The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1873, Page 3

iM) ‘ ‘ : NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. 3 THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Dangerous Traps for the Children of the Metropolis, What the Public May Expect in Case of Fire or Panic. Over Two Hundred Thousand Lives Daily Endangered. The School Houses, Their Appurtenances and Surroundings. At least one hundred thousand lives are dally entrusted to those having charge of the schools of this city, and in the light of recent events it was @eemed proper that a full investigation should be made and the public assured in regard to the safety of their children who might happen to bein attend- ance, There are in this city 104 schools (grammar, primary and colored schools), besides the cor- porate schools. The last report shows that for the year ending with December, 1872, the whole fumber of pupils on the roll was 236,167, distributed as follows :— Number Grammar schools (male) on aor eames Be Primar; Sra Se betrda formal School. er Corporate schools... i 23,356 Total. .......... . 100,88 336,167 It 18 unnecessary to state that the care of so many lives as above-mentioned should not be en- trusted to incompetent officials, but, unfortunately, such is the case. The Superintendent of Buildings of the Department of Pubiic Instruction is a gentle- man who has been connected with the schools for Many years, and although he knows all about the buildings he does not worry himself much about the boilers, as that is “‘out of his line.” 1tis very well to state that the engineer of the department knows all about heating and ventilating because he was ‘five year on twelve injin, sometimes when it was a workin’ a fire, and we had to send her up to two hundred pounds, an’ it was just as nice the day he left as the day he wint on, an’ there ‘was soit pine ali around it and sheet iron on the outside onit.” Several of the janitors who ran “bilers” have qualified before the police authori- ties; but is safe to say that, notwith- standing all these drawbacks, there is really mo more Wanger in any of the schools than if every possible adjunct in respect to making the building fireproof, was strictly cared for. In these 104 schools, there aré 84 boilers, 79 fur- naces, for hot air heating, and over one thousand stoves, and while the police authorities have care- fully inspected each boiler and have fixed the safety valves so that there cannot possibly be over 10 pounds of steam on in any of them, although they are subjected to a pressure of 110 pounds, It is wrong that the are of all the heating and ventilating arrangements should be under the con- rol 01 one man, whose scientific record 1s very olosely circumscribed, and who can be found oftener at the City Hull than at the school houses throughout the city. It would be wrong to create any alarm now in relation to the schools, as it isjust twenty-one years since any very serious casualty happened in any of them. The ¢asualty referred was the result of an alarm of fire. Some scores of lives were lost, but the lesson then taught, although very bitter, has fot been neglected, and it is now one of the regular exercises in the schools for the principals to dis- mica the pupils in short order, drilling the teachers and pupils in case of fire, so that, should occasion require it, the schools could be emptied ina very few minutes. There are no ‘fire escapes” in the schools, but there are fire- proof stairways in almost all of the buildings, built bf blue stone and enclosed by solid brick partitions, From the reports given below, as well as from what has been said above, it will be seen that the sehoolhouses in this city may be regarded as so many “tinder boxes” should a fire eccur; but itis algo very evident that the school authorities are doing what seems to them proper to ensure the safety of the lives committed daily to their care, although the choice of their: “engineer” might reasonably be questioned. THE FIRST WARD has but three schoolbouses—one in Stone strect, bne 1n Greenwich street, near ‘Rector, and one in Cedar street, near Greenwich. With the exception of the last mentioned the buildings are very old as tchoolhouses, and, although the precautions in tase of fire are pretty good, itis sad to say that should a fire occur during school hours there would be a holocaust beyond a doubt. All the buildings are old and heated by wood stoves, ex- tept the school in Greenwich street, which is heated by steam. + ‘The grammar school in Greenwich street is by no Means fortunate in its surroundings. It has tene- ment houses at both sides, with an alley way run- ning into the side, which would only serve as a trap in case a fire should occur; but, as under a recent order, the children are being drilled daily how they should go out in case of sudden alarm ‘and there are now four stairways and good methods of escape, it is safe to presume that no immediate necessity will arise for the purpose of testing them. ‘The achool in Stone street isan old “tinder box.” It has been in use some fifteen or twenty ycars; is surrounded by warehouses of all kinds, and would prove to be a death trap should ever a fire occur or & panic of any kind be started. a IN THE SECOND WARD there is but one schoolhouse, and that a primary school. It is fanked by a tenement house on one side and an oil store on the other; it is heated by steam, and is watched over by the father-in-law of the brother-in-law of Mr. Sheriff Brennan, It is an old building, with narrow, winding stairways, and, should a fire occur, it would be a physical impossi- bility for the children ever to get out without great Joss of life. In the Third ward there are no schools, ‘and, of course, no danger. IN THE FOURTH WARD there are three school-houses—one grammar school and two primary schools. The former, in Vande- water street, is badly surrounded, and, being heated by steam, might possibly be the scene of & great deal of trouble, if not positive loss of life, should @ conflagration ever occur. The two pri- mary schools in the ward being heated by wood stoves are comparatively safe, as the teachers and janitors are all so much interested that they must ‘watch the stoves and thus tend to the safety of attendants, IN THE FIFTH WARD there are but two schools—one grammar, in North Moore, and one primary in Vestry street. Neither is particularly safe, but although the surroundings are old and inflammable there is really but little, if any, cause for alarm. Botti buildings.are heated by steam and, while caretully guarded, may yet be considered as traps of the worst kind, + IN THE SIXTH WARD there are two primary and two grammar schools, all of which are heated by stoves. The surround- ings of each schoolhouse are s0 bad that it is al- most unnecessary specify them. Tenement houses, shops and factories of all Kinds are hud- died close inst the schoolhouses, so that, not- withstanding the fact that the brother of Sheri Brennan is Commissioner and gerieral “boss” of the schools and teachers in