The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-06-04
IT MEANS CONVICTION
SO Says Judge Hoffman
With Peculiar EN-
phasis.
DISMAY AMONG POLITICIANS
A struck iuryl

A struck juryi
The fate OF the indicted election officers
win be decided by a struck jury when
they are brought to trial The applica-
tion for one was made this morning by
Prosecutor Winfield and was granted by
the court. This means that the prosecu-
ton is determined that not single effort
shall be spared on the part of the State to
punish the scoundrels who manipulated
ballots to suit themselves at the election
held last fall
After some routine business had been
disposed of this morning, Oliver String
ham and Peter J. Cassidy. election Off
GERS of the Fifth and Third precincts of
the Second districts, were arraigned on
the charge of conspiracy to peryert the
election laws of the State and they found
bail In John Shannon and Charles Bird
sail, the jailer. Patrick Buckley wanted
to 40 bail for Cassidy, but the Court
would not accept him.
"Where are the others?" enquired
Judge Lippincott of the clerk.
"Idon't know, sir"
How many more are there to come
imp
Il think there are four more, answered
the clerk.
The Court thought for few moments.
and then called Counstable Zoeller to the
bench, and directed him to notify the
Sheriff that the Court wanted TO see him.
Mr.. Zoeller explained that the Sheriff
was absent owing to the death of his
sister, and Judge Lippincott then said;-
"Tell his assistant to come,' adding,
ssernAe Sheriff has had ten days TO have
these capiases executed. The Court does
not intend to sit day after day to arraign
two or three Of these men,"
COULDN'T FIND THE UNDER SHERIFF.
The constable did not find the Under
Sheriff and so reported.
Soon after this ex-Judge hoffman. ].
T. Altemus and Prosecutor Winfield held
consultation in the Prosecutors office,
and then Mr.. Winfield hurriedly went
into the Judges chamber and consulted
him. He returned to his own
Office after ten minutes. and was soon
afterward followed there by the Judge.
There was another consultation in which
ex-Judge Hoffman, took part,
and soon after this all assembled
in the Judge IS chamber and the
talk was continued. The lawyers and
Judge looked serious, and it was evident
that some important move was contem-
plated The few persons in the court
wondered what it was, and arum or was
soon afioat that an application for war
rant for the arrest of Sheriff Davis was to
be made.
This rnmor had scarcely got footing
when the lawyers left the chambers, tn Q
Judge resumed his seat on the Bench b O.
side Judge Alfred Hoffman and the
Prosecutor addressed the court as fol-
lows:-''May it please the court in the
cases Of Jacob Moschell, J. Thorn Der
ancy, James Hart and Thomas Fallon.
election officers in the First precinct of
the First district, indicted for conspira cy,
desire to apply for struck jury, for the
State deems this case Of so much pub lie
interest that it is made necessary"
THE APPLICATION GRANTED.
"The Court thinks" replied Judge L ip-
pincott, "that the case is of sufficient inn
portance to entertain this application,
which is an enti rely proper one. The
Court grants the application an d a rule
may be entered to that effect on the rec
ord.r
This order means that the Court will
select forty-eight of the most reputable
citizens in the county as panel and that
counsel for the State and the defense
~, ~ oaoh have f},a rixrhr n, str; be ofr
twelve names, or twenty-four names in
all, and that the twelve men to try the
accused will De selecte from the remain
ing twenty-four names.
This action is plain intimation that
the Court and State fear to trust these
Important election cases to the pre- ent
petit jury and firm intention to keep
political feeling out Of the rial, that
fair trial may be had.
It is necessary for the State to give the
defense at least six days notice before the
struck jury can be drawn.
Ex-Judge Hoffman this morning told
me thas not one, two or ten cases would
be made test cases. but that every in
dicted man would be tried. "and, . he add
ed, with forcible gesture, convicted
too"
About the Court House the politicians
are dismayed at this action which they
have feared would take place, but hoped
to be able to put off, Several Of the
election officers looked exceedingly
gloomy when told of the news
aud it is believed that should
the first case prove to be conviction, a
wholesale surrendering Of prisoners will
be made by the bondsmen, many of the
latter having hitherto believed the elec-
tfon cases were only Smoke" and that
political pull would defeat Justice.
Companions of Foresters Organize
A new circle. christened the Rising
Star M Oh Com r,a n inns hf Eorazfare