The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-25
BOTH SIDES ON TRIAL.
Filon's Political Fidelity the
Issue in the 0'Brien
Libel Suit.


Editor John T. O'Brien's alleged libel on
Martin Filon or Mr.. Filon's fidelity to
the Democratic party is the more i'm
portant issue in the trial of Mr.. OBfien
which is in progress in the General Ses-
sions Court A number of witnesses were
| called yesterday afternoon, to show that
O'Brien had declared on numerous oc-
casions that he would drive Filon out of
politics. All the witnesses agreed that
to be referred to as a political traitor, a
Benedict Arnold and Mixed Ale Boss,
was dreadful thing.
Freeholder Groth testified that the
defendant said to him that his contro-
versy with Filon was a contest of brains
against chaff. James S. Morgan testified
that he considered the reference to Bene-
dict Arnold in connection with Filon as
| a figure of speech.
"If O'Brien referred to him as Jack the
Ripper, would you consider that figure
of speech?" asked Assistant Prosecutor
| Noonan.
Eyes, sir,'' replied Mr. Morgan.
| The State rested with the testimony of
! Mr.. Filon that he is married and has lived
in the Town of Union for a great many
years. Copies of the Despatch were adj
mitted in evidence.
| Lawyer William H Corbin, in his open
| ing for the defence said that testimony
would be produced to show that Filon,
| who is political leader in Union Hill,
| has never been loyal to his party and
was therefore proper subject for politi-
! cal criticism. Filon has betrayed his
party. at every election for years. A num-
| Der of witnesses were called and testified
! that at the spring elections of 1891, 1893
and 1895, FHilon had urged them to vote
| against the Democratic ticket or some
! candidate on it, an to vote for some Re-
| publican candidate. In 1891, Filon OPP
posed Rottman, the Democratic candi-
date for Councilman, and supported Mer-
ritt, the Republican candidate At the
next election he supported Merritt against
Ruh, the Democratic candidate.
Councilman George Mccarthy and Po-
/ lice Sergeant Kruger testified that Filon
asked them to vote for Republicans. At
the spring election in 1898 Filon requested
Kruger to vote for Schwartz, the Repub-
| lican candidate for Freeholder and OPP
pose Dennis M. Noonan. Later he learned
that Filon was trying to have him re-
moved from the police force.
Ex-Judge Hoffman objected to the line
pursued by Mr.. Corbin, but Judge Ffud-
| speth said he would allow the widest
| latitude
Denis M. Noonan, who ran for Freehol-
der and Richard Francois, defeated
candidate for Assembly, attributed their
defeat to Filons treachery Francois
said that Filon's opposition to him was
because he had not come to his saloon to
| see him. Francois testified that Simon
Kelly had warned him to keep away from
| F'ilon.
Did you follow simon's advice?" asked
Il don't think I did," replied the wit
ness.
John Furey. little Irish blacksmith,
titled that he had known Martin Filon
for fwenty-seven years.
! What are your politics?' asked Mr.
Corbin.
I'm Democrat all the way through .
| " nat IS Martin f,ilon's reputation for
hdelity to his party?''
| HE used to be straight. but he hasn't
been for some time back. He had a
fayorite friend on the Republican ticket
and aI,i ne asked me to vote for him.
DID you vote for him?''
Il did not, ] couldn't tolerate him so
went into the little box and fixed up
my vote according to my own conscience.
but did vote for him. He asked me to
vote for Schwartz who was running on
| the republican ticket for Freeholder but
l didn't. I'm too good a Democrat
The same kind of testimony was given
this morning. All the Union Hill states
men who are opposed to Filon went on
| the stand and testified that his reputa-
tion for fidelity to his party was bad. He
was never straight all the way through.
Assistant Prosecutor Noonan had some
fun with ex-Recorder Louis Hanenstein
i who testified that Filon's reputation for
political fidelity was bad.
You're a good Democrat?' said Mr.
Noonan.
''Yes, SIR
You ran on an Independent ticket for
Sheriff. didn't your
Yes, sir
YOU were also an Independent candi-
1 Yes, sir
DO you think that affected your repu-
tation for loyalty to your party?
The witness hesitated and finally said
he did not think it did.
Mr.. o Brien was on the stand before re-
cess and testified that his criticisms OF
MT: Filon were in the interest of pure