The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-07
PRIMARIES In COURT
Hoboken's Warning Factions
Wrangled Last Night
Until Ten O'Clock.
NO DECISION BEFORE TOMORROW
Witness Who Didn't Know the
Difference Between Hoboken
Republicans and Democrats.
NO DECISION BEFORE TOMORROW

1t was after ten o'clock last night when
the hearing in the Hoboken primary cleo
ton cases was concluded. The hearing
was resumed at four F. M. AT $50 the
court took a recess for an hour and at
the end of that time the case went on
again. The Witnesses for the Pagan fac
ton swore positively that the second
primary in the Third precinct of the
Third ward, which was ordered by the
Executive Committee because of alleged
fraud at the first primary, was super
latively fair and honest. The opposing
witnesses swore that the primary was
notable chiefly for repeating, for Repub-
licans voting and for the Intimidation of
the election officers by the Pagan faction.
Justice Lippincott asked a witness at one
stage of the proceedings if there was any
difference between a Democrat and a Re-
publican in Hoboken and the witness in
nocently answered that he didn't know.
The Pagan forces were represented by
Senator DAILY. Corporation Attorney
James f. Minturn, John Fitzpatrick, who
wants his name printed on the official
ballot as candidate for Councilman, and
Councilman James Londrigan. a member
of the Mayors Cabinet. The people who
have rebelled against Mayor Fagan's die
tatorship We're represented by Lawyer
Leon Albeit and Michael ]. Coyle.
Daniel ONConnor, who acted as clerk in
the primary. was called by Senator DAILY.
He identified a book as the enrolment
book used at the primary. 1t was used
by order of the City Committee.
Councilman Londrigan testified that he
was present during the entire primary.
The book which had been produced was
an enrolment and registry book COM
bined. The witness brought it to the
primary.
1T has names of Republicans in it, has
it not?' asked Mr.. Albeit.
Il don't know who are Democrats and
who are Republicans" replied the Coun-
Gilman. Il don't know the politics of the
voters"
AS Londrigan is the leader of the Pagan
faction in the Third ward his profession
OF ignorance as TO the politics of the
voters naturally caused some surprise.
Lawyer Albeit questioned him sharply on
that point. but the witness, although he
had lived IN HODoken all his life and had
been a Councilman for two years, in
sisted that he did not know the politics
ofsphe voters.
James J. Kelly, who acted as Judge of
election, testified that he made a verbal
report to the City Committee when he
submitted the election returns.
What did you say?' asked Mr.. Albeit.
II said | signed the returns on the con-
dition that l Should have the privilege of
explaining to the City Committee how the
primary was conducted. | told the com
mittes that [ was afraid to refuse to
sign the returns because Of some things
that occurred there"
do you believe that the primary rep
resentedaa fair voter
mo, sir" replied the witness emphati-
cally; 4 can prove that it was not a
fair vote"
What happened at the primary that
caused you to make that statement to
the committee"
sSThe lights were turned out. Detective
Wsi1fthal and several other police officers
were in the place. Weinthal grabbed the
ballot box before / knew what had hap
pened. He had a club raised over my
head. I don't know whether he did any
thing with the box or not
sThis occurred before the primary was
concluded?" asked Justice Lippincott.
Yes, sir" replied the witness.
Then why did you go on with the
%count?''
Because II didn't want to have any
trouble. / was there to see that the pri-
mary was conducted in an orderly man
ner.''
The witness said he knew that some of
the men who came to vote Were not
Democrats. Councilman Londrigan was
in charge of the Pagan forces. The Coun-
Gilman would give the address of d voter
and when the voter was asked to speak
for himself, he would give a different adj
dress. That happened several times.
Jill "a II liO VIZ fOlCo O0dlQl I LGA4
where they lived.
And you took their votes?" asked JUS
tiee Lippincott.
II asked the inspector about them, and
he said he didn't know them, but to avoid
trouble we let them go"
If a vote was not challenged you had
no option but to let it go?" asked Mr..
Albeit.
Yes, that's it." replied the witness.
Under whose direction did you go to
Hoboken that night@' asked Justice Lip
pircott.
Under the direction of Robert Davis.
Chairman of the County Executive Com
mittee.'
John B. Larezzo,, a challenger at the
primary, testified hat he signed the re-
turn because he was inundated. He said
that the saloon was packed. He knew
that men voted there who were not enti-
tied to votes. He signed the returns be-
cause he desired to avoid trouble for him
self.
There was trouble in the saloon con-
tinued the witness. They were shouting,
Chuck them outi' Let us get at them!'
Chuck that avis maj out and Black
Jack, too!. | presume that | was referred
to as Black Jack"
Mr.. Albeit endeayored to prove by the
witness that there were Illegal votes cast.
but Justice Lippincott would not permit
You might produce a hundred witnesses
here he said, and take a great deal of
the courts time in ascertaining whether
they were Republicans or Democrats. You
would involve the court IN a controversy
that / do not care to go into. If you ex-
pect me to believe UGH testimony you
must think that the cour is very gulIible.
The court can't believe men who come
here and testify that they were intimi-
dated. They made no protest, but signed
the returns"
Joseph c. Clark, Secretary of the City
Executive Committee, testified that Mr..
Kelly reported to the committee on the
night of April /. On Mr.. Kelly's report
the committee decided to throw out the
vote of the Third precinct. The action
of the City Committee was opposed by the
EXECUTIVE Committee, which then organ
lied as a convention and nominated Mr..
Capelli.
Michael j. Coyle. Chairman of the City
Committee, testified that both sides were
given an opportunity to be heard, but the
Pagan faction made no defense to Mr..
Kelly's charge.
Councilman Londrigan was recalled
and testified that the primary was one of
the fairest he ever saw. File did not re-
member that Kelly the judge, was
pushed behind the bar to keep him out of