New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-10
AFFAIRS ~ BROOhLlN.
PREPARING FOR THE CHANGE.
ACTIVITY IL THE DIsTRl'T-ATToHNEi = VI
F1cE-BRusHING THE DUST FROM OLD
INDICTMENTS

INDICTMENTS
The lax state Of things when has prevailed IN me
cfice of the DistrictAtiOrncy In Brooklyn loi Wv
last ten wears Is undergoing a change III vie" VI
the change Of officials at Albany on January ]. u"
dictmentg which have been undisurbcd In pigeon
holes for years are being brought OUT ana lhc ""''
brushed from them. and efforts are beng mac 70
clear I'D the calendar SO far as possible before 'he
end of the year. James ". RldgwAy VINO II no"
closing his eleventh year in the Office mas e'''eh'y
taken TO hear, the fate Of Colonel Fellows anu
ne and MS assistants and clerks have been busy
ever since the election in pushing the pus'h'SS %
the office forward. and to show that any charges u
l,ck of activity at present would not have good
Foundation
I'm, the record Of Mr.. Ridgway's management OF
his office is by no means bright ana many Vu'he'-
able spots may be found in It, For several years he
has been IN the habit OF taking protracted vacations
On both winter and summer, leaving the duties OF
his office In care Of his assistants but he mas never
called 70 draw the salary OF the Office ana receive
the same pay whether attending TO his duties OF not
The lack Of activity in pushing prosecution was
MAINLY manifest in the proceedings uhder INC ~
hmban indictments They were found TWO years deo'
I'm. the great majority of Them s,il remain untriei
,Idormen Superyisors and other public officials
v,ere ind ctcd for their connection with thc IIduI
lent bills for the joint celebration "i ne cnmnlc-
sarv OF the landing Of Columbus, ana the To''p,S
ion Of fne Soldiers ana Sailors McihOi'i,' 49,,
,' ,hs aftor me indictments were found James
II Pigott plan clerk OF the buildings pePdi '' p,
wae fred for his connection win the OH ol ~ a..
ICY Ross for the reviewing STANDS ne Jul Ia
agreed and he tried again ana a Seoo, ,
disagrrement occurred. Then Alderman Mchec "''r
~ Inc Celebration Committee OF the hoair 20
Aldermen was tried for approving OF 'lc "h"u"
len, hills Again the jury disagreed 10,
80, ms time the summer vacation was al hana,
and further prosecutions were suspehdcl 10 p',"i,s
isI cases 10 be disposed of before the court oi
Sessions adjourned. Mr. Rdg~ay declared ms pun,
nose OF pushing the other cases III the 1d.!s ae,'
/ ana ,rvinn all the score or more or indictments
AM I'm the activity Of the political campaign NJ
! evidently forgot all about them, and after thc Nc
/ Ksne and otner Gravesend cases came up. winch
,ycre his hands ne went away LOT Il io'Is
trn to The South the untried indictments are
still slumbcrng undsturbcd' ,- ,...,.... =, ~,
! +, ie annarent To every one having business 10 40
win The District Attorneys office that the posses
sl,n Of politcal pull" mas much 10 90 win the
rushing or retarding OF prosecutions "hiie open
Scandal has carefully avoided. thcre nave pe'i
many cases In which the wishes OF the ring nave
annn.re1 10 dominate In the disposition OF cases
| Eyen the Grand Jury room has not been LETT un,
,smnered with and when the members OF the 'Irdhi
| 49, have seen fit to guided by the ADVICE OF
cnnnscl of their instead OF taxing law from inc
lins of the Dstrct-Attorney and ms assistants my
| hhapve heen openly reDuked by Judge Moore In the
Court Of Sessions ., , r,,...to. .,,ornay
Ridrwav both expire next year ana the people VIII
| cbo6s. their In the next election. Inc
amhirion of Mr. Ridgway to crown his Twelve years
o. bis nrescnt Office with like period as County
u,dae u not likely to be gratiied by the commu-
nS,r even if ne is left TO serve out his present
nry, undisturbed will be recalled that Governor
| nix removed DISTRICT Attorney Brltton from MS
| office and appointed his SUCCESSOR