Year: 1873

Prcse sentment Against the Seventh Ave-


nue. Railroad Compsny-The Treat


ment Of Juvenile OGe naers.


The Court OF General Sessions-Judge Suther-
land on the bench-cosed yesterday its September
term. batch OF indictments was presented by
the Grand Jury whose labors close with the term
anu also the following presentment:-


TO His Honor JOSIAH SUTHERLAND, Presiding


Judge, Court OF General Sessions


The Grand Jury OF the city and county of New
York present the Broadway and seventh Avenue
Railroad Company as nuisance for obstructing
the street in front OF their depot Seventh ave-
Guide the public and greatly interfering with travel
To and from Central Park. In closing our labors
We cannot refrain from calling the attention of
Your Honor to matter OF great and sad in
-terest 70 US III the performance OF our duty.
We refer TO the large number or boys OF
tender years whom we have indicted for highway
robbery, ieonious assault upon the person. bur-
glary aud other high crimes Some OF these boys
were but fifteen years OF age, and in view OF Your
Honor's charge calling our attention TO the dues
ton OF prison reform, as related TO Juvenile Offend
ers the question has risen to our minds whether
the State which has established such well adjusted
systems for the punishment OF crime has taken
effective measures TO prevent it, IL is OF the great
est Importance that these children, not yet har-
dened IN crime, should be kept by themselves, not
only In prison but in the conyeyances TO and from
the Court and while awaiting trial there. Ne all
Know how apt the boy is TO Initiate the vices
rather than the virtues of his seniors, and he
shoul be guarded from even an hours baleul
innuence III the companonship OF olo offenders,
whose language and manner would lead him 70
make light OF crime and its punishment And
every child sent TO prison should there be thoroughly
taught q trade, so that he might, when discharged
mingle with the world on more equal terms self
reliant In the consciousness that he could now earn
an honest living. In the House OF Refuge as in the
state prisons only parts OF trade are taught and
IN the Penitentiary no trade is taught except as
connected with the quarries or the building OF
stone walls on the island and we recommend that
boys under nineteen years Of age Grom whose
youth there may be yet some hope of their reforml
be sent 10 the House OF Refuge rather than to tie
Penitentiary TO mingle with Old offenders. We call
Your Honors attention to the WORK House on
Backweifs Island, which, now conducted,
members of the community. In summer
they are known 'tramps,N and travel far and
wide through the country, and as winter ap-
proacheS they return to their old haunts here and
purpose OF getting free lodging and comfortable
quarters until spring. These inmates should be
compelled 10 work and support themselves, and
their diet should be SO regulated that they would
not be tax upon the State. II the Grand Inquest
should succeed in calling the attention OF the au-
urgent Importance OF attacking crime at the root
OF the tree rather than al its branches,
by taking steps TO educate ana shield the
young criminal from evil influence during his i'm
prisonment, so that when he Is set at liberty he
shall be competent 70 earn his livelihood, and
therefore less easily tempted TO fall into sin. it will
be source OF higher satisfaction 10 as than could
be afforded bv the most assduous performance OF
our duties IN hearing evidence OF crime and pre-
sentng criminals for trial. BY order OF the Grand
Jury. THEODORE PERRY, Foreman.


b. H. DAY, Secretary.


Judge Sutherland discharged the Grand Jury
thanking them for the valuable suggestions which
they made and for the efficient discharge OF their
arduous duties.