The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-26
REORGANIZATION
The Trial Of Henay G. Petty
by the Investigation
Committee" Anoth-
er Farce.
HE AND REED SCRAPPED
Witnesses Attempted to Prove
Nothing But Their Own
Good Work.
HE AND REED SCRAPPED

tion Investigating Committee met last
night at the rooms of the Greenville Re
publican League Club. The main feature
of the meeting was a scrap between Will
lam E. Reed, the defeated candidate for
Street and Water Board Commissioner,
and President of the U. S. Grant Associa-.
ton, and Henry c. Petty, the ex-President
of the League, and one of the organizers
of the new Seventh Ward Republican
Club.
After the meeting Reed and Petty held
a heated argument. Reed accused Petty
of interrupting his speech at some pre-
vious meeting. The lie was passed.
whereupon Reed told Petty he was mo
good" Petty replied in the same style.
Thereupon Reed rushed at Petty and
struck him in the chest. Petty squared
off to return the blow. At this juncture
the belligerents were separated by mu-
tual friends. Reed next called Petty a
loafer. The two Republican scrappers
made another attempt to reach each
other but they were prevented by friends.
Reed then invited Petty outside. but this
challenge was not accepted.
The trouble between Reid and Petty
dates back to the organization of the
Seventh Ward Republican Club. Edward
Birch was proposed for membership in
the Grant Club. Birch was blackballed
and Petty, whose name had been pro-
posed, withdrew his name to prevent the
same fate. Petty was one of the prime
movers in the organization. of the Seventh
Ward Club 1t was rumored that in the
recent election he worked against Reid.
Michael Schultz, Jr., the treasurer OF
the Republican County Committee, con-
Quoted the investigation held last even
ing. At the last meeting of the COM
mittee Mr.. William Charlock was APP
pointed to engage Robert Carey as coun-
sci for the association. Mr.. Carey was
not present, however.
The captains of the precincts and work.
ers at the polls took the witness chair in
turn, and were questioned by Chairman
Schultz. The only facts ELECTED were
that the witnesses had done all in their
power to get out the Republican vote. n
Ex-Alderman Edward Fry testified that
he had made a tour of the ward on cleo
tion day and found everything running
smoothly except in the Fifth precinct,
where he found two Republicans who
were not paid men, working the Ritter
ticket The names of these individuals
were withheld.
In response to request by the Chair
man for enlightment as to the course of
the recent poor showing made by the par
ty Mr.. Henry Petty arose and said that
he understood that he had been accused
by E. c. Colbeck, the defeated candidate
for Alderman, with having received his
money on election day, and then working
for the Democratic ticket.
Mr.. Petty was told that he was out of
order, as no such evidence had been pre-
sented before the committee.
Mr.. Petty insisted on having his little
say that the charge was false and that
he would gladly have the committee in
vestigate the case. Mr.. Petty referred
to a letter sent the League Club by E. c.
Colbeck.
AS there were no other informers the
meeting ended. The result of the inves-
tigation will be made known at the next
meeting of the Ward Association, to be
held at the call of the chairman.
The idea prevails among the majority
of the Republicans in the ward that the
investigation proceedings, instead of pro-
noting the much needed harmony. will
have the opposite result. Mr.. Alex.
ElChIer, a County SOllHlltSSllldli cllu d
member of the Minkakwa Republican
Club, said last evening that the proceed
ings were farce and that if the ward
leaders continue to run the affairs of the
ward in such a manner the Republican
party will never made a good showing.
He added that he was disgusted with the
way the political affairs were being con-
Quoted.
This voices the feeling of number of
prominent Republicans in the ward. There
are members of the Investigating Com
mittee of the same mind. The cases of
w. j. Burns and James McManus, were
not taken up last evening, but will prob
ably be included in the report to be pre-
sented at the next meeting of the Ward
Association.
The members of the Investigating Com
mittee are:-William E. Reed and John
Phelps of the U. S. Grant Association;
Michael Schultz, Jr., and Winfield Dunn
of the Minkakwa Republican Club and
William Charlock of the Greenville Re-
publican League Club. Mr.. Phelps is also
a member of the new Seventh Ward Re-
publican Club, which has been the source
of a vast amount of trouble to the other
Republican Clubs in the ward.