Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-09-08

There has lately been most ridiculous trial in the
Court of Common Pleas, relative TO the right of the
representatives of the public press attend the po-
lice court. We say ridiculous, because some Of the
Jarors were so astoundingy stupid to doubt about
the proprety of Furnishing police officer, who, in the
penltsde of his power had the unparalleled audacity
te forget his duty to lay hands upon of the re-
preseHtatives of the public press, and to assault
him.
Things are come 10 pretty pass indeed, if one of
the sworn peace officers who far forgets himself
break the peace, is to be sustained for doing
In making these remarks, we disclaim for all,
all personal feeling upon the subject So far in fact
personal feeling influence as we have a
stronger feeling of personal friendship for the officer
who committed the assault, than for the reporter who
assaulted That officer is of xcellent re-
pute and good standing in this commuHity-in private
life he of the respectable citizens we have
he comes from good old stock. His father was
an enterprizing Englishman-had all the good, hon.
e. hearty John Bull hatred of enemies about him that
characterzes the people Of that truly great nation
His son is American born, but an Englishman in
all his habits manners actens and feelings. He
loves with hearty Anglo Saxon love-he hates with
honest, straight forward hatred. He has been a
very valuable oficer-he has done the state much
service-but in the present case, he forgot himself
But II is the great principle tina, nave to do with
for the NEST valuable officer in the police is scarcely
worth the space he occupies in columns; although
individual generally imagines that his private,
petty proceedings arc of an importance paramount to
the affairs of the nation. If we allow the police Of
fcers TO turn out and to let in whom they please and
when they please, things wsu,a arrive at such
pass, chat is, in opinon) that the public would
be compelled ts take the law into their own hands,
q "a mode dc Francois and dispense with the police
court altogether. The magistrates and officers are
humaR-have as much Of human frailty, and lit.
lie more, than most men-ani "would play such
pranks before high heaven as would make cen an
gels weep if they had not the curb of the press TO
keep them in check.
We are in possession OF journal kept by Joseph
Hays, police officer, since dead, which is sworn TO-
being correct record of the transactions of our
police court witnessed by him and if did not be-
heye upon the broad principle that the police court
ought TO be an open one, that journal WOULD speak in
thunder tones not to be misunderstood land show tho
New York public that the Spanish Inqusirion itself
could not be worse than New York police Office
with closed doors.
As 10 the nonsensical talk aboc, an inner room and
an outer room, il lie all farce. The police coart is
the police court-thcre can be no such thing as back
roon-or Star Chamber TO il. Private examna-
tons all humbsss. No meR love darkness rather
than light unless their deeds are evil. And The only
way TO have things go on properly al the police Office
Is 10 admit, one acknowledged and accredited reporter
from each paper in the city, Let him be told in sia-
Gently what is it necessary or the ends OF public JUS
tice) that he should retain, and what he may divuge
and then we should never hear, as now, of garbled
statements Let there be no toadying-Ro ciqaes-
no humbug-no favoritism-no tiekle-me tickle you
system; let all be open, fair, and above board. Do
away with private jealousy mean backbitings, and
petty luminosity Give honor TO whom honor is due.
Let no officer be allowed to exact more for reward
than value OF the property he Let there
be regular graduated scale of rewards and Let the
first officer who violates the rule, be cast aside
worthless fellow. Above all do away, iRstdnter and
totally with those damnable pests Of society," those
demons in human form, employed by degraded
minds 10 scourge the earh,) those arch fends in
league with Satan called STOOL PIGEONS; the
records Of whose raseallty, If published would make
the community rise en- massc, and sweep the miscre-
ANS from the face OF the earth!
The siamese Twins in Trouble.