New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-11

There is no apparent reason why Coroner
Merkle should have locked up the boy Schwet-
ger, whose sole offence is having heard a
woman confess that she had killed man. lie
lives with his parents and is only fifteen years
old. What cause had the Coroner to suppose
that he would not be present in court when
he was called Probably none. But still the
terrified little fellow is locked up In the DIS
NAL House of Detention for Witnesses. 1he
effect of this Imprisonment will be utterly bad
the boy, though innocent, will be certain to
feel guilty, will wish that he had not told
what he had heard, and he may come under
Che worst influences. The Coroner seems to
have given the boy fine start on a downward
course as well as imprisoned him unnecessarily.
The Lords have wisely taken the hint which
the Premier gave them, and have beaten
retreat from their position Oh the Arrears BILL
They have accepted without Il division the
amendments of the Commons to their amend
ments, declaring that the state OF affairs Ill
Egypt and Ireland would not justify them in
further opposition. 1t will strike the average
mind that the condition of affairs In Egypt
aud Ireland has not changed materially since
tie Lords attached their amendments to the
Arrears BILL and that it would have been well
if they had thought of these things at that
time But no matter. They have retreated ;
and as Mr.. Gladstone is now spared the
trolil,le of resOrtng to string mt measures to
bring the noble gentlemen to terms, nobody
viii sind any little devices they may use to
let themselves down easily.
Mr. GladstOnes recent speeches in the Com
mons have been among the most mastery ef-
forts of his career. Never has he given greater
evidence of intellectual vigor than LII the de-
bate Oh the vote of credit. Extracts bearing
on crucial points will be found on another
PAGE The candor with which the Premier
comedies the dangers of "a financial control
whIch had become political in its nature is
noticeable. With eloquence which bore hard
upon the Conservative Parliament that shirked
Independence of action and mechanically reg
jstered Lord Beaconsfelds decisions, he en-
treats the Liberals not TO follow bllndly
policy which in their hearts they may con-
denim, hut to act on the merits OF the question
and OF their conscences. His financial policy
is defended by the allegory Of an irrcclaimable
spendthrift, and with a CALLING sarcasm he adj
yises the young Conservatives TO emulate the
practical wisdom and frugal habits of the Con-
servatives of thirty or forty years ago, when
the party was not ashamed to know something
about finance. Whoever reads these speeches
will look in vain for any signs of intellectual
decadence.
The detectives plainly showed their inefii-
cheney in the Gutermuth and keely murder
cases but the action of the District Attorney
in his present attack upon the gamblers lndl-
Gates that he thinks the force is corrupt. Look
at the facts: Mr.. McKeon put the employees
of private detective bureau at work to obtain
evidence against the lottery policy dealers;
then his officers made successful descent on
a number of the shops and arrested many
gamblers. The criminals were evidently
taken by surprise. The effect of the District
Attorneys course in not consulting the Cen
tral Office detectives has been extraordinary.
Gamblers all over the city are fright ened.
Gambling houses that have not been closed
day or night for years hastily shut their doors
even to their most faithful customers. 1t is
said that on Wednesday night and last night
this species of law-breaking was practically
suspeDded throughout the city. The Inference