The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-03

ment. The speed of these cars must be SO
limited as to be entirely compatible with the
customary use of the streets by the public.
You need be in no haste in your action, but
If the future action of this company be not
in conformity with the law. the action of the
Court and your action, in the manner indl-
Gated, must be swift and certain.
THE D., L. & W. CRIME.
In this connection also your attention is
directed to an investigation of the causes OF
the disastrous and fatal accident by the col
lision on the line of the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna G. Western Railroad Company, in
this county some time ago. In that collision
/ believe several fatalities were occasioned,
and it is scarcely credible that criminal
neglect, did NOT exist somewhere. Ii such
existed it should be the subject OF an 1ndict-
ment. Undoubtedly the company has SUI
fered severely for this casualty, but the
public in these days of extensive travel
should be assured that every precaution has
been taken for the safety of the passengers,
and criminal neglect should be punished.
Where death has been caused by neglect
of duty by another, an Indictment for
manslaughter lies against the person or per-
sons whose neglect of duty caused the death.
The evidence at the Coroner's inquest IS on
file with the County Clerk, and that may aid
you in your investigation, but you have the
power and right to reach out beyond that In
your inquiry, to any extent desirable, In
order to discover the neglectful author OF
this disaster. The Court has felt it to be Its
duty to give this matter into your hands.
AIR PoLLUTING NUIsANCES.
May be permitted to call your attention
to the existence of nuisances in various parts
of this county. There are some parts OF the
county, and some parts of Jersey City,
which are almost unendurable for habltatlon
by reason of the abominable odors which
arise from these nuisances and sicken our
in
the day, some in the afternoon and others at
night time. They are observed by every
one, and it ought not to be difficult task to
locate some of them as least, so as to give
partial relief, and if you can discover the m,
indict promptly if within the county, and
nearly, if not all of them, are here.
MUNICIPAL ABUSES.
invoke YOUR continuance of the 1nveS-
| tigation of the last Grand Jury into the con-
duct of municipal boards and municipal
officers, in relation to the expenditure OF
public moneys and the conduct of public
affairs. You need not fear at all the crit
| icsm that the Grand Jury is going upon a
| fishing excursion. The Investigations are
always healthful. 1t warns, il it does not
result in the discovery of criminal conduct.
Without such investigation laxity in the
conduct of public affairs creeps in, and 1t
| does no harm whatever to keep up per-
| petual investigation in such matters, and
whenever the Grand Jury shall find cor
! ruption and misconduct in public bodies, or
public officials, in whatever direction, or
about whatever subject matter, promptly
apply the remedy of indictment.
AS TO RECoNsIDERATIoNS.
There is one subject more upon which
wish to speak find the practice of recon
sideration of indictments still prevails in the
Grand Jury system. Do not act IN haste s
upon evidence. See that it is ample and suf-
ficient to convince you OF guilt; deliberate
upon it, and when you arrive at determ1-
nation to find an indictment, once voted, see
that it is presented to the Court. Of course,
it is not possible for the Court to control
your action in this respect, for, while you
are part Of the court. your con-
duct in this regard is independent in
every way, but fundamentally, and theoret-
ically reconsideration of your action IN
finding an Indictment is illegal, and think,
violation Of your OATH l warned the
last Grand Jury against personal approaches
to them for the purpose OF influencing their
action in relation to the question of whether
they should present an indictment OF not
in any given case, and I requested
them to report such approaches to the
Court, and the Court would promptly
punish the offender. l am deeply sorry
to say that fear, from facts which seem
to Indicate that conclusion, that the advice
was not needed and acted upon. 1t is a con-
tempt of court to approach Grand Juror
for the purpose of influencing his Judgment
on any given matter 1t is also an indict-
able offense. If person should approach
tx is Court to influence its Judgment one way
or another upon any issue presented here, he
would be instantly committed for contempt,
and the matter Immediately presented to you
for Indictment. 1t is just as great an otfense
for any one to approach one OF you in that
way. and if the approach be submitted to it
is direct imputation upon your integrity