounti-
ful earth, proclaim his goodness, far more than jus-
tice, in myriads and myriads of developments. No
man should fear to shake off this mortal coil—this
dying, sickening, painful body—this incarcerating
prison-house to the mind—this incubus to the heart
—this chain of disease and corruption to the soul;
give me the home of my fathers!
I am already at the close of the sheet. I did not
feel, when I commenced, like writing ten words. But
I no sooner take pen in hand to speak of myself than
my mind rolls to a fearful vividness, and my bosom
heaves and burns with pain that I cannot quiet with-
out too great a struggle.
Say to J. and F. that this must answer for you
all. Do not ask me more questions for a month. So
long as life, I shall remember the kindness of all my
friends. It is enough now for me to know that they
believe me innocent.
Yours truly,
J. C. COLT.
To C—— H——, Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER EIGHT.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 10, 1842.
Dear Sir:—Yours of the 7th inst. is at hand, and
like all such it gives me infinite pleasure to read it
over and over again. As I promised you before my
trial, I will write you all about this unfortunate
affair. But I do not feel like entering into a detail of
things to-day. Besides I shall now have much
more to ay than I at first supposed. When I com-
mence, however, it will soon be finished. As you
suggest, it may be a good plan to lay before the pub-
lic a full statement of the influences operating upon
my mind which led me to attempt to secrete this
great calamity; although I shall, as a matter of
course, become the creature of further abuse, the
moment I set up a defence for myself. The great
satisfaction that my statement will be to my friends,
will much more than counterbalance the reflections
of the unjust and prejudiced. I have been so com-
pletely the victim of abuse—have suffered so much
that I have become callous to reproach. All asper-
tions, all false statements, all perversions of the truth,
fall harmless at my feet, and I sincerely pity the crea-
ture that takes so much trouble to afflict my friends
by abusing me.
All that you say relative to the manner my case
was conducted, I know and feel to be too true. But
it is not in my bosom to blame men that are sincere-
ly my friends, for errring in judgment when they
meant to serve me. No matter what the conse-
quences, such reflections are always ungrateful, and
heartless.
[Col.9]
I knew nothing of the manner the case was to be
conducted, neither do I believe that my counsel
went into court with any fixed or settled plan. They
evidently relied upon the justice and virtue of their
cause, under a firm believe that justice would triumph
over passion and prejudice. This mode of conduct-
ing a trial would have done better in any other city
than this. It is not every man in this community
that has moral courage sufficient to express his true
opinion in such a case. Then twelve men, either
from error or prejudice, trampled upon the evidence
—they trampled upon the Judge's charge—they
trampled upon the law; for the law says, when
there is a doubt, it should be given in favor of the
prisoner. They were out nine hours wrangling
about a decision: there was much doubt; and strange
to say, they threw the doubt against the prisoner.
There will be no difficulty, if justice be done, in set-
ting aside their opinion, as it is now well known,
that several of them either wilfully or unguardedly
expressed hostile opinion before the trial.
I made a statement before my trial in relation to
the numerous false accusations that had been made
of me, and most industriously circulated by several
catch-penny sheets, which I can now clearly see
should have been published. But counsel thought
otherwise, and of course I yielded. It certainly
would have removed much prejudice from the pub-
lic mind, and perhaps the minds of some of these
twelve men. It is not difficult to see errors when too
late. With my friends, I know full well that aspera-
tion has no weight, clamor no influence. That
which appears in a single print is but the opinion of
the man who conducts it, and deserves less credit
often than oral opinion, as mercenary motives, and
not the welfare of the community, are being well
understood to be the origin of by far too much that
that appears in some public presses. It is not pub-
lic good, but private ends that is too frequently
sought. Besides the editor of a paper is as liable to
error as any other member of the community. Their
statements at best are as the opinion of one man in
a crowd.
* * * * *
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To L—— G. W——, Boston.
——
NUMBER NINE.
PRISON HOUSE, 11th Feb. 1842.
DEAR TOM:—As you say, indeed, mine is a hard
fate. All this misfortune has fallen upon me for be-
friending that man. Had I not taken my binding a-
way from Mr. Ballow and given it to Wells, for the
sake of throwing work in the way of Adams, as Wells
was to give work to Adams in accordance, I should not
now have been here, by many degrees of probability.
Ballow is one of the finest men in the world. He
had done binding for me for the past three years, and
I had spoken to him about binding the last edition,
which he expected to have done, as he stated in his
evidence. But after this arrangement, Adams came
to me three or four times, and teased me till I con-
sented to give it Wells, always alleging that Barrow
was well to do, and that he himself had hard work to
get custom. I knew that Adams' circumstances had
been in a sinking condition, since the death of
Scatchard, his old partner, owing I supposed, to his
bad management. I never did any thing more reluc-
tantly than when consenting to let Wells do the work
in place of Ballow; and should not have done so
without the purest feelings of charity.
Adams was at times a most aggravating fellow
in his language; but I had before always attributed
his manner to his ignorance, not to ill will. How-
ever, I was mistaken. I was cherishing a viper that
was ready at any time to sting me. The real charac-
ter of the man is not publicly known, but in spite of
the silence of the press about him, and its abuse of
me, time will develope the truth.
He has been represented as one of the mildest and
meekest man the world has seen—a member of the
Church, etc. etc. In all which there is not the least
truth. While on the other hand, my whole family
and myself have been abused—shamefully and gross-
ly abused.
In relation to myself, as you say, the public mind
has been unwarrantably misled into misjudgment
and censure. But I believe that “truth is mighty
and will prevail.” To the tide of oppression that
now bears me down, I firmly believe there will be
strong and powerful reaction. I do not believe that
injustice can long keep possession of the public
mind, although a catch penny print may be unjust
from beginning to end; first, for the sake of gain,
and last, to give an air of consistency of opinion.
What you read in a newspaper is but the opinion of
one man, and oftentimes the opinion of a man of the
vilest, blackest principals, and deserving frequently
of less notice than the opinion of the most unprinci-
pled vagabond in the street. The vagrant can have
little or no motive for expressing his opinion, while
the man who puts his opinion into black and white,
too frequently discovers running through every line
—money, money, money. But, thank God, there
are noble exceptions to all this.
Had Adams been that “good and meek and never
offending man” as represented, “the man without a
blemish and a fault,” do you believe his widow
would have shown the indifference she did while un-
dergoing an examination at my trial? Where, I ask
you candidly, is the woman, savage or civilized, that
would have shown herself thus indifferent, had she
lost a husband, and that man one such as Adams is
represented to have been by several prints. Her
conduct leaves a better inference of what the man
was than any description whatever. The worthy
husband will have a faithful widow.
* * * * * *
Because I defended myself against the abuse and
assault of such a man as you many rightly judge him
to have been from the subsequent conduct of his
widow, I have been condemned without unpreju-
diced hearing, and am to be damned without cere-
mony.
* * * * * *
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To T—— F——, Washington, D. C.
——
NUMBER TEN.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 15, 1842.
DEAR FRIENDS:
* * * * * *
I can never blame counsel for the manner they
conducted my trial, although my friends blame them
for introducing my statement. Unquestionably it had
a bad effect on a part of those twelve men, but in the
end it may result in more benefit to me than if it had
been originally designed for the public. Men never
worked harder and more faithfully than did my coun-
sel during the days of the trial.
* * * * * *
So far as introducing my statement as a part of an
argument, it was, doubtless, under all the circum-
stances, badly timed. It is not for that, however, I
now so much regret, when I allow myself to regret
at all, but from the fact the statement is quite too im-
perfect as to the circumstances of the quarrel, and
unnecessarily full in subsequent conduct. I wrote
said statement quite reluctantly, under great depres-
sion of mind, on the second or third day of my im-
prisonment, having first stated to my counsel the
whole facts, and wrote said statement for them, as
they said, on leaving, “write down all about boxing
him up.” Carelessly and hurriedly was it done, and
sent to them on the next day, which was the last I
heard or thought of it, till it was read in court.—
There was no use in telling the public that I was
obliged to stand on the knees of the man to crowd
him into the box. They naturally look upon this as
a cold and unfeeling act, while, in truth, all that time
my very heart strings felt as though they would burst,
for I was laboring in the greatest agony.
The fore part of the statement is quite imperfect,
and does not convey the whole truth. Adam's as-
sault on me was entirely wanton. I never was cool-
er and calmer than when he came to my office, and
his entrance was abrupt and quite unexpected. He
accused me at once with an intent of cheating him
to which I calmly replied that I was astonished that
he should say so, and requested him to give some
reasons for warranting such a charge. Word follow-
ed word, and in the mean time I drew his account
from my portfolio, and so far as there was cheating
on foot, I showed him the evidence of it on his part,
in his account. As he would not hear to reason, and
feeling alarmed at his manner and language, I ap-
plied to him unavoidably, in answer to his abuse, in
perfect justice, his own unmeasured terms. At this,
he became more exasperated, and gave me a slap with
the back of his hand across the mouth, which you
may be assurred, was returned, in due justice, as I
sprang to my feet in self defence. He almost instant-
ly seized hold of my neckcloth, which placed me in
his power—pressing me to the table and wall, he
struck me three or four times in the breast, and seiz-
ed me per prives parties. Every thing seemed to
to turn black. I was in agony and exerting myself for
relief, how I know not. The last distinct recollec-
tion I have, before I was relieved by his fall, was,
that of trying to press him off with my left hand, as I
held to his collar, endeavoring with my right hand, at
the same time, to raise myself from the table, as he
had me pressed over backwards upon it. It was in
this painful position that I seized that cursed hatchet
and gave him the unfortunate blows that I did.—
When relieved from his horrid grasp, I beheld for the
first time my awful defence. Heaven only knows the
number of blows I struck him. There may have been
four or five. And when I reflect upon the instru-
ment most unfortunately seized, and instantaneously
used, it is only to be wondered that his head was not
dashed into a thousand pieces. The blows were con-
firmed by the evidence of Seignette and Wheeler to
be instantaneous, who state that they heard a rush
like two men coming together, something like the
clashing of foils, (a singular, but doubtless a perfect
description of the sound produced by the blows) a
fall as of a heavy body, and all was silent as in truth
all was then silent.
There never was evidence that appears at the first
view so slight, and yet so perfectly corroborating the
truth of any man's statement, as does the evidence
of these witnesses confirm the facts in the case of
this unfortunate conflict. And it is the more aston-
ishing as they were privately occupied in an adjoin-
in room, and suddenly, and by surprise aroused by
the noise of the scuffle. If I was to be visited with
so great a misfortune, it must in the minds of eve-
ery honest man, who calmly weighs the evidence
and the facts, appear that a probational Providence
was clearly extending his hand, though unseen, to
carry me unscathed through the minds of the just
and upright of my fellow men; and this too, when
taken with the evidence of his coming in bad blood
to my office, together with the fact of his account be-
ing wrong, is clearly sufficient in the minds of those
who desire in the least to arrive at the truth, to es-
tablish my innocence of every thing like a desire or
conception of inflicting a permanent injury. There
is a class it is true, that such evidence cannot reach,
even though it was “written upon the wall,” and
sounded upon their ears with the thunders peal,
from the fact that such always judge others from the
possessions and corruptions, of their own bosoms,
driving far off the holier sanctuary of reason which
controls the mouths of the reflective and would be
truly just.
Adam's account against me was wrong. It is now
wrong on his books, and put there by his own hand.
There was a sad oversight on the part of counsel in
not showing to the court the evidence of this fact by
producing his books, over and about which the quar-
rel took place. The account, as presented, was seven-
ty-one dollars and fifteen cents. Fourteen dollars
of this was part of an old account that had been once
settled and agreed to, by his taking the stereotype
blocks belonging to my work on accounts, originally
without my knowledge, and having had them altered
and appropriated to his own use.
This much of the account he partially admitted
was incorrect. But the remainder as he had it, fifty-
seven dollars and fifteen cents, should have been
fifty-five dollars and eighty cents. This last sum I
insisted upon being the amount I owed him for his
last printing, which he denied with his accustomed
epithets, and a blow as above stated. Fifty-five dol-
lars and eighty cents was the bill for my last printing,
which was contracted to be done at a credit of sixty
days. There was not any thing due him when he
came to my office, as the work had not been execu-
ted twelve days. You will see for the paltry sum of
one dollar and thirty-five cents the quarrel ensued,
as a consequence of his being at that time in a pas-
sionate and unhappy mood. But I was no more than
[Col.1]
correct in rejecting this unjust charge, had I not
been so, I believe the unfortunate termination would
have driven me to derangement.
This was indeed a paltry sum to dispute about;
however, pressed as I was, I could do no less than
resist the injustice he seemed determined to foster
upon me with more than his ordinary abuse. But
good God, could I have had the remotest conception,
of the result of the conflict, under the circumstances,
he should have had all that I possessed, or ever
hoped for, before I would have resisted his injustice,
or returned his blows.
More anon, yours,
J. C. COLT.
To C—— and F——, Philadelphia.
[To be continued.]
[Col.2]
The Correspondence of Colt.—In the Rev. Mr. AN-
THON'S statement of the circumstances which at-
tended his visits to COLT, previous to his death, Mr.
Anthon says, that on enquiring of him if he could
“throw any more light on what had passed,” he
handed him an extra Tattler of the 22d Oct. saying
“No. I have nothing more to add to what these
letters contain.” Knowing the curiosity felt as to
every thing connected with this extraordinary crimi-
nal, we commence the publication of these letters
to-day on our first page, adding however, that we
place no reliance on the truth of their contents.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MORAL OF THE RECENT TRAGEDY.—The
horrid murder of Adams—the obduracy and un-
bridled passions of Colt—his desperate and per-
severing efforts to escape the penalty of his
crimes—and the awful circumstances attending
his exit from the world, have been sufficiently en-
larged upon by the press. But there is another
view of it which should not be lost. In all the
acts of this fearful drama there is a great moral
lesson, especially for the young and for those who
have charge of the education of the young, which
should not be overlooked in the rush and whirl of
startling events.
That lesson teaches how frail and weak is poor
human nature—how little we know ourselves—
what strangers we are to our own evil propensi-
ties—how much we need the support of high,
stern, and rock-founded moral principles—and how
terrible and uncontrollable is the wild tempest of
human passions when once they obtain the mas-
tery over the reason and the conscience. In a
vast city like this, whose solitudes are more im-
penetrable than those of the wilderness—where
crime lurks round every corner of the streets—
where temptations and allurements are scattered
“thick as autumnal leaves” along the path trod by
the young—and where every breeze comes load-
ed with the fascinating charms of vice and fans
of flames of human passions—these reflections
cannot be too earnestly pressed upon public at-
tention. No occasion like that of which we are
speaking should be permitted to pass without re-
curring to them.
Look abroad upon the thousands of children and
youth that swarm through all the avenues of this
metropolis, and see how few among them are se-
cure from a fate similar to that of him who died
on Friday. How many among them appear more
likely to meet such a fate than he did at their age.
Where is the child—and let parents and guardians
ponder upon this question—where is the child of
one, two or three years, with its character yet to
be formed, its passions moulded and its princi-
ples established, that is not just as much exposed
to this dreadful fate as he was when at the same
age! Where is the young man whose moral edu-
cation has been in any degree neglected, or whose
naturally evil propensities have been left unsub-
dued, who has any more safeguards than Colt had
against indulgence in the blackest crimes?
But a few short summers since John C. Colt
was sporting round the hearth of fond parents in
all the gaiety and glee of child-like innocence,
his heart disturbed by no other fires than those
which kindle in the bosoms of every son and
daughter of Adam. And but a few months since
he was threading the devious path of life with all
the pride and ambition of self-confident youth.—
Who that might have seen him at either period
would not have been appalled at the thought that
his career was to be in crime—in blood—in dou-
ble anger? Had he been told as he walked
abroad erect among his gay companions that such
would be his fate, how would his eye have kindled
and his bosom swelled with deep and irrepressi-
ble murder? Had he been told as he walked
abroad erect among his gay companions that such
would be his fate, how would his eye have kin-
dled and his bosom swelled with deep and irre-
pressible indignation while he exclaimed like Ha-
zael of old to the prophet—“Is thy servant a dog,
that he should do this great thing?” And yet,
young men of New York, he did it all. He knew
not himself, and was not master of his fierce and
desolating passions.
Let us be admonished by this terrible example,
which may have been thrown in our way for wise
purposes, as a beacon light to warn us from the
dreadful rocks on which our fellow-voyager has
been so miserably wrecked. Let us ask—Do we
know ourselves any better than he knew himself?
Do we comprehend, and have we the fixed moral
principle, the high moral energy to control, the
fearful volcano of human passions, whose mad-
dened fires roar and blaze within our bosoms—
whose dreadful guilt, when once it breaks forth
upon society,
“——— Blackens in the cloud,
Flashes athwart its mass in jagged fire—
Whirls in the hurricane, pollutes the air—
Turns all the joyous melodies of earth
To murmuring of a doom.”
Look to it, young men! Look to it, parents and
guardians! Look to it, public authorities, whose
business it is, or should be, to care for and educate
the thousands of children who throng our streets,
apparently without either parents or guardians.—
Look to it, all who have any thing to do with
training young minds, moulding early passions,
and preparing the rising generation for a career of
honor and usefulness, or of crime and shame.
================================================================
[Col.4. Mostly as in Courier]
REV. DR. ANTHON'S STATEMENT.
——
To the Editors of the Commercial Advertiser:
In pursuance of my promise of Saturday, I place
...
DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Thursday Morning, November 24, 1842 (FH)
[Col.3]
On our first page will be found notes of in-
terviews with the convict John C. Colt, by the
Rev. Dr. ANTHON; and we adopt, in relation
to them the appropriate views of the N. Y.
American:
“It is obvious that Dr. Anthon was impressed,
...
[Col.4]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY.
——
The New York Tribune insists that its state-
ments in regard to Mrs. Loss's confessions were
substantially correct—that they were made on
good authority—and that proper enquiries will
satisfy the doubting.
The N. Y. Jour. of Commerce states upon the
strength of a conversation with Justice Merritt,
who it will be recollected, gave a quasi denial to
the Tribune's statements, that further and secret
investigations will take place, at Hoboken and
elsewhere—that Mrs. L.'s sons are detained as
witnesses, and that “there is reason to believe
that Miss Rogers' death took place in Mrs. Loss'
house, in consequence of the use of some medi-
cal means for procuring abortion, on or about the
25th July—but that who the perpetrators of the
crime are, is not yet apparent; nor how much the
boys are implicated.”
================================================================
[Col.1. Mostly as in Tribune]
From the New-York Tribune.
JOHN C. COLT—THE LAST ACT
OF THE TRAGEDY.
Yesterday Colt, the convicted mur-
...
ror. By the morning boat he returned
with a letter addressed to the Sheriff, in
which the Chancellor peremptorily re-
fused to comply with the request.
Colt was engaged nearly all night in
writing a reply to the letter of Governor
...
[Col.3]
...
has met his victim at the bar of their
common God.
—————
Horrible Outrage.—In the Runinsas
...
in prison to answer for the three mur-
ders.—Observer.
[Col.6. From Evening Post]
The Mary C. Rogers Affair.—On
Saturday the sons of the late Mrs. Loss,
...
man came to her death.—N. Y. Eve.
Post.
================================================================
[Col.7. Partly as in Albany Evening Journal]
THE CASE OF JOHN C. COLT.
——
CORRESPONDENCE.
——
Concluded from yesterday.
——
NUMBER ELEVEN.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 18, 1842.
DEAR FRIENDS: I have been greatly blamed for
not going at once before a magistrate after Adams
had fallen by my hand. It is very natural to blame
under the circumstances, and at the same time it is
more natural to secrete any misfortune than to ex-
pose it. It is perfectly idle to look wise and talk
learnedly now upon the affair, for a man knows not
what he would do situated as I was. There are a
thousand things that rush upon the mind in such a
situation and fill one with implacable distress. No
—no—say what you will, argue as you please, there
is not, I think, an honest, calm, reflective man in
the world that would come out with a misfortune of
this kind, unless momentarily after the act, he rush-
ed out, in a state of phrensy, into the street; or un-
less he felt as though he could stem any torrent
of slander and abuse that might arise, and con-
sequently preferred coming out to taking the concei-
ved necessary and painful precautions to throw the
calamity into an oblivion. Had I have been worth
fifty or one hundred thousand dollars, I should, per-
haps, have gone at once and given myself up, for I
knew full well that they could do nothing more than
censure me. Censure, unjust censure, is all that I
feared, and that I was fearful would follow me wher-
ever I went, and under every circumstance, hurt me
to my ruin. Subsequent developed evidence, how-
ever, renders, most happily, such apprehensions
more groundless than I then conceived. It is now
the opinion of those best capable of judging that with
the evidence of Wells, Seignette and Wheeler, that I
should have passed an examination and the whole
thing would have been dropped without prosecution,
as such things do when occurring in the open street,
and little or nothing thought about it. This is un-
questionably true. My painful situation was, how-
ever, to labor in ignorance of all the evidence of those
men, as well as an incorrect estimate of the man
himself. This thing fell upon me as an avalanche,
sudden, unexpected and overwhelming, driving rea-
son almost from its throne, as it shrunk up with hor-
ror and almost petrified my very existence. I acted
too hastily. I was to much affected to be sufficient-
ly deliberate. Had I been less agitated, the thing
would never had been known. I now see many
ways that would have prevented a development.
Had it not have been for my peculiar circumstan-
ces, I might have come out with the misfortune as it
was, rather than have performed the horrid task of
cutting his clothes off—a task that the wealth of the
whole city could not have been to me the least in-
ducement to have performed.—No, nothing—noth-
ing, but to save myself, as I supposed, from irrevo-
cable ruin, could have compelled me to have taken
this simple and indispensable precaution. The
clothes must be separated from the body, or no se-
cretion attempted, as they would prove an identity
months or years afterwards;—whereas the body, ac-
cording to the common course of nature, would de-
cay within a week or two, particularly in the warm
climate of New Orleans, to where I directed the box,
and thereby render identity impossible, and all suit,
should it come to that, abortive.
Thus I reasoned, right or wrong, as you may judge.
The conclusions in my own mind from the circum-
stances under which I reasoned, then as now, were
perfectly natural, perfectly just, and exceedingly sim-
ple, that a wise man or a fool, if he deliberated at all,
would, I think, have come to the same, conclusion,
and acted accordingly.
In my next I will state the influence that partic-
ularly operated upon my mind, that led me to make
the secretion.
I wish you would write down all the suggestions
you hear made, no matter by whom, that imply doubt,
and I will send answers that shall satisfy any reason-
ing, reasonable and reflective mind.
Yours truly,
J. C. COLT.
To C—— H., et omnes, Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER TWELVE.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 22, 1842.
DEAR FRIENDS—
That my pecuniary circumstances as has been too
frequently repeated, were “straitened and desperate,”
was wantonly untrue. So far from this, I felt myself
well off in comparison with the thousands I saw a-
round me. The truth is, that Adams was the man
that was in straitened and desperate circumstances,
and had been notoriously so for the two previous
years, and only permitted to go on in his business by
the lenity of his creditors. The report that I was in
straitened and desperate circumstances, originates
from the fact of my closing business in your city
but a few months before, that had proved unprofita-
ble. But this was done in good time, and had I not
met with my present misfortune, all my creditors
would ere this have been equitably settled with, as
they were all secured.
On winding up my business I reserved means to
pay all my necessary expenses for eighteen months,
such as board, clothing and other necessaries of life,
and this means I would not appropriate to any other
use. I could have paid Adams' two-penny debt on
any day in the week.
I offered to pay Wells to hurry on the binding,
which he refused, as he stated in his evidence. It
was also stated in evidence that I had property val-
ued, at a low estimate, at one thousand dollars—
stereotype plates, and the last edition of the book-
keeping. Apart from this, I had diamonds and other
jewelry I could have turned into two or three hun-
dred dollars at pleasure. Besides, I was surrounded
by friends, as you are aware, from whom I could
have got money or credit, if I wanted it. Notwith-
standing all this, in the very face of truth and evidence,
I was charged in Court with killing this man, (as the
whole argument could rest on no other ground) for
the paltry sum of fifty-five dollars and eighty cents,
the amount of my obligations, or as he had it on his
books, seventy-one dollars and fifteen cents, and
that too under circumstances that render such a sup-
position decidedly preposterous. But I am wander-
ing from the promises of my last letter.
Though not in “desperate and straitened circum-
stances,” as has been frequently alleged, yet my cir-
cumstances were such as to require future and not
far distant exertions which a succession of misfor-
tunes warned me to prepare for. This I had antici-
pated on winding up my business in Philadelphia,
and, consequently, I reserved my works on accounts;
works that I had been led to believe, from a general
adoption into our schools, and by unprecedented and
extensive sales, had done me some credit. During
the three monts previous to the unfortunate encoun-
ter with Adams, among other matters, I had employ-
ed myself in revising parts of this work and getting
out a new edition, as well as preparing public addres-
ses and a series of lectures on accounts, as I con-
templated and expected to resume my old business
as a public lecturer, so soon as the fall season for lec-
turing commenced.
An occupation 'tis very true 'tis very humble, but
at the same time one such that does no shame to any
man. So far as making money as a lecturer on ac-
counts, I felt no doubts of success. It was what I
had before succeeded in, what I had been accustomed
to, and as a public lecturer on this branch of science,
I had no competitors, as those engaged on the sub-
ject were simple teachers of what they found in books,
after the common routine of school-teaching. With
such reflections I thought but little of past miscarry-
ings, and felt as though I could baffle and hurl back
this tide of misfortune with a stronger arm than ever,
and though “down I'd sunk, the higher up I'd rise.”
Adams being a printer, and hereby connected with
the fraternity of the press, and the circumstance of
having killed him in my office, to which there was
no evidence then appearing to me, to hold up to the
public of the one most in the wrong in the quarrel,
excepting the error in his accounts, I feared if I di-
vulged the misfortune that I might bid farewell to
my anticipated success as a lecturer; as all such are
dependent on newspaper paragraphs. I was fearful
that I should be followed with reproach, however,
unjustly, wherever I went, and that to degree that
would render success doubtful, if not indeed futile in
attempting.
Together with my exertions as a public lecturer,
my future hopes were all wrapt up and dependant
upon the continuation of the popularity of my works
in our schools where they had been extensively in-
troduced, and were on the increase, both in sales and
of adoption. It was used in seventeen seminaries
out of twenty-three that instructed the science in
this city. It was used in about two hundred and
sixty schools throughout the country, and was the
only work sold in the great valley of the Mississippi,
where I had formerly held the field as a lecturer. To
what extent such a calamity would affect a school
book, in the midst of numerous excellent authors,
was impossible to conceive, and could only painfully
be reflected upon.
Oppressed as you see from peculiar circumstances,
and the very natural and evil forebodings, arising
from the development of so great a misfortune, when
too, a secretion by odds favored an entire oblivion,
right or wrong, I made up my mind, after much strug-
gle, to secretion, in the most rapid and best way I
could. If I came out with the misfortune, ruin
stared me in the face, while in an attempt to se-
cret there was a hope, although a heavy hope to
carry.
My peculiar circumstances, as above stated, al-
most alone took possession of my mind, and control-
led me. But, you may ask, “if you had not been
thus peculiarly situated, would you have not come
out with the misfortune?” I think not, and the rea-
sons I will give in my next.
Truly yours,
J. C. COLT.
To C. H. etc., Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER THIRTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, Feb. 26, 1842.
DEAR FRIENDS:
A calamity like this falling upon an individual,
sudden, unexpected, and apart from eye-witnesses,
would he be likely to come out with it, especially,
where, as in this case, a secretion, by every great
odds, appeared fair to succeed? No—certainly not.
Under so painful a situation, without known ex-
isting evidence, the mind is oppressed with the most
painful forebodings, and the more innocent the man
to whom such a calamity befals, and the greater his
horror to taking the life, the more likely would he be
to secrete such a misfortune. It is the pure, reflec-
tive mind that would soonest shrink from an expo-
sure; while the half reckless, don't care kind for a
fellow—that man who cares not for the good opin-
ion of the world—would go at once before the magis-
trate, rather than give himself the trouble of
taking the precautionary steps to make secretion ef-
fectual.
If there is one passion or desire above all others in
the human heart, it is a desire of being well off.—
This is the case with the whole human race, savage,
civilized, and enlightened, with the exception of that
portion of the human family who have had their
natures perverted by education, accident, or misfor-
tune.
Here is a misfortune occurring apart from eye-
witnesses that may be easily construed into the
blackest crime—damning—blackening—ruining—
and be you innocent or guilty, there is a part of the
press which stands ready to clamour in falsity, and
to grind you and your friends upon the rack of their
“patent cylinders.”
Without inquiry as to the facts or circumstances
of the case—a man has been killed—no matter if he
be every way at fault, as those most in the wrong
generally get the worst in a personal encounter—still
disregarding justice—extra after extra is issued—fal-
sity after falsity is promulgated—caricature after
caricature fabricated, and you are made the victim of
every contrivance of false, heartless, damnable
abuse. He shrinks from the villany common to
some prints. Justice would shield and protect him
were it not perverted from its natural channel. The
whole community justify and sustain the unfortu-
nate, were it not for false impressions.
The customary abuse that now-a-days attaches
itself to such a calamity frightens your sincerest
friends, and for a time turns the warmest hands cool.
There comes, too, open and avowed enemies, the
distrust and sneers of the indifferent. Consequent-
[Col.8]
ly upon a development you are forced to wage a war
with man—no matter how blameless, no matter
with what good intent and will you have fashioned
your whole life. No—no—there's not that human
being that regards himself, that regards his friends,
that would ever throw himself into the tempestuous
vortex of so evident a storm, did he conceive he
could by any possibility escape it. On the one side
you would see cold, dark, black despair, and the eye
of all uncharitableness, from which you would flee
with horror; while on the other hand, hope, frail,
false, frail hope would beckon you on. No indeed,
circumstanced as this calamity was, there is none,
I think, but a madman or a fool, that would harbor
for a moment an idea of exposing his misfortune,
which, thereby, so evidently would be likely to
throw a distant distrust upon himself and unhappi-
ness upon his friends.
The very horror of being coupled with such a
calamity is more than sufficient to cause any sensi-
tive man to have added crime to misfortune.
* * * *
Yours, J. C. COLT.
To C. H., etc., Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER FOURTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, March 12.
Dear Friend:
* * * *
You have indeed sent me a beautiful pack of
questions, quite a number of which I have already
answered, as you will see by reading over my let-
ters. I will quote several of them, however, and
give as short answers as consistent.
“When you had killed Adams, how came you
afterwards to go to his shop, and why did you call on
Mrs. Adams?”
It was five or six days after the catastrophe that
I went to Adams' shop. You must recollect it was
stated in evidence that I had about a thousand dol-
lars in property then, and it was necessary to look
after it. My only object in going at that time was
to request Mr. Monahan to see that the stereotype
plates were put into the vault, as they had been
lately used, and thus to preserve them against fire
or other accident.
I might here enter into an argument showing the
positive absurdity of the grounds of the prosecution
which was that “I killed Adams to get hold of his
property,” for there was never any attempt to do so.
So far from this, I even neglected to attend to the
binding and other business, from the great depres-
sion of spirits and unhappiness he felt.
So far from calling on Mrs. Adams. I had never
seen her to my knowledge, till she appeared in
court, and did not know till after the catastrophe
that Adams was a married man. You must have
read some of the mistaken newspapers to have ob-
tained this information. What kind of a woman
she is, is more than I can say.
“Why did you strip the body of its clothing?”
The clothing would have identified it years after-
wards. Any simpleton, making up his mind to
secretion, would have done as much. See old let-
ter.
“Why did you ship the box to New Orleans?”
Because it was a warm climate, and the voyage
to said city would take from seventeen to twenty
days; and consequently, agreeable to the common
course of nature, it would decay before any informa-
tion could be obtained to identify it. See old let-
ter.
“I heard a person remark, that the part of your
statement where you say you went to see your
brother in the evening to relate to him this affair and
ask advice, and then altered your mind, and did not
disclose it to him, looks improbable.”
Whoever says this must speak without reflection;
or believe me quite ignorant and incapable of rea-
soning. The first natural impulse was to seek the
advice and aid of a friend. But had I related the
fact to him, it would have made him an accomplice
in the secretion; and if by any accidents during that
attempt a development had been made—such as the
box sliding from the stairs and bursting open, or
had the drayman's horse ran away, or it had fallen
from the tackle when being lowered into the ship, or
that the building had taken fire during the time and
persons had bursted into the room. Under such a
development it would readily have been construed
into a conspiracy, and we both certainly have been
hung.
To have related the facts to him would have been
to have endangered his life as well as to render my
situation more precarious.
* * * *
Yours truly, J. C. COLT.
To C. H., Philadelphia.
——
NUMBER FIFTEEN.
Dear Friend:
* * * *
I have no doubt that if I had at first returned
Adams' abusive language after his own manner, in-
stead of being mild as I was, that the quarrel would
have ended in smoke. But the man evidently con-
strued my mildness into fear, and when he became
so abusive that I could no longer contain myself,
and turned his language upon him, he gave me a
slap with the back of his hand across the mouth,
which blow was instinctively returned, and we were
in a struggling fight, which soon ended in his fall, but
which I assure you has left me in immensity of
pain, and deep and lasting sorrow. I even wish
sometimes that I had fallen myself.
There is, however, one thing that sustains me in
all this tribulation—my conscience is clear. Thank
God, I do not feel myself culpable, and never shall.
And depend upon it, my friend, that is better to me
than all the medicines of men, or any stuff of their
cunning workmanship. Prejudice and error may
prove the destruction of the outer casing, but can-
not destroy all that is, or that has been to me for
years the most valuable—they cannot destroy the
SOUL.
I have greatly, and shall so long as life, suffered
an inward and silent pain for the fate of that foolish,
foolish man—for he came to my office certainly un-
der gratuitous and false apprehensions, and provoked
and worked me into an irresistible defence and quar-
rel. I had always been friendly with him, and sup-
posed he really felt so towards me. In truth, such
were my feelings, had there been any person called
on me, on that unfortunate day, and told me that he
was sick and wanted a watcher, there is no man in
New York who would have gone to his relief soon-
er than myself, and so far as in my power would
have assuaged his sufferings and his sorrows; al-
though I stood not in the relation in life to perform
such an office, my connection having been only that
of business. But I did not then know the man as I
know him, and as the public will estimate him when
his treatment to Mrs. Scathchard and family are
known, subsequently to her husband's death, who
was his partner in business. Truth is mighty and
will prevail—time will develope all. He was the
first man that ever struck me, and the only one I
ever gave a blow to.
I can say what few men can, who have seen thirty
years—never before this once did I ever engage in
quarrel, and never even left an individual after con-
versation with malice in my heart, that caused a re-
flection that “I should like to have satisfaction for
this or that.” In this case, had he been my own
brother making the assault, it would have been all
the same. I cannot say that I felt in a passion
during any part of the scuffle. My feelings, I know,
were at first only indignant at his reproaches, and
when he held me struggling by the neck cloth, I
have no recollection or conception of feeling but for
a moment during that time, and my actions were
wholly INSTINCTIVE, in which reason and thought
took no part. When all was over, then for the first
I saw the horrid, horrid defence I had made with
that cursed hatchet, which was altogether acciden-
tal, as I was shoved to within reach of it when push-
ed by him to the wall and table.
* * * *
This misfortune is using me up fast. Every day
now seems a month, and every month a year. You
will hardly credit it when I tell you that even my
hair has begun to silver, and a year more in this hor-
rid confinement, borne down and oppressed as I am,
will make me old and white headed. Were it not for
my child and the hopes of obtaining a new trial,
and under a belief that it would terminate so favora-
ble that I may yet live to triumph over much of the
foul aspersion this great misfortune has placed upon
me, my sorrows would not, I assure you, be further
prolonged from temporal considerations.
* * * *
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To C. O. H., Cincinnati.
——
NUMBER SIXTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, March 8, 1842.
Dear Friend:
* * * *
My counsel considered my case a pretty clear one,
and believed that I should be acquitted. To produce
this result they conceived that the evidence of
Adams' coming to my office in bad blood, and the
evidence of the scuffle, and the evidence of his ac-
count being wrong, was quite sufficient, when taken
into consideration the fact that the unfortunate man
had before, in several instances, had shown himself
a kind of dare-dog, and had been consequently turn-
ed from the houses of several citizens for abusive
and insulting lenguage. Had this not have been
the conclusion I could easily have slipped through
the fingers of the law. The body of that unfortunate,
foolish man was never identified, and the only posi-
tive evidence connecting me with the box containing
it, was the draymans. He swore that I was the
man that delivered it to him, consequently it was
alone necessary to prove that I was not about the
granite building that morning, to have been acquit-
ted. But I should ever despise myself for slipping
through the fingers of the law by such means. Un-
der any circumstances it is an awful thing to kill a
fellow being, and this misfortune filled me with in-
describable pain and sorrow. But it was an accident
accruing to a self-defence that was forced upon me,
consequently so far as conscience was concerned, I
never can reproach myself.
I felt after my arrest that the moral courage of
standing forth and avowing the whole truth, would,
under the circumstances, be appreciated. And I be-
lieve still had I have come out at first, as I desired,
and stated the facts, under existing evidence, that I
should have been acquitted; for after all the heart
of the community is never bad, although from false
statements, false impressions may be produced, and
circumstances in a development may create a pas-
sion, but which soon cools, and men then look calmly
upon such an event and come to a just conclusion.
Besides, men generally are ready to appreciate the
worth of an honest avowal and judge with great
lenity, and even with feeling for the unfortunate;
while that man, be he ever so innocent, that slips
through the fingers of the law by trick and cunning,
is forever despised.
The way to have slipped through the fingers of
the law would have been to have had my trial at
once—raise the report that Adams had been seen at
subsequent dates in Philadelphia and Baltimore—it
was currently reported that he was seen here the
next day by one of his workmen, and there is a man
now in the city who still firmly believes that he saw
him at four o'clock on that day—to have had Wheeler
arrested for conspiracy, also two or three others on
suspicion, two or three were arrested on suspicion—
amid all the confusion thus created to have pushed
ahead. This wise, my trial would have lasted about
two days, and I might then have snapped my fingers
at the court and walked out. But as I said before, I
should have forever despised myself for such trickery,
as I felt conscientously innocent; and believed that
“truth was might and would prevail.” But my
counsel—
* * * *
I have received a great number of annonymous and
other letters—letters of condolence, and indeed they
form quite a contrast with the publications of seve-
ral presses in this city. One among the number,
post-marked Roxbury, Massachusetts, is a master-
piece. It should be printed and pasted upon every
man's Bible, or carved in letters of gold and fasten-
ed upon the wall of his house. There are some no-
ble spirits in this world, that occupy these tene-
ments of clay. How vastly men differ in opinions
and feelings!
* * * *
Yours, with fond remembrance,
J. C. COLT.
To O. C. B., Cincinnati.
——
NUMBER SEVENTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, March 15, 1842.
Friend R.
* * * *
To your inquiry “what kind of a man was
Adams?” I will leave you to form your own opinion
from a simple fact that has been related to me since
my trial.
Three or four years ago Scatchard, the partner of
Adams, died. His property was invested in his
printing establishment jointly with Adams. On his
death-bed he left all in charge of this man Adams,
having received a promise from him that he would
first pay out of his effects his funeral expenses, then
the debts he owed, and the balance he would pay
over to his wife and children. So far from fulfilling
the promise he contrived to wrong Scatchard's
widow out of every thing, and carried his principles
to so far a length as to refuse to pay even the five
dollars to the grave digger of poor Scatchard, which
sum was subsequently raised by Mr. George Long,
bookseller, in this city, by subscription, with other
small sums that bought shoes, etc., for poor Scatch-
ard's children.
This is perhaps a development of his true charac-
ter. But all that relates to the truth of this man's
character has been most artfully and assiduously
kept hid from the public. Those of his own craft,
or but few of them, do not know his real character.
Why, there are not five printers in the country that
would not sell the very coat from off their back be-
fore they would refuse to pay for digging the grave of
a partner in business that they had lost. But he
suffered too much from my hand for me to mention
his faults. I hope sincerely, most sincerely, that his
spirit now exists happily in heaven.
The widow Scatchard and her family now reside
at Brooklyn, and will at any time testify to this fact,
as well as Mr. George Long, in this city. What
kind of a man Adams was?
Had I not defended myself against the assault of
that foolish, fallen man, I should have for ever after
felt that I had belied my nature, my education, and
the institutions under which I live. Were I now
assaulted I could do no less than defend myself,
and so will every man, although there is a class that
pretend to say that they would not. Consequences are
never thought about when one is suddenly and un-
expectedly beset as I was, and the defence or results
is not formed by any conception in the mind. A
defence unexpectly forced upon us is purely instinc-
tive, and is the same with man and brute—with men
in all climates, among all nations, savage and civi-
lized, and in all grades—a principle common and in-
dispensable to our nature, or evidently it would not
have been given to us. Defence was unavoidable.
I could as easily have changed the color of my skin
as to have avoided a resistance to his wanton at-
tack. I can say however, what few men can that have
seen thirty years—never in a single instance, from
boyhood up till this once have I been engaged in a
quarrel of any description, and this was forced upon
me or it never would have happened.
* * * *
As you advise, I bring all the philosophy that I am
master of, to relieve my mind, and even sometimes
for a few moments forget my miseries, and write a
letter or two to friends, as though I was under no
degree of suffering. But after all, there is no philo-
sophy that can make the damps of a cell wholesome
—its air balmy—its light cheering—its confinement
congenial. No philosophy within those narrow and
naked walls can invigorate the mind, nor keep the
body from becoming emaciated. Philosophy does
well enough out of doors to sustain one against the
regrets of little miscarrying of business, but under
a misfortune like this, borne down and oppressed,
and even censured by the very men who would de-
fend me to the last could they only know the truth
and the whole truth; it is the purity of CONSCIENCE
that alone sustains, or that is really valuable—an
inward sensation of RECTITUDE. A conscientious feel-
ing of having fashioned every act of my life in strict
justice to all men, or desired so to do—a never tiring
wish to do right and avoid doing wrong. CON-
SCIENCE, thank God for it, is my support.
* * * *
Yours in fond remembrance,
J. C. COLT.
To H—— R——, Baltimore.
——
NUMBER EIGHTEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, June 10, 1842.
Dear Madam:
* * * *
You ask me, “Do I read and believe in the Bi-
ble?”
One at all fond of history, or of a curious book,
will certainly read the Bible. As a book of history
it is invaluable from its antiquity; and regarding it
only as a fable, it certainly is the most curios book
extant. But what is or what is not the intent and
meaning of many of its passages, admits of very differ-
ent degrees of opinion.
I hardly know by your question what kind of an
answer you seek. If you wish to know whether I
spend weekly so many hours upon my knees in a
repetition of words and phrases, denoting in lan-
guage ideas—or so many hours in conning over the
chapters of the Bible, I must say that I do not. I
only do those things when the spirit moves. I as-
sure you I have read the Bible more than once
thoroughly, and parts of it often and with love and
admiration. Christ's sermon on the mount, as given
in Matthew, chap. 6 and 7, may be read with great
pleasure. There is in it a beauty of language en-
chanting the soul, and a purity of thought which
carries man in conception beyond his nature. It
has never been equalled by the eloquence of any
other being. It is only surpassed in the mute but all-
powerful and never-ceasing eloquence of nature and
Nature's God.
If you desire to know whether I believe in the Bi-
ble after the old bigoted and nearly worn out dogmas,
such as “the original sin,” and its counterpart, “an
infinite punishment,” by no means, certainly I do
not. To say that a child is a sinner when it is born
into the world, is, in my mind, downright nonsense.
A statement that cannot be shown by any tenor of
reasoning—a positive absurdity, that all that is good,
or can be derived at by the purest conception of
thought, revolts, again as despicable and unjust. It is
in the very essence of the conception, INJUSTICE.—
But an injustice—not to the parents, for they are
simply the instrument used to produce the being;
nor to the child, a being gendered of matter without
control or conception within himself—to God, the
creator and the giver. Consequently, I do not be-
lieve the Bible according to sectarian views, or your
opinions; that is, so far as the construction of said
instrument is brought in evidence of original exist-
ing sin in man, either by perversion or otherwise. If
you will give a fair construction to the phrase
“original sin,” as applied to our existence, and con-
clude that it is intended to convey no more than the
fact, that man is born into a world where evil exists
with, and in contradistinction to good—or in other
words, that the child when born is not SIN, but only
born into a world where sin exists, and thereby not
impeach both the justice and goodness of God him-
self, I will, most happily, join in any construction
that may in fairness and reason be placed upon the
Scripture.
Infinite punishment:—Man we hope is intended
from the beginning of this existence to remain for
ever a being in existence—in a spiritual existence if
not physical. His acts, however, all of them in this
corporal existence, are finite, and although he may
sin, and that too against an infinite God, still that
God is one of infinite goodness. Agreeably to my
views, it as absurd to suppose that the Creator would
inflict an infinite punishment upon one of his crea-
tures for a finite action, as it is to suppose in the first
place that he created man as a sin. Man is
doubtless punished according to the deeds done in
the body.
I believe in the spirit of the Bible, at least in the
religion therein taught. But, at the same time, it
appears to me to be encumbered with many absurdi-
ties, which are readily to be accounted for, from the
fact, that its authors were but men, and although in-
spired to write, still, they possessed all the frail-
ties of men, as you readily perceive that their own
frailties are by themselves exposed. Their frailties
of minds were unquestionably as to the frailties of
their bodies, as they always acted together and not
apart. I cannot believe that every word and phrase,
even in the New Testament, as written down by
Christs apostles, should be regarded as coming from
God as clearly conveying his meaning to our concep-
tions, as though it was the growth of a forest.
Though Christ's apostles preached religion they
did not write down the doctrines in the New Testa-
ment till quite a number of years after Christ disap-
peared; and, consequently, I hope it is not irreligious
to suppose that human fancy is not a little inter-
spersed with Christ's instructions. Besides, that
book, (the Bible) has passed through many hands
before reaching us. And language, the signs of our
ideas, is ever varying. It is very true we may trace
our ideas back through different languages to the
original text as written down, and believe we are
right in the conclusion. But at the same time it is
like a surveyor running a long line, that comes out
not exactly to the point, but pretty near to it; and
which only presents itself seemingly like a slight
shade in the first conception of the mind, but which,
if not removed entirely, soon becomes a dark spot.—
From these simple facts I am led to believe that the
Scriptures have come to us not in that clear and per-
fect state as taught by God and Christ. It is, how-
ever, I think, the mark of human hands upon its
face, that causes its pages, when read, to appear too
our senses in a state of deformity. Unquestionably
these evident chances for error, have produced error,
and are the causes that lead some very good people
to think that others of their fellow beings, who
chance to believe a little more or do a little less than
they do, will meet in their ultimately destiny a position
not quite as favorable as themselves.
Religion, I believe, is, and ever has been an inse-
parable ingredient with man's soul, that it consists
in a simple LOVE THANKFULNESS AND RELIANCE in
God. The Indian who never saw the Bible but wor-
ships the Great Spirit, and thinks his Maker moves
at times in the music of the bubbling waters and the
swift wind, is, in my mind, as certain to be saved as
we who repeat long prayers in the synagogue, and
listen to the music of organs.
I sincerely think that the Bible is an inspired book,
and intended as a guide to man. It is certainly
marked with such features as will keep it a thing
apart, or in contradistinction with all other works.—
But I cannot embrace your version of it. You must
allow me to drink at the fountain itself, when and
where I will, and not compel me to receive it through
the conjured fancies of your own brain. Though
for this desired indulgence you may consign me to
the Infernal Regions, still, with as much love and
regard, I sincerely hope I may meet you and friends
in heaven.
With all earthly consideration,
And hopes in the future,
I remain, yours, &c.
J. C. COLT.
To S. A. G., Boston, Mass.
——
NUMBER NINETEEN.
PRISON HOUSE, Sept. 28, 1842.
DEAR FRIEND—
You will see by looking over the New York pa-
pers of this morning that I was sentenced yesterday.
This was necessary before my case could be carried
up to the Court of Errors. It had been my intention
on this occasion, to make some remarks to the Court
of a very different meaning to those you see reported.
But I supposed I should not be sentenced till the last
day's sitting of the Oyer and Terminer, and conse-
quently, had kept my mind as much occupied as I
could in other matters, that I might as far as possible
forget my troubles. I did not know till late on the day
before that I was to be sentenced so soon, and the re-
marks you see printed, which I handed to the Court
to read, were written under intense feeling. The ob-
ject of writing them was to avoid the customary re-
marks of the judge, that usually accompany such
sentences. I see nothing now in the remarks that
the Court read for me, that I think should have been
altered, excepting the word “trample” used in three
consecutive sentences. It would have been better to
have used the word “mistook.” The word “tram-
ple” as there used seems harsh, although not intend-
ed to be so. But you know how it is when one de-
sires to do any thing exactly right. I suppose I
wrote over twenty different statements the night be-
fore, for I was up and down all night and in too much
[Col.1]
distress to sleep. I was not satisfied with said paper
when I had concluded to give it to the Court to read,
but am now, as those in whose judgment I have the
most implicit confidence, tell me that, with the ex-
ception I have alluded to, it could not, under all the
circumstances, have been bettered in a single par-
ticular. I should have read the paper myself, instead
of handing it to the Court, had I not felt at the time
so unnerved and weak as to have rendered me inca-
pable of getting through with it.
The Judge, unfortunately for me, you will perceive,
took the statement in high dudgeon. He mistook,
entirely the meaning of the statement itself, as well
as the purity of my own intent, and came down up-
on me like a hurricane, as he struck the paper on the
desk in a manner of probably unconscious violence.
Had the Court received my statement with kindness,
I believe I should have sunk entirely down. But the
way it was received, thrilled through and strengthen-
ed me as a breath of proto oxyd of nitrogen; and conse-
quently, if in addition to the Court I had had the whole
City Hall upon my back, I should irresistibly have
shaken it off. Push any man, under any and every
circumstance, beyond a certain point, either by mis-
construction or other wise, and irresistibly he turns
upon you, although, by every sense of inward feel-
ing, he sincerely desires to avoid all differences be-
tween himself and his fellow men.
By reading my explanation, as you will see report-
ed, you will perceive that I spoke from an involun-
tary impulse, as my language was entirely unguarded.
One expression that I used, is particularly unfortu-
tunate in my present situation. It was this, as I said,
“I never committed an act in my life that I would
not have done again under similar circumstances.”
This is not an uncommon expression for the best of
men to make. But to render it intelligible to many
readers, it requires a metaphysical construction. The
meaning is simply this: “In all my acts of life, so far
as within my own control, I have endeavored to do
what I conscientiously thought was right at the time I
acted.” To construe such a sentiment used by any
one, so as to make it appear that he never lamented a
misjudgment, or would not profit from experience, is
to make him out no less than a madman or a fool.—
We all know from the experience taught by many of
our acts in life, that we should act very, very differ-
ently, had we to go over them again, from the fact,
that the same causes or influences operating upon
the mind, produce at different times different effects
—at another, from physical or mental disability—
while at all times the heart is pure, and the intent
is to do what we suppose to be right at the time we
act.
Why is the question asked why sentence of death
should not be pronounced, if the prisoner is not
privileged to make a reply? And if any reply is
made, be it ever so exceptionable, should it not, un-
der such extreme circumstances as this, be received
in kindness, if it be singly with an eye to the frailties
of poor human nature?
* * * * * *
Your unfortunate friend,
J. C. COLT.
To L—— G——, Boston, Mass.
[Col.3]
The Newark Daily Advertiser says, that further
examinations are in progress concerning the death of
Mary Rogers, at Hoboken.
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ Copies of the Weekly Tribune of last week, contain-
ing the first two Lectures of Dr. Smith on Geology, Gov-
ernor Seward's opinion in the case of John C. Colt, and
General Hamilton's celebrated Letter to John C. Calhoun,
may still be obtained at the office of the Tribune. Price,
6½ cents.
[Col.2]
COL. WEBB.—We saw two petitions to-day for
the pardon of Col. Webb, one of which was 120
feet long, and the other 60 feet. The longest con-
tained above 5,000 signatures.
———
...
☞ Colt's wife and child are living in Baltimore.
[Col.3]
☞ The Weekly Tribune for Saturday, Novem-
...
the Editorial article which appeared in the Daily on the
Closing Scene of John C. Colt, Governor Seward's last
Letter on Colt's Case, and Proceedings of the Coroner's
Jury on the Body of Colt, and Rev. Dr. Anthon's Notes,
taken in his interview with Colt; Parker's Fourth Discourse;
...
THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE is one of the largest News-
papers printed in the United States, containing 42 columns
of closely printed matter. Price 6½ cents, or $2 a year.
GREELEY & McELRATH,
n24 Tribune Buildings, 160 Nassau-street
[Col.6]
☞ Murders having become so frequent as to
excite little interest, the Buffalo Courier suggests
that newspapers have a standing head—'Murders'—
as they already do for Death and Marriages, and
so just mention them in a brief, business-like man-
ner. It would certainly save room, and might be
beneficial in many other respects.
================================================================
[Col.4]
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22, 1842.
GEN. JAMES GORDON BENNETT:—
...
[Col.5]
...
The suicide of Colt has excited some astonishment
in this city; but it has passed away, or rather it
has been drowned by the grand political movements
which have since developed themselves. The friends
...
row. A LOOKER-ON.
NEW YORK HERALD. Evening Edition (FH)
[Col.6]
COLT.—The body of Colt was taken out of the
Vault at St. Mark's Church this morning, to be sent
to Connecticut for interment. But the crowd was
so great that for safety the body had to be taken in-
to the Church and the police sent for.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Horrible Outrage.—In the Runinsas
...
[Col.4]
The 'Asylum Journal' meets with a very flatter-
ing reception from the press. One Editor remarks
that it is a much better paper than is published by
some who profess to have sane minds.
—————
NOTES ON AMERICA—By Dickens.—The long-
heralded work of Charles Dickens, (Boz,) has been
published in this country, in ever possible form.
...
however, that it is among the best of those works
which have been written upon our country by for-
eign tourists.
—————
The following is an extract from an article on
Millerism, in the Nov. number of the Monthly
Miscellany of Religion and Letters:
“This bold prediction is based upon shadows and
moonbeams, the calculations in its construction set
at defiance all the rules of arithmetic, and it is one
of those singular fictions—the world has seen oth-
ers of the same sort—which make all to laugh
whom they fail to make weep. How manifestly
...
[Col.5]
A CURIOUS CASE OF FEMALE DECEPTION.
One of those strange and almost unaccount-
...
and unwearied industry.—Albany Citizen.
[Col.6. Partly as in Lowell Courier]
THE DEATH OF COLT.
The New York papers of Saturday are
filled with accounts of the preparations for
the execution of Colt, of his marriage, his
suicide, and the fire at the jail. We have
abridged the account, which we find in the
Plebeian, as relating all the particulars in a
plain manner:
“Nothing could exceed the excitement
among the populace, in expectation of the
execution of John C. Colt. Early in the
morning all avenues to the prison were
blocked up by persons eager to obtain in-
gress, Even positions which could not pos-
sibly command a view of the yard were oc-
cupied; and along Centre-street, Franklin,
Leonard, and Elm, the crowd was dense.—
The universal theme was the execution of
the criminal, and signs of ungovernable im-
patience were manifested to learn the result.
The Sheriff had decided, in answer to the
urgent request of the prisoner, to stay the
execution until four o'clock. Quite a num-
ber of citizens, say over two hundred and
fifty, were admitted by orders from the Sher-
iff to witness the last scene. The informa-
tion of the peremptory refusal of the Chan-
cellor to grant a writ of error arrived in the
morning.
It was rumored that attempt had been
made to bribe the three deputy keepers, to
connive at the escape of Colt, in the dress of
Miss Henshaw, but the same was communi-
cated to the deputy sheriff, and every pre-
caution taken to prevent his escape. Colt
passed the last night of his life calmly, and
slept little, being principally engaged in wri-
ting. He was visited during the day preced-
ing, by Miss Henshaw, and intended on that
day to have been married, but in conse-
quence of the interposition of friends, it did
not then take place. The preparations for
the execution were made early in the morn-
ing. The gallows was erected immediately
under the window of Colt, and his ear must
have been annoyed by the hammering neces-
sary to the erection of the instrument of
death. Colt's brother was at the door of the
prison on its opening in the morning, and
remained in his cell. This brought us to
about ten o'clock, when the excitement was
most intense, and expectation was indulged
that the prisoner would be speedily exe-
cuted.
At about twelve o'clock, David Graham
and Robert Emmett, Esq'rs, the prisoner's
Counsel, visited him, and with Colt's broth-
er, the Rev. Dr. Anthon, Justice Meritt, the
Sheriff and others, witnessed the ceremony
of marriage between the prisoner and Miss
Henshaw. The latter looked pale and hag-
gard and deeply affected. It must have
been a sad and solemn ceremony, the young
mother, a bride and a widow within a few
short hours. After the ceremony, which
was performed by Dr. Anthon, he remained
a short time in the cell, and then left the hus-
band and wife for an hour, to take the last
sad parting. At about one o'clock, Colt re-
quested some hot coffee, which was furnish-
ed him. At that hour he had desired to
take leave of the deputy keepers. The day
was bitterly cold, and the scene in the prison
yard solemn and exciting in the extreme.
Several inquisitive individuals were around
the gallows, examining its construction and
testing the strength of the rope. Numbers
of our most respected citizens were passing
to and fro, and several friends of Colt ob-
tained ingress to the prison for the purpose,
if possible, of seeing him for the last time.—
Of this number, was Lewis Gaylord Clark,
of the Knickerbocker, whose parting with
the prisoner was deeply affecting. About
half-past one o'clock, the brother of the un-
fortunate man took his leave of him in com-
pany with Caroline Henshaw. His appear-
ance was sad in the extreme, and he exhib-
ited the spectacle of a man broken down
with bitterness. The young wife was in a
paroxysm of grief. Again and again Colt
took leave of her, and for nearly five minutes
she was convulsed in tears. The Sheriff
subsequently, by the request of the prisoner,
entered his cell. To him Colt repeated his
assurance that he murdered Adams in self-
defence, begged him not to execute the aw-
ful sentence of the law, and still cherished
the hope of something interposing to pre-
vent his execution. He was given to under-
stand that hope was fled, and that at four o'-
clock his fate must be sealed. He was anx-
ious about the time, and set his watch by the
Sheriff's. He requested to be executed in
his own dress, and finally, to see Dr. An-
thon. For about ten minutes they were en-
gaged in prayer, when Colt testified his wish
to take leave of all his friends.
This leave taking over, he requested of
the deputy to be left alone till the last mo-
ment. His cell door was closed and he
was left alone. This was about two o'clock.
No sound was heard from his cell, and it
was not until about twenty minutes to four
that the Deputy Sheriff, Hillyer, knocked at
his cell, and stated that he wished to bid
him good bye. Colt was walking up and
down his cell. He bade Hillyer farewell
and was once more left.
Round the spot where Colt was to suffer,
a large concourse had assembled, & a dense
line was formed from the wall of the prison
to the apparatus of death. The Aldermen
of the city were for the most part present.
Judges Inglis and Lynch, and two or three
of the police justices were also present.
At length four o'clock arrived, and offi-
cer Walker came to the platform over which
the gallows was erected, and announced
that Colt was dead.
It was true. At five minutes before the
time, Dr. Anthon and the Sheriff and under
Sheriff went to the cell of the prisoner. Dr.
Anthon entered first, recoiled back, and
turned pale. There, lying on his bed, still
warm, with hands besmeared with blood,
and a small dirk-knife blade buried in his
heart, was all that was mortal of John C.
Colt. In the anguish of those last desolate
moments, rather than meet the fate of the
common felon, he had anticipated his doom.
His hands were placed across his body, and
a large gash had been formed, apparently by
the turning of the knife. His mouth was
open and his eyes partially so. The coro-
ner, who was present, took possession of the
body with a view to holding an inquest.
[Col.1]
The announcement of the death of Colt
had scarcely been made, when the cupola of
the Tombs was discovered to be on fire.—
The flames burned rapidly through the frame
work, and the sparks and loose pieces of
timber were blown some distance before
the wind, threatening serious damage to the
adjoining buildings. Several engines were
promptly on the spot, but the force of the
wind and the severity with which the flames
burned, destroyed the cupalo before the fire
could be extinguished. Quite a number of
individuals rushed into the prison, and a
scene of extraordinary confusion ensued.
We understand that Colt had prepared a
review of the opinion of Gov. Seward on his
case, and which, on our last interview with
him, on Thursday, he desired that we should
obtain for publication.
The conduct of the Sheriff, throughout the
arduous task he has had to perform, has
been marked with firmness and humanity.—
He has conceded to the wishes of the pris-
oner as far (in every instance) as was con-
sistent with public justice.
Colt, some few days since, desired Dr. Mc
Comb to lend him some work on Anatomy,
and was most desirous to ascertain the exact
position of the principal veins and arteries of
the body. This desire would seem to inti-
mate a resolution, in case all hope failed, to
commit suicide. How the knife was con-
veyed to him remains a matter of mystery.
The inquest on the body.—The Coroner
held an inquest on the body of Colt about 7
o'clock last evening. The doors of the
Court room were thrown open to give the
public an opportunity to hear the examina-
tion of the witnesses; a wise precaution, as
a rumor was afloat that Colt was not dead.
Scarcely had the doors been opened, when
a dense crowd rushed in, completely filling
the court, the gallery, and the space outside
the bar. After administering the oath to
the jury, the Coroner requested his deputy
to conduct them to the cell of Colt, for the
purpose of viewing the body. On their re-
turn, the Coroner asked them if they recog-
nized the body in the prison as being that of
John C. Colt. They answered affirmatively.
The Coroner then called
Monmouth B. Hart, who testified as fol-
lows: I am Sheriff of the city and county of
New York; I had a warrant for the execu-
tion of John C. Colt; he was to be executed
to-day; I saw him a number of times to-day;
his execution was to take place at 4 o'clock,
or at sunset at his request; I saw him about
one hour previous to going to his cell for
the purpose of taking him out for execution;
I saw him in the cell; I did not go in;—
he was alone at the time; I know who have
been in his cell to-day—Samuel Colt, David
Graham, Jr., Robert Emmett, Caroline
Henshaw, (as I suppose, I never saw her be-
fore;) I think I saw Mr. Vultee in; a num-
ber of gentlemen, I cannot recollect the
names of, went in at his request; a number
of physicians, also; the Rev. Dr. Anthon
was in more than the rest; the officers of
the prison, also, whose names I do not know
—I went to the cell at five minutes before 4
to admit the Rev. Mr. Anthon; I had it
opened; Mr. Anthon attempted to go into
his cell, and immediately stepped back on
seing his body on the cot; I then
passed Mr. Anthon and went in myself; I
saw Colt lying on the cot, with a knife
sticking into his left side; I then came out
—I thought from his appearance he was
dead; I then ordered the prison doors clos-
ed; I saw blood around the knife; the blade
was in his body; the execution did not take
place; the Coroner took charge and locked
the cell; I have had him in charge since the
sentence; I have made no examination of
the cell, but understood that Col. Jones, the
keeper of the prison had; he told me so; I
have seen a pen knife with him, but no knife
of this kind; the knife in him had a handle
about four inches long; the reason he had
the pen knife, he said he could not get along
with steel pens; I have no knowledge how
he obtained the knife, not the slightest;—
when I opened the door I supposed he was
in prayer.
The testimony of John J. V. Westervelt
and William Vertter, both under Sheriffs,
amounts to about the same as the Sheriff.
Both persons swear positively that they nev-
er saw the knife before they saw it sticking
in his body. The latter was present during
the marriage ceremony. Abner Milliken
and Abraham H. Green recognized the body,
but knew nothing as to how the knife got in-
to the cell. The following is Dr. Anthon's
testimony:
Henry M. Anthon, sworn. I have attend-
ed Colt; my visitations commenced on
Monday. Mr. Anthon said that, prior to
being examined, he should request to be al-
lowed to read the notes taken by him each
day, which was granted. He read the notes
which filled some six or seven sheets of pa-
per, and contained a minute account of the
conversation between the witness and pris-
oner at their different interviews. On his
calling upon Colt at 9 o'clock, he express-
ed a wish to be married to Miss Henshaw.
This morning, Colt gave me a package con-
taining five hundred dollars, to be placed by
me in the Savings Bank for the benefit of
his wife and child. This money, he said
had been given him by his brother. He
told me to give a receipt for it to his wife af-
ter their marriage. I told him to relieve his
mind; that I would stand as sponsor to his
child. I married them at about 12 o'clock,
and remained with them after the witnesses
had retired; he then exhorted his wife to
lead a virtuous life; we then all knelt down
and prayed together; Miss Henshaw was in
the cell with him before I went in; saw Mr.
Samuel Colt in another cell, and told him I
supposed some arrangement ought to be
made for interring the body after execution;
he said he did not think it would come to that;
this was at 2 o'clock, and I then went into
the cell & prayed with him; afterward went
into the former cell, which was empty; I
then sent for my clerical dress, which was
brought to me; I told the Sheriff I would
go in the cell; it was about 4 o'clock; the
Sheriff asked me if I would give the signal
when he was ready to come out; I told him
I could not do that; he then opened the cell
door; I saw the body on the bed imperfect-
ly; the Sheriff exclaimed, “Oh my God!”
[Col.2]
and—[Here the witness was overcome, and
desired to leave the Court. The Mayor said
he had only one question to ask: Had the
witness ever seen this knife? (knife shown.)
I have not.] (The written directions of the
Sheriff to his deputies were here read.)
William Jones, sworn. I am keeper of
the city prison; John C. Colt was in my
custody from the second of July until Mon-
day afternoon last; he was then delivered to
the Sheriff; I have not been in the cell
since Monday; he continued in the same
cell; I searched his cell on Monday last,
thoroughly; I am convinced the knife was
not there then; (knife shown) I have never
seen this knife before; I have no knowledge
how it came in the cell; I had Colt mana-
cled.
John R. Macomb, sworn. I am physi-
cian to the city prison; I visited him almost
every day, until Monday morning; I have
not seen him since Monday morning, alive;
I have seen his body; he is dead; (knife
shown) it was found in his body; it was
sticking in his breast, about half an inch be-
low and on the inside of the nipple of the
left breast, on the upper margin of the fifth
rib; a piece about two inches square was
cut out of his vest and shirt. It appear-
ed to have been cut with a knife, as it was
ragged; I made a post mortem examination
of the body, assisted by Dr. Hosack; upon
raising the breast-bone, the knife still in, we
found the knife inserted one inch in the left
ventricle of the heart, passing upwards and
inwards; it was the cause of death; the
stomach was healthy; on Monday last he re-
quested to borrow a work on anatomy of me
—I told him one was on the bone, one on
the arteries, &c., and asked him which he
wanted; he said the one on the arteries; I
said, Mr. Colt, I dare not do so, I am afraid
you want it for no good purpose; he then
asked me (extending his arm) to point out
the arteries most accessible; I refused to do
it, and told him not to ask me such ques-
tions.
Dr. Alexander H. Hosack, sworn. I have
recognized the body in the prison as that of
John C. Colt; I agree with the description
given by Dr. Macomb.
Samuel Colt, sworn. I am brother of the
deceased; I have no knowledge by means of
which this knife was procured.
Mrs. Colt, sworn. My name is Caroline
Colt; I have no knowledge how John C.
Colt got possession of a knife.
The Coroner then stated that the testimo-
ny was closed; that the endeavor had been
to show how the knife had been obtained, as
the individual so proven to have furnished
or procured it would have been liable to an
indictment for manslaughter. But no evi-
dence implicating any person had been giv-
en. Therefore it remained for them to de-
cide how John C. Colt came to his death.
The Jury retired and deliberated on the
evidence, rendered a verdict that John C.
Colt came to his death by a wound inflicted
by himself, with a dirk knife, in the left
breast, but this Jury are unable to say by
what means he obtained the knife.
By request of his friends, the body was
delivered to them for interment.”
—————
...
The Mary Rogers Mystery Explained.
The terrible mystery which for more than a year
...
the affair.—N. Y. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.1]
SUICIDE OF COLT.
The following from the Tribune, gives a detail-
ed account of the closing hours of Colt's life.
Colt was engaged nearly all Thursday night in
...
hot, and thus set the cupola on fire.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
A Coroner's Inquest was held on Friday night
over the body of Colt, and all the persons who had
...
Rev. Henry Anthon, sworn. I am the clergy-
...
terest by the crowded auditory.
In his “notes” of Thursday, Dr. Anthon
says:—
“Before I visited Mr. Colt this day, I rode over
...
“He was much affected at the time and disavow-
ed expressly all such intention.”
...
[Col.5]
The Mary Rogers Mystery Explained.
...
go to identify it and made no enquiries concerning
the affair.
The above is from the Tribune. Justice Merritt,
the person alluded to, denies the whole statement.—
He says that Mrs. Loss made no communication to
him whatever, and moreover, that she was insensible
from the time she was shot, up to the hour of her
death. And then the absurdity of going to Hoboken
to procure abortion, when it could be done with so
much more security in New York city! The whole
statement is stamped with falsity on its face. Daniel
C. Payne, Mary Rogers' acknowledged and subse-
quently disappointed suitor, and who committed
suicide, could have put the public mind at rest, as to
her murder, had he been so disposed.
================================================================
[Col.2]
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ABOLISHED IN VER-
MONT.—At the session of the Vermont Legis-
...
Montpelier, Nov. 19.—The present Legislature
of Vermont has passed an act abolishing capital
punishment and substituting therefore imprison-
ment during life in the Penitentiary, unless the
Governor shall, after one year, issue a warrant, re-
quiring the criminal to be executed. This bill has
...
humbly hope and trust that the experiment will
work well, and the necessity for a return to the
old practice of taking life for life may never exist.
—Montpelier Watchman.
—————
...
The Newark Daily Advertiser says, that further
examinations are in progress concerning the death
of Mary Rogers, at Hoboken.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Reported for the Long Islander.
EXAMINATION
OF ANTONIO KEYSLER A, GERMAN, BEFORE A.
K. Conklin, Timothy Carll, and Richard A.
Udall, Esqrs on a charge of having on the
evening of the 13th of Nov. 1842, wilfully
murdered Alexander Smith, and Rebecca
his wife, in their dwelling house in the town
of Huntington.
The examination on the part of the people
was conducted by Selah B. Strong, Esq. Dis-
trict Attorney.
...
[Col.4]
...
The Prisoner has been committed to prison,
to have his trial at the Circuit Court in May
next.
—————
From the N. Y. Tribune.
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY EX-
PLAINED.
...
[Col.5. Partly as in Tribune, L.I. Farmer]
...
to identify it, and made no enquiries concern-
ing the affair.
☞ Since the above was put in type, intelli-
gence has been received pronouncing it a sheer
humbug.
