The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-08
CRIMINAL AFFAIRS.

CRIMINAL AFFAIRS,
! s~~~~~~~~~>~~>~~~>~~.~
Court OF General Sessions.
Before Judge Russell.
now THE BUSINESS or THE GENERAL SESSIONS n
'RASsAcrRp-A BATCH OF NOTORIOUS BURGLAR
SENT TO TIE STATE PRISON.
Hr The calendar OF cases 70 be disposed OF
on Friday was very large and when the Court OPEN
Cd was supposed that DO u session tin late
hour Ie majority Of she prisoners however, pleaded
svsy either 70 tho offences for which osy were indicted
or 70 minor grades Of crime, thus saving the Of the
Oourt and jTies would sucnsh the judges and pro-
scouting cheers Of the districts and small VII
lagos they could witness the which the vast
Aount Of criminal business Of the metropolis
% There were more indictments disposed Of IN Inc
Os d sessions yesterday generally tried dur
NJ sbs whole term Of . district county court Soms
might suppose that tho comparatively hassy manner
which prisoners ayrAgned and sent the State prison
~ the insxumentalty Of the City Judge and prose-
cutting officers ofien preudcia TO proper sdmlnis
saton Of justice and oppressive the party
but tbs mistake, aud such = conclusion would
- arrived At II the "outsde world" were acquainted
With the machinery u that u department.
whose once u 70 Try parties charged with criminal
s0ssces.
n mot 70 be expected that the disposition Of over
twenty prisoners in a single dsy-wn,cn s onen
done BY the Judge OF this court--each one charged,
Perhaps with distinct offence, aud every case
hsviog 10 own peculiar history, that tho
space Of i've minutes the presiding judge can make
those nice DETERMINATIONS, elicit minor cirsum-
stances connected with the perpetrAton Of the offence,
end inquire into the previous character aud life Of
prisoner with much elaboration - no would DO
prompted 70 exercise u he had devote the
patient consideration Of each Il oe.ques-
lIv mi n
snd the criminal for the want Of time 70 investigate the
merits Of every criminal chargs-invoving, a. IL does
The liberty the reputation and often the very life
Of the citizen. A. times the punishment melted 70
some Of the prisoners placed ~ hs bar Of the Sessions
totally inadequate 70 the aggravated nature Of the
charges preferred against them often overlooked
N consequence Of the multiplicity Of The cases on the
cAiendar-while, the other hand, hose who were
ushered into this mundane sphere unlucky day
occasionally punished beyond their real deserts This
DO accounted Tor In part when IL y persd that
M Intention, are DIT inislbs in judgment. sssdss, our
experience IN recording the proceedings u the criminal
courts hs conviI0sd ~ that very trivial circumstances
SUFFICIENT The ale either way. For instance,
The atmosphsre IN the court room happen to Do i'm
pure and tho beat oppressise- the ear.ed advocate
happens 70 render himself obnoxious 70 the jury, the
witnesses or the prosecuting officer (wnich y not
frequently tho easel, II u late IN the afternoon, and
ssurss q eoqusnos in prisoasr's in
diSes, deprvns them Of comf,rtAols certain
Sc and spoossss % The jury whsn hs kesps than from
n ,hs d ths the bsoOn incapable
ssDsr circumstance, would render m.lIssSs N sSe
hsnas q les skifnl osciann we repeal, uadev
pay unfortunate VINO gets into the "hAnds Jus
boe for, matter how innocent DO might be, and
aAauosd had he suocssasd in getting ms Ai posspooed
few brief hours ne v hustled unceremonlousiy o
ana ias.sad Of IN sesinst tne nan
N which the criminal business Of this city Is
scssd furnish rHe sxoepssos 70 tns snceasy upright
Ing officers and clerks Of the General Sessions The
Of those pssoaers Who plead sau 70 ossoss with which
o6sndes many Of whom BY unoereoins repeated trails.
ana listening the arguments Of and the charges
from the bench, become with the
ugrAdes Of each specified the books most
c gent disciples u Blackstone, VINO have de
voted their lives 70 the practice Of the law. rnus,
NOTORIOUS and intelligent criminal under arrest Tor
burglary In The nrst degree; thai v, entering dwelling
ss nsaoo "a .se STAT, u, n, ss. ,ssn
ears and the discretionary power W coosign him
% imprisonment during the term OF his natural life.
