The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-10
THE JERSEY MUNICIPAL JOBS.
Waiting Nine Hours for
a Verdict. e
No Prospect Of an Agreemsnt-A Breeze Among
Counsel-counsel for the Ring Afraid Of the
Newspapers To Be Witness
Next Term-Desperate Efforts to stavs
or the Other Indictments-Trial
Of Police Justice Reese.

OH the Other lndictments-TrlaI
Of Police Justice Reese.
The trial of the members OF the Board Of Public
Works OF Jersey City for unlawfully helping Will
| liam Robertson, partner Of William Bumsted, to
o GOOD fat job-the Van Worst street sewer-was
| resumed yesterday morning.
Messrs. Linn and Winfield summed up for the
defence, after which the District Attorney tucked
| up his sleeves and proceeded to demolsh the
theories Of the eminent legal quartet arrayed
against HIM. Throwing aside his manuscript, he
reminded the jury, by way Of preface, that the
defendants had come
WITHOUT ANY DEFENCE
The State had proved all that was necessary to
establish the case. The work done involved pay
ment OF more than I've hundred dollars; there
was no advertisement for bids and the work was
partly paid for That was the whole case plain
and u9varnished. The defence set up the plea
that there was no contract.
WHAT Is A C0NTRACrf
man does piece OF work for me, and pay him
for it, That is u contract. Robertson says to the
Board, II have built your sever heres my BILL"
That ID contract The only defence was that
these defendants did not know anything about it.
Well then, what are they paid more than $4,000
year for7 Why not
LET BUMsTED RUN THE BOARD
altogether, as according to the evidence OF the de-
PENDANTS themselves. he seems to have done. The
very committee that authorized this payment ex-
pended $4,000 ON that day, and he doubted II the
defendants knew what any portion Of 1t was ex-
pended Tor. With regard 10 the novel I'd ..t5r lo ol
THEORY OF UNCONSCIOUS COMPLETELY
he would remind the jury that . switcnman was
recently convicted In Newark for accidentally turn.
Ing a switch the wrong way. esooi ali.I
Judge Randolph In charging the jury said that
Bumsted could not act for the other members OF
the Board 80 as to convict them as n party to a
Robertson
had specially authorized him to act for them in
that particular matter or unless they afterwards
with full knowledge OF the facts, adopted Ills act as
their own fr.elst rtr at
THE QUESTION FOR THE JURY
was whether the defendants were cOgniZant or an
agreement with Robertson from the fact that
Bunlsted spoke to Robertson about 1t, and from
Board met from time to time to transact their public
duties. II the jury had any doubt that Bumsted
knowledge OF the defendants they were bound to
render verdict Of acquittal. If the defendants at
the time Of voting the payment OF $4,000, did not
know that the contract had not been regularly adj
vertised, their vote would not make them liable
II they voted inadvertently they were not re-
The jury went out at one O'Clock, and the District
Attorney, alter they had retired moved that the
trial Of all the other indictments against the Board
Of Public Works be postponed till the next term Of
Court, as
about these transactions than anybody else. The
case Just tried established that fact 9-t
Mr.. Williamson and his associates for the defence
the State In these cases; but the Court corrected
them by stating that there are two or three ways
In which Bumsted could be q witness.
Mr. Winfield said it was q great hardship to the
defendant to have to come to the Court day after
The Court, in view of the near approach of the
next term decided to postpone the trial OF the In
dictments till then.
The District Attorney entered n0lse proseQut ON
the indictments 100 and Isl, which charged the
Board Of Public Works with maintaining nuisance
Mr.. Dixon moved that the remaining three In.
dictments against the Police Commissioners he
A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
that every man charged with crime should have o
trial. year aad o nearly eaP ts since
prosecutor should discharge his duties with great
diligence in such cases as those. 1t all very
well to say that every man Is innocent till proved
THE NEWSPAPER THEORY.
These men see their names In connection with
these charges banded about IN newspapers from
day to day.
The District Attorney replied with some warmth
to the soft impeachment OF counsel Tor the de-
fence, and Judge Randolph came to the rescue with
a mo compmen men,, 10 tne District attorney
which he discharged the duties OF his office. The
Court had never yet heard the slightest murmurs
against him on the score OF ungenerous treatment
OF any person with whom he came in contact In
his legal capacity.
Mr.. Dixon Immediately plucked out the sting by
disavowing any intention, &c, and harmony was
again in the ascendant. He moved that some thing
be done in the cases OF
THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS,
who had not been tried on any of the indictments
against them.
The District Attorney replied that he would
probably move one OF the indictments next week.
One Of the defendants Crilden) had placed himself
beyond the Jurisdiction OF this Court. In other
words, he ran away, and his recOgnizances were
fol- feited
The Court reserved decision on this motion as
well as that In the case OF the Police Commission
ers. AS there was no sign OF the jury returning
into Court new trial was taken up. 1t was an =
INDICTMENT AGAINST POLICE JUSTICE KEEsE
for having, on the 2lst OF January last year, fned
one Thomas Gibson the sum OF 81, on the charge
OF kidnapping a boy seven years OF age, an offence
over which Police Justices have no jurisdiction.
Several witnesses were examined and It appeared
that Gibson, instead Of kidnapping the boy, was
really on his way with him to the police station.
Mr.. Frederick Meschutt in whose restaurant
Gibson met the boy, testified that the latter was an
impostor.
The case was not concluded when the Court ad-
journed.
WAITING FOR THE VERDICT.
At ten O'Clock last night the Jury had been out
nine hours and there was no prospect OF an agree
ment. In the meantime the anxious Commission
ers OF Public Works lotered around the Court
House and established their headquarters at
Aliens Hotel. Mr.. Fisher, the Clerk OF the Court,
waited till late hour to receive the verdict II the
jury should agree. 1t was rumored that from the
first hour OF retirement the jury stood ten for
viction and two for acquittal. The constable who
guarded the door reported at eight O'Clock that the
jury with two or three exceptions, had taken
brief respite from the cares Of the world and were
x.sx.x. .tx.~ AN