The New York Herald Newspaper, January 15, 1871, Page 4

ae NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 187L—TRIPLE SHEET, TREASURY THIEVES.| THE ICE HARVEST. 4 CONGRESS. ‘The House at Work on the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation Bill—Salaries of Judges of the Supreme Court to be Tncreased—A Host of Private Bills Agreed To. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WASHINGYON, Jan, 14, 1871, BUSINESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON TERRITORIES, Mr. CULLOM, \rep.) of IL, asked consent to have @ day assigned for the business of the Committee on ‘Territories, Mr. RaNDALL, (dem.) of Pa, objected, unless with the understanding that no bill for the admission of Terrttories as States should be acted on. Mr. CULLOm declined to accept that condition. Mr. RANDALL then objected uuconditionaily, RELUSF OF CAPTAIN LYNCH. On motion of Mr, Scorigip, (rep,.) of Pa., the Senate amendment to the House bill for the restora- ton of Captain Lynch to the active list of the navy as captain Was concurred in. PRIVATE BILLS PASSED, The House then proceeded to the call of com- Mittees for bills of @ private character. Bilis were passed Jor the relief uf Join K. Benneit, late registrar of the Land Otfice at Chatheld, Minu.; confirming the tile of Nathan Boyer to certain lands 4n iinois; to amend an act Contirming the title to certain lands in Ulnois; for reuet of Richard P. Hammona, late collector of customs at San Fran- eisco, Leing a Senate bill with House amendments; authorizing the settiement of the accounts of William G. Paton, late collector of interual revenue for the First district of Caliiorma; granting condemned ordnance jor a soldiers’ monument at Cleveland, Olio; to cause the removal of machmery, arms and stores noW at the Allegheny Arsenal, Pittsburg, and to sell the remaining properiy and apporteuances to the municipal “authori- ties of Pittsburg; to pay two companies of Oregon volunteers; lor tue relief Of Mrs, Polly W. Cotton, of Tennessee; for the reitef of Robert B. Chowden, Tennessee; for the reitef of A, V. Richarda, late 8); nai oliver In the army; for the relief of QOaptain E. W. Bass, o! Tennessee; granting condemned cannon fora soldiers’ monument to associations in Alle- gheny county, Pa.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Stevenson county, Li.; Lasalie county, Li; Tuscarora, Pa.; Bastford, Conn.; Finley, Obio, and Youngstown, Oto; for the relief of James T, Elliott, of Michigan; for the relief of Isaac B. Kinkead, ot Onto, BILLS INTRODUCED AND REFERRED. By Mr. SANGENT, (cep.) Of Cal—Authorizing the establisumeat of an ocean mall steatship service between the United States and Australia, By Mr. OonGER, (rep.} of Mich.—For the survey and sale of a portion of the cemetery grounds of the Port Gratiot snilitary reservation. by Mr. SHELDON, (rep) of La,—To incorporate the Union Life Associauon of the United States, THE LEGISLASIVE, EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL APPRO- PRIATION BILL. The House then, at twenty minutes to two P. M., went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Senotield ia the chair, and resumed the consideration of the Legulative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation bi Mr. ARMSTRONG, (rep.) of Pa., moved to make the salary of the f Justice of the Supreme Cours of the United States $10,500, tnstead of $1,500, and of each of the Associate Justices $10,000, instead of 000. Mr. Exa, rep.) of N. H., made the point of order that the ambnd ment proposed to change an existing Jaw, and was, therefore, not 10 order. The chair man overruied the objection, Mr. HALE, fren) of Me., moved to make the salary of the Chief Justice $8,500, and of the Associates or retired Justices $8,000, Mr. PoTTex, (dem.) of N. Y.. opposed Mr. Hale’s amendment and favored the motion of Mr. Arm- strong. He said that the salaries attached to those offices in 178—$4,500 for the Chief Justice and $4,000 for the Associate Justices—were more nearly equivalent in purchasing power to $20,000 a year now than to the sums indicated in the amendment of the gentleman from Pennsyivania. Those salaries were increased in 1855 to $6,500 and $6,000, which were equa! in purchasing power to $12,000 now. He con- trasted the liberal policy of the English government in fixing the compensation of judges with the parsi- mony practiced by the United States government. Mr. Dawes, (rep.) of Mass., was satisdea that the time had come when it was not only proper drt absolutely necessary to increase the compensation of the Judges or the Supreme Court. The only ques- tion was as to the sum at which it ought to be fixed. In considering that question the provision of a lite | ee for the Judges should not lost sight of. le believed that present compensation should be increased by thou-and doilars a year, and he woud, arenas support the amendment offered by al Mr. ARMSTRONG argued in support of the amend- ment which he had oifered as being a fair and pro- Tr one. bast Exa inguired whether tlus was a proper timo to enter on the system of increasing salaries, when ail branches of business were depressed and when fame ies were already overtaxed? As to the no- cessity of such increase ou account of an increase in the cost of living. the reverse was the fact. The expenses of living had decreased more than fifty per cent within the last two years. Mr. JENCKES, (rep.) of R. L., supported the amend- ment offered by Mr. Armstrong, contending that tbe uprigut judge was the poor man’s counsel, and, therefore, it was to the interest of taxpayers to have the judge liberally compensated. Mr. Hoax, (rep.) of Mass., argned on the same side. He said that when the ablest members of the bar entered au Engush court room they found them- selves in the presence of au intellectual supertor. The judge brought to the determination of the case a weight of learning and inteilectual power which nothing at the bar could match. On the contrary, the policy which prevatied in too many of the Amer- ican States had brought about that saddest of all Spectacles, justice administered by a feeble judge in the presence of abie and powertul advocates, The Supreme Court of the lnited States was in dignity and importance and as asoerce of national pride immeasurably superior to any other trivunal on the face of the earth. To tt were brought sovereign States as plaintitis or defendants. It Was a tribunal which, in the last resort, exhausted grave constitu- tonal questions on which the political rights of the people were to depend; and yet tpose judges were accorded a salary not equal to the ordinary income Ol a respectable attorney in @ rurai district in an interior State. Mr. KELSEY, (rep.) of N. Y., warned the House that if 1t went to increasing salaries of judges—and he was not prepared to say there should be none—t could not close the food gates; it woud be compelied to go into a general raising of salaries of all em- pioyés of the goverament. The increase of judicial salaries, if made, should be made in a special bill, not in @ general appropriation