the district, should any alarm be given during schoo! hours the slaughter would be fearful indeed. SEVENTH WARD, Grammar School No. 12, at 321 Madison strect, is os as unsafe a schoolliouse as there isin New ‘ork. The stairways are of wood, and are in a bad condition, The school isvery old, having been built in 1812, and they are now putting in wooden ceilings and improving its condition; «but tire best improvement they could make in this school woula tear it down be to entirely and rebuild the structure. Owing to the jwures made in the HERALD some time since on the condition of this school, the Board of Bduca- tion made some alterations in it, but it is nothing ‘addition to the three eutrances on 0x, and would burn, if it once tnaer ere terribie rapidity, The school is by '-four stoves, No. 36, at 68 Monroe street, is a edifice, heated by steam from one tty good building. The janitor is M ‘sa fair condition. and is thriving lon' a condition an: in its attendance. It was built in 1844, and is con- building, owing to the large egress. e back stairways are of stone, with eight inch brick walls. It is by tuirty-four stoves, in which wood is Grammar School No. 2, in Henry street, 18 con- sidered to be a safe building, KIGHTH WARD. The Orst school visited in this ward was at 66 Grand street, Thisis a substantial looking build- ing, and contrasts very strikingly with the tumble down shanties that are its immediate neighbors on each side, and that seem to lean upon it for su; pert. There are three floors above tne playground, aud there appears to be abundant means for egress. There is @ broad wooden stairway in the ee ~ Ao damage bp tig brick sides, lead- ing from the top story, les separate stairways for the primary department. The colored school im South Fifth avenue, sear Grand street, seems to be, for its size, one of the most intricate structures in the city. It is only Soa two stories high, and yet its pamagee would be an admirable ning for a labyrinth or maze. It has several stairways, but they are all narrow and built of wood. There is also one stairway on the outside of the building, built wholly of wood, which has so dilapidated and worn out en Rensasanee that it has almost the merit of bein, cturesque. ‘The entrances are all on the front oi the building. There are iactories on cach side of it. About ton or tweive years the buildin, took fire, but it was extinguished before muc! harm was done, and none of the children were hurt. The school im Clarke street, near Spring, is surrounded with miserable wooden rookerics, which must, inevitably, sooner or later, catch fire, and there is #0 much woodwork on the outside of the schoolhouse that it will be hard work to pre- vent their jeatting also, Inside, however, the building has the advantage of being heated by a stove cage ond not by steam. There is one very broad stairway of wood in the front and another stairway divided ig brick partition—one passage for boys and the other for in the rear. The little primary school at 61 Thompson street stands in a_ ver, inflammable neighborhood, being surrounde: with some of the worst and lowest trame tenement houses ward. One side, however, says the schoolmistress—that inhabited only by colored nents quite respectable wnen compared with he other, which is inhabited by a mixed colony of practical mi ationists. school has five stairways, but two of them oneal on the street are very narrow and of wood, gnd another on the outside of the building, on one side of it, is of wood and is open to the weather, so that in Win- ter it is coated with ice and cannot be used. There are, however, two remaining inside nar- row stairways, to the back of the building, which are mainly of brick and stone. Even at the séagon, when the air is unusu- d with oxygen, the fetid odors of the Ing neighborhood are very unpleasantly prominent. ‘The remaining school in this ward, at 545 Green- wich street, between Chariton and Vandam, is also only @ primary. It has three floors and several narrow stairways, one of them on the outside -of the building. Only one of them, .however, is of brick and stone, and, amali as is the school, it ts 80 narrow that, in the event of a serious panic, it would be very apt to be choked up. . NINTH WARD, In this ward there are several very large and handsome school houses, That at the corner of Hudson and Groveseems admii constracted in every way. On two sides the building —— di- rectly on the street, and on the two other sides it is, with the exception of a small factory, isolated from other structures. ‘There is one large wooden stair- way in the front and two very solid and appar- ently perfectly freproof stairways of brick and stone lead! m the top floor, besides other stairwars for the especial use of the lower floors, The Principal claims also that the discipline of the school ia so perfect that he could empty it without difticulty in three minutes. Its one weak point is that it is heated by steam, and the boilers are at- tended to only py the janitor, who, however, is ea to hold a certilicate from the Board of Educa- jon. At No. 274 West Tenth are there is a little priraty school, with two wooden stairways in nt and two in the rear of brick and iron, These means of egress seem ample for the needs of the school, It is heated by a steam boiler, which is under the charge of the janitor. Primary School 18, at 189 Wavericy place, is also very small, It has one wooden stairway in front and one in the rear, and it is heated by stoves, any danger from which could be at once detected. It is surrounded by first class tenement houses, The grammar school for girls only, on Greenwich avenue, at the head of Charles street, is built with all the modern improvements, a steam-heating ap- paratus (under the charge of the janitor) included. On each Bide of it there are small brick houses, and the rear is open. [t has ene broad front stairway of wood and four others.of brick and stone, which seem very solid Ah@'salo. ‘Te boys’ gramtnar school, at 208 West Thirteenth street, 18 much the same in {ts arrangements as the last. Itis also heated with steam, and seems to have abundant means of egress. At Horatio, near Hudson street, there is also a smatl school, the only dangerous point about which the close proximity of a number of shanties on the west side of it and a great deal of woodwork in the school yard facing it. TENTH WARD. Grammar School No. 20, tn Chrystie street, be- tween Delancey and Rivington, has over 2,000 pu- pils, and is in a good condition and said to be safe from fire. 1t is heated by hot air from eight fur- naces, There are four stairways which run to the top of the beet [RVENTH WARD. Primary School No. 3, at 100 Cannon street, is in avery bad condition. The stairs are wretchedly built, all of wood, and the building is very dark and illy ventilated. Were fire to occur here the children could not possibly escape. Adjacent to the school is a steam saw mill, ans e boilers and an engine, separated from the ey is’ play ground only by a thin brick wall. If the oilers