Research


Scope and Content Note

This series consists of criminal cases, most of which were appealed to the Appellate Division (First Department); a few of which went to the Court of Appeals. The earlier volumes contain many records on appeal from the Supreme Court General term, the predecessor (abolished in 1895) to the Appellate Division (established in 1896). The contents of the record on appeal include: a summary of proceedings appealed in trial court (i.e. Supreme Court - Criminal Division - New York County); copies of orders, decisions, or other proceedings appealed from; extensive transcripts of testimony; and exhibits such as documents, plans and photographs.

In addition, there are sometimes original court papers such as notices of argument on appeal, signed and sealed appellate court orders affirming or reversing the decision of the lower court, and a few bills of exceptions and decisions (some are manuscript). The transcripts of testimony provide detailed information on crimes and criminal trials in the New York Supreme Court in New York City at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries.