The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-08-28
SEE THE CHIEF FIRST.
A Hoboken Polieeman's Excuse
for Not Raiding a Disorder
ly House-Rieeo's Case.

The License Committee of the Hoboker
Common Council held it's third session
yesterday afternoon for the purpose OF
hearing complaints against the saloor
of Michael Ricco, at Fifth and Jefferson
streets. The committee began it's inves
tigation into complaints against various
whether licenses should b. granted tc
them. In every case the inquiry has
resolved itself into a farce and the com
plants nave been dismissed.
Ricco's saloon was objected to by
Chief Donovan, who charged that Il
was a rendezvous for dissolute char
acters. Counsellor Horace Allen, who
appeared as counsel for Ricco, convinced
the committee that the place was emin.
emily respectable and orderly. Police
man McKenna testified that GROWER
gangs made disturbances in the saloon
but admitted that he never heard oil
saw them. He declared that small boy
no higher than a billiard table, and eighI
years old, played billiards there. Then
when cross-questioned, he said he never
saw them play, but thought they did.
CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONY.
He ven in the saloon once n saw
a dozen boys, ranging in age from eight
to fourteen Years. clustered about bill
lard tables. and thought they had beer
| playing. He was convinced all along
thar Ricco was maintaining a disorder
ly house, he said.
Why didn't you arrest the man
them asked Chairman Capelli.
Because ! thought I ought to see the
Chief about it first" answered the cop
Police regulations were read to him
showing that it was his duty to arrest
the man upon evidence OF the bad char
acter of the place.
McKenna protested to be enlightened
by this Information.
He said notorious characters invaded
the place, naming such distinguished
| people as Piggy Hallisey, "Jiggy'
Lawler, Mary Grogan, Annie Brady,
Readay and siob" Lsawler. @Ail These
| people is 'teefs' and has done time !"
said McKenna. Ricco. McKenna con
tinued, stole a piece of silk from a Glove
proof of his bad character. Ricco latel
showed that the charge was dismissed,
and he didn't confiscate the silk.
viz H6h heina q r aeang Of cb bsa yenn fee W R1hacg
asked for evidence of that nature. he
could supply none, and said 1t was mere.
ly hearsay. He said women of bad
| character and thieves virtually lived
there; then changed his testimony By
| saying only occasionally did he observe
such people entering the place, and never
A sTABBING ARRAY.
A stabbing affray occurred on July q
in that locality, II the policeman de
clared it took place inside the saloon,
This statement was refuted by Ricco4
and James Valance, the stabber, who
swore that it happened in front of the
| saloon. Leahy said "growler" gangs Gre
ated rackets all day Sunday. They
Slid" through a back door, he said, and
should have been arrested. When asked
why ne didn't arrest them he excused
h~iriGself by saying he couldn't get
through the door, but didn't say why.
Ricco and several neighbors ali swore
| that the place was conducted on a le-
| gitimate M proper basis. The police.
men were %honorably excused by the
| committee and thanked. Captain Hayes
was anxious. for nc obvious reason. tc
have Ricco's license denied. Counsellor
Allen, in summing up, said it was ridicu-
lous to accept the testimony of the
police, because Of their frequent contra
| dictions. He said it was clearly shown
that the place was properly conducted
and it hould ave a license. AT this
| juncture Councilman Thinker yawned
and said he was tired and must attend
promptly adjourned until tonight, wher
it will meet in the City Clerks office.