The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-04-21
The Hoboken Variety Show
man Goes to Snake Hill
for Six Weary
Months.
FOR THOSE SUNDAY CONCERTS.
1t Took the Jury Just Seven Min
ules to Convict After Judge
Lippincott's Bitter
Charge.

terday made to regret 1t. he was con-
victed of keeping disorderly house. His
theatre was declared to be a dive, and he
was sentenced to imprisonment for six
months at the Penitentiary at Snake Hill.
and to pay the costs of court.
Judge DAILY made hard fight to save
Cronheim from his fate. He had two ex-
Mayors, several Councilmen, two Police
Commissioners, and others to testify to
tine responsibility of Cronheim's place,
but in nearly every instance the witnesses
failed to give the evidence wanted. In
fact, they did Cronbeim more harm than
good. Cronheim was not asked to testify
by Judge DAILY. The little shrivelled up
dive keeper became smaller and smaller
as the trial progressed. and when Juoge
Lippencott delivered his scathing charge
to the jury. Cronheim shook and trembled
like an Italian greyhound exposed to cold
weather. When sentenced he broke down
and wept bitterly. His wife tried to
console him, but her own tears prevented
her words from having effect with the
dive keeper.
A LAME DEFENSE.
The evidence for the State was oil in at
two O'Clock. Albert Schiller Of No. 267
Bloomfield street had drank beer IN
Cronheims on Sunday, and Henry l..
Bark of No. 81 First street had also drank
beer there. Bark had been to the theatre
several times on Sundays. He paid for
the beer he drank, and others drank beer,
and paid for 1t.
freQuented Cronheim's Theatre five or
six times. Eacn time he noticed from 300
to 400 persons in the audience. The show
was q variety, and many in the audience
drank beer With this evidence the State
rested. Judge DAILY, tor the defence, in
formed the jury that he would insist that
Cronheim had not habtually violated the
law. He may have violated the law on
several occasions, but that this would not
constitute disorderly house IL not hab-
itual.
DR.. Samuel Heller, City Physician, who
lives at No. 81 Hudson street. which is
short distance from the dive, testified he
had lived there ten years, he had been to
Cronheim's several times, but never on
Sunday. Judge Lippincott here Informed
Judge DAILY that the Court would only
listen to evidence as to Sunday nights.
DR.. Heller said he never heard any noise
caused by the theatre.
EX-MAYoRS TESTIFY.
Ex-Mayor August Grassmann had been
to Cronheim's once about four years ago.
Ex-Mayor E. v. S. Besson said he fire.
uuently visited Cronheim's dive, but he
had not done SO on Sunday for two years.
August Bewig, Councilman. went to
the theatre frequently. but had not been
there for two years on Sunday.
Charles Kaufman, Police Commits
sioner, testified that he not only went to
Cronheim's, but he took his family with
him. He never went there on Sunday.
Martin Daab, Police Commissioner.
frequently went to Cronheim's, but never
on Sunday.
Factory Inspector. visited the dive on two
C,,d,y piphte laSr fall He saw a variety
performance.
George Green frequently went there on
Sunday night and took his children with
him. He saw variety performances,
drank seltzer and lemon, and did not see
any one drink beer. He saw walters dis
tributing drinks, but he did not know
what they were.
TILE CONSUMPTION THEORY.
Clement de Rolando Leonard, lawyer,
visited Cronheim's on two sunday nights.
The witness was an anxious onS, ana ne
hastened,to say that the entertainment
was given for benefit. Judge DAILY had
before this, and all through the trial,
claimed that the Sunday performances
were benefits and given for charity. Judge
Lipplncott repeatedly reminded him that
it did not make any difference as to the
cause, If the effect was the violation OF
the law.
"You say you were there twice on Sun
day?" said Judge DAILY.
Eyes, there was dement, on one oc-
casion for consumptive-"
'Stop right here" thunGered the Court,
"Judge DAILY, this must stop. This jury
is not going to decide this case on the
consumption theory if can prevent it. !"
"The witness meant consumption of
beer.n commented Prosecutor Winfield.
..Ihis evidence" continued Judge Lip
pincott. "is only given by the witness on
the theory that the jury mas not sufficient
Intelligence to distinguish between law
and sympathy. This must STOP"
Ibid you see any beer sold there?"
asked Mr.. Winfield upon cross-examina-
tion. =,
II saw something sold. don't drink
beer and don't know what was ordered (.
saw variety performance.
DE LADIES AND GENTS.
Solomon Weinthal frequently took
his family to Cronheim's Sunday nights.
He never saw any women ON the stage
in tights.
"De ladies all wore dere long dresses
and de gents were in full dress" said this
Cross examined: 81 never saw a
straight variety performance there.
l did see dancing, and hear music aud
singing. The ladies' wore long dresses,
they reached to the ankle; / did not drin
any beer or see any one drink IL; dlo see
Albert Decker, stage manager for
Cronheim said the performances given
Sunday nights at Cronheim's were called
concerts. There was singing, mnsic,
sketches, &c.. in the performance.
Cross-examined:--
"Why do you call a performance on
Monday by some other manner"
II don't knowT
'Perhaps." commented the Prosecutor,
sit is to avoid a suspicion in the minds OF
the people that the law is being vio-
lated"
perhaps il is"
"These concerts are somtimes called
sacred?" inquired the Court.
"Yes, SIR"
"Sacred to what?" asked Mr.. Winfield.
"To anyone who pays the money re-
quired to get in." daughter
That's what l thought" said Mr..
Winfield.
w. A. Sanders. leader of the orchestra
at Cronheim's, testified that during all
the timeshe had been employed by Cron-
helm he never saw trapeze acting or SPAR
ring in the dive: he never saw woman
in tights on the stage, aud he did moi
know how many performances had been
given on Sunday since 1890.
This closed the case for the defence
Judge DAILY made strong appeal to the