The New York herald., 1878-07-11
THE EAGER COMSTOCK.

HOW he PROCURED AN INDICTMENT AGAINST
MRS DIR. CHASE AND WHAT RESULTED yRoM
IT.
On May 16 the Grand Jury inquired into tho charge
OF sclag unlawful Instruments preferred by Mr.. An
thony Comstock against Dr. Sara Blakeslee Chase,
and unanimously dismissed tho complaint. Mrs.
Chase subsequently, commenced a suit against Mr..
Comstock Tor damages for illegal arrest. At the
June term OF tho Court Mr. ComstocK went be-
fore District Attorney Phelps and presented
additional affdsvits against Mrs. Chase. with. a
request that he DO allowed TO go before the
Grand Jury then in session. Mr. Phelps sad
he did rot cens,der tho should be rcopcned aud
sent the papers the clerks Office with the following
inuorsement:--s'i do not think II best 10 send ibs
case again before grand Jury. II rs evident that the
Indictment failod, not ior Lack Vt evidence but be-
cause the Grand Jury ala not mink u lor tho public
sooa order A." Some tmc alter this the then lore.
man OF the Grand Jury asked the District Attorney
whether case against Mrs. Chase was MOTTO como
before tho grand Inquest, whercrpon Mr.. Pbclps
informed him OF the facts aud his
acton thereon Nothing further was heard of
ihe matter un,,i ye.erdy when n'c,, ,ne Grand
against Mrs. Chase Tor selling uplaSIul INSTRUMENTS
THUS was the irss int,maon any body IN The District
Attorneys oice bad OF any new proceedings against
Mrs. Chase, and an invesugaton was, Of course, set
fooI
DEFEATED, Aprsa ALL.
Ii WAS then discovered that Mr. Coiustock-withoot
consulting Or notfying anybody IA the District At
torney's OH Q, without beng invited or PERMITTED TO
70 before tho Grand Jury, and without obtanO pos
session oi the original papcrsbad gone before that
Uody and asked pcruissIon to make his slate
mcut oi the case against Mrs Chase. The request
was acrccded TO- ana alter hearing Comstocks story
the Grand Jury, unaware OF the action taken by
preceding body. found Two indicim mcuts, Mr. COM
stock himself supplying the biis, which were all
ready for presentation alter receiving the iorcmans
signature. The bills were then hanucd IN to Judge
sutherland, anu learning tho means oy which tncr
nnding had been procured Assistant DISTRICT Attorney
Konns aciing ior air. Phelps, informed tno Court OF
the iacis asked leave TO enter noc prostqui on
each Indictment Judge sutherland promptly granted
the motIon, and none was eutsred ON each
bill, with Endorsement by Mr. Rollins
ioiiows:-"Ibc within case was iuiiy considered At
The MAY term OF the Grand Jury and unanimously
dismissed. Mr.. Anshony Comslock made application
TO Dstrct Attorney Phelps or opportunity TO pre-
&c The case again before another Grand jury fhe
District Attorney aid not consider srcn course wise,
or Ioftn al length by him on the papers
containing abstract OF the evidence These papers,
together with tho original complaint, across wbich
Was written by tho secretary Of tue Grand
Jury dismissed Unanimously arc and have been
Nav i6 on 0Ic IN the ONCE OF tho Clerk oil tue
court. without consultation with tho District Al
torney aud without informing the Grand jury of The
PRIOR dismissal Mr.. C0mstock won't before the Grand
Jury aud procured this indictment, TO which The Dis
rict Aitorney,b BY leave Of the Court, now enters
bo,le proseqoi"
Tho acton OF the sscressry Of the society Tor the
Suppression of Vice In attempting 10 roach Grand
jury the head OF the District Attorney created
general comment around the courts.