The New York herald., 1872-10-08
THE RING TRIALS.
Opening Of the Court Of Oyer and Ter
miner, Before Judge Brady.
Tho Trials Of Ex-Bom Tweed and Genet Set Down
for Monday Next-Tom Fields Case To
Be Heard Next Thursdsy-The
Charge to the Grand Jury.

The 0ng-eXpected trials OF the parties implicated
In the late municipal frauds are at length under
way, and whatever penalty law and justice may de-.
mand IN the several cases WILL no doubt, in the
fulness Of time be visited upon them Yesterday
was the opening day OF the October term In the
Court OF Oyer and Terminer, before which court the
criminal proceedings against the parties will be
held. Judge Brady presided. and before him the
trials OF the several defendants will be had. There
was very large attendance in the court room and
great interest manifested In expectancy OF the
Judges charge to the Grand Jury. AS Will be seen
self to those topics which the law prescrbes shall
be- be part OF all such charges nothing being said
sad earve 10 rs bas Rng ar he
cases, as indictments have already been found
against the parties. The following named gentle
men were sworn as
THE GRAND JURY:
David b Turner, foreman; Il; D. Stover, Alvin J.
odeWc James Smt Pferoa Peter
E. Kugler, s. Philbin, William Dowd, Gustave
kper wcas c?ns r. p MenTy D.
Jacob zulzbacker, Edward Duvenier and II. J. Davi-
After being sworn in Judge Brady charged them
THE CHARGE.
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JuRY-The duties
which you have to perform, though simple are
fraught with momentous consequences to the peO-
pie and the accused 1t is your province inquire
an integral part OF this Court, into the truth Of
such charges as may be laid before you to deter
rant an Indictment. You stand between the state
and the Citizen with the responsibility resting
on you to do justice to both-to see to 1t that
you present no one from envy, hatred or malice,
or leave any one unrepresented through fear,
favor, affection or hope OF reward, and that you
accoang I the bss Of 70
standing. This the language Of your oath, is the
emDOdimcnt OF the law. 1t Is concise, plain, COM
nrr-
ceed diligently. faithfully, but earlessly with your
investigations, having but one object in view and
to present the offender. whoever he may be, when
you shall become satisfied that he has violated
nal punishment. This should not be done, how
ever on light or insufficient TESTIMONY You should,
as declared by that great commentator Blackstone,
dictment so far as the evidence goes, and not rest
satisfied merely with remote probabilitles-a doc
trne that might be applied to very oppressive pur-
pOses.n
The evidence received by you should be OF facts
within the knowledge OF the witness and not OF
and therefore founded upon belief Guided by
these elements your conclusions must be satlsac-
tory TO yourselves and to the people who look to
you for protection against danger in every form
from the lelon; for in the due faithful and fearless
administration of criminal justice resides the
greater security Of the citizen. These are only
general observations which deem it my duty to
make on this occasion. You are doubtless aware,
but 1t is nevertheless proper to advise you, THAT
sixteen or your number Is necessary to make o
quorum, and that the concurrence Of twelve is re-
CURED TO lind an Indictment.
After alluding In detail to the other details of
their duties, his Honor charged them in obedience
EXCISE, LOTTERY AND ELECTION LAWS,
and to the laws against receiving illegal fees, and
for the prevention OF fraud In the sale OF steamship
tickets. In regard to these laws he said:-The |
multitude OF Offences resulting from the excessive
use OF spirtuous liquors and tile effect ofdeleterons
liquors, used even In moderation, has, no doubt,
nad ts innuence and properly SO, IN requiring that
the Excise laws should be the subject OF particular
mention, and the apprehension that tile violation
OF the Election laws might sometimes result In SUBJ
verting the franchise and In that way preventing
the election by vote OF the person really chosen,
may have exercised similar control in regard to
them. However that may be, and whatever reasons
may have prevailed In reference to the other laws
having referred to them my duties are
The Grand Jury then withdrew.
District Attorney Garvin then rose and stated |
william M. Tweed, Henry W. uenet and Thomas C.
Fields pending In the Court OF oyer and Terminer,
o. and ne desired that day might be fixed upon for
Mr. Fields counsel replied that he did not oh.
l lect TO Day being named, but that % on whatever whatever
adjournment for the term, not being prepared to
District Attorney-Next Monday might be set
down for the trial OF the other cases. leaving out
At this stage Of the proceedings Attorney General
Barlow came into Court and said he desired to have
i W being Of importance that they should be dis,
The Court asked II counsel for the defendants had
been notified of the motion to set down the day OF
trial. and was answered that notice had been |
given them.
1t was finally arranged BY counsel that the mo-
ton to adjourn the trial Of Fields case should be
heard Un Thursday, and that Genets and Tweed's |
should be disposed OF on Monday. An adjournment |
was then taken until Thursday.
The Ring Civil Suits.
The civil suits brought by the Corporation Coun-
ael in the nae of the Superyisors OF the County OF
New York a0ainst Tweed, Connolly and others, |
came up Yesterday before Judge Barrett In the Su-