The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-11

657-659 Broad ST., Newark.
friendless poor, awaiting trial on trivial
charges, in our filthy jail. [ know of one
instance where a poor man was kept in that
filthy place fifty-five days on a trivial,
trumped up charge. One case was called to
my attention where a poor man was detain-
ed for twenty days. | investigated the case
and found that an ignorant Justice of the
Peace had failed to forward the complaint
to the Prosecutor. The right of liberty is
the corner stone of our country. The time
has arrived to stop the swelling of fees OF
public officials when it is found that it re-
suits in an infringement On the rights of
liberty.
IMPOSITION OF FINES.
"Another wrong is the imposition OF
pecuniary fines for crime. 1t breeds glaring
and outrageous injustice. L am informed
that recently a mar was found guilty OF a
heinous offence and fined $50. He was a
rich man, and the imposition of the fine was
no punishment at all"
The speaker was, it is believed, referring
to the case of policy dealer Nolan. But
had this been a poor man he would have
been incarcerated in a cell because OF his
inability to pay a fine. When the time ar
rives that a rich man gets imprisoned five
days for the same offense that a poor man
is given thirty days, then is the time for
public opinion to crush such abuses. Excess
sive punishment for the poor n nothing
for the rich man is a crime; it is unjust and
cruel.
1--WE should organize and be al effective
machine for the abolition of such abuses"
Mr.. Record was heartily cheered. Suhse-
quently he explained that usually he sub
mitted his address to his friend, Otto Grouse,
for revision. Mr.. Grouse. he said, always
toned it down. This time he didn't consult
with him as to what he should say. A
laugh at Mr.. Crouse's expense was enjoyed.
The Hon. William Hornblower, who was
to have addressed the guests, was unable to
be present. Mr.. Record said he hoped some
day to see Mr.. Hornblower on the U. s..
Supreme Court bench. So did all those
present, if their cheers meant anything.
NEED OF REFORM IN CAMDEN.
In introducing M. Samuel II. Gray, MIR.
Record referred to him as one of New Jer-
sey's brightest and Atheist lawyers. He IN
tiinated that his ascension to a high office OF
public trust was probable. Before Mr.. Gray
proceeded, Mr.. Record explained that he
said such pleasant things of Mr.. Gray SO as
to be solid with him in the hour Of prosperl-
ty. Mr.. Gray took W the urgent need OF
reform in law, its enforcement and practice.
''Even in our v~irtuous county OF Cam
den," said he, 1--WE have discovered many
queer things, and that, too, without the aid
Ol III leltSCODC. w 2 Io Y vi AAA6o 'AANA
we have concluded will stand improvement
and revision"
He favored constitutional amendments
which would bring justice home to a sutton,
easy, right and certain. He wanted law
customs revived SO that it will be possible
for a man to bring a suit In his LIE Time,
after it has passed through the various
courts, and not have TO have the verdict
sent to a place which is to be his home here
after. He believed that the time allowed
for the trying of cases should be reduced
and limited. In following up Mr.. Records
remarks on the abolition of the fee system
for public officers, he said that as long as
the public will stand it, public officials Will
shirk their duties.
MI. GRAY continued at length on subjects
of interest to gentlemen of the legal profess
sion.
FLAvEL M'GEE's OPINION. B.
Prior to introducing Mr.. Flavel Notice,
whom Mr.. Record asked to tell how it fe-t
to nearly be a Supreme Court Justice and
not be one, a telegram was received from
Governor Werts stating that he would be
unable to be present.
Mr.. McCAee, in reply to Mr.. Record, said
that it felt better to be nearly a Supreme
Court Justice than not to be thought OF In
that capacity at all. Mr.. McGee took sides
against the preceding speakers, for argu-
ment's sake it is thought, and in a long and
interesting address said he thought the pres
ent methods of conducting law suits was
quite satisfactory. He said that law bust
ness was not something to be hustled to one
side and o. with.
ssThe COMPLAINT made about the slowness
of decisions, slowness in the manner OF pro-
cedure and everything else" said he, re
minds me of a remark of a friend OF mine
named Gilchrist. We were in a restaurant
and had ordered steak. | became impatient
and began. to find fault. Wait, wait said
he, they are trying to make it better for
YOU This, in my opinion, replies to com
plaint about slow decisions. ''Let us" said
he, in conclusion, always conduct the
causes of clients with honesty and fairness.
Give them our best efforts, leave out caustlc
malice, and trust to the honesty OF juries
and fairness of judges"
GRIGGs' STORY Of THE "PATCH."
In introducing Mr.. John W., Griggs, of
Passaic. Mr.. Record mentioned him as a
victor for Governor if the Republicans
would only. nominate him. FL is solid
with me if they do and win" replied Nh.
Griggs.
Lawyers nave no creed, no policy, know
no politics and sometimes very little law, =
began Mr.. Griggs. Il can frankly say that
1 gladly extend the right hand Of fellowship
to your president to say that | endorse every
word he has uttered about needed reforms. y
Mr.. Griggs INDUCED in witty remarks for
a time. In speaking of decisions of the
supreme COufu. Ill O6CidIlHS HdWS toAStitV-
tional and unconstitutional, he advised
everyone to pursue the course of a lawyer,
who, in trying a case, quoted a passage of
the law ON the subject to the judge.
ssThat is not the law interrupted
the Judge. The lawyer was set back
for a moment, but, recovering, said;
at was the law until your Honor spoke.s In
discussing the law OF necessity he cited a case
which occurred i'll Colorado when it was yet
a Territory. Six men became snow bound,
starvation stared them IN the face, One of
the six was an enormous eater, and to appease
that appetite killed the Ave men and ate
them. He was arrested, tried and found
guilty of m~anslaughter. In passing sentence
upon the man the Judge said, Under ordt
nary circumstances the necessity of the case
would bring for You release, but In view OF
the fact that Colorado is trying to Increase
its population sufficiently to be admitted to
the Union, and further that the town IN which
this crime was committed had hut q poEula-
ton Of eight people, any man who would eat
flve-sighths of the population aud thus