The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-07-06
MURRAY ON TRIAL
Patrolman, Accused Of the
Baker Assault, Before
Police Board Last
Night.
COHPLAINANTS REPEAT TIES TIMONY
Counsellor Speer's Intellectual
Plea for Dismissal of Case
Which Continues
Tomorrow.
1OMPLAINANTS REPEAT TIES TIMONY

The hearing in the case Of crimina
ASSAULT against Police James Murray, Of
the Oakland avenue station, attracted a
large crowd at the meeting of the Police
Commissioners. last night. The stuffy
little room was SO Intensely hot that it
was unbearable. Miss Josephine Baker.
the complaining witness tainted several
times in consequence of the intense heat,
during the testimony. The commission
ers and many OF those present were kept
busy wiping the Precipitation from their
faces during the exhaustive hearing.
When President McGi1l called Murray's
name, Murray walked up to the desk and
asked for an adjournment of the case in
order that he could secure more witnesses.
The Board refused the request as 1t had
all the witnesses for the prosecution
present and ordered the hearing to go on.
On the Boards refusal to grant an
adjournment, Murray turned around and
walked out of the room.
Counsellor William Speer jumped to his
feet informed the Board that he rep
resented Murray in the case, and again
asked the Board for an adjournment, as
his client was suffering from nervous ex-
element. and added that his principal witt
ness was confined in the County jail on
some trivial charge. Continuing Counselor
Speer said that Murray had been tried on
the charges by a competent judge, and
was acquitted. The papers In the case
were merely sent tothe Grand Jury on the
request Of the Proecutor Of the Pleas in
order that a record of the case might be
kept and not for action of this body.
President McGil replied to Counselor
McGil as follows
s.This case is not a question for the
criminal courts to decide, but it Is the
duty Of the Police Commissioners to in
vestigate Thoroughly Murray's conduct as
a police officer.
Counselor Speer said the charges were
only preferred against his client on Sat
urday night, and he had not had time TO
prepare his case properly. because two
holidays interviewed.
President McGill at this point ordered
the testimony of the prosecution to go on.
Commissioner West declared that he did
not like Murray's action in walking out Of
the room ana entirely ignoring the Com
missioners.
Counselor Speer excused his client by
informing the Board that Murray was
sick and is in no condition to defend the
case.
president Mccfll then asserted that. he
was Of the same impression as Commits
sioner wet Ha said he did not like
,f,,rra. - ao4ion and was about 10 dismiss
him from the force when Chief Murphy
informed the Roardt that Murray could not
81 d3sm,ssed without j trial. After or.
darine police SURGEON Nevin ia examine
49, IA 1o.rn tba na+,,ra ~ his sick-
rass 10 e.sa vas ordered IL = an.
NT,rrau,s nara mas called three times
- ~ Ala ra+ answar This faet uas or
da,aa n1acoa IL 1000
ro~oahina parar ia xa,,no usoman on
han, ~ ai,agaa assa,,it vas committed
80 aa1,aa 5, r. uftness ebafr and SWORN
cbe rabearsad IN datail the testimony that
bas alraadv annaarad II nr;nt she told
bow sba was seated IN . larea Stone win
Max Knaar ~ Eranklvn street when thr
ofaesr annroacbad Kneer sot I'M ana ran
away. The offIcer placed her under ar
rest and walked a short distance with her,
uban- 10 threw ber e tbe ground and as
san,tad ha~ Tba of8cer tban went awav
,r,ss palsar said sba then renortea the
matter 70 her friends and then visited the
nolice station. she said that the reason
sbs Ala not rive her right name was be-
eauss she feared tbe nublisation of the
oasa Is tbe paners. clara Cade and
1ossoh rannon aceomnaniea ber ta the
aa1lana svsn,,a station Miss Raker said
49, sha ~ M racogniza N,,rrav q
49, na,;oa aMcor wbo eam,n;ffed The a.
sas,,f n,hs,a = the station sbe was not
sure Of him as being the man until she
saw his features when outside the Dulid-