—————
☞ John C. Colt.—This unhappy man, who
was sentenced to be hung on Friday last, chose
...
and a small Spanish dirk knife driven to his
...
by the rules of strict morality, and the light of
revealed religion.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
COLT.—The body of Colt was taken out of the Vault
...
[Col.3]
BURNING OF THE CUPOLA.—The Committees on Police
Watch, and Prisons of both Boards of the Common Coun-
cil, met last evening for the purpose of investigating the
manner and cause of the burning of the cupola on the
Tombs on the eventful Friday, the 18th of November,
1842. Several witnesses were examined, and we under-
stand the Committee intend to fully investigate every
event that occurred at the Tombs on that day. This they
must do, and report speedily, as an ac demanded by the
entire public.
[Col.5]
Sentence on Col. Webb
IN THE
COURT OF SESSIONS
THIS MORNING.
The Court of Sessions this morning was crowd-
ed even more fully than on the occasion of the in-
quest over the body of Colt. The gallery was filled
with some of the most respectable looking men in
...
Col. Webb stood up straight as an arrow.
HENRY VANDERVOORT—What have you now to
say why judgment should not be pronounced against
you according to law.
Col. WEBB (very much agitated, and in a low
tone of voice) I might say much against the policy,
the justice, and the constitutionality of the law un-
der which I have been indicted—I might say still
...
for a less term than two years. The sentence of the
Court therefore is, that you, James Watson Webb,
be imprisoned in the State Prison, at Sing Sing, for
the term of Two Years!
Here Col. Webb's face broke out into a comical
sort of smile. He bowed to the Court, turned round,
got his crutches, and hobbled out of court back to
his cell, or parlor; we hardly know which to call it.
There was a good deal of excitement on the sub-
ject, and much conversation; but the remark of
most common occurrence was, “I say, won't it be
a queer go, though, if the Governor shouldn't pardon
him. I wonder what trade they'd put him to in
Sing-Sing?”
================================================================
[Col.3]
☞ The mystery of the death of Mary C. Rogers,
of New York, the beautiful cigar girl, whose body
was found in the North River, near the city, about
a year since, has been explained. It seems she
was taken to the house of Mrs. Loss, near the city,
and died under the medical treatment of a young
physician, and was afterwards thrown into the river.
Mrs. Loss, when on her death bed from a wound
caused by an accidental discharge of a gun, sent
for an officer of the police, and made the confes-
sion.
[Col.6]
From the N. Y. Tribune.
The Last Scene.
Yesterday COLT, the convicted murderer of Sam-
...
the press, but I do not blame you at all; it was all
[Col.1]
my own fault; there were things that ought to have
...
Sheriff cried out, “Oh God! he is dead!” and I
came away.
—————
...
Dickens, in his commendation of Barnum's Ho-
tel in Baltimore, (which is really one of the finest
houses of entertainment in this or any country,)
says it is about the only hotel in the United States
where he found water enough to wash himself. We
wonder how much water it takes to wash Mr. Dick-
ens.—The remark we have quoted is not, we fear,
the only evidence he gives on his being rather “a
dirty fellow.—Louisville Journal.
================================================================
[Col.3]
From the N. Y. Eve. Post, 19th inst.
Suicide of Colt.
——
John C. Colt was to have been executed
...
[Col.6]
From the N.Y. Evening Post.
The Mary C. Rogers Affair.
___
On Saturday the sons of the late Mrs. Loss,
...
man came to her death.
================================================================
[Col.6]
THE COLT EXCITEMENT.—We give the following,
from the Philadelphia Chronicle, for the purpose of
showing the state of feeling in different parts of
the country, relative to this most extraordinary af-
fair:—
COLT, THE MURDERER—THE CONDUCT OF HIS FRIENDS
AND SYMPATHISERS.—The crime and trial of John C. Colt,
the murderer of Adams, together with all the subsequent
proceedings, both legal and illegal, in his case, down to
the awful tragedy of Friday last, is the most singular and
appalling case upon the criminal records of America.
There is much more beneath the surface of it than is gen-
erally understood, therefore we have been particular in
publishing (exclusively, in this city,) not only the earliest
but all the authenticated incidents connected with the
whole affair, from first to last, which we propose follow-
ing with some timely suggestions to the friends of law,
...
That Colt was the murderer of Adams there is no doubt;
he admitted it himself. That the crime committed was
really murder, and not either justifiable or excusable homi-
cide, we have never hesitated to believe, upon the evidence
adduced at the trial. But even had our mind been unde-
cided upon the subject, the decision of an impartial jury,
of twelve men, before whose minds all circumstances were
...
It was said by the friends of Colt that the excitement was
caused by the aversion of the public mind to capital punish-
ment, and that if a mob had rescued him from the gallows,
it would have been for this reason only. There is not a
word of truth in such a statement. It is true that there
exists a strong prejudice in the public mind against the
punishment of death; but the class of persons who most
strongly entertain that prejudice, are not they who would
surround the walls of a prison, or crowd into the prison
yard upon the occasion of an execution, to mob the civil
authorities, defy the law, and rescue the prisoner; nor
would they set on others to do it. No—the individuals
who would embark in such an undertaking, are not more
opposed to capital punishment, than they are to all man-
ner of punishment for crime, and they could be just as rea-
dily induced to rescue a prisoner from hard labor, or soli-
tary confinement, as from the gallows, and, had they suc-
ceeded with Colt, would have been very likely to have
tried the same game, at no distant period, upon a more
high-handed scheme. We care not whether the law pre-
scribes death, hard labor, or solitary confinement as a pro-
per punishment of murder, every good citizen is bound by
the highest obligations to stand forth boldly upon the side
of the civil authority in carrying it out. If the punish-
ment is offensive to the public mind—let them repeal it,
bu so long as the law is there, it must be enforced.
Not only is it true that no culprit
“E'er felt the halter draw
With good opinion of the law;”
but it is equally true that his immediate friends and sym-
pathisers are most generally imbued pretty deeply with
the same sentiment. After a prisoner has had the constitu-
tional judicial advantage afforded him to show his inno-
cence, and cannot do it, if the operation of the penalty is
to conform to the notions of the prisoner's friends—be
they few or many, or by whatever motives actuated—
laws would be only active upon the poor and friendless;
trials of the influential and wealthy be mere shame, and
they afforded such facilities as would soon reduce society
to a state of anarchy.
...
The streams of justice taking rise at the fountain of eter-
nal truth, wisdom, and equity, should be preserved as sa-
cred and inviolable as their source; and while it is true
that with Him, from whom all justice emanates, there is no
respect of persons, the example should be most religiously
adhered to at every bar, on every bench, and in every
jury box in the land. If Colt could have been cleared
upon any technical grounds, even though his guilt were
conclusive, we should not object, but that justice should
be brow-beaten, importuned, or bribed into fellowship
with crime, is too intolerable for sufferance.
NEW YORK HERALD. Sunday Morning, November 27, 1842 (FH)
[Col.5]
ABOLITION—PROGRESS OF NATIONAL TROUBLE.—
The recent slave case in Boston has created a ter-
rible flame in the South, as far as heard from. The
following are extracts from the Norfolk Herald:—
BOSTON, Nov.18, 1842.
Since my last notice of the Slave Latimer, the excite-
ment which grew out of his arrest and imprisonment,
...
[Col.6]
☞ The Legislature of Vermont have abolished
the punishment of death.
================================================================
[Col.2]
COL. WEBB'S CASE.—Col. Webb was on Sat-
urday sentenced to two years' confinement in the
State Prison, being the shortest term which the
law would permit. The petitions of fourteen
thousand citizens of New-York, asking a remission
of this punishment, have ere this been laid before
the Governor. His decision on the case has not
yet been given, but we trust that it cannot be oth-
erwise than in accordance with the prayer of the
petitioners. We but speak the almost unanimous
voice of New-York when we express this senti-
ment. If a concerted effort had been made, the
number of petitioners for a pardon might easily
have been swelled to thirty thousand legal voters
of our city—indeed, to nine-tenth of all the per-
sons to whom a petition should be presented. We
have signed no petition, deeming the public ex-
pression of our wishes equivalent to petitioning;
we know many who have not signed who yet ar-
dently desire the success of the effort for a pardon.
...
regret, throughout our city. The Governor, we
think, should not hesitate to comply with the im-
perative demand of public sentiment in this matter.
[Col.3]
THE CRAZY MAN'S TICKET.—The Asylum
Journal, a paper published by the inmates of the
Vermont Lunatic Asylum, has got out 'a crazy
man's ticket'—the candidates selected, one from
each of the great political parties. The Journal
says, “If we can unite the crazy ones of both par-
ties, we shall most certainly elect our candidates.”
It thinks, too, that if they could succeed, the
country would, to say the least, be as well gov-
erned as it has been for the last eight or ten years.
[Col.4]
☞ Ought not our Mayor to offer a reward for
the full development of the Mary Rogers myste-
ry? Under our beautiful Police system little is
done otherwise.
================================================================
[Col.2]
“LYING ORACLES.”—This is the very complimen-
tary name given by the Rev. Mr. Anthon to the
newspapers. We beg leave to say that the newspa-
pers have told as much truth as ever the clergy did,
from the highest Bishop down to the lowest parson.
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE LATE ALABAMA TRAGEDY.—The Hart-
ford Review of Saturday contains a thrilling ac-
count of all the particulars connected with the
recent murder of George Washington Love by
one hundred and thirty persons of Glenville,
Alabama. Mr. Love, it appears, was a “near
relative and dear friend” of the editor of the Re-
view. It appears that since the murder of Love,
the murder of the man whose death was falsely
attributed to Love has been traced to the real per-
petrator, a man named Mitchell, at whose insti-
gation the unfortunate Love was first arrested.
The Review has intelligence by letter that writs
are in the hands of the Sheriff against all the
persons concerned in the hanging of Love, and he
has orders to raise a force sufficiently large to
arrest the whole. We are glad to hear this. It
is taking the first step towards bringing the mur-
derers to justice, and redeeming the character of
the State and the people of Alabama from that
foul blot which the conduct of a part of its citi-
zens has cast upon their good name.
[Col.3]
CHRISTOPHER LILLY, the prize-fight murderer,
arrived at Liverpool in the ship George Washing-
ton, on the 30th of October last—was taken into
custody on the 31st, but an order being required
from the Secretary of State, nothing could be
done, and he was discharged.
[Col.4]
☞ The sixth annual report of the Vermont
Lunatic Asylum represents it as highly prospe-
rous. During the six years 424 insane persons
have enjoyed its advantages. Of these 311 have
been dischared; of those discharged, 179 have
been restored to reason. No serious accident has
occurred to any of the inmates. During the past
year 101 patients have been admitted, and there
were 95 inmates at the commencement of the
year, making 196 in all; of these 83 have been
discharged, leaving 113 now in the asylum.
...
☞ The Legislature of Vermont, previous to
its adjournment, reconsidered its vote rejecting
the bill for abolishing capital punishment, and
passed the same, substituting imprisonment for
life. The bill received the signature of the Gov-
ernor, and is a law of the state.
THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 28, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
BAINBRIDGE.
BY J. FENNIMORE COOPER.
[Graham's Magazine.]
Dr. Harris, in his “Life and Services” of this
distinguished officer, says that “The ancestor of
Commodore Bainbridge, who, in the year 1600,
...
================================================================
[Col.3]
Extraordinary Documents.
The following letters were laid before the Com-
mon Council last evening. We publish them with-
out comment, as we should have been glad to do
many days since:
LETTER FROM THE SHERIFF
November 28, 1842.
Sir: I wish you to deposit with the Common Council of
the City of New-York, the enclosed sum of one thousand
dollars, being in ten bills of one hundred dollars each, of the
Phœnix Bank. These bills were sent to me enclosed in the
letter signed W. W. W., which I received on the 17th instant,
the object of the writer of which sufficiently appears on the
face of the communication.
Although I suppose that the legal title to this money still
remains with the person who transmitted it to me, yet it is
scarcely to be anticipated that any one will make the dan-
gerous attempt to reclaim it.
It is not proper, nor have I any desire that this money
should remain in my hands; the only difficulty with me has
been to whom should I pay it.
I have concluded that it would be the best course to pay
it into the public Treasury.
This disposition of it will afford some compensation to
the City for the heavy expenses to which it has been sub-
jected on account of the proceedings against the individual
now deceased, whose escape some misjudging friend en-
deavored to procure by this attempted bribery.
In case, too, of any attempt being made to reclaim this
money from me, I expect and will no doubt find in the City,
under the circumstances under which I deposit it, a suffi-
cient and ready indemnity.
It will, perhaps, not be improper for me to add, in con-
templation of many attacks that have been made on me in
relation to my official conduct, in the case of John C. Colt,
in which I am not conscious of any illegal or dishonest con-
duct, on my part, that the fact of my having received the
money enclosed was immediately after its receipt commu-
nicated to the under Sheriff, and very shortly afterwards to
a gentleman holding a judicial station, in whose judgement
and disinterestedness I had confidence. He concurs with
me in the disposition of money which I now beg leave to
make through your hands.
I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. B. HART.
To the President of the Board of Aldermen of the City of
New York.
The Enclosed Letter.
Should you do what is herein requested, another sum,
exactly equal to that now enclosed, shall be sent to you on
Friday, 18th Nov. 1842. The undersigned has no acquaint-
ance with Colt nor with any of his relations or friends.
Pure benevolence and humanity have induced the under-
signed to offer you the enclosed sum on the condition that
you decline and positively refuse to hang Colt. This you
can conscienciously do on the score of humanity, and that
we have no right to take the life of a fellow-creature; on
the score that two of the jury who tried him were at first of
opinion that it was only manslaughter; on the score that
the Chancellor ought to have granted a writ of Error to the
Court of Errors, (the Senate); on the score of an improper
bias; nay, a violent prejudice having in the outset been
created by the large and small papers of the city against
him; on the score that the true republican doctrine is not
to hang but to imprison for life for capital cases; on the
score that in all human probability the law enacting hang-
ing for any offence will this winter be repealed; on the
score that Governor Bouck will, as he has declared, pardon
Colt—Governor Bouck's opinions being well ascertained
on this point.
There are many reasons which, in the haste of the mo-
ment, the undersigned is unable to write; but, sir, come out
like Gen. Jackson: take upon yourself the responsibility—
construe the laws and your duty as you understand them,
and refuse to hang Colt. You will thereby lay up for your-
self in future life the pleasing reflection of having saved
from destruction a human being, unjustly condemned, and
receive the thanks and blessings of Colt's relatives and
friends, and meet the full approbation and entire approval
of the whole of the Bar, of the Vice Chancellor, and of the
Judges. If you take the step recommended, you will re-
ceive the applause of the people, and of the Party, and of
the whole community. Popular feeling now runs high in
favor of the prisoner. W. W. W.
The papers were referred to the Committee
charged with the investigation of the origin of the
fire in the cupola of the City Prison.
———
...
☞ BOZ'S 'NOTES' must have already attained
a circulation of nearly or quite one hundred thou-
sand copies in this country, though they have been
scarcely a fortnight out of Press. Mr. Winchester
alone has sold fifty-three thousand copies of his
'New World' edition, and is still selling.
[Col.5]
☞ Mrs. FARNHAM, as will be seen by a notice
in our columns, proposes to repeat her course of
Lectures to Women at Concert Hall, commencing
with a free Introductory on Friday of this week.
We are happy to hear that the success which has
attended her first effort in a city of strangers is
sufficient to justify a repetition.
[Col.1]
☞ To Ladies.—Mrs. FARNHAM designs repeating
her course of Lectures on the positive condition and duties
of Woman, commencing on Friday, Dec. 2d, at 3 P. M. at
Concert Hall, 406 Broadway, with a free introductory.—
Tickets for the course of eight lectures, $1, to be had at the
door; single lectures, 25 cents. n29 3t
[Col.3]
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.—The Board met at 5
...
JOHN C. COLT.—A communication was received from
Monmouth B. Hart, High Sheriff of this City and County,
transmitting a letter signed W. W. W., enclosing ten $100
bills sent to him as a present, to induce him to decline
hanging John C. Colt, as the letter states, on the score of
humanity—with the representation that Governor Bouck
would pardon him when he came into power; and prom-
ising another $1,000 to the Sheriff if he would not execute
Colt. On motion of Ald. Davies, the $1,000 were ordered
to be specially deposited in the City Treasury; and on mo-
tion of Ald. Purdy, the communication of the Sheriff was
ordered to be published in all the Corporation papers, and
to be referred to the Committee having the cause of the fire
in the Halls of Justice under consideration.
PETITIONS REFERRED RESUMED.—Of W. Lyons, for cor-
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
WEBB'S CASE.—Webb has not yet procured the
pardon. The messenger that carried the petition to
Albany, returned yesterday with the Governor's
reply—“I will take the usual course.” What that
course is we know not. The Governor has just re-
fused to pardon or commute the sentence on Doug-
las of Niagara Co., who was sentenced to be hung.
The Governor seems to be a queer chap. We hope
he will set Webb at liberty at once; if not, let Webb
have a habeas corpus, and test the constitutionality
of the law under which he is convicted. Any
thing but suspense. This business is getting to se-
rious for poor Webb.
—————
...
THE MORALS OF POLITICIANS.—The last National
Intelligencer has the following paragraph:—
BALANCING ACCOUNTS.—The Yew York Union
(by M. M. Noah,) says “Men in office must expect
to be occasionally charged with high crimes and
misdemeanors. They are offsets to the avails.
This is cool—as cool as Iceland—as cool as the
north pole—as cool as the old sentiment from the
same mint—“all's fair in politics.” To be charged
with “high crimes” is only an occasional offset to
the salary or avails of office. Bravo! M. M. Noah!
Thank ye, Jew, for that.
—————
THE LATIMER SLAVE CASE.—The conduct of the
Boston people in relation to this matter has created
a terrible excitement in Virginia, particularly in
Norfolk, where Mr. Gray resides. The people there
threaten severe reprisals upon ships that come from
Boston, and call on their Legislature for some
measures that may prevent any such acts in future.
They charge on the Boston people, direct theft; and
say that the Southern States have now no guarantee
for the security of their property, which was origi-
nally granted to them, before they would consent to
become co-partner in the Federal Union. We
should not bet surprise to see something serious
grow out of this affair yet.
[Col.3. Partly as in Tribune]
Astounding Attempt to Bribe the High
Sheriff not to Hang Colt.
The following communication was sent to the
Board of Aldermen last evening by the High Sheriff,
M. B. Hart. For the disposition made of it, see the
report of proceedings in another column.
From the Sheriff to the President of the Board of Aldermen
of New York:—
Nov. 28th, 1842.
SIR:—
I wish to deposit with the Common Council of the City
...
money, which I now beg leave to make through your
hands. I remain,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
M. B. HART.
To the President of the Board of
Aldermen of the city of New York.
Accompanying this communication, was the fol-
lowing remarkable and mysterious letter of W. W.
W., alluded to in the Sheriff's communication. It was
written on a half sheet of paper, and covered both
sides of it from top to bottom. It was very mani-
festly written in a disguised hand, the latter being
cut in every variety of form. We are assured that
there was not a solitary member of the Board present
who was not taken with the most unfeigned surprize
at these communications. The public will expect a
most thorough and searching investigation of this
bold and audacious attempt to bribe a public officer
from the discharge of his duty, by the committee of
police, watch, and prisons, to whom this subject is
now referred. This committee are Aldermen Cro-
lius, Stewart, and Bonnell.
The following is W. W. W.'s letter:—
[We follow copy as nearly as possible.]
Should you do what is herein requested another sum ex-
actly equal to that now enclosed shall be sent to you on
Wednesday 18 Nov. 1842—
The undersigned has no acquaintance with Colt—nor
with any of his relations or friends—
Pure beneolence & humanity have induced
the undersigned to offer you the enclosed sum—on condi-
tion that you decline to & positively refuse to hang Colt—
This you can conscientiously do on the score of humanity
& that we have no right to take the life of a fellow-crea-
ture—on the score that two of the jury who tried him
were at first of opinion that it was only manslaughter—on
the score that the Chancellor ought to have granted a
writ of error to the Court of Errors (the Senate); on the
score of an improper bias, nay a violent prejudice, having,
in the out-set, been created by the large & small papers
in the city, against him, on the score that the true republi-
can doctrine is not to hang but to imprison for life for capi-
tal cases—on the score that in all human probability the
law enacting hanging for any offence will this winter be
repealed—on the score that Gov. Bouck will, as he has
declared, pardon Colt; Gov. Bouck's opinion being well
ascertained on this point.
There are many reasons which in the haste of the mo-
ment, the undersigned is unable to write—
But Sir come out & like Genl Jack-son, take upon
yourself the responsibility—construe the laws and your
duty as you understand them & REFUSE to hang Colt.—
You will thereby lay up for yourself in future life the
pleasing reflection of having saved from destruction a hu-
man being unjustly condemned—and receive the thanks
& blessings of Colts relatives and friends—and meet the
full approbation & entire approval of the whole of the bar
—of the Vice chancellor and of the judges. If you take the
step recommended, you will receive the applause of the
people and of the party and of the whole community. Po-
pular feeling now runs high in favor of the prisoner.
W. W. W.
[Col.4]
BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Nov. 28.—Present the President and
...
A communication from Monmouth B. Hart. It enclosed
the sum of $1000, ten bills of $100 each of the Phœnix Bank,
which he had received from a person who signed himself
W. W. W. It was intended as a bribe to him not to hang
John C. Colt. The letter of W. W. W. was also read. It
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
Mr. Richard Cooper, the nephew and standing
prosecutor for Mr. Fennimore Cooper, has addressed
a communication to the Editor of the Albany Evening
Journal informing that gentleman that Mr. C. has
discovered several new libels in the Evening Journal
...
[Col.2. Mostly as in Tribune]
The following is a copy of the letter sent to the
Sheriff with $1000, referred to in our report of the
Board of Aldermen.
Should you do what is herein requested, another
...
runs high in favor of the prisoner. W. W. W.
The money enclosed was in new bills, of one hun-
dred dollars each, of the Phœnix Bank, and as will
be seen by the report, will be specially deposited in
the City Treasury.
[Col.3]
BOARD OF ALDERMEN—Nov. 28th, 1842.
...
ordered to be printed. From the Sheriff, enclosing
$1000 and an anonymous letter, in which it was sent
to him, on condition that he positively refuse to
hang Colt, and stating that another like sum would
...
[Col.4]
A Prophet.—John Jones, the editor of the Madiso-
nian, predicted some three days before the time fixed
for the execution of Colt, that he would not be hung.
The prediction having been verified to the letter, the
Madisonian will probably be hereafter doomed high
authority in relation to the events of futurity.—Penn-
sylvanian.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MARY ROGERS MYSTERY
EXPLAINED.
...
cians in similar cases?—Tribune.
—————
SUICIDE OF JOHN C. COLT.
This unfortunate man was condemned to
...
[Col.2]
...
has met his victim at the bar of their common
God.—Troy Whig.
[Col.4]
COLT'S MARRIAGE.—The New York
Commercial, speaking of this singular mar-
riage, says, the marriage ceremony was per-
formed in that narrow cell by the Rev. Dr.
Anthon. What a bridal scene! The mar-
riage hall a prison cell! The prospect
from the bridal window the bridegroom's
gallows, on which he was sentenced to die
a felon's death in a few short hours. What
an anticipation for a bride! Ere the set
of sun to mourn over the ignominous grave
of him with whom her reputation and for-
tunes were just linked by the sacred ties of
love and matrimony!
[Col.1]
JOHN C. COLT.
The New York papers are filled with va-
rious articles upon this painful case. Nev-
er perhaps has a murder incited more feel-
ing in the public mind than this. It has
chiefly sprung from the extraordinary efforts
made to avert the sentence of the law.—
Different tribunals have been applied to for
writs of error, and failing in this, the exe-
cutive has been urged by a most pressing
application of the friends and counsel of
the convict, and even by disinterested
members of the bar for a pardon. We
cannot but rejoice that these desperate ef-
forts to save the life of a malefactor in a
case of the most flagrant enormity and
cruelty to the unfortunate victim of his
malice, has proved unavailing. The firm-
ness of Gov. Seward in maintaining the
supremacy of the law, irrespective of per-
sons has won him the applause of all, even
his most implacable political enemies. For
the prevention of crime nothing is so im-
portant as the certain and speedy execution
of the law upon the guilty offender.
There has been a statement in some
paper that attempts have been made upon
the integrity of the keepers, to enable the
criminal to escape in the garb of his mis-
tress. The overture was disclosed and its
object averted. In several states of the
Union attempts have been made to abolish
capital punishment altogether. But in
none have they even partially succeeded ex-
cept in Vermont. At a moment when a
whole newspaper would hardly be sufficient
to detail the accounts of murders now in
circulation, the manner in which the laws
have been robbed of their efficiency in the
prevention of capital offences, must be la-
mented by every wholesome citizen who
regards his own or the safety of communi-
ty.
[Col.3. Partly as in Argus]
THE MARY ROGERS' MYSTERY.—We
have had some conversation with Justice
Merritt respecting the mysterious affair.—
We learn that further investigation will take
place, and will be conducted in several oth-
er places besides Hoboken. They will be
strictly private, so that no opportunity will
be given for reporting them, until the re-
sults are assertained. The reasons for
making these examinations private, are ob-
vious.
We presume that these examinations will
be followed by arrests of a number of sus-
pected individuals. Mrs. Loss' sons are
detained, meanwhile, to serve as witnesses.
It is to be hoped that the result of the whole
will be, to unravel the mystery of Mary
Roger's death. There is reason to believe
that her death took place in Mrs. Loss'
house in consequence of some medical
means for procuring abortion, on or about
the 25th of July, 1841. Who the perpe-
trators of this crime are, is not yet apparent;
nor how much the boys are implicated.—
Jour. Com.
———
A young dandy, who sported an enor-
mous moustache, asked a lady what she
thought of his looks. 'Why,' said she, 'you
look as if you had swallowed a pony, and
left the tail sticking out of your mouth.'
================================================================
[Col.1 / Col.1]
The Case of John C. Colt—The Extraordina-
ry Scenes connected with his Last Hours
and Death.
The extraordinary developement made by our
High Sheriff to the Common Council on Monday
night, of the attempt made to bribe him with $2000
not to hang Colt for the murder of Adams, the par-
ticulars of which we published yesterday, has in-
creased to an alarming extent the excitement which
prevailed in this city on the subject ever since the
extraordinary suicide of the murderer, and the firing
of the prison in which he was confined.
There is but one feeling in this city on the subject,
and it is that a full and thorough investigation (in
every sense of the word) of the whole matter be
made by the proper authorities. And in order to a
right understanding of the affair, let us briefly detail
the marvellously singular circumstances that have
attended this man from his sentence to his suicide.
It will be remembered that the strange proceed-
ings on the trial of Colt, as published and comment-
ed on by us, were denounced by the English papers
as fabulous, and indeed they formed the basis on
which the abusive article in the Foreign Quarterly
Review was founded. The scenes connected with
the trial and conviction of Colt were the burthen of
that article. Now, let us review the scenes that
have transpired since, which, to our English readers,
will certainly appear entirely fabulous, and without
the slightest foundation in truth.
The extraordinary murder of Adams, the equally
strange trial of Colt, his conviction, the scenes in
the Court room, and around the Park and City Hall,
the stupendous efforts made by his counsel to pro-
cure a new trial, the refusal of the three
judges of the Supreme Court and of the
Chancellor to grant a writ of error, and the pow-
erful struggle between the law and Colt's influ-
ential and wealthy friends for supremacy, down
to the day of his sentence, are all vividly fresh in
the recollection of our readers. Up to the hour that
Judge Kent sentenced Colt, it is very certain that
both himself and his friends felt confident that he
would obtain a new trial. When the day of his
sentencing at last arrived, and the question of a new
trial became a matter of doubt, then commenced a
contest between the power and majesty of the law
on one side, and wealth and influence, and troops of
powerful friends, on the other, that for cunning,
skill, management, desperation, recklessness, and
the terrible and mighty energies of despair, has
never had a parallel in this or any other land, and
we trust in God never will again.
The contest was commenced by Colt in person,
in the Court room, before Judge Kent, at the time
that the Judge proceeded to pass sentence of death
upon him. From that hour till the awful one in
which he rushed unbidden into the presence of his
Maker, every conceivable engine appears to have
been employed to effect his escape from the awful
doom of the murderer. Legal ingenuity—all the
quirks and quibbles of the law—letters of entreaty
and remonstrance to the Public Prosecutor, the
Judge, the Governor, the Sheriff; and when these
failed, letters threatening personal violence—per-
sonal death—to these parties, in case of refusal—the
subsidizing of at least two newspapers, and the at-
tempt to influence others, to publish article after
article calculated to influence the Governor, and
turn public sympathy in favor of the condemned
one—petition upon petition, which men were hired
to traverse the city with, and get signatures to—a
public meeting of the Bar of this city—the passage
of resolutions and their presentation to the Govern-
or—appeal upon appeal, and protest upon protest, to
the Executive to commute, pardon, or grant a new
trial to Colt—bribe upon bribe to the deputy keep-
ers of the city prison, the Deputy Sheriff, and even
the High Sheriff himself—a legal (or rather ille-
gal) protest to the Sheriff, threatening to hold him
responsible if he dared to execute the sentence of
the law upon the prisoner—appeal of the Sheriff's
own counsel and own brother to the Governor for a
respite, commutation, or new trial—the conveying of
weapons of destruction to the prisoner, and the officia
negligence which looked on and allowed this
instruments of death, more than two or three, scis-
sors, penknife, poison and the dagger—the hoping
against hope, and the death-struggling personal ap-
peals to the Sheriff at the last hour—and, finally, as
a dernier ressort and terrible denoument to this ter-
rific tragedy, the firing of the City Prison, and the
suicide of the condemned, in order to evade the
penalty of the law, and laugh justice to scorn
throughout the length and breadth of the land!
All these circumstances formed a succession of
scenes, and a fearful finale, that will long live in the
recollections of the people of this city. Let us
calmly and briefly review them.
When called up to be sentenced for the murder,
and asked what he had to say, he with desperate
energy first abused, and then defied the laws, beard-
ed the judge on the bench, and cooly said, in effect
—that under similar circumstances he should do the
same thing over again. He went back to prison,
and thence commenced his general tirade, in the
shape of letters through one of the newspapers. In
these he endeavored to show that he was right, and
every one else was wrong—Court, Jury, Judges,
Governor, the press, and indeed all and every one
who did not defend him. Still, he did not think
that he would have to die so soon. There was the
appeal to the Chancellor for a writ of error; that
failed. Then the meeting in the Park, and the
appeal to the Governor—that failed. Then the other
countless efforts to influence the Executive—all of
which failed. Still he had hopes—the effect of
bribes. The first attempt was on the Deputy-keep-
ers of the Prison with about $1000 each, and the
promise of more. This failed through the integrity
of Col. Jones, the principal keeper, who put him in
irons. The time was drawing awfully nearer—still
he sent not for the clergyman, Dr. Anthon—he still
had hopes. The Monday arrived immediately
previous to the Friday on which he was to die.
The Sheriff stept in, took charge of him; gave
a receipt for his body to Col. Jones, knocked off his
irons, and put him in charge of two of his deputies,
Vultee and Green. Then he had but 96 hours to
live, and then the clergyman, Dr. Anthon, first
commenced his spiritual exercises with him. He
was apparently indifferent, penitent, obdurate, and
subdued, by turns—denied that the killing of Adams
was murder—and at last induced Dr. Anthon to be-
lieve that he was prepared to die like a christian—
felt sure of a full pardon for his sins, and of eternal
happiness through Christ—and denied solemnly that
he contemplated suicide. In short, he so complete-
ly deceived the amiable and credulous minister, as
to use him and make him indirectly one of the
means by which he escaped the penalty of the law
at last. And yet all this time he was at work to try
to escape by any means, however desperate. $500
in cash was brought him; with this he offered to
bribe his keeper, Vultee, and promised him much
more, only to put him into another cell, the door of
of which (unlike the one he was then in) could be
opened by a master-key, which some of his friends
could easily procure. This failed. Up to this time
his cell was searched, all dangerous weapons were
removed, and he was permitted to see no one except
in the presence of his keeper. Had this wise ar-
rangement been carried out, he never could have
killed himself. An escape in woman's clothes
was proposed, but refused. His brother then
went to the Sheriff, got him to revoke his former
strict rules, and to issue an order to his deputies
to allow Colt to see his friends alone in his cell.—
[Col.2]
Here was a great point gained, as he then could
obtain the means of self-destruction. Still he had
hopes of escape. A letter was sent to the Sheriff,
enclosing $1000 and promising $1000 more; mere-
ly to refuse to hang him. This was kept by the
Sheriff and never publicly revealed till ten days after
Colt's suicide! On the effect of this letter and bribe
Colt depended till within two hours of his death; for,
at that time he renewed his appeals to the sheriff not
to hang him, promising him a new house, &c. if he
would only let the hour pass by. So strong was the
reliance of his friends up to that moment that he
would not die that day, that they procured no cof-
fin, made no preparations for his burial, giving as a
reason that they “did not think it would have to
come to that.”
All Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he had
been allowed unrestricted intercourse with his
friends, and some one of them, doubtless, in that
period, gave him the dagger with which he destroy-
ed himself, and the laudanum, scissors and penknife
that were found in his cell after death. He had
these, he had the $500, he had the confidence of
the Clergyman that he would not commit suicide,
and might be safely left alone for any length of time
—he had the promise of the sheriff that he should
not be executed till the last moment—the setting of
the sun—when any accident like the firing of the
prison, the opening of the gates to admit fire en-
gines, (all which did occcur) might prevent the exe-
cution. Thus was he doubly and trebly armed
against all emergencies up to the last moment of his
life.
Such was the state of affairs on the morning of
the eventful day on which he died, Friday the 18th
of November, a day long to be remembered in the
annals of this city.
——
THE DAY OF COLT'S DEATH.—This was a clear,
bright, cold day, that seldom occurs here at this
season of the year. Throughout the city there was
but one topic of conversation—the execution of
Colt. It was in the mouth of all, as soon as they
awoke; old and young, rich and poor, male and fe-
male. “What hour will he be hung?” was asked
by every one; but no one knew the hour until they
had entered the prison, and been told by the sheriff.
The office of this functionary was literally besieged
by persons applying for admission to see Colt hung.
All but a favored few were refused. This only in-
creased the excitement. Thousands declared that
day they did not believe he would ever be hung.—
In many places heartless men were betting heavily
on the subject. As soon as it was day-light an eager
and curious mob began to collect around the walls
of the prison, determined to be in the neighborhood
of the tragedy, although well aware that they could
see none of it. Many persons who had the entrée
of the jail swallowed their breakfasts hastily, and
ran down to the scene of action, fearful that they
might lose the chance of gratifying a morbid curio-
sity. One man actually came 300 miles to see the
execution. All business seemed suspended in the
city, and every one was in the streets, enquiring if
the last scene of the tragedy was over. The mob
increased around the prison walls, and all sorts of
noises, shouts, exclamations, and vulgar and ruffian-
like observations that would have disgraced a sa-
vage, passed from mouth to mouth. With the first
streaks of day, and before the prison doors were
opened, there was one watchful form and anxious
face awaiting admission in advance of all others.—
This was the brother of Colt. He was ad-
mitted to the prisoner's cell, unsearched and alone.
The interview was painful and affecting; tears stood
in both their eyes, but for a moment. Colt had been
up nearly all night, writing a review of the Gover-
nor's written reasons for refusing a respite. He had
eaten nothing, but drank some coffee. His brother
soon left. Colt desired to have a barber to shave
him, and some clean clothes, that he might, as he
said, make a respectable appeatance when Dr. An-
thon called. He was very cool and collected dur-
ing the time the barber was shaving him; and al-
though the keeper watched to see that he did not
snatch the razor, there was no necessity for it; be-
cause Colt still hoped to escape, and if he did not,
he had his own means of self-destruction either by
him or about to be brought to him. The barber
wished him “good by” for ever, and the tears stood
in his eyes; Colt was calm and unmoved. He made
his toilet. “Now,” said he, “tell Dr. Anthon I am
ready to see him.”
The Doctor entered his cell; they knelt and pray-
ed together to God for pardon. All this time the
crowd was increasing outside, and the shouts and
noises and ribald jests could be heard by Colt in his
cell. Still he was unmoved and unruffled. Dr. An-
thon left his cell so overcome by his feelings that he
could scarcely speak. The Sheriff arrived, entered
his cell, and coolly asked him at what hour he would
like to be hung. “Not till the last moment,” said
Colt. “I have a great deal to do—not till sun-
down!” The Sheriff bowed, acquiesced, and left
the cell. It was about 10 o'clock; the mob outside
had increased to 5,000, all noisy, and shouting, and
vehement. All sorts of cries were uttered by them.
Within the walls, in the jail yard, close to and
around the gallows, were two hundred spectators
and officers, cracking jokes, looking grave, exam-
ining the gallows, pointing out the several strokes of
the hatchet, each one of which had sent a murder-
er into eternity, and wondering “how long will it
be before Colt is hung!” “It's very cold here!”
“Yes! I wish I could get a drink!” The police
magistrates were beseiged by applicants for admis-
sion, many of whom they passed in, till at last they
had four or five hundred inside the jail wall. Re-
porters, actors, doctors, lawyers, and judges began
to arrive by dozens, to see the execution, and the
group around the gallows at last grew motley in-
deed.
It was nearly eleven o'clock. Within the jail all
was solemn and silent as a grave yard. Colt's coun-
sel, Emmett and Graham, arrived, and entered his
cell, unsearched. They told him they had come to
bid him good by for ever. He received them cor-
dially and calmly, shook them by the hand, said he
was ready to die, like a Christian, and took his
leave of them. They left his cell, each bathed in tears.
Next came one of the most extraordinary scenes
ever witnessed. His brother returned, bringing with
him Caroline Henshaw, the girl whom Colt had
seduced, and the mother of his infant, to be married
to him in his cell, with John Howard Payne, the
dramatist, for a witness. They entered his cell.—
Awful scene. Then Colt was moved. His intended
bride fell on his neck and wept bitterly! He strain-
ed her to his bosom, and kissed her passionately.—
Dr. Anthon was called into the cell, and then began
that grave yard bridal ceremony. Colt stood up in
the centre of the cell, the girl by his side, their hands
clasped, his eyes bent first on her, and then on the
drawer containing the instruments of self-murder;
the Parson began, “Wilt thou, John C. Colt, take
this woman to be thy wedded wife, &c. &c., to love
and to cherish as long as you both do live, or until
death do you part?” The brother, his two lawyers,
the Parson, the dramatist, a poet and a police ma-
gistrate, were the witnesses, with the jailer looking
in on them, and rattling his keys. God of Heaven
what a bridal.
It was now high noon. In four hours he was doom-
ed to die a felon's death on the gallows—the scaf-
fold could be seen from the windows of his cell—
his wedding prospects were a horrid and speedy
death—that cell was his bridal chamber—the mar-
riage portion of the bride, besides convulsive sobs
and tears, was $500, which the jailer had refused to
take as a bribe—amid the pauses of the Parson's
voice could be heard the shouts and ribald scoffings
of the mob—all but Colt were almost overpowered
by their feelings—he alone was calm and unmoved
—the sun streamed into the small window of his cell
—he never was to see that sun rise again in this
life—yet he was calm. Such was his first and last
bridal on earth.
All left his cell but his newly wedded wife; and
they were then locked up alone together for nearly
an hour, whilst some few of the more reckless with-
in the jail were passing round sneers and remarks
very unworthy the time, place or occasion. It was
[Col.3]
one o'clock. His relative, friend, and counsel, Mr.
Selden, arrived, and entered his cell to see him—and
then his wretched wife—married but an hour—left
him for the last time in this life. Colt drew her to
his bosom, and kissed her passionately again and
again, and followed her with his straining eyes till
she passed from his sight, almost sinking to the
earth. The clergyman enquired of the brother if a
coffin had been brought. It had not. They thought
it would not be needed. The Dr. sent to his sexton
for one, and ordered a vault to be ready at sundown.
All this did not move Colt an atom. The coffin
was brought amid the jeers and shouts of the mob
which now had increased to 10,000 around the jail,
and the excitement was tremendous. Over 500
persons had now obtained an entrance into the jail
yard, and they were wound up to an intense pitch
of excitement. Throughout the city the people
were in a perfect fever, and numbers feared that he
would escape at last. It was drawing near towards
two, and a bright star was seen in the northwest, of
uncommon brilliancy. It was Venus, but being so
unusual a sight in the middle of the day, all be-
lieved it betokened something dreadful, and that it
was mysteriously connected with the fate of Colt.
This increased the excitement almost beyond en-
durance.
It was now close on to two P. M. His counsel-
lor, Mr. Selden, bid him farewell for ever. He ap-
peared less moved than any of his friends. Then
his brother entered his cell, staid but a few minutes,
spoke but a few words, shook his hands with despe-
rate and nervous agony, and passed hurriedly but
calmly out of his cell, and taking the arm of the
wretched wife, left the jail together. “Now,” said
Colt, “if there are any others here that want to
wish me good by, I should be happy to see them.”
Nearly all the prison then passed his cell door,
one by one. He shook them heartily by the hand,
kissed nearly all of them, and bade them “Good
by,” with God's blessing.
It was two o'clock, and all his business
arrangements except the last fatal one, were con-
summated. He seemed as if a load was off his
mind. “Now,” said he, “give me a watch.” It
was given, and he compared the time to a minute
by the Sheriff's watch. “I have two hours to
live,” he said, “and a dying man wants to know to
a moment when his time's come.” The clergyman
then went into his cell at his request. “Now let
us pray,” said he; and he knelt and prayed
fervently. Dr. Anthon rose and left him, saying
“Make up your mind to die with christian forti-
tude.” “I shall,” said Colt hurriedly; “I shall die
with christian fortitude.” Dr. Anthon left his cell.
“Now,” said Colt to the sheriff, sternly, “let me be
left alone till 4 o'clock.” “You shall,” said the she-
riff; and his door was locked. In ten minutes it was
opened again for sheriff Hillyer to take leave of
him. Colt rebuked him for disturbing him, kissed
Hillyer, exclaimed, “Good by—God bless you,”
and turned away. “Now let me,” said he, “on no
account be disturbed till four.” It was promised,
and his cell door closed on him for the last time in
life. This was half past two.
The mob increased inside and outside the jail—so
did their noise. Some talked of the star—some of
Colt—and all looked for something strange to hap-
pen. Within the jail there were forty persons, offi-
cers and doctors, all silent as death—nearly all say-
ing that Colt would commit suicide—but all wonder-
ing how he would do it. In Colt's cell all seemed
still as death! Three o'clock came—the suspense
was terrible—half past three—the excitement was of
a frenzied character—quarter to four, and the mob
seemed about to break into the jail—the sheriffs
put on their death livery—five minutes to four—the
time's up—bring him out—now he's coming—where's
the cap and rope?—the cell door is slowly unfastened
and opened—in stepped the parson, and, merciful Pro-
vidence, what a sight met his glazed vision—there
lay Colt, stretched out on his back on his cot, wel-
tering in his blood—warm, but dead! He had stab-
bed himself to the heart—after feeling for the exact
spot, and laying himself out as carefully and com-
posedly, as a nurse would a dead infant.
“My God,” said the sheriff, “he's dead!” Dr.
Anthon reeled into an adjoining cell, and fainted
away. “He's dead,” said the doctors below, as
they rushed up stairs into his cell, and felt for his pul-
sation. “It's all over,” said they; “let the coroner
take charge of him.” And the coroner closed the
cell door on the murderer and suicide, with the knife
still sticking in his heart. But the last scene of
the drama was yet to come. At that moment
the jail was discovered to be on fire. The excite-
ment resembled madness. The mob outside raved
to get in, not believing him dead. Those inside,
raved to get out, fearing they should be burnt to
death in the jail. The fire bells sent out their shrill
and alarming tones—the mob yelled—the prisoners
in the cell screamed—the women shouted murder—
one maniac convict cried out “Burn away—hell is
broke loose at last,”—the large cupola of the jail
was one sheet of flame—the fire engines and fire-
men clamored for admission to the jail—the gates
were opened—in rushed an engine, right over the
platform of the gallows—in came the mob—out
rushed others—and the shrieks, and yells, and crack-
ling and curses, and screams, and shouts, and noise
and confusion that ensued, never have been equalled
since the burning of Babylon. At last, in an hour,
the flames were subdued, the mob turned out, the
gallows taken away, the watchmen put on duty for
the night, and preparations made for the coroner's
inquest, which was concluded about midnight.
And thus ended one of the most eventful days that
New York can exhibit in her entire history. But
although Colt lay a stiff and stark corpse in his cell,
numbers as they went home to bed reluctantly that
night, declared that they believed Colt was still alive
and that the whole thing was an exhibition got up to
prevent his execution, and to set all law and order
at defiance!
Take it all together, the murder—the boxing up
of the body—the alleged salting of it—the trial—
firing pistols in Court—cutting off the head, and
bringing the scull of the dead man into Court—the
sentence, and defiance to the Judge—the Park
meeting—the threat to arrest the Sheriff—the mo-
ney that seemed to flow like water—the various
bribes—the mock piety—the holding a sort of levee
in the cell the day of the execution—the horrid
marriage—the shocking suicide—and the burning
of the jail, all combine to form a history that
throws fable and romance for ever into the shade!
[Col.6]
CASE OF COL. WEBB.—Gov. Seward has granted
a full pardon to Col. Webb. We give it below, to-
gether with a card relative thereto:—
A CARD.—In justice to the Executive I place before the
public the following official document; and I desire to
avail myself of this occasion, to express my grateful ap-
preciation of the generous sympathies exhibited by my
friends and fellow-citizens, both here and in other sec-
tions of the State, pending my recent incarceration.
...
the Executive for his prompt interposition of the pardon-
ing power. J. WATSON WEBB.
New York, November 29, 1842.
——
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK:
To all to whom these Presents shall come:
Whereas, at a Court of General Sessions of the Peace,
held in and for the City and County of New York, in the
...
with intent to advocate or uphold the same, we have par-
doned, remised and released, and by these Presents, do
pardon, remise and release the said James Watson Webb,
of and from the offence whereof, in our said Court, he
stands convicted as aforesaid, and of and from all sen-
tences, judgments and executions thereon, hereby re-
storing to him all the rights and privileges of citizenship
forfeited by him, in consequence of the said offence or the
said conviction.
...
Signed. WILLIAM H. SEWARD.
Passed the Secretary's Office, the 28th day of November,
1842.
Signed. S. YOUNG, Secretary of State.
================================================================
[Col.3]
RUMORS ABOUT COLT.—In all conscience, we
think the ravenous appetite of the public for
news, which it is the especial business of a cer-
tain class of papers to feed, even at the expense of
truth and decency, has been sufficiently gorged in
the case of this ill-starred individual, and that a
proper regard for the feelings and character of
the survivors would demand that the memory of
the miserable man, save so far as his fate may be
used as a warning for the prevention of crime,
should be suffered to rest in quiet. Do the peo-
ple engaged in manufacturing and promulgating
these idle and ridiculous stories, know that they
are virtually charging respectable, responsible
and virtuous men, with connivance at a monstrous
crime; and that, if their own insignificance should
not protect them, they can be brought to a fear-
ful and crushing account for the infamous game
they are playing, merely to keep up the excite-
ment amongst a certain class, and increase the
sale of their rickety and starving sheets? And
upon what ground is this done? Is there one sin-
gle well authenticated fact upon which can be pre-
dicated the slightest suspicion against the inte-
grity of any one in any way concerned in the
charge of Colt? If so, why is it not produced?
and why does the guilty possessor of such a se-
cret withhold his information from the authori-
ties, and leave room for a gang of newspaper
scribblers to bandy their slanderous insinuations
about the purlieus of the town?
Either there are facts of a suspicious nature
connected with this transaction, or there are not.
If yes, then are those who are in possession of
them guilty of a great wrong in withholding
them from the public; and, if not, then are those
who are so industriously engaged in retailing,
pieceing and patching together, and circulating,
these insinuations, worthy of the application of a
cat-o'-nine-tails to their fools' backs.
[Col.6]
☞ We would suggest to our Common Council,
the propriety of appropriating that $1000 sent
them by Mr. Hart to the education of Colt's child.
Could it be better applied?
================================================================
[Col.3]
The Mary C. Rogers Mystery.
An account has been published in several of
the city papers, that on the death of a Mrs.
Loss of Weehawken, an explanation had been
given of the sad fate of “The Pretty Cigar
Girl”—but an examination of the sons of Mrs.
Loss goes to show that there is no foundation
whatever to the account. It is stated, howev-
er, that the magistrates are still on the alert.
[Col.5]
JOHN C. COLT.—We understand,
says the New York Aurora, that on
Saturday last, Mr. Samuel Colt, bro-
ther of John C., wrote a letter to Dr.
Anthon, on the subject of the events
of Friday. What were its contents
has not yet transpired; but the Rever-
end Doctor, immediately upon read-
ing it, carried it to the Mayor, who
refused to make it public at present,
perhaps judiciously. The investiga-
tion will probably bring it out.—Daily
Chronicle.
================================================================
[Col.2]
The Statement that the murderers of
Mary Rogers have been discovered is not
true.
[Col.3]
??????????????????????????????????
ding the day fixed for his execution. In
the course of the conversation, Mr. C.
mentioned 'that he had in his youth been
educated religiously—brought up in the
...[Col.2. Mostly as in Middlebury Press]
The Mary Rogers Mystery.—We have
[Col.3]
had some conversation with Justice Merritt,
...
how much the boys are implicated. [Jour.
Com.
———
The Alabama Outrage.—We mentioned a
few days since the horrible murder of G. W.
Lore, in Glenville, Ala., perpetrated with
great deliberation by one hundred and thirty
citizens of that town. We find the following
additional particulars of the affair in the
Hartford Times—derived from E. B. Green
Esq. of that city—a near relative of the un-
fortunate victim:
'Mr. Lore was a native of Cumberland
County, N. J. His father and his young
...
laws of Alabama are disgraced, most foully
disgraced, in the horrible transactions which
has robbed him of his life.
================================================================
[Col.5]
Capital Punishment.
The case of John C. Colt, as was to be ex-
pected, is turning the attention of the humane
and philanthropic, to the question of capital
punishment. The propriety and utility of such
an alteration of the penal code, is being discus-
sed in several of the newspapers. As usual, the
advocates of the barbarous practice of hanging,
appeal with great confidence to the authority of
the Mosaic institutes; without stopping to re-
flect that that dispensation has been superceded
by another—by one which make the exercise of
mercy towards the offender, in all cases where
human rights have been invaded, the especial
and indispensable condition of mercy and for-
giveness from the Ruler of the Universe. “If
ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will
your heavenly father forgive you your trespasses.
For, with what measure ye mete, it shall be
measured to you again.”
A writer in the N. Y. Tribune, of Tuesday
of last week, pursued the course of reasoning.
The editor of that paper, added a few notes, to
the article, by way of answer. Some of those
notes, were to our mind extremely erroneous; but
the force and pertinency of the following were
irresistable.
1. If there be any man who feels himself
...
than a 'union'—a perfect consolidation of
'Church and State?'
[Col.7]
☞ When Colt was called to receive his sen-
tence, he made some harsh remarks concerning
the influence which the public and the press had
exerted over the jury. Every body in New
York was indignant. What, it was exclaimed
on all hands, shall a condemned culprit assail his
judges and the community?
When Col. Webb was called to receive his
sentence, he said he “would bow to the sentence
of the court, with the remark that he was sat-
isfied that whatever odium attached to the
matter, rightfully belonged to the unprincipled
combination” which had sought to have him
convicted. Immediately, almost every press
in the city is eloquent in denunciation of the
“unprincipled combination.”
What made the difference?
—————
☞ The mystery which has enveloped the
death of Mary Rogers, the pretty cigar girl at
New York, is about to be solved. Investiga-
tions have been made by the authorities which
disclose the facts in that melancholy case. The
details of the investigation have not been made
public, but the papers state that she went to
Hoboken, in company with a young physician
for the purpose of procuring an abortion; died
in the operation; and was then thrown into the
river to prevent the fact being known.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Original.
THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET .*
A Sequel to “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.”
——————
BY EDGAR A. POE.
——————
Es giebt eine Reihe idealischer Begebenheiten, die
der Wirklichkeit parallel lauft, Selten fallen sie
Zusammen. Menschen und zufalle modificiren
gewohnlich die idealische Begebenheit, so dass sie
unvollkommen erscheint, und ihre Folgen gleichfalls
unvollkommen sind. So bei der Reformation; statt
des Protestantismus kam das Lutherthum hervor.
There are ideal series of events which run parallel
with the real ones. They rarely coincide. Men and
circumstances generally modify the ideal train of
events, so that it seems imperfect, and its consequen-
ces are equally imperfect. Thus with the Refor-
mation; instead of Protestantism came Lutheran-
ism.—Novalis. Moral Ansichten.
“You will see at once that all argument upon this
head should be urged, if at all, against the rule itself;
and for this end we must examine the rationale of the
rule. Now the human body, in general, is neither much
lighter nor much heavier than the water of the Seine;
that is to say, the specific gravity of the human body,
in its natural condition, is about equal to the bulk of
fresh water which it displaces. The bodies of fat and
fleshy persons, with small bones, and of women, gene-
rally, are lighter than those of the lean and large-boned,
and of men; and the specific gravity of the water of a
river is somewhat influenced by the presence of the tide
from sea. But, leaving this tide out of question, it may
be said that very few human bodies will sink at all, even
in fresh water, of their own accord. Almost any one,
falling into a river, will be enabled to float, if he suffers
the specific gravity of the water fairly to be adduced in
comparison with his own—that is to say, if he suffers
his whole person to be immersed, with as little excep-
tion as possible. The proper position for one who can-
not swim, is the upright position of the walker on land,
with the head thrown fully back, and immersed, the
mouth and nostrils alone remaining above the sur-
face. Thus circumstanced, we shall find that we
float without difficulty and without exertion. It is
evident, however, that the gravities of the body, and
of the bulk of water displaced, are very nicely bal-
anced, and that a trifle will cause either to preponde-
rate. An arm, for instance, uplifted from the water,
and thus deprived of its support, is an additional weight
sufficient to immerse the whole head, while the acci-
dental aid of the smallest piece of timber will enable us
to elevate the head so as to look about. Now, in the
struggles of one unused to swimming, the arms are inva-
riably thrown upwards, while an attempt is made to
keep the head in its usual perpendicular position. The
result is the immersion of the mouth and nostrils, and
the inception, during efforts to breathe while beneath
———
* Continued from page 20.
[Col.1]
the surface, of water into the lungs. Much is also re-
ceived into the stomach, and the whole body becomes
heavier by the difference between the weight of the air
originally distending these cavities, and that of the fluid
which now fills them. This difference is sufficient to
cause the body to sink, as a general rule; but is insuffi-
cient in the cases of individuals with small bones and
an abnormal quantity of flaccid or fatty matter. Such
individuals float even after drowning.
“The corpse, being supposed at the bottom of the
river, will there remain until, by some means, its spe-
cific gravity again becomes less than that of the bulk of
water which it displaces. This effect is brought about
by decomposition, or otherwise. The result of decom-
position is the generation of gas, distending the cellular
tissue and all the cavities, and giving the puffed ap-
pearance which is so horrible. When this distension
has so far progressed that the bulk of the corpse is ma-
terially increased without a corresponding increase of
mass or weight, its specific gravity becomes less than
that of the water displaced, and it forthwith makes its
appearance at the surface. But decomposition is modi-
fied by innumerable circumstances—is hastened or re-
tarded by innumerable agencies; for example, by the
heat or cold of the season, by the mineral impregnation
or purity of the water, by its depth or shallowness, by
its currency or stagnation, by the temperament of the
body, by its infection or freedom from disease before
death. Thus it is evident that we can assign no period,
with any thing like accuracy, at which the corpse shall
rise through decomposition. Under certain conditions
this result would be brought about within an hour;
under others, it might not take place at all. There are
chemical infusions by which the animal frame can be
preserved for ever from corruption. The Bi-chloride
of mercury is one. But, apart from decomposition,
there may be, and very usually is, a generation of gas
within the stomach, from the acetous fermentation of
vegetable matter (or within other cavities from other
causes) sufficient to induce a distension which will bring
the body to the surface.The effect produced by the
firing of a cannon is that of simple vibration. This may
either loosen the corpse from the soft mud or ooze in
which it is imbedded, thus permitting it to rise when
other agencies have already prepared it for so doing;
or it may overcome the tenacity of some putrescent
portions of the cellular tissue; allowing the cavities to
distend under the influence of the gas.
“Having thus before us the whole philosophy of this
subject, we can easily test by it the assertions of 'L'
Etoile'—'all experience shows,' says this paper, 'that
drowned bodies, or bodies thrown into the water, imme-
diately after death, by violence, require from six to ten
days for sufficient decomposition to take place to bring
them to the top of the water. Even when a cannon is
fired over a corpse, and it rises before at least five or
six days' immersion, it sinks again if let alone.'
“The whole of this paragraph must now appear a
tissue of inconsequence and incoherence. All experi-
ence does not show that 'drowned bodies' require from
six to ten days for sufficient decomposition to take place
[Col.2]
to bring them to the surface. Both science and expe-
rience show that the period of their rising is, and neces-
sarily must be, indeterminate. If, moreover, a body
has risen to the surface through firing of cannon, it
will not 'sink again if let alone,' until decomposition
has so far progressed as to permit the escape of the
generated gas. But I wish to call your attention to
the distinction which is made between 'drowned bodies,'
and 'bodies thrown into the water immediately after
death by violence.' Although the writer admits the dis-
tinction, he yet includes them all in the same category.
I have shown how it is that the body of a drowning
man becomes specifically heavier than its bulk of water,
and that he would not sink at all, except for the strug-
gles by which he elevates his arms above the surface,
and his gasps for breath while beneath the surface—
gasps which supply by water the place of the original
air in the lungs. But these struggles and these gasps
would not occur in the body thrown into the water im-
mediately after death by violence.' Thus, in the latter
instance, the body would not sink at all—a fact of
which 'L'Etoile' is evidently ignorant. When decom-
position had proceeded to a very great extent—when
the flesh had in a great measure left the bones—then,
indeed, but not 'till then, should we lose sight of the
corpse.
“And now what are we to make of the argument of
the journal, that the body found could not be that of
Marie Rogêt, because, three days only having elapsed,
this body was found floating? No one supposes her to
have been drowned; and, dying before being thrown
into the river, she might have been found floating at
any period afterwards whatever.
“'But,' says 'L'Etoile,' 'if the body had been kept
in its mangled stated on shore until Tuesday night, some
trace would be found on shore of the murderers.' Here
it is at first difficult to perceive the intention of the rea-
soner. He means to anticipate what he imagines would
be an objection to his theory—viz: that the body was
kept on shore two days, suffering rapid decomposition.
He supposes that, had this been the case, it might have
appeared at the surface on the Wednesday, and thinks
that only under such circumstances it could so have
appeared. He is accordingly in haste to show that it
was not kept on shore; for, if so, 'some trace would be
found on shore of the murderers.' I presume you smile
at the sequitur. You cannot be made to see how the
mere duration of the corpse on the shore could operate
to multiply traces of the assassins. Nor can I.
“'And furthermore it is exceedingly improbable,'
continues our journal, 'that any villains who had com-
mitted such a murder as is here supposed, would have
thrown the body in without weight to sink it, when such
a precaution could have so easily been taken.' Observe,
here, the laughable confusion of thought! No one—
not even L'Etoile—disputes the murder committed on
the body found. The marks of violence are too obvi-
ous. It is our reasoner's object, merely to show that
Marie is not assassinated—not that the corpse was not.
Yet his observation proves only the latter point. Here
[Col.1]
is a corpse without weight attached. Murderers, cast-
ing it in, would not have failed to attach a weight.
Therefore it was not thrown in by murderers. This is
all which is proved, if any thing be. The question of
identity is not even approached, and L'Etoile has been
at great pains merely to gainsay now what it has ad-
mitted only a moment before. 'We are perfectly con-
vinced,' it says, 'that the body found was that of a mur-
dered female.'
“Nor is this the sole instance, even in this division of
his subject, where our reasoner unwittingly reasons
against himself. His evident object is to reduce, as
much as possible, the interval between Marie's disap-
pearance and the finding of the corpse. Yet we find
him urging the point that no person saw the girl from
the moment of her leaving her mother's house. 'We
have no evidence,' he says, 'that Marie Rogêt was in
the land of the living after nine o'clock on Sunday, June
the twenty-second.' As his argument is obviously an
ex parte one, he should, at least, have left this matter
out of sight; for had any one been known to see Marie,
say on Monday, or on Tuesday, the interval in question
would have been much reduced, and, by his own ratio-
cination, the probability much diminished of the corpse
being that of the grisette. It is, nevertheless, amusing
to observe that L'Etoile insists upon its point in the full
belief of its furthering its general argument.
“Reperuse now that portion of this argument which
has reference to the identification of the corpse by Beau-
vais. In regard to the hair upon the arm, our paper
has been obviously disingenuous. M. Beauvais, not
being an idiot, could never have urged, in identification
of the corpse, simply hair upon its arm. No arm is
without hair. The general expression of L'Etoile is a
mere perversion of the witness' phraseology. He must
have spoken of some peculiarity in this hair. It was a
peculiarity of color, of quantity, of length, or of situa-
tion.
“'Her foot,' says the journal, 'was small—so are
thousands of feet. Her garter is no proof whatever—
nor is her shoe—for shoes and garters are sold in packa-
ges. The same may be said of the flowers in her hat.
One thing upon which M. Beauvais strongly insists is,
that the clasp on the garter found, had been set back to
take it in. This amounts to nothing; for most women
find it proper to take a pair of garters home and fit
them to the size of the limbs they are to encircle, rather
than to try them in the store where they purchase.
Here it is difficult to suppose the journal in earnest.
Had M. Beauvais, in his search for the body of Marie,
discovered a corpse corresponding in general size and
appearance to the missing girl, he would have been
warranted (without reference to the question of habili-
ment at all) in forming an opinion that his search had
been successful. If, in addition to the point of general
size and contour, he had found upon the arm a pecu-
liar hairy appearance which he had observed upon the
living Marie, his opinion might have been justly
strengthened; and the increase of positiveness might
well have been in the ratio of the peculiarity, or unusual-
ness, of the hairy mark. If, the feet of Marie being
[Col.2]
small, those of the corpse were also small, the increase
of probability that the body was that of Marie would not
be an increase in a ratio merely direct, but in one highly
accumulative. Add to all this shoes such as she had
been known to wear upon the day of her disappearance,
and, although these shoes may be 'sold in packages,'
you so far augment the probability as to verge upon the
certain. What, of itself, would be no evidence of iden-
tity, becomes through its corroborative position, proof
most sure. Give us, then, flowers in the hat corres-
ponding to those worn by the missing girl, and we seek
for nothing farther. If only one flower, we seek for
nothing farther—what then if two or three, or more?
Each successive one is multiple evidence—proof not
added to proof, but multiplied by hundreds or thou-
sands. Let us now discover, upon the deceased, gar-
ters such as the living used, and it is almost folly to
proceed. But these garters are found to be tightened,
by the setting back of a clasp, in just such a manner as
her own had been tightened by Marie, shortly previous
to her leaving home. It is now madness or hypocrisy
to doubt. What L'Etoile says in respect to this abbre-
viation of the garter's being an usual occurrence, shows
nothing beyond its own pertinacity in error. The elas-
tic nature of the clasp-garter is self-demonstration of the
unusualness of the abbreviation. What is made to
accommodate itself, must of necessity require accom-
modation but rarely. It must have been by an accident,
in its strictest sense, that these garters of Marie needed
the tightening described. They alone would have
amply established her identity. But it is not that the
corpse was found to have the garters of the missing
girl, or found to have her shoes, or her bonnet, or the
flowers of her bonnet, or her feet, or a peculiar mark
upon the arm, or her general size and appearance—it
is that the corpse had each, and all collectively.
Could it be proved that the editor of L'Etoile really
entertained a doubt, under the circumstances, there
would be no need, in his case, of a commission de luna-
tico inquirendo. He had thought it sagacious to echo
the small talk of the lawyers, who, for the most part,
content themselves with echoing the rectangular pre-
cepts of the courts. I would here observe that very
much of what is rejected as evidence by a court, is the
best of evidence to the intellect. For the court, guiding
itself by the general principles of evidence—the recog-
nized and booked principles—is averse from swerving
at particular instances. And this steadfast adherence
to principle, with rigorous disregard of the conflicting
exception, is a sure mode of attaining the maximum of
attainable truth, in any long sequence of time. The
practice, in mass, is therefore philosophical; but it is
not the less certain that it engenders frequently vast
individual error.
“In respect to the insinuations levelled at Beauvais,
you will be willing to dismiss them in a breath. You
have already fathomed the true character of this good
gentleman. He is a busy-body, with much of romance
and little of wit. Any one so constituted will readily so
conduct himself, upon occasion of real excitement, as
to render himself liable to suspicion on the part of the
[Col.1]
over-acute, or the evil-disposed. M. Beauvais (as it
appears from your notes) had some personal interviews
with the editor of L'Etoile, and offended him by ven-
turing an opinion that the corpse, notwithstanding the
theory of the editor, was, in sober fact, that of Marie.
'He persists,' says our journal, 'in asserting the corpse,
to be that of Marie, but cannot give a circumstance, in
addition to those which we have commented upon, to
make others believe.' Now, without re-adverting to
the fact that stronger evidence 'to make others believe,'
could never have been adduced, it may be remarked
that a man may very well be understood to believe, in a
case of this kind, without the ability to advance a
single reason for the belief of a second party. Nothing
is more vague than impressions of individual identity.
Each man recognizes his neighbor, yet there are few
instances in which any one is prepared to give a reason
for his recognition. The editor of L'Etoile had no
right to be offended at M. Beauvais' unreasoning belief.
“The suspicious circumstances which invest him,
will be found to tally much better with our hypothesis
of romantic busy-body-ism, than with the reasoner's
suggestion of guilt. Once adopting the more charitable
interpretation, we shall find no difficulty in comprehend-
ing the rose in the key-hole; the 'Marie' upon the
slate; the 'elbowing the male relatives out of the way;'
the 'aversion to permitting them to see the body;' the
caution given to Madame B——, that she must hold no
conversation with the gendarme until his return (Beau-
vais'); and, lastly, his apparent determination 'that
no body should have any thing to do with the proceed-
ings except himself.' It seems to me unquestionable
that Beauvais was a suitor of Marie's; that she coquet-
ted with him; and that he was ambitious of being
thought to enjoy her fullest intimacy and confidence. I
shall say nothing more upon this point; and, as the
evidence fully rebuts the assertion of L'Etoile, touching
the matter of apathy on the part of the mother and
other relatives—an apathy inconsistent with the suppo-
sition of their believing the corpse to be that of the per-
fumery-girl—we shall now proceed as if the question of
identity were settled to our perfect satisfaction.”
“And what,” I here demanded, “do you think of the
opinions of Le Commerciel?”
“That, in spirit, they are far more worthy of atten-
tion than any which have been promulgated upon the
subject. The deductions from the premises are philo-
sophical and acute; but the premises, in two instances,
at least, are founded in imperfect observation. Le
Commerciel wishes to intimate that Marie was seized
by some gang of low ruffians, not far from her mother's
door. “It is impossible,' it urges, 'that a person so
well known to thousands as this young woman was,
should have passed three blocks without some one hav-
ing seen her.' This is the idea of a man long resident
in Paris—a public man—and one whose walks to and
fro in the city, have been mostly limited to the vicinity
of the public offices. He is aware that he seldom passes
so far as a dozen blocks from his own bureau, without
being recognized and accosted. And, knowing the
extent of his personal acquaintance with others, and of
[Col.2]
others with him, he compares his notoriety with that
of the perfumery-girl, finds no great difference between
them, and reaches at once the conclusion that she, in
her walks, would be equally liable to recognition with
himself. This could only be the case were her walks
of the same unvarying, methodical character, and within
the same species of limited region as are his own. He
passes to and fro, at regular intervals, within a confined
periphery, abounding in individuals who are led to ob-
servation of his person through interest in the kindred
nature of his occupation with their own. But the walks
of Marie may, in general, be supposed discursive. In
this particular instance, it will be understood as most
probable, that she proceeded upon a route of more
than average diversity from her accustomed ones. The
parallel which we imagine to have existed in the mind of
Le Commerciel would only be sustained in the event of
the two individuals' traversing the whole city. In this
case, granting the personal acquaintances to be equal,
the chances would be also equal that an equal number
of personal rencounters would be made. For my own
part, I should hold it not only as possible, but as very far
more than probable, that Marie might have proceeded,
at any given period, by any one of the many routes be-
tween her own residence and that of her aunt, without
meeting a single individual whom she knew, or by whom
she was known. In viewing this question in its full and
proper light, we must hold steadily in mind the great
disproportion between the personal acquaintances of
even the most noted individual in Paris, and the entire
population of Paris itself.
“But whatever force there may still appear to be in
the suggestion of Le Commerciel, will be much dimi-
nished when we take into consideration the hour at
which the girl went abroad. 'It was when the streets
were full of people,' says Le Commerciel, 'that she
went out.' But not so. It was at nine o'clock in the
morning. Now at nine o'clock of every morning in the
week, with the exception of Sunday, the streets of the
city are, it is true, thronged with people. At nine on
Sunday, the populace are chiefly within doors preparing
for church. No one of observation, can have failed to
notice the peculiarly deserted air of the town, from
about eight until ten on the morning of every Sabbath.
Between ten and eleven the streets are thronged, but
not at so early a period as that designated.
“There is another point at which there seems a defi-
ciency of observation on the part of Le Commerciel.
'A piece,' it says, 'of one of the unfortunate girl's petti-
coats, two feet long, and one foot wide, was torn out
and tied under her chin, and around the back of her
head, probably to prevent screams. This was done by
fellows who had no pocket-handkerchiefs.' Whether
this idea is, or is not well founded, we will endeavor to
see hereafter; but by 'fellows who have no pocket-
handkerchiefs,' the editor intends the lowest class of
ruffians. These, however, are the very description of
people who will always be found to have handkerchiefs
even when destitute of shirts. You must have had
occasion to observe how absolutely indispensable, of
[Col.1]
late years, to the thorough blackguard, has become the
pocket-handkerchief.”
“And what are we to think,” I asked, “of the arti-
cle in 'Le Soleil?'”
“That it is a vast pity that its inditer was not more
minute. It is easy to surmise, and as easy to assert.
He has merely repeated what others have done, (with-
out establishing any incontrovertible proofs) the indi-
vidual items of the already published opinion; collect-
ing them, with a laudable industry, from this paper and
from that. 'The things had all evidently been there,'
he says, 'at least, three or four weeks, and there can
be no doubt that the spot of this appalling outrage has
been discovered.' Here, again, he speaks but from
suspicion, and brings nothing to bear conclusively upon
the matter. The facts here re-stated by Le Soleil, are
very far indeed from removing my own doubts upon this
subject, and we will examine them more particularly
hereafter in connexion with another division of the
theme.
