The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-31
xHoAL INTHLLIaHMoH,
The Grand Jury Presentment.
Court of Quarter Sessions--,J,,dqe Pcirce.

Court of Quarter Sessions-,J,sdge Pcirce.
The Grand Jury for the March term having com.
pleted their labors this morning. made their final
presentment to the court. They have acted upon
83s bis OF which 1s5 were returned true bills and
ignored bills were for cases which the Grand Jury
were OF opinion should have been ended in the
peafed that the discretionary powers with which
committing magistrates were invested were
Wrong com@eS ssnt II the
having been maliciousIy unjustly charged with
time as hearing could be had before Grand Jury
Trivial cases. not worthy OF public hearing, were
were of grave an instances o rbicS
was cited case in which a little girl about five
years OF age was charged with an assault and bat
terry for making taces at the accuser, and was now
under bail in s4OO to keep the peace, and had she
been unable to furnish the bail the child would have
The evils connected with the present system Indicate
the necessity OF reform in the police magstracy OF
Philadelphia, especially in the mode of compensa-
tion. So long az the emoluments OF the office de-
pend upon the event and costs OF conviction Justice
will be overlooked, the magistrates become brokers
in crime, and aiders and abettors In spiteful and
private quarrels. The ends OF justice would be
more attalnabe were the police magistrates removed
from political influences by change In their mode
OF appointment; il they held their ONCE during good
behavior, were required TO be learned in the law,
and were adequately compensated by fXed salaries.
In examining into the causes of crime II was found
that the origin In two-thirds OF the cases was the
use OF intoxicating liquors, the banefu effects of
which upon society could not be too forcibly de-
picted. From the Warden of the PenitentiaryIlt
was learned tnat OF $40 prisoners admitted last year
300 OF them were addicted TO this vice. The same
applied to the County Prison, where of the commit
ments in 1870 numbering 15,2Ss. 1926 were tracea
BILE to intemperance.
The stereotyped mention Of visits to public insti
Judge Peirce said that the remarks OF the Grand
Jury were deserving OF the most serious attention
They, They had -, called ed notice to evils that
and he sincerely hoped their presentment would not
fall dead upon the public ear. Yet he thought the
corrective power was not with the courts the public
prosecutor, or the Mayor OF the city, for they had
duties to perform which were restricted TO the ad-
ministTalon OF public Justice and the preservation
OF the public peace and could not step beyond these
TO institute measures for the suppression OF inju-
were empowered only to act upon matters presented
to them, and were not to take the Initiative. The
remedy was with the body OF the people,
good result The great fault seemed to be the mac
lvity OF the public, who see evils grow under them
and passively look for relief from those public
thorltes 10 Wnom they have not given the power to
ala them. Each man suffers, and yet seems 70 think
that 1t is his neighbors business and duty to take
some steps to correct the matter. This was grave
mistake. Citizens should know that public wrong
is ofTense against each and every private indi-
vldnal, and it is his right to make charges and press
prosecutions against the guilty parties. When this
idea was once recognized and acted upon, should
have a better condition OF society. Thanking the
gentlemen for their valuable public services, the
Judge discharged them.
The MartinsvilIe Outrage.
Court Of Quarter SessiOns-Jtsdge Peiyce.
In the case of Edward Thorn, John Trimler, and
Michael Webb, charged with committing an outrage
upon Marietta HerschbeTger, Mr.. Sheppard closed
quent addresses ever heard IN this Court.
charge.
Shortly after O'Clock the jury rendered a verdict
OF guilty.
Upon motion OF counsel for the prisoners the jury
was polled
was made and the Court then adjourned.