The New York herald., 1878-03-05
CRIMES OF THE PERIOD.

ISFANTrIpE, MALPRACTICE, ABANDONMENT
AND EMBzzzLEMENr-REcoR HAcKErT's
CHARGE TO THE GEAyD JURY.
Recorder Hacket took his seat on the bench OF the
Court OF General Sessions. Part l. yesterday at eleven
O'Clock. His charge TO the Grand Jury. in which lie
alluded TO tho crime Of nianticde, numerous cases
having recently before the courts, listened
10 with great attention.
The Recorder SAID
MR. FOREMAN AsD GENTLEMEN or THE GRAND
JuRY:-Tne regular last OF accused persons who
under detention VITA criminal charges viii be aId bc-
fore you, and upon II you Will hna the OF tour
who are charged with icIonious medding the busi-
ness oil infanticide
say cuisines" regarding this crime because, as
am told by the agents Of the Society Tor the suppress
SION OF Viee, Childbirth preventing has become
ness ootn organized and lucrative. Only the lowest
order OF beasts destroy their unborn young only
men aud women OF besual tendencies wouia make
business IN aiding desolate or unfortunate women TO
anucipltc natures marvellous machinery in I'M
pousiy usurping Heaven prerosatve Of ueaing with
that mysterious essence OF soul which medical men
Cali lmtus. therefore invite your especial and carly
attention 10 these calendar instances.
ABANDONING cHiLDREN.
Abandonment oI children upon the street has also
become common crime. Tue statute book lrow us
upon II with maximum penalty OF seven years of
mprisonmenL This shows how severely even tho
humane rcvisers regarded this offence. The police
report many cases OF II. Yet few oil the dehnquenls
are arrested because such dsep attends their
acts. Az the beginning OF the last term there was,
however an arraiRnmeu Tor this offence. IL was The
timc ana On the street No indications appeared, or
were iniercntally presented tending to show that the
mother Was or mad been in any degree aHecleu with
pusrperal On tho contrary. The evidence pre-
sented apart from her own ucelarations case oil uu
eehng cruelty, especially IN this city, where the
chariiJ oil tho Church shanes the charity OF the
woria ny providing well managed Founding Asylum
however, one OF tho most discreet magistrates mad
primarily examined into the facts and committed the
Offending woman Tor trial. The DISTRICT Attorney,
aiier perusing the aidavits, had accepted unmodi
ned plea Of guilty.. No cxtcnuating circumstances
l IL,
outy IN this recent discovery OF common crime 10
set an example by imposing pri sonment, yet less
than one-haf OF the statutory term.
THE PROPER METHOD OF PUNISHMENT.
me purpose OF punishment is 10 prevent future
crime, says Blackstone, rather than TO cxpiate the
past For this Judcla action, after an Investigations
III which Two other officials shared, have iound the
judgment cenured ii several QuarLcrs rather by
correspondents. who naturally consulted their own
affective or emotional faculties instead OF their
But In regard to women who may be unfortunately
tempted INTO any crime whatsoever It might bo wolf
or the Legislature 10 provide for tneir imprisonment
in disciplinary asy lums, instead OF penten
tarics vr instead oil the penal institution 1T Black
Wells Island, which Is not by any means reforma-
tory place To considerations which practically con-
Germ these references also inve your cordial OPP
eration; ana snoud any case OF cruel exposure OF an
infant In the street come before you inquire partcu-
larry whether the mother. II the offender be the
mother, showed indications Of puerperai mama, be-
cause II SO the law VIII not hold her 10 responsibility.
FALSE PRETENCEs.
furthermorc invite your notco oil the many CON-
plants made Wy the commercial community regarding
money and goods obtained by false pretences This is
empnaticaiiy the swindng age An army OF needy
SPECTATORS beseges every business centre, New
YorK city especially. Offences that arc unwonted,
novel aud ingenious deserve our first attention. lcst
the guilty take some immunity through our attending
preferentiay to tnat stereotyped catalogue Of crime
with which officials aud the community are uniortu.
natcIy too we'll iamiliarized.
now pass TO the statutory requirements that the
presiding Judge shall caarge upon ofonces to
every Grand Jury when elnpaueilcd, aud rcad
to you the title OF the offences referred to. and then
shall dismiss you to you: chamber TO proceed the
examination OF such complaints shalt DC furnished
to you by the District All tiOrney.
His Honor In conclusion, referred to the statutory
requirements, and the Grand Jury, having retired TO
their chamber, proceeded with the examination OF
complaints.