The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-10-22
Cont.

latter being a spectator. The following
answered to their names:
Harold B. Wells Bordentown City.
DR.. Jos. E. Stokes, Chester.
Harry Borden, North Hanover.
Rev. 7. Dugan, Florence.
William w Slack, Burlington City.
Edward H. Flagg, Jr., Riverton.
George f. Deacon, Bordentown City.
Edwin G. Davis, Lumberton.
George r. Abrams, Southampton.
William II Bishop, Pemberton Borough.
Aaron Styles, Eastampton.
Edward Warrick, Mount Laurel
DR.. e. E. Mount, Burlington City.
T. Percy Baker, Florence.
Charles F. Stevenson, Beverly City.
Thomas Reeder, Fteldsboro.
Willis ]. Buzby, Woodland.
Joseph Carter, Beverly Township.
John e. Morton, Palmyra.
Hiram II. Earnest, Northampton.
Andrew j. Keely, Mansfield.
Frederick Drink, Riverside.
Joseph p. Lamson, Bass River.
Albert +. Holloway, Chesterfield.
There was a misunderstanding about
the time the jurors were to answer, some
of them getting the idea that the hour
was 9 40, consequently there were but q
who answered the first call The others
came in later. AS only 80 were needed
the court excused Mr. Kelley, he being
the last to respond.
Judge VOORHEES, delivered the charge In
which he first referred to the responsibility
placed upon grand jury. He told them
that all have duties to perform as public
citizens and If they failed to attend to the
call of the authorities In times of necessity
they were ignoring the great principles
80 dearly bought by our forefathers. The
oath of the jurors was sufficient to remind
them Of their obligations. Above all
things their deliberations must be care
fully guarded and kept secret. Since the
last term of court there had occurred
death which might be brought up under
the charge Of granddaughter. A man was
shot and had died from the effects of the
wound. The shooting might have been
the result Of an accident or it might have
come from gross carelessness In the
handling of firearms which is not justif-
able. The death could not be put under
the heading of murder and it was for the
jury to discover the manner In which the
wound was inflicted and to render deci-
sion accordingly.
The Judge then took up the subject of
Investigating the charges brought against
the Board of Freeholders. He said the
consideration of this subject was In con-
sequence of report rendered by an
expert appointed by himself at the request
of number of taxpayers of the county.
The charges we're that In 1910 the Board
of Freeholders exceeded the appropriation
for the maintenance of the insane, and
that within the last Eve years, particularly
the last three years, had exceeded appro-
priations In general. There were other
charges that goods had been purchased by
persons not officially connected to the
asylum, the purchases being charged to
the county, property belonging to the
county had been shipped away to persons
not connected with the institution; rela-
tives of the superintendent had been en-
tertained at the county's expense, and
some other small items. These charges
the court instructed the jury to disregard
In fact. the court said. there must be
ignoring of everything that has occurred
more than two years prior to October
16. or the day on which the indict
ment should be found. as the statute
of limitations requires an indictment
to be found Within two years after
the commission of crime. The report of
the expert was accessible to the jury, be-
ing on file in the Office of the county clerk.
1t has been sought to make it appear that
the members of the Board of Freeholders
In the years mentioned had acted in a
criminal manner, by exceeding the sppro
priations, but that all depended upon the
statute which the jury was Instructed
to carefully consider. The crimes act was
referred to and that protion which applied
to the members of bodies exceeding ap-
was read. Following this
there was reference to a decision of the
Court of Errors and Appeals In which 1t
was shown that the construction of this
statute was that the total amount of APP
must be exceeded to make
crime.
The Judge then called attention to the
fact that, In making their estimates of
money to be raised. the board of freehold
ers must divide their sums into various
parts, one particular heading with sub
divisions. He also advised that there was
a law on which money might be taken
from one appropriation and transferred to
another, but none that would justify ex-
ceediDg the entire appropriation. He
plainly pointed out when and how money
might be raised for emergency cases, as
when bridges are washed away by fresh
cts, extra election expenses, etc. The
judge said there were many laws on this
subject which would have to be examined
and it would require very careful examin
alton of the statutes to determine how to
proceed.
The jury was cautioned against indict-
ing any one member of the board of free
holders unless 1t was clearly shown that
he had voted for matters that resulted ia
the exceeding of appropriations. To
settle this point the minutes of the board
must be examined and it must be ascer-
tanned how the individual members voted. |
One might have been absent or be might
have been temporarily out of the room
when the vote was taken. To indict on
the charges as presented 1t must be shown
that the member on whom 1t was proposed
to place an indictment had voted In the
affirmative on the proposition which
might make him amensble to the law.
Occupying three days in giving close
to large volume of business
presented for its consideration by Prose
cutor Atkinson. the grand jury finished
Its work on Friday afternoon and pre-
sented its findings to the court.
In all there were 80 indictments, there
being two and three against one person In
some cases.
The jury found no indictment against
the Board of Freeholders. which body was
accused of exceeding appropriations for
the past two years, and there was an indict-
nent against Frances Whorry. colored, of
Mount Holly. who shot and killed John