New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-03
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
1rncFs orF THE BENCH.


SICK yFss AMONG THE HEADS OF THE NEw-YoRK
COURTS RECORDER HAcKETT AND JUDGES
DAVIS, SANFORD AND CURTIS UNABLE TO WORK.
The fact that the Grand Jury of the Court OF Gen.
bral Sessions recently had under consideration
presentment in relation to the long-continued alb
hence OF Recorder Hackett from the bench has
eaused some comment in legal circles. CLERK
Sparks was before the Grand Jurors. and
told them that the Recorder had not at
tended to his duties since carly last OCTOBER
but no action was taken, majority OF the
Jurors believing that it was not within their prov
lnce to recommend the removal OF judge on ac-
sount of neglect of duty caused by bad heal,h'
The vote is understood TO have been IL TO MI
Sparks said yesterday that the Recorder had at
ended the September term of the Court last year.
Ind had begun an October term, when his health
mddenly broke down and the case then on trial
had to be discontinued. He had not been on the
bench since and Mr.. Sparks understood that TINS
WAS in accordance with the advice of physicians.
II has been no secret for more than year that
Recorder Hacketts health has been in very pre-
,arious condition and that his trip TO Europe last
Simmer was taken by the direction of physicians
In the hope rather than the expectation that IL
might be restored Those who have been familiar
with his movements since his return have little
hope that lie Will ever be able to resume his posi-
lion on the bench, and believe that in his present
condition it is far better that he should not attempt
30 do So The sickness of the Recorder is felt tire
more seriously on account of the i'll health of Judge
Cldersleeve who was greatly Over-worked last
Autumn and Winter, doing, Mr.. Sparks sad yeSteI-
day the work of two men. After city Judge I9N-
fne's accession 20 Office last January judge Glider
sleeve took little more rest but i'm the Spring had
an attack of pneumonia from which lie has re-
covered, without entirely regalnlng ms strength
He will resume his full duties in September.
OF the Supreme Court, one Justice-NOah DAVIS
is in Colorado for the Improvement OF ms health
He was forced TO give up his duties in April last,
and his sickness Is described as general breaking
down of the nervous system. County Clerk Ihomp-
son said yesterday that he saw judge DAVIS IN
March, when he seemed very we'll and 1t was not
believed that he unlikely 10 return 10 MS
dnties on tic bench. Other reports represent his
permanent recovery as doubtful, though the latest
accounts received from him represent ms health as
greatly improved and say that it is his expectation
TO resume work at the opening OF the September
In the Supreme Court Judge Sanford has been
sick since last August. lie was III Court AGAIN IN
April bat against the advice of his physicians ana
ii injured him. He is reported TO be IN greatly
Improved health and to be able to go out but 1t is
considered doubtful whether he will he able TO re-
turn TO his duties for the present Judge Curtis was
taken sick last December, and went abroad about a
month ago. Late information has been received
that he is much improved ard VIII be BACK IN Au-
pust having engaged his passage by the Gallia. AS
there are no trials before October only one Judge
sitting in chambers, the work OF the GoHrt
will not be impcded by his absence. Judge
Van Worst mas been removed almost entirely IRON
this Court Tor long time by the Governor, who
has designated him to hold terms III the supreme
Court hence the Superior Court has had only
three Judges since Judge Curtis was taken sick,
except IN January and February when Judge ' an
Worst returned and assisted at General Term. 1t IS
said that the calendars are well up IN that Court,
though the absence OF the three judges has beeh
felt.
Everywhere among judges, lawyers and court Of
fcers the bad VENT aton OF the rooms IN the new
Court House is spoken of as seriously detrimental
TO the health of all who have to remain III them day
after dav and the sickness OF so many OF the judges
attributed more 10 tins cause than To any otheT;
Commissioner Campbell, 1t Is claimed has done all
he could to improve matters, but the original con-
structon of the building was so thoroughly bad,
that all attempts to remedy the defects can be only
successful IN part.
INVESTIGATING THE PARK DEPARTMENT.
CAUSE OF MAYOR COOPER's REQUEST TO MIR. SHEAR
MAN-INsPECTING THE RIVERSIDE DRIVE
Mayor Cooper requested W. +. Shearman. one of
the Commissioners of Accounts on June 30, to ex-
anime the transactions of the Park Commits
sioners during 1873 and 1879, and especially al
matters concerning the Riverside Drive. IhiS acton
is regarded generally by politicians as the first step
toward removing Park Commissioners WeGman,W Wet
more and COnoyerand filling their places with Anti
Tammany adherents. The chief ground alleged it
Is said will be the approval by the Commissioners
b of the bills for the Riverside Park Improvement
That some of the Anti-Tammauy leaders also hope
to involve another high official evident from the
y
day: Controller Kelly may have to answer for the
payment of those bills, as well as the Park Commits
sioners for he paid them on their audit despite the
protest of some of the prOperty-owners"
Controller Kelly on Monday visited the Riverside
Park with County Auditor Jackson, Park Commits
sioner Lane Chief Engineer McAlpine, Of the Park
Department, and three engineers. The Riverside
Drive and other work of the contractors, Decker
& Quintard, were examined from Seventy
second-st to One-hundred and thrtieth-st; espe-
cially the work done last Spring 10 remedy the
faults complained of last Autumn. Its understood
that the contractors intend soon to ask for pay
ment of $4,000 on the work done this year, ana
the Controller resolved to satisfy himself OF the
character of the work before paying any more
bills. County Auditor Jackson says that mere
amateurs IN engineering eSui see th't tne tfCoI
structed PORTIONS were Tar better than the Ola por-
tons" The three engineers were directed TO exam
ing the reconstructed parts thoroughly ana TO re-
pcrt az once to the Controller.
These engineers are john Bogert, William Z.
Worthen aud Charles II. Haswel. After two
days nsplenGRP, n ey ' TO tHe othe T
parts Of the work they are not ready
vet to give an opinion. In December last the same
engineers made report which brought about its
reconstruction. The improvement was be,
gun in 1876 and It was then estimated
Autumn Park Commissioner Lane protested
against any further payments, on the ground trnat
the specifications were not complied with. Ihe
other commissioners dsreCaTded hls protest ana
awarded the contractors $4,000. In November,
however the other commissioners consented 10 the
appointment of engineers to examine the work. On
December 20 the engineers named above unanl-
mously reported that the complaints were Wei
founded. they condemned all the classes of WORK
done by the contractors, and said that 40 attention
had apparently been paid to the specifications OF
the contract
Chief Engineer Franklin, who had had charge
of the work, superseded by MI. NC
Alpine and an award of 5000 4S' made TO
tLe contractors by Park Commissioners Wenmau,
Wetmore and Conover, despite the damaging report