The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-22
TIE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

Continuation OF the Sub Committees Inves.
LEGATION Into Affairs in the District AttOr-
ney's Ohice-svhat Becomes Of Indictments--
The Registers Examined.
The subcommittee OF the Judiciary Committee
appointed by the Assembly to inquire into the
rnodus operandt OF conducting affairs in the once
or the District Attorney, and also to ascertain II
there Is any truth In certain allegations that busl
ness IN that department Is carried on lax, unsys
tematic and partisan fashion, continued its invest-
cations IN the District Attorneys private olce
terday. In consequence OF the indispostiOn Of Mr..
Vedder and tue absence or MI. Hill. VINO has re-
turned to Albany. pro tenn, Mr. Strahan conducted
the examination, with the assistance OF his clerk.
Mr.. Strahan nrst obtained the books In which
convictions and indictments are registered, and As
sistant District Attorney Stewart explained, with
reference TO then that the registers Of 1860 had
been kept IN such an imperfect manner that no APP
those Years could be sscer;ained but that those or
lS7c.7l were perfect and mis- clerks had been work
ing during the previous night preparing tabular
stated that indictments were frequently placed
file III the clerks office previous TO the cases being
brought 10 trial, and TINS was In consequence OF the
absence OF COMPLIMENTS who, IN four cases out OF
nve, were sailors non-resdents and
PERSONS OF MIGRATORY HABITS,
who could not pc found on the day appointed for
adjudication. Afterwards however, II the officers
dctments were returned to the District Attorney,
subp9nas were issued, and the cases brought TO
BY reference to the register Mr.. strahan ascer-
tanned that during the 1871 the total number OF
plants dismissed By the Court and Grand jury, Sas
AS tns showed difference OF 1875 unaccounted for.
MI Stranan pointed out that the ultimate dispos-
ton OF all the cases could not be determined by the
entries IN the register
lnreply Assistant District Attorney Stewart stated
that after Barclay the register Clerk mad registered
the indictments. he handed them over to Mr.. Reed
and his assistants. who made out the subp9nas.
the room occupied by Mr. Vandervoorl, the Unlef
CLERK Oh Special Sessions, and II a bail bond came
with the Indictment that was also filed in the same
place. The disposition Of each case could easily be
found Dy reference TO to this Indictment. although
1t might not be entered IN the register book.
In order to test TINS the committee examined
few cases, ana found that the Assistant District At
torneys statement was correct. But SO TO ascer-
tain with still greater degree Of certainty II this
svste N held good lie directed his clerk to make q
list OF all me cases the disposition OF winch was not
noted In the register and stated his inteStion to
personally search the indictments. As the tabular
essg S S the clerks the p n
committee postponed further investigation until
eleven 0 clock tins morning
MI Strahan wished the public to be informed
through the medium oil the press that persons hav-
ing any knowledge Of irregular proceedings IN the
District Attorneys office, or any complaints
make In regard to that department OF the JUDICIARY
should address nun either personally or by letter ut
the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The Charges Against Judge barnard All
Examined.
The judiciary Committee resumed their investt-
cations OF the charges against Judge Barnard yes
terday morning, ut ten O'Clock There was toler.
ably good attendance OF the members, as Messrs.
Prince, Tilden Miles, Fiammer ana Vedder were all
present Messrs. George TicKnor Curtis and Rufus
f. Andrews were present during the examination,
protecting the interests OF JUICE Barnard who was
unavOldably absent
The trst witness called Mr. William Mitchell, ex Judge
iclary during term OF office compared
Mr. Mitchell stated that in his opinion the Judiciary AZ a
whole had deterorated during the past few
rh. Jnase q srs@, aSy and 9ues ps,sspon s
dencs Of the members Of the Bar:
amned to some length references TO the pubic feeling upon
h n he aa Of @ Of II ser. h
and general feeling OF mss In 20 the acton Of the
spread le ocean having dspre.
Gr Edward D. Back then gave some testimony Of an un
important nature chiefly reierenee to some document.
IN nop an for sn e;d that
before age Barnard Amply for an INJUNCTION
ne stem6aId, ai,erwards asked the FOR
% s
granted witness said that the manner OF dealing Justice
pSasas Juror examined IN
application Of Tom Scott Witness made application to
a Of Tammany Hall consequently interested
party stated that e, far as he knew barnard
lions he certainly talked great deal ami given to
cracking jokes In Chambers that could be dispensed
the udge also rather peculiar In dress and
exactly what would expect Judge o. the Supreme
he ha heard Judge Barnard things
himself than he had ever heard against him.
Mr.. Compton, lawyer then testified in relation to
OF Shepherd against Thompson and John A. Duff An allow
OF 81 800 made by Judge Barnard to Dun and his
counsel, which witness thought excessive
Judge Tracy, Of the Marine Court then examined in
reference pecuni1ry which he had with
Judge Barnard On the examination OF bank accounts
$500 from Judge Tracy witness explained matter
very simply, being the OF the of real
which Judge Barnard, Mr. Higgins and witness
Jointly Interested Judge Tracy gave dates and
duced documents in corroboraOn of his statement.
Mr. 4. d. Sherman then mined to some length In
the Albany Susquehanna alter which
the committee adjourned the investigation Barnads
until Saturday, at ten o'clock A. NJ.
Judge McCunn has been subpTnae to appear to-
morrow morning at ten O'Clock A. NJ. before the
cnI Ifna