The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-16
EYCOURTHOUSE NEW WAYS
QUEENS COUNTY REFORM TYPT-
FED IN A BUILDING.
A sEOO,OO Structure to Replace the
Court House About Which Many
stories Of Graft Centrod-Essy Coins
Methods In the jail In tho Old Day..

stories Of Graft Centred-Essy Coins
Methods In the Jail In tho Old Days.
The opening term OF court next fall
will see the completion Of the new Queens
County Court House and the housing
again in one building Of the different
courts which were scattered by the fire
which on Saturday. November 20. 1904.
reduced the old building TO a heap Of
ruins, Tho new court house has been
three years In construction and will cost
about $500, 900. 1t occupies the site OF the
old structure In Long Island City. As II
loath to be separated from it's former
associations. the old Queens county jail
the scene OF many escapes, clings to tho
rear Of the new structure just as closely
and affectionately as it did to ito more
modest predecessor.
When the new building was planned
it\was thought that ample provision had
been made for tho increase In court busi-
ness, but 80 rapidly has the population
OF Queens borough grown that when the
building IL opened all the available space
will DO needed, with no provision for the
future. Two parts Of the Supreme Court
now sit in Queens and 1t Is only q question
OF a short time when another part will
have to be organized.
Il was proposed to find quarters in the
new building for the Court OF Special
Sessions now held in Jamaica and the
police and municipal1 courts Of Long
island City, but these courts will probably
be compelled to await the erection OF the
new Borough Hall. a site for which was
selected during the latter part OF Joe
Cassidy's second term as President OF
Queens. The site selected 10 on the north
side OF the new court house.
The new building Is four stories high
and Is surmounted by . raised glass
ak Wight which gives the centre Of the roof
the appearances OF having another half
story added. 1t Is built Of brick with
white sandstone trimmings and has a
frontage Of 20 feet and . depth Of 1923
feet. Offices and . special term court
room take up the first floor, and two court
rooms with jury rooms are on the second
floor. The main court room Is on the
third floor. This chamber runs clear
across the building. while the vaulted
ceiling extends to the roof, where light
is admitted through q stained glass sky-
light. The Bar Association will probably
have quarters on the fourth floor, while
Offices have been provided for the Dis
trict Attorney and the Sheriff.
Whatever history making scenes the
new building may have In store. 1t will
have to lead o lively existencs 70 measure
UP to the standard set by the old court
house whose glory departed In 2 cloud
cost OF $3.50, 600, old residents Of the county
say that the old court house vas the
pioneer graft institution Of Queens.
Some we'll known lawyers and Judges
practised there. Among them was Rich
ard II. Busted. who served as Q Judge
Of the United States Court In Alabama
he was an educator in away and that
no Juror he ever examined ever faced
him again without taking along . pocket
dictionary. One Of his stock questions
which he sprung with great vehemence
on a juror under examination o
sanguinfty to any Of my, distinguished
friends on the opposite sfde?.
This question GENERALLY had the effect
OF muddling the talesman until on one
occasion some one told an freshman what
answers to make. When the usual knock
out question was sprung the fellow re-
piled:
III boJthCis
DO you know what affinity OF oonsan-
guinity means?" demanded Busteed Q lit
tie bit chagrined.
sure an'I do answered the would-be
juror coolly.
We'll. what 10 its' bawled Bustsed.
.I'm not related syther be marriage
or blood to any OF yea, VA the nsWer
jurors l have ever examined returned
Busted; and I'll challenge you per-
emptorily.'
1t was in the old court house that Pat
rick j. Gleason while Mayor OF Long
Island City was found guilty Of assault
ing George r. Crowley, o newspaper re-
porter. and was sentenced by Justice
Cullen TO five days imprisonment in the
old jail. While serving his sentence he
kept tabs with a telescope from the win
dow OF his cell on his workmen q mile
away building the first electric trolley
line put into service In this State.
In the closing days Of the merging Of
old Queens county into Greater New
York there was great money spending by
the old Board Of Supervisors that had
its meeting rooms In the court house
and was going out OF ofice. More than
$500 900 remained Of the funds OF the
county, and the supervisors paid a promi-
nent lawyer SIS 900 for showing how they
could get control OF II.
They started in to repair the old court
house at a cost Of 100000, Everything
was turned topsyturvy. and as the main
object vas to spend the money the build
ing was c~uriously transformed.
Hardwood floors were laid and then