Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-21
FEW KNOW WHAT GREAT SEAL
OF ESSEX COUNTY LOOKS LIKE

from a member of the board yester-
day, who said, "Well, they have them
in most of the other counties" If the
board of freeholders of other counties
begin buying automobiles or high silk
hats for their members l wonder IL
the Essex board will feel constrained
to follow suit
The great seal of the county re-
poses in County Clerk Joseph Nc
Donough's office and is impressed on
thousands of documents monthly that
are handled in that office. All sum-
mons and complaints have the seal
on them, likewise all court orders
and exemplified copies of the same.
Commissions for various offices, cor
poration charters and partnership
agreements also bear the seal. In
fact, almost every paper on which
the signature of the county clerk
appears, has the seal impressed upon
1t. The little hand-pressed seal,
which is about twice the size of the
copy shown herewith, more than pays
for itself each month as the price for
afIixing the county seal to documents
ranges all the way from fifty cents
to 81.
Former Attorney General Robert H.
McCarter was responsible for a
couple of laughs in Orphans Court
yesterday, where Judge William P.
Martin was hearing the objections to
the filing of the will of the late
William Runkle, the Orange million
aire.
Mr.. McCarter was favoring the ap-
pointment of William E. r. Smith,
of Orange, a lifelong friend of Mr..
| Runkle's, as temporary adminfstra-
, tor, pending the legal battle over the
81, 600, 900 estate. Former Governor
John w. Griggs, representing Harry
G. Runkle, a brother of the deceased,
! who has filed caveat against the
probate of the will, wanted the Fidel-
, ity Trust Company named as tenn
porary administrator. UZal H. Nc
Carter, president of the trust COM
pany. sat almost directly behind his
brother, who was fighting with all
the vigor at his command, and that
is some vigor, it might be remarked,
against the appointment of his broth
er's company as handler of the
big estate.
After considerable argument pro
and con Judge Martin said to Mr..
McCarter: "If I should decide not to
appoint Mr.. Smith would you oppose
the appointment of the Fidelity
Trust Company
With a smile Mr.. McCarter turned
partly toward his brother and said:
"Well, you know blood is thicker than
water"
Mr.. McCarter was telling of the
necessity of having someone &C.
ouainted with Mr.. Runkle's affairs
appointed as temporary admins
traitor, as a large part, of the estate
consists of stocks and bonds. You
know stocks are f1uctuating very
widely these days. Indeed, many OF
us who go to bed at night thinking
that we have to make out an income
tax report on the morrow find that
when that time comes the necessity
for 1t is gone"
While this did not take place in
Essex county, we wonder what would
have happened If 1t had taken place
before one of the county judges who
are sticklers for decorum and dig
nifty in their courts. An 1rishman
was called before Philadelphia
Judge for contempt of court and was
fined $40.
The Irish gentleman Owed into his
pocket and pulled out roll OF bills.
plucked a SO bill from it and tossed
it on the judges desk. All the time
he was doing this he was Laughing
uproariously. What are you laugh
ing at?'' asked the judge in surprise
I'm laughing at the idea of SIC
bill expressing my contempt for you
And as the story goes the judge
| being a gentleman of the "Ould Sod
himself knew a joke when he saw
one and Joined in laughing with the
man he had just fined.