The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-08-22
CONCERNING CHR|EVALN
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than that required of the chosen, as
hereinbefore stated
| The Constitution of the United
States being the paramount law of the
whole Union, restraints the powers
of the State governments. The laws
of the State Of New Jersey, as regards
dealing with crime and other offenses
against good government are not in
conflict with the Constitution of the
United States. The laws of New Jer-
sey as regards the duties of "a sheriff
are plainly stated, and some of them
are as follows: The sheriff is required
to summon "a, good and lawful men
as grand jurymen, and to notify the
persons selected and also to select to
serve as petit jurors, that is, trial
jurors, as many as may be necessary
aud to notify them six days before
the session of the court. And the
sheriff is also required to give notice
to justices of the peace, and coroners,
to hand in to the court such matters
of business before them, as required
by law.
Thus it appears judges and justices
of the peace, sheriffs and coroners and
constables are by virtue of their
offices keepers of the peace, and each
in a measure responsible to defend
and maintain good government. by
aiding to the best of their ability, to
secure just and efficient administra-
tion and enforcement of laws.
In the present disturbed condition
of public affairs, caused by labor and
coal strikes and various combinations
leading to riots, violence, murder, and
destruction of property and in many
ways endangering peace and safety,
the sheriff in his official capacity is
liable to he called upon to act by
calling to his aid sufficient number
of deputies, to quiet disturbance and
restore and maintain good order. In
this respect it requires in the person
of sheriff, good cool judgment, cour-
age and unfaltering fortitude and per-
severance. Hence the necessity for
the people generally to wake up to the
Importance of selecting and electing
to the office of sheriff a person of
suitable qualifications. There is one
point that is conceded truth. That is,
there can be no good government
without Justice.
Courts are organized for the adj
ministration and the enforcement of
laws in accordance with justice.
The sheriff, coroners. justices of the
peace, oonstables and jurymen are
adjuncts of the courts and when all
work faithfully in performing respec-
tively,their duties, the ends of justice
and good government may be attained.
The sheriff who selects the 1urymen,
holds the power. which is justly and
carefully used, opens the doors to
bring criminals, by Indictment, with
in the power of the court, and the
jury by their verdict to place it in
the courts power to inflict deserved
and fast punishment. 1t is important
that this attitude of the sheriff in it's
relation to the court, should be plain
ly understood by the people generally,
that those who vote may be prepared
to vote intelligently. The sheriff by
reason of his holding such important
power is liable to outside adverse
pressure to influence the selection of
jurymen, that may tend to delay or
obstruct the ends of justice. The laws
pertaining to the selection of jury
men, and especially to grand jurymen,
says that they should be qualified
as "to talent, knowledge, frmness
and independence of sentiment"
Surely it appears to be common
sense conclusion that the sheriff, who
is by law thus guided in selecting
grand jurymen, should be as well
qualified himself as those whom he
selects for jurymen.
The result of the session of q grand
jury i'll the County of Essex the pre-
sent year furnishes a lesson to the
people of Morris County to remind
them of the necessity of using great
care in the choice of a candidate for
sheriff.
In that result there appeared for
some reason a disregard of evidence
and even that in effect prevents the
court having power to administer
the law.
The better public sentiment de.
mands the execution of the laws &C
cording to impartial justice.
A CITIZEN PATRIOT.