explode during the hours of recreation, two or three hundred lives must certainly be destroyed. The out-houses are in a very wretched state, and take it altogether the school is @ scandal to the city. The building is heated by stoves. GRAMMAR SCHOOL NO. 4, situated in Rivington street, between Pitt and Ridge, is heated by two boilers which were put in this season, There ate three modes of egress through as many large halis, twenty feet in width. There is an entrance on Ridge street in Rivington street. Tho building is in good condition with a single exception. All the stairways are built of wood. As there are between seventeen hundred and eighteen hundred pupils attending the school our readers may frame gome faint conception of the terrible scenes which Would ensue were these -wooden staircases to take fire. The engincer holds a certificate from . Dunham, the former en- gineer-in-chie! of the Board. “sux ‘ es SR AMMA SOOO NO, 42, in Allen streét, neaf Hester, is attended by 2,700 pupils, It has an entrance on Hester street in ad- dition to the main entrances on Allen street. It is heated by forty-four stoves, in which wood is burned, and four gas-burning stoves. The main builaing is twenty years old; the addition, on Hester street, seven years, The janitor is a practical engineer and was a member of the old Fire Department. There are three wooden bridges conte ting the main building with the wing. The wails of the bridges are of corrugated iron, and the eee are very dangerous in them- selves, Taking this school asa whole it cannot be considered @ safe one. GRAMMAR SCHOOL, NO. 7, No. 66 Chrystie street, has seven modes of egress on the ground floor, and there is only one wooden stairway in the Poel which is torty years old, This building is heated by twenty-three stoves, THIRTEENTH WARD Primary School No. 20, in Broome street, near Clinton, hasan attendance of between eight and nine hundred pupils. The janitress says that the building can be emptied in three minutes. There is one wood and two stone stairways. The build- ing is heated by hot air from a large furnace in the basement, Grammar School No. 34, in Broome street, be- tween Willett and Sheriff, is heated by steam from four upright bollers, There are wood and tron stairways tu the buildin, 4 1,600 children attend the school. The school is in excellent condition and the means of escape are simpie, and could easily be taken advantage of, Among the other schools visited is one on the cor- ner of Stanton and Sheritf, which will be heated by steam from two boilers. The main stairway is wide, being built of wood, The back stairways are built of stone. The great trouble with this new building, however, is that there is too much woodwork on the lower floors. There is also a new school in Ludiow, near Delancey. No admission can be had to the ee as yet. Colored School No. 6, in Allen, between Delancey and Broome, is in a wretched and filthy condition, and is entirely un- safe. Primary School No. 10, in Cannon street, my Broome, is in an unsafe condition. School No. 30, in Baxter, near Grand, has very wretched arrangements in case fire should occur, School No. 5, #t 226 Mott street, inthe Fourteenth ward, is also unsafe, particularly in the matter of the stairways, School No. 21, in Marion, near Spring, is believed to be in a safe condition. The other Schools on the east side of town which we have not mentioned are ys gd Supposed to be safe in case a fire should occur. FIFTEENTH WARD, In this ward there are only three schools, The first, in Thirteenth street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, seems safe enongh, considering the enor- mous use of wood made In this, as in apparently all other schoois, by the architect. There isa broad wooden stuirway in front and another of brick and iron on each side at the rear. The build- ing is heated by steam, the two boilers being run by the janitor, who holds a certificate from ex-En- gineer Dunham. The girls’ grammar school in Twelfth street is heate (A seven hot-air furnaces, and has, in addi- tion to the usual broad wooden visitors’ stairway, two stairways of stone and brick. These, however, open into a corridor of the front hail, and itis quite conceivable that they might be blocked before all the children could get out by a fire run- ning up the main stairway. ‘The school at 180 Wooster street did once catch fire on its top story, when a neighboring factory was destroyed by flame. This. however. there are two | misfortune rat her than a fault of the school, which has, at any rate, very fair means of egress, The “fire” discipline of the boys is claimed to be very good, and they could all be got into the street within three minutes. SIXTEENTH WARD, In this, as in the other wards above Fourteenth Street, the schoolhouses generally have the benefit of tolerably good buildings for their immediate neighbors. At the school in Seventeenth street, near Eighth avenue, the great danger seéms to be that the two back stairways, like the broad visitors’ stairway in front, are of wood. They are also none too wide. The primary school on the lower floor has, however, independent stairways, In Fighteenth street, near Ninth avenue, the schoolhouse is heated with steam, and the boilers are run by the janitor. There are, however, four excellent stairways from the tep of stone and brick, the school has a very large attendance its discipline is claimed to be as perfect a8 can be maintained in a smaller school. The school in Twentieth street, between Sixth and Seventh avenues, also bas steam Soperasas, with two boilers, run by the janitor, who holds one of Mr, Dunham's certificates. There are three stone and brick stairways leading to the top, besides other wooden stairways from lower floors, In Twenty-fourth street Grammar School 45 is heated by eight hot air furnaces, but all the stairways are of wood and are narrow and dark as well, SEVENTEENTH WARD. Grammar School No. 14, situated in Houston street, near Nerfolk, is a brick structure, four sto- ries in height. ‘The building is @ dangerous one so lar as the pupils are concerned. There are three entrances at the front of the building. ‘The vis- itors’ stairway, in the middie, is of wood, and the two stairs leading irom the play yard to the rear pt of the school are built of stone. There are hirty-six class rooms, heated by stoves, in which wood is burned. In the vicinity of the school are @ number of inflammable tenement houses, and to the west of the school is a taree story wooden 100k- ory Ge | glance at which would dishearten a Fire Primary School No. 9 is located at 42 First street. It is of brick, and was at one time a Methodist church, It is an unsafe There are three entrances and a wooden stairway in the middle en- trance. There are ro stone stairs in any part of the building. Incase of a fire or panic it would puzzle the pupils to escape from the building. The schoo) is heated by two hotair furnaces in the play ground and four stoves up stairs. There are eleven class rooms in the building. The scnool ia entirely unsafe. Grammar School No. 25 is in Fifth street, be- tween First and Second avenues, is a large and imposing building, lately constructed of brick and stone. The building 1s heated by steam, and there are two boilers in rge of @ man who has had seventeen years’ experience as a practical en- gineer ; but unfortunately this man isto be removed next week and the individual who is to take Ins pass it is said, knows nothing whatever of the ers, The janitor of this schvol is not an engineer; but his wife says that ‘he is not one fool, and can take care of dem boilers.’ The School has stone stairways leading to the Vr round, The main stairway 1s of wood, and the uilding was opened jast September. ‘There are no dangerous buildings contiguous to this school, Primary School No. 22, corner of Ninth street and First avenue, is heated by seventeen stoves, in which wood is burned. The building itself is an old one and is of brick. There are no fire escapes, The stairways used by the pupils are of stone, and the stairs for teachers and visitors are of wood. There are two doors, one for males and the other for females, to get in or out of the school. The building is supposed to be sale in case of tire. Primary school No. 26, in Twelfth street, near avenue is built of brick and stone, and has three entrances, The teachers’ stairway 1s of wood, and the rear stairways, for pupils, are of stone. ‘The school has fiiteen class rooms, and there are nineteen stoves, in which wood is burned. ‘The Janitor lights all the fires himself. The school is surrounded by brick tenement bouses, , Grammar School No. 19, in Fourteenth street, is a large and fine looking beer! and may be con- sidered to be pretty safe. There are thirty-two stoves‘in the building, in which wood is burned, and three stoves in which coal is-burned, A large number of pupils attend this school, and about two years since, when the shock oi an earth- quake was feit in his city, the school was emptied of every living soal within its walls in the short space of five minutes, a fact which speaks weil for its means of egress. About tweive years since a child whose clothing caught fire in the school died of its injuries. There are six exits on the first floor and five on each of the upper floors. There are stone stairways all through the building, but no fire escapes. An evening school is held here with a large attendance of scholars. ‘The butlding is not surrounded by any dangerous struc- tures, and generally speaking the school is sup- posed to be in a sate condition, KIGHTEENTH WARD. Primary School No. 29 is situated in Nineteenth street, near avenue A, and is of brick, two stories in heignt. There are three wooden stairways and two stone stairways in the building. There is but one floor occupied for school purposes in the build- ing. The buiiaing is heated by seventeen stoves, in which wood is burned. Mrs. Downing, the janitress, does not live on the mi as there is no ‘ iston made in the weanity vi for her, ‘bul are tenement houses, but they are not especially oraeercas ‘The school itself, however, is decidedly unsafe, Primary School No. 28, in Kast*Twentieth street, near First avenu of brick, three stories in height, and is heated by eight hot-air furnaces, situated on the playground floor. The stairs are all of wood, and there are seventeen class rooms, There are no wooden buildings contiguous to the school, but it may be surmised that the school 18 unsafe from the fact that the stairways are ull of wood, and would burn rapidly, Grammar School No. 60, in East Twenticth street, near Third avenue, 18 built of brick and is four steries in height. ‘This school isin a very dan- erous condition. it is heated by steam from tubu- r boilers, and fires are constantly kept burning. Some of the wooden beams, contrary to law, ran directly into the brickwork of the furnaces. The janitor is in charge of the heating apparatus, but has not qualified as an engineer as yet, though he has been before the Board to get his authorization. He considers three pounds of steam sufficient to heat the building, but states that he believes that he can put on 100 pounds 01 steam without danger. ‘The beams are as dry as tinder. Were the building to take fire @ terrible disaster would be the re- suit. The janitor is not deemed capable of run- ning the boilers, as he has to have assistance from the contractors who placed the boilers in the building. The boilers were placed in the schoo! simply on trial and it is not Known whether they are safe or not. The school has been ex- amined, but with what result is not known. The report has been inade to the School Building Com- mitiee. The boilers have not yet been accepted as sate. This school should be investigated at once by some competent persons. It is One of the most dangerous schools in the city. Primary School No. 4 is located in Sixteenth Strect, near Firstavenue, and is of brick, three stories in height. There are no fire escapes and all the stairways are of wood. The school was for- merly occupied as a tenement house and is totally unfit for its present purpose. It is flanked on either side by dangerous tenement houses, and is insuMcientiy heated Aye) large stoves, in which wood Is burned. The school 1s really Ina dangerous Condition, and needs investi- gation. There is but one entrance or means of egress, and that is by the single door in front of the building. There is a huge lumber shed over the back stairs, which lead into the yard. The building wilt be Mate ed until May next for school purposes. he janitress docs not live on the prem- ises. The chimney is in a dangerous condition. Grammar School No. 40, in Twenty-third street, between Second and Third avenues, is a four story brick building. The janitor has been seven years connected with the school, and he claims to be a practical engineer. He has had charge of the boilers for seven years, and he states that no accident has occurred during that time. He does not bank his fires, and he states that he is careful because his family live on the premises, There are three entrances in the front of the bnilding. There are stone stairways throughout the school, but at the rear there isa row of dangerous wooden stables, which are twelve feet distant from the rear wall of the school. Primary schoo; No, 23, in Eleventh street, near Third avenue, was formerly used asa church. It has not been occupied for school purposes lately. TWENTIETH WARD. All the schools in this ward seem built with care and upon good models, though there is tie usual fondness for using wood wherever poasibie, The girls’ school in enty-eighth street, near Sixth avenue, has steam heating apparatus, which is | tended by the janitor. The stairways, front and | back, are of wood and they are aarrow and rather dark. Until recentiy there was a means of egress | in the rear, but this has now been closed, owing to setae new arrangements in the ropérty. There seem now to be very insufficient xits im case of panic. The school in Thirty-seventh street, near Tenth avenue, is heated by steam, the one boiler being | tended by the janitor. Some three or four years | ago there was an Alarm o/ fire, but the flames were extinguished by the presence of mind of the janitor, and no harm was done. The boiler is run | without more than five or six pounds of steam. ‘here are four brick and stone stairways to the top Grammar Schoo! 