New-York tribune., 1922-01-02
Banton Pledges
Quick Trials as
He Takes Office
New District Attorney for
New York County Urges
Increase in Number of
General Sessions Judges
Few Changes in Staff
Naglc Assumes Duties as
Sheriff: Hylan Is to Hold
Public Reception To-day

uDtIc NcCcpttOn iO-uav
Joab II. Banton took Office as Dis
frict Attorney az New York County
Yesterday. A reception was held in the
law library Of the Criminal Courts
Building attended by Judges Of the Cen
rral Sessions. assistant district attor-
ncys and others connected with the
prosecutors office. Edward Swami,
vnosc term as District Attorney ex-
PRED Saturday, was present to wish his
successor we'll
There arc 2,0a7 untricd cases on the
criminal calendar. Mr. Banton. in a
brief address, said that nc expected to
reduce this number by 800 during the
year. He declared. however, that the
task was too big for any one man un-
aided by Divine guidance He asked
for tho prayers Of tho righteous people
N New York for the accomplishment Of
this work He recommended AN in
crease in the Court OF General Sessions
~ the addition OF TWO or more Judges.
Few Changes in staff
Mr.. Banton has made few changes in
the staff which assisted the retiring
District Attorney. His new appoint
men,s were Ferdinand Pecora. chief Of
staff; John ?. Donlon. secretary; Will
.iam l.. havanaugh. chief clerk; Hugo
Winter, Assistant District Attorney.
and the following deputy assistant dis
trict attorneys Miles OBrien, Michael
FORD. Winter Russell and Mrs. Pauline
O. Field
II come into the Office under favor
PIE conditions, Mr.. Banton said.
More than $4,000 voters have called
me to the task, the largest vote given
- any candidate for a county Office in
the recent election.
All that | have in the way Of abil-
ity | shall give to Justify these express
SONS of confidence, and yet 7. more
man any one else, feel my own short
comings.
4 shall devote myself to NV task
IN my own way. and that is to work and
work without ccasing. The staff that I
nave called to assist nc will likewise
"ork without ceasing and any membc :
MO falIs IN that regard viii resign.
have 10 room here for 4 slugpard or
a Stacker 0'
"A criminal case should be tried
within three months Of the date of is
sue. The Bar Association. the Judges
OF the Court Of General Sessions md
are worklng to attain this The nor
nal increase OF business in the Court
of General Sessions was about thirty
eases day during the year lust closed
nat was ten cases a week more than
tne SIX parts of the Court Of General
Sessions were ablc to try We have
now 2,oiS indictments pending.
'Uurlni- thc yr1r iltr4 ,.-t I,.,.
f-led to obtain tho attendance Of Su-
rrcmc Court justices from IN the state
10 sit as Judges in Genera Sessions.
As the law allows, and during ono
month was successful. After great ef-
tort | must say that this is an i'm
probable solution of the problem.
Civil Calendars Crowded
'Thc constitutional allowance for ex-
ponses Is too small to Justify an up-
state judge to come here and devote
his time to our courts. then appealed
to the presiding justice of the Appel
late division Of the Supreme Court in
this department, only to find that the
civil calendars in this country are so
crowded that the justices cannot be
spared to hold criminal terms. We
need at least ten (tral parts in the
General Scssions) assuming that
Judge sits every trial day of the year.
There are about $50 trial days As
suming that one part of the country
would try one case day, that would
average $50 cases a year for a given
part. it is safe to say that OF the 2,O97
cases pending, loo of them Will be
tried
at seems that the prohibition cases
VIII have to be treated as General Ses-
sions cases, and the only way that I
can see 70 overcome the growth OF
business and take care Of our present
calendar Is to increase the Court of
General Sessions by adding at least
two more judges and probably four"
Another officer who was inducted
into Office yesterday was Major PEREZ
val +. Nagle, who became Sheriff of
New York County, succeeding David
n. Knott He took the oath of office
a week ago before Justice Wagner, Of
the Supreme Court
COggcy Remains Under-SherifT
The staff which assisted the retir-
ing Sheriff Will remain with only one
or two exceptions. John V. Coggey
will remain as under sheriff. George
W. Olvany as chief counsel, George II.
Engel as assistant counsel and John
Campbell as law assistant
In his address Sheriff Nagle empha-
sized that he was a "straight organi-
4oS Sioii bSfiV'TdC Altu ne WdnCc0 SuCn
men in his Office. In addition, how
ever, he said that such appontecs
would have to perform satisfactory
work.
Mayor Hylan will inaugurate his sec
ond administration with public re-
ception at the City Hall at 10:3o o'clock
this morning. The Mayor will be the
principal speaker and will administer
the oaths Of Office to the members of
his cabinet.