The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-15
SHERIFF WAS MAD
Boyden Accused of Black
mailing Saloonkeepers and
Compromising the
ToffeY Association.
EMPLOYED BY WARDEN MITCHELL
Told Liquor Dealers to Advertise
and They Would Not Be Pros
ecuted for Excise Violations.
EMPLOYED BY WARDEN MITCHELL

Sheriff John J. Toffey ascertained on
Saturday that liquor dealers in the north
section of the county were being black
mailed in his name and he at once
caused the arrest of the offender A
friend of Sheriff Toffey. living in North
Hudson, after telephoning to a dozen or
more places where he thought the Sher-
iff would be apt to be, finally reached
him at the Carteret Club.
This friend informed the Sheriff that
man named r. Boyden was visiting
the saloons. representing himself to be
the authorized agent of the John J.
Toffey Association and soliciting adver-
tisements for the official programme of
the outing the association proposes to
give ON July 81. Boyden. to obtain the
advertisements, would intimate. SO the
Sheriff's friend said, that If the liquor
dealer did not want any trouble con-
cerning violations of the excise law. it
would be well for him to advertise. The
Sheriff's friend knew Mr.. Toffey too
we'll to imagine he would permit such
O contemplate practice and therefore
notified the Sheriff.
To say that the Sheriff was angry
when he received this information is to
to have the fellow arrested. and this
was promptly done. AS soon as Boyden
was locked up he sent fort Edward Mitch
ell, Warden of the Jail. and a promi-
nent member of the John j. Toffey AS
sociation. Mitchell went to Boyden's s
assistance and secured his release on
bail, and then developed the curious
part of the story.
%tr7yT TrTH F
Mitchell had paid the association a lib
eral sum for the exclusive privilege of
furnishing the programme. He had en-
ployed Boyden to solicit advertisements;
but he says he never authorized Boyden
to make any representations to liquor
dealers or others. If Boyden attempted
to coerce liquor dealers he did SO with
out the knowledge or sanction of Mitch
ell.
AS soon as possible after Boyden was
arrested, Sheriff Toffey had an inter
view with Mitchell, who holds his office
at the will of the Sheriff, and told him
that his services as Warden of the Jail
would ! no longer be required, unless he he
nothing about Boydens blackmailing ac-
tions with the liquor dealers. Mitchell
protested that if Boyden had tried to
obtain advertisements from liquor deaf
ers by intimating that it would please
the Sheriff he had done SO without
Mitehells knowledge.
The interview of the Sheriff was a
business one and soon over. Today he
convinced Sheriff Toffey that he had no
knowledge Of what Boyden was. said to
have done, and he will retain his office
Bcyden, denies positively that he rep.
resented to any one that the Sheriff
wanted his advertisement, or attempted
to secure any by the use of the Sheriff S
name.
lbday when I saw Sheriff Toffey he
was still indignant at the Outrage" as
saERfFF s. ssainsF ToFFEY,s EXPLANATION.
"You see,'' the Sheriff said, II have
absolutely no connection with the asso-
citation, except that it is called after my
name and am a member. have moth
ing to do with the arrangements for the
outing. and absolutely nothing to do
ceived the information of the outrage I
caused Boydens arrest and subsequent
" saw Mitchell and l19s had u IS sharp arr con
vinced me that he was innocent OF
Boyden's operations. 7 have just written
to Aaron Baldwin, Chairman of the the
matter, and if you want it here it is"
The letter read as follows
Mr.. .BALDWIN's LETTER.
Dear Sir-I desire to, call your atten.
ton to a matter that has been brought
to my attention of parties canvassing
Of Of the le- outing of the John ]. Toffey As
sociation. From what | gather they are
eiation ard myself by their mode of Sc
curing these adverts ns9,ts n,.i, Of late e
from saloon keepers and using the name
Of the association and my own in such
manner as to bring. discredit on the
association and myself. thought fhat
tbis matter should be brought to your
attention and proper action taken.
Yours truly,
TGIIfr r TOFFEY