bill. Mr. BEoK, (dem.) of Ky., favored the amendment Droposed by Mr. Hale. Cabinet officers were now paid $5,000 a year. They began with about the same salaries as the judges; but were gradually raised to that sum. Mr. BincuamM, (rep.) of Ohto, suggested that the gentieman from Pennsyivania (Mr. Armstrong) Should accept the amendment offered py Mr. Hale, although, if the matter was left to himself, he woul vote the larger sua, and would then be satisfied that he had voted no more than was due to the court itself and the people behind the court. Mr. BUTLER, (rep.) 01 Mass., said he would vote for the larger sum proposed, and argued that in proportion to the wealth aud prices of the countr¢ of the two periods the first salary fixed for the Judges was much more liberal than that now pro- posed, The debate was TUrther continued by Mr. Potter, in favor of the proposed increase, and by Messrs. Benjamin, Ela and Benton against it. Mr. ARMSTRON in conformity with suggestions made to him, accepted the amendment ofered by Mr. Hale instead of his own, The amendment was adopted, fixing the salary of the Colef Justice at $8,500, and of the Associates and retired Justices at $8,000 each, The Cominitiee then rose, leaving two pages of the bill unfinished, and the House at haif-past three | o'clock adjourned. THE SCARE ABOUT THE CA0TON. New York, Jan. 11, 1871. To THE EDITOR OY THE HERALD: In consequence of seeing numerous acounts in the papers of the scarcity of water in the reservolrs ana Croton river, Iam impelled to ask why measures are not taken to prevent the enormous waste? Go where you may you find hydrants left running, under the pretence of preventing tneir fi when a litte precaution is ali thatis required. [ have Known a hydrant to be left running (full stream) from October to May, when alittle manure placed around it would have been sufficient (it was at astable). At the dock footol ‘wenty-sixtn stree East river, in charge of Commissioners o! Charities, there are now running, and have been for a iong time (even during the drouth of iast summer), two large streams of water from the two and a balfimch pipes on said dock; the amount of water wasted here would supply ordinary wants of at least 100 famthes, tp ee tf enormous, A short time since ] was omg es Thirteenth street, near Fourth avenue, when the firemen were washing their track (located there}, the it running about half force. Repassing al an hour later vhe water was still running, the men not having fMunished their job; tue track by the way having @ cleaner and brighter ap- than their owm persons, When water i #0 scarce that it will scarcely go up to the thir floor ———— that this waste should be al- 2 oy ‘natsays Mr. Tweed? Do the warnings (?) sent round by the Department of Public Works mean anything? A CITIZEN. EFFECTS OF THE JERSEY WATER FAMINE. Sinoe the water supply gave out in Jersey City the Keepers of gin milis have been dotng a thriving business. The demand for Jersey lightning ts regu- ‘ated by the supply of Passaic water. Yesterday afternoon an unfortunate wight, named John Murphy, who had been suffering from severe ‘thirat for two days, called at a rum hole in the First hours Jersey City, and had his fiL Two antec he cambled into the Morris Canal the fagt of Bergen strect, and would haye gone throngh a cleft tn the foe but for the Mey arrival of oMcer Foley, who conveyed him to the First. pre- Chnohatanos. ape by a pes gash one De caused by a Some parva teigads say toat Mf seiy thle serious should result they wilt sue tne Water Commissioners for —- ae they are clearly liable for breach of cou- tract NEW YORK CITY. The following record will show the changes in the temperature for the past twenty-four hours in com- parison with the corresponding day of last year, as indicated by the thermometer at Hudnut’s Phar- macy, HERALD Building, corner of Ann street:— Is70. 1871. 1870. 1871. 8A. M 38 64 6A. M. 9A. M 12 M. Average temperature yescerday Average temperature for corresponding last year, ‘The vita! statistics for the week ending January 14 are:—Deaths, 494; marriages, 187; births, 392, and suiliborn, 39. The police report 1,177 arrests during the past week, being the smallest number reported for several years. The followiny Iicenses have been granted for the week ending January 1 Expresses, 9; public carts, 39; coaches, 9; vende! gunpowder, 1; porter, 1; ‘drivers, 76, ' Total, ‘Total amount received for licenses, $239 75, 2 158, ‘The Colored Reef Association acknowledge the receipt of ten dollars from E. J——, a lady of this city: also clothing from the ladies of America, at their rooms, No. 43 Bible House, where donations will be received for the destitute colored people trom the South seeking homes and employment here. At the Essex Market Police Uourt yesterday, be- fore Justice Koch, Charles Rostettar, cf 97 Stanton street, was held to answer on a charge of forging, respectively for the amounts of $50 and $100, two checks of the First National Bank of Brookiyn, and signing thereto the names of Wapter & Co., of 46 Second street, Brooklyn, a firma with whom le was employed as a clerk. Tae Tax Commissioner: ‘e doing little new save receiving applications for the correction of assess- ents. The following are the receipts for the week ending yesterday morning:— January 7. $11,026 84° January 11 January 9. 12,478 41 January 12 January 10..::2 12)288 17 January 13.. Total. Mr. James Donahue, Superintendent of the Free Labor Bureau, Nos. 8 and 10 Clinton place, makes the fotlowiftg report of business for the week end- ing January 14:—Applications for employment, 936: of these there were 168 males and 768 femaies; maie help required, 51; females, 765; situations procured for 71 males and 720 females. Whole number of oe procured for the week ending January 14, There have been received at the Ordinance Bureau of the Mayor’s Office for the week ending Saturday, January 14, 1871, 265 complaints of vie- lation of Corporation ordinances. Of these seventy-one have been satisfactorily settled and the balance were rejerred to the various departments for correction, The Ordinance Department has also removed all permanent obstructtons tn Fulton street, irom Broad way to East river, during the week, Coroner Keenan commenced an investigation yes- terday as to the circumstances of the death of an unknown man, whd was run over by a train on the Hudson River Railroad, on the 11th inst,, and killed. It appeared from the testimony that deceased was wal! on the track near Sixty-sixth street, going north, as the Yonkers train came along. He was on the west track, but as the train approached he sheered across to the up-track, and the engine struck him; whether he stepped across invoiuntarily, of course, cannot be Known. The imquest has not ad concluded, and the body has not been iden- tulled. Captain Edward Walsh has appointed the follow- ing gentlemen (irrespective of party) as a committee to superintend the distribution of coal to the poor of the Fourteenth ward. He received a ‘check of $1,000 from William M. Tweed for that charitabie object:—Henry Manron, Ambrose