New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-11
CRIMINALS AT THE POLLS.
A PREsENTNENT BY THE GRAND JURY.
CALLING UPON GOOD CITIZENS TO SEE THAT THE
LAW Is NOT vIoLATED-INDIcrMENTsI IN
TrrIRTY-ONE EXCISE CASES

LAW is NOT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IN
THIRTY-oNE EXCISE CASES
The special Grand Jury appeared before JUS
tice Daniels, in the Court OF oyer ana Ter
miner yesterday, and after handing in thirty
one indictments for violations OF the excise laws
and presentmcnt in regard TO the breaking oil
the law in excise cases and the preparation OF
crimes at the election in 1887. were discharged
with the thanks of the court. The material parts
of the presentment rs follows:
The Grand Jury of the city and county OF New
OF tho Hon. George c. Barrett on thc 9n gay w ;
the Grand Jury on the Gath day OF september II mas
occupied itself In the further INVESTIGATION Oh - ~
cases. a prcscniment regarding which was hied IN
this court on the 2sth day OF June, and also IN inc
consideration OF the charges brought Dy inc up
form Club concerning certain high crimes ana m,s
dcmeanors alleged to have been perpetIaled az me
general election held IN this cy on tne on seyntcd
10 the court al the time Of lts adjournment in june
the Grand Jury has disposed OF 3Zog 81 'he 49, c
cumrated I'm the District Attorneys Office during the
Six years preceding the beginning of The term OF me
present District Attorney. since It's RECOMMENDING the
Erand Jury has further disposed OF o0I charges ouI
there SIN remain large number when nave asr T, 5y
acted upon, and vhch viii shortly become 0aiic" "
the statute unless action be taken
THE ACCUMULATION OF EXCISE CASES.
The Grand Jury finds that the accumulation
OF excise cases WIS unavoidable on account OF
the important business before the courts, ana
that many charges were entertained Improperly
II is recommended TINT instructions Tor ponce
magistrates and officers be issued, to avod I'M
proper commitments The presentment proceeds
as follows:
The Grand Jury have devoted much time 70 2, the
sHove referTed TO- 1he Dstrict-AtOrney has lad
before the Grand Jury al the evidence IN MS p9sseso
isr ~ WITNESSES All the evidence gathered W
lie CITY Reform Club, and every fact that cpuiu Is
established was the Grand Jury believe eIV V t
out and the subject has been given as careful s he
searching inquiry rs was posslue. l., I,,r v
evdence adduced the Grand Jury are deeply
VIII the convicon that numerous violations Oh Ia"
were committed at the last election but 'nc inc
Ing 10 warrant The finding Of Indictments asan1. ' nS
guilty parties These offences consist nIiS the
bribery OF voters and the rece wing Ot DiiDeS loI ~.
The false persOnaton Of qualified electors anu o''
The Perpetrators Of these crimes, from the manner
~ their commission and from the Circumstance, III
order 10 be eiicciuay prosecuted hust III or'affer,
be- anurchcpded n tie act, shortly theIeal,er,
con sequently for these transactions no ,4 rrnrs
cnId now he OF avail for the reason that Inc ontnu.
couId not now be identified their connection WIN &
offences satisfactorily proven II was Iot b Titv
Reform club nor did the ends OF justice require, so
much that these Offences shouq De the investigation
should be conducted with view 10 ascertain
thesr crimes committed pursuant 10 and
between ueople in more prominent positions, am
thsrefo. Of greater dcprav ~ and consld ration, an
OF equal guilt IN Ian ana s SO, ~,J ury have been
ahio - satsfactotily determine fssen upon any
pps%ar Ph has resulted from The investigation the
Hrsnd Jury believe IL has not failed to accomplish
some good
Ex-CoNvIcTs At WORN
7, ,,os satis f,ctorly shown that the election re-
,rod 10 men Of bad character and rcpue. and we'll
known criminals were present at and about many OF
the polling places acting as captains ana uhuer
workers OF the different election districts. IN O9han
- the various candidates then being voted for, ana
representing and Isborng In the interests OF anu a.
the maid agents Of certain political Organizations
Many NJ these we're ex-convcts whose histories are ~
notorious that their characters mus nave pioved
known 10 the persons By whom they wete SPo55to
The Grand Jury are convinced lhat s abe
condition Of affairs could be prevented II o
citizens would exercise over the eFctiOhs ~ "a
vision and scrutiny which /; their pr,ss ond a1
manesty their duty 10 do and II me gshrIa , 0ni1in,
~ ELECTIONS and the operations at the dlherent pos
places and the behavior of the persons LII u,ars
- ,ha several political parties or canuuaes "oiN
s lcunIzed and Watched With proper cara and per
sistence these crimes could not be cpss
trated and the occupation OF the dsrepu'ao~ Sts,
aiimdei 10 would cease There can De no ooJec'
IN employing such disreputable ag,ns' means
eeP and procarng votes and the proof that
snch persons employed woulu 9rs I'm into
or, rafinn party or candidate employing lhcni M "a
nIiir contempt and dstrust From the evidence nee a,
duced the Grand Jury have deemed It tHer uu1i cb
make certain recommendations On n''O'
have impressed it with much concern, ~, "a taLon
IL IS recommended that action sn2 noun The pro
.brougb the proper authorities by when ue pIo
1ntCns. y, LODGING houses should be compelled 10
scr he mi name OF every lodger. the jury having
learned o iodnngbonses to register oGly the sur
name Of the dodgers, thus anoalhe uli's INV AZ
nortunity for false registration ana MAKING aHi a.
t,,nt N verify the registration by way OF me Wus
I'm house register useless me GIahu Sut{ na sr5
a. FLANK and before the votes arc properly couhni
and verified the printed forms OF returns 1 me ttn
ferent election districts in order TO av9d Ie,y oner
action be taken to prevent this es' practice, which
manfestly gives opportunity for irauu anu CUT
r,infion IN the Justification OF returns