The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-01-05
M'FHILLIPS CONDEMNED.
Lawyers Make Silence
More Effective Than
Speech.
AFRAID OF OFFICIAL Y ENGEANCE
But They Would Not Be If Hud-
son County Had an Honest
and Efficient Sheriff.

The presence of three newspaper re-
porters last night at meeting of the
Hudson County Bar Association saved
Sheriff John McPhillips from hauling
over the Goals which would have made
him wish he had never been born. The
principal object of the meeting was 20
discuss the question, SHOULD the Bar
Association notice and take official action
respecting the charges made by news
paper against the Sheriff of Hudson
County for misconduct in Officer"
There were twentv-one members of the
| Association present. and every one OF
them was loaded to the muZzle with in
formation which would have made John
H. McPhillips' ears tingle had they not
feared the trouble which publicity would
be sure to bring.
But the fact that Mr. McPh;llips is not
a tit man for the office he holds was even
| more clearly demonstrated by the fear
| the lawyers apparently have of engaging
| in contest with him than by anything
| they could possibly have said.
That the Bar Association is aware OF
| his incompetency was clearly shown. and
| that they have been made victims by him
| was proven by the fact that committee
| of five is to be appointed by President
| Black, to be known as the "GrievaEce
| Committee This committee is to hear
complaints against the Sheriff from any
| individual memb of the Bar and, with
| out the complainant being known In the
matter. make an Investigation. aud II the
charges are proven. action will be taken
| looking to the removal of Mr.. McPhillips
| from the Office he has disgraced.
| The general impression of the members
| of the Bar Association seemed to be that
| it meant almost annihilation at the hands
of the Sheriff to openly declare that they
| had any grievance against him or his
office. On the other hand. however. not
| a gentleman spoke who did not Intimate
| that 1t was his belief that misconduct did
exist, and that McPhillips not only
charged illegal and eXoroitant fees, but
that he displayed Incompetence. and per-
| mitted himself to be surrounded by
batch of blockheads who are nearly as
ignorant in the administration of justice
as himself
''The investigation is to be conducted
quietly, but the point in view. learned
| from several members, is to secure the
impeachment of Sheriff McPhilllps, and
matter stated that McPhillips could be
| removed in short order If the proper
course were persued.
| DO NOT WANT PUBLICITY.
"John McPhillips would have been
handled without gloves tonight" said
OQ6 Adu ~ uOO bSCh loi phO
presence of the reporters. know several
gentlemen who were prepared to deal
| with him as he deserves, but it must be
done in quiet manner, because that
man, with his official power, can make it
deucedly unpleasant for any lawyer.
'The Bar Association can bring him to
time, and know that the appointment
of this committee means that there will
be reform in McPhillips' Office or he will
be impeacned."
The lawyers were very careful in de-
batting the question, but at glance it
cred a competent man aud that the
charges are not merely believed, but are
knolDt, to be correct in every instance. as
stated in THE JERSEY CITY NEWS.
"What are the charges~ asked Alder
man Salinger. II have read some re-
marks in local paper about Sheriff Nc
Phillips, but do not know whether they
have any foundation or not. wish some
member who knows of these things would
explain them for my benefi5 and others
present."
Il didn't intend saying word on thi:
subject" said Counsellor Grouse, "bu
the question which we are to discuss wa.
| proposed by the Executive Committee
and we hoped that the attendance woule
be large, lnasmuch as a collation. wal
promised at the conclusion of the debate
zone or two serious charges have beer
made against the Sheriff, and there is M
doubt in my mind that Alderman Salin
ger read THE JERSEY CITY NEWS as wei
as any one here. Whether those article
pertaining to the Sheriff were prompted
by feelings of spite or malice. l dom
know, but in my opinion it is not tn
, fight of this association ana rather thar
take any official action in the matter
think it should be overlooked ant
frowned upon.
"Again the action of this paper nigh
! have been prompted by public spirited
feeling. and the idea that some wrong
might be righted. l noticed that a mum
Der of reputable members of the Bar wer
interviewed on the subject referred to
and some serious charges were mad
, against the Sheriff as to the manner il
which mis- legal duties are performed
Charges of mismanagement. delays o
writ and misconduct. For my part nav
found the Sheriff an efficient official.
| DO not think we should take action upol
, current newspaper topics. Ii member
} have grievances let them bring them be
fore the Association for action and thel
we will have solid facts Instead of fioatin
, gossip to deal with, If lawyers are eX
periencing difficulty with the Sheriff lie
them bring their charges to the notice o
the association and an investigation Il
remedy the evil will be mades"
81 see no reason why this Association
should act in this matter" said Counsel
lor Rosenberg 1--WE have nothing to dt
with the charges made by a'newspaper
, | Let the members make the charges, an(
| the Association will back them"
COUNSELLOR RANSOM SPEAKS PLAINLY.
II do not think it is in our province,
interrupted Counsellor Ransom, 1T
place any credence in these charges. W,
should have brought to our notice par
ticular cases which we can put our hands
on and ascertain tue facts. | confess
however, that there is a great field TO
reparation in the ADMINISTRATION of jus
: tice in this county. Again, outside c
newspaper reports concerning the Sherii
and his actions, / have heard from ipte
Iigent men, men who have large dealing
with him in criminal matters, that he i
! the most inefficient Sheriff we have ha,
| in years. Our officials, fear, depend to
much upon deputies, but they should no
be permitted to run the machine.
"The great difficulty is that the official
do not understand their duties. Their
! are some classes of legal papers whic
7 they do not know how to serve, and tn
. worst of it is they won't be taught. A
far as the She-iff's actions are concerne
in criminal matters there is need for grea
reform, and the sooner the Associatio
takes steps to secure the reform needle
the better it will be tor the members
our profession and the public in gen
eral."
/. ''Grave charges have been made again:
: the Sheriff." said Colonel Fuller, "b
: reputable lawyers, but those gentleme