O’Netil, John Mul- holland, John A. O’Brien, Michael Reynolds, Robert H. Racey, Constantine McGuire, William Gallagher, James Freel, Patrick Sheridan, John Hayes, James Carty, Edward Walsh, Adolphus Borst, Richard Leslie, James J, Sievin, Philip Herlick, Michael Fin- nerty, Howell C. Vail, Patrick Gough. ‘The Trustees of Rutgers Female College have de- termined to hold a public meeting to-morrow even- ing, in the college chapel, No. 489 Fiftn avenue, be- vween Ferty-first and Forty-second streets, for the irpose of submitting a plan for the endowmest of the vollege. The desire ls to found professorsnips of mathematics, astronomy, natural and physical sciences, natural and moral philosophy, ancient and modern wuages, history and beiles lettres, ap as- tronomical observatory and a school of technology, in which women may be scientifically trained for Industrial pursuits. It is expected that a great number wii be present and thas it will be a very in- teresting meeting. Fire Marshal McSpedon reports twenty-eight fires for the week ending January 14, 1871, at twelve M. The estimated loss is $83,370; amount of insurance, $253,900. The causes of fires were as follows:. Accidentai—Candie sec fire to Christmas tree, 2; ori- ginated in engine room, 1; specific cause not known. 2; candle setiire to window curtain, 1; carelessness of occupant with lighted candle, 1; caused by vagrants | eutering premises, 2; detective heating arrange. menis, %, defective One, 1; gasiight set fire to win- dowgceurlams, &c., 2; gasoline, explosion of lamp, 1; hot Coats from grates, 2; incendiary, 1; kerosene, explosion @f lamp, 3; overheated stoves, 3; sparks from stove, 1: unknown, 2, Total, 28. TH ELIZABETH MATRICIDE. The Whereabouts of Duignan Still a Meys- tery—The Police Puzzling Their Wits Over the Case. Yesterday a HERALD reporter visited Elizabeth in order to ascertain if there were any new de- velopments in that most extraordinary case of | matricide, the murder of poor ola Mrs. Duignan by | her son Michael, a member of the local police force. During the forenoon a coat, hat and pair of boots were found at the “Port” py a workman ip the employ of Mr. |B. G. Brown, bridge builaer of tne New Jersey Cen- tral Raiiroad. In some respects these articles cor” resp ended with the description given of those worn by the mother-muraerer te morning 01 his fight, after the perpetration of the bloody deed; but on careful examination they were declared to belong to some one else, but to whom is also a mystery. It has been charged in some quarters that the police bave not showa neariy as much activity in the effort to discover the whereabouts of the murderer as they. nights and are wailing until the city shall have | offere A REWARD; | but on the other hand, a responsible gentleman stated yesterday that he overheard Chief of Police Keron offer a man $100 out of his own pocket the other day if he could discover Dulgnan’s where- abouts, adding that the entire police force shoulda, if necessary, be ace at his uisposal. It is further deciared that the Chief has used his very utmost personal endeavors to solve the mystery. Itisa singular fact that the relatives of the murdered woman manifest an un- ; mistakable DISPOSITION TO KEEP CLOSE on the subject. The opiniun still prevails in oficial jaarters that they know more about the murderer than has yet transpired, ‘The authorities have as yet offered noreward. They seem to think it useless to be supporting a police Torce and Soe other money in the cause of ess A year ago, when a poor German mp was ey, ot into jaul for the aps As mur- der of a iellow tramp on the Bay bridge, it was not till they were lashed into decency by the HERALD and the press generally Ulat they agreed to offer fifty doilars for the recovery of the body. It was never tound, and the prisoner was discharged, there being no oan evidence that any person had been mur- the meantime the idea advanced in these col- umns at the time of the Du: murder, that the mourderer had committed cide, by throw! bim- self overboard, continues to find beileve' ae body could easily escape discovery, as did that | poor Constable Lane. i JQURNALISTIC NOTES. A Colonel Baxter, of Tennessee, has brought suit oe = ae Papers and pete Senose, nner, for A and American, i ‘ $50,000; Sweetwater 4 Athens Po: Enterprise, $00,000; ‘Knoxville Whig ana ogieter, $50, ; Frese and Herald, $0,000; Joseph 2. “Mabry, J. E, Redwine, editor of the Air Line Zagle, has been erected President of the Board of Trustees of Gainesville (Ga.) High School. Dennis W. D. Boully has retired from the editorial control of the Hawkinsviile ae Despatch, and is succeeded by Mz, George P. Woods. Mr. D. G. Swan, who recently bought the Journal office at Pekin, Til, has moved it to Havana, where tends to shordy commence the publication of a lican newspaper. The Peris (Tonn.) Intelligencer makes its appear- auce ihis week cuanged from a four page to aa Sight page paper, having been enlarged to forty-eight col- The Magisterjal Investigation Closed at Last. A Full Account of the Examinations—The Self Constituted Detectives are Held in $12,000 Bail for Trial at the General Sessions—The Plea of Working for the Owners Dis oredited—The Interviews with Mr. Boutwell at the Ireasury, &. The examination into this mysterious and remark- able case, which, like a wounded snake, has been dragging its slow length along tor nearly six weeks, has at length been brought toa close, and it may fairly be suid that it has been one of the most pro tracted investigations of its kind on record. The charge originally was for the unlawful possession and attempted disposal of a $10,000 United States registered bond, preferred by one M. Castillo, of Loyzago, against Captain Pelletier, of Washington, and a man named Bennett, of New York. As previously stated iu the HzRaxp, Castillo, a Spanish Cuban, was robbed some two years ago of registered bons of the value of $80,000, the robbery. being so well planned that the thieves got clear away with the property. The ioser commanicated with the Treasury Department, giving them che Mumbers and amounts of the bonds, and upon re- ceiving this information the Secretary notified the various sub-departments, instructing them to call the attention of all the ‘bulls’? of Wall street and elsewhere to the fact, so as to render them useless as negotiable transfers, From the evidence at the first exammation it was shown on the part of the prosecution that the two defendants, Pelletier and Bennett, had offered some bonds for sale to Mr. McNeal, @ broker detective in the city, and among them was one of Castillo’s, of the denomination of $10,000; that the broker, Know - ing the preperty to be part of that mentioned in TRE NOTIVICATION ROM THE TREASURY, caused the arrest of these men as being in unlawful possession, and at the same time attempting to dispose of them as boné side bonds of their own: It was stated moreover by Captain Pelletier that he had received authority to recover the bonds for the owner; but Castillo distinctly repudiated the asser- tion, for when he was invited to be