The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-15
JUDGES CALL A HALT
Grand Jury Exceeded Its
Authority in Discnarg-
ing Prisoners.
/" BOB !" DAVIS WARNED.
Books of the Finance Board Being
Examined by the Grand
Inquest.

At recess today Judges Lippincott, Huds-
peth, Hoffman and Kenny held consulta-
ton concerning the discharge of prisoners
by the Grand Jury without the consent of
the Court. 1t was decided to notify the
Foreman of the Grand Jury that their ac-
tion had been improper and that no one but
the Court could discharge prisoners.
Jailer Davis was sent for and he produced
record of the discharges. He was eau
toned that he would be held personally re-
sponsible if, on the order of the Grand Jury,
without the sanction of the Court, he per-
mitted any more prisoners to have their lib
erty.
ANOTHER JAIL VISIT.
Two members of the Grand Jury last night
visited the County Jail, and discharged from
custody three prisoners One was Eugene
Oppido, boy charged with threatening to
kill his father by poison. He was in Jail for
second offense Joseph Leonard, charged
with grand larceny, and who had been but
two weeks in the Jail, was also discharged,
and SO was Lewis LEVITT, who had been in
the Jail but two days on a charge of embez-
element
To continue its investigation into the Jail
management, the Grand Jury demanded the
Jail register. Jailer Davis was not at the
institution when the demand was made, and
Joseph Eltringham, his deputy, refused to
produce the book. He sought advice from
Lawyer Griffin, and was by him instructed
to give the book to the Grand Jury This
book merely contains list of all prisoners
admitted to the Jail, the offense and date of
discharge.
vERMIN IN THE JAIL.
The Grand Jury has asked number of in
mates of the Jail many questions concerning
its cleanliness, food and the treatment re-
ceived by the inmates, and there is but little
doubt for believing that the Grand Inquest
IS in possession of information to the effect
that vermin can be found in some of the
cells. Jailer Davis, in fact, admits this to be
true, but says that it is impossible to pre-
vent this filth because of the unclean condi-
tion of the prisoners when they are brought
there.
RIGHT TO DISCHARGE PRISONERS.
There has been considerable comment
about the Court House concerning the sum-
mary discharge of prisoners from Jail with
out an order from the Court, and lawyers
boldly claim that the present Grand Jury
indictment by subsequent Grand Juries, on
charges of aiding prisoners to escape from
Jail
1t is claimed by these lawyers, and they
are the best in the county engaged in Grim
inal practice, that the Grand Jury has no
right to release a prisoner without the con-
sent of the Court. 1t was also said
this morning that if the Grand Jury pre-
sented indictments to the Court today, that
the Court would take the opportunity of
asking the Grand Jury by what right it had
freed prisoners from the Jail. Rumor has
it that the remarks of the Court in this con-
nection will be such that the Grand Jury
will not be apt to forget.
Everyone that has an interest in the well
ware of the county, is glad to see an honest
Grand Jury at work
WILL INVESTIGATE THE S. 6 W. BOARD
There is general rejoicing over the news
that the Street and Water Commissioners
office will be overhauled after the Grand
Jury has finished with the Jail; and it is be-
ieved that before the Grand Jury is dis
charged for the term that the office of the
Board of Freeholders will be inquired into.
An early visit of the Grand Jury to the
county institutions will probably be made
FINANCE BOARD BOOKS BEFORE THE GRAND
JURY.
Assistant Philip McGovern of the Board of
Finance Office, at two o'clock today, entered
the Court House with an armful of books
containing records of contracts since 1891
He said Martin Finck, Clerk of the board,
would soon follow, and that he would appear
before the Grand Jury in the investigation
to be begun against the Street and Water
Commissioners Comptroller Hough has
alcO haaD Suhnonnnpd