New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-20
USTTCE FORT TARGET.
BENCH RECORD ATTACKED
Iudependent Voters of Nescark Las
ten to Craze Charges.

Another bombshell was thrown INTO INC $50,
camp at the meeting OF the Independent -
nartv in Orator Hail. Newark last nisn1 70
mands were made Tor investigation INTO the coL
-. ~, tr,o occasions Of Justice ]. Franklin Fort
no +be Supreme Court, who is now prominently
mentioned as regular possibility ior uoS -,
A. the same time it was announced tii.t -,
bodv of men in the state had been pussy ior rs
.,-,e looking I'D the records of several men WIN
hold big 'appointive positions ana NM
thrown out that such men who sought elective
honors had better look out for their recorus oeioo
conserving for office 49,,
1afore the meeting dinner given In the
Continental Hotel to the following members OF the
v.,, cor,ornittee of the Independents: Fillmore
Condit Herman B. Walker. Francis L. ChriSih1A,
Henry NJ. Dawson. Silas w Miles, W. io"i .
Munroe. Thomas F. Burning, Frank u. aaue
Charles B. Yardley jr.. George W. romans - ~.
Alden Freeman. the latter the independent CUM,
chairman. The meeting was opened with pray yer "
the Rev DIR. William Hayes Ward ana auui ee'e'
were made by Mr.. Freeman. Judge Ei"oou
Harris Mr. Chrisman. Mr.. Cond John H. McLean'
the labor leader and MesSrs WalheV' I''
Dawson and Munroe.
The sensation of the evening was cOil'1 y
an address by Charles A. Bloomfield. OF Metucn1l'
who attacked Justice Fort on the grouru 'iiA' -
was responsible for the failure to prosecute 'i
Niddlesex County Freeholders for the hlesiI ao.7
3, connection with the Amboy bridge over the Kari
ran River Mr. Bloomfield spoke of the chdrso' Va
extravaganza and fraud in the ouiIuihs %
bridge One grand jury. he asserted "as 'oio
pay no attention to the bridge affair Inc hes
grand Jury was instructed to investigate, ana nau'
a nresenrment against the Freeholders. When NIX
Bloomfield some time later asked the froSecu'o
why he did not take up the presentrnent anu az.
upon It he was told that Justice Fort had ulieo'
that nothing be done about it. ,
When the Legislature passed the Jackson uiii
validating the bridge bonds and all the acts OF Io
Freeholders and shielding them from prosecutor
Mr.. Bloomfield said he had gone TO Governor 80 ~,
10 oppose the signing of the measure anu u
Governor had approved the bill on the auC0
Tusrica Fort Continuing Mr.. Bloomfield said;
Justice Fort has declined to discuss the cii" go
made against him by me at the dinner III
brunswick last month. He has taken re1use pe-
hind the judicial ermlne. and declares that 10 oe
fend his judicial acts would not be oecofIllhs- LII
an interview In The Newark Sunday CalF ne Is
quoted as saying: My acts In connection WIN 'o'
matter involved, as well all other matters III
which I sit. of public record 1 cannot OecoiiIs
involved in any public controversy over any VI
them
This statement has recently been followed Dy
the letter cited recent political meeting IN Ea7
Orange written by Justice Fort TO one OF MS soils
sa wing that he was actively in the field as candi
date for the Governorship and that his name was
being strenuously doomed by party bosses anu iid
chine politicians in several counties
Il desire TO state certain facts. but in so doing
wish TO remark that what 1 say comes from no
malice personal feeling on my part' Due Simply
from sense of public duty.
Before speaking at the dollar dinner m Ne"
brunswick I thought over the question well. anu
the more pondered the more convinced became
that IL was duty 1 owed to the public to let tleii
know why our action pertaining TO the Perth Am
boy bridge had niscarried. l have criticised no
acts Of Justice Fort while on the bench His acts
outside OF subjects for public criticism II
deserving IT, and 50 far as am concerned snail
not hesitate TO speak 1 know and feel Inc
Cali article says that the bridge trouble had been
thoroughly Investigated for months. ard that Jus
ticc Fort had particularly active in the anair
The same paper says that private detectives were
and that with his knowledge and aid they worked
unceasingIy for weeks IN effort to obtain PROOF
OF illegal actsin connection with the Amooy oridse
which would be sufficient to cause indictments ana
bring about convictions. Time. energy and money
were spent without stint declares the can
article to get at the bottom OF the affair ana 10
uuearth anything OF a criminal nature which might
have existed, but IL all in vain
Tn reply 10 this would state that / know OF no
investigation as TO acts Of the Board OF Free
holders Of Middlesex County, so far as the Amboy
bridge is concerned: OF money expended In any
ouch investigation. except that carried on by the
manufacturers and shippers into the said Amboy
bridge over the Rartan River. under the direction
~ the chairman of the committee. who Is now ad-
dressing YOU All the expenses connected with that
Investigation were by that association, and not
b,. the county Any experts that were hired or de-
| tectives were paid by said association
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