The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-12
HOFFMAN PUZZLE.
No One Seems to Know What
Confidential Rela-
tions" Means.
Possibly a Diagram May be
Invented to Meet the
Emergency.
WHAT TIE OTHER JUDGES SAY.
Paxton Says His Colleague Spoke
Only for Himself, and Lip
pincott Gives Some An
tecedent Facts.
WHAT THE OTHER JUDGES SAY.

The only accurate account of the duel
of words fought yesterday by Judges
Hoffman and LippIncott was given by THE
JERSEY CITY NEWS. and the publication
caused vast amount of comment.
Lawyers everywhere discussed the mat
ter and court constables for once appeared
to be alive, and they eagerly exchanged
opinions.
The concensus of opinion is that Judge
Hoffman was worsted In the fight. He
failed to make his appearance at the
Court House today. A gentleman said
today, referring to the differences be-
tween the lay Judge and the law Judge.
said that it was the most useless
and senseless war OF words that he ever
listened to. He could not under
sand why Judge Hoffman, should
hare assumed the position he did with so
little foundation to stand on. The gen
tleman referred to added
WHAT do you suppose Judge Hoffman
meant ,bv thisw ann taking from his
pocket II JERSEY CITY NEWS. he read:--
can readily see thar with all this expiana-
tion may yet be subject to some inisunder.
standing, because it may be said why did not
then vote against he compromise sentence
This cannot altogether explain, because It
would. in a measure expose coufdental rela-
only recourse left me to make my protest
against that compromise sentence effective, was
to vote Internationally for nine months In the
No ONE SEEMS TO KNOW.
could not explain the matter. and for
information went to Judge Lppincott
and inquired Of him what exposure OF
''confidential relations" coud be made.
is nothing that takes place In Chambers
among the judges that is too confidential
to be made public. The confidential re-
lations' were certainly not with the
Court. Judge Hoffman may have re-
Court. suppose he aid, for the Judges
have no scnnfiaentisl relations"
When left the Judge I sought his as
socihte, Lay Judge Paxton. to explain
what Judge Hoffman meant BY conf
dptiaI relations"
ton. II have not the remotest
idea OF what is meant There Is
never anything that transpires In the
Judges, Chambers that is OF conf
dentlalrelation,' and could not properly
be made pnblic. cannot imagine what
Judge Hoffman meant by confidential
rel tions.' unless 1t was reference to
some one not a judge"
fudge what is your opinion of the
controversy ?"
"Weil, you know it would hardly be
the proper thing for me to express an
opinion in this matter"
WHAT JUDGE PAXTON SAID.
"But have been tolt that you did ex-
press your opinion Yesterday alter Court
adjourned and that you denounced
Judge Hoffman In forcible language"
ssWhat / said," replied Judge Psxton
this r dar1nrad that .1udOa
Hoffman spoke for himself only
Yesterday, and not for me
for while I am in favor Of short
term of imprisonment for the convicted
election officers. ! am not in favor of all
that Judge Hoffman said.
"When Judge hoffman was In Europe
the first lot of ballot box stufferswas con-
victed. Judge Lippincott favored SEN
tence Of two years at State Prison and
] favored a sentence of one year at the
Penitentary. We @ compromised + !, on on
returned and learned that ne WAS in
favor of a short term of Imprisonment
for these men agreed with him. This
is all I know of the controversy,
for ! am not in any way con-
myself thoroughly understand each other
and have done SO from he beginning Of
these trials.
JUDGE LIPPINCoTT CONFIRMS.
Judge Lippinc0tt in a conversation with
me confirmed what Judge Psxton said
and said it was true >sst he
had favored two years = State
prison as a punishment for tns bal
lot box suffers. aud that Judge Paxton
originally favored but half Of that pun
ishment.
1t appears to be the general opinion
about the Court House that
this controversy was not broughJ
about by the individual desire Of Judge
HoffmarA but that he was urged to make
the rems KS he did by friends OF his who
are also i. Vendly to the ballot box stuff
fers.
The men who have been the indirect
cause of this judicial unpleasantness are
now with their friend Birdsall in the
County Jail. They have thus far
been unable to furnish bail to
wait the result of an appeal
and W told by policeman today that
they would go to Snake Hill Monday aud
begin to serve their time. This also ap
Piled 10 Bill Taylor for it Is not thought
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