Year: 1871

of their determination to make clean and COM
plete work of the investigations upon which


they have been engaged for the past six
weeks. 1t is well known that some days ago
they drew the attention of the Court to the
existence of statute which, while author.
izing the sitting of the Grand Juries of the
Oyer and Terminer and the General Sessions
at one and the same time, makes provision


that during this dual sitting no indictments shall
be found by the Grand Jury Of the General Ses-


sions except in cases previously beard before


a committing magistrate and duly presented
to them by the District Attorney. Before
Judge Bedford received their statement how


ever and on the same day on which it was
handed into Court during his absence from the
bench, the Grand Jury did actually bring in
original indictments against Tweed aud Con-


Molly despite the statute to which they had
alluded. This apparently contradictory


course was due to the fact that eminent legal


advice had assured them that the indictments
were good and that the statute in question
| would not invalidate them. But it appears


that upon reflection and deliberaton the Grand
Jury were not satisfied with their own action,
and, in their own words, 'became convinced


coexistence Of the Oyer and Terminer Grand


Jury would either be invalid or at least would
| give rise to very serious questions, which
would delay and possibly defeat the ends of
| justice" Acting upon this conviction the
| foreman, Lucus S. Comstock, in accordance
with the instructions of his fellow jurors, yes
terday applied for further extension of time


to the 9th day of next January, in order that
| they may remain in session after the Grand
! Jury Of the Oyer and Terminer shall have
| finished its duties and been discharged, and
then bring in such indictments as they may
| find, without subjecting their work to the


danger OF even to the delay of an appeal upon


point of law. The request was at once CON-
piled with by the Court. 81 have carefully
read over your request and resolution" said
Judge Bedford. II sit here as the Judge of
this Court simply for the furtherance of the
ends of justice. It is clearly my duty to afford
you every facility you may ask for, in order
to aid you in perfecting the business before
you. 1 therefore unhesitatiugly grant your





to enter an order accordingly"


This new movement of the Grand Jury is Of
great Importance and interest. 1t entirely
disposes of the cavils of those who have
affected to believe that they did not really
'smean business" and it removes all chance Of
defeat of the ends Of justice by defect in
the indictments. While the political vindictive-
ness displayed against individuals by partisan
organs is generally condemned, there is an
earnest desirs on the part of the people to see
justice take its course in the matter of the
city frauds, in order that the conviction and
punish ment of the real criminals may serve as
a salutary lesson in the future. Many well
informed persons have entertained the idea
that the indictments found by the Grand Jury


Of the General Sessions during the coexist-
ence Of the Oyer and Terminer Grand Jury
we're contrary to law, the parties presented
not having been previously committed by a
magistrate. 1t is well, therefore, that the
jurors have themselves set this matter at
rest; and the boldness and fearlcssness with
which they have asserted their convictions will
add to the high reputation they have already
acquired. It is now known and acknowledged
that they are pursuing their investigations
from purely patriotic motives, and with the
full determination to do their duty in becom-
ing manner, without a thought to personal
friendships or political afinlties. It is hope
full and noble sight, in these days of corrup-
tion and disregard Of public trusts, to see these
men diyesting themselves of all private and
personal feelings and interests when they en-
ter the Grand Jury room, and sternly and


faithfully melting out justice, in many instances
at the sacrifice of their best and oldest friends.
It is pleasant, too, to know that in District
Attorney Garvin, although what is called
'sTammany ofice-holder," they have valua-
BILE and sincere ally, who, whatever may be
his opinion as to the legality of the indictments
already found, has shown by the promptness
with which he endorsed the application for an
extension of time. that he approves the desire
of the Grand Jury to remove even the obstruc-
tion OF an appeal out of the straight path of
justice Indeed, Judge Bedfords Grand Jury
and the District Attorney have, by their pres
ent united action become power in the city.
They are accomplishing, steadily and surely,
the work in which all others have failed The
Committee of Seventy, although composed Of
citizens of the highest capacity and integrity,
utterly failed to bring the case of the people
against the corruptionists to practical issue.
II may have been because Of the unwieldiness
of that body; it may have been that its men,
bers, ignorant of political intrigue and
chicanery, became the dupes Of spurious re-
formers. At all events, when the committees
work was ended the rosues were found as
confident and as impudent as ever. The Grand
Jury Of the General Sessions is now
the real Committee of Seventy, and as