The New York herald., 1869-11-12
HE CASE OF BRIDGET GEsDY.
Letter frGm Superintendent Casscrly-Powerl
and Modes OF Procedure In tho Case Of Ille4
giiimGte Offspring.

Letter frcm Superintendent Casscrly-PowerS
and Nodes OF Procedure In tho Case OF IlIeA
giiimate Offspring.
OFFICES OF COMMISSIONERS OF EM1oRATIONl
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK,
CASTLE GARDEN, NEW YORK, Nov, IL, 1862 ]
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
desire the use of your columns to correct some
false Impressions that may be created in the public
mind by the report published OF proceedings In the
TOmbs Police Court in the case OF Bridget Gerdy.
The wrong statements 1t Is desired to correct are
those relating to the mode Of procedure IN such
cases by the Commissioners OF Emigration.
The law prescrlbes That persons likely TO become
public charge may make application for relief, iG
emigrants, to the Commissioners OF Emigration; II
citizens to the commissioners Of Chartes and CorS
rection.
ln pastardy cases the Commissioners OF Emigra.
tion proceed at once 10 provide Tor the mohcs and
chd and they are directed by law, also TO institute
immediate measures to ascertain the father Of tho
child and have him compelled by the proper oflcerS
to relieve the Emigrant fund OF the care and maiu1
tenance Of the mother during her sickness; aud ot
the child altogether.
me Commissioners are not the officers appointed
or empowered 10 prosecute these inquiries, or any
judicial inquiries. and they never do. They simply
notify the officers, who empowered, namely
the police magistrates as soon as the mothel
applies to them for relief Here their funcx
investigation by the magistrate is that in disputed
cases they furnish counsel 10 assert the rights OF tho
mother against any technicaLy that may bo raiseds
Beyond this they take absolutely no share whatever
in the investigation and no cognizance OF Its course
the Commissioners DO viii be to subjoin the form
employed in this case. and which througho the re-.
port OF the remarks OF counsel was erroneously styled
requlsition for arrest ald even alluded 10 aS ettTd
Qe cucIlet:-
Cy and County Of Nw York, :To the Police justices cf
charsable Of Emgaion thS
to Ave- SIX enaper wsn
ths Revsed Statutes of the state OF New York and the
Visions Of an net entitled IAN act to amsnd an act entitled az
New York. passed April H. is49 passed April H. 1866 and
Given under my hand, this - day Of --,lsn.
It VIII be observed that this application says not d
word about arrest; makes no charge whateve!
the name OF the mother OF the iegitimatd
chlld. Any person who knows anything Of
police procedure knows that no magistrate
would issue warrant on any such paper OF
Issued on =; The emsrent y sent personally along
with the hotice 70 the maSstrate He puts her under
oath and takes hef COMPLAINT, and taas compisihs
6nd not the notice. is the foundation OF the warrants
The whole proceeding differs In no respect from proc
ceedlngs on any other complaint.
1t Is plain then, that notice like this carrying
no legal effect, involving In no way the rights OF indk
vlduals, can do no harm by being signed In blank.
Of Emigration, pnsaarled 6h1c6fs, Should constantly
and In person attend matters with which they have
nothing to do, except to turn over to the poc9
magistrates. But, moro than this strong reason1
W S on fSH sHd 92Sss Gsi sns5 vs oeS II S'a %
promptest action on these complaints Is necessary
secure the apprehension OF the ather and prevent
his evading the Jursdctica OF Che Stale.
inc course OF MI: commissioner Kapp Is that fofs
lowoa ree sstl BY % such men II as Julian G. verplanc
and Elijah F. Iurdy. BERNARD CASSERLY,
General Agent and superintendent,