New-York tribune., 1895-12-11
TO INDICT POLICE OFFICIALS
REFORM FOR THREE CITIES.
INVESTIGATION ORDERED IN NEWARK,
JERSEY CITY AND HoBoKEN.

INVESTIGATION ORDERED IN NEWARK.
JERSEY CITY AND HOBoKEN.
rrncr DFprrp CHARGES THE ESSEN COUNTY
GRAND JURY THAT THE POLICE COMMISSION
Fps ARE TO SEE THAT LAWS ARE oBEYED
REGARDLESS OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL
oPINIoNs-sHoULD BE INDICTED If
THEY REFUSE TO PERFORM THEIR
puTIEs-wILL THEY ENFORCE
THE LAW NOW?
The December term of the County Court OF
rssex County opened yesterday AS was ex-
nected Judge Depue in delivering his instruc-
t,ons to the Grand Jury, touched on the atu-
,ude of the Newark Police Commissioners IN
regard to the Sunday saloon question ana IN
timated that the Commissioners are ihulc'apie
for their failure to enforce the law his III
s,ructions while couched In cautious terms are
considered as indicative of his desire that 'he
,nou,sitors make a thorough investigation, and
tho members of the Christian Citizenship Union
are confident that they will be followed.
After referring to several criminal cases which
will come before the body, Judge Depue spoke
of the communication recently addressed oy the
commissioners TO the Christian Citizenship
Union. In which the former suggested that the
matter be left to the incoming "ranu 'u''
Continuing. he said:
JUDGE DEPUE's CHARGE.
Tho Commissioners appear TO entertain tho opin-
ION that the enforcement of these laws and the city
ordinances is neither possible nor expedeht- lhese
officials are not amenabe to prosecution lot Opinions
oxnressed but when acts become indctable offences
~ done with a certain intent. opinions uistinctSS S
avoved with respect TO official conduct may pe suc
will brip
in the line Of official duty within the range vi III
dictable offences. .,eo commissioners
with respect the policy OF laws % tna naonrietV bn
the laws of this state may ysparmet wsu Of the
Government to which department. has been en- dee, I,s.
gated the power to make. alter and repeal the laws
SShich govern the people of the State. as well as
control the conduct of officials whether J9ocai , o1
th ,au int" effect The personal opinions OF Off
cias in either OF these departments aord no I sHst
cation or for the failure to perform ocai az
duties assumed. judicial and executive ON onicers & OF
any grade must take the laws as they nild @ tael, @
them into effect with fidelity r,ners of ,he De.
Public ocgPs FL 6cs snfn in tes aT ee are executive officers
with duties akin to ministerial duties. t ao 10, ,h
wilful refusal or intentional neSlect ore re abe 70 in
d;ctment This subject is committed to you as
OF rhH and eexecuns the laws for this
court, and TO you as members OF cQVt @ ns
Tor faithful administration Of the law, and the oc-
currences of last Sunday unless @ enea'y ~ Eota v"E In
SSour minds Naturalization for the peace and good
order and consequently the aress 81 upon e yo4r
minds in your Investigations and deliberations on on
this subject II such occurrences are the outcome Vi
the policy adopted by these Commissioners
MUCH COMMENT IN NEWARK
The Judges instructions caused considerable
comment in Newark yesterday evening and the
saloonkeepers generally we're rather apQrehenslVe
that the Commissioners may take steps to enforce
4hl SalOOnkeeDerS
press Willingness TO close at midnight on Satur-
day and not reopen until Monday, in case the law
is generally complied with. In fact. half the
saloon proprietors feel that the closing or tnelr
places on Sunday would tend to increase thelr
business during the rest Of the week beside CIV
ing them and their employees q needed rest ana
II the Commissioners manifest desire to enforce
the law they will meet little opposition:
The members Of the Christian Citizenship Union
were greatly elated over the firm stand taken
by Judge Depue and they unhesltatingly foretold
that ii meant the indictment OF the ofnclais Whom
they have accused OF neglect IN enlorcihg the
law One enthusiastic member or the Union
declared that the Commissioners would take the
dilemma by the horns and close up the Saloons
Sundays before the Grand jury mas hau % UNI me
to report an indictment. According 10 nln' the
Commissioners need only a spur to make them 90
their duty and the know edge that an Indictment
hangs over their heads Will produce me desired
effect In any case he said. the Union would
present evidence 10 the Grand Jury TO show that
not only the city ordinances, but also the stare
laws have been Yiolated and that they
have repeatedly called the attention OF the Com
missioners 10 the violations. The protests which
the Union has from time TO time made TO the
Commissioners. with the famous IePiy oi tic i''
ter, will be submitted
THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FAIR.
The Rev. II. Baker, pastor Of st. PauFs
Methodist Episcopal Church, who, by the way,
is not a member OF the Christian Citizenship
Union. said last evening: The instructions of
4. chi nd |
believe that the respectable element OF Newark
society will ndorse them. am sorry that such
an honorable and sincere man as Mayor i-eb-
kuecher has appointed men who fail TO see where
their duty lies. especially in regard 10 such an
important matter as the enforcement of the
excise laws. What will he the outcome of the
instructions ! cannot foretell but they snow
that Judge Depue has carefully considered the
situation. Enforcement Of the laws as they
exist is a different matter from fanauclsm, ana
/ think that l voice public sentiment when l
say that the people want a quiet, orderly:
Christian and dry Sunday. a number or
prominent business men expressed the same
view of the case.
The most Interested persons, of course, were
the Police Commissioners. When the news
spread that Judge Depue mad pracucaiIy asked
the Grand Jury to bring an indictment against
them they gathered. in an Informal way, in
their room in Police Headquarters and dis
cussed the matter briefly. To those who in
ouired what had transpred at the meeting they
answered that they had enforced all the laws
as fer they knew, and had never refused to
enforce any law.
Section $50, of the Revised Ordinances Of the
City of Newark forbds the sale or offering for
sale Of liquors on Sunday under penalty OF a
fine Of SO or Imprisonment for four days
JERSEY CITY AND HOBOKEN. TOO.
JUDGE LIPPINCOTT TELLS THE HUDSON COUNTY
GRAND JURY TO FIND INDICTMENTS AGAINST
OFFICIALS WHO WINK AT VIOLATIONS OF
THE LAw-MANy HEADS IN DANGER.