The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-03
/. Tho Grand Jury's Pre.entment.


The two prcsentments Of tho Grand Jury
aro loosely drawn. repetitious. and incor
elusive. They are honest and we'll mesli-
Ing, we presume. but weak and stupid.
Stripped Of vcrbiage, they amount to this:
I. That as the Police departments ''splel-
didly organized and is not excelled in It's
ability to cope with crime" Its failure to
shut up tho disreputable resorts OF the
town and to enforce the excise laws with
impartial thoroughness suggests corrupt
motives and considerations.
II. That certain unspecified newspapers
publish foul and dangerous personal ad-
yertisements." though, say the Grand Jury.
I'VE have not seen our way clear to ipGict
the proprietors." q.. !-.... -,-rt
III. That the owners Of property used
for immoral or Illegal purposes should q be
held to strict accountability under the
law" and u register Of them should be kept
by the Police Department Ito facilitate
such work." b"
Nv. That facts discovered by the Grand
Jury show generally that" the aeepers Of
gambling houses and other evil resorts have
their representatives even in the police
court" and that in one case specified gam
blers wero wsrned "by IN attache OF the
Tombs Police Court" of proceedings against
them.. - While we are not inclined to mako
aOyiminal indictment" say the Grand Jury.
".yet We do not hesitate to affirm our belief
that, tho clerk OF the court was an active
agent In conveying the warming"
This Is the substance Of the presentment.
What does 1t all amount to? What practL-
cal result can it accomplish
II 1t shows anything. 1t shows that the
Gran! Jury are less able than the police
Ito cope with tho evils 1t dcscribcs: and
th. Ayildoers are notified accordingly. 1t
makes no definite charge OF corruption. It
oner, only suspicion. 1t merely conveys
,vaguo impression. long prevalent outside
Of tho Grand Jury room. but which has
mover boen Justified by any solid evidence.
Tho rxlstcncc OF places Of vicious resort In
tho town Isl too obvious ID require that it
should bo declared by tho Grand Jury.
Everybody knows thut they arc hero. and
sany Of them. As tho prescntmeht itself
says. There is Mt Police Headquarters q
laitg list Of houses OF this character. giving
tlltir cxsAt location and the kind OF
? Business conducted In csrh Of them"
Tt, police. therefore, mnkn no pre-
tcncc of igporaDer' cOncerning their OK
isteRce. but publicly aud officially re-
cord their knowledge Of tho fact. This
liss Of course ~ accessible to tho Grand
Jury. ana anybody CAL obtnih information
.roEa tho police 80 to tho subject. Dr.. PARK
HURST tyns not obliged TO .spcpd On hour
smo. gttkc fnmsteS of suciIta. resort the
otl:er evening IN order 10 learn Of Its
vtciu,:spsas., Tho place. 1t seems. 'lns been
conducted ms sucl. for moro than twcnty-
nve years, Any policeman Of tho ncighbor-
hood could hayo told him whakis WA. II l.e
bud asked l,fm. andthus envpd The minister
from tho sacrifice OF self-resyect involved
n his hours visit t,sre; eYhs PLACES hay-
Ing existed 60 long. tho present municipal
Oovefnmsnt nv n.ofst lcsssansihle for It's
continuance than many that havc COMO bte
fore. 81 II ita liberation b,' the police sug-
scs,s corruption. such corruption is
ctargeable against thepolico Of New York
for n hundred years, past: and against the
police Of every other, eoDsideraRlo town OF
tho Union. - f-''k No. e, Sc ~ p
Tho publication Of tho infcroncee of the
Grand Jury merely Is childish. 1t Is Stmply
Al announcement III tho failure OF their
hunt for evidence on which to base specific
cbar8es that would stand examination. 1t
10 a prcscntment OF nothing moro impor-
tsnt than gossip md scandal. though their
inluigltorial powers are almost illimttable.
II IL nero talk. OF no more significance and
no moro value than tho talk OF any idle clti-
ssrs about subject Of whose merits tho
talkors nrc ignorant. ,tt'
1.-THE Grand Jury neutrality-suspicious. to cast
s9slnst any newspapers. why do they not
nsJno themN II they ore justified In saying
that they are fully convinced :" that o
clerk OF tho Tombs Police Court betrayed
tho secrets Of the court for the benefit Of
Offenders. why wore they mot Inclined to
make q criminal indictment OF any indi-
viduAi"l II they bud evidence enough TO
sll0w Of the imputatlon. they must have
had sufficient evidence for . formal and
specific charge. Either they know tho faots.
and thon Il was their duty 70 indict the
oEondors. rtg they did not know theua. and
49, ~ 49, shai, IA, ~. v,,,t IN ase RI aa trs,C