New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-11
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE POLICE JUSTICES BILL.
vuRTuER AGITATION AMONG LAWYERS FOR IT'S
PASSAGE.


report says has smotbered in Committee NJ Albany
nrominent lawyer of this CITY, familiar with tho prao
tce for malpractice) in the police courts yestoruAy
made the following statement: ..
I'm the beginning Of the present session Of the Legs
samby 5stric introduced bi having for its object
the abolition OF the present Board OF P0ice JUSTICES
york. sppeared before the Judiciary Committee, in
Albany IN Of poco and he Court Of
Special sessions in this city. Mr. Townsend then SUI,
Withdrew his own measure in its favor The principal
features of Mr. Townsend's bill are; NH.
Jnstces 10 Police Magistrates Court avoid any plea
Of unconstitutlonality Of the repeal 80.
Second lie terminates the office OF the present JUSTICES
TSrd: BY il The Court OF Special Sessions would be
held by different magistrates each year and he maeis
trates holding the Police would also alternate
thus preventing any combination or control III the to
Fourth: 1t obiires the different Police MAGISTRATES to
make return TO the Controller OF az ices anu pemhs
within FIVE days after the 1rst OF each ana every
and in neglect within ten days thereItei gives
power to the Court OF Common Pleas or judge inerGo
10 remove such defaultHg magistrate on appucauon
Of the Controller. -, - =.
FVk II gives the appointing power 81 tho clerks IN
the respective the Board OF Police Magistrates,
and compels them, well as The magistrates TO give
bonds for the faithful discharge Of Their duties n,c,
Styth 1t obiges the magistrates 10 keep DOCKS wnicn
shalt open to the public containing inc nanes anu
residences Of all persons arrested ana tne or
collected, OF the names Of bo1dsmen and their resi-
deuces the ana residences OF pcISVuo COh-
yicted and the terms OF their imprisonment
This bill gives tho appointing power 10 INC Cour' Vi
Common Pleas.
About the same time this bill was introduced. another
was brought before the Senate by Mr. Benedict which Is
said to have been drawn by Mr. Walsh, and which gives
the Amounting power to Justices sedgwck and Curtis
OF the Superor Court Mr. Charles s. Spencer appeared
before the Judiciary Committee In the House. IN OPPOSE
ton to Mr. Townsend's bill, as did also John Graham
and Mr. Gerry. Nothing was heard from inc Oonni"eo
until about month ago. when Mr. Flammer one OF .no
Judiciary Committee, offered resolution IN o .no
House that tine Committee be directed TO report,
For some reason this motion was lost SStne
Fl f5sv the we're cO pleased to Consider indey
to them Letters been written by dinerent ciashs
ASKING why the bill been reported, ana the Iep
is that the members OF the Judiciary Comhtee so
not as TO whether te new 6ooIu gep WHY
the House should not be permitted 70 i, 10 tIe
question No seems to question te neoio o al iii iii
bill or the prOpety of its passage, ana YET no local D
that has been introduced this year III the Ouse ao n
with such violent opposition IDere Is no uOup' si S
stated yesterday. largo amount OF money nas Dee
raised BY the Rings most Interested In keeping certain
Police Justices in power to defeat us passagG' Anu @
is also doubt that prominent p3tSr M be nav
OF the Police Court Ring for the purpose Oh uelcans
the Townsend and Benedict bills. -.
With the exception Of perhaps ,Hree e tne pesoa az
the dication Of the Tammany Ring, and were ever az
the beck and call Of it's leaders absolutely essen
a to the IorVu g ho 10 have lust saed that The
Police justices bill be reported at once ana mat eVeay
II
or the many arguments in of tho biz 80 quietly
spectacle lawyers business leads them TO the po
lice courts One OF these gentlemen says That II Is ms
TIC ends of petty politicians Fully onehat Of accused
persons find Cheir way into police courts nave veo
long enough III the city to become acqualhteo WIN SUN
of the lower class VI politicians. and the acqutt or con-
yictiOn Of the accused is frequently
the friendship enmy Of the influential party man
the district in which he resides. IL Is the opinion Oh s
gentleman that OF all the cases eoang oeIore PUiGs
merits so commonly Is political pressure ihVoke iot "
against the accused person. Nhn tne Few mouths pS
mast tie boldness with which this lAence was formerly
used has discontinued, and now CAUTION 70 tsnn
In very many cases the preliminary eAauffsS SSS
n adjourned from tine time and tie counsel mean
tune mud settlements are then more easily enscU:u
The manner which these settlements are nde rs uI
ally by the payment by counsel OF sum OF monoy, tho
amount which is regulated by the ere @ .,
mTroundncs THIS having done the case is never
heard OF again. and the counsel OF inc aecseu pe
son il often somewhat doubt to how the affair was
managed 1t has been said that an uptown Ponce Us
tice on one OCCASION suspended the examination Oh an
accused person, went into his private room behind ts
nencb and there waited while the prisoner was taken
TO the lookup and thence by private stairway INTO
ice returning to the Court dismissed the complaint
In cases which the charge made Is Of higher grade
than petit larceny, the defendant frequently waving
examination gives bail. and exercising LIS rght elects
TO be tred IN either ths SPECIAL or b th ca a
trate at Special Sessions and demand lrla at tho
General Sessions, printed Donu Ot 1ne @ S
chosen printed words General Sessions nave been
erased and the words "specla otbolOuS WIlIIcu lu
This trick is res0rted where political enemies desire 70
vent their spite the accused person, and the result
generally Is that while the defendant appears at the
General Sessions his bail Ia forfeited IN the Special SEES
slop and bench warrant Is issued for hs arrest IL Is
thus that corrupt influences subvert Justice
AN AsSEMBLYMAN DENIES THAT lie OPPOSES
THE BILL.
The following communication from Assembly
man John A. Foley repudiang charges OF opposition TO
the bill leaves 1t TO inferred that the judiciary Com
mttee can explain the long delay in acting on this im
portant measure
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: / have been lately informed by friend that
story has in circulation regard To me- which,
IL not cOntradctcd at might in the minds OF some
people Impress OF truth IL Is to the eject that
had withdrawn my interest in the passage OF pill in
troduced by me, and generally known as the Police
BILL" in consideration OF promise that Tor so DONG
clerkshp OF Court in NewYOrk ould be placed at my
disposal believe that my friends would not expect
from contradiction Of such vito charge, but 70 the
public ! owe a denial have believed and do now
sincerely believe, that the passage OF this Dill would be
great benefit to the City OF New-York, and from the
hour introduction TO tho present moment have
earnestly endeavOred TO accomplish that end 10 Is 10
the Judiciary Committee in which the bill has lard long
dormant that public must look for solution OF tue
mystery-if any mystery there be. JOHN A. FOLEY,
Member of Assembly, XlVth Assembly District
Albany, Mays, 1874
THE IMPURITIES OF THE CROTON.