The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-11-08
SHAMEFUL NEGLECT.
Sheriff John AIPhillips
Rebuked in Open
Court.
| CO. S-YOU-PLEASE OFFICE
Former Censure Evoked by bis
Scandalous Jury Panels--
Will lie Be lmpeachedg


Judge Lippincott sent for Sheriff job n
McPnillips yesterday ana in open Court
gave him a reprimand such as he will
probably remember for some time This
is the second time during the present
year that Sheriff McPhlllips mas been
taken TO task for the scandalous manner
in which he mlsconducts tine office anu
duties Of Sheriff.
For Sheriff TO be reprimanded by the
Court once during his terni of Office is
considered stigma amounting almost
TO disgrace. but to be told of MS dereiic-
ton OF duty twice is something, it is said,
that has never happened any Sheriff III
Gnis county except John Mctnilnps
Wnlie Judge Lipglncott was holding
court In the Special Sessions yesterday.
he remarked TO the Prosecutor that 1t Was
strange that out OF rs indictments found
during The present term Of the court,
there were SO few cases ready for triai.
Prosecutor Winfield said IN effect tnat
he could not Understand it. That ne Was
y epared 10 try ali Inducements that mad
been found, but that there were no prs
ouers. he hau tried all the Sneriff mad
returned.
GROSS DERELIcTIoN.
a look OF displeaslgre passed over the
Iaee OF Judge Llppiucott, and ne ordered
q constable tointorm Sheriff McPhillips
that The Court required his presence. A
few minutes later the sheriff entered the
court, and when Judge Iaippincott
steiniy asked him where the persons were
who mad been indicted, aud for
The arrest OF whom capiases mad been
issued by the Court, the Sheriff's face
flushed SO red that the his famous whisk-
mr.
stamniered out a reply that his con
stables had been unable to ind the per-
sons VINO mad not been arrested. Judge
Lippincott poiptedly directed Sheriff NC
Philips to make return of ali capiases
IN his possession on Monday
In humble III amer the Sheriff re-
Piled that lie would aud he left tne court
room.
Later in the day l asked Judge Lippin-
colt what was his reason for directing
McHhlilips TO make a return Monday OF
all eapiases.
! do not care to say much about this
MATTER z said the Judge, and his voice sn-
dicated tnat ne Was much displeased yet
at the lneli1cient, or worse, manner in
which the business of the Sherltf's office
Is conducted.
i do not want to blame any one un-
JUSTLY" continued the Judge; ..Dut it is a
TACT tnat men nave been Indicted during
this term men whom personally know
by sight and whom | frequently meet.
and they have not been apprenended
ultnough The Sheriff has capizsses for
them.n
do you suppose, Judge, that the Sner-
N or constaDies Try 10 protect these in
dicted meus"
Il cannot say as to that. You know as
much about it rs do. | only know this
that rs indictments have been found this
term of court. mostly Tor petty cases. aud
Sheriff McPniIlips has IN his possession a
large number of observed capiases."
A FORMER REBUKE.
The other occasion when Sheriff Nc
Phillips was sternly lectured by Judge
was after he had drawn Que OF his dis
graceful jury panels. McPhiilips cringed
ana begged, and promised to do better on
this occasion; but he evidently forgot
his promise, for the next juries he drew
were no better than the others had bee u
When the judge saw the men McPhillips
had selected as the members Of the Granu
Inquest, he was more than indignant,
aud it is among the possibilities that tue
impeachment of McPhiiliDs may be asked
for before his term of Office expires.
When McPhiilips ,4raws his Grand
Juries he draws them for purpose. He
is at the same time shrewd enough to
select just three or four men of ire
proachable character as mem ters OF each
The rest are mere political heelers. The
secrets of the Grand Jury room
cannob be dlyulged. and no
matter how indignant these
re utable men may be over failures to
indict constant yi0laters of the law. thev
are poweriess TO saw anything or defend
themselves before the public.
had conversation with prominent
Democrat yesterday concerning the aC-
ministration of Sheriff McPhiilips.
he said to me;--'tThe affairs of
the Sheriff's office are conducted
in a most disgraceful manner 1t Is a
common thing TO see a subordinate under
the influence OF liquor. The language
that is used in the Office is very OF en-
vile, and the place is entered with
fear aud trembling by any woman VINO
Is compelled TO make second visit.
When Sheriff McPhilIips was deputy In
the office ana had superior to instruct
him what to do he acquitted himself
tolerably we'll When be became boss
himself things were changed He
Maher, an ex-liquor dealer, whose exper-
fence must naturally have been very
limited in matters requiring a consider
able knowledge of law. aud legal ques-
tions are disposed OF daily in the Sneriff's
office.
Trusting much of his husinessto Maher,
Sheriff McPhillips does not pass great
deal of his time at the Court House. If
the peoples business suffer they must
grin aud bear it. Any person who will
remain an hour in tie Sheriff's office will
notice that Jerry Maner or some other
subordinate will be called frequently to
the telephone TO repy to lawyers and
other persons explaining why pa
pers had not been served, and
other work had not been attended too.
have heard many. many comislaints
about the Sheriff's Office. and / believe
The time has arrived when the abuses
should be checked. .