New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-30
THE RING INDICTMENTS.

EFFECT OF oUAsHING THE INDICTMENT AGAINST
HUGH SMITH on THE OTHER CAsEs-THE
TWO OYER AND TERMINER INDICTMENTS
ALONE VALID AGAINST TWEED.
The late decision of Recorder Hackett in
quashing the indictment against Hugh Smith, who was
implicated with VIM. M Tweed and Others, naturally
brings up the question 10 the present status OF the
Ring cases. and the effect upon them Of this decisive
action Since the city became aroused to the necessity
Of taking strong against the prominent men,
bers the Ring, their characters, msdemeanors and
movements have passed in review before the OF the
whole people through the columns of the daily press,
and vet after this interval excitement and indgna
on no really practical result has been accomplished
No fines have been paid and these men are still al arms
length from the law. 1t would almost seem as II the
legal talent pited against itself in these en-
deavOrs convict the side and to on the
other were Unbalanced, rather, perhaps that the
efforts of the former premature, and those Of the
latter vigorous carefully considered for the specta
presented OF indictment after Indictment being
thrown away
When one recurs TO November, 1s7llthe root OF the
mischief is discovered in the carelessness Of Judge Bed
ford whose extension of the November term was de-
clared Illegal and its work to arge extent void I'm
fortunately the most important indictments, which
were Of course, those against the Ring, were found
during this extended term, which into February,
ls2 II that the indictment against Hugh Smith,
in point of fact found after an act OF the Legsa-
ture had sought TO egaze he extensions but the min
utes of the Grand Jury show that the proceedings pre-
mnary to the day which the indictment was brought
INTO court we're within the scope of the decision Of the
Supreme Court the OF the People against Green,
argued before Jusuces Ingraham Brady, and Leonard
last November which held that the November term Of
1871 was Illegally extended. Recorder Hackett.
therefore, )1ecided THAT statute could i'm
part legality to existing iegality, by
which the rights Of personal liberty were Affected and
he thereupon quashed the indictment At the time,
be regrets deeply that Judicial mistakes and sovenly
pleading should delay prosecutions" but on the whole
believes sit to condemn faulty pleading an
luie than after trial. because such course saves time
and expense and allows the people to remedy the de-
feets OF one indictment by preferring another and
better one"
The indictments found by Judge Bedford's Grand
Jury which are thus summarily disposed Of include
several against Tweed and woodward jointly and sew
eral more against Tweed individually, five in all
against Tweed Beyond these there two indictments
against Tweed which were found by legal Grand
Jry-that OF the oyer and Termineron the same day,
oct H. OF these is for misdemeanor with which he
iOntly charged with Connolly ana Hail. ana one iOr
felony and Official misconduct in signing bills which he
knew fraudulent. Tweed pleaded "not guilty" TO
the msdemeanor indictment, known generaliy rs tne
" big Indictment" few days ago. after one OF the
legal known and the case stands
until jan G. The felony indictment Is not RECEIVING
much attention Just now and will not until the first one
disposed Of for should he be found guilty on that and
the strict penalty of the law be enforced there VIII be no
necessity OF proving second for at least century or
two. The law provides that the penalty which can be
Inflicted for misiemeanOr Is imprisonment in the Penl-
Tertiary year each count There are 22O counts
and should he be convicted on onethlFd OF then only
his bitterest enemy could desire more complete eApa-
ton. -,
The latest nows the Tweed is thatithe civil
suit In which be ia implicated with ingersOl Garvey
and Woodward, and which came up for argument az
Albany Nov. 81. motion TO change the place of
trial has transferred by late order OF Judge
Charles K ingalls, from Albany to this County.
These decisions also dispose substantially OF al the IN
detments against IDgersOl, except found against
him Harrington JOINTLY for alleged forgery Of the IN
dOrsement OF Heath and Smith warrant for Court
house supplies, transaction which is the ouigrowth OF
the Heath and Smith litigation. IugerSOlPs counsel
press themselves ready ana even anxious for trial
BY this decision Peter b. sweeny and his brother,
James NJ SWeeny, rest easy from trouble IN that
quarter AS for Mayor Hail. his two TRIALS have resulted
each in a disagreement Of the jury, notwithstanding the
startling and bold testimony adduced What IS To be
done his case question too remote Tor eonsdera-
ton.
Garvey The only contingency Is expressed by one of
Mr.. Tweed's counsel, who said. la1ghlngy Ihey do
nothing with Garyey unless they mean 10 get all they
can out OF him, and then strip him.