The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-11-08
SHAMEFUL NEGLECT.
John M'Phillips
Rebuked in Open
Court.
A GO.AS-YOU-PLEASE OFFICE
Former Censure Evoked by His
Scandalous Jury Panels
Will He Be Impeacheds


Judge Lippincott seut for Sheriff Joh
McPhillips yesterday and in open Court
gave him a reprinland such as he will
probably remember for some time. This
Is the second time during the present
year that Sheriff McPhIliips has been
taken 10 task for the scandalous manner
in which he mlsconducts the Office anu
duties Of Sheriff.
For Sheriff to be reprimanded by the
Court once during his term of office is
considered stigma amounting almost
TO disgrace, but to be told of his dereiic-
ton OF duty twice is something, it is said,
that has never happened any Sheriff in
tnis county except ohm McPnillips.
While Judge Lpplncott was holding
court III the Special Sessions yesterday.
he remarked TO the Prosecutor that it was
strange that out OF us indictments found
during the present term Of the court,
there We're SO few caSes ready for trial.
Prosecutor Winfield said in effect that
he could not understand it, that ne was
epared 10 try all indictments that had
been found, but that there were no prls-
oners. He hau tried all the Sheriff had
returned.
GROSS DERELICTIoN
A look OF dlspIeasure passed over the
face of Judge Llppincott, aud he ordered
constable To inform Sheriff McPhllIips
that The Court required his presence. "A
few minutes later the Sheriff entered the
court, and when Juuge LippincoLt
sternly asked him where the persons were
who had been indicted, aud for
the arrest of whom capiases mad been
issued by the Court, the Sheriff's face
flushed SO red that the mis- famous whisk-
ers could not conceal the color. He
suammered out Il reply that his con-
stables mad been unable to ind the per-
sons who mad hot been arrested. Judge
Lippincott pointedly directed Sheriff Nc
Philips to make a return of all capiases
in his possession on Monday.
In humble manner the Sheriff re-
Piled that he would and he left the court
room.
Later in the day asked Judge Lippin-
colt what was his reason for directing
McPhlllips to make return Monday of
all capiases.
Il do not care to say much about this
matter" said the Judge, and his voice IN
dIcaled that he was much displeased yet
at the Inefficient, or worse, manner in
which the business Of the Sheritf's Office
is conducted.
II do not want to blame any one un-
JUSTLY" continued the Judge; "Dut IL is a
TACT that men have been indicted during
This term, men whom personally know
by sighG and whom l frequently meet.
and they have not been apprehended
although the Sheriff has capiases for
| them"
do you suppose, Judge, that the Sher-
| i'll OF constaDles try to protect these in
dicted meu?o
II cannot say as to that. You know as
much about it us / do. only know this
that 175 indictments have been found this
term of court. mostly Tor petty cases, and
Sheriff McPniilips has in his possession
large number of uuservad oapiases.'
FORMER REBUKE.
The other occasion when Sheriff Nc
Phillips was sternly lectured by a Judge
was after he had drawn one OF his dis
graceful jury panels. McPhillirs 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 been.
When the Judge saw the men McPhfllips
had selected as the members of the Grand
Inquest, he was more than indignant,
aud it is among the possibilities that the
Impeachment of McPhilliDs may be asked
Tor before his term of office expires.
When McPhillips oraws 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 memners Of each.
The rest are mere political heelers. The
secrets of the Grand Jury room
cannot be divulged, and no
matter how indignant these
re utable men may be over failures to
indict constant violaters of the law. they
are powerless 10 say anything or defend
themselves before the public.
had conversation with prominent
Democrat yesterday concerning the aG-
ministration of Sheriff McPhillips
He said to me:-"The affairs of
the Sheriff's office are conducted
in most disgraceful manner. 1t is
common thing TO see 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 and trembling by any woman who
is compelled to make a second visit
When Sheriff McPhillips was a deputy in
the Office ana had a superior to instruct
him what to do he acquitted himself
tolerably well. When he became boss
himself things were changed. He
placed in charge of he office Jerry
Maher, an ex-liquor dealer, whose exper-
ence must naturally have been very
limited in matters requiring a consider
able knowledge of law, and legal ques-
tions are disposed Of daily in the Sheriff's
office.
Trusting much of his business to Maher,
Sheriff McPhillips does not pass a great
deal of his time at the Court House. II
the peoples business suffer they must
grin aud bear it. Any person who will
remain an hour in he Sheriff's office will
subordinate will be called frequently to
the telephone to reply 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 complaints
about the Sheriff's office, and believe
the time has arrived when the abuses
...l n L. II