The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-07
CRIME IN THE METROPOLIS.
Court Of General Sessions.
Before Judge A. d. Russell


MAY g. As soon - the court was organtzed tho
Clerk proceeded to call The Grand Jury panel,
when the following gentlemen we're appointed to
discharge the duties OF the Grand Inquest for The
ensuing term
Jas. B. Nicholson, Fore James 8. Aspinwall,
man, William Bansa,
Edwin P. Christy, Alfred OolveM,
John Z. Chamberlain, VIM Eyerdel,
Evurt A. buy chnck, J0a. Kelly, Jr,
Wilson G Hunt, Jonn II. Lyen,
Boweli hopYock, john Agh,naD,
William Il. Merritt, Daniel Ransom,
Richsro Reading, Hubbard G. Stone,
Oliver H. z. Townsend, Lewis X. Bridge.
charge
incun bent the Court at each term thereof TO call
the attention Of the Grand Inquest of the county 70
several distinct eDactnents, among which are the
statute Of usury whereby the taking OF more than
clare q misdemeanor." Also the Law relating to
e1tortiop, providing that Il any Judge, Justice.
Sheriff other officer to whom a0y fees or compen-
sa,in shal be allowed by law for any service. shall
take receive any other or greater fee or reward
for such business, but such AZ IL allowed by the
laws Of this Stste shall DO deemed guilty Of mis
dtmeanor. Also the law relating 70 lotteries, che
provisions Of which are, that every lottery, game
deemed unlawful ard common and public nuisance"
and % such Is punished by fae and imprisonment
Aho the election law this law provides that any
person who shall oy bribery, menace OF other cor
fupt means attempt to influence any elect,r in gs-
ing his vo'e hinder him the fire exercise Of the
night Of suffrage, shall be punished severity BY tine
and imprisonment" And also, to 'aw re ently
enacted entitled an act 70 suppress intemP1rance
and regulate the sale OF Intoxicating hqanrs. all
that 10 required Of nov in relation to thus law, b
merely to call your attention to IL ReuerAiy, - y0u
at The present term Of this court, noswt astandng
by the terms Of the act it became law at the me
Of its passage because by its provisions the Excuse
Commissioners are sequiE~ 70 meet on the thrd
grating licenses, and until they have met and
closed their business for the year, no in.
d,ctments can be sustained under II. You
have jurisdiction over all offences committed
within the city and county of New York, as also
over offences oonmitted in other counties in no
stse where the stolen property Is brought or found
In this county Cases Of felony can originate with
you, but it would be more advisable t. about the
rule to hear only such cases may be sent 70 you
by the District Attorney after previoos idvestgs-
ton hid before magistrate by taking that cour-e
you viii save yourselves considerable time and
labor tor II an examination has taken place and the
magistrate il not satisfied that prooa ,e exists
TO ho,d the accused for trial, be eau by law dismiss
the complaint Al you are not troubled with the in
vesugstion Cares Of misdemeaIor only rea ID
you on the application Of the defendant foc a
jury trial at she time of the presm'nay
hearing, otherwise they are disposed OF ut the
special sessions The law says " shall take
Of business, tselye to find an indictment, and he
he nun Der ~ reconsider bill after it has been
found. You can 6x your own hours of meeting aud
adjournment, and your foreman can excuse any OF
you nom attendance without an application to the
court woulo advise you, ho~ever, 70 devote 1t
least four hours ea h ~ TO your public duties By
that means you will greatly facilitate the public
business, relieve our prison. and enable the Cour; TO
administer pronps Justice 1t ia my duty TO call pour
attention 70 COMP ,ints that continually made by
witnesses summoned before the Grand Jury. is sad
thai they are compelled to attend from day to day
| wi bout being called on or examined Again, that
in soue cases their examination has commenced ead
before completion an adjournment takes place and
THY are npeed 70 attend several days In success
sion before they are discharged. ! am confdeus.
gentlemen, all have to do Is to call your attention
to this subject 70 have the same ooviated, for you
| must bear IN inc that the majority Of witnesses
summoned before you are men dependent on their
70 lose the time required OF them to ing the guilty
70 pun meDt; therefore they ought to be put 70 as
little Inconvenience possible. In your aka nina
ton of cases the Law does not require you to cumulate
evidebce-au that IL necessary for you to
DO IL TO inquire into the nature and cause
Of the charge, 90 as to satisfy your minds by
dilip eDt inquiry that there IL probable grounds FOR
the accusation and t. believe the accused guilty
before you give IL Jour authority. You are not
bound to exsmne all The witnesses summoned be.
fore you. or 70 Investigate case as fully a. Is ne
province 10 hear and aerermoe, With tho assistance
aid Under the direction Of the court " n.ther the
&C nsd is or Is not guilty on the whole evi-
dtDce for and against him. IL has BEEN sId
tDi. city, and it would not be Surprising If
snrh was the tact, when you take into considera-
ton the vas, extent Of the city the annual increase
OF h,eigD y pulation. and the limited number Of
pauo'men employed 10 guard and protect this
Rrest con mercisl emporium The entire police l0roe
amounts TO twelve hundred ana two men, OF which
six HUNDRED ano seventy six d. patrol duty-a mum.
Der entirely Inadequate perform the duty required
nj ths m In fha eff ~ 4 ordo wht nd nj 10
five tin es larger than New York, they have eight
| thovrsnd polieentp, and the increase OF crime
busly greater In proportion than !. Il In this city
not increased in this cHy during the iass year. With
| the assistance VI our capable and worthy clerk,
am enabled 30 lay before you from the records Of
this court, an accurate statement OF the numbsr ~
cases brought In AID dispoeed Of from The year 1855
70 1855, sId from 1856 TO 1867, and find tina; mp
| 70 January, 1856, there we're 997 indictments
| founo by the GRAND Jury 1&2 complaints dismiss
ed 165 persons sent ~ tbe Stases prison; 453 cpt
b. the ptpiteutar, 72e sent TO the city prison, nd
~ 70 The House OF Refuge; and from 1866 70 Jnnu
Sv, 1857. there were 9t6 indictmsnts iound- l05
plants oisusss d; 2l6 cent ID the State prison;
1le7 sent to the penfentary; lis sent 70 the city
| prison and IS sent 10 the House I Refuge
You Will readily perceive. gentlemen, from his
ttsteDens, that crime on the decresse and taat
the police force Is not a. Inefficient a. t1ey have
been rep, esepted, but are a. class OF men OF intel
hsepce ard good conduct, and are faithful, prompt
and energetic IN the discharge Of their public d,sy
In all csser OF legal or pportaot character nat
msy srte, you can coDsult with Lbe District tor.
| ley, who " The Law officer Of the court
The law makes II q misdemeanor for any Of you
| 10 dtcIoee the fact Of ipd,ctmen. having been
found against srty who is not In custody or bound
| over 10 answer.
| You can select ope.ef your number 70 act a. 80
| cretary TO keep minutes Of your proceedings
| Yoo viii bow retire, gentlemen, aud assune he
duty imposed on you by law.
We have obtained the statistics to whi.h the
Iufu ll.A~ arxA n.nl nj
the various GRIN es:-
CONVICTIONS AND AcoUrTTALs IN THE COUNTS or