The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-06-08
THE ESSEX GRAND JURY.
1t Makes a Strong Presentment on
Several Matters.
speetal to The saa.aag Morai..a Ns.ss.

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NEWARK, June Z, 1s90.-Judge Depue
discharged the Essex County Grand Jury
today. Before this was done Foreman
Bassett informed the Court that owing
to the books in the office being in the
hands Of experts, the Grand Jury had not
investigated the alleged enlbezzlement of
Under Sheriff Davis, and had left that
work for the September term Grand
Jury. The foreman handed the Court
long presentment, and were then dis
missed with the thanks of the Judge.
One of the most important matters
touched on by the presentment is the
Wismer case, and il sets FORTH
1.-THE Grand Jury have followed the in
structions of the Presiding Judge in his
charge to them in relation to the officers
of the Newark .Aqueduct Board.
ssIt appears thai in 1887 the cashier OF
the Board became a defauiter by a mis-
appropriation of nearly $1,000; that this
defalcation was made good by +. Fl. WIS
mer, mis- father and bondsman; that the
matter was not broughtto the attention
of the Finance Committee, or OF the
Board, anu that the cashier was retained
in office.
sHecently another defalcation by the
same officer to the amount OF So, 600 was
discovered and T. H. Wismer the father
man. Immediately made good the amount
distracted, and under mistaken notion
that restitution condoned the offence, and
with natural desire of father to
shield mis- son from criminal prosecution,
eudeayored to prevent its disclosure, but
when the matter was brought to the at
tention of the Finance Committee an in
vestigation by an expert was ordered.
1T appears that an effort was made by
the cashier after the discovery of the de-
falcation, to hide the facts relating there
to by the substitution of new book,
which should take the placeof the one
in which the record was made Il does
not appear that 1.-THE subtitution of books
was made with the intent or for the pur-
pose of defrauding the AQueduct Board
1.-THE Grand Jury have found bills of
indictment against the defaulter for the
crime which he has committed. And we
protest against the employment by COM
missioners or others in authority of their
sons or kindred in any of the departments
ofour city government, thus avoiding in
the future a recurrence of such offences
to large extent"
The second presentmeat refers to the
Irregularities in the supply OF food to the
county institutions, and recommends
that thereafter all contracts be made
with the lowest bidder for ali supplies al
ter an opportunity is given for open com
petition"
With regard to the Orange poor far m
the Grand Jurors heard witnesses, who
said that the buildings are a shame and
a disgrace to any civilized community,
and that such things are permitted can
can only be from the ignorance of the
people of Orange as to their existence
Wretchedly old and forlorn floors, broken
and mended by blocks of wood nailed
over the holes: stairs constantly giving
way; plaster cracked and swarming with
verIniu; bedbugs crawling about at
monday in February; cockroaches SO
abundant that seven were counted on
top of the pot of soup.
The presentment finally says that none
but those with hearts of adamant would
knowingly tolerate the existence of the
place, and they earnestly recommend, in
the interest of humanity, that immedia tie
steps be taken by the proper authorities
to provide suitable buildings for tho care
OF their poor; also that the present Poor
house be closed and it's inmates be tax en-
care of elsewhere, until such buildings
are ready for occupancy