The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-21

RowpYIsM AGAIN RAMPAHr-ANoTHER POOLE
CAsE.-The ARRAY which took place yester-
day morning between Patrick Mclaughlin,
the well known "Paudeen" of the Poole murder,
and a man named Cunningham, suggests
some buniliating reflections in connection
with the administration of justice in this
city. These tive worthless, it appears
got into q quarrel at dance house in
Howard street, and Mclaughlin, Whilst endea-
voring to pull Cunningham over the bar, was
shot by the latter, and at last accounts
was expected to live but few hours
In the incidents Of such an affair 1t is
not, OF course, to be expected that we should
take any more tender interest than we should
feel in the spectacle of a combat between two
enraged members Of the brute creation. When
desperate rowdies of this sort take 1t into their
heads to slsy each other, we look upon it that
society is largely the gamer by their xtermina-
ton. But AZ in the indulgence Of their detesta-
BILE passions the lives of innocent people are
occasionally sacrificed, and az, besides, the occur
euce of such conflicts is in itself an evidence OF
the utter inefdciency of our police and criminal
the opportunity of again enforcing the necessity
Of come attempt at reform in both.
1t is now three years since the Stanwix Hall
tragedy shocked the public mind Of our city
ard drew attention to the fact that the most
atrocious deeds Of blood could be committed
with impunity in the immediate neighborhood
Of the police, and in the midst Of crowded
population. The feelings Of Indignation and
horror which that affair elected induced the be-
lief that the example that would be made of the
principals woald exercise wholesome influence
in checking deeds of violence. Has that sntic-
patton been fulfilled. Unfortunately, 50 far
from Baker and his accomplices being made
to commit further offences against the peace of
the city, or, as in the case OF this man McLaugh-
lin, to pay, at the hands of their own confede-
rates, the penalty which the law is pcwerless to
exact from them. Whilst it may be admitted
that the retributiou in the present case
is Just one, it is not the lees re-
proach to the administration of justice that
these parties should be left at large to wreak
vengeance upon each other, or to sacrifice the
lives Of peaceabie citizens in their drunken
quarrels, as in the case of the late Alderman
Smith. Had examples been made of the men
whose culpability deserved punishment in the
Poole murder, it is certain we should have been
spared the numerous scenes Of similar charac.
ter which have since contributed to heap dis.
grace upon our community.
Whilst we have never hesitated to blame the
Indifference Of police magistrates and judges for
producing this state of things, we are bound to
cay that the juries Of our city are also in some
degree responsible for it. Were the reluct ance
of jurors to convict based entirely upon consci-
entious scruples, We should not have word to
say against their conduct; but unhappily there
is but too much reason to believe that outside
influences are frequently brought TO bear upon
their decisions Whilst such things are posi-
bic, Of course no legislative measure can ever
accomplish thorough reform. 1t is only to q
more elevated condition Of the public morals,
and more perfect understanding of our duties
as citizens, that We must look for the cure or
the prevention Of the evils of which we COM
plain.