The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-08
Court Of General Sessions.

Before His Honor Judge Beebe.
EhPANNELMENT OF THE GRAND JURY FOR THE OCTo.
Der TERM-JUDGE BEEBE'S CHARGE.
Nov. THE court opened this morHng at 10 O'clock
and proceeded usual the first day of the term
panel the Grand Jury for the October term and that
body of men, having been affirmed, Judge
Beebe charged them follows
Gentlemen Of the Grand Jury-I. is not my habit to
elaborate much in my charges to the gentlemen who
compose the grand inquest for the city county of
York. However, ss am called upon by the law to ad
dress you, SHALL briefly possible call your attention
your general duties and then leave you to their dis
charge Those duties are nece ssarily arduous From
the size Of city and the shifting character of
population there is necessarily large amount Of crime
nmited within milo and there many things
nandng the action of tins Grand Jury. We are there
active Grand Jury, if wish prompt discharge Of
business The law requires, b.fore man accused of
felony or any Of the large class Of mi'demeanors
can be tried at all that the Grand Jury shall pass upon
his case to that effect Consequently before this Court
can act in the despatch of business accused parties must
through your hands shall endeavor, and do
endeavor to impress upon you the necessity great
tyity IL he discharge of your duties that the Court
may no be waiting for business have, during the time
aa' psomptness in punishment is one of the great pre-
ventives OF crime We should have much less in our
fore the went down that parties may not be led
believe that If they can only get bail they will never be
tried remember when ! was at the bar that the
tsing Of prisoner was considered as equivalent
to an escape; the party was not likely to be
punished Tor his crime 1t Is absolutely necessary for
promptly punished II you, gentlemen will seconi our
efforts, will guarantee the part of the Court and It's
officers that there shall be lack of promptness the
infection of the punishment authorized by law There
is necessarily devolved upon you at this term
large amount of business. think there are some two
hundred three hundred bail for assaults and
batteries besides numerous msdsn1ea nors There are
some ninety prison where the parties in
prison. besides the remaining over from the last term
some thirteen or fJurteen. / should be happy
ia order to prompt despatch Of business, to Keep
this court open till eight nine O'Clock in the even
ing am willing to Sit here all that time in trying
has not been my custom to direct your atten
ton to the law governing each case because of the
ally lsrge amount of business 1t would involve great
loss Of time and in fact, would embarrass than
you call fer advice and assistance, you have any
doubt az to the law governing particular case, when
ecng the facts in regard to it, better that instruc
tons as to the law should come from the District
regard to which the law requires the Court to charge
the Grand Jury The first to which shall advert Is
likely to interest at this particular time and that is
the subject Of elections We all desire citizens of
Legislature has, far could surroundedo his right
TO vote with al Of the afeguards thai the wisdom of
ctuld devise Every violation of it should be punished
severely and should any such under your OBJ
Importance demands The point ia that of usury that
the taking or Unfolding of than seven per cent for
the use of QUE hundred dollars Tor year. BY our law
the taking of more than the csntsgs have stated
vanced. Our Legislature has gone further, and have
said that il any party takes or receives or withhods
greater amount than dovrs for the OF hun
bred dollars for one he il. guilty of misdemeanor
rendering him liable to fine and imprisonment We know
that the present Is time OF considerable monetary de-
preston In market money is bringing large prices
Tor It's use. am not here to express an opn
ion as to whether the law OF usury 10 polite
or otherwise In all past time governments have had
usury laws for what Is termed the protection Of society