Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-24
BY DUKE WELLINGTON.

does not occasion any surprise among
those who have known of the condi-
tions existing for long time past.
1t was only a question Of time
until some set of jurymen got tired
of the treatment given them and
made a decided kick either to some
civic body as the present jury in
tends doing or by petition to the
courts.
As far back as two years ago at
| tention was called in this column to
| the utter lack of accommodations for
| jurors not actually engaged in the
hearing of cases at the Court House.
At that time the jurors had the
motion court room on the top floor
wherein they could loaf when not en-
gagged in the trial of cases.
When the juvenile court was es-
tablished that room was taken from
them and with it went the last spot
| in the courthouse that could be
used as resting place by the jury
men. At present they have no place
to wait calls to serve on juries ex-
cept in the corridors of the Court
House.
The Door ventilation of the court
rooms makes it imperative that no
more people be allowed in the differ
ent rooms than is absolutely neces-
sary. For this reason the judges
have issued orders that jurymen not
engaged in the hearing of cases can
| not occupy reats in the court rooms.
The panel of petit jurors numbers
125 men, and of that number never
over sixty and seldom over thirty-six
men are engaged in actual service.
The remainder can do nothing but
stand on the stone-flagged corridors
| of the Court House, leaning against
an equally hard stone baluStrade or
| find seats on the stone stoirway.
| AS a matter of cold, hard fact, there
| is not spot in the Court House now
open to idle jurymen that is not
constructed of stone, Do you blame
the poor jurors for putting up kick?
Now that one set of jurymen have
taken the matter up. and unless the
plans miscarry, will place the treat
ment of citizens called to serve as
jurors before the Board Of Trade, 1t
is likely that agitation for better ac-
commodations for jurors will be taken
up by each succeeding body and life
made so burdensome for the Board or
Freeholders that speedy steps will be
taken to remedy the condition. At
the best, any arrangement that can
now be made in the Court House will
only be a temporary one.
What is needed. and needed just as
soon as it can be provided, is an ad-
dition to the court house. Every office
in the building Is crowded to the limit
now and the condition is growing
worse daily The site for an addition
now owned by the county. the tri-
angular plot bounded by Springfield
and Thirteenth avenues and High
street, is not deemed available for an
addition to relieve the court house.
What the freeholders are figuring
on is buying a large plot on the west
side of High street. Immediately back
of the present building, and there
putting up a large hall of records. as
we'll as moving at least some of the
court rooms from the present build
ing to the new one. The triangular
lot mentioned above cost the county
$3.50, 600 a few years ago and was a.
good investment, as it can be sold
now for greater sum than the price
paid. ez ~
Some time ago, six months or more,
steps were taken to arrange partial
remedy for the lack of accommoda-
ton of the jurymen by planning to
place a row of benches around the bal
ustrade on the top floor corridors.
This would provide seats for probably
100 persons, but as yet no sign of the
benches have appeared 1t is under
stood plans have been drawn and
accepted for them by the building
committee of the Board of Freehold
ers, but that seems to be as far as
as the matter has got to the present
time.
Witnesses called in civil and GRIM
inal trials have the same trouble as
the jurymen, as they are not allowed
in the court room until the cases in
which they are interested are actually
on trial. The only resting place they
have is in the corridors. They are all
under subpoena and dare not leave the
vicinity of the court room. If they do
and are called as witnesses they are
liable to fine for contempt of court
for not appearing.
Assistant Prosecutor Wilbur A.
Mott made funny slip of the tongue
in examining q witness before Judge
Edward C. Washington the other
day. Where were you 5born?" he
asked the witness and received the
reply Gin Louisiana"
How old were you when you were
born?" was Mr.. Motifs next question
and he looked surprised when wit
ness, court and jury burst into a
hearty laugh"
IN NaLuTdl1ZdIlOu CouIt last L uSS-
day Judge William p. Martin was
taking a hand at examining would
be citizen who was having his trou-
bles explaining how the United States
and the State of New Jersey were
governed
"Who makes the laws in Washing
ton" asked Judge Martin.
1.-THE White House and the Senate"
was the emphatic reply of the appli-
cant. The man was given six months
longer to study up on government
conditions.
| At that his answer was not such
an awful lot out of the way when
you come to analyZe 1t.
The fact that John B. Coffey, con-
victed on Friday in Quarter Sessions
Court before Judge Harry V. Osborne
of assault and battery, with intent to
kill, is liable to a longer sentence in
the Trenton State prison than that
meted out to former County Engineer
| George F. Drum for the deliberate
Staying of Policeman John 7. Nc
Donald, caused some comment when
1t was discovered after Coffey's con-
viction.
Coffey shot man named Pack
| wood, but the wound did not prove
to be fatal one, hence he could only
be tried for assault and battery, with
intent to kill. The maximum PEN
/ in prison and fine of $4,000. or
both.
| Drum was found guilty of man
slaughter, and the maximum sentence
o ~. .uRoxsO ourNrNry