The New York Herald Newspaper, March 16, 1871, Page 7

KU KLUX KLAN. Appalling Record of Murder and Crime, Four Murders, Thirty Whippings and Sixteen Other Horrible Onirages. Summary of the Outrages Proven in the Court of Impeachment, Origin and Present Aspect of the Chester Troubles. Raricu, N, C., March 11, 1871. ‘The testimony for the Governor still continues to unfola the most startling records of crime ever known tm the annals of a civilized community, Even the most extre.ve democrats acknowledge that the state of adairs in Alamance county, as developed by the *estunony, is horrifying end appalling beyond con. ception. One tact 1s, however, noticeable that will operate agaiust Governor Holden—that all the long Ust of crimes now developed were pernetrated a considerably length of time prior to the date of his first prociamation declaring Alamance county in A STATE OF INSURRECTION; and not a single outrage occurred between that date, March 9, 1870, and the 26th of June of the same year, when he brought Kirk and his troops into that <ointy. ‘rhe courts were open, the civil authorities 4m the Jul) exercise of their functions, and the com- Wunity in the most peaceful state it had been since the close of the war, when Kirk and his lawless rabble irom East Tennessee were precipitated upon them. This looks bai for his Excellency, and gives color to the charge that the whole insurrectionary programme, Kirk war. and the arrest, tortures and imprisonment of the citizens of Caswell were all a part of a conspiracy to throw the State into actual Ansurrection, by which the President would be called upon to declare martial law, and thus defeat the August elections, when the conservatives gained such a signal triumph, About nincty of the Gov- ernor’s witbesses have been exa:nined 80 far, and FOUR MURDERS by the Ku Kiuxes of Alamance have been proven. Besides these there were four others, the testimony in regard to which has been excluded because they did noi occur within the limits of the counties gileged to have been m a state of insurrection. Those proven are:—Wyat Outlaw (colored), hung by the neck the night of the 26th of February, 1870, by @ band of disguised mounted men, numbering about foriy, in front of the Court House at Graham, the seat Of Alamance county; William Puryear, a half- witted negro, was drowned one night in March, 1870, a large stone being tied to his fect, the charge against him being that he said he witnessed the banging of OuUlaw and knew the men who were present; Thomas J. Morrow and his brother-in-law, both colored, were taken some time in the fall of 1869 from their homes and families, and hanged by the neck, for alleged barn burning. THE WIIPPINGS ‘and mutilations are numerous and now foot up the umber of thirty. Jack Petillo, a negro, was badly whipped in December, 1869, and disabled for two weeks, during which tune he was under the con- stant treatmeut of a physician, His house was aiterwards torn down, and a gallows, grave- stones and a placard were placed near It, as a threat agamst all coiored republicans. ivison Warren @uegro) was whipped about the same tme, though not so badly: but his skin was cut and bleeding. Wiltam F. Simpson (white) was whipped until the Diood ran down trom bis back, for allowing a negro to live on his land and for cursing a party. Donald- son Worth (colored) was taken irom his house on the last Saturday in January, 1870, tied vo a tree and severely whipped; samuel’ Garrison (negro) was forcibly taken from his house, was caught and struck seyeral blows on the head while trying to escape, Was bucked and then badly whipped, No- vember, 1569; Daniel Jordan was severely whipped dn the tal of 1869; William was whipped tn October, 1869, receiving as many as seventy-ilve or eighty blows; Carter Cossy (colored) whipped = in his shirt and drawers for atleged stealing Of hogs, 1869; Casweil Holt (colored) whipped De- cember, 1:63, and his house was broken open and he was shot at Decemier, 1869; Leonard Ripley (white) Was whip, ed in Caswell county for living with free negroes; Juke Brannock (colored) was stinilariy Chastixed in same county; George Riply (colored) was Whipped some two years ago ana died soon al- terwards; Simeon Whiie (colored) was whipped March, 1870, for asseritug nis equality with the whites; Jonn Darmai (white) bad his hair cut of and was whipped for keeping another woman, hav- ing a wile ulready; James Cole (white) was whipped January, 1870, for alleged Insolence to white people: Henry Holt (colored) and wife were whipped in the fall of 1869; Green Lantford (white), seventy-one years old, was, With his wife, dragged fro bed and whipped in his nakedness; James Corliss (white) and wile were wiipped until both were all bloody © their night clothes; John Guy (white) whipped twice, January, 1870; Porter Mebane (colored) was stripped and Whipped severely about same time tor marrying a white woman; George D. Buon (white), whipped severely, March, 1869; Andrew Trollinger (colored), whipped 1m his own yard 29th October, 1869, for voling; his wife was whip ine for tuteriering with Dr. Cobie’s practice; Jacob Murray (colored) whipped and his child killed by one of the Ku Klux, who tramped on it, avout December, 136! Damon Hoik (colored), Whipped about same tim Green Freeman, John Lynch, John Basou, Millie alston, Joseph Harvey, Nelson Strond, Hamilton Brien, John Suidie and Sandy Jeilars complete the whipped and scourged victine, each of whose tale would farnisn & column of horror. Besides these there were sixteen others shot, beaten, mutilated and OTHERWISE MALTREATED, whose names are as follows:—Heary Holt (colored) shot at three times the night Oullaw was hung; fli Vutiaw and fainily, shot at and driven from their home, having to spend the night in the woods; Andrew Murray (whit-) ran off from his home by threats of death; John Shatterlo’s house was shot at repeated! Jemima Philitps (colored), beaten and stamped when Gutlaw was hung; Joseph McAdams (white) found coffin at his door with threatening placard on it; James c. Reinstatl threatened with death if he did not leave the count visited the second ume and again threatene: Senator Shoser tureatenea with death and his murder ateinpied: George D, Buon, postmaste tareatened by tree cons with horribie in. scriptions; Joln Alred’s house was visited And he was vhreatened to have his throat cut if he did not change mis politics; Mary Gatiins, a lewd white woman had her house pulled aown to the bottom log; Alfonso had a withe put round his neck, and he was mace to pray. These are neariy ail the outrages ye. proven. ‘fhe follow- ing 18 a contanuation of the testimony of some of the most Important witnesses yet examined:—William A. Albright, the most respectable of the Governor's Witnesses, Who Was 2 magisirae in Alamance couniy testified to the unsetticd and alarmiug state of affairs in that county during the Jatter part of 1868 and 1869; he was intiunidated in the discharge of his official duties by the mysterious operations of the Ku Kijux; he appealed to the Governor for troops to protect the lives of repubil- cans, ald the Governor sent a force of militia, under command of one Capiain Boster; these were afterwards relieved by United States troops; witness was appointed a brigadier gr ‘al Of mulitia tor the purpose of forming one of tho MILITARY COURTS MARTIAL which was ordered by the Governor to try the citi- gens arrested by Kirk at Yancey ville; witness issued several Ungery exempting certain perso s