The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-03

Tho Proper Place for DR.. Parkhurst.
The Rev. DR.. PARKHUnsT's SANDER OF the
District Attorney has been rebuked In
prcsentmcnt by the Grand Jury. hut 1t is
Justified by the Evening Post and the Neu
York 1tmes as having been based on re-
port OF the proceedings and deliberations OF
that body In the case Of McGLoRY.
This report was published In the Evening
Post at the time the McGLoRY case was
under investigation by the Grand Jury, and
It pretended to describe what had taken
place ut that inquest. with view to cast
Ing reflections on the District Attorney as
guilty OF malfeasance in office. Who're and
how was this information obtained?
Tor the protection OF both the public and
the accused tho proceedings Of the Grand
Jury are mado strictly secret by law.
The members arc sworn to secrecy before
they enter the Grand Jury room. since their
duty Is not only to present for trial those
against whom there Is just reason for bring
lbs criminal charges. but also to protect cit
liens against accusations having no other
foundation than public clalnor Oh private
malice. Tho District Attorney may como be-
7ore them to give them desired advice. but
no Is not present Mt their deliberations on an
indictment. Ofrccent years sworn stenog-
rapher takes down tho testimony OF wit
nesses. but no must retire during these de-
alterations. Them they are bound by their
oaths to keep absolutely secret.
Hence, the information which the Evening
Post protested to give to the public could
have been obtained only from perjured
~ ho I,r1y I'M Nyo
characters whose word Is worthless. men
whose names ought to be expunged from
tho Grand Jury list. and who ought to be
brought to punishment. If they we're ready
to commit perjury. 1t is OF course prcsumable
that they would Ito regarding the proceed
ings which they forswore themselves in
pretending to reveal. II they would vio-
late their solemn oaths as grand iurymen
for the purpose OF injuring public officer.
thoy would he ready to proceed to malicious
chandler Of him FOR the Same end.
Tho only possible grounds on which the
ErcninO Post and the 7fmes can justify DR..
PARKHURsT's s!ander ere such perjured
statements. They are the only justifca-
tons which no himself can offer. By nc
ccpting them and publishing them from the
pulpit of the Madison Square Presby-
terrain Church he encouraged and abet-
tod perjury. Hc proclaimed the testi-
mony OF perjurers as COPS truth in
COPS temple. Under the pretence OF assist
ing justice he gloriiied crime. u crime more
injurious to public morals than hundred
resorts like Mc(SLoRYS could be. Ho made
use OF perjury 10 nssnil tho District Attor-
ney In tho house Of COP. accusing that
officer OF being false to his oath because no
beloved that certain grand jurymen had
forswOrn themselves by revealing tho acts
mil deliberations Of tho Grand Inquest.
Tho prcsentmcnt OF the last Grand Jury
OH Tuesday shows that the perjured
statements OF these M Oh to the Evening Post
woro also lying statements as to what
really took place. Az they were made in
violation OF nh oatn. this was to be assumed.
The honest and truthful MON OF tho Grand
Jury obeyed their oath and kept silent. The
men who proved themselves unworthy Of
belief evon under cath by forawearing them
selves In giving the information.
1t thus appears that the Row. DR.. PARK
HURST hos not only slandercd the District
Attorney. but he has also aggravated tho
offence by slanderng him on the testimony
of perjurers. for whom he has made himself
responsible morally. He Is In about as bad
q situation as II he had himself been
ono OF their number. He has become
tho alder and abettor OF crime by pub
fishing criminals as public benefactors
worthy OF celebration In the Christian
pulpit. ard by using their perjured testi-
mouy as basis for attacking and denounc-
ing tie public officer whom the people have
elected to pursue and prosecute perjurers
and all other criminals indicted by the
Grand Jury which they betrayed.
The best employment to which tho Rev.
DIR. PARKHURsr can now devote himself is
prolonged prayer and repentance to atone
for the grievous sin of which no has been
guilty. An appropriate place wherein to
give him tho opportunity to subject himself
to such spiritual modification would lie
penitentiary cell.