present at the St. Nicholas Hotel on one occasion they offered to secure to him (Castilio) the possession of the pro- perty if he would pay down ,a certain sum of money for it. He refused to advance money for such a pur- pose, Inasmuch as he imagined he would be assisting the thieves; again, not knowing the parties who were privy to the proposition, he declined to enter into any arrangements, On the 4th of the present month, In an examina- tion before Judge Hogan, at the Tombs Police Coart, Judge Bartley, of Washington, said that Pel- letier came to him on the 1st.of November, 1870, and ‘asked him if he could make arrangements to take up or redeem stelen United States bonds for their owners, or get the Treasury Department to cancel the bonds and issue duplicates. At one of these in- terviews Pelletier spoke of the bonds stolen from Mr. Castillo; also some stolen from a Mr. Law- rence and from the Ocean Bank. Christopher C, Cox, of Washington, and ex-Lien- tenant Governor of Mary! \eatified that be knew pots the oe, ‘a ae at Se of udge Bartley an us nase, ‘ashing- ton, about the smuadie of November iast, his ates. tion Was invited to a statement made by Captain Pelletier that he bad been approached, while on a visit to New York, by @ broker, who offered, for a trifling compensation, to recover certain stolen bonas for the owners. Judge Hartley and Chief Justice Chase conside! Mt @ fair subject for mvestigation, and that, tf undertaken with the consent and authority of the owners, It was a per- fectly legal transaction, He (Cox) agreed to assist in this business, came to New York, saw the broker referred to—Westbrook, of No. 83 Pine sireet—spoke about the subject openly and frankly to some lead- ing city merchants; he saw Castillo, who stated he would not “come down” for the recovery of his bonds, and so the ex-Governor returned ‘Wash. ington and gave up the hunt. He saw tne $10,000 bond in Westvroek’s possess! ut chat gentleman would not say how he came by it, since the production of the above evidence Mc- Neal, the detective, who caused the arrests in Nassa street, has veen cross-examined upon his testimony, @nd he etill persists that Pelletier aud Bennett offered to purchase a quantity of stolen bonds for from fifteen to twenty-five per cent of their value, and he states that he trapped them by WAVING TWO DETECTIVES IN A BACK OFFICE. The signal for their entrance to seize the defend- ants was the exit of an office lad, who was to pre- Tend to go to the bank to get a check cashed, THE PRISONER'S STATEMENT. On Friday last Pelietier was placed upon the stand and requested by his counsel to state how he came in ‘hogaces of the bonds and all he knew about it, Pelletier commenced by saying that in October last Westbrook asked him if, in case he (Westbrook) could get hold of some stolen bonds, he could dis- pose of them, and also if, through the influence he (Pelietier) had at Washington, he could get the mon counsel, aud he told him thatas he was going to Washington he would make inquiries aad let him know. Before going to Washington Westbfook told him he coula get berween cight handred thousand and a MILLION DOLLARS! WORTH OF STOLEN BONDS. Pelletier called upon Mr. Boutwell, the Seoretary of the Treasury, and after relating these facts to him, Mr. Boutweil thought he had betver communi- cate with Colonet Whitley, of the Secret Service corps. Mr. Boutweil introduced him to Mr. Bell. field, the Solicitor to the Treasury, and this gentle- man told him he ought to return to New York and endeavor to recover some of the bonds and oring them tu him. While in the Treasury, Bennett re- ceived from Belitield, the government solicitor, a certificate in writing about the bonds. Before ieav- 10g Washington he was surprised to sce Colonel Whitley, who took him aside, and after questioning uum, asked him wo ioreranreld ®. TO TAKE PART OF & SLEEPING CAR WITH HIM, and asked him to call upon him in New York the following day. He did so call, but the sly old fox made an excuse that he was just starting for Mas- Sachusetts and could not stay to entertain him, Pelletier next called upon Westbrook, at No. 33 Pine street, and told hii he was ready with the cash to purchase stolen bonds; but Westbrook told him the Parties were very distrustful and would not give up any bonds until the money had been paid. That afternoon Westbrook bronght him two bonds which had been stolen from Mr. Lawrence, for $500 each, and Pelletier paid him $300 for tae two. Re- turning to Washmgton the same afternoon, Pelle- ter called upon Reddinghow, the banker, and he went to the Treasury for the Lp of ascertalpiny to whom these two bonds nad belonged; discovere: that they had been altered and now corresponded 1m numbers with thosé of two ladies in Tremont. The Solicitor of the Treasury sent nim to make all possibly inquiry as to who owned we bonas, and Pelletier discovered they belonged te Mr. Lawrence, the cousin of Mr. Elimore, of 49 William street, New York, and subsequently Elimore told Pelletier that his cousin would offer $400 on the $1,000 for all he could recover. Mr. Bellfileld would not give hima oe authority to get the bonds, but told him ab THE TREASURY WOULD STAND BY HIM. Coming again to New York Westbrook, after a deal of parieying, exhibited @ $10,000 bill belonging to Castillo, but stated he must have the cash before he would let him touch it, Here he related the ine eit with Castillo, which has before been pub- ed. But the most pecullar part of the whole affair is that though Peiletier seemed to be exerting himself for a reward he nevertheless gave Westbrook $1,600 to secure the $10,000 bond. Afier receiving ihis bond he met Bennett at the Astor House and got him, he said, to go to McNeal and ask him tor money; hejwanted $2,000, but when he went for the money the “Joo had been put up on him,” and he was nabbed while in the act ot handing the $10,000 bond to McNeal as security for the $2,000, for which, it was supposed, the office lad had gone to the bank. Ben- nett had offered to be ginal A for him previously. On a cross-examination by Judge Hogan Pellewer sald he had a la farm of his own; that he bor rowed the money to pay the first $300, and that the pool yicien he a ease Prospective than positive, because he hoped that the original “lifters”’ Oe tis seees mance ah esterday m counsel summed up for the defence, and after an able and lengthy pe Be in which he said it was clear the detendants had, one motive, and that the recovery of the property for the owner, he cited the law upon the case, and asked for an acquittal. Judge Hogan differed from the learned imasmuch tle- ‘as the parties had all sworn for the rosecution. He said that nothing in cross-exami- hation had shaken the evidences “that the defend. ants deliberately to sell the bonds which the; knew to belong to the man Castillo. He conciud Wo hold them for trial at the General Sessions—Pel- er in $10,000 and Bennett in $2,000, ‘The de- ants were locked up unill bail should be forth. coming. A FEMALE BLUEBEARD.