The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-14

notify, Justice Moore, Mr.. Macarthy, CT
LAsStent OF Police, and Captain Dttchctt,
Of shs Fourth WarSs-Crsminsl OGencss
Da@posed of at tho First District Police
Court.
rne Legislative Police Committee resumed their exsm-
nation yesterday, at the City Hail. all the members being
present with the exception of the Chairman Mr. Crosby
Bsrnsbas W. Osborne was the first witness sworn He
testified cliows:-l police magistrate Of the city
Of New York have been between eleven and twelve
years
Mr.. Stuyvesant-Wi you be kind enough 10 state
whetor you know Of any abuses existing the police
courtf
Justice osborne-I clerk six years before I be-
came a magistrate; there were q great many abuses
existing NJ that tin but think they have been grA
duay diminished down to the present time; il ia sup
posed that there practidonsrs who practice law
~ the TOmbs, except persons who called stsrs
in OF fase pretepc- grand arcenes and other Of
FENCES Of that descpD respectable lawyers however,
are geneasly employed
Mr.. stuyve Besle stated that there was boy
confined for disoroerly uct in of the prisons
who had not soap, 9 towi TO olesn himself
do you know any thing ABOUT the boyf
Juftice 0sboipe--l don't know till see him.
Mr. 5. How long have you known party To be locked
up in the station house before being brought before
committing magistraieS
Mr.. UKeefelf your suggestion In relstiea t. trying
petty offences carried out would it
Justice O-No, sir.
Mr.. Slow often have you seen the Mayor In your
Justice o Not than twice; have not
attached to my court ali the magistrates
don't speak the different languages; speak ave was
compelled in selfdsience learn German the mags-
tratea hould in their courts in regard
to NE hbs alton Of isoners on has cophs the blame
il attsched uDjustly magistrates know Of osse in
which hun ired Migrants discharged and
the parties that hal oommi ted one day were
brought before the next appeared taat the lawyers
had .tp.inu IN fNa
and get cer,ia him that there record
of conviction fled in his Office, which true, because
sessions, and The Judge this plea would dis
charge them the Judges are, no doubt, very
familiar with the statues but not the local
the Migrants who commit ed, more than half
sent the island ther cenfession the police
magistrates have control their clerks; think
the magistrates ought TO have the power Of appointing
their clerks; in have had to take depo-
stons in tho absence Of the cerks have also known
the clerks to take them while the magistrate away
but the magistrate always decides upon the after
wards this is done by The clerk merely TO time;
TO be fom ten TO tstlve at present there are eight
they ought TO be provided with sufficient clerical
assistance and OF The light kind the despatch Of bust
depends much upon the in diligence and activity
OF the clerk Us IL does upon the magistrate.
Mr. Hopkins-what do you think Of the appointment
Justice Dwell always opp ,sed to an elective
Judiciary they formerly appointed by joint ballot
OF the Common Counc under the old Law they could be
npeacttd by the County Court but ut present there is
no uch court and they cannot be reached BY any law
existing
MIR. S.-Do You know anything OF Tombs sinnerss
Justice OIL don't know that there any OF them
at the Tomb than at any other prison. proportion 70
the business done; have known instances oil police pro-
curing counsel for prisoners.
Ex-Jfty Judge geese vas next examined. lie testified
foows-I Judge of this city for four years preyi
to January last and such held the terms Of the
Specisl and General Sessions the Special Sessions
those held in the morning. about twice week. before the
City Judge Reco der, without the intervention Of jul
ry since tho expiration OF my term the powers of the
special sessions have been enlarged include mis-
my attention has been directed to OF the
abuses of criminal justice conceive the law very def
Gent in regard 10 taiDg bail upon the arrest Of party
the legal effect of taking oai to appear to answer 70
destroy the power tie magistrate and have doubt
Of being Illegal the law stands the magistrate
commit to Prison let the prisoner be placed in
let him run great difficulties exist in regard TO
yaerant persons sent up 10
grants boys who have been ound playing in the street
art sometimes sent up, Az know OF in which
boz who was found play ing about the city seat up
tor two weeks, and his mother never knew OF his where
abouts TILL the end of that time; this abuse arises from
the too great freedom OF swearing the part of
policemen great amount Of business The msgi4-
steo have to PERFORM granted wrs OF habcas corpus
IN Of vagrancy 10 the number OF 00e during
term Of four years; by law all judges but especially the
criminal Judges, ought to be prevented from all
nection with executive, administrative legislative du
ns the Recorder and City Judge crowded with other
duties and have not time "a attend TO the duies Of fo
lice OmnisSopcrs the great difficulty about the Office
of Police Commissioner Its connection with the Judi
Judiciary officer ought be called 10
exercise snoh autie places besides TOO much power
in his hands IL he should be Of integrity, and
think II is wrong ioE judge 10 ocsnpy such position
the RI corder than The City Judge connected with
municipal business; he i much OF executive and
lcsisla i've officer he Il judicial: chen the wants of
the Police Depart ri ure more time and attention
II ought to t. made duty Of those who have charge
d 70 attend to Il alone and 20 visit the station houses
dsy and night and that justice done the men;
believe the department suffers from this; II is impos-
sbs ~ gain admission 70 the Mayor to the Great Mo-
eu ascoant of the business he has TO 10; dea't
think ne ought to be deprived of his position head Of
the Police department, but he should have workers
MIR, hcptiDs-1s the department made at present TO
Mr. Heebe-That IL a question should not Hike 70
swer think the effect Of appointing men for lie would
be 10 h the department with old men, that is fthey
appointed during good behavior aiso think that II APP
pointed for four sir years at the end Of that term
they may be shut ont fcon holding the office again;
dout believe Chief OF Police should bold his oce Tor
life; be stands. he is ofthe Cou,ms iouers
the rules and regulations OF the department think
there il sufficient magsteral force in this city we
have got Judges enough The clerical force might be in
creased, have doubt that magistrate could exa
mine hundred in day and do substantial
justice; during term disposed OF go cases
cleared the calendar every Tuesday Friday there may
have been instances OF Justice done 20 parties in the
Sessions during the time Wa IN Court there was not
be dspo-ed OF In that time the number sent to
the State prison by my court from thirty 20 thirty
i've daily there have been instances OF parties having
been tried and arrested day. and tried and sent TO
prison the next in the Of the who picked the
pocket Of John NJ Bolts at the METROPOLITAN Hotel he
uxtce ought to have more clerical help and more con
rrol over it.
Mr.. Stuyvess inflow often have you known the Re
oordex ard City Judge to hold concurrent oourtsf
Mr.. Beebe-n was our habit TO hold them In August;
In regsfd 20 property alleged to be stolen, found very
gree, difficulty when was In Court, and obliged 20
send around for IL TO the different station houses
this account was obliged to pat oil trials in
auence; think there should be some law passed re-
curing TO be brought the clerk Of the Court of es-
sions II Is important that the property should DO In the
Court necessary for evidence with the least possible
delay.
Maui Zoe Decamp. sworn, testified as folows-I
lieutenant Of police in that Office for four years
In the Eighth ward; know two prominent gambling
houses in tho Eighth ward they well known TO the
police they have been reported In the senannuAl re-
ports the Chief and last winter the occupants
rested what became OF the don't know; there
several policy shops In the Eighth ward the captain
quire the policemen 70 make reports twice 70 him
Of gambling no nes, houses of prostitution and lottery
shops be reports them 70 the Chief OF Police there
from sevent yve hundred houses Of prositution
have known of policemen TO take money from the keepers
brohels In that ward the members OF tho department
In the habit OF visiting guch houses can't state the
know without bringing the parties rto dhcuity