The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-05-09

for they have been men of MANY trials-to which
they have been subjected in connection with the
notorious Warner torpedo case, and indictme nts
TOR making or issuing counterfeit money Samuel
Irury, the elder, has been upon trial for several
days in the Brooklyn city court, upon one Of these
indictments. and was acquitted yesterday, the
The District Attorney Immediately, by consent Of
the Court, entered MOLE prosegus in eac Of the
four indictments still pending against Drury, and
the public has now probably heard the last Of the
complicated business with which the name of the
Drurys has been SO long associated We have
nothing to say about the verdict, nor would it be
decorous to make IL the subject Of remark, in ap.
provai or IN disaPproyai seeing that it has already
received the approval of the Court before which
the case was tried. Some general remarks upon
the entire history Of the and its results, how
ever, may be allowed.
No one can have entirely forgotten the excite
ment which pervaded the community here when
the long limited at Developments seemed to be ma
turing Tor public disclosure, and the still deeper
feeling, amounting in fact to general horror aad
universal dread, when persons hitherto free from
Suspicion OF crime and others reputed to be wealthy
were openly declared to be constructors ADJUST life
and property very band Of Thugs ia The heart
this population. we need not speak Of the arrests
the movements and counter movements Of the nc
cused and tho accusers, the light Of one person
deeply interested in all the revelations which were
made public, and the recent suicide Of perhap,
the master mind in the strange complication. All
these matters are now local history, and are IA
miliar to all who take any interest in criminal
matters Looking back upon the whole, however
and using our best discretion respecting the ev-
dence which tho various trials have placed before
the public, M il affects all tho parties whose IA II es
have been associated with the business. aad rcmem-
bering how completely the names OF some against
whom there was apparently evidence OF remote
connection with the principal parties have bcen lost
sight Of We are constrained to express ourselves
greatly dissatisfied with the adm nistralIoa of
criminal law in our midst.
The acquittal Of Mr. Drury is, in effect, decla-
ration that be has been the victim Of a conspiracy
Of the vilest and most atrocious character. That
certain persons have been resolately bent upon ac
completing his conviction of CRIME, have no
doubt. Yet it is difficult to conceive how 10
community like this, with he checks aud restraints
Of law around them and having their part
deniaby many wary and vigiiant enemies could
originate, Of pure invention, such array OF cir
cuInstances rs those which have been before the
public for now many months. And surely there
must be grave defect somewhere in our criminal
law, or in the practice of criminal courts If de-
signing men can place innocent citizens in SO dan
gerous and humiatng position before the public,
as that which the Drurys go long made to
suffer; grave deteot there must be somewhere if an
innocent man can thus have his reputation perlled
and only free himself from unjust accusation
after months Of mental pain and dlsquetude, ani
by the expenditure of thousands of dollars. Had
Mr.. Drury been poor man, he and his son had
probably now been immured beyond remedy within
the walls Of the State prison. Aud who do - not
feel that, the verdicts Of acquitta being q vindi-
cation Of the parties accused, there ought to
have been no very grave impediment to obtainng
money and reputation!
The whole matter has been a mystery to us and
others who have no access behind the scenes. The
public mind will probably entirely lose the im
preston that there exists in midst criminal or
CARNATIONS which the police cannot do not con-
trol-which the law cannot or docs not reach. This,
in fact, Is the unavoidable conclusion from what
has been made public these trials; nd although
the verdict of the iurea this TIM. nj
Nlr. Drury, and on the graver charge against both
father and son. may and doubtless will, satisfy the
citizens OF this city that tho wrong individuals have
fallen under suspicion, the feeling will remain that
the public safety is more provided tor than it
before the recent disclosures were made. Nay, tho
sense of insecurity will be rathcr increased than
abated by the knowledge that the real criminals,
whosoever tney may be- will hereafter feel more
secure THAI heretofore.
We rr1eat, that one unavoidable inference from
the disclosures made during the last fifteen or
eighteen months is, that taere is banded crimi-
nality In this city somewhere, beyond the reach Of
tho lac and ito officers A moderate knowledge Of
circumstances that do not reach toe public eye
ear, iustfcs US in assuming that inference u fact,
startling though IL Is, ana Illuminating to tho gene
,al belief in the superior morality Of the Empire
city. All the evidence that we have been IN ade ia
niiliar with for months goes TO show a completely,
brotherhood among thieves and persons OF even
worse character, which exists with all bat absolute
immunity. Ard 'heu operations are aided by an
under current Of immcraity--a veied aad con-
cealed licentousno Of which VT believe but few os
those with whom morality is principle have any
conception. Indeed. there is reason 10 feaf tha;,
crowded this city IL with all the meas and APP
pliancss' for the incubation Of high moral sad
iigious principles and sentiments we arc apt 70 be
too urmindiul Of Subsfrutn Of vice and ululorsl.
~, to which public attention IL only casoaally
tracted by some merely heal OF temporary irrup-
ton, while the deep AND - bid stream st rolls on
unimpeded, and may Unexpectedly reveal its 30 wer
sy sudden ihgndstion Of the Community.
PROM the Rev YORK Mirror, asysl
This tedious affair has resulted, at last. the ac
qui;sl Of D-ury-~e should asid, rcrh zys, IN his
TRUMP nal acguiital as ii was not deem .cesssry
for his counsel 10 make argument his dcteace,
nor even TO "suin up" the cvdeucc. The traihas
resulted ss we expected; and confess that We
arc puzslsd 60 dscoyer tho real plot and the real
GctorS in this criminal tragedy. We know nothing
Of MIR Drvty, never having even seen him; aod jf
his personal relations VI know st.l leas; bat II the
witnesses who hay. been produced on bis late trial
have net perjufsd themselves, II doeJ uppe that
he has been tho victim Of u deliberate, deep lad,
uDTelentiEg conspiracy; ard yei VIC cguLot discover
the not.ys of ouch perscSeriDg persecution. On
the one ed. tho Er-uh has v1cfg IDLY yiudioaied
other baud, tie Iottc, Grs1te hsa hunted tdon wi.a
n zeal worthy of a better cause, This, to say the
Feast, looks h rstsrious. The newspapers have ~
olsiBe ~ tha- 20 intermedds with the cause of gs-
lice, and editors who the prcroy aiivcs Of
advocate, judge. and jury, deserve " be puatshsd
before tbe criminal.
We rsgre+ tolearr that there arc ~ ~ devplOpe-
ments' yet 10 como, n We had mt-. sincerely
hoTed that tb- was toe Last o. ths series Of prose
cuticns Iru~y il sGid to be rich Hui suscquc ally
hc hse been ,aost ably defen led Whiting aad
ClaiE 6ght hard for their clients, ard ofteHer
than loee. W,Dther inngssgt Or guilty, Il 4 q lne-
,.ncboir reelection that hr. DrtIsy u indebted 10
hS money CO.. bis liber'y; for without tbt fee tie
legal def .Cr" wvaiJ have ben altlny. But
vhtm ti5 q, aoauit, the publ,c hose - Ugh, 10
cOatiti. al gHti new soene opens. Va Gfe ugally
snd moIpl oound 10 Igs ard the Drurys a. Innocent
and petsct.It, uOn. Who 10 The next VCtim!
AUG rlON.