Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-07-01
Attorney General Asks Justice
Kalisch to DisquaIify At.
Iantic City Official.
SAYS NAME ON ROLL BOOK
IN HIS CARE WAS ERASED
Sheriff Johnson Denies ACCUSE.
tons and Says Testi-
mony Is False.
Especial to the Newark ssar.l

MAYS LANDING, July l.-Disqua1i-
feation of Sheriff e. L. johnson as an
unfit person to empaneli a grand jury,
the calling of a special court term and
selection of a new grand jury by either
one of the roners of Atlantic county
or elisors appointed by the court we're
requested this morning by Attorney
General Edmund Wilson.
Justice Samuel Kalisch dismissed the
old grand jury. announced a special
term for July Is, and said he would
either designate n OF h coroners
or appoint elisors to select a new jury
by next Thursday.
Sheriff johnson was attacked by he
Encouragement, because he tool the
registry books of two election districts
in Atlantic City from the office of the
county clerk after the grand jury was
in session, and when they were brought
back he alleged the check-mark in
front of Frank Bowers's name in one
of the books had been erased, Bowman
being one of the jurors drawn On the
May inquest.
1T is obvious from the previous mac
ton of grand juries in Atlanticcounty
over violations of the election laws
that a jury to do justice must be
| drawn by a disinteres.ed authority"
said Attorney-General Wilson. I'm my
opinion the present sheriff Is an unit
person to draw a jury for this special
session. According to the testimony of
| an employee of the clerks office before
the Macksey investigating committee
| Sheriff Johnson on or about January 10
took two poll-books from the office.
returning the same the next day.
Grand Jury Was Accused.
I'm these books appeared the name
OF Frank Bowman, a grand juror
charged by the newspapers with voting
twice. When the books came back
the check mark opposite his name IN
one book had apparently been erased.
/ have two a~ffidavits that show con
clusively these facts, but owing to the
fact that publicity would %endanger tbs
makers to personal injury, I desire
| that these ~aff1dacits be withheld from
filing.
81 do not wish to charge the sheriff
with criminal conduct, which is a mat
ter for a Jury to investigate. but I wish.
to emphasize the fact that he is not
impartial.
Attorney John westcott. for Sheriff
johnson, denied the facts as to the
taking of the poll books. and Deputy
Clerk A. C. Abbot toll the curt that
he could bring numerous witnesses to
prove the statements were absolutely
untrue. 1t was said that every m
ployee of the clerks office, numbering
q score, have testified in private in de-
NAL of the story of Thomas Stewart.
the clerk who said Sheriff Johnson
took the poll books: and the county Of
ficiais and friends of the sheriff are in
dlgnant that no opportunity was given
him to refute the charges made on the
strength of Stewards testimony before
the committee.
Sheriff Johnson admits taking the
| books. as has been the custom for
! years, before the meeting Of the jury
to select a jury list, and says w
is mistaken in his recollection of the
date.
Mr.. Goldenberg INTERCEPTED the COURT
as to the trial of two men chargeE
with election law violations who haVa
been in Jail since last January and de-
manded to be tried. Justice Kalisc1
said he would investigate and notify
the prosecutor when to move the cases