The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-24
RACE TRACK TRIALS
Indicted Men Anxious to
Face the Present Panel
of Petit Jurors.
LAW AND ORDER VIEWS.
What Judge Lippincott and Prose-
cutOr Winfield Say on the
Subject.

Sporting men and members of the Reform
League are anxiously waiting for Judge
Lippincott to designate time for the trial
of the Gutenberg race track officials, Sup
erintendent Smith and the other policemen
who were last week arraigned in Court un-
der Indictments. The sporting men make
no secret of their desire to have an early
trial and to have the present petit jury pass
upon the guilt OF innocence of the accused
men. This action is the very thing the Law
and Order people hope sincerely will not taxa
place. 1t is claimed by them that the present
present petit jury was drawn by ex-SheriR
Stanton, and they fear that because Of the
well known friendship existing between Mr..
Mclaughlin and the ex-Sheriff, who drew
Jurors, the jury would be biased in favor or
the accused men.
They well know that on the present panel
petit jurors there are number Of men who
are frequenters of races, and who enjoy that
sport, and they fear that should some OF
these men be named on juries to determine
the cases, the chances OF conviction would
be greatly lessened.
There is no doubt but that in sporting
matters what anti-sporting men would de-
signate as a crime, sporting characters
would consider quite proper and right. The
code of morals Of the Reform League is de-
cidedly different from that of the sporting
fraternity, and the Reform League people
thoroughly realize and appreciate this differ
ence. They do not want the cases to be tried
by this petit jury, but at the same time they
would be glad if the indictments could De
disposed of at an early date.
REFORM LEAGUE VIEWS
One of the members of the Reform League
said to me concerning these trials
eff the indictments could be tried before
struck juries we would be perfectly satisfied,
and would be glad to have the trials place
at the earliest possible moment. We do not
want for members of these struck juries
straight-laced church people, but we do be-
lieve that in each case twelve well known,
reputable business men, property owners and
intelligent gentlemen, should be selected.
They should be men who have no political
axes to grind, and who could and would give
a Just, honest and fair verdict, whether it be
for or against the defendants Such Jurles
as / have mentioned could not be had il
drawn from the present panel of petit jurors.
'sLet the District Attorney see to it that
men of the same fearless character as those
who tried the ballot box stuffing cases be
selected TO determine these cases and we and
the community will be perfectly content
I asked Judge Lippincott it he had de.
cided on a day for the trial Of Gutenberg
cases, and replied that he had not.
s'Will the cases be tried this term of COURT
Judge?' asked.
II can not answer that question. / have a
great deal of business before me to dispose
of, and then again it may be that shall not
sit in the cases. My time is very much
taken up"
''Wilf the indictments be tried before
struck juries or will the juries be drawn
from the petit jury panel .'
"That am unable to say. The Court can
take no action of its own volition upon the
question whether any case shall be tried by q
struck jury. The Court can only take that
matter into consideration when the prose-
cutor or the defendants make motion for q
struck jury. If neither request a struck
Jury the Court cannot order one. No apph-
cation has been made to me yet for struck
jury in any of the cases"
MR., WINFIELD NoNCoMdITTAL.
When / asked Prosecutor Winfield II tho
Gutenberg cases would be tried this term OF
court, he replied
81 don't know. There has been no day set
yet. I am ready to try the cases at any
time"
''Will the defendants be tried by struck
jury, Prosecutor
II am ready to try the cases at any time."
was the answer
s'Then, suppose, am to understand that
no struck jury will be asked for by yous"
''You are to understand that am pre-
pared to try these cases at any time the
court fixes"
s'Then l will publish the fact that you VIII
not ask for struck jury?"
''I can't help what you publish, my dear
boy,n the Prosecutor answered, with pleas"
ant laugh, and then he went into court.