The New York Herald Newspaper, April 24, 1873, Page 7

— THE CROPS. Good Prospects in the South and Southwest. EXTENDED AREA OF THE COTTON PLANT. Large Additions to the Number of Wheat and Corn Fields. The South Resuming Its Former Position. {ntelligence from portions of the South and South- ‘West represents the growing crops in those sec- tions to be in an almost unprecedentedly prosper- ous and promising condition. In all the Southern States the area of land under cultivation is mach larger this year than at any time since the war, and if no materia: drawback intervenes before the harvest months to check the growth of the crops the productiens of the South this year will be fully equal to any previous season. The coming planting of cotton will be more ex- tensive than in former seasons, and some of the Southern papers venture to predict that next Fall and Winter, notwithstanding the plentiful supply Of labor, there will be more cotton raised than can be conveniently taken from the fields. The Mont- gomery (Ala.) Advertiser says it will be the most valuable crop ever raised in the United States. The money paid for it in its raw state will not fall far short of $330,000,000. Of this sum about $36,000,000 will go to first speculators and first pur- chasers, leaving $295,000,000 to the producers. Large additions have also been made to the umber of wheat and corn flelds, and the prospect atpresent is that the aggregate of those cereals ‘will be largely in excess of the productions of for- mer years. We give below all the extracts we have been able to gather from our exchanges:— GRORGIA. Arecent trip to the interior enables us, says the editor of a Savannah journal, to speak with some eertainty as to the present prospects of a crop in Georgia. From the Savannah to the Chattahooche the traveller never gets beyond or above the pun- gent aroma of guano. The cars seem impregnated with the stui. At every station there is a strong reiniorcement of scent from piles of sacks of com- mercial fertilizers of every grade and brand and from the fields by the wayside the breezes come laden with the odor 01 decomposed fish. In fact the demand for these aids to the farmer has been in excess of the supply. How farmers, already embarrassed, have been enabled to make arrangements to get them is a@ mystery we shall not stop to solve. Suffice it to say they have been furnished to the farmers liberally, and the farmers have used them without stint. A dry March was very favoraple to the prepara- tion of lands, particularly bottom lands. The re- sult is, that farmers are nearer ap with their work and have their farms in better condition than at the same time in any season since the war. This careful and thorough preparation must tell upon the coming crop. Though the season has been by no means a for- ‘ward one the stands of corn are remarkably good, The hard Winter killed out the oats sowed in the Fall, but those sowed during the Spring loek promising. The fruit crop has not suffered materially. ‘There was a frost in a large portion of the cotton Delt of the State on Wednesday morning, bat it did no perceptible damage. Farmers appear to be in good spirits. Laborers seem to be working well, and the crop season of 1873 may be said to have been started under most favorable auspices. ‘The Cartersville Standard and Express says:— ‘We have not travelled over the country much since the close of the Winter, but from what we have seen we think that the present wheat crep is the most Unpromising of any that we have noticed for years, in this section a much smaller area than usual has been sown, and much of it has been washed away by the rains or Killed by the frost. During a recent visit to Cherokee county we noticed mere patches of whcat where once we saw large flelas. The people all over the country are forced te give nearly all their attention to cotton. ‘The wheat crep is so uncertain that. they cannot afford to depend on it; and there is a large amount of corn on hand, for which there is no market at prices which would cover tiie cost of production and twansportation. Cotton is the thing for us at present. The Dalton Citizen says:—We made a short run up the State road a few days ago, and were glad to find the wheat fields along the line of the road looking very green, giving premise of a much ber ter yield than was anticipated a few weeks ago. ‘The delightiul weather for tae past few days has, we understand, made a favorable impression on all the wheat fielus of this and adjoining counnes, The Macon Lnterprise says :—Our letters and per- | sonal interviews trom people in the country all agree im stating that never were crope o! ali kinds more flattering at this season of the year than now in Middie and southwestern Georgia. Providence has not sent us a cola Winter for nothing, and so surely as night will follow the day will a good crop ear foliow a severe Winter. Througiout the k belt of Georgia every seed of cotion, they tell us, has come up and is now above ground, promis. to give the laborer a reward ier his hire. ibot county crops are in advance of last year. The Slandard says guanos are being lavishly used, and a larger area than was supposed has been planted in corn. The average wheat crop of the county is inferior, having been very much damaged by the late severe Winter. ‘The Fort Vailey Mirror has never seen such ac- vity among the farmers as is shown this season. Lands have been prepared with unusual care and everything agriculturai is berg pushed to its ut- moat tension. Ina great portion of Georgia the farmers who Taise corn have dnisted planting. VIRGINIA. ‘The Staunton Vindicator says :—The fine weather has given the wheat a start enough, and it is grow- ing rapidly. From the Lower Valiey we hear as accounts as we get around this vicinity. In some portions of the country the wheat was frozen by the terrible weather of March, but the crop will be above the page 08 The Piedmont Virginian, published at Orange Court Mouse, says:—Notwithsianding a good deal of the wheat in this section was killed by tue past severe Winter, what is now standing has im- proved very much in the last ten days, having a green and healthy look, and may yet make a iair cro} The Warren Sentinel says:—The wheat in our wection, under the genial April sky, is growing pind We do not think the severity of the past A es aaa it as much as was at frst sup- ‘The Union Springs “Heraid, of April o 9, says:— Corm has come up beautifully, Stands have seldom been better. Some planters tell us they will have mo replanting whatever to do, The Livingston Journal, of tne 11th, says:—A ‘week ago & young planter boasted to us of his fine stands of corn and cotton. The prospect is fair for a tiful fruit crop. Greensboro’ Beacon, of April 12, says:—The frem our