from ar- rest under the authority of his commission as a brigadier general, bot when Bergin came to the per) he did not regard these papers, and witness ceased TO issue them; witness was initiated ito the Union League by Governor Holden before his election as Governor; Wyat Outlaw, the negro who was hung at Graham, Was present at the meejing when he was initiated; John Stockard, a member of the Ku Klux, told wit- ness he had once ridden twelve miles to save his le, and for that reason he demanded that witness would do his best for him when he needed it; on this account witness, in his capacity as brigadier, tssucd him papers pera pore 3 him from arrest, but Bergin arrested Stockard notwithstanding. AN OFFICIAL K. K. The Sheriff of Alamance county, Albert Murray, testified that he hau been @ member of the White Brotherhood, but that he dissolved his connection with it after une passage of a law prohibiting per- sOD8 & ing in disguise. J. A. J. Patterson, a witness for the Governor, testified that he was chief of an organization in Alamance county known as the Constitationat Union Guards—a separate though 8 similar organization to the White Brotherhood. He initiated five camps or Klang, and was Firat South Commander; some three §veeks beiore last August the commanders had a meeting and deciined to disband the orgamzation; ‘witness received a letter that SHOFFNER WAS TO BE HUNG on & certain night; there was nothing ip the paper about the body, but he thought the messenger who brougnt the letier sald it was to be boxea up and sent co Governor Holden (Shoffer was a republican member of the Legislature and supposed author of ‘te insurrectionary act); the order for Shoifner’s execution Was signed with two letters ana one Higure, “Chief of Urapge;” witness aid not know what those figures were; the oath of the organiza- lon required them to resist any forcible attempt to deprive them ot their constitutional or legal righta, by force if necessary; bat it did not juire us to resist by force or otherwise the State or federai res, or the overuments, the recon: meas fourteenth or Afteenth amendment; we disbanded NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY. MARCH 1 6, 1871.—TRIPLE tho passage of the legislative acts prohibiting persons going mn disguise, THE KU KLUX DISGUISE. John W. Long, a most notorious character In this State, a witness for the Governor, testified that he resided in Alabama, but had leit Alamance county, In ths state, last summer, He had been a member of the White Brotherhood, and produced tn the Senate chamber the usual disguise worn by members of that organization when on their midmght raids. This consisted of a long white gown, reaching near the ankles, and buttoning tight round the neck, with loose sleeves. Then vhere was a white cap, which when drawn over the face and down to the neck, had holes ior the eyes and mouth, Round the eye- holes and mouth were red marks, and 1t had a long protuberance or snout, which was colored, for the nose, while it towered far above the head, with two projecting, horns from the forenead and a@ spiral assel, which shook with each movement of the per- son. ‘The witness put it on and made one of the MOST HIDEOUS Spectacles ever witnessed, and one which was well culculated to terrify timid persons at night out of tueir very senses. The testimony of this wWit- ness, which was, however, impeached by himself, conilicts materially with that of other witnesses with regard 10 tie OATH OF THE ORGANIZATION, They were required under all and any circum: stances te keep the secrets of the body, to prevent negroes from elevating themselves to an equality with white men, to overthrow the republican party, to go around disguised and frighten the negroes and keep them away from the polls. Members were to be protected at all hazards, and they were, if pos- sible to get on the juries and bring in false verdicts whenever a ember was on trial, and when on the staud they were required by the obligation r in favor of a brother and to obey all orders Witness was present, in accordance with the instructions of the camp, the whipping of Tom Sellars, They gave him TWO LICKS APIECE, which was their orders. When we got back to the amp after disposing of Sellars we talked about Corsay, Who was a member of the organization, but he had been talking too much, and it was proposed to put bim out of the way, as DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES. Another member sald he should be talked to, which was at length agreed to; Jim Albright was there that might, aud he brought an ordcr from bis camp to whip Caswell Holt (colored) and we were to do it; he was whipped as the order directed; the next Meeting witness attended was a county meeting, held near Haw river, when some two or three hun- dred men were present, and ALL THE CHIEFS: the object was to find out tne strength ef the order in the county: there were between four hundred and six hundred men in the county in the organiza- tor, provably seven hundred; it was then dete! mined they should make # raid through Graham that night, which they did. though they disturbed nothing; the object of the meeting succeeding was to determine what should be done with Caswell Holt finally; 1¢ was first proposed to whip him, which was voted down, neat to hang him, but this Was objected to as causing too much excitement; then It was agreed to DROWN TIM, and witness was selected to carry the order for his execution to Camp No. 10, of which Fawcett was the chief; he gelivered tt, and Fawcett said it should be done the following Friday night, but he saw him, and Fawcett satd that Jacob A. Long had ordered it to be stopped; Long was chief of the organization in the county, and he, for some reasons, p.evented the killing of Caswell Holt; about February or March there was a county meeting held at which a few of the chiefs were present, and tt was then decided to have ho more Wuippings and not to Interfere with matters TOO SMALL FOR HANGING ; when we were to take hold of a case in the future it was to be either hanging or drowning; after that Daniel Worth’s schoolhouse was burned; George ‘frollinger told me to come to his barroom that night, as he had sometning particular on hand, and he wanted some nen who did not have so much cow- ardice us others: witness did come back, and he said we must burn the schoolhouse; witness ob- Camp had decreed 1t; and — and myself then got a | this is going?” and he threw the breech behind the can of Kerosene oil and some matches and went over; witness was put to watch while others set the honse on fire; betore he put the oil on the house wit- ness said, “For God’s sake, do not burn tat house!” and he replied that he would do it in SPITE OF GOD OR THE DEVIL: he then squirted oil over the cetling, floor and walls of the house and strack & mutch, but it went out; witness again asked him not to burn the house; he replied that he would, struck another match, ap- pled it, and the building was SOON IN FLAMES; we ran back to Trolliger’s barroom, and soon the cry of ‘fre’? was raised, and we ran back and heined to pull down the fence round the house. It burned because tt was a colored school. An- drews and Fogleman told me they carried the comin to McAdams’ house, and that they got Nathan Trollinger to run bis knife through his privates several times. Witness did not know how long the organization lasted. He only remained m it about one year, when he got in a fuss with Andrews, after which he was bluffed out of