The Jersey City news., 1899-12-11
FAIR AND
FOUL
Wind Up Of the G. 0. P
Grand Jury Has Good
and Evil Features.
MODERATE PRESENTMENT
A Long Document, Much
Of Which Will Meet
With General
Approval.
POLITICAL INDICTMENT
Grossly Unjust attack Upon
the Present Board of
Freeholders.
HOBOKEN'S ROTTEN PRESS
BlackmaiI and Plumber Hold
Sway In Our Sister
City.
ARGUMENTS FOR CONSOLIDATION
Present System of County Govern
ment Is Cumbersome and
Extravagant.
HOBOKEN'S ROTTEN PRESS
BlackmaiI and Plumber Hold
Sway In Our Sister
City.
ARGUMENTS FOR CONSOLIDATION
Present System of County Govern
ment Is Cumbersome and
Extravagant.

One thing must be said about the Grand
Jury which went out Of existence today,
it was industrious and continued to work
up to the very last moment. The fore
man and one of the committees worked
even yesterday. It is presumed that they
attended church first. but after that they
devoted their attention to official business
Prosecutor Erwin worked also. and all
the work was done in his private Office in
the weldon Building. There were there
until $50 p. NJ. yesterday, when they took
recess for refreshments. Then they re-
sumed work and continued at it until two
A. NJ When they reached the Court
House this morning they buckled in
again, although they looked tagged out,
and took up the work where they left off
at two A. M. Justice Lippincott arrived
in court early and waited patiently for the
jurors to come before him. At 1890
Stenographer Nugent was sent down
stairs to notify them that the Court was
waiting for them, and ten minutes after
ward they filed into court led by Sheriff
Ruempler. Foreman Lawrence had big
bundle of papers in his hand. Deputy
County Clerk Gritten called the roll and
asked the usual question: Gentlemen of
the Grand Jury, have you any indictments
or Dresentments to maker"
I'VE have" replied Foreman Lawrence,
handing up his bundle of papers,.
Justice Lippincott then thanked them
for the diligence and attention to business
and said the Court had no doubt that their
work would be of lasting benefit to the
county. The jury was then discharged.
Three indictments were presented
against the Board OF Chosen Freehold
ers, namely, one for malfeasance, one for
extravaganza and one for conspiracy in
office. The first two were made against
the entire Board. In the last named,
for conspiracy, the names of Freeholders
Richardson, O'Toole, Lynch, Klein, Duff
fly. Dashe. Sergeant and Bowling, were
omitted.
Mayor Pagan of Hoboken and the Po-
lice Board and Common Council of Ho-
boken were indicted jointly for violating
the Sunday laws in permitting the Lyric
Theatre to operate on the Sabbath. 1t
is said that City Treasurer James Smith
OF Hoboken has been indicted also
The following is the presentment:-
The Grand Inquest de hereby make the
presentment of their labors during said
Term. Ine Court at the opening of the
term charged the Grand Jury upon a.
number of imporsant matters and these
matters together with other subjects of
which the Grand Jury were informed
either by witnesses, or by members of this
Grand Jury have all been very care
fully considered, and examined into by
this Grand Jury. A great deal of time
mas been taken up in such Investigations
and, while the result, in a great many in
stances, did not warrant bills OF indict-
ment, yet bad and vicious conditions were
The Grand Jury cannot escape the con-
clusion, however that there are many
subjects which have not been examined
carefully by this Grand Jury owing to the
limited time at its disposal during this
sort September term There is always
of course necessity of examining and
finishing the ordinary and current GRIM
inal work Of the term which is presented
through fhe Prosecutors office, and
which necessarily consumes much time.
investigation of many special subjects
brought to the Grand Jurys attention and
which Were adverted to in the charge OF
the court to this Grand jury Inls Teguliar Ia
criminal work is very large owing to the
situation and size of this county. The
time Of this Grand Jury has been occupied
by many hundreds OF offences against the
criminal laws and that necessary disposal
of our time prompts us to say that in the
investigation of special matters of suffi-
cient importance some means should pc
resorted to preliminary TO action py Lhe
Grand Jury in the Investigation of such
special matters, and then. when crime Is
discovered Ia dealing with the results OF
such preliminary investigation the Grand
Jury can quickly and satisfactorily ap-
ply the corrective of indictments on the
facts SO previously developed. Otherwise
If the ordinary criminal work Of the term
Is very large such special and important
matters do not receive attention and be-