The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-01
LHaAL INTHLLIaHMCn.
Presentment of the Grand Jury.

Court of Quarter .Sessions--Ttdge Ludto,c.
This morning the Grand Jury for the June term,
having concluded their labors made the following
brief and interesting final presentment:-
To- the Honorable the Judges Of the Court Of Oyer ana
TeTniner and Quarter Sessions Of the Peace for III
City and County of Philadelphia.
The Grand Inquest of the Commonwealth OF Penn
syvania nquir1ng for the City and County OF Phila
delpha, for June term, 1870 respectfully present.
The business assigned to the Grand Jury has been
disposed OF, and Of the 363 bills presented to us for
our consideration, 1879 have been returned true and
164 ignored.
to our notice, but we cannot forbear to refer the
Court to the prevalence of system well known,
both In the Quarter Sessions and to the community
as professional or straw bail.
1t is matter Of public notoriety that these indi
vi iuals follow this practice as a recognized pro-
fesson and act as shields TO rogues who come into
this for trial. Scores Of noted criminals have
et tcaped justice through the connvance of these
the walls Of the Court House ITSELF. O
The attention Of the District Attorney is re-
evi and his recent action in causing the arrest Of
one of these men is commendable as an indication Of
vigorous prosecution of the entire class.
The Grand Jury visited all the public institutions,
and report are all well and properly managed.
Attention has so frequently been called to the
sane department of the Almshohse that we can do
more at this time than reiterate the complaints
of the past and urge speedy reform for the future.
he Grand Jury return their thanks to the officers
OF the Court Tor their attentions during the session.
SAMUEL s. FEATHERsToE, Foreman.
E. K. ALLISON, secretary.
Judge Ludlow replied to the Grand Jury that, in
regard to their remarks upon professional bail goers
he thought them well worthy of serious considera-
ton. Whenever such men were found attempting
imposition upon the Court, they were unfeilingly
punished and made examples for those who might
be inclined to initiate them. But the constitutional
provisions on the subject made it obligatory upon
the Judge to accept the bail OF any person that was
responsible and valuable in other words If the BAH
offered was SUFFICIENT though the surety were pro-
fessiona it was the right OF the accused to have it
accepted and the Court had no right to refuse IT..
But where straw-ba was foisted into case, the
presumptuous party was generally dealt with as he
deserved. And though 1t was not proper to CON-
ment upon any then before the Court or likely
to be during the next term, yet the Judge felt at
liberty to say that any person committing perjury in
the matter OF bail would be handled with severity.
Thanking the gentlemen for the efficient manner
in which they had despatched the public business,
he discharged them from further attendance
The Eleventh and snnsom streets Murder.
Our readers have doubtless not forgot the murder
of Patrick, alias John Williams, the young man who
shot in tavern at Eleventh and SAMSON streets
on the night of April 6. In the spirit Of criminal
chivalTy he, on his death-bed refused resoutely to
disclose the name OF his murderer.
Mr.. Sh ppard and his detective Sharkey have been
constantly working at the case ever snce aud
during Il e whole month bill has been before the
g and Jury, and every person, supposed to know
anything whatever about 1t, has beel examined, all
to no effect Not only those who testi-
fed be fore the Coroner but as many more have been
examined by the Grand Jury, yet they failed to make
out the slightest case, even OF suspicion against any
one, and among the bills to-day returned was this
one ignored. So ends the case