The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-29
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PROSTlTUTING HIS OFFICE.
GRiYE CHARGEs dGAINST DISTRICT
ATTORNEY BRITrON
A Letter from tho Recent Grand Jurv ~
Gov. Tildcu-Why Some Kings COuntt
Oniciuis werc not Indicted Last Month.

A Letter from tho Recent Grand jury -
Gov. Tildcu-Why some Kings COuntt
Oncinis werc not Indicted Last Month.
ALBANY, Dec. 23.-The following docu.
ment has been submitted TO Gov. Tilden:
10 MS Escegsncv .gsaL j. 7Yiien. ootsrnor OF M
state of Ne,c IorI
DEAR SIR: We, the undersigned, were mem.
bers of the Grand Jury in the Court of Sessions,
In the county of Kings, for the month of No.
vember last We deem II our imperative duty
to call your attention to the conduct Of Win.
chester Britton, District Attorney Of Kines
county, in his Intercourse with us as grand
jurors.
IL came TO Our knowledge that certain wrongs
had been perpetrated by some Of the public on
GERS Of Brooklyn, and their ofiiclAi conduct was,
as We believe. In clear violation Of law we'll as Of
morals. We undertook the investigation ofthess
Offences. and abOrcd assiduously as we believed,
In the public interest, and In the discharge Of
the duties devuved upon us by our official oath.
Notwithstanding the dis advantages we laborcd
under. owing to the want Of cooperation on tho
part Of the District Attorney, We were neverthc.
less able to develop. by the s~orn evidence OF
reliable witnesses. n most startling system OF
corruption and haclmGiling on tho part OF Ger.
tain prominent officials. We believe the minutes
of the Grand Jury viii satisfy your ExcellencY
that the Indictment should have been found
and vigorously prosecuted. INT indict-
ments were not found we have no hcsi.
tntinn In saving was owpS wholly to
the determination of the District Attorney
to shield his political friends lie Delayed us in
the prosecution uf our inquiries, and at last
sured IA that there was nor time to prepare in
dictulents. and that II indictments were TO be
found lie did not know how To draft them and
II found, they could not be maint incd. Wa
are clear In the opinion that tho sugg nstions OF
Mr.. IIrittOn, and his whole action In this mat
ter were dictated by desire to shield the
gully at the expense OF the welfare Of
the public. There Is widespread feeling
among the law abiding classes Of Kings county
that they are suffering under gricvous wrongs az
the hands of many I'm offical positions. That
impression we believe to be well founded The
facts developed before us az Grand Jurors on
sworn evidence, makes II conclusive to our
minds that some radical steps should I've taken
to purify our local Government. Our experience
AZ grand juro renders IL equally conclusive
that the Dstiict Attorney stands between tho
people and their just rights. We rIe not law
yers, ana do uot Know preci- ely how FAR we may
riIhtfully 20, under our Olfciai onth, In dsclOs-
ing what occurred before az in the jury ioom;
but we appeal to your Exec llency to trie such
steps ~ may hc just and proper to relieve us
from the distractions to justice whtch have
been an ou'rAg 'ously internosed by tue District
Attorney in the case alludcd to.
VERY respectfully, your ob uit Mt servants,
HENRY A. RtCHAKD, NJ WnIIING,
THOMAS OWENS. THOMAS FORDHR,
EDw ". VAUGHAN, GEORGE II. NORFOLK,
SAMUEL $. NOOitHELs, n. g lNVlSE,
HENRY HITTING, N. EVANS.
RkNsOR w. HI.IYER, Fi. ilEitR