The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-14
JUSTICE" ON JUSTICE FLAMMER.

To THE EDITOR OF THE hEBALD:-
observe IN the HERALD OF yesterday that pre-
ceding communication from your reader "Jus-
sticer was deemed OF sufficient Importance to adj
nit OF dtdcle Of the HERALD questioning
Offcer Fallon as TO the reason for the amendment
by Justice Flammer OF the complaint against
Stockvls 1t appears that Oricer Faon most en-
phaticaliy denies that said amendment or altera-
ton was sanctioned by him, but was the sole act
OF Justice Flammer alter Fallon had signed and
sworn to bis complaint, or, in the language OF
your reporter :-"oficer Fallon most distinctly
averred that the words cole citing a crowd
and fgnting' were ADDED by the Judge alter
ne had signed his afildavit, and were not
added with his consent or approval"
In your able leader upon the Stockyis matter
yesterday you implied that reform had fallen
short Of its object selecting persons for respon-
slble positions unqualified to perform the duties
thereof or, IN other words the people were suffer
ing according to the developments OF the last few
days. under the administration of men in judicial
positions VINO smile at errors and laugh at law.
This latter view seems TO be very plain. SO far
Justice flammer IS concerned. Tor The policy or
the law has always been to surround prisoner
tat the time OF MS arraignmenl with protection
tnat should amount IN Its observance 10 sacred
ness II a prisoner stand mute before the Judge
he Is to DE regarded as innocent mot guiity:' he
IL not to De looked upon as one wno admits the
commission oil crime: MS very silence Is de-
hned by the law 10 be warning 10
juages tnat they should proceed cautiously,
ana, nay, the law commands tnat the Justice
must exercise the "greatest carep toward the
srragned mute. Yet the unfortunate Stockvis
DID not seem TO be aware tnat the law had pro-
vlded sUcn ample protection ior MN. lie was ar
rested for iutOxlcation; tnat cnarge was made
against him; It signed and sworn 20, and
when Stockvls was arraigned before the magls-
trate the prisoner uttered not protest, spoke
not a word raised not "A hand when the Justice, OF
his own voitlon, altered that complaint your
correspondent has before intimated that scch an
g.fx I'm q lain
acted mlnisterlally instead Of Judicialy IN the
mater, ana moreover, Ihegaily-so strict Is the
rue that III /. Demo, page 5oy, 1t was held that
wnere the magistrate commits an error wnue
acting minsteraily, by winch act party rs IN
jured, the Justice rs liable, although no corrupt
motives are charged.
Did Justice Fiammer, in order to justify his Sc
we're sentence OF stockvis alter tnat complaintt
Wnat precedent IL there IN law or justice Tor
magistrate TO inlet sentence OF six months In
The Worknouse in default OF ban, upon seeming
~ respectable man TO the knowledge Oh the nag
istrate, charged with intoxcaton, and not an
Old oGenderS Was the additional charge against
nun preferred by the justice IN pr0prta persona
because ne (stockvis) would not speak, or did the
Justice forget that the silence oil prisoner Is .
shie,d.
Your correspondent is prevented by delicacy
from further transgressIng upon your valuable
space, and begs leave TO close oy reInaiklng tnss
he believes himself 10 be refofrner and mas taken
some pains OF Iate to quietly investigate the mo-
dns operondt Of the running OF the machinery IN
police courts and observe the various loose
screws, &C., In the Judicial engine, actuated
TO the task by truthful facts pertinent 10 The mat
ter winch have been ventilated Dy the HERALD.
He mas ascertaned and realizes one Iacs that
whie the predecessors OF the present police JUS
tces made mistakes In behalf OF prisoners, the
Justices Ia police courts to-day make mistakes IN
their own behalf aud TO the tor Lure or the pris-
oner, falling 20 remember
That mercy 10 others show
That mercy show 10
AS 10 the system Of wringing "fines, so called,
Out IN truth rent money and blood money from
pnortunates, your correspondents hopes 10 have
the opportunity 20 snimadvert upon az a fnture
ume' a. "sA ~ TO the "nepotism" In said courts.
IiSrICk