The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-08

Ward Newman. Linus scuaaer ..s,,
Theodore A. Heyer. george D. Whitneiu'
Oliver H. Townsend
To these gentlemen his Honor Judge Bccbe delivered
GENT r,6EN or THE GRAND JuRr-0n the subject which
shall address you viii be very brief, for among You
recognise many gentlemen who acted as panel Jurors
upon former occasions who well acquainted with
the business Of the court myself. There are
tain things upon which the law requires to charge
you often thought that If the court would simply call
the attention Of the Grand Jurors the facts Of the
law, the ends Of justice would be easily attained
Every member Of the Grand Jury is aware of the position
of the court at present find taking the calendar
that there forty prisoners the calendar that
quire your immediate action. These are in prison
and must have immediate trials observe that there
large number of persons the calendar charged
with murder besides other of grave character
which generally entrammel the criminal calendar.
have requested the magistrates to return their papers of
committal Immediately their being made out to the
once Of the District Attorney Promptude prompt action
and 1t is necessary that such should be acted upon
with as much despatch possible had my own way,
would arrest indct aud try the prisoner on the same
day, when there would be getting witnesses out
the way, compliments would be present and principal
witnesses could not be spirited away You will there
ore, have to act upon large number % cases in ada
lion to the prison cases. refer to the bail cases
here being two three hundred of these in
The District Attorneys office; but most of them being
mere common assault and battery cases, they viii
not need much Of your attention In cases where the
magistrate has fully investigated the charge tending 10
the conviction of the prisoner 1t was not necessary TO
institute investigation again. In where
complaint has been made to the District Attorney the
resident magistrate should be careful not u
find any indictments except in some peculiar cases Not
unfrequenty evil disposed persons before Grand Ju
ries, and use them as an object of their malice
against some of their neghbors, for revenge
some other object Above all things, in such
the Grand Jury should not be the orignators of the
complaint. win now proceed to charge you upon the
different points required by law The first point that
will call your attention to Ia to make strict inquiries into
any violation Of the election laws In addition to the
the power Of the elective franchise they have provided
that the Grand Juries shall from time to time inquire
elections lately and will not be for time to come it
Is not likely you viii be obliged to act upon any of
this description. The second subject that the law
qured him to charge them upon is to inquire into any
violation Of the usury laws which is the taking with
holding Of than per cent for borrowed money
The Legislature have made It incumbent upon you to
dict all persons who receive than per cent for
money loaned. Whether this be good law not,
am not at prepared and do not wish to say Upon the
indict such mon as you shall think on your oaths
are guilty Of selling not only lottery tickets, but
those selling gift concert tickets and valentine works
In any case where the proof should tend strongly to-
wards the guilt of the parties implicated it duty
to indict them. Another subject upon which the law
requires should charge you is the taking of fees
by any public officer than he is entitled to. In any
Of extoron of than the lawful fee is your
duty to inquire strictly into the matter for the law holds
that such offence is misdemeanor, and on conviction
punishable by imprisonment and fine; and 1t is your
duty TO inquire into such violation 1t is also your duty to
keep secret the fact Of an indictment being found that
the ends of justice not be defeated by the escape of
the guilty parties Indeed would say that you should
your own and your fellows you will keep secret is of
the principal and most important clauses in your OATH
Another thing am sorry to have to call your attention
TO- which Ia the want of proper accommodation for you
You all know the serious difficulties encountered by the
Court while endeavoring to procure for you suitable
for consultation and after great trouble 1t
ceeded, it having the building we now occupy
erected for the purpose of accommodating the
increased wants of the Court of General Sessions.
Then had the late fire in the City Hail. and
obliged again to evacuae the several offices attached to
the court in order to make room for those courts and
ocers that left houseess by the conaagration.
But this did not seem satisfy the members of the city
government who, by q recent resolution, turned the
Grand Jury out of their room TO make room for the Re-
ceiver of Taxes, who is now installed in your apartment
that any greater misfortune could befa the
community than to be obliged to discharge the Grand
Jury for want of a room to accommodate them In for
ii would then be in the power Of the Court to discharge
every prisoner cammtted to the city prison q mags
tra.es committal and don't know but what It would
dres and thieves they 10 obviate all these diff
culties have caused room TO be fitted up with
comfortable at Ieast-bu it is not large enough to accom-
modae Witnesses therefore you will be under the
sity of keeping them outside in the hall around the
building somewhere There Is nothing that would please
better than to see the public business despatched
quick possible but not too quick as to take away
from the prisoners the rights and privileges that belong
to them viii keep the court waiting open for you aud
will promise to dispose of the bills Of indictment fast
they brought into With these remarks, gen.
tlemen the business Of the term is committed to your
charge and you may now retire TO your rooms.
CONVICTED.
O6diningd Watch uRder Fdlse f'reences-James GOurd
then placed at the bar charged with obtaining q
watch valued at sl5 from H. Burns, under false and
fraudulent preences 1t appeared from the testimony
of the complainant that the prisoner had advertised in
Of the morning papers for clerk and that plain
tifs visiting him at his Office in Sixth avenue he in
duced by him to part with his watch condition that
the prisoner would get him situation The complain
AIT testified that he got any situation from the de-
PENDANT, and furthermore, when questioned about it,
the prisoner said he did not intend TO get him one but
would give him good recommendation The jury con-
victed the defendant, who remanded for sentence
Aisdcneanor.-A pawnbroker, named Abraham Good
win, convicted Of the offence known in the statute
as refusing TO let officer his booksn The officer
(Chauncy 1t seems in search Of stolen goods,
and requesting the defendant to let him his books
be refused and ordered him out Of the house. For the
defence 1t contended that the officer did not mako
himself known MS policeman when he came into the
shop of the defendant Sentence deferred.
AssduH AND Baaery.-George Weeks, on being convict
cd of committing desparate assault q colored
named William Duncan, while engaged in dispute with
him the Five Points sentenced to four months
confinement in the penitentiary.
After disposng Of some other unmportant cases, the
court adjourned for the day.
Gvnua