32, in Thirty-flith street, has stone and brick stairways from all the floor: though they are somewhat narrow. It ts heate by steam, which is supplied by two boilers. The janitor has run them ten years without accident, though he only holds one of the Dunham certif- cates. ‘The school in West Twenty-eighth street—Gram- mar School 33—is heated with steam and bas two botlers, which are under the charge of the janitor, There are plenty of good and apparently sale stair- ways, of stone and brick. The remaining school in this ward, in Thirtieth street—Grammar School 26—has just had its steam apparatus overhauled and improved; but it has been run by the present janitor, without accident, for three years previously. There are plenty of good stairways and the school is surrounded by good buildings. A LAWYER ARRESTED FOR FORGERY. Boston, Jan, 11, 1872, Joseph H. Whitman, a lawyer of this city, is un- der arrest, charged with forging @ mortgage note OUTRAGED JUSTICE. Exciting and Amusing Scene in a * Pittsburg Court. A Witness Bangs a Lawyer in the Eye—The In- dignant Magistrate Kicks and Cuffs the Chap in Contempt—The Lawyer of the First Part Goes for the Plaintiff—Decision for the Defendant Because of “Blackguard and Villanous Conduct Before the &q1 y, Prrrssuré, Pa., Jan, 11, 1873, ‘The office of Alderman McMasters, in the Fifth ward, was this afternoon the scene of a row of the liveliest description, the participants being men of Rational reputation. It appears that som time during the late Presidential campaign Theodore Tilson dropped in upon Pittsburg for the purpose of delivering an address in favor of Horace Greeley for President. He did not belong to the democrats, and the Executive Committee did not bother them- selves about providing him with a place to speak. However, one delegate to the Cincinnati Conven- tion troduced him to William McClurg, owner of the Academy of Music, and a bargain was struck for the hall on behalf of a mixed commission—that is, liberals and democrats, Since the election the proprietor has been running his shoes down en- deayoring to find somebody to pay his bill, the committee's affairs having gone into liquidation bans ago, and, after spending months in this un- Profitable amusement, he concluded to bring suit against a few prominent men of THE LATE LAMENTED LIBERAL MOVEMENT. Summonses were issued on the Mr. Thomas Mar- shall, known throughout the country as one of Mr. Greeley’s stanchest supporters and workers; Dr. James King, liberal candidate for Congress in the Twenty-second district; Mr. James K. Moorhead, Dr. H. T. Coffey and Hon, W. D, Moore, Chairman of the County Executive Democratic Committee, ‘The case did not develop anything extraordinary outside of the usual routine attending civil actions for debt until the cross-examination of Mr. Mar- quiss by Mr. Marshall. As the examination got on witness and counsel for the liberal ring of detend- ants got up AN EDIFYING TRIAL OF WIT, at which the latter got the best of his inexpert- enced opponent, The questions worked the wit- ness up to fever heat, and, rushing up to Mr. Mar- shall, he doubied up his fist and, shaking it under the attorney’s nose, remarked :— “J want you to understand that I’m not paid for swearing.” ‘This remark did not ease his wrath to any appre- ciable extent, and before he had scarcely ceased speaking he let drive at the lawyer, taking him fairly in the eye and staggering him against the wall, The latter was encumbered with a heavy overcoat, but he seized his assailant by the throat, and while backing him to the wall got him into cbancory, doubled him up like @ jack-knile and draped both eyes in the highest style of art. This episode created THE WILDEST EXCITEMENT. The distinguished audience looked on aghast for & moment; then numbers of them sloped towards the door. Alderman McMasters, with surprisin agility, jumped from his seat and seized the bel- ligerent witness, and with some assistance ejected ee the office, the exit being accelerated by sundry KICKS ADMINISTERED BY THE OUTRAGED MAGIS- TRATR. While this scene was being enacted at the door wrangling between plaintif’s and defendants’ coun- sel continued. As soon as the Alderman resumed his seat Mr. Marshall asked for judgment for de- fendants, reiterating the remark that McClurg never paid h s own dewts, even on judgments, Mr. McClurg promptly responded to the charge by call- ing the attorney a liar. The attorney REACHED FOR HIS MAN, and MeClurg, though a little man, was so wedged in among the crowd that he could not budge, and escape from the terrible visitations of Murshall’s boot Was out of the question; so he grinned with Lit until he succeeded in crowding through the ‘hrong and reached the threshold. Then he went down Fiith avenue ata high rate of speed. and goon disappeared from view. Counsel for for plaintit then announced that he had withdrawn from the suit. Mr. Marshall then demanded judg- bein po ende and the masistrate yielded to his démamt, with the tollowing official endorsement, A MOST RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. “Dismissed because of blackguard and villanons conduct of the plaintitf in presence of the squire.” ‘Thus ended the battle which proved a victory for the liberal cause. Several suits for assault and battery will be instituted on Monday. BROOKLYN AFFAIRS. a No less than 344 persons were taken into custody by the police of this eity tor violations of the law during the past week. Taking the Taxes. Taxpayers have responded handsomely to the summons of the Collector of Taxes, Last week the receipts amounted to $121,139, Property Recovered by Police. Property Clerk Krauschaur reports that during the month of December property to the value of $9,586 was recovered by the police. Of this amount $9,317 was restored to the owners, leaving a bal- ance of $269 unclaimed. Earnings of the Academy of Muasic., The annual reports of the Brooklyn Academy of Music for the year 1872 have been submitted, The Tecempts amounted to $38,564 and the expenditures were $39,050. The five directors elected for the ensuing year Bre as follows:—Alexander McCue, Edward Whitehosue, Gordon L, Ford, E. 8, Mills aud James How. Fire ina Hat Factory. Shortly after five o'clock yesterday morning a fire broke out in the building, occupied by John W. Neal as a hat factory, on Schenck street, near Flushing avenue. The flames, which proceeded from the boiler room, tially destroyed the structure, stock and machinery. ‘The loss on stock, &e., sustained by Neal amounts to $3,000; insured for $2,500. ‘The buiiding, which is owned by Mrs. | was damaged F $1,000, Policy People Panished. Captain Joel Smith, of the Second precinct, yes terday managed to