davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
FOOL OR KNAVE?

The Story of Countryman Who Was
Chummy with an Immigrant.
John Schmidt, brawny youth, who
said he was on his way from Ulster
county, New York, to Trenton, was ar
rested early this morning on suspicion of
robbing Hungarian immigrant of $50
bill.
When arraigned before Justice Stilsing,
Schmidt said he was to take the 6:45 train
for Trenton. While awaiting the train
an immigrant approached him, and show
ing him 2 book upon which there were
certain questions ON one page in Polish
and English translation on the opposite
side, asked him to show him a place 10
get something to eat.
With a little time at his disposal he
volunteered to escort the Hungarian TO a
place where both could obtain a cocktail,
thence to restaurant.
A policeman followed Schmidt into a
barroom and then into Steup's Hotel
Schmidt's actions did not please the po-
iiceman. He WAS attempting to get out
of the hotel ahead of the Hungarian,
when the policeman nabbed him.
Searched at the First Precinct Station
House Schmidt disgorged S19.25 in small
change. He said he wished to create the
impression with his aged relatives that
he was prosperous, and. closely ques-
toned by the judge, became tangled. He
was remanded until tomorrow morning.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
FINANCIERS CONFER.
Was 1t About Police Station Con-
tracts or the Deficient Levy?

The Finance Board held q long execu-
tive session last night, but transacted
but little business of importance in open
session. In the interim several prom
inent officials and number or citizens
sat in the lobby of the Aldermanic
Chamber discussing various topics. not
least among which was the manner in
which THE JERSEY CITY NEWS outdid its
competitors in handling the proceedings
of yesterdays convention and other lead
ing stories of the day. The enlargement
of the paper particularly attracted their
attention.
The length of the Boards executive ses-
sion, in which both the Corporation
Counsel and City Attorney participated,
indicates that the financiers had struR-
gle of some sort, but there was no evil
dence of it during the open session The
presence of President Feeney, of the
Police Board, and Commissioner Dugan,
of the Street and Water Board, led the
NEWS reporter to ask il the dnanciers
were discussing the new police station
houses. 1t Is evident from the answers he
got that the subject was Mt least men
TONED; yet does not warrant one in say
ing that occasloned the session in the star
chamber.
The principal thing the Board did open
ly laSG nlght was the making Of an ad-
ditional appropriation of 50, 500 to the
Street and Water Boards funds for clean
ing sewers and receiving basins This
amount is to be borrowed on temporary
loan bonds to be provided for in the next
tax levy. The 1900 appropriated for this
purpose has been exhausted owing to the
terrible condition of the sewers, and the
city's health demands that certain sewers
must not remain in their present con
dition.
Contractors Thomas Harrington
Charles O'Neill, Patrick O'Neill, Henry
McGibney, Dennis Byrne and p. J. Con-
don gave notice that they were willing TO
accept four and one half per cent. inter-
est on improvement certificates, and as a
result the delayed improvements to Hop
kins avenue. Bright street, Belmont ave-
nue., Clifford Place, Monmouth street and
Wilton street, will be pushed forward as
rapidly as possible.
The Board concurrcd in the award OF
contract TO Dennis Byrne for the Wilton
street improvement, and to Theodore
Smith for the erection of the new stand
pipe at Belleville.
The invitation of Public School Direc-
tors to the Financiers to inspect the con-
diti0n of No. 6 School was referred to the
President.
The Board adjourned to meet next
Friday morning at 8 q. m.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
GR0GAN'S DEPOSITION.
In the Presence Of His Sister He
Accuses Her Of Firing Him.

Bridget Meehan. who is accused Of
burning her brother, Michael Grogan,
was taken to the City Hospital yesterday
by Clerk keenan, and Detective McNally.
She was brought before the injured man
and he identified her as the woman who
set fire to his clothing.
He then made the following deposi-
tion:-'My name is Michael Grogan. ! am
forty eight years old. and lived until
lately at No. IS Leonard street On Sun
day, September IA, asked my sister for
my breakfast. She told me TO get 1t my
self. l sat down by the window, when
she poured kerosene oil over my back and
struck a match and set me on fire.
called to my nephew, Johnny, who put
ont the fire.
Mrs. Meehan sat on the other side of
the room laughing, and said. "Giye him
more, johnny
When Grogan finished, Mrs Meehan,
who had been standing by during the
taking of his deposition, said, 'iOh Mike,
don't send me to jail. You know you
done it yourself. Let me go home to my
little baby"
The only answer Grogan youchsafed
was, "Look how am suffering"
On account of the soreness of the burned
portion of his body, Grogan is unable to
lie down. There is hardly any hope for
his recovery.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
ALL EUROPE IN COURT.
RagpIckers of Various Nationnlities Get
Free Quarters.

