Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1915-02-09
STR|CkER FOR
SINGLE TRIALS
FOR DEPUTIES
viii Mean Twenty-six Trials,
Perhaps Fifty-two, if Strick-
er Wants Separate Action
for Each Strike Deputy.
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

| Special TO the EVENING NEWS. i
New Brunswick, Feb. 9:-Accord-
ing to reliable information former
Assistant Prosecutor Joseph E.
Stricken, OF Perth Amboy, counsel for
the twenty-six deputies indicted for
murder In connection with the strike
riots at Roosevelt, will move to have
each defendant tried separately This
motion will be made on Justice James
j. Bergen's first appearance in this
city. Although Mr.. Stricken remains
retfcent as regards the famous case
In which he represents every one of
the twenty-six defendants, it can be
stated almost positively that the
state will be required to present the
case against each man separately. Mr..
Stricken is out of the state on legal
business, and will not be back for
few days. Upon his return Prosecu-
tor w. Edwin Florance will confer
with him on the question of proce-
dure, etc.
May Mean Twenty-six Trials.
There has been much speculation
whether or not Mr.. Stricken would
allow the blanket indictments to
stand, and defend the twenty
men in one trial. 1t Is every Defend
ants privilege to be tried separately,
if he 50 des1s4 Joxfu Il now appears7
that Mr.. Stricken will make an effort
to bring this about. 1t means twenty |
six murder trials for Middlesex coun-
ty, without break between them,
and, also, possibility of fifty-two
such trials. Each man was indicted |
twice, for separate offenses. If the
juries return verdicts of acquittals it
is unlikely that the cases will be
pressed ON the second Indictment.
There is also the likelihood that Mr..
Stricken will agree to have each man
tried on both indictments at the same |
time.
Trials May Last Year.
1t is almost impossible to compre-
hend the amount of work before the
lawyers, jurymen and justices inter
ested In this case. AS murder trial |
occupies the best part of a week.
that is, an ordinary murder trial-it
can be readily seen that the twenty |
six trials will take at least that many |
weeks. If the state calls the one
hundred witnesses who appeared be-
fore the grand jury, and the defense
has about a like number, each trial
would take days and days. 1t took |
the grand jury eight days to digest |
the evidence submitted by the wit |
nesses called. Procedure in court is |
slower than in the grand jury room.
One man has guessed that it will take
a year to dispose of the famous mur- |
der cases,
Justice Bergen has not stated when |
he will come here to hear the men |
plead. When that is done it is usual
to set date for trial. 1t is not even |
known whether the trials will be held |
in the temporary court room in the
county office building or larger
chamber secured. The remodelled |
court house will be done about April !
l, which is only matter of a few |
weeks distant. 1t will take Mr.. |
Stricken more than one night to work !
up the case for the defense, and it is
possible that the first trial |
will not be heard until next month.
Meanwhile the imprisoned deputies
are confined In the county jail, on an |
offense, willing away their
time enjoying" checkers, cards and |
pastimes.