Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-02
REV. DIR. PARKHURST
Rebuked by Judge and Jury for
Bringing Unfounded Charges
AGAINST NEW FORKS OFFICIALS.
Hearsay Evidence That He Made No Efforts
at All to Confirm
USED AS GOSPEL FROM THE PULPIT
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrspArcH.l

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE p1sPArcH.l
NEW YORK, March 1.-The grand jury,
now in session to-day, made report OF its
Investigations into the charges made by Rev.
Charles H. Parkhurst, ofthe Madison Square
Presbyterian Church, against certain city
officials in a sermon preached by him some
time since. The findings were handed to
Judge Martinez, and are as follows:
"During the present term of this court
there were published in the journals Of this
city, as the accounts of discourse deliv-
cred from the pulpit of one of our
churches, certain accusations against the
character and fitness of the officials charged
with the duty of administering our munich
pal government. The imputations were not
limited to any particular branch of the city
government, but in sweeping terms con-
demned the entire body of officials, in lam
guage SO lacking in specification, however,
that, With one exception, no cogniz-
ance could be taken of them. One
assertion, however, was sufficiently specific
as to warrant attention by this body,
namely, the declaration to the effect that
the District Attorney had, in November,
1891, refused to supply, although in his
power so to do, evidence required by the
grand jury then in session, for the purpose
of founding prosecution against motor
ious and disreputable resort, the proprietor
(McGlory) of which has since been con-
victed and is now undergoing the penalty
of the law; and that by such refusal and
neglecting to proceed against the proprietor
Of such resort the District Attorney had
encouraged him in its conduct and main
tenance.
A Speedy Investigation Granted.
"Soon after the publication of these state
ments the District Attorney requested us to
send for the author Of them and
ascertain their truth or falsity, a request
which we were not slow to grant, inasmuch
as the District Attorney is the legal advisor
of the grand jury, and necessarily brought
into daily association with 1t. We there
upon caused to attend and be examined
before us the author Of the statements in
question. and all other persons who could
throw light on their truth or falsity, and,
after thorough investigation, desire to
present to the Court as follows:
''We find the author of the charges had
no evidence on which to base them except
alleged newspaper reports, which. in the
form published, had no foundation in fact.
the District Attorney to- Sly the grand
jury with any evidence in the matter
named, and that upon the trial of the in
dictment the District Attorney presented
to the Court evidence collected wholly by
himself, and that q conviction was obtained
by him without reference to the testimony
taken before the grand jury.
Unfounded Charges Denounced.
ssWe desire, further, to express our disap-
proval and condemnation of unfounded
charges of this character, which, whatever
may be the motive in uttering them, can
only serve to create feeling of unwar-
ranted distrust in the minds of the COM
munity with regard to the integrity of pub
lie officials, and tends only to hinder the
prompt administration of Justice"
After Judge MARITIME had read the pre-
sentiment, he arose, and addressing the
grand jury said:
'.Mr. Foreman and Gentlemen Of the Grand Jury:
SIT is gratifying, indeed, to find that your
body has seen fit to make some investigation
of the attack made in the public press by
certain gentleman in this community. Com
ing as it does from clergyman, coming
from one who, naturally, from his calling,
has standing and repute in this commu-
nifty, it is quite natural that some credence
should be given to the statement, and quite
fair to assume that q person of that charac-
ter would not make unwarranted and un-
founded attacks; and the public might as
sumo there was some basis for the attack,
or was at the time it was made, when it had
gained such publicity in the public press
An nAttaek Without Foundation.
SIT was an attack upon the officials of
this community. An attack of this char
acter has the effect usually to bring officials
into contempt and into disrepute, but when
it is suggested that they are guilty of NAL
feasance and misconduct in Office, and sug-
gested that they failed to discharge the
duties of Office, and had gone step further
in refusing to aid or assist those who wanted
to bring about an investigation of crime,
then it becomes serious accusation, calling |
for an investigation by such a body as |
yours.
"After the first inquiry-after the first |
of official inquiry-the people |
came to apprehend that there was no founda- |
lion for the accusation, and it is indeed |
gratifying to find that, after your investiga- |
lion, there was nothing but rumor, nothing |
but hearsay to base any accusation upon. |
It is an easy matter to bring public officer |
nto disrepute, and then difficult matter
'or public officer to reinstate himself in |
;he confidence of the public.
Gentlemen, In this case 1 think YOU /
lave done what you should have done. The
District Attorney of this county was your
egal adviser. You confined your investiga
ion to an investigation of the attacks made
lgainst him. The person who made the ac-
'usations against him must have had some
eason of his own-e1ther desire for pub
ic notoriety, or he may have believed it
night result in some general good, or what
lot. What his motives NAV have been I |
ant say; but it may well seem that per-
on occupying his station, person in his
alling, should be careful before making
uch an accusation, unless he has some
for it. 1 thank you, gentleman,
or this presentment of yours, and will
ee that it has due publicity"