The New York herald., 1877-10-14
BEER AT THE BAR.
MoRRIsTowN's INDICTED SALOON KEEPERS TO
BE TRrED-AN UNUSUAL LOCAL EXCITEMENT
IN NEW JERSEY

MoRRIsrowS's INDICTED SALOON KEEPERS TO
BE rRIED-AN UNUSUAL LOCAL EXCITEMENT
IN NEW JERSEY.
MoRRIsrowx, N. j., Oct Is, 1877.
The long contnued battle between the temper.
snce men and the beer and liquor sellers OF shis city
which has been carried on for several years past
promises 10 be brought TO a conclusion, every such
seller except tho propretors OF the four licensed ho-
tolls, having been this week indicted by the Grand Jury
OF the county
The crusade against beer and liquor selling gained such
strength some four years ago that the Common Coun
ell refused to license the usual NUMBER OF saioons As
consequence the rejected continued SELL rely
Ing partly on the lack OF and decision tho
Council aud partly Oh the influence which they might
possess to save them nom punishment State
law provided that the county courts should have
no power to punish offenders for tho illegal OF
malt liquors in any city having laws In force for regu-
lating tho sale Of the same, and therefore long
the various Common Councils were either too tmid
or too polite TO punish such offenders the Illegal sell
ers counted upon immunity for their offences and
kept along in their business And resulted, Tor
In no single instance was there offender punished
undor the ordinances compelled close up
licensed and illegal business Al last tho Common
Council resolved, under advice Of their counsel.
Lawyer Pitncy, to rescnd all their ordinances which
provided Tor the punishment Of illegal beer
selling and thus, as they supposed, transfer back
to tho county courts the right TO punish the
offenders. Accordingly in April, 1875. an ordinance
was passed. repeating all existing ordinances or Soc
tons oil ordinances which provided means Tor punisn-
ing Illegal beer selling and then tho Council waited
It's oars and stood by to the innct the pun
shment which tncy unable 10 do Encouraged
by this tho temperance people sent spies INTO the
more beer sellers nave been indicted. Beng
generally poor men they did not contest tho charge
but pleaded guilty ana dned or imprisoned, or
In some casos both, at the discretion Of the Court.
NEW PROSECUTIONS.
Up TO this summer least ono beer saloon had
been so favored TO license, but the present
Common Council refused to renew It. Tue proprietor
Mr. John X Piper, continued to sel, and no with
number OF others were therefore arrested, take be-
tore justice and held In bail TO action OF
the Grand Jury. That body met last week and IRON
the complexion ot its members II was supposed that
none OF the illegal sellers would be indctcu several
liquor dealers the Grand Jury, ana ts
was n well known holel keeper ana whiskey dstillcr.
II was Therefore with no little asonshment that the
nnoun ccmen was heard that not only were the ar
rested beer sellers indicted, but also several Others
whose long immunity from arrest had led tho pubic
into the belief that tncy were privileged. What traLs
pres Grand Jury Is supposed 10 be matter oil Tho
sricest secrecy, Du some strange stories are aoa
10 tho before mat body. IL is stated that the
Dut the proof was positive against certain that
their indictment couid not be avoided tnat when
the ice was once broken general charge upon all fol-
lowed.
OFFICIALS AND JURORS BEFORE THE BAk
Morristown mas well known private boarding
house known as the Park House, and IN wing OF the
building was well filled barroom kept by tho OF
the proprietor A license has frequently been refused
70 this bar but was an open any person
whose homer could be recd upon 10 keep his mouth
shut at the right time could have all that no re-
CURED This bar also came IN Tor share OF Grand
Inr n Inn unt Iha nna PHI inns
not only testified that ho had drank and paid for liquor
there, but had also Witnessed the public prosecutor OF
tho county do the same thing. During inns time tho
prosecutor aiding the jury forrot
out these illegal liquor sales. and his feelings
Jury also pointed out having been patrons OF
the house. To mako long story short, the Park
House proprietor was also numbered with tho indicted
ones.
4 VIGOROUS DEFENSIVE FIGHT.
But now comes the peculiar part oi tho anar. Tho
indicted have secured capable counsel and pro-
pose TO ngnt tho matter to the utmost Among their
counsel Is said TO be ox-Stato Attorney General Vanaa
and your correspondent called upon hun ior
only indicted Tor Illegal beer selling have
excellent defence, as. according to his view, the
effort 10 place the punishing OF offenders the hands
OF the county courts Tho State law OF 1872 provides
Tor the punishment Of all offenders who shall sell malt
liquors without cehse but IN Us last clause It pro-
vides "rhat the provisions OF this act sha not apply
to Incorporated townships or cities in wnich laws are
Will OBSERVE" said Mr. VaEata, 'that the word
regulating is used, not 'punisning' Now, II you
will turn the Ordinances OF the Com
Council you will see that whilc they repealed all
ordinances and parts thereof which fixed punish
mcnt Tor illegal sellers they retained the power TO
license and 10 regulate. They still have the power 10
license ana stick 10 that, and IN their license ord
they have sections regulating how the sales
shall be made, the hours OF opening and closing and,
In fact pertaining to licensing except to say
how and wnat punishment shall be inflicted upon
those who disobey. II Is plain TO me that the courts
and have not jurisdiction IN these The
Morrstown Common Council continue 10 exercise the
right grant and regulate licenses and still they
woke right the law OF 1872 says that tho
shall not interfere WITH"
Such condition at present Of the beer selling
business in Morrstown, ana the trials OF those In
dIcled, which take place on the 29n inst, looked
for with great interest There will doubtless pc a
closely contested fight and imposing array OF
sell