The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-11
The Public Interest Manifested in
the Proceedings.
EXCITEMENT IN COURT.

initiated or conducted IN the Court Of General Ses
sOns was there such public interest manifested as
that yesterday in connection with the close Of
the labOrs oil the Grand Jury. AS stated IN yester
days HERALD the Grand Jury, now sitting over
three months. and engaged all the interval In
examining INTO certain charges OF fraud, corrup-
tion and malfeasance office OF certain officials
holding the highest political and most responsible
positions IN the city government came into Court
and true presentments made OF the parties charged
with high crimes and misdemeanors. Public inter-
est was greatly excited from the first burst OF the
COud which mad previously long concealed the thun.
derbolt laden with destruction TO the honOred
chiefs Of the Tammany Ring, and the whole COM
munity anxi0usly marked the course and erect Of
the visitation. The storm general in It's sweep,
andpoiitlcians high and low were Frustrated by II.
But this was not enough. removal from ONCE
merely could not condone for frauds perpetrated,
for public confidence abused, or for the Dissertation
Of the fair name OF the city and OF
its people. and the law. previously ignored
and outraged. was appealed to in order to
punish the very men who had 30 long set 1t at def.
ance. One Of the first steps towards this desired
result was taken in the Court OF General Sessions at
the last November Term. The Grand Jury then en-
paneised ana sworn to investigate all matters
submitted TO them Affecting the public veal took
into their hands, as in duty bound, the questions
then paramount Ill TIC puDilC inlnu-buc siSdutlC
frauds lately exposed upon the City Treasury
and now the perpetrators thereof could
be made most speedily ana efectually
amenable. The action OF that Grand Jury
now known as Judge Bedford's Grand Jury has
been the subject, not only Of public comment and
commentator, but OF legislation, recognition aud
justification. After various indictments presented
by them, the arrest, confinement and holding OF
parties under heavy bail Tor trial. the term for their
deliberations was prolonged from time to time
until yesterday, when, having completed their
duties and found fresh bills against other partes
the last OF those against whom charges were made
they for the last time appeared IN Court as Grand
Inquest ANA were discharged. The hour fixed Tor
their reassembling Yesterday was eleven O'Clock,
but long before that time
TIE LARGE COURT ROOM
was filed to overlooking. The officers were anxious
enough 10 prevent an over.cr0wding, but there was
such an unusual pressure OF respectable citizens,
and such very infniresimal element Of the
hdbtues Of the place, that refusal for entrance was
out OF the question. As might be expected the ut
most decorum was observed as all waited patiently
for the
OPENING OF THE COURT
About quarter to eleven Judge Bedford took his
seat on the bench, looking anxious, but as If
determined 10 do his duty under circumstances
evidently unpleasant to him. Beside him
ON the bench sat Recorder dackett, always
grave and dignihed. The crler having opened
che Court with the regular formula an anxious mo-
ment two passed In silence, the eyes OF all present
being turned 70 the Judges private entrance door,
by which entered the array Of c0unsels engaged to
defend the parties which public rumor-rlght for
once-nad selected Tor Indictment Counsel for the
people represented by Assistant District Attor
neys Sullivan anu Felows-Judge Garvln not being
nrao iln f1on Waa IN inf
the arrival OF the Grand Jury. important person
age entered the room quietly and took his seat out
side the bars, having all eyes directed to him. This
was
MAYOR HALL,
the Chief Magistrate OF the city, whom rumor had
also indicted, AMI truly so, after events proved
But few moments elapsed from the opening OF the
Court to the entrance OF
the GRAND JURY,
who took their seats In the order in which they
arrived, and the roll was Immediately afterwards
called IL was found that all were present, and 80
MI. Sparkes the CLERK. responded to the Court.
After O brief pause the foreman and addressed
the Court in few words. He said:-
Your Honor, ! will now present to the Court the
our duties 30 far as we propose to act and with the
permission OF the Court the Secretary Will read
statement to the Court that we decided TO make.
The Secretary then read
THE STATEMENT OF THE GRAND JURY.
. GRAsn jury RoS DON FEB 10, 1872
SIB-with presented the Grand Jury
desire TO terminate their work and ask TO be discharged
On the 9Th day OF November 1871 they met for the nrs
Time; they sion hftyscht days and
70 this date have actcd 44 cases including those
arising out Of the city and county frauds. Iheir
prove that New York has suffered loss Of at
least go through the venay and corruption OF those
they have indicted and others They have failed TO ind In
dicimens agan. persons Implicated IN the frauds
because the existing laws explained by their legal ad
ysors do not provide punishment Their Investigations have
oeen necessarily slow and tedious the poe OF the conspr
ors were carefully and cpnning devised and executed In
ne course OF their abors other public frauds brought
70 notice, which they unable Investigate they trust
shat succeeding Grand Juries will BRING light Per-
Jury forgery and similar crimes, the by which
ne treasury was robbed and the city disgraced Their
generations have been full and
Tree expression from all the members
urand Inquest desire thanks
and courtesy extended TO them by Your
nonor tbe District Attorney others with whom they
~ o"cai relations during their long term Of service
m n, LUC1uS 3. COMSTOCK, Foreman.
49,. JUDGE BEDFORD's REPLY.
Judge Bedford then repiIed as fvllOws:--
a, Mn FOREMAN AND GKNTLxMEN or THR GRAND jury
one ri vou fwen fv-on