agricultural friends this week as te the forwardness of agricultural work, are quite le. South of this corn is up and growing pipe Cotton, especially that planted the last week oj March, has also come up well, and is grow- ing off. North of this cotton planting has not yet Deen fnished. We n from the Hayneville Eraminer of the Lith inst. that the crops look well, and the planters gre up with the seasea, Cotten is coming up rapidly, spoug many have not finished planting. Fears of frost still exist, and from the jact that there is a scarcity of cotton seed some are appre- hensive of disaster from that source. MISSISSIPPI. The Starkville New ra of April 12 says:—We hhad a very cold dis: eable rain om Tuesday even- but. we had no frost, avd hear of no damage being done to either fruit or vegetables. _& letter irom Corinth, under date of April 13, @ays:—The fruit is all right here up to this time, and the crops, though backward, show much of Many of our farmers are right in the of cotton planting, though there is some cot- ton up almost high enough to scrape. oO crops in Carroll parish the Providence Re- in says e@ can safely say the cotton crop fally ten in advance of the crop of last year. Already a large area of the plant 1s above Fouts and looking well, with the sotl in a good cultivated condition. There does not appear to be any in- ereased acreage in cotton this year, but the pre- of the land has evidently received mere attention, ‘The corn plant throughout the parish is more ex- tended this year, and there will be a considerable fincrease jeld if the season is favorable. ‘This is a move in the right direction looking to our substantial arene and @ more practical way bas, ayaa ‘The San Antonio Herata learns that the freeze on Tuesday, March 25, completely ruined wheat, corp, | NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1873.—QUADRUPLE SHEET. . Between and Fredericksburg. The py aie nd Cibolo also suffered crops on the se In the eit; phergardens. and the grapes Were tants aumaged, bu it is thi tthe fruit ‘was too far advanced to be injured very much, e grasshoppers have taken possession of the er ba pd the Galveston News, of oF mounces @ cold norther for ice the eighth of an inch thick pons: fruit killed, gardens all ruined, and the early crop injured. The Austin (Texas) State Gazette, of April 1, re- counts the fact of having been visited by an ex- tremely cold spell on the morning of the 26th ult, A coa' of ice nearly one-lourth of an inch thick was formed, and a great deal of damage was done to corn, tomatoes, potatoes, beans and other tender vegetables. It states that many farmers are now busy replanting their corn, and if they are visited with a dry season the corn up willhe a short one. The Gonzales Inquirer says:—From all we can gather from our farmers we feel safe in saying that the crops in this county sustained but little dam- ‘age from the freeze of last week. We hear of but few who have found 1t necessary to replant. The San Antonio Herald says:—The accounts we’ get from the country in regard to the destruction 01 the corn and other green things by the grase- hep rs is calculated to make a parson swear. A triend down from Kerrville says there is nota hiil or blade of corn in sight, It was up, but the miserable insects above named “went fer it,” and the corn disappeared. The late freeze killed all the fruit in that section, and most of it in and around San Antonio, while the hoppergrasses pa- rade their armies in the aifferent gardens and or- chards about the city. They are very young yet, and cannot fy; but if they can do se much damage Os infants what will they not do when they arrive at the age of maturity? NEW YORK CITY. Peter Dunn, & laborer, fifty years of age, late of Manhattanville, died in the Reception Hospital, Ninety-ninth street, from the effects of injuries caused on Saturday last by the falling of a plat- form, Coroner Keenan has the case in charge and will hold an inquest. Corener Keenan was yesterday called to hold an inquest on the body of William Brophy, a man thirty-two years of age, who was almost instant, killed in Seventy-ninth street, between Ninth an Tenth avenues, by a premature explosion while engaged in blasting rocks. Aconcert will be given this evening at Lyric Hall by Miss Johanna Simmons, an accomplished pianiste, assisted by Miss Antoinette Henne, alto; Mr. Franz Remmertz, basso; Mr. Franz Bergner, violonceilo; Mr. Philip Faerbner, violin; Mr. Fides Zitterbach, viola; Mr. Ferdinand Von Inten, piano and conductor. John B. Gough is to appear at the Academy of Music to-night, and deliver a new lecture, Grace Greenwoed 1s to lecture next Saturday afternoon on “Yankee Character and Humor.” Charles Bra@laugh, Richard Proctor, Wilkie Collins and Gerald Massey have been engaged tor lecture tours next season by the American Literary Bureau. About two o’clock yesterday morning as Officer Killery, of the Fourteenth precinct, was passing the ladies’ entrance of the St. Denis Hotel he ob- served something which looked like a bundle tying upon the doorstep. On picking it up he found it to be a new-born male child, which he took to the station house, from which place it was conveyed to Police Meadquarters, The reorganized Bull’s Head Bank opened for business yesterday morning. The bank building Was gaily decorated, an American flag floating from the flagstaff, and streamers reaching nearly across the street. The interior of the building also presented a festive appearance, the walls being covered with bunting, which was fastened to the windows. A large number of deposits were made after the bank opened, Mr. Cameron,’the cashier, stated thatthe amount paid out during the day was $45,000, while the amount deposited was $145,000. The amount oi capital on which the bank Teopens is $300,000. THE TENEMENT HOUSE HOMIOIDE, A Warrant Issued for the Landlord. Deputy Coroner Marsh yesterday made a post mortem examination at 423 Kast Seventeenth street, in the case of John Gumpman, the German who died in Bellevue Hospital from delirium tremens, accelerated, as is alleged, by violence received at the hands of Mr. Frank, landlord of the premises. The right eye was black, and he haa two scalp wounds on the back of the head. There was extravasated blood beneath the scaip. Death resulted from compression of the brain, the result of violence. Gumpwan and Mr, Frank, landlord of the premises, it is alleged, had some words in tie hallway, during which Frank. as stated, knocked his opponent down and he fell backwards, with his head on the floor. Coroner Young issued a warrant for Frank’s arrest, and the investigation Will take place some tfme next week. AN EXCISE WARNING The unlicensed venders of ardent spirits in West- chester County, having long been permitted to prosecute, without