The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-13

cases ready for trial is credited to Collins
q Corbin, who have five Supreme Court
issues and nine cases IN the Circuit Court.
Next to them is the firm of Bedle.
Supreme Court and eight Circuit
Court issues. Vrepdenbu-gh & Garretson
rank next with five Supreme Court IS
sues aud seven in the Circuit Court, and
the next on the list f 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-
sions; but none of them is of more than
ordinary interest. There are no big bur-
glars, bank robbers, large embezzlers
or heavy rorgers. 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
was interrupted by the entrance of the
Grand Jury. headed by Deputy Sheriff
Maher. This being the last charge of
Judge Werts to Hudson County Grand
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 ara the guardians of the public well
fare, in that upon you, depends primar-
lily the enforcement of the laws for the
morality, and the protection of the
lives and property of the individual.
Failure in the performance of that duty
involves the encouragement OF wrong
doing, the immunity of crime and
disregard and contempt .of con-
stituted authority. 1t is your duty
Gas it is also that of the Cour) to
and impartial enforcement of the law, ir-
respective Of whatever private views we
may entertain as to the policy or impolicy
OF the law violated. With that we have
nothing to do. Our function is the en-
forcement Of the law as 1t exists. leaving
to other tribunals its modification or re-
peal should its enforcement prove unwfse
or oppressive.
eff, 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-
respective of person and regardless
OF possible consequences. You
may and should investigate
all matters that may be called to your at
tention 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
violated also that places exist where
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 policy tickets disposed of, are in
dictable uSder the la aws of this State, and
all places, whether within build
ing, or upon an open or an
inclosed field, wherein or whereat
pool selling or book making on horse
racing or any other event, is habitually
carried on, are common nuisances 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 disorderly
house. If the place be maintained by an
incorporated body, it may be indicted by
its corporate name and the officers indi-
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 1t appears that death
has resulted from violence in
ficted 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.
ef''In all your Investigations, If from the
evidence before you it appears that a
1]rinlG fGcte case exists against the &C.
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.
1.-THE Court knows no other matter to,
which it is necessary to direct your at
tpnfion at Chjs time ,,