The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-12
EEx I R A |!
REPUD|ATEO,
Chairman Gledhil1 Resents
the Journals" Inter-
ference With the In
yestigating Com
mittee.
NO STAR CHAMBER WORK
Proceedings, He Says, Will Be
Fair to Every One
Interested.
Camden County's Affairs Will Be
Enquired Into as Well as
Those OF Hudson.

A few days ago the Evening journal
published an editorial in which it specifi-
ca1ly stated that the committee appointed
by the Assembly to investigate alleged
corruption in Hudson county would sit
behind closed doors and take testimony
privately SO that any man who had some
old score to pay off against any Demo-
crat could steal in before the committee,
give his testimony and then sneak away
without anyone but those in the room
knowing who he was.
That this statement was entirely graf
uitous upon the part of the journal and
shameless attempt on the part of that
disreputable sheet to bulldoze the commit
tee into taking such course in order that
the journal" could get out of the hole
into which it's unnatural appetite for SEN
sational scandal had dragged itself and its
party was amply Illustrated today. Henry
W. Gledhill, Chairman of the Investigat-
ing Committee completely repudiated the
Journals editorial this morning.
A reporter for 1.-THE Jersey City News
called upon Mr. Gledhill this morning at
his Office in Paterson and showed him a
copy of the Evening Journals" editorial
Mr.. Gledhill read it through carefully
thought while and then said:-"You can
say that the proceedings of the Investi-
eating Committee which proposes to visit
Hudson county in compliance with the Dir
rection of the House of Assembly, will not
be of the nature of star chamber. No
one will be afforded by the proceedings of
that committee an opportunity to get
square with some one against whom he
may have grudge and then sneak away.
Every witness will be placed in such
position that he cannot escape the respon-
sibility of his testimony.
LAS far as the rules which will govern
the proceedings of the committee are
concerned, the committee has not as yet
considered them, but you can say that
the witnesses will be examined in pub
lic 1t might possibly be that the COM
papers and everything of that nature
connected with some of the county of
fees and that examination will necessari-
ly partake somewhat of a private nature.
You can also say, emphatically, That
this committee proposes to be absolutely
fair with every one and will take no
steps which will prejudice or tend to
prejudice any person against whom any
allegations may be or have been made
The committee proposes to conduct the
investigation ON the strict lines OF JUS
tice.
WAS the Journals" editorial printed
on the authority of any member of the
committee Mr.. Gledhill?" asked the re-
porter.
81 do not know further than it was not
on my authority" was Mr.. GledhilPs re-
ply.
When do you propose to get to work
Mr. Gledhll?"
when will the trial of Messrs. Simpson
and Noonan end?" was Mr.. Gledhill's
significant answer by way of another
question. Is
"Will the committee secure any addition
al counsel to Mr.. McCarter?" was the
next question.
1.-THE matter of counsel has not yet been
finally disposed Of" was the chairman's $
-committal reply.
Members of the committee have had sew
eral private meetings of late with its
counsel, Robert McCarter of Newark and
have discussed with him plans for their
guidance When they finally get to work.
There is no doubt that they do not intend
to come to Hudson until the Noonan-
Simpson case is out of the way One
committee will probably have meeting in
Trenton next week and should verdict
be reached in the Neonan-Simpson case in
the early part of the week, it would not
surprise many if the investigators ap-
peared during the latter part of next week
and arranged for steady work.
1t is certain that the committee will vis-
it Camden.
Mr. Ebert Rappleye, the managing ed
itor of the Journal" and presumably
the author of the editorial, was inform
ed today by a News" reporter of Mr..
Gledhill's denial IF the committees in
tention of holding star chamber sessions.
He was asked upon what authority the
editorial was based.
ssOh. / don't care to discuss the mat
ter, he answered as he turned away to
Join a gentleman with whom he had
been lunching. Much Obliged to you, I
he added, courteously, as he turned be-
fore walking away