find a policy shop in operation in his district. He made a descent upon an estab- lishment at No. 16 Red Hook tane, and caught the players and dealers in the web. ‘The prisoners taken were Andrew MgClellan (late manager for the murdered man, Nicholas Duryea), John Prim- rose and John Smiti. The accused were taken be- fore Police Justice Andrew Walsh, who heid them mm $1,500 bonds to appear for future examination. The requisite bail was furnished, Catherine ben to the extent of 0! $1,500; msured The Comptroller After the Tax Collector, Comptroller Schroder insists upon the sax Col- lector, Mr. Lemuel Burrows, forthwith paying over to the Treasurer of the city the taxes collected on the sist of December and the 24 and 3d of January. The subjoined emphatic communication was transmitted to the Collector yesterday :— Comprrozixn’s Orrick, Baoostrs, Jan. 1, 1873, yRRows, Baq., Tax Collector i— Srr—I have not received the usual return required to be made to the Comptroller, stating the amount of taxes collectsd hy Fou on the Stat day of, December, Is7t, and on the 2d and 3d days of Ji Fro Lewor furnished by vou to fis e Mayor | have ascer. tained that the a preyate amount collected on those dates is $1,500,588 65. Deducting from the total amount Hiected by you for taxes of 1°72 the total amount paid over by you to the City Treasurer I find that you with- hold today from the city @ balance amounting to 964, GOS 8 ‘Now, as the officer required to examine, adjust and set- tle the accounts of all persons indebted tothe Corporation for any purpose, and as the supervisor of the fiscal con- cerns of all olticers of the Corporation who may receive or disburae the publi¢ funds of the exty, f deem it my duty fo demand, and hereby do demand, that you torthwit fay over to the Treasurer of the city the sum of 03 8, due to the city and now withheld by you con- ytolaw, Yours, respecttully, se ae 1 ee NCHRODER, Comptrotier. Mr. Burrows states that he is checking off pay- ments as rapidly as possible, #0 as to balance hi books up to the close of December and to pay over to the Treasurer all receipts up to that time; and the payments up to December 31 will be checked by Monday, When the money will be paid ever, He has made payments on account, and the difference between Teceipts and payments will not exceca four hundred tuousand dollars. Jt is impossible to over on the day of receipt all tax money, and e says the Comptroller may demand as often as he may see fit, it will make no difference to him. Fatal Result of the Barr Banquet. Alice Barkey died from the effects of burns re- ceived at the City Hospital at an early hour yester- day morning. The particulars attending tne cir- cumstances of the case appeared inthe HmRaLp yesterday. Deceased had been an inmate of the Jor $10,000 and uttering the same. The accused is alleged to be implicated with Charles Foster, who was recently arrested in Canada on charges Of fraudulent transactions, Raymond Street Jail from the early part of Novem- ber until Friday last. She had been detained there, in company with Mrs. Rose Barr, as a witness against Hugh Barr, a brutal fellow, of forty me of age, who had fractured the yon radiey. The latter is still the ital, though she frem the et ‘hich, time, were believed to be of a fatal character. Was upon the tavorable turn in her case that the Iriends of Barr and wile exercised their influence of the prisoners, release from custody on Friday morning, and. repaired forthwith to the Barr's of abode, a miserable, damp, dirty basement, beneath tenement house 48 Front street. During the absence of the monarch of the base- ment, Bridget Hussey and Susan McFadden had taken up their quarters there. In order to give the returned jail birds a becoming welcome Miss McFadden produced the body of two mutilated ten cent stamps from the recess of a capacious Pocket. With this not considerable amount Susan repaired to a neighboring Irish-town whiskey store and map procured, in sxonange Ered the se decayed currency, & surprisingly large quantity worse fire water than ever the oldest inhabicant of Jersey swallowed. The liquor was drunk by the par- thes named, Barr called for more. It was not forthcoming, not because of any miserly disposition on the part of the !adies present, but rather on ac- count of impecuniousness, He was unreasonavle and brutal, and swore he would have satisiaction. Thereupon he emptied a canful of kerosene oil over the stove, which was red hot. Flames shot forth on every side. Alice Barkey’s clothes caught fire, go did Mra, Hussey’s and Mrs, Hussey’s baby. Mrs. Barr smothered the flames which enwrapped the Husseys, thereby saving their lives; but poor Barkey was frightfully burned, and diedin great agony at the hospital, as set forth, The parties were all arrested, and were sent to jail on short commitment by Justice Walsa yesterday. Barr says he knows nothing about the occurrence, and must have been drun CONTINUATION OF THE SLEIGHING CARNIVAL Fast Horses and Fast Men—Life on the Road. During the past week the sleighing has been ex- cellent and the trotters have been out in full force. We have now had over two weeks of sleighing, and the road men have got their pets in fine trim and up to snow work, so that they can show plenty of speed when called on. There is no finer sight in the world to a lover of outdoor sports than can be seen every afternoon ‘on the road.’ The majority of horses are very fast, handsome and valuable, and the greatest enthusiasm prevails among horse- men, who are,delighted to have an opportunity of enjoying such good sleighing for so long a time. In the Park and on Sixth and Eighth avenues, ave- nue St. Nicholas, the Central avenue and the South- erm Boulevard the sleighing continues excellent, with no bare spots over their whole extent, a very unusual thing for New York. Captain Jake Vanderbilt has one of the very fastest trotting teams on the road in his black mares Charlotte Cushman and Kitty Crumb. The Captain is a splendid driver and can piace his team wherever he chooses when he goes fora “brush.’