New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-21
MAYOR BOODY'S CHANCE.

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The secrecy of Grand Jury proceedings is one
of the oldest traditions of English and Amen-
can law So jealousy has this principle been
guarded by courts that it is ordinarily account
| ed misdemeanor under the statute for any
| one to repeat what is said in Grand jury
room All the prccedents and safeguards have
been overthrow in Brooklyn upon the demand
of Mayor Body, whose public conduct was
censured by Grand Jury. The minutes have
been disclosed to him and published broadcast.
1t is an anomaly fraugbt with evil 1t Is a
new and dangerous precedent, which Will un-
doubtedly tend to intimidate Grand Juries and
their witnesses in future.
To what extent the trict-AttOrney IN
furnishing copy Of the minutes has dlscrim-
mated between what has been characterized
vaguely as "testmony and gable" we are III
ignorance. But after careful examination
of the evidence submitted to the public we
have no hesitation in saying that prima-faclc
case warranting the structures of the Grand
Jury was established The chief witnesses
were William J. Gaynor and Edward NJ. Grout,
counsel for the Union Street Railway Com
pany. They described i'll detail the manner
in which that corporation had been taken by
surprise and deprived of information to which
il was entitled on terms of equality VITA the
competing companies. They asserted that
their client had been unjustly Disseminated
against, and practically excluded from com
pctition upon which it had entered in good
faith. CORPORATION Counsel jerks also revealed
with fatal faulty. but with apparent uncon-
seriousness. the true inwardnesS OF the whole
plot With this testimony under oath before
them the Grand Jury, after an exhaustive IN
vestigation, were anxious to lndlct the Mayor
and the Aldermen, but were prevented by the
District-AttoIneys Interpretation OF the law.
They then Joined in a presentmcnt condemn
ing the action of those whom they were not
allowed to indict.
We have warned the Mayor that the pub
LEGATION of this testimony will not suffice to
vindicate his reputation. The presentmcnt
based upon il stands as the Judgment of Grand
Jurors sworn to do their duty. II cannot be
reversed by the partisan pleading of the
MAYORS counsel or OF press friendly To HIM
If the Mayor be in earnest in his purpose OF
setting himself right before the public. there
is only one way of going about it. II will not
be enough for him to dismiss 80 blundcnng an
adviser rs the Corporation Counsel. He must
convict the witnesses OF perjury, as he threat
encd TO do when he made his Application III
court. Unless he wishes to take the Corpora
ton Counsel in hand let him begin, by all
means, with the most Outspoken oil those VIII
nesses, William j. Gayn0r.
We do not wish t. discourage Mayor Body,
but we feel under obligations to warn him that
Mr.. Gaynor will not be an easy man TO CON
Wet lie is a remarkably astute and capable
lawyer, and enjoys an envabe reputation rs
man of honor. lie commands public respect
not only by his brilliant career at the bar, but
also by his zeal as practical rcfOrmer who
has succeeded in exposing many municipal
scandals and defeating rascally combinations.
AS he has won the confidence OF the people
of Brooklyn to very large degree, it will not
be easy for Mayor Body to convince the public
that he is perjured witness.
But the Mayor may console himself that ii
the danger and difficulty Of the enterprise are
great the rewards are commensurate. Mr..
GaynOr has been for many years thorn IN
the side of municipal jobbers and political
cabals lie has made no end of trouble for
Ring and Gang. If, then, the Mayor can sue
coed in convictng Mr.. Gaynor of perjury, he
will not only vindicate his own reputation.
compromised as it is by the Grand Jurys pre-
sentiment, but he will also place the politicians
now in power in Brooklyn under pressing obi
cations to him. They will do anything for
him if he can break down William J. Gaynor.
honest and reputable Democrat as he is.