New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-05
were caused by dphrers eighty by Group and 262
hxl "A
THE COURTS.
IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

PREsFNTMENTs OF THE GRAHD JURY-rhE NthphD
REPAIRS AT THE COURTHOUSE.
The Grand Jurors have made an interesting
presentmont IN regard to " the growing e'h' "1
of the imprisonment OF poor debtors III '"o 'ou'
Jail on civil process OF inc oNp'"''
County" Heretofore no one mas "P'o
take anv active steps correct the abuse whch was
,, Inv, IN exist Very often most unfortunate
ca.s have been brought before the courts where uepos
Ind hcen tmprsoned several years and the Judges
bo w bseu unable do anything 70 prevent nc'r re'"
% at The ,ympathy OF the Bench might be aroused
Inn under the laws 1t would be powerless 10 auero re-
lief The Grand Jury recommend that the District
Attorney be requested by Court To draft bill to De
presented to the next legislature which sha prevent
the detention of prisoner on civil pro
cess "for nonpsyment OF bheriHs ieeS,
poundage or jail fees or the arrest VI
such prisoner under civil process TOT iohEei
pe,iot than fifteen days from tue time whoh sue"
prisoner would otherwise be entitled to or receive MS
discharge" providing he is abe TO prove that he Is
nnahe 70 nav the fcos The Grand Jury also asks that
biII he drawn up and its enactment urged upon tne
LEGISLATURE which shall AXE section III OF the C"ue
Of civil Procedure, wnioh now applies ohy " h'"s
County, apply well TO this county, LUIS r
ton Of the code provides that when the 0"ei'"
has imprisoned person arrested IN civil proceeding
no sba Immediately servo notice upon the attorney o
the plaintiff that If the plaintiff does not within t",eo
DAYS nay the Sheriff sos the prisoners support or
twenty days. the prisoner will be discharged II ai'o'
paving S25 for the first twenty days tae psn'" uo'
not before the expiration OF that tine, pay tue suen
rober S2b for the next twenty DAYS the prisoner VIII
ma discharged when the first twenty days are up The
Grand Jurors say that their purpose Ia mat tbo expense
of keeping civil prisoner may be charged upon the
creJtor who ia benefited rather than upon the county
which is not
Its also recommended that the bill shall provide tpa'
the actual confinement prisoner ON civil process be
in no case continued longer period than SIX months
The presentmcnt continues as follows:
And having IN our ycStigauOn asceralned tnit one
has been detained III the County jan Tor Tour
and half years past civil process which bxes no
Ime when his Imprisonment Is TO cease ana another Tor
tweniyone months past under like process, ana 1t a-
nearing that the present SherH ~ uhape 10 stile he
two dates OF such ipprsOn ep W Ieas1 " ,o "t
that the ecords of civil prisoners commI'eu prior 10
January l, 1880, are IN the lanos OF MS PIrcessoI
under custom by which eaeh oneolne oner i1,osr
om sucn ja 5herifs office, and reta rs oi ms own
use and his individual property, the ,ecorus Vi s'u
ia Kept during his official term we wona therefore, a
wise that prov sOu be made by law declaring sucu
records ~ be Official and not the private properly Oh
the Sher H. and requiring each Sher1i as lie Ioee rom
Office 20 SURRENDER ihe same, vi u"o ''f' f"'i ."
IN. successor In Office -. 49,. 49,. H.,
Another prcsentment stated that the Court House
Bnding wac great need OF an eieVa0r 10 reach thr
court rooms and the Grand Jury room me huulDer OF
neople both old and young, manned ana hali VINO were
comp,led to attend Witnesses Ill tne court was very
large and many them being unable 10 cllinD the lO
starcases had be assisted or carried IL was recon-
rcnded ta o,her quarters than those on the ihld Oor
h mrnvIdcd iur The Grand Jury. The business tram
acted was great and made necessary the attendance OF
hosts Of witnesses who were compied 70 asc,d 10 inc
hrd floor The sanitary condition CT the bul dng was
d.clared to be bad most de2lorably deceive aud
allowed to remain after having Oeen condemned
especially IN warm weather, emitted most noxlous OK
baIa IONS and ms ehlylum from the prison pens IN
oners poisoned The ar oi TN courtroom where Tel a.
non WAS very Imperfect 1ne walIs were ptlc ""I a
of paint ana dirt. As the jInitor BAD betn removed
herr was now whom Complaints coulu oe hldue
With any Ia pc OF speedy acton.