The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-06-29
MAYOR NETTLED
At GRAND JURY
FOR NOT PROBING
Haussling Makes Statement, Re-
GREETING Inquisitors' Failure to
Investigate Graft Charge.
81 KNOW PERSON WHO
MADE BOMB" HE SAYS
Expresses Contempt for Zone
Who Attempted Assassina=
tion of Character"

Mayor Haussling, sharply criticisiag
the failure of the grand jury which
was discharged Saturday, to probe the
graft charges preferred against him
by a New York newspaper issued a
statement today. In this statement
the Mayor includes the letter which
he sent to George F. Reeve, foreman
of the grand jury, asking for an in
vestigation of the alleged charges. He
points out that it would not take up
great amount of time, for his knowl-
edge of such bodies is we'll known to
him, as he drew many while he was
sheriff of the county and served on
others.
In one paragraph the Mayor claims
that he knows the party who made
the bomb for the attempted assassin1-
tion of character"
The Mayors statement follows:
"I feel keenly disappointed that the
grand jury has not seen fit to comply
with my request for an investigation of
the alleged relations existing between
the Newark Hardware and Supply
Company and myself. as Mayor of this
city. The request followed the publl-
cation of slanderous articles in the
press, connecting my name and posi-
tion with purchases made by the city
from the hardware concern i'll ques
tion. AS an individual could and did
take adequate measures to answer the
implied charges. Furthermore, 1 felt
Ettle anxiety that those who know me
would for moment give credence to
those insinuations and inuendoes. But,
Hi IL .rr..
position. After mature consideration,
therefore, I sent the following letter to
the foreman of the grand jury, deeming
that body the only one qualified to deal
with the matter without prejudice:
May 27, 1908.
George r. Reeve. foreman Essex Coun-
ty Grand Jury, Court House, New
ark, N. j.:
Sir-There have appeared lately in
certain newspapers articles which have
reflected upon my conduct as Mayor
Of this city. While definite charges
have not been made it has been inti-
mated more or less broadly that I have
been interested in, or led to favor, the
awarding of purchases of supplies from
a certain partnership, of which the
principal owner is Valentine Braun,
chief stockholder in a corporation in
which I own about one-third of the
capital stock.
My first impulse was to rely upon the
means, open to me as an individual, to
secure the yindication afforded by
civil court of law. But mature reflection
has convinced me that some process,
more summary and more comprehen-
ciI ic fn he Of aitt
I am persuaded that if I have acted in
anywise improperly, within or without
the law, they should be made acquaint-
ed with all the circumstances; likewise.
if I have not transgressed either
statute or official convention they are
entitled to an adequate judgment in the
premises.
The grand jury of the county, in my
opinion, is prominently the proper
agency for the ascertainment and de-
termination of the facts. l therefore
feel warranted in asking you and your
colleagues to institute a thorough in
vestigation into the relations of the
Newark Hardware and Supply Com
pany and the city of Newark, including
myself as Mayor, and to make report to
the court of your findings, whether ad-
glad to afford every facility in my
power for the purpose of aiding such
an inquiry. Yours very truly,
(Signed) JACOB HAUSSLING,
Mayor of Newark.
'DeninI of Justice"
at seems to me that 1 did not ask
too much of the grand jury, in view of
the circumstances. I am familiar with
the workings of such bodies. l have
drawn great many of them and
have served on several I do not wish
to criticize the motives Of the grand
Jurors who opposed the investigation
which I requested. I have heard Vari-
Gus pretexts assigned for their attitude.
But whatever may have been their
reason. their refusal to act amounts to
a denial of Justice, not to me indiVidu-
allv for that would not be important,
hut to the residents of this great COM
nunity. If | were serving on grand
iurv and such a situation arose, L
would strain every point to let the peo-
nle of Newark know with all d1spatch
whether their mayor were rascal or
an honest man.
"rt NAV be Just as we'll to say here
end now that 1 quite we'll understand
the ,nsniretion OF this whole contempt
hIe business. | know in what place
the bombs for this attempted assassi
nation of character were manufactureu.
know what allies were enlisted ana
what agencies were employed In the Ell
fort TO make them reach their mark