The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-15
The Grand Jury Order Bills
Against Fourteen Free
holders and Some Works
Commissioners.
PROMINENT CITIZENS SUMMONED.
II Judge Lippincott Gets Back in
Time From VincentoWn the
Indictments Will be Presented
this Afternoon.

The session of the Grand Jury yes
terday afternoon is followed today by
some startling announcements.
1t is said on authority that cannot
be questioned, that the Grand Jurors
have ordered bills drawn against
fourteen members of the Board oi
Freeholders. The two escapes are
said to be Turner and Waas.
1t is also stated that Clerk Martin
Finck, of the Board of Works, was
before the Grand Inquest yesterday,
and that four members of the
Board of Works, Keins, Cannon,
Tumulty and Watt have been ordered
before the court for trial on charge
OF malfeasance. The specification is
that these four members awarded the
contract for street cleaning to other
than the lowest bidder.
Mr. Hilliard was not present at the
meeting of the Board at which the
contract was awarded, and Mr.. Van
keuren left the. meeting room before
the action had been taken. So they
escape indictment.
1t is also reported, on not so good
authority, however, that the Police
\ Board has been indicted for exceeding
their appropriation.
The Grand Jury is in session again
this afternoon.
1t is said that President Edward F..
@. Young, of the First National Bank,
and other conspicuous citizens are
under subpoena to appear as witnesses
in other cases to be considered.
WHAT TWELVE FREEHoLDERs DID
1t is positively known that twelve
members of the Board of Freeholders
were indicted yesterday for passing the
O'Neil claim for $32074 December 90.
The bill was contrasted by Freeholder
Hennessey, who is chairman of the
Committee on Public Grounds, Court
House and Jail Among the dozen
items in the claim were two which led
to the Indictment. Three barrels of
asphaltum, $118.92, and two barrels of
turpentine, 1927. .02, making a total of
$245. "a. This, added to the gross
amount of the other items, made the
aggregate of the bill $320.74.
The indicted men are said to be
Freeholders Boyle, Griffin, Hennessey,
Kilroy, Kimmerly, McDonough,
Noonan, Rollston, Smith, Steger,
Tierney and Totten, who voted to pass
the alleged fraudulent claim. Those
who voted against it -Freeholders
Bruning, Cullen, Kenney, Nelson,
Turner and Waas. Director Pairson
was absent from the meeting.
Clerk John Boyd and Freebooter
Tierney told me this morning that
Freeholders Tierney, Totten and Roll
ston had never ordered a dollars
worth of goods by requisition since
they had been in the Board. Free
holder Tierney thought that the
Grand Jury had treated him very un-
Justly by finding an Indictment
against him, for he claimed that he
was doing as a Freeholder nothing
but his duty.
If q claim passes the Finance Com
mittee,o said he, sit is but natural to
suppose it to have been investigated
and found to be proper claim; and
AS a matter of course, the others and
myself voted to pay it,"
PRESENTAIENTS MAY BE MADE To-
DAY.
If Judge Lippincott returns from
Vincentown in time today the Grand
Jury will make presentments, and. it
IS expected, will be discharged. He
aas been telegraphed for.
The Board of Works beyond doubt
will be called on to meet another in
fictInent, found ON precisely the same
grounds on which the big Four
we're some time ago indicted-for not
awarding the street cleaning contract
70 the lowest bidder