The New York herald., 1878-03-27
LAW AT LONG BRANCH.
The Efforts to Reform Some Of It's
Chief Inlquities.
IMPLICATED OFFICIALS.
Charges Against Judge Pitcher and What
He Says of Them.

The recent movement on the part of some of the
leading citIzons Of Long Branch reform the local
governments OF thai seaside resort has created quite
an excemeat among the old time residents and yes
terday representative OF Tho HERALD took tho
ing train Tor that place investigate the
gin OF the troubleH There wore not many peo plc
around The fashionable quarters, but up in the village
plenty wore found only 100 eager tell all they know
regarding tho history of the trouble
IL appears that for years past there has been
considerable dissatisfaction as To the
justice has been administered N the police
Long Branch, AZ no apparent effort has ever been
mado TO put stop 10 the many nuisances put in daily
practice SO long as tho sinners had money enough
Influence the officials npower. Incendarism ragged,
houses OF illfame hourished, banco players pursued
their innocent avocation and dsorderly rum shops
sold their poisonous Iquids with affective movement
being made toward enorciug tho laws Iu Iact, it
became a byword that any business. however no
farious could DO carried on PROVIDED the officials
"seen." Last season there several dis
orderly nights tnat originated In some of the grog
geries IN Dublin and Limerick, as the slums
the rear oi tre Manson and Ocean House
have been chrstened; and although there
was little pretence toward Furnishing the
principals nothlng was actually accomplished.
The banco players attred swells of the day, that
sauntered up ana down the promenades and cntccd
u
terry, wore molested, as 1t was understood they
had 'sccn" tho police justice, and the proprielors
Of the houses Of ill-iame ior slmlar
allowed unusual license These things rather grated
the of tho respectable portion Of the
munity, ANA feeling rapidly gathered strength that
something must be done.
MR. JOHN HoEY MAKES A MOVE.
A short time ago Mr. Chambern's stables
burned to the ground, aud the lire was evidently
the ork OF an inccndiary Mr. Jonn Hooy LOOK . lhe
guilty TO justice After careful investigation OF all
the testimony that could be gathered ou the matter
Mr. Hoey bee me atIsHed that one kavanagh, The
keeper OF low rumshop III the rear OF the West End
HoIei, was the guilty one: In order. however, 10
success nj issue he sont for Judge
Pitcher, OF the village poice justices. and asked
him TO give his cooperation IN bringing the criminal
10 justice The Ju dgc agreed to lend all the assist
ance in his power, and presently Kavanagh
rested aud lodged In Freehold jail AS 1t reported
that rnort Was TO be made 10 bail Kavanagb when
he was brought before Judge Scudder another charge
was preferred against him or burnIog the barn. and
Mr. Hoey instructed Judge Picner 10 bo on
hand at Freehold at the tine OF the examina-
,ion, SO than Kavanagh might be rcarrcsted. This
purt ol the programme II is stated Pcner failed 10
carry out, anu At last Mr. Hoey satisfied that
Instead oil aiding the punishment OF criinInais Judge
Pilcher dong all IN his power get them out Of
tho meshes oi the law He was also reported have
said that he believed Kavanagh was innocent and that
s inc o"s w r na .ss m drv
her husband was IN trouble. All these matters
appear to have raised considerable feeling against
Judge Pitcher and then people began TO talk OF other
matters IN which the Judge mad not appeared TO the
best advantage. His past record was looked over,
and notwith standing the iacts that he had been
Methodist preacher and bencher the House there
other eplsodos in his lie that did not snow
does rest solely with Pitcher but whole local
government, and there Is plenty OF room for I'M
provement
PITCHER IMpEAcHED.
As II was found nearly impossible 10 obtain justice
under the present regime, Mr. Hoey determined to carry
tho light to headquarters, ana prepared number OF
charges against Judge Pitcher for mateasance which
were laid before The Long Branch Commissioners.
This move created considerable excitement In tho
village, especially as it was reported that all the
JUDGES old friends ana assistants were desert
ing nim that there was a prospect OF his
having to stand an examination into his clical
conduct The Long Branch Commissioners received
the charges suspended Judge Pitcher and appointed
Saturday, March 90 rs the day on which MS answer
would be heard. copy OF the papers was served on
judge Pitcher on Monday. In legal circles, however,
there appeared to be some doubts TO whether tho
Long Branch Commissioners have any right 10
move Judge Pitcher. BY their charter they have tho
right TO appoint poce Justice for twelve m0ntns but
nothing is said that gives them the power to rcmovo
him.
FATHER wALsH's WORK.
In the meanw he Father Walsh was lending Mr..
Hoey willing hand IN this work OF publication. 10.
tnat he Branch was such very bad place alter all,
but there were some three or tour pesentlal holes
thai il was necessary to root out These dens mat
Father Walsh proposes TO nansh are rum shops OF the
lowest order, whose propretors exc out mis-
eraoie ex,stence during lhs winter and iallen
on the spos OF the summer. They arc
during the summer are patronized by the coachmen,
sabiemen, walters aud Others belonging to the sum
mer population. In these dlspensares OF vie
nearly every disturbance that has brought dscredit
Long Branch is said TO originate aud such Is tho
influence Of the proprietors through the they
control that The officials VIII do nothing close hem
up With this exception Long Branch is one Of tho
quietest and most orderly Towns in New jersey.
A PITCHER.
Judge PITCHER was AT homo yesterday in his resi-
dcnce IN the village when HERALD reporter called
TO get his statement as to the nature OF trouble.
hcJudge when he learned ol the reporters errand,
asked him into tho paror ami the following
ton eDsucd.-
REPoRrER-I have como 10 see If you have any
statement 10 make IN answer 10 the charges that have
been preferred a. ainst you.
Judge PircHER-l intend to make iull answer to
those charges ON Saturday, and / do not what
Can say now.
RKpoRrER-Wil you give me a copy OF the charges9
Judge PircnER--I 40 not any objection letting
you know wnat they are IN nearly ry tance
they are tru:nped up and Can easily upset them.
REPoRrER-Wi you tell mo the nature OF some OF
them?
Judge PITCHER-There are seven charges preferred
BY Mr. joan H0ey Tor maieasanco anu some OF them
are very ridiculous One Is thai visited KavanaGn
tine man who is charged with burning Mr.. Chamber
ian's stable) IN iail gave him private norina.
ton ol tue ,viaence against him. ana Interested my
sell IN procuring hs baii.
REPoRrkR-What answer will you give TO that?