Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-11
The Corrupt Judges.

Some Of the evidence in regard TO the miscon
duct of Judges Barnard and Cardozo OF the New
York supreme court, of which only hints have
heretofore appeared, was disclosed in the report
of the committee of the bar association, and
published in the New York papers of yesterday.
The catalogue of their offences is long and dark
enough TO warrant their immediate remova
from the bench; but we suppose they are in mol
more danger than the other exposed rascas
there. Their regulations cannot be damaged by
any disclosures, and their places are probably
secure enough. To the narrative of their cor
rupt practices they may respond, like their
patrons, Hall and Tweed, ''What are you going
to do about it?" The investigation has been
made by committee of the legislature with a
view TO their impeachment, if the evidence
should warrant that measure. We do not learn
that any one is hopeful of so much justice
from the present assembly, which, though
elected as a reform legislature" conducts
itself very much like its predecessors. If the
majority of its members are reformers they are
extremely cautious and conservative They
have neglected to do some things which were
confidently expected of them and have done
some things which to most people have the as.
pect of anything but reforms. They were very
considerate of Mr. Terwilliger, who exacted
commissions on the public printing bills; they
mildly declared that taking brides from Tweed,
as practiced by Senator James Wood, was "cen-
Sura5le," but was not cause for expulsion; they
passed the Erie railroad directors bill, ii is true,
but only after the obnoxious directors had been
rod ht- nth nd hay hat-o mot
passed the reform charter for New York city,
the chief purpose for which they were elected,
although they have tinkered it with amend.
ments until IFS own parents, the committee Of
seventy, cannon recognize it,
But to return to Barnard and Cardozo. The
report of the committee to the bar association
relates numerous instances Of the judicial usur-
pations Of these corrupt magistrates, as speci-
mems of those which were proved in the course
Of the inquiry. In one case, a plaintiff, with
judgment unsatisfed, had obtained an order to
examine an alleged debtor Of the defendant with
view 10 require the debt TO. be paid in satisfac-
ton of his Judgment, and to prevent its being
paid TO the defendant. Without notice to the
plaintiff and without Ssy proof that he ought
to be deprived Of this legal remedy, Judge Bar
nard not only vacated the original order, but
made a new order ca pdrte in the interest of
personal friend, commanding the debtor to pay
the debt forthwith TO the defendant under
pain of Imprisonment, and this, although
the person thus threatened owed no
debt which had been judically aseertained, and
was not party to any suit or proceeding in
which the judge had any jurisdiction TO make
the order. Some Of the cases where receivers
were appointed were as transparent and out
rageous instances Of oppression as can be con
ceiyed causing great loss 10 the corporations
subjected to this tyranny, besides the eXorbitan
fees they were compelled TO pay the receivers for
the privilege of being robbed. In the case of the
Gold Exchange bank the receiver was in pos
session forty dsys, and his fees were $4,000, be-
sides $4,000 paid to bis partner for legal services.
In another case the receiver had $4,000 and his
counsel s25eO
These receiyerships were often nothing more
or less than Matchmaking operations. A man
named Owens bought ten shares Of the stock OF
the Mercantile insurance company at noon, and
at three O'Clock OF the same day, Mr. Gratz
Nathan presented himself at the company's
Office to take possession of all its property by
virtue OF an order from Judge Cardozo, appoint
ing him the receiver on a petition of Owens as a
stockholder. The petition bore the marks of
having been drawn up in anticipation of the pur-
chase, but was so hastily done as TO contain M
allegation which could afford a color Of iusti6ca
ton for the order, which was vacated as soon Nc
an application for that purpose could be made
nd no
ever; the receiver had been in possession, and,
Of course, exacted his fees. This man
is a nephew Of Cardozo and his fayorite
receiver and referee. A series of remarkable
condolences between the sums Of money drawn
by Nathan on his own checks and deposits of
equal amounts in similar bank bills made at
corresponding dates by Cardozo, tend to prove
that the favorite shared the plumber of his vic
tins with his judicial patron. From the fire.
quency with which Cardozo found easy and
profitable employment of this kind for this be-
loved nephew, "Gratz" came to be the slang
term 10 the judicial ring for the receiver Of such
patronage. Zach Of these accused judges had
MS "4ratz," and for a young lawyer not over
sefupuious, nor particularly learned, who likes
eAhs ana luxury aud is not fond Of work, no
more fascinating prospect would be likely TO
open man the favor Of "a ring Judge.
me report contains plenty Of other instances
Of Wnaityi parisanshp, fasortism, and Judi.
cial insolence. As an example Of the latte.
Judge Caf03Ao once said 70 a lawyer WHO a..
piled for writ Of habeas corpus IN behalf or
fgo women then in prison, charged with M
crime DO not touch this case lfyou do YOU
VII dispease me. lf you take this case you
need never expect any iayors from me while
am on Tbs BENCH Judge Barnard appeare,