it. He made an expose of the order last summer, and then had to leave Alamanve county for fear nis lite would be taken. Witness left une organization in May or June, 1859, and all the outrages he mentioned occurred prior to that time. After some further cross-examination, in which the witness impeached himself and acknow- ledged that he compromised a theft suit the court adjourned, ORIGIN AND PRESENT ASPECT OF CaES.ER TROUBLES. THE The Town Patrolied Regularly at Nicht by Armed White Citizens—How and Why Arms Were Placed in the Hands oi the Nearocs— Singular Organization of the Militin—The Officers Without Commissions—War of the Ku Klux—!he Outrage at Rock Hill—State Arms Militia Man—Political Persuasions of the Ku Klux—the Recent Troubles—Conficting Statements of the Number o: Killed and Wounded—The Route to Yorkville—The Dis- arming of the Negrocs. CuesTEr, S. C., March 12, 1871. There 1s still a great deal of excitement tn this community, resulting from the recent jostile demon- strations made by the negro militia upon this village. Armed patrols guard the town and suburbs at nignt, questioning every one found out aiter a certain hour as to his or her particular basiness that required them up when all good citizens should have retired. These patrols are composed exclusively of whites, armed with revolvers. Last night I took a stroll through the town as late as eleven o'clock. I had not proceeded far when I was accosted by two men with revolvers in their hands, who said:— “Where are you going this time of nigiit?” “Where I please.” “Are you a stranger here?” “yes,” “Weil, then, you must know that it 1s against orders for anybody to be abroad ater ten o'clock, uniess On important business,” “My business ts to see the state of the town, and satisfy myself whether there is any civil law or order here. Tam a Northern man.” “Then, if that be the case, you can go along.” 1 nad scarcely walked 200 yards betore two more armed men accosted me and a similar con- versation ensued, my first interrogators never losing sight of me until I had reached the second party, and they likewise keeping me tn view until the beat of another watch was reached. Ths will serve to show the state of alarm and uncertainty that prevails here owing tothe unsettled state of affairs that exists, which has, beyond @ question of doubt, resulted from the armament of the negro militia. These arms were placed in the hands of the negroes by the Governor and State radical authorities prior to the fall elec- tions, and for the purpose, it 1s said, of enabling the negroes to defend themselves at the polls, where it it was anticipated intimidation and violence would be resorted. to by the whites. In view of this action large quantities of the same kind of arms, known as the WINCHESTER SIXTEEN SHOOTER RIFLE, were also purchased and brought her by the whites, who, though they did not carry them openly to the polis, had them conventently located in case of an attack by the negroes—the latter having them in companies stacked in full view of each voting place. <A strange feature, too, in connection with this armed militia organization is that, though the negroea are regularly organized, armed and equippped, with their captains, lieutenants and non. commissioned officers, none of these officers can be found who have authenticated COMMISSIONS from the Governor, and it 1s almost safe to say that no oficial record of the organization of the militia can be found. It appears that the arms were sent here to be used for political purposes, placed in the hands of tne negroes with supplies of ammunition, and they allowed fo 01 ize, elect thetr officers and carry out the orders uch white men as became attached to the radical party purely trom mercenary motives. The excitement of the elections ever, it ‘was belleved the negroes would be disarmed, but such was not the case. Kvery township in each count had its negro militia com With tts irres} 4 ble and. in the majority cases, ignorant officers, who drilled them and had thelr reguiar public parades, & STANDING MENACE to the whites. Outrages by came of such frequent occurreace that life and pro- perty in most neighborhoods where the negroes ‘were controlled by bad and unprincipled men were Sta and consequently. é rear amoe Orgaaleadion ‘Was gotten up among the which many take to be @ branch of the well-known. ae KU KLUX KLAN. This ization, at first one having for its object Public safety and the defence of life und property, as itgrew older became gradually aggressive and Broken Up—Whipping ot a Negro | negroes. Itis said to have been first introduced here from East Tennessee or Western North Caro- lina about one year ago, and since then, as the umes became exciting and political feeling ran high, it has grown to be a most formidable and extensive order in thig State. Investigations of an unofcial character made to the present have ul- terly failed to show which of the two—the negro milua or the Ku Kilux—are respon- sible for the recent troubles apd pitched batiles in this and adjoining counties. Both pollti- cal parties charge it on the other, and both make out such a clear case that it is aimost impossibie to de- cide which ts culpable short of a@ regular official ex- amination of ail parties concerned. The negroca, with some degree of credibility, state that the whole of the troubles originated in the WHIPPING AND BREAKING UP ofthe arms of members of the militia companies, | For the past month or two, and since the outrages in Union county began, 1% seems to have been @ de- termmed object on the part of the Ku Klux to Wage war on the militia and to destroy their arms whenever and wherever found, Every place where arms of the state were known to have been stored has been visited by this band of midnight marau- ders, habited in their mysterious and hideous cos- tume, and the arms either carried off or destroyed. At Rockhill, at a depot on the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, adjoining tuis county, a body of disguised men, numbering some seventy- five, came there about three weeks since and leit five cases of State Winchester rifles A MASS OF DEBRIS on the floor of the storeroom. The watchman says he was aroused by a loud knocking at the door, which he opened, and Was at once seized by a man, who commanded him, with a pistel at his breast, to remain quiet. About twenty-five men then rushed in, all wearing disguises, and they asked him where were the State arms, In a state of per- fect terror he pointed out five cases piled one on top of the other. These were quickly broken open with an axe and as quickly broken up, the accoutrements being cut in pieces and thrown over the fleor, ‘The captain of the band then com- manded him to go to the barroom of the place and bring them whiskey, but before he went on this errand they left the depot, locked the door and gave him the Key. He returned with @ gallon of whiskey and they again entered the depot and completed their work of spoliation. Though there were barrels of whiskey and large quantities of provisions and goods there they never touched anythig but the arms, When these were all destroyed they left,and commanded him to follow them. He Went, and was almost terrified lest they should take a notion to hang him. When about five hundred yards from the depot they came to another iarge body ef men, who were stationed across the rond, and horses were tied along the fence for a considerable distance. Here they drank the whiskey, after which the captain or leader gave the order to mount. He was then ordered to return to the depot, and to whise as he went. This in- junction he strictly ebeyed, and the last words he heard came from ‘the captain, who said, “Now, boys, hurry up; WE MUST BE ACROSS THE LINE by sun up.’ From this latter expression it ts in- ferred that the Ku Klux engaged in this outrage were from North Carolina, a8 the county of York, where it occurred. adjoms Mecklenburg county in What State, Certain it is that they came from ancther county; but whether from Union in this State, or from this county, or from one in North Carol cannot be definitely settled. It 18 strongly surm however, that it was the same band that has since taken so prominent a part in the diiticul- ties in this county. Abner Holly, a powertully built and stalwart black negro, who is one of the most intelligent among them I have seen, states that he was brutally whipped on Thursday night last, two weeks ago, just previous to the recent dis- vurbances, and that the BLOOD SVIRTED FROM HIS BACK every lick. In his own graphic languaze they came in and dragged him out of the bed where his wife was and hallooed and cavorted around like so many devils. There were twenty-five of them. They took chester rife down from where tt was hang- and asked nim, “io you see this ?” and with that smashed the breech off on vhe hearth, The man see where they jected, bus Trollmger said that he must do it—the | then picked that up and said, Do you | fire. The barrel was then mutilated an‘ broken. They spoke to him and said they had nothmg against hun, but that he was a d—n radical and a melish, The principal one whooped and shook his horns in his face, while he presented a pistol at his breast and told him tiat he had voted for that D—N SCOUNDREL SCOTT, AND Grant, too, ana they would show that he must do 80 hv more, or they would put him up tie spout. “We paid for your damned Winchester rides, and we have the right to destroy them. We don’t want any more of the damned radicals you put in office, who onty want to make money oui of your votes. You must vote the way the white people vote, ur Rot vote atall, We have to pay the taxes, and we want men who will make honest and fatr laws and levy taxes under which we can live, and if this is not done we will make the county HOT AS HELL for every d—d nigger of you. This the negro re- lated with a good deal of humor, and he seemea to enjoy it ashe went on. He sald the men must bave known him well from the way they talked, for one of them said, “Let us hurry up; SILVEY 18 IN THE FAMILY WAY, and this might scare her, and perhaps hurt her,” meaning his (Holly’s) wife. Nobody could have known that fact unless they were quite intimate with Holly and his family; but he could recognize none of them, even by théir voices, which were well disguised, Jim Wilkes, who is another robust black young man, not so intelligent as Abner Holly, was the captain of the militia company at Carmei Hill, which caused all the recent difficulties. He made a statement of the whole affair to Captain Bb. B. Keeler, Company I, Eighteenth mfantry, and your correspondent. ‘Of course he charges tlie first aitack to have been made upon his seatinel, instead of jas has already been reported in the iERALD) the sentinel firing upon a party of passing whites. He proved himself a BAD OFFICER, for he frequently admitted that in the main en- ement Which occurred on Wednesday last in on Rouge township, near New Hope church, {ght miles northwest of here, he did not see “de inimy, but dat de privates did.” His account of the series of disturbances does not materially differ om thas already reported inthe HERALD, except that he does not show how many were KILLED AND WOUNDED in the several engagements that ensued, of his own. command, notwithstanding that he did command on the battle field. This remains still an unsettled question. Various reports cuming from both sides state that few men were killed in the fight on Wed- nesday, but that im the route and pursuit that fol- lowed a large number of negroes were “lost by the waysid How true tl is I cannotsay. The place thelr Lo: have heard whites 1 ) isfied as many as twelve or filtcen were killed and buried n Mount Hope chureh, the scene of Wednesday's vattle. Out of about one hundred negroes under arms and allot whow e furnished ammunition by one Major Reister, the county 2nd commun dant of the militia, about twenty reached Yorkvili where they were required to lay down their arms, and, for safety to themselves, the Sheriff put them in jail, On the next day they were taken to te United States camp and there they remained until yesterday, When they left and returned here, with- out any molestation whatever, Everybody, both nexroes and wiutes, state that the above-mentioned Major Reister, an ADVENTURE of German origin, ROM BALTIMORE, the main cause of all the troubles. He has repeatedly ridden into office on the votes of the negroes, has been their con mander-in-chief in the county for a long period, and, by infammatery speeches and bad advice, has kept the negrocs col ly on the verge of a colliston with the whites wife's family here admit that he 18 & most disreputable character, with whom they exceedingly ret their connection. Twice he broke faith with the whites during the late troubles, and instead of allowing the negroes to go home ana disband he hept them here, furnished them ammunition and finally brought on the collisions that took place. The hotel were I now write 1s riddled with bullet holes from the fire of the negroes, Who were intrenched at the turn-table near Reister’s residence on Tuesday morning last, THE DISARMING OF THE NEGROES has been progressing under the supervision of one Captain Kennedy, an aid of the Governor, and to- day a squad of United States troops were despatched to Rossville to have the moral ald of their presence where a large Company were to be required to sur- render their Winchesters. There are now three companies of United States troops quartered lcre, under command of Brevet Major B, 8. Keeler, 23 follows:—Company 1, commanded bv Captain Company H, Captain McLaughlin; Com- Lieutenavt Durham, all of the Eighteenth THE COURTS. Sentences Upon Counterfeiters—Letter Stealers, Perjurers and Illegal Voters — Fraudulent Bankruptcy—Diamond Smuggling~Rid- ing on Car Front Platforms—Cap- tain Peabody Again in Court. UNITED STATS CIRCUIT COURT. Sentences Upon Prisoners. Judge Woodrutf sat yesterday morning at the usual hour, Counsel for the government moved that the pri- soners who had been convicted should be brought forward for sentence, PERJURY. James O'Neill had pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with perjury, It appeared that he committed the offence for the purpose of procuring the discharge ofa prisoner accused of crime. Judge Woodruff remarked that perjury, he was sorry to say, Was of frequent occurrence and had become a crying evil in tne community, The efforts of the oflicers of justice to detect and punish it had been eiten frustrated, He would do all he could to sup- press this class of crime, The prisoner, ne under- consideration welghea with the Court in passing a lighter sentence than might otierwise have been the case. Sentence, two years in Albany Peniten- tary at hard labor and to pay a fine of $100, FRAUDULENT VOTING, Wiliam Quirke, found guilty of fr: for a member of Congress in West ter county at the last election, was next sentenced. It was stated that the prisoner had been drugged, and