The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-01
ONE VOTE saved THEM.
The Grand Jury Nearly Gave
HObOken a Theatrical
Surprise Party.
CLERGYMEN COMPLAINING.
A Bench Warrant viii Be Asked
for Mayor, Police officials
and Managers.

Mayor Grassman and Police Commits
sioners William Utz, Martin Daab,
Charles W. Kaufmann and Michael J.
Coyle Of Hobokcn, had a narrow escape
from being indicted yesterday for failing
to do their duty as officials.
The church people Of Hoboken whe
have been agitating the question Of Sum
day theatricals and liquor selling made
strong impression on the Grand Jury.
whom they visited yesterday. They re-
lated their grievances to sixteen members
OF that body before it was discharged for
the term and begged the members TO in
dict the theatre managers, who drew so
many persons from the churches, and the
Mayor and four Police Commissioners,
who permit the law 70 be broken sys-
tematically.
THE EVIDENCE.
The evidence showed that petitions had
been presented TO the Mayor and Commis-
sioners TO close the theatres, aud that
those officials had ignored them The
Grand Jury listened attentively TO the
charges against the officials, but paid very
little attention TO the charges against the
theatres, believing that the officials Of the
city should close the theatres il the people
desired them closed. and not the Grand
Jury. Il was argued later that the officials
should first act and then the Grand Jury
When the complainants had finished
their say they left the Grand Jury room
and made way for some OF the wicked
officials. These were Chief OF Police
Donovan. Captain Hayes and Detectlxe
Gallagher. These officials told the
Grand jury that they had been
directed by the Commissioners TO procure
evidence that the Sunday law was being
violated by theatrical performances
They produced the evidence they bad
collected, which was in effect
that H. R Jacobs Hoboken Thea
tire and Cronheim's Theatre were open
last Sunday and performances we're given
They said they had done their duty IN the
matter by doing what the Commissioners
had required them TO do.
THROWN OUT.
When these officials retired the m em-
bers Of the Grand Jury argued the mat ter
at length, aud then took a vote concern
ing the Indictment of the Mayor and
Police Commissioners. 1t resulted In
eleven votes in favor Of indicting
and five against the proposition The
law requires that there shoul d
in all cases are at least twelve votes in
favor of an indictment or one cam OF be
found. If the twenfy-three members had
been present the needed twelfth juror
might have been had. As It was the COM
plant was thrown out.
The vote to indict the theatre managers
on the evidence furnished had the same
result, eleven in favor and i've opposed.
This ended the matter as far as that
Grand Jury was concerned, for five min
utes later the body was discharged BY the
court.
A NEW MOVE.
II was said on excellent authority that
the clergymen would renew the light Ia
another manner. It IS said they intend
TO apply TO Judge Knapp for bench war
rant TO arrest the officials and theatrical
managers. Judge Albert Hoffman today
informed reporter Of The JERSEY CITY
NEWS that the church people need not
wait until the return of Judge Knapp
from the West Indies, for any Judge
of the Court OF Common
Pleas or General Sessions could
issue the warrant upon application. No
such application, however, was made to-
day ana the further action Of the Ho-
boKen olsrgymen IS being awaited by all
interested in the fight with much inter
esL
A Judge told the reporter thar II any
one should be indicted for neglect of duty
it should be Chief Donovan. for he has the
right and il is his duty 10 ST. p
every violation OF law. BE need not wals
for orders from the Commissioners TO
close the theRtres any more than he
would to arrest q pickpocket on the
street