The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-02
Two Justices of the Peace
Accused Of Extortion
and Bribery.
THROWN OUT OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
0vercharging the Complain
ant and Accepting Straw
Bail Are Among
the Charges.

There is every probability that with
in the next forty-eight hours Justice
of the Peace Thomas H. Ward, of
Bayonne, will be arrested by the po-
lice Of that city on a charge Of extor-
zion and bribery. There is also a
possibility that Justice of the Peace
Marcus Stricken, of Constable Hook,
will be gathered in as an
accessory to the fact. For some
months past it has been
strongly suspected, and ven openly
limited by alleged victims, that the
methods pursued by the pair Of Dog
berrys would not bear close scrutiny.
A discovery of an instance of the fact
was accidentally made yesterday
through a petty case which came up
in the Bayonne Police Court.
Samuel Reisch, an understood Hun
garian, of Constable Hook, was as
saulted last Monday by Michael
Roman, a stalwart fellow countryman.
He complained to Justice Stricken,
who advised him to get a wal
rant for Romans arrest from Justice
Ward. Reisch did SO, and he alleges
that he paid Justice Ward So for the
warrant. Of the amount, he says, 81
was given to Constable Van Woert,
who arrested Roman.
a. TAKING STRAW BAIL.
Then the prisoner wa taken before
tn fttca Ward on Monday night. Jus.
tice Stricken appeared with a Hun
gariap, named Michael Welleke. JUS
tice Ward released Roman to appear
sor examination; accepting, as
3e alleges ON Justice Strickers
protestations, Welleke as Romars
surety. Wednesday night the
party again met in Justice Wards
Office. Roman asserts that he gave
Welleke so, and Welleke gave 81 to
Justice Stricken and So to Justice
Ward. He understood that the con
sideration was paid so that he would
not be sent to jail. This statement
is corroborated by Welleke.
Thursday morning Reisch secured
from Justice of the Peace Sidney l..
Carragan, who was acting IS Re
corder, another warrant for Romar's
arrest. He said nothing of the pre-
vious warrant, and Patrolman Cor
man arrested Roman. During the af-
ternoon Justice Ward learned that
Roman was a prisoner at Police Head
quarters. He repaired thither and
had a grow1 with Patrolman Nc
Carthy. Finally he became so excited
and d~ictatorial that Sergeant Van
Horn grabbed him by the coat collar
and the slack of his trousers and ran
him out into the street. He made a
futile, frantic attempt at resistance.
HOW TT CAME 10 LIGHT.
Yesterday Recorder Besher gave
Roman a hearing, and the facts as re-
lated abovewere developed. Recorder
Besher and Chief of Police McNeill
were indignant, and they Intercepted
Justice Ward as to the truth OF the
matter.
His flabby face turned several shades
of green and purple, and he painfully
stammered a general denial. During
the day the police secured a number OF
witnesses to the money transaction, and
several sworn statements, embodying
the facts, were made. The case against
Roman was adjourned uutil this morn
ing when he was discharged Re-
corder Besher told both Reisch and
Roman that if they did not get their
money back there would be music.
Justice Ward can also be accused OF
having accepted straw bail, as
Welleke is not a Freebooter.