New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-29
THE SPECIAL GRAND JURY.
EXCISE CASES AND ELECTION FRAUDS.
A PREsEYrMEST TO JUDGE BARRETT-REMARhs ON
puDIJC CORRUPTION.

PRESENTMENT TO JUDGE BARREL Wv
PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
Tbc sncc,al Grand Jury. after presenting 10 Justice
Rarrott in the Court of Oyer and Termner Yesterday
report of the proceedings thus far together with
seventy-onc new indictments for violations OF tho
Excise law and o,54l mora dsmissals oil cases, aa-
journcd until September "a The report sets lorth
that all tie excise submitted TO the Jury nave
been acted upon but that 1t has been found
70 act ON the charges of public corruption owing TO
,roma,r,o nublicty and dilatory and incomplete
rrenaraon of evidence 1t IS further stated that the
edcnce I'm the election fraud was not submitted
until this week and cannot be acted upon until faii-
The report is IN part as follows:
This special Grand Jury Of tho Court OF oyer unu UT
i,e- bay n report that acting under the Instructors
t,,,cd In Your Honor's charge they have carefully
and diligently Investigated the several matters
referred TO- with the exception OF the ahegeo eecu'n
frauds The evidence in the latter not beg ie'y % W
submitted 10 tbs Grand Jury until MohaV asS anu t'u
,uy having been Informed by the Distrc''At~rhey trao
Tho matter would require a lengthy investigator
than it would be possible TO give IL during the present
week the jury felt that It was more In the PUBIC III
forest TO COMPLETE far as possible the maltefs WHICH
had already been brought TO their notice by the District
Attorney. , ...,
1t appears from records OF the District Attorneys
Office that there about 5000 Excise complaints
dating from the year 1882 January 1, 1eoSfwfeh ha1
not been presented for action to previous grand )u'is
Some 600 OF them were outawed two years having
elspsed since the complaints made. All OF these
caes have disposed of under the instructions OF tho
eqa advisors Of this Grand jury but there remain ABOUT
1900 complaints made during the years 1886 ana 1857
still TO be disposed o.
This vast accumulation OF complaints during the last
few years would indicate lack OF disposition,
Of efficiency efo lack OF time and opportunity on
the Part OF appointed to prosecute such Violi
lions OF the Whatever the causes may have been
which have remtei these thousands of TO remain
picecnholed" the Grand Jury feel that they mutt now
call the OF the court to these facts ard insist
that the law officers the city, whose duty u Is to see
that the Excise violations acted upon shall use every
means their power enforce the law and dispose OF
them.
The Grand Jury have positive evidence that the Excise
law is openly violated by who nave long done so
with impunty. This would not seem possible without
collision between the guilty parties and those who should
maintain the law Gran Jury have not yet been
able their satisfaction the responsibility for
this non-executOn of the law, although they have no
question TO the fact
Bearing In mind charge OF the court referring TO
the charges made against certain public officers, the
Special Grand Jury have given large portion OF their
time investigation bearing the action OF some
members OF the Board Of Aldermen In respect to
grants and franchises Anxious to do their duty
important Investigations, the Grand Jury have
carefully considered every matter bearing the charges
made, but they have found sufficient evidence to
them in presenting any public officer for viola
ton OF his The jury however, feel 1t incumbent
upon say that premature publicity and dilatory
and incomplete preparation OF evidence Is not conducive 70
the investigation Of offences OF this character
Furthermore II citizens claiming respoctabilty by rca
official positions In prominent corporations prove
unwilling and recalctTant witnesses when summoned
before the Grand Jury can have little hope OF reach
Ing OF the very truth until the part Of such men
higher moral tone is established
All Of which is respectfully submitted,
HENRY 4. HAWLEY, Foreman
WILLIAM L. SKIDMORE, Secretary.
Justice Barrett, addressing tho Grand Jury, said
that in regard to Excise matters he would direct tho
DisrictAttorney to prevent in future tho accumulation
of this class of cases. He stated that he would
recommend that the District Attorney hereafter require
the services of special Grand Jury with each session
II the court of oyer and Termlncr If business refhes
IT, so that the special Grand Jury should become The
rule and no; the exception. In regard TO the aUu-
sion Of the Grand Jury to public officials Justice Barrett
expressed gratitude and regretglatltude that there
had been corruption brought 10 light warranting
the bringing of charges against public servants, and
regret that tho jury had found IL necessary to state
that premature publication and dilatOry preparation
Of evidence possibly the reason Ths Judge
asked the jury 20 meet him again on september "a.