New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-24
THE CONVICTION or SHERIFF FLAcK

THE CONVICTION or SHERIFF FLACh
Long ago it became clear to every reason
oblo mind that Sheriff Flacl and his accom-
nlices had been guilty of an especially infamous
and dcsnicable crime. The evidence against
them was simply overwhelming. When they
were taken before jury, the result was new
table. But it is exceedingly gratifying tha'
they have been at last brought to book Inc!
have succeeded in delaying the penalty Tor the'f
misdceds so long that decent people began 10
dospair and to believe il Impossible TO iniilc'
the lust penalty of an outraged law upon Il
nuhlic officer so conspicuous ana with so eA-
tensivc resources as those possessed by the
sheriff of New York Justice failed some years
AGO when sheriff Davidson was put on trial.
And vet no one had any doubt of Davidson
quilt and the man is now fugitive from the
city. -,
Judgc Barrett held the scales of justice with
even and impartial hand in the Flack trial a
ho may always be trusted 10 hold them. ana the
city i fortunate in having a Judge To preside
ovcr great criminal trials so entirely free from
fcar or favor. No technical tricllcry OF counsel
can uislood him: he cannot be whccdlcd or ca
iolcd : browbca'ing and bullying are stcInly
suppressed ly him, as they should be; ana
through spccious pleas. through wells OF urlu-
sivc rhetoric. through ingenious devices OF as
tortcd precedent or perverted custom. he directs
the clear. uDflinching gazc OF a powerful IN
,cllcct q forcihlc personality. and the spirit OF
urc,vor,inp fairness Mr. COTS conduct oi
tho prosecution merits high praise. He mar
.b,rcd his evidence and handled his witnesses
with striking ability. and alone he WAS fully
compctcnt to grapplc with all the united forces
# the defence If Colonel Fellows had kept
the case in his own hands. instead OF commit
tinc it, management 10 his assistant perhaps
il might not have been conducted with 80 much
viror. resolution and resource. such offences
- those Of sheriff Flacl1 and his accOmpllcoN
can hardly be expected always to niiamc the
somewhat sluggish furnaces Of the Coloncl 5
fricid zeal to any immoderatc heat. 30 large
and liberal are the good Coloncfs sympa'hie'
that he finds it extremely difficult Z" pursue
pitilcssly and rclcnil~ssly conspicuous pohti-
clans whose misdccds have been first exposed
in what tho Colonel looks upon A. licen'ions
and unhridlcd press. Therefore. II may have
been fortunate for the cause oi d"c"n'y ana
good morals that Colonel Fellows handed over
tho s,roI,c-oar in this case 10 his wcll-cqupped
assistant who examines and crOss-cNamino~
with exceptional penetration and discretion
With the Colonel as executive officer, a. well
as captain in command, possibly the counsel
for the defence might have been TOO strong ioi
a y district Attorney whose powers appear - nave
PASSED their prime. and who seems to require
moro leisure and res in vacations than any OF
/ his predecessors In that Office required.
\cw-Yor> must now have new sheriff
and every respectable citizen Will draw a long
breath Of relief tha, the city j., rid of an nm
worthy official whose presence IN inc county
cour, house was pollution. certainly 'o'
crnor Hill cannot hesitate longer to remove
,hi, official who has been found guilty oil
shameful offence against the laws.