The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-26
General s;rs.sOns.


Before his honor Recorder Tallmadge and Judge Noah
MAy25-At the opening of the court Nelson H. Mil
Ter and Turner Merritt called securities for
the appearance OF Charles f. Mitchell remember of Con.
gres on the second indictment forgery and he not an.
earng to answer the recognzanccs declared be
The recognizanceso Of Edward Shaw convicted Of en-
bezziement and obtaining goods under false pretences
who was tried last fill also dec Jared forfcited as
well Albert L. Merriam indicted for forgery in he tbrd
degree and Leonard Kingsley, for forgery in the second
The Grand Jury came into court made tho following
presentment, and were discharged -
The Grand Jury for the May term of the Court of ses
sions, for tho city and county Of New York respectfully
represent That they find practice of many ears stand
ing OF dischaTging warrant convics from the cuten.
tiary, on Blackwells Island by Especial Justices of the
Peace Aldermen, &c, is not sustained by law. That
even were the extent which ii has recently beer
prophecies.
The Grand Jury, therefore, present this practice not
it OF many Aldermen, and nearly all the committing ma
gistrates of city illegal tending evil and
therefore calling for prompt correction Tie Grand Jury
deem it lamenabe that no suitable provision exists
whereby distinction is made between those who are
committed to Blackwcs Island for crime and those
whose only offence is poverty and desu.ion The
moral if not the actual punishment appears to be tho
same. and the vagrant when discharged from
mitmen naturally feels indifferent respecting the conf
mission of petty crimes (Which pave the way far greater
ones) when the punishment is greater than if
convicted of being destitute Or in other words. of
the law "having visible means of obtaining a living
II seems TO the Grand Jury to be deficiency in
our public institutions for the nccor of the and
punishment of the criminal that woTkhouse and sys
tenn predcaed upon the establishment of institu
ton has not heretofore been adopted Migrants and pau
pers could then while at the public charge be employed
in such labor would materially benefit their health
induce them to habits of industry and occupa
thereby tending to make them, when discharged moro
liable to become useful and producing members society
The Grand Jury would earnestly call the attention of tho
proper authority and their fellow citizens to this subject
fully believing that would tend to reduce the number
of criminal and vogrnnt commitments, and render the
charge Of these uniortunntes less expensive city
The following table shows the number at present at tho
public charge
Total number in Aims House including 272 in Hosp
tai 400 in Lunatic Asylum, and $50 on Long Island
fa'n's'' '''''..'' $50. .2es'
Male Penitentiary, Backwells Island, ........ ut
Female do. at BELLEVUE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. S e
Males and females in City Prison., ............ Al
Total in Prisons. .............. 500
OF the whole number in the Aims House, 1859 are TO-
relgners, and ll55 natives.
The Grand Jury cannot commend too highly the pre-
sent condition of the Public Institutions at Bellevue
Backwells Island and the Long Island Farms The Luz
matte Asylum at Backwers Island, under the general
superintendent Of Doctor Vasche and the immediate
of Doctor Mcclellan the Long Island Farms esta-
bshmcnt under its able superintendent Mr. Guest and
Mrs Lee the Hospital on Blackwells Island, for chill
dren from the farms under the of Doctor Norrc
the Penentary the Aims House Bellevue and sll
various buildings connected Herewith present appear
of order economy firm but mild discipline ana fss-
tdious cleanliness that excited the admiration of all and
reflect the greatest credit the Commissioners of the
Aims House. Mr. Myer, the superintendent, Mr.. Brown,
the keeper OF Blackwes Island and the various officers
connected with those establishments Additional Hopi-
tai accommodations Blackwells Island appear be
much needed and the Grand Jury respectfully call the
attention OF the proper authority 10 that subject. The
Grand Jury, in their investigation OF alleged election
frauds find that indy iduals have gone into other
Wards tsau Chose where they usually reside and by n
temporary residence OF few days, have been deemed
he qualified and allowed TO vote therein. This appears
have been done to great extent in the sh Ward and
such the looscness OF tho election law defining what
legal residence is that there 10 he hope
correction of this demoraizng practice short Of ae
ration Of the law defining legal residence TO be actual
and bona lc Of NJ least thirty DAYS in the Ward
District in which the individual shall be entitled vote.
As the colonization system is practiccd by oil parties, is
alike expensive and corrlptipg to all who engage ia it,
and destructive OF the noble object IL hoaci
prvilegcshe equal and unbiased elective franchise
this Grand Jury earnestly desire to turn the attention &C
the Court and of their fellow citizens generally the
adoption Of seine measures which may correct This
evil in the body polite y this they believe only be
effected by legislative action, fixing the of legal
residence nj such period will render colonization In.
practicable too expensive to be pInctsed any extent
RlCHD D. FOSDlCK Foreman.
JAMES H. HART, Secretary.
The Grand Jury were then discharged after peril
remarks from the Recorder with the thanks OF the
Court
The Grand Jury found sixy onc bills during their Sit
ting.
The Court then occupied for in hearing
argument of counsel IN case of basardy ppeal from
the Police Court. The appeal sustained and the
charge dismissed.
The Court then adjourned for the term.