The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-09

charge an old man detained as a witness.
IL was represented that he was poor and
Ill. The question at once arose in the
mind of the Court how such poor and
forlorn creature could have such
strong and powerful friands- Then the
court thought that perhaps II was the old
dodge to get the witness away to save the
criminal. IL the two Schneider's were re-
leased on bail they could forfeit 1t, 20 to
New York, and their father could return
to This city in safety. In my opinion IL
would be wrong to release the Schneider's >
at present. for no one naturally has more
influence over children than the father.
and no one obeys more than the child.
and IL Schneider desired he could defeat
justice forever"
SIT was said at the Jail. Judge, that
some one had been confined 10 days In
the jail as witness DO you think 1t
"The circumstances in the case should
govern the matter. do not know what
they were"
MR. BIRDsALL's OPINION.
Jailor Birdsall said be did not believe
that there mad been three cases where
confinement as witness had
worked worked any hardship. The 17O
days case above referred to was when
Patrick Collins of Hoboken was under ar
rest for wife murder and his two children
were detained as witnesses. The pastor
said that Detective Feeney would several
times a week take them for walk to
benefit their health. The boys thrlved
while IN Jail.
THE OTHER SIDE.
James Gopsil, the well known in
surance broker, who is member of the
Hudson county branch of the State Cnari-
ties Aid Society, was seen this morning.
He said the matter was one which de-
manded immediate action. Last Tuesday,
he said, the members of The society had
visited the Jail. and also the county in-
stitutions, and were surprised at the con-
dition OF things. In the case OF these
young girls he thought it was an outrage,
and something should be done to remedy
the evil. The members of the society, he
continued, are unanimous in condemnlnQ
this condition of affairs, and will use
every houest endeavor to remedy this
evil
MIR. Elijah Cowles was seen at his Office
in the Weldon building. He said that
the matter bad been brought up at the
meeting of the Hudson county branch OF
the State Charities Aid Society last
Wednesday night. The matter, he said,
was one which demanded the fullest in
vestigation, and as at last meeting the
committee who reported did not have as
specific a report as was thought neces-
sary, special committee was appointed
to make the fullest investigation possible
in the matter
Mr.. Cowles said 1t was decidedly wrong
to house these witnesses in the manner
they were. OF course, witnesses IN some
cases must be held TO further the ends of
justice. But discretion should be used in
the manner in which they are placed.
Some witnesses held are of very loose
character. Thess should not be allowed
to hold communication with young chill
dren such as the ones in view. Another
thing. they should be treated not as pris-
soners-they should have better fare and
a private room.
I'm one OF these cases under considera-
tion,' said he, "a girl is held as Il witness
for quite some time, although it is known
that the criminal has escaped and may
perhaps never be captured. Ia such a
case as this the Prosecutor should see
that the witness is discharged"