The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-01
A FIamboyant Judicial Proceeding.

A remarkable dramatic performance
was enacted in the County Court Of
Kings county in Brooklyn on Friday.
The actors were the Hon. JOSEPH AsPIN-
ALL, County Judge; Mr.. JOHN F. CLARKE,
District Attorney; Mr.. WILLIAM VAN
WICK, Assistant District Attorney, and
the foreman and members of the April
Grand Jury. 1t seems that the Grand
Jury had been investigating the crime
Of playing policy; and they brought into
court a long presentment on the sub
ject, indicating that they had discovered
that this crime was being perpetrated
with the aid or sanction Of some officer
connected with one Of the City Msgis-
trates courts. The presentment does
not name this person, but points him
out in lurid language:
Al almost the closing period Of our work, 1t
wa brOrght 70 our attention that there was
shocking condition Of depTsvity existing. and
notably In one Of our police courts, and Of charao-
ter 90 startling a. TO seem almost Incredible In.
volvinE no Ices a psrsonage. a. our investigation
disclosed. than . high ofheSl OF that court, en-.
gagged In the most dsrsputIble OF praetlses, aiding
crime, going upon the bail bond OF criminals, dis
missing OF wits and Otherwise dlsposlng OF cour,
business Of the Judge before his coming upon the
bench. and meeting the judicial protest At such
infrNetlon with oontumAeious contempt, ribad
insult and otherwise prostitutinE his once with
swashbuekler enrontery, 30 SECURE has he felt in
the corruption Of which he seems the luminous
center
Notwithstanding the particularly Of
the charges thus made, which show that
the identity Of the alleged offender and
the criminal acts performed by him must
have been clearly ertained by the
Grand Jury, they found no indictment,
excusing their failure to do so by stating
that the short lease Of service left TO
them prevented the searching and thor
ough investigation which was demanded
by the situation. II is difficult to accept
this explanation as satisfactory. Either
they knew enough to indict, or they
cannot really have known as much as is
set out in that portion Of the present.
ment which We have quoted.
After thus exploiting the prevalence
Of policy playing under police court
protection in the borough of Brooklyn,
the Grand Jury went on to eulogize the
County Judge for his exertions 10 bring
the guilty 70 punishment. We have no
fault to find with Judge AsFIYALL, whose
record as a Jealous public servant we
believe to be unassailable; but we must
say that the exaggerated expressions
Of mutual admiration exchanged be-
tween him and the Grand Jury on this
occasion 60 very far toward making
both ridiculous. just listen TO this
language in the presentment:
! And now 70 you. very honorable Judge Asr1S-
| ALL we, the Grand Jurors desire to express our
appreciation OF the mastery charge delivered by
| you TO US when specially summoned before you
| for the purpose. and wherewith, In eloquent as
forceful terms, you revealed to Us ths whitening
| evi Of policy gambling that. secretly a. fast, Wa
spreading ia poison tentSeies over this fair borough
tapplng the small hoard, the scAnty savings Of the
Lowry and those least able 90 Withstand the de-
morauEng blight Of this meanest Of swtndles. I'm
poverishlnE and making criminals OF those IN
forunates coming into the unhAllowed Infamous
policy gamble. Honorable air. your words we're
well timed. The drAgbe, Of your suggestion was
we'll spread. Not 70 much for capture OF the min
noWs. but for those who sat Aloit higher up; and
whom We found, a. you had said, bAsklnT In cor.
ruptlon and resping ths harvest heds Of plunder
stolen away from their miserable dupes."
Further eulogies were INDUCED in
upon District Attorney CLARKE and As
sistant District Attorney VAN WICK
and even upon the Officers and others
about and in aid Of the court Who have
been Of service in this excellent work +;
whereupon the Judge, saying that moth
ing remained for him 10 do except 20
discharge the Grand Jury with thanks,
proceeded 20 express his estimate Of the
splendor Of the Grand Juy's achieve
ments in these words
This form Of gambling known A. policy play.
Ing n the most dsspieable form Of enme; u u not
gambling. because there 4 man seq something
and runs . chance OF getting something, but In
pOucy you have no chance n nothing bot thiey
eV. I am tod by professional thisi that tbs
ehancss err - 70 { sguinai ths plaFsT In polloT.