The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-08-09
Court Of General ssssaens.

Court Of General 1essaons.
Before his Honor the Recorder.
AuoUsr s.-Seyenteen grand jurors being present
this morning at the opening of the court, they were
sworn. after which his Honor charged them a fol-
tows:-
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY-
To you are committed the important power and
solemn duty Of inqu ring into, and, upon competent
proof, Of indicting FOR all public offences, or acts
tending to them. The grave nature of the proceed
ing In every case demands that the inquest be con-
Quoted with care, intelligence, and impartislity.
The high nature ofthe act requires that the indict
ment be found only such proof as Is sufficient to
convict, ard that your decision be made only fair
full and clear understanding of the case.
portion of your duties, and herein the court, by
law s specially directed to charge you, those OF
lnquiIDg into any violation Of the election laws, OF
the usury laws of the laws against lotteries, and OF
the violations of the laws by p.bc officers, in de-
handing, Charging, or receiving ees to which they
are not entitled. The maintenance OF these laws
are ebjoined emphaticaily. la case of their violaA
your action Is invoked by particular enactHeht
Your ao in their enforcement is, therefore, seriously
requested.
ed, IL we wish to keep in proper condition the in
situtions AID privileges oil this country. Ii CO rup-
ton Is allowed TO enter the ballot box, the injury
inflicted is vital to those institutions of which we
boast.
The laws against lotteries are founded on the prin
ciples OF morality, and are, 20 certain extent fun
damental and contribute TO the happiness and pros
perity OF society. These laws have been established
here, and there is express declaration in the
shtution Of this State pro ibiting lotteries Still it
~ daly practice, and those in charge Of lotteries
elsewhere come here add boldly disseminate their
circulars. Nay ore there auxiliary lottery Of
ices which reach persons OF tue most limited means
IN our community, and sometimes the laboref5 last
farthiDg s spent in lottery policy. These are
spread over the ity under the name of exchange
Offices" and it is to this branch Of the laws that
you will be required TO give your most intense ex.
animation.
The court is directed by law to charge You also
not to disclose the fact OF an indictment being found
for felony against persons not In actual custody,
until, on such indictment, they shall have been ar
rested violation Of this charge is declared to be
misdemeanor.
1t ia we'll 10 say to you, what has been mentioned
TO previous grand uries that il is best that you do
Iet disclose, except to the functiona.ies authorized
t. receive your communications any of your pro-
CeediDgs; indeed, TO have no outdoor conversation
on any of the subjects which you may have in
charge Much Inconvenience, and sometimes actual
injustice, will be avoided by adhering to this rule
Such information is recently given Of alleged
frauds, to a cegree Of extraordinary magnitude,
by persons holding official stations of trust and
confidence in certain railroad Institutions by which
many of those who, in gooo faith ha1 placed their
ia the stock OF those Institutions, persons
who have trusted to the representations OF those
Officers aud their integrity, have been deprived OF
their property, that deem Il my duty to ask your
attention to the subject.
Ifupon examination it shall appear by due proof
that such acts have been committed as amount TO
criminal offence, it becomes your duty TO iRdict
those proved to you to be guilty of the crime. The
law In such Casea peculiarly dcmaI ds firm fear.
uuu Just vindication it,. For, If confidence on
nigh assurances can thus be broken-if trust in
t1ose, VINO, on apparently just grounds, were deem
ca 10 be high minded honest and honorable can
sns DC violated, aud By frauds, vast, deliberate and
ssi'u the property OF the unsuspecting can be re.
m0ve1 or taken with impunity, then, indeed are
the security aud assurances guaranteed BY the laws
In investigating the subject, it is highly important
tnat you allow no excitement or prejudice to sway
you, mat You Judge carefully and iightfully by the
PROOF and that you be clearly satisfied that this acts
proved, amount to crime committed by those who
may he accused before You indict.
MY duty demands, nlso, that ask your attention
20 recent instance Of personal combat said to
have been prize fight, between two individuals in
one OF the public places in our city, in which, as is
sa!d one or other OF the coiDbatant to was more or
less mutilated. IL Is also said they were allowed
TO complete their work wit out interruption or ar.
rest; although large numbers were assembled st the
scene.
II cannot be, that in civilized community such
actions can be allowed. | sincerely hope that on
Inquiry, the case will not appear to sbe as bold
and OF dec ut respect for the feelings of peacea-
&s ngzampssi on Yin please, gentlemen, TO give
the case your careful consideration.
The calendar placed before the court, OF cases
for your action, presents seven cases of murder,
seven Cases Of assault With intent to kill, seven
cass OF arson, two Of robbery, twelve of burglary,
three OF for gerry twenty Of grand larceny besides
Others amounting in all to seventy cases.
Il WAS my hope and belief that rowdyism, and
those awful homicides and intemperance, which
frequently are caused by them had & -eatly dimin-
ishee, and the use of deadly weapons no longer
prevailed to the extent which has heretofore been
the case; but this shocking catalogue Of homicdes
and personal violence in short time, not only
among the ignorant and the low, but among the
educated and those claiming to be respectable, pre-
sents an awful contraction to my impressions. We
have to deal with this dark list, gentlemen, as we
find IT, and it is your sad solemn and painful duty
TO dispose Of these the proof shall warrant.
II is appropriate ut this season of the year. If
your time will so permit, for you to examine into
the condition OF our streets, alleys, markets and
sewers, and to inquire into all violations Of the
health laws. The tenant houses and their ;ss,,;,,s
too, are just objects OF inquiry Taere is no doubt
that cleanliness was never more important TO this
community than now.
In your official proceedings you are to act with
care ard circumspcctioD; TO examine each case at
tentiyey and topossess yourselves of right under
standing OF IT and o. the proof; it, in any case you
are not sat SIZED with tho proof, you may examine
further ii you entertain any easonable doubts
those doubts should be given in favor of the accused
In su csees Ia which you may desire aid council,
you will apply to the District Attorney; he is your
legal adviser, and on his counsel you may iely.
fou are to perform your duty impartially and
fearsssy, without prejudice or prepossessioa, and
lie goveired only by the proof and the laws to
which il applies.
II is important that yonr attention be 6rst given
to those cases in which the parties accused are in
prison.
Gentlemen, | commit the business of the term to
your charge.
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