The New York herald., 1871-05-02
CRIME RAMPANT.
Opening Of the May Torn Of the General ses.
sions-Judge Bedford en- the Law-How He
Would Make the Old Thing Work.

Judge Cunning 8. Bedford differs very materially
from the poet who said "Give me the making OF
peoples songs and care not who makes the laws"
The City Judge would prefer, great deal In the In
terests Of law ana order, to have the making OF the
laws not having, like the poet referred to. an ear
for music and not caring much for the song but
having a critical ear for the peccavi that so many
sinners sing when confronted with him In the Gen.
eral Sessions when he sends them to Sing Sing, up
the Hudson.
As soon as the court was opened the Clerk called
the panel OF the Grand Jurors, nearly all OF whom
answered to their names, but In consequence OF
Grand Jury having been sworn Ia the Court OF Oyer
and Terminer, Judge Bedford was compelled to dis.
charge the gentlemen summoned to appear in the
General Sessions. The grand inquest which has
been empanelled win, no doubt, enter without de-
lay upon the discharge Of their duties, and Will
heartily and efficiently cooperate with the author
tiles in endeavoring TO stem the torrent OF crime
tnat Is now threatening TO overflow our city.
THE MURDER OF MR.. PUTNAM.
The recent gross violations Of the law, such as
the wanton and unprovoked murder of Mr.. Putnam
on city railroad car, and other equally startling
crimes, will be presented to the Grand Jury without
an hours delay by the District Attorney and pro.
bably the majority Of the important indictments
found by that body will be sent immediately to
promptly afraigned, and as early q period fixed for
their trial viii be consistent with the rights Of the
community upon the other. Then District Attorney
Garvn and his efficient assistants, MesSrs. Fellows,
nSor Of the viii place the evidence Teore
the petty jury and ts needless to add that II the
Ss r de city M
It will be remembered that last fall, when crime
was rampant in our midst, there was similar out.
burst or Indignation to that which finds expression
In the press and throughout the community some OF
citizens even gong 80 far as to intimate the pro-
~ fntv afvl1nv o.
press daily aud nightly outrages In those days OF
excitement aud alarm as TO the propriety OF resort
OF property and life Judge Bedford in his charge to
the Grand Jury, took occasion to aude to the then
Of s waa wnGa a sd @
timed that Its repetton at this particular luncture
is most applicable, and ought to be reflected on BY
ford, In addressing the Grand Jury, used these
SIGNIFICANT WORDS:
n large cities, containing vast!and varied p0pu.
1atOn, crime always WILL 10 certain extent, exist
But as the skilful physician can generally. by the
proper remedies, control disease. when takes
the form OF an epidemic. so, hold, the authors
ties by the prompt and legitimate endorsements OF
the law er ana ms ct1 M s
the more powerful-tho law or the lawless. To my
mind the statute book Is sufficiently strong All that
Is needed Is It's proper application as the occasion
may require. myself am Of the opinion, and, In
fact fully convinced, that In the great battle Of
law and justice against crime and criminals the
latter must always yield to the combined, honest,
Determined and fearless enorts OF Grand Juries,
Judges District Attorneys and the entire Police De-
partmentO
The citizens or New York win not soon forget how
zealOusly the District Attorney and mis- assistants
labored to promptly bring to trial the outlaws, and
how speedily severely, and yet Justly, Judge Bed.
ford meted out the penalties against Offenders, irre-
spective OF threats or OF the influence used to pro.
tect them from the consequences OF their criminal
acts. We have every reason 10 believe that the
same happy results which followed the vigorous
administration or criminal justice IN the fall Will
follow from the determined effort which Judge Bed
ford and the prosecuting authorities are about to
make this month OF May to suppress crime ana
bring incorriglble Offenders TO the bar OF justice.