moiestation, their nefarious business, cannot fail to be aroused from their sense of fancied security by the penalty inflicted yester- day on one of their number in the Court of Sessions at White Plains. By a singular construction of the law bearing on the illicit sale of liquors, the de- linquents heretoiore convicted of the offence have been dismissed with @ nominai fine, ana then allowed to continue their eminently profitable trade, Yesterday, however, an example was made of one Samuel Dunworth, who pleaded guilty to the charge of selling liquor without a license in the town of Greenburg. In his case the law of 1857 was cited by District Attorney Briggs, and the Court, in accordance therewith, sentenced-the offender to three months’ imprisonment in the county jail and to pay a fine o1 $100, NEW JERSEY STATE CONSTITUTION. Extra Session of the Senate—Governor Parker’s Nominations, An extra session of the State Senate of New Jer- sey will be heid to-day for the purpose of confirm- ing the nominations of Governor Parker on the proposed constitutional amendments. By an act passed at the recent session of the Legislature the Governor was empowered to nominate two gentle- men from each Congressional district fer tno pur- pose of framing amendments to the constitution to be submitted to the next Legislature. In ac- cerdance with this act the Governor will send in the foliowing nominations to-day :— First Congressional district—Judge Varter, demo- crat; Samuel Gray, republican, Second Congres- sional district—Chief Justice Beasley, democrat; ex-Senator Van Eyck, republican. Third Congres- sional district—Isaac L. Fisher, republican; Benja- min Williamson, democrat. Fourth Congressional district—A, L. Swayze, liberal republican; Martin Kyerson, democrat. Fitth Congressional district— Jacob Vanatta, democrat; Senator Williams, re- publican, Sixth conmseennnal district—John W. Taylor, republican; Chancellor Runyon, democrat. Seventh Congressional district—Attorney General | Gilchrist, democrat; Dudley 8. Gregory, republi- can. THE CONSEGRATION OF BISHOP CORRIGAN. This event takes place in St, Patrick’s Cathe- aral, Newark, on Sunday week, May 4, and, as be- fore stated in the HERALD, promises to be the grandest and most imposing religious ceremony ever witnessed in New Jersey. Even now the clergy of Newark, headed by Rev. Father Doane, are hard at work in their spare moments arranging the preliminaries. The musical services will be on a most elaborate scale, and will be par- ticipated in by talens of a high order from New Yerk, Brooklyn, Baltimore andelsewhere. Arch- bishop McCloskey, of New York, will officiate, and will be assisted by Archbishop Bayley, of Balt. more, the attending bishops and a large number of priests. Bishop McQuaid, of Rochester, will preach the consecration sermon. There will be a solemn procession the bishops and clergy as part of the exercises, and it ts expected that there will be at least fourteen bishops ef the Church present. It also expected that a great many leading Jersey- men, such as Governor Parker, Senater Freling- huysea and others will be present. SOAFFOLD ACCIDENT IN BROOKLYN, Yesterday afternoon a scaffold erected in front of the third story of Nos, 240 and 242 Hamilton avenue gave way, precipitating four men who were at werk upon it to the ground. George Thompson had his hip fractured. John Newman, laborer, re- siding at 59 Bolivar street, was severely cat on the forehead and otherwise injured. He was taken to the Long Island College Hospital. Francis Dougherty, carpenter, residing at 886 Pacific street, had his leit leg broken. He was conveyed to luis heme. John Gallagher, bricklayer, who was in- jured about the head, was removed to his home, Yo, 600 East Warren street. . ———— THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIO. ALBANY, April 23, 1873, ‘The c@mmittee of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic to make arrangements for the observance of Memorial Day have met und organized The most extensive preparations for the event are to be made, and the prospects are that the day will be observed with more tian usual attention, ROBBING THE UNITED STATES MAILS, Trial of a Post Office Clerk in the United States District Court at Trenton—How the Pilfering Was Detected. A case of more than ordinary interest is now Pending before the United States wistrict Court at Trenton. So intense is the feeling in regard to it that the court room was crowded to excess yester- day. Somerset county is the residence of the par- ties prominently figuring in the proceedings. The United States is set down as the com- Plainant and Daniel 8. Rockafellow is the defendant. The defendant ts charged with rob- bing the United States mail on or about the 8th of October, 1872, of letters, stamps, stamped envelopes and money, amounting ip the aggre- gate to the sum of about seven hundred or eight hundred dollars. Daniel Porter, the postmaster at Somerville, is the principal witness for the prose- cution, The alleged depredations took place at his post office. This gentleman is the proprietor and publisher of a newspaperin that place, radi- cai in pelitics, and, of course, warmly attached to the fortunes of the present administration at Washington. The defendant, Rockatellow, was for the last six years connected with another sheet in the same town, existing in the interest of the dem- ocratic party. The fermer also keeps a printing office, and the latter is a compositor. It 1s said that party asperities have a great deal te do with the present conflict between the twe Jersey jour- Nalists. A few months ago the Grand Jury brought im an indictment against Rockafellow charging him with the offence. District Attorney Keasby appears as counsel for the prosecution, and Jacob Vanatta, with Alvah A. Clark, are engaged by the accused, Rockafellow is abeut twenty-six years of age, of medium stature, and possesses an intelli- gent, brilliant leoking physiognomy. We is well and tastefully attired, and sports a gay looking moustache and goatee. Mr. Keasby, in his opening address to the jury, said that tne prosecution would show that the theft could be traced by a direct chain of circum- stantial evidence te the accused. Daniel Porter kept a post office in Semerville. It is located in a building containing a grocery store, in a room set apart by a partition irom the store. No other business was transacted in it but that re- lating to the post office. Stamps _ were missed at various times in a most inexplicable manner, The money accounts were deficient. Investigations were made which resulted in tracing the depredations to the defendant, after which the Grand Jury found an indictment against him. Being suspected, the defeudant was watched. Efforts were made by the Postmaster to arrange