The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-13
NOW ON TRIAL.
Pearson, Datz and Burke
Have Their ieag De-
sired Cnance for
Vindication.
JURY EASILY SECURED
They Are Defended by Able Counsel
Court Room Crowded With
Interested Spectators.

The General Sessions Court was crowd
ed this morning as 1t has not been crowd
ed in some time, the attraction being
the trial of City Hall Commissioners
Pearson, Datz and Burke for malfeas-
ance. The attraction was strong enough
to even bring William Plimley, the re-
form Commissions of Jurors in New
York, from that city. COMMISSIONS
Plimley. who is a warm personal friend
OF Commissioner Datz, probably came
overFto give defence some points in the
matter of selecting a jury.
There were many notable reformers in
court. City Treasurer Samuel D. Dick
inson, Sheriff John j. Toffey, Mayor
Fagan5of Hoboken were included in the
list. The defendants were on hand early
with their counsel, and a brilliant array
OF counsel it is. Allan T.. McDermott
appeared for Commissioners Burke, ex-
Judge Hoffman for Commissioner Datz,
and Mr.. Thompson of Dickinson, Thomp-
son & McMaster. for COMMISSIONS Pear
son.
Inspector William ID. Tallman was
present. wearing a nice, well-groomed,
new brown wig, which had only one
defect. It was not long enough in athe
back to, hide his grey hair. Architect
Broome was in court, but will not be tried
until some future day. Lawyer vreden-
burgh, his counsel, was present However,
Keeping track of the proceedings.
The Indictment of the Commission and
Architect Broome was brought about
through IN Examination made by Robert
Maynicke, an expert architect, of No.
Ill Fifth avenue New York, who was
engaged by the Grand Jury of the April
term, 1895. of which William W.. Coffin
was foreman. The jury, just before be-
Ing discharged on September 6, submit
ted the experts report, which filled fifty
expert ound defects in every part Of the
6ulld1ng. Tbs work had been improperly
done. inferior material. had been used
loved. The specifications themselves
were ere defective IN many Instances.
temper term with a strong charge that
i the experts statements were well
y,p 5oraeed sb indtetm ge11tu of IT the responsible
held the matter under consideration I'M
IL dan The close Of its term and then pre-
influence had been brought to bear to
have. the cases thrown out. The Com
missioners have been anxious to have
missioner Datz W was ssi par as nlaSII10ie an Gomz
because under the law creating the new
Commission which now has charge of
q member and custodian. M Ma appV Wana
ser has appointed him, Corporation
Counsel Blair having decided that the
Mr.. Blairs opinion the appointment
would have been held back until after
case at eleven o'clock. A Jury was Sc
iected without difficulty, only four chal-
leenges being entered. The Assistant
the defendants We're indicted for mis-
conduct in office: They were appointed
IN June, 1890, and served until their terms
failed to do the work they were REQUIRED
t to doi an rnf fys tailed a1@ to- to require the con
WORK properly, or furnish the material
called for by the specifications. Through
dnelr neglect the city has been ~defrauded
$500 = nnoney' some
Prosecutor Winfield then took hold of the
the Commission, was cailed as the first
witness. He testified to the different
payments made to Richard English. the
On cross-examination the witness said
tnal the payments Were made on the GER
Illcate OF Lewis Fl. Broome. the architect.
He described the manner of
The architects certificates were submitted
10 the board. and resolutions passed or
crossing the resolutions in the resolution
BOOK. submitted them to Mayor Wanser.
VINO approved of them and attached his
signature. The warrants Were drawn
for the various amour and signed by the
lily Clerk, the Mayor. Comptroller and
Colonel Samuel D. Dickinson, City
treasurer. testified that the money, was
paid and produced the cancelled war
rants. Mr. Winfield offered the archi-
tects certificates in evidence and they
were admitted without objection. The
with English and it was admitted. The
contract price was 1926, 4O6. The reading
OF the contract and specification occu-
pied about half an hour.
Clerk Farrell was recalled and suh-
mitted the plans. They were admitted
in evidence.
Mr.. Winfield asked him if any. altera-
ness read from the minute book that a
change was made to satisfy the Fire
Of New York. On Decem-
from the specifications, was ordered. The
witness got in a bit of evidence for the
defence when he read from the minute
book that the Commissioners on Janu-
airy. rs directed the clerk to notify the
architect that imperfect glazed bricks
had been used and directing the archi-
tect to instruct Contractor English to re-
were ordered made in the Offices Set
apart for the Mayor. CITY Clerk and
Tax Commissioners, respectively. on Nav
~, 1879. Contractor English was again
perfect glazed brick.
G~ross-examined by Mr.. McDermott the
Witness testified that Contractor Eng
Lewis II. Broome was the next wit
ness called and was on the stand at re-
cess.