The New York herald., 1875-12-24
INVESTIGATION,
Reasons for the Increase of Crime
and Criminals.
IMPORTANT CHANGES SUGGESTED.
What Some Of the Liquor
Dealers Say.

The labors of tho committee far as the examination
of witnesses is concerned, will terminate Wednes-
day next
Colonel J. r. Fellows the first witness examined
and In reply to Mr. Townsend said that he formerly
Assistant District Attorney for nearly shroe years.
had during that time large experience in trying cases
The witness having explained the meaning Of certain
statutes relative to the OF prisoners
that with regard to the indefinite suspension OF
tences upon convicted prisoners judges had such
power conferred on them by any statute.
Mr. AcGowan-Do you know OF any power tho
part of judge, who, having sentenced prisoner can
recall that prisoner and discharge him9
witncss-No, srI he might modify that sentence
upon proper represent ntatons the judge call pris-
oner in transltu, for instance to State Prison. and
either lessen increase his sentence; but IL ho had
entered upon the execution Of his sentence further
proceedings rested with tho Executive. The witness
thought that there should be efficiency the Dis
Attorneys olce and owing 10 the great pressure
of business there should be assistants Tho peo-
pie in every instance should be represented by
thorized olcor Tho District Attorney has more busi-
ness he possibly attend to- There should bo
SPECIAL SESSIONS
and the presiding justices should have the right en-
pancling jury This would very much facilitate tho
present overcrowded state of business There should
be three judges appointed permanently the Special
u
magistrate should not be taken for trial before the
same justice Special AS to the powers OF
the District Attorney the witness said that suppose
prisoner was indicted for offence where novel
propositions OF law arose and the District Attorney
asked for the ruling of tho Court the Court ovorrues
him and the prisoner acquitted by the jury the Dis
trict Attorney should be permitted to have right 10
appear before the Court of Appeals order that
ceeding may have the boneht OF It's decision.
CRIME
Tho witness stated that in his opinion the immediate
cause Of in this city the too free indulgence
in liquor. There wcrc other reasons that mako the
percentage larger in this than in other cities.
O State them
A. First, we have 'arger percentage OF liberty than
is enjoyed by any other government in the world. In
other countries the prisoners under more espion-
age. When tho criminal Is hunted down In England
or Germany or in any of the large Cities and COM
PEELED fee he to America and gravates, and
tho sums OF the city well conceal himself aud
have botter opportunity OF doing his work. New
York Is the sewer through which overy nation pours
The witness then referred to tho provisions of thu
Excise law, which he said neither he anybody else
understood Witness believed that appeal from
tho Court of Special Sessions should go to the Court Of
Appeals direct He considered the law allowing pris
testify in his behalf dangerous to the pris-
oner whether he be innocent guilty Of the crimo
At tho conclusion of Mr.. Fellows evidence there was
read letter, in which
RECORDER HxCKErr SAYS
RECORDERS CHAMBERS, l
No. sI7 BROADWAY, NEw YoaK, Dec, 7 1914,
missss Crime. and scsaosodgns receipt q po
@ater IN this y set
he does not b Sss S Judge sGod eve, be
traon Of criminal matters in the county wheren he acts
oa Gs
have been expressed In and charges during the
Il would be delicate IL his Judgment for him to speak
him utter opinions touching others and no respectfully
toward tho public should privilege him from befos
ya a % the named should
and II majority Of the eommttee disagree with him, OF
To Mr. JoHS d. TOWNSEND, Of Counsel for Committee.
A
sr Ambrose H Purdy, Assistant United States Dis
perence IN the practice of prosecuting and defending
criminals He might suggest that ho considered it
outrage that citizen should bo arrested and that in
der to have examination before magistrate he muss
stay Jail until indicted He thought that tho magis-
trate should have the power TO take bail There could
be objection 10 1t whatever. He also thought that
any citizen who lives here should DO omitted OK
animation before dicmen Again. the District Attor-
ney shoud have exclusive charge othe Grand Jury
partsans should not be allowed into their He
in favor of trying certain class OF small misdemeanors
BY information, which would considerable time
and expense. Judges, he thought, should be limited
to defining the law to jury rather than giving their
opinion upon the facts OF case. They should not
comment upon the facts IN charging jury In such
there were two summlngs up, ono by the Judge
aud one by the prosecutor. AS the law stood a
jury often found prisoner guilty upon tho facts
stated by the Judgo He regarded the present method
of arragning prisoners and taking pleas as most
vicious rho jury sat in court say from eleven
twelve o'clock and all the prisoners hudded to-
gether and naturally bocame hardened against the one
In tho dock about to be tried Then again. man may
be arrested a civil process and lodged in Ludlow
Street Jail He is placed under 800 O00 ball. for in
stance aud when his he cannot appear
unless he gives ball. which no may be unable to obtain.
This was altogether wrong and should bo remedied.
Again. he considered that the severe sentences inflicted
in certain cases decided cause of increase or
crmo He had read that Doan had said "Hackctt
taken nv chance FOR murder He was decidedly on.
posed to the private detective system They often took
prisoners to their own houses The witness denounced
IscARcERArISG WITNESSES
at present prevailing
Mr Fellows was recalled and cited humorous cases
OF hardship which had occurred through mprisoning
witnesses In tho House OF Detention AS the dctcc.
two system he considered IL should be secret he be-
lcved the police force which altogether inadequate
for the protection OF the city should DO under
trolling head who would have full authority every
The committee here took recess.
AFTER RECESS
John Keenan,, examined said he is liquor dealer;
he had heard complaints in reference tho adutera
ton Of spirits, but he did not know " anything to
adultcrae liquors except water he did not approve OF
sales; the proof Of spirits tested by the
hydrometor; ho considered that there ought TO DO
some method adopted to stop the sale OF injurious
liquor and liquor should be sold 10 habitual drunk
ards, women or children at barr whiskey ought TO DO
kept years after dstilaton before being drunk;
the character Of every porson asking for license
should DO thoroughly examined
Abart Krauss, also u lquor dealer, considered II
wrong 10 establish many grades OF license; he
thought $50 reasonable FOR liquors and beer.
Formerly liquors adultcratcd with other creosoe
and single recned spirits He was IN favor OF having
exciso inspectors appointed 10 examine quor. an of
having a penalty Imposed upon those who sold n.
furious liquors. Ho thought the Commissioners Of
Excise should not have tho power 10 grade licenses,
nor should the police havo right 10 make arrests of
Iouor dealers after court hours II was tho wish of
She LIQUOR dealers to have uniform excise law through
out the State.
Noses Iansberg who manufactures bitters said that
the retailer was not TO be blamed for the doeterious
i character Of liquor All domestic liquors made
4 from essential oils and cologne spirits
NEW YORK WORST wHIsKBT
| or any city In the United states. As general ruls
New Yorkors drink moro foreign splrits, which, OF
course are adutcraed whereas In the West and South
thoy uso the domestic article. In Chicago for Instance