Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-07
CHARITIES BOARD
REGRETS PETRONE
COURT CRITICISM
Executive Committee Issues
Statement Saying Attack Was
Big Surprise to 1t.

Explanation of now allegations
against the judiciar.- of this State by
Antonio Petrone before the New JerA
Sc. Conference of Charities n Cor
rection came to be made is set forth in
a letter by the conference executive
committee for publication. The letter
is signed by A. w. MacDougall, oi
Newark; Mrs. Caroline b. Alexander,
of Hoboken; Bleecher Van Wagenen, OF
south Orange; Mrs. Mary A. Jacobson
of Newark, and the Rev. Francis a
Foy, of Belleville.
Mr.. Petrone in his address, declared
that there had been discrimination
against foreigners in the courts OF
Essex County particularly, and the
conference has since been called on to
publicly indorse or refute the allesa-
tons. The letter in full follows;
AS there appears to be some misconcep-
ton In certain quarters regarding the
nature and functions of the New Jersey
Conference of Charities and Correction,
and as 1t has been called upon publicly 10
indorse or refute certain allegations OF
Antonio .Petrone. made al the recent con
ference in Camden. concerning our courts
and judiciary, we, members oil the con
ference executive committee, desire. to
make a statement, which we trust will be
v ae az PuplitllJ III Aht lACpo HS 49,
The charges 10 which 1t refers. We think
that in fairness this is due TO all those
concerned.
The conference is not "a corporate body,
nor a society, nor even an organization.
1t is simply an open forum for the presen-
tation and discussion at an annual meeting
of such topics as are related to the char
liable and correctional work, both public
and private, carried on in this State.
The conference is composed of individuals
who are members solely in virtue of Their
nrpSpnrp al its nantinPS Th1rp are no
other qualifications. They come together
from all over the State to hear and to talk,
not TO take action. Anyone may speak
his opinions freely, provided he keeps with
in the limits of allotted time and of pro-
priety and decency and the restrictions on
public speech imposed by law, No one
need express his opinions, nor change them
because of the opinions of anyone else.
Congregate action has never been sought
or desired, Action often results from tue
ideas expressed and suggestions made, at
by organizations or individuals and alto
gether outside OF the conference. 1t is not
its temporary officers, elected annually by
the conference, as representing 1t, to form
or express an opinion upon any subject
presented to it which is of a controversial
nature. Occasionally there Is a unanimous
and wholly spontaneous outbnrst of APP
proval or disapproval. such as is common
to large assemblag6s. Otherwise, no COM
mon sentiment is manifested.
1t is greatly to be regretted that a per-
sonal ~attack-one wholly unexpected
should have been made by a speaker in.
Vited to address the conference, and that
he should have brought sweeping charges
unsupported by evidence. against ouf
courts. judges and prosecutors and against
the administrators of justice i'll our State
His subject, however. was one deemed by
the committee of arrangements TO be one
of real Importance which hou be brought
to the attention of the public and thorough.
ly investigated by competent authority, In
order that the treatment COMPLAINS OF in
justice to foreigners In our courts, il with
out foundation in fact. should be authorita-
abuses. even minor ones, were found to ex-
list, that they should be exposed and cor
rected in order that equal Justice should
be melted to all.
Petrone's address a vigorous protest and
able defense OF the probity and administr1.
ton Of our courts. judges and prosecutors
was made by John !. Gascoyne, probation
officer OF Essex County. Other member,
called attentlcn to the improperly OF sew.
eral Of MI. Petrone's utterances, and 8
upon the executive committee TO take steps
to have the paper edited and all such mat
ters eliminated from 1t before 1t was in
Corperated into the proceedings of tho con.
ference. which are annually printed. Also
to take such other action in the matter as
might seem wise and proper. The presiding
officer immediately telephoned to Prosecu.
tor Mott, telling him what had happened
.'fS - 49, 1 ~. nv
address and offered him an opportunity t.
make reply. or have some ono else do so
at a later session Of the conference. Tn,
fortunately this opportunity was not en-.
braced. for reporters waited eagerly fol-
twenty-four hours for some authorita tive
Iefutation from the platform. and Womb
have given II as prompt and wide publicity
as were given Mr.. Petrone's statements.
These statements were so general and So
sweeping in many respects. and so expartt
in others. tina they doubtless failed lareel,
nf their intended offenf frnn tIn minds ~
those who heard them. Nevertheless. there
remains the impression that this suhjec'
should receive further attention and tn,
earnest cooperation Of all parties interested
in Il sincere and unpreiudiced effort TO ini
out the whole truth about this matter oni
to mako it known publicly. In. order tina
II any abuses do exist they shall Se ex
ncsed and corrected.
Pctrone's Statement.
Mr.. Petrone, when shown the state
ment and asked if he had anything te
say in reply, dictated the following
statement to a reporter:
I'm my address l tried to convey the
idea that the administration of crimina
law is lax in many respects. My ad'
dress to the conference was the resul'
of ten years observation, and I talk,
it that when the committee requested
me to address the conference they
thought was competent to discuss tn,
subject. | believe hat / confined my
remarks within the proper limits.
1T is true that | was severe: out i
was the severity of truth. l did no
only c~rlticise the courts for being i'm
partial to foreigners, in that they SHOW
race prejudice. but l also criticised thu
powers that be for the fact that man,
Inn nprtant M soc In which fnra;n,,nr
are concerned the law is honored NOR,
in the breach than in the observance
In order to be fair, to all concerned,
cited several cases which are on rec
ord and drew comparisons between TIL
cases, In which the courts, it appeared
to me, had been quite severe with thu
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