while in that condition was inauced by some per- sons to vote, utterly unconscious of what he was doing. He had served in the war on the Unton side Without apy compiaint being made against him. Judge Woodrnai said that the offence committed by the prisoner struck at the freedom and foundation of our national institutions and deserved to be punished severely; but, in consideration of the facts stated, the sentence upon the prisoner would be only sis months’ tiprisonment, with the costs of the yrose- cution. EMBEZZLING LETTERS IN THE POST OFFA Wroch Radosavlywitz, pleaded guilty ef embez- zling letters trom the Post Ouice. It appeared that on the breaking out of the civil war the prisoner was a first leutenant in the Austrian service, With dulent voting Imperial Court of Vienna, Kadosaviywitz obtained his discharge and cameo to this country, bringing with him 426 recruits. With these he jomed the army of the Union and was soon promoted to a captaincy. In consideration of these facts the court pronounced the mitigated sentence of three years’ imprisonment. John T. Lawrence, embezzling letters in the Post Office; sentence, two years’ timprisonment. Joseph Hartnett, embezzling letters in the Post Onice; sentence, ten years’ mmprisonment, COUNTERFEIT MONEY Lewis Meyer, tor having had in his possession counterfeit money with intent to pass the same, was sentenced to turee years’ imprisonment at hard la- bor in Albany Penitentiary, and pay a fine of $100, Lewis Seiner, found guilty of dealing in counter- felt money, was next sentenced. Tae Judge said he had received a letter from the sister of the prisoner asking for mercy upon her brother. fe was sorry that considerations tor his sister had not operated upon the prisoner’s mind before he committed the otfence for which he was now about to be punished. The sentence of the Court was that the prisoner should be imprisoned eight years at hard labor and pay a fine of $500. INCITING TO MUTINY ON BOARD SHIP. Peter Johuson, John Peterson and Charles Thomp- son, found guilty of inciting a revolt en board the ship Shatauuc, Were each sentenced to two v imprisonment at hard labor tn the Aloany Peniteu- tary. COUNTERFEITING. The Court resumed the trial of Alexis Nicolal, a Russian, who was iuidicied for engraving, or caus- ing to be eugraved, a lithographic stoue, and print- ing therefrom fraudulentdifty cent currency stamps. ‘The prisoner was convicted and remanded four se! tence, which will be pronounced to-day. The Court then adjourned. THE INDICTMENT AGAINST GENERAL JORDAN. Mr. B. K. Phelps, counsel for General Jordan, wn 0 4s indicted for fitung out an expedition tn this city for «id of the Cubans, contrary to the neutrality Jaws, having applied to the Court to know when the General could be tried, the Judge said he would not sit longer in the present term; vuta jury would be in attendance on Menday next, and if a judge could be got from some other district the trial might come on then. UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS’ COURT. Alleged Frauduient Bankruptcy. Betore Commissioner Betts, The United States vs, Adolph B. Herman and Her- ‘The examination ito the facts of this case has been going on at intervals during the past ten months. Yesterday the Commissioner rendered a decision, holding the defendants to await the action ol the Grand Jury. The Alleged Diamond Smuggling Case. It will be remembered that some few months ago @ young man—Angustus Charles Rad- cliffe—was arrested In this city on a charge of smug- gling diamonds, worth $25,000 or $30,000, from Lon- doa, where his father is sald to be extensively en- gaged in the diamond business. Yesterday Raa- cliife, with his counsel, had an interview with the United States District Atiorney. clifle appeared betore Com:aissioner Davenport and gave bail in the sum of $1,500 for his liberation. ‘Marshal Sharpe’s Office. Mr. George B. Purvis has been appointed one of the deputies in Marshal Sharpe's oMlce. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS—TAIAL TERM—?ART I. Caution to Front Platform Riders. Before Judge Loew anil a Jury. Henry Tregar vs. The Dry Dock, Broadway and Battery Railroad Company.—This was an action brought to recover $10,000 damages for an injury sustained by the piaintsf while riding on one of the defendants’ cars under the following circum- stances:—The plaintitf, who ts a journeyman hatter by trade, between seven and eight o'clock on the even. ing of the 28in of April last, got on the front pla to his home in Brooklyn. The car was crowded anda heavy ran storm prevailed at the time. A few minutes after the car moved from where he got on he was force by the crowd off the front platform and under tne fore wheel of the car, which vrushed nis right hand in such a way as to render amputation of three fingers necessary, and totally unfitting iim to py his avocation of hatter or to use bis hand at all. he defen:lants’ counsel moved to dismiss the com- plaint on the ground that no negligence on the part of the company had been proven, and that contribu- tive negligence on the part of the plaintiff in getting ou the front platform of an over crowded car was clea ly shown. Judge Loew granted the motion and dismissed the complaint, COURT OF COMMON PLEAS—SPECIAL TERM. Decisions. By Judge Robinson. Chase vs. Higgins.—Motion granted. McParlin vs, Leavitt.—Motion granted, with ten dollars costs. Mulry vs, Mason,—There does not appear to have deen any wilful contempt, except to pay a debt, &c, Mouton denied, with ten dollars costs, By Judge Joseph F. Daly. Malt rs, The Hudson Riwer Railroad Company.— Judgment for plaintiff. Parish et al. vs, Murston.—Motion granted. in the Matter of the Lien af Richard H. Dor- Company D, under command of Lieuten- ant Canton, Is at Rockhill Everything is quiet, but there 1s sll some excitement, STREET CAR SLAUGHTER, A Child Three Years Old Run Over io Fourth Street. Coroner Young yesterday morning commenced an investigation in the case of Honora Leahey, the ttle girl (whose parents live at 186 West Fourth street) who was killed corner of Barrow and Fourth street on Friday last by being run over by car No. 39 of the Bleecker street line of cars, of which David D, Long was conductor and James Ashie: driver. It is alleged that while the child, only three years of age, was at play in the street she attempted to cross in frent of the horses and in doing so was knocked down and run over helore the driver could stop thecar. There was some misunderstanning as to who removed the child from under the car, the condactor claim- Ing to have done 80, while two others said they ‘were the persons who took the litte girl from under the wheels. In order to procure further tesumony More dangerous 19 te Dublic peace than were the | acid In Coroner Young adjourned the investigation till next ‘Saturday morning. CARBOLIC ACID AGAIN. Another Poisoning Case—Fata!l Result. It ts only a few days since that the Hgranp con- these armed bands be- tained a report of the fatal poisoning of a lady in New Chambers street by swallowing @ quantity of carbolic acid in mistake for brandy, and now an- other case has been haiy Ul to Mia Sergeant Tynan of the Twenty-first precinct, yes- terday informed Coroner Hermann that Annie Rider, an Engilshwomaa, thirty-two years of age, employed a8 domestic in the family of Mr. J. R. Lee, living at No. 104 Fast Thirtieth street, had died suddenly, as ‘was belicved irom drinking @ solution of carbolic Ayjstake for liquor, lung.