The evening world., 1895-09-30
JEROME warns
COL. FELLOWS. 5
Sharply Arraigns the Dis
trict-Attorney for His
Position on Excise.
IMDORsEs POLICE BOARD.
All laws on the Statute Book
Must Be Enforced, He
/ Declares.
DENOUNCES TACTICS USED.
Says Fellows's once Tried TO De-
feat Justice-To Lay II before
the Governor.
|MDORsEs POLICE BOARD.
DEN0UNcES TACTICS USED.
Says FeIIows's once Tried to De-
feat Justice-To Lay II before
, the Governor.


- the Court Of Special Sessions was
called to order to-day, attracted the at
tention of Assistant Attorney
Berlinger and then. addressing him.
said:
"Mr. Assistant District-Attorney: The
last session Of the Legislature OF this
State passed several acts designed to
remedy abuses as grave as any from
which q civilised community has sur-
fered in modern times.
by virture Of one of these acts. the
present Police Board Of this city was
created. and. under another. this court
came into existence.
THE now Police Board Is composed of
men who have shown that they know
laws. and they have the courage to do
10.
Excise Must BE Enforced.
Among the laws which they found on
the statute book when they took office
was the present Excise law. We ven
ture to say that there is not one of
, that Board who personally does not
, believe that the law should be changed
and yet they know that while II re-
mains unchanged by the law making
power. they would be false to their
oaths unless they enforce it. and they
! have made an honest and determined
4 effort to see that its provisions were
, observed.
In the past that law has not been
/ enforced except In certain instances.
| for political reasons and for blackmail
but they strove to give 1t an honest and
impartial enforcement.
. Prior to July Of this year their
EFFORTS were not very successful. But
on July this court came into exist
, ence. The Justices felt personally In
respect to this particular law very much
as the Commissioners Of the Board Of
Police. ..
To the Aid o: the Police Board.
Each and all of them believed that
It should be modified in some respects.
! but 1t was and il the law. and their
duty to see 1t enforced. and to uphold
the hands Of the Police Board in enforc-
Ing II, was clear.
This court made an effort to compel
obedience to the law by a series OF
penalties. Increasing as the weeks went
by. and as the public learned that the
authorities were determined to compel
obedience.
INSTEAD OF this result being attained
when the penalties inflicted began to
exceed those formerly imposed, there
was suddenly a determined effort made
10 deprive the action of the Police Board
and of this court OF any effect, by re-
moving excise cases into the Court Of
General Sessions.
Ridicuic Would Have Resulted.
I'VE pass over the determined effort
made by the counsel for the liquor deal
ers to block and delay proceedings OF
this court. The court met this effort in
way which rendered 1t Intellectual. If
these removed excise cases were to be
Treated every District OF
this county had treated them for ten
years the efforts of this court to have
the law obeyed would only have brought
1t into contempt, and the action of the
Board oil Police would have been the
subje It Of ridicule.
There existed a determined and or
ganized plan to defeat this law. and
the liquor dealers have themselves
charged that there was an understand
ing with the District-Attorney's office
that the removed cases would not be
vigorously prosecuted.
'Under the circumstances, 1t was no
longer question of the violation of a
law OF comparatively minor Importance
and one about the wisdom OF which
many Of our best citizens differed.
NuIliRcatiOn Over Again.
.Jt was nnlli6cation oyar o,,t l., .
comparatively small area.
1T was to be seen whether any body
OF men, however powerful politically.
could stand up and defy the law. The
answer came sharp and quick
"The Recorder of this county was pre.
siding In the only part OF General Ses-
sions then in session. and he had con.
rrol Of the Grand Jury. body that even
the District-Attorney did not dare to
ignore. The Justices OF this court COM
mun!cated the situation to the Record
er. and he conferred with the District
Attorney.
What took place at that time We ar,
not at liberty to disclose, but 1t may
suffice to say that the District-Attorney
did not respond in a very enthusiastic
way to the ideas OF the Recorder.
But this was not all.
''The Recorder summoned the foreman
OF the Grand Jury and explained mat,
tiers to him. The foreman and the
Grand Jury manifestly understood the
meaning OF an official OATH Indictments
were promptly found against those VIC
lstors of the Excise law who had re-
moved their cases to the Court Of Gen
eral Sessions.
Convictions Promptly Followed.
And now, Mr.. Assistant District-At
torney mark what happened!
Although there was but one part o
the Court of General Sessions sitting
and although 1t was said there wer,
many prisoners on charges of felon.
awaiting trial in the Tombs prison
the Dtstrict-Attorney Of this county
who makes UP the calendars for tn
Court Of General Sessions. promptl,
Daacsd these cases on the calendar AM
-.s1.z1a-- llia.-l1asaa .A a..s....i ~ !.