New-York tribune., 1879-09-23
4 yEW Dell or THE CoURTS.

Mr. Lester Il. Faulkner, the Chairman oI
the Democratic State Committee, was yester-
day giving out mysterious hints that the
Very Extraordinary General Term Of the Su-
nreme Court convened for Political Purposes
had for an object not only the delay III the
restoration to his Office OF Police Commissioner
Nichols. but the removal of AIr. Wheeler,
one of the Republican Commissioners whose
removal without trial has been attempted py
Mayor Cooper and frustrated only by the IN
reference of the conrts. Mr. Faulkner was no
more definite in his assertions than to say that
the Extra General Term for Political Purposes
.bad in preparation petard which would
"hoist Mr.. Wheeler" Petards are usually not
boomerangs ; but Mr.. Faulkner may yet iind
that the present one, which has thus lar Deeh
unskilfully handled, may violently return and
Kill the Governor who has hurled 1t.
The convening of this court by Governor
Robinson was a gross abuse his power. NheD
the political passion and the political cdgen-
cies which prompted him have passed, Gov
erpor Robinson will be heartily ashamed OF
having lent himself to such purposes. All
men, of both parties, who have learned to
hold him IN respect as an honest man ana Of
fetal, already regard hIs action with sus-
picon, if not condemnation. What he mas
done will forever remain a blot upon his Oh
fetal character.
This court was organized solely upon the
excuse that it was necessary to take out oil
the hands Cf Judge of the Supreme Conrt
(Westbrook, though not named) jurisdiction
in the case of a Police Commissioner (Nichols.
who is named). The letter of Mayor Cooper.
asking that the court be convened, claims no
higher object, nor in fact any other object
The vretence is that Judge Westbrook had no
business, sitting at Special Term, to exer-
else any authority in Nichols's case Niil an
Extraordinary General Term have any proper
legal power to review the decision OF another
Judge (Van BrunO in another suit-that
of Mr. Wheelerl The latter court may
exceed its authority rs well as the former
The simple truth is that the interference OF
Judges of coordinate power with the orders
of each other is an abuse fragrant enough III
itself; the creation of q special court to an
ticipate the decisions of regular one Is an
outrage which cannot be condoned.
The Judges who are to sit are Noah Davis,
John Il. Brady and George G. Barrett. Two
of these Judges were elected by people, ire
spective of party, who were indignant at tSe
exposures of the infamous uses for political
purposes Of the coErts under former Judges in
which these gentlemen now sit. But for
the popular indignation at the exac'ions
and infamies of Barnard and Cardozo
Judges Davis and Barrett might never have
been in their present places. Judge Brady WAS
made the unanimous choice Of the Republican
and Democratic parties, and reelected without
opposition by the largest vote ever cast in
the county for Judicial officer, because he
was wel-known to be pure where 50 many
were corrupt, and honest where others were
false. The public Will hesitate to believe that
these Judges were selected for any such par
tsan purpose as Governor Robinson clearly
hns in contemplation; but only their action
can convince their friends to the contrary