RagpIckers of Various Nationnlities Get
Free Quarters.
One might have imagined himself in a
foreign police court this morning while
glancing at the array of prisoners before
Justice Stilsing.
The police had made a raid upon
twenty-nine Italian and Polish rag
pickers.
The men with grizzled locks and wrin-
kled faces, the women with dilapidated
red hoods, were arraigned in pairs. All
had been guilty of scattering garbage
from the ash barrels between six and
eight O'Clock, at an hour when police
vigilance is supposed to be somewhat
lax There were Websters and Caihouns
and Clays and Conklins and Doughertys
and Blains and Irvings Henry; among
the women there were Claxtons and Tan
ners and PiXleys. All of them argued
forcibly in unmistakable foreign gibber-
ish the tyranny of American kings over
the foreign subjects that had taken ref
uge beneath the folds of its stars and
stripes.
But the Judge was stern.
1.-Two dollars or two days in the City
Prison" he remarked loconically as each
case was proven.
Now, all of them have money But
two days in City Prison, at q saving of a
81 day. with grub thrown in, is a mat
ter of economy with them. AS u conse-
quence the van made several trips.
Prison Keeper Alexander Watson Sill
indulge in an extravagant splurge of
prosperity hitherto unknown.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
HAVEN FOR CONGRESS.
Nominated by Democrats of the Second
District.

Nominated by Democrats of the Second
District.
Special to the Jersey Citu Nescs
ATLANTIC CITY, Sept. 25, $780, Wilson
D. Haven, of Trenton, was nominated by
the Second District Democratic Con-
gressional Convention held in this city
yesterday.
Captain S. E. Perry, of Atlantic, called
the convention TO order, and was elected
temporary chairman. Vice presidents
elected were Captain Mark Townsend, of
Atlantic; Clarence c. Atkinson, Burling-
ton; james r. Bergen, of Mercer, aud
George @. Rowe, OF Ocean.
After short adjournment Clarence G.
Atkinson, of Burlington, was made per-
manent chairman, and Thomas Keating,
secretary. Resolutions were read and
adopted re-affirming their adherence to
the principles of Democracy as laid down
in the national platform and condemning
the Mckinley bill
On call for nominations, Burlington
county named George d. Wetherill, and
Mercer county, Wilson d. Haven. It
was apparent from the first that the
nomination of Mr.. Wetherill was
purely complimentary. The first
ballot resulted, d. Haven, 100; Weth-
erill, 30, Burlington county casting
udll uSI ptsllOlS LOr WetueFlii. by uuHQl-
nous consent the nomination of Wilson
D. Haven was then made by acclamation
amid much enthusiasm. Mr.. WetherilI
and James S. Beckwith made speeches,
after which the convention adjourned, to
be next held in Bordentown.
Mr.. Haven is a native of Monmouth
county. but has been resident of Treu-
ton for years. He is about fifty years of
age and almost the sole owner and man
ager of the Phoenix Iron Works, which is
the largest concern of the kind in the
country. He is a genial, we'll liked man,
but this is the first time that he has ap-
peared actively in politics.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
NORTH HUDSON NOTES.

There was a sensation spoiled in West
Hoboken last night. Anton Ludlow, the
proprietor Of the house No. Ino street,
rushed breathlessly into the station
house and said that he had reason to be-
lieve thaa John Matte and his wife, ten
ants in his house, had committed
suicide. The door of their apart
ments had been locked since Tuesday and
a knocking brought no response Two
policemen and several reporters hastened
TO the scene expecting to find a double
suicide. Forcing the door they found
Mrs. Matee lying in the bed i'll. She
said her husband had left to
look for employment on Tuesday
aud had not returned. She was too i'll to
make an outcry The husband arrived
shortly after and said that he did not in
tend 10 desert his wife, although the poor
woman was suffering severely from hun
ger.
The West Hoboken Town Council met
last night and transacted routine busi-
ness
Chief of Police Schwartz, Of Union
Township, is i'll
The Union Hill Town Council met last
night and discussed the advisability of
erecting new Town Hall. The senti-
ment Of the meeting was strongly in
favor Of q new building.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
THE FIRE BOARD.


