The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-23

called upon to perform this painful duty.
Your position In the estimation of your friends
the fact that you have been respected by them-hat
you surrounded by those amenities Of life which
add to its charms weigh heavily on my sympathes.
offence, which, had It been carried into execution,
would have probably terminated in great loss Of life.
The penalty Of your crime must even fall crushing
ly upon you Had your offence been completed, 1t
would have been in the power Of the Court sent
youSo the State prison for the term Of your natural
life Upon careful examination Of the statute and
that have power to sentence you for the attempt
beyond period of five years. Ny discretion be
tween two and five years know that every day Of
imprisonment is Of consequence to your family and
have determined to sentence to four years and sir
months. have had my own sympathies warmly ex-
reduce your punishment but do not think it consistent
with my duty to do The sentence Of this Court Ia
that you be imprisoned in the State prison at hard labor
during the period Of four years and six months.
PREsENrxMT OF THE GRAND JURY.
This being the last day Of the term the Grand Jury
before being discharged made the following present
ment'-
The GRAND JuRY rm CrY AND COUNT OF New YORK
WOULD RESPECTFULLY PRESENT.
That in the discharge of their duty they have callod
before them number of persons belonging to the police
and Others officers connected with tho criminal prisons
Of the city for the purpose Of asceraining In wha(
persons who arrested and committed for crime BY
the criminal magistrates, found soon after such
commitment at large committing renewed depredaticna
the citizens and strangers visiting the city.
From the evidsnce before the Grand Jury the follow
ing given for the purpose Of showing how the
criminal business il done ut the city criminal courts
An aggravated assault made aged citizen
by notorious disorderly person; complaint Of the
assault was made to Police Justice. Application was
made after the complaint to said Justice who informed
complainant that the papers had been sent to the Dis
trct Attorney The complainant, BY request appeared
months had elapsed since the complaint was made and
that it had not been sent to the District Attorney but
had remained in the desk of the court.
farmer from Long Island came to the city with q
load Of hay. After disp0sing Of his hay, his way
hemc, near Eighty second street, man stopped him,
on the avenue and leading his team into feld he
with Others took from the wagon one OF the horses
The farmer went home with the other horse, not being
able to take his wagon The horse taken belonged to
citizen living the Eighth avenue who had left the
horse with the farmer during the winter The horse
and wagon recovered the owner assisted by the
police. warrant for the arrest Of the thief asked
for by the of the horse from Police Justice and
refused by said Justice The Of the horse
his request appeared before the Grand Jury.
The police arrested number OF riotous persons. On
the way to the station house. it discovered that one
of them had weapon answering to slung shot or
billy concealed on his person. The police made the
complaint. The Police Justice refused to commit the
accused.
Two females Of bad character were arrested by the
police for osordcrly conduct in the street in the day
time. They taken before the Police Justice, and
committed They then taken into a room leading
70 the prison .sere 1 told them he .oHd get
paid the sum, and gave the person 81 for
his trouble, and they were discharged.
II is in evidence that persons known pocketbook
choppers have been arrested almost every week for
years past. They have been takch to the Police
Court, with those on whom they have pracsed their
deception. is also in evidence from that should
know the fact who says he never has known convic-
ton for this offence.
lice, practising their vocation Sunday they were
arrested in the act. They taken to the police
court and committed for term Of months. The next
day they at large practising the deception
The boys that infest the city frequently arrested
for petty larceny They taken before the police JUS
tce and discharged and are permitted to grow up
Arm burpa Thursday
inst boy arrested by the police for petty larceny
was taken before the police justice, and Notwithstanding
ample proof, he was discharged
The Grand Jury could add many more cases similar to
the above They understand they occur almost daily.
cases where burglars thieves disordery persons and
Migrants arrested by the police, and taken be-
fore the police courts and committed they frequently
find the same so committed at large la some
instances they back in the ward in which they
arrested before the officer who conveyed them to the
court.
The Grand Jury have, In degree, made inquiry
how the persons committed as above stated, are
again found at large
vehicle known as the Black Maria, in which prisoners
conveyed Backwcls Island calls in the morning
up down u
prisoners coming in the vehicle conue for the time
being and the vehicle returns to the other Cup town)
prison for the prisoners there confined who also
brought to the Tombs prison. The vehicle 10 then filed
with the prisoners thus collected and the prisoners
It appears that Il is the practice while the prison
are above described being collected at the Tobs
prison. for the purpose Of being carried to the penten
corpus, the prisoner il by said writ taken before
Judge and upon the ground that the prisoner
is confined in the prison at the T0mbs instead Of being
confined In the penentiary when in fact, the prisoner
is in transit at the time, to the penitentiary.
frequently writs of habeae corpus are granted and
ntment committing said prisoner Is not aied in the
Office OF the Clerk Of the Court Of Sessions.
It is in evidence before the Grand Jury that the
mitmepts from the jefferson Market Police Court
only taken down twice in each week to the Office of the
Clerk Of the Sessions and it is supposed that is the
same with the other police courts will be- Therefore
not filed in the Office Of the Clerk Of the Court Of
Sessions wide door is open for the discharge Of prison
The captains of police state that in consequence of
the practice Of schargng persons arrested by members
Of the police department. the men discouraged in
detrimental to the efficiency Of the department.
The Investigations made by the Grand Jury, with re-
nal justice, have satisfied them that it requires
thorough revision. Partial abuses and individual in
stances may be proceeded against by indictment from
the system remains liable TO the abuses The root
of the evil is not reached complete reform Of the
system would involve an amount Of labor that canno.
duties and acquaintance with law that they are not
expected 10 possess The subject in the Judgment OF
claim the attention Of the legislature An Intelligent
and independent commission, appointed by that body,
would perhaps be the most appropriate and thorough
mode OF accomplishing the object The Grand Jury feel
constrained to present the subject that may receive
the consideration which the welfare Of the community
demands.
The Grand Jury visited the city prison, in Centre
street Sunday last, and found, upon examining it,
very great improvement in its discipline and cleanli-
ness and believe the keeper Mr. John Gray, entitled
to great praise
The female department, also under the core Of Mrs.
Foster, was in the same commcndable order.
ROE LOCKWOOD, Foreman.
CHARLES n. Mourn, Secretary.
Grand jury Room, Dec. p, 1854.
His Honor the Recorder made few remarks in reply
He thanked the Grand Jury for the extraordinary dsvo
ton and attention they had given to the business Of the
term--an unusually heavy one-and promised that the
should be promptly referred to the proper
authorities.
We understand that during tbs term thus closed, eli
indictments were found, and So complaints were dis
missed by the Grand Jury.
The Recorder then dismissed the petit Jurors, thank
ing them also for their attention to the various cases
brought under their notice.
The court then adjourned.
DTswsme Cmmrf.