? Tie set sail for Frank Work, with the Kerner mare, few afternoons since, and, although the mare is second to none, after trotting over a mile she had to strike her flag to the Captain and his gallant team. A number of matches have been trotted on the road during the week, but they djd not prove as | interesting to outsiders as the impromptu | trotting to be seen, which is far more | exciting, The crowd which comes down the road every afternoon together, known as the “Commodore’s party,’ do some hot work, They consist generally of the Commodore, with his Mountain Girl and mate, or Lady Bacchus, Captain Jake Vanderbilt, with his pretty mares; | William Vanderbilt, with his gray or bay (new purchases) ; Mr. William fH. Harbeck, with his mare | elie or sorrel Saratoga; Dr. Corey, with either | Madawaska Maid or Commodore Nutt; Frank Work, with his big mare, and half a dozen others hanging on their skirts, In the midst sits the | Commodore, silent asa statue, and on either side | the eager faces of the other gentlemen; at it they goand “tear up the road.” | The great trotting team of stallions, Honest Allen and George Wilkes, driven by E. Simmons, | had a brash on Thursday ‘afternoon with the roan | horse Walter, driven by P. Fleming, The gallaut little roan carried too many guns for them, how- | ever, Harry Hamilton’s team, Buffalo and Winset, have been Fae | very fast. On Friday atternoon Dan Mace drove Eph Simmons’ team, Butfalo and Walter, and dashed up the road at a tremendous rate, swamping all that followed in his wake. Mr. A. KE. Williams’ bay mare Katie has been out every day, and has proved herself a gallant trotter— | fast, steady and lasting. Mr. has | driven a black horse of great 5 and beauty. Mr. John Richards 3 driven his | chestnut gelding Mayslick; Mr. Frank Robbins | a pair of brown horses; Mr. Ayres has taken his aaily afternoon rides behind a new chestnut | team. Professor Lee has drivea his chestuut and bay team, which are very fast. He had a narrow escape One afternoon by having his sicigh struck by another, but fortunately escaped injury. Mr. 1. D. Slater drove his slashing ches'nut Fleetwood, a very rapid horse. Mr. Asa Lewis was on the road with @ splendid road team, a bay and biack. Mr. Henry Smith has driven the Clark horse, which is | very fast. Mr. Henry N. Smith has driven his chestnut mare Idol, a ey ae animal and very rapid, to @ sieigh. Mr. Voornies showed a good deal of speed on Central avenue with his bay geid- ing, General urant. Mr. J. Al has been driving Bolly Lewis and ee of the finest Hambletonian colta in the country. Mr. Briggs has got New Ber- | lin Girl to trotting again, and she can speed very | fast, and attracts a good deal of attentio Mr. C, H. Read is driving the gray horse Marshall and brown borse Kennebec together, and they gu ver: fast. He has also appeared behind the well- known big mare Lady Ross, who can do some tall speeding to a sleigh. Mr. Thomas i Pp. Wallace has been riding behind his | fast young road team, whose magnificent | action and sleek coats are proof of their being new | bred ones, Mr. William M. Humphreys has been driving his black horse, and shows great speed | with him, | ‘Tom Broadway, Jr., has been out with bay mare Starlight Nell estaut gelding Vaptain, bay mare | Volunteer Girl, pacing gelding Dan, Island Boy and | others. The number of good horses is legion, and | toname them all would take more space than we have to spare. Such @ season of sport and pleasure “on the road” lias not been known tor many years, | and the partakers thereof are correspondingly | happy. SKA vING. Yesterday at the Park—The Fun and | Frolic of the Occasion. It seemed yesterday afternoon that nearly all the boys and girls, as well as many of Gotham’s adults. were at the Park indulging in the pastime of skating. At noun the cars leading to the princi- pal entrances were filled about Fourteenth street, and more than one conductor felt that the occasion was, indeed, pleasant for the juvenile community, Although bright, the day was very cold. It was freezing from early morning, and increasing in such intensity at nightfall that those who had thermometers outside the doors and were of speculative dispositions were wearied with noting its diminishing tendency, and though around fires that were pleasant, would involun- tarily shr their shoulders and shrink more | closely within themselves, On the lake at two o'clock there were over three thousand present and everybody was jolly, There were more than | the ordinary number of suspicious fails on the ice | by those of the fair sex who had masculine and youthful escorts. The sequence of such tumbies | Were necessitated by taking the rostrate | girl around her waist to lift her up until she recov- ered from the ghock, and this was a special attrac- tior of itself, Nightiali brought recruits, and when the lamps were lighted the enthusiasm was at its height. The beaux and belles fairiy revelied in the enjoyment of the scene, and, more than any other reunion of the character, there was mirth all around. When the word was passed to “clear the ponds” all took off ‘the “ringing steel” with reluc- | tance, feeling that the day had been of the most evjoyable nature, HORSE NOTES. ‘The disease known as cerebro-spinal meningitis | has again made its appearance and has attacked quite a number of work horses during the past week, but so far as known no valuable horses are | suffering from the disea! | The trotting gelding y Eddy is wintering at | Captain Kennedy's stock iarm at Coruwali, Orange | connaty, N. Y. Mr. J, Alcott has several handsome Hambletonian colts, three, four and five years old. These young- sters exhibit the strongest traits of their high | breeding, and give admirers of the Messenger blood rare pleasure in their inspection. Billy Borst, the fastest pacer in the world, wnose record is 2:1445, has been driven several times lately to a sleigh by his owner, Mr. Brown, of Har- jem. This gent pn has also a very fast trotter, a gray gelding. ‘A BROKEN BALL, jh on the Missouri Road—Several Persons Injured. Sr. Louis, Mo., Jan. 11, 1873, An express train on the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Railway struck a broken rail two miles north of Montgomery at three o’clock yes- | ing:—Ale, IMPRISONED FOR LIFE. Lydia Sherman Sentenced in New Haven for the Murder of Her Husband. A Murderer and a Murderess in Court—The Mur- deress is Calm and Happy—Spectators Hor- rified at the Woman’s Demeanor—A Startling Confession Expected. New Haven, Conn., Jan, 11, 1873, Lydia Sherman, the moaern Lucretia Borgia, has finally been sentenced, and the balance of her natural life will be spent inside the wails of the State Prison, at Wetherafleld. This announcement, so longexpected and so long deferred, was made in the Superior Court, in this city, to-day. Rumors that THE HEARTLESS MURDERESS was to be sentenced had the effect of drawing a large number of spectators to the court room, and among the auditors were many ladies of distinc- tion, all anxious to hear the sentence, and sce how the wretched woman would receive it, Contrary to general expectation the unfinished business of the Court was firsi disposed of, and, inasmuch as this was of a tragical nature, the as- sembled spectators were not unreasonably impa- tient. The trial of JOHNSON, THE MURDERER OF MRS, E83, in Meridén, was progressing at the time. John Harry Johnson was a laborer, He was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and came to this country early this year. Going to Meriden, he obtained work in one of the manufactories of that city, and soon afterward went to board with Mrs, Hess. He: had not been there long before mistortune over- took him, and then his troubles began. He went one day last July and tried to get his clothing from his landlady. He was in arrears for his board, and Mrs, Hess would not aliow him to take his goods away. He started to go up stairs, and Mrs, Hess interposed. A struggle ensued, in which Jonn- son stabbed his boarding mistress in