The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-03

mind when you return TO We have this term
impose upon you great deal OF labor The Grand In
quest 10 important body and rd duties are most i'm
the city prison some forty prisoners awaiting the an
ton OF the Grand Jury This, however, will only
be small portion Of your you. work for ] have
down to the Court from the magistrates just fast
they made cut instead of having them sent in
here once a month formerly the custom. un-
derstand from the district Attorney that there large
amount Of bail cases which generally disposed OF in
the Court Of Special Sessions awaiting your action The
law makes it incumbent me TO charge you upon seYe-
raj points else would not occupy your time any longer,
seeing as do before many old grand jurors among
you VIII fully understand the duties which, by law they
obliged to perform. The first point on which shall
charge you the subject Of lotteries Lotteries, by the
laws OF this State abolished as well as all other
games of chance and gambling and not only were they
abolished but il is the duty of the Court to charge you
70 make due and dilg inquiry into any violations Of
me statute am also obliged 10 charge you upon any
io'son OF the election laws but there viii probably
be no violations Of the elective franchise you viii not be
required to ray much attention to this point The next
usury laws. 1t has always the law in this State
that the taking OF more than per cent for
Of violation coming under your observation should
be acted upon and carefully scrutinzed. There
Is another point-extortion-and this is where a
public officer takes fees than the allows him
The taking asking extortng than the usual and
lawful fee is held by law to be misdemeanor punish
able by line or imprisonment Another point which
wish to call your attention TO is this-that wherever
bill Of indictment is found against the party il is
duty to Keep such proceeding secret that the ends of
party under Indictment Indeed gentlemen it is part
Of your OATH Your councils for fellows and your own,
you will keep secret Is part OF your oath. Now gen.
temen will say another word in reference to the
of action il would be advisable for you to adopt. You
will find that from the moment you become members Of
the Grand Inquest there will be an outside influence or
pressure sought TO he brought to bear Some who
have malice against their noigbors, often make the
and Jury instrument II cir and by making
parte statement against persons they hold them
yer afterwards in their power. Now, gentlemen,
Ulcers who are paid to investigate these mat
ers. Unless it is a called upon by the
District Attorney, for one, if were member of the
Grand Inquest would not any attention to it, except
is case of great public Importance, requiring your
immediate action. Not unfequently the stain OF an in
dictment rests for life upon who may be entirely
innocent Of the charge imputed to him. If you viii
end to the District Attorney first the prison and
next The civil cases YOU viii find that the business Of
the court viii proceed much rapidly and in better
order than has sometimes been the case You have of
course, the power to go outside of this and it is not
perhaps, decorous in to instruct you this point
but hope and am certain you will receive my sugges
tons with all courtesy when you take into consideration
the motives that prompted to offer them In conclu
sion would say that it takes sixteen members to form
quorum, twelve votes to find bill and twelve 10 dismiss
it, Let tell for the sake Of expediting the bust
ness of the term, that where has been examined
thoroughly by the magistrate, there is need of taking
up your time by examining witnesses, inqurng into it
any further There being only quorum present will
call another panel to-morrow morning so that any OF
you who may wish to be excused can do so without sus
pending the business With these remarks gentlemen,
you may retire to your rooms
SENTENCED
Grand Ldrcessy .-Pcer Wiley tried and convicted
Of stealing two fob chains valued At 500 and
fenced three years confinement in the state prison
PETIT Ldrceny-Robert Farrell pleaded guilty to petit
larceny in having stolen trunk well stocked with cloth
ing, from the dwelling house No. College place.
Judgment Deferred.-Murtah Murphy pleaded guilty to
stealing $50 from his uncle. Judgment deferred.
Charge Of Observation-Disclosures Delom placed at
the bar charged with abducting and marrying without
the consent Of her parents Eugena Louisa Grod daugh
ter Ct Frenchman named Jacques Girod The daughter
Of the complainant was it appeared, not yet fourteen
years OF age and not being well treated by her parents
flew to her loyerthe delendant-and implored him with
tears in her eyes to marry her He complied with her
wishes and the young couple united in the holy
bonds OF wedlock The jury in this case after patiently
hearing the evidence both sides rendered verdict of
scquital The happy pair then left the court in high
spirits
The Court then adjourned for the day.