New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-29
PART II.
PAGES II TO ID.
WANTED-A GRAND JURY.
CITIZENS TIRED OF TAMMANY COMMITTEES.


HOW KOCH GETS Mr.. DIXON INDICTED WHEN
ONE THOUSAND LIQUOR CASES ARE DIMIssED.
"Wll New-York ever have another fearless ana
patriotic Grand Jury like the one which investigated
the corruption growing out of maladmn. strauon III
the Police Department, and followed 1t with sweep
Ing presentment which made guilty ofhclae
trcmble with dread OF exposure all over the city,
This question: in various forms, has been asked many
times since G.. S. Bedford, the representation OF
the liquor interest In the DlstrictAt0rneys ONCE
secured the indictment OF the Rev. Thomas Dixon, )r
from the Tammany Hall Grand Jury sitting tor tpe
present month. The Grand Jury OF March. with that
independent and courageous citizen, Henry NJ Taoors
as foreman which presented the Police Department,
was made up OF different material from the Grand
Jury OF june ruled over BY Francis Higgins, member
Of the Tammany Hall General Committee Of the Xkh
Assembly District who recognizes the notorious John
j. scannel as his political boss. The vlndicaaon OF
such as Joseph Koch was, In the eyes OK the
Higgins Grand Jury, matter Of vastly more im-
rortance than the prosecution volators Of the ex-
Else law and other law-breakers. Cases against the
latter TO the number Of nearly 1000 We're dismissed
for "want OF evidence but Mr.. Dixon was indicted
on the unsupported testimony OF the Excise COM
missioner who was In search OF a coat OF whi1e"'sa
from his political followers.
The construction of the Grand Jury is materially II
the hands OF Judge who presides over the Court
OF oyer and Terminer or General sessions Tor inc
form Fifty names compose the Grand Jury, from
which the judge, as the custom Is, selects twenty
three for dsy on the panel. II the judge chooses
to pick out dozen who are members Oh ram
many Hail. or are under the influence Of Tammany
Bosses which number will constitute majority OF the
jury, In place OF making 1t terror TO evil doers IL ID
far more likely to be engine in the hands OF I'M
principled men. AS the list summoned Tor juno
which was published I'm yesterdays Tribune, shows.
there were plenty Of good men upon 1t who coulo Do
depended on at all times to do their duty There were
| David DOws jr., the wholesale merchant and ware
house j. Edward simmons president OF the FOURTH
National Bank j. sinclair Armstrong and Henry Holts
| publishers; benjamin A. Nissan, the paper deacr'
Cornelius n. Bliss, the merchant; Colonel William "
Church. CT "The Army and Navy Journal" John IL.
Latham and Henry Iseln, bankers, and Horace H.
Thurber 50 we'll known in the business circles OF this
city Judge MARITIME retained the services OF none
OF these rreproachable citizens; but he selected Mr.
Higgins whose Tammany Affiliations are unquestoneds
for forman and when the latter looked over his asso-
ciaes in the Grand Jury room he found several on
| whom he could safely rely In any emergency
| affecting Tammany Hall. There was Charles
| F. Allen whose name heads the XXIst District con-
tingent In the Tammany Hall Committee on Organiza-
| ton also a member OF the Tammany Hall General
| Committee and who holds the Office Of Quarantine
Commissioner by appointment Of David B. HILL lie
saw Thomas Cunningham, the Tammsny contractor. OF
| Avenue Is, and John IL. Patrick, another Tammany
man. OF the XXh District and also Francis Blessing.
an old time Wigwamite and member OF the Tammany
| Hall General Committee.
| In Charles H. Haswc for many wears scribe OF the
Tamnanv society and another member OF the Tammanv
Hall General Committee, Mr.. Higgins must have found
another coadjutor Mr.. IIaswel was for a long term
engineer Of the Tammany Charities Department. and
was under his supervision and scientific skill that tho
famous cribwork OF "TOn' brennan. now the Commits
soncr OF street Cleaning but then Charities Commits
| soner ordered to be built on Harris Island Inc
work was done by the paupers of the Charities Depart
ment and the stone used belonged to the city, but the
contractor got the same allowance practically as II he
had furnished both the labor and the material and the
city WAS dcfrsuded out OF many thousands OF dollars
The unearthing Of the scandal cost MIR. brennan ms
Charities Comruissonershp, for Mayor Grant gave ms
Connection with 1t excuse for not reIppoinuny
him but IL has not prevented Haswel from becoming
| n Grand Juror and serving Tammany Hall In that
| capacity. ~, ~, .
| when Mr.. Higgins refused to allow Mr.. Dixon to
state his case ana give his reasons FOR his pulpit ref
ercnces OF KOCH and CURLY shut of the clergymans
explanations he was. doubtless promptly sustained IN
his ruling, by the adherents OF rammany on the !iTnnd
jury as we'll as by the proprietor OF 1rainors Hotel
| md other dealers In liquor who were his colleagues
, sitting in judgment on Mr.. Dixon