The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-11-23
the GRAND JURY ON THE ELECTION RIOTS.
Court or General Sessions.
Before Recorder Smith.

SUnt-T6E hGOOhDEh 5hBfLY--SEHlOUb ChAh0 %
AGAINST OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF ELECTION
INDICTED, lTC.
On Saturday morning, the counsel for Samuel
jackson, the commercial agent, who was convicted
of constructive larceny moved that the prisoner be
admitted to BAIL as he had fled bill Of exceptions
which stayed the execution of the sentence. His
Honor denied the motion, remarking that the evil
dence against the accused was SO clear as to pre-
clude the exercise Of his discretionary power.
Lieut.. Col. George Marmadnke Reeves alias John
W. McKalpin, who was charged with obtaining mo-
ney under false pretences was discharged. It viii
be remembered that this individual represented him
self as an agent Of the British army, and tried TO
effect contract for eight hundred thousand dollars
worth Of rifles "Lieut. Col. George has manly
proportions, and would be termed !" a fine looking
fellow" by many. His exit from the court room
would have reflected credit upon any member Of the
profession to which he claimed affinity.
Counsel for Andrew Williams, who was tried and
convicted for murder in poisoning his wife, ON the
18th Of May, 1854, moved that the prisoner be dis
charged
The District Attorney said that williams was tried
and 18th days Of May, 1864. and was sentenced by
Judge Roosevelt TO be executed on Friday, l4th
July, under the administration of Mr.. Blunt, his
predecessor. He was convicted entirely upon the
testimony OF one witness, who was ledger in the
house. That evidence was subjected to great deal
of criticism during the trial and for long time the
jury hestated about finding verdict upon the testi
mony OF that witness; but the court charging that
she was unimpeached in any way, they brought in
verdict of conviction in q remarkable manner-pre-
senting the anomaly of convicting man for poison
ing his wife and recommending him to mercy q
privilege that was toc freely INDUCED in BY Jurors
case were very peculiar, and he Blunt) had no
doubt of the guilt Of the accused. The case was
taken by writ of error to the Supreme Court, but
80, ~ -
He had the benefit of Ogden Honman's advice on
that occasion, who said that the conviction was
good and would stand, but the supreme Court unan
mously reversed the Judgment. He then took it to
Judges appeared to favor the previous dec
sion. He had been trying for the last twelve
months to find Mrs. Mary Campbell, the
principal witness against the prisoner; but
although he had advertised in the New York
HERALD. He stood there in an embarrassing position
that occasion-as Williams had been convicted of
murder previous to his entering upon the Office of
she may have gone to another part OF the world or
perhaps her subsequent course Of life, if discovered
would be such as to negative the idea Of being
engaged as witness in that case. 1t be might that
she would yet be found in this or neighboring
CITY, and be unimpeached, and thus the ends of jus
tice would be served by putting her again upon the
stand. This application TO his Honor would pro-
badly give more notorety to the matter than the
NJ "
necessarily couched in such language as would not
alarm her friends and it might be that before
another term rolled around, some clue to the exist
ence or non existence of Mrs. Campbell would be
found. II was very clear that the prisoner ought
not to be left in prison all his lie but at the same
time there was man who had been convicted OF the
great crime Of murder yet by those technicaites Of
the law the conviction Of the jury had been set
aside. The Recorder asked how long the NO ed
Cornell was kept in prison !. to which query the
Dis1ict Attorney replied" three years.
The counsel for the prisoner observed that three
months ago he offered reward Of $50 to the police
of this city for information relative 10 the where
abouts OF Mrs. Campbell, but nothing had been
brought to light far. II of circumstan-
tial evidence, one upon the perusal of which his
II stood there was possibility of the limo oence Of
the accused; and IL the missing woman should be
discovered, he thought that Williams could not be
convicted. He would remark that Mrs Campbell
resided ut So Duane street in May, 1854 and the last
that was seen OF her was about Is months ago. when
she entered police Office in state of intoxication.
