The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-08-02
JURY FAvORS
FOUL MILK
Finds for Mrs. Block Against
Photographic Proofs Of
Rer Dirty Stables.
MILK TRUST BuGABoo
Rumor That the Verdict Was
Largely Because Defendant
Is a Widow.
milk TRUST EUGABO0

The jury in the case of the State Board
of Health against Sarah Block Of New
Durham charged with keeping unclean
COW stables and selling impure milk, yes
terday afternoon in the First District
Court gave judgment in favor of the de-
fendant
The case lasted from eleven until al
most five o'clock. The jury was out
about twenty minutes.
The State Board sued to recover the
penalty of $50 for improperly caring for
cans. Lawyer Charles Carrfck appeared
for the Block woman while the State
Board was represented by James Gordon,
The State Dairy Commissioner, Mcclure,
who investigated conditions at the Block
stables, made complaint as follows:
POLLUTED WATER.
The water supply for watering the
stock and for washing the milk cans
and utensils is obtained from shall
low surface we'll located about sew
enty-ive feet west from the stable !.
buildings. The soil in the vicinity
of the well is boggy, and between
large quantities of manure are stor-
ed. The black teachings from the
manure spread over the ground and
mingle with the storm water, which
saturates the soil and stands about
the WELL The soil about the we'll is
mounded up, and thereby prevents
the surface washings from flowing
directly into it. The quantity of
mature found at the inspection was
4 T. IL, +Io
teachings from the manure were Wis
ible up to point twenty feet from
the we'll.
An analysis of the water from the
well shows that it is polluted and
unsafe for domestic use. The dam
ger attending the use of the water
from this we'll consists in the un-
healthful effect of polluted water up
also the injurious effect upon the
health of the persons who consume
the milk which is contaminated by
pathogenic bacteria, which are pres
ent in contaminated waters. and
which gain access to the milk by adj
herring to the interior of the cans
and utensils. and often by direct adj
dtions of the water to the milk.
The washing of the uten-
sis on the Block premises is con-
Quoted in the stable, amid the ex-
cretes. dust and dirt which exist
there
When he took the stand yesterday he
said:--
DEMAGOGIC NOTIONS.
The Dairy Commissioner says the
department has experienced some
difficulty in bringing these eases to
conviction on account of curious
popular prejudice against the prose-
cutions. as being in the interest of
the Milk Trust and against its poor
competitors. He says that there is
notion abroad, which is reflected in
the iuries drawn. that the attacks
on these foul stables are actually
prompted by the big milk producers,
who want in this way to crush out
their small rivals It is not prob-
able, he adds. that the owners of
these foul places discourage this
view of the case or take any pains to
disabuse the public mind of this i'm
preston, but it is certain that there
is not shadow of foundation for
such a belief
The Block woman produced witnesses
who testified that she kept clean stables
milk was sold.
The State produced photographs show
ing the crowded condition of the stables.
Judge Otto Grouse, before whom the
case was arguing. made fair charge to
the jurors. He said the officers of the
State Board of Health were paid to see
that health was preserved and asked
the jurors to take this into consideration.
He said, too, that they should weigh
the testimony of the defendant and her
witnesses.
SHE'S A WIDOW"
There was rumor aaoat after the
jury brought in it's verdict that the
jurors decided in favor of Mrs. Block be-
cause she was widow and had several
small children dependent upon her.
Judge Grouse said at the conclusion of
the case that there wouldn't be any more
jury trials during August owing to the
warm weather.
The case of the State Board against
Hyman Fisher. of Fairview, complaint
same as in the Block case, was adjourn
ad until Sentpmbpr