New-York tribune., 1878-02-18
TIE MYSTRRIES OF BlIL.

Bail-bonds and rascality have always been closely
associated especially in the lower criminal courts
and at the Tombs the bail business has for long
time been carried on in way calculated 10 rehuer
the atmosphere of that stronghold by no means aro-
matte A pretty bit Of knavery was discloseu
last week, growing out of the case OF notorious
old woman, whO after many years OK lucrat'c
crime has, for wonder. got herself into the dock
at last The offence charged beng an important
one, her bonds. as she wanted continuance were
fixed in the sum of 10000, and two persons, who
satisfied the Court of their competency, jointly gave
sureties TO that amount. One of them, Gounod, a
retired liouor dealer, on surrendcring his principal
on Friday. let the cat out of the bag III a rather
amusing way 1t appears that young man
named Thompson, who is a messenger IN
the Office of the District-Attorney, adds to his
pecuniary resources by acting as bail broker'
His services being called into requisltlon. he soon
found Gounod, who agreed, upon being amply Sc
cured and paid $3.50 for his trouble to become one
of the reduircd suretes Another competent person
was fonnd who also for $3.50 agreed to do the cul-
prit n like service. Whether the sum mentioned Is
the regular rate paid to baers at the police courts
or whether there a sliding scale adapted to the de-
grees of trouble which the prisoner Is IN, from iha-
slaughter 10 misdemeanOr. we 40 NOT KNOW DIS
crcditablc as 1t may be to human nature we are IN
cned to think that the rUle is to swlndle the uh-
foriunote capye 10 the full extent OF his pccuniary
res Jurces or those Of his friends The kindly ~
tie nen who offer their services to those who are
piuing for release have usually pretty generous
idea of the value OF their assistance.
Iiut il is diamond cut diamond in these
cases. The prisoner in the aforementioned case
handed $3.50 20 Thompson, with the understanding
that he was to hand it to Gounod. He was not YER
-. .ft- ,trff 4 fV
own poeket. II was natural enough that GOunod.
ENGAGED at this, should surrender his prisoner.
Thompson, however, did not surrender the money,
by any manner of means. H. had, he said, done
what he alrced to do--he had furnished bonds
man. But when that bondsman also appealed TO linn
70 make restitution he told that as he had sur
rendered the matter was nOnc OF his business. 30
Thomson remained in triumphant possession oil the
money and the prisoners lawyers looked about Tor
another bondsman.
This astounding piece Of swindling went on di-
rectly under the honorable nose OF the Court. III
Is palpaby against public policy and good morals,
but nobody felt called upon TO interfere. 1t seemed
to be looked upon ustlfabe piece OF police court
trckery quite cons stent with both law andeQuity,
the rule beng in these regions that he shall get
who has the power. and he shall keep VINO can
The old woman who furnished the funds. has had
foretaste already of what she is 10 expect. Whether
She il able or not TO bug herself free from the pen
atirs of the law she will Gnd before all is over,
large hole in her vilcy earned heap of money. She
can hardly expect much sympathy, but the law
which has undertaken to deal with her ought, if not
for her sake at least for the sake of justice to pro-
tect her from extoriion. We suppose that police
magistrate would take judicial notice of pocket
picked before his very eyes even though it should
be the pocket OF thief.
There is no law perhaps, which prohibits man
from securing compensation for signing bal-bond.
4 system. however, of such compensations is likely
10 lead to 80 much fraud aud so many misrepresen-
tatiors not to say peDuries, that 1t should not be
encouraged. The cXtortioners who infcst the lower
criminal courts. and who make money out of the
misery and heplessncss of the inmates, ought to
be bau,hcd if IL j. all in the power of the court
legally 10 Danish them.