The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-13
LAW OPENLY VIOLATED.
Judge Werts Plain and for
chile Talk to the
Grand Jury.

Inc strongly marked DuG Kindly Iace OF
Chancellor Benjamin Williamson was
missed today at the Conrt House when
the opening of the December term began.
The old ex-Chancellor was absent for the
first time i'll many years. but everyone
knew the reason was that the
aged counsellor was resting from
a half cen-ury's labor in the
quiet of the cemetery. Many kind words
were expressed concerning the departed
eX-Chancellor. and the older members of
the Bar asked each" other which of them
would be missing when the erm of
Court will open in April! ii of the
Central Railroad suits CouA aellor George
Holmes acted in place of the ex-Chancel-
lor when Judge Werts~ called the
calendar.
The Court room appeared no different
today tnan it usually does, except for the
gatherinr LAWYERS, which was very
la"~' of them had cases on the
ciIe,-...,., a4d others. remembered that
Judge Werts would preside for
the last time before enter
ing upon his duties as Governor.
Old Pop Cook, the veteran doorkeeper.
did not forget this either. and the huge
bouquet of flowers that he placed on the
desk in trout of the Judges scat. was
larger and more beautiful than those of
previous years,
The civil calendar for the term is vero
large but contains only a few cases of
public interest. The greatest number of
cases ready for trial Is credited to Collins
81 Corbin. who have five Supreme Court
issues and nine cases in the Circuit Court.
Next to them is the firm of Bedle.
McGee & Bedle, who have five
Supreme Court and eight Circuit
Court issues. Vrendenburgh g. Garretson
rank next with five Supreme Court Is
sues and seven in the Circuit Court, and
the next on the list 4 trials is Wallis,
Edwards and Bumsted. with TWO Su-
preme Court and five Circuit Court cases
on the calendar. The total number of
Supreme Court issues ready fer trial is
thirty-seven, and the total number of
Circuit Court is 143, an unusually large
number.
THE COUNTY BECOMING MORAL.
There is but one homicide case in the
Court of Oyer and Terminer against
seven in that court last term. The Jail is
full of petty cases for the General Ses-
s1ons; but none of them is of more than
ordinary interest. There are no big bur-
glars, bank robbers, large embezzlers
or heavy torgers. On the whole the
criminal court outlook is much better
morally than it has been for long time.
The calling of the cases in the civil court
Grand Jury, headed by Deputy Sheriff
Maher. This being the last charge of
Judge Werts to Hudson County Grand
Jury every one listened with close atten-
tion to his remarks Judge Werts said:-
JUDGE wERTs' CHARGE.
GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY
The Importance Of the duty devolved
upon your body cannot be overestimated.
You are the guardians of the public well
fare, i'll that upon yout depends primar-
lily the enforcement of the laws for the
preservation of the public peace and
morality, and the protection of the
lives and property Of the individual.
Failure in the performance of that duty
Involves the encouragement OF wrong
disregard and contempt sof con-
stituted authority. 1t is your duty
(as it is also that of the Court) to
prevent such consequences by the strict
and impartial enforcement of the law, IL
respective of whatever private views we
may entertain as to The policy or impolicy
or the law violated. With that we have
nothing to do. Our function is the en-
forcement OF the law as it exists, leaving
to other tribunals its modification or re-
peal should its enforcement prove uuwise
or oppressive.
"If, therefore, in the course of your in
vestigations any of the criminal laws of
the State appear to have been violated it
is your duty to present an Indictment ir-
OF possible consequences. You
may and should investigate
all matters that may be called to your at
tentipn by the Court.o or laid before you by
the Prosecutor, or that may rest in your
own knowledge, or that of your fellow
jurors. or that may be disclosed in the
course of your investigation of other
matters.
GROSS VIOLATION OF Law.
sit is the duty of the Court on this, as
on preceding similar occasions, to direct
your attention to the fact that it Is mat
ter of public notoriety that within this
county thea laws against the sale
of liquors, at all times, and particularly
on Sunday. are openly and habitually
in that species or form of lot
terry gambling, termed policy" is
extensively carried on and practised, and
further, that book making and pool SELL
ing on horse races is habitually permit
ted and tolerated, If not encouraged and
sanctioned, at one or more places within
the county.
"All places where liquor is illegally
sold or policv tickets disposed of, are in
dictable uMder the laws of this State, and
all places, whether within a build
ing, or upon an open or an
inclosed field, wherein or whereat
pool selling or book making on horse
1dClbH VI any iOIHeE cV6ul, Is HdDlbualIy
carried on, are common ruisances or
disorderly houses under the laws of
this State, and the persons who
keep or maintain such places
or who aid, abet or participate in their
maintainance, whether as owners or les
see Or member of a corpartnership, asso-
citation or corporation are indictable
as keepers of r disorderly
house. If the place be maintained by an
incorporated body, it may be indicted by
vidually by their individual names.
''At least one homicide case will claim
your attention. Ali homicide is presumed
TO be criminal and murder of the second
degree. and where it appears that death
has resulted from violence in
flicted by one person on another
you should Except in very exceptional
cases) present an indictment for murder
generally, leaving to the Traverse Jury
the determination of the degree or grade
of the crime.
I'D b'In all your Investigations, If from the
evidence before you it appears that a
11TiTilG fdcie case exists against the ac-
cused, that upon such evidence un-
explained and uncontradicted verdict of
guilty would be warranted by Traverse
jury, then, under the oath you have
taken. an Indictment should be pre-
sented.
"The Court knows no other matter to-,
which it is necessary to direct your at
tention at this time. -"
FOR A CHRISTMAS BOX.
A number Of prominent Greenvile ladi es are