The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-06-10
HENNESSEY TO THE BAR.
He Is Placed on Trial in the Sessions
for Forging 0'Neil's Name to
a County Warrant.

Immediately after the disposal of the
malfeasance case of the twelve Freehold
ers, the case of Freeholder Michael Hen
nessey was called. He was indicted for
forgery.
The Freeholder took his seat beside
Counsellor McDermott in calm manner
and watched the proceedings carefully,
THE CASE STATED.
The Prosecutor said
"Mr. Hennessey has been indicted on
two counts-the forgery of the name of
James O'Neil, and uttering forged war
rant, knowing it to be forged-that is, not
signed by James O'Neil.
'It is alleged that James O'Neil fur
nished certain goods to the jail A war
rant was issued to the order of James
O'Neil, and in the stub-book, on the stub
of that warrant, No. 307, appears the name
of James O'Neil as having received the
warrant, which was then paid by Mr..
Dugan, the County Collector.
'Now we find that warrant in the
hands of Mr.. Hennessey. If James O'Neil
did not sign that warrant Michael Hen
nessey knew it. He then gave it to Mr.
Dugan and received Mr.. Dugan's check
for it. This is uttering it, and if it was
not forged by himself he uttered the
forgery of someone else"
John Boyd, called by the State, read a
resolution ordering paid warrant drawn
for O'Neil's bill for supplies for County
Jail He identified said Freeholder Hen
neSSey'S signature on warrant 1868, and
identified his signature on the other war
rants.
The Prosecutor said he did this to show
that Hennessey had received the money.
HENNEssEY GOT THE CHECK.
Hugh Dugan testified that he is County
Collector and that he paid claims by
check. The two warrants, SS2774 and
S223, 36, were produced by Freebooter
Hennessey; paid them by check to the
order of Michael Hennessey. He did not
remember who presented the warrant, No
$50, for $413.G6 but it was drawn to the or
der of James O'Neil.
Cross examined, Mr.. Dugan said Hen
nessey presented two of the warrants and
one he did not note.
Freeholder McDonough, next called,
said he could not identify Hennessy's sig
nature.
John Boyd, recalled, identified the sig
nature.
James O'Neil, of No. 1856 Steuben street,
took the Suanu next ana LeSUlHeu ne laQ
lived at that address twenty-nine years.
never furnished any goods; Freebooter
McDonough never gave him an order to
furnish goods, and he never authorized
anyone to do it for him. He never pre-
sented bill or swore to any bill for
claims presented to the county. He never
transacted any business with the county
o'NEILL DIDN'T SIGN THE WARRANT.
I never knew this warrant had been
drawn to my order. The name James
O'Neil is not my handwriting, and /
never authorized any one to sign it, and
never knew 1t had been signed until the
trial came off. / never authorized anyone
to receive any money for me. never au-
thorized Michael Hennessey to receive
this warrant for me, for did not know it
was there.
AN AcQUITTAL ASKED.
That concluded the case for the State,
and Allan McDermott asked that the
Court acquit, for no evidence had been
produced that O'Neil's name had been
forged: there was nothing to put the
defendant on his defense. The Court de-
clined the motion to instruct the jury to
acquit, and recess for half an hour was
taken
Mr. McDermott proceeded to sum up
without calling witness, and Judge Lip
pincott will charge the jury tomorrow
morning.