The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-24
HUDSON COUNTY STIRRED UP.
ABOUT TWO POUNDS OF INDiCT-
MENTS HANDED IN.

1--WE Have Started Inyestig atoms into the
Alleged Misconduct OF Public boards
and Oficials,' Says F~0retnan-Then
He Asks More Time, Which Is Granted.
The Hudson County Grand Jury. the frat
one appointed by John C. Kaiser, the Re-
publican Sheriff who was elected last fall,
handed up about two pounds OF indict-
mcnts to Judge John A. B.air OF the Court
Of Oyer and Terminer and Quarter SEES
sionE, in Jersey City, yesterday afternoon .
There were 1850 true bills in the bunch, many
of which. 1t was said, were for misconduct
OF officials in public Office. Foreman Her
man Walker Of Guttenburg, handedto Judge
Blair the big batch of bills. said to be- the
greatest number ever filed with the court
at one time
Judge Blair asked IL the jury had COM
pleted its work for the term and Foreman
Walker replied:
sMoy it please the Court we have started
Investigations into the alleged misconduct
Of public boards and officials. We have
not finished our work and ask to he ex-
| cused so that we may continue our de-
alterations
Judge Blair smiled rs he glanced at the
bundle Of indictments md said;
Judging by the weight Of the present
presentment it doesn't look as il there was
much work left for you to do
The Court then announced that there
still remained one more week Of the term
and that the Grand Jury would he dis
charged at that time. He excused the
Jurors and they returned to their chamber
TO continue their Investigations.
Foreman Walker returned to the ben oh
a minute later and taking from his inside
pocket q type written document Of several
ages gave it to the Court.
The indictments were locked up in a
vault in the County Clerks office. II Is
believed that the work Of serving capiases
for the arrest Of those against whom
Several officials who have heard that they
are ION the list have already secured
the promises Of friends to go on their bonds.
After the Grand Jurors had disappeared
into their room the politicians n runners
who were hanging around the corridors
of the court house waiting for the news
snapped rumors and asked one another
who had escaped. 1t was generally .ad-
mitted that Sheriff Kaiser's panel was the
stiffest proposition In the Grand Jury line
that Hudson county has ever had.
Among the rumors which floated around
the county last night was n to the effect
that the vote by which it was decided TO
find true bills against certain officials OF
the West Hudson County rus Company
at Harrison. including members of the di.
reotorate, IL connection with the use Of
$50, 900 Of the banks funds by ex-Secretary
and Treasurer Thomas j. higgins, had been
reconsidered. The bill against higgins,
it is said, was among those handed into
court. higgins admitted to the State
Banking Examiner his liability for the
amount and said that he had used the
money for margins in stock, speculations'
He subsequently made good the amount,
and the State Banking d. 0artment laid the
matter of his alleged wrong doing before
Prosecutor OF the Pleas William h. Speer.
Among the indictments said to have been
found are true bills against the four mem
bers Of the Jersey City Excise. Commission,
The Hudson County boulevard Commission
ia also said to be on the rack. Then there
are rumors Of indictments against one oil
two ex-Mayors Of Bayonne and certain men
now holding Office in the southern end o.
the county. The official probe also entered
the vitals Of certain municipal boards in
the North Hudson municipalities.