Delinquents Tried and New Appoint
ments Made.
The Fire Board held regular meeting
last evening, all the commissioners be-
ing present Applications were received
from John M. Hughes, Patrick Sherry
and Henry Thompson to move and raise
frame buildings aud were granted.
The resignation of Charles II. Rudi-
ger, of Hook and Ladder Company No 3
was received and accepted. The report
of the Chief of the Department for the
previous two weeks stated that five
alarms were received during that period.
The report of Inspector of Horses stated
that twelve horses had received medical
treatmeRt during .he past two weeks.
The chief engineer stated that William
Smith, of Engine No. 5, and John Tyson,
of Engine No. s, had been taken off duty
on account of sickness during the pre-
yious two weeks. The trials of Michael
J. Welsh, Jacob Chrisman, Thomas F..
Somers, A. Buckingham, David p.
Foley, John j. CavanaQh, Thorn
as J. Liddell, John f. Finnerty
Moses Conklin and Ralph Jones
per cent. of duty required by the DEPART
ment. were called up. Walsh and Foley
were absent; Liddell was excused on ac-
count of sickness The charges against
Conklin were dismissed, he having a
broken leg. All the rest except John
Finnerty pleaded guilty. Finnerty
claimed to have performed the required
duty. The cases will be disposed of at
the next meeting.
Frederick Bickman was appointed to
fill vacancy in Hook and Ladder Com
pany No. g. caused by the resignation of
Charles Rudiger.
On motion OF Com missioner Brown the
committee on supplies were ordered to
obtain estimates for two tn ousand feet of
two and one half inch hose. A warrant
was ordered drawn for So. 06U. 81 for semi
monthly salaries of the permanent men
and monthly salaries of commissioners.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
A yyhIzzing Incident.

A centrifugal machine, commonly
known as hydro-extractor or ''whiz," is
at present whizzing away in case before
Justice of the Peace Douglass. of Wash
ington street. Some time ago Otto Meune
and Henry Kaufman, trading under the
firm name of Meune e. Kaufman, sold
John f. Glaeser & Sons. dyers, on the
Hill, the .'whiz," and whizzed them into
sequently Glaeser & Sons found that a
chattel mortgage rested upon the ma
chine held by one Frank A. Ransom, of
Donellan. N. j. They appealed to JUS
tice Douglass for the apprehension OF
Meune and Kaufman and the return of
the 5000 they had been whizzed out Of
The holder of the mortgage also com
planned and prayed for the apprehension
of the alleged whiZzing swindlers
Meune and Kaufman were arrested and
each held in the sum of $500 for examine
tion next Saturday afternoon
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
A SOCIAL PROBLEM.
Two Odd Wifebeating Cases
in Justice Stilsing's
Court.

A student OF social economy will fad
but little IN wifebeating cases that come
before police magistrates to assist him in
unravelling the mysterious threads OF the
tie that binds husband and wife together.
Here are two cases before Justice Still
sing this morning.
John Schultz, brutal looking man
with corrugated nose was In the pris-
oners' pen. A little shriFeled old woman
with prominent cheek bone, with fiaxsn
hair tldily combed back to knot at the
back of her head, which protruded be-
meath an old-fashioned black straw bon
net with colors rather gay, sat in the wit
ness chair.
Sergeant McGinniss testified that he
had been attracted while on his rounds
late at night by the cries of "nurderi
policeP' Rushing in he found the woman
lying on the floor surrounded by pool of
blood, He arrested the husband.
Did your husband strike your asked
the Judge.
mo, yer Honor. He didn't lay hands
How came the poole blood upon the
1oor9n
my little child, who went to the sta
tion house with me, was bleeding"
But why were you lying on the foors"
Il don't know"
"rhen you refuse TO make complaint
against your husband9"
Sergeant McGinness made the COM
plant and Schultz was held.
John Shalkowski," +" said to the Judge.
Court Officer Pierson brought forward
a Polander of medium stature, with
closely cropped hair. a rat-tailed mus
taehe and prodigious chest
MARY Shalkowski," called the Judge.
A tall, fair, matronly looking woman
approached the witness chair, leading
ten-year-old girl with features refiec-
tion of the mothers. The little girl was
neatly attired; white worsted cloud
about her throat and chest. The mother
could not speak English. She brought
the child along as witness us well as in
terpreter.
Patrolman Dooley's attention was also
arrested last night by cries of murder
and "pollcep' AS he burst into the dark
ened hallway from which the sounds pro-
ceeded he heard something which
sounded like neayy, body falling down
stairs. 1t was Mrs. Shaikowski. 1t ap-
peared that Shalkowski had choked her
and thrown her down stairs
The child, acting as interpreter, could
not refrain from telling the Judge that
she, too. had been choked by the iraue
father. She could scarcely talk above
whisper, and occasionally put her hands
to her throat as though in pain.
what have you to sayp" said the
Judge, scowling at the prisoner.
Come herel come herel'' said Shall
kowski, motioning to an attenuated fe
male III the lobby, who came forward at
Shalkowski's solicitation.
What relation is this woman to your
fathers' asked the Judge of the little
girl.
II don't know her." said the girl. 81
only know her husband is dead My
father got mad with my mother some
time ago aud moved trunk to her
house,
The attenuated woman explained that
she was a boarder in the neign nborhood.
his home by his wife.
ShaIkOWski was held too
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
MONEY REAL, STONES PASTE.
The Boys Who Fished a Pocketbool
Wnack up the Contents,

