The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-18

license proof that the person complained Of had quo,
exposed upon his premises shall be prfma Jaele evi.
dence against him.
Among the numerous excellent suggestions which
have been made 10 the committee for the suppression
OF crime there one that has struck them with peculiar
force IL is that law should be passed granting the
criminal courts at the time Of sentence the power
adding TO a sentence OF imprisonment a sentence OF
surveillance for additional time not to exceed the
term OF Imprisonment; that is TO say, If prisoner IL
sent TO Stale Pi for four years he may
time be sentenced add ona years Of police
veance aud this should be exercised IN such way
this registry should be Kept al headquarters and
every person under sentence OF surveillance should
be required while IN the city TO report HIM
self less than once month at headquar-
ters in person, giving his name and address. and
should he fail 70 do SO be found in the city be
should then be liable 20 punishment as for misde-
meanor similar law should be passed against the use
OF aliases, and persons giving false names when appre
hended for any offence should be liable to additional
punishment found guilty OF other crimes, or 70 prn-
lshnent as for misdemeanor II no offence De charged
against them The effect OF these two laws viii be 10
make the whereabouts Of the criminal classes better
known to the police, and the detectives will find II
easier TO deal with them. To carry out the same idea,
whenever q New York prisoner is about to be dis
charged from one OF the state prisons or from the
County Penitentary il should the duty of the War
den OF the institution nofy the superintendent Of
Police OF the fact ana Of the date which the discharge
will take place.
THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS.
The committee in different places IN their report
take occasion severely the regulations and
rules OF the charitable nstitutons-the rombs (which
prison is in shameful condition. the Pententiary
suggestions TO Commissioners Brennan, Cox ami
Bailey as 10 their management OF the penitentiary
they say great abuse Ia the prison TO which our
special attention directed the absolute failure
separate prisoners in accordance with their age and
character. the youth and the Old criminal were
joined close together, and the idea OF making DIS
tincton seems irst TO have presented Itself to the
prison authorities alter the examination made by tho
committee The building is pronounced inadequate
and the law forbdding the sale OF convict labor absurd
AT all events law should be passed al once, allow
ing the Commissioners OF Charities and Correction, IN
Nh.trA ali tn Gail
labor TO contract it, IN such manner and under such
regulations as the Legislature may deem best"
SPECIAL COURT
rhe committee is decidedly OF opinion that It is not
oily advisable but absolutely necessary the suppress
pendent Court OF Special Sessions should be created
consisting OF two justices perhaps three; that the
members of this court should SIT every day and should
bestow their entire attention upon the Court OF Specai
Sessions, and that the District Attorneys Office should
be represented in the Court Of Special Sessions 10
accomplish which viii be necessary that the Leglsla
ture should authorize the District Attorney 10 appoint
another assistant
LUDLOW STREET JAIL
OF this place they talk plainly folows:-"In fact,
the keepers practice all sorts Of petty extor-
tons upon the prisoners and the general character OF
the keepers is pronounced by the Deputy Warden, MI
Gardner an old and experienced officer, not good, IL
does not appear that any of discipline whatever
exist for the government Of the keepers II further
appears, on the testimony Of all the witnesses,
including the Keepers, that in fragrant deli
ance OF the law regular bar is maintained
In the prison, the emolumenls OF which 10 the
periors Prisoners frequently get intoxicated there,
although the witnesses think that tho keepers take
pains not 10 let them get too drunk An extraor
binary feature Of the jail is that there confined
in II twenty EIGHT prisoners held as criminals by
the United States courts and charged with such
crimes perjury, robbery, smuggling counterciting,
forgery and piracy, and also certain other United
States prisoners who have been tried convicted and
are in fact working their sentences. without per-
forming any labor, in our Jail for poor debtors" Your
committee would recommend that the cost Of sus-
tanning the prisoners be taken away from the Sheriff.
that the Warden have as is the case with the War
den of the Tombs, absolute and uncontrolled authority
Its management subject only To the authority OF
his superior; that the county maintain the prison.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
The report crtcses the management of the District
Attorneys office very severely specifically and tho
suggestions OF the committee Tor fresh legislation IN
this branch OF the city government are voluminous
and are chiefly as ws:-Prisoners seem 10 have
been indicted and discharged without the know ledge OF
the District Attorney; bail taken apparently without
his consent prisoners taken from the jurisdiction
OF the inferior magistrates without his suggestion by
assistant district attorney, and even by clerk in
his Office and these persons discharged without any
apparent In the face OF the facts as
they exist and Of testimony unexplained by the District
Attorney, tho committee can have no doubt
that he has been negligent in his duty The
committee recommend that the assistant dis
trict attorneys, and the CHIEF clerk also, II
ntrusted with the powers which the chief clerk IN
the Office OF the District Attorney of this city TO
be ntrusted with, should be officers that all
bonds given for bail IN criminal shall be made
lien upon the property described IN the bond TO pre-
vent the giving of straw bail; law that no money
shall be received by the District Attorney IN lieu Of
bail bond, except upon order Of the Court TO that
effect, specifying the amount TO be received; law
requiring the renewal OF bail bonds after Indictment;
a law that in shall the amount OF bail be tx
reduced bail be taken, except by order Of the
Court which shall appear in the minutes thereof;
law providing that 10 all cases where prisoners
brought 10 the bar TO plead TO indictments
they shall first be asked by the clerk If they have
counsel, OF If they have the means TO procure
counsel and II they say they have means
TO procure counsel the Court shall assign counsel
before they required to plead to the Indictment,
and in no shall any person be put upon trial until
least three days shall have expired after counsel
shall have been assigned or after he has pleaded to tho
indictment; law making IL unlawful for grand jury
TO find an indictment except upon the testimony of
witnesses before them and that the evidence
taken before committing magistrate shall be used by
them only, If at ALL for the purpose OF facilitating and
aiding their examination of witnesses who pre-
scented before them law that all applications 10 the
Court for relief 10 prisoner charged with crime shall
be in writing and to, and that such affidavit shall
be led with the Clerk OF the Court and become part
OF the record of the case; and law compelling the
wardens OF the various PRISONS pententiarles and
foratorie to report each month the names OF the
who have been received by them, and the date
when received, TO the clerks Of the various
in VIII CHI they were sentenced.