New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-06

abandonment Of it; Mr.. Shannon was elected
by constituency of Democrats disguised, like
himself, with the gross and long-continued
abuses and excuses of the Ring And not
only have his immediate constituents been
thus driven from support Of the party by those
controlling its organization, but many thou
sands more in other wards OF the city rebel
against the Rings dication. And further,
scores of leaders who influence public opinion
have been alienated from support OF Nc
Laughlm by his dictatorial spirit, and now
seek to reorganize the party. We cannot see
i'm the present situation anything other than
the destruction of the Ring. The result of the
election to-day ought to confirm the vlctoIs III
their places, and secure, moreover, the I'M
poItant Offices of Mayor and District-Attomey,
which are still contested.
OF the five officers of broken life insurance
companies whose trials began yesterday, two
have been under indictment for perjury since
February l. and three since early in May The
Lapse Of six or nine months in cases of such
prominence has spread the notion among the
community that perhaps the accused would
not be tried at all. 1t is alleged that these
persons, by their perjury have aided IN per-
pctrating swiudlcs upon the public. Hence
the notion that they would not be brought to
trial has done great harm TO the legitimate
and honest business of life insurance. II
is well known that in numerous IN
stances men who would otherwise have
been ready and willing to insure their lives for
the benefit of their families, have, during TINS
delay of Justice, refused to risk their money
I'm insurance. because they doubted whether
our laws give any help against official dis
honesty. These trials will he watched with
more than mere curiosity. both by solvent com
panics and the general public. 1t is scarcely
too much to say that very many people will
form their estimates of the value or worthless
ness of life insurance 10y the proceedings and
results in these perjury cases.
Nothing short of the indisputable facts that
have been disclosed could make the story of
Libby O'Bricn's thefts credible. That a girl Of
thirteen should pcrpetrate such long list Of
robhe,ics, till their total runs mp to sum Of
perhaps s. 900, shows two things clearly
that the world has not yet grown ont Of the
habit of assOciatnc youth and innocence as
iuscpalable qualities; and that the system under
which thieves are detected IN this city, works
slowly and not surely. so far as society is
concerned. perhaps it is better to keep up the
dclusion about the innocence Of youth,
than TO be always disirusting poor chill
drcn who look as if they were honest.
But there is evidently something wrong in
n system of police regulations under which
mere child finds easy and abundant oppor-
tmitcs for disposng of so many stolen goods
nj the pawn-shops 1t has more than once
been said that the chief reason for the success
of pickpockets, thieves and burglars in this
city. is the facility with which they
can dispose Of stolen property The con-
trast in this respect between New-York and
European cities might he further illustrated
by the statement that the recovery Of stolen
property is not uufrcquent abroad; here it
is among the rare events. Perhaps it might
be desirable to try and convict few pawn
brokers.