The Evening critic., 1884-03-19
RELIEVE THE DOCKET.
Judge WyIie Calls Attention 10 Mat.
tiers Of Importance I'm Connection
With Criminal Court Business.

Justice wylie, in the Criminal Court tliis
morning, stated that he had received from
Warden Croker q report as to the condition OF
the Jail, and there were % cases not disposed
Of. Among these he thought there were some
cases that would not be tried. For instance
the old colored woman, Christiana Taylor,
who had been convicted OF the murder OF the
Fisher children and granted new trial by
him because he believed her insane. Ho did
not know that she would ever DO tried again.
He thought her condition such that she did
not know the difference between a cell In the
Jail and rooms In the insane asylum, and she
was probably as we'll of where che now was.
The Judge then called attention TO the case
III abraham Smith, Ezekiel Dent, and Pleas
ant White, convicted Of committing highway
robbery on George Emmert, jr., sentenced to
the penitentiary, but awaiting hearing OF
their appeal In the General Term. He said
that the parties had been convicted upon the
evidence OF that notorious character, Wash
Meredith. He did not know whether many
people In the city would believe him, but the
jury had taken come stock In his story. 80 far
as Dent and White was concerned the verdict
doubtless was correct, but he was not so well
satisfied In the case OF Smith.
"There Is now an application for pardon
pending" said Mr.. Taggart, "as Your Honor
is well aware, In these cases."
Judge Wylie said that he know II, and had
refused TO unite In IL; but, upon reflection, he
would recommend pardon In the case Of
Smith, but could not as to the others. They
were both bad men, and II leaked out in the
NtslluloHgS lEOul put VI tuO Wluc5stS, tlul
Dent had Just returned from serving u term IN
the penitentiary.
al see," said the Judge, "that one of tho
papers say there are over 1000 untried cases
on the docket; but do rot know where they
are"
~ presume" replied Assistant Dlstrict-At.
torney Taggart, "that has reference TO the
entire criminal docket. These are tho accu-
mutation Of cases in tho Distrlct-Attorney' g
office for years, gathered In under tho differ
ent administrations, and from one cause AMI
another a trial has lot been obtained"
SWELL" said the Judge, "would 1t not be a
good thing for the District Attorney to come
In some day and clear up this docket by taking
up the cases that never can be tried and dis
missing them, and not let the papers say that
there are 30 many cases standing on the
docket without any disposition having been
made OF them"
Deputy Marshal Fassett (who sat by him
! suggests" said Mr.. Taggart, "that such
| course would be an inducement for the ole
ever, that the District Attorneys OH 20 wa
| now engaged In examining all these old case
| with q view TO finding out their status, ant
| would, as soon as possible, come Into cur
| and recommend what course SHOULD be par
| sued as regards to them.'
Judge Wylie said that In Maryland they haC
/ what was termed a stet docket, on whtct
| cases were placed never likely TO be tried, oil
| account OF the death CT defendants, disappear
| ance OF witnesses, &c. II taken off for trial, 1
was only upon application 10 and by order o
| the Court, In which all parties could be duly
| notified. He should consult the clerk of the
| court and sec II some such docket could not bt
| gotten up here.