The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-11
COLL mss CHARGE
September Term Grand Jury
Warmly Complimented
By the Justice.
RICHARD STEVENS EXCUSED
Garwood Ferris Remains q
Juror, But May Be
Excused When
Necessary.

was formally opened today, with Supreme
Court Justice Collins's charge to the
Grand Jury. On account of the recent
death of Lawyer Walter Collins, the only
son of the Justice of the Hudson Circuit
there were no floral decorations in the
Supreme Court room. The benches of
the Circuit and Common Pleas Courts
were, however, adorned with the usual
floral offerings from the court officers TO
Judges Nevius and Blair.
There was large attendance of law
yers awaiting the disposition on the court
calendar of the different cases in which
they are engaged, when Justice Collins
announced that he would charge the
Grand Jury before calling the list of
causes.
Judges Nevius and Blair were on the
bench with Justice Collins when, at 10:4o
o'clock, the December term Grand Jury
headed by Sheriff Ruempler and Foreman
Jacob Ringle, filed into court. In sxcus-
ing the twenty-fourth juror. Richard Ste
vens, Justice Collins said
"It is not desirable to select members
of the bar for Grand Jury duty when there
are others who can and desire to serve.
Mr.. Stevens is a lawyer, and the Court
will excuse him from serving, as he has
requested. Mr.. Garwood Ferris has also
requested the Court to excuse him, but
the Court is reluctant to swear in any
other than the regular member. You
gentlemen may excuse Mr.. Ferris from
time to time as his work of supervising
the new water plant takes him out of
the county frequently"
The Grand Jurors and their clerk,
James Clark, were then sworn in by Dep
uty County Clerk Edward Gritten, after
which Justice Collins began his charge. 1t
was of a congratulatory character. The
Justice ascribed the fact that there were
SO few violations of the law in this county
to the diligence and business-like methods
of the September term Grand Jury. He
warmly complimented that body and COM
mended it's example to the new Grand
Jury. He commented on the fact that de-
spite the excitement of the recent election
there was little or no talk of fraud by
either party. He cautioned the Grand
Jury to be vigilant in the matter of gam-
bling violations of the law.
In conclusion Justice Collins called at
tention to the fact that many of the per-
sons driven out of New York through the
anti vice crusade inaugurated there were
seeking temporary refuge in this county.
The charge in full follows:-
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury-It af-
fords cause for congratulation that the
aspect of affairs in this county so far as
regards violations of law is more favor
able than for long time past. Without
doubt this is partly due to the diligence
and businesslike methods of your inn
mediate predecessors. The Court COM
mends to you their example. The sessions
of the Grand Jury should be as frequent
as possible and the cases brought up
should be promptly investigated and in
dictments should as promptly follow
proved infractions of the law. The Grand
Jury should then apply to be discharged.
The Court does not approve of long adj
journments and the holding over until
the eve of the next term.
There are but two cases awaiting your
investigation where death has occurred.
On the seventh day of last November,
John Lawlor, Charles Smith and a man
named Hicks, who had been drinking
during the day in various public houses,
were seen around a stable in the town of
Kearny, where afterward Lawlor was
found suffering from an injury in the
head He was taken to St. Michaeps
Hospital in Newark and died few days
later. Smith was arrested and is now
held in the county jail on a charge of
atrocious assault and battery with intent
to kill. Hicks was not arrested, and there
is no evidence so far as the Prosecutor
can learn connecting either Smith or
Hicks with Lawlor's injury, and it is en-
tirey possible that Lawlor fell while
drunk and so was injured. The verdict
OF the Coroner's jury was that death re-
suited from a fracture of the skull re-
ceived in manner unknown to the liz
quest This case should receive your
prompt attention in order that there may
be an indictment if any evidence is forth
coming and that Smith may be discharged
| if there is none.
John Cushin met his death on the
| fourth day of the present month at the
ferry foot Of Pavonia avenue, Jersey City.
In this case James Corrigan was charged
with manslaughter and has been bailed
Both men were drivers of wagons for the
same brewery and one of them was in
| jured in collision with the other The
prosecutor udS IiOL bStll dDic " dSCef'eetlil
that death was other than accidental but
! the case may merit inquiry at your hands.
'sThere are not more than ten Jail cases
all told awaiting your action and none of
the others call for special instruction. The
| Jail cases are entitled to precedence at
your hands, OF the complaints awaiting
| investigation none require particular men
ton You will be attended by the prose
| cutor and should any question of doubt or
difficulty arise the court will be glad Q
give you further instruction.
ut is also d matter for congratulation
after a general election exciting such in
tense interest as that which has recently
occurred, there should be little or nc
ground to suspect fraud or illegality by
| the partisans of either side Only one case
has been called TO the attention Of the
court. The offense there consisted in the
/ denial Of admission to the polling booth In
| North Bergen of a duly appointed chal-
| lenger. There should be full inquiry insc
| this case and If the facts alleged exist you
| must not hesitate to indiet all who partici.
pated in what was palpable violation ol
4 the law.
\ The offenses against public morality
/ which our law makes criminal ana K
| which the attention OF the last Grand
/ Jury was particularly directed na1neIy