“At present we must occupy ourselves with other
investigations. You cannot fail to have remarked the
extreme laxity of the examination of the corpse. To
be sure, the question of identity was readily determined,
or should have been; but there were other points to
be ascertained. Had the body been in any respect
despoiled? Had the deceased any articles of jewelry
about her person upon leaving home? if so, had she
any when found? These are important questions
utterly untouched by the evidence; and there are others
of equal moment, which have met with no attention.
We must endeavor to satisfy ourselves by personal in-
quiry. The case of Saint Eustache must be re-exam-
ined. I have no suspicion of this person; but let us
proceed methodically. We will ascertain beyond a
doubt the validity of the affidavits in regard to his
whereabouts on the Sunday. Affidavits of this charac-
ter are readily made matter of mystification. Should
there be nothing wrong here, however, we will dismiss
Saint Eustache from our investigations. His suicide,
however, corroborative of suspicion, were there found
to be deceit in the affidavits, is, without such deceit, in
no respect an unaccountable circumstance, or one which
need cause us to deflect from the line of ordinary analy-
sis.
“In the analysis which I now propose, we will dis-
card the interior points of this tragedy, and concentrate
our attention upon its outskirts. Not the least usual
error, in investigations such as this, is the limiting of
inquiry to the immediate, with total disregard of the
collateral or circumstantial events. It is the mal-prac-
tice of the courts to confine evidence and discussion to
the bounds of apparent relevancy. Yet experience has
shown, and a true philosophy will always show, that a
vast, perhaps the larger portion of truth arises from the
seemingly irrelevant. It is through the spirit of this
principle, if not precisely through its letter, that modern
science has resolved to calculate upon the unforeseen.
But perhaps you do not comprehend me. The history
of human knowledge has so uninterruptedly shown that
[Col.2]
to collateral, or incidental, or accidental events we are
indebted for the most numerous and most valuable dis-
coveries, that it has at length become necessary, in any
prospective view of improvement, to make not only
large, but the largest allowances for inventions that
shall arise by chance, and quite out of the range of
ordinary expectation. It is no longer philosophical to
base, upon what has been, a vision of what is to be.
Accident is admitted as a portion of the subtructure.
We make chance a matter of absolute certainty. We
subject the unlooked for and unimagined, to the mathe-
matical formulae of the schools.
“I repeat that it is no more than fact, that the larger
proportion of all truth has sprung from the collateral;
and it is but in accordance with the spirit of the princi-
ple involved in this fact, that I would divert inquiry, in
the present case, from the trodden and hitherto unfruit-
ful ground of the event itself, to the cotemporary cir-
cumstances which surround it. While you ascertain
the validity of the affidavit, I will examine the news-
papers more generally than you have as yet done. So far,
we have only reconnoitred the field of investigation; but
it will be strange indeed if a comprehensive survey,
such as I propose of the public prints, will not afford us
some minute points which shall establish a direction
for inquiry.”
In pursuance of Dupin's suggestion, I made scrupu-
lous examination of the affair of the affidavits. The
result was a firm conviction of their validity, and of the
consequent innocence of Saint Eustache. In the mean-
time my friend occupied himself, with what seemed to
me a minuteness altogether objectless, in a scrutiny of
the various newspaper files. At the end of a week he
placed before me the following extracts:
“Two or three years since, a disturbance very similar to the
present, was caused by the disappearance of this same Marie
Rogêt from the parfumerie of Monsieur Le Blanc, in the
Palais Royal. At the end of a week, however, she re-appeared
at her customary comptoir, as well as ever, with the exception
of a slight paleness not altogether unusual. It was given out by
Monsieur Le Blanc and her mother, that she had merely been
on a visit to some friend in the country; and the affair was
speedily hushed up. We presume that the present absence is
a freak of the same nature, and that, at the expiration of a
week, or perhaps of a month, we shall have her among us
again.” Evening Paper—Monday, June 23.
“An evening journal of yesterday, refers to a former myste-
rious disappearance of Mademoiselle Rogêt. It is well known
that, during the week of her absence from Le Blanc's parfume-
rie, she was in the company of a young naval officer, much
noted for his debaucheries. A quarrel, it is supposed provi-
dentially led to her return home. We have the name of the
Lothario in question, who is, at present, stationed in Paris, but,
for obvious reasons, forbear to make it public.” Le Mercurie
—Tuesday Morning, June 24.
“An outrage of the most atrocious character was perpetrated
near this city the day before yesterday. A gentleman, with his
wife and daughter, engaged, about dusk, the services of six
young men, who were idly rowing a boat to and fro near the
banks of the Seine, to convey him across the river. Upon
reaching the opposite shore, the three passengers stepped out,
and had proceeded so far as to be beyond the view of the boat,
when the daughter discovered that she had left in it her
parasol. She returned for it, was seized by the gang, carried
out into the stream, gagged, brutally treated, and finally taken
to the shore at a point not far from that at which she had ori-
ginally entered the boat with her parents. The villains have
escaped for the time, but the police are upon their trail, and
some of them will soon be taken.—Morning Paper—June 25.
“We have received one or two communications, the object
of which, is to fasten the crime of the late atrocity upon Men-
nais; but as this gentleman has been fully exonerated by a legal
inquiry, and as the arguments of our several correspondents
appear to be more zealous than profound, we do not think it
advisable to make them public.”—Morning Paper—June 28.
[Col.1]
“We have received several forcibly written communications,
apparently from various sources, and which go far to render it
a matter of certainty that the unfortunate Marie Rogêt has be-
come a victim of one of the numerous bands of blackguards
which infest the vicinity of the city upon Sunday. Our own
opinion is decidedly in favor of this supposition. We shall
endeavor to make room for some of these arguments hereafter.”
—Evening Paper—Tuesday, June 31.
“On Monday, one of the bargeman connected with the reve-
nue service, saw an empty boat floating down the Seine. Sails
were lying in the bottom of the boat. The bargeman towed it
under the barge office. The next morning it was taken from
thence, without the knowledge of any of the officers. The rud-
der is now at the barge office.”—Le Diligence—Thursday,
June 26.
Upon reading these various extracts, they not only
seemed to me irrelevant, but I could perceive no mode
in which any one of them could be brought to bear upon
the matter in hand. I waited for some explanation
from Dupin.
“It is not my design,” he said, “ to dwell upon the
first and second of these extracts. I have copied them
chiefly to show you the extreme remissness of the po-
lice, who, as far as I can understand from the Prefect,
have not troubled themselves, in any respect, with an
examination of the naval officer alluded to. Yet it is
more folly to say that between the first and second dis-
appearance of Marie, there is no supposable connec-
tion. Let us admit the first elopement to have resulted
in a quarrel between the lovers, and the return home of
the betrayed. We are now prepared to view a second
elopement (if we know that an elopement has again
taken place) as indicating a renewal of the betrayer's
advances, rather than as the result of new proposals by
a second individual—we are prepared to regard it as a
'making up' of the old amour, rather than as the com-
mencement of a new one. The chances are ten thou-
sand to one, that he who had once eloped with Marie,
would again propose an elopement, rather than that she
to whom proposals of elopement had been made by one
individual, should have them made to her by another.
And here let me call your attention to the fact, that the
time elapsing between the first ascertained, and the
second supposed elopement, is precisely the general
period of the cruises of our men-of-war. Had the lover
been interrupted in his first villany by the necessity of
departure to sea, and had he seized the first moment of
his return to renew the base designs not yet altogether
accomplished? Of all these things we know nothing.
“You will say however, that, in the second instance,
there was no elopement as imagined. Certainly not—
but are we prepared to say that there was not the frus-
trated design? Beyond Saint Eustache, and perhaps
Beauvais, we find no recognized, no open, no honorable
suitors of Marie. Of none other is there any thing said.
Who, then, is the secret lover, of whom the relatives
(at least most of them) know nothing, but whom Marie
meets upon the morning of Sunday, and who is so deeply
in her confidence, that she hesitates not to remain with
him, until the shades of the evening descend, amid the
solitary groves of the Barrière du Roule? Who is that
secret lover, I ask, of whom, at least, most of the rela-
tives know nothing? And what means the singular
prophecy of Madame Rogêt on the morning of Marie's
departure?—'I fear that I shall never see Marie again.'
“But if we cannot imagine Madame Rogêt privy to
[Col.2]
the designs of elopement, may we not at least suppose
this design entertained by the girl? Upon quitting
home, she gave it to be understood that she was about
to visit her aunt in the Rue des Drômes, and Saint
Eustache was requested to call for her at dark. Now,
at first glance, this fact strongly militates against my
suggestion;—but let us reflect. That she did meet
with some companion, and proceed with him across the
river, reaching the Barrière du Roule at so late an hour
as three o'clock in the afternoon, is known. But in
consenting so to accompany this individual, she must
have thought of her expressed intention when leaving
home, and of the surprize and suspicion aroused in the
bosom of her affianced suitor, Saint Eustache, when,
calling for her, at the hour appointed, in the Rue des
Drômes, he should find that she had not been there, and
when, moreover, upon returning to the pension with
this alarming intelligence, he should become aware of
her continued absence from home. She must have
thought of these things, I say. She must have foreseen
the chagrin of Saint Eustache, the suspicion of all.
She could not have thought of returning to brave this
suspicion; but the suspicion becomes a point of trivial im-
portance to her, if we suppose her not intending to return.
“We may imagine her thinking thus—'I am to meet
a certain person for the purpose of elopement. It is
necessary that there be no chance of interruption—there
must be sufficient time given us to elude pursuit—I will
give it to be understood that I shall visit and spend the
day with my aunt at the Rue des Drômes—I will tell
Saint Eustache not to call for me until dark—in this
way, my absence from home for the longest possible
period, without causing suspicion or anxiety, will be
accounted for, and I shall gain more time than in any
other manner. If I bid Saint Eustache call for me at
dark, he will be sure not to call before; but, if I wholly
neglect to bid him call, my time for escape will be
diminished, since it will be expected that I return the
earlier, and my absence will the sooner excite anxiety.
Now, if it were my design to return at all—if I had in
contemplation merely a stroll with the individual in
question—it would not be my policy to bid Saint Eus-
tache call; for, calling, he will be sure to ascertain
that I have played him false—a fact of which I might
keep him for ever in ignorance, by leaving home without
notifying him of my intention, by returning before dark,
and by then stating that I had been to visit my aunt in
the Rue des Drômes. But, as it is my design never to
return, the gaining of time is the only point about which
I need give myself any concern.'
“Such thoughts as these we may imagine to have
passed through the mind of Marie, but the point is one
upon which I consider it necessary now to insist. I
have reasoned thus, merely to call attention, as I said a
minute ago, to the culpable remissness of the police.
“You have observed, in your notes, that the most
general opinion in relation to this sad affair, is and was
from the first, that the girl had been the victim of a
gang of blackguards. Now, the popular opinion, under
certain conditions, is not to be disregarded. When
arising of itself—when manifesting itself in a strictly
[Col.1]
spontaneous manner—we should look upon it as analo-
gous with that intuition which is the idiosyncrasy of the
individual man of genius. In ninety-nine cases from the
hundred I would abide by its decision. But it is im-
portant that we find no palpable traces of suggestion.
The opinion must be rigorously the public's own; and
the distinction is often exceedingly difficult to perceive
and to maintain. In the present instance, it appears to
me that this 'public opinion,' in respect to a gang, has
been superinduced by the collateral event which is de-
tailed in the third of my extracts. All Paris is excited
by the discovered corpse of Marie, a girl young, beau-
tiful and notorious. The corpse is found, bearing marks
of violence, and floating in the river. But it is now
made known that, at the very period, or about the very
period, in which it is supposed that the girl was assassi-
nated, an outrage similar in nature, to that endured by
the deceased, although less in extent, was perpetrated,
by a gang of young ruffians, upon the person of a second
young female. Is it wonderful that the one known
atrocity should influence the popular judgment in regard
to the other unknown? This judgment awaited direc-
tion, and the known outrage seemed so opportunely to
afford it! Marie, too, was found in the river; and upon
this very river was this known outrage committed. The
connexion of the two events had about it so much of the
palpable, that the true wonder would have been a
failure of the populace to appreciate and to seize it.
But, to the philosophical, the one atrocity, known to be
so committed, is, if any thing, evidence that the other,
committed at a time nearly coincident, was not so com-
mitted. It would have been a miracle indeed, if, while
a gang of ruffians were perpetrating, at a given locality,
a most unheard of wrong, there should have been another
similar gang, in a similar locality, in the same city, under
the same circumstances, with the same means and appli-
ances, engaged in a wrong of precisely the same aspect,
at precisely the same period of time! Yet in what, if
not in this marvellous train of coincidence, does the
accidentally suggested opinion of the populace call upon
us to believe?
[To be continued.]
[Col.2]
Original.
THE CHANGING OF THE MOON .
——————
BY MISS MARY ANN BROWNE.
——————
SHE comes with a feeble silvery ray,
Traced faintly 'midst the blue;
She hangs above the dying day,
A thing of air and dew.
The stars flash brightly o'er her path,
With wilder light than her's,
No power or majesty she hath,
No glory she confers—
She seems so frail a child of space,
That the zephyr, rising now,
Might almost shake her from her place,
Like a dew-drop from the bough.
She comes again, and clear, and strong,
Her lustre floweth wide,
And its golden track is borne along
Upon the rippling tide.
The smaller stars had hid their heads,
The larger seem to fade,
A glorious radiance now she sheds
On the forest's solemn shade
A lovely crescent now she gleams,
No longer pale and weak,
And scarcely of a kindred seems,
With that first slivery streak;
But, lo, her regal hour hath come!
She reigns triumphant now,
And all the light of Heaven's wide dome,
Seems from her fount to flow.
Thro' the thick wood her searching eye,
Sendeth its glances bright;
There's not a cloud upon the sky,
She cannot turn to light;
It is her hour of pomp and pride,
In this fair night of June,
What starry orb unveiled may ride
Beside the queenly moon?
Again she comes, but late and drear
Is her red rising now.
No more with face of smiling cheer,
She climbs the mountain's brow;
She seems despoiled of half her state,
And comes as one might come
Whose widowed heart is desolate,
To watch beside a tomb.
She tarrieth still altho' away
Hath past the starry host,
And in the early light of day
She lingers like a ghost;
Oh, learn a lesson, Vanity!
Thou canst not learn too soon,
How beauty's charms wax, wane, and die,
Like the changing of the moon.
Liverpool, England.
================================================================
================================================================
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, December 1, 1842 (CA)
================================================================
[Col.2]
THE LADIES' COMPANION for December
contains a story by WILLIS, with contributions by
Tasistro, Poe, Seba Smith, Mrs. Osgood and other
popular writers. It has two steel plates, one a
fine engraving of a Gothic Church at New-Haven,
Connecticut. It is published by W. W. SNOW-
DEN, 109 Fulton st.
================================================================
[Col.1]
DANGERS TO COUNTRY YOUTH IN THE CITY.—
During the later months of summer, and those
which precede the setting in of winter, a great
many young men from the country come to this
metropolis, either with the intention of making it
their permanent abode, or for visits of longer or
shorter duration. The time is appropriate, there-
fore, to the giving of a few words of advice, and
the offering of a few suggestions to this class.
...
The author of the lately-published novel of
“Franklin Evans” takes, for his plot, the com-
ing of a young countryman to New York, to seek
his fortune. It would not be amiss for every
youth, whether he be of city or of country, to
read this book, and receive a warning from some
...
[Col.2]
UNCERTAINTY OF HISTORY.—An excellent lec-
ture on this subject was delivered last evening
by Levi Woodbury, Esq., before the New York
Lyceum. The lecturer portrayed in a striking
manner the consequences arising from the uncer-
tainty of history, showing how facts have been
discolored and exaggerated, circumstances per-
verted or distorted, contradictory statements
made of important revolutions, battles, &c., all
depending on the party to which the historian
belonged, and the false light his partizanship in-
duced him to throw around the subject. Had all
systems of law and political economy been more
faithfully recorded, we would now be more per-
fect. Imperfect facts have produced imperfect
systems; and, as by perfect charts the mariner
avoid the dangers with which he may be beset,
...
[Col.3]
☞ MR. EDITOR—As there seems to be some
doubt in regard to the proper disposition of the
money sent to Sheriff Hart for the purpose of in-
ducing him to allow Colt to escape, we would re-
commend that it be safely invested for the benefit
of the widow and child of that unhappy man.
We can see no reason whatever why it should go
into the public treasury or remain in the posses-
sion of the Sheriff; and as it was meant for the
benefit of Colt, every consideration would dictate
that it should be given to those whom he has left
behind, desolate and in want. In no other way
can its appropriation be productive of equally
good results. Might we not hope, indeed, that
this charity would tend in no small degree to
keep the principal object of it from a career of
crime. We trust that this suggestion will be
borne in mind by those whose duty it shall be to
dispose of the fund. COMMON SENSE.
[Col.4]
☞ It is said, that Captain D'Eymar, who
recently eloped with the young lady from the
house of Dr. Comstock, in this city, is now in
Baltimore.
================================================================
[Col.1]
From the N. Y. Sun Nov. 19
JOHN C. COLT—THE EVENT OF YES-
TERDAY.—Seldom indeed has the city of
...
[Col.2. Partly as in Troy Budget]
...
tion was, to say the least a very strange oc-
currence.
——
From the Philadelphia Times
COLT—IS HE DEAD OR NOT—HIS
WIFE, &c.
New York, as well as this city is full of
rumors in relation to the Colt romance.—
Numbers insist that Colt is not dead—that
his suicide was a hoax—that he was permit-
ted to escape—and one gentleman assured us
yesterday, that he saw Mr. Colt land here
from the N. York boat at night, and heard
him make inquiries as to the most expeditious
mode of reaching New Orleans via. Pitts-
burgh from this city and via. Wheeling Bal-
timore!
We must confess that we think our infor-
mant was mistaken. But it seems that sim-
ilar stories are narrated in New York. The
New York Chronicle of yesterday says—
“There was a rumour in the city yesterday,
that John C. Colt was seen at Harlem at 12
o'clock on Saturday, and that he crossed the
river to N. Jersey in an open boat.
The rumour further stated, that he made
his escape from the Prison during the hubbub
occasioned by the fire—was passed out of the
Elm street gate—entered a hackney coach
prepared for his reception, and was driven off
at a moderate pace, to avoid suspicion, in the
direction of the upper part of the city.
And the rumour further has it that the bo-
dy with the clasp knife struck in his heart, and
on which was held the Coroner's inquest, was
that of a man bearing some resemblance to
Colt—who died the night before in the Alms
House, and who was stealthily conveyed into
the Prison, with the full consent and by the
aid of certain of our worshipful authorities.”
If this rumour be true, the person who arri-
ved by the midnight from N. York, might
have been Mr. Colt, but we cannot believe
it.
The N. Y. Aurora speaking of the rumours
afloat there, observes, that—“notwithstanding
the respectability of the inquest that sat upon
his body, and the testimony of the large num-
ber of persons who saw him weltering in his
blood, there are hundreds in this city who be-
lieve, or affect to believe, that the story of his
suicide is all gammon, and that he is still alive
and kicking. We saw one fellow yesterday,
who swore that a cabman of the most un-
doubted veracity, well acquainted with Colt,
was ready to make affidavit that he put him on
board the New Haven boat on Saturday, and
left him in the enjoyment of excellent health
and spirits.”
To theses remarks upon the probability of
Colt's escape, as every little incident in rela-
to the unfortunate man and his social relations
appears to be sought after just now by the
public with avidity, we add a touching de-
scription of his last scene with Caroline Hen-
shaw, now his wife from the Herald. It will
not be read without interest.
“When,” says the writer, “he at length
spoke of his poor Caroline, he was complete-
ly unmanned. “When our acquaintance com-
menced,” he said, “I had never reflected on
the nature and consequences of such offences.
Had Caroline been a cold, selfish, calculating
woman, instead of a confiding, enthusiastic,
true-hearted girl, she would have saved her
reputation.”
“It appears, that from the beginning Colt was
anxious to sanctify by marriage their unlucky
...
[Col.3]
...
his last preparatins, and continued to the end
calm, if not resigned.
================================================================
[Col.3. Seems as in Troy Budget]
From the New-York Sun.
JOHN C. COLT.
——
This unfortunate man was condemn-
ed to die this afternoon at 4 o'clock.—
...
[Col.4]
...
[Col.5]
...
continued to the end, calm if not resigned.
MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, December 1, 1842 (FH)
[Col.4]
Capital Punishment.
——
The Legislature of Vermont has pas-
sed an act abolishing capital punish-
ment, and substituting therefor imprison-
ment during life in the Penitentiary, un-
less the Governor shall, after one year,
issue a warrant requiring the criminal
to be executed. The bill has received
the signature of the Executive, and be-
come a law of the state.
[Col.6]
Conviction of the Prize Fighters.
——
The trial of several of the ruffians
engaged in the late prize fight at Hast-
ings, came on at the sitting of the Court
of Oyer and Terminer of Westchester
county, last week. The evidence closed
on both sides on Friday, and at seven
o'clock in the evening, the case was
committed to the Jury. They returned
into court at ten o'clock, with a verdict
of manslaughter in the fourth degree
against all the prisoners, and recommen-
ding them to the mercy of the court.
[Col.7]
“The End Not Yet.”—In reference
to the Miller prophecy the Boston Trav-
eller says: “We learn from pretty good
authority that the time hitherto fixed by
a large number of our fellow-citizens for
the end of the world has been again post-
poned. Instead of the 3d of April, it
will take place on the 4th of July Next.
The question was decided last week in
council by the board of directors who
have the management of this stupendous
undertaking.”
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
EXAMINATION INTO THE CASE OF BRIBING HART
WITH THE $1000.—As the public feel deeply inter-
ested in this matter we are requested to say, by
authority, that the committee on police, watch and
prisons, to whom the investigation of the whole sub-
ject has been referred, are prosecuting the examina-
tion with great vigilance and rigor. Vultee has been
examined at length, and we are assured that it is
perfectly astonishing to see with what intense eager-
ness and pertinacity the prisoner Colt endeavored to
work upon his feelings, and induce him to accept
$500 which he tendered him in cash, merely to al-
low him to leave his own cell and enter the adjoin-
ing one, from which he had made arrangements
which would enable him to effect his escape. Eight
or ten other witnesses have been examined, and
among them Messrs. Emmet and Selden, but not
Samuel Colt, as yet. No discovery nor clue has yet
been made of the person who conveyed the knife to
the suicide. And there can be but little doubt that
should the very individual himself who gave Colt
the knife be brought before the committee for exam-
ination, that he would perjure himself to avoid de-
tection, especially as the law requires no man to
criminate himself. The High Sheriff, Mr. Hart, has
been summoned to appear before the committee, but
he has left the city for the west, and will be absent
for some days. It is said that he left on the day after
his communication enclosing the $1000 was handed
in to the Board of Aldermen, that is, last Tuesday.
He was not present at the Board himself on Monday
evening, but sent in his letter by Mr. Westervelt. We
presume he is not absent at this particular crisis to
avoid the investigations now in progress. If Mr.
Hart would save his credit, he should take the ear-
liest opportunity to make a full and unreserved dis-
closure of all he knows on the subject. He should
tell the public who gave him that letter—where the
beginning of it is—where the envelope is—why he
did not immediately disclose the fact that he had
received the $1000, and then take whatever time he
chose, it if were six months, to make his disposi-
tion of it. We are informed that he did mention
the fact—when we do not know—to Judge Inglis,
and to one of his deputies, Westervelt, probably.
On one point the public may rest assured, that John
C. Colt is dead, and that he died a suicide, as we
have already reported. The committee are pursu-
ing the investigations with the best of legal assis-
tance, and we are assured it will be thorough, and
that the public will be in the end fully satisfied.
[Col.4]
JAMES G. BENNETT, ESQ.—
I see that there is much said about the one thousand
dollars that was sent as a bribe not to hang Colt.—
Now the question is, who can tell whether the She-
riff intended to let the time pass by or not, in doing
his duty by hanging Colt? No one can tell. It is
certain that there was very great indifference in the
matter, and it does appear that there was uncalled
for postponement to the latest period, for some pur-
pose unknown to the public. However, we will pass
by all this. Many think that the best disposition to
make of the one thousand dollars would be to give
it to Mrs. Adams—not by way of paying her for the
loss of her husband; but as she has been deprived of
him, which was all her support in this world, by
Colt, I think that Colt's friends ought to lend the
helping hand to Mrs. Adams. I am sure that if you
will take up the subject for the Corporation or Com-
mon Council to hand over the $1000 to Mrs. Adams,
it will be just and proper.
A FRIEND TO HUMANITY.
================================================================
[Col.1]
The $1,000 bribe to the Sheriff—What
shall be done with it?
To the Editor of The Tribune:
The other day, I was rejoiced to see the follow-
ing petition to the Common Council of New-York,
prepared by an individual, who did not know any
one of the Colt family, even by sight, and who re-
ceived no hint or suggestion whatever, except from
the heart:
To the Common Council of the City of New-York:
It is stated that $1,000 has been deposited in
the City Treasury, by Mr. Hart, the Sheriff; being
money sent to him by unknown hands, with the
hope of saving John C. Colt from violent death.
We would, most respectfully, call your attention
to a few considerations in connection with this cir-
cumstance. In the first place, it must be obvious
to all, that this money was bestowed by some per-
son, or persons, who took a deep interest in the
fate of that wretched man; and secondly, what-
ever legal construction may be put upon the act,
every humane man will feel that it was creditable
to the heart of the giver—and that he would him-
self give ten times as much if it could avail to save
friend, or relative, under circumstances so dread-
ful. In this view of the case, ought the public to
keep that money? Have they a right to keep it?
Do not humanity and justice alike point to the
orphan child, as the proper recipient of this boun-
ty from his father's friend?
Individuals and communities become immortal
by acts of kindness. Such deeds excite sponta-
neous reverence in the minds of men, and the bless-
ing of God rests upon them.
In the present state of society the stern require-
ments of justice often compel us to check the im-
pulses of humanity; but there is no such impedi-
ment in this case. The child is innocent, and
most unfortunate. A stigma will rest upon him,
guiltless as he is; and he has been deprived in a
fearful manner, of the hand that should have pro-
tected his childhood, and guided his youth.
Under these affecting circumstances, we respect-
fully, and most earnestly, pray that the city of
New-York will place this $1,000 at interest for the
benefit of the infant son of John C. Colt. M. L.
☞ We have signed a petition to the Common
Council that half of the $1,000 be given to the
child of Colt, and the remainder to the widow of
Samuel Adams. We are willing the City should
be kind to the child of Colt, but we think there
are other more unfortunate in this matter than
that child. The conduct of the felon in seducing
Caroline M. Henshaw, living with her for months
after he must have known that her hopes in life
were blighted forever and her shame must soon be
made manifest, and refusing her the miserable re-
paration of a marriage ceremony till after his hopes
of pardon were utterly dissipated, convinces us
that the child has lost nothing by the punishment
which has overtaken the father. [Ed. Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.2]
The Legislature of Vermont has passed solemn
resolutions exceedingly adverse to the “Autocrat of
all the Russians,” and which will probably give that
naughty potentate a great many sleepless nights.
...
We suppose that we ourselves have as strong a
sense of the Russian injustice towards Poland as
others, but with it all it is impossible not to see the
exceeding folly and childishness of this piece of Ver-
mont mummery.
[Col.3]
A petition of which the following is a copy, has
been put in circulation, and one left at the desk of
this office for signatures. We cordially approve of
the suggestion with regard to the disposition of the
sum referred to.
To the Honorable the Common Council of the City of
New-York:
The undersigned, Citizens of the City of New-
York, respectfully solicit from your Honorable Body,
that you will take such measures as will secure to
the widow of the late Samuel Adams, and to the in-
fant child of the late unfortunate John C. Colt, the
sum of One Thousand Dollars which was received
by the Sheriff of the City and County of New-York,
as a bribe for the non-performance of his duty, and
which sum of One Thousand Dollars was presented
by said Sheriff to your Honorable Body for your dis-
posal. We would respectfully suggest, that the sum
of Five Hundred Dollars be paid to the widow of the
said Adams, and that the interest of the remaining
Five Hundred Dollars be appropriated to the main-
tenance of said child, and the principal to be paid him
on his arriving at the age of twenty-one. And your
petitioners will over pray.
New-York, November 30, 1842.
================================================================
[Col.7]
AMERICA.—What true patriotic heart does not
beat with joy and love—what lover of pure free-
dom does not brighten with pride at the very
mention of the great and hallowed name—what
...
leave the shore of oppression and come to Ame-
rica. C. B.
—————
...
☞ Mr. B?????? at his lecture the other eve-
ning, at Boston, on the character of Samuel Ad-
ams, when speaking of women, called her the
“weaker vessel,” but immediately, with all the
gallantry of the old school, apologized by saying
that justice to ??, ???? required it to be known
?????????????????????????????????????????????????
THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, December 2, 1842 (FH)
[Col.2]
STAND BACK, SMALL FRY.—We have been
much sneered at by some of our young cotem-
poraries for not adding fuel to the flame of excite-
ment still raging in the city in regard to the sup-
posed unaccountabilities and mysteries lingering
about the case of Colt, and one even went so far
as to charge our sin of omission in that behalf
to “cowardice”—aye, cowardice! that was the
word. Now we have not deserved any such im-
putation. On the contrary, the very reverse is
the truth in regard to our silence in the premises.
Of all the twaddle and nonsense bruited about
town, and through some of the papers, about
Colt, we saw or heard none half startling enough
to excite our interest. We don't like small pota-
toes, at all, especially when there are large ones
to be had for the asking. It spoils the value of
a rich mine of wonder and excitement to be con-
tinually dragging from it infinitismally small
specimens of its productiveness. Now we will
give the town something huge and tangible—
something worthy the occasion and the cause
in which so large a portion of the city press
in enlisted—A LETTER FROM THE LIVING
COLT HIMSELF! If this is not a thing for
wonder and excitement to gloat over, we cannot
imagine anything that would be. We must con-
fess that it put us into a perfect agony of amaze-
ment and excitement. That it is what it pur-
ports to be—a genuine, bona fide letter from the
living and breathing, but somewhat fatigued, J.
C. Colt, we are warranted in believing by the as-
tounding outgivings of mystery put forth by
some of our cotemporaries while we have no
particular desire to discredit such a presumption.
It came to us through that most respectable and
responsible medium, the post office, bearing a
genuine post mark, and every other indication of
genuineness, as far as we are able to judge. How,
then, can it be otherwise than genuine—a tangi-
ble, undeniable, overwhelming proof, that the
whole array of law and justice—the palladium of
our rights, our peace, our lives, all that is near
and dear to us—has he set at nought by a
revolutionary and destructive combination of
public officers and private citizens; that the
dignity of the state and the majesty of the law
have been trodden under foot by corruption and
high-handed villany; [boy, put more brimstone in
that grate] that our temples of justice have been
converted into dens of outlaws! THAT OUR PUBLIC
OFFICERS HAVE BECOME THE ABETTORS AND AC-
COMPLICES OF FELONS AND MURDERERS!! THAT
TO SUCH A STATE OF ANARCHY AND OUTLAWRY
HAS THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAWS BEEN
REDUCED BY CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY, THAT NO
LONGER IS SAFETY FROM OPEN RAPINE, PLUNDER,
AND MURDER TO BE FOUND IN OUR BORDERS!!!
Let the unbelieving read the annexed proof of
what we assert, and longer doubt, if he can, that,
if Miller's Millenium is not upon our heels, it
ought to be.
J. C. Colt presents his respects to the Editor
of the Sun, and asks a place for a few words in
his columns. I am in safety, and shall never for-
get those who assisted me on the day on which
the twelve's conviction and the judge's decision
had decided that I should part with life. It will
be impossible to keep the secret of my escape
from the public, and I, as I only wished for my
life in order to prove my innocence, hope I am
not wrong in addressing you on the subject. I
foresee that many innocent persons will be
blamed, but my silence will not save them. I am
not well enough to write much at present, but
must express my gratitude to the Rev. Dr. An-
thon, whom it was painful to deceive—but neces-
sity has no law. I thought Governor Seward my
enemy, but he has proved a prudent generous
friend. Never shall I forget the debt of gratitude
due him. When I recover from the fatigue I am
laboring under I will write you some important
particulars if this is deemed advisable to publish.
I see your paper almost daily. If you do not pub-
lish this give me some intimation of having re-
ceived it, to govern my future course. It will
have to go through many hands before it reaches
you; it may perhaps be intercepted. In future
I hope to have one with me who will spare me
the necessity of addressing you in my own hand-
writing. Yours, &c.,
J. C. COLT.
Now, we repeat it, let the small fry dabblers
in the mysterious and horrible “stand back.”
[Col.5]
THE COLT INVESTIGATION.—The Committee of
the Common Council, to which had been referred
the Sheriff, the burning of the cupola of the city
prison, and other matters connected with recent
mysterious events, are actively engaged, we un-
derstand, in the examination of witnesses, and
will present a report of their proceedings in a
few days.
—————
...
☞ Gentlemen's short cloaks are now lined
with scarlet, blue, green, and other dashing colored
ladies shawl patterns—and it is quite amusing to
a lover of natural history to watch the dandy
tribe as they slide along Broadway, fluttering
their arms and displaying their gaudy plumage!
Query—Of what sex is the genuine, full-feathered
dandy?
...
☞ On our outside pages of to-day will be
found a couple of columns of interesting origi-
nal matter which was crowded out of yesterday's
paper by “the war of the pill giants.”
THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, December 2, 1842 (FH)
[Col.1]
EVILS OF BALL REPORTS.—The season has al-
ready commenced when our gay and fashionable
circles busy themselves with balls, parties, routs,
and so forth. Pleasure, when indulged in to a
reasonable degree, is not only excusable but com-
mendable. We would be the last to raise our voice
against it. But it may fairly be questioned wheth-
er the fatiguing dance in the vitiated atmosphere
of a crowded room—the late hours—the whirl and
excitement—the drinking, and the highly season-
ed suppers—can be considered as true pleasure.—
...
[Col.7]
TO FEMALES—BEWARE OF IMPOSITION—
Madame Restell, Female Physician, would caution fe-
males against a contemptible imposition attempted to be
practised upon them by an ignorant pretender advertising
herself a “female physician,” who, finding her miserable
and injurious compounds unsaleable as “Female Renova-
ting Pills,” impudently seeks to deceive the public by
...
M ADAME COSTELLO—Female Periodical Pills
guaranteed in every case where the monthly periods
...
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE THOUSAND DOLLARS.—We agree with the
writer of the communication which we subjoin,
that the best disposition of the thousand dollars
sent to the sheriff of New York, to induce him to
decline executing Colt, should be secured to his
infant son.
In regard to the Governor's inflexible course
in Colt's case, there are many who are dis-
posed to contrast it with the remarkable facility
with which he granted a pardon in another case.
A correspondent, of the highest respectability, who
has no party or personal antipathies to gratify,
says:—
“Are you aware that when Colt's brother went
to see Governor Seward, the Governor told him
that it was of no use to get up petitions, that it
was easy enough to get up petitions, that they never
would have the slightest weight upon his mind;
that the only question with him as Chief Magistrate
was, whether the law was proved to have been
violated and the criminal legally sentenced. Yet,
in the case of Webb, this same Governor gives as a
reason for pardoning him, that the petitions were
so numerously signed. I know this to be a fact,
and I wish you would point out the inconsistency
of such a course.”
The inconsistency is already perceived by all
those who have read the Governor's opinion in
Colt's case, and the ridiculous paper granting a
pardon in the other case.
For the Evening Post.
Through the columns of your paper, I wish to
appeal to the moral sense of judicious and reflect-
ing citizens with regard to the $1000 deposited in
the city treasury by Mr. Hart, the sheriff. Has the
public an equitable right to this money? It was
obviously offered by some strong friend of John C.
Colt; and, however the action my be considered
in a legal point of view, it indicates great kindness
of heart in the giver. Most men would gladly do
as much, if they could, to save a friend from vio-
lent death, however deeply they might deplore his
guilt. Let any one imagine himself the father, the
brother, the son, or the bosom friend, of one in a
situation so dreadful, and he will at once perceive
that nature would cry out mightily in his bosom to
make every possible effort to save him.
This money being the gift of the father's friend,
who ought to receive it, if not the orphan child?
It seems to me but simple justice that it should be
thus bestowed; and on the score of humanity, this
babe certainly has strong claims; for he is guilt-
less, and yet born to misfortune through the un-
governed passions of his father.
I never saw John C. Colt, and am entirely un-
acquainted with his family. I merely utter the
spontaneous feelings and unbiassed judgment of a
“looker on in Venice,” when I say that the city of
New York will greatly ennoble her character by
placing this money at interest for that bereaved
and innocent child. C.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Is John C. Colt Alive or Dead?
To the Editor of The Tribune:
Excuse my freedom in offering a few thoughts
on the supposed tragic end of John C. Colt. It is
a very delicate matter to decide; nevertheless
there are several points in this case which we of
Connecticut think ought to be made more plain
to the public eye. Reports of the existence of
Col tare spreading—whether groundless or not,
and the whole finale of the matter ought cer-
tainly to be probed to the bottom. The Commit-
tee on the “Cupola” are not, I take it, empowered
to investigate whether or no John C. Colt be alive
or dead! Several circumstances in the newspa-
per reports have gone to strengthen my own sus-
picions, as well as those of many in this place and
State. 1. Would a man of his (Colt's) tact have
inquired about anatomical works, arteries, &c.?
2. His composed demeanor and his marriage?
3. Postponement of the hour. 4. Leaving him
alone by the Sheriff. 5 Bringing the coffin into
the cell. (Query, what was in it?) 6. The com-
posed appearance of the body whosoever it was.
7. The arranged plan of the fire. 8. The slight
recognition of the body in the dusky light of 4
o'clock. 9. The instantaneous inquest. 10. The
public hiring of a steamboat which brought up on
Sunday his (Colt's) body. Please examine this
matter with your own means of information. If
there be any iniquity, show it up.
“HARTFORD” AND “NEW HAVEN”
☞ In reply to the inquiries and in satisfaction
of the doubts of our correspondent, we shall bare-
ly say that we have the most implicit belief that
John C. Colt stabbed himself to the heart in pri-
son in this City on the afternoon of the 18th ult.
and has since been as dead as possible. There
were some queer doings about the prison at that
time, but the persons who saw Colt's body cannot
have been mistaken. There was a great mistake
committed in not having it publicly exposed to the
scrutiny at least of all those persons present at the
Coroner's Inquest, but that does not bring the dead
man to life again. [Ed. Tribune.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, December 3, 1842 (CA)
[Col.1]
For The Tribune.
The $1,000 Bribe.
MR. EDITOR:—I am surprised at the proposi-
tion to give the bribe lately offered to the Sheriff
in the case of Colt to his child.
When there are so many poor infant children in
want, whose honest virtuous parents through life
have obeyed every law, human and divine, is it not
strange to single this one out for public charity,
where both parents openly violated the decencies
of society, and where atrocious crimes and deeds
of uncommon horror closed the final scene? Is
not the proposed plan a bounty in prospect for
those who first disgrace their race, and then com-
mit such outrages as are scarcely paralleled in the
annals of mankind? The murdered man and his
family are forgotten; the murderer and his para-
mour are made heroes, and their child is to be a
public beneficiary! No! let the misfortune of this
child—this innocent child—in being born of such
parents, stand as one warning to others not to leave
to their children such a legacy of shame. Z.
================================================================
[Col.4]
☞ J. C. COLT, who was convicted of
the murder of Mr. Adams, in New York,
committed suicide on the day he was to
have been executed.
[Col.5]
NEWSPAPER
The following article on the subject of
“Newspapers and their advantages,” was
published originally in the Long Island
Star some fifteen or twenty years ago. It
...
“A newspaper is a school in a family of
...
Truly, we should suppose that if a young
man went a courting, and his sweetheart
should find out that he read no newspaper,
would, if she thought much of herself,
send him away, as one uninformed of his
political rights—ignorant of a thousand
things which every young American ought
to know, and therefore unfit to be the hus-
band of an intelligent girl.”
—————
...
MARY RODGERS, the “beautiful cigar
girl,” whose mysterious disappearance
caused so much excitement about a year
since in New York, was not murdered as
was supposed, but died from taking medi-
cine for the purpose of producing prema-
ture birth.
[Col.6]
A young lady named Mary Ann, recently
went to a ball with a bladder lightly blowed
up for a bustle. A gentleman accidentally
ran against her and burst the bladder, re-
storing her chaotic form to its usual pro-
portion. The report was heard all over the
town.
—————
...
A Louisiana paper gives a story of a
child, two hours after its birth, to the great
astonishment of its mother and nurse,
speaking out, and announcing that the
world will be destroyed in 1843. Queer
baby talk.
—————
...
FRAUDULENT VOTING.—Justice Parker is
still under trial in New York for discharg-
ing vagrants from prison and getting them
to vote the Democratic ticket.
================================================================
[Col.5]
For the Evening Post
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS BRIBE.—This seems
to be the age of sympathy and forgiveness; but it
unfortunately so happens, that the most noisy pro-
fessors of these virtues seldom come out except in
favor of villainy, and of those who have committed
against others the worst of crimes.
Colt, for instance, murders, robs and butchers a
harmless, good citizen—is convicted—and there is
not proved a single extenuating circumstance—but
immediately we are overrun with all kinds of pity,
and exertions to prevent his getting justice. His
friends try to bribe the sheriff, and being unsuccess-
ful, your correspondent C., in his anxiety to make
the best disposition of the money, (the offer of
which he says “indicates great goodness of heart
in the giver,”) thinks it ought to be given to the in-
fant son of Colt.
Now, I admire the motto of “justice before gene-
rosity;” and if innocent misfortune can be spared
a little sympathy, would not the poor widow and
family of the murdered man be worthy of some
consideration, and be more justly entitled to this
money? S.
================================================================
[Col.2 / Col.2]
☞ Where has Sheriff Hart gone? When will
he return? What of the investigation? Who gets
the $1000?
[Col.5]
Oswego:
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
...
OSWEGO, Nov. 29, 1842
...
tween this and Chicago. The news of the tragi-
cal end of John C. Colt created much excitement.
Pray do inform us when Webb is in a proper
state of mind for a pardon. We have some odds
...
[Col.6]
MOST INHUMAN AND INFAMOUS OUTRAGE.—That the ci-
ty of New York is daily becoming the scene of transac-
tions more infamous than on any other part of this habit-
able globe, we have only to refer to the records of the
times for evidence. The spirit of rowdyism that exists
was never more at its height than at the present period,
and the total inefficiency of the police system is daily be-
coming more and more evident. The latest exhibition of
inhuman ruffianism was exhibited on Saturday evening,
in Broadway, at an hour while our streets was swarming
with passers by. A young woman about 17 years of age,
named Ann Murphy, a servant girl, of respectable parent-
age and virtuous habits, while passing down Broadway,
on a visit to a family in Beekman street, stopped opposite
the porter house called the Broadway Cottage, next door
below the Masonic Hall, and enquired the direction of the
street she was going to. One of the soap locks that infest
that place of infamy, named John Underhill, who was
standing on the pavement, told her that his sister was just
preparing to go to Beekman street, and if she would step
inside and wait a minute, she would accompany her. No
sooner was the door of this den opened, than this innocent
and unoffending girl was forcibly grasped by Underhill,
and the keeper of the premises, named William Dingler,
and a fellow named Gabriel Hatfield, and carried into the
building at the rear of the house, and there forcibly held
on a table, while Underhill and Dingler perpetrated their
brutal and infamous purpose, leaving the poor girl scarcely
able to support herself. She was then brought up into the
bar room, when an inhuman wretch named Charles Pierce,
who acted in the capacity of bar tender, forced her into
the street. These beasts in human shape were arrested
yesterday morning and lodged in prison, in default of bail.
The girl is in a distressing situation, but has been care-
fully attended by Dr. Macomb, physician of the city pri-
son.
This den in Broadway has recently been known as a
place of resort of the most infamous vagabonds of our city,
and many of the night walkers that infest our streets have
been hurried to that rear building by the inmates, and
there compelled to satiate the lustful appetites of the ruf-
fians who had seized them.
================================================================
[Col.3]
CHARGE OF RAPE.—Among our police reports
to-day will be found one of this character. In the
report, we have the girl's version of the affair only,
which, we apprehend, when brought to the test of
legal proof, will be found very much exaggerat-
ed, if not of still less creditable character. Mr.
Dingler, one of the persons arrested, has long sus-
tained an irreproachable character, and is an indi-
vidual altogether unlikely to be in any way con-
nected with an affair of the character described;
but would, on the other hand, be among the fore-
most to prevent outrage of any kind.
[Col.7]
Sunday, Dec. 4.
CHARGED WITH A RAPE.—Yesterday evening,
about eight o'clock, as a respectable young fe-
male, about seventeen years of age, a servant
girl, was passing down Broadway, to pay a visit
in Beekman street, when opposite to the Broad-
way Cottage, No. 312, kept as a porter house by
William Dingler, she accosted a man named John
Underhill, who was standing on the stoop, and
asked him if she was pursuing the right direction.
He told her that he lived there, and his siter was
preparing to go down town, and would accompa-
ny her. The girl accepted the offer, and went
in, but had no sooner advanced a few steps, than
she was forcibly dragged into a back room, and
Dingler (the landlord) and John Underhill vio-
lated her person. A man named Gabriel Hatfield
assisted them in their wicked purpose. The bar-
keeper, Charles Pierce, also assaulted her as she
was passing out, on her making complaint of the
inhuman treatment she had experienced. Officer
Stokeley arrested the men. Pierce was held to
bail in the sum of $500, and the other three in
that of $1,500 each, to answer. The girl is named
Ann Murphy, and is a very respectable young
female.
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE SALEM BELLE: A Tale of 1692. Boston: Tappan &
Denett. New-York: Dayton & Newman, 199 Broad-
way.
This is the title of a small, neat volume, con-
taining a tale, designed to illustrate the social
habits and manners of the people of New-England
during the days of the Salem Witchcraft. The
attempt, we believe, has never before been made;
though there is evidently scope for the most inter-
esting and valuable exercise of the novelist's pow-
er. The style of this little book is easy and
graceful, and the incidents of the tale possesses
variety and no little interest.
[Col.4]
The Alabama Murder.
Few transactions, even in this age of horrid
murders, have been marked with such deliberate,
cold-blooded atrocity as the murder of George W.
Lore by 138 citizens of Alabama. Without the
slightest well-grounded suspicion of his guilt, in
utter disregard of his repeated protestations of in-
nocence and his petitions for a trial by jury, with
a black-hearted ferocity unsurpassed even by can-
nibals, they hung him amid their own blasphemous
execrations, and his cool though earnest declara-
tions of perfect innocence of the crime. Being
out on bail, he had voluntarily returned to Ala-
bama to take his trial. The Hartford, Ct. Review
contains the following touching letter, written
after he had addressed the mob:
SPRING HILL, Nov. 3, 1842.
My dear Wife, Children, Parents, Brothers and Sisters:
I have barely time to write a few lines. I
am here, at this place; arrived on Saturday last,
and the citizens arrested me, and, contrary to my
expectations, will not give me another trial, but
have, about a hundred of them, determined to ex-
ecute me; it will be about half an hour. This
will astonish you more than anything you ever
heard or expected to hear, but nevertheless it is
true. I fear not what they can do to me. I had
no evil design in returning, but did not expect to
be treated in the manner I am. The crime for
which I am shortly to lose my life, I am innocent
of. My little Emma and Elizabeth are not more
innocent than I. O! my God, how I love those
children. My wife, my poor wife, and sweet lit-
tle children! God have mercy upon them, bless
and protect them, and may they live and be happy,
be respected and an honor to society. I would
love, dearly love to live for them, and for my poor
Sarah, my poor distressed father and mother,
brothers and sisters. God bless them all! I shall
soon have no more trouble in this world. I have
lived an innocent life, and shall die with nothing
to distress me, but the fact of being disgraced. It
will, however, be a source of satisfaction to you
to be assured that I am innocent of the charge. I
cannot tell you my feelings at such horrid treat-
ment against all law and order.
But my dear parents, wife, children, brothers,
sisters and relations, be not grieved at my dying
thus. I had much rather die so than live dis-
graced. I did not, however, expect such treat-
ment when I returned. My dying request, my
poor Sarah is that you should remain at my father's,
and be happy with the children, and tell them of
their poor father, and how much he loves ——.
I have but a few moments more to live, but here
let me beg of you to remain at my father's, and
never come to a country at the hands of whose
people I have received so much cruel injustice.
This act of inhumanity is most unanimous even
among the few who perpetrated it, and this too,
right in the neighborhood where the crime was
committed. The most respectable men do not
sanction the course. But enough.
I got of Capt. Jarman $70, money he collected
on wood, of Father's, corded in Philadelphia.
He still has $500 in his possession. I spent nearly
all in coming out. I have but a few dollars left.
I do not know as it is necessary for me to say more.
But let me beg of you in the name of God, to be
proud of the course I have pursued, viz: in giv-
ing myself up to die, or as I thought, to the law,
rather than be disgraced. I love you all; and
would love to live among you, but I had as well
die as live dishonored.
My dear father, mother, brothers and sisters, will
you now be kind to my poor wife and children, and
assist her in educating them, and never consent
for her to return to this country to live, but remain
with you? I know I need never have returned,
but I preferred this course to being absent from
you. My friends in Irwinton know nothing of the
course my enemies have taken; indeed, I hardly
have time to write. In Philadelphia, at an oyster
house adjoining the tavern where the Washington
steamboat starts from, I left my traveling bag;
some of my clothes are in it, so you can get them.
There are also some books among them. Give
my love to all my relatives and friends, and tell
them that I am innocent of the crime or charge.
I would write to them all, but the mob will not
give me time. This I write on my knee, in the road
near the woods. When I left the North, I pre-
pared myself so as not to be arrested until I ar-
rived. Now I am about to die, and my last re-
quest is, that my remains may be taken up and
carried to Cantwell's Bridge, Delaware, and there
deposited along side my dear brother Giles. This
I wish to be attended to as soon as convenient and
agreeable. The expense will be but little, and it
may be a source of some satisfaction to you.
And now may the blessings of Almighty God be
and abide with all and each of you. Farewell, my
dear wife, my dear children, my dear father and
mother, brothers and sisters, and uncles and rela-
tions, farewell! GEO. W. LORE.
P. S.—This is the last time you will ever re-
ceive a line from me. I write coolly, but I do so
believing that I am not afraid to die. My time is
out. It is 35 minutes past 2 o'clock.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, December 6, 1842 (CA)
[Col.1]
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.—The Board met at 5
...
PETITIONS REFERRED—Of inhabitants of the Six and
other Wards, in favor of appropriating the $1000 sent to the
Sheriff, $500 of it to the widow of Samuel Adams, and the
other $500 to be invested and the interest to be used to sup-
port Colt's child. Of Henry A. Fay and 47 others, for the
$1000 to be paid to Mrs. Adams. Of Isaac G. Hopper and
others, for $1000 to be applied for the support of Colt's
child. Of Paul F. Niles, for leave to remove the remains of
his nephew from the corner of Forsyth and Houston-streets.
...
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.5]
EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD:—
There is a strange story which has been whispered
in some circles for the past few days, that John C. Colt,
the murderer, had he not been convicted for the
murder of Adams, would have been on trial for
another murder. The story is, that a person resident
in Detroit, left his home some two years ago, and
started for this city and has since never been
heard of.
The last he was seen was at the Bowery theatre
in company with Colt, as the story goes, who was
well acquainted with the individual. About the
time of his disappearance a vessel arrived at New
Orleans from this port having on board a box con-
taining a human body, addressed to a fictitious name
of a physician in the interior. The box was handed
over to the authorities of New Orleans, who pre-
suming it to be a subject for anatomy, thought no
more of the matter and buried the body. The ob-
ject of this, is to ask you whether there is any grounds
for such a rumor—and whether you are able to throw
any light on this strange story. If it be not true, it
should be contradicted. Is is also said that District
Attorney Whiting has all the facts of the transac-
tion in his possession. CLIO.
================================================================
[Col.1]
In the Board of Aldermen last night on the pre-
sentation of various petitions, asking that different
dispositions be made of the sum of one thousand
dollars, sent to the Sheriff for the purpose of induc-
ing him to refuse to execute Colt, Alderman CROLIUS,
on behalf of the committee appointed to investigate
the subject, said that they had held frequent meet-
ings and examined many witnesses and would pro-
bably be able to make a report at the next meeting
of the Board.
[Col.2]
We are authorized by Alderman CROLIUS to say
that the statements which appeared in the columns of
the Aurora and Evening Tattler, respecting the infa-
mous outrage alleged to have been committed on the
person of a young female at the Cottage in Broad-
way, on Saturday evening, are incorrect as far as re-
lates to his action as a Magistrate.
The girl was brought to the Watch-house, where
Alderman CROLIUS was, by a watchman who found
her in the street crying, and having heard her ac-
count of the affair, the Alderman immediately order-
ed Captain FENTON to proceed to the house in ques-
tion and bring before him the proprietor of the house,
and any persons he could find, whom he might have
cause to suspect participated in the crime. The girl
herself, he placed in a separate and comfortable
apartment under the care of Dr. McCOMB, the medi-
cal attendant in the City Prison. In a short time,
the watchmen returned, having obeyed the orders
given them and bringing with them, the man Din-
glee, the proprietor of the house, and very soon after
the barkeeper Underhill, and an inmate of the house
named Hatfield. The girl was then brought for-
ward and asked if among the persons present she
could identify any as having committed the outrage.
She at once pointed out Dingle, as one of the men,
made no other charge against the bar-keeper, than
that he ordered her away, and exonerated Hatfield.
The girl was sent home by the Alderman under the
care of Assistant Captain Eldridge, with instructions
to see her friends and explain to them the necessity
of her appearance at the Police office on the following
morning at 9 o'clock. The man Dingle, though re-
presenting that his house was left open without any
person to take care of it, was not released until a re-
sponsible person had become surety for his re-ap-
pearance at the Police the next day at 9 o'clock,
when he did appear with the two others, and they
were all committed to prison.
Surely there is nothing in this plain recital of the
conduct of Alderman CROLIUS, which shews that he
was wanting in his duty as a Magistrate or in kind-
ness to the poor girl.
================================================================
[Col.7]
That Horrid and Dastardly Murder.
From the New Haven Palladium.
Our readers doubtless remember the account we
published not many days since of the most dastard-
ly murder in Alabama, of GEORGE W. LORE, a near
relative of E. B. Green, Esq. Editor of the Hartford
Review. Young Lore was himself accused of mur-
der, and falsely so beyond all question. He only
asked for a fair trial, but he was taken by a mob
and by them sentenced to be hung up like a dog to
a tree, and the decree of the mob was fully execut-
ed. The Editor of the review says:—“That the
unfortunate victim of this ruthless gang was inno-
cent of the crime charged against him, we ask no
better proof than the fact that when entirely out of
the reach of his enemies, and the law, he preferred
to deliver himself up to the proper authorities, and
undergo trial by a jury of his countrymen. Four
different times when he might staid away with
impunity he returned among his enemies, relying
upon their humanity and the power of the law for
protection.
How far he has been deceived, both by the in-
efficiency of the law and the inhumanity of his per-
secutors, is shown in the brutal murder committed
upon him. What an inhuman act was that! Who
can conceive of a meaner, more despicable, more
disgraceful act than that of a hundred and thirty
men taking advantage of a poor helpless, friendless,
hunted down fellow being, who had thrown himself
upon their protection with a view to have justice
done him by the laws of the country, and murdering
him while in his innocence and helplessness, he has
only power to say, 'You wrong me, I am innocent
—I am innocent!'—How foul and unmanly a deed!
Had poor Lore made an attempt to escape, had he
been considered a dangerous man, a gambler, horse-
thief, burglar or desperado of any kind, there might
possibly have appeared something bearing the sem-
blance of an excuse for thus robbing him of his life;
but for a man who has always received the highest
respect and warmest esteem of his fellow men, who
was never charged with a misdemeanor—who ever
sought, as in this instance, that common justice at
the hands of the law to which every American citi-
zen is entitled, to be thus taken, and without offer-
ing any resistance, hung, being denied the privi-
lege of calling a friend to see him die by the hands
of cruel murderers—it is too bad—too bad.
Before his death he was told he might make any
remarks that he desired, upon which he arose, and
in a cool, deliberate manner, with an unshaken
nerve and unfaltering voice, addressed the citizens
for better than an hour, remonstrating with them in
relation to the impropriety of the course they were
about to pursue, and urging upon them the necessi-
ty of granting him a new trial by a jury of his coun-
trymen, and the laws of the land. He was fre-
quently interrupted during his remarks by the unfeel-
ing mob calling him a “damned liar,” &c.
After the conclusion of this speech, he asked the
privilege of writing to his wife, children and other
relatives, which being granted, and pen, ink and pa-
per furnished him, he sat down and wrote upon his
knee, with a steady hand, in the midst of those who
were about to execute him, the following very feel-
ing, sympathetic letter:—
SPRING HILL, Nov. 3, 1842.
My dear Wife, Children, Parents, Brothers and
Sisters:
I have barely time to write you a few lines. I
...
friends in Irwintown know nothing of the course my
...
tions, Farewell! GEO. W. LORE.
P. S.—This is the last time you will ever receive
a line from me. I write coolly, but I do so believ-
ing that I am not afraid to die. My time is out.—
It is 35 minutes past 2 o'clock.
The Review gives the following further particu-
lars concerning this most fiendish murder:
“The rope was then placed around his neck, du-
ring which time he still continued cool and collected,
delivering over into the hands of a gentleman of
this place, his watch, money, and other articles, and
giving the necessary directions in relation to them
with as much deliberation as if he were only about
to start on a temporary journey. After every thing
was in readiness they repaired to a large chesnut
tree, about 150 yards from the road, when causing
him to stand upon a horse, the rope was wrapped
around a stout branch of the tree and then made
fast to a sapling near. The unfortunate man then
bade 'Good bye to all,' the horse was taken from
under him and while his body hung dangling be-
tween the heavens and the earth, his immortal spirit
took its flight into an unbounded eternity!”
Thus conscious of his own innocence he braved
the 'King of Terrors' and met his death without a
shudder, while the cowardly hearts of his murderers
shrunk from the scene upon which their guilty eyes
did not dare to look.
By further advices from the scene of the murder
we learn that upwards of one hundred and thirty
murderers have been arrested and imprisoned, and
that two of the number taken are also under arrest
for the murder of young Blake!!!
From every circumstance that we can possibly
get possession of concerning this dreadful murder we
have the most unquestionable proof that our unfortu-
nate kinsman fell a victim to the fiendish rabble who
were instigated and led on by the real murderers of
Blake whose death had been so unjustly charged
upon him. Even the abettors in his murder are
now attempting to palliate their conducting by
charging these two double-murderers with having
deceived them!
[Col.8]
From the New York Express.
Disgraceful Outrage.
On Saturday evening at the early hour of 8 o'-
clock there was one of the most gross and flagrant
outrages committed in the very heart of our city,
that we have ever been called upon to record.
A young girl of excellent character, aged about
17 years, a servant in one of our most respectable
families, named Ann Murphy, was passing down
Broadway, near Pearl street, when she became rath-
er confused as to her locality, and asked a person
named John Underhill to direct her to Beekman
street. He replied that he could not direct her very
well, but his sister was then preparing to go down
town, and would pass by Beekman street, and
would leave her there, if she would step in the house
a moment.
The girl accepted the offer, when the scoundrel
conducted her to a grog shop known as the “Broad-
way Cottage,” 312 Broadway, next door to Gothic
Hall. On entering the bar room the girl became
alarmed, and attempted to get out, when Underhill
seized her by the back of the neck, and forced her
through the bar room into a back building used for
gaming purposes, followed by some half dozen oth-
ers.
Despite the tears and entreaties of the girl, the
landlord of the house, William Dingler, seized her
and held her firmly by the arms across a table, from
behind, while Underhill ravished her person. The
parties then changed situation, Underhill holding
the poor victim, while Dingler repeated the outrage.
All this time several persons of the same stamp
were standing by enjoying and ridiculing the pray-
ers and lamentations of the poor girl, among whom
was one Gabriel Hatfield.
It is impossible to say how far the parties would
have gone, had they not become somewhat alarmed
at this juncture, and suffered the girl to go.
On reaching the street, she told a watchman of
the circumstance, who went back with her, to the
house for the purpose of arresting the parties, when
the barkeeper assaulted her and pushed her into the
street.
The girl was taken to the Sixth District Watch-
house by the watchman, when officers Stokely and
McGrath, who were present, started for the scene
of the outrage, with a body of watchmen, and ar-
rested Wm. Dingler, the landlord, Charles Pierce,
the barkeeper, and Gabriel Hatfield, a spectator to
the outrage, and placed them in the watchhouse,
and early yesterday morning they came across John
Underwood, and brought him in also.
On examination of the case William Dingler, John
Underhill, and Gabriel Hatfield were committed to
prison by Justice Stevens, in default of giving bail
in the sum $1500 each, justified in double the a-
mount to answer the charge of rape. Charles Pierce
was also held to bail in the sum of $500 to answer
the charge of an assault and battery on the girl Ann
Murphy.
The poor girl is still in the Tombs, suffering from
the injuries inflicted on her by the brutal ruffians
and is attended by Dr. J. R. McComb, the excellent
and attentive physician to the City Prison.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.4]
BROADWAY COTTAGE.—The Mayor, with Alderman Cro-
lius, have given Dingler, the proprietor of the Broadway
Cottage, next door to the Masonic Hall, where the rape
was committed on Saturday night, notice to show cause
this day why the license of the place shall not be taken
from him. Dingler is now in prison on charge of the
rape.
SHERIFF HART returned to this city yesterday morning
from Syracuse, and appeared before the Colt committee
last evening. The proceedings and conclusions of this
committee will be given to the public at the meeting of
the Common Council, on Monday next.
...
STRAW BAIL.—A reference to the reported proceedings
of the Court of Sessions, will show the public the abuse of
the bailing system as practised before our Criminal
Courts. No less than a dozen cases in one day become
forfeited, and not a dollar is probably collected, while the
cost to the tax-payers is not less than fifteen or twenty
dollars in each case. How long shall these things be?
Where is the man that went bail for Stent, the bigamist?
================================================================
[Col.3]
☞ Colt, the murderer of Adams, has committed sui-
cide by stabbing himself with a knife. On the day of his
death, which was that appointed for his execution, he
married Miss Henshaw, with whom he had lived in
criminal intimacy.
================================================================
[Col.3]
COLT AGAIN.—We heartily wish that the fate
of Colt and the circumstances of his death might
be allowed no longer to disturb the public mind,
and regret exceedingly articles in the Knicker-
bocker, Democratic Review, and other leading
periodicals, calculated to effect no possible good,
but serving only for that morbid appetite for tales
of blood which 'grows by what it feeds on.' But
there is in the minds of very many of our citizens
a suspicion, not very decided perhaps, but still a
suspicion, that Colt is yet alive; and, until this is
completely driven away, it must not be expected
that the subject should cease to be a matter of dis-
cussion. A letter in the Commercial yesterday,
from Dr. HOSACK, it would seem, should put this
matter for ever at rest, even if the evidence before
known were not amply sufficient, which it is. He
states that he was well acquainted with Colt, and
visited him the morning of his death. Some days
before, Colt told him that he would never be hung,
leaving him to infer that he intended, even then,
to commit suicide. Immediately after his death,
Dr. H. entered the cell of Colt, found him dressed
precisely as he had been during the day, lying as
has been already described. He thinks the deed
must have been committed soon after 3 o'clock,
with perfect deliberation and calmness, and that the
dagger was thrust in with both hands, and not by
a stab.
—————
☞ The article entitled to the Commercial Advertiser
yesterday, in relation to Arthur Tappan, should have been
quoted from the Evening Express. [Standard.
And if you will look a little further back, you
will find that it originally appeared in the Tribune.
================================================================
[Col.1 / Pg.2,Col.1]
The End of John C. Colt.
The 18th ult. was the day appointed for the ex-
ecution of John C.Colt, in New York, for the
murder of Samuel Adams. At his request, the
hour for his execution was fixed at 4 o'clock P. M.,
the latest time that could be allowed. In the mor-
ning he was married, by Dr. Anthon, to Miss Ca-
roline Henshaw, the young woman who had lived
with him some time as mistress. He received and
took leave of his friends until 2, from which time
he requested to be left alone until five minutes of
4. At that hour the officers went to his cell to
lead him to the gallows, when it was found he had
committed suicide! A small dirk knife, with a
broken handle, was sticking in his heart; and it
was evident he had worked and turned the knife
round and round in his heart until he had made a
large gash. At the moment this was discovered
and made known to the immense crowd that sur-
rounded the Tombs, the large cupola of the prison
was found to be in flames—burning furiously—
having been set on fire, it is thought, by the mob,
who designed to rescue Colt. The flames were,
however, extinguished without much difficulty,
and then a coroner's inquest was held over Colt's
body, the testimony before which corresponds with
the above statement, the jury, after 15 minutes' de-
liberation returning a verdict “that the said John
C. Colt came to his death by a wound inflicted by
himself on his left breast with a dirk knife, but the
jury are unable to determine by what means he
came in possession of said knife.”
[Col.5]
Horrible Outrage.—In the Burlington (Iowa)
Gazette, says the Chicago Citizen, we find the
most extraordinary and cruel relation of circum-
stances that we believe ever went forth in type.
An old man lived alone, and had forbidden a daugh-
...
A Curious Case of Female Deception.—The
Albany (N. Y.) Citizen says, “A person who has
...
================================================================
[Col.7]
Post Mortem Examination of John C. Colt.
To the Editors of the Commercial Advertiser.
GENTLEMEN:—
Having been one of the witnesses examined before
the coroner's inquest in the case of John C. Colt, I
have frequently been appealed to, and by some of
the most respectable of our fellow-citizens, to inform
them, if there was any doubt as to his death, and
as rumors are in circulation throughout the country
as well as the city, as to his actual demise, I feel
myself called upon to furnish such facts as came
within my own knowledge, which, I trust, will be
quite sufficient to banish all doubt upon the subject.
In the first place I will state that I personally knew
the said John C. Colt, and visited him in his cell in
the city prison, upon three several occasions, and
conversed with him, alone, for half an hour at a time,
both before and after he was sentenced.
In one of these conversations he told me that he
never would be hanged, from which I inferred that
sooner than submit to the ignominy of the gallows he
intended, if possible, to die by his own hand. Be-
ing invited by the sheriff to be present at the execu-
tion, I visited the prison early on the morning of the
18th when I learned that the hour had been postpon-
ed until 4 o'clock P. M. Having professional en-
gagements I left the prison and returned at half
past one. I was then induced by circumstances to
remain within the hall of the prison where my po-
sition afforded me the opportunity of seeing every
person who might either go in or come out of the
cell where Colt was confined.
At half past two o'clock, it being intimated to the
sheriff that the prisoner might possibly disappoint
him, he directed the deputy sheriff to enter his cell
and see if all was right. The order was immediate-
ly obeyed and on returning he reported that he
saw nothing to awaken the least suspicion. The
prisoner was walking up and down his cell, and was
perfectly calm and collected. The door was not
again opened until about ten minutes before 4 o'clock
when the Rev. Dr. Anthon entered followed by
the sheriff.—Observing the reverend gentleman to
return almost immediately from the cell, apparently
quite overcome, I immediately conjectured that an
important even had taken place. I ran up the
stairs and entered the cell, when I beheld John C.
Colt previously known to me, upon his bed, lying
at full length upon his back.
He was dressed as he had been during the day,
in his dressing gown, pantaloons, &c., but was per-
fectly lifeless. He had destroyed himself with a
dagger which he had himself thrust into his heart.
His head was inclined to the left side, with the
mouth open; his countenance was natural but very
pallid; the left arm touched the bed at the elbow,
with the hand reposing on the body. The right
arm lay on the bed, with the hand resting on the bo-
dy a little above the right hip; his legs were ex-
tended. So perfectly easy was his attitude, and so
calm his expression of countenance, that at the first
glance one might readily imagine he had forgotten
the awful fate awaiting him, and had fallen into a
sweet sleep; but the stain of blood upon the hands,
and the handle of the fatal dagger projecting from
his breast, too plainly told that it was the sleep of
death.
After feeling for the pulse at the wrist and find-
ing none, I took hold of the handle of the intstru-
ment, which had entered the breast between the
fourth and fifth ribs, and found that it was fastened
to a firm substance which could be nothing but the
heart itself. I did not disturb it, as the jury was so
soon to be convened to make such examinations as
the case required. That the act had been one of
calm deliberation may be inferred from the fact that
he had, with some sharp instrument, removed a cir-
cular portion, about two inches in diameter, of his
waistcoat and under garments, leaving the breast
immediately beneath perfectly exposed. Not more
than a table spoonful of blood had escaped external-
ly, as the dagger occupied the entire wound, having
penetrated to the widest part of the blade, which
was between four and five inches in length; both
hands were marked with several spots of blood
sprinkled upon them, as if from the first jet of a
small artery (probably the intercostal)—the smallest
spots were quite dry, the larger were dry at the
margin only; the hands and body were warm, but
not as warm as in life.
Taking into consideration the circumstances of
the reduced warmth of the body, of the dried spots
of blood upon the hands, as well as the fact of the
handle of the instrument vibrating in consequences
of the spring being broken, I arrived at the follow-
ing conclusions: First, that the deed must have
been committed at three o'clock, or immediately af-
ter; Secondly, that the instrument was thrust in or
pushed by both hands, and not by a stab. I am
sustained in the belief that both hands were used,
by the fact that no spots of blood were discoverable
upon the dress in the direction in which the hands
were found; besides, the vibrating handle of the
instrument would require both hands to steady it
and direct it according to the intention of the indi-
vidual.
As no other facts could be observed, all farther in-
vestigation was deferred by the coroner, who caus-
ing all to retire, locked the body up in the cell un-
til a jury could be convened, which was done at 7
o'clock that evening, when Doct. McComb, physician
to the city prison, and myself, made a post-mortem
examination in the hall of the prison, and in the
presence of Drs. Wilkes, Rogers, Vache, and others,
and at least a hundred citizens. We had open the
cavities of the chest and abdomen, and removed the
heart with the dagger.
It had entered the cavity of the chest on the left
side, as before stated, between the fourth and fifth
ribs, and penetrated the heart in the centre, trans-
fixing the left ventricle. The heart was firmly con-
tracted upon the instrument, and probably never
again dilated after it had been pierced, when death
must have immediately followed. The pericardium
or envelopement of the heart was filled with clotted
blood, perhaps to the amount of a pint and a half,
which must have escaped by the side of the blade.
The viscera of both the chest and abdomen were
perfectly sound, showing that the individual had but
recently died and without the evidence of disease.
I am, &c. ALEXANDER E. HOSACK.