Abundance Of time reflect upon probable result Of the
case. no knows that tho testimony Of prosecution
.shahy" u cer.Ain point ne concludss . propose
compromise to the District Attorney BY Offering W plead
guilty 70 "burglASy the third degree," which limits
The polish nent W n,e years rhe prosecuting omcer
looks evd taken down oy me police mAss
srate wien the prisoner arrested, calls ns w
pessss important xitnsrs fails 70 answer; ne nas
dos.u Of cases prepared Tor trial; he aoy he
cscussss the proi soisy Of sustain ms
with portion Witnesses, the ossoilty OF sne jury
taxing very 'mevoifo vle~ d .ns case snowes .nss
Only poor devil, yell let him 20 essy and nnAy an
noascss his ssqa,sso.Dc, IN sne ears.1s prop'saL 80
asd tns ostaIcgue Of crimes. highway robosr
ofen heard, when brought 70 the par, W EXPIRES ns ~
lususps plead Gahty tan assault with Intent 70
roop which gives The court large dncresoa IN impss
ING the sD.ease
~b,ch criminals dmposed VI IN the General sessous
eopssts n a., fscs thst, general thing, the police
oeosrs ths ps"ness are 10 at,snaasoe And "
= : part OF lher duly ops-~ve and chronicle voc
nove,nsss % notorious characters ID thsir respective
wards that when called upon by shs JUDGE o. 10 DIS
Aitorn cy they generally able " whether
Us s,cod Ne ever Dscs srrestec before or nos
his companions pignt, now he ekes Qua living,
whether De hAs 10y family OF not and number Of other
eacn nsc~s-asy Be known before Jsdgmont pensed.
tho Revelations" that these sorvaats Of me public
saaAs from 70 time we're printed, they would Be
tSs ssassssoe psnsy ss, to, Tho detscsvss are
Always N sutendAnce during tno Strings o. soe ooart,
sSp~ssss q sSs psso.sss Ssoosal before me tribunal
q Justice rnse ssntlsrncnwe mcan the desccsivm-src
,ss ~ q s,se: ~.
doing they subserve tbs ends Of justice r ~ coming 10
osssses w'sh we slarsea sr q We ssmpas o. Justice
ma Tie dignity snd majesty u the Av vindic~tsd
BESIDES, ~ must nos b fofsosssa TIA. the records |
BY svsaemsn of anbem,shed integrity Of Industry and
ssuinent qnAlincstons ins performance OF their
sdaoas duties, furnish the yneipAl check upon ths
cGruden axraigned :. bar Seluenty prsoncrs are
d~ssced he act VI telling deliberate slsenoos "a sneir
pAasbss spceches 70 the Judge, who would be hkey
give oredence ssssy did NOT the record though
sllent witness, prove him 70 be oonsammAte rascal
Vpr more than ~ century sns venerable u~rk d she
s~sspns-nr vandevoort--shose anAbiiity prooty ana
~ "A s4ner have ooAndsd the rcspect " a. hss oou
ducs~d brAGch o tbs court Ia such Gay - 70 CON
sSs.s %ors 'ns sess IN n our criminal courts
puressovs srneIzs sssruscsp ~ M I've - -
me orss " isooer placed - NE Or on friday wN
sv,s-s. I~vm VINO We charged with burglary m the
al se~r~ b having the dwelling house OF
honoAss rt1y ycxant, No lss kss fncatn sss on sne
trance Dy forcing open The rear BASEMENT door Wien
81 elected entrance h. 2rocecded W ans~cx voc n0u
s.d bsd prspsrcd . sarge qasnttg of clothing sna
ether propstry valued "A 81 700; but iortanA.sy