Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-07
FIRST GRAND Jury
UNDER NEW LAW
STARTS ITS WORK
Chief Justice Gummere Names
Joseph M. Byrne as
Foreman.

The first grand ju-y TO be sworn in
under ffie cffaficeilor- sheriff jury Law
will conduct its sessions with twenty
two members one less than the num-
ber prescribed by the law. The reas-
on for this Is that Wlnton c. Garri-
son, 79 Washington avenue and Ber-
nard v II. Schultz, Hobart avenue,
Short Hills, two of the men drawn
on the original panel are out of the
city and could not be reached with
notices to serve as jurymen. Mr.. Gar
rison at present is In Florida, while
Mr.. Schultz is in Europe.
1t is the first time IN more than
five years that "a grand jury has been
sworn in without the full member
ship of twenty-three men being on
hand. 1t does not, however, In any
way affect any action taken by the
jury as twelve members constitute
q working body.
Seated with Chief Justice William S.
Gummere on the bench when the April
term of court was officially opened
were Circuit Judges Frederick Adams
and Nelson V. Duncan, County Judges
William p. Martin and Harry V. Os-
borne, and Juvenile Court Judge Pat
rick j. Dolan.
After the jury had been sworn in
by County Clerk Joseph McDonough,
Chief Justice Gummere named Joseph
M. Byrne as foreman of the body and
delivered a brief charge, most of it
bearing on the necessity of the mem
bers of the grand jury keeping secret
what transpires in the jury room. In
1cIs, l.,
said in part "The court is not in
formed of any matter of such serious
Importance as to warrant instructions
at this time. II at any time the jurors
should desire any instructions the
court is always open for that puT-
pose"
The fact that the criminal business
OF the county Is so well cleaned up ia
a tribute to the December grand jury
that was discharged last Thursday,
after a term of duty last twenty
weeks. That body worked right up to
the time of its discharge and cleaned
up all matters pending.
In referring to the necessity of
secrecy the chief justice said: The
oath you have. just taken is a COM
pendium of the duties you have taken
upon yourselves. | shall only refer
TO the part in which you are exhorted
" Keep StNItL lllt HphiotA VI llo
State, your fellow men and yourself
1t has been a not uncommon thing
for outsiders To know of the secret
affairs of the grand jury room, and
there have been attempts Of outsiders
to influence the action of grand
Jurors.
Friends of men accused Of crime
do not see the improprlety of attempt
ing to influence jurors in their favor
They seem to think that the jury
room is the place where favors can
play some part. The attempt on the
part of anyone to have juryman
violate his oath through influence is
the destruction of the interests of
law.
"If this We're so, the law would be
administered in one way for the intiu-
entail man and In another for the
man without influence. 1t is boast
of New Jersey that all men are equal
and that all guilty men must be pun
ished. If influence of any sort enters
into grand jury deliberations, the
proper administration OF justice fails.
The grand jury properly administered
Is the protection of the innocent and
works for the punishment of the
guilty"