his letters in the box so as to detect the thief, and after observations being made it was shown that Rockafellow was the party who took the letters out of the box. When the letters were taken out if they contained money the meney was kept and the letters destroyed. When the letters contained checks they were all sent back in another envelope and putin the drop-box. The counsel stated that the defendant was closely watched during this last act. These letters were in the handwriting of Rockafellow and belonged to a Mr. Bankalow, of Somerville. Aiter making some turther remarks, the counsel said that other corroborative circum- Se it bee would be brought to light before e jury. Some argument here ensued between counsel as to the meaning of the word mail, Mr. Vanatta contended that letters lying in the Post Oftice did not, in a legal sense, belong to the mail, therefore the indictment should charge that the Post Oitice wis robbed instead of the mail. Mr. Vanatta therefore moved to overrule the testimony. Web- ster’s dictionary and other authorities were quoted in suppert of this point. The Court ruled that the objection was premature, and ordered that the evidence be preceeded with. Mr. Porter, who was on the stand during the argument, was then sworn, and, alter describing the location and structure of the post office, testi- fled, in substance, as follows:—He exercised per- sonal supervision over the oflice; his son, aged twenty-two, was the attendant; the latter dia the detail work, and was relieved at dinner by his brother, sixteen years old; both his sons helped to make the mat! up morning and evening; the eldest was paid a compensation of $10 per week, with board while the younger got $2 per week, also, with board; I missed stamps, stamped envelopes and letters during the last year; there were continued complaints from parties to whom letters were addressed; missed registered letters also; in August last inquiry was made for a registered letter two weeks after it should have been de- livered; that letter was traced to my oflice; day I attended the office most o day myseif; in order to test the trath of the theits I had two letters prepared and placed in a particular receptacle one evening and next morning wheu I came to the oflice they were missing; I wrote to the authorities in New York Jor instructions; this was the first possible evi- dence I had that the office h been en- tered; afterwards made attempts to dis- cover the thief; not receiving any in- structions from New York in two weeks after Iwrote I went there myself; received instructions and came back and prepared two decoy letters, directed to Mr. Barkailow, and placed them in his box; left the other letters in their usual place; returned to the office the morning after and found they were gone; my _ first observation was that the door was disturbed; a letter also directed to the Somerset hae Bank was missing; afterwards found the missing letters in the drop letter box—one directed to Barkalow, the other to the bank; Barkalow’s contained a certifi- cate from Plainfleld Ban’ hey were in different envelopes from those I put them in; this was on the morning of the 7th of October; that morning [ saw Rockatellow in front of the office, starting to move away, (The letters were here produced and tne handwriting examined). I went and procured Rocka/ellow’s handwriting and compared it with that on the envelopes put in the drep letter box and found that both corresponded and were writ- ten by the same person; I went to New York again and received further instructions; I endeavored to on him by placing watchmen in the oftice at night afier that but failed; Mr. Gaston with whom I had been consulting, told me he had seen Rockafellow drop a letter in the box; after- wards picked up some letters from it, and found they were the missing ones; m the grocery store adjoining them were three clerks, but they had no access to the office; lost by these depreda- tions between six and seven hundred dollars; had no communication with Rockafellow about this charge; he called at my ofiice abveut three weeks alter the charge had been pre- ferred against him, but said nothing about it; he made an excuse that he came after pov epanerts he did not broach the subject; Rockafellow disap- peared the day alter the indictment was found against him; he came back the day before bis arrest, which was two months after the charge had been made; during his absence saw him once in Jersey City; I was on the look out for him as was also a detective; had an interview with Mr. Clark, Rock- afellow’s counsel, befere the indictment wa’ found by the Grand Jury, and he told me to hush up the whole matter; Rockaiellow made an appointment to se me a bout the matter, but failed to keep it. The witness was cross-examined at length b; Mr. Vanatta, but the examination failed to elicit anything from him that varied with his direct evidence. Alonzo Worman, one of the clerks in the grocery store adjoining the Post Omice, was called and gave some unimportant testimony, Gaston, ef Somerville, was cailed to the stand at the conclusion of Worman’s evidence. Gaston passed a group of young men engaged in earnest conversation on October 8, 1872; Rocka- fellow, the accused, wi of the party; he was sure of this; altheugh he could not recall the mames of some of the others; Rockafellow seemed to ge through the familiar motion of putting a letter in the drop box; Gaston hurried into the Post Office, but no one was in; he hastened to Porter’s office in the adjoining butld- ing and told Porter of the matter; Porter hurried down, got the top letter, came back to Porter's own office and displayed ene of his “decoy letters,” already stamped with the Semervilie Post Ofice mark; this act, according to Gaston, took not more than ene minute and a half. Vanatta wound Gaston up, and in a few moments Judge Nixon dismissed the Court with the usual admonition to the jury. Ten more witnesses are to be examined for the rosecution. and twenty-five have been subpoenaed for the defence, The trial will last all the week, and up to the present time it nas occasioned a good deal of gossip. HENRY 0. BOWEN’S GREAT LIBEL SUIT. Judge Neilson, of the Brooklyn City Court, yes- terday granted an order of arrest for Mr. Henry U. Bowen, editor of a Brooklyn paper and defendant in a libel suit for $100,000, brought by Mr. Thomas W. Field, Superintendent of Schools, the cause of action being the publication of an ar- ticle concerning the plaintia Paes, in defend- ant’s paper on the 16th Inst, e ary tl for the order of arrest was little more than a formal proceeding, consequent on the filing of the papers in the action. This morning the deiendant will be taken to the Shertil’s office, to give security for his appearance on the day set