The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-04-06
COURT House RESORTS.
Places Where Politicians,
Iuries, 0fficeholders
and Court Officers
Eat and Drink.
THE FAMOUS OLD COTTAGE.
Scenes Of Political Schemes, Jury
Investigations and Good
Fellowship.

Standing back from Newark avenue
just east of the Court House. is Browns
Court House Cottage. In the yard in
front, in the summer, is a fountain. the
spray from which splashes over the gold
and silver fishes that sport in the basin.
This is surrounded by beautiful tropical
plants and the effect is such as to make
an overheated man believe he is cool and
only has been deceiving himself There
are two large shade trees near the street
and they and the verandah in front of the
Cottage make it place OF comfort on any
warm day. On cold day the hot fire
that burns vigorously inside affords all
the comfort needed, especially If it be
aided by judicious investment in "wet
goods"
This place has for many years been
popular resort Tor politicians. AS early
as 1872 it was transferred by James Field
Pleasant Picnic Grounds, and by him it
was placed in the hands of Henry Finck,
and was known as Finek's Cottage for
eight years. Billy Martin and John
Gudekrist had it in turn, and then it was
bought by its present owner. ex-Sheriff
&ASintlc, III 1907. I16 ocCQpEeu IL long
enough 10 be nominated for Sheriff, and
then leased it to the present tenant, Col
onel Michael Brown.
In this quiet little building more poll
ticians have perhaps had social glass
together than in any other building in
the city There have also been more
small political jobs determined there
than in any place in the vicinity of the
Court House. 1t Is there that the Free
holders go when they desire 10 be partic-
rlarly exclusive in their caucases, and
Colonel Brown for the occasion provides
them with a neatly furnished room on
the second floor. The most important
room was when the late Surrogate
McAvoy said to Congressman McAdoo:-
Take the nomination for Congress and
III see that you are elected. y
HOW sALINGER WAS NOMINATED.
1t was IN this quiet room, while slipping
champagne four years ago, that Finance
Commissioner John Edeistein Register
George B. Fielder and ex-ASsemblyman
Pearson decided to nominate Max Sal
niger for Alderman at the eleventh hour
and succeeded in defeating Thomas v.
Gator at the polls.
Down stairs is where the colonel does
the honors, and he is particularly eff
Gent in this respect on ladies' night
This is when the fair ones take possession
OF the bowling alley under the name of
the Friendship Club. It is a Jolly party
all friends and all bent on amusement.
At the weekly gatherings there are al
ways to be found Commissioner Emil
DATE and his accomplished wife, Gustav
Metzler and Mrs. Metzler, whose social
attractions are so well known; ex-Sheriff
HeintZe aud Mrs. Heintze Frank Gallery
and Mrs. Gallery, Henry Simon and Mrs
Simon and Eugene Franck and Mrs.
Franck. These ladies and gentlemen al
ways have collation. after the bowling
is over, and many jokes are laughed over
at the expense of the defeated parties
while partaking of 1t.
In the bar-room, which is entirely
separate from the bowling alley. one Is
liable aE any time 10 meet almost any
one. 1t is the favorite resort of the Free
holders, Grand Jurors. and some time
ago, when The Grand Jury were investi-
eating alleged frauds of the Freeholders,
it was amusing TO see tine mutual en-
barrassment wnen they sampled birch
beer over the bar.
1t is fun sometimes to drop In there
when john Boyd, ex-Sheriff Heintze and
Register Fielder are enjoying bottle of
wine and talking over old times, or when
Freebooter Phngsten puts himself in a
perspiration trying to down Assemb bly,
man Boyle at bowling or pinochle. 1t is
always safe TO say that when sport of this
nature is going on Christy P. Smith and
Freeholder Frank Kimmerly are around
to enjoy it.
GREAT FLOW OF CHAMPAGNE.
Colonel Browns agent is responsible
for the declaration that more champagne
is sold at the Court House Cottage than
in any place In the State, he does not ex-
cept Trenton during the session of the
Legislature, and when he said this he
added that 1t was shame that the salar-
les of the Freeholders were not increased.
A block from this place is the liquor
store kept by Louis Heller This is the
place made so popular by Con. Donovan
of HOboken, when he owned it and was
candidate for Sheriff. In those days it
was place for politicians, and the party
that did not meet at the Court House
Cottage would occupy a room upstairs
and make the necessary deals. On many
occasions John Wheeiahan, Commissioner
Edelstein, John H. McGrath, the liquor
dealer, Register Fielder and ex- Cominis-
sioner Roberts have met there and deter
mined who should represent the Fifth
district in city and State offices.
This was during the time that Donovan
wanted to be Sheriff but was beaten at
the convention by ex-Sherif LaVerty, aud
also when he opposed ex-Sheriff Cronan
and was again defeated.
HEATED ARGUMENTS.
In those days ex-Mayor Garrett Van
Reypen and ex-Jailer John Allen took an
active part In the discussions and argu-
menJs which were frequently very heated.
Today it is different The petit jury has
selected 1t as a headquarters, and as soon
as Court orders recess there is general
scramble to see who will reach the foam
ing beer and lunch quickest But they
are not by any means the only persons
who patronize Mine Host Heller, for
every politician below the Hill, when he
has business al the Court House, pays
him visit Louis is one of the best and
most widely known hotel keepers In the
city. His place is generally patronized
by those in the Sheriff's, County Clerks,
Registers and Surrogate's office, who
like glass of good lager.
Across the street from these Is Carl
Ruempler's Hotel This is distinctively
the headquarters of the court officers,
and there the constables flock when not
on duty There they eat at the lunch
counter or in the restaurant as they feel
disposed, and drink their beer or what
ever their tastes dictate. They never
talk politics 10 any extent, but they do
take especial pleasure in assuring Them
selves that the law in some case tried
during the day WAS improperly inter-
preted or that the severity or leniency of
sentence was too great. 1t would as
tonfsh Judge ON the bench, or a learned
counsellor, if they only knew how fear
lessly their interpretations of law were
dissected
Unable to Come TO Understanding.
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