The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-13
BARRED FROM
THE BAR
Judges Lippincott and Hud-
speth Suspend Joseph M.
Noonan and Alec
Simpson.
JOURNALS CORRUPTION CHARGE
Assistant Prosecutor Retires
and William NJ. Klink Is
Named in His Place.
WINFIELD BROKEN DOWN
His Voice Hardly Audible When
lie Appears in the Bockow-
ski Case.
FIVE YEARS FOR TIE POLE
Sad and Impressive Scene in she
Court of sessIoms-Protest
of the Accused.
FIVE YEARS FOR THE POLE

Ihere was an Impressive scene III lne
General Sessions Court today when Judge
Hudspeth announced that he would call
the attention of the Grand Jury and the
Bar Association to certain charges printed
in the Journal on Saturday against
Assistant Prosecutor Noonan and Lawyer
Alexander Simpson. and made an order
prohibiting Mr. Simpson from practicing
in the court until the charges were clear
ed up. Mr.. Simpson protested against the
action of the court. He said it has never
been known in the English law that a
man had been condemned without a hear
ing.
The trouble all hinges about the case
of Nicodine Bockowsl, a Pole, who was
accused of retaining money entrusted to
him by some of his countrymen to send to
relatives in Poland. He was indicted for
grand larceny and pleaded guilty. The
Journal, charges that thet Assistant
Prosecutor and Mr.. Simpson entered into
a conspiracy to have the man released
for consideration.
On Friday Mr. Simpson made applica-
tion to Judge Hudspeth to permit Book
owski to withdraw his plea, because if he
was guilty of anything itswas enibezzle-
ment and he did not understand that he
was pleading guilty of grand larceny.
Judge Hudspeth reserved decision until
this morning. The Journals charges
were printed the following day.
About 80 this morning Judge Hud-
speth ordered Bockowski brought into
court Then he sent Constable Budden
downstairs to request Prosecutor Winfield
to attend the Court and bring the papers
in the Bockowski case with him. In a few
minutes Mr. Winfield walked into court
followed by Mr.. Noonan and Mr.. Simpson.
Mr. Winfield looked quite feeble and is
evidently very sick man. He sank down
in a chair
sfMay it please the Court said Mr..
Simpson, ST desire the services of an in
terpreter so that 1 may be able to COM
municate with my client, and make him
understand the situation"
'fDo you appear in the Bockowski case?"
asked Judge Hudspeth.
81 do.''
'Then 1 won't hear you, you may sit
down, Mr.. Simpson
Judge Hudspeth asked Mr.. Winfield if
he had the papers. Mr.. Winfield said he
had the papers and the receipt for the
money on which the Indictment was
found. Judge Hudspeth asked Lawyer
James D. Manning, who was Bockowski's S
original counsel, If he had filed an affi-
davit in the case. Mr.. Manning said he
had not. He had prepared an affidavit
but Bockowsk refused to sign it. Mr..
Manning asked the permission of the
Court to prepare an affidavit and have his
client sign it when he was made to un-
derstand the nature of it.
1oy1st 7ir1lx 10 nj
said Mr. Manning. 'tIt was entered in
the absence of his counsel, and he did
not understand what he was pleading to-.
Grand larceny and embezzlement are
synonymous in the Polish language
.'What has the Prosecutor to say?"
asked the court.
81 think the defendant ought not to be
allowed to withdraw his plea" replied
Mr.. Winfield. 1.-THE State would find
great difficulty in convicting him of en-
bezzlement. We could not bring wit
nesses here from Poland
Mr. Naming read an affidavit setting
forth that Boskowski had pleaded in the
absence of his counsel and did not un-
derstand what he was pleading to-"
'If he thought he was pleading guilty
of embezzlement," remarked Mr.. Win
field, 'she ought to be punished for that.
He might apply for trial in the Special
Sessions and then plead guilty. He
evidently realizes that he is guilty of
something
Mr. Manning consulted his client, with
the assistance of an interpreter, and re-
ported that Bockowsld would not consent
to that proposition.
when the man was arraigned." said
Judge Hudspeth, the nature of the
charge was explained to him. At the time
the plea was taken his counsel was not
in court. The case was put off for week
and when he was brought into court last
Friday Mr.. Noonan was present. 1 allowed
the case to go over until today but said
because this is the last day of the term.
I have suggested to the Prosecutor and
the Prosecutor agrees with me that it
would be unsafe to allow this man to re-
tract his plea. Since then my conclusion
has been confirmed The Court may be
doing this defendant an injustice, but
have no alternative than TO deny the mo-
ton. The Court directs and insists that
the plea shall stand
II desire to know where I stand said
Mr.. Simpson. do I understand that the
Court will not allow me to appear in
this case at all?
Judge Hudspeth nodded an affirmative
reply.
an entry be made Of it on the record. "
I will make a statement very soon.
your seat
Mr.. Manning told Judge Hudspeth that
some of the money had been returned.
Judge Hudspeth said that that would be
taken into consideration, but that he