for the trial, NAVAL ORDERS, WASHINGTON, April 23, 1873. Lieutenant Commander Crowninshield has been ordered to the Lackawanna, Commander R. W. Meade has been detached from the command of the Narraganse a laced on waiting orders; Lieu- tenant Comma nd Paces , frem the Lackawanna, nd placed on waiting orders cee THE THUGS AT BAY. They Are Sickened at Last by the Twenty Years’ Sentences. Recorder Hackett Threatened With Vengeance— “Knife, Slungshot or Poison’—The Litera- ture of Crime—A Judge Who Can Take Care of Himself—Three-Cent Pieces and Pins as Targets. “The Court sentences yeu to be confined for twenty years at nard labor in the State Prison at Sing Sing.” The thieves and thugs of the metropolis have heard this flat fall from the lipsof Recorder John K. Hackett three times already during the present term of his Court, and it has made them sick. They can usaally stand any amount of “talk,” but these twenty words, with their meaning extending through a full score of years, are too heavy, and they have “tumbled” to themselves at last, and in their desperation have tried another little game. They are going to “bluff” the Judge, and have beeome literary. They think the pen is mightier than the slungshot, and they use it first, with a promise of trying their favorite old implement if the pen fails, On Tuesday evening last the Recorder was sitting in hislibrary, reading his correspondence, and ameng other letters opened an epistle en- closed in @ plain white envelope, and addressed, in a fine lined, though scrawling hand—‘Mr, Hackett, 72 Park avenue, New York city.”” The en- closure was a half sheet of ruled letter paper, of very poor quality, bearing the impress of the “Ravine” mills in an embossed lozenge in the upper left hand cerner and the communication read as follows:— Mr. HACKETT:— Srk—This is to notify you that if you give any more of your Cruel ig Sentences to prisoners, suchas 20 years or 15 years, for very trivial offences or for ordinary offence of Burglary, &c., your career will be cut short im a manner you least | expect. The slungshot, the knite or Poison will be Brought into requisition to rid the worid of a mon- ster of cruelty. like you, who has unjastly sen- tenced many a Better man than yourself to Gloomey Dungeons for excessive periods more than tnetr crime deserved just to satisty the Public and gain a reputation jor yourself ior Fancy Sen- tences. There has been latelya Party of us organized who are sworn under solemn Oaths te take your lie (or thatof some member of your family, if we cannot get at you easily) {any more sen- tences is Given by you that we consider unjust or excessive. You live in @ fine heuse. You enjoy yourself well, and little dream What tor- ments you condemn your fellow man to, many of them being driven into crime by sheer poverty and hunger. his will be avenged, 80 beware if you do not moderate yourself, You have a damnable name for cruelty—you are an agentof tyranny, 80 be- ware, ‘sic Semper Tyrannus,’’ e have your house watched, and when you least expect the “avengers” they will have you where vy want you, either you or some member of arty family, So elp us God. “CRACKSMEN.”? The envelope bore a three-cent postage stamp, and was post-marked ‘New York City, Apl. 22, P.M.” Alter reading the letter the Recorder laid itaside on his desk, and proceeded to otner busi- ness, A HERALD reporter called on Recorder Hackett yesterday afternoon to learn the particulars of the ominous missive. The Recorder had just concluded the trials for the day in the General Sessions, and as he descended from the bench invited the re- porter to accompany him to the Clerk’s office. As soen as the Judge had seated himself in his favorite room, in response to the reperter’s inquiry, he said :— “Well, I don’t know that I can tell you much about this letter, but the facts are these:—Last night when I went home I found this letter among some ethers lying on my secretary, and after I had read it I thoughtlessly laid it down again. I at- tached no very great importance to it for the reason that I have irequently received TUREATENING LETTERS purporting to come irom members of the crimipal Classes m relatien to my action on the bench, and never took apy notice of them. I suppose this would have one in the same unnoticed way, although I confess it 18 very annoying to receive them; but my wife happened to come into the library, and, as she sat talking to me she picked up one or two of the letters and looked at them, and finally chanced to get hold of this one. She read it, and it alarmed her greaily, and, as she is somewhat nervous and excitable, her apprehensions of injury to me caused me more anxiety and annoyance than I sheuld otherwise have feit. Indeed, it seems to worry her very much, for although, as I said betore, [have re- ceived many such letters, I never showed them to any member of my eA ae “Have you sentenced any prisoners for long t recently 1” asked the reperter, Ithink three or four during the present term; but Iam not sure as tothe number. You see this thing alarms those roughs somewhat, for 1 have promised them several times from the bench that in every instance where a violent crime, such as highway robbery, felonious assault, murder and such offences come before me, and are clearly and unmistakably proved, I should inflict the full pen- alty, to the last hour, and I shali do it. I have never said this for mere effect, but I have said it te because 1 wanted the criminal classes not to mis- | take me, and J think they fully understand now THE MEANING OF MY PROMISE. I do nothing in a spirit of vindictiveness, but Lam one of the ugliest men you ever met, and I do what Tsay | will do always,” “Well, Recorder, have you any apprehension that this letter conveys a threat that the author and his instigators mean to carry into effect?”’ “T really cannot say what they mean to do, nor have I the least fear of their threats. I am never in a position that they can assault me with safety to themselves. They will run as much risk as I do, forlam never asleep when I am away from my house. Iam always armed and have carried arms for years. You see here? 1am armed now.” As tie Recorder said this he drew from his pocket, with so little action that he scarcely seemed to move his arm, a very ornate £ a mounted revolver, Nocti bs ball of about 0 calibre. It seemed to fearfully convenient to his hand, and as he replaced it he proceeded :— “You know [am always ready for any assault, although Ido not invite any, unless it bein tie discharge of my duty. If that is an invitation, or is to be interpreted as an invitation to attack, I shall take my chances with them, that’s all. I never go INTO THE HAUNTS frequented by the criminal classes, for you see they usually come up to see me and 1 see enough of them in that way. So you will understand that I have a telerably open chance with them, as I never go into places where a gentleman should not go.’ “T should aoc that with your acknowled repu- tation a8 @ ‘crack shot,’ Mr. Recorder, ‘cracksmen’ and all other men of their stripe would want to let you alone,” rejeined the reporter. “Oh, yes; | have fet some reputation for my marksmanship and | think I can carry it out fully. Ihave handled fire-arms from my boyhood, and I don’t think ANY MAN LIVING can ‘draw’ faster or fire more unerringly than I can, I don’t know whether you know anything about my skillin that line, but I have frequently shot a three cent piece of the head of a dis- unguished journalist in this city in his own parlors, and can shoota pin from a man’s fingers at any time witn a revolver. The fact is, 1 will guarantee them an interesting time if they ever come to see me in the way indicated; and if the arties Who wrote this letter would only let me Rnow where to find them I would put on my old Caiifornia pistol and knife, go and see them and let them hear from me. I don’t bropos? to be bullied myself; least of all, do I like threats made against members of my family, who are in no wise responsible for my action in fixing these sentences. The wheie thing is cowardly enough, but these threats against others caps the climax of cowardice. But Ihave no idea ti any one will attempt to harm me, only that I must admit such a thing to be possible, and, of course, if such @ thing should befal me, this letter might poeney, be aclue, at least as tothe motive which prompted my assailants, even if it is too Jaint to lead to the detection of the gang.”’ “Kaewing that yeu are armed, Judge, it is scarcely likely that they will attempt it.’ “Oh, Lhope not; that’s all. I do not fear them, anyway. Indeed, I can take my chances at any time With any man, unless he has got A DOUBLE-BARRELLED SHOTGUN, and that might reach me. As for these fellows I don’t care a ‘Continental’ for them nor their threats. I think, by the way, thatjust such threats as these show the Cee of decent citizens being armed, You know lately there has been some talk of having @ bill passed by the Legislature incladi: pistols among the Weapens which citizens are prohibited from carrying. Some brother f 8 of mine were urging the adop- ju tion of such @& measure id told them that in my opinion we should find ite eperation ee disastrous. We should find all prunes © ens obeying the law, and all the roughs in the city would break it, as they always break the laws. ey would have less Lae pal ir that law than for any other, and the blood-letting classes would be armed to the teeth, while decent men would be utterly defenceicss, e fear of vio~ lent resistance, and perhaps death, at the bands of the party attacked is about the only thing that de- ters the from committing highway robbery in every one of our streets. And now I mean to make the bs | sentences a terror to them in every cleag case of conviction that comes before me. | Perhaps in that way we shall be able to make a a8 } DANGEROUS TO THE CRIMINAL as it is to decent citizens. I ask no favors from such men gnd shall give them their deserts. If they ever attack me, ne matter where they at- | temptit, Ishali be awake, and if they do get me under I shall give @ good account of some of them betore tuey finish the job.” “Have aby of the threatening letters before re- ceived by you borne the nom de ruse of ‘cracks- men’ or resembled this in respect to the hand- writing 1” | “No: none that I remember. You see, I never paid any particular attention before. I generally threw them into the fire at once.” As he said this the Recorder put on his hat, but- toned up his coat and prepared to leave the office, | and the reporter retired, The iollowing are the names of some of the men who have “gone up” for long terms during the present session of the Recorder's Court :— Edward Murphy, aged twenty-two; residence given, 448 West Sixteenth street; convicted of high- Tobbery. Twenty years State Prison, ichael Cannon, aged twenty-two ; residence, East Twenty-second street, near First avenue; highway robbery, Twenty years State Prison. Bh one be ee Ldel foie residence 57 street; highway robbery. Tw State Prison. - a biianiait William Dongherty, alias ‘*The Wreck,” aged nine- teen; residence, Vlarkson street; highway robvery. Ten years State Prison, HOOSAC TUNNEL. Minority Report of the Legislative Com- mittee on Railroads of Massachu- setts—State Control Advocated and Consolidation of Railroads. Boston, April 23, 1873, The minority report of the Legislative Commit- tee on Railroads estimates the cest of the Hoosac tunnel, including interest, at $12,000,000, and say that this expenditure is a charge upon the people and the property of the whole State. It seems improbable that any disposition can be made of the tunnel which can return to the treasury the whole sum expended, and it is for tne Legis- lature to determine how far a return can be made to the people of the State from this great public expenditure in increased means of transportation and a reduction of rates, which are now a burden upon the whole com- munity. Since the tunnel was projected new lines of railroad have been built, which give nearly every portion of the State direct access to the tunnel, and through it to the Great West. The committee are fully convinced that to secure tothe people the full advanteges to be derived from the construction of this new avenue to the West, and to secure equal rights to all parties desiring to use it, the State must not part with the control of the tunnel. We are equally convinced that to secure efficiency in the lines working through the tunnel consolidation is neces- sary, and that the tupnel itself must be worked managed for all parties using it by one head. No private corporation can be trusted when its own interests may conflict with the interests of other and perhaps rival corporations to establish or en- force rules for the transaction of such business, ‘The report goes on to advocate State manage- ment, which, itis claimed, would be efilctent and reliable beyond that ef ordinary railroad corpora- tions, for the. Aunoinanens ol five trustees by the Gov- ernor and Council, whe are to be created a corpo- ration under the nume of the State Board of ‘rus- tees of the Hoosac ‘lunnel Railroad, and shall have sole charge, direction and control of the ‘Troy and Greenneld Railroad, and of the Hoosac tunnel when said tunnel shall be completed or surren- dered by the contractors; also of the Southern Vermont Railroad, and of such other railroads as may be leased or acquired under the provisions of this act. They shall appoint a treasurer, a gen- eneral manager (whenever they deem such an officer necessary), one