The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-06
SIMPSON SCORED.
Police Justice Murphy Ao-
cuses Him Of Working
Into Jensen's Case.
$3.50. RETAINER FOR NOTHING.
Sensational Incident at the
Inquiry Into the Muir
derer's Sanity.
$3.50. RETAINER FOR NOTHING.

A somewhat sensational incident in con-
nection with the inquiry into the mental
condition of Murderer John Jensen, in the
Court of Common Pleas, yesterday after
noon, was furnished by Jolice Justice
| Murphy's charge that Lawyer Alexander
Simpson had worked himself into the
case in an unfair manner, and his intim-
alton that Mr. Simpson had obtained from
his client fee of $3.50 which Jensen would
not have paid had he been of sound mind
| When the inquiry began, both Lawyers
| Murphy and Simpson were present, but
neither spoke to the other. Before the
| testimony was half in, Mr.. Simpson, who
sat near the prisoner but did not offer to
| take any part in the proceedings, arose
| and left the court room without saying a
| word.
| AT the conclusion of the inquiry Mr.
| Murphy, addressing Judge Blair. said
81 represented this defendant in the
| police court and at the coroner's inquest
1t was mainly through my efforts that
these proceedings were begun by the
Prosecutor. My investigation into the
| case after I was retained satisfied me that
| the States representative and the Court
I'm some way Mr.. Simpson got into the
| case, and I think in a very unfair way.
I expected him to say something during
this hearing but he did not. I wanted him
to speak so that I could explain certain
! matters. am sorry that he did not re-
main so that I could have shown how he
obtained a retainer in this case.
81 do not know whether I represent
this defendant or not
The proceedings are ex-parte and there
is no need that the defendant should be
represented by COUNSEL replied Judge
Blair as he ordered Jensen remanded
back to Jail.
Police Justice Murphy's version of the
difference of opinion between himself and
Mr.. Simpson as to who was the legal rep
resentative of the accused man, was to
the effect that he had received a retainer
of 800 from Jensen shortly after his ar
rest. TIL is money he told the courthe was
ready to return if it was decided that
Jensen was of unsound mind. Continuing
Mr. Murphy said
"Jensen had $500 in the Seaman's bank
of New York and about s1,o22 in the
Jersey city. Both bank books were given
into my custody together with a deel for
lot at New Brunswick, that belonged
to the prisoner
"When I became satisfied of the insanity
of my client / brought the deeds and
books to Justice Collins and Judge Blair
an dtold them I did not think Jensen
would require counsel as he was undoubt-
edly insane
Both Judges complimented Lawyer Muir
ply upon his honesty and told him to keep
the deed and bank books pending the In
quiry, which it was understood would be
started Gby Prosecutor Erwin. Mr.. Muir
ply said he did so, but subsequently
learned that Mr.. Simpson had ben retain
ed by Jensen.
''Under the direction of the Court" con-
tinued Mr. Murphy, 81 refused to surren-
der the bank books. Subsequently
learned that Jensen had confessed judg-
ment for $3.50 in favor of Mr.. Simpson
for services rendered and to be rendered.
An order issued from the Second District
Court of Jersey City, over which Judge
Charles w. Parker presides, directed the
Provident Savings Institution to pay to
Mr. Simpson s27S.11, the amount of the
judgment and costs of court The order
was obeyed.'
An interesting question as to whether
Lawyer Simpson can retain the fee paid
to him will arise in the event of Judge
Blair declaring Jensen insane. In that
case a guardian will be appointed and
suit will probably be commenced for the
recovery of the money on the grounds
that Jensen was of unsound mind at
the time he confessed to the judgment
entered against him.
Judging from the testimony added at
the inquiry into the sanity of murderer
John Jensen, before Judge Blair, in the
Court of Common Pleas, yesterday after
noon the slayer of John Sanden will never
expiate his crime on the gallows, but in
an asylum for the insane. &
The murder, which occurred at No 1873
Railroad avenue, on September 9 last, was
most inexplicable by reason of the abb
sence of any apparent motive. The two
men were friends.
Police Justice James j. Murphy who was
retained by Jensen to defend him soon
came to the conclusion that his client was
insane and so repotred to Prosecutor
Erwin and Judge Blair. The States law
yers had County Physicion Converse and
DR.. John d. McGill examine the murderer
in the County Jail and both physicians re-
ported that they considered Jensen a
monomaniac.
Then the Prosecutor brought the pro-
ceedings for inquiry into the sanity of the
murderer under the general statutes
which provide that where person in con-
finement under an Indictment is thought
to be mentally unsound the Judge of the
Circuit Court shall conduct an examina-
ton in to the question of his sanity and if
he is found to be insane he shall be re-
leased and removed to a suitable institu-
tion for the care of the insane. Under
section 81 of supplement to an act pass
ed in 1894, this power is vested in the Com
mon Pleas Judge.
The proceedings before Judge Blair yes
terday were ex parte and were conducted
by Prosecutor Erwin. During the taking
of testimony Jensen sat inside the ra.led
enclosure twirling his black derby hat.
and at times scowling angrily or smiling
pleasantly as the witnesses said things
that offended or pleased him.
He is mild hammered man of about
forty, Norwegian by birth. and has
been in this country for about fifteen
years. His complexion is light and he
has heavy blonde moustache, In gem
eraI appearance he IS totally unlike the
accenfed fvne Of A rl71irferxv fS<,s, eta