—Indgment ordered. Benedict vs, The National Bank af the Common- teealth.—Order seitied. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS—SENERAL TERM. Decision. By Chief Justice Daly, Judge Larremore and Joseph F. Daly. Caranagh vs. Meehan et al.—Judgment affirmed a8 a personal judgment against Mechan, and judg- meut reversed as against defendant Johnson, Miller vs. Newman.—Judgment reversed. Carman Carman.—Judgment reversed, with- out prejudice to her right, to renew her application | hereafter. Fallen vs, Bartine,—Order afirmed. Crowell vs. Crispin.—Judgment afiirmed. A Caution to Car Conductors, Before Judge Curtis, Kezta Fleetwood vs. The Central Park, North and East River Railroad Company.—This was an act.on to recover $1,000 for alleged damages incurred by the plaintiff while riding ou the cars of the corpor- ation sued. Mrs. Fleetwood was, on the 12th of Sep- tember, 1870, thrown down from the rear platform ofa tral Park car through thé negligence of the conductor, who failed to stop the vehicle at the pro- per time and was severely injured intevall fernally. The defendants dented all the 1m the complaint. jury @ verdict in favor of the complainant in the sum of $325 was returned. A stay of thirty days was granted the defendants. The Neptune Case Again. i The negro seamen, whose sufférings on board the | Neptune have been fully detailed in these columns, appealed for jn ent inst Captain Peabody, te commander of that ship. The case was heat “* sonsiderable lewations stood, had a large famtly—nine childrea—and this | the aid of Mr. Motley, Who Was then Minister to the | man Herman.—The defendants had been chargea with cencealing @ portion of thei assets in a pank- n Tupicy proceeding, and also with swearing falsely | Was rejecied py tne Third Audicor as unjust and in- | toastatement to the effect that Herman Herman | had lost about $01,000 in Wall street speculations. | Subsequently Rad- | and ex. | After a protracted trial before a | length, the Judge expresaung bis | SHEET. determination to see full and ample justice dons the unfortunate seamen, and, at a@ late hour, the case was adjourned until this prning, When @ de- cision will probably be arrived at, Decistons. By Judge Joachimsen, Braughman vs. Hoven,—Judgment tor plainuit for $105 59, costs and allowance, Badger vs, Leland,—-Judgment for plant for $977 85, costs and allowance, Calivellish Manufacturing Company vs, Milvern.— Judgment tor plaintiff for $¥9 16 and © Siryt vs. Buell.—Judgment for defendant, with costs and allowance, Buckman vs, Wresler,—Motion denied and case | ordered to trial. Raynor vs. Valentine,—Judgment for defendant, Orders Granted,—Hilton vs. Witt, McAdam vs, Campbell, Ritter vs. Ordernell, Phillips vs, Briggs, Marenbotaur vs. Figure, Capen vs. Baxt COURT CALENDANS--THIS DAY. Surreme Court—Circuir—! 21, 51, 57, 81, 1883, 95, 2 1, 45, 99, 571 338, 202, 5222, | 36, 1442, "208, 328, 2, 1262, 192 208, 646, 1 | COMMON PLEAS—TRIAL TeRM—Part 1.—Before ! Judge Locw.—Nos. 68, 657, 788, $25, 249, 604, 193, 678, 638, 733, 671, 157, 548. CouRT OF COMMON PLEAS—GENERAL TERM— Before Juages Daly, Robinson and Larremore.— Nos. 23, 9, 10, 11%, 40, 61, 65, 91, 94, 97. 2 MARINE Count—Part 2—Before Judge Cart! Nos, 52 5418, 4732, 5122, 51 0, 5360, 536%, As 5: 52: 5898, 6298, 5429, » S451, 5452, S454, 5455, | 5847, 5269. Part3—Before Judge Jou —No, | 6731. SEEING THE AUDITOR. Buying a Claim Against the United States and Getting One’s Digits Burned—Relief Sought in Court, but Denied. A case developing a queer state of facts, and in | the development giving potent contirmation of the Old apothegms regarding diamond cutting diamond | ana the necessary detilement ensuing from touching: | pitch, came up yesterday before Judge Sutherland, of | the Supreme Court, The hinging point of the case | was a claim against the United States, in which one party, evidently strongly doubtful in his own mind | as to its ever being allowed, and which was its final | disposition, made another party believe that tt was | going through all right, and succeeded in selling tt to him tor something over half its fac | the latter party to pocket the ditference im consideration of cash down, he PARTIES TO THE SUIT were Mr. John M. Shedd, a gentleman very well known in certain political’ circies in this city, who nuit, and the defend: hard hk. Montgomery, known in ain circles in the national al. The plaintiff sets forth tn nis | complaint that on May 11, 1866, in. the city of Wash- ington, D, C., the defendant called on him and stated that he knew of a certain CLAIM AGAINST THE UNITED STATES for impressing into the service of the government, and joss while in such service, of the steamer Blue Wing No.2. his claim was then in the hands of the Third Auditor and amounted to $20,000, It ; conid be pought at a large discount, He proposed | to the plaintiff to avail himsel! of the opportunity to make a good sum by tts purchase. He urged this purchase strenuously, alleging that he had INFLUENCE WITH THE THIRD AUDITOR, and could get bim to adjudicate upon the claim within ten days, and would guarantee the payment | to him of the $20,000—the full amount of the clatm— within a few weeks. All he asked the plainuif to pay for the claim was $11,500, After the defendant had told this part of the story the plamuil MADE A PROPOSITION that he would pay over the required $11,500, if the defendant would call and see the Third Auditor in person, aud get him toexamine the case of the claim thoroughly and carefully with him; and, alter such examination, that the fhird Auditor would assure him that the claim was a good and valid one, and further, that all the evidence was in his posses- sion that possibly could be necessary to secure the payment of the claim, and still further, if the An- ditor would promise him to make the claim a mat- terof special business and pass it with is approval within ten days and recommend its immediate pay- ment, and finally, if the Auditor after these promises would allow him to take care of the claim, after having passed it to the Second Comptroller of the “United States Treasury, and get the warrant for Its payment, With this proposition terminated their lirst mterview. On the succeeding day—so runs on the plaintiff’s sworn recital of the facts—the defend- ant called on him again, and stated that he had SEEN THE AUDITOR, and that the latter had examined with him the claim, and promised to comply with all the propos tions embodied in his (the plaintiff's) proposition. Believing these statements to pe true, the piaintitt, on the 23d of May, paid $11,500 to the defenaaut. And now comes the FINALITY OF THE STORY. The plaintitf had parted with liis money, as he al- leges, on wholly fraudulent representations made | by the defendant. On the 9th of July the said claim was the pI valid, and has not and never will be paid by the United States, The next thing was for the plainutit to make efforts to get_his money back, and he there- | fore brought suit against the defendant for its re- covery, on the ground of fraud, with mterest from the date of payment. WHAT THE DEFENDANT SAYS. His story has one merit at least—brevity. nies, in the first place, each and every all forth in the complaint charging fraud sentations on bis part; secondly, he avi plaintiY purchased the claun in violation of the of the United States, and knowing such purclia | Was i violation of such laws; and thirdly, he de- og that the claim is a good and valid one, | The | PROCEEDINGS IN COURT. were short, sharp and