or mere superintendents, and such other agents as may be required Jor the operation of said railroads and tunnel. Semi- annual reports to the Governor and Council, and annual reports to the Railroad Commiesioners, are previded for. Each trustee shall receive $3,000 per annum, except the president, who shall re- ceive 3$5,000, The sum of $5,000,000 is appro- priated to carry out the provisions of the act which shall be provided jor by means of an issue ofscrip. Provisions are made for the leasing of the Vermont and Massachusetts, the Fitchburg and the Troy and Boston railroads, Twenty-five per cent of the gross earnings of each leased railroad is to be reserved annually, from which to pay the rental—equal to ten per cent on the present capi- tal stock of each company. Each compary is to elect one trustee for five years, who shall become a member of the Board. ‘rhe majority report Javors consolidation, but not State control. THE ERIE INVESTIGATION. General Barlow Denies the Whole of Snearman’s Testimony—The Attorney General Never Received §100,060 for Services, Nor Ever Asked for It. ALBANY, N. Y., April 23, 1873. The Erie Investigating Committce held its last meeting this afternoon unless their time is ex- tended, it expiring to-day, Attorney General Barlow appeared before the committee and made a brief statement, in which he denied each and every statement made by Thomas G. Shearman in his testimony concerning him. He said he never demanded a cent from General Sickles, and never received a cent, Fur- thermore, he said he never received a cent trom the contract made by Belden and Hayes with the Erie Gompany; never a cent from Fisk or Gould or any person concerned with them; never was a party to any arrangement for receiving a cent; never was offered a cent, neither before he was Attorney General nor since he has held that oilice; never wrote to General Sickles demanding $100,000 nor any money whatever; he had received $10,000 at the outset and $2,000 subsequently, as he had before stated, with which to retund disbursements, When he paid the $1,600 to Henry Smith he lad no ao uense whatever as to what use he intended to put it. General Barlow read each statement made by Mr, Shearman which had reference to him (General Barlow), and positively denied them all as utterly false and without the least foundation in truth. He concluded by stating that none of the testi- mony given by Mr. Shearman was such as would be received by any court; that it was based upon hearsay or hae reference to third parties, and that any court receiving it would direct it to be struck | from the records. THE SEIZED LOCOMOTIVES. Collector Batley Sells the Iron Horses of the Hudson River and New York Cen- tral to Pay Assessments—Only a Small Amount Realized, ALBANY, April 23, 1873. United States Collector Bailey te-day sold eight locomotives belonging to the New York Central and Hudsen River Railroad companies, seized by him for non-payment of taxes, They realized $22,750, and were bought by Warren 8S. Law, Jr., on behalf of the company. 8, I. Fairchild, attor- ney for the company, protested against the sale, on the ground that the tax was assessed against the New York Central Ratiroad Company, and there- fore could not be collected of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad companies, THE RICHMOND AND DANVILLE RAILROAD INJUNOTION. RALeiGH, N. C., April 23, 1873, The injunction against tne Richmond and Dan- ville Railroad to restrain the company from alter- ing the gauge of the North Carolina road between Greensboor’ and Charlotte, has been continued by Judge Alburtson till the hearing, but upon condi- tion that the State give a bond for $50,000, with good security, to indemmify the said company for damages that might be sustained on or before the 1st of May, and if not given before that time the injunction to be dissolved. Both rties have given notice of appeal to the Supreme Court. SERIOUS FIRE AT ST. PETERSBURG, PA, St. PETERSBURG, April 23, 1873, A fire broke out this morning, between three and four o’clock, in the St. James Hotel, on Main street. A lamp exploded in the parior, and, although the guests of the hotel made every en- deaver to suppress the conflagration, the flames rapidly burst through the front, sides and roof of the buildings, The fire raged furiously, consuming about half a block, from Clarke’s grocery store to Kirley’s sucker and rod factory. Sn residences of Messrs, Blake and Lee, on the itte side of the street, were badly burned, tho not wholly destroyed. It was with the greatest difficulty that the lower part of the city was saved from destruc- jon. The St. James Hotel was entirely destroyed. ‘The loss is $15,000, and was not insured. ‘The loss on B, Kirley's sucker and rod manutactory is $3,000; not imsured, Clark’s grocery was insured for $2,000; 1o! | THE NORTH AMERIOAN SAENGERBUND, CLEVELAND, Onto, April 23, 1873, The organization of the North American Saenger- bund was perfected last night by the election of E. H, Bettun President. All the officers are residents of Cleveland. The next Saengeriest wili be held in June of next year. Preparations to render it the grandest festival of notional Association’ ‘The bill accompanying the report provides | 1 EVIL FORTUNE Extraordinary Career of a Vir- ginia Horse Thief. FOUR YEARS A FUGITIVE. Albert Fortune, a Mulatto Des rado, and His Adventures. Arrested in Baltimore, He Is Tried and Cone victed, but Jumps from a Railroad Train and Escapes. RICHMOND, Va., April 23, 1873, One of the most daring and noted horse thieves Virginia has ever produced—and she boasts of a good many desperadoes of this sort just now—made his last and most remarkable escape from the cara ofthe Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Rail- road while being conveyed from Baltimore to the Penitentiary here to serve out his term of im- prisonment for thirteen years, His name is Albert Fortune, a bright mulatto, five feet in helgnt, well built, with great muscular development, dark, Wavy hair and eyes that glare, when excited, like calcium light. Spotsylvania county was the scene of his greatest exploits until 1869, when he was arrested, tried and convicted of stealing a mule and was sentenced to thirteen years in the Peni- tentiary. He did not remain long in that institu. tion, however, for he made his escape by JUMPING FROM A PARAPET wall forty fect high. He next turned up in Wash- ington as a huckster in the markets there, He was not permitted to pursue his calling without inter- ruption, but it so happened that whenever an effort was made to deprive him of liberty he either by artifice or by desperate resistance managed to elude the officers. He all the time proclaimed that he would never be taken alive, and the tact that he shot the officer at Fredericksburg, who