—Louls Mitchell, the pre- sent husband of Caroline Mitchell, wno lives in Jersey City, Says she was first married tn 1835 to & man named Darnish, in the Duchy of Pesen; then to @ doctor called Kahn; then @ man called Giessen, @ blacksmith; then a butcher cailed Rack, whose arm she cut in hail with a meat-chopper, and to save herself from being put in prison ded to New York. She then married # man calied Briefe, and finally settled down for her last gota with Lonts Mitehell, with whom she has lived for twenty-two —_ having resided for many years at No, 3 Mul- rry street. At present she keeps a boarding house In Jersey @ity. No hame is better known to we Bh borg of New York than tbat of Osroline Oils sf ~~ The Prospects of the Present Season, How the Ice is Gathered— What it Costa to Collect and Store It—The Ioe Houses Already ® Quarter Full. “Eleven inches thick, sir, and 4s clear as crystal; just the very best loe.1 ever secd. Why, It's like glass; you could read the Bible through it, or a news- paper either.” ‘This was the first answer I obtained a day or two ago to my inquiries in regard to the tce crop on the Huason. Since then I have been the entire lengtu of the river, and this criticlam nag been everywhere confirmed, Never since the ico companies first started have they had the chance of filling their houses with an article of better quality, Next sum- mer, perhaps, a8 in the last, they may forge some excuses for high prices, such as the scarcity of tife ice and the mildness of the winter and the rest of the BIGMAROLE OF COMMERCIAL PLUNDER. But by snon excuses alone cah they defend them- selves for ontraging the common decencies of extor- tion. They cannot, With any color of justification, peddle out the miserayle ‘snow ice” they imposed upon us last season, for tne simple reason that such an article is happily not procurable, except at greater pains and eost than good ice. Ifit were, of course, they would prove themselves worthy of thew past brilliant record by gathering tt and charging five cents a pound for ft. They will, at Teast, have togell us good ive, because they can’t getany other. There are few more pleasing sights than the garnering in of the tec crop on the Hudson. No doubt many unsophisticated travellers have won- dered as they passed up the river in the summer what on earth the HUGE WOODEN WAREAOUSES that here and there dot both shores were used for, but have been aspamed to alr their ignorance by inquiring. They aré not employed for any very com- mon article of commerce, it 1s clear, because by far the larger part of them are built on the western bank, and are therefore out of the line of railroad communication. But, propably, stich a traveller would scarcely at first believe that these are all ice houses for supplying the thirsty needs of the cities of New York and Brooklyn, “What!” he wonid say, “these vast piles of buliaings consecrated to the storage of the itttle frozen lumps that enable me to maintain my temperance principles even in the fiercest heat of summer by making water still palatable and wholesome? Impossible! I have heard in a tairy tale of a single widowed mouse eating through an entire granary, but that even two cities full of Christian people SHOULD DRINK THROUGH all these enormous warehouses 1s simply incredible." And yet such ts the literal fact. How many tons of ice the thirsty souls of New York and Brooklyn manage to consume would be indeed hard to esti- mate, and no reliance can be placed on the state- ments of the 1ce companies, as they have a plain interest in concealing the magnitude of their bast. ness. The true figures, however, even if they were procurable, would be 80 vast that they would con- vey no very exact idea tothe human mind, which turns di and confused when bewijdered with bil- ons of billions, Yet a very good conception of the urposes. But be: yond that point the frozen surface of the river is almost an uninterrupted acené of animated indus- try. Scarcely ever are you out of sight of the busy ice gatherers, whose dark silhouettes dot the white expanse of the ice like crows feas = 4 cornfield. And all the ice thus harve: rbed by New York, Brooklyn and Jersey City, with the exception of a small quantity taken by Newark and the other interior cities of lom of Camden and Amboy. Leroy though even that is very doubtful, the ice le of Boston is larger than our own. Bur then, if it be, it must be embered that the greater Rare of it is done with the outside world—with the West and the.East Indies, Central and South America, and even Europe—and that the inhabitants of the Hub itself are of course far be- hind us in powers of consumpuon, even man for man, For a man of leisure it 1s well worth while to go up tiie line and watch tae processes of the ice in- lot which, 43 its importance deserves, have now reacted a HIGH 8TAGE OF DEVELOPMENT. Nearly ail the Jargest houses are on the feast ace cessible side of the river, 30 he will do well to stop at some point where the ferry boats run through the ice, Rhinebeck, for instance, 1s a very good point, a8 a steamboat crashes and plunges through the ice across to Rondout three or four times a day all through the winter, while within easy reach of the latter place there are three or four monster ice Uuouses. Arrived at one of these centres of the busi- ness he will be for the moment astonished at the PERPECTNESS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS that have been made for gathering the tce, The ice house seems bigger than ever, and looms up like @ commercial colossus against the sky, with its flat, windowless, wooden walls and angular roof. Creeping inside by asmall hole, it is seen that the wails consist of two separate layers of planking, the space between which is filled witn sawdust, one of the best known and valnable of non-conductors, The house itself is divided into compartments, each compartment being about fifty feet wide and enjoy- ing the privilege of an independent roof and art tion wall, the latter constructed on the same modeias the outer ones. From floor to roof the putlding 13 absolutely bare and empty, and when finally closed up in the spring 1s almost dark. The floor is covered a foot or two deep with sawdust, and the blocks of ice, which are all of exactly the same size, are packed in a3 systematically and closely aa tne bricks in @ child's toy box. In front of the house, facing the river, there are several stages of various heights, and upon these the blocks are hoisted by a mechanical arrangement very similar tn its prin- eiple of construction to the California pump. There is a sliding cpa A leading down to a little platform or “apron” as it Is called, which is is kept a foot or two below the surface of the water; and when the 1ce comes along, and 1s pushed by a pick upon this apron itis seized by the wooden crote- pieces of the revolving chairs and pushed cp oH plankway untilit falls through a hols upon one ot the stages, along which it is carried, by its own weight, ikea nine pin ball roiling back in the cradles to the players. Once inside the house tt is slid along until it finds its proper geometrical place, But HOW IS THE ICR CUT