The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-23
TO TRY NEW YORK MURDERERS.
Proposed Amendment to the Constitu-
ton Providing for the Speedy Trial OF



ton Providing for the Speedy Trial OF
Murderers.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
The frequency and enormity of crimes has been
sufficiently descanted upon by the press. The
community desires practical remedy. l submit q
plan Tor the more speedy punishment OF felonies
in the city and county OF New York. consti-
tutional amendment Is necessary to accomplish the
reform. But commission TO suggest changes to
the Legislature is now in existence, and the Legs
lature has power to initiate the proper steps Tor
any required change. II the ideas subjoined have
any value use them in any form which you NAV APP
prove. BY calling attention to them you might
commence the good work
FOR THE SPEEDY TRIAL OF MuRDERERs
Proposed amendment OF the Constitution OF the
State oil New York, providing for the more speedy
trial and punishment OF Ielonies III the city and
county OF New YORK.
/. ne Courts of General Sessions, the City Court
and the Recorders Court In and Tor the city and
county OF New York snail have Jurisdiction only OF
such crimes and misdemeanors wherein the
penalty shall not exceed imprisonment Tor more
than the term OF five years
z. The criminal jurisdiction OF the supreme
Court In and Tor the county OF New York is hereby
abolished.
g. There shall be Created in ana for the city and
county of New York a special court. to be desig-
mated as the Criminal Court o said city and county
L. SAID Court shall consist 81 three Judges, elected
in the same manner and holding Office, Tor the
same time the supreme Court Judges, but hdv-
CIVIL JURISDICTION ana exclusive elrlS
dictiun OF all criminal cases in which the penalty
shall exceed imprisonment for more than i've
years.
g. said Criminal Court shall hold annual ses-
sion commencing on the LIST day OF september OF
each and every year. and ending ON the last day OF
June OF eacn succeeding year.
q. The respective Judges Of said Criminal Court
shall hold circuit or trlai terms Tor twenty days In
each and every month OF the year.
7. For the remaining days oil each and every
month OF the year said Judges shall SIT in Danc Tor
the determination OF appeals or wrlts OF error.
s. All appeals from a Judge at Circuit to the
Court IN Danc shall be returnable within twenty
days.
o. All persons charged with the commission OF a
felony whereof the penalty Is or may be imprison-
ment for a term exceeding five years shall DC held
to answer To the Criminal Court aforesaid within
ten days.
TO- There shall lie an appeal or writ of error from
said Court sitting IN banc to the Court Of Appeals
OF the state OF New York, returnable within twenty
days.
H. All such appeals or writs Of error TO the Court
of Appeals OF the state OF New YORK snail Ire accd
upon calendar, TO be known as the preference
Calendar and shall be taken up and tried, in
their order, TO the exclusion of all other cases
whatsoever.
Court OF New York CITY and county shall be tue
same as those received by the Judges OF the SUI
ID eme Court OF the State OF New York. and said
Judges shall not be allowed TO hold 0nlce for more
than term.
10. No stay OF proceedings or suspension OF Judg-
ment In any case arising IN sad Criminal court
shall be granite 10y any Judge OF the supreme court
OF the state of New YORK, but such stay or suspen-
sion SHAH only be granted by said Criminal Court,
sitting III banc or General Term LEY