The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-25
SEVERITY FOR SOLOMON
The Policy Dealer SEN
fenced to Two Years in
State Prison and
5000 Fine.
EXTREME PENALTY OF THE LAW
Judge Hudspeth's Scathing Re-
buke-No Possible Ground for
Mercy-Appeal and Stay.

James Solomon, the convicted policy
king, was sentenced by Judge Hudspeth
today to the extreme penalty of the law,
two years at hard labor in State Prison
and $500 fine. Lawyer Norman L. Rowe
applied for a writ of error at once and it
was granted, as matter of course, the
Court having no option in the matter.
Bail pending the result of the appeal was
fixed at 5000 and a bond was furnished
by James Coyle.
Before pronouncing sentence, Judge
HNdspeth said;-
Solomon, jury in this court has con-
victed you of having been engaged in lot
terry policy. ] consider the conviction
one5of the most important which has been
had In this county 'for1many years. It is
far reaching, in It's consequences, and I
trust 1t will be for the general good of
the community. 1t hassstruck a blow at
this observation-disclosures from which it will
take a long time TO recover. This court
has been following practices, of this char
acter unrelentingly for years. The Court
feels. Solomon, that you must have known
that retribute justice would surely find
you out sooner or later. 1t has been a
mater of common rurnor for years that
you were engaged in this business; In
fact, that you were a principal. Time
and time again your employees have been
convicted and sentenced in this Court,
and they have borne their punishment
unf1mchingly. They were so loyal to
you that they would not betray you. The
Court knows of one instance In which you
supported the family of one of your en-
ployes while he was undergoing his pun
tshment and when be completed his
term you took him bach in to your en-
plsa,yi s,yt ! no4 noo.ss. :, go ~ -, +n.+
this business In which you were engaged
There is no crime in the calendar meaner,
or lower, or more despicable.
The purpose of the business is to rob
the poor and that purpose must certainly
would not flourish as 1t does For years
munity. Jersey city has been known far
and wide as the head centre of the policy
cism throughout the entire country and
nothing has caused the finger of sus-
picidn to be pointed at our public. officials
SO. much as this. Nothing has been so
ticular business. It was broadly limited
at your TRIAL that all that was needed
was protection. That, means that the
business could flourish If 1T received pro-
toCtlOn from puDlic Ou1claIS. what a
shocking state of affairs this is indeed
7 have been approached by a large
number of persons in your behalf. Promi-
nent citizens, members of secret organi-
cations and business men have interceded
for you. 1t has been said that you are a
most charitable man, that your purse
was always open to the poor and needy
That may all be true and it excites pity in
the mind of the Court that such a man
as you. possessing such characteristics,
should be connected with such despicable
business. But the Court must pursue it's
purpose. That purpose is to see that this
business must be extirpated. It's dooms-
day is reached. The law will not be put
at defiance by such people as you. You
have been warned time and again that
If you were caught your punishment
would be most severe The Court sees
no reason why the full penalty of the
law should not be imposed
Sentence was then pronounced.