New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-05
BLUE LAWS DID NOT WORK.
THOMPSON ACQUITTED OF SWEARING AT
A MARSHAL.
TIE LATTER ACTS AS COMPLAINING WITNESS
AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

TIE LATTER ACTS AS COMPLAINING WITNESS
AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.
Rutherford. May 4 Cspe claD.-The trial OF Will
lam Thompson q well-known business man.
charged In a complaint by Borough Marsna'
Phiander H. Johnson with the use OF profahe
language and with causing tumult on Suncay'
April &c. took place before Justice william ray
wood at $50 o'clock tonight. Johnson. after an
unsuccessful hunt for counsel, conducted inc
prosecution himself, while Thompson was de-
Tended by Edward j. Luce. The Borough Coun-
ell Chamber held an audience composed largely
OF Union Club men, who seemed 10 look upo"
the proceedings as d joke.
After the reading Of the complaint Johnson
testified that Thompson had applied vile name
to him In the course OF talk at Chestnut-st.
and Franklin Place which had arisen over tns
killing OF Thompson's dog by Johnson; Inc
Marshal. after being cross,exam'nsa by rosei
as witnesses The former could not remember
the language charged by the Marshal against
Thompson, and the officer grew sarcastic as ~
he had heard one improper word Both wiz.
nesses said there had been no passers-Dy ana no
disturbance ,y
Mr. Luce called no witnesses, and Justice Hay
wood after calling attention to the often dis-
agreeable duties Of the Marshars once, as
missed the case. observing II there nad oeen ~, :
saying that the Marshal should have known
better than to have spent even three minutes
in talking TO an angry man on the street. As
the verdict was announced loud cheer arose
| in the courtroom. which did not tend TO sootne
the Marshars feelings. and he made some pointeo
remarks about the case TO crowd OF men VINO
| did not seem to be sympathetic
| The trial closes an interesting incident IN the
| life of Rutherford's unique marshal MT. Tnomp-
son Is secretary Of the John Thompson Fress
| Comrany and has an Office in the Postal Tele-
| graph Building New-YOrk City. and IL we'll
| known member OF the Union Club OF Rutherford:
| He lived near Marshal Johnson at one time, ana
| then owned the Gordon setter dog. the deatn OF
| which led up to the trial. The Marshals ac-
| uuantance with the dog was supposed 10 DC
Fl, Sufficient for him TO recognize the animal In the
| dark. but that fact apparently did not prevrht
| the capture and destruction OF the animal. Inc
| next meeting between the owner of the dog ana
| Johnson on Sunday April 20. led TO an ih,er-
change OF remarks in the course OF which MT.
| Thompson expressed frank opinion OF the Mar
| shall Marshal Philander II. Johnson Is one OF
| the best known characters in Bergen county.
| He IL a Union veteran and has for several years
| pursued q troubled career as Borough Marsnai,
| having served under three administrations. HIS
| method of enforcing the dog ordinance results In
| continued protests from citizens but Johnson
| usually keeps pretty close to the law AT
| Grand Army campfire Saturday night john
| son caused a mild sensation by furnishing list
| ~ things which the veterans should combat tn-
| Guiding drink, tobacco, profanity ana SUNDAY
| desecratio