The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-11
NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MAY II, 1857.

boror Of organs a organ grinders of all kiad.;
using the lest namd individuals TO sweep the
streets Lee Weed take warcing in time
| The Admin tstrss ion OF Justice I'm New York.
Imp"ni'y Of Crime and Its Causes.
| The Bordell trial, which for the .st few
wa ks las oxri'ed so much speculation, is a. an
end Ind we shall now probably oa'y hear of it
as one Of those mysterious events which foe
generations furnish SUBJECT foe wonder aod awe
to flresde listeners. We question whether tho
caases ctlebrss of any country make mention Of
any case uore singular or memorable. When
We consider the unparalleled boldness and far
lesentss Of the deed, the little apparent effort re.
sorted to to escape detection, and the mystery ia
which it continues involved Notwithstanding
three protracted nvestie viii be regarded
either as one of the most successful crimes OF as
one Of the most lamentable failures Of Justice on
record.
| With the verdict Of the jury we have no fault
to find 1t was strictly in accordance with the
evidence presented to them Regarding that
evidence in all Its legal bearings we ore bouOd
to arrive with tho jury at the conclusion that
Mrs Cunningham 10 innocent--anuocent at least,
Of any direct participation in this murder and
that conclusion, Of course, also legally absolves
her partner In the accusstlon-Mr. E;keI.
AIa Cunningham is. therefore, /. by the
law, formally restored to the position
from which the law temporarily degraded
her. She will resume her place amongst
her peers Of Bond street and the tashlonables
Of Saratoga Springs, and it is probable that
the celebrity attached to her by this trial, 30
far from injuring, will enhance the social sue
oesses OF herself and daughters New York socie-
ty is 80 sngu'ariy constituted that We must be
prepared for al such startling Inconsistencies
Passing from the immediate results of this &C.
quittal to the parties concerned, to the more i'm
poItant interests involved in it, we are compelled
to FAY that the management of the case furnishes
melancholy commentary on the manner in which
justice is administered in New York. With the
exception of the conduct of the presiding Judge
which lie deserving Of all praise for its even tenn
per. mpsrtislity and deoision-we do not recollect
any important criminal case which has presented
such display of imbecility and inefaciency on the
part of the legal persons employed. The prose-
cution seemed afraid of proving too much, whilst
the deft nee, on the other hand, was weakened by
its efforts at exaggeration. After the strong state
ments made BY the District Attorney in his open
ing speech, more was expected from the evidence
for the prosecution than was disclosed in the tes
timony taken before the Coroner. Instead of the
promised Developments, we find to our amaze
ment that not only is there nothing new to add
to the evidence against the accused, but that
much that was previously considered important
ls withheld The testimony of Farrell, the evi-
depce regarding the purchase Of the dagger, and
the testimony ofDr. Blsisdell are all shut out
from the record Omissions like these Of course
furnished an arm of strength to the defence, and
contributed in 10 small degree to triumph which
the little skill arrayed On that side might have
failed In obtaining. 1t is impossible to read the
opening statement Of Mr.. Hall, and to compare
it with the evidence presented In support Of it,
without arriving at the conclusion that the case
for the prosecution was either got up at baud
gallop or prepared with a oarelessness which
only finds its parallel In the usual mode of trans
acting business in the District Attorneys Office
We believe it to be a fact that at the present
moment there are from fifteen hundred to two
thousand indictments, the accumulation OF the
Last three years, lying perdu ia that Office, thu
parties eliminated enjoying all the time full i'm
munity from the penalties attached to their
offences. Is it surprising that in such state of
things our city should within the last few years,
have been made the theatre Of half dozen atco-
cious MURDERS and that the authors Of them
should have been allowed to escape punishment
Ought We 10 wonder that our streets are
infested ny armed bullies and rowdies, who
pistol unoflending parties, or that respecta-
bic citizens should occasionally be made
away with by the midnight assassin, leaving
no traces Of their fatos We may feel wound
ed by and resent the commentaries Of the
European ptess at toe ineficiency Of our judicial
system. but We cannot alter the character of
tbese facts- As long ss prosecutions are con-
ducted in the loose, bungllng and inefficient nan.
per in which this Burdell trial has been managed
IA long ~ crime 10 suffered to thrive with i'm
puni'y, and defaulters and s~indlers are permit
ted 10 flourish and live bonored in our midst, 70
long must nc be content to bear With patience
the remarks and sneers Of others, and submit, az
best we can 10 the more serious consequences Of
our own sins Of omission.
is TO be regretted that 70 recently after this
topic being hsDded 90 the disadvantage of our in
stitutions by the European journals, case 70 i'm
portsnt as this Burdell trial should, by official
carcleesness, be permitted To furnih corroborsr
ton Of thcir structures weean only account for
Mr.. Halls conduct by the fact that be has been 70
much occupied with the clique, who, In their
secrct midnight sittingS at the Astor House ard
Albany, have been connecting measures 70 de-
prive she people Of New York of their constitu-
tiond rights, that he has had no time Lett 10 at
tend 10 The duties Of his ofica