the neck with a knife, inflicting a wound from which she died’ within twenty-four hours, Johnson has been on trial here during the whole week, and this forenoon the charge was given to the jury by Judge Lafayette F. S. Foster, The jury was out only about twenty minutes before returning A VERDICT OF MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE. During the Johnson trial Mrs. Sherman was’ brought into Court by the jailer. She was not 0 ex- cited as her escort, and if this had been a State of woman’s rights an impartial observer would have’ been at @ loss to Know which was the prisoner and’ which was her custodian. Of the two Mr. Webster, the jailer, was the most contused and exctted, The real criminal, according to the verdict of the jury. in July last, was COOL, CALM AND COLLECTED, and evidently happy. A day or two ago she sald’ she was happy, and from her demeanor this morn- ing it was evident that she was not going to break down. The spectators were not prepared for such nonchalance us this, and when Lydia ‘received her sentence and did not cry or faint or swoon, they all united in declaring her a wicked woman, A terri- ble scene was expected, but THE MURDERESS WAS ‘GAME’? all the way through, and the. judges and oficers Were as much surprised at her indiiference as tha disappointed spectators. The scene was not very dramatic. Jailer Webster, trembiing and nervous, escorted the smiling Borgia to a chair in the mid- die of the court room; there was a spasm of pain- ful silence—painfui to all except Lydia. She seemed to enjoy it. Judge Sanford, who was to pronounce the law’s decree, straightened himself up and gavo a dignified glance around the court room and then began as follows :- THE SENTENCE, “Mrs, Sherman, as one of the Court before whom you. were recently tried and convicted of one of the highest crimes known to the law, lam now called upon to pronounce upon you the law’s sentence, Before doing 80, however, if you desire to say any thing, the Court will give you opportunity.” Samuel M, Gardner, of Derby, one of her counsel, responded in her behalf that she had nothing to Say, and was ready for sentence. it uuing-—The indictment upon ich you were tried charges you with haying, on the sth day ot May, 1871, feloniously, wilfully aud with malice aforethougnt, taken THE LIFE OF YOUR HUSBAND, Horatio N, Sherman, by means of a deadly potsom by you a nistered to him, and so you were charged w aving committed the crime of mur der in the first degree. Upon that indictment you were tried by a jury iargely of your own selection. You were ably defended by most able counsel, and after a full, fair and impartial hearing were pro- nounced by your triers guilty, not of the crime as charged against you, but of murder in the second degree. In the opinion of the Court as constituted at the tiie of your trial the jury would have been Jully justified upon the evidence in finding you guilty of murder in the first degree, the punish- ment for which would have been death, % Recent developments have fully vindicated the soundness of that opinion; but the jury, while be- Hieving and findin ti: guilty of murder, wera robably nor satisfied that the crime was estab- fishea by that amount of evidence necessary under the statute to a conviction of a capital offence, and therefore, as Was within their province, convicted of the crime of murder m the second degree, and so you ESCAPE THE GALLOWS only tosuffer life-long confinement within prisom wails. The Court has no discretion as to the term of your imprisonment. We can only pronounce: the sentence provided by the statute, which is that you, Lydia Sherman, having been duly and legally’ ed of the crime of murder in the second de- be imprisoned in the Connecticut State Prison. g the period of your natural life, ‘The throng which had gathered to await the sen« tence waited to see the famous murderess taken away. The pleasant-faced Sherif! Scott svon ap-, peared and appointed Deputy Sherif? Stevens to. | deliver the woman to Jier friend, Jailor Webster, which he did within two minutes after her sentence. Then event ly who was excited was anxiously <G EXPECTED CONFESSION would be published. Itis rumored that the famous murderess is preparing @ statement of her life, which will disclose not only the crime oj which she has been convicted, but also include an acknowl- edgment of various capital offences. But still, ag she said upon leaving the court room to-day, she is, the happiest woman in the world. NEW YORK CITY. ‘The police arrested 1,088 persons last week. Marshal Hart granted 134 licenses during the past week, receiving $210 2! ‘There were 638 deaths, 484 births, 212 marriages and 41 still births in the city last week, Fire Marshal McSpedon reports twenty-two fires during the past week, which involved an estimated loss of $9,725, and insurance $88,300. The Fire Commissioners are continuing the work of inspecting public buildings, to ascertain their’ condition as regards safety irom fire, During the past six days there were twenty-two cases of smallpox reported. Eight deaths from this cause were reported during the week ending. yesterday at noon. Among the imports of the week were the follow-, $6,473; brandy, $14,565; beer, $9,3345 cordials, $1,324; champagne, $49,113; gin, $1.5295 mineral water, $1,278; porter, $506; rum, $1,1495 whiskey. $1,809; wine. $13,101. A decent looking young man named Thomas J. ‘Turner was arrested and arraigned yesterday be-, fore Justice Bixby at the Yorkville Police Court, ! charged with picking pockets on a Third avenue | car. He was held in default of $1,000 bail for trial. \, Arthur McQuade, a young man twenty-four years of age, died yesterday in Bellevue Hospital, On Friday deceased was taken to the Hospital from the Twentieth precinct by ambulance, he havin; been run over by one of the city railroad cars anc fatally crushed. Coroner Keenan will make an in- vestigation. The residence of deceased did not | appear. James Donahue, Superintendent of the Free Labor’ Bureau, Nos. $ and 10 Clinton place, makes the fol- lowing report of business for the week ending Jan- uaty 11:—Applications for employment, 1,044; of these there were 143 males and 001 fenmies. | Male help required, 109; female, 866. Situations cured for 78 males and 702 females; waole number of situations procured for the week, 730. On January 1, Mr. James Kennedy, aged 24, @ resident of Jersey City, and an employé of the’ Central Railroad, left Jersey hopyfiay pegs tey bee ferry to New York, to make a call, He w: at the time, and is & young man of temperate terday morning, and the baggage car and two coaches and the Kansas City sleeping car were thrown down an embankment and turned over, Edward Churchitl, of Pana, Ill., had his collar bone broken and was otherwise severely injured. Ten or ngers were more Or less hurt, but seriously, habit t time he has not been heard of, o the Jersey frnen. The following 1s ~ er tion:—Height, six feet; smail mustache, color} imperial, scar on chin, bas eres claret colored suit, high silk ihe