New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-20
THE POLICE INDICTMENTS.

The indictments found by the Extraordinary
Grand Jury excited no surprise In any case
Every one of the police officials who must SUD-
nit to trial on the criminal charges when nave
been made has been under suspicion since the
evidence was presented before the LeXoW Conl-
mittec In a number Of the cases III WHICH III
dictments were found the testimony gwen De-
foro tho Ieyow Committee made it practically
inevitable that the accused police oilcials nhust
stand trial sooner or later. As The Tribune
said Yesterday, the Extraordinary Grand Jury
acted with extreme caution and dehperatoh'
There was nothing hasty or ilconsidcred III inc
action which it took The prcsentment WHICH
has been made public proved beyond the shadow
of a doubt that this Grand Jury was wary. CIR
cumspect and reflective. II may fairly De eA-
pected that every one of the police officials
whom this Grand Jury has compelled ny lis
findings to give bonds for trial will have an cX-
tromolv hard task to meet the evidence winch
has been accumulated against him. The utmost
scrutiny. the most pertinacOus sitting, the most
evoctinr examination have been practiscd III
weighing all the proofs which are available
AGAINST the men who gave bail yesterday. The
people of New-York may feel confident that the
indictments which have been found will be fol-
I lowed DV cODNlCllUuS III dilhVSN WV $780, -
the District Attorneys office and all the prose
cutting authorities exhibit anything approaching
TO zeal energy, fidelity and good faith III the
conduct of the trials which must now De car
ried through
/. But il must be admitted that there was gen
eral feeling of surprise and disappointment i'll
the community that Police Inspector AleAahuer
s. Williams was not indicted. The absurd ana
crotes0ue travesties Of explanation ana excuse
which were offered before the LeXow commit
tee by this police officer excited the derlsion ol
| all intelligent people. 1t has been well KNOWN
! 70 the citizens of NewYork for long ume
| that everything that was Objectionable and EVIL
in the Police Department Of the city of New
/ York was embodied and incarnated in the per
son of Inspector Williams. 1t has been plain
alike TO the keenest sagaclty and TO the mean
est intelligence in the metropolis that Inspector
| Williams represented in himself all that needed
| change. Improvement and reform In this de-
nartmept. The testimony given against IN
spector Williams before the Lexow Committee
was enough in itself to convict any ordinary
man. But this particular person was no ordl
nary man. He was outside Of the common III
many WAYS. He had been able TO command
sufficient political pull and influence for many
wears to escape the consequences and the penal
ties of his misdeeds in the Police Department
and he has been ingenious, resourcefu and po
tential enough to avoid an indictment by this
| Extraordinary Grand Jury up TO the present
. date.
1t must not be forgotten that the labors o1
this Extraordinary Grand Jury are not yet over
In all parts of this city and in all parts or TINS
country the evil n0torety of Police inspector
Williams has become matter of comment
I If he is not compelled to go before jury OF his
peers and to have the question of his Innocence
or guilt fairly determined on trial which shall
I settle all the issues which may be considered
| by any one 10 be in doubt then the responsible
| citizens of New-York will conclude that the
Lexow Committee and the Extraordinary Grand
! Jury have in one case at least made serious
| mistake and have failed of accomplishing
what they ought TO have accomplished. Cen
serious critics will not fail to take notice that
one Of the special counsel Of the Grand Jury
might have been Influenced by feelings OF pc
culiar tenderness and consideration for Inspect
/ or Williams. Never has there been a police
officer in this city more insolently reckless il
regard to public sentiment, more contcmptu0us
ly scornful of public opinion, more determined
stood in the way Of the fulfilment Of his per
sonal plans and schemes, more boldly regard
less Of private and individual rights, Of public
propriety, and of the obligation which should
rest upon the servants of the community in the
police force, tnan Inspector Williams has been
His own testimony before the Lexow Commit
tee was sufficient basis for indictment, and
this Extraordinary Grand Jury ought not to adj
journ without taking such action as will result
in the trial Of Inspector Williams
And the people Of this town have watchfu
eve on DistrctAttorney Fellows. They have
had ample reason to dstrust him in the past
Unless he conducts himself in a wholly different
manner in the prosecution OF these accused po
lice officers from the manner in which he has
behaved himself in many cases, DistrictAttor
pey Fellows is likely to get into serious trouble
! The ncautious The indiscreet and the impeti
| Gus Five who made themselves absurd by al
| i-consdered attempt to remove DistrlctAt'or
| ney Fellows by no means exhausted the re-
sources of this community in regard 10 th'
| District Attorneys Office. IL Colonel Fellows
does not bestir himself. and use all his energic:
and all his activities to bring aboutan energetic
and determined. a vigorous, honest and sincere
prosecution Of the guilty members OF the Police
Department Of this city, his future will lie un
der the shadow Of shame and disgrace, Of IL
nominy and of turptude. And there may b'