New York Daily Tribune

THE CANDIDATES FOR POLICE MAGISTRATES.

Again are we on the eve of another election, and in the choice and election of one branch of our City Government it is necessary that great care and caution should be used. We allude particularly to the office of Police Magistrate. There now occur eight vacancies in the benches of our Criminal Courts, occasioned by the expiration of the term of office of the present incumbents, namely: Justices Osborn, Welsh, Brennan, Flandreau, Davison, Connolly, Brownell and Wood. In selecting men to refill these positions, our citizens should exercise great discretion in casting their votes, for in the preservation of peace and quiet throughout the city the Magistrate has an important part to perform. Before this officer all criminal matters are first brought. The rowdy, the rioter, the thief, the burglar, the swindler, men and women guilty of murder and other crimes of a felonious nature, are arraigned, and upon his decision and action in the matter depends their being made to suffer the penalty of the laws they have violated, or their being again let loose upon the community, only to renew their villainies. To our shame be it said, we have had, and even now have, men upon the benches of our Criminal Courts who have in the most glaring manner exhibited leniency toward the rowdy and the rioter upon political grounds, while some poor fellow who had stolen a crust of bread to appease the gnawings of hunger has been treated with the utmost rigor of the law.

We want no such men upon the benches of our criminal courts. We want men of integrity, men of ability, men who will not allow the political rioter and rowdy to go free. Happily, we have had and still have some deserving magistrates in office, men who have acted uprightly in the discharge of their duties and who have not been swerved from the straight-forward path for any political considerations. Two of these are now about to retire from public life, while others have sought renominations. New men and good ones, too, have come into the field, and along with them are seeking the same honor men totally unfit for this or any other public office.

The following are the nominations that have been made by the Democratic, American and Republican parties:

In the 1st district we have three candidates in the field; one of those, Mr. James H. Welsh, seeks a re-election. He has occupied the position for a number of years, and has filled the office with ability, and given satisfaction generally to his constituents. Mr. James Leonard is well known to the public from his connection, during the last eight or ten years, with the Police department of our city. He has an extensive knowledge of criminal matters, and would, no doubt, fill the position with ability. Though a party man, we do not apprehend that he would use the power wherewith he might be invested for political considerations. Of R. C. McIntyre and John H. Whitmore, we know but little. They have succeeded in obtaining nominations from factions of the Democratic party. Whitmore is now a clerk in the City Prison under the Ten Governors.

In the Second District Mr. Matthew T. Brennan has received renomination from the Democrats, and will doubtless be re-elected, as he has no strong opponents. We do not consider him at all fit for the office.

In the IIIrd District there are four candidates in the field, three of whom have received regular nominations, and the fourth designs running independent. The Democratic party have seen fit to honor Robert L. Linn with the nomination. In every respect is this man unfit for the office, and it is to be hoped that the honest voters of the district will turn out, one and all, and prevent a person of so notoriously bad character from occupying a position on the bench of our Criminal Courts. Linn is well known to the police. He belongs to the faction of which Fernando Wood is the leader, and his nomination has been sought that he might be made a convenient tool in the hands of the "Champion of Municipal Rights."

Mr. Robert H. Johnston has been nominated by the Republicans of the district. Mr. Johnston has been engaged for many years as Clerk at the Lower Police Court. Mr. James Murray has received the American nomination in this district. He has Linn and Mr. Johnston to contend against, but we have been told that the latter has signified his intention of giving way with a view probably of preventing the election of the notorious individual put forward by the Democrats. Mr. Murray has occupied the position as Clerk at the Jefferson Market Police Court for many years, and is well known to the public as a man of integrity. Mr. Brownell, the present incumbent, designs running as an independent candidate.

In the IVth district are three candidates. J. M. March and Horatio N. Parker had been nominated by the Democrats. Of these persons we know nothing, save that from their former pursuits they are illy qualified to occupy the position for which their election is sought. The third nominee is Barnabas W. Osborn. He has received the nomination of the Americans and Republicans in the District. Mr. Osborn has for several terms occupied the magisterial bench, and is too well known to require at our hands any especial notice. He has filled the position with eminent ability; and upon the late law requiring the Magistrates to hold a Court of General Sessions, Mr. Osborn was unanimously chosen by his associate Justices as the presiding officer of the Court.

In the Vth District we have James R. Steers, Democrat, and George W. Riblet, nominated by the Americans and Republicans. Of Mr. Steere, who occupies the position of Alderman, we have little to say, and that little is, that he is a man totally unqualified for the position, either by habit or education. His partisan obsequiousness as an Alderman shows a plentiful lack of independence. Mr. George W. Riblet will make an excellent Magistrate. He is eminently qualified for the position, and has the united nomination of the Americans and Republicans. Mr. R. some years ago occupied the office of County Clerk, which office he filled to the satisfaction of the public generally.

In the VIth District, Mr. Richard Kelly is before the people as the nominee for Magistrate. Mr. Kelly is a man extensively and widely known, and commendation is utterly unnecessary. He is thoroughly capable, and would do honor to the place.

In the VIIth District, Michael Connolly has sought and obtained the Democratic renomination. The acts of Justice Connolly, during his occupancy of the Criminal Bench, have been often enough shown up, and 'twere needless to occupy space by repeating them. He has notoriously sympathized with the bully and rowdy, and instead of meting out to them the punishment they justly deserved, he has easily let them off.

Mr. Hiram A. Maynard has received the Republican and American nomination. Mr. Maynard was formerly Captain of the Police force in the Nineteenth Ward, and is well qualified to fill the position.

In the VIIIth District are three candidates. William Murray, a notorious political character, the nominee of the Democratic party, is put forward for election as Magistrate. Murray ought not to get a vote. Wm. Voice is another Democratic nominee, of whom nothing is known. Mr. Nottleton has received the Republican nomination, and Mr. Quackenbush the American nomination. Mr. Quackenbush has for many years acted as Clerk at the Second District Police Court, and has an extensive knowledge of the business pertaining to the office.