The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-05-08

tibiOu WHICH Jouu y. NUECIOss, OueTlu OI
Burlington county, can fervently utter,
CHASING In the category of friends the
grand jury which ignored the present
ment of Judge Hendrickson and the news
papers which have loudly proclaimed the
finding Of the inquest as "exoneration'
and ''vindication." As fact the report
OF the grand jury was simply coat of
withdrawing applied with large brush.
To property grasp this point it will be
well to remember that there were on the
grand jury several who were privileged
to witness the execution of the two col.
ored men, the scenes at which occurrence
furnished the text of Judge Hendrickson's
remarks. which were, in short, thats dis
graceful acts of vandalism were enacted
and that the number of persons who wit
messed the execution exceeded the limit
established by law. Perhaps the best way
to discuss this subject is to refer to the
report Of the grand inquest. 1t says I'VE
have inquired into the particulars" yet
1t is safe to assert that not a single wit
Dess was called in that Enquiry" 1.-THE
reports of vandalism and unbecoming
conduct were greatly exaggerated" To
this statement THE NEWS takes exception
and asserts that there was not the least
exaggeration. The actions of some per-
sons in the jailyard after the hanging
were absolutely disgraceful and if Judge
Hendrickson had gone into details he would
have ca used the blush of shames to lman-
tie many cheeks. The jury finds that if
any indecorous acts were committed
they were against the wishes of the Sher-
iii and without his knowledge. There is
no doubt about this, but the trouble is
that the Sheriff did not properly guard
the bodies after the execution. When he
did hear Of what was being done he sent
an officer to the yard to pat stop to the
proceedings. We get information on this
point from one who saw the transactions
and who was SO Mortified that he deter
mined to call halt and notified the Sher-
i'll OF what was being done. The name of
man who openly boosted of acts that
outraged decency can be given If desired,
and other statements herein made can be
verified. The number present was dis
missed by the grand jury with the re-
mark that there might have been a few
deputies In other parts of the jailyard at
the time for the purpose of preserving
order, who. If counted, might have been
In excess of the legal number. This is an
admission, at least. that the law might not
have been observed. And that is true.
There IL no legal provision for the admis-
sion of any deputies for the purpose of
preserving order beyond the number stat
ed by the statute. One witness at least
might have been summoned by the grand
inquest who says he counted $50 persons
within the enclosure, and believes there
were fully 200 As the law provided
that, even with all latitude that could be
taken, the number should not exceed 76,
how does the grand jury explain its state
ment of some deputies to preserve order2"
Was the crowd 80 unruly as to require an
excess of 70 officers to keep orderi The
grand jury might have gone to the files
In the Office Of the County Collector and
noted the amount paid by the county for
tickets of admission to the hangings and
then inquired why SO many were prepared
if they were not used. Further inquiry
might have been made on the point of ad-
mission of persons living not only outside
the limits of the county, but who were
not residents of the state, when the law
explicitly makes the qualifications for ad- |
mission adaptability for service on grand |
juries Witnesses might also have been
called to testify to the truth or falsity of |
the report that at least % people witness
ed the execution from the passageway
connecting the Jail with the Sheriff's resi- |
dence, which rumor also says the number |
mentioned were admitted through the res
Idence. There is no use trying to make |
this situation any better for Sheriff Nor
cross. He cannot claim ignorance of the |
statute. 1t was his duty to know what |
was required of him and the result shows |
he was either Ignorant or Indifferent on |
the subject-he may take his choice. |
Burlington County has had many Incl |
dents that have brought it into notoriety |
and prominence. 1t bad enough to have
murder trials and executions, but to have
added to these unpleasant incidents the |
fact that at what should have been a sol |
emn occasion scenes were enacted which |
have been heralded all over the country |
is simply disgraceful. And for this state
Of affairs John Norcross is officially re- |
sponsible and right on the outset of term
wherein he might have made for himself
a reputation of which he and his constitu-
ents might be proud, he has, within six
months of his incumbency, gained the un-
snviable distinction of being the first Sher-
"a of Burlington county to be the subject
Of judicial presentment to grand jury of
his own selection. 1t is to be hoped the
essen. severe but deserved. will be heed
ID, and that he will awaken to the fact
hat he is the servant and not the master
# the people, put in Office to preserve the
avs and the dignity of the state and
ounty. The matter of degree of punish
nent that might be melted out to the Of