into these regular blocks? Nothing could be more simple. There 13 an imgenious sawing apparatus, moved by @ horse (which 1s of course shod so as to easly walk over the ice) and this culs the tce across ‘and across about half its thickness, Jeaving It still firm enough to bear a weight, but sufficiently cut totbe broken off in regular blocks, Possibly most readers of the HERALD have noticea, as they have watched the uni of @ cargo O1 ice, that che edges of the blocks fur about half way down are rough, while the rest is clear and smooth and glassy, The reason of this 1s that the upper part of the edge has been roughened by the saw, while the lower part has been broken off. The ice gatherers begin cutting the ice, of course, close by the house. But they merely cut a narrow passage some fifteen or twenty feet wide, which Is called the 108 CANAL. ‘This cava! frequently runs up a mile or a mile and @ half from the nouse, and the blocks are toated along it until they reach the apron of the elevator. This is briefly the way in which the lumps of frozen water that tinkle musically against the sides of our tumblers, as, thirsty ana heated, we take a summer cobbler, are collected. And now, coming back to the beginning of this article, what are the prospects of tue present tce season? Are we for another year to be the victims of the Knickerbocker and Washington ice compa- nies—forced to ey, exorbitant rates for the meanest, dirtiest, “snowlest” ice that was ever offered to an American housekeeper? Are there.already any valid excuses for our being stipplied with the same misera- ble article, and at the same extortionate rate as Jast year? For, after all, our only possibie eupply isa supply of naturalice. Wherever the arti artt- cle has been triea—in Australia or the East Indies— it has Veathdae altogether too rotten and bubbiy to be bre it Into common use. So far as THE QUALITY of the ice as yet harvested 1s concerned ihere is, 1n- deed, but littie ground for apprehension. The last cold ys came on 60 suddenly and sharply that in four or five days the river was covered with a ten or eleven foot sheet of ice, untainted with a snowflake and upbarmed by any intermediate thaw. There wever certainly was a more favorable the season. In sober earnest, the words of my rst informant proved true wherever I went alo the line. Everywhere the same unvar' an cheerful report was given—that the ice was the best that had been seen for many years, clear a8 a dia- — and sound as a dollar. jut THE ‘THAW of the past two or three days has, unfortunately, not bee confined to New York, and for the present the business of loe gathering is completely stopped. How much tce had been gathered before it set in it would be impossible to estimate, Most of the ice houses couid not be filled tn iess than twelve or four- teen and a8 yet there have only been three steady ‘ays of hard, uninterrupted work. They are, therefore, only one-fourth full, and some of them are even further behind than that. Butif tha icehonses are only ball @iled tho [ee breaks up and floats ous into the ocean we b , look upon 16 aa certain that tho supply mext summer will be fully equal to the di . THS PRICR We shall nave to for our los that depends alto- ther uj the pi ure of the companies. But 18 one fact may be laid heart and reuindeod eee aa BOOK NOTICES. Now Books. idered in Their Relations to Each Other and to Worlt, By Henry ©. Pedder, 1 vol, 12me., cloth, tinted paper. Samuel R. Wells, 389 Broadway. 1871. This neat and well timed little volume will be none the less appreciated that it comes co us in the very thiok of acontest of opinion which menaces the foundations of civilized society, and therefore of liberty itself. Ag the author tells usin his modest preface, his aim has been to contribute his “mite toward the better establishment of soctal order, domestio Dappiness and national prosperity,’’ and it is but the simplest justice to say that he has well and faithfully striven to perform his task. Im these days, when what 1s falsely termed “the higher law’’—the real higher law being clearly and unmistakably transmitted im the revealed com- mandments of God and the teachings of Uhrist and His aposties—assalls all that we sneuld hold dear tn the family relation, it ts consoling to see able and eloquent pens diligently at work to counteract the assaults of evil. fn this point of view Mr. Pedder deserves tue thanks of all good men. The author defends and exalts the relation of husband and wife with rare power of thought and felicity of language. He expresses what all true souls of the higher-order eally love and cherish in woman. He soas in her the better selfof man—his helpmeet, indeed, his solace, his guardian angel, and often his guide to heaven—not the mere toy of his caprice as the wretched doctrines of Paganism revived and torced in upon us under specious names by a class to whom religion ts a cloak and order a pretence would have us believe, The author reasons (and rightfully, we think), for the mutual adaptability of man and woman in their relations and for their mutual de- pendence on one another. Tbis view naturally leads to a recognition of the necessity for close knowledge and careful Judgment in forming the nuptial tie and its absolute tnviolability when formed. But in order to attain this condition, which alone can guarantee happiness, we require improved female education and a better arrangement of society. Re- cognizing the equality of woman in her social rela- tions, we must make her fit for that equality in the hig*est sense. Duty is to be impressed upon her mind as well as the idea of her rights, and she is to be taught that along with freedom she tncurs respon- sibility. All this is found in the principle of family, and that principle Mr. Pedder, reverting co the older and grander precepts of pure religion, makes the very basis and pedestal of all the rest. Pure and high minded women will be the mothers of honest, brave and faithful men. The women of the family of thé Saviour are in modesty, earnestness and gentleness, and yet in firm and steadfast cour- age, long suffering and fidelity, the models of what we would have in our wives. Regard- ing woman in this lofty light as a distinctly individual spirit—a living, separate nature—the Quthor maintains the doctrine of the indestructi- bility, and, therefore, of the immortality of sex—an enchanting thought, which perpetuates material and conjugal love beyond the grave, MAN AND Woman, Tas SToRY oF ELIZABETH. A Novel. en daughter of Willlam M. Thackeray, Esq., aut 3 of. Nig Fair,” &c., &c. T. B. Peterson & Brothers, Philadelphia, pabiishers, This is a delightful story, charmingly told. Al- though Miss Thackeray’s style differs essentially from. her father's, she has certainly inherited much of his talent. “The Story of Elizabeth” interests us from the first page to the last. It is one of those books which once commenced it 1s dificult to lay down. It is a story of every-day life, beautiful and touching, with plot and characters thoroughly natural. “I do not like Elizabeth Gilmour the less,” says Miss