New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-29

.ons IN the Tombs IN Infinitely than tho punish
s1t S by psOnss & they would take
two years IN the State Prison than FIX monsis ~ s
charged with an oense simply should not be punished
beyond the necessity required for his detehton. hse
anIv oense was the sfOrupe Of witnessing some deco
of blood who have been tbere yen Inon1s, M sde
nv which csos where witnesses detained should 70
first disposed Of" .
Mr.. Townsend said a horrible practice had grown up
and become custom now whereby detectives and ponce
officers are In collision with certain notorious lawyers
and when they arrest they furnish him win tne
cards OF these lawyers and tell them that they nave
weight with the judges and the very men VINO ougne
~ be employed 'These same lawyers SAID ne. aIe III
tercsed with the different officials oil the different ters
where the prisoners are confined In the Iomns dns
not contend aud into which they cannot
break As soon as prisoners are eomm nlIsou
officials, and the lawyers are quickly hand to fleece
the poor victim out OF all he has in the world as Is Ie
quenty the OF course II there Is no money tnese
fellows retire. and then the courts assign some lawyer 70
defend the prisoner II they would attend TO their GU
ents the harm would not be particularly great put tney
don't In many instances where the accused man mas
paid all he has IN the world, when called Tor trla the
counsel fails appear and one has to be assigned
That is q common thing. 1 have known OF my own
knowledge instances where prisoners have sent Iof
formed of the prisoners wishes and the latter had
been deceived with assurances that the counse tney
thus Compelling them eventually to retain the lawyers
who are thus working In underhand way TO secure
their patronage. There is OF course commission or
percentage paid by such to the police and Tombs
officials. These commissions range from rs TO 90 per
cent of the money obtained from the prisoners InS
ring at one time embraced even Judge OF the su-
preme Court, now gone however He aided IN mn, tne
habeas corpus business Instances are reported wnere
certain firm appeared before certain magistrate 10
have parties sent to the Island, by doing which they
would make good deal OF money They would also
make more money still by getting them OF after they
had been sent there And this was successfully done py
the assistance OF this Supreme Court Judge. -
remember 10 nave appearedlOhce anu coHpe.eua
man. who represented himself TO be James Brady, 10
restore to woman the bedding ana ciotnlng Oh het
family which he had taken IN payment or his pretended
defense of her Such as these 1t Is an actual
fact, have even taken the rings Oh clients nhSer "
WHAT ARE THE REMEDIES
~ believe that clear sweep should be made OF Police
Commissioners, Commissioners OF Charities and Cor
rection, and Police Magistrates. The very foundation
stones will have to be cut away. There good men
among them but 1t is impossible for them TO restore
decent condition OF things for they are IL minority
The lunatlc asylums, both or Wards ana BldckWelIs
Islands, are ILLUSTRATIONS OF inc necessity VI my Us
gestion TO get rid OF the legal scum floating about he
TOmbs would suggest that public DEFENDER or peoples
counsel be appointed, whose duty 1t should DC 10 Visit
the different prisons each morning TO ascertain wnat p
wanted bis services would not. OF course make
this public defender an arbitrary officer, TO whom
prisoners must necessarily resort II prisoners prefer any
lawyer, and provide the means 10 pay him, LET them
employ him. or prisoners can obtain any one TO defend
them free " charge by all means let them 40 So ny
plan only applies to those where counsel would
have be assigned by the Court by the adoption OF 1t
have always at hand man who can devote MS time
the Mayor and should have sufficient number OF clerks,
aud himself receive a fair salary. | would also recon-
mend that the Prison Association be required TO take
the statements OF persons charged with oHense IN re-
gard their condition and circumstances, and hear the
complaints they had TO make; such statements 70 be
forwarded the Courts the first OF each month"; Ia
order that the Courts might have general understand
ing OF the condition OF the prison ana s inmates ana D
prepared ~ look sharply after the lawyers who had
approached them. should suggest, as did last year
in bill 10 the Legislature, tnat the police Justices
should hold the dsIent courts alternately so that ey
might not have an opportunity OF getting an lhotIiH-
ua hold upon the worst classes OF those different dis
tricts. No police magistrate should occupy position
who has been for at least I'VE years lawyer III
practice and good standing. my should hod thelr
offices for years. removable by one OF the nlglef
courts They should be compelled TO keep public rec
ords Of the OF those charged with oenses hed
discharged the bail TAKEN the residence OF the
baors and OF the planant and IN fact record OF
all the necessary details. Returns should be made on
oath by magistrate TO the Controller and the failure
to keep all these appointments should be ground Tor
removal.
the power OF these police magistrates is tremendous
com piafn2ic There laxey ed had but
where decisions have been rendered by the magis-
trate thus doing the greatest injustice TO the parties
complained of. There instance IN my own knOwl-
edge where the complaint was made Last Spring
against respectable person for perury an examination
had but decision has yet been rendered. although
the magistrate has been entreaed over ana over again
to render his decision. Although man may go before
higher certiOrar and-be instantly discharged,
yet the stigma OF disgrace IS on him, and he must
always suffer less under 1t. Iw0uld recommend
law whereby the magistrates should be compelled TO
render their decision within limit OF time, for there
is no law compelling them 10 do IT,"
Several other lawyers in active criminal practice spoke
freely TRIBUNE reporters OF the abuses complained Of
but declined have their opinions published over their
own Their opinions are, therefore, omitted
names are necessary TO give them due weight
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