The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-07
FREEHOLDERs INDICTED
Startling Statements Of Pro-
ceedings Of the Grand
Jury.
WHAT Mr.. MEEKS HAS TO SAY.
Rumors That Prosecutor Win
field and the Grand Jury
Are at Loggerheads.

For weeks past there have been rurnors
and stories concerning the action OF the
Grand Jury toward the Board of Free
holders It has been stated that after
minute investigation the Grand Jury was
on1F able to find indictments against Free
), holder Hennessey, and that the other
members of the Board had gone Scott free.
Today it is known for certainty that
this is not true. A careful enquiry has re-
vealed the fact that without doubt four
teen members were indicted at the last
meeting of the Grand Jury, and it is be-
lieyed that the entire Board was.
A prominent county official who usually
knows what takes place in the sacred pre-
cincts of the Grand Jury ROOM said this
morning that he was certain the entire
Board had been indicted, and that prob
ably at the meeting of the Grand jury on
March ID, preSantments would be made
against the F'reeholders. 1t is said that
the specific allegation is malfeasance in
office.
THE GRAND JURY AND MIR. WINFIELD.
In connection with this is story that
puts Winfield and the Grand Jury at log
gerheads, regarding the advisability OF
finding the indictments.
Ole story is to to the effect that Mr..
Winfield informed the Grand Jury
men that they might indict
the Board but that evidence sufficient to
convict it had not been produced. 1t is
said that he advised the Grand Jury to OBJ
tain sufficient evidence before submitting
a presentment, and that he also advised
them not to indict at all until further
investigation had been made.
Furthermore, it is said that the Grand
Jury did not agree with Mr.. Winfield, and
acting on the Judgment of the members
the indictments have been found. Thls
action has led to rumors that the District
Attorney and the Grand Jury do not pull
together UNANIMOUSLY, although to all out
ws-i appearance their relations are very
G able.
DID Mr.. WINFIELD REFUSE?
Another official said that it is believed
that Mr.. Winfield refused positively to
draw an Indictment against the Freehold
ers. This gentleman said that but four
teen of the Freeholders had been indicted,
and that the evidence against them for
atisfy the Grand Jury OF many irregu-
larities. There is much specula-
tion as to the result of the
action Of the Grand Jury, and it is said
tt at the only reason the presentments
were not made last week was that the
Grand Jury desired to learn the de-
cision in the case of Hennessy. Should
the counsel for Hennessy scceed in quash-
ing the Indictment against mis- client on
the grounds he set up last Friday, 1t will
inva1idaoe all the actions of the Grand
Jury not yet disposed of by the Court,
and had they presented these indictments
it would have been only to have them de-
clared illegal.
There were many anxious faces seen
about the Court House this morning, and
among them were noticed several grand
jury men.
District Attorney Winfield declined to
talk about the matter and would neither
admit nor deny the truth of the rumors,
except so far as to say that his relations
with the Grand jury are very pleasant
and not unfriendly.