WnncK up the Contents.
The two boys who recently found a
pocketbook containing $92 and two sup
posed diamond iings while grabbing In
the vicinity of the Central Railroad depot
were given the prize this morning by
Chief of Police Murphy. who has acted
as custodian of the find for the past
month 1t will be remembered when the
little fellow who lived in Provost street
found the pocketbook, he had big
Dutch boy arrested for taking it away
from him.
Nobody has as yet proved the property,
and Justice Stilsing, after again listening
to the charges preferred against George
Doscher, the said fat Dutch boy, of rob-
berry, dismissed the complaint yesterday.
1t now appears that Doscher first espied
the pocketbook floating upon the waves.
He could not swim and asked his young
companion to get it for him.
When the little fellow found there was
money in it he refused to give it up.
Doscher took it away from him, and was
subsequently arrested on the charge Of
highway robbery.
The boys whacked up this morning.
Each taking half the money and a ring
apiece. The rings were gold, but the
stone in each proved to be paste. ~
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25

that the polling places should be care
fully watched 10 see that ali tho pro-
visions OF the law were carried oat dad
that the registry lists should De looked
aIter to see that no false names were en-
tered upon them.
THE QUESTION OF THE DAT.
The principal question before the peo-
pie today, Mr.. Abarbarnell said. was the
overthrow OF the Ring In this county oy
electing q man to the Office OF Sheriff
who would be entirely free from the in
nuences of the Ring and who would not
stand as the manipulation of juries and
the protector of ballot box suffers. All
during the first trial Of the election off,
GERS it was a disgrace. he said, to see the
Sheriff acting as the advisor of counsel
for the accused
Mr.. Arbarbanell then offered resolu-
tlon setting forth that it was the sense OF
the meeting that there should be an
united action among the citizens. irrespec-
tive of party, with a view to placing in
nomination for Sheriff a man who had no
affiliation with the Ringsters. The reso-
lutions also called for the appointment of
a committee of niue TO cooperate VITA
any other body of citizens to bring about
the desired result.
Mr.. John NJ. Jones thought that the
resolutions did not cover everything, and
that the committee should wait until it
was ascertained what the other BODY OF
citizens were going to do in the matter,
and that a special meeting should be held
on Monday to consider the subject
further.
Andrew J. Post thought some definite
stand should be taken at once. There
seemed to be too much delay on the part of
the Jeffer sonian, Republican aud Labor
conferees and as the time was getting
short some one should take the lead. The
question was debated further, every
speaker appearing to be in favor of taking
decided stand. So Mr.. Abarbanell's re-
solutions were voted down as not going
far enough. and Messrs. Abarbapell, Nc
Even and Taylor were appointed COM
mittee to draw mp other resolutions.
The committee reported the following
which We're unanimously adopted
THE RING DENOUNCED.
Whereas, This Committee of Fifty, composed
of members of all parties, was appointed for
tho purpose of aiding in the conviction of bal-
lot box suffers and preventing the repetition of
such criminal acts at the polk as have dis
graced the elections of this city and county for
Whereas, The office of Sheriff is the keystone
in the arch of pure and honest local govern
ment, therefore be it
Resolved That this committee hereby declares
that it will support the nomination and assist in
the election of any man for Sheriff whose past
record is guarantee that he viii faithfully full
fill the duties of his office and will at all times
oppose the influences which have brought about
the crimes against the purity and honesty of the
election franchise.
1t was decided to call another meeting
of the committee early next week, and
that in the meantime to ascertain what
stand the conference of Republicans,
Democrats and Labor men were going to
take. The meeting then adjourned, and
will probably meet again Tuesday.
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
Cumberland County Heard From.
xpecial to the Jerseu Cru Mems.

