The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-20

with Dobbln, the merry, progressive oousuern
rights men with Davis, and the plain, substan-
tial Kentucky democracy with Guthrie. All
these men work together like true brethren Of
the same faith. They dispense ofices-they
consult upon the knotty affairs of Central
America, and our foreign relations all over
the world, including the mission to Spain, the
fishery question, and the Japan expedition.
They are harmonious they stand Marcy among
them, about the President, like Napoleon's mar
siais around their geeat leader upon the eve
ofbattle-free to advise. but prompt to obey.
In fact, the Cabinet is unit, and all because
Augustus Schell was not appointed Collector
ofNew York.
Let the hard shells rejoice-they have the
the spoils. Let the soft-shells rejoice-they
still have the Premier. Let the whole demo
cratic party rejoice-the Cabinet is unit.
And let the people without distinction ofparty,
rejoicc-thc country is safe. Finally, let Mr..
Schell rejoice in escaping the terrible responsible
lity which he mi ht have incurred, from the dis
asters to the party and to the country, which
would have followed his appointment as Collec-
tor of New York. Pandora's box, instead Of be-
ing opened, is locked up; and Judge Bronson
has the key. The breakers are passed. The
Cabinet is still unit. Hard shells and soft
shells. let US all rejoice.
THE RECENT DEATHS IN THE TOMBs.-
1t is sufficiently saddening and revolving to
our common humanity to read of the daily de-
struction Of life in this metropolis, from violence
1,,% he aa1 20 - ck:l1
more aggravated in cases where death is
caused by the negligence OF public officials.
Such a case we had to record yesterday,
wherein, of five unfortunate men who had
been thrust into q cell in the city prison,
three were on Monday morning found dead.
and fourth struggling on the floor in
convulsive fits. The first and natural thought
which such horrible event would suggest, was
that those poor wretches fell victims to the pu-
tridity Of the air; that the cell into which they
were thrust had no sufficient means of ventila-
tion and that the officials of the prison had ex-
hibited such gross disregard of their duties as
public officers, as well as Of their feelings as
men that the public welfare imperatively de-
manded most thorough and scrutinizing in
vestigation into their conduct in regard to this
matter.
Such. we say was the natural feeling which
perusal of the horrid circumstances related
in yesterdays HERALD, would prompt. But
public opinion in this respect was antici-
pated. A sort Of inquest was held in the
City prison all Jail officials were exculpat-
ed, and a verdict rendered that death was
the result of apoplexy, produced by intern
perance. But such a matter cannot he suffered
to be SO summarily disposed Of. Public indg-
nation and suspicion have been excited, and
cannot be SO easily lulled or satisfied by the
proceedings of an inquest, in which form,
precedent, law, and common sense have been
set aside. We have scrutinized the proceed
ings Of this inquest, and we arraign it
as utterly irregular, illegal. and designed
only to thwart the course of justice, and
shelter the guilty from punishment. And
now that the fourth victim has been added to
the three first found-for Charles Miller died
legal farce has been re-enacted, we deem it our
duty to call the attention Of the public, the
State prosecutor, and the Legislature, to the
whole circumstances.
The facts. as represented by the officials of the
prison-not under oath-are, that on Monday
morning, when the cell in which the deceased
were confined was opened the horrible specta-
Gle presented itself of three of them lying dead
on the stony floor, and q fourth rolling about
in commissions. Such is the sad brief story
such the undoubted fact. The Coroner is
| called, and gravely proceeds to hold an inquest
| on one Of them, poor German. How? Is the
person who first witnessed the horrid scene
examined to testify as to the fact? No. Is
any one examined to show when and under
what circumstances those men were put into
prison? No. Are any of the officers in charge OF
the corridor questioned as to whether they vi
sted the prisoners or heard any moaning du-
ring the night? No. But instead of the Coro-
ner getting evidence as to these important cir
cumstances. what does he do? He examines q
medical gentlemen. connected with his own Of
fee. who did not see the deceased in lfe but who
held a post norton examination on his body,
which satisfied him that death was produced by
apoplexy and congestion, induced by intcmpe-
rance.
There was another irregularity in the pro-
| ceedings The medical testimony. which in all
regularly conducted inGucsts, is the last to be
heard is in this case the first 1t is always the
natural and legal rule to hear crcumstantial evil
dence Of death given, before doctor ventures
an hypothesis as to the cause of death But
here, it seems. such evidence was quite unne-
cessary. What else appears on the record ?
Why. the extraordinary. nay, contradictory and
utterly improbable testimony of DIR. Covell,
physician to the prison, in which he is made to
say that he saw the deceased during his sick
ness, while he was writing n commissions, and
that he agrees with the previous testimony as
to the cause Of death. II DR.. Covell saw the
deceased why does not the record bear evil
dence as to the hour Of his visit how long it
was before death ensued, and what remedies
he prescribed? But all this most important