Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-05-26
BITTER LEGAL
BATTLE SEEN
IN CROSS CASE
Choice of Jury Takes Up Entire
Morning - Many ChaI-
lengeS
BIZ star Correspondent.


NEW BRUNSWICK, May 26-Evi-
dence of bitter legal battle was
seen here this morning when the Rev.
Francis Gross, pastor of the Church
of Our Lady of Hungary In Cortlandt
street, Perth Amboy, was again placed
on trial charged with melting the con-
gregation of his church to riot.
The choice of a jury took up the
entire morning session after Senator
Thomas Brown for the defense had
made two motions which were over
ruled by the court. They were mo-
tions to quash the Indictment against
the priest and for a demurrer.
William s. Newcorn, assistant at
torney general of New Jersey, who Is
prosecuting the case for the state is
asking each juryman as his name is
called, whether or not he has receiv-
ed of the pamphlets which the priest
has had published in which he sets
forth facts purporting to show perse-
cution of him by Hungarians of Perth
Amboy led by the complaining wit
ness, Louis Csipo and the editor of
the New Jersey Hirado, Arthur Reich
mann.
Juror No. 26. Frank Hart of this
city, asked to be excused because of
illness and his request was granted
by Judge Ruliff Laurence. of Mon
,...2eTA county. who is presiding at
the trial. tssae .a.st.. -
The state used up six challenges
and the defense nine. After two hours
work the jury was finally chosen.
The men are as follows:
John j. Williamson, retired, New
Brunswick.
John G. Hornsby, captain, Perth
Amboy.
Samuel w. Skirm, telegrapher,
Perth Amboy.
Abram RingeI, retired, New Bruns-
wick.
George G. Hendricks, retired, New
Brunswick.
Aaron Leppert, baker, New Bruns-
wick.
Harvey w. Brumagin, clerk, South
Amboy.
Harvey Castner, operator, Bound
Brook.
Edward Gamble, embalmer, New
Brunswick.
Edward Stems, superintendent,
Edwin Bartow, machinist, New
Brunswick.
Daniel Smith, watchman, New
Brunswick.
The state challenged Albert II.
Bran, clerk, Perth Amboy; Elwood
Brown, merchant, South Amboy; John
Cosgrove, foreman, South Amboy;
George jolly, pipe filter, Perth Am
Perth Amboy; Walter ]. Meagher,
contractor, Perth Amboy.
The Jurors challenged by the de-
fenss were: p. j. Ashley, retired,
Highland Park; Frank g. Boyce, mer-
chant, Milltown; p. e. Dixon, clerk,
Raritan; Willis Gaylord. salesman,
Woodbridge; Frederick Lear. clerk.
South Amboy; A. A. Paxton, retired.
Jamesburg; Nelson Petty. harness
clerk, New Brunswick; Charles White,
retired, Milltown.
Almost every man on the panel has
said that within the past two or three
days he has received. either through
the mails or otherwise, copies of the
pamphlet. Mr.. Newcorn used this as
the basis of his choice of Jury.
Mr.. Newcorn asked the Jurors II
they had received q pamphlet. If the
answer was IN the affirmative he ask
ed: Have you read it?" and If the
answer TO that question was in the
affirmative, he asked, "Have you
formed any opinion and is your mind
unbiased"
Senator Brown asked who the
states assistants were to be. At the
time, Chief of County Detectivef
Richard A. Peltier and County Court
Interpreter Stephen F. Somogyi were
with Mr.. Newcorn. The latter ex-
planned that Peltier was Assisting tho
prosecution at the latter's request and
that Mr.. Somogyi was also to be OF
assistance to him. They were both al
lowed to remain at the prosecutors
table The official court interpre-
ter for the trial is the court interpret
er from Essex county.
rryr- Aaf "
changed from the time. in January of
this year when the jury disagreed in
the trial of Father Gross. Judge
Ruliff Laurence of the County court
Of Monmouth is presiding in place OF
Judge Peter F. Daily who presided at
the first trial.
CONTINUED on page p