The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-25
ALEC WATSON.
The Old Keeper Of the City
Prison Wins the
Chicago Trip.
HOW THE AWARD WAS MADE
A Consolation Badge Will Be
Given By THE News to
Coyne to Commemorate
His Great Vote.
Final Figures of the Contest.
Watson's Maiority-Eyery-
one Pleased.

The committee of judges appointed to
make the award in THE JERSEY CITY
News police popularity contest, consist
Board of Polics Commissioners
Chief of Police Benjamin Murphy.
and Tie Editor of The NEWS
met last night, as previously
announced, at the Office of THE JERSEY
CITY NEWS at six o'clock to canvass the
vote. ana make the award os the prize.
The committee organized by the cleo
tion of Chi'f Murphy las Chairman and
the qusine.s manager of The NEWS rs
Secretary. When the committe
commenced It's work of careful
ly going over the ballots
Hhich had been voted bearing the names
of the wo highest candidates, it being
evident that they were the only ones in
the race at the finish. The totals an
nounced by THE JERSEY City NEWS on
Saturday were ascertained to be correct
The figures at that time showed
7,134 for Keeper Alexander Wat
son, and 4,409 for Patrolman
james A. Coyne of the First precinct.
The total number of ballots forwarded
to The JERSEY CITY NEWS from Satur :
day until noon on Monday, when the
contest closed as under the original con-
dition. was 29,34S, making total of bal
lots cast during the contest Of 63.615. or
Saturdays vote Watson received
12,l92 and Coyne 12.709. This
lett the competitors grand totals
Watson. ........................ ty'oy5 's5
Watson's plurality 2,7I3.
In view of these figures the committee
unanimously declared the genial old
Keeper ALEX" Watson the victor in the
contest and recommended that the prize
of the round trip ticket TO Chic go, with
parlor car accommodations anu the
check for $50 be delivered by The JERSEY
| CITY NEWS TO MIN.
The business manager of The NEWS
| then made a suggestion. which met with
| The hearty endorsement OF the com nit
tee. It was that in order to afford the
winner every opportunity OF convenlence
aud incidentally to permit him to go and
| come by whichever route he epreterred, by
drawing to his order cheeks for 500,
| with the distinct understanding that he
| was to MAKE the trip to the Fair as con-
| telnplated. The amount given to the
| victor is a trIfie in excess OF the actual
| cost of the ticket anu allowances for
| board and other necessary'S as announc-
| ed in the NEWS.
| Chief Murphy and President Ferney
expressed great satisfaction with the
| offer, and felt satisfied that Watson
| would use the amount given for the pur-
| pose of making the trip.
II don't think it would pay Aleck to
stay at home," remarked President
| Feeney.
| The business manager then drew a
check for 500 and delivered it to Chief
| Murphy and President Feeney for deliv-
cry to the old keeper.
| A CONSOLATION BADGE FOR CoYNE.
The editor and manager further re-
| marked that in view of the vsry close
| competition between Watson and Coyne,
| and the fact that both meu dfsLanced all
| other competitors by more thau 10000,
that CoyDe was deserving of speciai
| recognition. Therefore to Mr. Coyne
| will be awarded some suitable souvenier
for the splendid vote polled by his
| friends. This momento will take
| the form of watch charm, u pin or
| some suitable ornament and will be de-
termined as .soan as an opportunity is
| found to consult with the leading Jersey
| City jewellers. President Feeney and
| Chief Murphy expressed their entire ap
| proval of this announcement, which they
| believed would go far toward softening
the feeling of disappointment of the
| friends of CoVne who were anxious fol
| him to win.
They further expressed their pleasure
| with the conduct and result, believing
| that 1t has aroused great interest among
| the men Of She department., and that il
| was calculated to stimulate the men of
| the force Go increased fidelity and urban
| iiy i'll the performance OF duty. The
| committee then adjourned sine die.