The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-19
TUESDAY. JANUARY 10, 1909.
A CRIME AGAINST CITIZENSHIP AND ITS ApoLodLsT.

The facts so vigorously presented by the late grand jury in regard to the
political prostitution of the sherfh1s office o. the We of the November election
have been notorious The jury presentment simply rected a story already
lnown. abundanty verified, and not even denied. The outrage m citizenship
and the banotbox perpetated by Undersherin Masona and his official pals had
all the aspects o a conspiracy. Its beginning was a publication in the News
Aasons mouthpiece, to the effect that evidence had been found of illegal regis
traton and a purpose to cast a fraudulent vote in the election. This vas fol-
lowed by the announcement that five hundred warrants would Re issued. As a
political faction, with which the News vas affiliated, controlled the sherifs Office,
and as a new sheriff a to be elected, this vas publicly regarded as a campaign
bluff" for intimidation until Mason. employing a certain justice of the peace,
instead of using the police courts procured the five hundred criminal warrants
and sent them broadcast to be served by heeIers OF citizens in their homes and
business places. Out of these warrant only fifteen had n shadow of evidence
to sustain them, and when the accused parties appeared in court to ACE their
accuer Odason) he skunk away and refused to appear. OF all the warrants
served lot n vas prosecuted. But the object sought partly attained
Many voters are unfamiliar with the law and are tmid in the faceo of a official
threat Others did not care to invite trouble by going to the polls The sherffs
ofce is all powerful and it had recently been used to an extent unknown before
and with perfect imputy, in expressing citizens. Intimidation did its work, but
as tbe sequel showed. it failed to elect the candidates of he sherirs office and the
News Two months after the election a non-prtsan grand jury dspasdonatey
reviews these facts and submits an indignant pesentment to the court A crime
ship had beer outraged by men wearing the uniform of law and justice, ini-
vdual citizens had been grossly wronged. scoundrehsm had usurped authority
acts had been committed as monsuous as anything credited to the Russian
police. An American grand jury. lot composed of miksops, would be recreant
News The crime was warranted" the numerous arbitrary arrestsw were merely
plumbers" NJ the grand jury vas "swayed by partisan feeling, rather than by
their cool Judgment" A ptful partisan exhibition this in a editorial page that
has been absolutely wearyfng With its homiHes and political morals. Granted
that the paper vas so closely tied III ito the usherif"s office and to Masont that
it could not consistently applaud the grand jury presentment, a due regard for
truth and public decency md the morantes of politics should hav at least
counseled silence. As it is the News is 10 committed to the extraordinary
that any citizen car be dragged from his home a. any hour without
evidence. just prior to an election and either be tnearcerated n Jail or compelled
to prove his innocence; and that citizen car be forbidden to vote simply by
a telephone order from a partisan under-shcrin or a constable at the court
house