New-York tribune., 1867-02-22
THIEVES NURSERIES,.
JUNK SHOPS AND SECONDHAND DEALERS PRESENTED
by THE GRAND JURY-wHERE THESE SHOPS ARE

JUNK-sHoPs AND SECONDHAND DEALERS PRESENTED
by THE GRAND JURY-wHERE THESE SHOPS ARE
LOCATED.
The Grand Jury on Friday made presentment to
the Court oyer and TeTmner against unkshops ana
secondhand dealers being OF the most active agen
ces in training and encouraging theylng and roguery'
II has long been the opinion of the Metropolitan Police
that the majority of the junkshOps and secondhand
dealers establishments in our city as at present con-
Quoted are but many nurseries OF crime. Situated
along the shores Of tho two rivers and most numerous
in the immediate neghborhOod OF our cotton ships PIERS
they afford ready market for such trivial pckings as
the youths Of the riparian Wards may gather on the
wharves or perhaps steal from the cott0nDaes' Ana
they are no inviting retreats for the journeymen OF
crime-the highwaymen and burglars These latter are
supposed TO be in league with many unkshOpmen ana IL
unfreGuenty found cOngeuial spirits among the New
Merchants rather than make themselves laughing stock,
oftentmcs decline prosecute and the police after re-
peated attempts to convict thieves or receivers nave
abandoned the pursuit In despair.
Gases i'm point are numerous and OF frequent occurrence,
and arrests by the police have been numbered BY scores
hut the convictions the nber Of prisoners who have
been punished beyond indictment by the Grand Jury has
been Few indeed Qpy short time ag9 te in az SU
boyle and Ober found the property In jnnkshop and
apprchendcd the receiver The merchants preIerreq
the prisoner until n subsequent day, and the firm, view
ing the procedure only another rse in behI OF the
reeeyeF-a person who was known 20 rejoice in wide
circle of political fieDdswithdrew from the case feeling
that any time which thcy night In prosecuting
must Ice lost This ONLY recent as related Dy
police Captain. other captains OF police make IKE re-
ports Last year unnen were arrested in this city,
and Of the number not score were punished.
The children who their garments with cotton on
the piers the mature thieves no steal by wholesale, ana
the burglars who put the police t0 their wits ends AT mid
night, not the only agents OF the JUNK SHOPS Inc
police will testify that many OF the porters OF our river
side warehouses In partnership with junk shopkeep
ers and that their stcalngs are enormous In view OF
these facts the Grand Jury have made presentnent OF
which the following Il an abstract: The jury are con
encoura gcd iosGrod and most generally screened from
detection by the facility which II afforded by hese es
taishmcnt- for the disposal Of stolen articles IN conse
oueuce their being located In cellars and obscure rooms
which calculated promote feeling ot security and
ala the IN his unlawful and obnoxious opera
business OF these junkmen Is practiced TO be detrmenta
To the security Of lives and property and enehly cbCu
induce thes, especially the petty theIts Dy
that II Is nursery OF THEFT ana market of
stolen goods, ani consequently Is public nuisance ue
moudiuc Immediate abatement The Grand Jury enter-
tain the opinion that the evil can be remcded II the Com
mon Council enuct ordinance rendering IL oDisatoIy
upon parties hiring rnScs for the sale of second mana
atlc!cs and Junk Ia occupy premises located IN ie
with the sidewalk OF the street and 10 have glazed sashes
Ia their doors, and 10 keep them and the windows AT All
tc4 uucoverrd and also 20 keep open ana suiclet
gbt within their premises during the hours OF lndngh
and sunday giving the opportunity To police oicers ana
,tlzcus To tho parties dispose OF their articles.
The Grand Jury think the operation ot such law
woud not only arrest great proportion OF the petit lar
cen now perpetrated but would interpOse barrier 10
The facility with which juveniles, domcstcs, and burglars
can now dispose OF their unlawful requirements.
In connection with this charge OF the Grand Jury the
following table showing just how many OF these places
made up by Capt Bracket OF the city Hall Precinct VIII
bq ~