================================================================
[Col.4]
TO THE SUN NEWSPAPER:
Dear Sir: It was with unfeigned satisfaction
that I saw in your valuable journal the poor epis-
tle I addressed you for such use as you should
please to make of it. Since my fortunate escape
from the thrall of my dread doom, I feel again
that the world is something yet to me; and to ma-
ny of those in it I owe much, and shall remem-
ber them ever with deep gratitude. I have ar-
dent, endearing friends, who will administer to
my safety, despite the malice of my enemies. I
know my own innocence, and hope yet to make
the world know it, when those who wished my
sacrifice will rejoice that my blood is not upon
them. But no more of this. My dear wife and
innocent unoffending child claim my chief sym-
pathy and grief. I am obliged to be apart from
them, perhaps forever, though I hope for such
change of circumstances as will permit us to
meet.
I see that $1000 is making much talk in the
busy world, but the other $14,000 still lags be-
hind the screen. It was an act of extraordinary
magnanimity in Sheriff Hart to dispose of it as
he did.
It seems to me to be but fair that is should be
conferred upon those lone and unprotected two I
cannot help. I entreat that they be not forgotten
by those professing sympathy for the truly unfor-
tunate. It is my earnest desire that it be given
to my wife and child, who certainly are not in
fault for my conduct. Let it be loaned out on
safe security to their use, until such time as it
may be necessary to use a part of the principal,
say one half, leaving the other for my child when
it comes of age. This cannot be asking too much
of a charitable people, and I beg I may not be
disappointed.
Every one must know the money did not come
from my enemies, and all being persuaded it was
an offer from my side of the question; then by
what principle of law, equity and justice, can it be
used by any but my friends? He who had the
best legal title to it was he who sent it to the
Sheriff, who did not comply with the proposition,
and therefore got no title for it, and now disclaims
any.
If he had no legal title to it, how could he
give legal right and title to the Common Coun-
cil?
I am told, in cases where perfect certainty does
not exist, as to right and title to property, that
probable right gives preference. And certainly
none have more probable right than myself and
friends. Can any one show the law that gives
this money to any body except the nearest akin
to him who offered it, or whose friend offered it?
In my unfortunate case, men pretended to be go-
verned solely by the rigid law. I only ask them
to adhere to it now, and give the widow and
child the widow's mite, as due in justice and
law.
The unfortunate Mrs. Adams, the cause of
whose sorrows I always lamented, and which
have fallen on me as heavily as any living soul—I
believe will pardon me for my natural preference,
seeing she has many friends surrounding her in
her afflictions, who willingly will render her that
needful help the reputable may expect. But mine
have none of that succor—save the exertions of
my noble, generous brother, who believing
my protestations of innocence, poured out his
little treasure like water to save me—God bless
him!
I will tell you more soon as I promised, before
I leave for Oregon or California, one of which
places will be my future abode.
Yours, &c.
J. C. COLT.
================================================================
[Col.1]
COOPERAGE OF THE TRIBUNE.
——
Trial of the Publishers for Libel at the
Suit of Mr. J. Fenimore Cooper.
——
J FENIMORE COOPER, } In circuit Court, in and for the
versus | County of Saratoga, Friday, Dec. 9.
HORACE GREELEY } Hon. JOHN WILLARD, Presiding.
and | Action for Libel—Damages laid at
THOMAS McELRATH, } $3,000.
——
The responsible Editor of The Tribune returned
yesterday morning from a week's journey to and
sojourn in the County of Saratoga, having been
thereto urgently persuaded by a Supreme Court
writ, requiring him to answer to the declaration of
Mr. J. Fenimore Cooper in an action for Libel.
This suit was originally to have been tried at
the May Circuit at Ballston; but neither Feni-
more, (who was then engaged in the Coopering of
Col. Stone of the Commercial,) nor we, had time
to attend it—so it went over to this term, which
opened at Ballston Spa on Monday, Dec. 5th. We
arrived on the ground at 11 o'clock of that day, and
found the plaintiff and his lawyers ready for us, our
...
—The suit of Mr. Cooper required us to respond
to the following
DECLARATION:
SUPREME COURT: Of the term of January, in the year
of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty-two:
Saratoga County, ss. J. Fenimore Cooper, plaintiff in this
suit by Richard Cooper, his attorney, complains of Horace
Greeley and Thomas McElrath, defendants in this suit, be-
ing in custody, &c. of a plea of trespass on the case:
For that whereas the said defendants, contriving and ma-
liciously intending to injure the said plaintiff in his good
name, fame and credit, and to bring him into general con-
tempt and ignominy, heretofore, to wit on the twentieth
day of November, in the year of our Lord eighteen hun-
dred and forty-one, and to wit, at Ballston Spa, in the Coun-
ty aforesaid, falsely, wickedly and maliciously published,
and caused and procured to be published, in a certain news-
paper called the New-York Tribune, the following false,
malicious and defamatory libel of and concerning the said
plaintiff, that is to say:
“Correspondence of The Tribune.
“Mr. Fenimore Cooper and his Libels.
“FONDA, Nov. 17, 1841.
...
monomania for Libels.”
And the said plaintiff further says, that the said defend-
ants further contriving and intending, as aforesaid, after-
wards, to wit, on the thirteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty-one, and to wit,
...
matter, of and concerning the said plaintiff, that is to say:
“Now we cannot retract all our correspondent has stated
or interred, for we do most undoubtedly believe that Mr.
...
his family, was the reverse of honorable or magnanimous.”
By means of the publication of which, said false, malicious
and defamatory libels, the said plaintiff hath been, and is,
greatly injured in his good name, fame and credit, and
brought into general hatred, contempt and ignominy; and
hath been otherwise greatly injured and damnified, to wit,
at the place and in the county aforesaid, to the damage of
the said plaintiff of three thousand dollars, and therefore he
brings his suit, &c. R. COOPER, Plaintiff's Attorney.
To which we interposed the following plea in
answer:
SUPREME COURT.—HORACE GREELEY and THOMAS
McELRATH ads. J. FENIMORE COOPER.—And the said
Horace Greeley and Thomas McElrath, defendants in this
suit, by Peter Clark, their Attorney, come and defend the
wrong and injury, when, &c., and say that they are not,
nor is either of them, guilty of the said supposed grievances
above laid to their charge, or any or either, or any part
thereof, in manner and form as the said plaintiff hath above
thereof complained against them, &c.; and of this the said
defendants put themselves upon the Country, and the said
plaintiff doth the like, &c.
PETER CLARK, Attorney for Defendants.
[Col.2]
The case was opened to the Court and Jury by
Richard Cooper, nephew and attorney of the plain-
tiff, in a speech of decided pertinence and force.—
...
But there were some points in this opening
which deserved a more special consideration—and
first, the undoubted truths stated by the advocate
that the issue here presented was one of no trivial
character, but involved the most important consid-
erations—that the whole Newspaper Press was in
reality a party to this suit, and the representations
made by it should be taken with a corresponding
allowance. Following in this train, Mr. R. C.
proceeded to declaim against the popular feeling
excited in favor of the defendant and his cause,
and to warn the Jury against being affected by it.
So in the summing up Mr. Fenimore Cooper went
over the same ground and enlarged it, representing
himself as standing here the champion of the Rights
of the People, to be protected from slanderous
abuse and calumny from the Press, portrayed the
power and the prevalent dread of that mighty en-
gine, the interest and natural desire of every citi-
zen to be shielded from detraction and public ig-
nominy, reminded them that, in a well-governed
community, a wrong done to one, however hum-
ble, is a wrong to all, which all are bound to pun-
ish and redress, &c. &c., and, after all this truth,
wound up with the strange inconsistency of implor-
ing the Jury not to be swayed by popular feeling
and out-door clamor into a verdict in hostility to
the People's cause! After him came His Honor
Judge Willard, and he, too (very properly) com-
manded the Jury to cast aside all out-door and per-
sonal considerations, and render a verdict based
strictly and alone on the law laid down and the ev-
idence submitted to them. Now it seems incredi-
...
[Col.3]
...
—But to return to Richard's argument at Balls-
ton: He put very strongly against us the fact that
our Fonda correspondent (see Declaration above)
considered Fenimore's verdict there a meagre one.
“Gentlemen of the Jury,” said he, “see how
“these Editors rejoice and exult when they get off
“with so light a verdict as $400. They consider
“it is a triumph over the law and the defendant.—
“They don't consider that amount any thing. If
“you mean to vindicate the laws and the cha-
“racter of my client, you see you must give much
“more than this.”—This was a good point, but not
quite fair. The exultation over the “meagre ver-
dict” was expressly in view of the fact that the
cause was undefended—that Fenimore and his
counsel had it all their own way, evidence, argu-
ment, charge and all. Still, Richard had a good
chance here to appeal for a large verdict, and he
did it well.
...
[Col.4]
...
H. GREELEY, in Defence:
If the Court please—
I stand before you the person charged with
libel in this case, to answer to that charge. I am
the Editor of the Tribune, and published therein
the articles on which this prosecution is founded.
My partner, Mr. McElrath, though legally on trial
before you, is not Editor and had no knowledge of
these articles till he read them, as did others, in
the printed paper. He, at least, is guiltless of all
actual malice in the premises, though he must share
with me in your verdict.
...
[Col.5]
...
[Col.6]
...
therefrom. Take, for example, the sentence of
my correspondent, on which I understand by Mr.
Cooper's letter that most stress is laid by this
prosecution—
“The value of Mr. Cooper's character, there-
fore, has been judicially ascertained. It is worth
exactly four hundred dollars.”
'The value, therefore.' Why 'therefore?'—
Simply because of the facts just related—because
of the undeniable truth that Mr. Cooper sued a
man of ample means for defamation of character in
a journal of commanding circulation and influence
...
[Col.1]
You will consider, Gentlemen of the Jury, that
Mr. Cooper, only ten days after my first publica-
tion on which this suit is founded, and simulta-
neously with my own article complained of, ap-
peared personally in the columns of The Tribune,
at my own instance, and there gave his own version
of the whole matter—which version, so far as the
facts were concerned, was virtually admitted by me
to be correct, and to modify by so much the former
one. Not merely the alledged misstatements and
high colorings of my own correspondent were so
corrected, but even those which had never appeared
in my paper; as, for instance, the assertion of the
Albany Journal that the case of Cooper vs. Weed
...
[Col.3]
...
Fenimore closed very effectively with an appeal
for his character, and a picture of the sufferings of
[Col.4]
his wife and family—his grown-up daughters often
suffused in tears by these attacks on their father.
Some said this was mawkish, but we consider it
good, and think it told. We have a different the-
ory as to what the girls were crying for, but we
won't state it lest another dose of Supreme Court
law be administered to us. ('Not any more at
present, I thank ye.')
...
[Col.5]
...
The Jury retired about half past 2, and the
rest of us went to dinner. The Jury were hun-
gry too, and did not stay out long. On compar-
ing notes, there were seven of them for a verdict
of $100, two for $200, and three for $500. They
added these sums up—total $2,600—divided by
12, and the dividend was a little over $200; so
they called it $200 damages and 6 cents costs,
which of course carries full costs against us. We
went back from dinner, took the verdict in all
meekness, took a sleigh and struck a bee-line for
New-York.
Thus for the Tribune the rub-a-dub is over; the
adze we trust laid aside; the staves all in their
places; the hoops tightly driven; and the heading
not particularly out of order. Nothing remains but
to pay piper or cooper or whatever; and that shall
be promptly attended to.
Yes, Fenimore shall have his $200. To be
sure, we don't exactly see how we came to owe
him that sum; but he has won it, and shall be
paid. 'The court awards it, and the law doth
give it.' We should like to meet him and have a
social chat over the whole business, now it is over.
There has been a good deal of fun in it, come to look
back; and if he has as little ill-will toward us as
we bear to him, there shall never be another hard
thought between us. We don't blame him a
bit for the whole matter; he thought we injured
him, sued us, and got his pay. Since the Jury have
cut down his little bill from $3,000 to $200, we
won't higgle a bit about the balance, but pay it on
sight. In fact, we rather like the idea of being
so magnificent a patron (for our means) of Ameri-
can Literature; and are glad to do any thing for
one of the most creditable (of old) of our authors,
who are now generally reduced to any shift for a
living by that grand National rascality and greater
folly, the denial of International Copyright.—
...
[Col.6]
...
Liberty of the Press has often been compelled to
appeal from the Bench to the People. It will do
so now, and we will not doubt with success. Let
not, then, the wrong-doer who is cunning enough
to keep the blind side of the law, the swindling
Banker who has spirited away the means of the
widow and orphan, the libertine who has dragged
a fresh victim to his lair, imagine that they are
permanently shielded by this misapplication of
the law of Libel from fearless exposure to public
scrutiny and indignation by the eagle gaze of an
unfettered Press. Clouds and darkness may for
the moment rest upon it, but they cannot, in the
nature of things, endure. In the very gloom of
its present humiliation we read the prediction of
its speedy and certain restoration to its Rights
and its true dignity—to a sphere not of legal suf-
ferance merely, but of admitted usefulness and
honor.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.4]
THAT CUPOLA on the Tombs is being taken down, and
it is hoped that the roof will be so covered as to prevent
the deluge of those passing through the vestibule into
the Court of Sessions. The Colt Committee of the Com-
mon Council have not reported, yet on the subject of the
burning of the cupola, or as to the disposition of that $1000
offered to the sheriff as a bribe. The reason alleged is
that the sheriff is confined to his bed from sickness and has
not been able to appear before them. We trust that the
committee will not forget to give the name of the bell
ringer who had charge of the cupola at the time of the
accident, as it is called.
================================================================
[Col.4]
☞ From all quarters the voice of the Press is
coming up in approbation of our stand in the last
Cooper libel-suit, and in reprehension of the mis-
application of Law by which the Liberty of the
Press has been prostrated. The only exception
we have yet heard—the only discordant note ut-
tered—is the following from The Sun:
J. Fenimore Cooper, Esq., on Friday obtained a verdict
for $200 damages against Horace Greeley, for libel. Mr.
Cooper, by taking the right course, is doing the State great
service, in checking the indiscriminate libels of the profli-
gate party hacks.
Surely it is a foul bird that acts like the Sun in
this case. The Rights we battled for at Ballston
were as vitally necessary to that paper as to us.
...
For all this we cared nothing. At length, em-
boldened by impunity, The Sun dared to charge us
with attempting to get from its messenger a pack-
age, foully insinuating that we intended to steal it!
Here was the grossest as well as falsest of libels,
accusing us of personal dishonesty in a matter
where there could be no witnesses but its own pre-
tended informant. It was simply a malignant lie,
and we felt constrained to prosecute the responsi-
ble liar. He blustered about proving it, held out
as long as possible, until we got him into open
Court and the cause on for trial, when his lawyer
offered to do any thing we might ask to settle, and,
as we wanted none of Beach's dirty Ulster and
Jacksonville rags, we let him off, compelling him
to sign and publish in his own reading columns of
Nov. 2d, (not six weeks ago,) the following humil-
iating retraction:
“AMENDE HONORABLE.
“BRAN BREAD HONESTY.—During the trial of McLeod, our
correspondent at Utica entrusted one of his packages to an
acquaintance, a gentleman of this city, to bring through for
him and deliver at this office. A certain lily-livered hypo-
crite, connected with the Ann street press, who professes to
be puritanically pious and outrageously virtuous for the pur-
pose of practising knavery with better impunity, and who
left Utica in the same train of cars, on arriving at Albany,
accosted the gentleman bearing the package, and, by the
false pretence that our correspondent who had never spo-
ken a word to him in the world,) had requested him to do
so, endeavored to induce the gentleman to surrender the
package to him, for the purpose, as he pretended, of better
securing its arrival at our office in season. The gentleman,
however, was not to be caught by the lying, thief-like, and
villainous device; and refused to surrender the package to
him. Was not this NOBLY done MISTER GREELEY?—and
the more nobly in that it was a Sunday adventure? Pray,
Mister Greeley, can you inform us who this cunning friend
of ours was, and what he REALLY proposed doing with the
package—provided he could STEAL it in the way he at-
tempted?
“The above paragraph appeared as editorial in
the Sun of the 22d November last. The imputa-
tions contained in it, in reference to Mr. Greeley,
are entirely unfounded, and had their origin in er-
roneous information. They are hereby wholly re-
tracted, with an expression of our sincere regret
they were ever made. Whatever differences of
opinion or interest, calculated to provoke a breach
of courtesy, may have existed between us and Mr.
Greeley, we have never doubted his personal in-
tegrity and moral worth.
MOSES Y. BEACH.”
We have never published nor alluded to this mat-
ter before—we scorned to trample on a fallen foe;
but when The Sun has the inconceivable impu-
dence to talk of us as libelers, and of Fenimore
Cooper's attacks on the Press as “checking the
indiscriminate libels of the profligate party hacks,”
forbearance ceases to be a virtue.
[Col.2]
A TEACHER.—A young Gentleman,
who has spared no pains to qualify himself for an
accomplished teacher in every branch of thorough Eng-
lish, Mathematical, or Classical Education, wishes immedi-
ate employment from two to four hours daily. Terms very
low. Best of city references. Address “Teacher,” office
of the Tribune, or call at 126 Nassau st. d10 1w*[Col.3]
HOW VERY AMIABLE!—The progress of ex-
treme virtue, it is said, is ever onward. We have
seen repeated illustrations of this truism in our
course through life, but we do not know that
we ever witnessed a more striking one than was
displayed by our exceedingly amiable and pass-
ing virtuous neighbor, Mistress Horace Greeley in
breeches, in his little paper of yesterday. We
were compelled by it to lift up our eyes in utter
surprise, quite equal to that which he displayed
when the papers of the city deemed him entirely
too amiable and lovely in messing with his color-
ed abolition friends from Philadelphia last sum-
mer. Or equal to that which he felt on a still
more recent occasion, when he found that, in a
certain libel suit in which he was concerned, his
counsel had consented to waive an informality in
the plea of his opponent, and to admit the truth in
evidence, under the mistaken apprehension that
the inuendoes alledged libellous could not be
triumphantly sustained by proof. Or equal to
that of the same counsel, when he discovered
that every allegation and inuendo could be proven,
and that the only way to get his client out of the
scrape was to back out from the cause himself,
take his consent for the admission of the truth in
evidence with him, and by substituting another
counsel who knew the client to well to give any
such fatal consent, and thus throw his opponent
back upon the disadvantages of a defective plea.
Indeed, we doubt whether the surprise of our most
forcible friend himself was greater, when, after
wearing several pairs of rockers off a cradle in
the imaginary felicity of doing some domestic
service, he found that all his labor of love had
been wasted upon a bran bread dumpling, and
that, after all his exertions, he would have to
send the cradle and all its appendages to Massa-
chusetts if he would ever hope to see it filled,
than was our surprise to see, in his paper of yes-
terday, the following article copied verbatim
from the Sun of the 22d November, 1841—a para-
graph to which the recollection of the reader has
doubtless been carried back, by what is above
written, and by the publication of which, in his
own columns, this paragon of virtue and “all the
graces” has most strikingly illustrated the truth
of what he says, in the same connection, about
“a foul bird” and “its own nest.” However, as
confession of a sin is the first step in reformation,
we must, with all our surprise, admix a little ad-
miration of the honesty, and the favorable indica-
tions of a rapid “growth in grace,” which the
publication exhibits on the part of the Adonis of
the New York press. Thus it runs:
“BRAN BREAD HONESTY.—During the trial of McLeod
...
[Col.4]
☞ The Clerk of the County Court of Dallas
(Alabama) has been fined $500 for having issued
a marriage license to a young man to marry the
daughter (aged 12 or 14) of a Mr. Beal.
Col.5]
W ANTED—Store, housekeepers and others, will
find it advantageous to leave their addresses at the
Washington temperance office, 126 Nassau st, where they
will be supplied free with the best of servants, clerks. 4*
———————————————————————
...
W ANTED—126 Nassau st, a partner with a capital of
$150 in business that will pay a clear profit of $15
to $30 per week—a young man from the country prefer1*
———————————————————————
W ANTED—126 Nassau st, 2 partners, 1 agent, 1 por-
ter, 2 clerks, 1 waiter, 2 servants, 1 barkeeper 1*[Col.3]
The Punishment of Death.
Private Correspondence of the Editor.
WESTFIELD, N. Y., Nov.28, 1842.
* * * You are right, too, on the subject of
Capital Punishment. Your correspondent who
undertook to read you a lecture for taking ground
in favor of abolishing that barbarous law, had bet-
ter read his Bible entirely through, and see if he
don't find the old law of “an eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth,” entirely done away, and the
more humane and Christian code substituted of
“rendering good for evil.” But if he insists on
taking the Old Testament as the only rule, then
let him take the whole of that, and he will find the
Almighty absolutely forbidding any one from taking
the life of the first murderer of whom we have any
authentic account. It is an old adage, that “the
truth half told is always a lie;” and the same rule,
to a certain extent, will apply to selecting a por-
tion or part of the Bible to establish a great prin-
ciple, without taking the whole that is applicable.
I deny the right of government, in any case, to take
human life. All the rights possessed by govern-
ment are such as have been surrendered by the
individuals composing the body politic, for the
common benefit of the whole. It will not be pre-
tended by the strongest advocates of capital pun-
ishment that a man has a right to take his own
life; and if he does not possess that right, he
cannot delegate to government what he does not
possess. Some plead, as an excuse, that the com-
munity are only acting in self-defence when they
take the life of a murderer; but this is not so; be-
cause, when the strong arm of the law has been
laid upon the offender, there can be no possible ex-
cuse for taking his life. The community are no
longer acting in self-defence, because he is in their
power, and they can place him in a position where
he can never do any more injury. It is, there-
fore, a mere question of expediency; and for one,
I am in favor of allowing Him who gave the life to
take it in His own proper time. It is as wrong
for a whole community to murder a man, as for a
single individual to do it—and worse too: because
they do it in cool blood, while he is generally un-
der the influence of passion. So long as the law
is in our statute book, it was probably right in
the Governor not to interfere to prevent Colt's ex-
ecution. Yours very respectfully.
[Col.1]
For The Tribune.
Review of Parker's Lectures.
——
Mr. Editor: Being a careful reader of your pa-
per, I have had my attention, for some time past,
drawn to the Lectures of the Rev. Mr. PARKER, as re-
ported by your Boston correspondent. I must say
...
say that I was much struck with the coincidence in
finding something of a similar philosophical specu-
lation about Religion and Morality in one of the
letters of the late John C. Colt, written while in
prison and published in the Tattler. That original
thinker likewise believed in the spirit of the Bible
as distinguished from its doctrines. He seemed
very familiar with the “Boston notion” that “the
Scriptures, although not themselves a revelation,
but the work of fallible men, did, nevertheless, in
some transcendental way, contain a revelation.”
He, too, was of the opinion with Jefferson, “that
the instructions of Christ were interspersed with
human fancies,” and seemed to coincide wonder-
fully with Mr. Parker in the sentiments “that
Religion is, and ever has been, an inseparable in-
gredient in Man's soul,” and “that the Indian
who thinks his Maker moves at times in the music
of the bubbling waters, is as certain to be saved as
he who repeats long prayers and listens to the mu-
sic of organs.”—(Vide Letter xviii.) Like most
enemies of doctrinal Religion, he had a most ex-
[Col.2]
alted idea of the morality of the Bible, and es-
pecially of the Sermon on the Mount. No doubt
there was a species of sincerity in this, but the fact
reveals a wondrous trait in human nature. The man,
with his hands yet red with the blood of a fellow
being, could actually feel an abstract admiration of
that searching precept which declares that the first
emotion of hatred is murder. Yes, that holy Law
which slew the Apostle when it revealed to him the
secrets of his own heart, is the subject of senti-
mental eulogy by convicted murderers and trans-
cedental lecturers. All Infidels have admired the
Sermon on the Mount. Even Jefferson could pa-
tronise some parts of it, although in others, the
founder of the modern Democracy coolly professed
to differ from the Founder of Christianity. Some
men have talked about the genius of Jesus Christ.
...
You are respectfully requested, Mr. Editor, to
give this a place in your columns. The leading sen-
timents contained in it, I have no doubt, are those
of a very large and very respectable class of your
daily readers. They have unquestionably been
assailed in the lectures of Mr. Parker. On no
other ground would we seek their admission. We
therefore appeal to your well known candor, and
to that liberality by which you profess to be go-
verned in the management of your widely circula-
ted paper. A TRANSCENDENTALIST.
[Col.3]
INDICTMENT FOR RAPE.—The Jrand Jury came into
[Col.4]
Court, and among other indictments, presented one for
rape, committed upon the person of Ann Murphy, at the
Broadway Cottage on the night of the 3d inst., by William
Dingley, John Underwood and Gabriel Hatfield.
================================================================
[Col.3]
J. FENNIMORE COOPER.—J. W. WEBB.—LAW OF
LIBEL.—Notwithstanding the very disreputable man-
ner in which Webb has returned us evil for good—
insolent attacks and gratuitous falsehoods in ex-
change for our petition in favor of his pardon, and
the segars sent to him in prison—notwithstanding
all these barbarous and savage traits of character,
which do not look well in a military man, we have
still feelings of compassion when he gets into diffi-
culty and danger.
For several years past, Webb has been carrying
on a war against the private and literary character
of Mr. Cooper, the novelist, the origin and motives
of which we never could rightly fathom. In this
war, Thurlow Weed, Col. Stone, Horace Greeley,
and others, joined the Colonel, and seemed to pur-
sue Mr. Cooper with as much temper as they have
recently followed up Captain Tyler. Cooper's pri-
vate character and private history, as well as some
of his literary works, were ridiculed, abused, and
treated in a variety of shapes any thing but compli-
mentary.
This war has been continued from 1835—per-
chance before that—up to the present time. In or-
der to put an end to these constant assaults on his
character and reputation, Cooper, a couple of years
ago, having been cut up for five years, and thinking
that was cutting up enough in all conscience—com-
menced a series of libel suits against each of the
editors who had thus formed a sort of conspiracy to
put him down. In the majority of these suits, Mr.
Cooper, we believe, has recovered damages—not
much, however, but probably sufficient to pay his
expenses, while it shows the holy alliance of editors
that a continued system of attack, to be carried on
for seven years' war, requires plenty of provender
and provisions. Recently two of these suits have
been decided—one against Horace Greeley, in which
Cooper recovered $400—and the other against Thur-
low Weed, who has published a very fair retraction,
and is accordingly let off, as it were, with the loss of
his scalp and whiskers. In all the civil cases, the
trials took place in the interior of the State, and the
decisions of the courts have given a direction to the
law of libel, which is certainly extraordinary and
novel. In giving an account of Greeley's case, the
Courier & Enquirer speaks as follows:—
The time has in our opinion now arrived, when every
press in the State, should make itself heard on this sub-
ject; and that too, without designing to cast the least
imputation upon the integrity or ability of the Judges,
who, according to their ideas of duty, are exhibiting what
they probably believe the existing law of libel, in its true
colors. Let us at once appeal to the coming Legislature
to take this matter into consideration; and by making our
appeal unanimous, every thing of a party nature will ne-
cessarily be excluded. Let us enquire in the name of the
people, whether the constitution in authoring the truth
to be given in evidence, when published with good inten-
tions and for justifiable purposes, in all cases of indictment
for libel, did not intend that the same liberal spirit should
extend to civil suits for the same publications. If neces-
sary for the protection of the “Liberty of the Press” in
one case, it is equally so in the other; and no one can
doubt but the representatives of the people will very
promptly pass such a law as under the circumstances is
required. The only difficulty which presents itself to our
mind, is, how a petition of the kind referred to, can be
circulated so as to reach every editor in the State with
the least possible delay. This we think can be accom-
plished in the following manner. Let every editor in the
State immediately write something which in substance
shall be as follows, viz:—
“To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New
York in Senate and Assembly convened—
“Believing that the law of libel in civil cases as now
administered by the courts in this State, is contrary to the
spirit of our Constitution, and calculated seriously to
abridge 'the Liberty of the Press'—the undersigned re-
spectfully pray that it may be so amended, as to extend to
all civil suits the existing provisions of the Constitution of
the State, in cases of criminal prosecution for libels,
&c. &c.”
Let every Editor in the State sign a petition of this kind,
and enclose it (postage paid) to the Attorney General of
the State, with a request that he will cause them to be pre-
sented to the Legislature; and we venture to say that
that gentleman will very cheerfully comply with such
request, although we do not pretend to the slightest know-
ledge of his opinions in regard to this matter. What say
our brother Editors to this proposition? It will at least
bring the subject fairly before the Legislature; and we do
not doubt but that it will then be promptly and correctly
disposed of.
We have no objection to unite with Webb in this
movement—and help him through his difficulty.—
Yet we think that he ought to come out, and make
a manly retraction to Mr. Cooper. To our certain
knowledge he has pursued him with his libels for
nearly eight years—if not ten—and for what secret
motive or justifiable purpose, we never could find
out or discover. We have sometimes supposed that
some private quarrel had broke out between them;
for at one time, we believe, Webb and Cooper were
friendly enough to dine together. Sometimes we
have supposed it arose from political objects—or per-
chance a rivalry between James K. Paulding and
Mr. Cooper, which was taken up con amore by
Webb, on the side of the former. At all events the
quarrel has been a long one—and probably Webb
has prepared 100 libels on Mr. Cooper in that
time—and his adherents in the war, probably twice
that number.
It is time to stop and make friends all round.—
Webb originally got all his allies into the war, pure-
ly from a sort of political sympathy. Perhaps Col.
Stone went into the campaign like a “Cowboy of
the revolution,” on his own hook, for we remember
some severe criticisms on Cooper's patriotism,
seven or eight years ago, before Webb took it up.—
At all events, it is time to “put up their bright
swords,” and turn their guns upon another foe.—
There are Captain Tyler and the locofocos in the
field—they can be libelled with impunity, under any
state of the law—but Mr. Cooper is a gentleman of
much merit and talent, and really ought to be let
alone hereafter. Apropos—If we had pursued so
long and ruthless a war against any individual,
how these editors would have turned up the whites
of their eyes, and said hard things of the Herald!
================================================================
[Col.1]
“I'm a victim to an artificial state of so-
ciety,” as the monkey said when they put
trowsers on him.
“I have lost the hang of him,” as Sheriff
Hart said, after Colt had committed suicide.
“I'm off,” as the editor of the Demo-
crat said when he heard whiskey was
selling at 13 cents in Cincinnati.
================================================================
[Col.4 / Col.4]
Baltimore.
[Correspondence of the Herald.]
BALTIMORE, Dec. 17, 1842.
...
The air is very chilly to-day, and every thing
wears the appearance of winter. Mr. Charles W.
Karthause, whose death I mentioned the other day,
...
The Mermaid from Barnum's American Museum
in New York, is here attracting crowds to see her
at Peale's Museum. There is, also, a company of
Indians here performing at the Museum. They
walk the streets cloathed with a great many bells
about their person, and attract universal attention.
...
[Col.6]
EXPULSION OF DR. JACKSON.—The Medical Society met
in the Court Room of the General Sessions yesterday af-
ternoon for the purpose of inquiring into the charge that
led to the conviction of Dr. Jackson for producing abor-
tion. The object of this to ascertain whether there is
sufficient evidence against him to have him arraigned be-
fore the County Court in order to produce his expulsion
from the Society in accordance with the law in such
case made and provided. The sentence of Dr. Jackson to
imprisonment in the Tombs for six months, expired a few
days since.
================================================================
[Col.1]
BOARD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN.—The mi-
nutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
...
REPORTS.—Of the Committee to whom was referred the
causes of the burning of the Cupola, &c. on the 18th Nov.
last. They state that they have had many meetings, and
examined a number of witnesses on the subject; that the
knife with which Colt committed suicide must have been
conveyed to him on the day of his death, but by whom the
Committee were unable to ascertain; that the stove in the
Cupola was of the ordinary sugar loaf style, with consid-
erable length of pipe, which projected from the roof. The
stove was placed very near the side of the Cupola, and the
conflagration was caused by too large a fire being made in
it by the persons in charge, and their neglect in attending
to it, they being down in the yard for the purpose of wit-
nessing the execution of Colt. The Committee recommend
the dismissal of James H. Atkins and James Shaw, the par-
ties in question who had charge of the Cupola. No other
facts were elicited from the Committee except those already
before the public. They also mention the attempt to bribe
the Sheriff, his Deputies, the Deputy Keeper of the Prison,
&c., and the full identification of the body of Colt. Report
accepted.
...
[Col.2]
THE SHERIFF'S BRIBE.—Ald. Crolius, on Mon-
day evening, made a report, accompanied with a
pile of affidavits, respecting the $1,000 bribe of-
fered to the Sheriff. No light was thrown on the
transaction. A stranger, unknown it seems to the
Sheriff, drove up in a cab to his residence at eve-
ning, with his cloak drawn up round his face and
his hat drawn down, and without explanation,
handed him a letter in the entry, and immediately
departed. The letter was found to contain $1000
—and when the Sheriff discovered the fact, the
man was gone and neither he nor the cab driver
could be traced. [American.
[Col.3]
TRIALS FOR ASSAULTS AND BATTERY.—William Evans
was tried for assault and battery on Edward Reese, of No.
166 Washington street. Verdict not guilty.
================================================================
[Col.5 / Col.5]
BOARD OF ASSISTANTS, Dec. 20.—Present, the President
...
Reports of Committees.—Of committee on police watch
and prisons relative to the burning of the cupola on the
18th ult. The committee report that they have had fre-
quent meetings, and made many investigations. They
have found it difficult to procure unbiassed witnesses. The
keepers of the prison were all more or less interested. In
relation to the means by which Colt killed himself, the
evidence is that the knife was conveyed to him on the day
of the suicide, but they do not know who conveyed it to
him.
As to the fire it occurred a few minutes before four o'-
clock. That Colt killed himself there can be no doubt;
as also that the knife was the cause of his death. His
death was attested to by many witnesses, among whom
were Messrs. Ward, Pierce, Cartish, Emmett, Jenkins,
Green, Homan, Rogers, Dodge, Atwell, and others. That
the fire occurred about three-fourths of an hour after the
death of Colt. That the wind was very high. Here fol-
lowed a minute description of the cupola, its construction,
the manner in which the stove was fixed up, &c. &c. The
committee are of opinion that the fire was the result of ac-
cident. They state that the cupola was then in charge of
John H. Atkins, who was thus left by James Shaw, and
they recommend that these two individuals be discharg-
ed for culpable negligence. The committee also state that
great efforts were made, but without success, to bribe of-
ficers Pierce, Jenkins and Vultee. No further important
information has been elicited. The report was adop-
ted.
[Col.2 / Col.2]
DEMORALIZING EFFECTS OF THE LIGHT LITERA-
TURE OF THE DAY.—The greatly increased frequen-
cy of the occurrence of crime of peculiar and start-
ling enormity, especially amongst our youth, within
the last few years, begins to alarm the philanthro-
pist, and awaken earnest inquiry into the causes of
this growing and desolating spirit of demoralization,
whose dominion appears to be gaining strength
every day. And surely it is full time to be alarmed.
A new class of culprits are now found before our
justiciary tribunals. The genteel offender is not so
much of a rara avis as formerly. Well-dressed,
well-bred rogues and bravos are becoming far more
common. The criminal calender discovers a vast
increase in the number of those connected respect-
ably, who have made themselves amenable to the
law. And the character of the offences tried in our
courts of justice, appears also to have undergone a
change. These crimes are of a greater magnitude,
and more unprecedented nature, than those which
some years ago came before our tribunals. Robbe-
ries, forgeries, and swindling transactions, are of
unexampled extent, and murders and assassinations
are marked by circumstances of singular atrocity.
And this is not all. Not only is crime committed
on a broader scale, and more frequently by that por-
tion of the community amongst whom it had pre-
viously been comparatively of rare occurrence, but
it is too evident that it does not excite that deep
and hearty detestation, with which it is sure to be
visited when a healthful moral tone pervades the
public mind. On the contrary, a morbid sympathy
for offenders against the laws and the peace and
good order of society, is ever active, and can be in
any case aroused to the very extremity of excess.
Instances, which fully illustrate our statements, are
fresh in the recollection of the public, and do not
require particular reference.
The causes of this melancholy state of things,
or at least the most prominent of them, do not re-
quire for their discovery, and very remarkable pow-
ers of observation. They are very obvious to any
one, who has paid ordinary attention to the progress
of society in this country, for the past few years.
The imaginary and bewildering prosperity of a
short-lived day—the ruinous habits of self-indul-
gence which such a season introduced—the almost
universal faithlessness of men in places of trust—
the worse than heathenish idolatry of gold—the de-
relictions of the clergy—the spread of infidelity—all
these corrupting influences have been at work, and
a moral miasma, desolating and fatal, as that which
brooded over the doomed cities of the plain, has
spread all over the land.
But there is one source of the prevailing immora-
lity, which we have not enumerated, but which it
is impossible to overlook. We mean the flood of
corrupting, licentious, demoralizing, light literature
with which the country has been inundated during
the last few years. Volumes after volumes of the
most pernicious character, have been issued from
the press, and circulated at a price which placed
them within the reach of every individual. It is
scarcely possible to exaggerate the evil influence
which has in this way been exercised, especially on
the young and unreflecting. The most delusive
pictures of life have been placed before the inexpe-
rienced eye. The distinctions between right and
wrong have been confounded. Vice has been in-
vested with the dignity of romance, and virtue been
made to appeal diminutive and mean when contrast-
ed with magnificent crime. More has been done
by these popular novelists to familiarize the young
mind with vice and crime—to awaken desires for
actual participation in scenes of folly and iniquity—
to weaken the soul's aspirations after the pure and
holy which endure for ever—and to destroy the en-
nobling and conservative influence of religion, than
all the writers who have in any age labored to over-
turn Christianity, and deify human depravity.
Let us just for a moment turn to the productions
of Bulwer, or Ainsworth, or Marryatt, or any of the
same school. Is it possible to doubt their tendency?
Who are among the principal heroines on whom
Bulwer has lavished the whole treasures of his per-
verted genius? In what do they differ from the
miserable outcasts who tenant the brothels? And
yet we have novel after novel occupied with the nar-
ration of the lives and adventures of such charac-
ters, and elaborate apologies—we should rather say
vindications—offered for their conduct. Actions,
for the commission of which a man would be hoot-
ed from virtuous society, are related with charac-
teristic nonchalance, as quite defensible and proper
in a fashionable hero; and crimes which strike at
the very root of social happiness, are represented as
mere peccadilloes, which must of necessity occur
in refined society. What man is there who, know-
ing anything of the human heart, can read “Pel-
ham,” “Ernest Maltravers,” “Alice,” and other no-
vels of a kindred stamp, and they say that their circu-
lation among the young, and badly educated
is not calculated to subvert morality, and defile the
soul? The very skill with which the story is fabri-
cated, the affected eloquence which glitters through-
out its pages, and the pseudo-philosophy which it
retails, render a work of this novelist, doubly dan-
gerous. The devil himself knows better than to
present his temptation without careful disguise. It
is always, to all appearance, a pleasant morsel.
The Ainsworth school, to which Boz belongs, and
whose works are devoted to the exploits, and suc-
cesses, and exciting perils of the highwayman, the
burglar, and the pickpocket, exercise an influence
equally pernicious and perhaps still more wide-
spread than that of Bulwer. The novels of this class
have been almost all dramatized, and are thus ren-
dered tenfold more influential in creating young as-
pirants after the glory of Jack Sheppard, and his
kindred heroes. These productions have created
and fostered a dislike of honorable industry, a con-
tempt for the ordinary advocations of honest men,
and an unconquerable desire to seek notoriety, and
gratify lust and passion in the perilous paths of crime.
Will any of these writers, or their admirers, pretend
to say that their novels tend to make vice and crime
repulsive? Can they add impudent falsehood to their
other sins, and say that their design was to present
wickedness, and folly, and crime in their undisgui-
sed depravity, and to attract to patient industry, hum-
ble toil, and steadfast virtue the homage of all hearts?
It has not been without reason that pointed allusion
has been made to the late horrible affair on board
the Somers, as illustrative of the growth of a reck-
less spirit of crime amongst our youth. The tree is
known by its fruits. No great philosophical obser-
vation is requisite to trace the operation of cause and
effect in this matter. Light literature, of the class
we have so briefly, but clearly enough described,
must sooner or later exhibit its appropriate results
on those amongst whom it flourishes.
But there is still sufficient moral force to check
this evil. The best means of doing so, would be
the circulation of works of light and entertaining
character, which breathe a healthful moral senti-
ment. Let the pernicious fictions which are now
forced into circulation in every direction by merce-
nary publishers, be discouraged by all who desire the
best interests of society. Let their place be supplied
by those productions of such exalted genius as that
of Scott, and Mackenzie, and Edgeworth, which,
instead of introducing us to the haunts of vice and
crime, and the society of prostitutes, highwaymen,
and pirates, has, in the words of Talfourd “sup-
plied us with a glorious crowd of acquaintan-
ces, and even of friends, whose society will never
disturb, or weary us; and has made us glow a thou-
sand times with honest pride in that nature of which
we are partakers!”
================================================================
[Col.1]
A HORRIBLE ACCOUNT.
Wilful Murder by one hundred and thirty-two persons.
From the Moderator of the 8th Nov. pub-
lished at Fort Gaines, Georgia, we have the fol-
lowing horrible detail. Every man concerned in
the atrocious act is a murderer of the deepest dye.
That paper says:—
We have learnt with feelings of pain and indig-
nation that Barbour county, Alabama, has recent-
ly been the theatre of a frightful and barbarous
tragedy.
Our readers will perhaps recollect that in the
year 1840 the body of an individual, subsequently
identified as that of Henry Blake, was found dead,
near a private road in the county of Barbour. He
had been murdered by some unknown hand.—
George W. Lore, then a citizen of that county,
was arrested for the offence, and admitted to bail.
In the spring of 1841, he was put upon his trial
in the county of Barbour, and the jury not being
able to agree upon their finding, they were dis-
charged without rendering a verdict. The venue
was then, at the instance of the prisoner, changed
to the county of Henry. In the fall of that year
he was again put upon his trial in the county of
Henry, and a jury of that county not being able to
agree, were also discharged without rendering a
verdict. In April, 1842, he was again, for the
third time put upon his trial in the county of Hen-
ry, and upon evidence purely circumstantial was
found guilty of murder. His counsel believing
that he had not been condemned according to the
laws of Alabama, under which he had been tried,
assigned as error several points decided by the cir-
cuit Judge, and submitted the record and the law
of the case to the Supreme Court of Alabama.—
That court overruled the decision of the Circuit
Court, arrested its judgment, and ordered a new
trial. Pending this application to the Supreme
Court, and before the day fixed for his execution,
Lore escaped from the jail of Henry county, and
has since been at large.
This, we understand, is a plain and succinct
narrative of the whole matter up to the 1st instant,
and we wish that we could here stop. But it ap-
pears that about that time, prompted by some feel-
ing which we cannot divine, or perhaps governed
by that destiny which shapes all our ends, Lore
again appeared in the neighborhood of his former
residence, and not far from the scene of Blake's
residence. He was arrested, and marched to Glen-
ville, where it seems a mob was collected, and it
was put to vote what disposition should be made
of the prisoner. We learn that two out of one
hundred and thirty-two voted to deliver him over
to the proper authorities, and that the residue de-
clared for summary and capital punishment by
hanging. He was accordingly marched out by
the mob from Glenville to Spring Hill, and there,
on the 4th inst., in defiance of all law, divine and
human, and in the face of his protestations of in-
nocence, hung by the neck until he was dead.
It is a foul and damning blot upon the charac-
ter of Barbour county! Every friend to the laws
—every friend to order and regulated liberty,
should raise his voice against the authors of this
outrage, and hold them up to that reprobation
which they so richly deserve. Whether Lore was
guilty or innocent has now become a question of
no interest to mankind. The majesty of the law
has been overthrown, and personal liberty and per-
sonal security are at an end when life itself be-
comes the sport and plaything of a sanguinary mob.
Had it been necessary to take his life to secure his
arrest, they would have been justifiable or at least
excusable. But he made no resistance. The law
was sufficiently strong for a friendless and hunted
down man; and if he had been guilty he would
have suffered the penalty of his crime. Henceforth
he will be regarded not as a murderer, but as a
victim to the evil passions of his enemies. Guilty
or innocent, his memory is relieved of half its load,
and he occupies the position of his former accusers;
for, in the eye of the law, every man who partici-
pated in hurrying Lore into eternity bears upon
his forhead the foul stain of murder—murder with-
out provocation and without excuse.
================================================================
[Col.3. Partly as in Travels in New-England and New-York. 1823]
The Last of the Mohegans.
Died, at Mohegan, Dec. 19, JOHN UNCAS, aged 89 years,
the last male of the royal line of the celebrated chief of that
name. He will be interred, we understand, in the royal
burying ground of the Mohegans, on the plain.
[Norwich (Conn.) Cour.
The death of this descendant of the celebrated
Indian Chief is worthy of particular notice, at this
time, when there are so few remnants in existence
of the warlike tribes which inhabited the New-
England States, when the European Colonists first
landed on their shores. One of the most noted of
those tribes was that of the Mohegans, whose head
quarters were on the banks of the river Thames,
in Connecticut. The small reservation of land
which the remnant of the Tribe still retains lies
in the town of Montville, half-way between Nor-
wich and New-London, on a beautiful eminence,
in sight of both of those cities of Connecticut,
(say five or six miles from each.) Their numbers
at present do not exceed, we believe, one hundred
souls. The burial ground of the Sachems is in the
town of Norwich and has been frequently noticed
by antiquaries.
The distinguished warrior, Uncas, whose name
has added so much celebrity to the Mohegan tribe,
was originally a petty Sachem; a Pequod by birth,
a subject and tributary to Sassacus. When the
English settlers made war upon the Pequods, Un-
cas was unfriendly to this chieftain, but was kept
in check by the talents and prowess of this formi-
dable warrior. Of the English he entertained from
the first a very respectful opinion, and finally
united his forces and fortune with theirs. Upon
the death of Sassacus, Uncas became the Sachem
of the remaining Pequods, as well as of the Mohe-
gans. He claimed in this character a right to the
territory comprising the most of that part of Con-
necticut east of Connecticut River. From that
time he became one of the most formidable Indian
Chiefs in the Southern part of New-England. His
authority extended not only over his own subjects
but to other tribes West of the River. At the head
of about 500 warriors he fought and defeated
Miantinomah, Chief of the Narragansetts, a tribe
inhabiting territories East of the Mohegans. Un-
cas was a steady friend to the English Colonists,
and in 1659 gave a deed of the town of Norwich
to Thomas Leffingwell and his friends, in con-
sideration of important services rendered him by
Leffingwell in one of the wars between the Ma-
hegans and Narragansetts.
According to Doctor Dwight, Uncas died at an
advanced age and left his power and property to
his children. Onecho, his eldest son, commanded
a party of Mohegans in a war which the English
carried on against the Narragansetts in 1676.
The family, however, soon declined in their im-
portance by the general declension of their tribe
and the sale of their property to the whites.
================================================================
[Col.1]
We have the Picayune of Dec. 5th, containing
much interesting matter, which we have not time to
insert in this week's paper. It contains a long and
interesting account from the New York Tribune, of
the marriage and suicide of John C. Colt, the mur-
derer, and the excitement in the city. Also, the
solution of the mystery of the case of Mary Rogers,
better known as the beautiful Cigar Girl, who was
supposed to be murdered, about a year since.
================================================================
[Col.6]
To Col. Webb:
In the case of the murder of Mary C. Rogers, which, beyond
doubt, is one of the blackest in the history of crimes, I learn
from good authority, that a sort of insinuating or hinting opi-
nion prevails, that I withhold and keep from public view such
information as would lead to the detection of the guilty, with
the selfish or sinister motive of obtaining the several rewards
that have been offered for the apprehension and conviction of
the culprits. Therefore, with the single motive of defending
myself from an imputation so unjust as well as unmanly; I now
declare to you, that I never have, or ever will take or receive
any reward for what I may have done, or what I may yet do, to-
wards ferreting out this mysterious matter—should I be success-
ful in doing so, of which I do not despair—although I have had
my path crossed in many ways, and all sorts of impediments
thrown in my way. I have been threatened with vengeance on
the one side, if I persevered in the course I had marked out,
while on the other, I have learned that money was profusely
proffered to wage war against me, for the protection of some
persons that I may have considered to have been implicated in
that wretched tragedy. Though far from being overstocked
with power to protect myself, I shall continue to disregard the
threats of any man or set of men, that may contribute in money
or in any other way, to impede me in the examinations that I
may deem it my duty to make. In one word; if impeachment
be threatened on the right, or imprisonment on the left, I shall
nevertheless pursue a conscientious, though independent course
of conduct, without regard to threats or frowns, come from what
source they may—though I court no hostility.
With continued respect, sir,
Yours, GILBERT MERRITT.
Hoboken, December 27th, 1842.
================================================================
[Col.1]
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.—Before Judge IN-
GRAHAM.
Peter M. Navarro vs. John Anderson.—Case of Assault
and Battery—Damages laid at $2000. The Defendant, in
November last, was at the cigar store in Broadway formerly
kept by him, (rendered somewhat famous by having been
attended by the unfortunate girl, Mary Rogers.) Plaintiff
came in, and, after some time, Anderson demanded $10 for a
counterfeit bill which he declared Navarro had passed upon
him. Some reply was made, and Navarro contends that
Anderson struck him. Doubts existed as to who made the
assault. Verdict for Plaintiff—6 cents damages and 6 cents
costs.
...
CASE OF CHARLES PEARCE.—This individual, (the bar-
keeper at the Broadway Cottage at the time of the com-
mission of the Rape on Ann Murphy by Dingler, and who
is indicted for a violent Assault and Battery on said Ann by
kicking her out of doors after her violation,) appeared in
Court and complained of illness, absence of all his witnesses,
and utter unpreparedness for trial, which he understood
was postponed to the next Term. The case was then post-
poned to the next Term.
================================================================
[Col.1]
Original.
THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET .*
A Sequel to “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.”
——————
BY EDGAR A. POE.
——————
Es giebt eine Reihe idealischer Begebenheiten, die
der Wirklichkeit parallel lauft, Selten fallen sie
Zusammen. Menschen und zufalle modificiren
gewohnlich die idealische Begebenheit, so dass sie
unvollkommen erscheint, und ihre Folgen gleichfalls
unvollkommen sind. So bei der Reformation; statt
des Protestantismus kam das Lutherthum hervor.
There are ideal series of events which run parallel
with the real ones. They rarely coincide. Men and
circumstances generally modify the ideal train of
events, so that it seems imperfect, and its consequen-
ces are equally imperfect. Thus with the Refor-
mation; instead of Protestantism came Lutheran-
ism.—Novalis. Moral Ansichten.
“BEFORE proceeding farther, let us now consider the
supposed scene of the assassination, in the thicket at
the Barrière du Roule. This thicket, although dense,
was in the close vicinity of a public road. Within were
three or four large stones, forming a kind of seat with a
back and footstool. On the upper stone was discovered
a white petticoat; on the second, a silk scarf. A para-
sol, gloves, and a pocket-handkerchief, were also here
found. The handkerchief bore the name, Marie Rogêt.
Fragments of dress were seen on the branches around.
The earth was trampled, the bushes were broken, and
there was every evidence of a violent struggle.
“Notwithstanding the acclammation with which the
discovery of this thicket was received by the press, and
the unanimity with which it was supposed to indicate
the precise scene of the outrage, it must be admitted
that there was some very good reason for doubt. That
it was the scene, I believe—but there was excellent
reason for doubt. Had the true scene been, as Le
Commerciel suggested, in the neighborhood of the Rue
Pavée Saint Andrée, the perpetrators of the crime, sup-
posing them still resident in Paris, would naturally have
been stricken with terror at the public attention thus
acutely directed into the proper channel; and, in certain
classes of minds, there would have arisen, at once, a
sense of the necessity of some exertion to re-divert this
attention. And thus, the thickets of the Barrière du
Roule having been already suspected, the idea of placing
the articles where they were found, might have been
naturally entertained. There is no real evidence, al-
though Le Soliel so supposes, that the articles disco-
vered had been more than a very few days in the
thicket, while there is much circumstantial proof that
they would not have remained there, without attracting
attention, during the twenty days elapsing between the
fatal Sunday and the afternoon upon which they were
found by the boys; 'they were all mildewed down
hard,' says Le Soliel, adopting the opinions of its pre-
———
* Continued from page 99.
[Col.2]
decessors, 'with the action of the rain, and stuck to-
gether from mildew. The grass had grown around and
over some of them. The silk of the parasol was strong,
but the threads of it were run together within. The
upper part, where it had been doubled and folded, was
all mildewed and rotten, and tore on being opened.' In
respect to the grass having 'grown around and over
some of them,' it is obvious that the fact would only
have been ascertained from the words, and thus from
the recollections, of two small boys; for these boys
removed the articles and took them home before they
had been seen by a third party. But grass will grow,
especially in warm and damp weather, (such as was
that of the period of the murder,) as much two or three
inches in a single day. A parasol lying upon a newly
turfed ground, might, in a single week, be entirely con-
cealed from sight by the upspringing grass. And,
touching that mildew upon which the editor of Le
Soliel so pertinaciously insists, that he employs the word
no less than three times in the brief paragraph quoted
just now—is the editor really unaware of the nature of
this mildew? Is he to be told that it is one of the
many classes of fungus, of which the most remarkable
feature is its upspringing and decadence within twenty-
four hours?
“Thus we see, at a glance, that what has been most
triumphantly adduced in support of the idea that the
articles had been 'for at least three or four weeks' in
the thicket, is most absurdly null as regards any evi-
dence of that fact. But, on the other hand, it is exceed-
ingly difficult to believe that these articles could have
remained in the thicket specified, for a longer period
than a single week—for a longer period than from one
Sunday to the next. Those who know any thing of the
vicinity of Paris, know the extreme difficulty of finding
seclusion, unless at a great distance from its suburbs.
Such a thing as an unexplored, or even an unfrequently-
visited recess, amid its woods or groves, is not for a
moment to be imagined. Let any one who, being at
heart a lover of nature, is yet chained by duty to the
dust and heat of this great metropolis—let any such one
attempt, even during the week-days, to slake his thirst
for solitude amid the scenes of natural loveliness which
immediately surround us. At every second step, he will
find the growing charm dispelled by the voice and per-
sonal intrusion of some ruffian or party of carousing
blackguards. He will seek privacy amid the densest
foliage, all in vain. Here are the very nooks where the
unwashed most abound—here are the temples most rife
with desecration. With a deadly sickness of the heart
the wanderer will flee back to the polluted Paris as to a
less odious because less incongruous sink of pollution.
But if the vicinage of the city is so beset during the
working days of the week, how much more so on the
Sabbath! It is especially that, released from the claims
of labor, or deprived of the customary opportunities of
crime, the lower order of the town blackguard seeks the
precincts of the town, not through love of the rural,
which in his heart he despises, but by way of escape from
the restraints and conventionalities of society. He
desires less the fresh air and the green trees, than the
[Col.1]
utter license of the country. Here, at the road-side inn,
or beneath the foliage of the woods, he indulges, un-
checked by any eye except those of his boon compan-
ions, in all the mad excess of a counterfeit hilarity—the
joint offspring of liberty and rum. I say nothing more
than what must be obvious to every dispassionate ob-
server, when I repeat that the circumstance of the
articles in question having remained undiscovered, for a
longer period than from one Sunday to another, in any
thicket in the immediate neighborhood of Paris, is to be
looked upon as little less than miraculous.
“But there are not wanting other grounds for the
suspicion that the articles were placed in the thicket
with the view of diverting attention from the real scene
of the outrage. And, first, let me direct your notice to
the date of the discovery of the articles. Collate this
with the date of the fifth extract made by myself from
the newspapers. You will find that the discovery fol-
lowed, almost immediately, the urgent communication
sent to the evening paper. These communications,
although various, and apparently from various sources,
tended all to the same point—viz., the directing of
attention to a gang as the perpetrators of the outrage,
and to the neighborhood of the Barrière du Roule as its
theatre. Now here, of course, the suspicion is not that,
in consequence of these communications, or of the public
attention by them directed, the articles were found by
the boys; but the suspicion might and may well have
been, that the articles were not before found by the
boys, for the reason that the articles had not before
been in the thicket; having been deposited there only
at so late a period as at the date, or shortly prior to the
date of the communications, by the guilty authors of
these communications themselves.
“This thicket was a singular—an exceedingly sin-
gular one. It was unusually dense. Within its natu-
rally walled enclosure were three extraordinary stones,
forming a seat with a back and footstool. And this
thicket, so full of a natural art, was in the immediate
vicinity, within a few rods, of the dwelling of Madame
Deluc, whose boys were in the habit of closely exami-
ning the shrubberies about them in search of the bark
of the sassafras. Would it be a rash wager—a wager
of one thousand to one—that a day never passed over
the heads of these boys without finding at least one of
them ensconced in the umbrageous hall, and enthroned
upon its natural throne? Those who would hesitate at
such a wager, have either never been boys themselves,
or have forgotten the boyish nature. I repeat—it is
exceedingly hard to comprehend how the articles could
have remained in this thicket undiscovered, for a longer
period than one or two days; and that thus there is
good ground for suspicion, in spite of the dogmatic igno-
rane of Le Soliel, that they were, at a comparatively
late date, deposited where found.
“But there are still other and stronger reasons for
believing them so deposited, than any which I have as
yet urged. And, now, let me beg your notice to the
highly artificial arrangement or disposal of the articles.
On the upper stone lay a white petticoat; on the second
a silk scarf; scattered around, were a parasol, gloves,
[Col.2]
and a pocket-handkerchief bearing the name, Marie
Rogêt. Here is just such an arrangement as would
naturally be made by a not-over-acute person wishing
to dispose the articles naturally. But it is by no means
a really natural arrangement. I should rather have
looked to see the things all lying on the ground and
trampled under foot. In the narrow limits of that
bower, it would have been scarcely possible that the
petticoat and scarf should have retained a position upon
the stones, when subjected to the brushing to and fro of
many struggling persons. 'There was evidence,' it is
said, 'of a struggle; and the earth was trampled, the
bushes were broken,'—but the petticoat and the scarf
are found deposited as if upon shelves. 'The pieces of
the frock torn out by the bushes were about three inches
wide and six inches long. One part was the hem of the
frock and it had been mended. They looked like strips
torn off.' Here, inadvertently, Le Soliel has employed
an exceedingly suspicious phrase. The pieces, as
described, do indeed 'look like strips torn off;' but pur-
posely and by hand. It is one of the rarest of accidents
that a piece is 'torn off,' from any garment such as is
now in question, by the agency of a thorn. From the
very nature of such fabrics, a thorn or nail becoming
entangled in them, tears them rectangularly—divides
them into two longitudinal rents, at right angles with
each other, and meeting at an apex where the thorn
enters—but it is scarcely possible to conceive the piece
'torn off.' I never so knew it, nor did you. To tear a
piece off from such fabric, two distinct forces, in dif-
ferent directions, will be, in almost every case, required.
If there be two edges to the fabric—if, for example, it be
a pocket-handkerchief, and it is desired to tear from it a
slip, then, and then only, will the one force serve the
purpose. But in the present case the question is of a
dress, presenting but one edge. To tear a piece from
the interior, where no edge is presented, could only be
effected by a miracle, through the agency of thorns, and
no one thorn could accomplish it. But, even where an
edge is presented, two thorns will be necessary, opera-
ting, the one in two distinct directions, and the other in
one. And this in the supposition that the edge is
unhemmed. If hemmed, the matter is nearly out of the
question. We thus see the numerous and great obsta-
cles in the way of pieces being 'torn off' through the
simple agency of 'thorns;' yet we are required to
believe not only that one piece but that many have been
so torn. 'And one part,' too, 'was the hem of the frock!'
Another piece was 'part of the skirt, not the hem,—that
is to say, was torn completely out, through the agency
of thorns, from the unedged interior of the dress!
These, I say, are things which one may well be par-
doned for disbelieving; yet, taken collectedly they
form, perhaps, less of reasonable ground for suspicion,
than the one startling circumstance of the articles' having
been left in this thicket at all, by any murderers who
had enough of precaution to think of removing the
corpse. You will not have apprehended me rightly,
however, if you suppose it my design to deny this thicket
as the scene of the outrage. For, in fact, this is a point
of minor importance. We are not engaged in an attempt
[Col.1]
to discover the scene, but to produce the perpetrators of
the murder. What I have adduced, notwithstanding
the minuteness with which I have adduced it, has been
with the view, first, to show the folly of the positive
and headlong assertions of Le Soliel, but secondly and
chiefly, to bring you, by the most natural route, to a
further contemplation of the doubt whether this assassi-
nation has, or has not been the work of a gang.
“We will resume this question by mere allusion to the
revolting details of the surgeon examined at the inquest.
It is only necessary to say that his published inferences,
in regard to the number of the ruffians, have been pro-
perly ridiculed as unjust and totally baseless, by all the
reputable anatomists of Paris. Not that the matter
might not have been as inferred, but that there was no
ground for the inference.
“Let us reflect now upon 'the traces of a struggle;'
and let me ask what these traces have been supposed to
demonstrate. A gang. But do they not rather demon-
strate the absence of a gang? What struggle could
have taken place—what so violent and so enduring as to
have left its 'traces' in all directions—between a weak
and defenceless girl and the gang of ruffians imagined?
The silent grasp of a few rough arms and all would
have been over. The victim must have been absolutely
passive at their will. You will here bear in mind that
I admit the thicket as the scene of the outrage; and
you will immediately perceive that the arguments urged
against the thicket as the scene, are applicable, in
chief part, only against it as the scene of an outrage
committed by more than a single individual. If we
imagine but one violator, we can conceive, and thus only
conceive, the struggle of so violent and so obstinate a
nature as to have left the 'traces' apparent.
“And again. I have already mentioned the strong
and just suspicion to be excited by the fact that the
articles in question were suffered to remain at all in the
thicket where discovered. It seems almost impossible
that these evidences of guilt should have been acciden-
tally left where found. There was sufficient presence
of mind to remove the corpse; and yet a more positive
evidence than the corpse itself (whose features might
have been quickly obliterated by decay,) is allowed to
lie conspicuously in the scene of the outrage—I allude
to the handkerchief with the name of the deceased. If
this was accident, it was not the accident of a gang.
We can imagine it only the accident of an individual.
Let us see. An individual has committed the murder.
He is alone with the ghost of the departed. He is
appalled by what lies motionless before him. The fury
of his passion is over, and there is abundant room in his
heart for the natural awe of the deed. His is none of
that confidence which the presence of numbers inevi-
tably inspires. He is alone with the dead. He trem-
bles and is bewildered. Yet there is a necessity for
disposing of the corpse. He bears it to the river, but
leaves behind him the other evidences of guilt; for it is
difficult, if not impossible to carry all the burthen at
once, and it will be easy to return for what is left. But
in his toilsome journey to the water his fears redouble
within him. The sounds of life encompass his path.
[Col.2]
A dozen times he hears or fancies the step of an ob-
server. Even the very lights from the city bewilder
him. Yet, in time, and by long and frequent pauses of
long agony, he reaches the river's brink, and disposes of
his ghastly charge—perhaps through the medium of a
boat. But now what treasure does the world hold—
what threat of vengeance could it hold out—which would
have power to urge the return of that lonely murderer
over that toilsome and perilous path, to the thicket and
its blood-chilling recollections? He returns not, let the
consequences be what they may. He could not return
if he would. His sole thought is immediate escape.
He turns his back for ever upon those dreadful shrub-
beries, and flees as from the wrath to come.'
“But how with a gang? Their number would have
inspired them with confidence; if, indeed, confidence
is ever wanting in the breast of the arrant blackguard;
for of arrant blackguards alone are the supposed gangs
ever constituted. Their number, I say, would have
prevented the bewildering and unreasoning terror which
I have imagined to paralyze the single man. Could we
suppose an oversight in one or two or three, this over-
sight would have been remedied by a fourth. They
would have left nothing behind them; for their number
would have enabled them to carry all at once. There
would have been no need of return.
“Consider now the circumstance that, in the outer
garment of the corpse when found, 'a slip, about a foot
wide, had been torn upward from the bottom hem to
the waist, wound three times round the waist, and
secured by a sort of hitch in the back.' This was done
with the obvious design of affording a handle by which
to carry the body. But would any number of men
have dreamed of resorting to such an expedient? To
three or four, the limbs of the corpse would have
afforded not only a sufficient, but the best possible hold.
The device is that of a single individual; and this
brings us to the fact that 'between the thicket and the
river, the rails of the fences were found taken down,
and the ground bore evident traces of some heavy bur-
den having been dragged along it! But would a num-
ber of men have put themselves to the superfluous
trouble of taking down a fence, for the purpose of drag-
ging through it a corpse which they might have lifted
over any fence in an instant? Would a number of
men have so dragged a corpse at all as to have left evi-
dent traces of the dragging?
“And here we must refer to an observation of Le
Commerciel; an observation upon which I have al-
ready, in some measure, commented. 'A piece,' says
this journal, 'of one of the unfortunate girl's petticoats
was torn out and tied under her chin, and around the
back of her head, probably to prevent screams. This
was done by fellows who had no pocket-handkerchiefs.'
“I have already suggested that a genuine blackguard
is never without a pocket-handkerchief. But it is not to
this fact that I now especially advert. That it was not
through want of a handkerchief for the purpose ima-
gined by Le Commerciel, that this bandage was em-
ployed, is rendered apparent by the handkerchief left
in the thicket; and that the object was not 'to prevent
[Col.1]
screams' appears, also, from the bandage having been
employed in preference to what would so much better
have answered the purpose. But the language of the
evidence speaks of the strip in question as 'found
around the neck, fitting loosely, and secured with a
hard knot.' These words are sufficiently vague, but
differ materially from those of Le Commerciel. The
slip was eighteen inches wide, and therefore, although
of muslin, would form a strong band when folded or
rumpled longitudinally. And thus rumpled it was dis-
covered. My inference is this. The solitary murderer,
having borne the corpse, for some distance, by means
of the bandage hitched around its middle, found the
weight in this mode of procedure, too much for his
strength. He resolved to drag the burthen—the evi-
dence goes to show that it was dragged. With this
object in view, it became necessary to attach something
like a rope to one of the extremities. It could be best
attached about the neck, where the head would prevent
its slipping off. And, now, the murderer bethought
him, unquestionably, of the bandage about the loins.
He would have used this, but for its volution about the
corpse, the hitch which embarrassed it, and the reflec-
tion that it had not been 'torn off' from the garment.
It was easier to tear a new slip from the petticoat. He
tore it, made it fast about the neck, and so dragged
his victim to the brink of the river. That this 'ban-
dage,' only attainable with trouble and delay, and but
imperfectly answering its purpose—that this bandage
was employed at all, demonstrates that the necessity
for its employment sprang from circumstances arising
at a period when the handkerchief was no longer at-
tainable—that is to say, arising, as we have imagined,
after quitting the thicket, and on the road between the
thicket and the river.
“But the evidence, you will say, of Madame Deluc,
points especially to the presence of a gang, in the
vicinity of the thicket, at or about the epoch of the
murder, I grant. I doubt if there were not a dozen
gangs, such as described by Madame Deluc, in and
about the vicinity of Barrière du Roule at or about
the period of this tragedy. But the gang which has
drawn upon itself the pointed animadversion, although
the somewhat tardy evidence of Madame Deluc, is the
only gang which is represented by that honest and
scrupulous old lady as having eaten her cakes and
swallowed her brandy, without putting themselves to
the trouble of making her payment. Et hinc illæ iræ?
“But what is the precise evidence of Madame
Deluc? 'A gang of miscreants made their appear-
ance, behaved boisterously, ate and drank without
making payment, followed in the rout of the young man
and girl, returned to the inn about dusk, and recrossed
the river as if in great haste.'
“Now this 'great haste' very possibly seemed grea-
ter haste in the eyes of Madame Deluc, since she dwelt
lingeringly and lamentingly upon her violated cakes
and ale—cakes and ale for which she might still
have entertained a faint hope of compensation. Why,
otherwise, since it was about dusk, should she make a
point of the haste. It is no cause for wonder, surely,
[Col.2]
that even a gang of blackguards should make haste to
get home when a wide river is to be crossed in small
boats, when storm impends, and when night ap-
proaches.
“I say approaches; for the night had not yet ar-
rived. It was only about dusk that the indecent haste
of these 'miscreants' offended the sober eyes of
Madame Deluc. But we are told that it was upon
this very evening that Madame Deluc, as well as her
eldest son, 'heard the screams of a female in the vici-
nity of the inn.' And in what words does Madame
Deluc designate this period of the evening at which
these screams were heard. 'It was soon after dark,'
she says. But ' soon after dark' is, at least, dark;
and 'about dusk' is as certainly daylight. Thus it is
abundantly clear that the gang quitted the Barrière du
Roule prior to the screams overhead by Madame
Deluc. And although, in all the many reports of the
evidence, the relative expressions in question are dis-
tinctly and invariably employed just as I have employed
them in this conversation with yourself, no notice what-
ever of the gross discrepancy has, as yet, been taken by
any of the public journals, or by any of the Myrmidons
of police.
“I shall add but one to the arguments against a
gang; but this one has, to my own understanding, at
least, a weight altogether irresistible. Under the cir-
cumstances of large reward offered, and full pardon to
any King's evidence, it is not to be imagined, for a
moment, that some member of a gang of low ruffians,
or of any body of men, would not long ago have betrayed
his accomplices. Each one of a gang so placed, is not so
much greedy of reward, or anxious for escape, as fear-
ful of betrayal. He betrays eagerly and early that he
may not himself be betrayed. That the secret has not
been divulged, is the very best of proof that it is, in
fact, a secret. The horrors of this dark deed are
known only to one living human being, and to God.
“And who that one? It will not be impossible—
perhaps it will not be difficult to discover. Let us sum
up meagre yet certain fruits of our long analysis. We
have attained the idea of a murder perpetrated, in the
thicket at the Barrière du Roule, by a lover, or at
least by an intimate and secret associate of the deceased.
This associate is of swarthy complexion. This com-
plexion, the 'hitch' in the bandage, and the 'sailor's
knot' with which the bonnet-ribbon is tied, point to a
seaman. His companionship with the deceased, a gay,
but not an abject young girl, designates him as above
the grade of the common sailor. Here the well written
and urgent communications to the journals are much in
the way of corroboration. The circumstance of the
first elopement, as mentioned by Le Mercurie, tends to
blend the idea of this seaman with that of the 'naval
officer' who is first known to have led the unfortunate
into crime. We are not forced to suppose a pre-
meditated design of murder or of violation. But there
was the friendly shelter of the thicket, and the approach
of rain—there was opportunity and strong temptation—
and then a sudden and violent wrong, to be concealed
only by one of darker dye.
