The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-29
POLICE STUPIDITY.
No Arrests Made In the Kill
ing of Spellisy at
Union Hill.
JUDGE HUDSPETH ISSUES WARRANTS
Policemen Who Shot the Man
Treated Royally-Eye Witness
es Refuse to Testify.

After Judge Hudspeth had finished the
routine business of the Court of Ses-
sions today, the Assistant Prosecutor
said to the presiding judge that Police
Sergeant George Krieger and Policeman
Henry O'Brier, who shot and killed
John Spellisy ON Thursday night at his
home ON Union Hill, while attempting
to arrest him, were not under arrest.
He added that no complaint had been
made against the two policemen al
though no doubt existed as to the re-
sponsibility of Krieger and O'Brien for
the death of Spellisy.
The two policemen since the shooting
had been detained at the police station,
but in such a manner that they We're
like guests and not like prisoners. The
Assistant Prosecutor declared these two
men should be in the County Jail, like
other prisoners who had caused DEATH
Recorder Shelton and Policeman Peter
Ball of Union Hill were in court when
this information was gwen. Ball was
with Krieger and O'Brien when the
shooting took place and was conversant
with all the facts. The Assistant Prose
cutor informed the Court that Ball had
refused to make complaint against
Krieger and O'Brien and asked the
Court to compel him to do so. He
added that it was a disgrace to think
that from the Chief of Police down no
one appeared to be willing to comply
with the law.
Judge Hudspeth said he did not know
Of any law which empowered him to
he declined to grant such an order.
T1,d IJ116 oad tIot ho Sfa Of
things was most extraordinary, but
added that there was a question as to
whether the killing was unlawful.
A JURY SHOULD DETERMINE.
81 don't think there is any question at
all as to the unlawful killing" said the
Assistant Prosecutor, and then address
ing Policeman Ball asked why he would
not make a complaint.
"I have no complaint to make
Later he said to the reporters:-"I have
in this case
Recorder Shelton, at the request OF
Judge Hudspeth. recited the facts of
the killing which have been told in 1.-THE
Jersey City News" and concluded by
saying he had visited the Prosecutor
office to obtain some instruction as to the
course he should pursue. He said he
had been unable to get any one to make
a complaint. After some discussion the
Assistant Prosecutor sent for Detective
John p Feeney. and while waiting for
him prepared a complaint on 'inforna
ton and belief" for Mr.. Feeney to sign.
This DONE he released himself by say
ing
'The idea of letting two men who
killed another walk the streets at will
ST beg pardon. interjected Recorder
Shelton. they are not walking the
streets"
GUESTS OF THE CHIEF.
s'Why are they not?''
Because the Chief of Police detains
them at the police station" replied the
Recorder.
mo"
tits the most preposterous. scandal
Gus and ridiculous thing I ever heard of.
Every one connected with the case
should be arrested. It's an extraordin--
ary state of affairs when policemen will
not make complaints for killing. They
must think it doesn't amount to much
to kill a man in Union HILL" concluded
the Assistant Prosecutor.
When John P. Feeney- arrived he made
the complaint, and Judge Hudspeth is.
sued the warrant for the arrest of
Kreiger and O'Brien. The inquest in the
case will he held tonight at Ruth's Hall,
Union Hill.