The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-09
This paper Is Democratic in principles
and is independent in its 0ieios on all
local questions.

Police Blundering-Mr. Beasiy Vim
dictates the Rights of Citizens in
the Case of Miss Pursel.
The stupid, brutal and illegal con
duct of the Trenton police in respect
to DR.. Knifin and Miss Pursel has
raised a well-nigh insurmountable
barrier in the way of solution of the
mystery Of Mrs. Knifin's death. If
these two are guilty, the fact
can now never be proven, and of
coa1se the police, having fastened
suspicion on them, will never search
for the criminal elsewhere. Thus,
Cd :Hitsr or innocent, the suspected
couple will pass the rest of their lives
in liberty it is true, but with the aw-
full shadow of suspicion resting on
them.
This is wholly and solely the fault
of the police. When Miss Pursel vas
called to the witness stand during the
inquest yesterday her counsel arose,
and, exposing in a few words the
contemplate subterfuges of the
police, showed that the young
lady had been a de facto prisoner
since the murder, and was therefore
legally exempt from testifying. Was
there ever a more stinging rebuke to
a crew OF blunderers? The one hope
of securing a case against the suspects
was to get them on the wit
ness stand. involve them in incon-
sistencies and contradictions, break
them down, and force them to confess,
Their counsel, most properly, whether
they are guilty or Innocent, avenged
the persecution of the past five
days by rendering this plan of
action impossible. No said Mr..
Beasley. .you have aggressively
forced these people to entrench them
selves behind the law, and they do so.
How do you like it,"
There is really AN important princi-
pie involved in this case, and the coun
sci for the defence has vindi-
Gated the the rights OF all citi-
zens against the chartered tyranny of
police organizations. II the course
of the Trenton authorities was legal
and proper, there was no limit to the
persecution which the police might
inhict on any citizen. If they
were right in ribs case, then, so long
as they refrained from marching a
man off to Jail, they might curtail
his liberty to any extent. They
might have q detective stand at
his door and another sleep in
his bedroom, and a third dog his foot
steps; they might refuse him permits
sion to leave his house, and might lay
restraining hands on him should he
attempt to do SO. as they did in the
case of Miss Pursel.
And. withal, they might disclaim all
responsibility. No, they had made no
arrest, they had done nothing tangi-
BILE, they had not arrested any
body = only guarded them =
and the victims remained under all
the responsibilities of freedom while
the prosecutors incurred no response
biIity whatever. Truly, a fine state
of thingsl
But Mr.. Beasly has changed all
that. He has convinced the police
that there is law in the land which
fixes the responsibility of ofic-
ials. When the prosecution falls
through, as it must ANONYMOUSLY,
doubtless Mr.. Beasly will sue the po-
lice for the irregular detention of his
clients, and show them just how res
ponsible they are.
Now, be it understood, if DIR.
KDifin and Miss Pursel had been ar
rested under a warrant, charging
them with the murder, several
days ago, nobody could object.
1t might be thought a hardship, but
it would have been clearly within