The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-24
Gossip and the Grand Jury.

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questions.
Gossip and the Grand Jury.
Judge Lippincott called a halt yesterday
upon the reckless talk about indictments,
which has been mixed up with the politi-
cal gossip of this city for some months
past. He said
The evidence upon which you indict
should be sufficient to convince you Oh the
guilt of the party indicted You are In
no wise to find indictments or make pre-
sentiments upon public rumor, or because
of the expression Of pu6hc opini9n aou
fcrmarce of your duty by any criticism
from any source whatever, nor because
of its character. The evidence pre-
sented to you is the only thing which
Under your oaths can serve as a guide
TO your conclusion, and by that evidence
you are bound in the discharge OF. the
duties imposed Upon you. ] say this to
YOU at this time to encourage you in the
exercise of independence under your
oaths in all matters before you, and not
because there Is the slightest want OF
confidence in you in the mind of the
Court.
Efforts have been made here of late
to create a sort of reign of terror by
threats Of Indictment. Sheriff Toffey's
regime was largely responsible for this.
The last couple of Grand Juries drawn by
that worthy, were regarded as Of very
remarkable composition. Rumors were
circulated tha through their instrument
talfty the Colonel was to get square with
his enemies here, there and everywhere.
and that he was going to play a large
sized part in the political campaign.
The rumors were never realized, but as
the Sheriff never took the trouble to
contradict them or to condemn the mis-
use of his Office which was to be inferred
II they were true, many people still
think that the purpose existed all right
enough, but the courage was lacking to
carry it out.
As soon as Sheriff Heller went into Office
the rumors began again. The habit of
guessing about the Grand Jury had be-
come too strong to be resisted. When the
first panel was drawn, people affected to
see something significant in its compost
ton. h rumors began again. They
clustered, this time, about Mr.. Frank o.
Cole. and they at last reached a point
which was offensive to all sense of de-
cency. 1t was time tina the Court drew
attention to the abuse. 1t was time that
the gossip should be stopped. It was
time that threats of "fee TO fun" de-
ption SHOULD be made ridiculous by
"a pain, cool statement of the law.
The foreman of the present Grand Jury
is a gentleman with a great deal of vocal
power. He is. in his private capacity, a
specialist in fault-f1nding, and even since
his selection to his present important
great rate, upon municipal abuses. real
or alleged. For instance, he has been
more than conspicuous in the effort which
the Board of Trade is now making to
usltrp the functions of the city authori-
ties and decide the Water Question on
the Tooley street plan. Considering Mr..
Coles volubdlity, 1t is not strange that
rumor has followed him into the Grand
Jury room. and that mods and winks and
hints n innuendos are scattered around
in conversation and by the gobe-mouche
New York papers. regardless of the pro-
prietses Of the Grand Inquest, foremost OF
which. as Judge Lippincott points out, is
absolute secrecy.
If Mr.. Cole would stop talking and
climb down off that Board of Trade
Committee, the tone Of public feeling
would probably be much more decent
Besides. whatever the Grand Jury may
then do, If 1T does anything, Will com
mand more respect. Politics by indict,
ment or resentment is a pretty pool
sort of thing. What we have of it nov
is a relic from one freak Republican
Sheriff. The sooner we get rid of it ths
better.