The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-24
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT.
NEGLECT IN THE NAIL SERVICE.

NEGLECT IN THE NAIL SERVICE.
In the United States Circuit. criminal branch,
yesterday before Judge Benedict the Grand Jury
came into court and made a presentment, in
which they say that during their investigation
into certain offences against the Postal laws it
appeared that the New York Transfer Company
are contractors Tor carrying the mails OF the
United States in the city OF New YORK that they
are In the habit OF intrusting the said mails to
the custody and control OF young boys employed
by them to drive their wagons and in whose Sc
lection no proper care is exercised. No oath Is
required OF the boys, they give no bonds they are
Incompetent to guard or protect properly the
possess the requisite qualifications for the dis
charge OF sucn responsible duties, by reason OF
which, In the opinion Of the jurors aforesaid, the
said contractors are guilty OF gross negligence IN
the execution OF their contract, and the mails OF
the United States with the correspondence and
property OF citizens lntrusted thereto are daily
In danger Of loss, destruction and embeZzlcment
In passing through the CITY OF New York. and for
Sv sad CONTRACTORS Of the interests confaed to
them, IN the opinion OF the jurors aforesaid their
contract should be annulled, and the transpOrta-
ton OF the United States mails through the city of
New York Entrusted to parties more competent
and faithful, unless the abuses OF the present
contract are Immediately reformed. No action
has yet been taken by the Court IN the premises
ALLEGED CRUELTY AT SEA.
cyrus Z. Staples, captain OF the American bark
La Planto was yesterday brought before United
States Commissioner Shields charged with cruelty
beating the steward OF the vessel Joseph Jackson,
colored, on the 26th and 27th OF September last
From the statement made by Jackson IL appears
that there was one passenger on board the vesse,
VINO was in the habit OF receiving coffee with the
officers. on Sunday morning. September 2e, his
co1ee was sent TO him. but he refused to take 1t,
anu 1t was brought back to the galley by the cabin
BOY. The passenger, whose name was Washton,
aiterward complained to the Captain, VINO there
upon punished the cabin boy, beating and Ill.
using him. The Captain then called the comp ain
ant on deck and there beat him with Delaying
PIN. Jackson says that the nrst mate, Elisha
sutherland, also struck hin on the head with
heavy piece of iron, INJECTING wound.
The next day he was unable TO WORK, ana told the
Captain that he would go to work as soon as he
could. The latter told him he would either have
to go to work at once or be triced up" On stating
agan that he was unable to work he tied up
m the rigging and his clothes torn or him, after
which he was logged by the Captains order
getting twenty five or thirty asnes with a ropes
end The bark arrived at Boston, to which port
she was bound from Batavia, lava. The Captain
then told him ne could not do anything against
him. ana offered him $25, telling him TO go to New
York and he would pay his fare when he arrived
himself Plaintiff refused TO take the money but
came on this city, and on the Captains arrival
here had him arrested. The Captain yesterday
fu nished bail In $4,000 10 await examination,
which was set down for wednesday next.