The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-10
LEGAL BNTELLIG ENCE.


THE ALDERMEN IN TROUBLE AGAIN.
This morning Judge Brewster had before him
number Of Aldermen whom the records showed to
have been delinquent in the matter OF returning to
the District Attorney the cases of those persons
whom they committed To prison to await trial upon
criminal accusations. lhe consequence OF TINS IS
evident for, though defendant committed for trial
he innocent, yet, If the magistrate fails to
return his to the District Attorney, the latter
has knowledge of it by which he might bring it
to the Grand jury, and the poor prisoner pines away
in his CELL untried and unnOtCed, until he is by aCC
dent brought to the attention of some of the officials
Alderman TittermaTy was called, and the Judge
informed him that upon the record appeared the
name OF John Denan, committed by him on the Goth
of July, and he was still in prison, with no return to
the District Attorneys ONce
The Alderman replied that lie committed Denan
upon the date mentioned. upon complaint of his
wife who charged him with beating her on the 2jth
of the month; she withdrew the complaint, and he
ordered his discharge. lie knew that the prisoner
had been released upon his order for on the follow
ing day he was at his Office drunk, saying that he
had been again sued before another alderman, and
wanted to get his Cltttermarysl transcript He was.
therefore, glad to inform his Honor that the record
this time made mistake in representing that Denan
was in prison under his commitment
This was a satisfactory explanation, and Mr. Tit
termary dismissed.
Alderman Shoemaker was next before his Honor,
and informed that the record against him was that
Edward X. Albert was committed on the oath of
July The Alderman stated that the prisoner had
been committed for further hearing and to await
the result Of injuries inflicted by him upon Philip
Charles Patrick; he entered bail for the further hear
ing, which occurred on the seventh of this month,
last Saturday, when he was committed for trial The
Judge said this was all right, and dismissed the
Alderman with a request that he would at once send
in the case to the District Attorney if he had not
Alderman Kerr was next told the case of John
Mccormick committed on July 25 stood against
him. Mr. Kerr said that he had made return 10 the
District Attorney and LhaC If his transcript was not
in MIR. Sheppards office, it was the result OF a simple
mistake, and not OF negligence. He did not take the
returns to the District attorney himself in person,
but usually sent t1em by one OF his officers, and
this return might have been misplaced by him.
The Judge said there was another case before him,
which was that o. Charles Moore, committed on the
25th of July. The Alderman answered that the prl-
Soner had been charged with two thelts, and, IN de-
fault OF bail, had been committed for further hear
ing. Upon promising that he would make his aC
counts straight as soon as he returned 10 his office
he was also dismissed.
Alderman Benkert was asked to clear up the case
of a woman committed by him on July 25 which he
did successfully by saying that she had been dis
charged by him and committed by another magis-
trate, and his name upon the commitment was an
Alderman Bonsau was reminded that Dennis
Mcbride committed July IS; Frank sullivan COM
mitted July 27 and Ann DOngan, committed July
u, were on the record TO his account. lie said that
he had made the proper returns in the two last cases
but as to MCBTides case he certainly was under the
impression that he had made return; so thoroughly
did he believe it, that II Colonel Dechert had not
sent for 1t he probably never would nave returned H.
Dust what the Judge complained Of He did not
think was neglect or Iorgetulness on his part but
simply a mistake.
Ills Honor said to the magistrate You gentle
men who neglect thus TO return your cases are Just
as much at fault as the poor creatures whom you
commit and more so than they, because YOU are
educated gentlemen, ana sworn to your duty, and
they are not. BY such conduct on your part the
District Attorney is unable to carry on the business
for which he is blamed by the public the court Ia
also charged with want pl zeal, and the Jurors who
are brought here from their homes and counting
houses ask why they are detained without having "a
full complement OF business to engage them, Ii is
very wrong in the aldermen to act thus, ami
they make themselves liable to prosecution; and
after while, if this Is continued, 1t Will become
necessary for the Court to bind some OF them over to
answer before a jury. If they are not able to
attend to criminal business properly they ought not
IA tHk a. IL.