[Col.1]
“And here, most fitly comes the consideration of the
continued absence of him of the dark complexion. Let
me pause to observe that the complexion of this man is
dark and swarthy; it was no common swarthiness which
constituted the sole point of remembrance, both as re-
gards Valence and Madame Deluc. But why is this
man absent? Was he murdered by the gang? If so,
why are there only traces of the assassinated girl?
The scene of the two outrages will naturally be sup-
posed identical. And where is his corpse? The assas-
sins would most probably have disposed of both in the
same way. But it may be said that this man lives, and
is deterred from making himself known, through dread
of being charged with the murder. This consideration
might be supposed to operate upon him now—at this
late period—since it has been given in evidence that he
was seen with Marie—but it would have had no force
at the period of the dark deed. The first impulse of
an innocent man would have been to announce the out-
rage, and to aid in identifying the ruffians. This policy
would have suggested. He had been seen with the
girl. He had crossed the river with her in an open
ferry-boat. The denouncing of the assassins would
have appeared, even to an idiot, the surest and sole
means of relieving himself from suspicion. We cannot
suppose him, on the night of the fatal Sunday, both
innocent himself and incognizant of an outrage commit-
ted. Yet only under such circumstances is it possible
to imagine that he would have failed, if alive, in the
denouncement of the assassins.
“And what means are ours, of attaining the truth?
We shall find these means multiplying and gathering
distinctness as we proceed—provided that our prepara-
tory analysis of the subject has not greatly diverged
from the principles of truth. Let us sift to the bottom
this affair of the first elopement. Let us know the full
history of 'the officer,' with his present circumstances,
and his whereabouts at the precise period of the murder.
Let us carefully compare with each other the various
communications sent to the evening paper, in which the
object was to inculpate a gang. This done, let us
compare these communications, both as regards style
and MS., with those sent to the morning paper, at a
previous period, and insisting so vehemently upon the
guilt of Mennais. And, all this done, let us again com-
pare these various communications with the known
MSS. of the officer. Let us endeavor to ascertain, by
repeated questionings of Madame Deluc and her boys,
as well as of the omnibus-driver, Valence, something
more of the personal appearance and bearing of the
'man of dark complexion.' Queries, skilfully directed,
will not fail to elicit, from some of these parties, infor-
mation on this particular point—information which the
parties themselves may not even be aware of possessing.
And let us now trace the boat picked up by the barge-
man on the morning of Monday the twenty-third of
June, and which was removed from the barge-office,
without the cognizance of the officer in attendance, and
without the rudder, at some period prior to the dis-
covery of the corpse. With a proper caution and per-
severance we shall infallibly trace this boat; for not
[Col.2]
only can the bargeman who picked it up identify it, but
the rudder is at hand. The rudder of a sail-boat
would not have been abandoned, without inquiry, by
one altogether at ease in heart. And here let me pause
to insinuate a question. There was no advertisement
of the picking up of this boat. It was silently taken to
the barge-office, and as silently removed. But its
owner or employer—how happened he, at so early a
period as Tuesday morning, to be informed, without the
agency of advertisement, of the locality of the boat
taken up on Monday, unless we imagine some connexion
with the navy—some personal permanent connexion
leading to cognizance of its minute interests—its pretty
local news?
“In speaking of the lonely assassin dragging his bur-
den to the shore, I have already suggested the proba-
bility of his availing himself of a boat. Now we are to
understand that Marie Rogêt was precipitated from a
boat. This would naturally have been the case. The
corpse could not have been trusted to the shallow waters
of the shore. The peculiar marks on the back and
shoulders of the victim tell of the bottom ribs of a boat.
That the body was found without weight is also corro-
borative of the idea. If thrown from the shore a weight
would have been attached. We can only account for
its absence by supposing the murderer to have neglected
the precaution of supplying himself with it before pushing
off. In the act of consigning the corpse to the water,
he would unquestionably have noticed his oversight;
but then no remedy would have been at hand. Any
risk would have been preferred to a return to that
accursed shore. Having rid himself of his ghastly
charge, the murderer would have hastened to the city.
There, at some obscure wharf, he would have leaped on
land. But the boat—would he have secured it? He
would have been in too great haste for such things as
securing a boat. Moreover, in fastening it to the wharf,
he would have felt as if securing evidence against him-
self. His natural thought would be to cast from him,
as far as possible, all that had held connection with his
crime. He would not only have fled from the wharf
but he would not have permitted the boat to remain.
Assuredly he would have cast it adrift. Let us pursue
our fancies.—In the morning, the wretch is stricken
with unutterable horror at finding that the boat has
been picked up and detained at a locality which he is
in the daily habit of frequenting—at a locality, per-
haps, which his duty compels him to frequent. The
next night, without daring to ask for the rudder, he
removes it. Now where is that rudderless boat? Let
it be one of our first purposes to discover. With the
first glimpse we obtain of it, the dawn of our success
shall begin. This boat shall guide us, with a rapidity
which will surprize even ourselves, to him who em-
ployed it in the midnight of the fatal Sabbath. Corro-
boration will rise upon corroboration. The murderer
will be traced.”
[For reasons which we shall not specify but which to
many readers will appear obvious, we have taken the
liberty of here omitting, from the MSS. placed in our
hands, such portion as details the following up of the
[Col.1]
apparently slight clew obtained by Dupin. We feel it
advisable only to state, in brief, that the result desired
was brought to pass; that an individual assassin was
convicted, upon his own confession, of the murder of
Marie Rogêt, and that the Prefect fulfilled punctually,
although with reluctance, the terms of his compact with
the Chevalier. Mr. Poe's article concludes with the
following words.—Eds.]
It will be understood that I speak of coincidences
and no more. What I have said above upon this topic
must suffice. In my own heart there dwells no faith in
præter-nature. That Nature and its God are two, no
man who thinks, will deny. That the latter, creating
the former, can, at will, control or modify it, is also un-
questionable. I say “at will;” for the question is of
will, and not, as the insanity of logic has assumed, of
power. It is not that the Deity cannot modify his laws,
but that we insult him in imagining a possible necessity
for modification. In their origin these laws were fash-
ioned to embrace all contingencies which could lie in
the Future. With God all is Now.
I repeat, then, I speak of certain things only as of
coincidences. And farther: in what I relate it will be
seen that between the fate of the unhappy Mary Cecilia
Rogers, so far as that fate is known, and the fate of
one Marie Rogêt up to a certain epoch in her history,
there has existed a parallel in the contemplation of
whose wonderful exactitude the reason becomes embar-
rassed. I say all this will be seen. But let it not for
a moment be supposed that, in proceeding with the sad
narrative of Marie from the epoch just mentioned, and
in tracing to its dénouement the mystery which enshrouded
her, it is my covert design to hint at an extension of the
parallel, or even to suggest that the measures adopted
in Paris for the discovery of the assassin of a grisette, or
measures founded in any similar ratiocination, would
produce any similar result.
For, in respect to the latter branch of the supposition,
it should be considered that the most trifling variation
in the facts of the two cases might give rise to the most
important miscalculations, by diverting thoroughly the two
courses of events; very much as, in arithmetic, an error
which, to its own individuality, may be inappreciable,
produces, at length, by dint of multiplication at all
points of the process, a result enormously at variance
with truth. And, in regard to the former branch, we
must not fail to hold in view that the very Calculus of
Probabilities to which I have referred, forbids all idea
of the extension of the parallel:—forbids it with a
positiveness strong and decided just in proportion as
this parallel has already been long-drawn and exact.
This is one of those anomalous propositions which,
seemingly appealing to thought altogether apart from
the mathematical, is yet one which only the mathema-
tician can fully entertain. Nothing, for example, is
more difficult than to convince the merely general reader
that the fact of sixes having been thrown twice in suc-
cession by a player at dice is sufficient cause for betting
the largest odds that sixes will not be thrown in the
third attempt. A suggestion to this effect in usually
rejected by the intellect at once. It does not appear
[Col.2]
that the two throws which have been completed, and
which lie now absolutely in the Past, can have influence
upon the throw which exists only in the Future. The
chance for throwing sixes seems to be precisely as it
was at any ordinary time—that is to say, subject only
to the influence of the various other throws which may
be made by the dice. And this is a reflection which
appears so exceedingly obvious that attempts to con-
trovert it are received more frequently with a derisive
smile than with any thing like respectful attention.
The error here involved—a gross error redolent of
mischief—I cannot pretend to expose within the limits
assigned me at present; and with the philosophical it
needs no exposure. It may be sufficient here to say
that it forms one of an infinite series of mistakes which
arise in the path of Reason through her propensity for
seeking truth in detail.
================================================================
[Col.4]
ATTEMPT TO SHOOT.—J. H. Colton was arrested
on Friday evening, on a charge of attempting to kill
Charles G. Corliss, by firing a pistol at him, which
did not explode. Extenuating and peculiar circum-
stances induced the act. Colton was held to bail to
answer, and discharged from custody.
================================================================
[Col.4]
An attempt to take life.—Early on Saturday morn-
ing a person named Henry Colton, was arrested by
one of the city watchmen, and lodged in the watch
house, charged with having a few minutes before he
was taken into custody, presented a loaded pistol at
the person of Mr. Charles G. Corlies, of 108 Leon-
ard street, near the residence of the latter. The cap
fortunately exploded without discharging the wea-
pon, or life of Mr. Corlies would have been taken
in consequence of the nearness of the parties. No
cause was assigned for this wilful act, and Mr. Cor-
lies was entirely unacquainted with his intended
murderer. The pistol was subsequently examined,
after being taken from Colton, and found to contain
a charge of powder and a bullet. The broken cap
was still on the tube of the lock. Colton was held
to bail in $5,000 to answer the charge.
================================================================
[Col.5]
☞ Our readers will remember that we noticed
a few days since the attempt of Mr. Henry Colton
to shoot a man named C. G. Corlies, in Broad-
way, on Friday night, which was frustrated by the
failure of the pistol to explode. Corlies stated that
he had never seen the man before, and Colton said
that he was a mechanic boarding at 26 Vesey st.
The wife of Colton has since attempted to com-
mit suicide by taking laudanum—but was prevent-
ed by the administration of an emetic. We have
been told that the attempt of Colton was provoked
by the alleged seduction of his wife. He has, un-
til quite recently, for some time past kept a gam-
bling house in his own name at 26 Vesey st.
================================================================
[Col.2]
Atrocious Murder.
A terrible murder was perpetrated in our streets
last evening. All our readers doubtless remember
the attempt, mentioned some days since, of Mr.
Henry Colton, of No. 26 Vesey-street, to shoot
Mr. Charles Corlies in Leonard-street. The pis-
tol then merely snapped, and Colton was arrested.
He was bailed, and has since been at liberty. A
day or two after this, the wife of Colton made an
unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide by taking
laudanum. This added strength to the rumor we
had previously heard that the assault of Colton was
made in consequence of the alleged seduction of
his wife by Corlies.
Last evening at a few minutes before 7 o'clock
Mr. Corlies was seen to come out of his Bowling
Saloon under Kreemer & Co.'s coach estab-
lishment in Broadway near Franklin-street, in
company with a woman. He passed down Broad-
way to Leonard-street, down which he turned
and proceeded towards his residence at No. 108.
He was there last seen standing still and in con-
versation with a woman. A moment or two after
the explosion of a pistol was heard, and a passer-
by in Broadway saw a man fall—but saw no one
near him. On going to him, Mr. Corlies was found
to have been shot. A ball entered the back
of his head, and on examination is supposed to
have lodged just behind his nose. He was speech-
less when found, and so remained. Portions of
his brain escaped through the wound, and his re-
covery was of course impossible. He was imme-
diately taken into a room in the Carleton House,
and attended by physicians. When we left he was
still living, but died at a little after nine.
Officers immediately went after Mr. Colton, who
was found at his house and taken into custody.
He surrendered himself without the slightest hesi-
tation and denied all knowledge of the transaction.
Colton has for a long time kept a genteel gamb-
ling establishment at his residence. Corlies is a
single man and boarded at No. 108 Leonard street.
We have not heard of the apprehension of the wo-
man with whom he was last seen in company, nor
do we know that her name has been ascertained.
It is surmised by many that the murderer was a
man dressed in woman's clothes.
[Col.3]
Capital Punishment Again.
...
since our correspondent alludes to 'the innate
cruelty of Radicalism,' in connection with the Re-
volution of the Three Days of 1830, we must say
that we wish our Penal Code were as humane in
its spirit as were the victors in that glorious con-
test.
[Col.5]
Astounding Disclosures!—The Pensions of
Revolutionary Widows withheld!
...
—————
LOSS OF THE CONCORD.—The loss of the U. S.
sloop of war Concord, a rumor of which reached us
by way of Philadelphia, is confirmed by the Maria
Theresa at Boston. She was lost on the rocks in
the Mozambique Channel, about the 2d of October.
...
[Col.6]
Orthography.
To the Editor of the New-York Tribune:
MY DEAR SIR: Why will you persist in disfiguring every
thing passing through your press by spelling 'hight' and
'trave-ler'? Why select two or three words in which Web-
ster has departed from a standard established by the lapse
...
Remarks by the Editor.
'Old Dilworth' is not quite perspicuous as to
what he would have us 'go back' to. Does he
wish us to spell critick and critical, republick
...
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, March 21, 1843 (CA)
[Col.2]
MONDAY, March 20.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.—STATED MEETING.—
...
By Ald. Crolius. That his honor the Mayor offer a re-
ward of $500 for the apprehension of the murderer of Chas.
J. Corlies, who was shot about 7 o'clock this evening at the
corner of Broadway and Leonard street, and whose death
is momentarily expected. Adjourned.
================================================================
[Col.4]
Investigation into the facts of the Murder
of Mr. Charles G. Corlies.
The murder of Mr. Charles G. Corlies on Mon-
day night has created a deep and universal excite-
ment throughout the city, and the mystery in which
the transaction is enveloped adds greatly to the
interest which hangs around it. The examination
of Colton and his wife, the only persons as yet ap-
prehended on suspicion of having been concerned
in the crime, was commenced yesterday, and will
be continued to-day. In consequence of the gen-
eral interest felt in the matter we present the fol-
lowing full report of the testimony—though it will
be seen that the whole affair rests in the same mys-
tery which before surrounded it. The Commercial
yesterday mentions a report that the intimacy that
existed between the deceased and Mrs. Colton
was invited by her, and that he did not know that
she was a married woman at that time:
TUESDAY, P. M. March 21, 1843.
Charles G. Corlies, of No. 108 Leonard st., the keeper of
a Bowling Saloon in Broadway between Leonard and
Franklin sts. having been mortally wounded about 7 o'clock
on Monday night, by a pistol shot, the ball of which entered
the posterior part of the head, while he was standing in
the street near his lodgings, from which wound he died
in the Carlton House, some three hours afterwards, the Cor-
oner assembled a jury at three o'clock this afternoon, in the
Court of Sessions Chamber, to investigate the facts of the
case, and to ascertain if possible, from the testimony, the
author of the murderous deed. As a man named Henry
Colton had previously attempted to take the life of Mr.
Corlies by snapping a loaded pistol at him, for which he
had been held to bail in $5,000, to answer, suspicion some-
what naturally centered on him as the perpetrator of the
death of Corlies, and he, together with his wife, were ar-
rested and committed until the evidence to be adduced
should determine whether the suspicions resting upon them
were well founded or not. The following persons were
sworn as jurors, viz, Peter Erben, Dr. John Sickles, Wil-
liam A. Brown, Cyrene Clark, Daniel W. Gilmere, A. V.
Hammond, Luther Tibbets, John Crosby, James Smyth,
William Hagadorn, William S. Warner, Silas T. Ames,
George Scarff, John Colvin, Richard Vorhees, Henry P.
Barker, Andrew C. Tuttle.
Henry Colton, and his wife Hannah W., having been
brought out of Prison into Court, the following witnesses
were sworn and examined:
Robert A. Corlies deposed as follows: I am brother of
deceased—he was a native of Vermont—he was 28 last July
—he resided at 108 Leonard st. and his place of business
was 360 Broadway—he has kept a Bowling Saloon there
nearly four months, or perhaps longer—kept it on his own
account for some time. He was in good health yesterday,
and dined at his boarding house—did not take tea there.
After dinner at 3 he left and went to his saloon. I saw
him there at 4½ o'clock, sitting at the window near the door
reading a paper. I merely passed in and out without speak-
ing to him. Did not see him after that until after he was
injured. I was at my place, 218 Broadway, about 7 o'clock,
when Amos Brigham came and informed me that my bro-
ther was shot and was at the Carlton House. Got a hack
and with a friend went there, where I saw my brother lying
on a table in the room back of the bar, insensible, bleeding
at the mouth and nose, and gasping for breath—the blood
also flowing profusely from the wound in the back of the
head. A surgeon had been called before I arrived and was
present. I remained with him until he died, about three
hours after I got there. I have not any knowledge myself
of the manner in which he came to his injury. After death
his body was removed to his boarding house, No. 108 Leon-
ard-street, by my request.
Preston H. Hodges, deposed. I am one of the proprietors
of the Carlton House in Broadway. Was acquainted with
deceased. Saw him yesterday evening, a few minutes be-
fore 7, about 60 feet from Boadway in Leonard-street, stand-
ing in the street. He was in company with a female, stand-
ing still, talking to her. I passed them from East to West.
I did not observe the female sufficiently to identify her. I
did not see her face and could not describe her dress. She
was a middle-sized woman, rather shorter than deceased.—
She did not resemble any female I had ever seen in his com-
pany before. I went immediately into the bar-room and
spoke to Mr. Bates. I requested Bates to go into the barber's
shop under our house on the ground floor. Bates came to-
wards me stepping towards the door, and at that moment
we heard the explosion of a pistol. We then both immedi-
ately went out and discovered Mr. Corlies lying on the walk
on his face. Went to him, raised him up and discovered that
it was Corlies, and that he was wounded and bleeding. I
spoke to him—he did not answer and appeared insensible.
When I went out I did not observe any other in the street,
except one person, I think, who got there about the same
time we did. It was a male. It was about dusk—light
enough to discover objects. Heard no noise of persons run-
ning away. After turning him over, I had Mr. Corlies con-
veyed to my house, and he was placed on the table in the
back-room.
After this Dr. Putnam was called in, examined the wound,
sponged the blood off the face of deceased, and said it was
useless to do any thing. Dr. Hosack was also called in, and
several other physicians called in to see deceased, who died
a few minutes after 10 o'clock. I have no knowledge of the
manner in which he received the injury. When I saw Cor-
lies and the woman together they were not quarreling, but
conversing face to face, leaning against the house. After I
saw him conversing with the woman, I was not half a minute
in the house before I heard the report, when Mr. Bates and
myself went out. The head was lying towards Broadway
when found. Nothing was found by me near the body.
Theophilus Bates deposed as follows. I reside at the
Carlton House, and am bar-keeper for Mr. Hodges. I was
acquainted with the deceased, and saw him once yesterday
in the bar-room after 12 o'clock. I did not see him again
until after he was injured. It was a few minutes to 7 o'-
clock when Mr. Hodges came in and asked me to go to the
barber's shop, saying he would go with me or go and show
me. [The witness then gave a similar statement as Mr.
Hodges of the report of the fire-arms, going out, finding the
body, recognizing it, &c.] I went to No. 108 Leonard-st.,
where deceased had boarded, and informed them what had
happened, and went to the bar of the Carlton House. The
body was carried in during my absence. Have no know-
ledge of the manner in which he came to his injury. Never
heard any person threaten to take the life of Corlies. Some
one arrived at the body the same instant I did, and several
others soon came. As we passed out of the Carlton House,
and while on the steps, I saw a female passing up from the
direction in which the body lay. She was walking fast;
did not recognize an article of her dress; had a glimpse of
her face as she passed; did not observe her size.
Benjamin B. Robinson, sworn.—I reside at No. 108
Leonard street at present. I had charge of Mr. Corlis's place
360 Broadway, while he was absent. It is between Leonard
and Franklin streets. I was in the place during the after-
noon and until a quarter before 7 o'clock, when I left. Corlis
was not in when I left. He was in company with a female
half an hour before I left. She staid there inside about five
minutes while Corlies was there. I saw her at the door and
did not come in until Corlies went to the door. He tried to
persuade her by motion to go back. She came in with
him and sat on a sofa some 30 feet from me, about midway
of the alley. Mr. Corlies sat down beside her, and con-
versed with her. Did not hear a word they said. They
probably whispered. He started to go out and she followed
him out to the foot of the stairs when he stopped and talked
with her outside the door, when he came back for his over-
coat and put it on. I asked him where he was going—he
made no answer, appeared much agitated, and looked pale.
Asked him who it was, and made me no answer to that. I
asked him if it was Mrs. Colton; he made no answer, shook
his head, said hush, or yes; spoke quick, was much agitated,
and walked up the steps in her company. About 15 minutes
after this I was told he had been shot and was lying in the
Carlton House. I closed the house, and went immediately
to the Carlton House and saw him there badly injured and
insensible. I don't recollect to have seen that female before.
I do not know Mrs. Colton. Never knew her until she was
pointed out to me in court. The woman that came there
was about the middle size, with rather large features. She
had on a light straw hat, dark shawl or cloak, light colored
dress, striped velvet or silk ribbon on the hat—one color
of the ribbon I think was blue or black, with a bow I think
on one side of the hat. Don't recollect any flowers; a green
veil I think was attached to the hat. I think I could identify
[Col.5]
the hat if I saw it, as I took more notice of the hat than
any thing else. I saw a hat (alleged to belong to Mrs. Col-
ton) that was brought into my residence after the death of
Corlies. I identified it the moment I saw it as the one worn
by the female in the saloon. I did not know whose hat it
was at the time, nor was I told. I did not know the gen-
tleman who brought the hat in, [hat shown.] I should
think it the same hat, or one precisely like it or very near
like it. I don't know of any person having threatened Mr.
Corlis's life of my own knowledge, only what I have heard
said. I have heard indirectly by Mr. Charles B. Styles,
who lived with the brother of deceased, that some one told
him who had it nearly direct that Mr. Colton or some of
his friends had said that Mr. Corlies would not live 24 hours.
This was reported to be said day before yesterday. I was
told this last evening after the death. I have heard others
say the same thing before, viz: that Colton would kill or
shoot him. Informants said they had heard some one say
so. I have heard Mr. Corlies say he had heard that he was
to be killed by Mr. Colton, and that he did not like to go
out in the street alone at night for fear of his own death by
Mr. Colton. Corlies carried a single-barrelled pistol since
the time he was near being assassinated by Mr. Colton.—
The attempt of Colton was some 10 days ago. [Pistol
shown.] This is the pistol—he carried it in self-defence.—
[Mrs. Colton shown to witness.] She resembles the person
I saw in the saloon with Mr. Corlies very slightly. I see
neither male nor female now who resembles the female
who came into the saloon, except Mrs. Colton, who resem-
bles her slightly. I think the female had a muff or bag.
John K. Hackett sworn.—I reside at 356 Broadway, the
second door below the bowling saloon. I was acquainted
with deceased. I was in his saloon last evening at 360
Broadway. I went there some 5 to 7 minutes before 7
o'clock. I took particular notice of the time from the clock
in the saloon, as I had an engagement. I saw there Mr.
Robinson, Mr. Corlies, the man who was seated on a sofa
with a woman about two-thirds the way from the alley.
No others were there except those who accompanied me to
play, viz.: Mr. Henry Lynch, John C. Bergh, Leverett C.
Rice, and a man named Cochrane whose first name I don't
know. Besides these were the boys who set up the pins.
The female was seated at the extreme end of the sofa, and
he bending over her, in apparently deep conversation. I
went within a few yards of them and accosted Corlies. The
female had her back to me, and their faces were near to-
gether. As I did not wish to insult him, I took no notice of
the female, except to notice that she had on a straw hat and
dark cloak. The gas was partly turned off as we entered,
and there was a good deal of gloom where Corlies and the
female sat. The lights were lit up a few moments after-
wards, by order of Mr. Robinson, and we commenced play-
ing. Mr. Corlies I presume was interrupted in conversation;
they rose and took their way to the door, she leading the
way. The female brushed my clothes as she passed along.
As Corlies was going out I asked him where he was going
to. He turned his head, said nothing, and looked sullen, as
if not disposed to answer me. He opened the door and
stood at the bottom of the steps with the woman a few min-
utes. Almost at once he took his coat and left. She re-
mained at the foot of the steps outside while he was getting
his coat. They went up stairs and I presume they left to-
gether. I remained in the alley I think some ten minutes
after that, when a gentlemen whose name I don't know
came running in and said Mr. Corlies was shot through the
head and was at the Carlton House. I went there and
saw him lying on a table weltering in his blood. The fe-
male I saw was I think rather under the ordinary hight
of women. From the general appearance of her dress I
should think she was of the better class. Mrs. Colton's
hight, as she appears in Court, I think tallies with the wo-
man I saw. From my knowledge of the affair between
Mrs. Colton and Mr. Corlies, I was anxious to see her face,
and I observed she was deeply veiled—either a green or
black veil; I think the latter. She had on a dark cloak en-
veloping her dress, and I think her hands were under her
cloak. I do not recollect seeing her have a muff. She had
on a straw hat with dark ribbons. I never heard any one
threaten the life of Colton. I had indirectly heard repeat-
edly of Colton having threatened the life of Corlies. Never
heard of any time mentioned when he would probably be
killed. [Hat shown.] I took this hat out of the band-box,
at 26 Vesey-street, and think it is not the hat. I think the
veil was black, and this, being green, I think cannot be it.
I don't think I should know that female again.
Daniel Kearney was sworn. I am 13 years old, live at
120 Warren street with my mother. I work in the ten-pin
alley, 360 Broadway, for Mr. Traves, in the 3d story. Was
in Corlies's bowling saloon last evening about quarter before
7 o'clock. Mr. Corlies was there. I saw a lady come in
while I was there—alleys not yet lighted up. She passed
through and sat on the sofa. Mr. Corlies went and sat down
with her there. They sat there about three minutes, and
went outside of the door together and stood on the steps
and talked, and I passed out directly after them and went
to my employment, leaving them outside upon the steps.—
Did not hear any thing they said; did not see the woman's
face; saw what she had on; had on a dark hat and dark
veil; had no cloak I think but had on a shawl. Never saw
the lady before. They had not begun to roll nine-pins when
I went out. I was sent out about 4 minutes after going up
stairs on an errand for some vinegar at the corner of Leon-
ard and Elm sts. Saw Mr. Corlies talking to a lady in
Leonard st. near Broadway. I think it was the same lady
I saw in the saloon. They were standing still and close to-
gether. I did not hear any conversation between them. I
was gone about 15 minutes from the alley. I saw them as I
came back from the store. Mr. Corlies was walking down
Leonard street and the lady after him. They were not
more than 15 yards apart. I did not hear any conversation.
Mr. Corlies was walking pretty slow, the lady was walking
fast as if she wished to overtake him. I passed on di-
rectly home to the alley. Mr. Corlies, when I last saw him,
was about opposite the barber's shop under the Carlton
House, on the same side of the way. It was about 10 min-
utes after I last saw Mr. Corlies that I heard he was shot.
Peter Waters (a boy) sworn.—I live at 59 Crosby-street.
I worked for Mr. C. G. Corlies in his bowling saloon; I was
in there when the lady came in last evening. There were
three other boys there, and Mr. Robinson. I saw Mr. Cor-
lies come in with the lady, and was at the time taking my
supper near the sofa; it was near 7 o'clock. They sat on
the end farthest from me; I did not hear any of the conver-
sation. Some men then came in. I was told to light up, and
I did not see Mr. Corlies and the lady go out. I did not see
either of them afterwards. I had never seen that lady be-
fore; she had on a black hat and black veil; it looked like
a black straw hat; I did not notice any ribbands on it; I did
not notice any thing else she had on. The veil was down
over her face.
James McKeon, aged 16, sworn.—I live at 104 Anthony-st.
I was in the employ of Mr. Corlies in his bowling saloon.
I was behind the bar last evening when the lady came in;
I think it was about half past 6. I was busy trimming the
lamps, and did not notice where Mr. Corlies was until they
sat on the sofa together, where they remained about five
minutes. I was engaged in turning on the gas lights when
they went out. Think the lady had on a dark hat; am not
positive whether the veil was over her face or not.
Franklin W. Creamer sworn.—I reside at 354 Broadway.
I left Corlies's saloon at 25 minutes before 7; he was there
at the time. I was not in there afterwards. I saw a lady
go down as I was closing up my place, which is over the
saloon. As I was going, she and Corlies were together, and
they went in. I came immediately after, and took a glass
of water at the bar.
The hour I mentioned was after I went down this time.
When I left there the two were sitting on the sofa. The
woman was of the middling size and rather delicate. I saw
her face. She had on a light straw hat, trimmed with dark
ribbon. If she wore a veil it was not over her face. She
also had on a dark shawl—about maroon color—with a nar-
row border, and a figure. I think her dress was a light
chally, with a dark figure. (The witness could not identify
the hat produced in court as the one seen on the lady.) I
cannot identify the lady now in court (Mrs. Colton) as the
one I saw last night. Corlies looked excited when I saw
him last in the Saloon. As I passed her on the stairs there
were not more than three feet between us. I then saw her
face. (Mrs. Colton's hat was here taken off, but witness
could not identify her as the lady above mentioned.)
Francis Tolfree sworn. I was in the neighborhood of the
Carlton House last evening. I was within about four doors
from Leonard street in Broadway when I heard the report
of a pistol in Leonard-street. I took no notice at first of the
report of the pistol, but on going down Leonard-street I ob-
served a man lying on his face on the walk. (The position
of the body has been before described.) I saw no female,
but there were two or three persons about the body when I
reached it. I am not acquainted with Mr. Corlies. A pistol
was found by a person near where Corlies lay. Some one
told me, when I asked the matter, that the deceased had
shot himself through the mouth. I could not recognize him
again.
John Adams sworn. I reside at 14 Church-st. I have
known Mr. Corliss for 9 or 10 years. I saw him yesterday af-
ternoon about 5½ o'clk, at the corner of Broadway and Ann-st.
He looked wild and as if troubled; he shook hands with
another person and myself, his hand trembled very much
at the time and he appeared very much excited. He asked
if his brother Robert had been there, of Mr. Carr. Mr.
Carr said no. Corlies then left. His right hand was the
whole time he was in there in his overcoat pocket, and I
think I saw the handle of a pistol in the same pocket. He
has told me he was afraid of the 'd——d gang.' It was since
the previous attack made on the life of Corlies, that this
conversation took place.
The investigation here adjourned until 3 o'clock to-mor-
row afternoon.
================================================================
[Col.4. INVESTIGATION is mostly as in Tribune]
THE MURDER OF CHARLES G. CORLISS
—FULL PARTICULARS—CORONER'S INQUEST—
POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION, &c.—We to-day
give the full particulars of this horrid tragedy.
It is a lesson of great value. Honor, morality
and virtue, are the bulwarks of human happi-
ness—would that the principles which they in-
culcate were universally cherished. It will be
seen that our informant was ignorant of the facts
when he authorized us to state yesterday that
Mr. Corliss was murdered by Mr. Colton.
On Tuesday evening, fifteen minutes before se-
ven, the report of a pistol was heard near the
door of the Carlton House, on Leonard street, and
some person hastening out found the deceased
lying on the walk within a few feet of Broadway,
apparently lifeless.
He was taken up and carried into the reading
room, where he lingered, bleeding profusely, and
struggling for breath, until within a few minutes
of ten, when he expired. From the time when he
was discovered until his death he remained in an
entire state of unconsciousness, without being
able to speak or move a muscle.
Dr. Putnam examined the body and found that
the ball had entered the back part of the head, at
the base of the skull, passing upward toward the
forehead, and lodging in the brain. He fell on
his face, bruising his forehead and his face con-
siderably. Dr. Hosack was called in, but no
medical aid could avail. Deceased was attended
by some of his friends and his brother, who held
the dying man by the hand, crying and sobbing
with grief.
The deceased, Charles G. Corliss, had been en-
gaged in a bowling saloon at 360 Broadway, a
few doors above the Carlton House, and for the
past six weeks was the proprietor of the estab-
lishment.
When the news of this event reached the po-
lice office, Justice Matsell, Mr. Osborne, and sev-
eral officers, went immediately to the residence
of Mr. Henry Colton, at 24 Vesey street, who had
been held to bail for an attempt to shot Corliss
in Leonard street, on Friday the 10th inst.
Justice Matsell found Colton seated with Mr.
Parsons, the keeper of the house, in the parlor.—
The justice immediately arrested Colton, saying
“that man is murdered, and it is suspected that
the deed was committed by you or a woman.”
The prisoner appeared lost in thought, and said
the black boy had told him that his wife went out
in the afternoon, but he thought it could not be
she, as she loved him. He denied all participa-
tion in the murder, and Mr. Parsons subsequent-
ly stated to the coroner that he had been sitting
in the parlor with Colton, since some time before
seven o'clock.
It was but a short time after seven when Jus-
tice Matsell was in the house, and while he was
there a female came in, having on a straw bonnet
and veil, and went up stairs. One of the officers
stopped her, and she said she had just come from
Greene street down Broadway, and that she had
“run like a race horse.”
She was suffered to proceed without further
inquiry. Mr. Colton was taken to prison and
locked up.
Mrs. Colton was boarding at the next house,
where her husband had been living with her pre-
vious to last Tuesday week, when he left her,
taking with him his two children to the house of
Mr. Parsons.
Just before 9 o'clock the coroner called at the
house of Mrs. Colton, and was admitted. She
had, however, previously sent word to Justice
Matsell that she could not see him, or any one else
that evening. He then went up to her room in
the third story, and knocked at the door several
times, but received no answer. The coroner,
when he came, broke the door and entered,
finding Mrs. Colton dressed in white, with a black
shawl loosely thrown around her, and sitting on a
sofa, resting her head on a pillow.
He raised her head and asked why she did not
open the door when he knocked, but received in
answer only a vacant stare. He had, before
breaking the door, suspected that she had been
taking poison, or some narcotic. As he could not
now get a word from her his suspicions were in-
creased. It was soon after ascertained that she
had taken no poison, as she began soon to appear
better.
At about eleven she was taken to the city pri-
son. She slept some time during the night and
is this morning very well. The Servant, howev-
er, said she ate nothing yesterday, and had not
taken enough within the last three days, to keep
her from starvation.
Just before six o'clock a woman dressed in a
straw bonnet and green veil came into the bowl-
ing saloon, and Corliss went out with her. He
was seen talking with this woman in Leonard st.,
opposite the place where he was shot but a few
minutes before the commission of the deed. A
woman with a similar bonnet and veil called at
boarding house of Corliss early in the even-
ing, and the servant who opened the door recog-
nized a bonnet and veil found in Mrs. Colton's
room as the same worn by the woman who called
at the house.
There are, however, different stories about the
bonnet and veil. Some say that the woman who
called at the Saloon wore a velvet bonnet, and
one person said she had a black veil. It was sta-
ted by some that they supposed it was Mrs. Col-
ton who called at the saloon.
Officers are in active pursuit for the woman
who came into Mr. Colton's boarding house while
the magistrate was there. It is said that they
have obtained a clue to her residence.
The whole matter underwent an investiga-
tion before the coroner's jury in the afternoon at 3
o'clock, in the Court of Sessions room, where a
very large number of witnesses were called for
examination, and we refer to that for additional
details.
It is not improper or unprofitable to add that
this fatal affair arose from an improper intimacy
between the deceased and Mrs. Colton, who is a
young and attractive woman. We have heard it
said, however, that the first advances were not
made by the deceased, and that he did not know
Mrs. Colton to be a married woman until some
time after the relation between them had been of
the most intimate character.
—
INVESTIGATION INTO THE FACTS OF
THE MURDER OF MR. CHAS. G. COR-
LISS.
TUESDAY, P. M., MARCH 21st.
Charles G. Corliss, of No. 108 Leonard street,
the keeper of a bowling saloon in Broadway
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
The Murder of Corlies.
The interest excited in the public mind by the
recent and audacious murder of Mr. Corlies rather
deepens than subsides. From the report of the
testimony taken yesterday, it will be seen that little
progress was made towards a solution of the mys-
tery in which it is enveloped, though several cir-
cumstances of considerable importance, as the fact
that Mrs. Colton called at the boarding-house of
Corlies at about half past six on the evening of his
death and inquired for him, were brought to light.
There appears to be a very general suspicion in
the public mind that the murder was committed
by Mrs. Colton; that this, however, will ever ripen
into proof is at least extremely doubtful. Apart
from the mystery in which the transaction itself is
enveloped, which alone might well baffle the keen-
est search of lynx-eyed Justice, the social position
of Colton, the resources at his command, and the
number and character of the friends he has made
in the practice of his profession, (of which the
Herald says he was a conspicuous and 'most hon-
orable' member,) might, in a community where
such influences have far less weight than with us,
almost ensure him immunity from the arm of pub-
lic Law; and his power, whatever it might be,
would naturally be extended over his wife, whom,
if she be guilty, he will probably be supposed to
have prompted, and perhaps urged, to the commis-
sion of the murder.
Colton, we understand, came originally from
Boston, where he learned, and for some years prac-
ticed, the art of engraving. He was industrious,
skilful and enterprising, and in the course of a few
years amassed a very considerable amount of pro-
perty. While there he married his present wife,
who was connected with a respectable family at
Providence, R. I., where she lived, and who was
an intelligent, well-educated and accomplished la-
dy. They have now two children, the eldest of
whom it about 11 years of age. Some four or five
years since he removed to this city, and abandoning
his honest calling, established a gambling house
at No. 26 Vesey-street, in a large four-story house,
which he furnished in the richest style. He has
here been in the habit of giving splendid suppers
and other entertainments, freely and frequently, to
all whose fortunes and habits made them desirable
objects of his acquaintance. Being himself intel-
ligent and pleasing in his manners, his house thus
became the common resort of many men of the
highest fashionable circles of the City—including
eminent professional gentlemen as well as those
engaged in mercantile and other pursuits. In this
class, therefore, he has many earnest and influen-
tial friends, not entirely disinterested, perhaps, but
likely on that account to feel none the less anxiety
as to the result of this affair and the developments
to which its progress may give rise. Being ex-
tremely expert at play, and devoting himself to it
with assiduity and remorseless purpose, he soon
greatly increased his fortune; and became one of
the wealthiest as well as most notorious and fash-
ionable gamblers of our City.
Corlies, who was a man of much the same stamp
with himself—engaged in the same business, though
with less marked success, became acquainted with
Mrs. Colton during her husband's temporary ab-
sence in Boston last autumn or in the early part of
winter. Their intercourse soon became criminal,
and was uninterrupted for some time. Her at-
tachment to him was very ardent and engrossing,
and she gave him at different times presents,
mainly of jewelry, &c. to the amount of nearly
$2,000. Their intimacy was soon discovered by a
friend of Colton, who after a time waited upon
Mrs. Colton, informed her that he was entirely
aware of it and threatened to inform her husband
of it unless it was at once broken off. She treated
the matter very lightly, and manifested no inclina-
tion to follow his advice. Colton's friend then
went to Corlies, who, through his influence, was
persuaded to return the jewelry, &c. he had re-
ceived from Mrs. Colton. Their intercourse, how-
ever, was still continued; and on Colton's return
to the city he was informed of the whole affair by
the friend who had already interfered in his be-
half. Colton immediately went to see Corlies and
told him that he was acquainted with the whole
transaction. He promised, however, for the sake
of his two children, to drop all memory of the past
[Col.2]
if Corlies would pledge his honor that the inter-
course between himself and Mrs. Colton should
cease and never be renewed: “If you do not,”
said he, “you'll find me a desperate man.” Cor-
lies immediately gave him a solemn promise that
it should be so. Colton, however, soon became
aware that the intimacy of Corlies with his wife
had been renewed; and Corlies was known to have
boasted of it in the coarsest and most insulting
terms at a public hotel not long after the promise
he had made to Colton. This, of course, re-
aroused all Colton's hatred and revenge; and he
then made the attempt on the life of Corlies, for
which he was held to bail.
Colton after this refused to live with his wife,
whom he left at his former residence in the family
of a Mr. Wallace, taking lodgings himself at the
adjoining house. Mrs. Colton soon found herself
entirely deserted, as Corlies, probably from the ap-
prehension that his life would yet be taken, which
he is known to have entertained, refused to have
any thing farther to do with her. Finding herself
thus blasted in reputation, scorned and turned off
by her husband, despised and deserted by him for
whom she had made so dreadful and so unprin-
cipled a sacrifice, and cut off even from the means
of living, it is conjectured, and certainly with some
show of reason, that an attempted reconciliation
with her husband was met by the declaration that
he would listen to nothing of the kind while Cor-
lies was in the way. We have heard a rumor of
such an interview—though we cannot vouch for
its correctness. It may to many seem impossible
that so terrible a deed should be perpetrated by
any woman, in so cool and determined a manner,
upon one she had ever loved; yet there is deep
truth in the Poet's strong lines:
“Earth has no curse like love to hatred turned,
Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.”
The above we believe are all the new authentic
facts that have come to our knowledge concerning the
progress of this criminal and fatal intercourse.—
More will perhaps be developed by the examina-
tion which will not probably be closed for two or
three days to come. Testimony, more directly
connecting Mrs. Colton with the death of Mr.
Corlies than any that has as yet been submitted,
will, we understand, be brought forward. Whether
it will be sufficiently strong to warrant a com-
mittal, remains to be seen. The proceedings of
Inquest to-day will be found in another column.
—————
...
THE STREETS.—If there was ever an instance of
disgraceful party malevolence, the incessant attacks
of The Plebeian and Beach's Sun on the Street
Contractors is such a one. Does any man sup-
pose that the Contractors can take three feet of
snow out of the Streets? Where shall they put it?
Ten thousand men could not make a serious im-
pression upon it during the time it would take to
melt away. On the other hand, we know that the
clearing away of so large a body of snow from be-
fore the Schools, Public Buildings, Parks, &c. was
never so expeditiously and faithfully performed as
under the Contract. Can any man fail to appre-
hend both the object and the injustice of these at-
tacks?
[Col.4]
The Murder of Mr. Corlies—Examination
before the Coroner.
Reported for The New-York Tribune.
WEDNESDAY, March 22.
The investigation into the circumstances of the
death of Charles G. Corlies was resumed yester-
day at the Court of Sessions at 3 o'clock, P. M.
The room was crowded to suffocation. The fol-
lowing witnesses were examined:
John Adams, recalled.—I passed through Vesey street
three times in the course of Monday, the last time about
half past 6 o'clock, P. M.—I saw that time a female coming
out of No. 26 of that street, I think the name of Wallace
was on the door—it was the third door from the corner of
Church street; she went up Church street towards Canal.
I went down Church street and did not see her afterwards.
I did not know the lady; she walked very rapidly after lea-
ving the stoop of the house. She had on a light hat—I can-
not tell of what it was made. If she had a veil it must have
been thrown over her shoulder. She had a dark Cardinal
shawl on. It was darker than the dress under it. There
was a fringe to the shawl. I think there was a pink color
in the frock. It was about an hour after seeing Mr. Corlies
at the Terrapin Lunch that I saw this lady. I am not ac-
quainted with Mrs. Colton, and never saw her to know her
until I saw her in Court yesterday. I knew that Colton
lived in the house above mentioned because I saw his name
on the door. I was on the left hand side of the street, when
I saw the lady, who was on the opposite side. I cannot tell
whether there is any resemblance between the lady and
Mrs. Colton.
Timothy Driscoll, sworn.—I live in Orange, near Hester-
street,—I worked for Mr. Corlies at 360 Broadway; I was
there when the lady came in the saloon; it was about half
past 6 or 20 minutes to 7. [The evidence of this witness
was substantially the same as that given by the other boys
respecting the lady and Mr. Corlies.] I think the lady had
on a light hat and dark dress. She had a green veil on.
Elijah Chedell affirmed. I live at 23 Greenwich-lane. I
was acquainted with the deceased, Mr. Corlies. The last
time I saw him alive was on Monday between 11 and 12 o'-
clock, A. M. It was at the place of his brother under the
American Museum. I had a conversation with him. I
was there previous to his coming in. When he came in he
was with a gentleman I did not know. After speaking we
sat down. He conversed about his life having been attempt-
ed—that he had an order to go before the grand jury the
next day, and that if he lived he should go. He also said
that he understood Mr. Colton's folks were willing to drop
it, and settle the affair, but that he should appear against
him. Also, that the day previous he met Mr. Colton in the
street, and passed him, and that there was no sign of recog-
nition between them. He said that he was still afraid of his
life. I then familiarly said: “Charles—I'll tell you what
I've heard within a short time—that you had better clear
out of New-York immediately, or your life will be taken.”—
I told him my author—it was a gentleman by the name of
Seaver—who made the remark to me as having heard it a
short time previous. Corlies said that he had heard the
same threat before. I told him if such was the fact he ought
to be very careful about being in the street, and that very
likely he would never live to go before the grand jury. I
also said if those remarks were true that he would not live
24 hours. He said that he should be very careful. That was
the last that passed between us. I am not aware that any
persons that made remarks respecting the life of Corlies were
acquaintances of Colton. Seaver said that a person by the
name of Monroe had made the remark above alluded to.—
Mr. Seaver was formerly in a wholesale boot-store in Mai-
den-lane. I am not acquainted with Mr. or Mrs. Colton.
Preston H. Hodges recalled. At the time of hearing the
report of the fire arms, Mr. Bates and myself went out to-
gether, and did not see any female passing. Mr. Bates was
a little ahead of me, and I believed he did.
Stephen C. Massett.—I reside at 108 Leonard st. with Mrs.
Haight—I was at home on the evening of the 20th (Monday)
when a female called at the door—she rang the bell—it was
about 6½ o'clock. I went to the door, as I expected a friend
to call upon me—I saw a lady as I opened the door—she
asked me if Mr. Charles G. Corlies was at home; I told
her I did not know, but that the servant in the hall could
tell her—the servant came to the door and I returned to the
parlor. I think I asked her to come in and that she declined.
She remained on the stoop until the servant came. I did not
hear any conversation between them. The female was a
middling sized woman. I did not see her face as she had a
veil over her face. I think it was green—I also think that her
hat was of light straw; it was so covered with the veil that I
could not see the color—she wore a long dark shawl.
Charles B. Styles sworn.—I live at 24 Barclay st. corner
of Church. I am bar-keeper for Robert R. Corlies, the
brother of the deceased, in Broadway, next to the Ameri-
can Museum. I was intimately acquainted with the deceased.
I saw him in at his brother's place between 11 and 12 on
Monday. He was there about an hour. His brother came in
as he was leaving. After a short conversation the deceased
left in company with Joseph Britton, of Troy. I did not see
him again until after he was shot.
Elizabeth Skinner sworn.—I live with Mr. Joyce, who
boards at 108 Leonard-street. I have been there about four
months. One of the gentlemen opened the door first, and
then called me. It was about half-past six o'clock, P. M. I
started to go to the door before I was called. When I went
to the door I saw a lady standing on the stoop. She told
me she wanted to see Mr. Charles G. Corlies. I asked her
if it was Mrs. Corlies she wished to see. She answered no,
it was Charles G. Corlies. I meant Mrs. Robert Corlies. I
went back to see if he was there, and met Miss Sarah
Haight coming out of the back parlor with a light. Before
this, I asked the lady to step in the hall; the door remained
open. When Miss Haight came out of the room, the lady
turned her back to us. Miss Haight told me that Mr. Corlies
was not in but soon would be to supper. I then informed
the lady. The hall lamp was not lighted; it was not quite
dark. The lady was rather tall and slim; she had on a
light straw hat, with velvet ribons; the ribon was dark and
striped; there was considerable blue and yellow in the
ribon. There was a bow on the left side of the hat. I did
not notice any flowers in the hat. She had a veil on, but I
do not know whether it was green or black. She also wore
a large dark shawl, but it was not a “Cardinal.” The
shawl had a good many dark colors in it. I did not notice
the trimming of it, or the lining. I think it was a Cash-
mere shawl. I think she wore a dark silk dress. I noticed
her dress because it hung very slimsy. The lady kept her
veil over her face the whole time she was at the door. I
did not see which way she went after leaving the house. I
cannot say that I ever saw her before. I think I saw the
bonnet the lady wore, the night after the murder; it was
brought to the house by an officer; I was not told, previous
to identifying it, who it belonged to. I cannot be positive
to its being the identical bonnet, although I gave a descrip-
tion of it to the whole family. There were no strangers in
the house when I gave the description. I had not had a
description of it before identifying it myself. There never
had been any ladies to see him there before. I did not see
her to have any muff. I could not tell her again if I was to
see her again, because I did not see her face. She was not
as tall as myself. She spoke low and lady-like. I did not
see her hands at all.
Mrs. Mary Ann Carson, sworn. I live at 36 Greene-st.
Mr. Osgood, a baker, occupies the lower part of the house.
I am not acquainted with Mr. or Mrs. Colton. I am ac-
quainted with Mr. Parsons family where they lived. I was
there on Monday evening last; It was about 20 minutes of 8
o'clock when I reached there. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Par-
sons and some officers. They lived at No. 24 Vesey street.
I had not been running when I came there, neither was I
fatigued. I had not heard of Mr. Corlies being injured
when I went to Mr. Parsons; I did not hear of it there. I
asked the cause of the officers being there of Mrs. Parsons,
and she said she did not know. I cannot say that Mr. Par-
sons is married. I had on when I was there a dark shawl
and a light colored thin shirred bonnet.
Evening Session.
Ann Russell (colored) sworn.—I live with Mr. Wallace,
at 26 Vesey-st. Mrs. Colton lived there; I lived with her
seven months; Mr. Wallace took the place about a month
since, and I remained with him; Mr. Colton, after he left
there, went to Mr. Parsons's, next door. I do not know
what room Mrs. Colton occupied, but Mr. Colton, after he
left, desired me to take her meals to her. He has been
there since to take his things away, but never to see his wife.
I do not know any gentleman coming to see Mrs. Colton.
She went out of the house very seldom; I never knew her
to go out alone in the evening. She was not in the habit of
sending me on errands. I have carried a letter for her; she
gave me one to take to Charles G. Corlies; it was a week
ago last Tuesday. I was told to take it to his boarding-
house, 128 White-st. It was in the afternoon. I mean 108
Leonard-st. I was told to wait for an answer. Mr. Corlies
told me to come the next evening for it, between 3 and 4
o'clock. I went at the time specified, but did no see Mr.
Corlies at the Saloon, where I was to call; a gentleman
came to the door and told me he was not in. I then went
home, and told Mrs. Colton that I had not seen him. She
said she would not send me back again; I never did go back.
I never carried a letter for her before. I cannot read, but I
can tell numbers. Mrs. Colton spent most of her time in her
own room. I never saw her dressed to go out but once, and
that was one Sunday about three months ago. I was up in
Mrs. Colton's room about 5 o'clock on Monday afternoon;
took her some tea, and a scuttle of coal; and she asked me
to make her a fire. She generally kept her room door
locked, and I heard her lock it after I went out. She told
me, while I was in the room, that she felt unwell, and in-
tended lying down.
Mrs. Colton had on that time a white muslin wrapper (the
same dress as when arrested,) her hair was plain, as usual.
I never saw her again until after the officers came there and
broke the door open. The waiter came and called me, and
told me I was wanted. When I went up, the entry was full.
A boy named James Jenkins, I believe was sent up before
the officers came, by Justice Matsell for Mrs. C. to come down.
When I went to call her I got no answer. After the door
was broken open I went in and Mrs. C. was lying on the sofa.
I spoke to her, but she did not answer me; she was in the
[Col.5]
nursery at the time and the room was fast. When I
saw her in the street, about 3 months since, she had on a
white hat and pink feather. It is the only hat I ever saw
her wear. I did not hear any person go out that evening;
the front door was generally locked. She wore a white
blonde veil with her white hat. I am the cook and gener-
ally stay in the kitchen. I do not know what time it was
when the officers came, as I saw so many gentlemen there
that I was almost frightened out of my wits. Persons might
go out without my hearing them. Mr. Colton was there
about 8 or 9 o'clock on Monday morning to take away some
of his things. He was not there again that day. He did
not take away any thing from the nursery or bed room.
Henry Gassin, sworn—I reside at 109 Leonard-street, cor-
ner of Benson-street; I heard the report of fire arms while
at home on Monday evening; it was five minutes before 7
o'clock; I went out immediately; I was in the act of doing
so at the time; on my going up Broadway I met an old
colored woman with a basket; she was exclaiming “Oh
Lord, there is a gentleman shot!” I saw no other person
until I got to where the man was lying, about 40 feet from
Broadway in Leonard-street on the side-walk; recognized
three persons who were around the body—the fourth I did
not know; at the time of the colored woman's speaking, we
were about 50 or 60 feet from the body.
Francis Stewart, sworn—I reside at 148 West Broadway;
I was not acquainted with Mr. Corlies; I have known Mr.
Colton for about five years; have been very intimate with
him; have never seen him carry a pistol nor know whether
he owns one or not; I never had any conversation with him
respecting Mr. Corlies; there used to be an intimacy be-
tween Mrs. Colton and Mrs. Stewart, but there has not been
for the last five months.
Several witnesses summoned not appearing, and as the
Coroner wished to keep the testimony to be adduced in a
proper shape, he adjourned further proceedings until to-
morrow at 3 o'clock.
================================================================
[Col.1]
INQUEST IN THE MURDER CASE OF CHARLES
G. CORLIES.—Owing to the necessary occupation
of the Sessions Chamber by the Court, the inves-
tigation in the murder case could not be continued
yesterday, and will be resumed to-day at three
o'clock. In the mean time several witnesses have
been found—among them a colored woman who
saw the shot fired. She was passing along Leon-
ard-street towards Broadway, and noticed a man
and woman on the side-walk—the man in the act
of leaving the woman and going towards Elm-st.
As he waived his hand and turned towards the East,
she saw the woman with something in her hand,
instantly heard the report of the pistol, saw the
man fall forwards on his face and the woman run
down toward Centre-street. The colored woman
cried out “Oh Lord! there is a man shot,” and
hastened up to Broadway. She described the
dress of the woman, but did not see her face.
[Col.3]
MILLERISM AND INSANITY.—We lately pub-
lished a statement that a Mr. Shortridge, of New-
Hampshire, had run mad with Millerism, and at-
tempted to ascend to Heaven from an apple-tree,
...
[Col.4]
Orthography.
To the Editor of the New-York Tribune:
Your correspondent, Old Dilworth, seems not
well to understand his subject. He objects to your
spelling, but spells trave-ler, in two syllables, as
though he wanted another l to make out the word.
Now if he would divide the syllables properly,
trav-el-er, he would see that another l is not
wanted.
You have answered his objections very correctly
and with judgement.
...
In a work now in the press, I shall publish a
brief view of the errors, anomalies and inconsist-
encies of English authors, in their explanation of
the English alphabet, in Orthography, in Grammar,
in Definitions and in Etymology, that my fellow-
citizens may be able to see what sort of authorities
we have for the old jargon, and how many errors
we read and teach to our children merely from
reverence to those authorities. N. WEBSTER
New Haven, March 22, 1843.
[Col.5]
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE LOSS OF THE U. S.
SHIP CONCORD.—Extract of a letter from Com-
mander Conover, of the U. S. Ship John Adams,
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
The Murder of Charles G. Corlies.
The excitement consequent on the murder in the
public street, of this man, continues undiminished;
and appears rather to increase in intensity, as the
mystery that enshrouds the bloody deed, thickens
around the yet unascertained author of the trans-
action. The testimony given yesterday evening
and previously, before the Coroner, will tell what
progress has been made towards the discovery of
the real perpetrator. Though far from decisive,
it is considered by many as sufficient to fix strong
suspicion on Mrs. Colton; who they suppose was
prompted to the act by the feelings imparted to
her by her husband, whose wrongs, together with
her own, whether real or ideal, she was induced
from her peculiar situation to attempt to avenge.
Whether Mrs. Colton, however, was the authoress
of the death of Mr. Corlies or not, remains to be
proved—as no one can or ought to be punished on
mere suspicion however strong, in the absence of
any legal evidence of guilt. Report states, that
some time since, Mr. Colton instructed his wife in
the use of the pistol, teaching her to fire at targets,
in which it is said she attained no inconsiderable
precision. It is also inferred from the fact of Mr.
Colton having previously attempted to shoot Mr.
Corlies for the alienation of his wife's affections,
and his being held to bail in $5000 to answer,—
that being thus prevented from carrying out his
own purposes of vengeance he would still endeavor
to do by proxy what he was unwillingly re-
strained from doing himself; the more especially
as he would thereby escape a conviction for the
attempted homicide; which would have been al-
most inevitably certain had the life of Corlies not
been taken.
In regard to Colton, independent of his profes-
sion and practice as a gambler, his character is
said to be good as respects his veracity, honesty in
his dealings, punctuality in meeting all his en-
gagements, and honor, as it is understood by men
of his caste. He possessed great decision and
energy of character, rose from an humble to a
highly respectable standing as to property, &c. by
a close attention to his business as a skillful bank-
note engraver, in which he was successfully em-
ployed for several years for banks in Boston,
Providence, and elsewhere, until he formed a con-
nection in business with Mr. R. Parsons, a wealthy
sporting gentleman, of Providence, his present
associate and partner in the house in Vesey street,
with whom he removed to this city some five or six
years ago, and commenced that system of splendid
'sporting' as it is called, by which they have both
become enriched. Mrs. Colton, we have been
informed since our last notice, was a native of
Killingly, Connecticut, whence she removed to
Providence, and thence to Boston, and long after
her marriage was not only a lovely looking but an
amiable and highly esteemed woman; and if she
has become the vile creature that she is represented
to be, her deplorable change of character is attri-
buted to the lawless business of her husband,
which, more than any other, tends to harden the
heart, and to destroy all the best affections of hu-
manity. Cold and chilling neglect, if she became
the moral ruin she is charged to be, must have
driven her to seek those sympathies in guilt
with a paramour, which she could not obtain in
innocence, in the once cherished society of her
husband. And having lost the favor of the latter
and her prospect of protection from the former, it
is not unreasonable to suppose that she was driven
to desperation, and might be induced to meditate
and attempt the destruction of him whom she had
so ardently though lawlessly loved.
In regard to Mr. Corlies, it is also asserted
that the guilty connection, that was terminated
only at his death, was not the first difficulty of the
kind in which he had been engaged, nor the first
attempt that was made upon his life. It is stated
that some time since when in Mobile, he became
entangled in a lawless love affair with the wife or
mistress of another, and was twice shot at, once
in a house and again in the street, in one of which
instances the ball passed through his hat and bare-
ly missed his head. These attempts, it is stated,
induced him to leave that city and locate himself
here: re-engaging in that course of licentiousness
which so suddenly terminated his life.
As an evidence of the sympathy the the situation
of Mr. Colton excites among his friends, it is only
necessary to state that he is surrounded by hun-
dreds well-dressed and genteel-looking sportsmen
and gamblers, who throng the court room to give
countenance to their former companion, anxious
to catch every sound and sentence of testimony
that has a tendency to implicate either Colton or
his wife in the guilt of the murder. Both of the
accused, however, preserve the most perfect equa-
nimity and apparent insensibility to the facts dis-
closed, and preserve the appearance of conscious
innocence or stoical indifference to the evidence
that is to shut them in prison for trial, or discharge
them from the custody of the officers of the law.
—————
☞ The True Sun has an able, just and ex-
cellent article in favor of a law against Seduction
and kindred crimes against the peace and honor of
families, in which it urges other papers to come
out in favor of such a law, and calls upon the City
Press to enter upon the work—saying,
“We will not shrink from the task which we feel called
upon to perform—although our newness with the public
may bring us reproach and contumely from our older and
more experienced brethren, who, long ago, should have
sounded the alarm, and opened in a path which we would
have been proud to follow. Some body must begin—the
work must be accomplished; and, if all around us are silent,
from causes into which it is not our purpose to inquire, we
will not for that hold back, but will cry aloud and spare not.”
The True Sun ought to have known that THE
TRIBUNE has always been the earnest advocate of
such a law as it now urges—that, beside what we
have written upon it in times when there was no
concurring public sentiment and no exciting occur-
rences pointing to the necessity for such a law, we
printed a double sheet of our paper in order to lay
before our readers Mr. SIMMONS's long and power-
ful Report to the last Assembly in favor of the re-
quired legislation, and gave away 10,000 copies of
it at a cost to us at least $300. The Aurora
likewise preceded the True Sun in advocating a
law against Licentiousness. It is a capital mis-
take in a new paper to suppose that there is no
righteousness extant but its own.
[Col.3]
Orthography.
TO NOAH WEBSTER, ESQ.—Your advice that
“Old Dilworth” “should learn not to write about
what he does not fully comprehend,” is received
by him in all meekness and humility;—he will en-
deavor to profit by it. You will permit him, how-
ever, to urge in extenuation of his ignorance, that
his early education (such as it was) was acquired
in a mud-walled school house, in a remote district
of country, and that his mode of spelling was de-
rived entirely from a book called “WEBSTER's
Spelling-Book.” Perhaps you may have heard of
such a work. He was a diligent scholar, and soon
mastered that book thoroughly. Blessed with a
most retentive memory, he has never forgotten
that “Noah Webster, Junior” directed his learners
to spell “height” and “traveller.” 'Old Dil-
worth' is, and was, quite aware that “trave-ler”
may be divided into syllables thus 'trav-el-er,' but
he is also aware that it is not usual to divide words
into syllables in books, other than Spelling Books
and Dictionaries, and that therefore an adult learner
(and we have thousands of them annually from
Europe) meeting with the word 'traveler' would
be very likely to consider it a word of two sylla-
bles. “Old Dilworth” is unable to perceive what
literary benefit is to accrue from these innovations.
To him it seems but the affectation of learning,
applied to the smallest possible object, and leading
to no beneficial result. He is therefore unwilling
to unlearn what was acquired with so much pains-
taking, and occasional applications of the ferule,
the more especially as he is supported in his “old
jargon” by an authority so unquestionable as
NOAH WEBSTER, JUNIOR.”
March 24, 1843. OLD DILWORTH.
[Col.4]
THE STREETS.—The manner in which certain
neutral newspapers, (i. e., newspapers under
false colors,) find fault with the Street Contrac-
tors, is perfectly outrageous. They seem to be
rabid and ferocious because the old system of street
cleaning, which cost $120,000 per annum, has
been abandoned, by the aid of Whigs, for one far
more economical. It appears the Contractors are
expected to take the snow, as well as the dirt, out
of the streets. This never has been done by the
authorities under any administration. Why then
should the Contractors now be called upon to do
it? The season has been an extraordinary one, and
nothing can be more unjust than to make these men
responsible for the action of the elements.
—————
☞ Beach's Sun says that the late murder of
Corlies is a warning against Gambling and In-
temperance. Very good; but we think Licen-
tiousness is the vice more especially pointed at in
this case than Intemperance. We have not heard
that Corlies or the Coltons were intemperate.
Dare not The Sun look the real truth in the face?
What interest has it in opposing, by every under-
hand means, the passage of a law inflicting pun-
ishment on seduction and conjugal infidelity?
—————
...
☞ THE SPORTING CHRONICLE, a weekly paper
devoted to amusements, at $2 per year, has just
been issued from 'The Spirit of the Times' office,
1 Barclay-st.—William T. Porter, Editor; John
Richards, publisher. We regret to see Pugilism
announced as one of the 'Sports' to which the
Chronicle is to be devoted.
[Col.5]
The Murder of Mr. Corlies—Examination
before the Coroner.
FRIDAY, March 24.
The investigation was resumed before the Coroner this
afternoon, at the Superior Court room. The Court room
was filled to overflowing at an early hour, and the adjoin-
ing room likewise opened for the accommodation of the
public; notwithstanding which, the entire gallery of the
second floor leading to the room was filled to repletion, and
even the stairs leading thereto. The excitement was in-
deed tremendous. After the jury, one by one, managed to
effect an entrance, the case proceeded, with the exception
of one juror, who did not appear after waiting an hour for
him.
Wm. W. Seaver, sworn.—I reside at 47 Beach-street. I
was not intimately acquainted with Charles G. Corlies. I
never saw Henry Colton until in Court. I had no know-
ledge of the late difficulty between the two. I am not ac-
quainted with Mrs. Colton. Last Saturday afternoon, while
I was reading an evening paper, at a public house called the
“Empire,” in Vesey-street, I saw a notice in it respecting
Mrs. Colton taking laudanum; I then handed it to Wm. W.
Monroe; he read it hastily, as having seen it before, he then
said, “yes, I should think Corlies would leave the city, or
he may be killed yet.” There was another gentleman sit-
ting by, but I do not think he heard the remark. That was
all that transpired about the matter there. I never heard
any threats against Corlies's life previous to that. I've known
Monroe about one year—he formerly kept a grocery store,
but is not now engaged in any business. He did not assign
any reason why Corlies should have gone away, he only
made use of the above expression. I saw Corlies on the
forenoon of Sunday last. I met him in Broadway. I had
no conversation with him.
James Jenkins, (colored) sworn.—I live at No. 26 Vesey-
street, in the capacity of waiter for Mr. Wallace, at the pre-
sent time—since the 26th February last. I lived there pre-
viously with Mr. Colton. He gave it up at the above date.
Mr. Colton has been in the habit of visiting the house since
he left it; he went to live at No. 24 the same street. Mrs.
Colton remained at No. 26; she occupied two rooms in the
third story. She never had any company to call and see
her to my knowledge. When Mr. Colton came he always
went up stairs. I do not know whether he went into her
rooms or not. He was there last Monday. He was there in
Mrs. Colton's rooms. I saw him in the rooms. He did not
speak to Mrs. Colton. He removed some furniture from
there. I assisted him in so doing. While I was about Mr.
and Mrs. Colton remained together. She was sitting on the
sofa, and dressed in white; her hair was worn plain, as
usual. Mr. Colton was in the room about fifteen minutes.
I was not present when he left. I saw him afterwards in
the second story of the same house. I did not see Mrs. Col-
ton after that, until in the evening when Justice Matsell sent
me up, as he wished to see her. I knocked at the door; she
opened it part of the way. She said she would not see any
person that evening. I then went up a second time, at the
direction of the Justice, and told her that he wished to see
her. She made the same reply. I returned and told him.
I then showed him the apartments she occupied, and re-
mained there with him until the door was broken open.
The Justice knocked several times at the door and received
no reply. He was there ten minutes before the door was
forced. Some person then allowed her three minutes to
open the door. She did not appear as well as usual when I
went up to deliver my messages. I went into the room
shortly after the door was broken open. She was reclining
on the sofa. She was spoken to repeatedly and said nothing.
I attend the front door. Mrs. Colton did not pass out of the
front door that day or evening. I was there from three
o'clock until after Justice Matsell came. No female passed
out of the door. I was there all the time. Mrs. Col-
ton was in the habit, when going out, to go out of the
front door. There was only one other female in the
house, and that was the colored servant; she was the cook
—(Ann Russell.) Mrs. Colton did not carry a night key.—
A boy named Sims was also there on that day, but no one
except myself attended the door that afternoon and evening.
There is a basement story to the house; that door is not at-
tended; it was generally locked. The kitchen is in the
back basement; the front basement is occupied as a dining-
room. One gentleman, named Kilpatrick, took dinner there
about 3 o'clock; no one else but him. Mr. Wallace did not
dine there; am not positive that Mr. Kilpatrick dined there
on Monday last. I saw him about that hoar in the hall; he
remained in the house all the afternoon; he carried a night-
key and let himself in; he also occupied a room in the third
story. There is a back stair-case from the second story to
the basement; it is used by the servants. Heard or saw no
one came down the back stairs that evening, except Ann
Russell. There is no egress except through the house from
that lot. No one could either go up or down the back
stair-case without my hearing them from my station
in the hall. I did not see Mrs. Colton every day.—
She usually wore a white dress about the house. He com-
menced living there in November last. I do not know
Charles G. Corlies. I never knew Mrs. Colton to have a
pistol. I have seen a small silver mounted one around the
house.
By a Juror.—I am positive that no one passed out without
my knowledge, that day or evening, from the front door.
Mrs. Colton did not. Some one might have went down the
back stairs and out of the basement door, but I think no
person did the time I have mentioned. There is a middle
door to the hall—it separates the stair cases. I attended the
front part of the hall. I did not say that I saw every per-
son that passed down the back stairs; I could see them
from the front stairs, as they went down, as my station was
at the foot of the stairs. The stairs unite at the second
story. A lady called between 3 and 4 o'clock on Monday
afternoon; she had on a black hat a black cardinal shawl.
Supper hour is about 10 o'clock. 15 or 20 generally sat
down to table. Tea was was served on Monday evening be-
tween 6 and 7 o'clock.
Simon Boadley (black) sworn. I live with Mr. Wallace,
at No. 26 Vesey-street. I lived there with Mr. Colton pre-
viously. I am a waiter at the house—attend on the table
and purchase groceries. This witness corroborated the
statement made by James Jenkins, respecting his staying at
the hall. He is not absent more than 15 minutes during the
afternoon and evening, and I then take his place. No female
went out on Monday while I attended the door. I saw no
one go up or down the back stairs except Ann Russell, the
cook. I did not see Mrs. Colton on Monday last—had not
seen her for 6 or 7 days previously. It is a long time since
I have seen Mrs. Colton go out. I never noticed her dress.
The last time she was out it was to the theatre with Mr.
Colton. There is a stove at the foot of the stairs where Jen-
kins is stationed. The front door is kept unfastened after
3 o'clock until late at night. The remainder of the testimo-
ny was similar to that of the preceding witness (Jenkins.)
John Wallace sworn. I reside at 215½ Grand-street. I have
occupied the house 26 Vesey-street since the 27th of Febru-
ary. I was at the house in Vesey-street on Monday after-
noon from about half past 3 until between 12 and 1 at night.
I was in the parlor on the lower floor constantly that after-
noon and evening. I had company with me. I did not see
Mrs. Colton during that day. I had not seen her since the
2d or 3d of March. I rented the house of Mr. Colton, who
had the privilege of the upper rooms until the 1st of May.—
Mr. Colton remained a few days after my taking possession.
I have not seen him in there since that time. I have had no
conversation since Mr. Colton left with his wife. There is
only one other female in the house, and that is the colored
servant. I do not know of any females who are in the habit
of visiting there. I have never seen Mrs. Colton with her
hat on. I do not know of her going out of the house on Mon-
day afternoon or evening. I knew Mr. Corlies by sight. I
have never heard any one threaten the life of Mr. Corlies,
or use any threat. I have never seen any fire-arms in the
house.
Adjourned until Saturday morning.
[Col.6]
SEDUCTION.—We learn from the Redding, Pa.
Democrat that the Rev. Mr. Griebeler, who was
for some time past the pastor of several churches
in the upper part of that county, suddenly disap-
peared a week or two since, having previously bor-
rowed of his neighbors various sums of money.—
He had not been long absent when the reason of
his sudden departure was discovered, and the fact
made known, that a servant girl in his family
scarce 14 years of age, was the victim of his licen-
tious passions. Griebeler was a foreign German,
and about 30 years of age.
