New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-14
U,yOE BOODY'S TENGEINCE.

The astonishing plea is made b. the brook
lyn press that the publication of the minutes
of the Grand Jury. which censurcd Mayor
Body and the Board of Aldermen. Will not
do any harm. Ordinarily it is safe general
ization that publicity promotes the ends OF
good government but IN this instance most
dangerous precedent would be established by
the disclosure Of the proceedings OF the Grand
Jury room But what assurance can the Brook
lyn press have that publicity. which 1t con
sders highly advantageous, will be secured by
the granting of Mayor Boodl's Application to
Judge Moore? The Mayor does not Ask fer
the publication of the minutes. What he de-
srcs is to be placed in possession OF evidence
which he has presumed to pronounce per
iured" although he has not read line OF IT.
If he can obtain it he can do what he likes
with il. lie will not be under obligation 10
publish it line upon line and without omissions.
lie can either introduce such portions as he
chooses in public statement and suppress
what remains, or he can hand il over to his
LAWYERS for use in criminal proceedings against
those whom he has accused of wilful perjury.
What warrant is there for surprising that the
nublc will have the whole truth ard nothing
but the truth?
II is plain from Mayor Boody's application
to the court that publicity is not what he
wants. Vengeance is his motive. lie has
asked the court TO turn over These minutes
10 him in order that he may obtain the names
of witnesses "upon whose false and perjurcd
testimony said prescntment was based, to the
end that he may take proceedings for their
apprehension and punishment" He assumes
that " it is in the public interest that any such
false and perured evidence should be dis
closed. to the end that the perurcr may be
indct d and punished" Disclosed TO whom?
TO Mayor Body and his counsel? And for what
purpose? In order that they may prosecute
the Witnesses who gave their testimony under
safeguards and assurances Of secrecy and in
volatility. If the application be granted, the
work of the Grand jury will he ciicctually
dscreditcd. and the witnesses will be turned
over to the tender mcrcies of courts which
arc controlled by Mayor Bocdys political
masters and associates Will the BROOKLYN
press say that the ends of public justice and
morality will be promoted by so infamous and
revolutionary Il procedure?
Let us consider what would be the practical
operation of a precedent exposing Grand Jurors
and witnesses to the vengeance of officials
whose misconduct they condemn. Here is a
Grand Jury which, after investigating the
grant of railway franchises. declared that the
MAYOR and the Aldermen ought to have been
indicted, but they were not allowed To do so
owing to the District Attorneys Interpretation
of the statutes, and consequently could only
emphatcally condemn their misconduct. Mayor
Body. if he obtains names and testimony. will
attempt {, have the witnesses indicted for
perjury, and in general way to make it very
hot" for everybody who has been testifying
against him in the Grand Jury room. That
will be precedent, of which audacious rascaIs
in Office can avail themselves in future. If
any Grand jury ever ventures to bring in
presentment or Indictment against them. they
will raise an outcry Of periured testimony. ~