The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-31
JUSTICE PITCHER ARRAI0NED.
HE Plea to the Charges Of Messrs. Hesy and
Lannirg In Long Branch.

LONG BRANCH, March 3O.-The suspended
Police Justice Of Long Branch. Edward I.
Pitcher. was arraigned yesterday before the
Commissioners TO plead to tho charges made
against him by Mr.. John Hoey and Prosecutor
Of the Pleas LanninR. The Hon. Thomas
Murphy came from New York city to take his
seat in the board. Mr. tanning appeared for
the people. and Meesrs. Allen and Conover
both formerly Prosecutors Of the Pleas. for Mr.
Hoey. Mr.. II. NJ. Ncvins and @. H. Troutman
appeared for the defendant.
President Cooper overruled both these points
The charges Of Mr.. Hoey then read. were that
during his term OF Office Pitcher had connived
Mt crime associated with criminals. given aid
and comfort TO those accused Of crimc. while
publicly censuring the motives Of those engaged
IN the investigation OF crime. The first specific
charge was that In the summer OF 1877 he had
used his official position 10 protective gamblers
named Howe and Picris, who were in the banco
orcd to protect house Of IL -repute. The tn I'd
was that he had connived at violation Of the
e w f CSnr TO s sne 81 anor nnd nad pfo
taking an affidavit against Kavannah he had in
formed him Of tho contents before issuing a
1873. after investigating the Chamberlin fire,
and committing Kavanagh to Jail, he had
To S both h r and and sysn % Sns
that he had received in confidence. He also ad-
yiscd with Kavanagh. with reference, to the de-
sation with an officer he he'd censured Mr.. Hocy
and Chamberlain, saying that the prosecution
was q put up job and that Mr. Hoey had private
reasons for getting rid OF Kavanagh The fifth
charge was that he had accepted from ono
Mathews $50 bal in larceny case. Mathews
was not Indicted, and Pitcher did not deposit
the money with the court. nor did he return IT,
though frequently asked to do so. The sixth
wns that he accepted n set Of harness from two
coachmen OF the Rowland House. who were ar
rested. and retained the bail money of one Of
them. The seventh was that in March. 1873, he
postponed misdcmcanOr rase. and when ii
was taken To Justice Lane. went to Lane and re-
ported that he had bailcd the man. whereas he
had done nothing Of the sort, but had promised
h i'm that no warrant should be issued against
him.
Mr.. Nevins demurred to most OF these charges
az being too Indefinite but he was overrulcd by
the board Pitcher then pleaded not guilty to
each charge.
Mr.. Lanning's charges wore that Pitcher had
withheld from the Prosecutor OF the Pleas n list
Of witnesses and Information MS to evidence
that before he had completed the investigation
OF cause no had published an article in de-
pointed as the incendiary. Another charge was
the same ms the fourth one of Mr.. IIoey and the
last was that he had ahscntcd himself from
court in Freehold and withheld important pa
pcrs.
To these charges Mr.. Nevlns also drmurred
ns beng too indefinite. and the final charge was
nearly thrown out. the vote standing to 3.
Pitcher pleaded not guilty to all of them.
MIR. Ncvins then desired 10 proceed with the
trial al once, but the prosecution was not ready,
and the case was adjourned.