New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-17
LOWER BAIL FOR REINER.
JUDGE VAN SYCKEL REDUCES THE EDITORS
BOND BY MORE THAN HALF.

BOND BY MORE THAN HALF.
Trenton, March IS (SpeclaD.-Dr. John Max Reiner
Editor of THE Elizabeth Herald" against whom
there are twenty-six charges OF libel.ing Mayor
Rankin. OF Elizabeth. was brought here this MORN
Ing from the Union County Jail on writ Of habeas
corpus. procured by his counsel last week. on an
application for the reduction Of bail Dr. Rener
has been In Jail several days owing 10 his inability
TO furnish the $1,000 bali for his appearance at
court which the Elizabeth justice demanded.
j. p Powers and Messrs. Mehan and Steele, OF
Elizabeth, his counsel Informed Justice Van Sycke.
who had granted the writ OF habeas corpus, that
Reiner was a prosecuted man. Mr. Powers de-
ciared that he the victim Of conspiracy to de-
prtve him Of opportunity TO prove his innocence
Of the charges against him. He declared that the
bail fixed by the Elizabeth Justice was excessive
and Insisted that 1t placed at the high figure OF
$4,000 by the Justice with the full knowledge that
the editor could not furnish that amount. Then
the lawyer took up the charges against Reiner. lie
said that the batch OF twenty-six indictments were
a.. based upon a single publication. Nine of the
alleged bels were picked out Of single article
The article should have been taken as whole. as
st rghtfuy constituted only one libel. II libel at
ALL But the additional charges were made In order
20 pile I'D the counts and enable the justice 10
place the bali at high figure The article was
libelous on its appearance IL at AL and Mayor
Rankin could have caused the arrest Of Reiner at
once. Instead. ne waited. and then suddenly the
officers swept down upon the editorial sanctum and
Rener was marched publicly TO jail between Two
stalwart negroes.
Mr. Powers thought a reasonable bail would be
600 upon each Of the charges making $1,000 In ALL
Prosecutor Fred c. Marsh. Of Union County and
r. V. Lndabury appeared for the State to oppose
the motion to reduce the editors bail. The Prose-
cutor read extracts from THE Herald's" alleged
libcllous articles. and declared that the publica-
tions were Of such character as TO warrant the
high bail. He did not think that the bail too
high 10 insure the prisoners appearance, and no
hoped that the Court would not reduce 1t.
Justice Van Syckel said that he should look at
All sides Of the subject. and particularly at the
probable punishment In case Of a conviction Grave
charges had been made against honored public
ofFicals but, OF course II justification is shown at
the trial. the publisher is not guilty of libel. He
thought that the bail was too high. and would
therefore, reduce the total amount to $500 or 500
for each charge:
%Sehan declared that nearly everybody In Elizabeth
Was angered at the editor and were denouncng his
publications. , 49,. All, ,,
NOT aid his standing before the Court 1t Is un-
fortunate the Court remarked II Reiner has so
Conducted his newspaper as to bring down upon
him the reprobation OF the whole community. he
thoueht the ball fixed by him was reasonable and
refused to make a further reduction