The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-12
WAR ON CRIME
Judge Lippincott's Stirring
Appeal TO Sheriff Toffey's
Reform Grand Jury.
POLICY SHARKS DENOUNCED
Words Of Doom for the Grimm
ais Of the Street and
Water Department.
SUNDAY LIQUOR SELLING SCORED
all Laws Shonld be Enforced
WatchwOrds of Good Citizen
ship That Inspire Hon
est Men.
SUNDAY LIQUOR SELLING SCORED

est Men.
Great interest was manifested today in tn
opening of the December term of court Il
had been anticipated that the new Grand
Jury, drawn by Republican Sheriff, would
hear from Judge Lippincott some instruc
tions of interest not only to themselves but
to the public generally, and the
crowd that filed the court room
was not disappointed. How this Grand
jury under the charge, can refrain from in
dieting the Street and Water Commissioners
and liquor dealers who keep open on Sunday
will be mystery Judge Lippincott laid
down the law in unmistakable terms in each
case, and every Grand Juror looked as if he
appreciated what was being said
The Court House presented its usual ap-
pearance on the first day of the term Pop
Cook had ornamented the bench with two
beautiful bouquets and nearly every lawyer
In the county was within the bar. The Ses-
sions Court room has been entirely reno
waited. 1t has received four coats
of paint, the Old benches have
been removed and chairs substituted
and the floor has been covered with iinoleum.
Altogether it IS a much more desirable room
than when The JERSEY CITY NEWS first
called the attention of the Freeholders to it.
When the civil causes were perused in
the calendar, 1t was noticed that
cases headed the list, and that
the list is very large In the criminal calend-
er the most important case to be tried is one
of fratrieide. The other Jail cases are for
petty offenses
When the Grand Jury fled into court,
Sheriff Toffey was in the lead, and ne escort
- the members 70 positions in front of
the bench. Judge Lippincott said:-
JUDGE LlPPINCOTT'S CHARGE.
''tFENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND JURY:-I
must assume that you have a general ac-
qua1ntance with your duties as members of
standing the gentlemen of yTlaenl-itt is
compos ed gives assurance to the Court
OF the faithful performance of its duties
Al OF you are business men in
this county of knowledge of the state of af-
fairs existing here, and able to apply good
judgment TO the demands of the time and
situation; many of you have previously
served in the capacity of Grand Jurors, and
some Of you are learned in matters of law.
The Court has confidence in your fidelity"
The Judge then referred to the duties of
the Grand Inquest, their cath of Office, and
You are to protect the innocent. You
must not be used as an engine of persecution.
Act with full, careful and grave deliberation,
and then present the results to the Court.
Do not allow this Court to hear ANYTHING
more about the vicious habit or custom Of
the reconsideration of indictments, A re-
consideration implies hasty and inconsiderate
action, the kind Of action, above all, which a
Grand Jury should scrupulousIy avoid.
Laws must exist, and there will ever be
offenders against them, but you can decrease
their number, prevent much crime and
lessen the grade of offense by Indictment.
upon sufficient evidence, deliberately and
gravely considered, and after that without
reconsideration present it to the Court
SECRECY OF THEIR PROCEEDINGS
The Court now instructed the Grand jury
to observe their oath as to secrecy of their
proceedings in the Grand Jury room He
enjoined them to allow no one to approach
or influence their actious and said that it had
become notorious in this county. that there
were lobby members who exerted their in
fiuence IN favor OF offenders and who had
boasted OF their ability to absolutely dictate
the action of the Grand
jury to the everlasting dis
grace of the administration of criminal ius-
tice. This custom had become so well estab-
Lshed and SO defiant that this(randJury may
be somewhat annoyed by its existence but if
they will report such attempts to influence
oAOs4l " OAC SOGIb Iiicy VIII De SllnlQarllV
dealt with. The Court advised the grand
jurors to first consider the cases of persons
confined in jail charged with crime.
in order that those against
whom no indictment is found may
be discharged. He said that almost every
grade OF crime even including murder, as
there was one case Of that character would
come before them for consideration Be-
cause one Grand Jury had failed to indict
that was no reason why succeeding Grand
Jury should not take up the matter for CON
sideration.
GAMBLING SHOULD BE SUPPRESSED.
SIT can make no difference to what class
of persons an offender belongs. If a class
bepowerful socially or politically so much
the greater reason that they should be ap-
pretended and punished Their power for
evil and decentralization is the greater This
county has been the theatre of extensive
gambling and fraudulent operations The
Court here referred at considerable length
to the sale Of lottery tickets and the policy
playing and the green goods business and
pool rooms outside of the regular courses,
aud book making establishments and said
that it was understood that the pool rooms
were all now closed, but that the proprietors
are only awaiting opportunity to resume
Business and Il advise the Grand Jury to
take MP investigation of these matters cover
ing a period of the last two years, the limita-
ton by law within which an Indictment can
be found ana IL you cln SeG eVlttenc0 OF tne
violation of tile law within two
years, by either individuals or
corporations, it is your duty to indict. Pre-
ve1ition Of these offenses in tho future can
only be effected by indicting and furnishing
now The last Grand Jury did good work in
GONE parts of the county in indictiug those
engaged in the lottery business, but "a
thorough investigation viii lead to the dis
covery of large number Of others
who have been engaged in The
policy business These should be I'M
dicted on evidence presented to you.
This includes promoters, dealers, canvassers
and telegraph companies. An who aid or
assist in carrying on the business are alike
guilty, be they corporations or individuals,
officers, agents or employees
GREEN GOODS BUSINESS.
The Court now referred to what is called
the green goods business, that it has not
entirely ceased to exist, and the Court
would be glad if tile Grand Jury would
present those engaged in it upon suf-
ficient grounds in order that an example
might be made of thelnn "Pool rooms
and bookrnaking fourished in the town of
III ar'rison up to about the month of Nav last