The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-10
JUDGE LIPPINCOTT'S REPLY.
He Merely Exercised Mercy Towards
Those Who Submitted Them
selves to the Judgment
Of the Court.
VERY EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS.
Still, Wooden Judge Has a Right
To Talk if He Wants
To Do So.

There will be much music at the Court
House tomorrow and the band will con-
sist solely of the Judges of the Court of
General sessions. The first note will be
uttered by Judge Hoffman, who will rem
der solo, which will be a strong critic
ism on the acts OF Judge Lippincott in re-
ference to the sentences that have been
imposed by the Court in the cases of the
convicted ballot-box suffers.
Readers of The NEWS will rember that
when the last of these rascals were up for
law judge and the custom of sending bal
box suffers to State Prison for eighteen
months was broken. The lay judges
voted to send the convicted men to the
Penitentiary for nine months.
AN UNUSUAL PROCEEDING.
Judge Hoffman has taken exception to
the criticisms on his acts as lay Judge
in reference to the sentence OF the last
lot, and he told me that he would explain
from the bench his reasons for not fol-
lowing the precedent established In about
twenty-five cases of imposing a sentence
of eighteen months at State Prison.
Such an unusual proceeding as an ex-
PLANTATION from a lay judge for his vote to
reduce sentence is sure to attract a large
crowd at the Court House tomorrow.
When spoke to Judge Lippincott
about the matter he said that Judge
Hoffman had right to make any expla-
nation he saw fit, but that it was an un-
usual thing to do. The Presiding or Law
Judge, in passing sentence, makes all the
explanation that Is genera Ily deemed
necessary. Judge Lippincott did not
know what his associate would
say by way of explanation. The
Judge said that he. as the
Presiding Judge, had, when he pro-
nounced sentence. said all that it was
agreed he should say in relation to the
strange acts of the Lay Judges in their
determination. He told the convicted
men and others present that the Lay
Judges wanted to send the prisoners to
the Penitentiary for nine months, while
he was in favor of imposing sentence of
eighteen months at State Prison.
NO COMPROMISE MADE.
1t Is is believed that Judge Hoffman
will tomorrow declare that he believes
the Court has acted illegally and extra
judicialy in saying to a prisoner that If
he valves his appeal from the Courts
sentence he will be more mercifully dealt
with. When asked Judge Lippincott
about this opinion he said there was no
compromise with the criminal by the
Court by which they would receive
lighter sentence.
'The Court does not say" said judge
Lippincott. s'that If you waive your rights
you reduce your punishment The Court
does this. 1t receives Information that
the convicted men are anxious to throw
themselves upon the mercy of the Court.
They have been convicted and naturally
desire to receive as light punishment as
possible The Court concluded that where
this was done that in Its mercy
REDUCTION of sentence to nine months at
the Penetentiary was ut the right
thing. The Court did not ask the prison.
srs to waive their rights, but the prison
FRS ask the Court for permission to do
Jon
What will you say about the matter to-
morrow? Iasked Judge Lippincott.
II do not know that l shall say any
thing. 1t depends on what entirely on
what Judge Hoffman says. If he takes
issue with the Presiding Judge m ay feel
1t my duty to say something"
The trouble among the judges has
been known to exist for long time, and
The outbreak tomorrow will be eagerly
wait ad for