The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-23
THE TIP THAT DID IT.
John Hart's Chat With the
Mayor-Grand Jury
Kicking.
Preachers Denounce the Sunday
Saloon Evil, But Wanser Still
Keeps Mum.

No attempt whatever was made by the
police yesterday to enforce the law
against the opening of saloons and the
sale of liquor on Sunday. No pretence
was made by the saloonkeepers of OBJ
serving the law.
Rum held carnival from end to end Of
the town. II the police deny this, they
simply say what is not true. Every citi-
zen who was upon the streets at any
time during the day or evening knows
that the saloons were in full blast.
The rumsellers have got straight
tip that they would not be molested
by the police. Whiskey and beer
flowed freely. From Exchange
Place to the West Hoboken line, to Mari
on and Greenville the side doors of the
saloon were open to all comers, except in
few rare instances. A continual stream
of thirsty applicants surged In and out all
day without lot or htndrance. Occasion
ally side door was noted
that refused to yield to the pres
sure Of the door-latch, but in
such cases the denied applicant looked
up in surprise and walked away with an
air which seemed almost to say, well, II
can't get in here, 1 know plenty or other
places where I can. The applicant in
such cases appeared to have "Deen tnero
before' the same morning.
The virtue of the true old song, "If
you want to know (anythlng) ask po-
liceman," twas at a discount. Some OF
them were sure there were saloons OF
other posts with side doors wide open;
"But on my posti never |"
In one instance certain policeman
spoke the truth. There was but one saloon
on his post, and that saloon was certainly
closed. 1t was near church, whose op-
position. perhaps. alone Kept The propri-
etor from daring to open the same.
But the general reply Of the police,
that eyery saloon was closed down, was
simply gigantic unadulterated lie.
The concert saloons and gardens and
dives OF the Fourth district remained
closed however.
DEAD LETTER.
The police order for Sunday closing las
not been renewed since it was first given
on Saturday night some four weeks ago.
The police say it was meant for all time,
at lenst so long as It remained
rumsters had the straight tip and the
police returns of last Monday showed
practically no arrests for Sunday viola
lions. Therefore. all but the very timid
allowed their side doors to remain un-
fastened yesterday. Some of them
~~--N -
stances the outward evidence was SO
strong as to fully merit the opinion that
either the police had notified the liquor
dealers as whole that police host1llt1es
had ceased or that wholesale favorit1sm
was being shown.
ANOTHER CAUSE AT WORK.
The arrest of twenty-five liquor dealers
in Hoboken, Sunday, week ago, odd as
it may appear. had much to do with the
shameful state of things that prevailed
yesterday, both in Hoboken and this city.
This is how 1t happened:-
When the cases of the arrest ed liquor
dealers came before the Grand Jury that
body decided not to act upon them
until later. They singled out two or
three cases where an assault and battery
had taken place in connection with sell
ing rum on Sunday, and indicted the Of
tenders for the assault and battery and
laid the excise cases over Tor considera-
tIon later on There are number of
liquor dealers on the Grand Jury. and
they know precisely what Sunday Is
worth TO them in their business. There
are also several politicians on the Grand
Jury who are believed to be in sympathy
with the liquor dealers.
1t is said that when the batch Of Hobo
ken cases were added to those from this
city, portion of the Grand Jury protest.
ed that it was shame that these men
should have been arrested and others per-
mitted to violate the law at will. From
what has been learned. 1t appears that
the Grand Jury was willing to fndict the
men who had been arrested, providing
that all other violaters Of the Sun
day law should be brought before them.
Some of the Grand Jury denounced the
fact that in this city and in HoDoken GER
tain politicians who conduct liquor
business have been unmolested since the
crusade, while others doing business on
the same block were arrested. The
Grand Jury insisted upon fair play, and
District Attorney Winfield was asked how
it might be obtained and what authority
the Grand Jury possessed.
Mr.. Winfield's reply was characteristic.
He informed the Grand Jury that their
power was supreme, That they could do
Whatever they desired to do in the mat
ter. He was ask ed il Police Superintend-
ent Smith could be indicted for not clos.
ing up all places in the city, and Mr..
Winfield said he could be Indicted and
that the policeman on post could likewise
be indicted for allowing the saloons to be
open If he had received orders to close
them.
HENCE THE TIP.
When the Grand Jury learned this 1t
was decided to lay over final action on the
excise cases to ascertain how the police
would act yesterday. / was told yester-
day that the police had been informed of
this conclusion on the part of the Grand
Jury and that tho order to keep saloons
an excuse to the Grand Jury for not in
dieting those who hau been arrested. The
same authority said that if the crusade is
kept up the Grand Jury might
indict every liquor dealer who is detected
violating the law, Superintendent Smith,
Chief Donovan ana the policemen on post
for not arresting all violaters. and that In
addition TO this the Grand Jury would
demand rigid enforcement of the old
Blue laws and close up business OF all
kinds on Sunday.
Saturday night rumor was circulated
that Chief Donovan of Hoboken would not
permit milkmen, bakers. butchers, gro
GERS and newsdalers and others to keep
open yesterday. Many persons called on
tie Chief and made inquiries. They
ere greatly relieved when informed that
the police would not interfere with their
business. 1t was said also that the street
cars would be stopped. but the Chief as
sured the Company that this was not
true.
TIE COURTS ATTITUDE.
The lagraut attitude of the liquor law
In Jersey City and Hoboken yesterday
was called to the attention of Judge LIN
pincott BY reporter for The JERSEY