New-York tribune., 1874-02-23
BROOKLYN INTERESTS.
BRrTTON,S PARTHIAN ARROW.

BRTTTON'S PARrHIAN ARROW.
A LAST SHOT ar RRFoRi--nE DEFEATS THE WORK
OF TdE GRAND jury BY REFUSING TO SION
INDICTMENTS
There has not been in session in Brooklyn IN
many years a Grand Jury which hai ~ much important
work do tha which closed labors SAtur
day II considered the subject Of the frauds In the
Charity Commission, heard witnesses concerning the
fraud, which have been discovered in the Tax Oicc,
and investigated the discoveries OF Deficiencies which
havo been uneartLed tho old Department aud
early last found indictments against several prom
inent Brooklyn officials. Whom the Grand jury came
into court on saturday, Winchester Britt0u refused
to sign tho indictments 6h the ground that he
had been removed from Office. Ne admitted that he
had received Official notice Of his removal, and
It IL also certain that letter which he wrote Satur
day morning was signed Winchcster BrttOD. ID strict
Attorney" His determination TO embarrass the course
OF Justice however, TO been characteristic
oally Of sudden impulse, for at 10 he SAID he
would not appear the courtroom. but at II O'Clock
when the Grand Jury iuto court Mr. Britton also
appeared, and proachng the bench upon which sat
Judge Tappen aud Justices 5tllwell anu Voorhees,, be
,ail IN tones louder than Is his wont;
The Cr.oI Ju-, expected to be discharged this morn.
ing Ihoy have been IN session for seven week.. and
have disposed Of nearly al their WORK Some matters
before tnom would have been asDosea Ok tns morning,
Dut a. tho law requires the indictments " ~ sgned Dy
the DstrCtAtorney, and there - no such ohcJr mat
tho testimony mostly taken, and t only remains for
the indictments to 10 completed leave the matter 70
the Court.
At tue conclusion Of Mr. Brittons remarks murmur
Of surprise through the large audience which hao
gathered In anticipation OF hearing indictments pre-
seDted against prominent officials. while Mr. BrittOn,
with an air of who has inflicted blow which
be parried stroked his beard ompacenty and
again smiled upon the largo assembly.
Judge TaDpen asked whether another Grand Jury had
been summoned.
DsIrIct-Attorney Brtton-Two Grand Jtries have
been summoned for MarCh-one for che Sessions and the
other for the Oyer and Terminer.
Juror-As a member OF the Jury, would rather not
be discharged until have performed duty II
discharged all labor will DO lost The indict
ments are all ready All they lack is the signature Of
the ct-AttOVney.
Judge Tdppen-It is very peculiar position for busi
ness to be placed in.
Judge Tappeu (aiter consulting with the Associate
Justces)-The Court Of Oyer and Termner practically
terminated week ago 1t kept in session to enable
the Grand Jury to continue their work II they have
no business 10 present it Is hardly proper continue
the Court longer in session, especially We do not
know when the Office OF DistrctAtorney will be filed
My associates concurrng, order the Grand Jury be
discharged.
The large number OF persons who in the court
room instead Of separating at the adjournment of the
Court remained aud discussed the extraordinary pro-
ceedingsthat had just taken place. 1t generally
agreed among the lawyers present that r BrittoD was
the DstrctAtorney OF the county until he had received
the official notification OF dismissal from the Governor.
Some expressed surprise at the action of Judge Tlppen
in dschargDg the Grand Jury II the position taken By
him cOrrect-that there no rct-Atorney-
they held that according TO section OF the Revised Sta
tutes made for such it became the duty OF the
Court TO appoint DisrictAtt0rney, and thereby
the expense to the county and delay in justice which the
discharge of the Grand jury without bringing In any
indictments. involve. The following Is the section
ferred to- Title 2. Chapter u, Article T. Section 30. Re
vised Statutes, says:
SECTION 70. When any rct-Atorney shall fail 10
attend Of the Courts above specified IL shall be the
duty Of such Court TO appoint some proper person,
being attorney counselor at law, TO transact the
business of the DisrictAtOrney during the sitting Of
the Court aud the person appointed shall be entitled
to the compensation for the services he shall per
form that the DisrictAttOrney would have been en-
titled to for the ike services, and his account shall be
audited aud paid IA the same manner.