The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-11-22

1.-THE following pressntment OF the Grand Jury
is given from the Copy furnished. |, will be seen
that it is not very accurate but having no way Of
getting correc:ed copy for this days paper, we
concluded to give this as it is. The reader must
correct it to suit himselrl
Pressntment of the Grand Inquest.
---------i------- NEw YoRK, Nov. 81, 1876.
The Grand jury Of the county Of New York present
made to them of certain violations Of law committed
by persons CONTESTED with the Penitentiay Black
wells Island. The charge made against officers Of
of the public prisons that convcts whose term Of
punshmsnt had not expired, were permitted to escape
from the prison the second day of November s46 and
brought to the city for the purpose of voting the
election for State and other officers The grave chsrac-
SsSon which was at their not
from the character OF the officer charged, but also with
an anxiety to discover by whom 90 gross an outrage
of the great buwarks Of popular liberty hadb
committed. At the solicitation of the Grand Jury his
Honor the Mayor Alderman Benson, and the District At
torney went to Blackwels Island and made enquiry
committee Of the Grand Jury also visited the Island The
books and records Of the prison have been taken into
nation they have examined between forty and Atty wit
nesses including Mr. Mott keeper Of the prison, deputy
in keeping the prisoners custody likewise several OF
the persons engaged in various departments Black.
wells .snd and also in no wise con.
examination that at about the period election pri
whose term of service had not expired have
fore been taken from the Island for the purrose
ting The Grand Jury has been satisfied that at the
spring election prisoners were permitted to leave the
island previous to e expiration oftheir service
and were landed the evening previous from vessel
which had left the island that day The Grand Jury Is
or the purpose Of Voting From the evidence
to them at the present session escsrained that with
full knowledge on the part Of the keepers Of the prison.
and ct least Of his deputies charges having been
made that under several polite parties which have held
the administration Of the municipal affairs Of the city pri
charge had been made late the election
yet ne efficient measures were taken to prevent the
at the late election They satisfied that of the
officers in the employment Of the corporation of the city,
ned and executed this attempt gangs Of eons to
polluts the ballot bexes The Grand Jury have there
fore, come to this conclusion
That there are persons employed by the Corpora
ton who aided and abeed in the escape Of prisoners
convicted by the constituted tribunals of the State The
testimony produced convnces them that Of the off,
employed Blackwes Island made arrang ements
throw into the 9th and l4,h ards of this city
Der Of convics for the purpose of voting The testimony
shows that the prisoners, the I'd of Nov 1885, ex.
changed their prison clothes for their ordinary CT
il the
fST :, the night The poIils: for he rs:Peotys
destined for operation the ilth ward Was taken to
Contributing to their comfort They were there sup
light the party arrested by Justice Merritt and Aid
Benson. The policeman Finegan was relieved from
the c
doubt that Mr.. Purdy knew for what purpose Mr. Fine.
gan was relieved fn The gang of cGnvic; when
ment has been ordered. The convics destined to
ward and like those taken to house in the l4th ward
they furnished with liquors and other
the in whose charge they during the
supposed reasonable time, they finally passed resolu
tion that they would leave the house. which carried
nt0 md irtay that AZ
loose upon this community The Grand Jury have not
been able accurately to ascertain the number of prison
gerated accounts have been given of the number They
believe the number to have been about thirty II
one prisoner was taken of prison by public officer
for such purpose which will shock the moral of
this community The exami baton also shows that other
persons left the Island that on raft some in
boat Those who escaped on raft were two notorious
volators of the law who were known by reputation to
one Of the keepers OF the prison the associates Of
abandoned women and Of panel thieves, who had been
convicted of robbng strangers These prisoners had been
convicted at the General Sessions Of assault and bat
terry public officers, stationed before the houses of
these elons to put their guard against enter
Of these prisoners had attempted to escape
These men had been, at the nterceson of one Of the
keepers, who had heard of their infamous conduct
taken from the quarries and given light work to per-
FORM Although the usual punishment Of prisoners who
escape is to place ball and chain them when recap
sinceheir re-capture. What this community think
of the Judgment not to honesty of those who thus
be found of notorious pick pocket also relieved from
hard labor and placed at light work in the prison I'm.
who violate the laws of the land The Grand Jury have
presented bills of indictment against those who in their
opinion have aided and sbetted the escape Of the prison
ers, neglected their respective duties public Off
entrusted with the pententary. There Others
who although not subject to the criminal laws of the
land have shown themselves by their conduct unfit to
hold Offices and receive the moneys of toiing,
paying citizens They cannot believe that the constituted
authorities of this city will permit either Mr. Purdy Fran
Durham. hal
connected these persons with the transactions Of
The Grand Jury have not been able discover that pr
soners have been taken to any other wards but those
named. The movement appears to have been the work
to accomplish their purposes. Fortunately they have
been detected and not only was their purposes defeated
the purity Of elections but the security of lives
and property ia involved in such acts In government
ute like that under which we live unless the
SAFE That heated and inscriptions partzans should
not be permitted to lay their sacrilsgious hands
on that ark of our safety. Let the people
remember that unless the fraud be owned down and vo-
lations of law, such have been disclosed punished
our liberties are at the mercy of men without principle
and without character And what security have we for
our personal safety when we find the prison doors
them, and the felons who are doomed to punishment,
and the guard paid to secure them seen
to carousee together in the very streets Of
city, from which said convicts have been driven
for time punishment The Jury have considered
the subject one far above party considerations
They feel that public wrong has been committed And
they feel confident that condign punishment will be
awarded to those who have been particpators in the
crime not only by the legal tribunals of the State
also by the authorities of the city, whom the
parties engaged responsible for the faithful perform
apce of their duty.
This inquest cannot close its abors without paying
just tribute to John McKeon ESQ., the gentemanly and
talented district attorney His faithful and unwearied
assduity in the heightened and wearsome investga.
tons which have been made has greatly relieved and
aided them, though il must have been rendered by him
at much personal Inconvenience His has been
/ nd ueat taude
him their unqualified appreciation The Grand Inquest
in presenting their views to the Court the various
subjects referred TO in this wish to be
dersteod as unanimous in their suggestions.
Grand Jury ROOM New York, Nov 2lst, 1916.
HENRY ERBEN Foreman.
Jas. DEvoE, Secretary.
The following is list of the grand jurors Henry
Erben, Foreman James Devoe Secretary; David Young,
Jesse Van Auken Stephen Valentine. Isaac c. Taylor
J. b. Taylor, VIM Smith, s. H. Skidmore John Psret.
Francis Lamb, John Lewis, James Kenegsn, John C..