The Recorder took the report of the case, together
with the afidayits, and said he would give his
opinion during the week.
The Grand Jury entered the court room, when the
foreman handed the following presentment TO the
clerk. which he proceeded TO read amid profound
slence:-
PREsENrxESr OF THE GRAND JURY.
The Grana Jury deems the present appropriate oc
casion TO slate that they not been unmndfu Of
directed BY his honorable Courtat the com mence
meIf or their cuee and regret that they have had
sufficient TIRE TO make such Investigations in regard 70
them ~ their importance demands. Immediately upon
Their ganxAon In consequence OF nmaton made by
the Court IN reference TO election returus they request
ed and obtsined the attendance OF Richard B. Coney.
ESQ, the County Clerk, from whom they ascerLaned
that there 3T election districts In this city that 70.
turn bad been received ~ that Office NJ the srh
day the present month, fro only IS Of said eec
districts They subsequently asceriein,d from tho
source tina. Gil TIE rtarns aot made until two days
Afterwards The Grand Jury has been advised by the DIS.
trCt Attorney Ahe
tons 10 commence the canvass The Immediately
upon closing or lols aud TO continue he same
without adjournment until the shall comrslei,
and lmmedat,y thereafter 10 alo copy OF tho returns
In The office d the Comfy Clerk, rne neglect tho part
OF 40 many oi the nspectors 10 comply with the
taiuies In ibis particular rcss 'ded by the Grand
Jury az papable violation Of law. and offers
much temptation 10 vitaie tie will OF the elc,ors.
They have therefore taken such action upon subject
TO thorough iuvestization by another
tribunal That evils exist IN the present system or
duetng elections IN tbs city must be apparent to every
candid mind mis- however, Il not regarded az an ap
propria,o which should be suggest.
some olhtr method Cannot DO devised ia tho sscc,on
Of inspectors OF elections. hioh will ensure strlcter
adherence to s those wso provisions 10 existence
so vel eaicnlNd 10 promote and project sso The purity
Of tho elective franchise. This inquiry special
imporiancea thir time fiom certain facts which have
come 70 the knosiedgo OF the Grand nquest ia Of
election dstros At the late election ~ viii appear
ON an nd ctmcnt, there found ballot box used
on toa, tcceon an excess Of Than two hundred bal
lois the names entered the poll book and the
roll clerk -as pestedy requested ourug the election,
~ Of the INSPECTORS TO make fictitious eatries the
poll book, approxmsng in numbers the excess Of bal.
lots. There have been comps made before the
Grnrd Jury Of sssaus upon some Of citizens
INC cay o. no recent eectoni while attempting 70 erer
cise the right Of suffrage, 80 aggravated In their
oharauer 10 cause the Grand Juro Q 10 inquire
cspecisIy into the manner in which the sec-
ton conducted IN many OF the election
csrie,s the Grand Jury vas informed BY The
Chief a. Police that the from thu osice which
urusy prtccce election. Issued al cleo
ton ur examination Of the books In that de.
partmett, appeared uat the usual police orce ie-
tailed 10 rye ~ the various polls. TIE Chief stated that
his subordinate position, and that he eudesvorei In
all 10 execute The orders Of surerirs With aee
IT, From Tire testimony adcu I'D upon sbs inquiry, APP
psred thai The policemen detailed for this service at
OF the election pols were passive observers OF
rotous proceedings and did not interfere protect cit
when their lives 10 great jeopardy In all such
far they have come 70 the kno rledgs q ths
Grand joy, they have, By their action referred
ier more particular examination 10 this honorable
court. The Grand Jury have retson ~ believe tia,
many pesceable sad quiet driven the
pohs BY awless persons without bcing able 70 VOTE In
conEequerce Of me want OF sufficient police force 10 pro-
tect them IN the exercise Of that right At Of the
election polls an elected Inspector mol permitted 10
10 ofh t~ hr