The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-05-27

vult contendere, which was accepted
Then Senator Robbins entered into an ex.
PLANTATION of the manner In which Hilton
had conducted his part of the business
Like the others Hilton was shown up as q
man with little knowledge of financial af-
fairs and it was argued at great len 9Th
that there was a large chance that there
had been many mistakes in tbs bills that
the Road Commissioner had put in. Some
of the items were for telephone calls, re-
pairs to automobiles, etc., and there was
question whether the accused was not
allowed to collect on that score. True,
the Board of Freeholders had increased
his salary from 81, 200 to $500 with an
explanation noted in the minutes of the
Board that the extra $500 was for expenses
connected with the automobile, but there
was rule of the Board which was some
what confusing, and under this 1t was a
question whether Mr.. Hilton had not the
right to charge for the items mentioned.
Mr. Robbins frankly admitted that Hilton
could not afford to conduct the Office he
held at the salary paid him. 1t required
too much of his time away from his other
business aud led him into expenses which
he could not afford to bear. But whether
he had or had not right TO make the
charges referred to, he would make resti-
tuition in some of the items mentioned In
the indictment. One voucher Senator
Robbins referred to as "lamentable
blunder," but excused it on the ground of
the lack of ability for clerical work on
the part of Mr.. Hilton. The Senator
could not understand how the defendant
could have 81. 100 to 81, 600 on hand and
not know where it belonged. 1t certainly
was very careless. He then took up sew
eral items and explained how the over
charges might have occurred, but he ad-
mitted that there was 81, 388. SO that should
go back into the treasury, and he gave
check drawn to the order of County Col
lector Pine for that sum. There were
items amounting to $500 which might BE
explained, but until they were satisfac-
torily cleared up that amount would be
deposited with the Prosecutor, to be held
subject to final determination.
Senator Robbins said he did not believe
Mr. Hilton had taken this money with
criminal intent. He referred to the fact
that this entire affair had been a great
punishment to his client aud called the at
tention of the court to the suffering that
would be put upon the family of the de-
PENDANT if he was severely punished This
causedJudge Horner to remark: sSenator,
you and | were in the Legislature for six
years, and we never were able to devise
any method of punishment that did not
fall heavier on the family than on the per-
son on whom it was visited" This was
admitted, and Senator Robbins wound up
his speech by saying there had been much
venom injected into this matter. So far as
Hilton was concerned he was POLITICALLY
ruined, and would be compelled to step
down and out.
All the lawyers admitted that the de-
PENDANTS must relinquish the office of
member of the Board of Freeholders
This was In accordance with an act of the
Legislature, passed In March. 1t reads as
follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and General
Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Any person holding an office, elect
i've or appointive, under this State, or any
county or municipality thereof. who shall
be convicted upon, or who shall plead
guilty, non vult or nolo contendere to, an
Indictment or allegation charging such
person with the commission of a mis-
demeanor or high misdemeanor touching
the administration of his office, or which
involves moral turpitude, shall forfeit
such office and cease to hold the same
from the date of such conviction or entry
of such plea as aforesaid
2. Ii the conviction against such officer
be reversed, he shall be restored to his
office with all the rights and emoluments
thereof from the date of such forfeiture;
but pardon shall not have such effect.
3. This act shall take effect immedia-
tely.