The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-09-10
SUNDAY BALL. 4
Justice Collins Says the
Law Must Be
Enforced.
CHARGE TO The GRAND JURY
Few Cases Waiting to Come
Before the Inquest

| The usul floral offerings adorned the
desks of Judges Blair and Nevius at the
opening of the September term of court
this morning. The desk of Justice Collins
was not decorated as he had requested 1T
should not be.
1t was after eleven o'clock when the
Grand Jury, headed by Sheriff Carl
Ruempler and Foreman Charles S. F'urst,
filed into court. The charge delivered by:
the Supreme Court Justice was unusually
brief and devoid of sensation. The open-
ing paragraph was inspired by the recent
attempted assassina ton of the Presidents
otherwise it was entirely routine.
The shooting of two youths by railroad
watchmen was referred to, as was the
accidental shooting of the youth at the
Marion Rifle Range. Two cases of chill
/ dren killed in trolley accidents We're
touched on, as was Sunday baseball play
ing.
Druggist John Kempel, of Summit ave-
nue.. Jersey City Heights, was excused
as the twenty-fourth juror, and the
others We're sworn in by Clerk Joseph
O'Mara.
The Courts charge was as follows:-
all glad as we gather to do our part IN
the administration of civil government
that the heinous attack which seems TO
have been intended to strike at its very
ment. Prevention of like occurrences is
a problem for wise craftsmanship.
It. is very satisfactory sat tha; s;noo IN this as
last session, the Court, on reconyenlng,
finds SO little that is serious in alleged
breach of the law awaiting your investi-
cyofi h11f txXaf
Jail and most of the offenses charged are
not grave. These cases should first re-
ceive your attention. There are SIX
charges involving homicide TO be consld-
cred. Some Of them merit careful inves-
tigation as to whether the offense does
not arise to that of murder; in the others
the Indictment should not be for anything
more than manslaughter. In two of the
cases railroad employees shot at and killed
trespassers. In another case boy OF.
eleven years of age is said to have forced
a younger companion, who could not
swim, into the water, where he drowned.
The youth of the accused raises pre-
the first two mentioned, should be care-
fully examined. In two cases children on
the public street Were run down. one by
trolley car and the other by truck.
Negligence only is alleged. AS to the case
of the trolley car, and probably the only
subject for inquiry, is as to its rate of
speed. The last case seems to have been
pure accident, but no homicide by shoot
ing should be lightly passed by. There
should always be adequate investigation.
The deceased was attending the targets
of the Marion Rifle Range and it would
seem that by his own carelessness that
put himself in danger.
AS have had frequent occasion to say
to grand jurors the chief cause of com
plaint, of the law-abiding citizens of our
county, is as to vice and disorder rather
than outbreaking of crime. Misconduct,
punishable by our laws is, in some Sec
tions of the county, quite common. There
is growing disregard of the law as to
the proper observance of Sunday as a
day of rest, particularly in the northern
part of the county. BAH playing Tor gam
is permitted, sometimes in populous
neighborhoods, to the annoyance of those
attending divine worship. Disorderly
gatherings of this character constitute
what the law denominates common
nuisance and renders those responsible
for them liable to Indictment. The Court
regrets to say that a disposition to IN
troduce prize fighting here has been mani
tested. The police of Hoboken only re-
Gently were called on to stop such an en-
| counter, and we are glad to say did stop
it. The local authorities everywhere
should be prompt to prevent these Illegal
practices They grow chiefly by the ne
glect Of those whose duty it is to observe
| and check them. Prevention is better
| than punishment.
Gambling seems to be an inveterate evil
| recurring constant vigilance for it's sup
preston. Policy playing is openly charged
| by the public press to be practiced in Ho-
| boken, and it may be so elsewhere.
| Gambling by means of slot machlnes mas
not been wholly suppressed Complaints
of violation of the law IN these mattsIs 81 ?
| should receive prompt attention. II .,7 tnS
local authorities and grand lurles VIII
both be vigilant and rigorous rnere oughe
to be no possibility of the continuance Oh
these offenses. And so with pool selhng
on horse races. Our statute makes even
a single transaction of that sort, or the
keeping of a place where others may re-
sort for that purpose, 1nQ1ctaDle.
Another subject demands attention, that
is the revival of swindling by pretence OF
selling counterfeit money, populariy
stvled green goods. No sympathy need
he wasted on the victims. But the pup
| lie welfare demands that such demoral,
izing business be stopped. It IS conducssa 1stsa
largely by means of the telegraph. The
companies claim that because the slal
makes the secrecy of the messages m
law in efforts to detect and punish the
crime This is not so. The statute re-
| Iates to divulging to private persons the
contents of messages. me aa eelss ta bre ak
The law. Another statute makes It Grim
inaI for any telephone or telegraph com com
pany, or any. person engaged IN tne ,.'lIi pusi-
ness to knowingly transmit any communl-
| cation that will further or promote any
| unlawful pursuit or Illegal practlce- COM
plants have been made against &c eerIaan IAN
| individuals under this statute and they
will regularly come before you
| In conclusion the Court Will rely upon
| your faithful inquiry into all VloiduonS
| If law The fact that any case may or
! NAV not have been considered by a prevl-
Gus Grand Jury does not concern you.
| Won are to consider it upon it's merits
| as ii is presented before you.
Most Of you are well known to the
| Court, and favorably known, and we
| trust that confidence is mutual between
/ rs The Court has it's duty, namely, to
! declare the law, and the Grand Jury mas
! its duty. namely, to investigate the facts.
A few words as to the orderly course
| of procedure. The normal way for a
| Grand Jury to dispose of its business IS
| on specific instruction, or on matters laid
! hefore it by the Court or public prosecu-
! tor. The Grand Jury should meet when
| the Court meets, and should designate q
| sufficient tine for the transaction. OF
/ business: be expeditions, and make snort
| adiournnents, and when the business OF
! the term as presented to 1T, is over, the
! Grand Jury should apply for discharge;
| Cases prepared by the Prosecutor should
not be laid over, but should be taken up
on the day when the witnesses are sub
/ poenaed, and after bills are found they
| should not be reconsidered, but should pc
| promptly presented. The Prosecutor OF
/ teh Pleas is your legal adviser, subject
/ to the instructions Of the Court in cases
| of doubt and difficulty. The Prosecutor
/ i sentitled to be present during the TAX
| ing of evidence. In cases of DOUBT on
/ your part as to the propriety 81 nndlnS