New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-09
LAW INTELLIGENCE.
PREsENTMENT OF THE GRAND JURY OF
THE L. =. COURT.

The Grand Inquest respectfully represent TO he
Court that among the matters incidental TO the inves
CATION OF the oticnses brought 10 their notice tAe
attention has been drawn to the proper custody "
persons charged with crime, and the condition u
witnesses detained to await the aetios OF the u s.
Courts.
The power TO oommA witnesses as well ~ accused
persons who cannot procure bail is vested in the
Federal Magistrates and, to extent in the u. O.
Consus abroad and the ends Of public justice require
that this power should be frequently exercised Per-
9 rs SO committed in the nominal custody Of the
L. s. Marshal; but it is believed that he rarely exsr-
cises any actual ,ontrol over them. There being
United State prison. he transfers them TO the custody
Of some State municipal officer who il not rospou-
sible TO him to the United States Courts. Thus In
this district persons nomnaly in the custody of The
Marshal of the district are committed to the Debtor
Prison in Edrdge street the City Prison tor crmisas
in Centre street, or the Kings County Jail in Brooklyn
The keepers Of these give their receipts to the Marshal
who thoncefo has only this constructive control
over those who are, by fiction OF law, in his proper
custody. Under this system many abuses obtains
prisoners supposed to be IN close confinement are sesn
at large, wits Of habeds corpus sued out without
notice to the Marshal and escapes take place with
iml unity to all parties concerned.
Another gre YOus wrong has forced itself upon the
attent on OF the Grand Inquest 1t often that
persons Justly accused In situation 10 obtain bail
and thus able to recover their personal liberty.
while those who MISREPRESENTATION the very
persons against whom tho wrong has been committed
being una bic to find bondsmen detained in custody.
That great injustice is frequently done to fricndeS
people hs for long period In City Prisons pend
ug Judicial proceedings In the United States Courts has beSa
painfully brought the Of the Grand Inquest in
than during their present sitting witaess Ia
recent passed upon by tits body ncareeated
than four and had evidently suffer ed from aud
want u proper clothing while by the United Stses
he entitled compensation Of dollar each day
that be tanned beside prison aion Under the pressnt
Arrangements the custody Of United States prisoners snd
the Marshal has 10 afford relief Ia suoh
cases. the responsibility beins exclusively in those In authority
OF the State, which make provision for tho
coupesaon witnesses detained This in the opinion ID
the Inquest evil OF magnitude which demands
prompt Efficient remedy the hands the Federal Gov
II 1t be the ends justice that
otherw irresponsible should DO held
IN close confinement to their attendance Witnesses
Justice lees than humanity demands that they shoad
be provided Tor during their detention from the
sunc held IN Tor them tho no ID
their fna discharge and be subjected than tbs
yvsons and little OF the dgraoe which the lot Ut
crmUelr.
In view these considerations the Grand Inquest present the
present OBTAINING accused persons and uDdoy
commitment Of the United States Courts entirely detective
the case sid productive Of much and srisyous IN
the Of and they that law providing for the sPcos
custody OF Jerons Tor whom the United States Marshal
sTon6c might and should DO obtained from the present Con
In District excrt i've ID important this United
Sates Prison House ot Detention would BE- fsr
lively necessary .