Bird EToN. Sept. %. 1890. To-day was
appointed by the Site Commission to
frame bill to equalize taxation between
the counties, for sitting at the Court
House in this city. Ex-Judge Hoffman,
counsel Of the commission, was the only
representative present, and though few
persons put in an appearance before him,
he expressed himself at the close as we'll
satisfied. having obtained just the infor-
nation desired.
Surrogate Samuel p, Fithian, for long
time assessor of Greenwich township, fur
nished much information in regard
to the methods of assessment in
Bridgeton and in the rural districts.
Farming land in this county, he
estate in the cities in proportion to
what it will bring. The assessment of
farm lands. averages three-fourths of its
value, while real estate in Bridgeton, for
instance, is frequently assessed at less
than half its value. The fact was
cern in Bridgeton Is paying tax on only
about one-fifth of its capital invested
while hotel which would today bring
$40, 900 is assessed at but 81, 600.
Assessor Davidson, of Lands township,
believed a remedy for many existing
assessments instead of one, while Surro-
gate Fithian advocated State aud county
Assessors, who by nspltation could cor
rect the inequalities.
Judge Hoffman stated that the COM
mission had been considering the matter
of County Equalizing Board to equalize
values as between the townships, and
State Equalizing Board to do so between
the counties.
Assessor Hilberg, of Millyille, thought
there should be better way of getting
at the stock of building and loan associa-
tions, while Assessor Davidson referred
to camp meeting associations. The West
forty acres and some small buildings, he
said. had been assessed at the nominal
sum of $500 until he raised it to $780, The
association claimed to be entirely exempt
from tax as a religious body. Again, a
person would regularly occupy house on
the ground, taking lease for ninety-nine
years, and claimed that he was exempt
from tax as the association had paid it.
The Assessors present were strongly in
favor of assessing churches, parsonages,
cemeteries, schools and other property
now exempted by law.
The difficulty and cost Of collecting
taxes was brought up, and Assessor
Davidson raised laugh by telling of q
man who had been sent to Jail from Vine
land for non-payment of poll tax. It cost
So to get him to jail, ana he proved so
willing to stay there that after two weeks
the Sheriff turned him out and presented
bill for $14, thus making it cost SIT in
an unsuccessful attempt to collect 81.
The commission will sit in Camden to-
day aud Friday
The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-09-25
RUTGERS SENIORS ELECTION.
01's oficors and Glass Days Speakers
Appointed.
snecial to the jersey Ctr Mems.


SpecidI TO the JERSEY Ctr Mems.
NEW BRUNSWICK, Sept. 25, 1890. 0.-The
Senior class has elected these officers:-
President. Clifford Henry Strang, Mont
rose-on-the-H Hudson; vice president. Will
lam V. D. Strong. New Brunswick; sec
retary, Harry w. Fuller. BaYonne;
Marcus C. Sears, New Brunswick; scarlet
letter historian, Edward L. yelling,
Warwick, N. Y.
The class day officers are Orator Sam
uel C. Mthep, New Brunswick; poet,
James c. Stout. New Brunswick; hfstor-
ian, Cornelius ID. Vreeland, Little Falls;
presentation OF memorials, Samuel A.
johnson, Morrlstown; prophet. John II.
Raven, Brooklyn; presenter of memen-
toes, Charles w. Hnlst, Greenwich. N.
Y; address to undergraduates, F. Reid
Miller. Sacramento, Cal: ivy orator,
Joseph c. Castner, New Brunswick;
planting of ivy. William F. Nets, Somer-
vile; ivy ode. Harry r. Danner, Pater-
son; pipe oration, A. Whitaker Hopper.
Spring Valley, N. Y; address to presi-
dent, Howard A. Reynolds, New Bruins
wick; master orator, Walter e. Sampson,
New Brunswiek.