The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-16
WHERE WAS THE COURT!
An Unexpected Set Back in
the Perkins-C1eve-
land Contest.
IT is OF SMALL IMPORTANCE.
The Fraud Mayors Counsel Bluff
as Usual, But are Plainly On
a Very Anxious Seat.

George L. Record and Otto Grouse,
representing George f. Perkins, and Cor
poration Counsel Edwards, representing
Orestes Cleveland, journeyed down to
Trenton yesterday morning, to argue the
rule requiring Orestes Cleveland to show
cause why he should not show by what
warrant he claims to be Mayor of Jersey
City. When the counsel for Mr.. Perkins
obtained the last extension of their time
to take testimony, the order was made by
Justices Van Syckle and Scudder, VIII 0
extended the time to July 15 1t was
naturally supposed under these circum-
stances that these Justices would be on
to hear the argument of the rule when
it was returnable. But much to the sur
prise of the counsel, when they arrived at
Trenton yesterday morning, neither JUS
tice Van Syckle nor Justice Scudder were
au the State House. An effort was made
to find some other Justice of the Supreme
Court who might be persuaded to listen
to the argument, but not single one OF
those judicial dlgnitaries could be found
in Trenton.
There was nothing left, therefore, for
the counsel to do but to journey back to
Jersey City, which they did on the first
train.
The effects which This failure of the
Supreme Court Justice to be present at
the return of their own rule is regarded
IN different lights blythe council OF the con-
testant and incumbent. Mr.. Cleveland's
side can hardly conceal their satisfaction.
They profess to take the absence Of the
Judge as plain indication that the
Court does not look upon Mr.
Perkins caseMas serious enough
matter to demand their attend
ance at Trenton during the heated
period of vacation and that their failure
to be present throws the case over to the
November term of the Supreme Court.
The Cleveland men also profess TO be-
lieve that Mr. Perkins case will not be
heard of again but Will die from imam
ition before the November term. Ger
tainly," they say, ssif Justices Van Syckle
and Scudder considered that Mr.. Perkins
had any case at all they would have been
present today and disposed of the matter
speedily, SO that an appeal be taken at
once and Mr.. Perkins restored to his
rights as speedily as possible"
That all the hopeful talk upon the part
of the sharp lawyers who are trying to
keep Orestes Cleveland in an office out of
which he was practically kicked by the
people, is all bluff, !" is demonstrated.b by
the fact that they propose to hold con-
ference today and devise some plan of &C
ton to guide them in their future con-
duct of the case. There is not that har-
mony among them which the precarious
nature of their clients interests demands.
This has been illustrated very forcibly
on more than one occasion when one OF
the counsel would start on q line of eX-
animation which one OF his colleagues,
coming in later, would declare prejudicial
to their clients cause and would start
ont on some .other tack. to the amuse-
mcnt of Mr.. Perkins lawyers.
A CLEVELAND CONFERENCE.
1t is stated that in view of this state of
affairs the Cleveland men will
meet somewhere this afternoon
and, in the language Of 2
New York daily, TRY to get together" :"
It was fnrther said at Trenton yesterday
by one of Cleveland's counsel that they
had not made up their minds whether
they would take any more testimony at
present or wait till the court meets in No
vember and apply for further extension
of time. They claim that Mr. Perkins
counsel has delayed them by frivilous
questions and lengthy cross-examina-
Eions.
Perkins men look upon all this brave
talk OF the Cleveland men as weak at
tempt on their part at whistling to
keep their courage up. Mr.. Perkins
counsel do not take much stock in the
belief that the case will go over to
November. They say they will make eff
forts to have branch of the court meet
speedily and hear the orgument. As TO
theCleveland men taking more testimony,
this. Mr.. Perkins lawyers say, cannot be
done under the present extension,
and they laugh at the idea of
the Court giving them any moro time.
The plain language OF the Justices on the
methods of cross-examination resorted to
by the Cleveland side when the matter
was last before the Court is plain indi-
cation that they will not look with any
considerable degree OF favor upon any
specious plea of the Cleveland men that
they have been delayed by their oppon-
ents' manner of cross-examination.
Moreover, the Court explicitly stated
that they would grant no more time in
the case. On the whole the Perkins men
are not as much disturbed as the Cleve-
land men pretend to believe they are.