New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-04
CHARGE TO arm GRAND JURY.
JUDGE COMING INCIDENTALLY CRrTICIsEs
THE Observation-Disclosures OFFICE
MANY CASES AWAITING



Judge Cowing IN Part / OF General Sessions yes
terday charged the April Grand Jury. and IN
cidentally criticised the DIstrict-Attorney Office
regarding the methods used i'm presenting cases.
District-Attorney Gardiner had supplied tho Judge
with list Of cases awaiting trial In the Tombs
On this point the Judge said In his charge:
without discussing the why's and wherefores |
find that there are about three hundred prisoners
awaiting trial in the Tombs. This is an unusual
number and 1t will take hard work TO get that
number down to its normal figure. II becomes tho
duty OF all the put their shoulders to the
wheel and reduce this number. Do all that you
can as a part of this court. / am willing to work
early and late to that the business Is kept
down to its proper limit 1t is your duty 10 dis
pose OF the calendar presented TO you each day.
BY adjourning cases you tire out the witnesses
and often justice Is miscarred
Justice is administered as a deterrent 10 evil
doors and not for the vndictive punishment OF the
poor The safety Of the people is in the highest
law a safeguard is that the committing magis-
trates stand at the door OF the Grand Jury room
They have heard both sides. Be very cautious
who gets into the Grand Jury room before first
going before a committing magistrate. should,
II l were Grand Juror be very suspicious or a
charge hurled before and behind the accused
mans back In few cases 1t Is necessary 10 go
before the Grand Jury first.
I'm every case that comes before you. see how
II came there and what magistrate has committed
lit You have a right to be courageous Where
there is doubt In your mind in charge thro"
II out The people love courageous man. Don
do anything wrong against your conscience ana
the people will always sustain you. These courts
are too often reso-ted to by people to vent spite
and TO collect debts. We are not here TO give
prvate individuals revenge. Therefore. when
witness appears where money is the foundation or
the charge you usually find he Is there to use the
criminal process TO collect his debt
|
shall exclude all hearsay and opinion, as those
are illegal 1t Is seldom that you Will have an ex-
pert before YOU and when you do, consider his evil
dence for what it is worth"
Judge Cowng then spoke OF the diminished
Tomhs building and he said he hoped 10 see It
soon finished.
mo one is so high so low that you cannot
find an indictment against him. You are advised
bv the District Attorney and the courts. III you
do not take their advice YOU act IN the capdClty
If both Judge and jury | Will at all times be
nleased 70 give you such advice as you may need
After the ful ors had retired from the courtroom
district Attorney Gardiner made public the iol-
lowing figures regarding the census OF the IonOs
There are So awaiting indictment and lss awaiting
sentence making a total OF 20. AT the oeBlnhlitg
~ the March term there were less thsn ntty
owaitine Indictment. The foreman or the Grand
Turv is Francis Higgins, real estate dealer or
No 81 Nassau-st