Harpers Ferry Free Press

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

Reported for the New York American.

UNITED STATES' DISTRICT COURT.

So. District of New York. from June 3 to 6.

United States vs. Daniel D. Tompkins.

This important cause came on to trial before the U. S. Court of this District, Judge Van Ness presiding.

The trial commenced on the first day of the term, Monday the 3d inst. and occupied the Court four days. The first two were spent entirely in the examination of witnesses; the third in hearing the arguments of defendant and his counsel; the fourth, yesterday, in the argument of the District Attorney and the charge of the Judge.

The Vice-President opened the defence himself on the first day, as he did also the summing up to the jury on the third. He was followed in the last by Messrs. Hoffman and Emmet, who intimated that they had entirely volunteered their services and who seemed to exert themselves with more than ordinary ability. His Excellency addressed the jury about an hour, and examined every witness himself from beginning to end.--Judge Van Ness delivered a brief but very comprehensive and interesting charge to the jury.-The Vice-President, he said, he had known for many years, and was well acquainted with his history and his services to the country. He had known him in the "high and palmy state" of his fortunes in the morning of his life, and now in a later period when he appeared before this tribunal. He had been held up to the world, said the judge; to the jury, as a public defaulter; something more and worse than mere indebtedness, with inability to pay, is alledged against him. With you it rests this day to declare to the world on your oaths what weight and authority such an imputation shall bear. His honour then clearly and concisely explained to the jury the leading points of law and evidence which they should observe in adjusting their verdict, and instructed them if they should be of opinion that the defendant was not indebted to the government, they would find a general verdict in his favour; and if they should further be of opinion that instead of his being a debtor to the government, the government was indebted to him, they might render a certificate to that effect, and state the amount, which hereafter might be of essential service to him.

The jury were out about an hour and a half, which may be considered a short time, considering the voluminous oral and documentary evidence they had to discuss, and at 5 o'clock P. M. came into court with a general verdict for the defendant. and at the same time handed in a certificate of a balance in his favor of $136,799 97 cents, which they considered as justly due to him from the government. The sum claimed against his Excellency in the action was about $11,000, and it is understood that he himself desired the action to be commenced, in order to come to a final liquidation of accounts.

Tillotson, District Attorney, for the U. States.

Defendant, Hoffman & Emmett, contra.