Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-05-14
GRAND JURY HITS
DETENTION HOUSE
IN PRESENTMENT
Majority of Indictments Are
Same as Those Published
in EVENING STAR.
WORKS BOARD RAPED
FOR IRREGULAR PURCHASES
Would Have Court Appoint Com
mission for OverbrOOk on
Account of Jealousy.

Account OF Jealousy.
The first April grand jury, in its pre-
sentiment handed to Chief Justice Will
lam 5. Gummere today, followed the
EVENING STARS expose of the condi-
tions existing at the new House of De-
tention. at the corner of New and New
ark streets, almost word for word
Other important presentments made
| by the grand jury are the evasion of the
law requiring the purchase of city sup
plies be advertised for by buying sup
plies and articles just a trifie under the
limit set by law, which is $500. This
point was brought out by the fact that
the department Of streets and sewers
| has purchased automobiles selling for
$500 for $i9S; the Forman case and the
laXity of city officials in requiring him
to furnish monthly reports, as required
by law; the inadvisability of city Off
cials also holding outside positions; the
lack of harmony existing at the Over
brook Asylum since the appointment OF
warden, ard the placing of dual man
agement at that institution.
! Nine of the indictments turned in by
| the EVENING STAR against the
! House of Detention are Incorporated
practically verbatim into the report of
the grand jury today, and the truth OF
the story that the building is absolute
| ly inadequate for the purposes for
which it was intended was strongly
presented to the chief justice by the
| Jurors.
STARS Indictments.
The points brought out by the EVE
MING STAR and that are coincided In
by the grand jury are as follows:
No iron bars on windows of dining
rooms.
| Solid doors on dormitories, prevent
| ing guards from properly watching in
mates.
No fence around lot, making 1T inn
possible to give inmates any outdoor
exercise.
No proper quarters for warden and
4 matron whose living-room must also
serve as Office.
only connection between male and
female departments through kitchen.
In case of trouble on third floor as
sembly-room in women's department.
matron would have to run down three
flights of stairs to obtain help from
male department.
must serve tooh iisO DO pct-
room.
4 No sleeping room provided for engi-
neer except in basement furnace-room.
Railing at top of stairs in assembly
room only four feet in height, this be-
ing dangerously low.
In addition to the above facts. as dis
covered by the EVENING STAR on
April 81, the grand jury also agrees, as
| ,,t NV bo
that a fence should be placed around
the property. and also comedies with
the view expressed by Judge Thomas
A. Davis, ON April 2S, that the adjoin-
ing property, running through on New
street to Wilsey, should be procured at
once.
Exceeds Authority.
1t Is also stated in the presentlnent
that the act authorizing the House or
Detention, which was made law IN
1908. did not provide for the erection
of buildings, but simply for the pur-
chase of a plot of ground whereon a
building could be erected. 1t is also
pointed out that the building is, in
most instances, ''iTremediably wrong
for the purposes for which it was In
tended, and that though 1t has been
turned over by the Board OF CHOSEN
Freeholders to Sheriff Harrigan, the
latter is justified in not using the build
ing in its present condition
The grand jury also took notice OF
the disappearance of City AudAt0
George Forman, but as far as the city
is concerned turned in no indictment
against him charging him with embez-
element from the city The present
ment says, in fact that it is not be-
lieved that Forman either by himseir
OF with collusion with others took any
of the city funds.
1t Is said that an indictment eharg-
ing him with the embezzlement OF
S13500 from David $. Wickham, which
had been placed with Forman, for en-
bezzlement, and also one charging him
with malfeasance in office, was turned
in by the jury in the batch of indict-
ments handed in Just before their dis
charge today. The presentment also
scores the members of the Common
Council and other city officials
for neglecting TO force Forman to turn
in his monthly reports as required by
law.
Affairs at Overbrook Asylum also
came in for a large share of attention
nv the grand jury and in it's present
listing unler the present dual manage
ment are deplorable Lack of har-
mony and cooperation. apparent jeal-
ousy between the medical and execu-
tive departments and conditions that
will surely result in detriment to the
institution as we'll as to the inmates
health and welfare of the inmates.
The jury also strongly recommends
the appointment of contemporaries
commission to handle the affairs at the
Overlook Asylum and thereby taking
the operation Of the asylum out OF
the realm of politics.
1t is pointed out tnat court-appointed
commissions have worked well IN the
building of the City Hall. the Court
House and in other cases.
The Public Service Railway Company
comes in for rap for reckless speed
maintained in Springfield avenue, It
is pointed out that three deaths have
: resulted on the avenue recently and
, that in every instance ii has been