================================================================
[Col.3]
☞ We call the attention of the public, partic-
ularly the traveling portion of it to the statistical
account on our First Page of the dreadful loss of
life by shipwreck and swamping of boats, during
the last eighteen weeks. It exhibits a most fright-
ful amount, and calls loudly on the owners of ves-
sels to adopt measures for the safty of the lives
committed to their charge.
...
CITY PRISON STATISTICS.—There were on Sat-
urday of prisoners in the City Prison, 94 white
males and 28 white females; 21 colored males
and 12 colored females: Total 155.
[Col.4]
The Murder of Mr. Corlies—Examination
before the Coroner.
SATURDAY, March 25.
The jury were all present, with the exception of Mr. Geo.
Scarff, who was detained by illness. There being more
than the legal number of jurors, the investigation proceeded
in his absence.
Thomas Heyer sworn.—I reside at 15 Spring-st., and am a
butcher by trade. I was slightly acquainted with the late
Charles G. Corlies. The last time I saw him was one even-
ing in the latter part of last week at his Saloon. I had no
conversation with him. I have never had any conversation
with him relative to his difficulties with Colton. I have
known Colton for two or three years. I never had any
conversation with Colton in reference to this matter. I last
saw him on Sunday evening, at No. 3 Park Row. There
were five or six persons present. There was no conversa-
tion respecting the difficulties between Corlies and Colton.
I only recollect the name of one of the persons present, his
name is Gus. Berriman. I was going up Broadway the first
part of last week. Corlies beckoned to me to come across
the way. I went into his Saloon with him and took a glass
of wine. A person by the name of Woodruff was with him,
and a person, I think, Mr. Corlies' brother, was with him.
It was about 12 o'clock. As we went in I saw a lady talk-
ing to the bar-keeper, between the bar and the door. After
we had gone in she turned around and walked towards the
door, and as she reached it, looked back and walked out.
Woodruff and myself remained a minute or two after, and
walked out, leaving Mr. Corlies and brother there. She
had on a light straw hat and a veil, the color of which I do
not recollect. She was a pretty tall woman. She put the veil
over her face after we came in. I did not see her features.
I think she had on a velvet shawl. I do not recollect the
color or whether it was a cardinal. Corlies did not speak
to her after she went away. I think he made some remarks
to the bar-keeper about the female. I have no recollection
of the color of her dress. I do not think I ever saw her be-
fore. I did not hear her name mentioned, or recollect the
conversation about her. Mr. Colton did not make any state-
ment about being apprehensive of his life. I should not
know the female were I to meet her in the street.
Augustus N. Brown, sworn—I reside at 149 Prince-street.
I was in the Carlton House on Monday evening last. I heard
the discharge of the pistol. I was passing the Atheneum
Hotel, on the south-west corner of Leonard-street and Broad-
way. It seemed to proceed from the neighborhood of the
Carlton House. I immediately ran over and was on the
spot before the man had been turned over. Mr. Hodges
and Mr. Bates were the only persons there before me. I
looked for and found a pistol within three or four feet of the
body; it was either a four or five barreled pistol. The con-
tents of one of the barrels had been discharged; I think the
other barrels were not capped. (A six barreled pistol was
here shown. The witness recognized it as being the one,
by its having a small piece broken off from the handle. It
was made at Woonsocket, R. I., which was stamped upon
the barrels, and “B. & M. Darling”.) I saw no female or
other person running near the place. Mr. Corlies was
bleeding freely from the mouth. The pistol was lying in
the gutter immediately abreast of the body, and within
three or four feet from it. The head of Mr. Corlies was
lying next to the house and inclining towards Broadway.
Hiram W. Woodruff, sworn—I board at 88 Franklin-street.
I was in company with Mr. Hyer on either Tuesday or
Wednesday of last week. I was personally acquainted
with Charles G. Corlies. I went into his saloon in compa-
ny with Hyer and another—who it was I cannot say. I ob-
served a female in the saloon as we went in. I saw her
face; it is very doubtful whether I could recognize her
again or not. She was a middling sized woman. I think
she had a dark cloak on, with a light straw hat and a green
veil. I did not notice the trimming of the hat, or any other
articles of her dress. She left immediately after we came
in. I left with Mr. Hyer. Corlies made a remark to his
bar-keeper something to this effect: “Young man, you
must be careful how you have your women running about
here.” I never heard Mr. Corlies made any remark about
being apprehensive of his life. I never saw him carry a
pistol. This took place subsequent to the attack of Mr. Col-
ton on Corlies. The female was conversing with Mr. Ro-
binson, the bar-keeper, when we went in. She went out
alone. I never knew Mr. Colton to carry fire-arms.
Jesse Cady, sworn, but knew nothing of the matter.
Amelia Gibbons, a black woman, sworn.—I live in No. 10
Thomas street, with Maria Thompson. I was in Leonard-
street on Monday evening last, going from Centre street to
Broadway—it was a few minutes before 7 o'clock. I heard
the report of the pistol. I was standing against the railing
of a house on the next block to the Carlton House. As I
was standing there I saw a lady and gentleman talking pre-
vious to hearing the report of the pistol, by the side of the
Carleton House. A lady also passed me before I heard the
report of the pistol, going down towards Centre st. I do
not know whether it was the same one that was talking to
the gentleman or not. I did not pay much attention to them.
It was but a short time after she passed that I heard the re-
port of the pistol. I saw the man fall after he was shot. As
the pistol went off I wheeled around. He fell down after
being shot. I saw no person near him, or heard any one run.
The lady as she passed me was not walking very fast. I
was standing one door from Benson street in Leonard. I
did notice whether the lady that was talking to the gentle-
men was tall or short. I think she had on dark clothes—
cannot tell the color of her hat. The lady that passed me
had on a black hat, green veil and a dark shawl. I had come
from Elm street. The lady and gentleman were talking
together face to face—the lady's back was towards me. The
lamps in the streets were lighted, also in the Carlton House.
Reuben Parsons, affirmed—I live at No. 24 Vesey street—
I have resided there about four months. Mr. Colton board-
ed with me about six days. He had his two children and a
servant with him. Mrs. Colton was not with him nor has
she ever been in the house to my knowledge. Colton and
myself were at Wood's billiard room in Park Row on Mon-
day afternoon last together. We went about three o'clock,
and he left before I did. I do not recollect the time—it was
before dark. I was in my house by half past 6 o'clock—it
might have been about two hours after Colton left me. I did
not see Colton when I first went into the house. I saw him
in about 15 minutes after. He was in the basement at the
tea table. After tea Mr. Colton and myself went up stairs
into the parlor, and we remained there until after 9 o'clock.—
When Justice Matsell came, Mr. Colton let him in. He
came into the parlor, told me that the Justice wished to see
him in private, and I left the room. He was subsequently
arrested. I am positive that it was no later than half past 6
when I returned home. I think that Mr. Colton has a pair of
dueling pistols—I merely saw them in the case. They looked
like one barreled pistols. I never saw him with a pistol of
a different kind in his possession or about his premises.
The witness was here interrogated concerning some stories
that had been put in circulation concerning Mrs. Colton and
Mr. Suydam. Mr. Colton was much affected, and an alter-
cation occurred between some of the Jurors and the Coro-
ner as to whether the story should be repeated or not. No-
thing was elicited which would have the slightest bearing
upon the matter of inquiry.
Mrs. Leonora Parsons, sworn.—I reside at No. 24 Vesey-
street. Mr. Colton was out of the house both on the morn-
ing and afternoon of Monday last. Mr. Colton came home
about 5 o'clock, and remained there until tea time, which is
half past 6 o'clock. Mr. Colton took tea on Monday even-
ing, after tea he went up in the front parlor on the first floor,
and remained there until he was taken away.
Rebecca Hays, sworn.—I live at No. 3 Benson-street. Miss
Emma Place keeps the house. I have been acquainted with
Mr. Chas. G. Corlies for two or three months. He has some-
times called to see me in Benson-street. I saw him last on
Monday evening, while passing down Broadway; he was
standing in front of his saloon, 360 Broadway; it was about
4 or half past 4 o'clock. I did not speak to him. The last
conversation I had with him was about two or three weeks
before his death. I asked him if he intended to have Colton
put in Prison—he said he did. That is all that passed be-
tween us respecting the affair. I have heard no persons
make use of any threats against Corlies.
Justice Merritt testified to the facts connected with the
attempt of Colton to shoot Mr. Corlies on the 11th, the ar-
rest and bailing of Corlies, &c. Corlies the next day told
him he was under apprehension that his life would yet be
taken. On Monday morning Corlies told witness he had no
farther fears for his life.
Jonathan T. Clement, sworn.—I reside at 68 Greenwich-
street; I was in the vicinity of Broadway and Leonard-st.
about 7 o'clock on Monday evening; I saw a lady and gen-
tleman conversing in Leonard-street, about three quarters
of the length of the Carlton House, as I went down Leon-
ard-street. They were still there when I returned; I went
down as far as the main building of the Carlton House; I
stopped there a moment or two, and returned; I passed
them each way; the woman was tall, had on a light straw
hat and veil, and a dark shawl; it was darker than her
dress; I did not notice her having any muff. After passing
them the second time, I went immediately down Broadway.
I had gone about three doors down Broadway when I heard
the report of the pistol; I thought nothing of it, and went
on, as I was in a hurry; I saw the lady's face; I don't know
as I could tell the same female again, although I could tell
if I saw one that looked like her. (Mrs. Colton's hat was
here removed, and the witness stated that she did not re-
semble the female he saw on Monday evening. Mrs. Col-
ton's face is full; the other female's face was thin and sharp.)
The woman on the stand half an hour since somewhat re-
sembled the one I saw on that evening. (The witness al-
luded to was Rebecca Hays.)
Recess was taken.
EVENING SESSION.
James Jenkins, colored, re-called. I lived with Mr. Colton
at No. 26 Vesey-st. There is no private communication be-
tween that house and the next. A female named Eliza (her
last name I do not recollect,) came there on Monday after-
noon between 3 and 4 o'clock. I did not see her come in—
she must have come in through the basement—she went out
the same way. It might have been possible for a person to
go down the back stairs without my seeing them. I often
read, and persons might possibly pass down while I was
engaged in so doing.
Thomas Dalton, watchman, testified to having arrested
[Col.5]
Colton on the night of the 11th inst, for attempting to shoot
Corlies.
Jonathan T. Clements recalled.—I have seen Mr. Corlies
frequently, but have no acquaintance with him. I am posi-
tive that it was Mr. Corlies that I saw talking to the female
by the side of the Carlton House. I do not know either
Mr. or Mrs. Colton. It was not curiosity that led me to
stop at the end of the Carlton House and return.
Justice George W. Matsell sworn.—I was at the Carlton
House a short time after the injury had been inflicted upon
Mr. Corlies. I got a six barreled revolving pistol from I
think the proprietor of the house. They told me it was
found near the body of Corlies. One of the barrels was
discharged, with evidence of its having been recently fired.
I have had the pistol in my charge ever since. I was present
when the slug was taken from the brain of Mr. Corlies. I
tried the slug in the barrel and found it to fit. (Witness
identified the slug.) I had another of the barrels discharg-
ed, to get the ball or slug—it could not be drawn. I discov-
ered where the pistol was purchased—it was bought on the
9th of November, 1839, of Joseph Cooper, 233 Broadway.—
The man that bought the pistol was about 5 feet 9 or 10
inches high, grey hair, nearly white, heavy eyebrows, ra-
ther grey, and 55 or 60 years of age. I have not been
to trace the pistol from this person. The band around the
pistol was put on in Sept. or Oct. 1841. The pistol was not
prepared for a second discharge when handed to me.
John H. Powers, sworn.—A man by the name of John
Rush, who resides at 197 or 97 Spring-st. called upon me
this morning, and stated that he had picked up a lady's neck
handkerchief, about 10 minutes past 7 o'clock, in Broadway.
Mr. Rush did not tell what part of Broadway, or whether
there was any mark upon it. He appeared to think it had
something to do with this transaction.
The case then adjourned until Monday.
—————
...
ANOTHER MURDER IN THE PENITENTIARY.—
Two black women killed a white woman in prison,
on Friday last, by beating her brains out with the
shovel and tongs. The reason they give is, that
they want to get out of the Penitentiary into the
County jail. They are likely to be deprived of
that pleasure, however. [Columbus (O.) Stat.
================================================================
[Col.3]
THE CORLIES MURDER.—We are assured by
those best acquainted with the late Charles G.
Corlies, that he was not a gambler by profession,
did not allow gambling in his Bowling Saloon, and
had no control over or connection with the Bowl-
ing Saloon overhead, pertaining to the Union Club,
in which ladies (the wives and other relatives of
members of the Club,) have been accustomed to
play between 10 and 2 o'clock of the day. He
had never spoken to Colton before the night that
the latter snapped a pistol at him, and he solemn-
ly assured his most intimate friend, but two or three
nights before his death, that he had not seen or
spoken to Mrs. Colton since the discovery of his
wife's criminality by Colton, and his own promise
never to see her more. Those who now have pos-
session of Mrs. Colton's letters to Corlies, as-
sure us that they abundantly show that their mu-
tual crime was entirely suggested and urged on by
the woman. The statement that she gave $2,000
to Corlies is true; but we are assured that he re-
turned it on discovery, and received no money from
Colton to leave the city, though a heavy sum was
offered him.—So much we state on what we deem
good authority, in modification of statements pre-
viously made in this paper.
[Col.4]
The Murder of Mr. Corlies—Examination
before the Coroner.
MONDAY, March 27.
Abraham Home sworn.—I reside at 143 Fulton-st. I was
not intimately acquainted with Charles G. Corlies. I am
intimately acquainted with Mr. Colton; have known him
for twelve years; became acquainted with him in Rhode
Island; do not recollect seeing him on Monday last, although
in the habit of seeing him every day. I have never had any
conversation with him relative to his attempt on Corlies, or
heard him make use of any threats towards Corlies.
Nathan G. Burgess sworn.—I reside at 125 Madison-st.
My place of business is in Broadway. I am not acquainted
with either Colton or Corlies. I was passing up Leonard-
street on Monday evening about 7 o'clock, and when about
half way up between Elm-street and Broadway, I heard a
pistol fired; looked in the direction of the report, but saw
no flash; two or three of the windows of the Carlton House
were raised, and persons looking out. I did not see the man
fall, or any person except those coming from the Carlton
House and Broadway. I immediately crossed over, and
saw a man lying on the side-walk, on his face. There were
four or five persons there before me. I did not see any fe-
male in the neighborhood, or any one run from the scene.
I did not see the man until he was shot. I was near Broad-
way when I heard the report. I did not see any black
woman in Leonard-st.
Justice Merritt recalled.—[A single-barreled pistol was
shown to witness, who identified it as the one taken from
Colton on the alleged attempt to take the life of Corlies. It
was loaded with four slugs. The slugs were presented to
the jury, with the pistol.]
Justice Matsell recalled.—[The ball or slug found in the
head of Corlies, as well as another fired from the same re-
volving pistol, were produced by witness, and shown to the
jury.]—I told Colton, when I arrested him, that the man
was dead; he did not seem to understand me. I repeated
it again; and at last had to tell him whom I meant.
Colton also told me that he had not been out but once that
day, and that was to get his little boy's hair cut. Witness
repeated some other conversation which took place at the
arrest of Colton, and also about Colton's wife. I was pres-
ent when the door was broken open—I was the third or
fourth person who entered Mrs. Colton's room. When I got
in the Coroner was sitting on the sofa talking to her; she ap-
peared unconscious, and I thought she had taken poison.—
We had her walked up and down the room, and she continued
in this state for about two hours, and until her Counsel, Mr.
O'Connor, came. The Coroner had left about an hour pre-
vious, and left her in charge of some officers. She did not
speak a word until Mr. O'Connor came. I spoke to her re-
peatedly, as well as others. As soon as he came he claimed
the privilege of Counsel, and we all left the room. His in-
tercourse was of about an hour's duration, after which he
wished Mrs. Colton brought to the City Prison. When I
saw her she was dressed and ready to proceed there. The
carriage contained Mr. O'Connor, Mrs. Colton, the black
woman and myself. I do not recollect hearing her (Mrs.
Colton,) speak the whole evening. The coach seen to leave
in Vesey st. was the first one employed by the Coroner and
discharged. No one could have left the house, as officers
were on the watch. Mrs. Colton acted, at first, like a per-
son under the influence of opium. Remedies were sent for,
but not administered. I saw no indications of any clothing
having been concealed, or recently worn—save what the
lady had on. There is no communication between the two
houses—save the scuttle.
James Beckett sworn.—I reside at 28 Park Row. I had a
slight acquaintance with Mr. C. G. Corlies. I am also ac-
quainted with Mr. Colton—never conversed with him rela-
tive to his difficulties with Corlies, or with Corlies on the
subject. I heard of it about 5 or 10 minutes after Mr. Cor-
lies was shot, at the Cornucopiæ. Mr. Webb first told me
of the affair.
Henry Matthews, (colored,) sworn.—I live at No. 2 Cathe-
rine Lane; I was at the corner of Leonard-street and Broad-
way about 10 minutes past 7 o'clock on Monday evening; I
heard the report of the pistol while in Broadway; I went
immediately to Leonard-street; I was in company with an-
other colored man named Edward Julia; in turning the
corner of Leonard-street, near the lamp-post, I saw a wo-
man pass up Leonard-street, a few steps from the corner of
Broadway, on the same side of the Carlton House; I did
not take much notice of her or her dress; she had on a light
bonnet; she was rather tall; I do not recollect any other
part of her dress; I was on the opposite corner of the street
and in the act of crossing; I saw the windows of the Carlton
House opened, and in a moment heard that a man was shot;
some persons were around the body when I reached it; I
saw no person run; the lady was walking in a hurry; she
was step a or two above the bar-room side door when I saw
her, and when the door was opened.
The Coroner being called to the Oyer and Terminer, a
recess was taken until 2½ o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Officer Cockefair sworn.—I am attached the Police. I do
not know any thing of the difficulties between Colton and
his wife, except by rumor. I have had no conversation with
Colton about Corlies. I knew the latter by sight—never
had any conversation with him except on Monday of last
week, relative to the Grand Jury. Have not heard Colton
express any terms upon which he would live with his wife.
I was present at the arrest of Mrs. Colton. Different offi-
cers were stationed outside of the door from 7½ o'clock until
late. Witness was asked a number of questions relative to
the late affair, all of which he answered in the negative.
Mary Jones, colored, sworn.—I live at No. 24 Vesey-street
with Mr. Parsons, as chambermaid. I had been there three
weeks when Mr. Colton was taken away. I was at home
all day on Monday last. Mr. Colton lived there a week. I
did not see him go out or come in on Monday last; I knew
he went next door about 9 o'clock, but I don't know when
he came back; he was in at tea, at half past 6 o'clock. I
wait on the table. The cook and myself are the only
servants about the house. I don't know whether Mr. Colton
went out after tea.
Sarah Jordan, colored, sworn.—I am cook at Mr. Par-
son's, 24 Vesey-st. I was at home all day on Monday last.
I do not know whether Mr. Colton was out of the house or
not on that day. I never saw Mr. Colton but once since he
lived with Mr. Parsons, nor do I know him.
Robert Corlies recalled.—I think it was about 7 o'clock
in the evening of Monday when I heard of my brother's
being shot. I went directly to the Carlton House. I anti-
cipated this thing. My suspicions were on the parties who
made the previous attempt. I might have made use of the
expression—“My God! has he done it?” when I first heard
of my brother's being shot. I meant, by “he,” Mr. Colton.
My brother has told me that he apprehended a fatal assault
from Mr. Colton; he never, to my knowledge, expressed
apprehensions from any other quarter.
Dr. Frederick A. Putnam—I reside at 438 Broome street.
I was in the Carlton House when the injury was inflicted
upon Mr. Corlies. I did not see him until he was brought
into the house, but immediately after. He was perfectly in-
sensible; he was bleeding very trifling from the back of the
head. I discovered a round hole through the back of the
head, a little to the left, and on the upper part of the occi-
pital bone. It appeared to have been made by a ball. The
wound was through the skull. I first examined the mouth
to see if the wound was there, as I had heard that he shot
himself, but found it not to be the case. There were sever-
al upbraisal injuries on the face. The injury on the back
part of the head was beyond surgical aid. He lived about
three hours after the injury had been inflicted. I do not re-
collect hearing the report of the pistol. I assisted at the
post mortem examination. I was present when the length
of the body was taken—it was 5 feet 8½ inches from the top
of the head to the heel of the boot, the latter included. Dr.
Hosack conducted the examination, assisted by two or three
others. There was some effusion of blood beneath the
scalp. The skull was removed by sawing. The course of
the ball through the brain was traced; the ball was found
in the anterior lobe over the right orbit; it passed through
the brain and dura mater. The ball was found by Dr. Post
in the skull. The person who fired the ball must have been
on lower ground than Mr. Corlies. I saw the hat worn by
Mr. Corlies—there was a small hole in the back part of it,
corresponding with that in the head; the hole was not more
than an inch above the rim of the hat. The hat was not
singed.
Dr. Alexander E. Hosack, sworn.—Witness read a state-
ment, giving in detail his examination of the wound shortly
after it had been inflicted, the situation of Mr. Corlies until
his decease, and a full account of the post mortem examina-
tion—as all of which have been heretofore mentioned, it is
deemed unnecessary to repeat. The injury on the frontal
bone, being a bloody tumor, soft and fluctuating, would
have caused death in probably 48 hours. The cause of the
death was, however, the injury received from behind with
the pistol-ball.
Spencer M. Clarke, sworn.—I am book-keeper at the
Carlton House; I was in the house, but not in the bar-room
at the time the man was brought in; the hat was handed me
to take care of by a person whom I do not recollect. (The hat
was here produced and handed to the Jury; the pistol-ball
hole is just above the band, and about the middle of the back
part of the hat.) A black Italian silk handkerchief was also
handed me by a person, who stated that it was found near
the body. (Handkerchief produced.)
Amelia Myers, sworn.—I live at No. 3 Benson-street; I
have lived there nearly a year; I have seen C. G. Corlies
in the house two or three times—the first about 3 months
ago; he came there to see Rebecca Hays; I was out on
Monday afternoon last, and returned about 6 o'clock; Mr.
Corlies was not at the house that day as I knew of; I think
I remained home all the evening after I returned; there are
3 girls beside myself in the house—Rebecca Hays, Emma
Place and Emily Tucker; Miss Place keeps the house; Re-
becca and myself went out and returned together; I do not
know as Rebecca went out again; a colored man named
Noah came to the house and told us that a man had been
shot; some of the inmates of the house told me of it; Rebec-
ca, when she went out with me, had on a black hat and a
green shawl.
Emma Place sworn.—The testimony of this witness was
of the same nature as that of the preceding one. Rebecca
Hays and Miss Myers came in about 7 o'clock. A person
might get in the basement door about 7 o'clock without be-
ing let it. One of the servants told me that Miss Hays was
[Col.5]
in. I did not see her. I never heard Miss Hays threaten
Corlies or talk much about him.
Emily Tucker sworn.—I live at No. 3 Benson st. I have
known Charles G. Corlies about three months. He came
to the house once in a while to see Rebecca Hays. I have
not seen him at the house since he was first shot at. I heard
he was there once since—Rebecca told me so—(Miss Hays
swore to the contrary—that he had not been there for three
weeks.) I was not out on Monday or in the evening. I did
not see Miss Hays or Miss Myers go out. I know they did
go out. I did not see them when they first came home. I
did not see them until I heard Corlies was shot. They said
they returned at 6 o'clock. I think I did see Miss Hays
wear a light hat one day. She got it from one of the girls.
Rebecca Hays said she did not believe Corlies was shot,
when the colored man Noah told her. Noah has taken notes
to Corlies since the first attempt on his life, from Miss Hays.
I think it was about 6 o'clock when the colored man told
about Corlies being shot. Tea was on the table at the time.
Eliza Day, sworn. I live at No. 3 Benson-st. I know
Charles C. Corlies. I have seen him at the house twice.—
He has not so my knowledge been there since the week be-
fore the first attempt to shoot him. This witness' story
about the girl's going and returning was about the same as
the testimony of the previous witness. I did not hear of Mr.
Corlies's being shot until I was on my way to the theatre,
and saw a large mob. I asked a person and he told me. I
did not see the colored man Noah before I left the house.
Mary Harris, a colored woman, sworn. I live at No. 3
Benson-street. I am a chambermaid there. Misses Hays and
Myers went out in the afternoon. I do not know when they
returned—they were there at tea. Miss Hays was not out
after tea. After Noah had told about Corlies being shot,
Miss Hays sent me out to see if it was so. She cried about it.
Robert Corlies re-called. Witness recognized the hat
found, and already produced, as belonging to his deceased
brother.
Hester Scott sworn. I live at 550 Greenwich-street. I do
do not know either Corlies or Colton. This day a week I
commenced a week's work at No. 3 Benson-st. I worked
until 7½ or 8 o'clock in the evening. I am a cook. I did not
hear of Corlies being shot until the next morning.
Joseph Cooper sworn.—I live at 233 Broadway. I am a
gun and pistol maker. Justice Matsell showed me a six
barrel revolving pistol the other day. I think I sold the
pistol, because it has a piece of work on it of my own manu-
facture. I allude to the rear part for the security of the
caps. I have altered other pistols in the same manner, but
I think this the last one I repaired. (His testimony was sim-
ilar to that given to Justice Matsell.) An old and a young
gentleman came in together, and bought each one. (The
old man has been previously described.) I think the young
man was his son. I put the band on for the old man. The
young man was 25 or 27 years old, of slender stature, and
said he was going to Havana for the benefit of his health.
The elderly one I could again recognise as he came several
times—the young one I could not. When the young man
sent his pistol back about a year after, to have a new main-
spring, the messenger said the young man was at Dela-
ware—the pistol produced in Court was in my store about 6
months before it was called for.
Adjourned until 3 o'clock on Tuesday.
—————
A Peep into the Future!
While so many new ologies are from day to day
turning up, why should we not have a revival of
good old Astrology? It was a grand and elevat-
ing Science—was?—nay, it is! The following
prediction of the weather for the ensuing month,
and of wonderful occurrences in the Political and
Physical world, has been handed us by the author,
who has been reading the stars intently, and he
is confident, to good purpose. Here is his horos-
cope—but let us see how the result compares
with it:
METEOROLOGICAL, OR WEATHER-GUIDE FOR
APRIL, 1843.
BY JOHN NELSON, 202 WOOSTER-STREET.
...
penalty in her huge debt. Earthquakes, plagues of insects,
&c., occurred during the seven years Herschel abode in that
sign; nor may we doubt that he now opens a black page of
England's history. Shall he not be a scourge in the land of
Heaven to repay that country for cruelties to the poor, and
her wanton slaughters in Syria, China, and Affghanistan?
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE MURDER OF CORLIES.—It will be seen
by our report that the examination before the
Coroner has been closed, the Jury, after a brief
absence last evening, returning a verdict that the
deceased came to his death by a wound from some
person unknown. Mr. and Mrs. Colton were
thereupon at once discharged. Nothing in the
voluminous testimony that has been taken in this
protracted case tends to fix suspicion of guilt upon
any person, and the affair remains enveloped in its
original mystery. The fact that a man may be
shot in the open street at only a few steps from
the most crowded thoroughfare in the city, at an
hour when the streets are so generally thronged,
and the murderer escape even a suspicion of hav-
ing done the deed, is certainly somewhat alarming.
What disclosures time may evolve remains to be
seen; at present, however, the whole affair is in
the darkest mystery; and we see no reason why
it should not remain so as long as the circumstan-
ces attending the death of Mary Rogers have been
concealed from the public eye.
[Col.4]
The Murder of Mr. Corlies—Examination
before the Coroner.
TUESDAY, March 28.
Noah Dillon, colored.—I stay at the Exchange Office 332½
Broadway. I knew Chas. G. Corlies for about 6 weeks. I
became acquainted with him at Mrs. Tucker's in Benson-st.
I have been acquainted at Mrs. Tucker's since the first part
of last summer. I have seen Corlies there several times—
not since he was first shot at. I have seen him in Leonard-
st. near Broadway since that time. I think it was the same
day that he was killed; about midday. I conversed with
him. He told me to tell Miss Rebecca Hays that he was
near being killed the preceding evening, and that was the
reason of his not coming around to see her. I mean the day
after he was shot at. I did not see him on the day of the
evening he was killed. I saw him also on the Sunday be-
fore he was killed. He was coming out of his boarding
house in Leonard st. I did not speak to him. He never
told me he was afraid of being killed. He did not tell me
who it was shot at him when he gave me the message to de-
liver to Miss Hays. I was at the Exchange office when I
learned that Mr. Corlies was shot. I then went to the cor-
ner of Broadway and Leonard-st. I saw a large crowd
there and ascertained that Mr. Corlies had been shot and
taken into the Carlton House. I then went to No. 3 Benson-
st. I opened the front door myself by putting my hand
through the blind. I first told the chambermaid of it, and
then went to the room (front basement) of Miss Hays. I
saw here there; she was standing up. She had on her white
night clothes. I told her that Mr. Corlies was shot. She
did not appear to believe it. She made use of a very vulgar
expression. I told her if she did not believe he was shot to
send Mary, which was done. I went with Mary as far as
the Carlton House. She did not appear to believe it when
I left the house. She told me she saw him that afternoon in
the Carriage Repository, 360 Broadway. I did not go back
to No. 3 Benson-st. that night. When I next saw Rebecca
Hays—I think the next day, she said to me “Well, Noah,
they've killed poor Charly at last.” I have carried several
letters from Rebecca Hays to Mr. Corlies—they were seal-
ed—Corlies told me that he would be at No. 3 Benson-st,
the evening after he was shot at.
John Hunt sworn.—I live at No. 42 Second-street, and am
a cartman. I knew Corlies by sight; never heard him ex-
press any fear of his life; I am not acquainted with Mr. or
Mrs. Colton; I know nothing of the late affair; I know Re-
becca Hays; I have had a conversation with her on the sub-
ject; it is about a fortnight since, after the first attack; she
asked me if I knew Charles, and had heard the muss, and
of his being shot at; I answered yes, she asked me if I
knew how it had occurred; I told her; she said either
“Damn him,” or “G—d damn him, that is the reason he
does not come to see me, and I hope to God Colton will
shoot him.” I believe that is all that passed. She made no
threats herself.
Joseph Cooper, recalled.—The gentleman I supposed I
sold the pistol to called on me this morning, and stated he
was not the man; he produced the pistol I sold him, which
is similar to the other. (Pistol shown to the Jury.) My
statement was correct in regard to his purchasing the pistol.
I do not know whom I sold the pistol to; I am positive I put
the rim around the pistol found near the body of Corlies; I
do not know the old gentleman's name, nor do I see him in
Court. He said he resided in this city, and that the young
man was in Trinidad.
John Andrews sworn.—I reside at the Knickerbocker Ho-
tel, Park Row. I never purchased a pistol of Mr. Cooper
in Broadway—nor had a six barrelled pistol in my hand. I
was acquainted with Mr. Colton—knew him 3 or 4 years—
never saw him have a six barreled pistol. I had no particu-
lar intimacy with him. (Pistol produced.) Never saw this
pistol before. I had not seen Mr. Colton for a month be-
fore I saw him here in Court. Never had any conversation
respecting Corlies. I never saw the latter person to my
knowledge.
John Rust sworn.—I live at 197 Spring st. I came down
Broadway on the right hand side of the way, last Monday
evening, a few minutes past 7 o'clock. I saw a great num-
ber of people collected around the Carleton House. I made
no inquiries, and passed on. On the block between Frank-
lin and Leonard sts. as I came down, I picked up a lady's
small guaze shawl—(shawl produced—having a blue ground
with a yellow striped border.) I did not hear the report of
the pistol.
Elizabeth Redding sworn.—I live at No. 76 Cannon st. I
was in the neighborhood of Broadway and Leonard street
on Monday evening of last week, not far from 7 o'clock. I
passed down Leonard st. on the same side of the Carlton
House. I did not see a man and woman conversing there
together. I heard the report of the pistol when I was only
a few steps from Broadway in Leonard street. I proceeded
straight down the street. After the report of the pistol I
saw a female run from the end of the Carlton House, or
about the corner of Benson street down Leonard, which she
crossed, and went up Elm st. towards Pearl st. She was a
middling sized woman, and wore a light colored hat and dark
veil. I think she had on a short dark cloak, but am not pos-
itive. I think her dress was also dark. When I heard the
report of the pistol it was before me. I did not hear any
outcry. I did not know any person was killed, until I re-
turned in about half or three-quarters of an hour from Elm
to Leonard street. I saw no person in neighborhood,
except two men I saw standing on the side steps of the
Carlton House, as I passed down. I did not see any person
until after the report of the pistol. I thought it an unusual
thing to see a lady run across the street, through the deep
snow. I was near Benson st. when she crossed the street.
I was about 15 feet from her when I saw her. I met no
black woman as I was going down. The fire of the pistol
did not alarm me. I did not think that it came from the
Carlton House.
Samuel A. Suydam sworn.—I reside at No. 31 Courtland-
street. I am intimately acquainted with Mr. Colton. I saw
him several times on last Monday week—about noon at 24
Vesey-street; I was there for an hour. I was in the habit
of seeing him every day. He did not, I think, go out with
me on that day. I think I next saw Mr. Colton about 15 or
20 minutes after 6 o'clock at No. 24 Vesey-street, in the front
parlor. He was in the house when I went there; I was
there about 10 minutes. I then left the house and did not
see him again that evening. I was not back at the house
again that evening. I did not see Mrs. Colton from the 8th
day of March until after her arrest—did not see her on
Monday week. I saw Mr. Parsons on the latter day; am in
the habit of seeing him frequently every day. I cannot re-
collect the latest hour I saw him on that day. I have had
conversations with Colton respecting Corlies. Never heard
Mr. Colton make use of any threatening expressions to-
wards Corlis. Mr. Corlies once told me that he would have
Mrs. Colton and Mr. Colton could not help himself—he
would take her, and Colton could not help himself. I told
Mr. Colton; he said it would not be good for him, or, he
better not try it. That is the only threatening expression
I ever heard Mr. Colton make use of. I have seen Mr.
Colton carry a pistol—he does not generally, as far as I
know. I saw him have a pistol for the first time about the
17th, 18th, or 20th February, at 24 Vesey-street. I have
seen pistols at his house which he owned; they were 12
inch single barreled pistols. [Six barreled pistol shown.]
I have never seen him carry that pistol, or one like it. Nev-
er saw that pistol till in Court. I do not think that Mr. Col-
ton and Mr. Corlies ever spoke. I intimated to him first,
about the 15th of Nov. last, the alledged intimacy be-
tween Corlies and Mrs. Colton, and the abduction. I told
him Corlies was the man—that I had seen him, charged him
with it, and that he acknowledged it. [Mr. Suydam here re-
marked that it was very painful for him to relate this matter
and he would like to be excused in so doing. The question
was again asked relative to the conversation, and the wit-
ness proceeded.] I think Corlies, in his conversation, made
use of threatening language towards Mr. Colton. I never
heard any positive threats. Mr. Colton never said to me
that he would be revenged upon Mr. Corlies. I was at the
corner of Park Place and Broadway about 7 o'clock on
the evening of the 20th. I first heard of Mr. Corlis being
dead at Florence's about 11 o'clock the same evening.—
[Bullet taken from the six-barreled pistol shown.] I never
saw any bullets in Mr. Colton's possession except larger
than this and for the dueling pistols. I do not recollect
seeing any like this in the possession of any body else. I
have had conversation with Mrs. Colton respecting Mr.
Corlies, previous to the 8th of March. I have no personal
knowledge of the separation of Mr. and Mrs. Colton. I
never heard her use any threatening expressions towards
Mr. Corlies, but have heard her complain of Corlies's prowl-
ing around the door of their residence—she spoke of it as
offensive.
Dr. Hosack recalled—The course of the ball was parallel
with the left hemisphere of the brain. It would have been
impossible for him to have shot himself from the nature of
the wound.
Dr. Post recalled—I agree with the statement made yes-
terday by Dr. Hosack.
Mr. Redding recalled—I might have passed a man lying
on the walk, and might not have seen him.
Wm. Niblo, a youth, sworn—I live at 70 Spring street. I
was in the neighborhood of the Carlton House on the eve-
ning of the 20th. It was a quarter past 6 o'clock. I stopped
on the top of the stairs of the Bowling Saloon of Charles
G. Corlies and was conversing with him about five minutes.
There was no one else present. I then passed up Broad-
way towards home. I was not down town again that eve-
ning. I was in the habit of seing Mr. Corlies frequently.
I have heard him make use of apprehensive expressions
when it has been spoken of. I think he did not mention any
names. I saw a female pass as I was conversing. I said to
him that there was a lady there and I would not interfere.
I think she passed and repassed three times. She had on a
light colored hat, with a veil not over her face. I did not
notice her face. I do not know that the lady and Mr. Cor-
lies recognised one another.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr. and Mrs. Colton were attended by their legal adviser,
Chas. O'Conner, Esq.
Bridget Waters—I live at No. 98 Leonard street with Mrs.
Bourne—been there near three months. I recollect the eve-
ning when the man was shot nearly opposite our house. I
was coming from the bakery in Church st. and as I crossed
[Col.5]
Broadway on my return home. I heard the report of a pis-
tol. The sound appeared in the direction of Leonard street.
There were several persons passing at the time. I did not
see the flash of the pistol or see any person fall. I saw a
man running after I had got into the house. I did not see
any woman in Leonard street. I saw a crowd gather oppo-
site our house very soon after I returned. I did not see the
man that was shot. The man that I saw run across to our
side of the street, and ran down towards Elm st. It was
some time after the report of the pistol.
William Jones, (colored) sworn.—I live at 87 Leonard st.
—am a coachman for Mr. Jas. Swords. I was going down
to one of our stables in Benson st. about 7 o'clock—as I
passed down Leonard st. I saw a man and woman standing
as close as they could get up to the private door of the
Carlton House. I returned in about 10 minutes from the
stable. I saw a crowd there, and ascertained that a person
named Corlies had been shot. The woman I saw there was
of the middling size, and dressed in dark clothes. I think
she had on a dark hat. They were standing about a yard
apart—they appeared to be talking very earnestly. I think
the woman stood next to Broadway. I did not hear any
of the conversation, or see any person go in or out of No.
3 Benson st.
Samuel A. Suydam recalled.—I am positive that it was
about 20 minutes past 6 o'clock, when I left Mr. Colton's in
Vesey st. I noted the time, as I had an engagement. I went
from there to Mr. Florence's in Broadway, and remained
there until 7½, and then went into a carriage to Fourth st.
from which place I returned about 11 o'clock to Florence's.
I first heard of Mr. Corlies being shot after I returned. I
have not the slightest knowledge how Mr. Corlies received
his injuries. I wish to state that the report as stated by Mr.
Parsons, relative to Mrs. Colton and myself, is without found-
ation and utterly untrue.
G. W. Dixon, sworn.—This witness entered into quite a
lengthy statement respecting Miss Mary Stewart, who call-
ed upon him about two months since, stating that she was
the mistress of Charles G. Corlies,—that she appeared high-
ly indignant towards Mr. Corlies,—that she was enciente by
him, and he would do nothing for her at all. She used des-
perate threats, and said she would destroy Corlies as well
as herself. She called upon the witness with a written
statement which she wished him to publish. This is all he
knew relative to her.
The Coroner, after twice calling for Leverett C. Read,
who did not appear, closed the case and submitted it to the
Jury without any comments upon the testimony adduced
during the investigation.
The Jury, after an absence of a few minutes, returned
a Verdict that Charles G. Corlies came to his death by
means of a wound in the head caused by a pistol ball, fired
by some person or persons to the Jurors unknown.
The Coroner immediately discharged Mr. and Mrs. Col-
ton from custody. Mr. Colton was saluted with the warm
greetings of numerous friends, upon the favorable result of
the inquest, as suspicion at first appeared strongly against
him.
================================================================
[Col.2]
GROWING LICENTIOUSNESS.—Gambling houses are
said to have increased so rapidly in Boston within
a short time as to threaten to become an insuffera-
ble evil. What else than that a general declension
in the tone of public morals should take place, can
be expected, since an immensely large portion of
society are depraved of honorable occupation—gam-
bling by those who can command money, because
it cannot be safely invested in business, and crime, by
those who are reduced to necessitous circumstan-
ces through want of employment. The surest way
to corrupt the fountain of public morals and place
vice at a premium is, to obstruct the channels of
industry and turn hoards of idle hands and thinking
heads out upon community to act as the exigencies
of their case make necessary.
All who have been conversant with the public
journals of the day, have noticed that two or three
years last past has been particularly marked as a
period of vice and crime throughout the country.—
More murder, robberies, forgeries, and other des-
criptions of higher offences against law, have occur-
red during this period than have been crowded into
an equal time since we became a nation. And
what we are yet to come to, if the great channels of
business are not soon opened, none may venture
to anticipate. Truly, when the wicked rule the
people mourn.
[Col.3]
The French residents in New York have started
an enterprise to raise means of relief for the suffer-
ers by the late earthquake in Gaudaloop.
———————
LATEST NEWS.—It has recently been ascertained
beyond the possibility of a doubt, that there is no
truth in one half of the lies that are told.
———————
MUCH HAS BEEN WRITTEN
About slander—a world of invective heaped upon
the slander-er, and full as much of pity bestowed
upon the slander-ed as is necessary to heal up the
print of the dog-teeth upon every character that has
been unjustly traduced sine the flood.
In our opinion, the whole business is wrong, from
...
[Col.4]
More Disclosures. The New York Express says:
“We understand that some astounding disclosures
will be shortly made by the police magistrates,
from investigations which are going on in relation
to some crimes which have lately been committed
in this city. We are not at liberty to say more at
present.” It is surmised that these disclosures re-
late to Mary Rogers, the cigar girl, whose mysteri-
ous murder some time since created so great a sen-
sation.
[Col.5. Also in The North Country Lantern. Summer 2010-Winter 2011 (northcountryundergroundrailroad.com)]
From the Springfield (Mass.) Post.
ABOLITION.
A disgraceful riot occurred at Northampton last
week. The occasion was a lecture by the Rev.
Abel Brown and an African, once a slave who
accompanies him. The first evening the disturb-
ance was great, but the second was disgraceful.
After Mr. Brown had read a chapter in the Bible
and offered up a prayer to the throne of grace, the
negro commenced speaking. He complained of
the disturbance the night before, whereat, says the
democrat, 'a villainous compound of rancorous
smell as ever offended nostril,' ascended from
the red hot stove in a fume of assafœdtida and pep-
per.
At the same time the eyes were inflamed, as if
King Alcohol had been burning them up for ten
years, by the finest particles of snuff and pepper,
wafted about the hall by letting a couple of doves
whose wings and feathers were saturated with
those irritable powders. This caused a general
scream among the women and a scuffle among
the constables and rioters.
The passage-way clear to the door was complete-
ly blocked up, and 'confusion worse confounded,'
reigned triumphant, amid songs and shouts, and
taunts at each other. The windows were finally
opened, and all breathed more freely again—the
doves flew out—the children jumped out, and the
lights were put out. The hall was cleared, and
with much difficulty the Rev. Mr. Brown and the
negro escaped with their lives, and thus ended the
second night of the abolition lecture which we
hope and trust will be the last.
———————
...
On our way to our way to our office this mor-
ning, we were surprised to hear cries proceeding
as from under a snow-drift on the sidewalk. Shov-
els were soon procured, and at last a negro was
discovered digging for daylight from a cellar
which he had no sooner discovered than he enqui-
red, 'Is the end come?' On being assured it had
not, he replied, 'I thought it was, by gosh, and
they had forgot dis saint altogether.'—Brooklyn
News.
================================================================
[Col.4]
THE MURDER OF CORLIES.—It will be
...
not remain so long as the circumstances at-
tending the death of Mary Rogers have
been concealed from the public eye.
N. Y. Tribune March 29.
From the notorious character of Corlies,
as divulged by witnesses, it is very proba-
ble a woman, and as probable, an injured
woman, was the perpetrator; though not
Mrs Colton.
================================================================
[Col.1]
The Murder of Corlies.
A few weeks since, a citizen of New York was
shot down at dusk in the very heart of our city,
in an open and thronged street, within a few steps
of Broadway, where hundreds pass every five
minutes. Yet no clue has been obtained by our
Police to the perpetrators of the crime, and after
a Coroner's Inquest (such as it was) of two or
three days, the whole business is put quietly to
sleep, and scarcely a word is said of the matter.
And yet we presume there is scarcely a doubt en-
tertained by any among us as to who committed
the horrible murder.—So with the case of Mary
C. Rogers. We believe the Police have once
been in the track of the murderer. Why was he
not arrested? The most obvious reason appears
to be that the culprit paid more for impunity than
the community was likely to pay for justice. So
in the Corlies case.—How long shall this state of
things continue?
[Col.6]
A BAD GIRL.—Ellen Myers, a girl about 17 years of age,
was sent to the Penitentiary for 4 months for deserting her
home and taking up her abode in a house of ill fame, No.
139 Duane-street, kept by Eliza Ackers. The father made
the complaint.
================================================================
[Col.8]
A STORY OF A VILLAIN AND HIS VICTIM.—A
correspondent of the Boston Bee gives the follow-
ing account of one of the inmates of the Vermont
Lunatic Asylum, at Brattleboro':
Born of wealthy parents, idolized in youth, grati-
fied in the indulgence of her fondest hopes, and
perfected in every accomplishment of the day, she
was the pride of the family, and the belle of the
social circle, whose destiny she controlled. One
of those enthusiastic beings, who are never satis-
fied with divided affections, her mind was so ex-
quisitely strung that the least discord afflicted it,
and marred the music of the whole. Some three
years since, she was introduced to a young naval
officer, who soon wooed and won her, but, villain-
like, having sported awhile with the choice flower
which nothing but summer and sunshine should
gladden, and after having by sedulous attentions
appropriated the rare gem to himself, left it ex-
posed to the rude blast of winter, until chilled and
crushed, it has fallen to the ground, scared and
blasted like the withered leaf of autumn.
The story of his perfidy reached her ears, but,
woman-like, she would not credit aught against
the idol of her heart, till her own eyes perused in
the papers of a neighboring city his marriage to
another. The news came like a thunderbolt upon
her, withering and destroying her. In vain did
her friends endeavor to cheer her desponding heart
by travel and the kindest attention. Now a blight-
ed and spirit-broken thing, she no more bounded
on the green like the fawn, or carrolled in the sun-
shine like the lark winging its flight to heaven's
gate; a fearful change had come over her, and rea-
son soon deserted its throne, leaving her a maniac.
She takes no interest in the movements of the other
patients, but sits apart all the day, looking from a
window, upon the boundless prospect before her.
Every attempt to direct her mind has been, as yet,
unsuccessful, and though passionately fond of mu-
sic in her moments of reason, the least sound is
now displeasing to her, and she retires to her
apartment, closing the door after her, as if to se-
clude herself from the society of other. What has
the man to answer for who has thus destroyed a vir-
gin flower in the pride of its bloom and beauty?
================================================================
[Col.4]
POLICE OFFICE—Thursday.
...
Arrested for Grand Larceny.—Alfred Crommelin,
the person who it will be recollected figured so con-
spicuously in the Mary Rogers tragedy, was arrested
this morning charged with grand larceny in stealing
$33 worth of clothing from Mr. Albert Pawley, his
room mate, at No. 77 Nassau street. Mr. P. had
been sick for some time, and missing the greater part
of his wardrobe caused Crommelin's premises, as he
he had removed away, to be searched, and much of
the property being found in his possession, he was
fully committed.
================================================================
[Col.4]
POLICE OFFICE.
...
No less a personage than the celebrated Alfred
Crommeline, who figured so prominently at the time of the
Mary Rogers tragedy, was this morning arrested and fully
committed to prison for stealing about $33 worth of clothing
from a fellow boarder of his at 77 Nassau st. Crommeline
had left Nassau st. during the illness of Mr. Albert Pawley, and
gone to another boarding place, where most of the property
was found.
[Col.5]
Things in Philadelphia.
...
J. A. Moore, a journeyman Printer, was commit-
ted to prison last evening by Ald. Brazier, on a
charge of bigamy. Two ladies, the reputed wives
of the young typo, presented themselves in the
office, and were introduced to each other by the
defendant with great nonchalance. Mr. Moore,
too, kicked up a serious row in the office, by draw-
ing a dirk upon the officer.
================================================================
[Col.4. From Courier]
POLICE OFFICE—Thursday.
...
Arrested for Grand Larceny.—Alfred Crommelin,
...
================================================================
[Col.2]
Police Reform.
'L.' writes us a most startling exposé of the
corruption and wickedness of our present Police.
He charges that several of our Public Officers
have their homes in brothels or nightly haunt the
most abandoned resorts, and live by levying
'Black Mail' on harlots, thieves and depredators
generally, on promise of aiding their escape from
justice. He states that one of the most infamous
creatures about town, who was recently sent to
the Penitentiary for assaulting with intent to
stab a gentleman who had merely given testi-
mony against her paramour who had stolen his
watch, is now parading Broadway again, after
remaining on Blackwell's Island less than a
month; and another, who was sent up for as-
saulting a gentleman while with his family at the
theatre, has been got off, after a few days' con-
finement, by distributing twenty-five dollars
among Police Officers, &c. This, he adds, is a
common case.
We need not again express our conviction that
the whole machinery supported at a heavy cost
by our City for the repression and punishment of
crime is utterly corrupt and abominable, that it
employs and sharpens worse rascals than it pun-
ishes, and on the whole does more harm than
good. When, O when! shall we have a real
Police Reform?
———————
...
“MARY ROGERS THE CIGAR GIRL” LIVING!—
This is the caption of an article in the New-Ha-
ven Courier of yesterday, in which the editor
states that he received the following letter some
days ago from Derby, but waited until he con-
sulted gentlemen in that place as to the proba-
bility of the story. The editor states that these
gentlemen inform him that the letter is substan-
tially correct. Mrs. Rogers has been enquired of
by the neighbors, if Mary, her daughter had ar-
rived from New York. She reluctantly says
that a young woman was at her house, but it
was “Mary King.” The neighbors have tried
various ways to see her, but the stranger is not
visible.
Correspondence of the Morning Courier.
DERBY, March 5, 1844.
MR. EDITOR—There is a report here that Miss Mary Ro-
gers, of New York celebrity, arrived in town on Friday last.
The driver of the Bridgeport stage states that a young lady
rode up with him from Bridgeport, whom he took for her, he
having been acquainted with Mary when she was a small girl
and resided in this town. She declined giving him her
name, and wished to be left at the residence of Mrs. Rogers,
her mother, whom you are aware resides in this place. Upon
Mrs. Rogers's return from New-York, at the time of the ru-
mored murder, she brought not a remnant of Mary's wearing
apparel with her, and in answer to the inquiries of her friends
refused to give any account of them. The above report is
generally believed by the inhabitants of this place who have
never credited Mary's death, for they have marked well the
conduct of Mrs. Rogers during her stay with us. The house
has been strictly watched since the above mentioned circum-
stance, and the lady has not been seen. She probably keeps
secreted, as there is much excitement prevailing here on ac-
count of the report. Yours, &c. J.
P. S. You can do as you choose about publishing this,
but I can assure you it is no idle report, as Mr. Wallace the
driver of the Bridgeport stage is a man of high respectability
and one in whose word you might confide. J.
[Col.3]
THE YOUNG FRIENDS OF IRELAND, of this
City, it will be perceived on reference to our adver-
tising columns, will celebrate the approaching an-
niversary of St. Patrick's Day at the Apollo Saloon,
Broadway. We are gratified to perceive that the
total absence of wines and liquors is a leading fea-
ture in their arrangements;—it is worthy of their
laudable and patriotic object and tells well for their
moral character and discernment. Ladies will join
in this festive celebration, which will also gives an
additional attraction to the occasion.
[Col.4]
Things in Philadelphia.
...
THE BIBLE.—Among the speakers yesterday
afternoon, at the great public meeting, in reference to the Bi-
ble and the Public Schools, were the Rev. Mr. Berg, Rev. Mr.
...
“Resolved, That the present crisis demands that without
distinction of party, sect or profession, every man who loves
his country, his Bible and his God, is bound by all lawful and
honorable means, to resist every attempt to banish the Bible
from our public institutions.”
It was not until after 6 o'clock that the meeting adjourned,
having been assembled over three hours.
A DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR.—A ball was given
last evening at the Assembly Buildings, corner of Chesnut and
Tenth streets, by a notorious denizen, which nearly all the
fashionable and lewd and licentious characters of the city attend-
ed. Several fights occurred, a large number of rats having
been placed in the room, who ran across the floor in every di-
rection, creating the greatest confusion among those present.
It was a shameful affair, and the owners of the building merit
the rebuke of the virtuous portion of the community. Police
officers were present, employed to preserve order!
================================================================
[Col.1]
Children.
BY PARK BENJAMIN.
Unto me there are no blessings,
...
————————
...
“How many genders are there? asked a
school master.
“Three, sir,” promptly replied little blue
eyes.
“Pray give me an example of each,” said
the master.
“Masculine, feminine and neuter.”
“Why, you are masculine, because you are
a man, and I am feminine, because I am girl.”
“Very well—proceed.”
“I don't know,” said the little girl, “but I
reckon Mr. Jenkins is neuter, as he is an old
Bachelor?”
[Col.2. Also in The Mother's Assistant and Young Lady's Friend. April, 1844 / A different version at gutenberg.org]
From the Boston Courier.
Sin and Philanthropy.
A TRUE TALE.
In a city, which shall be nameless, there
lived, long ago, a young girl, the only daughter
of a widow. She came from the country, and
was as ignorant of the dangers of a city, as the
squirrel of her native fields.
...
My venerable friend is not aware that I have
written this story. I have not published it from
any wish to glorify him, but to exert a genial
influence on the hearts of others; to do my
mite toward teaching society how to cast out
the Demon Penalty, by the voice of the Angel
Love. L. M. C.
[Col.5. Mostly as in Tribune]
Mary Rogers, the Cigar Girl, Living!
We received the following letter some days
since form Derby, but chose not to hazard its
publication until we could consult some gen-
tleman from that town, in reference to the sto-
ry. We are now credily informed that what
is stated below is substantially true. Mrs. Ro-
gers has been inquired of by the neighbors, if
Mary, her daughter, had arrived from N. York.
She reluctantly says that a young woman was
at her house, but it was “Mary King.” The
neighbors have tried various ways to see her,
but the stranger is not visible. It will be re-
membered, this “Mary Rogers” was the “Cigar
Girl,” who was supposed to have been seduced,
and brutally murdered at Hoboken opposite N.
York, a year or two since, which fact created
intense excitement in that city.
DERBY, March 5, 1844.
MR. EDITOR:—There is a report here that
Miss Mary Rogers, of New York celebrity, ar-
...
count of them. The above report is generally
believed by the inhabitants of this place who
have never credited the idea of Mary's death
...
one in whose word you might confide.—New
Haven Courier.
———————
Splitting the Difference.
A nice young gentleman not a thousand miles
from this, after a long and assiduous courtship,
found himself one bright evening the betrothed
of a pretty girl, the very pink of modesty. One
night he was about to take his departure, and
after lingering about the door some time, in a
fidget of anxiety, declared and protested to Miss
Nancy, that he couldn't and wouldn't leave un-
til she had kissed him. Of course Miss Nancy
objected, and blushing beautifully red, protested
in turn, that she could not and would not do that.
She never had done such a thing, and never
would until she was married—so now he had
it. The altercation and debate became deep
and exciting, until the betrothed huffed outright,
and declared if he couldn't kiss her he wouldn't
have her—and was marching off. She watched
him to the gate, and saw “the fat was all in the
fire,” unless something was done.
“Come back then,” said she coaxingly, “I'll
split the difference with you—you may squeeze
my hand!”—Sandersville Telescope.
———————
“Is he Qualified?”
“Why do you not present yourself as a can-
didate for Congress?” said a lady the other day
to her husband, who was confined to his chair
by the gout.
“Why should I, my dear?” replied he, “I
am not qualified for the office.”
“Nay, but I think you are,” returned the wife,
“your language and actions are parliamentary.
When bills are presented, you order them to be
laid on the table, you are still supported by the
chair; and often poke your nose into the measures
which destroy the constitution.”
———————
“A Joyful Mother.”
The Bangor Whig of the 6th, says:—“We
learn that the wife of Mr. Hannibal Stone, of
Dixmont, yesterday morning gave birth to three
good sized Yankee boys' and all doing well.
'Down East' is getting to be quite prolific, and
the population is rapidly increasing.”
================================================================
[Col.7]
Court of Common Pleas.
Before Judge DALY.
...
Alfred Crommelin vs. Jacob La Forge.—This is
an action for slander; partly growing out of the Mary Rogers
case in 1841, the damages laid at a large amount. Mr. Brady, in
opening of the case for plaintiff, stated that he was man of prop-
erty and high respectability. The defendant is a man engaged
in business in New-York, and who also claims to be respecta-
ble, and, till recently, like the plaintif, a man of some prop-
erty. The present action is instituted under circumstances
which will show to the Jury that something was necessary to
be done by the plaintiff in justification of his character. You
may recollect, gentlemen of the Jury, that about the 25th July,
1841, a girl named Mary Rogers, disappeared from her home,
and sometime subsequently was found dead at Hoboken, and
in a situation which induced the belief that she was first most
foully violated, and then inhumanly murdered. Mr. Cromme-
lin at that time boarded at the house of the mother of the un-
fortunate girl, and was on terms of perfect friendship with her,
inducing him to act as her friend rather than to do her injury.
He was the person who identified the girl and furnished the
testimony which satisfied the Coroner's Jury at Hoboken.—
He was, too, the only one who made efficient exertions to en-
deavor to detect her murderers.
If necessary we can show this, and also the great want of
diligence and attention on the part of the public officers. Had
they properly sustained the exertions of Mr. Crommelin, the
murderers would have been discovered. Notwithstanding that
he was acting as a friend and gave valuable information, he
was, through rumor, implicated as being this very murderer,
and an article appeared in one of the papers (The Sun) to that
effect. The Publisher, no doubt, acted with a good intention,
and with a view to ferret out the real murderers, and next day
made a full and ample apology. Mr. La Forge, the defend-
ant in this case, took the paper regularly, and saw both state-
ment and denial, so that he cannot plead ignorance.
His is one branch of the case. There is another, in which
Mr. Crommelin was equally unfortunate. In his employ was
a young man named Padley, to whom he had extended acts of
kindness when he had not a friend to stand by him. He en-
gaged Padley to collect his rents. While in Mr. C.'s employ
this young man was taken down with a serious illness. Mr.
C. took care of him, provided him with a physician, and
made advances out of his own pocket not only to provide the
means of comfort for him while sick, but to assist him when
restored. This was subsequently met by Padley with the
deepest ingratitude, and, through the aid of some Police offi-
cer he actually procured a charge against Mr. C. for stealing his
wearing apparel, and sent a search warrant to the house of
Mr. Crommelin, while at the same time Mr. C. was engaged in
acts of kindness in his behalf, Mr. C. was taken down to the
Police office, and because, probably, he had complained at
the officers not doing their duty in regard to the murderers of
Mary Rogers, he was not allowed to send for bail, although a
man of property, and not even for counsel, but was actually
locked up for the night on the complaint of this Padley. As
soon as the Grand Jury met, Mr. C. prepared charges of per-
jury against Padley, and applied to the Police office to obtain
the testimony which P. had given but it was at first refused
him, and Padley had time to escape and went to England,
where it is understood he now is. The arrest was mentioned
in the papers, but the press immediately took the proper mea-
sures to state the facts as they really existed, all of which were
seen by Mr. La Forge, the defendant, who expressed himself
in strong terms to Mr. Crommelin in regard to them. Mr. C.
among other property, owns and resided in February last, at
No. 13 Broome st. in which house Mr. La Forge also resided.
The condition of the streets being such as to injure Mr. C.'s
property, he petitioned the Common Council for redress. Soon
afterwards Mr. La Forge was complained of by the Street In-
spector, and action brought against him on behalf of the Cor-
poration in one of the Ward Courts. Mr. Crommelin was
summoned as a witness, and gave such testimony as he was re-
quired to do. La Forge, in the presence of the whole Court
and audience, then accused Mr. Crommelin of what is partly
now complained of. He declared that Mr. C. was taken up for
murdering Mary C. Rogers, and was taken up last winter for
stealing old clothes. “There he is,” said he to those in the
Court-room—“there he is—look at him—that is the man.”—
And not only so, but he declared, “that is the murderer of Ma-
[Col.1]
ry Rogers.” He excited the attention of the whole Court. Next
morning, too, while Mr. Crommelin was engaged with a friend,
La Forge came to the door with his wife, and exclaimed “he
had better bring back those old clothes,” and made it appear
to those who passed by that Mr. Crommelin had been guilty
of the act charged. He also declared to a person that he went
to Court for the express purpose of getting satisfaction out of
Mr. Crommelin, and that he would have gone much fur-
ther, only he was stopped by the Judges, &c. This is an out-
line of the opening.
The Court, after the opening of the case, adjourned to this
forenoon.
For plaintiff Mr. J. T. Brady and Mr. Cowdrey. For defen-
dant, Mr. P. W.
[Col.3]
Restoration of the Jews.
NEW-YORK, Nov. 20, 1844
M. M. NOAH, Esq.—Sir: The inclemency of the weather
on the evening on which you delivered your discourse on the
Restoration of the Jews, prevented many from attending who
were anxious to be present; and those who did attend, are so
strongly impressed with the good effects resulting from an en-
larged and liberal view of that important subject, that we re-
spectfully request you to repeat the discourse at your earliest
convenience.
JAMES HARPER, PH. MILLEDOLER.
...
In compliance with the above request, the discourse will be
repeated on Monday evening, December 2d, at the Tabernacle,
Broadway, where tickets may be had. n29 3t*
================================================================
[Col.3]
ARREST OF BILL HOPPY.—It will be remem-
bered that some time in May last this notorious
rogue—a regular graduate of Botany Bay—who
robbed Rockwell's store under the Astor House of
$25,000 worth of jewelry, made his escape from the
Tombs, and that Edward Fernan, one of the keep-
ers, was tried and convicted for aiding him in getting
off. Hoppy was subsequently arrested at Balti-
more by an officer from Philadelphia, but again
made his escape, and is reported to have taken with
him the officer's pocket-book. He was traced to
Brooklyn more than a month since, and several
officers have been on the look-out for him. Last
evening he was arrested at a porter-house in that
city, in company with Jack Shaw, another noto-
rious rogue from Botany Bay, by officers Gilbert F.
Hays, McGrath, Stevens, John Lalor, and ex-
keepers Fallon and Fernan. The latter, though
convicted of aiding Hoppy's escape, exerted him-
self to the utmost, we learn, to effect his arrest.
Hoppy is probably one of the greatest rogues that
was ever caught in the United States, and he will
now probably take a turn in the State Prison.
[Col.7]
Court of Common Pleas.
Before Judge DALY.
THE CASE OF CROMMELIN.
Alfred Crommelin vs. Jacob La Forge.—Action
for Slander, damages laid at $10,000. This case was continued.
George W. Bruce sworn.—Resides in the city;
is street Inspector of the 13th Ward; held the office since 1?th
May last; was present at the 4th and 6th Ward Court in July
last, on a complaint of the Corporation against Mr. La Forge;
Mr. Sammons was Attorney for Corporation; defendant has
no counsel; when Mr. C. was giving his testimony, I under-
stood La Forge to say to Judge Sterling that that was the man
who murdered Mary C. Rogers, and that he had been arrested
for it, or examined on the charge, or something to that effect,
and that he had been taken up for stealing clothing. Mr. C.
was on the stand, at the time, as a witness; there were 13 or 15
persons in Court; it was uttered loudly; if I mistake not, the
Judge called him to order, and he repeated it a second time; I
will not be positive as to that.
Cross examined.—I was standing about three feet from
Crommelin, and seven or eight feet from La Forge; the Justice
was rather nearer to La Forge than I was. I am sure he said
that is the man that murdered Mary C. Rogers, and also said
that he had been arrested on the charge. He interrupted the
trial; the Judge called him to order, and he interrupted a sec-
ond time, saying that stolen clothes had been found in Mr. C.'s
possession. I cannot recollect whether he repeated, after the
second interruption, what he first said about Mary Rogers;
Crommelin proceeded with his testimony after the first inter-
ruption; La Forge then said he had been arrested, or stolen
clothing had been found on his premises, or something of the
kind; he did not say any thing about the clothes at first, that I
know of. I was a witness against Mr. La Forge at the trial;
he is in the truck business, engaged in carrying heavy timber,
and such; he has a family. Mr. Crommelin first spoke to me
about this trial; he asked me, in the 4th and 6th Ward Court,
after the words had been spoken, to bear them in mind.
James R. Gedney sworn.—Is Street Inspector of
the 6th Ward; was present in the 4th and 6th Ward Court at
the time spoken of; I was a witness in another case; I saw the
parties in this trial there; I was somewhat acquainted with Mr.
Crommelin for 10 or 15 years; was not acquainted with Mr. La
Forge. While Mr. C. was giving his evidence, Mr. La Forge
intimated that Mr. C. was accessory to, or knew somewhat
about, the murder of Mary Rogers; he farther said that a trunk
of stolen clothing had been found in Crommelin's possession,
and I believe he said he had been arrested for it; he made the
charges in the order I have spoken, but whether the latter one
before or after the reprimand of the Judge, I do not remember.
Cross-examined.—I stood near Mr. La Forge; I cannot give
the precise words he used; he intimated that Mr. C. had been
accessory to, or knew something about, the murder of Mary
Rogers. He did not say he had been arrested on that charge;
said he had been so on the charge of stealing clothing. Cannot
say that La Forge said Mr. C. was accessory to the murder,
but that was the impression left on my mind by what he said;
He said distinctly that stolen clothes had been found in the
possession of Mr. C. He appeared to be somewhat displeased
at Mr. C.'s testimony. [The counsel for defendant asked if
suspicions existed, but Mr. Brady would not allow the witness
to answer.]
Randolph Noddemeyer sworn.—Live in Barclay
street; have known Mr. Crommelin for some time. I saw Mr.
La Forge in Broome street one morning before Mr. C.'s house;
I was in Mr. Crommelin's office; Mr. La Forge was with his
wife, standing before the door. He said “he had better bring
back the old clothes.” He spoke very distinctly, so that I
could hear; he was standing on the sidewalk at the time,
speaking to his wife.
Cross-examined.—He did not say “you had better bring
back the old clothes,” but “he had better,” &c. The office
was at No. 13 Broome street; it is Mr. Crommelin's business
office, but I do not know whether mercantile or otherwise; he
occupied but one room. He is a single man; I boarded where
he did for 8 months, but not when he boarded with Mrs. Rogers
in Nassau street. I do not know where old Mrs. Rogers is now.
I believe there is no bed in his office; it is in the 2d story of a
wooden house; there were tenants in the house.
Direct.—He was agent to let houses and collect rents in the
city, and that was his office for that business.
Thomas Nash sworn.—Reside at the corner of
Mangin and Delancy streets; am acquainted with the parties;
worked for Mr. La Forge about 18 months; I heard him say,
after the suit, that he had received a letter from Mr. C. about
what was said in Court; he told me that he made expressions
at the Court implicating Mr. C. in the murder of Mary Rogers.
He said he could prove it by the paper, and by one or two men
that saw it in the paper as well as himself; he said he told the
Court that Mr. C. had had stolen clothing in his possession;
he wished to let the Judge know the estimation of his charac-
[Col.3]
ter, that was all; he stated that he had received a letter from
Mr. C. about his character after the trial. He afterward said
as much as if he had said that the man had had some hand in
murdering Mary Rogers. He said this by itself, and said that
that about stealing the clothing he had seen in the paper; he
did not say he had seen the statement about Mary Rogers in
the paper. Mr. La Forge does not speak to me now in passing,
but the cause is not connected with this trial.
Direct.—I am a blacksmith by trade. Mr. La Forge did not
say he stated the words in Court in confidence.
The letter from Mr. Crommelin to Mr. La Forge was then
read—as follows:
NEW-YORK, 18 Pine street, July 24, 1844.
Mr. Jacob La Forge, Sir: This morning you made a charge
against my character before William G. Sterling, Esq. Spe-
cial Justice for the City and County of New York, which was
for the purpose to injure my reputation. The precise words
you used the witnesses vary in, therefore supposing you are a
man who can substantiate your assertion, I presume you will
not hesitate to put them on paper and return them to me.
With due respect, ALFRED CROMMELIN.
[To this, we understand, no answer was returned.]
The counsel for plaintiff here rested the case.
Mr. Wilson, counsel, on behalf of Mr. La Forge,
then opened for the defence. He stated that the declaration of
the last witness that Mr. L. said he had seen what he had
charged stated in the papers, relieves the case of much of its
embarrassment. It is known that much was said in the com-
munity at that time. Mr. La Forge is a rough, hard-working
truckman, of bad, quick passion, very bad, who says what he
thinks, and remarked what he did, on hearing Mr. C. testify-
ing against him, to let the Judge know who the witness was.
The counsel on the other side, said Mr. W. has spoken of his
client in very exalted terms, mostly with a view to create sym-
pathy in the mind of the Jury, but this is not a case such as
the counsel speaks of. The individual, said Mr. W. who takes
you by the hand, comes in and out of your office in a seeming
friendly manner, sits by your board, and visits, perhaps, your
family, then goes covertly to some dear friend, communicates
something which stabs and blights your reputation—you see
the cold look for which you cannot account, and tremble, even
at your own fire-side, for you know not whence the blow
comes—mark that individual, and visit him with your ven-
geance. But such a case is not here. Mr. W. offered, if al-
lowed, to show circumstances in extenuation.
Isaac Cockefair sworn.—Know Mr. Crommelin;
the other gentlemen I have seen once or twice; I recollect
very little about the Mary Rogers' case now; I saw Mr.
Crommelin at that time, in my official capacity. [Mr. Brady
objected to the witness being asked if he arrested Mr. C.] Mr.
Wilson said he was prepared to show that Mr. Cockefair (who
is a Police officer) had arrested Mr. C. during the investiga-
tion of the murder, and had him in charge. Mr. Brady ob-
jected. He had given permission, in his opening, he said,
that the defendant, if he considered himself able to do so,
might give evidence that Mr. Crommelin had murdered Mary
C. Rogers, or had stolen old clothes. He could not allow lis-
tening of more arrests or suspicions, however, to come in.—
Mr. W. wished to be able to show facts in mitigation. The
Court ruled that having charged Mr. C. with the murder of
Mary Rogers, he could not in mitigation show he was arrested.
Mr. W. asked the witness if he had ever called upon Mr. C.
in his official capacity. Witness—I called upon him officially
during that investigation. More than once?—[Mr. Brady here
again objected, as it came within the rule.] Mr. Wilson asked
the Court if he could show that the witness had called on Mr.
