The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-05-25
NICE REFORM LANGUAGE.
Amusing Trial in Court To-
day for False I'M
prisonment.

The suit of William r. Lawlor against
Councilmen Edward e. Stinson and AL
fred Davis of Bayonne to recover $4,000
damages for false Imprisonment is still
on in the Circuit Court before Judge
Nevius and jury. The testimony taken
thus far has developed the fact that the
plaintiff is reformer of very acute
order-a reformer from way back Some
people in Bayonne, especially those who
refuse to be reformed by Mr.. Lawlor's $
methods, call him a crank; but there
never was a reformer yet who did not
have enemies.
The difficulty out of which the> present
suit originated occurred at a meeting of
the Council on June is. 1896. Mr.. Lawlor
had devised some new reform and had
submitted a petition to the Council in
connection with it, Clerk Hamilton failed
to read the petition at the proper time.
That was a slight which even an ordinary
| reformer would not submit to, so Mr..
Lawlor STROBE up to the clerks desk and
demanded to be informed why the petition
had not been read. Clerk Hamilton in
formed him that it was necessary to
have it endorsed by one or more of the
| Councilmen.
Mr.. Lawlor began at once to deliver a
powerful harangue on the right of every
citizen, right for which our forefathers
fought, bled and died. a right guaranteed
| by the Constitution of the State of New
Jersey and of the United States.
| The chairman raped his gavel and
called Mr.. Lawlor to order, but that only
| inspired Mr.. Lawlor to further oratorical
effort. In few minutes the Council
| Chamber was in an uproar. Everybody
was shouting and trying to talk at the
| same time and it was impossible to trans
act business. Finally Councilman Stin-
| son, assisted by Councilman Smith, took
! the reformer down stairs and turned him
over to the sergeant of police in head
| quarters. 1t is for this indignity and
humiliation that he wants $4,000
| Anton Hirschner was an interesting wit
| ness yesterday afternoon. He is a mild
hammered gentleman and the exciting
| scenes in the Council Chamber must have
upset his nervous system. He testified
that he saw Stinson and Lawlor talking
| to each other and he heard Mr.. Lawloi
use some very improper language.
What did he say?" asked ex-Judge
| Noonan, counsel for the defendants.
Il wouldn't like to repeat his language" "
replied the witness.
| Never mind that said Judge Noonan
| tell US what he said. "
He said that Mr.. Stinson was a cow
ard. liar and sneak
Did Lawlor say anything to you?"
Yes, sir; he used some very improper
/ language to me, too.''
what did he say to you?''
''Oh. couldn't tell you" replied Mr..
Hirschner. with look of horror on his
/ face.
But you must tell u.s. said Mr. Moo
| nan. Come. now. give lis his exact Ian
guage as near as you can
The witness hesitated and looked ap-
/ Pealingly at Judge NeviuS, but got nc
relief from that source. He twirled his
thumbs. and looked solemn. Then he
/ laughed softly as if something humorous
| had struck him.
What did Lawlor say to your" in q
US the exact phraseology as near as you
1 can recollect it,
HE called me a burned fopI,' said the
witness, in a low tone, evidently ashamed
| to be obliged to repeat such reprehensi.
| bic. language
Did he say anything else?"
.iHe told me to go ito nell.''
Anything else?''
| Yes, he pushed me away
Emmett Smith, City Surveyor of Bay.
| oEne testified that he was at the meet.
ing of the Council and saw Lawlor there
| Lawlor was at the Clerks desk and max
ing a great deal, of noise. He was pro.
read. Councilman Stinson told Lawlol
| that the Clerk was right, and Lawlol
| called Stinson coward, a liar and
sneak
The trial was delayed this morning be-
Filon-o' Brien libel case in the Genera
| Sessions Court. Warren Dixon ds com.
sci for the plaintiff.