The New York herald., 1875-12-30
THE COMMITTEE ON CRIME.
lis Last Session YeSterday-Why Mr. Phelps
Would Not Appear.
INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.

The Assembly Committee met yesterday in the City
Hail. for the last time There were present Of the
committee Thomas Cooper Campbell, John T. Nc
Gowan, Jacob Hess and Leo Dessar. The chairman
stated that be had conversation with the District
Attorney that day, asking him to come before the
committee and the District Attorney politely declined
The correspondence, however, between himself and
Mr. Phelps in relation the same matter he wished
placed on the Official record.
Mr. Townsend counsel for the committee IN reply
to question Of Mr.. Campbelfs sad OF l.l0O missing
indictments only 40 found, and these were for
selling lottery policies The list Of the missing ones
sent to the District Attorneys Office to oe checked
off, and these were all that discovered
among the other persons asked to come before the
committee TO make suggestions as TO reform in the
criminal law, and who also politely declined we're
Judge Ingraham, ex-Judge Garvin and Messrs Rollins
McKeon and Beach. Mr.. Beach wrote a letter, saying
that II was not much reform in the law that was
wanted reform the administration OF the law.
The committee then consulted together and decided
to adjourn stne die.
Mr.. Campbell said before adjourning he wished to
thank the press in the OF the committee for the
aid they had extended giving full reports Of the pro-
ceedings thus showing the public the nature, extent
and completeness OF their investigation, and in their
editorials referring the testimony in such manner
that much valuable Information adduced from per-
who otherwise would not have the courage to tell
what they knew After these remarks the committee
into executive session.
The following correspondence between Thomas
Cooper Campbell, chairman Of the committee and Dis
trct Attorney Phelps with be found valuable and inter-
estng reading at il tends to clear up many things that
somewhat obscure to the continued refusal OF
MT Phelps to appear before the committee and testify
also his opinion Of the doings and intentions Of the
famous Committee on Crime.
THE CORRESPONDENCE
CRY County OF New YORK
= nsThcT @ ATToENnYs OFFICE Dec 10 is'o'
SRI received yesterday from the counsel for your
committee requesting my attendance at your session to-day
TO make suggestions as TO the points on which they uhe
moment under subpoena to attend before the senate Com
mittee this morning, could not attend session II de-
been advised upon what topics any su
gestions from myself would be welcome do not feel that
should be likely 70 make any valuable contribution to tho
months Either Of these is sufficient for comply
ing with the request expressed BY your counsel ,,
bear that there other considerations which abun
good any public service by appearing your
committee TO make suggestions The whole course OF
counsel has been such and confirm wide
any reform either the law its administration
weaken public confidence in certain individuals engaged in
that administration OF all the eminent who have
heretofore held Office IN this county as Judges OF the su.
assistant district attorneys, far AS am
has been invited examination that his views
crimes might be secured None of the many eminent ad
courts have been asked to e express their views
The time Of the committee has been mainly occupied IN
panants discharged clerks the disposition Of indi
vdual cases In many instances the committee would
seem been of review the pro-
ceedngs of courts in the singular fashion hearing only
side As specimen among many Of the way in which the
time the committee has been occupied the counsel seemed
press upon the the idea that there something
Illegal in the commitment OF conycts under sixteen Of
A %
were examined who were less than sixteen and
s aay nsa Tns WARDEN was nS to prepare
%so the . % ss aS M
sixteen years Of age since July ls72 That list was pre-
for the for the first that ION
looking the statute ind that under years Of
had actually proceeded to investigate the subject under the
excited comment rom the press and much criticism without
its counsel putting himself 70 the trouble Of looking
At the statute to ascertain there what u Is be.
lieyed no lawyer OF any familiarity whatever
will be clerk under the direction
o ssp i the the s e es' % s s
counsel for the committee puts that IN evidence 10 the G
found the Clerks Office and that to make part Of
% nd Of s 3 G .
the time the truth yz that the socaed missing in
in the sales Of office for the greater convenience Of
This fact was perecty susceptible proof wthOu.
pendue tithe o the time expense ncaed by the
you with The recital Of the similar in which
conduct OF the investigation has been such to lead
suppose that the object Of tho committee to and
II possible convict officers the Of election rather
practice And additional color given to this den by tho
% S." win Ssa &, %s
tee would be happy to hoar him ut any time.
with crime and called upon 70 defend himself but from
LEGISLATIVE committee SET 50 devise remeae; for supposed
unusual form Of expression.
my Judgment there is such degree of
mutual confidence existing between the committee or
der suggestions on my part either welcome or profit
For months counsel endeavord to persuade you
by tue evidence he adduced II not the public whose
he has bssn snecessin my snsgsstions should have no
Yours respectfully, BENJAMIN X PHELPS
MR. oAzrBELL's REPLY.
Hon BrrIAris K PurLrs. Distrie. Attorney
absence from my Office and 70 the stupidity 81
it. Your suggestion that than twenty hours no
tce your requested appearance before committee
you deem necessary We have never given notice Of much
ready accommodate you that as in All other reasonable
matters As TO the remaining suggestions in letter
them seriatm think you msniormed In many facts
s nos svars any tina, the oh
Ject sought was TO weaken public confidence in
certain Individuals" Certainly the press has given
expression TO any such impression nor have we AZ least
prevails or not il is utterly erroneous.
You cdcse the failure TO summon Judges experts in
been invited 70 attend but deemed such attendance ncom
patbe with his diguity with his position the bench
the last days examination had reserved for yourself Mr.
Rollins Mr. Fellows and Mr. Purdy The testimony these
gentlemen, In addition to that OF Mr. Aer. deemed
sufficient testimony the subject Of reform Of
criminal law far the prosecution OF criminals In
higher courts Is concerned.
Now 10 the general OF examination pursued by
the committee appointed TO investigate existing
evils if such there considered Il judicous
from the public information abuses claimed
taken place instead of connng ourselves
Of the heads OF departments experts
the various branches within the OF u A
rigid examination made Of all the inform alton that
brought before the committee, and large number
which submitted to the committee
either In writing by word Of mouth. were
not brought public examination. they were not
considered sufficiently substantiated TO such
All the other deemed the ele
strong prtnaa and therefore
alters OF record In ali of the departments eight
Der through which Jurisdiction the heads
sponsbe parties summoned after the close o tho pec