Thackeray, towards the close of the book, “because I aave spoken the truth about her, and written of her as the woman she 1s; and we think most of her readers wili say so, too. By Miss Anew edition of Shakspeare's comedy of “The Merchant of Venice,” preceded vy a sketch of the author's life and works, and editea by William J Rolfe, A. M., formerly Head Master of the High School, Cambridge, Mass., has just been published by Messrs. Harper & Brotners, New York. Mr. Rolfe says in his preface that “nis aim has been to edit this English classic for school and home reading in essentially the same way as Greek and Latin classics are edited for educational purposes.” The book is of convenient size, profusely illustrated and nicely gotten up. CUSTOM HOUSE AFFAIRS. Iuvestigation by the Congressional mittee—The Warehouse War. Senator J. W. Patterson and Representative Shel- don, who compose the sub-committee appointed to investigate matters relating to the Custom House of New York and to report upon any retrenchments that could be made in the customs service, are now engaged in taking testimony among the merchants of this city, and nave also examined the chief clerks of the Cartage Bureau and of the Warehouse. The committee was nominated in accordance with the following resolutions, introduced by Mr. Fenton tn the Senate on the 14th of December, last year, which were adopte Resolved, That the Committee on Retrenchment be in- structed to ‘furnish a comparative detafied statement of the cost of collecting the oust revenue at the porte of New hiladelphia, Baltimore, New Orleans and jan Francisco, with such recommendations favoring a Te- duction on such expensos as they may deem compatible with the interest of the public service. Also, to particularly report n the present system and practices connected with the ware- ousing business at the port of New York, Also, in relution to what is commonly known as the ‘general order bust- ness," and the cartage of goods while in the custody of the government, Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to furnish’ for the information of the Senate a_ statement showing the amounts of money paid into the Treasury as the proceeds of fines, penalties, forfeitures and seizures ty customs officers at the of New York, Boston, Philadel- hia, Baltimore, New Orleans and San Francisco, alnce the ist day of January, 1883, up to and inciuding the 0th day of November, 1870, mrt! whether such sums of money were obtained by judgment in court, by settlement or comprom! with the parties detected fn the’ commission of frauds, the causes of such seizures and forfeitures and of the Hons of such dines and penalties. Also statement of the amounts paid as moieties by the Treasury out of funds thus received to officers of custome in the ports above named, and to informers and other persons Guring the same period, with the names of ‘the peraohs from whom such moleties have been exaotod, and the eragantoe, celved from each in all cases where the amount was $1,000 Or more; as, also, the names of those to whom such moneys have been paid and the amonnts thereof respectively; also, he dufferent porte above uggling or otherwise defraud- ing the customs revenue, and who have beon prosecuted, nally convicted and punished therefor, otherwise than py the payment of money. salir ws mad pab-comtnttess was ae private con: ir, A. ?. Stewart and his partner at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. It is agserted on good authority that the committee has algo another object in view. tis to investigate the application of the Cunard Steamship Company, who are making strenuous efforts to have the general order business transferred to their docks, but their chance for optaining this important privi- Ie in preference to the erican citizens is slim, ind asthe other fo: steamship com- panies might, with equal’ justice, claim the same Ooncession. The Cunard line, it ts charged, have enlisted the influence of some heavy importers; but, it is safe to say, their efforts will not avail. Tne committee of investigation will continue ita labors to-day and listen to the suggestions that may be made with regard to the present working of the customs servide, NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Captain Napoleon Collins was detached from the Norfolk Navy Yard on the 16th and ordered to an ex- amination for promotion. Captain Edward Denald- son {8 ordered to the Norfolk Navy Yard on the Ist of February. Commander Robert F. R. Lewis 1s detached from the command of the Resaca and placed on waiting orders, Six hundred and fifty men wore discharged from the We eat Navy Yard yesterday afternoon. Four hundred and filty are retained on “construc: tion and repair" service. The naval oMcers there are much elated at the confirmation of Admiral Porter, ahd refer in flaitertng terms to the conrse pursued by the UrnaLb during the past few months vaval mater, Com. oxen | LONDON FASHIONS. The Winter Season at British Capital. A Winter Wedding—Wedding Dresses—How ta Make a Bride's Dremses—Walking Costumes— Paletots—The Dresses of the Period. LONpon, Dec: 81, 1870. A winter wedding 18 rather adreary idea. To te sure, a wedding at any time is aptto be gloomy, and often resembles a funeral—all but the body. Ie 4s something thought even more distressing than the latter ceremony, especially when one has to be'mar- ried oneself and only has to burya friend. But, nevertheless, such things will happen, and people ‘will get married in the winter, although. tt ig not at all a thing toencourage. So we will give a few de- tails of winter wedding dresses; first of all, how- ever, begging our fair readers not to wear them tf they can avoid it. For enly think of the miseries of going out, dear ladies, in your dear tittle white dresses all in the cold to Church; think of the nasty, envious snow, that won’t own anything white but iuself! What if the cold got nold of your poor little fingers before the bridegroom, and you presented a chill paw to the man of your heart! Oh, horrible thought!