C. twenty times, had arrested him and carried him to prison,
and examined him till he was satisfied that Mr. C. was not im-
plicated, and discharged him. The Court remarked that as
there was nothing in the pleadings except a denial of saying
the words charged, the testimony could not be admitted.
Wm. B. Sterling sworn.—Is, and was last July,
one of the Assistant Justices of the City of New-York. Re-
collect the case of the Corporation in which Mr. La Forge was
concerned. I recollect Mr. C. being a witness in some case;
do not recollect having called Mr. La Forge to order in any
suit, or of his having made any charge against Mr. C. as to
Mary Rogers, or of any particular interruption. I recollect of
no interruption having occurred before me when Mr. C. was
a witness. My recollection is as good as that of persons gen-
erally. I have an indistinct recollection of some charge hav-
ing been made in relation to Mary Rogers, but what, or by
whom, I do not recollect. I heard the name mentioned some-
where in Court, but do not remember what.
Cross-examined—I have 40 or 50 Corporation cases before
me in a day sometimes, and pay more attention to my notes
than to the witnesses. I recollect the plaintiff only from his
peculiar mode of speech.
Mr. Wilson inquired of Mr. Brady how far he would permit
him to give testimony in mitigation. Mr. B. replied, that he
must go on and prove the assertions to be true, if he could.
Mr. Cockefair, recalled.—The witness was asked
if he waited on Mr. C. in relation to the clothes, but Mr. Bra-
dy would not allow the answer unless Mr. W. would attempt
to prove, within the legal rules of evidence, that Mr. C. had
stolen them. The witness was withdrawn, and the case, on
both sides, rested. Justice Taylor and a number of Police of-
ficers in attendance as witnesses, not having been called.
Mr. Wilson then summed up on the part of de-
fendant, and was replied to by Mr. Brady.
The Court charged that in a case of Slander the defendant is
permitted to plead truth in justification, but in order to do so he
must give notice to the plaintiff of such intention. If he fails
to give such notice, he cannot, either by positive proof or by in-
sinuation, attempt a justification. A defendant, however, is at
liberty to present before a jury the character of a plaintiff, to
show whether that character is valuable to him, or has been
thrown away by his own acts, and is worthless. So a plaintiff
is at liberty to present evidence of his own good character, so
that the damages may be considered in relation thereto.—
There are two direct charges in this case, either of
which, if proved, is sufficient to sustain the action; and from
the testimony of the first witness it must be considered that
they have been proved, and that the words charged were
spoken. Had the defendant stated that Mr. Crommelin had
been arrested, he would have been enabled to give proof of
such arrest, and a verdict be rendered in his favor; for how-
ever hard it might be to a plaintiff, the Supreme Court has re-
cently decided that truth must be paramount to all other con-
siderations. As to the present case, the character of Mr.
Crommelin stands before this Court good and unimpeached,
and if the Jury thinks, with the Court, that the words had re-
ally been spoken, they will find such damages as they may see
fit. Verdict this forenoon.
...
———————
A BLESSING TO MANKIND—CONNEL'S MAGICAL PAIN EX-
TRACTOR.—This great healing Salve, is acknowledged by all
who have used it, to be the most wonderful article ever known.
It repels all injuries by fire, extracts all pain and prevents
mortification in every case. It will cure any of the following
complaints, or pay is refused for it.
Burns, Old Sores, Erysipelas,
Scalds, Bruises, Chaps,
Salt Rheum, Scrofula, Wounds,
Eruptions, Sore Eyes, Piles,
Chilbains, Cold in Wounds, Tender Feet, &c.
Sold only in this city at 21 Courtlandt street.
———————
CERTAIN RELIEF FOR DEAF PERSONS.—The numerous tes-
timonies we are daily receiving of the efficacy of Dr. McNair's
Acoustic Oil in curing deafness renders it worthy of the no-
tice of all who are thus afflicted. Mr. William Hayden of
Middletown, Conn. reports that two bottles of this oil effect-
ually cured him of deafness of several years' standing—he
could scarcely hear any sounds distinctly, but the oil produced
the desired effects. A son of Mr. Feltus of Newburgh was
cured of deafness of some months' standing, after suffering pain
for a long time. A man in Philadelphia was cured of deaf-
ness of fifteen years' standing by one bottle of this oil. Now
these are facts which cannot be doubted. Sold at 21 Court-
landt street, and at 189 Fulton street, Brooklyn. Price $1 per
flask.
———————
KEEP YOUR FEET DRY THIS WET WEATHER—The finest
thing we ever saw for keeping feet dry, is the oil of Tannin,
which renders boots and shoes perfectly watertight; also makes
the leather soft and pliable, and doubles the wear. For har-
ness and carriage tops, nothing can equal it. To be had at 21
Courtland street.
———————
FEMALE BEAUTY—THE HAIR.—How frequently do the
ravages of disease lay waste the delicate forms of the fair and
beautiful; and though restored again to health, yet these flow-
ing locks that once adorned their heads fall off and never
again return to their original beauty! It is inconceivable how
any person—more especially a lady—can manifest so much
neglect on this point, when a never failing remedy can be ob-
tained in the genuine Oldridge's Balm of Columbia, from 21
Courtland street, which will perfectly restore this only neg-
lected part of female ornament. What is a dollar to complete
the crowning point of female beauty?
[Col.3]
☞ Give us more Light!—The greatest and most
exquisitely afflicting calamity that can possibly befal a person
of refined taste, and who has a capacity for enjoying all the
glorious sights in this beautiful world, is a disease of the eyes.
The world itself would offer little satisfaction to the poor unfor-
tunate suddenly deprived of sight; and even love and friendship
lose one half their sweetness when the object of endearment or
affection can no longer be grasped by those delicate fingers of
light which the soul puts out through the eyes to embrace what-
ever she holds dear. The blind! the dark! the dimly-seeing!
how keen the commiseration their unhappy lot inspires! Is it
not, then, something to be happy about that there has been
discovered a Balsam that will cure—absolutely and effectually
cure—weak, sore, and inflamed eyes, which, unless treated in
time, always increase and generally lead to total blindness! Be
warned in time, an go seek the remedy, while you can yet
see your way.
The Roman Eye Balsam is prepared and sold by A. B.
SANDS & Co. wholesale and retail Chemists and Druggists,
273 Broadway, corner of Chamber-st. Sold also at 79 Fulton-
street, and 77 East Broadway. Price 25 cents.
———————
☞ Best Swedish Leeches at 12½ cts. apiece,
just received and for sale at DELLUC & DUPUY'S, succes-
sors to Place & Souillard. No. 2 Park Row and 581 Broadway,
New-York. Also on hand, a new supply of Dupuy's cele-
brated flexible IVORY PATENT NURSE, for infants' use;
Nipple and Breast Shields, and Papillary Jelly for sore breast;
for sale as above, wholesale and retail. o26 3taw3mis*
================================================================
[Col.1]
☞ FAIRY LAND, AND OTHER SKETCHES FOR
YOUTH, by the author of Peter Parley's Tales,
...
———————
LESSON OF A PEACH SKIN.—We once saw a
young lady, (and a beautiful young lady she was,
too,) step out of her way upon the side-walk in
Broadway to do what the Cincinnati Quaker did, as
mentioned in a paragraph in Saturday's Tribune—
namely, to brush from the walk a piece of orange-
peel, upon which a gentleman, walking before her,
had nearly slipped down. It was a thoughtful, wo-
manly act, “and we blessed her unaware” for it.—
“A bit of peach-skin or orange-peel upon the side-
walk would seem to be a very trifling matter,” said
a friend, on reading the paragraph to which we have
referred; “but it may prove of very serious conse-
quence. I was walking down Broadway,” said he,
“one bright June morning, when I met a young
friend whom I had not seen before for a couple of
months, walking with some difficulty between two
other friends. He stopped me to exchange saluta-
tions, and I was at once struck with the change in
his appearance. You seem ill, H——,” said I;
“what has been the matter?” “Haven't you heard
of my accident?” said he. “Not a word.” He
opened his frock-coat, and exposed to view the cause
of all his suffering. “Two months ago,” said he,
“I was walking along in the street when I stepped
upon a piece of orange-peel, slid forward suddenly,
and fell. I experienced a dreadful wrench of my
limbs, and the next day a soft substance began to
exude from the upper join of the thigh-bone. It
was a source of great annoyance, but not of serious
apprehension, until at length the substance began to
ossify, which it has continued to do until it has
reached the size you see.” (The mass, judging from
its apparent size, must have been eight or ten inches
in circumference.) “I am going,” said he, “to have
an operation performed for its removal to-morrow,
with every hope of complete success.” I expressed
a fervent hope that his expectations might be real-
ized. Two days after, passing his store in Broad-
way, near Courtlandt-street, I saw the shutters
were up, and that there was a note wafered upon the
door: “In consequence of the death of Mr. H——,
this store is closed until Monday.” The young
husband and father had died under a surgical opera-
tion—a victim to a piece of orange-peel, thought-
lessly thrown upon the side-walk.
[Col.2]
☞ Mr. E. P. PAGE, a gentleman who is ha-
bitually too hard for us, insists that there is deep
meaning in the following, though unlucky too
deep for our gross vision. We publish it, at his
request, for the benefit of our more clear-sighted
readers.
PAGE'S ENIGMA.
May I not exclaim, Ureka!——Nearly as the
diameter 113 to the circle of the Hebrew year's
355 days, or years, that meet Enoch's age 365 in
their mean, a circle's 360 when Christ was born,
whose age, 12 in the Temple, is Jupiter's day, and
30 when he preached, is Saturn's day, that 12
times 30 may be imaged by Eneas's white sow on
Alba, with 12 teats and 30 sucking pigs for days
to a month, one kind of Hindoo year consisting of
12 days:—so the space and time (a mile to a
year) between Christ's two advents is the diame-
ter of a circle that I can prove to be one of four
seasons to the Platonical great year of years for
the final restitution of all things. This year
commenced at creation's date.
Christians must now seek to quadrate the cir-
cle, that to wisdoom may be Wisdom when they
christen Christendom.
Analogous to puzzlepate is my name,
EDWARD POSTLETHWAYT PAGE,
No. 252 Spring-street.
New-York, Dec. 1st. 1844.
———————
...
SUICIDE FROM MILLERISM.—A Mrs. Brown, of
Burrillville, (R. I.) committed suicide on Thursday
evening last, by cutting her throat with a razor.—
She was a firm believer in the Miller doctrine, and
since the 22d of October has been very gloomy and
melancholy.
[Col.3]
Court of Common Pleas.
Before Judge DALY.
THE CASE OF CROMMELIN.
Alfred Crommelin vs. Jacob La Forge.—Action
for Slander, damages laid at $10,000—(already referred to.)—
Verdict for plaintiff, $100.
...
———————
RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE IN PARAGUAY.—When Dr.
...unmarried men, or
married women, or women who had never been mar-
ried, not being allowed to vote!...
———————
ESCAPING FROM SLAVERY.—The Abolitionists of
Illinois have established a spirited organization for
rendering assistance to absconding Slaves...
———————
ANECDOTE OF A NUT—In Mr. Waterton's Essays
there is a remarkable statement of a nut deposited
for winter by some nut-eating animal under an old
millstone which lay in a field, springing up through
the central aperture, and Mr. Waterton goes on to
say—“In order, however, that the plant might have
a fair chance of soccess, I directed that it should be
defended from accident and harm by means of a
wooden paling. Year after year it increased in size
and beauty; and when its expansion had entirely
filled the hole in the center of the millstone, it grad-
ually began to raise up the millstone itself from the
seat of its long repose. This huge mass of stone is
now eight inches above the ground, and is entirely
supported by the stem of the nut-tree, which has
risen to the hight of twenty-five feet, and bears ex-
cellent fruit.
...
———————
The Weather.
Snow began to fall about noon, Thursday, and it
...
[Boston, Nov. 29.
Ice made very rapidly in our harbor on Monday
...
[Bangor, Nov. 26.
IT'S NOTHING WHEN YOU ARE USED TO IT.—The
last three days would have answered for mid-winter.
The thermometer has ranged only 10° to 20° above
zero and a piercing wind from the north west and
north east, and back again, has sifted snow enough
upon us to make passable sleighing. The canal
has closed without warning, catching no ordinary
amount of things in transit. [Utica, Nov. 29.
[Col.4]
SHOCKING.—Yesterday, as a gentleman from
New-York was passing along York-street toward
the Navy Yard, he gave a slight kick to one of
several dogs collected on the sidewalk so as to
impede his progress. The dog kicked—a bull
terrier—instantly seized the gentleman's leg, and
maintained his grip with a tenacity that for a
time defied all attempts to lose it. But what
was most surprising, the gentleman to whom the
canine appendage was attached uttered no cry of
pain nor gave evidence that he felt any, while
the persons collected about him seemed horror-
struck. The dog was beat, kicked, pinched, and
punished in every imaginable way, but still he
refused to release his hold. At last one of the
bystanders pulled out a knife and proposed to cut
the dog's throat, but to this the gentleman object-
ed, and earnestly forbade it. Finally the gentle-
man thrust his hand into his pocket, pulled out a
snuff-box and emptied the contents into the eyes
and nose of the dog. The effect was miraculous.
He instantly released his hold and ran off, howl-
ing and sneezing at a tremendous rate, striking
against every object that lay in his course. With-
out remark or complaint the gentleman limped
away, evidently much injured. A philanthropic
bystander followed to induce him to hasten to the
nearest physician. “Physician be d—d,” petu-
lantly exclaimed the gentleman—“Show me to
a cork leg manufacturer!”
[Brooklyn Daily Adv.
———————
DON'T GET MARRIED IN FUN.—The Supreme
Court of Alabama has decided that marriage, being
a civil contract, is valid where the persons united de-
clare their intention to be husband and wife in a for-
mal manner, in the presence of witnesses, even
though no marriage license has been obtained, nor
the usual ceremony administered by an authorized
person. This will open the eyes of those who
sometimes in levity undergo a mock ceremony of
marriage.
[Col.2]
Association for the Benefit of Prisoners.
The inhumanity of Government, as too often
exhibited in its treatment of those whom it im-
prisons for crime, has long been a theme of pain-
ful interest to philanthropic and thoughtful minds.
The criminal after being incarcerated is fre-
quently, if not generally, left to his fate, without
the benefit of that sympathy for which, as an
erring, it may be a fallen man, he still has a
claim on his more fortunate fellow beings; and
when at length the term of his imprisonment
expires, instead of being taken kindly by the hand
and encouraged to struggle manfully and hope-
fully against the ills of life, he is met with
scorn, it may be often with bitter revilings and
curses. Who can wonder that under such in-
fluences his last state is worse than the first, and
that in the course of a few weeks or months he
goes back again to the prison with a heart hard-
ened to desperation by what he feels to be the
inhumanity of his fellow men?
On this subject we could write much, but for
the present we forbear. We took the pen simply
for the purpose of expressing the gratification we
have felt on being informed that measures are in
progress under highly favorable auspices for the
formation of a Society whose object will be to
promote the highest welfare of the inmates of our
prisons, and to provide for them homes and em-
ployment when they are set at liberty. Foremost
in this work of philanthropy we are glad to find
some of our most distinguished citizens, whose
cooperation can hardly fail to secure for it the
highest degree of success. Among them we
may mention Theodore Frelinghuysen, Judge
Kent, Mayor Harper, B. F. Butler, W. H. Chan-
ning, Judge Ulshoeffer, Vice Chancellor Sand-
ford, Professor Telkampf, Isaac T. Hopper, the
well known Quaker philanthropist, and J. W.
Edmonds, Chairman of the Board of Inspectors
of the Mount Pleasant Prison.
It affords us heartfelt pleasure to learn that a
public meeting to consummate the organization
of the Society referred to, will be held on Friday
evening at the Apollo, when addresses will be
made by eloquent speakers. We trust that a
large number of our citizens will be induced to
attend. Above all we invoke the presence of
philanthropic women, assuring them that state-
ments will be made respecting the condition of
the female prisoners at Sing Sing and elsewhere,
of a character which cannot fail to awaken their
deepest sympathies.
[Col.5]
Indecent Behaviour and Assault.—A man named
Nicholas Purtain was arrested and fined $10 for indecent beha-
viour to the widow Parker, No. 149 Christopher street, and her
friend Mrs. Catharine Cornell; he entered the room, and after
conducting himself improperly, assaulted the female Cornell.
He is committed to prison in default of bail.
[Col.7]
TRAVELERS IMPOSED UPON.—Some impostor in
New-York is doing a lucrative business in collecting
fare from passengers, and agreeing to send them to
Buffalo by canal. A party of nine persons arrived
in this city yesterday, who had been fleeced out of
$6 each, in the above manner. [Alb. Atlas, Friday.
================================================================
[Col.1]
TRANSLATIONS FOR THE NEW-YORK TRIBUNE
———
Gaming in Paris—The Modern Greeks.
[From the Courrier des Etats Unis.] PARIS, 2d April.
The approach of Summer has it usual influence
on the gay world; there are fewer balls. But,
though they dance less, they do not at all abate in
the passion for play.
Dancing is only a pleasure, gambling a passion,
and a passion which is never extinguished and
whose consuming fire circulates incessantly in the
veins of society, seeming from time to time to be
calmed or go to sleep only to revive with a more
terrible ardor. We are now at one of these epochs
of revival. They play now at Paris, as they have
not since the Directory, when Society took up
cards again after the harassing excitements of the
Revolution. The fever of industrial speculations
naturally brings on such a crisis; the air of the
Bourse is contagious and penetrates every where,
loaded with corrupt miasma; from this centre are
disengaged certain intoxicating fluids which trouble
the reason, cause vertigo and produce a sort of hal-
lucination which seems to place fortune within the
reach of every one; then all strive to engage in
these fertile and prompt chances which may bring
riches without making one wait. Play becomes a
devotion, a fury, a fanaticism. To satisfy the thirst
it had excited, the scheme of Law required the aid
of Faro; so our present speculations end in Lans-
quenet.
How many disasters have happened during the
gay meetings of the winter, while the Mazurka hid
with the clatter of its spurs the sound of the gold
rolling upon the gaming-tables. They play every
where, and at all rates, in spite of the vigilance
that tries to moderate these mad struggles. Occa-
sions seemingly the most innocent serve as a pre-
text for these ruinous engagements. Some restau-
rants, perfectly furnished and brilliantly patron-
ized, had become real gaming-houses, after din-
ner, often after breakfast even, the guests ordered
cards in private cabinets, and then spent all the
day, all the night in gaming; often these struggles
have been prolonged thirty-six hours in succession,
without truce or repose, for those who have ac-
quired this taste can dispense with sleep. Now a
regulation interdicts cards to the restaurateurs, but
this is a vain obstacle, which annoys the players
but cannot stop play. The fight continues; though
the ground must be changed.
To some, play is a recreation, but to others a
profession. The Millionaire, after the grand war
on Exchange during the day, refreshes himself at
night by such skirmishes. The young man risks
on a card his income for the year. The Poor play
as if they were rich; the Rich as if they were poor.
These are the dupes round whom buzzes the swarm
of sharpers.
These gentlemen are entitled Greeks. Why this
surname is given to them, to the injury of the land
which produced Sophocles, Leonidas and Aristides,
we know not, but find ourselves compelled to ac-
cept the usage for convenience' sake.
The Parisian Greek is usually a man from twenty-
five to thirty years of age, of an elegant appearance
and good manners. He dresses with taste and wears
handsome jewels. His whole establishment is that
of a rich man, though all this revenue is gathered in
at evening parties. He talks often of his property,
his estates, but these consist of a field two feet
square, on whose green carpet he sows gold to reap
bank notes. By his easy air and lordly ways you
would suppose him the scion of an aristocratic
stock, but he was, more probably, born in some
porter's lodge. But education has formed him;
study has unfolded his natural dispositions; he has
begun by giving himself the airs of a dandy to
get means for keeping up the profession. Once
launched in the world, the handsome envelope
suffices to secure him a good reception, and win
the privileges of familiar intercourse in many
houses; for how is it possible to distrust a young
man who presents himself so gracefully? What
could be demanded that he does not possess? His
coats are exquisitely made; a fine diamond sparkles
in the knot of his cravat; his hair is well arranged;
but, above all, his hands are well taken care of; his
nails are kept very long, because this is not only
fashionable, but peculiarly useful to him; a little
stroke with the nail adroitly given to the back of a
card aids in recognizing on its passage the myste-
rious ace, and the kings who turn their backs.
There is also the Greek of maturer age, of from
forty-five to fifty years. He is less elegant, less the
petit-maitre, but he has other means of success.—
He wears thick moustaches and several crosses;
he has served in the army; he is very brave, and
an admirable shot, a talent which imposes respect
and helps him to make acquaintance. They go
out to shoot, the wager is in champagne at first.—
Conqueror with the pistol, the chevalier offers a
revenge with the cards, of which he has in his
pocket a pack made in a particular manner. They
accept, and if there is any hesitation on the part of
the victim to pay for what results, the pistole
come in play again.
You ask if these things pass only with closed
doors, in the secret haunts of Hazard. No! but in
the most fashionable circles, of which the young
Greek is the admired dandy, and to which the old
Greek is admitted on the score of his crosses and
his title of Baron.
Few saloons are free from the invasions of some
young Athenian or Spartan, but sometimes these
heroes are caught in flagrant deliet. Lately a
young unknown presented himself at the evening
party of a banker. It was very crowded, and he
might not have attracted notice, but for his extra-
ordinary good luck at play. The master of the
house demanded politely who he was. The young
Greek gave his name, a well-sounding name and
elegant as his person.
“I have not had the honor of inviting you,” said
the master of the house.
“True,” replied the graceful youth, “and I beg
you to excuse my indiscretion, but Madame de L.
had proposed to present me. I accepted the invita-
tion, came, but have vainly sought my protectress in
the apartments.”
The name invoked was an ample recommenda-
tion, and chosen with confidence by our adven-
turer, for he had ascertained that the lady meant to
pass the evening elsewhere. The master of the
house was apologizing for his suspicions, when lo!
they announce Me. de L. who had left her other
engagement and came to finish the evening here.
It was a thunderbolt to the young Greek. “No,
éclat, I implore,” cried he. “Take back the mo-
ney, but let me go out quietly.”
So saying he pulls from his pockets two handfulls
of gold and some bank notes which he threw on
the table and had vanished before the spectators
had recovered from their confusion.
Each one retook what had been plundered from
[Col.2]
him, and then fifteen hundred francs were left, for
the Greek, in his trouble, had not confined himself
to an exact payment. The fifteen hundred francs
were given to the poor.
For a long time there figured in fashionable
houses four young men linked together in so strict
an intimacy that they were nicknamed the Four
Sons of Aymon. They were every way charm-
ing; agreeable talkers; excellent musicians; grace-
ful and complaisant dancers; above all good at
play. They were invited every where, and every
where they placed themselves, one at the piano,
one in the dance, a third in conversation, a fourth
at the gaming table, where the four took turns;
though, occasionally, two played at the same time
when a little aid was needed. They did not win
much at once, having modestly fixed the profits of
their united labor at five hundred francs a night.—
Thus they lived several years, and when accident
discovered how, there was stupor, indeed, in the
fashionable world.
* * * * *
Rubini has bid farewell to the scene he so long
adorned; it was a grand occasion.
Thiers presented a copy of his book to M. Gui-
zot. The sensation produced by this publication
does not abate; they call it a revolution—an era.
—————
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE OF THE TRIBUNE.
—————
The New Reformation in Germany.
LETTER No. I.—The Holy Tunic of Treves....Its Early
...
diction of the Pilgrims... Miraculous Cure of the Coun-
tess of Droste-Vischerung.
...
In the first place they refer to a tradition that the
Empress Helena, after her journey into the Holy
Land, about the close of the fourth century, came
by means unknown in possession of the “holy
unsewed Tunic” of Christ, which she presented to
the Cathedral of Treves; the city being at that
time the seat of the Roman government in Ger-
many. It appears, however, that this is only a tra-
dition, for the writer speaking of it, says: “It is
not only possible, but rather probable, and indeed
highly probable, that Helena found the sacred gar-
ment—the coat of the Saviour—in the Holy Land,
and brought it thither; therefore we are reasonably
compelled, without the clearest proofs to the con-
trary, to believe that Christendom is still in posses-
sion of the holy relic.” There seems, however,
to have been no knowledge or account of the tunic
till the year 1196, when the existence of it is said
to have been made known by a letter of the Em-
peror Frederic I. to the Archbishop of Treves, in
which he stated that the church of that place was
in possession of the relic. On this point the pamph-
let before me contains the following singular para-
graph:
...
[Col.3]
By the 1st of September, 250,000 pilgrims had
passed through the Cathedral. Three hundred pris-
oners were taken from the House of Correction in
a body, accompanied by guards to see it. If these
men were absolved from sin by their offering, why
were they again incarcerated? About this time
another event occurred, which for a while tended
still more to increase the flame of fanaticism. A
young lady, the Countess of Droste-Vischerung,
having suffered some years from an affection of the
limbs which rendered her unable to walk, after two
or three seasons ineffectually spent at the baths,
came at last to Treves. Having been taken to the
Cathedral, she prostrated herself before the tunic,
touched it and prayed. To the surprise of the by-
standers, she made a sudden effort, stood up, and
was able to walk, though with much pain. This
was looked upon as a direct miracle, worked by
the miraculous powers of the holy garment. Her
crutches were hung up in the Cathedral beside it,
...
This statement, however, did not appear till after
the time for exhibiting the tunic had expired, and
the many exaggerated accounts of the wonder du-
ring the time, induced many sick and disabled per-
sons to go to unavailing trouble and expense, in the
hope of obtaining a similar marvelous relief. T.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1845
[Col.2. Partly from American Review. May 1, 1845 +1]
'The Mystery of Iniquity.'
Such is the title of the leading paper in this
month's American Review, commencing a history
of the stupendous Election Frauds of 1841, which
contributed so largely to the deplorable result of
the Presidential Election. This article is from the
pen of one who has made himself thoroughly ac-
quainted with the subject, and whose revelations
will arrest the public attention. We must forbear
comment to make room for the following extract:
“Within a circle of three miles' radius, on and around
the Island of Manhattan, may now be found nearly half a
million of people. Very few of these know anything of the
characters, pursuits or relations of their fellow-citizens.—
Society is here completely divided into classes, arranged
generally according to occupations, separated from each
other by distinctions of property, of employment, of associ-
ation and habit. BUSINESS is the one great word which
fully expresses the main object and leading idea of the com-
munity. It characterizes the mass, and gives the city all
its greatness, fame, wealth and power. Absorbed in the
pursuit of gain, the vast majority of the people are ever
sedulously practicing the familiar precept, that “every man
should mind his own business, and let other mind theirs.”
The comparatively few who are devoted to pleasure and
fashion exclusively, to mere expenditure without acquisi-
tion, constitute no distinct class here, and give character to
no class in society. As far as wealth furnishes title to dis-
tinction, and justifies high claims to rank and influence, it
is from resources increasing by thrift, not stationary by free
use, or diminishing by extravagance. The richest here
are still laboriously accumulating new riches by active
“business.” No withdrawal from the pursuits in which
their property was obtained could add to their dignity or
share of public respect, any more than it could to their hap-
piness. This few idlers who “live upon their means” are
not tolerated, not honored, among their more active asso-
ciates, who rejoice in daily augmentation of affluence.
“From the jurist, the professor, the divine, the banker,
and the lord of a square mile of buildings, or of a score of
floating palaces, to the industrious day laborer, whose hand
hews or places the materials of the structures of wealth and
pride, all conditions of men are here alike in purpose, and
regard none as ranking above them because exempt from
the wish or need of gain. Such are the mass of society—
such is simplicity and unity of purpose, in patient, hopeful
industry, in devotion to business, and in harmony of feeling
and action. They are a very large majority of the perma-
nent residents of the city, and, by natural right, and true
democratic republican principles, should rule it and direct
its power and influence in the government of the State and
Union. But it happens that though they are many, THEY
ARE NOT ALL.
...
“The principles thus formed, suggest and direct a life of
adventure, recklessness, frequent dishonesty, vicious indul-
gence, and unlawful art. They become gamblers, gambling-
house keepers, writers and publishers of obscene and licen-
tious books and papers, sham brokers, 'Tombs-lawyers,'
'straw-bail' men, 'skinners,' 'touchers,' professional per-
jurers, police decoy ducks and 'stool-pigeons,' receivers of
stolen goods, sharpers, impostors, prize-fighters, mock-auc-
tioneers, watch stuffers, pocket-book droppers, brothel-
owners and bullies, cock-fighters, dog stealers, street beg-
gars, and so on through innumerable grades and inven-
tions of roguery, down to counterfeiters, pickpockets, incen-
diaries, highway robbers and burglars. The English lan-
guage, originally too poor to express all these abominations
has been enriched by the addition of new terms, coined or
compounded to represent the novelties of crime in the Ame-
rican metropolis.
[Col.3]
...
“The characteristics of these different social classes em-
body the hidden elements of political principle and power—
the secret of American political history. In the class of
the adventurous, the vicious, the desperate, the lawless,
the criminal—is found a unity of feeling and purpose, which
pervades the whole in their moral association, without re-
ference to accidental and often temporary and transient
differences in rank, situation, and means of comfort, plea-
sure or display. Through all these widely variant grades
of villany, from the aristocratic gambler and faro-banker
in Park Place or Vesey-street, down to the copper-tossing
ragged vagrant of Corlaer's Hook, the occasional inmate of
Blackwell's Island and the brothel-bully and “toucher” of
the Five Points or West Broadway, there extends a won-
drous social sympathy, a conscious harmony of purpose
and electric unity of action, not more fearful in aspect than
woful in experiment to the honest, industrious, peaceful
portion of society. Strong in this Masonic fellowship and
secret mutual aid in violation of the public laws and morals,
they fear not to attempt any crime, however startling to
the popular apprehension, and however audacious in its
defiance of municipal agencies of justice. The murder of
the wretched Corlies on the most frequented corner of
Broadway at the most stirring hour of the evening, only
two years ago, was not effected without the deliberate pre-
meditation and cooperation of a large body of this very
class of men, who did not hesitate afterwards publicly to
avow their approval of the crime and their resolution to
screen the perpetrators at all hazards. Similar impunity
has been enjoyed in other cases even more shocking to the
public mind. Who does not know of the horrible case of
the murder of Mary Rogers? Her fate was and is NO
MYSTERY to some. The author of that hideous, horrible,
unnatural butchery of a young and beautiful female was
known then to some officers of justice, and is known now.
Hundreds of criminals of that and minor grades are shel-
tered by the same awful combination of criminal agencies,
and are discharged from actual arrest and imprisonment,
often without form of trial, by collusions of judicial as well
as executive agents in league with the secret community
of bloody and fraud. They stand to one purpose, and
stand by each other in its accomplishment.
“With such traits, connections and powers, this class
become, in political movements, the lords of the land, the
controllers of government, the arbiters of the common-
wealth's destin. That they can be such is evident—that
they have been and are such, will be shown.”
[Col.4]
Capital Punishment.
A meeting of the New-York Society for the
Abolition of Capital Punishment, was held last
evening at the Lyceum of Natural History,
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
The Law of Libel and the Liberty of the
Press.
Owing to the absence of our Reporter at the
opening of Gov. SEWARD'S argument in the Libel
case of Cooper vs. The Tribune, our report of that
argument is less perfect than we intended to have
it, and we note especially the omission of one re-
markable case cited and commented on by Gov. S.
—that of Grimwood vs. Parson Prit—on English
adjudication. Parson Prit was preaching a Sermon
on the Judgments of God, and, among other in-
stances, cited one from Fox's Book of Martyrs,
wherein Fox had asserted that one Grimwood,
having given perjured testimony against certain
Protestants, during a Catholic persecution, where-
by they were doomed to death, was himself struck
dead by a visitation of God.—It turned out that
this statement of Fox was erroneous, and that
Grimwood was still alive and one of the hearers of
Parson Prit's Sermon—whereupon he brought his
action for Libel. The Court ruled that there was
no cause of action—the Parson having uttered the
false and injurious imputations without malice or
evil purpose, and in the honest discharge of his duty.
This case illustrates strikingly and fully the gene-
ral doctrine of law and of common sense with re-
gard to the Rights and Immunities of Editors, the
...
[Col.3]
THE CHEROKEES.—“I have lived for thirty years
among the Cherokees and never saw the like,” were
the words used a few days since by a citizen, while speak-
ing of the spirit of industry that actuates the people, and
the energy that they evince in enlarging their fields, plow-
ing their grounds, and sowing their seeds. It is, indeed gra-
tifying to hear such testimony of the industry that pervades
the great mass of the people. It is sure indication that,
with propitious seasons, large and abundant crops of corn,
oats, potatoes, and the different vegetables will be grown
and laid in store by them for the present and ensuing years.
To those who are thus engaged, we say, go ahead; your la-
bors will meet ample reward in the peace and contentment
that crown the days and nights of the laboring man, and
in the bounteous supplies of the necessaries and comforts
of life that will cluster around you. And to those who idle
away their time, and live upon the substance earned by the
sweat of their countrymen's brows, we say, follow their
example, work for the bread that sustain your lives, and
free the industrious from the heavy tax that your laziness
annually imposes upon them. [Cherokee Advo. Ap. 24.
[Col.6]
DOINGS IN OUR COURTS ON SATURDAY.
...
Alfred Crommelin vs. Jacob La Forge.—This was an ac-
tion for slander, in relation to the Mary Rogers affair.—
The plaintiff having obtained a verdict in his favor for
$100, the defendant moved for a new trial, because, among
other things, the Judge excluded certain evidence in miti-
gation. The plaintiff, at the trial, offered to allow any of
the evidence, if offered in justification, but resisted it as in-
competent in mitigation. The defendant disclamed justifi-
cation. Verdict confirmed with costs.
================================================================
[Col.3]
AGRIPPA HULL.—In the village of Stockbridge,
Mass. lives a black man by the name of Agrippa
Hull, who served in the Revolutionary war. At
the close of it he was honorably discharged, in tes-
timony of which he shows a certificate signed by
General Washington. He was for some years the
servant of General Kosciusko, of whose generous
and humane character he speaks with love and ad-
miration.
Agrippa has an uncommonly fine head, and is re-
markable for his excellent understanding and good
character. By his industry he has become pos-
sessed of a valuable farm, which, at the age of 76,
he cultivates himself. He is eminent for his piety,
and those who have heard him speak at conference
meeting, which he is in the habit of attending with
his white neighbors, say that in prayer he is distin-
guished for fervor and eloquence, and peculiar origi-
nality and richness of language.
The acuteness and wisdom of his views upon most
subjects, and the wit and force of his illustrations,
make his conversation so impressive that you re-
member what he has said long after you have parted
from him. During an interview of perhaps half an
hour, I was so struck with his remarks, that as soon
as he left me I wrote down his very words without
any alteration or embellishment.
When I expressed to Agrippa my opinion upon
the subject of prejudice against color, he said,
“When there is a flock of sheep, and some black ones
among them, I always think that if they behave well,
they have as good a right to be fed as the white ones.
God will not ask what is our color, but what has been
our conduct. The Almighty made all colors. If we find
fault with the work, we find fault with the Workman.
His works are all good. It is not the cover of the book,
but what the book contains is the question. Many a
good book has dark covers. Which is the worst, the
white black man, or the black white man?”
“When a white man says any hard thing to me about
my color, I tell him I pity him; and I ask him which is
the worst, to be black outside or in. When a black man
is treated ill by a white man, and he bears it patiently,
and only pities him, I think that he has a chance to take a
very high place over the white man.”
“Once,” said Agrippa, “when I was a servant to a
gentleman who was very overbearing and haughty, we
both went to the same church. On Sunday a mulatto
gentleman by the name of Haynes preached. When
we came out of meeting my master said to me. 'Well
Agrippa, how do you like nigger preaching?'”
“Sir,” I answered, “he was half black and half white;
I liked my half, how did you like yours?”
Upon the assertion that the slaveholders cannot
abolish slavery, Agrippa said,
“No one can say he is obliged to do wrong. When
the drunkard says he cannot live without spirits, I tell
him to take temperate things for a while and see if he is
not better. It is his will that is in fault. There is no
necessity to do wrong. God never makes us do wrong.”
He put his hand upon a little boy's head and said,
“I love children; I love to see them brought up.
It is a good thing to feed the minds of children.”
When speaking of the abolitionists, he said,
“It may be a great while before the Abolitionists can
succeed in their purpose; but they will do great good to
the black men, by inducing them to keep down their
bad feelings, knowing that help will come at last. The
Abolitionists have the great happiness of working for a
cause in which they know that they have God on their
side.”
In a cause, the merit of which depends upon the
question whether the black man is a man, no further
testimony is needed than the remarks of Agrippa;
and what greater encouragement can the Aboli-
tionists desire than that contained in his words,
“God is on their side.” MRS. FOLLEN.
[Col.4]
Radicalism.
Simply speaking, Radicalism is that which goes
to the root of things,—and is, therefore, necessary
to all thorough reform or investigation. It is the
opposite of superficial-ism. Without it no man ever
attains to any thing great, morally or intellectually.
It is the corner stone of all true reform, of all true
character. He who is afraid of it is a coward, he
who persecutes it is a bigot, he who despises it is a
fool. I write now of Radicalism in its simplest
sense, and according to its literal meaning.
But there is a Radicalism, so called, which is as
great a nuisance as genuine Radicalism is a virtue,
—a Radicalism which is as destitute of reason as it
is of principle, and is as devoid of both as a hen is
of teeth.—And perhaps there is no place of its size,
where there is more of this Radicalism than in Lynn.
Let us examine it, therefore, somewhat closely,—
and endeavor, in obedience to an old maxim, to give
it “its due.”
This false Radicalism to which I allude is a loud
talking, boastful, braggart sort of a thing, destitute
of all religion, all reverence, all decency, all clean-
liness, all refinement, all delicacy, all honesty, all
honor, and all love—and is therefore repulsive to
every person of the least elevation of soul, and is
in harmony only with beasts and reptiles. Its prin-
ciples are “loaves,” and its priests are loafers. It
has a filthy mouth, and a filthy taste—and outwardly
and inwardly is full of all uncleanness. It is a com-
bination of envy, jealousy, prejudice, ignorance,
sensualism, brutality, indolence, and spleen. It hates
every thing better than itself, and therefore has no
need of social affection,—which principle, indeed,
has no part in its composition. It is full of partiality
and hypocrisy, and to the one idea, or fragment of
an idea, to which it clings most tenaciously, is wil-
ling to sacrifice the whole decalogue, and all who
have any respect for it. It has volumes to say about
elevating the people, while by its every hour's ex-
ample it is leading them into the deepest degradation.
It is fond of the lowest and most disgusting amuse-
ments, and turns up its nose at any thing polished
or elegant with an instinct worthy of its parent sty.
Under its auspices rowdyism flourishes like a bed
of weeds,—and grossness, vulgarity, and bad man-
ners find in it their most vigorous nourishment. In
fact, to use a comparison somewhat in keeping
with the subject—it serves as manure to every low
and degrading vice in the community.
I devote a little space to the exposure of this sort
of Radicalism, because it is stupidly, and sometimes
viciously, confounded with that true and whole-
some Radicalism which is the vital energy of every
progressive soul, and because it frequently rears
up its hideous front in the reform field, and by
its loud braying, forces to itself a large degree of
attention, and passes itself off upon ignorant and
short sighted people, as the head and front of the
radical movement.
This false Radicalism is as destitute of the spirit
of reform, as a hyena is of love, or as carrion is of
sweetness. Wherever it sees cleanliness, and re-
finement, and beauty, or discovers any attempt to
realize them,—it sees a mark for its coarse ridicule
and its nauseous criticism. Whoever will not be
“hail fellow! well met!” with it—is looked upon
as a tyrant or an aristocrat,—while the man whose
natural distaste for the filthy and obscene leads him
to shun it as he would a pestilence, is pounced
upon forthwith as an enemy of the dear people. A
clean shirt is enough to excite its wrath at any
time—and the slightest polish on the boot will set it
raving in an instant. It hates water like the mad
dog which is its appropriate type and emblem;—and
for pure air and the fragrance of green fields has a
democratic contempt which is nourished to its fullest
extent on tobacco smoke and snuff. Its raiment is
the filth which is constantly generating from its
unwashed skin; its vernacular, impertinence and
brutality; its home, the heart of the lazy, and li-
centious.
I have thus given a tame and insufficient picture
of a type of Radicalism whose brawes and broils
are becoming daily more frequent, and whose
character ought long since to have been sketched by
a more bold and glowing pencil. And yet, faint as
is my representation, infinitely short as it is of what
might be truthfully said, I am certain the picture
will be quickly recognized by all except the im-
bruted and blear-eyed original.
A few words more and I have done. This Ra-
dicalism which I have been exposing to public view,
will, without doubt, be frequently found complain-
ing of real evils and advocating substantial truths—
just as the Devil is said at times, to be a preacher
of Scripture. It will come, too, frequently with a
fair sounding name,—such as the “hard handed re-
former,” “the friend of the people,” “the Demo-
crat,” &c. &c. But any one with half an eye, and
that but half open, must see at a glance that a thing
so utterly deficient in all the elements of true great-
ness, can never do any thing for the human race,
which the human race would not be infinitely better
without. [Lynn Pioneer.
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday, November 7, 1845
[Col.2]
THE SPIRIT OF NATIVISM.—One of the most
urgent doctrines of the Editor of the Philadelphia Sun,
from which paper we clip the annexed paragraph, has
been, we have always supposed, to insure the success of
his arguments by persuasion, rather than force—to coax
those against whom his words are directed, rather than
browbeat them into any measures of his own or his par-
ty's conceiving. And yet, we question if any thing could
be devised to excite a feeling of inextinguishable antipa-
thy towards ourselves and our National institutions, more
certain in its results than this. It is by argument, and
not by violence, that great designs can be accomplished.
The Sun is too scorching by far:
“The surges of the old world beat around us, amidst
the yells of traitors, and the shouts of a Repeal rabble, who
send their tribute money to strengthen the bands of our
royal foes in the old world, but the stout hearts and
brawny arms of Native Americans, bid defiance to all the
blasts that monarchy can blow.”
[Col.4]
THE IVORY STATUE OF CHRIST.—Our readers
will see by an advertisement in to-day's paper that the
Ivory Crucifix has been removed to a lower and more
suitable room in the same building, (247 Broadway) and
that the exhibition will soon close.
☞ REV. DR. JUDSON, Missionary from Burmah,
will be present—so says the Christian Reflector—at the
special meeting of the Baptist Convention in this City
the last of this present month. He is now on a visit to
the Western part of this State. There are many here
beside the Baptists who will be glad to take him by the
hand.
...
☞ The sailor Viola, who was stabbed on Sun-
day by a boy in Dover-street, died yesterday morning,
at the Hospital. Three boys are in custody, of the gang
among whom Viola received his wound.
...
☞ Mr. Van Dam, a grocer, residing at 121 Wash-
ington-street, left his home yesterday afternoon about 4
o'clock, and has not since been heard of. He had with
him between two and three hundred dollars in money.
His family and friends are in great distress concerning
him, as they fear he has met with foul play.
[Col.7]
A White Woman among Indians.
We have frequently read in novels passages of a
nature corresponding with the subjoined extract, but it is
rare that such incidents occur to mar the unvaried same-
ness of every-day life. Upward of eighty years ago a gen-
tleman emigrated with his family from Pennsylvania,
...
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday, November 7, 1845
[Col.5]
INFAMOUS AUDACITY OF THIEVES.
T HE NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE, published at 27
Centre-st. New-York, will on Saturday, Nov. 8th, con-
tain among other interesting articles, the lives of James and
Charley Webb—the latter the most ingenious forger and
burglar that ever visited the United States. His life is full
of startling incident and infamy.
List of Wealthy Thieves and Pickpockets residing in
New-York.
...
Supposed manner of the murder of Mary C. Rogers, by
Abortionists Restell, Costello and Madame Bird.
Surprising exposition of the Baltimore Mystery, with de-
velopments relative to Schleissinger and his mistress, and
their recent escape from justice.
...
War among the “Dodseys,”—Scuffle between the wives
of George Potter, Bob Pinkerton and Jack Gibson.
...
================================================================
[Col.1]
THE BALTIMORE MYSTERY.—In our paper
of the 25th ultimo, the following article was
published:
“We gave in our last week's number a full account
of all the proceedings which were had in Baltimore in
the case of Amelia Switzer, alias Klutz, the supposed
accomplice of a man suspected of having picked the
pocket of a passenger on board the train of cars run-
ning between York and Baltimore. Our readers will
recollect the two arrests and examinations of this wo-
man, the mysterious letters found in her possession,
her discharge, and the subsequent appearance of her
paramour and parents to outface Justice and the law.
Here, after a few ominous rumors that the injured
parties intended to prosecute all concerned in this as-
sault on their unblemished innocence, closed the play.
The Baltimore papers, awed by these omens of coming
danger, have preserved a perfect silence on the sub-
ject ever since. The drama, however, will be found
worthy of an afterpiece, and in that conviction we
shall beg leave to raise the curtain.
The lady in question is a young adventuress, named
Mademoiselle W., and her paramour, Mr. Schleissin-
ger, is exceedingly well known in this city. Mademoi-
selle has been the frequent travelling companion of
Monsieur, and has doubtless been his accomplice in
many transactions similar to that which developed it-
self so singularly in Baltimore. We hope, therefore,
that the authorities of that city will keep a good look-
out, and not allow them to escape through any ruse
which they may ground on an assumed respectability
of character.
We repeat, there are developments yet to be made
in this business, and we shall endeavor to furnish
them to the public as soon as they evolve. Till then,
'rest, rest, perturbed spirits.'”
We have “rested,” and at length are pre-
pared to make such exposition as the case de-
mands at present. More will follow at a fu-
ture period. This Mr. Schleissinger is known
here as Baruch Schleisinger, from Strasburgh,
France. He there became acquainted with
an old man named Weil, who is the father of
the girl who was with him in Baltimore. Weil
was a travelling salesman, and eventually
formed a partnership with Schleisinger, and,
with his wife and daughter, occupied a part of
the same dwelling in which Schleissinger lived
in Strasburgh.
Through marriage, the latter had ob-
tained much wealth from the estate of his
wife, with which he was conducting business
at the time of the unfortunate connection
with the old man and his family. Soon after,
Schleissinger was suspected of illicit inter-
course with the daughter of Weil, and also
of extensive criminal transactions, which
compelled him to leave France for this coun-
try in company with the old man. About ten
months afterwards, he induced his wife to
leave Paris for New York, where she arrived
with the daughter and wife of Weil. About
six weeks after her arrival, he succeeded in ob-
taining possession of her papers, property, and
money, and then abandoned her and fled with
the daughter of Weil. Since then his wife has
been in his pursuit, and the terror evinced
by him in the rail road cars, and his subse-
quent escape, when suspected by the officers
of picking a pocket, arose from fear that he
was pursued by some one acquainted with his
past crimes. The splendid and costly dresses,
jewelry, &c., found in the trunk that was
searched in Baltimore, was the rightful pro-
perty of his deserted wife, whom he had
abandoned for the girl then in his company.
The contents of the letters we have yet to
disclose.
[Col.2]
Schleissinger has been in business in New
Orleans since his arrival in this country. He
there closed his doors, owing about $80,000,
which his nephew obtained, before a brother
of Schleissinger could seize upon it and di-
vide it between them, as was contemplated.
Schleissinger has probably gone south or
west, in company with his son, his mistress,
and her father and mother. He is a man of
about five feet four inches in height, black
eyes and black hair, middling size, and good
looking; whiskers and hair thin. He speaks
very broken English, and calls himself a
German, to avoid suspicion as to his former
place of residence in France. He is a fugi-
tive from justice, and wherever found should
be arrested and immediate notice sent to the
editors of this paper, who will supply the ne-
cessary evidence to hold him, and also pay a
reasonable reward for services rendered. The
girl with him is about five feet three, stout,
with a rather puggish face, but possessing a
vivacious eye, and an intelligent expression
of countenance. The old man, the father,
is about five feet eight inches in height, short-
necked, full-faced, wears a wig, and has no
teeth.
[Col.4]
WAR AMONG THE “DODSEYS.”—Quite an
eruption has broken out among the domestic
partners of George Potter, Bob Pinkerton,
and Jack Gibson. It appears that the same
amiable familiarity exists between these la-
dies as their lords; but unfortunately through
some freak of jealously, heightened doubtless
by their present misfortunes, the whole three
fell out, at Philadelphia, during the past
week. Caps were torn, blows were given,
faces were scratched, and hair was pulled.
Jack Gibson's woman, it appears, got the
worst of the scuffle, and resolving upon re-
venge, laid a complaint against the other
two, and had them duly arrested and bound
over to answer their offence, and also to
keep the peace of the county for the next six
months. We record the above circumstance,
as it throws some light on the domestic life of
thieves and their connections.
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE. November 8, 1845. p.92
[Col.3]
Supposed manner of the murder of Mary C. Rogers—
Another Victim of Abortionists—Restell, Costello,
and Bird.
New York, Oct. 20th, 1845.
Messrs. Camp & Wilkes,—
While looking at the course of the abortion shops
in this city, has it never struck you that Mary C. Ro-
gers was the victim of one of them? Some time be-
fore she finally disappeared, she left her home, and
was gone a week or ten days. Now, I know, for a
certainty, that at least one half of the patients of these
women are able to go out in that time, then how na-
tural for the mother to hide the fall of her daughter;
and when a second visit was necessary, who more
likely to know or quicker to notice it than the girl's
mother? Suppose that Mary had told her mother
where she had been when she was first missed, and
the mother knowing that when she went out that Sun-
day, Mary was to have an operation again performed,
knowing this, I ask, is not her remark explained, “I
am afraid we, or I, shall never see Mary again”? If
nothing unusual was about to happen, why this re-
mark? And if she was aware of the fact of Mary be-
ing about to have an abortion produced, was it not rea-
sonable to suppose that she, as a mother, was willing
to hide her daughter's shame, yet, fearful of conse-
quences, might make some such remark on her
daughter's leaving her for the above purpose? It can
be proved that Costello had a house over at Jersey
City, and carried on business there for some time be-
fore she opened in New York, and that she was carry-
ing on her vile trade in Jersey at the time of the death
of Mary C. Rogers. At the time Mary left her home,
about 9 o'clock A. M., she could have passed through
the streets without meeting many or any one who
knew her. Then there are a class of persons crossing
at the Jersey City Ferry on Sunday who never even
saw Mary or bought a segar at Anderson's. How
easy then for her to reach Jersey City without being
recognised. Arriving at Costello's, she there meets
her seducer, and he prevails on her to remain with
him on Sunday night, the abortion to be produced the
next day. The operation causes congestion of the
brain, (and this will occur in a person of full habit,
without bleeding is resorted to before it is performed.)
Suppose these occurrences to have taken place, and
you have the causes explained at once of the appear-
ances presented by the body when found. The dis-
coloration of the head and neck would have been
caused by severe congestion of the brain, or in allow-
ing the body to lie with the head down or hanging over
the side of a bed after death. There is no doubt but
that the body lay concealed in the house where she
died or was killed; and this would account for the
body floating. The rupturing of the womb would
have caused decomposition to ensue immediately, and
caused sufficient gas to generate in forty-eight hours to
float the body when it was thrown into the water. The
bandage round the waist and neck were no doubt put
on for the purpose of carrying the body down to a boat
or to the river side; and, as for the knot in the strip of
petticoat, was it such a knot as a man generally ties?
That her death was not occasioned by a gang of young
men, I, for one, am certain. She was not murdered
at the place in Hoboken where her handkerchief,
scarf, &c., were found. When the party concerned
found that suspicion was directed to Hoboken, then it
was that these things were taken and laid there. Shew
me one of a gang bad enough to commit a rape, that
is not mean enough to steal and carry off handkerchief,
gloves, or any other small article they could have laid
hands on. Where was the room for a gang to strug-
gle with her in the place where the things were found,
and how account for the things found on the stones, in
place of finding them trampled on the ground, unless
they were placed there? I feel perfectly satisfied, I
am more than ever convinced, from recent events,
that Mary C. Rogers came to her death in one of those
abortion dens. If a poor devil steals forty or fifty dol-
lars, and is caught, no matter if he or his family are
starving, his doom is certain, and punishment speedy;
but here are three hags of misery, Costello, Restell,
and Bird, who daily and hourly are committing mur-
der, advertising their vile business in the public prints,
and asking the public to patronise their dens of ini-
quity. They are allowed to live as though they were
carrying on some honest and commendable business.
If they are arrested, they manage, by the free use of
money, to escape from all punishment, and, in many
cases, to annoy and persecute persons who appear
against them as witnesses. They carry on their nefa-
rious business by swearing them into prison, to be de-
tained to appear; and when they do appear, follow it
up by swearing them false by a gang of perjurers al-
ways ready for pay. I have seen the person I spoke
of in my last, and found out one of the principal move-
ments of these abortionists, of which I shall inform you,
when I send you an account of Restell. These re-
marks may help to embellish the life of Weatherwax.
I am convinced, that if ever it is discovered how Mary
Rogers came to her death, it will be found that Costel-
lo or Restell had a hand in it. Yours, &c.
???
================================================================
The Mystery of Mary Rogers (Marie Rogêt) in Newspapers
1837 1837, SEPTEMBER 18 1839 1839, FEBRUARY 14 1839, FEBRUARY 15 1839, FEBRUARY 16 1839, MARCH 13 1839, JUNE 26 1839, JULY 12 1839, JULY 17 1839, JULY 18 1839, JULY 19 1839, AUGUST 13 1839, AUGUST 19 1839, OCTOBER 14 1839, NOVEMBER 9 1839, NOVEMBER 25 1839, DECEMBER 18 1840 1840, JANUARY 6 1840, JANUARY 13 1840, FEBRUARY 26 1840, FEBRUARY 27 1840, MAY 25 1840, JUNE 5 1840, JUNE 24 1840, AUGUST 8 1840, AUGUST 17 1840, SEPTEMBER 9 1840, OCTOBER 19 1840, NOVEMBER 19 1840, NOVEMBER 21 1840, DECEMBER 30 1841 1841, JANUARY 4 1841, FEBRUARY 1 1841, FEBRUARY 3 1841, FEBRUARY 5 1841, FEBRUARY 6 1841, FEBRUARY 8 1841, FEBRUARY 15 1841, FEBRUARY 20 1841, MARCH 1 1841, MARCH 5 1841, MARCH 11 1841, MARCH 15 1841, MARCH 17 1841, MARCH 19 1841, MARCH 23 1841, MARCH 24 1841, MARCH 25 1841, MARCH 26 1841, MARCH 29 1841, APRIL 2 1841, APRIL 3 1841, APRIL 7 1841, APRIL 15 1841, APRIL 20 1841, APRIL 22 1841, APRIL 23 1841, APRIL 24 1841, APRIL 28 1841, APRIL 29 1841, APRIL 30 1841, MAY 1 1841, MAY 3 1841, 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1 1841, NOVEMBER 2 1841, NOVEMBER 3 1841, NOVEMBER 4 1841, NOVEMBER 6 1841, NOVEMBER 8 1841, NOVEMBER 9 1841, NOVEMBER 10 1841, NOVEMBER 11 1841, NOVEMBER 12 1841, NOVEMBER 15 1841, NOVEMBER 20 1841, NOVEMBER 22 1841, NOVEMBER 24 1841, NOVEMBER 25 1841, NOVEMBER 26 1841, NOVEMBER 29 1841, NOVEMBER 30 1841, DECEMBER 1 1841, DECEMBER 2 1841, DECEMBER 3 1841, DECEMBER 4 1841, DECEMBER 8 1841, DECEMBER 9 1841, DECEMBER 10 1841, DECEMBER 11 1841, DECEMBER 13 1841, DECEMBER 14 1841, DECEMBER 15 1841, DECEMBER 17 1841, DECEMBER 18 1841, DECEMBER 21 1841, DECEMBER 22 1841, DECEMBER 23 1841, DECEMBER 28 1841, DECEMBER 29 1842 1842, JANUARY 1 1842, JANUARY 18 1842, JANUARY 20 1842, JANUARY 21 1842, JANUARY 22 1842, JANUARY 23 1842, FEBRUARY 5 1842, MAY 12 1842, MAY 13 1842, MAY 18 1842, MAY 28 1842, JUNE 8 1842, JULY 28 1842, JULY 29 1842, AUGUST 11 1842, AUGUST 24 1842, AUGUST 27 1842, SEPTEMBER 27 1842, SEPTEMBER 28 1842, NOVEMBER 1 1842, NOVEMBER 2 1842, NOVEMBER 3 1842, NOVEMBER 4 1842, NOVEMBER 5 1842, NOVEMBER 7 1842, NOVEMBER 8 1842, NOVEMBER 9 1842, NOVEMBER 10 1842, NOVEMBER 11 ☞ 1842, NOVEMBER 12 1842, NOVEMBER 14 1842, NOVEMBER 15 1842, NOVEMBER 16 1842, NOVEMBER 17 ☞ 1842, NOVEMBER 18 1842, NOVEMBER 19 1842, NOVEMBER 20 1842, NOVEMBER 21 1842, NOVEMBER 22 1842, NOVEMBER 23 1842, NOVEMBER 24 1842, NOVEMBER 25 1842, NOVEMBER 26 1842, NOVEMBER 27 1842, NOVEMBER 28 1842, NOVEMBER 29 1842, NOVEMBER 30 1842, DECEMBER 1 1842, DECEMBER 2 1842, DECEMBER 3 1842, DECEMBER 5 1842, DECEMBER 6 1842, DECEMBER 7 1842, DECEMBER 8 1842, DECEMBER 9 1842, DECEMBER 10 1842, DECEMBER 12 1842, DECEMBER 14 1842, DECEMBER 15 1842, DECEMBER 16 1842, DECEMBER 17 1842, DECEMBER 20 1842, DECEMBER 21 1842, DECEMBER 24 1842, DECEMBER 30 1843 1843, JANUARY 19 1843, FEBRUARY 1 1843, MARCH 12 1843, MARCH 13 1843, MARCH 18 1843, MARCH 21 1843, MARCH 22 1843, MARCH 23 1843, MARCH 24 1843, MARCH 25 1843, MARCH 27 1843, MARCH 28 1843, MARCH 29 1843, APRIL 4 1843, APRIL 12 1843, APRIL 24 1843, MAY 18 1844 ☞ 1844, JANUARY 12 1844, JANUARY 13 1844, MARCH 13 1844, MARCH 21 ☞ 1844, NOVEMBER 29 1844, NOVEMBER 30 1844, DECEMBER 3 1845 1845, MAY 6 1845, MAY 19 1845, NOVEMBER 7 1845, NOVEMBER 8
1837
1837, SEPTEMBER 18
Dr. William Evans—Extraordinary Cheerful
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, September 18, 1837 (FH) ================================================================THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, September 18, 1837 (FH)
1839
1839, FEBRUARY 14
Ezra White—Dreadful
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, February 14, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, FEBRUARY 15
Ezra White—Stabbing
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, February 15, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, FEBRUARY 16
Ezra White—More Stabbing
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Saturday Evening, February 16, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, MARCH 13
Ezra White—Wilful Murder
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, March 13, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, JUNE 26
Dr. Evans—His Lady, Bastard, Abduction
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, June 26, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, JULY 12
Ezra White—Trial, 2nd Day
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, July 12, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, JULY 17
Ezra White—GUILTY OF WILFUL MURDER
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, July 17, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, JULY 18
Ezra White—Sentence Delayed till November
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, July 18, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, JULY 19
Ezra White—Trial Summary
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, July 19, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, AUGUST 13
Death from 'Abortion' Oil
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, August 13, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, AUGUST 19
Restell—Bailed by Dr. Evans
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, August 19, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, OCTOBER 14
Ezra White—Fitzpatrick's Daughter
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, October 14, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, NOVEMBER 9
Ezra White—Supreme Confirmation
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, November 9, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, NOVEMBER 25
Ezra White—Death Sentence
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, November 25, 1839 (FH) ================================================================Ezra White—Execution in January
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, November 25, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1839, DECEMBER 18
Dr. Evans—Visitation of God
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, December 18, 1839 (FH) ================================================================1840
1840, JANUARY 6
Ezra White—Ruffians Emboldened
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, January 6, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, JANUARY 13
Ezra White—Discharged Watchman
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, January 13, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, FEBRUARY 26
Dr. Evans—Many Cures
================================================================ THE LINCOLN REPUBLICAN. February 26, 1840 (NC) ================================================================ing and Astonishing Facts.
THE FOLLOWING are AMONGST
by the use of Dr. Evans' Medicine.
Principal office 100 Chatham street,
NEW YORK, WHERE THE
Doctor may be consulted person-
ally, or by letter, (post paid,)
from any part of the United
States, &c. Persons re-
quiring medicine and
advice must enclose
a Bank Note, or
Order.
—
CERTIFICATES.
Another test of the unrivaled virtue of DR. WM. EVANS' Medicines.—DYS- PEPSIA, TEN YEARS' STAND- ING. Mr. J. McKenzie, 176 Stanton street, was afflicted with the above com- plaint for 10 years, which incapacitated him at intervals, for the period of the six years, in attending to his business, restored to perfect health, under the salutary treat- ment of Dr. Wm. Evans. The principal symptoms—A sense of distention and oppression after eating, dis- tressing pain in the pit of the stomach, ... Mr. McKenzie is dally attending to his business, and none of the above symptoms have occurred since he used the medicine. He is now strong and healthy man. He resorted to myriads of remedies, but they were all ineffectual. He is willing to give any information to the afflicted re- specting the inestimable benefit rendered to him by the use of Dr. Wm. Evans' medicine. — Remarkable case of acute Rheumatism, with an Affection of the Lungs—cured un- der the treatment of Dr. Wm. Evans, 100 Chatham street, New York.—Mr. Benja- min S. Jarvis, 13 Centre st. Newark, N. J., afflicted for four years with severe pains in all his joints, which were always in- creased on the slightest motion, the tongue preserved a steady whiteness; loss of ap- petite, dizziness in his head, the bowels commonly very costive, the urine high coloured, and often profuse sweating, unat- tended by relief. The above symptoms were also attended with considerable diffi- culty of breathing, with a sense of tight- ness across the chest, likewise a great want of due energy in the nervous system. The above symptoms were entirely re- moved, and a perfect cure effected by Dr. Wm. Evans. BENJ. S. JARVIS. City of New York, ss. Benjamin S. Jaris being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that the facts stated in the above certificate, subscribed by him, are in all respects true. BENJ. S. JARVIS. 96 Nassau street. — More conclusive proofs of the extraordi- nary efficacy of Dr. WM. EVANS' cele- brated camomile and aperient ANTIBIL- OUS PILLS in alleviating afflicted man- kind.—Mr. Robert Cameron, 101 Bowery, Disease Chronic Dysentery, or Bloody Flux. Symptoms: unusual flatulency in ... able bearing down of the parts. Mr. Cam- eron in enjoying perfect health, and re- turns his sincere thanks for the extraordi- nary benefit he had received. — PARALYTIC RHEUMATISM. A perfect cure effected by the treatment of Dr. W. EVANS.—Mr. John Gibson, of North Fourth st., Williamsburg, afflicted ... afflicted in a similar manner, Mr. Gibson conceives it meet to say that the pains have entirely ceased, and that his joints have completely recovered their natural tone, and he feels able to resume his ordinary busi- ness. The above valuable medicine is for sale at H. P. Williams' store, Charlotte, N. C., at Geo. W. Brown's store, Salisbury, N. C., at the store of P. Summey & Co. and at the Transcript office. A. R. PORTER, Agent. Lincolnton, N. C., May 15, 1839.
1840, FEBRUARY 27
Ezra White—Respite till June
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Thursday Evening, February 27, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, MAY 25
Dr. Jackson—Abortion, Manslaughter
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, May 25, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, JUNE 5
Governor Seward: Reasons for not Pardoning Benj. Rathbun
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, June 5, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, JUNE 24
“Mary Rogers are a case…”
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday, June 24, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, AUGUST 8
Ezra White—Respite till December
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Saturday Evening, August 8, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, AUGUST 17
Ezra White School
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, August 17, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, SEPTEMBER 9
Mrs. Loss' William Tell House
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, September 9, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, OCTOBER 19
A Mary Rogers Whipped Dolly
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, October 19, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, NOVEMBER 19
Restell—Nolle Prosequi
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, November 19, 1840 (FH) ================================================================Restell—Nolle Prosequi. Mrs. Bird's Piles of Imposition
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, November 19, 1840 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, November 19, 1840 (FH)
1840, NOVEMBER 21
Restell—Blessed Persecution
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Saturday Morning, November 21, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1840, DECEMBER 30
Ezra White—Will Have Another Trial
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, December 30, 1840 (FH) ================================================================1841
1841, JANUARY 4
Ezra White—New Trial. Dwarfs—Very Cheerful. Restell—Pills for Females
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, January 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, January 4, 1841 (FH)
NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, January 4, 1841 (FH)
1841, FEBRUARY 1
Dark Cavalier
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, February 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, FEBRUARY 3
Dark Cavalier. Restell's Imposition
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, February 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, February 3, 1841 (FH)
Ritchie—Stolen Coffee
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, February 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, FEBRUARY 5
Restell: I'm Not Restell!
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, February 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell—Lohman—Robbery. Stolen Coffee
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, February 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, FEBRUARY 6
Restell's Husband: I'm Not Restell's Husband!
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, February 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, FEBRUARY 8
Cavaliers Anderson & Ritchie
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, February 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, FEBRUARY 15
Vagrant Mary
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, February 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, FEBRUARY 20
Restello
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, February 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MARCH 1
Wishing Castella & Happy Restell
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, March 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MARCH 5
Restell: To Physicians
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, March 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MARCH 11
The Weather & Restell's Anti-Suicide Pills
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, March 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, March 11, 1841 (FH)
1841, MARCH 15
Fanny's Cushion & Ezra's Liberation
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, March 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MARCH 17
Restell—Preventive Jurors
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, March 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MARCH 19
Restell: To the Jurors
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, March 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MARCH 23
Restell & Manure
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, March 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, March 23, 1841 (FH)
1841, MARCH 24
Arrest of Restell. Prey of Mrs. Bird. Animal Magnetism
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, March 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Arrest of Restell. Prey of Mrs. Bird. Animal Magnetism
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, March 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Arrest of Restell. Prey of Mrs. Bird
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, March 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Arrest of Restell. Animal Magnetism. Prey of Mrs. Bird
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, March 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MARCH 25
Innocent Restell & Insane Butcher
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, March 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MARCH 26
Restell—Bail Not Found; Heraldic Bio
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, March 26, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, March 26, 1841 (FH)
1841, MARCH 29
Restell—Bail Reduced to $3000
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, March 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, APRIL 2
Restell—Bail of $5,000?
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, April 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell's Bail—High or Low?
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, April 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, APRIL 3
Restell—Bail of $3,000
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, April 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, APRIL 7
Restell—No Bail Yet
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, April 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell—Examination of Mrs. Purdy
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, April 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, APRIL 15
Restell—Inaccessible to Religious Truth
================================================================ THE ADVOCATE OF MORAL REFORM. April 15, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, APRIL 20
Marriage, Murders & Good Boy Ezra
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, April 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, APRIL 22
Restell—Her Race Is Run
================================================================ EDGEFIELD ADVERTISER. Thursday, April 22, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, APRIL 23
Restell—Manslaughter
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, April 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, APRIL 24
Restell—Manslaughter
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, April 24, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, APRIL 28
The Case of Restell
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, April 28, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, APRIL 29
The Case of Restell
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, April 29, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Restell in Pantaloons
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, April 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, April 29, 1841 (FH)
1841, APRIL 30
The Victim of Restell
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, April 30, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Victim of Fiend Restell
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, April 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Imprudent Victim of Restell
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, April 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 1
Restell—1 Year in Prison, If Guilty
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, May 1, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Restell: “I fear neither God or man...!”
================================================================ THE ADVOCATE OF MORAL REFORM. May 1, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, MAY 3
Restell—Pleaded Not Guilty
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, May 3, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Restell—Abused by the Press. Restell: Purdy Indulged Herself to Death!
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, May 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell—Rejected Application
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, May 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 4
M. M. Noah—Judge of Sessions. Penny Press—Evil; Tribune—Good
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, May 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 5
Restell—Womanslaughter
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Wednesday, May 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================M. M. Noah—Judge of Sessions
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, May 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 6
Tribune's Blazing against Sun
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, May 6, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Paper Friends & Judge Noah
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, May 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 10
Ezra White—Missing Witness
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, May 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 11
Restell—Trial Postponed
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, May 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 13
Restell—Bailed
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, May 13, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Restell—Free
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Thursday, May 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell—Left the City. Ezra White—Prejudiced Jurors
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, May 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell—Free
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Thursday Evening, May 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 14
Ezra White—Re-Trial. Restell's Bail—Fair Business
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Friday, May 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 15
Ezra White—Not… Guilty! Restell's “Suggestions to the Married.”
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Saturday, May 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD.
