The New York herald., 1872-04-02
The Court Of General scssiops-Thc City
Judge aud the Recorder.


A brief retrospect Of the criminal business
disposed Of in the Court Of General Sessions
presided over by City Judge Bedford and Re-
corder John X. Hackett, if such could be fairly
entered upon for any one or two terms, would
be most refreshing and encouraging to the
law-abidng citizens of our metropolis. But
as reference may only be made to the general
result, this in itself will be sufficient to demon
sIrate to what an extent the dangerous classes
have been kept under restraint and control
and their numbers and consequent power for
evil curtailed and shorn by the adnlins-
traton of justice in the Court of General Ses-
sions. Emigrant swndlers the vilest Of our
criminals, have had their occupation wrested
from them by conviction and sentence Of their
most prominent ringleaders, despite the fact
that these chief criminals had been in the en-
joyment Of political and police immunity
almost up to the moment Of sentence and pun
ishment. Burglars, garroters. panel thieves,
highwaymen and bond robbers, the rear guard
being closed up by Dutch Heinrich the other
day, who, by sentence of Recorder Hackett,
took line for ten years, have all been rapidly
going the way OF all criminal aesh-to Sing
Sing. The term Of the Court jast closed
was one of the heaviest for years but so thor
oughly was the calendar cleared OFF by Recorder
Hackett that the City Judge, who presides
during the April term, did not deem it neces-
sary TO put the county o The expense Of en-
panelling a fresh grand ury to pass upon the
few and unimportant cases remaining for trial.
But the jurisdiction and efficiency Of the Gene
raj Sessions and the action of its two Judges
has taken much wider range and embra ced
more important field, and has conferred
incalculaby greater i'm mediate and prospec-
tive benefits upon the community than could
possibly result from the trial. conviction aud
punishment OF even the greatest desperadoes
and the worst and most fearless coutemners of
the law.
The crowning act of the jurisdiction Of The
General Sessions was the indcing by Judge
Bedords Grand Jury Of the heads Of the
Tammany Ring and their commitment one
and all for trial. II was a judicial smiling.
hip and thigh--ao man escaping .hrou Ia fear.
favor, affection or hope Of reward. The gene
raj condemnation invoked upon the delinquent
Ring was bat The reverbcraling echo of the
judgment passed upon il by Judge Bcdlord's
Grand Jury, and which promptly led TO the
overthrow OF the Ring and the reformation in
our municipal affairs consequent upon II.
The City Judge and Recorder deserve well
Of their fellow citizens, and, indeed, well OF
the citizens Of the entire State, ~ whatever
tends to suppress. and deter eyidocrs ~ 'he
cities must have ts ettec, OF their criminal
brethren in the country, just az, Oh me other
hand, immunity from punishment always
leads to exccsses IN lawlessncss ana cfi'ne'
And yet, through mistaken interpretation
or mere technical reading of ihe law, me
powers that at present hold the city purse
strings deny and withhold from these onicials
their legal pccuniary remuneration. This is
the more annoying and hami'ia'ins from The
fac, that II was in recognition OF their public
services that the Board of Supervisors, cm-
powered by Two successive act, Of - Lreis-