The New York herald., 1869-06-10
Court OF GENERAL SESSIONS.
Before Recorder Hacket

IMPORTANT CHARGE OF RECORDER HACRETr.
At the opening Of the court yesterday the Grand
Jury were empanelled and Mr. John II. James Sc
lected to act as foreman.
His Honor Recorder Hackett then delivered the
following charge:-
IL becomes the duty OF the presiding Judge OF this
colrt to call the attention OF the Grand Jury to
OfTences The various statutes alluded to are con-
tanned IN brief prepared by the late District Az.
for the assistance Of grand Jurors a. ana ac q
OF you by my direction, duty in that respect Will
have been DISCHARGED. 1t would seem that although
to the neglect Of citizens in the performance of
Jury duty, that thus FAR 1t s without eYect for, at
eighteen petit Jurors out Of l6O summoned an.
swered to their names, and out OF that number
oa y Of x sGssTqe
summoned but fourteen appeared hence the business
Of the court had to be adjourned over until today
to give to the Sheriff sufficient time to summon
new panel Surely there must be some defect in our
jury system, and some mode should be devised and
remedy. The Mayor, CITY Judge and myself, as
members Of the Board for the selection or jurors.
Year. % are 7 preparing list Of deiaulting jurors in
this court and the Court Of Oyer and Termi-
ner, and propose to publish their names. the
attention OF this community, and the people
at large has been drawn by the public journals, and
the CHARGES Of my predecessors and associates to
the insufficient accommodations OF the City Prison
for the purpose for which it originally designed,
and more particularly OF late years by the reports
OF the honored department Of Public Charities and
Correction. Constructed in the year 1887 when
the number OF our population, perhaps, compared
T y tnf 81 tine aa s
for all Ofienders-to those charged with crime,
awaiting trial. or those temporarily confined after
Judgment; but with the rapid grown Of the city, Its
large increase in population, It Is notoriousy and
wholly incapable OF holding with due consideration
as offenders against the law. This IL q serious re-
proach to the first city OF the Western hemis-
o we ns are naeSed es signal sS
which has been displayed by tine Com.
% pT ana We ana nrar
using and adapting all means within their power
by changes from one place Of CUSTODY to anotner to
sons charged with crime, which otherwise they
would have been condemned to suffer. have no.
Of the Mayor that he with the experience begotten
by many years In the prosecution OF Offenders rs Dis
trfct Attorney Of this CITY, has impaired his views
sty OF Immediately constructing new city prison.
ask Of YOU as body charged t Win ,u su
the city and other prisons within our county, and TO
inquire II such necessity exists and to place on re-
views regarding any existing wrong, and the
appropriate remedy. have personally known OF
fined in one CELL and you will consider that they
were not proven but only suspected Offenders Very
barbarity OF the whippngpos and the pilory in Del
aware and the authorities Of that state have under
gone with us OF the North severe reprehenslon But
II any who have felt 1t their duty to animadvert with
severity upon these ancient and with us unusual
modes OF punishment Will only visit our City
Prison, when, as now, 1t is crowded with convicted
prisoners and alleged offenders, they will begin to
think nay. believe. that illusions to barbarity and
rcprehensons more ttingiy belong to our ill-d0lngs
In respect to the matter have just adyerted to.
Mr.. VIM. r. Howe, counsel for VIM. Varley, better
known as Reddy, the Blacksmith ~ made an elO-
quent plea for the postponement OF the trial until TO-
morrow to enable him to summon number OF wit
nesses, who would establish the fact that his client
was present at the time OF the alleged robbery.
Assistant District Attorney Hutchings who will
represent the people this term, said he would try
this case at the opening OF the court on Thursday
Thomas Williams, who was charged with stealing
$27 on the 18th Of May from Michael Hogan, was ac-
quilted.
Elizabeth A. Munday (colored), who was charged
with stealing dress valued at Sl25 from Mary Cook,
367 Hudson street, on the 14th OF May, pleaded gull
" to an attempt at grand larceny She was sent to
the state Prison Tor eighteen months.
james Donaldson was charged with taking sixty
dollars on the 10th OF May from John Godfrey, who
testified that hc was negotiating loan with the de-
fendant, when he snatched the money from the cOun
ter and ran out. Mr.. Howe, crOss-eXamnatton,
showed O receipt which Godfrey gave the defendant
Tor forty doarb The Recorder directed the jury to
md verdict OF not guilty.
Mary Reed was tried and convicted OF grand lar
ceny In stealing the Sd Of April Jewery and la
dies wearing apparel valued at $3.50, the property OF
Louis Bergh, who employed ner as q domestic. Upon
the rendition OF the verdict Mr.. Hutchngs informed
the Court that the prisoner was indicted for stint
lar offence on o previous occasion. She protested
that she was innocent. The Recorder sent her 10 the
t, Drtsp ON In An