New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-29
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

MINOR COURT RECORDS OUT OF SIGHT.
,pr,p IMPORTANCE IN JOHN KELLYs cAsE-THEIR
DISAPPEARANCE DUE TO THE TALES THEY MIGHT
TEII-rHE MISSING RECORDS.
One of the most important charges In the
Mayors arrangement OF John Kelly is that relating 10
the returns of convictions In the criminal courts sue
by him TO the Secretary o: State. In the strong poiu''
for the defense" published In THE TRIBUNE simu'ane
ousiy with the Mayors charges. 1t was Claimed ior.
Kelly the Mayor had left out OF MS ngure Tue
yictous In the police courts, numbering many thou-
sands and accounting for the difference. Inc mayor
has requested the clerks OF the police courts 10 send MN
comics OF the records Of convictions during Snern
Kely's term OF Office with view to disprove the state
ment in his favor. In endeavoring TO comply win 'he
MAYORS request the clerks Of these courts Is said are
unabe 10 nd the books showing the convictions In the
wears sought for. Allegations have been made that
these records have been put out OF the way by MT
Kelly or his friends to prevent comparison Of MS ps
with the daily business OF the court.
A TRIBUNE reporter called on George W. Cooney, the
Clerk OF the First District Police Court held at the
Tombs in this city, IN reference TO these returns
OF the convictions in the Police Courts MI 'ooneS
stated that complete record OF such convictions was
kept py the Warden OF the City Prison, sometimes
called the CITY Brdewe; that the prisons IN the Var
ons Police Courts were merely temporary loek-ups ana
were all under the charge Of the Warden OF the ,lS
Prison. that all the prisoners in whatever court lney
may have been convicted necessarily passed through
his hands, aud he was responsible ior 'nem'
Mr.. Cooney had no doubt that Mr. Kelly had obtained
the figures and other data from the Warden 1t would
have been very foolish Mr. Kelly to alter or 10 IN
crease them for the purpose Of defraudng the CITY
Treasury when it was well known that the RECORDS
were open and accessible TO the authorities ana the
public Mr.. COoney further said that the DOCKS anu
records in the First District Police Court were al Hgn
and there was not one missing; that ne h"u
opef ha
who had called on him behalf OF the Mayor 10 get
certain information as 70 the returns Of convictions In
the Tobs Court that his clerks now busy max
ipE the copies and there no difficulty In getting al
the facts He believed the books OF the other Pohee
Courts would be found TO be correct II, however any
of the records had been injured or lost, the
facts required TO make out perfect list could readily
be obtained OF the Warden OF the City Prison. He
could not see any good for destroying the court
records in the interest OF any person. as the records
of convictions in all the courts could easily be proved
by the Warden OF the City Prison, PeMtehuary anu
T6a Cbief Clerk of Jefferson Market Police Court
furnishes the following statement as TO the RECORD VI
convictions 10 that Court while Mr. Kelly was eheIH
For the years 1852 1860 and k6 all the books containing
these records missing except for term OF SIX weeks
For the years 1861 1896 and 1857 Justices Douse anu
IedVh held Court alternately and kept separate DOCKS
of record For 1865 all of Justice DOdges records are
missing and all Of Justice IedWHhs except lrOm
August 10 December For 1866 Justice Dodges records
arc missing except from September TO Decemher ana
hodges records have ali been feund Justice Led"lths
arc ali missing. 49,,
IL is claimed that the loss or abstraction OF these
records cannot be charged against Mr.. Kelly as an
attempt his part 10 protect himself from any eNani;
nation OF the vouchers OF his bills. Under Rng rue
an enormous amount o. money was made by certain
favored persons of fines imposed persons adndged
guly OF drunkenness and dlsOrderlg conduct RAIDS,
also were frequently made disreputabe houses and
The inmates dragged before the police justice. Tenn
pOrary commitments were made ont and nne imposed
Of $40 each person. There often many as 90
prisoners fined at one session OF the Court The fines
were paid within few hours and the record was altered
so AS 10 read "reprmanded and discharged" and no
mention was made OF the fine. Those acquainted with
routine OF the Police Courts estimate the nnes thus
RENTED after payment to have been not less than $1,000
per week These figures II Is alleged are even very mode
rate OF the fines collected are appropriated
under these proceedings Those cOnversant with the
facts clam that II il turns ont that these records cannot
be produced the motive for secTeting destroying
may be traced dread OF exposure on the part
of interested persons and apprehension OF demand
for restitution involving law suits for misapproprla-
tion OF public moneys.
Mr.. Cunning. Under Sheriff says that Mr. Kellys reply
20 Mayor HayemeyeT's charge Will be gwen to the
newspapers on Wednesday evening for publication on
Thursday.