The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-12
A Lar JUDGE SPEAKS Up.
he Gives frosiaing Jssee Lippineott Set
tirg Out- Reply or the Latter.

He Gives frossaing Jusee Lippineott . Set
| ti.s Out-1eply OF the Latter.
There was an unusually largo attendance
| Yesterday In the General Sessions Court in
Jersey City. o rumor having gone abroad that
there would be lively tilt between Presiding
Judge Lippincott and Lay Judge Hoffman.
| Tho audience Was made no principally Of
| lawyers. In sentencing some convicted cleo
ton officers last week IN Jersey City Judge
Mppincott in General Sessions took occasion
to mako some comments which were neither
fattering nor pleasing to his associates. the
two lay Judges. Hoffman and Paxton. He had
favored sentence Of eighteen months in
State prison. but his associates outvoted him.
and the prisoners were sentenced to nine
months In tho penitentary. Yesterday Will
liam F. Taylor. John T. Walsh. Michael Fallon.
and Thomas German. another convicted Elec-
ton Board. was called UP to be sentenced.
Judge Lippincott said:
In this case 200 ballots were found in the
box. There were only 226 names on the poll
book and 263 checked on the registry list as
having voted. There were sixty-seven names
checked on the registry which were not entered
on the poll book. The registry list was falsely
checked. The poll book was falsely kept. The
returns were false. Everything connected with
the conduct Of the election In this precinct was
false The excuse Is ignorance. stupidity. and
drunkenness. and very likely the excuse is
partly true. Upon your sentence have voted
for eighteen months In State prison. but my
associates have outvoted me- and your sem
tence Is nine months in the penitentiary."
The sentence did not apply to Taylor. who
had been recommended to mercy. He was lot
of with fine OF $3.50 and costs.
There was deep silence for few moments.
and then Judge Hoffman said he was rcluc-
family compelled to depart from the time
honored custom Of delegating to the presid-
ing Judge the privilege Of speaking for the
entire sou.t The 9fcs Of lay Judge he snid
Ell se' IS ths
i'm IN nonsssty ana sincerely Of the opn
tho ns
nS oG besn
and Sfs ssH
SaSs as
but neyerthiess the Impression was created by
ne sss aSs sS
eonVSted n sns
r. iaet that he Was outyotea By bis colleagues.
conspirators had been. sent for nine months to
the peenitentiary: and not by my vote. as
departure WINS @ade by tile eoart LEARNED
that this great REDUCTION Of the sentence was
y 81 ne h Bsy
so enter
persisted in ]. would change %y vote from
months in the penitentiary. in order to effect |
lively PFC r9test aEainst what seemed to me bar.
the sentence, heretofore Imposed was too
severe would vote for q reduction; but could
in my humble opinion looked like an attempt |
to cast stigma upon the highest court In the |
In other words, the court had such serious |
doubts as to the final outcome Of these cases
an asrsemsns With defendants coansel NOT to
trust to review Of the cases BY the upper
Judge Lippincott listened attentiyely. In
reply he gave brief resume Of the trials; con-
to reduced sentsnses The REDUCTION was
who threw themselves upon the mercy Of the
=, In these cases" he continued, the ACTIONS
Of guilt rst offence
epcy under like conditions. In the other cNses
where. sentence to State prison was imposed
up their brazen crimes In the face Of the law.
have asked for no quarter. not even. in many
cases, deiGning to deny their outrageous GRIM
inal attack upon tho exercise Of a free elective
franchise. They hays suleny and stoidly re-
and then with their Supporters s assaiied
the court firm enough TO- nete out proper
justice to them. Judge Hoffman does not
ferent classes. and against my earnest and
persuasioDs voted for a sentence
which no feels requires an explanation. He |
has explained to his satisfaction presume
hope It satisfies him. and Il he has lest any
any other sentence hope 1t will be satisfac-
tory to the public and fully rehab him."
The tilt between the Judges was the absorb
ing topic among lawyers last night