Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-02-22
CHARGE POLITICS
IN INDICTMENTS
OF HUNTERDON CO.

3cDildfQt ) Cdliuiud It, OHtIiH iloi~
combe, according to Large, vas com
rosed entirely of Gebhardt men. What
the citizens and taxpayers of Hunter
don county object to-" said Mr.. Large,
lis that Gebhardt should control the
offices of judge, prosecutor and sheriff.
other attorneys of HunterdoN county
would have little show In court, he
said. to secure trials il the Judge we're
Indebted to Gebhardt for his appoint
ment. Furthermore, Gebhardt seeks to
have a clerk in his W Office, whom
he would expect TO control. appointed
prosecutor
"A man under a cloud continued
MIR. Large, should be a poor adviser
to the Governor in appointing a judge.
especially when that man is attorney
in so per cent Of the damage suits
brought in the county and is said to
have so per cent. contingent interest
in Zach case that he brings."
Gebhardt is said to have made ap-
proximately forty political speeches
last election in behalf OF Sheriff Hol-
combe, who was elected by a scant i2s
majority. The unusually small ma
iority was credited TO the feeling
that Gebhardt should moi have control
of the office of sheriff.
Having gotten contro of the sher-
ilf.' said Mr.. Large. IF he is Their able
to get the Governor to name a judge
and prosecutor with the control of the
jury, the avenues of justice would be
completely lin Gebhardt's control
Since the April term OF court 1906
Gebhardt has figured in twenty-five
successful damage suits here in which
his clients have obtained yerdicts ag-
gregating S9e. 9Go. In the Office of
Sheriff floicomoe. directly above his
desk, is a large picture Of Gebhardt
handsomely framed. Marcus T.. Glazer.
a deposed principal OF the public
schools. whose position was defended
by Gebhardt, was made clerk of Sheriff
~Holcombe's jury, and David Fl. Agans,
The twice defeated Gehhardt candidate
Tor Assembly, was made foreman Of
the jury.
In speaking of the present grand
jury. Henry Martin Voorhees,, former
member Of the County Tax Board.
said:
While | have not talked with any of
ihe jurymen Of the Gebhardt grand
Jury vet the streets are full OF reports
which seem To have foundation indicat-
ing that the action of the majority
VAS malieiously Vicious
Speaking of the indictments. Voor-
hees said; 1T is apparent to everyone
that these indictments are the very
worst example of s~pitework and are
meant to injure the regulations of gen.
tlemen who have opposed Gebhardt po-
litically. 1t seems that in the begin
ming no one was called to sit on the
grand jury who had not voted the Geb-
hardt ticket. and il was assumed that
they would carry ont instructions to
the letter.
when the election cases were taken
up. however, and il became evident
that certain people had no intention
Of indicting anyone but political oppo-
nents. some of the more honest and
fair men rebelled and said that they
were opposed to making flesh of one
and fowl of another; that 1t was only
rank political persecution to indict only
political enemies and omit indicting
men Of the Gebhardt faction when
Gebhardt men did commit crimes.
''It is said that the cry of the mi
nority was be fair. Indict all or none.
And the split in the grand jury became
very great and loud and indignant re-
marks could be heard outside of the
Jury room as the better class of men
opposed unjust action upon the part of
the grand jury. 1t is said that As
sistant Acknowledgement Gaskiil, in
commenting uopn the Indictments
found in this county for using sample
ballots, said that the action of the
grand jury was outrageous"
Senator Gebhardt said:
81 say positively and definitely now
thai that letter suggesting jurors was
never written by me, nor signed by me.
IT is written on a letter-head formerly
used by me In my practise.
There are rumors that my signature
was affixed to the letter with my on
sent by my daughter. 1 say positively
and definitely that the signature is not
in the handwriting of my daughter.
Several of the names on the list
contained in the letter are OF men en-
tirely unknown to me. l have not the
slightest recollection concerning ans
such letter. II ! had anything TO do
with it I do not now remember it. and
I think ! should remerber 1t If I had
authorized it or sanctioned it."
xvii; you say that you did not n