at- tempted his arrest before his conviction, furnished proof that he meant what he said. On one ecca- sion he was traced to Alexandria and surprised in @ negro hut by three policemen, but instead of re- sisting he played the 1ox. Being in his shirt sleeves, he asked to go up Statrs and get his coat, saying he would then go with them anywhere. His re- quest was granted, when he returned, not coat in hand, but WITH COCKED PISTOLS, and before the officers could recover from their surprise was gone again. Some time after this Lieutenant Kelly, of the Washington police, who knew nothing of Fortune or his antecedents, caught him in the street with a bag of stolen boots and shocs. Lieutenant Kelly proceeded to arrest him; but Fortune, not to be so easily secured, as quick as thought drew a pistel and sent a ball whistling by the head of his would-be captor. The lieutenant fired in return some three times, wounding, but not disabling him. He, however, got away, and it was afterwards ascertained went to Howard Cniversity, where he received medical care. Thence he was traced te an alley in the heart of the city, near Pennsyl- vania avenue, where friends aided him to elude further pursuit, He continued at large unti April 7, when he was arre: in Washington, and was again ledged in the Penitentiary here, from which he again escaped in the disguise of a mason, hav- ing contrived to borrow a suit of bricklayer’s overalls, A CHASE IN BALTIMORE. Fortune next turned up in Baltimore, where, 9 few days since, he was recognized by o@ former citizen of Virginia, who gave information to Ser- geant Frazier and Policeman Barringer, of that city, and they at once set about making his arrest. Fortune soon became aware of his position, and as the officers advanced he com- menced the flight in time—yohn Gilpin style. He ran up Baitimore to Liberty street, and up Liberty toa house near Fayette, where he tried a door, but found it locked, This enabled the officers to gain on him, but just as Policeman Barringer was about laying hands on him, he tell and disabled his right hand. Sergeant Frazier continued the pur- sult, followed by a large crowd. Fortune, finding himseif hotly pursued, took refuge in a house on Liberty street, north of Fayette street, the door of which he found open, and ran up stairs to the second fioor, through two rooms, over- turning the furniture, upsetting a cradle tn which a child tay asicep, an Jumped through the second or window, carrying the sash with him, on to a shed and thence to a yard over fences, and finally emerged on Lexington street, on the South street corner, and entered an alley nearly opposite. He was hotly pursued by Sergeant Frazier and Policeman Barringer, who hail been joined by sev- eral other officers. ‘Through the alley the escaped convict made his way to the cellar of a soap iac- tory, Where, alight having been procared, he was FINALLY CAPTURED, but not before a policeman had drawn his pistol and threatened to shoot him. He oifered the omi- cers $400 to let him off, but the bribe was refused. The daring horse thief was locked in the Middle Station House until the arrival of Deputy Strother, of the Penitentiary here, to whom he was delivered on Monday. The Deputy started back here with his prisoner heavily ironed both by the ankles and wrists, At about quarter past three yesterday morning, and, just after the train was bringing him here had left Ashland, For- ated beside Captain Strother, de- sired tue latter to taxe him to the stove to warm himself, Strother thought this quite a reasonable request, and so accompanied the convict to the stove, near the rear door ol the car, A LEAP FOR LIBERTY. The two had not been there more than a minute or two when a colored train hand opened the door and came m, and Fortune, seizing the opportunity, sipped behind him, hopped out upon the plat form and recklessly jumped from it inte the dark- ness. The train was moving at the rate of about forty miles per hour, and the alarm was imme- diately sounded and every effort possible made to get the engineer to stop it, but it was not brought to a stand until tt had gone more than three-quar- ters of a mile beyond tie point where Fortune had made his escape. A large number ot horsemen have since been scouring the county in the hope of securing the convict, but so far lie has again successfally eluded arrest, Unseemly Contest in Baltimore Between the City Judge and the Sheriff—Resig- ation of the Sheriff, and Vhreats Unsavory Disclosures, BaLtimonk, Md., April 23, 1873. Astrong sensation has been created in Balti more by the resignation of Sheriff Kane, growing out of @ quarrel between him and Judge Gilmer, of the City Criminal Court. Kane some time ago refused to place Gilmer’s men on the Grand Jury, and since then Gilmer has taken every means to hinder Kane in the discharge of his official duties, Owing to the imbroglio the pusiness of the Court has been delayed, and about three hundred cases are in jail awaiting action. ‘The criminal classes of the city, especially the wealthy gamblers, have seized upon the oppor- tunity, and with their political power have sought to widen a breach which secures them immunity from prosecution while it exists. Political parties are also intetrere te the wing of the democratic arty which gambling houses support endeavor- hh to help in driving Kane out of ofive. Governor Whyte has addressed a letter to Kane asking him to reconsider his resignation. but it is understood that he will not do so unless Gilmer gives way to him, Ifthe matter is pushed to extremity Kane's friends threaten startling revelations of the man- ner in which criminals are protected by grand juries and courts, It 18 the most exciting topic raised here since 1866, PRINGE EDWARD ISLAND Formation of the New Administrati Hawtrax, N. 8, April 23, 1873. The Prince Edward Island government, having been defeated at the polls, have resigned. The fol- pying gentlemen will form the new administra- _ Hon. J.C. Po} Premier; Hon. F. H. Havilland, Colonial Beeretary Hon, Fred. D. St. Croix Brecken, attorney General; Hon. G. W. Howlan, Chairman of the Kailway Board; Hon, A. A. McDonald, Post- master General; Hon. W. W. Sullivan, Solicitor General; Hon. John Lefargy and Hen. W. G. Strong Without office. THAT DANGEROUS BOY FITTS, Boston, April 23, 1873, Aspecial despateh from Exeter, N, H., states that on Sunday night the boy Wilfred L. Fitts, of Low- ell, now in a cell of the Exeter Jail, while in a som- nambulistic state, got possession of # razor of sd of the three oyoy oceu the same cell and attempted to cut their areata. Two of the prisoners were slightly wounded before le could he secured, a, Ng ha ne Lo nt i ‘was some time betore he cou, rene! senses, He is now carefully watched wien asleep anc awake, ’