The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-02-08
'ERWIN'S
ALTER ECO.
The New Assistant Prose-
cutor Just as Able as
His Chief.
LAWYERS HAVE FUN WITH BIN
Simpson and Speer Poke
Sticks at the Animals
Until They squirm and
Squeal for Mercy.
LAWYERS HAYE FUN WITH BIN


A lively legal battle occurred in the
Court OF Special Sessions yesterday after
noon when Kate Ko!ich, who is also
i known as Kate Spellissey, was placed on
/ trial on charge of having stolen a
quantity of wearing apparel from Mrs
Martin Daab of the Dukes House, Hobo
ken, by whom she was employed as do
mestic
| When the case was called Lawyer Alex.
| Simpson appeared as counsel for the
Kollch woman, and Assistant Prosecutor
/ Veekers represented the State. Before
/ the tria, had proceeded far Mr.. Simpson
was reinforced by Lawyer William H.
Speer, Jr., who stood outside of the rallied
enclosure of the court room, and occa-
siondlly supplied to the defendants coun-
sci technical objections to the questions
/ asked witnesses by the Assistant Prose-
/ cutor.
/ Mr.. Simpson himself was generously
supplied with other objections. and be-
tween the two lawyers they succeeded in
1 making it very uncomfortable for the
1 States representative, and finally got
! his case in such shape that there was
hardly enough left to go to the jury.
| Incidentally it might be mentioned that
/ Lawyer Speer, who assisted Lawyer
/ Simpson to the discontinue of Prosecutor
/ Erwin's assistant, is an organization Re-
/ publican. He was one of the earliest can
1 didates IN the field for the position left
! vacant by the resignation of Marshall A.
! Van Wrinkle. That he did not get the
4 place some people think was due to the
/ fact that he was such vigorous sup
porter of the powers now controlling the
Republican organization in this county.
| Be this as it may it was plainly evil
| dent during yesterdays proceedings that
Mr.. Speer thoroughly enjoyed the un-
pleasant position IN which he assisted Mr..
/ Simpson to place his successful rival for
| the Assistant Prosecutorship.
| Scarcely a question was asked by Mr..
| vickers that was not objected to by Mr..
Simpson, of his own violation, or at the
suggestion of Mr.. Speer. Many of the OBJ
jections were sustained by Judge Blair,
! and the case against the defendant was
weakened materially. Word of the inter-
/ esting legal conflict spread around the
! Court House and soon the rear court
room was crowded with lawyers and lay
men, who thoroughly enjoyed the fight.
/ Legal upper cuts and short rib blows
were flying in every direction, and solar
plexus seemed imminent when word
reached Prosecutor Erwin that his repre-
! sentative was being worsted in the fray.
/ He hastened to his assistance, and soon
noted that Mr.. Vickers was contending
with almost overwhelming odds in the
4 persons of lawyers Simpson and Speer.
The Prosecutor promptly objected to the
defendants counsel consulting with other
counsel outside of the railing, and Mr..
Simpson sharply replied
IF the Prosecutor was acquainted with
| the ethics of the bar he would know that
any lawyer has right to assist counsel
at any time" and he went on consulting
with Lawyer Speer, only stopping long
enough to fling objections to the questions
/ propounded by the Assistant Prosecutor.
The first hitch occurred when Mr.. Wick
ers called Mrs. Daab, who had already
been sworn as witness, from the stand
and began to consult with her.
Mr.. Simpson at once objected, but the
! States representative said that the COM
| plant did not give the date of the robbery
and he merely wanted to find out when
the defendant had left the employ of the
complaining witness, in order to amend
/ the Indictment.
Mr.. Simpson withdrew his objection, and
Mr. Vickers announced that it was on
/ January last.
Mrs. Daab resumed her place in the wit
ness box, and Mr.. Vickers who had emp
tied quantity of wearing apparel from
! a bundle, asked after a few other ques-
! TONS
ibid you identify these goods as having
a value of $25?''
/ Mr.. Simpson objected to the witness
being used as an expert on the value OF
4 the goods and Judge Blair ruled the ques-
ton out
Many other questions propounded by the
States representative were disposed of IL
/ the same manner, with the result thai
/ Mrs. Daabs testimony simply proved the
ownership Of the goods displayed and The
fact that the defendant was once in hel
employ.
Detective Weinthal was then placed OF
the stand, but the substance of his tes
timony, that the combined efforts O.
Lawyers Simpson and speer did not pre-
/ vent from reaching the jury, was tha
the goods exhibited had been found at tn,
4 home of Mrs. Spellissey, the mother O
the defendant, who lived at No. 1877 Sprins
street, West Hoboken.
Mrs. Kolich had in no way been con
nected with the robbery when the State
case was concluded, and Lawyer Simpson
refused to offer any defence and asket
for the dischargeg Of his client on tn
grounds that the State had failed to prov
Il that the defendant ever had in her pos
session any Of the goods alleged to b
stolen.
Mr.. vickers was replying when Mr.
Simpson interrupted with the remark
why this is absurd
ALLOW me to fnish.' angrily retortet
the Assistant Prosecutor, turning almos
threateningly towards his understood lega
opponent
PLEASE don't hurt me, ] assure you
am In absolute fear" replied Lawye
Simpson sarcastically, as he glared at hi
tall legal adversary.
| Judge Blair raped for order, and sais
that he was not quite clear as to the evi
dence, but would hold the matter IN abey
ancc and today announce his decision OF
| Mr. Simasun'S motion
81 There are said to be q half-dozen sin1iia
cases pending against the same defen
a dant.
Assistant Prosecutor vickers at the con
cluSlon OF the upntlict. said he was ser
toualy handicapped In his conduct af 4 u
icAa0 by the fart thar the S0uQ4 produce,