New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-17
LAW INTELLIGENCE

COURT OF OYER AND TERBiINER-Ocr. l5.-BeforeH
Justice Gown.
THE CAST OF CHARLES DEyLIN-THE ISDIcTNEST sJs-
TAISED-TBE FORGERY OF NR. BOsSER's NAME,
In the case of Charles Devlin indicted for forgery
tie Judge rendered decision this morning denying
the motion to qussh the indictment sgaHst the accused
TIE prosecution moved in the case Of David Beach,
indicted for forgery on the Nassau Bank The accused
was tried once before for this oense but the jury dis
agreed. The defendant ia charged with forging the
name of Robert Bonner iof The LEDGER 10 cheek fJr
a 500 James NJ. Smith, it,. and Henry l., Clinton.
appeared for the prisoner and Mr., Anthem, the Assist
ant District Attorney Tor the People. fae ia not
yet concluded.
TIL CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LAW IMPCETAHT P-a1-
SENTIMENT By THE GRAND JURY.
In regard to the aets of the last Legislature relating
to capital punishment the Grand JOry today made the
following preeentment:
Apreeably 10 the charge Of the Court, the 4srand
jury have examined the law enacted oY the last Leg
sture the sui ect OF the death penalty, and they
deem 1t their duty to invite public tenton To- Sle de-
fecve and am gu0Us phriseology Of that art. IL Is
imperfect 10 give rise 10 grave dpubs in tAs mlds
of Judges of cur highest COuTtS whether, under it,
provisions, sny punishment whatever can bs legally
inflicted in this State for the crime OF murder IN the
first degree. IL l. obviously the intent o. the act to
define the mode Of punishment FOR murder bat, in tue
careessncss of hasty legislation, the des2ion If I'M
piled rather than expressed and ia OF the utmost la
TOrtsnce the interests OF society that az the earliest
practicable moment, the law should be revised, and lis
Roaming clearly set forth.
The TACT that several MURDERS have been committed
in our city within comparatively b-lei period, the
perpetrators Of which have tina iar escaped detec lon
demonstrates the necessity Of pF0yi1ng some more
effective means than exist for the discovery Ct
evidence in Of that character. Toe success wh
has attended the labors OF the Fire Marshal 10 ferret
ing out Of arson and pressing tle guilty partss
hot aloagr
with competent assisa ants, charged with the special
duty of nyestiy ing thoroughly al CAGES OF honlgte,
gould shortly perfect detective system under which
il would he impossible that Citizens should be ass2ssi
mated in their houses shot down in pOp1lous streets
and no clue obtained to the perperator cf hsse fear
ful crimes.
The charges of homicide which the Grand Jury have
been called upon TO investigate during the present term
have been al8rmiDgy numerous and they present the
foregoing matters the consideration OF the Court aud
the public authorizes in the hope that means may be
devised to place additional safeguards around the sane
y Of human Gfe by lDsrIng the certain detection aud
ADEQUATE punishment OF this class Of offenders.
FrxrcugR HARPER, jr., Secretary
Grand JrrB Room, New-fork Oct Is 1890.
The Judge remarked that the presentnsnt was very
proper, both in tone aud form. Notwithstanding thai
ths newspapers knew more Of the criminal law than
the judges Themselves he felt it bis duty 10 say thai
the recent rs legislation had been drawn 80 loossly
nothing Their presentmen will be placed on the file;
of the Court ard copy, sigDei by The Clerk, be ssn
10 he Governor The Court then thanked the juror
for the fidelity with which they had attended to the
duties.
THE wALTOH-H ATHENS MURDER.
The Grand Jury presented two indictments agans
Charles IeileTds. One charging him with the mnrtsl
lin the first grse % hr. Walton; tie other for tlt
murder ia the second degrsel Of AR. Matthew'S.
Jehsrds was in Court. He looked somewhat pale
and wOrn and is evidently feeling the eisots OF h
confinement
INDICTMENTS ASD PLEAS.
The Grand Jury presented indictments a. ainst the
following persons, gho were aTragned
John Hc00vsn and Ana NctJwsn TO- TIE murder John
Rou1ke 'he Sch Of Sept last. Pes, no. guilty.
Daniel NlsCIsI FOR tue murder 81 Heater tl-y Flee, no
guilty
ssh Chspusr s-d Margaret Dolohue forgery IN the second
decree. Plea not rUty.
Dsniel Csuin for steaings watch. Pies nc, eiiiy.
WE Whit forgery I tle second di--e. Flea not guilty
Subsequently toe prisoner w.ljre I'll, plea an usdai ~
Of forgery ntbe third degree re sentenced % the stA.e
Prison .,r two years aud sl1 G01tls.
TIE Grand Jury were di5cla-C q.