The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-21
A SPEEDY TRIAL.
mphatic Demand of the
Defendants in the
Noonan- Simpson
Case.
ALL IN ERwlN's HANDS, NOW
Little Prospect Of the Case
Being Reached Earlier
Than April.
PIDGEoy IS INDICTED
Bar Association Committee Once
Again Postpones Action
Towards Disbarment.

The Noonan-Simpson trial and the fias-
co with which it ended still constitute the
absorbing topic of conversation in ana
around the Court House. General regret
is expressed that some definite conclusion
was not reached, and the defendants re-
lieyed from suspense. The majority OF
people who discuss the subject think II
remarkably strange that the jury should
have hesitated for any length OF time
about vindicating the defendants from
charges made by two such individuals as
Beck and Pidgeon, hired by a yellow
journal to induce men to commit crime.
Pidgeon has been indicted by the Grand
Jury for perjury, and it is probable that
some of the other conspirators will also
be indicted On Saturday the Journal
in its malevolence and grievous disap-
pointment at being unable to convict the
defendants, stated that the arrest of ST.
mon Buttner, the associate of Beck and
Pidgeon. in New York on a charge of re-
ceiving stolen goods, was a sput-up job"
According to the stories printed in the
New York papers, the charge against
Buttner is that he has been receiving the
goods stolen from Wanamaker's by
confidential clerk for nearly two years,
to steal the goods. If it was a put-up-job
Buttner apparently put it up on himself.
Noonan and Simpson and their counsel
are more than anxious to have new
trial at once or just as speedily as the
machinery of the courts will permit.
Former Judge Thomas F. Noonan said
this morning that an application will be
made at the very first opportunity to
have date fixed for trial. Justice Lip
pincott was in Trenton today and will be
there all the week. He will not sit in
court here until next Saturday. Judge
Noonan went to Trenton today on some
other business and will have consulta-
ton with Justice Lippincott there. 1t has
been suggested that Justice Lippincott
might be excused from his engagements
in the Supreme Court in order to try the
case again, at once. Another suggestion
made is that the case could be handed
down to the General Sessions and there
by hasten the trial. Judge Hudspeth said
this morning that it could be handed
down to the General Sessions, but he does
not think that taking such course
would hasten matters to any great ex-
tent
A News" reporter asked Assistant
Prosecutor Klink today if there is any
probability of the case being moved be-
.-vre the April term. Mr.. Klink said that
the matter is now in the hands of Prose
cutor Erwin. The reporter then ques-
toned the Prosecutor on the subject.
II have just assumed Office" said
Prosecutor Erwin, land have not made
up my mind about anything, as have not
had time to yfamiliarize myself with any
of the business of the Office. I will look
into the matter and come to some con-
clusion probably about the middle of this
week.
The secret of how the jury stood is evil
IDENTIFY being carefully guarded by the
jurors as no positive information can be
obtained on the subject
The special committee of the Bar AS
sociation appointed to consider the Alex
ander Simpson and ex-Assistant Prosecu-
tor Joseph NJ. Noonan case, met Saturday
in the office of Washington B. Williams
to hear what Messrs. Simpson and Moo
nan had to say in regard to the charges
brought against them. A message was
received from Mr.. Noonan stating that he
was too ill to appear and asking for an
adjournment. The committee according
ly postponed the hearing to Wednesday.
Judge Garretson said this morning that
he did not know whether his connection
with the case was ended. He had had no
consultation with anyone, nor spoken to
anyone about the matter since the trial
ended, and he could not say whether the
indictment would be tried again or not.