The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-17
SCOUNDRHLLY RECORDER
Simon Of Weehawken Gets a
Severe Snub in Judge Hud-
.speth's Court.

Recorder John J. Simon, of Weehawk-
en-, may not feel as happy today as he
did before he appeared in Judge Huds-
peth's court, yesterday, but he knows
more about law and practice and he also
knows hat if he should again exercise
his authority as a Magistrate, to get
square with somebody who has offended
him, his action will not be tolerated by
upper courts. +.
1t all came about through the Record
one James Ferrier, for disorderly con-
duct, and his commitment Of the man
to the County-J Jail for ninety days. Fer
rier is well known in Weehawken. He
is a deputy sheriff and does some news
paper work. In the latter capacity and
also as a citizen, Ferrier has taken oc-
casion to criticize Recorder Simon and
his methods. He went before the Town
Council of Weehawken and stated open
ly that Simon was untitled for the posi-
ton he held.
Recorder Simon stored all this up in his
capacious mind and bided his time. An
opportunity to get satisfaction for every
thing that Ferrier had done to him pre-
sented itself Unexpectedly last Tuesday
night. A row occurred in a saloon and
Ferrier, in his capacity as deputy ,sher-
if, tried to stop it. Chanceman William
DAILY. one of W~eehawken's Finest" look
ed through the screen door and saw Fer
rier fighting, as he supposed. The idea
does not seem to lave struck Mr.. DAILY
that as a police officer it was his duty
to go in and quell the disturbance. In
stead, he fastened to Recorder Simon
with the important Information that Fer
rier was fighting.
why idn't you arrest him? asked
the Recorder angrily and with evident
disappointment.
He's a deputy sheriff., replied DAILY,
"and I didn't want to arrest him.
Recorder Simon, being fertile in his
resources, sat down at his desk and
Terrier, charging him with assault and
battery on a man whose name Daily fur
nished, and also with disorderly CON
duct. Then he made Daily sign the COM
plant. The Recorder next made out a
warrant and gave it to Daily to serve.
In a few minutes DAILY had Terrier before
the Recorder as a prisoner. Terrier had
friends with him, who offered to give
bail. blu the Recorder refused to ac-
cept it. He was determined that justice
should be done and done speedily. He
opened court at once, although it was
nearly midnight, heard the testimony of
a couple of witnesses and ~adjudged Fer
rier guilty of disorderly conduct. A SEN
tence of ninety days in the County Jail
followed Immediately after the Judgment.
and Terrier was hurried off to the jail.
All these facts came out yesterday
when Lawyer Young made an application
to Justice L%ippineott for Terriers re-
lease. Recorder Simon was there with
his record. Mr.. Young said that Fer
rier was not permitted to testify in his
own behalf. but the Recorder denied
that. Judge ,Hudspeth read the record
and then said
MIR. Recorder, this defendant had the
right to be confronted with his accusers.
He had the right to be heard and to see
the complaint This record is barren of
facts, It contains nothing but your own
conclusions. This conviction is set aside
as being irregular and not in conformity
with the law; There is nothing here to
show why this. person should be held
and he is, therefore, discharged"
Terrier walked out Of court smiling,
but Recorder Simon didn't see anything
to smile at.