decisive. The plaintiff's counsel—Mi » kdwards and Field—urged, with | all the legal ingenuity at their command, that there just and legal ground for the complaint, and th the defendant should be compelied to pay back the money he had fraudulently obtained from the plaimttif. They presented the affair as on a par with ordinary and common business trans- actions. The plainti believed that the partie: holding the claim were willing to submit to heav discount for ready cash. It was known that the government Was proverbially slow in passing upon claims, and for this reason it was @ very common practice to sell them, Defendant's counsel, Mr. ‘Thayer, insisted that his chent was blameless, and | that the wrong, if there was any committed, was committed by the plaintiff. The Judge listened pa- tlently to the argument on both sides, and then or- dered tne DISMISSAL OF THE COMPLAINT. The dismissal was ordered on the ground that it was clearly evident that the negotiation for the pur- chase of the claim grew out of expected irregular | influence of an officer of the United States sitting in He de. pgation set 1orm of the car on the ‘corner of broadway | a quasi judicial capacity, and as such was against and Grand street for the purpose of proceed- | public policy. and that both were equaliy wrong, ing to the Grand street ferry on his wa; y | and that relief could not be asked in court. BOARD OF HEALTH. Smallpox Slightly on the Increase—Prema- ture Veal Made Into Sausages. The Board of Health met yesterday at the usual | Place and hour, President Bosworth presiding, and Messrs. Mullaly, Gross, Barr, and Drs. Carnochan, Smith and Ceccarim being present. Considerable routine business having been transacted, the follow- ing report.of Dr. Charles P. Russell, Register of Records, was recetved:— I havo the honor to report 524 registered deaths for the past week, being an increase of 10 over the previous week. bere were 2) deaths trom measles—an incrense of 1, and 14 from scariatina—a diminution of 5. There were 7 deaths from \yphold fever, aguinst 4 the preceding week. ‘There were # credited to phthisis pulmonalis—a decrease of 8, ‘The mortality from bronchitis and pneumonia rose from 18 40 respectively to 23 and 44. ‘Twenty deaths were oc- joned by violence, among which there were 2auicides. 'rhere were reported 16 fatal cases of smallpox, being a full- inu off from the two previous weeks, in each of which 20 had been registered. London, during the week ending February %, the deaths from smallpox amounted to the greatest weekly mortality trom that disease within a period of thirty-one years. In Liverpool, during the same week, smallpox caused 129 deaths out of @ total of 452, and iu Brussels, during the previous week, 41 ont of 154, The report of Dr. Morris, the City Sanitary Inspec- tor, makes the following exhibit of CONTAGIOUS DISEASES for the week ending March 11:—Typhus fever, 1, same as last report; typhoid fever, 4, a decrease of one relapsing fever, 7, an increase of five; ‘let fever, 80, decrease of eight; smallpox, 51, an increase of ten; measles, 87, an increase Of forty- two; diphtheria, 10, a decrease of two, The report also states that— Although there appears an Increase of ten cases reported of smalipox during the letter over the former week, there is no evidence of an increase of the epidemic generaily. This is largely due to the fact tl ral cages have been discovered by the Heaitn Inspectors which had been sequestered by thelr friend: t. ‘The increased force of 1 eases. The thorough e dally discovering such se to house vaccination e the effect to arrest tue disease. ‘There is scarcely any opposl- on manitested towards vaccination whenever it is offered to the peopie at their own homes, At the present time this i In marked contrast with former etmilar efforts, The Sanitary Committee in their report to the Board recommended that the City Sanitary Inspec- tor be instructed vo enforce sections 131, 132, 133, 134 and 135 Of the Sanitary Code. The sections relate to the arrival of ships at this port without. clean bills of health. Section 132, which ts the most important of tem all, ts as follows:— That no owner, agent or consignee of any vessel andino ofieer of ‘any vessel Un Feapect uf. either of See Vessel of cargo a permit, according to any law, ordinance or Feguiation, sball or ‘should have been” gotained” oo pass Quarantine or to come up to the water front of the city of New York) shall unlade or land, or cause ratiueny ae eived the Written permit of In connection with the smallpox question Dr. Car- nochan stated that cases continue to arrive here from Liverpool and London, and tat such cases are sent to the West Bank Hospital. A communication was received from Mr. H.C. Hail, of Litule Falis, N. Y., whioh states that parties in that vicinity are constanuy buying up “prema- ture veal,” which they pack in kegs and sbip to the city, Where it 18 made up into sausages. 5 ARSON UPON THE HICH SEAS. Sentence of Death Pronounced Upon a Ship Burner, An Unusual Scene in the Federal Courts. The United States Cireuit Court room was crowded yesterday morning, as it was understood that the | prisoners convicted of various offences at the present term, including Charles Perdue, found guilty of burning the ship Robert Edwardes at sea, 800 miles from land (the punishment for this offence being death), would be brought up for sentence, Judge Wovdruff took his seat upon the beach clually at the usual hour, BURNING OF THE SHIP ROBERT EDWARDES— ENTENCE OF DEACH UPON CHARLES YERDUE, Charles Perdue was brought forward for sene tence, A hush of solemn siience reigned through the court room as Judge Woodruff began his re- marks to the prisoner in the following terms:— You, Charles Perdue, were heretofore charged With a most heinous ne—the burning of a shij on the high seas—unmindful of the horrurs of suc! ascene; regardless of the destruction of property you were bound to protect and preserve; reckless of human lives brought into fearful peril Upon dae examination aud imquiry before the proper oilicer tne PROOFS OF YOUR GUILT were such 4s, in his judgment, required that you be held a prisoner to answer. A grand jury, selected with care from amoug citizens of high character— intelligent, impartial, just men—upon hearing the evidence tending to establish your guilt found it their duty to present you for wial. Your trial has been nad. Twelve fair and impartial men, having no motive and no purpose but to learn and deciare the truth, were selected by your own counsel, under the liberal provisions of our laws, which entitled you not only to exclude any others from the jury, but with large fredom to reject any Who were not satis- factory to you tn every respect. Twelve suca men were empavelled to inquire Whether you were guilty or not of the offence, and after @ full investiga- tion, @ patient hearing aud a careful and cautious scrutiny of the evidence they, upon their oaths, pro- nounced you GUILTY. Able counsel appeared and conducted the trial for you; the evidence was subjected to THE MOST SEARCHING CRITICISM; every fact and circumstance im your favor proved or reasonably inferred from the testimony was urged With zeal ahd power; and vet the proofs of your guilt were Convincing, and the jury were compelled, on their consciences and before God, so to declare. orma of procedure designed to protect the agalnst unfounded Charges and Ww secure to an accused A FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL have thus been