New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-26
ruEpC sPE THOSE INDICTWEN1Sf

rurpr ,pF THOSE INDICTMENTSf
While Democrats are praislng or apologizlng
for their majority in the Legislature which has
iust adjourned with the hope and expectation
Of closing up the ranks for the next election
!, may NOT he impertinent 10 ask what has be-
emo of the indictments found by Grand jury
~, tho 18th Of last November against three
;u.rccto,s Of election in the lid Assembly Dis
,,;,, If This city. These were the men, our
readers will remember, concerning whose per-
fmmarc,s General Collis made an explicit state
mont a, the Union League Club and aftcrwaiu
in thh Grand Jury room, describing in vivid
manner the occurrences which had passed under
his cyes. The inspectors, in the first place lg-
no,inc his rights as Il watcher, proposed to
throw him into the street. but finally submitted
under protest to the orders OF Mr.. Bylnes.
I'm, thmch they were obliged to tolerate the
company of General Coils they did not per-
NIT either his presence or his protests to inter
fere with the performance of their obligations
70 Tammany Hall. The voting under their in
spcction wa, dsgraccfnl farce. comprising
many varieties Of illegal and rascaly procedure.
Indeed 50 audacOus was the conduct OF the
inspectors and their friends who came to vote
that Mr.. Byrnes made bold to declare that the
story told by General Coils was not entitled
10 credit But a week later the Grand Jury on
his evidence found the three indictments which
made such a stir at the time and have never
been heard of since.
What has become Of them? Has their eX-
istence been utterly forgotten by the District
Attolnoy? Mr. Nicoll has had busy winter,
nj fpti dOubt
by his labors in the Buchanan case but we
are not aware Of any matter which now ought
TO engage his attention in preference to these
indictments and after few DAYS rest he can
greatly strengthen his reputation for non-par-
tiSan zeal in the prosecution Of sconndrelS by
taking them up with boldness and energy.
One OF the inspectors was a Republican, and tho
circumstance that his brother is faithful adj
hercnt Of Tammany while il throws consd-
olablc light upon the methods by which the
Republican party is sold ont in this city, ought
not 10 diminish the satisfaction which the Dis
trct Attorney would naturally feel in identity
ing with a particularly rank election fraud
man who is nOminally II { a Democrat. IL Is
doubtless true that the TLmmany leaders have
desired to have these indictments scqucStcred
Coils feels that he has for the present done
his whole duty a. a citizen by initiating the
proceedings against the inspectors 1T consd-
cradle sacrifice of time and comfort. But we
have no doubt that he is prepared 10 serve the
community still further as a witness and we
cannot suppose that Mr.. Nicoll Is unmindful OF
his own duty. \ longer pCstponement might
injuic the peoples case as it would certainly
tend 70 dscrcdit the District Attorney.
Nobody ought II cOuntenancc the idea that
this is an unlmportant matter, affecting merely
the character Of these disrcpuable individuals.
1t is possible. though not probable that the
performances witnessed by General Coils in the
Twenty second Election District Of the lid As
scn.bly District last November were more au
dacious than other election frauds committed
elsewhere But they certainly were not more
abominablc They were initiated with more or
less fidelity on a great scale IN numerous pre-
oincts. and they contributed thousands OF votes
TO the abnormal total upon which Tamnany
has been claiming credit and patronage ever
since. IL is Of great importance that these
three indictments, our only judicial reminder
Of extensive crime at the last election, should
be tried with all the yigor and determination
which Mr.. Nicoll can command. Election in.
spcctOrs Of the true Tammany type caro- moth
inc for public contempt, but they care a great
deal for their personal liberty. and an cxcIn-
y,nd redress would have salutary consequences