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Saturday, May 15, 1841 (FH)
Ezra White—Manslaughter, to the Mercy
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, May 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 17
Ezra White—Heraldic 2 Years in Prison
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Monday, May 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Stolen Pork, Twice Stolen Watch
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday, May 17, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, MAY 18
Ezra White—Not Drunk Brady
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, May 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 22
The Moral Character of New-York
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, May 22, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, MAY 24
Ezra White—4 Years in the State Prison
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, May 24, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, MAY 29
National Theatre—Fire
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, May 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, MAY 31
Restell Cannot Be Convicted
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Monday, May 31, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 1
Ezra White's Carpets. Restell's Medicines
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, June 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, June 1, 1841 (FH)
1841, JUNE 2
The Delightful Pleasure Grounds at Hoboken. Marriage Suit
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, June 2, 1841 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, June 2, 1841 (CA)
New Mayor—Anti-Pipe-layer
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Wednesday, June 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 3
Cutthroat from Dolphin & Domestic Axehead
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, June 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 4
Cutthroat—Suicide. New York—City of Drowned
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, June 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Cutthroat—Suicide
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, June 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 8
General Sessions
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, June 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 9
Madame Elssler—Naked Aspect
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, June 9, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, JUNE 10
Killing Heat
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, June 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 11
Noah's Thanks
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, June 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 12
General Sessions
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, June 12, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, JUNE 15
Stolen Coffee. Talking of Women; Censor
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, June 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Tuesday, June 15, 1841 (FH)
1841, JUNE 16
Pork of Sessions
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, June 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, June 16, 1841 (FH)
Dr. Evans—Old Galen
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, June 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 17
Noah—False Old Fool
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, June 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 21
Look at the Sun
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, June 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, June 21, 1841 (FH)
1841, JUNE 22
Squash of Sessions, Which I Respect Not
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, June 22, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 24
Henroost Court
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, June 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JUNE 29
Mrs. Rogers—Boarders Wanted. Good Health in the City. Bricking the Censor
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Tuesday Morning, June 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Tuesday Morning, June 29, 1841 (FH)
1841, JULY 1
Theatre—Very Hot
================================================================ THE ADVOCATE OF MORAL REFORM. July 1, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, JULY 3
Blest Hoboken & Animal Laws
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, July 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, July 3, 1841 (FH)
Generous Noah & Hard-working White
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, July 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JULY 9
Lynching Herald
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, July 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, July 9, 1841 (FH)
1841, JULY 10
A Trip to Hoboken
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. July 10, 1841 … July 22 … (CA) ================================================================ ☞ An agreeable and healthy Recreation in the Afternoon.—No pleasanter or more attractive jaunt can be made at this season of the year, than by taking a trip to Hoboken and a walk along the shady and picturesque banks on the margin of the river. As an additional inducement this summer it is generally admitted that the walks and grounds of this charming spot are now more beautiful than ever. Access is rendered easy from different parts of the city by the Barclay, Canal, and Christopher street Ferries, the Boats on which have been newly and comfortably refitted. In the evening the Canal- street Ferry Boat runs until ten o'clock from Hoboken. jy10 6wis* ================================================================Payday for Lynch
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, July 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================| Judge Ulshoeffer, | $176 |
| Judge Ingliss, | 244 |
| Judge Ingraham, | 108 |
| —— $528 |
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, July 10, 1841 (FH)
1841, JULY 12
Evils of Governor Seward
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Monday, July 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JULY 13
Alfred Crommelin & a Burglar Boy
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, July 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Burglar, Seward & Lynchites
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, July 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Tuesday, July 13, 1841 (FH)
1841, JULY 15
Trial of Restell
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, July 15, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Restell—Presidentess
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, July 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell—Instrument of Abortion
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, July 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JULY 16
Police & Court Should Be Reformed. Restell—Purdy's Deposition—Just a Paper
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, July 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================| Michael Driscoll—no recognizance. | |
| Jeremiah Freeman, bailed in the sum of | $100 |
| James M. Lend, “ “ | 500 |
| Joseph Morrison alias Butcher Joe—this fellow fled, his bail was estreated, and the surety ap- plied to the Recorder for relief. The Recor- der declined to interfere, a reward of $300 was offered and Butcher Joe was re-arrested, com- mitted and sent to State Prison— | 1000 |
| Elias Tucker, | 3000 |
| James Tilson, | 1000 |
| John H. Hoffman,—this fellow bolted, his bail ran after him, caught him, and he is now in the tombs— | 1000 |
| Joseph Hoye, | 1000 |
| John Green, | 500 |
| Alex. Hoage, | 500 |
| James Kennedy—in this case Kennedy was charged with grand larceny, in robbing a ves- sel, the prima facie testimony was clear, and the Police Justice refused to take bail. A ha- beas corpus was got, and Kennedy carried be- fore Judge Lynch, who took one Robert Ste- venson, a man of straw, who hangs about the Tombs, as surety for Kennedy in the sum of $500. Of course Kennedy will not go to the State Prison for two years— | 500 |
| Henry Scott, | 500 |
| Nathan Blood, | 500 |
| —— Hurd, charged with arson, | 1000 |
Trial of Restell Resumed
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, July 16, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, JULY 17
Restell—The Court Needs More Time
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, July 17, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, JULY 20
Case of Restell
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, July 20, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, JULY 21
Restell—GUILTY, the Judgement—Arrested
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, July 21, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Trial of Lynch & Noah, Aforesaid Judges. Restell—GUILTY (Suspended)
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Wednesday, July 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JULY 22
Restell: I'm Not Guilty Yet!
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, July 22, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Lynch & Noah—Pork Indictment
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Thursday, July 22, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, July 22, 1841 (FH)
1841, JULY 23
Noah—Coffee Indictment
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, July 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell: I'm Not Guilty Yet!
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, July 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JULY 24
Restell—Preparing to Supreme Court
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, July 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell—Death Producer
================================================================ THE AMERICAN MASONIC REGISTER. Saturday, July 24, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, JULY 27
Green Hoboken & Deaths in New-York
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, July 27, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Sunday Thunderstorm; Killed by Lightning
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, July 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JULY 28
We Don't Advertise Restell's Medicines!
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, July 28, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, JULY 30
An Inquest on the Body of Mary C. Rogers
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, July 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell's Guilt—Suspended till August
================================================================ SCHENECTADY REFLECTOR. Friday Morning, July 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell's Medicines
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, July 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, JULY 31
An Inquest on the Body of Mary C. Rogers
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, July 31, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 2
A Horrible Murder
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, August 2, 1841 (CA) ================================================================A Body Near the Sybil's Cave
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, August 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Police Were Ignorant till Yesterday
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, August 2, 1841, NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Monday, August 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Body Near the Sybil's Cave
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, August 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 3
Seduced by a Navy Officer 3 Years Ago
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, August 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Letter from the Coroner of Hoboken
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, August 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 4
Restell—Case Goes to the Supreme Court. Mary—Two Were Arrested & Discharged
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, August 4, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Merritt's Blank Warrants. N.B. Mary Was Good
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, August 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Merritt's Blank Warrants. Herald: On Thursday, We Saw Mary with a Rope & Stone
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Wednesday, August 4, 1841, NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Wednesday, August 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 5
A Seaman. A Rope & Stone. Mary Thrown off the Cliff
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, August 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================The Seaman Was Arrested & Discharged
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, August 5, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Three Were Arrested & Discharged
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, August 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary Went to Church. A Suspected Fled the City
================================================================ LOWELL COURIER. Thursday Evening, August 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 6
The Seaman & a Stained Knife. The Coroner's Inquest at Hoboken
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition, August 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition, Friday, August 6, 1841, NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition, Friday, August 6, 1841 (FH)
Mary Was Found on Thursday. The Seaman—Not the Man
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, August 6, 1841 (CA) ================================================================The Seaman's Brother Was Engaged to Mary. The Seaman—Entirely Innocent
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, August 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Murdered Not at Hoboken. The Seaman—Discharged to His Ship
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, August 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 7
Judge Lynch Discharges Vagrant Body
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, August 7, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Still Horrible Murder
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Saturday, August 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary Was Abducted a Year Ago
================================================================ THE AMERICAN MASONIC REGISTER. Saturday, August 7, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 9
Herald: $50 for the Murderers of Mary
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Monday, August 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Notwithstanding the Vigorous Efforts…
================================================================ DAILY TROY BUDGET. Monday Evening, August 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 10
A Female and Six/Seven Men in a Boat
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Tuesday Morning, August 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Young Woman & 5+3 Men. Mary's Life for 6 Cents
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, August 10, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Organ of Madam Restell. A Young Female & 6+3 Men
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, August 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary & a Man Were Quarrelling at Hoboken. The Seaman Wishes to Remain in Custody
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, August 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, August 10, 1841 (FH)
Mary, a Young Man & 5 Rowdies
================================================================ REPUBLICAN ADVOCATE. Tuesday, August 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Robbed of Chastity and Murdered
================================================================ THE FRIEND OF MAN. UTICA, Tuesday, August 10, 1841 (CU) ================================================================ MARY C. ROGERS The murder of this young and beautiful girl, con- nected as is supposed with the brutal violation of her person, has created great excitement in the city of New York. This girl was missed by her friends for some days, who advertised for her at last in the public prints, but on Thursday last, her body was found in the water near Hoboken, by some persons passing in a sail boat. The discovery of the body bearing evident marks of vio- lence, aroused inquiry, and the Coroner's Jury, while they bore testimony to her general good character, al- so came to the conclusion that she had been robbed of her chastity, and then murdered to conceal the crime. The examination of persons suspected has as yet elic- ited nothing that will reveal the mystery of her death. ================================================================A Victim of Lust on the Broad Hudson
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, August 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Female and Six/Seven Men in a Boat
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Tuesday Evening, August 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Still Horrible Murder
================================================================ THE SCHENECTADY CABINET: OR, FREEDOM'S SENTINEL. Tuesday Evening, August 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Horribly Outraged
================================================================ ONEIDA WHIG. Tuesday Morning, August 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 11
Not Mary Was Taken by the Rowdies
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, August 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Restell to the Rescue! Mary—Anonymous Letters. The Citizens Will Offer a Reward
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, August 11, 1841, v2 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Wednesday, August 11, 1841 (FH)
NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Wednesday, August 11, 1841 (FH)
Tribune—Brighter than Sun!
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, August 11, 1841 (CA) ================================================================A Female and Six/Seven Men in a Boat
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Wednesday Afternoon, August 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Female and Six/Seven Men in a Boat
================================================================ DAILY TROY BUDGET. Wednesday Evening, August 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Police! How Can Famous Mary Be Murdered!
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Wednesday, August 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary, a Young Man & 5 Rowdies
================================================================ HAVANA REPUBLICAN. Wednesday, August 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 12
Mary Went to Cousin, Mrs. Downing. The Body of Mary Was Disinterred. Odd Daniel Payne
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, August 12, 1841 (CA) ================================================================There Was No Segar Girl at Hoboken, Mary Was Murdered in a Den in This City. Public Meeting in Relation to the Murder: Elijah F. Purdy—$10, John Anderson—$50. Daniel Payne, a Sort of a Lover: “Very well, Mary, I shall look out for you…” “No. 27” Tried to Ravish the Young Lady from a Boat at Heavenly Hoboken
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, August 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================| Harper Brothers, | $10 00 | Amos Leeds, | 5 00 | |
| Leary & Co. | 5 00 | Daniel D. Howard, | 5 00 | |
| Barton & Welch, | 5 00 | Joseph F. Atwill, | 5 00 | |
| Vair Clirehugh, | 5 00 | Aaron Clark, | 10 00 | |
| Jas. Gordon Bennett, | 50 00 | Peter Tamblingson, | 5 00 | |
| John Conroy, | 5 00 | Robert Hamilton, | 5 00 | |
| Thomas Bell, | 5 00 | Robert A. Morrison, | 2 00 | |
| Michael J. Gillhooly, | 1 00 | Alanson Nash, | 2 00 | |
| Peter Lecount, | 1 00 | John J. Morgan, | 2 00 | |
| Leonard F. Snethen, | 2 00 | W. Hodgkinson, | 2 00 | |
| J. Brown, | 1 00 | Daniel Sweeny, | 5 00 | |
| Ed. B. Tuttle, | 1 00 | Horace Greely, | 5 00 | |
| John Cronly, | 1 00 | N. Thomson, | 2 00 | |
| Charles Cox, | 1 00 | John M'Cab, | 1 00 | |
| Caleb S. Woodhull, | 10 00 | Edmund J. Porter, | 1 00 | |
| Robert Sinclair, | 5 00 | John Hill, | 1 00 | |
| Elijah F. Purdy, | 10 00 | Caleb Weeks, | 1 0 | |
| Levi D. Slamm, | 3 00 | Thomas Bell, | 1 00 | |
| Joseph Ellis, | 2 50 | Chas. P. Huestis, | 2 00 | |
| John Lomas, | 2 00 | George F. H. Youngs, | 2 00 | |
| J. Wolter, | 2 00 | William H. Attree, | 1 00 | |
| Daniel Marley, | 2 00 | John W. Mulholland, | 2 00 | |
| Jas. B. Benson, | 2 00 | Nichols & Paige, | 5 00 | |
| H. Pattinson, | Rich'd Adams Locke, | 1 00 | ||
| Wm. W. Snowden, | Park Benjamin, | 2 00 | ||
| Henry M. Western, | 5 00 | A Friend, | 50 00 | |
| John A. Morrill, | 5 00 | A Friend, | 5 00 | |
| James C. Stoneall, | 5 00 | Ezra Mackenzie, | 5 00 | |
| Robert H. Elton, | 5 00 | John Cook, | 5 00 | |
| Edward Dunnigan, | 3 00 | J. & H. G. Langley, | 3 00 | |
| Henry G. Burnham, | 1 00 | W. Tompson, | 1 00 | |
| J. Graham, | 1 00 | — Tompson, | 1 00 | |
| M. Y. Beach, | 2 00 | John Timpson, | 1 00 | |
| Herrick, West & Ropes, | 5 00 | E. W. Burr, | 1 00 | |
| D. Russell Lee, | 2 50 | A. Krauth, | 1 00 | |
| Samuel N. Smith, | 1 00 | E. W. Clay, | 1 00 | |
| Robert Marshall, | 1 00 | Jno. Childs, | 1 00 | |
| George Bathghiat, | 1 00 | A. B. Peck, | 1 00 | |
| Ed. Fox, | 5 00 | John Locke, | 5 00 | |
| E. E. Camp, | 5 00 | Wilson & Co. | 5 00 | |
| A Friend, | 1 00 | J. Adams, | 5 00 | |
| Luscombe & Sanborne, | 2 00 | John Timpson, | 1 00 | |
| Souillard & Delluc, | 0 00 | Joseph Elliott, | 1 00 | |
| J. F. Leming, | 1 00 | Patrick Henry, | 1 00 | |
| Frederick Hudson, | 2 00 | John A. Tuttle, | 1 00 | |
| Ed. Downes Conery, | 1 00 | Joseph Hunt, | 1 00 | |
| G. E. Rice, | 2 00 | John S. Campbell, | 5 00 | |
| Harlow Mills, | 2 00 | Geo. Robinson, | 2 00 | |
| Ebenezer Welch, | 2 00 | Edward Prime, | 2 00 | |
| J. Hood, | 1 00 | H. H. Lockwood, | 2 00 | |
| James Mahony, | 5 00 | E. B. Kraft, | 5 00 | |
| M. J. Whalen, | 2 00 | Robt. Geddes, | 1 00 | |
| J. M. McEneany, | 1 00 | Geo. Ganfield, | 1 00 | |
| David Graham, | 5 00 | C. W. Lorey, | 1 00 | |
| John Anderson, | 50 00 | Billings Haywood, | 1 00 | |
| J. D. R. Putman, | 1 00 | G. W. Evans, | 1 00 |
NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, August 12, 1841 (FH)
Seven “No. 27” & a Girl from a Boat. Mary Went to Mrs. Downing's, James 68. Payne Said He Would Come for Her. Public Meeting in Relation to the Murder
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, August 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary Was Decoyed into Some Den. A Rope Round Mary & 'Seafaring' Knots
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, August 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Public Meeting & Unimportant Payne
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Thursday Evening, August 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Public Reward Will Be Paid. The Disgusting Image of Its Creator. No One Saw Mary Since She Left Home. Mary Went to Mrs. Downing's, Jane 68. Payne: “I always went in the dark.”
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Thursday Evening, August 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================An Inquest on the 28th...
================================================================ THE NEAPOLITAN. Thursday, August 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 13
“Mary” on Cromeline's Slate & a Rose. There Was No Rope About Mary. The Sailor, William H. Kiekuck. Restell's Case—in the Supreme Court
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, August 13, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary Went to Mrs. Downing's in Jane Street. Payne Was a Dissipated Man. Mary Was Detained in an Assignation House. Crommelin Was with Mary's Body till Night, He Rubbed Her Arm to Identify Her. Mary's Body Was Free from Rope or Cords. Mary's Name on Mr. C.'s Slate & a Rose. The Sailor, William Kurkuk
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, August 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Singular Payne. Atrocious Beach of Sun. Severe Suitors of Mary. Restell's Sentence Rests till September. Mary—the Inquest Was on the 29th or 30th. Under Oath: Cromelin, Mallen, Kukuck. $500 for the Murderers of Mary
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, August 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, August 13, 1841 (FH)
Sun: “M. Y. Beach” in the List—Forgery, Herald—Organ of a Miserable Scamp! Affidavits: Crommelin, Padley, Mallin
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, August 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, August 13, 1841 (FH)
Examination: Kiekuck, Mallin, Crommelin, Padley, Mrs. Rogers
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, August 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Nothing Attached to the Body
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, August 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary Was Decoyed into an Assignation House
================================================================ SCHENECTADY REFLECTOR. Friday, August 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 14
Mary Was Murdered in a Den in This City. Paltry & Evasive Sun's Beach
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, August 14, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—No More Publications
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, August 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Let's Reform the Police System! Learned Judge & Common Prostitute. Every Body in N.Y. Rivers Looks Murdered. Mary's Family Were Very Poor
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, August 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================| COMMITMENT. | LAW. |
| “A vagrant, viz: an idle person and a common pros- titute who, not having visi- ble means to maintain her- self, lives without lawful employment.” | “All common prostitutes who have no lawful em- ployment whereby to main- tain themselves, are va- grants.” |
NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, August 14, 1841 (FH)
Mary—Horrible Murder
================================================================ PLATTSBURGH REPUBLICAN. Saturday Morning, August 14, 1841 (NN) ================================================================The Murder Was in Some of the Dens
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, August 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Girl & 6 Men in a Boat; Not Mary, Not Injured
================================================================ THE AMERICAN MASONIC REGISTER. Saturday, August 14, 1841 (GB) ================================================================Mary—No Rope on the Body. Seven “No. 27” & a Girl from a Boat
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Saturday Afternoon, August 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Heartless Payne. Mary Was Robbed of Jewelry
================================================================ DAILY TROY BUDGET. Friday, August 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 16
Vicious Police Must Be Reformed. Still Mysterious Murder
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, August 16, 1841 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, August 16, 1841 (CA)
A Clue Has Been Discovered. A Man Was Quarrelling with Mary. Two More Shocking Outrages
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, August 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Dr. Cook: Mary Was Violated by 6-8 Ruffians, There Were Marks of Fingers on the Throat. Was Seen with a Mary-like Female—Guilty!
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, August 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Monday, August 16, 1841 (FH)
Mary Promised That She Would Not Marry Payne—and Killed Herself
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, August 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Man Quarrelled with Mary
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, August 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 17
The Suspected Didn't Quarrel with Mary
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, August 17, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—Excitement Will Soon Be Relieved
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, August 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Taylor's Officer Has Not Yet Returned. Mary—Examination of Dr. Cook: Marks of Violence, Sufficient to Cause Death; Lace Trimming Was Tied Round Her Neck, She Was Not Drowned, There Were Finger-like Marks on the Neck, Her Wrists Had Been Tied Together, Hat Strings Were Tied in a Sailor's Knot, She Was Violated by More than 2-3 Persons, There Was No Trace of Pregnancy
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, August 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, August 17, 1841 (FH)
Mary Didn't Disappear in the Past
================================================================ THE LONG-ISLAND FARMER, AND QUEENS COUNTY ADVERTISER. Tuesday, August 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Horrid “Murder Will Out”
================================================================ THE UTICA OBSERVER. Tuesday Morning, August 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Dr. Cook: Mary Was Violated by 6-8 Ruffians
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Tuesday Afternoon, August 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Still Horrible Murder
================================================================ RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, August 17, 1841 (CA) ================================================================The Police Have No Trace
================================================================ INDIANA STATE SENTINEL. Tuesday, August 17, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Morse, the Murderer of Mary, Was Arrested While Opening a Letter from Kiekuck
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, August 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Person Was Arrested at Worcester
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, August 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 18
Arrest of Morse, the Suspected Murderer
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, August 18, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Arrest of Joseph W. Morse, a Participator in the Murder of Mary
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, August 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Arrest of Morse, the Suspected Murderer
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Wednesday, August 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Arrest of Morse and Cromeline, the Supposed Murderers
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, August 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Yet Not a Clue
================================================================ HAVANA REPUBLICAN. Wednesday, August 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Horrible Murder
================================================================ THE NORTH CAROLINA STANDARD. Wednesday, August 18, 1841 (CA) ================================================================This Bloody Mystery Will Be Cleared Up
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, August 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Exonerated from Suspicion
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Wednesday Evening, August 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 19
Mary's Mother Is About 70, Brother Drowned, Father Was Blown Up. Crommelin Has Not Been Arrested
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, August 19, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Philanthropic Crommelin. Suspected Morse
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, August 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary Was Murdered by Abortion. Where Morse Was on the Fatal Sunday Night
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, August 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Crommelin—Not Arrested, Not His Letter. Morse—Was at Staten Island?
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, August 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================The Disgusting Image of Its Creator. Murderer Morse & a Letter from Kiekuck
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, August 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, August 19, 1841 (FH)
Morse Had Engagements at Hoboken
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Thursday Evening, August 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Fine Looking Rogue
================================================================ LOWELL COURIER. Thursday Evening, August 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Arrest of Joseph W. Morse, a Participator in the Murder of Mary
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Thursday Evening, August 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 20
“There goes Morse with your girl.” Was Mary Murdered on Sunday Evening?
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, August 20, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Unsuccessful Rapist Morse
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, August 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Innocence of Morse; Young Lady: “He kissed me and hugged me… but I resisted all night.”
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, August 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, August 20, 1841 (FH)
Morse Was with a Girl from Type Foundry
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, August 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—'Worcester Man' Proved an Alibi. Business of the Greatest Importance
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, August 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================“There goes Morse with your girl.”
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, August 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 21
Morse “Destroyed” Mary by Mistake
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, August 21, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Unsuccessful Inducer Morse
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, August 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Released of All Criminal Charge
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, August 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse Arrested
================================================================ PLATTSBURGH REPUBLICAN. Saturday Morning, August 21, 1841 (NN) ================================================================Payne—Doubtful Story
================================================================ SUNBURY AMERICAN AND SHAMOKIN JOURNAL. Saturday, August 21, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Arrest of Morse
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Saturday, August 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Not the Murderer
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, August 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Arrested. Mayor & Governor—Late in Their Duty
================================================================ THE AMERICAN MASONIC REGISTER. Saturday, August 21, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 23
Morse—Dismissed by Judge Lynch, Justices Taylor & Palmer—Wrathy; Mrs. Morse Herself Went with the Bail
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Monday, August 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Reunited with Wife
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, August 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Discharged. Seven “No. 27” in a Boat with Female
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, August 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 24
Mary—Not Alive, Not Returned Home, She Has Been Brutally Murdered!
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, August 24, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary Was Murdered
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, August 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse's Female—Not Working for Mr. Conner
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, August 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Arrest of Morse with Payne's Letters. Mary Was Violated by Many Different Men
================================================================ RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, August 24, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Arrest of Joseph W. Morse
================================================================ SPIRIT OF THE TIMES. BATAVIA. Tuesday, August 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse, the Murderer, Arrested!
================================================================ ROCHESTER REPUBLICAN. Tuesday Morning, August 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Guilty, but Not the Murderer
================================================================ THE LONG-ISLAND FARMER, AND QUEENS COUNTY ADVERTISER. Tuesday, August 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Murdered Near Home by 'Hankyless'
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Tuesday Evening, August 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 25
John Conroy Saw Morse with a Female.
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, August 25, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary Has Not Been Murdered
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Wednesday, August 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse's Girl Never Worked at Type Foundry
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, August 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Assassin Still Undetected
================================================================ AUBURN JOURNAL AND ADVERTISER. Wednesday, August 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary Was at Pittsburg
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, August 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 26
Mary Was a Native of New-London
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, August 26, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—Dead and Buried
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, August 26, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Gentleman Who Attends to His Business. Mary—Still Alive? It's a Foolish Story!
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, August 26, 1841 (FH) ================================================================In the Thickets at Weehawken
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, August 26, 1841 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, August 26, 1841 (FH)
Morse—Not the Murderer
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, August 26, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 27
Mary Was Violated & Murdered. Police Have Some Clue. Mary's Murder—Doubted by Many. New York—City of Hogs
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, August 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Outraged Justice
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, August 27, 1841 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, August 27, 1841 (CA)
Morse—Not the Murderer, Ought to Be Hung. Mary—Murdered Near Home by 'Hankyless'
================================================================ SCHENECTADY REFLECTOR. Friday, August 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Pittsburg Letter—Penny Humbug
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Friday Evening, August 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 28
Crommelin's Statement
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, August 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Morse—Innocent Seducer; Mary Was Outraged, the Doers in Texas
================================================================ PLATTSBURGH REPUBLICAN. Saturday Morning, August 28, 1841 (NN) ================================================================Morse—Innocent Villain. Mary—Murdered Near Home
================================================================ THE AMERICAN MASONIC REGISTER. Saturday, August 28, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 30
Crommelin's Statement
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, August 30, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—Some Participator Arrested. Crommelin: I Fear No Questions!
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, August 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Padley—Abduction, Rape, Murder of Mary
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, August 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Monday, August 30, 1841 (FH)
Mary—One Man Was Arrested
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, August 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, AUGUST 31
Padley—Examined & Discharged
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, August 31, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—Nothing Out Yet
================================================================ THE UTICA OBSERVER. Tuesday Morning, August 31, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Dead; Pittsburg Letter—Penny Hoax
================================================================ GENEVA COURIER. Tuesday Evening, August 31, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 1
Padley—Discharged
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Wednesday, September 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Anonymous Boasting
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, September 1, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary Disappeared 2-3 Years Ago
================================================================ THE WESTERN ARGUS. Wednesday, September 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary Had No Respect for the Sabbath
================================================================ THE ADVOCATE OF MORAL REFORM. September 1, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 2
Almost Mary
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Thursday, September 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Governor Seward: $750 Reward
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Thursday Evening, September 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 3
Mary—$750 Reward
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, September 3, 1841 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, September 3, 1841 (CA)
Padley—Heraldic Charge & Express Discharge
================================================================ SCHENECTADY REFLECTOR. Friday, September 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 4
Pittsburg Letter. Mary Was Abducted 2-3 Years Ago
================================================================ SUNBURY AMERICAN AND SHAMOKIN JOURNAL. Saturday, September 4, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—$750 Reward
================================================================ THE NEW WORLD. September 4, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 6
Mary—Shawl & Parasol at Weehawken
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Monday, September 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Parasol & Clothing near Hoboken
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, September 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mayor—Weehawken
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, September 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 7
Mary—Murdered at Weehawken. Mayor's Reward
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, September 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mayor's Reward; Weehawken
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, September 7, 1841 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, September 7, 1841 (CA)
Police & Noah. Mary—Murdered by Boatmen at Weehawken. Mayor's Reward
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Tuesday, September 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—$750 Reward
================================================================ THE UTICA OBSERVER. Tuesday Morning, September 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Weehawken, Clue
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, September 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mayor's Reward
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, September 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Pittsburg Letter. Mary Was Abducted 2-3 Years Ago
================================================================ CATTARAUGUS REPUBLICAN. September 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—$750 Reward
================================================================ GENEVA COURIER. Tuesday Evening, September 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Padley—Abduction, Rape, Murder of Mary
================================================================ RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, September 7, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 8
Mary & Hungry Britons
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, September 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Face & Neck Mangled; $750 Reward
================================================================ THE FREDONIA CENSOR. Wednesday Morning, September 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—$750 Reward
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, September 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 9
Mary—$750 Reward
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, September 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Arrest of Lett
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Thursday Evening, September 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 10
Arrest of Lett
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, September 10, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Decline of Sun. Arrest of Lett
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, September 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Benjamin Lett
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Friday Evening, September 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 11
Mary—Blood on a Tabular Rock
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Saturday, September 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 13
Mary & Some Young Men Were at Mrs. Loss'
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, September 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Benjamin Lett. Mary & Some Young Men Were at Mrs. Loss'
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, September 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Cincinnati Riot. Mary & Some Young Men Were at Mrs. Loss'
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, September 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 14
Mary & Some Young Men Were at Mrs. Loss'
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, September 14, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—$750 Reward
================================================================ THE MIDDLEBURY PEOPLE'S PRESS. September 14, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—Parasol & Clothing near Hoboken
================================================================ ONEIDA WHIG. Tuesday Morning, September 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Cincinnati Riot. Mary & Some Young Men Were at Mrs. Loss'
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Tuesday Afternoon, September 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 15
Mary—Murdered at Weehawken. Cincinnati Riot
================================================================ JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. September 15, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Morse—Discharged. Mary—Murdered on This Side of the River
================================================================ WESTERN TEMPERANCE JOURNAL. Wednesday, September 15, 1841 (GB) ================================================================Mary—$750 Reward
================================================================ THE COURTLAND DEMOCRAT. Wednesday, September 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 16
Arrest of Lett. Mary & Some Young Men Were at Mrs. Loss'
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, September 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Weehawken, Theatre of Outrage
================================================================ THE FAYETTEVILLE LUMINARY. Thursday, September 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 17
Sink Mystery. Mary—Loss' Place
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. First Edition. Friday, September 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Sinking Russia. Sink Mystery
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, September 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 18
Dr. Jackson—Abortion, Manslaughter. Sink Mystery
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, September 18, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Dr. Jackson—Abortion, Manslaughter
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, September 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Dr. Jackson—Abortion, Manslaughter
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Saturday Morning, September 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary Was Recognized by Mrs. Loss
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, September 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 20
ELEONORA by Edgar A. Poe
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, September 20, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Medical & Judicial Times
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, September 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================James “Pay-me-more” Cooper
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Monday Afternoon, September 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 21
Dr. Jackson—Misdemeanour, to the Mercy. Mary—Heraldic Crime Scene. The Beautiful Segar Girl by McDonald Clarke
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, September 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, September 21, 1841 (FH)
Cincinnati Riot. Dr. Jackson—Guilty of Producing Abortion
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, September 21, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Medical Sun & Restell's Herald
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, September 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Dr. Jackson—Guilty of Producing Abortion
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Tuesday Morning, September 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Loss' Place
================================================================ THE LONG-ISLAND FARMER, AND QUEENS COUNTY ADVERTISER. Tuesday, September 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Cincinnati & Passion
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, September 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Puppies & Passion
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, September 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary & Some Young Men Were at Mrs. Loss'
================================================================ GENEVA COURIER. Tuesday Evening, September 21, 1841 (NN) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 22
Jokes & Passion
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, September 22, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Passion, Justice Parker, Judges Lynch & Noah, Crime Scene, Cincinnati
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, September 22, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, September 22, 1841 (FH)
1841, SEPTEMBER 23
Judges Lynch & Noah
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Thursday Evening, September 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 24
Mary—Weehawken, Murder Spot. New York Herald—Above All
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, September 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, September 24, 1841 (FH)
Judges Lynch & Noah
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, September 24, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 25
Russian Steam
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, September 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Loss' Place
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Saturday, September 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 27
Colt—Adams
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, September 29, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Wilful Murder
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, September 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Wilful Murder
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, September 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Adams
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, September 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Wilful Murder
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, September 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Wilful Murder
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, September 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 28
Mary—Lines on the Death of M. R. Colt—Adams
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, September 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, September 28, 1841 (FH)
Colt—Adams
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, September 28, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Adams
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, September 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt & Bennett
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Tuesday Morning, September 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—James Finnegan, the Murderer
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Tuesday Afternoon, September 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Adams
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, September 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Adams
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, September 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Adams. Mary—Finnegan
================================================================ DAILY TROY BUDGET. Tuesday Evening, September 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 29
Colt—Haggard. Mary—No Murderer
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, September 29, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Finnegan—Accused by a Bad Girl. Colt—Calm
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, September 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Calm & Firm. Mary—Supposed Murderer Arrested
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, September 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Time to Plead. Mary—No Murderer
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, September 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Set for Trial. Mary—James Finnegan, the Murderer
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, September 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Finnegan, Not the Murderer
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Wednesday Evening, September 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, SEPTEMBER 30
Sacral Service. Colt—Trial on 11th of October. Finnegan—Another Mary
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, September 30, 1841 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, September 30, 1841 (CA)
Sad Colt, Aforesaid—Literary Pirate. “No. 27” Didn't Ravish Mary Jane Toole
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, September 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Finnegan—Outrage upon Tool
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, September 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Kamchatka under American Colors. Colt Made No Reply. Sacral Service
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, September 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Purely American Kamchatka. Finnegan—Outrage upon Tool. Sacral Service. Animal Magnetism—Eyes Out
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Thursday Evening, September 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Sacral Service
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Thursday Evening, September 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 1
Finnegan—Unsuccessful Tool-man
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, September 30, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Finnegan—Unsuccessful Outrage
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, October 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Finnegan—Mary Taradiddle. Colt—Cain
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, October 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Adams. Mary—James Finnegan, the Murderer
================================================================ SCHENECTADY REFLECTOR. Friday, October 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Sacral Service. Finnegan—Outrage upon Tool
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Friday Afternoon, October 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Parasol at Weehawken
================================================================ WESTERN TEMPERANCE JOURNAL. Friday, October 1, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 2
Mary—No One Arrested. Colt—From Cheat to Murder
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, October 2, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary—Six in the Tombs
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, October 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Kamchatka—American Bottom
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, October 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—James Finnegan, the Murderer
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Saturday, October 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 5
Mary—Evidencer-to-be
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, Evening Edition, October 5, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, October 5, 1841 (FH)
Mary—Loss' Place
================================================================ INDIANA STATE SENTINEL. Tuesday, October 5, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Adams
================================================================ THE CALEDONIAN. Tuesday, October 5, 1841 (CA) ================================================================THE CALEDONIAN. Tuesday, October 5, 1841 (CA)
Finnegan—Outrage upon Tool. Adams—Wilfully Murdered by Colt
================================================================ RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, October 5, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 6
Mary—Evidencer-to-be. Colt—Ghost Story
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, October 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Finnegan—Outrage upon Tool
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Wednesday, October 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Finnegan—Attempted Outrage
================================================================ PERRY DEMOCRAT. Wednesday, October 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 7
Colt—Adams—Helpless Creatures
================================================================ THE HERALD OF THE NEW MORAL WORLD. Thursday, October 7, 1841 (GB) ================================================================Passion—Killing Love. Mary—Loss' Place, Finnegan. Colt—Adams
================================================================ THE NEAPOLITAN. Thursday, October 7, 1841 (FH) ================================================================THE NEAPOLITAN. Thursday, October 7, 1841 (FH)
1841, OCTOBER 8
Sacral Service
================================================================ THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS. Friday Morning, October 8, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Young Man of Good Family
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, October 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 9
Mary's Lover, Payne, Cut His Own Throat; Important Papers in His Pockets
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, October 9, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Mary's Lover, Payne, Cut His Own Throat; Important Papers in His Pocket
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Saturday Morning, October 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne No More; Papers Were Found; Payne Was a Dissipated Man
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, October 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================“I am Payne…” Important Papers
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, October 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Six in Custody; Tinner's Son Went with Mary
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Saturday, October 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Supposed Suicide
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, October 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================End of Payne
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Saturday Evening, October 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 10
Inquest on Daniel C. Payne
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Sunday, October 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 11
Inquest on Daniel C. Payne, Not 'Suicided' but Murdered. Payne: To the World
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, October 11, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Inquest on Daniel C. Payne
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, October 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Story of Payne; The Testimony. Payne: To the World
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, October 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Inquest on Daniel C. Payne
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, October 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mrs. Adams Lost Her Senses. Payne Lost His Life
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Monday Afternoon, October 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Found Dead
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, October 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Found Dead
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, October 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Tragic Story of Payne
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Monday Evening, October 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne: To the World
================================================================ DAILY TROY BUDGET. Friday, October 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 12
Colt—Trial Postponed
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, October 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Dead
================================================================ RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, October 12, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Payne—Suicide
================================================================ THE SCHENECTADY CABINET: OR, FREEDOM'S SENTINEL. Tuesday Evening, October 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Inquest on Daniel C. Payne. Mrs. Adams in Her Senses; She Dreamed True
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Tuesday Evening, October 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 13
Payne—Suicide
================================================================ ONONDAGA STANDARD. Wednesday, October 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Intemperate Payne—Suicide
================================================================ AUBURN JOURNAL AND ADVERTISER. Wednesday, October 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Dead
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Wednesday, October 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Dead
================================================================ EXTRA GLOBE. Wednesday, October 13, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 14
Payne Lost His Life
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, October 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================ANECDOTES: Inoculated Ladies, Hang Together
================================================================ EDGEFIELD ADVERTISER. Thursday, October 14, 1841 (CA) ================================================================EDGEFIELD ADVERTISER. Thursday, October 14, 1841 (CA)
1841, OCTOBER 15
Payne—Very Intemperate. “God forgive me for my misspent time.”
================================================================ THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS. Friday Morning, October 15, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Wild Colt
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, October 15, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Russian Power
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, October 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================J. Fenimore Cooper—Facts
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, October 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 16
Payne—Dead
================================================================ SUNBURY AMERICAN AND SHAMOKIN JOURNAL. Saturday, October 16, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Almost Buried Alive
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Saturday Morning, October 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Disappearance
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, October 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Boxed Escape
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Saturday Evening, October 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Almost Buried Alive
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Saturday Evening, October 16, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 18
Boxed Escape
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, October 18, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Boxed Escape
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, October 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Boxed Escape. Newspaper—Unavoidable Errors
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, October 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Boxed Escape. Almost Buried Alive
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Monday Afternoon, October 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================J. Fenimore Cooper—Libel. Boxed Escape
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, October 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Murderer. Boxed Escape
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Monday Evening, October 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 19
Payne—Suicide
================================================================ INDIANA STATE SENTINEL. Tuesday, October 19, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Payne—Found Dead
================================================================ ONEIDA WHIG. Tuesday Morning, October 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Insane. Sacral Service—Guilty
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Tuesday Morning, October 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================“We shall meet above yon star…”
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, October 19, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Payne: To the World. Colt—Trial Postponed
================================================================ THE UTICA OBSERVER. Tuesday Morning, October 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Six in Custody; Tinner's Son Went with Mary. Mrs. Adams in Her Senses; She Dreamed True Payne: To the World
================================================================ RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, October 19, 1841 (CA) ================================================================RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, October 19, 1841 (CA)
Sacral Service—Guilty
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Tuesday Evening, October 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Almost Buried Alive
================================================================ LOWELL COURIER. Tuesday Evening, October 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Died of Grief & Intoxication
================================================================ GENEVA COURIER. Tuesday Evening, October 19, 1841 (NN) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 20
Justice Parker—NOT GUILTY
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, October 19, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Intemperate, Dead
================================================================ THE FREDONIA CENSOR. Wednesday Morning, October 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne Lost His Life
================================================================ THE WESTERN ARGUS. Wednesday, October 20, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Payne—Suicide. Colt—Gossipry. Almost Buried Alive
================================================================ JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. October 20, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 21
Unfortunate Colt
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, October 21, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 22
Noah's “Star”
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, October 22, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 23
Colt—Insane
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, October 23, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Payne—Suicide
================================================================ PLATTSBURGH REPUBLICAN. Saturday Morning, October 23, 1841 (NN) ================================================================Payne—Suicide
================================================================ THE SALT RIVER JOURNAL. Saturday, October 9, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Russian Power. Sea Serpent
================================================================ SUNBURY AMERICAN AND SHAMOKIN JOURNAL. Saturday, October 23, 1841 (CA) ================================================================No More by Henry M'Cudden
================================================================ BOON'S LICK TIMES. Saturday, October 23, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 25
Talkative Colt
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, October 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 26
Sacral Service—21 months. Insane Fashion, Justice Parker
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, October 26, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, October 26, 1841 (FH)
Payne: To the World
================================================================ CATTARAUGUS REPUBLICAN. October 26, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 27
Sacral Service—21 months. Colt—Insane
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, October 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Murderers Arrested
================================================================ TELEGRAPH AND TEXAS REGISTER. Wednesday, October 27, 1841 (TH) ================================================================ MURDERERS ARRESTED.—Three of the gang concern- ed in the murder of Miss Mary C. Rogers, have been arres- ted in N. Y. One of them is named James Flanegan, a noted rowdy. Miss Rogers was well known in New York as the “beautiful cigar girl.” It is stated that the gang consisted of six or seven persons, whose atrocities in various forms are familiar in the police annals; that two of them were known to Mary Rogers, and meeting her in the street on the morning of the murder, invited her to a sail to Hoboken, saying that they had hired a boat with oarsmen; that she accompanied them; was enticed, un- suspecting, to a retired part of the shore, and there, after the accomplishment of their hellish purposes, brutally murdered. ================================================================J. Fenimore Cooper—Double Facts. Sacral Service—21 months
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, October 27, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 28
Colt—Life of Virtue
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, October 28, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Sacral Service—Veakly Weins
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, October 28, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 29
Colt—Justice Postponed
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, October 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt's Statement
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, October 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, OCTOBER 30
Colt's Statement
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, October 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================No Colt's Statement
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, October 30, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 1
Colt—Mark of Cain
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, November 1, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Russian Diapers. To Die a Maid. No Colt's Statement
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 1, 1841 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 1, 1841 (FH)
Colt—Trial Goes Off
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, November 1, 1841—2 P. M. Second Edition (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 2
Colt—Trial Postponed
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 2, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Trial Goes Off
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, November 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Confinement of Testimony, Color of Delay
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, November 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Trial Goes Off
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, November 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 3
Mary—Suicide
================================================================ THE COURTLAND DEMOCRAT. Wednesday, November 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 4
Princess of Rusky Fusky Musky. Mary—Finnegan & Co.
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, November 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Princess of Rusky Tusky Musky
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, November 4, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Noah's “Star” Gone. Princess of Rusky-fusky-musty-tuskykuff
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, November 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 6
The Bachelor's Lament by Flaccus
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Saturday Evening, November 6, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 8
Wild Colt
================================================================ THE BROOKLYN EAGLE, AND KINGS COUNTY DEMOCRAT. Monday Morning, November 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Yankees—Definition
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, November 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 9
Colt's Statement. Mary—Suicide
================================================================ CATTARAUGUS REPUBLICAN. November 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================'Unreachable' Kamchatka
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, November 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 10
Superb Kamchatka
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, November 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 11
Kamchatka—The First Voyage
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, November 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 12
Successful Kamchatka
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 12, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Kamchatka. 'Murderous' Papers
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, November 12, 1841 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, November 12, 1841 (FH)
1841, NOVEMBER 15
Kamchatka—Credits
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Second Edition. Monday, November 15, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 20
Value of J. Fenimore Cooper
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, November 20, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 22
Mary—What of the Murderers?
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, November 22, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Silly J. Fenimore Cooper
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, November 22, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 24
Cost of Trial
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, November 24, 1841 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, November 24, 1841 (CA)
1841, NOVEMBER 25
Mary—Where are the Murderers?
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, November 25, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 26
J. Fenimore Cooper—Facts
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Friday Afternoon, November 26, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 29
Herald, Sun, Fanny
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, November 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================J. Fennimore Cooper
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, November 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, NOVEMBER 30
J. Fenimore Cooper—Tribune
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 30, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 1
Mary's Bitter End; Colt's Dreadful Mistress
================================================================ THE ADVOCATE OF MORAL REFORM. December 1, 1841 (GB) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 2
The Bachelor's Lament—Addition
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Thursday Evening, December 2, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 3
Robin Hood and…
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, December 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================J. Fenimore Cooper—One more Point
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, December 3, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 4
J. Fenimore Cooper—Monomaniac
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, December 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================A Dozen Columns for Cooper's Identity
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, December 4, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 8
Boat Girl—Jane Ann Toole
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, December 8, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 9
Boat Girl—Jane Ann Toole
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, December 9, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Boat Girl. Stupid Indifference
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, December 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, December 9, 1841 (FH)
Between Heaven and Earth
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, December 9, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 10
Boat Girl
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, December 10, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 11
Ornamental “Mary”
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, December 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Boat Girl—Mary Ann Toole
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, December 11, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 13
Boat Girl—Jane Ann Toole
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, December 13, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Boat Girl—Jane Ann Toole
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, December 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Ornamental “Mary”
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, December 13, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 14
Boat Girl—Jane Ann Toole
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, December 14, 1841 (CA) ================================================================Ornamental “Mary”
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Tuesday Afternoon, December 14, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 15
Boat Girl—Jane Ann Toole
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, December 15, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 17
Ornamental “Mary”—Suicide
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, December 17, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 18
Ornamental “Mary”—Discharge
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, December 18, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 21
Mary—Supposed Murderer. Boat Girl—Sentence
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, December 21, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Boat Girl—Sentence
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, December 21, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 22
Mary—Nothing New
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, December 22, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 23
Ornamental “Mary”
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, December 23, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 28
Colt—Trial Set for 17th
================================================================ NEW-YORK TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, December 28, 1841 (CA) ================================================================1841, DECEMBER 29
Colt—To Be Paid
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, December 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================Glentworth: To the People
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, December 29, 1841 (FH) ================================================================1842
1842, JANUARY 1
Herald's Year 1841
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, January 1, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, JANUARY 18
Colt—Trial, Lack of Jurors
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, January 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, JANUARY 20
Colt—Jurors
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday Morning, January 20, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, January 20, 1842 (FH)
1842, JANUARY 21
Colt—Trial
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, January 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, January 21, 1842 (FH)
1842, JANUARY 22
Colt—Trial—Privy
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, January 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, January 22, 1842 (FH)
1842, JANUARY 23
Colt—Trial—Missing Lid
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Sunday Morning, January 23, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, FEBRUARY 5
Mary—Supposed Murderer Discharged
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, February 5, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, MAY 12
Rathbun—Still No Pardon
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Thursday Evening, May 12, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, MAY 13
Rathbun—Still No Pardon
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, May 13, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, MAY 18
Rathbun—Still No Pardon
================================================================ NEW-YORK SPECTATOR. Wednesday Evening, May 17, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Saturday Afternoon, May 14.
1842, MAY 28
Restell, Colt, Boat Girl
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, May 28, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, JUNE 8
Mrs. Loss' Country Residence
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, June 8, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, JULY 28
Restell—New Trial Granted. Colt—New Trial Denied
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Thursday Evening, July 28, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, JULY 29
Restell—New Trial Granted. Lynch, Noah—Salaries as Judges
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, July 29, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, AUGUST 11
Mary, Colt—Charges
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, August 11, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, AUGUST 24
Restell—Supreme
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, August 24, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, AUGUST 27
Restell—Supreme
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday Morning, August 27, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, Evening Edition, August 27, 1842 (FH)
1842, SEPTEMBER 27
Colt—Sentence
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, Evening Edition, September 27, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, SEPTEMBER 28
Colt—Sentence
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, September 28, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 1
Mary—Poe's Coincidental
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, November 1, 1842 (FH) ================================================================THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET by Edgar A. Poe
================================================================ THE LADIES' COMPANION. November, 1842 (GB) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 2
Colt's Portrait
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, November 2, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 3
Herald—Explosion. Colt—Special Mercy
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, November 3, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 4
Colt—Last Hope
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 4, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Special Mercy
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, November 4, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Last Hope
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, November 4, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 5
Falling Herald
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, November 5, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 7
American Notes for General Circulation by Charles Dickens. Herald by Napoleon
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, November 7, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, November 7, 1842 (FH)
American Notes for General Circulation by Charles Dickens
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, November 7, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 8
American Notes for General Circulation by Charles Dickens
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, November 8, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, November 8, 1842 (FH)
Go Vote, Read Dickens, Peep at the Mermaid, Dine at the Kremlin—Now and Here!— THE END OF THE WORLD IS NEAR!
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 8, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 8, 1842 (CA)
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 8, 1842 (CA)
1842, NOVEMBER 9
Unfortunate Colt
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, November 9, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Indians—Place Them Beyond
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, November 9, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, November 9, 1842 (CA)
Colt—Solemn Farce
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Wednesday Evening, November 9, 1842 (FH) ================================================================American Notes for General Circulation by Charles Dickens. Indians Forever
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, November 9, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 10
American Notes for General Circulation by Charles Dickens. Colt's Neck
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, November 10, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, November 10, 1842 (CA)
1842, NOVEMBER 11
The Asylum Journal. Colt—Must Die
================================================================ VERMONT PHOENIX. Friday, November 11, 1842 (CA) ================================================================VERMONT PHOENIX. Friday, November 11, 1842 (CA)
1842, NOVEMBER 12
“Dimmikratick” Justice. Mary—Accidental Loss
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, November 12, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Dickens' American Notes. Mary—Accidental Loss
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Saturday Evening, November 12, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—No Hope
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, November 12, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 14
Colt—No Hope; Governor's Last Word
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, November 14, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—No Hope; Governor's Last Word
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, November 14, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—No Hope; New Trial Ought to Have Been Granted. Mary—Accidental Loss. Colt—Hacking Adams. The Wonderful Mermaid
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 14, 1842 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 14, 1842 (FH)
THE WONDERFUL MER-
MAID, taken near the Fejee
Islands, which has been visited
by fifty thousand persons in this
city and in Boston, and of the
genuineness of which all natural-
ists, and other persons, are con-
vinced upon beholding it, is en-
gaged, at an extraordinary ex-
pense, for one week only. Many
scientific gentlemen of celebrity
have staked their reputation that
this extraordinary nymph of the
sea is all she is represented.
MR. O'CONNEDL, the Tat-
tooed Man, will appear in his ce-
lebrated Dances, and give an his-
torical account of his sufferings for eleven years, while a
prison in the hands of barbarous savages in the North Pa-
cific Ocean.
T. G. BOOTH,
The comic singer and Ethiopian extravaganzist.
THE LILLIPUTIAN FAMILY.
Consisting of ten performers; Miss Hood, the vocalist;
Celeste, the danseuse, &c.
THE NORTH RIVER ON FIRE!
A new invention, by which the bottoms of rivers, lakes,
&c., may be illuminated. This is the most curious, beau-
tiful, and valuable invention of the age.
Day performances every Wednesday and Saturday after-
noons.
Admission to the whole 25 cents—children half price.
n14 3*
—————————————————————
NEW YORK MUSEUM AND
PICTURE GALLERY.
Broadway, opposite the City Hall.
Mr. H. Bennett, Manager,
begs leave to state that, in ac-
cordance with his announce-
ment of last week, he has ma-
nufactured
A FUDGE MERMAID!
and he willingly leaves to the
public to pronounce whether
it is not infinitely superior to
any other ever exhibited. It
is formed of the Head of a
Monkey and the Tail of a
Fish, so skilfully connected,
and admirably united, as to
elude the closest scrutiny of
the most experienced eye, and
set discovery at defiance. As
a manager of a place of pub-
lic amusement, he considers
he is bound to procure the passing novelties of the day.—
—The current of public opinion setting in favorably to-
ward Mermaids, the Manager conceives it to be a super-
fluous piece of Quixotism on his part to attempt to
stop it, but he thinks he may, at a trifling expense, direct
it into a proper channel. If the public are disposed to be
deceived, he will humor them to the top of their bent; or,
in plain terms, if they desire to be hoaxed, he will ac-
complish it in a superior style, and charge only HALF
PRICE—a serious consideration these hard times.
The manager announces with pleasure, that he has en-
gaged the HUGHES FAMILY—the wonderful Harpists,
consisting of the two Master Hughes and the Sister.—
These children possess a precocity of talent, unparalleled
in the annals of music, never before presenting so singu-
lar an instance. They execute with a style and finish not
inferior to the most eminent performers.
Also Frank Diamond, the unrivalled Ethiopian Dan-
cer; Mr. B. Boyce, the celebrated comic singer; Miss Ro-
salie, the charming songstress.
Fancy and Miniature Glass Blowing, by Mr. Owens.
A performance on Wednesday and Saturday at three
o'clock.
Admission to the Museum, Picture Gallery, and ente-
tainments, one shilling. n14 6Colt—No Hope
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Monday Morning, November 14, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—No Hope; Meeting. “Children, Obey Your Parents!”
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, November 14, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 15
Colt's Intention. Mrs. Farnham—To the Cow! Colt—Meeting
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, November 15, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, November 15, 1842 (FH)
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, November 15, 1842 (FH)
NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, Evening Edition, November 15, 1842 (FH)
Colt—'Pardoned' by the Governor. “Children, Obey Your Parents!”
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 15, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 15, 1842 (CA)
Colt—Meeting
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, November 15, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Governor Is Right, But…
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, November 15, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—No Hope; Must Die
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Tuesday Evening, November 15, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 16
Colt—Meeting
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, November 16, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Meeting: Inhuman & Hopeless; Governor—Man of Firmness! “Were Colt as popular as Ezra White…”
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Wednesday Morning, November 16, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Father Miller—Good Sort of a Man. Colt—Meeting; His Execution—Homicide
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, November 16, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Dickens' American Notes. “Children, Obey Your Parents!” Colt—No Hope
================================================================ JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. Wednesday, November 16, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Meeting. Female Marriage; Insane in Russia; Monthly Restell, Mrs. Bird, Costello
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, November 16, 1842 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, November 16, 1842 (FH)
Colt—No Hope
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Wednesday, November 16, 1842 (FH) ================================================================DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Wednesday Morning, November 16, 1842 (FH)
Mrs. Farnham—Good Lectures
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Wednesday Evening, November 16, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Must Die; No Hope. “Children, Obey Your Parents!”
================================================================ NEW-YORK SPECTATOR. Wednesday Evening, November 16, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Monday Afternoon, November 14.
Colt—No Hope
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Wednesday Evening, November 16, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 17
McDonald Clarke—Monument. Colt—Experiments
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, November 17, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, November 17, 1842 (CA)
Father Miller, Dickens & Worms. Colt—Cheerful; Consistent Governor
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, November 17, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, Evening Edition, November 17, 1842 (FH)
Colt—Chancellor's Refusal
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Thursday Morning, November 17, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Female Marriage—Free. McDonald Clarke—Monument
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, November 17, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Dickens—Unworthy of Notice. “Children, Obey Your Parents!”
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, November 17, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Consistent Governor; Blood-Stained Meeting
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Thursday Evening, November 17, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Chancellor's Refusal; Consistent Governor; Protest
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Thursday Evening, November 17, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 18
Colt—Consistent Governor. Mary—Mystery Explained
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (CA)
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (CA)
Colt—Consistent Governor; Colt's Counsel: To the Sheriff. Mary—Sons of Mrs. Loss Arrested
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Down with Capital Punishment, Give Him Another Chance! Consistent Governor
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Consistent Governor
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—No Hope; Consistent Governor
================================================================ SCHENECTADY REFLECTOR. Friday Morning, November 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Dies Today
================================================================ THE MIDNIGHT CRY. Friday, November 18, 1842 (AA) ================================================================Colt—Attempted Bribery, Probable Suicide; Weeping Colt, Consistent Governor; Marriage, Preparations for Execution; Chancellor: They Should Have Tried Better; SUICIDE—Knife in the Heart; Cupola on Fire
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, November 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, Evening Edition, November 18, 1842 (FH)
NEW YORK HERALD.—EXTRA. Friday Evening, November 18, 1842 (FH)
Colt—Married, Will Be Executed. Mary—Mystery Explained. “Let silence gaze—but curse not his grave.”
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Friday Evening, November 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Chancellor's Refusal. Colt's Counsel: To the Sheriff. Mary—Mystery Explained. Colt—There Was No Marriage
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, November 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, November 18, 1842 (FH)
Colt—Consistent Governor
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Friday Evening, November 18, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 19
Colt—A Knife to His Heart; Abolish Death Punishment! Chancellor: They Should Have Tried Better. Colt—Marriage, Dirk & Fire; Inquest. Venus—Unusual Purity
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, November 19, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, November 19, 1842 (CA)
Colt—Invalid Marriage; Expected Suicide; Strange Fire; Inquest. Mary—Rumors
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Saturday Morning, November 19, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Suicide; Fire; Venus; Inquest. Mary—Gilbert Merritt: Mrs. Loss Was Not Examined
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, November 19, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Who Gave Him the Knife? “Colt's” Star in the Sky—Venus; Marriage, Preparations for Execution; Suicide; Cupola on Fire; Inquest; “Yes, I will die with Christian fortitude.” Chancellor: They Should Have Tried Better
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, November 19, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Last Conversation: “the world will not pardon a man who does not fear it.” Mary—Mystery Explained
================================================================ DAILY TROY BUDGET. Saturday Afternoon, November 19, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Last Scene. Mary—Mystery Not Explained
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Saturday Evening, November 19, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Father Miller—Member in Good Standing. Colt—Marriage; Suicide with Bowie Knife; Burning Tower; Inquest
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, November 19, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Life and Letters; Suicide and Fire; Colt Wished to Escape in Female Attire; “Give me wealth, and I could put my foot upon the neck of the universe.” Venus—Seen Even in New York. Mary—Mystery Explained
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Saturday Evening, November 19, 1842 (FH) ================================================================ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Saturday Evening, November 19, 1842 (FH)
1842, NOVEMBER 20
Colt—Dead, Yet Lives. Mary—Mrs. Loss' Great Secret
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Sunday Morning, November 20, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 21
Mary—Mrs. Loss' Great Secret
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Murder of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Colt—Letters; Last Conversation. Mary—Mystery Not Explained. Colt—Violated Majesty
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (FH)
Mary—Mrs. Loss' Great Secret
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Excitement. Mary—Mystery Not Explained
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Consistent Governor; Last Scene. Mary—Mystery Explained Not
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Monday, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (FH)
Colt—Suicide. Mary—Mystery Explained Not
================================================================ TROY DAILY WHIG. Monday Morning, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Dead; Christ—Coming!
================================================================ THE MIDNIGHT CRY. Monday, November 21, 1842 (AA) ================================================================Colt—Inquest. Mary—Mystery Not Explained
================================================================ DAILY TROY BUDGET. Monday Afternoon, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Mystery Not Explained
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Monday Evening, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Mrs. Loss' Great Secret
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Monday Evening, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Last Scene. Mary—Mystery Not Explained
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Monday Evening, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Mystery Not Explained
================================================================ THE BROOKLYN EAGLE, AND KINGS COUNTY DEMOCRAT. Monday Evening, November 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 22
Colt—Pious Interviews. Mary—We, Tribune, Were First! J. Fenimore Cooper—The Wing-and-Wing
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 22, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 22, 1842 (CA)
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 22, 1842 (CA)
Colt—Pious Interviews
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Pious Interviews; Cupola on Fire; Victim of D. Selden; Guilty Sheriff. Mary—Give up, Tribune!
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, November 22, 1842 (FH)
Mary—Mystery NOT Explained—Hoax
================================================================ THE UTICA OBSERVER. Tuesday Morning, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Last Scene. Mary—Mystery Explained
================================================================ ROMAN CITIZEN. Tuesday, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Last Scene. Mary—Mrs. Loss' Great Secret
================================================================ THE LONG-ISLAND FARMER, AND QUEENS COUNTY ADVERTISER. Tuesday, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Pious Interviews
================================================================ NEW-YORK AMERICAN. Tuesday Evening, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Pious Interviews
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Tuesday Evening, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Last Scene. Mary—Mystery Explained Not
================================================================ THE SCHENECTADY CABINET: OR, FREEDOM'S SENTINEL. Tuesday Evening, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—No Murderers. Colt—Abridged Plebeian. Miller—Eggs
================================================================ LOWELL COURIER. Tuesday Evening, November 22, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 23
Colt—Excitement
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, November 23, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, November 23, 1842 (FH)
Colt—Pious Interviews
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, November 23, 1842 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, November 23, 1842 (FH)
Mary—Mystery Explained. Colt—Suicide
================================================================ THE FREDONIA CENSOR. Wednesday Morning, November 23, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Mrs. Loss' Great Secret
================================================================ NEW-YORK SPECTATOR. Wednesday Evening, November 23, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Monday Afternoon, November 21.
Tuesday Afternoon, November 22.
Colt—Upon His Dead Body
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Wednesday Morning, November 23, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Pen-Knifed Himself. Mary—Some Hope
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Wednesday, November 23, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Dirk Still Sticking
================================================================ JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. Wednesday, November 23, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 24
Colt—Excitement. Mary—Give up, Tribune!
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Thursday, November 24, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Letters: “I can never blame counsel… although my friends blame them…”
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Thursday Morning, November 24, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Moral Lesson
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, November 24, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Pious Interviews. Mary—Secret Investigations
================================================================ DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Thursday, November 24, 1842 (FH) ================================================================DAILY ALBANY ARGUS. Thursday Morning, November 24, 1842 (FH)
Colt—Last Scene. Mary—Mrs. Loss' Great Secret
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, November 24, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 25
Colt—Letters: “If there is one passion or desire above all others in the human heart, it is a desire of being well off.” Mary—Examinations in Progress
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, November 25, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Wife & Child in Baltimore. Murders, Murders, Murders—Boring!
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 25, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Goes to Connecticut
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday Morning, November 25, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Evening Edition (FH)
Colt—Abridged Plebeian. Mary—Mystery Explained
================================================================ VERMONT PHOENIX. Friday, November 25, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Last Scene. Mary—Mystery Explained Not, Daniel Payne Could Have Explained It!
================================================================ SCHENECTADY REFLECTOR. Friday Morning, November 25, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Examinations in Progress
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, November 25, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Mystery Explained Not. Colt—Last Scene
================================================================ THE LONG-ISLANDER. Huntington. Friday, November 25, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 26
Colt—Goes to Connecticut; Cupola. James Watson Webb—2 Years in State Prison
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, Evening Edition, November 26, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Mystery Explained. Colt—Last Scene. Dickens—Dirty Fellow
================================================================ SUNBURY AMERICAN AND SHAMOKIN JOURNAL. Saturday, November 26, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Suicide. Mary—Mrs. Loss' Great Secret
================================================================ PLATTSBURGH REPUBLICAN. Saturday Morning, November 26, 1842 (NN) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 27
Colt—Excitement
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Sunday Morning, November 27, 1842 (FH) ================================================================NEW YORK HERALD. Sunday Morning, November 27, 1842 (FH)
1842, NOVEMBER 28
Mary—Ought Not Mayor to Offer a Reward?
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, November 29, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Newspapers—Truthful as Clergy
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday Morning, November 28, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Murdered Lore (alias Love)
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 28, 1842 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, November 28, 1842 (FH)
1842, NOVEMBER 29
Colt—W. W. W. Letter
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, November 30, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—W. W. W. Letter
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday Morning, November 29, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—W. W. W. Letter
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, November 29, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Mystery Explained. Colt—Suicide. Mary—Secret Investigations
================================================================ THE MIDDLEBURY PEOPLE'S PRESS. November 29, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, NOVEMBER 30
Colt—Heraldic Review
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday Morning, November 30, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—$1000 to the Child!
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, November 30, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—No Explanation. Colt—Brother's Letter to Dr. Anthon
================================================================ JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. Wednesday, November 30, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Mary—No Murderers. Colt—Pious Interviews
================================================================ REPUBLICAN WATCHMAN. November 30, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Secret Investigations. Murdered Lore
================================================================ THE CORRECTOR. SAG-HARBOR. Wednesday, November 30, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Capital Punishment. Mary—Died from Abortion
================================================================ THE BROOME REPUBLICAN. Wednesday, November 30, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 1
THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET by Edgar A. Poe
================================================================ THE LADIES' COMPANION. December, 1842 (GB) ================================================================Colt—Dividing the Bribe
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, December 1, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Dead or Alive
================================================================ THE OHIO DEMOCRAT. Thursday, December 1, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Last Conversation
================================================================ MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, December 1, 1842 (FH) ================================================================MOHAWK COURIER. LITTLE FALLS, December 1, 1842 (FH)
1842, DECEMBER 2
Colt—Bribe Examination; Dividing the Bribe
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Friday, December 2, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Dividing the Bribe
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, December 2, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Dividing the Bribe
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, December 2, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Sun's Letter
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, December 2, 1842 (FH) ================================================================THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, December 2, 1842 (FH)
THE NEW YORK SUN. Friday Morning, December 2, 1842 (FH)
Colt—Inconsistent Governor; Dividing the Bribe
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Friday Evening, December 2, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 3
Colt—Dead or Alive; Dividing the Bribe
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, December 3, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, December 3, 1842 (CA)
Colt—Suicide. Mary—Died from Premature Birth Medicine
================================================================ BOON'S LICK TIMES. Saturday, December 3, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Dividing the Bribe
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Saturday Evening, December 3, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 5
Colt—Who Gets the Bribe? Dingler—Inhuman Beast
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Monday, December 5, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Dingler—Irreproachable Character
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Monday Morning, December 5, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 6
THE SALEM BELLE: A Tale of 1692. Murdered Lore. Colt—Dividing the Bribe
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, December 6, 1842 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, December 6, 1842 (CA)
Colt—Serial “Box-Murderer”
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, December 6, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Dividing the Bribe. Dingler—Pointed Out
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Tuesday Morning, December 6, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Murdered Lore. Disgraceful Dingler
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Tuesday Evening, December 6, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 7
Colt—Sheriff Returned
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, December 7, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Suicide
================================================================ THE NORTH CAROLINA STANDARD. Wednesday, December 7, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 8
Colt—Dead, Give Him Rest!
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, December 8, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 9
Colt—Knife Round and Round in His Heart; Mob Set Cupola on Fire. “Children, Obey Your Parents!”
================================================================ THE ILLINOIS FREE TRADER. Friday, December 9, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Perfectly Dead
================================================================ ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. Friday Evening, December 9, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 10
Colt—Sun's Letter
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Saturday Morning, December 10, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 12
J. Fenimore Cooper vs. Tribune
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, December 12, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 14
Colt—Cupola
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, December 14, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Tribune: Foul Sun
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, December 14, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 15
Sun: Mistress Greeley of Tribune
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Thursday Morning, December 15, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 16
Colt—Capital Punishment & Bible
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, December 16, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 17
J. Fenimore Cooper—Hands Off!
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Saturday, December 17, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Colt—Sheriff's Loss
================================================================ BOON'S LICK TIMES. Saturday, December 17, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 20
Dr. Jackson—Expulsion?
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Tuesday, December 20, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 21
Colt—Cupola Committee; Sheriff's Bribe
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, December 21, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Colt—Cupola Committee. Evils of Literature
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Wednesday, December 21, 1842 (FH) ================================================================Murdered Lore
================================================================ THE NORTH CAROLINA STANDARD. Wednesday, December 21, 1842 (CA) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 24
The Last of the Mohegans
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, December 24, 1842 (CA) ================================================================Suicide of Colt. Solution of Mary Rogers Mystery
================================================================ THE NORTHERN STANDARD. December 24, 1842 (TH) ================================================================1842, DECEMBER 30
Mary—Gilbert Merritt: I Will Fear No Threats!
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, December 30, 1842 (FH) ================================================================1843
1843, JANUARY 19
Mary—Anderson Strikes Back
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, January 19, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, FEBRUARY 1
THE MYSTERY OF MARIE ROGET by Edgar A. Poe
================================================================ THE LADIES' COMPANION. February, 1843 (GB) ================================================================1843, MARCH 12
Charles G. Corliss—Fired by Colton
================================================================ NEW YORK HERALD. Sunday, March 12, 1843 (FH) ================================================================1843, MARCH 13
Corliss—Broken Cap
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Monday Morning, March 13, 1843 (FH) ================================================================1843, MARCH 18
Corliss—Alleged Seduction
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, March 18, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, MARCH 21
Corliss—Shot by a Man in Woman's Clothes
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, March 21, 1843 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, March 21, 1843 (CA)
1843, MARCH 22
Corliss—Veiled Testimony
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, March 22, 1843 (CA) ================================================================Corliss—Veiled Woman; Veiled Testimony
================================================================ THE NEW YORK SUN. Wednesday Morning, March 22, 1843 (FH) ================================================================1843, MARCH 23
Corliss—Colton's Power. Testimony
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Thursday Morning, March 23, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, MARCH 24
Corliss—Woman, Pistol, Shot. Orthography
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, March 24, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, MARCH 25
Corliss—Killed by 'Proxy;' Testimony. Orthography. Pastor Sheared a Flock
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, March 25, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, MARCH 27
Corliss—Some-barreled Testimony
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, March 27, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, MARCH 28
Corliss—Urging Woman. Testimony
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, March 28, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, MARCH 29
Corliss—Fired, Colton—Discharged. Mary Rogers—Mentioned
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, March 29, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, APRIL 04
Life Rules! No Truth! Slander! Mary—Astounding Disclosures! Disturbing ABOLITION. No End Yet!
================================================================ RUTLAND HERALD. Tuesday Evening, April 4, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, APRIL 12
Corliss—Fired by a Woman
================================================================ THE MIDDLEBURY PEOPLE'S PRESS. April 12, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, APRIL 24
From Mary to Corliss—'Whorable' Justice. A Bad Girl
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Monday, April 24, 1843 (CA) ================================================================1843, MAY 18
“Mary” & a Young Naval Officer
================================================================ THE EVENING POST. Thursday Evening, May 18, 1843 (FH) ================================================================1844
1844, JANUARY 12
Mary—Crommelin Arrested for Larceny
================================================================ MORNING COURIER AND NEW-YORK ENQUIRER. Friday Morning, January 12, 1844 (FH) ================================================================Mary—Crommelin Arrested for Stealing. Bigamist Typo
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, January 12, 1844 (CA) ================================================================1844, JANUARY 13
Mary—Crommelin Arrested for Larceny
================================================================ SEMI-WEEKLY COURIER AND ENQUIRER. Saturday Morning, January 13, 1844 (FH) ================================================================1844, MARCH 13
Forever Brothel-ly Real Police! Mary C. Rogers—Substantially Lives! Occasional Ladies. “...banish the Bible from our public institutions!” RATS IN THE ROOM!!!
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Wednesday Morning, March 13, 1844 (CA) ================================================================1844, MARCH 21
How Many Genders Are There? Mary C. Rogers—Substantially Lives! “You may squeeze my hand!” “Is he Qualified?” She Has a Three!
================================================================ JEFFERSONIAN REPUBLICAN. Thursday, March 21, 1844 (CA) ================================================================1844, NOVEMBER 29
Mary—Complaining Crommelin. Delivering Noah
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday Morning, November 29, 1844 (CA) ================================================================1844, NOVEMBER 30
Hoppy Bill of Botany Bay. Mary C. Rogers—Good Agent Crommelin. Painless Blessing! UnDeaf Yourself! Dry Feet! Female Beauty! Light Eyes! Leeches and Nipples!
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Saturday Morning, November 30, 1844 (CA) ================================================================1844, DECEMBER 3
A Bit of Orange Feminist. Deep Meaning with 12 Teats! Mary C. Rogers—$100 Crommelin. Nutty Millstone. 'Dogly' Gentleman. Funny Marriage. 'Imprisonly' Human. Improperly Himself. Fleecy Impostor.
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, December 3, 1844 (CA) ================================================================1845
1845, MAY 6
Playful Gay Greeks in Paris. Holy Jeez! “Who does not know...Mary Rogers?” Her Butcher Known to Some Agents!
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1845 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1845
1845, MAY 19
No Martyrs! Vegetarian Cherokees. Mary—$100+ Crommelin
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Monday Morning, May 19, 1845 (CA) ================================================================1845, NOVEMBER 7
Black White Out Inside. “God never makes us do wrong.” “It is a good thing to feed the minds of children.” [Depends on the "feeder!"] “God is on their side.” [Or INSIDE?] RADICALISM!!! “Devil is...a preacher of Scripture.” Mary—Murdered by Abortionists
================================================================ NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday, November 7, 1845 (CA) ================================================================NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday, November 7, 1845
NEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE. Friday, November 7, 1845
1845, NOVEMBER 8
France-USA Drama. Three Women. Mary—Three Hags of Misery
================================================================ NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE. Saturday, November 8, 1845. p.91 (FH) ================================================================NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE. November 8, 1845. p.92