as if he had not many days to live, though a young man. Recorder. Williams, you stole a lot of kerseymere from a store, and ran off with it-a most pernicious crime! But, as your health is not good, we shall only send you to Sing Sing for three years and six months. John H. Murray was arraigned. Recorder. Murray, you're a deep fellow. You got a green mountain boy into an alley, and played at "shuffle and burn," and you burned him out of a hundred dollars. You must go to Sing Sing for five years; and we hope the reputable reporters attending for the respectable public press will warn our respectable country friends, when they come into New York, not to go into Orange Street, and play at "shuffle and burn" among bad girls and bad men, or they'll very likely get burnt, like this green mountain boy. - Go to the next. William Shay, charged with shying glasses at the head of a tavern-keeper. Guilty. Recorder. This rioting is a very bad crime, Shay, and deserves heavy punishment; but as we understand you have a wife and sundry little Shays, we'll let you off, provided you give your solemn promise never to do so any more. Shay. I gives it-wery solemnonly. Shay. Thank your honour-your honour's a capital judge. John Bowen, charged with stealing a basket. Guilty. Recorder. Now, John, we've convicted you: and you'll have to get out stone for three months on Blackwell's Island-that's the judg ment of the Court. William Buckly and Charles Rogers, charged with loafing-sleeping in the park, and leaving the gate open-were discharged, with a caution to take care how they interfered with corporation rights in future, or they would get their corpo ration into trouble. Ann Boyle, charged with being too lively in the street. Let off on condition of being quiet for the time to come. Thomas Dixon, charged with petty larceny. Guilty. Dixon. I wish to have judgment suspended. Recorder. It's a bad time to talk about suspension; why do you request this? Dixon. I've an uncle I want to see, and other relations. Recorder. In that case we'll send you to Blackwell's Island for six months, you'll be sure to find them all there. Sentence accordingly. Charles Enroff, charged with petty larceny— coming Paddy over an Irish shoemaker, and thereby cheating him out of a pair of shoes. Guilty. Sentenced to the Penitentiary, Blackwell's Island, for six months, and to get out stone. Charles Thorn, charged with assaulting Miss Rachael Prigmore. Recorder. Miss Prigmore, how came this man to strike you? Rachael. Because I wouldn't have him. (A laugh). He was always a teazing me, and spouting poetry about roses and thorns; so when I told him to be off he struck me. Prisoner (theatrically). Me strike you! Oh, Rachael Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love, But why did you kick me down stairs ?" Prisoner's Counsel. That's it, your honour. Why did she kick him down stairs? This the fair Rachael indignantly denied, and the prisoner was found guilty. Recorder. This striking of women is a very bad crime, you must get out stone for two months. Prisoner. She'll repent, your honour. She loves me-I know she does. "On the cold flinty rock, when I'm busy at work, Oh, Rachael, I'll think of thee." Thomas Ward, charged with petty larceny. Guilty.-Ward had nothing to offer to ward off his sentence, therefore he was sent to the Island for six months. Maria Brandon, charged with petty larceny. Guilty. Sentenced to pick oakum for six months. Maria. Well, I've friends, that's comfort, they'll sing "Oh come to this bower, my own stricken deer." Recorder. You're right, Maria, it's an oakum bower you're going to. The Court then adjourned.*. But all these are nothing compared with the following, which at first I did not credit. I made the strictest enquiry, and was informed by a legal gentleman present that it was correct. I give the extract as it stood in the newspapers. * There is, as will appear by the quotations, as much fun in the police reports in New York as in the best of ours: the style of the Recorder is admirably taken off. L 2 |
