New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-05-06
POLICE COURT ABUSES.
TIE INSTRUMENTATION OF CRIMINAL

BECOMES OF THE FINEsf-INTRlGUES VI
POLITICAL JUpGES-THE URGENT NEED VI
REFORM.
The Council of Political Reform adopted AT
IT. last meeting report contaninC among otn'IS' Wv
following state meuts showing the Importance OF ao'
bills that have been presented to the L'siN"'
the reorganization OF the Police Courts OF TINS Guy
subject that has been overlooked in the now aoso D
matters OF a charter and the removal OF 'Ho '""e'
the higher courts: ..,,
WnaeVGr ehCe hibc ma, ourts the administration of
.riminal nstce in tins city practically ttTp inc Jaw ~
H. penalties Il is neither ter,o' Il has more than
tths NEGATIVE operation. II has become IN lho
hands 81 k'os c,tme. II the administration OF
srm!nal law In this city we're taken rom the P rvss
hd the Tns iuno would he shorn Of ts chief power
10 10 mischief aud could not maintain us exs.too
Judiciary are open TO the public scrutiny pnt enough
OF ii must from its nature pass under ~
conpel RuspcOus most damaging 10 the hohOr OF thre
court officials. The numuer of poiice commitments %
the year 7s45, ony 1871 OF when rIsu Jiht
ANY form OF Imprisonment. There nave Oeeh put sns'
variations from thssc numbers for keVeial years ~ ~
arrests aIe properly discha ged not deserving iol
punishment. Deducung these numbers, IL aa re-
therefore that than A. 600 criminals are yearly re-
turned unpuushed their depredatons on the peace
and morals OF the city This army Oh eAeihp. ~ I'm
arr the materials which the administration OF cruz
ina law this city select the instruments OF tnem pd
tn nirgucs aud dad their resources OF p1wer %n n
wealth There are probably none OF then n np the
made available for these purposes OF eV oh ono Vi w
ether Of the following processes: l., -
FIRST: The punishment Of some, IL If khoWh Von'-
pounded by fines, of how many from the Nature VI no
case, cannot be certainty ascertneu uu % source
must be large "a this Is undoubtedly tne S ;
OF the prucey OF these court oincas VINO u
tor% and rapidly pass from pSHG 70 incomes
cannot maintain their usual style OF h'i Tso
probabilities that these opportunities have Deeh IN
proved the personal advantage OF these coull %
cals and tho growth Of the evil VIII appeaT tiIr
following returns have been MADE TO the ContIoOr
for the last SIX years of the hnts from tee M
Courts and from fact that is not known 10 naso an
exception that these officials enter their Offices poor ana
leave them rlch; go. nos. ,oeo ION 1871
IN, Distinct s 1871 e ssa s sa @ t1S -;
Second: with HIge numOtr Of otheI the process W
prosecution arrested az the point OF their Inducements
wth others 1t Is carried TO conviction, and Tue lndi9t
Inent and sentence are suspended IN 0re during the
Measure Of the law oficers condolences III some
cases II known, and i'll ali cases II s TAR 10 presume
that they render them true party feaJ, as may pe IT.
Third Many more Of this great army Of outlaws on
OF trial, in virtue of these covenant Ieaa ,
tons between MAGISTRATES , ana erl1 tnnm ia the
pIedee OF immunity in crime on the one Eanu, loa
party vassage ana fidelity on the oter no isn1o
can Le produced collection or ban bOhd lor &c
fnt OF this class Of Offenders or punishment LOT rauo
lent hail. election frauds or OF the par'stn tu
seotaian rioters vino are yearly making ths ci'! IN
famous The present Mayer OF this cry has made De
conf that when he Was transferred from the once
of DstricAttorney to ms present oluee II" ' l''V' III
dictmeats oi class OF od"nses alone untr T., 49,,
The whole administration VI criminal yuttlCe IN inns
city is absolutely IN the hahus OF aS eiEht IHiTe
Justices OF arrest has first to he duI
TO whether u sLdH ot uishlsseu vi
trial This is all that sanls between y,
,itigens and that rapidly accumclatng ARM OF 0udWs
nd trained dcsperadOes that are attached 10 TINS Guy
rom tho four quarters OF the gone, oy t1e lae'es
kat our popular institutions oncr Tor the practice o.
their wees. Yet but OF these Justices niakes any
preteson TO legal knowledge or training; ana tney are
notOrolsy disqualified most ether respects for tho
such responsible positions some OF tnese are
taken from that class among MS who nave no
visible yelihood others from emoyments that neither
REQUIRE or develop mental OK moral culture.
re1inc crin,inai flyori;cs hut also Of prosecuting
nd iCll
tome Of these police magistrates are roentesly exc
st9r threats winch they made acalns' those who took
,at a the defeat OF the Ring power in this city AZ the
last election The case Of the notorious Theodore Alien,
who Was rearresed just previous 20 late election on
cd charge Of three years Standing was re-
fused bail to any amount, was htld IN c"hhnelntuD
during election campagn aud when It was over was
uOn this branch Of tncso police court abuses Nc no
protection Of influential frauds Is secure from che con-
spr8cy OF these Police Justices IN eolusoh wltA ponce
officers 10 whom he MS "tcme Tor any ItdsOh
The adm nisiIauon on justice therefore instead % ptng
tho righteous cuuOn OF law, IS compromising VITA
felony, and thcu seiIng lndulschcIeS lu cIlhG loi
pledge conspiracy to commit the still higher cilme OF
I'm lie choice OF is rulers L. there any other conceivable
explanation than tins Or TINS sure ana sudceh
LUd"tDS pa IT. - ~ to nrosecite aTdge and execute
ihe peuaes OF law against crime are the most popular
leaders and trusted friends OF criminals; or that the
royal road 70 high places IN ring oos Ia ts ey anu
Ftlte j. through tie criminal department Of our city
iuGicaryf Ii these 42,00J criminals annually released
That All the legal opportunities have not been provided to
dot with puy that The personal character Of most
U these gal uncOnes raises tEemabOye All suspicion
of such prostitution OF their Offices Some OF the judi
flal districts Of this Clty contain voting population
scarcely quail fed to elect their own administrators
OF law IN the inmates Of oar principal state prison IL
As no matter for marvel II this criminal population
,hOul themselves in their lawlesS ufe by put M
tic uov, OF enforcing cr,l ua Inv the HANDS OF their
own fraternity THIS in the depth O degradation
into which tins apartment OF the administration Of JUS
iice has fallen In ti4s city.
Tue following Committee appointed to proceed Mt
once TO Albany press upon the Legislature the neCes
sity OF tAOrO1 Oh reorganization of these Police Courts
and procure such other legislation as shall enable the
friends Of political reform in this city 70 turn to the bet
account ticir present advantages:
Dexter Havl irs Jofcth Vsuum A r. Wetnore Hem g.
Ic ntu james NJ HtLtd Lo,ot Hoe Hooper c.
tkyors. JacAsog John H. N0Orus and H. y ber-