—but itis best in these cases to face the worst and know the direst possibility at once—what if impudent Jack Frost pinched your pretty nose and caused it to flush, instead of your cheeks? Then there is the bridegroom. Of course,, everybody knows the bridegroom is nobody at wedding, and nopody thinks of paying any attention to him as compared with the brido; but still he is necessary. It would be dificult, nay almost impos- sible, to proceed with the ceremony without him; therefore he is to be considered ina way. And only think of the bridegroom; how cold and comfortless he will feel while waiting for you—how conscious of bis new clothes and of the utter impossibility of smoking a cigar to warm himself! Fancy the fright- fuiness of the calamity, if at the most interesting ang poetical moment there burst from the bridegroom the familar and irrepressible ‘‘Atichshau”—that ejacus lation representing the popular sneeze! Then the wedding breakfast would be so misgrable, the iced champagne suggestive of nothing but an immediate visit to the dentist, cold chicken a physical tmpossi- bility, the iced cake @ feeble imitation of the out- side world. Then the bridesmaids—poor little things—fancy their ineffectual attempts to conceal fits of the shivers; and the funny man, who ought to propose their health, breathing frostily and appar- ently laboring under suppressed chilbiains. Fancy your mamma, with ker teeth chattering as she weeps over her child’s parting embraces; faney the wedding tour, when the only thing you long to get to 6 a fire—and the honeymoon, with all the honey frozen! Are you frightened? Are you all resolved not to get married in the winter, or are you of opinion, if it is a serious thing to be marriea in the winter, it is a much more serious thing not to be married at ull? Perhaps, to be on the safe side, [ had better tell you about the dresses at a wedding which took place a few days since at St, George’s, Hanover square, WEDDING DRESSES, The beautiful brid ddaughter of Sir Willtam Miles—was dressed. iat magaticent spanish lace orange fowers aud mire in ‘ef hair and's tong or: 01 ca tulle vell. She wore splendid diamond and carried a magnificent scent bottle. six bridesmat: Gressed in whi ornaments There were jesmalds, J mi trimmed with Valenciennes with veivet—bonnet of white chip, with pink feathers. Among the other married ladies, one wore plack velvet, trimmed with sable, and a beautiful hat; an- other, brown silk, trimmed with a darker shade of velvet, and a third, dahlia-colored satin, nearly akts. the most — nadie yea u sae Niners the last week were those worn eight brides- maids of Miss Dixie—daughter of Sir Alexander white silk, trimmed As regards details o a bride's adress—so important—it ts to be ho} that this unique com tume of a lady’s life should just at present be made as follows:— HOW TO MAKE A BRIDE'S DRESS. The front breadth of the skirt is ornamented with three founces and boutiloun¢s, with a row of lace at the edge of each boullionné and flounced. A aeep flounce, edged with lace, is carried down on eac side to simulate a tratu, tne flounce to be head With @ box plaiting and bordered with lace. The tunic forms a pout a: the back, and 1s trimmed with @ flounce edged with lace. The short round basque terminates with lace, The bodice is high, with trimming to form a square, consisting of ruches of satin and lace; hanging beil sleeves, with lace sleeves beneath; long veil, with a smali knot of orange blossoms and myrtle, fastened on the top of the head with a diamond star; ornaments all dia- monds and pearls, There should be no point of color in a bride's dress, WALKING DRESS. But there is enough about weadings, especially as you must try and not want them justnow, Going out Walking 18a much more improving little ex- citement for you this weather. so, if you will be food, and go out walking and driving, you shall ave Some pretty costumes, as follows:—Short blue Poplin skiri, encircled with two cross bands of black velvet; a narrow flounce of blue poplin between each band; a black velvet tablier, aiso encircled ‘with a bivte poplin cross band and black fringe; @ deep black veivet basque, with biue revers; black velvet bodice, with biue (Poplin waistcoat aud slecves, This costume would also look very elegant in pearl gray silk aud blue velvet, toque of velvet and feathers to correspond. to Magenta—a very striking costume, But, perhaps, fastefu) ding dresses of PALETOTS. Of course, sealskin and other fur jackets are always popular. Black velvet trimmed with white lace 13 much in vogue at preseut, and mixtures of velveteen and cloth. As qhlans are. the 1ashton in France just now, a jacket @/a uhlan is recommended, of gray trimmed with white lace. To throw on after skating—please remember you must have something to keep the chill off on these occasions—a jacket a la hussar, consist of red Caslumere, quilted with white silk and embroidered all round with gold lace tiuisted off with a deep gold iringe. There ts a delicate hint in this for ladies who can say with the Grande Duchesse, “Ai, gue fatme les militaives.” PREITY MORNING BODICR. A bo.lice for morning wear is very pretty made of blue cashmere trimmed with black velvet aud whive lace. The trimming {s arranged in four straight lines down the front and one round the throat. The frill round the sleeve is likewise decorated with lace and finished oi with a veivet bow. ‘There is no change in the sleeve at present—they are universally made open; for more dressy totlets the sleeves are made larger than for morning wear. RAILROAD COLLISIONS IN JERSEY, Early yesterday morning quite a svrious railroad collision took place at the Irving street crossing, Rahway, N.J.,on the New Jersey Railroad. The half-past five A.M. passenger train, consisting of four cara, Moved out of the depot on time, it appears, when the southern freight train, which should have been -on a side track until after the Ppaseage of the other train, attempted to pass out of the way on a switch. At the crossing indicated, however, it came full tilt into the rear of the passenger cars. The smoking car, the - last of the passenger train, was smashed to picces. Three passengers and Conductor lra Martin were in it, but, strange to say, all escaped with their lives, though sustaining rather serious injuries, Michael Roche, brakeman and baggage master on the pas- senger train, was also badly hurt, The freight train engine was nearly demolished. The occurrence caused considerable detention to trafic, The blame is aie to the freight train conductor and onan neer. The fact that several lives were not instantly slaughtered 1s very properly regarded as miraculous. The express train from Nyack, on the Northern Rail |, at nine o’clock yeagerday forenoon, also met with @ mishap on entering the Long Dock depot at Jersey City. On entering the depot the locomotive runs of on a flying switch, and the momentum of the cars is more than suffictent to bring them to the bumper at he ter minus. The brakemen meanwhile regulate the speed so as to bring the cars toa standstill at the Caan Place. But on this occasion the pressure of the brakes was ineffectual, and the foremost oar struck the pumper with such force that several pas- sengers who Were standing In the cars were thrown to the floor, and one man—Mr. Wyide, of Nanact— sustained serious injury by fall ng across tue rail of q seat. To whom the blame of the accl- oo Ll attributable is a beret _ inv _ veral passe appeared at the rail ‘ofice and complained loudly. As soon as Mr. Wylde re- ceived medical attendance it was ascertained thet paralysis of tie left side and arm had set in, owlog to we injuries to the spinal column. in ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE KELLY. Catharine Kelly, an Irish woman, sixty-five years of age, died tn Bellevue Hospital from the effects of injuries received on the 11th instant. She was omsa- ing Hudson street, at Chariton, when she was knocked down and run over by a horse and cart, driven by Charies Linderdale, of Downing street. Mrs. Kelly suetained a fracture of the lower jaw and other mur” Corvaer Yor as (he case oa jung in