observet; careful tnstructions upon the law pertinent to the case and to the testimony were given to the jury in a manner which gave to you the benefit of every reasouabie doubt of the truthfulness of the witnesses, of the fact of crime or of your own guilt therein. And yet you now stand before the court convicted—convicted of AN OFFENCE SU FLAGRANT that it finds scarcely a paraliel in the catalogue of crue, ‘The Court at tms point asked the prisoner what jal to say Why sentenve should not be pro- upon him, ‘Tae prisoner repited:—1 thank your Honor for the privilege, but] have nothing to state now on my own behalf, My counsel has said ail that I desired to say. Judge Woodrut? continued:—On the loth of Mi last you satied with more than thirty mariners (ofl- cers and seamen) on a voyage to continue, as sup- vosed, for several years. Harmony and g will apparently prevailed among on board. No il-treatment trom the officers of slip appears to have awakened anger, pas- sion or revenge. No provocation to injure any one connected with the vessel seems to have been given. Nevertheless, within less than three months, jor NO apparent reason, save a restiess de- sire to termiuate @ voyage which did not, you thought, pid fair to yield the hoped for profits, you conceived and on the night of the 20th of July you carried into executiun your PLAN TO BURN THE SHIP, ai the imminent peril, nay at almost a certainty, of the loss of the ltves of all on board. It is si by your counsel, and it may possibly be true, thas you bad at the time an expectation that your own iife und perhaps tne lives of the others would be saved—that all might reach the land. If true, that neither excuses the offence nor affects the punish- ment prescribed. You burne t the sip. You mpe- Tilled humau lives; even the expectation, ub you felt 1, had no just foundation. In fact, ON A FAK OFF SEA, eight hundred miles froia shore on a burning ship there Was to your Companions in human judgment of what was probable only the alternative of DEATH BY FIRE OR DEATH BY WATER. If Maligniiy dit not aim at this a determined reck- lessness, littie less heinous, impelled you. And had the changing elements been moved from the quiet of that nigit, or no vesse! had Provideantially passed and seen the laboring boats In which refuge was sought from the Names you kindled, neither you nor your Jellow mariuers would have ever told the fate 1 you or them. He who holdeth the wind in His right hand and who can bid the Waves be still has saved them aud you from the death which seemed impending. They live to ted the story; you yet live U the penaity of the law, and by your fate to 1 all men to beware OL es like this, Tadvert to the fearful nature of your crime, not for the purpose of giving you pai, but [ would have you realize the guilt that rests upon you Ju all its enormity; that repentance may follow; that, bee Jove it 1s Woo late, Lefore the few days remaining to you on Earth shall pass, KEVENTANCE MAY COMB, and avail with Him Who can save you from a more fearful doom—that death which 13 eternal. There is no criine against man so great, no offence against baman law so neimous, but it may be forgiven by Mim. Seek that forgiveness, MERCY. The law denounces your crime and declares you deserving of death. ‘The jurors by whom you were tried, in their pity lor you In your guilt, have recom- mended you to merc; at recommendation Will be communicated ts the President of the United States, who alone has power to extend mercy to you; but I cannot, in view of the greatness of your offence, In view of suffering such crimes to pass Without their just, though feartul, punishment, en- courage lor a momeut the hope that any inier.erence with the course of the law wili be had in your be- half, I urge you, therefore, to prepare to inect the death to which the law consigns you. Yon can, at your desire, have the udyice, the counsel and the prayers of THE MINISTERS OF RELIGION, such as you may select, and God grant that, alded by their counsels, your preparation may be ‘saving end sure. ‘Yo you remains a short time in which to make your peace with God. On me is devolved the painful but inexorable duty to pronounce the gen- tence which the law has declared, and which ts— That you, Charles Perdue, be taken hence to the place from which you came, that you be detained in close custody until Friday, the 12th day of May next, and that on that day you be taken to the piace of execution, and there, between the hours of ten o’clock in the forenoon and four o’clock in tne after- noon, be hanged by the neck unti! you shali be dead. And may God have mercy on your soul. (Murmars of sensation In court.) The conciuding words of the sentence were pro- nounced by tue learued Judge in a slow and solemn manner, and after they were uttered Perdue re- mained standing, apparently stupefled. Pe kept his eyes downcast, and finally was removed by the om- cers. It 1s severai years, probably seven, since there has been a capital conviction aud sentence In the federai couris of this city, ‘fhe execution of a pirate on Bedloe’s I: id and of Gordon in the Tombs dur- ing the war were the Jast under the United States law In New York. Efforts will be made to save Purdue's life, as the Jury strongly recommended him to mercy. Frederick Allen and Charles Meredith, who had Dieaded guilty of an attempt to sel fire to the ship, with intent to burn or destroy her, were next brought up for sentence. The captain of ihe ship, Mr. Pease, was, at the request of Mr. B. F. Russell, counsel for the prison- ers, called to the stand. He stated in reply to ques- tions that he had been part owner of the ship Robert Eawardes; that these men had done him alk the tujury they ever could do to him, and he had no. desire to bave them punished at all. Mr. Russeil—So far as yon are concerned you are not opposed to & mild punishment? ‘The Captain—I ami not, sir, Mr. Russell then made some remarks to the Court im mitigation of punishment. Judge Woodruff sentenced the prisoners to ten en imprisonment each, at hard labor, in Albany cuitentiary, remarking that the feeling expressed by the captain of the ship, who said he had no de- sire to see punishment inflicted, was creditable to. him, and was @ strong expression on lus part of freedom from passion and from any desire for re- venge or even to retaliate for wrong. The Judge adverted tn fecling terms to the fate of their com- rade, Perdue, and after stating that the object of the law was to punish crime, and not seek revenge, ne pronounced the sentence as above. A SPRINGFIELO RYSTERY. A Well-to-do Carpenter Comes to Thia City on Business and Mystericasly Disappears. Last Friday morning, between eight aud nive o'clock, Mr. James White, a respectable carpenter, of Springfleld, New Jersey, camo to this city to collect certain subscriptions for the church with which he was connected. He was ex- pected to return home on we evenmg of the nos ” game day, but did not, and as he has been heard from sine? nis wife and fimily have for several days past veen in @ fearful state of anxiety about him. His pastor, the Rev, L, Schuei- der, was in this city yesterday endeavoring to fatnom the mystery, but beyond ascertaini the miss gentleman li called ata house ta Waveriey place on the day of his disappearance, ana nad there coticcted a sinall sum of money, Ing contd be learned, ray Mr. White is about forty-five years of age. was dressed in t dark suit and wore side saniberst cove apprehensions are entertained im regard 30