The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-28
CITIZENS Indignant.
They Call on the Excise Com
missioners to Resign.


Among the One Hundred and Thirteen
Citizens at the reeting Report Of the
Special Committee Appiauded, and Very
Strong Resolutions Adopted-A Lonely
/ "Kicker''-PIans for Future Action Report,
Resolutions and Discussion.
Tuesday evening was very stormy. but
a large attendance of representative citi-
zens characterized the public meeting to
hear the report of committee and plan
further action in the Conway license
case. Among the one hundred and thir-
teen who were present were noted Rev.
VIM. M. Hughes, D. D., Rev. Albert
Erdman, D. D.. Col E. l.. Dobbins.
VIM. R. Eaiie, DIR. Fayette Smith, L. o.
Stiles, A. L. Lunbeck, DIR. Vaughn, |. R.
Pierson, James P. Sullivan, John
Thatcher, J. E. Stiles, J E. Parker. F.
DeCoster. J. S. Hall, Wilbur F. Day,
G.. Melick, Geo. Grove, E. T. Caskey,
J. H. B, Coriell, W. F. Day, Jr., Geo.
Harry, T. B. Ironside, ]. Conklin, Rev.
S. 2. Batten, Rev. NormanlFox, D. D.,
II. M. Dalrymple, Rev. T. l. Coultas,
D. D., Patrick Farrelly, E. A. Carrell,
Rev. K. Twining, D. D., Rev. G. E.
Morris, DR.. Jas. Dustan. Rev. DIR. Erd-
man presided and I. R. Pierson served as
secretary.
| And all were thoroughly in earnest.
Throughout the entire length of the meet
ing there was spirit of unity, 6rmness
and strong indignation, combined, and
the closest attention was paid to the
reading by DR.. Twining of the report of
the special committee appointed to urge
the revocation of the Conway license.
This report is printed in full on page 6
of the CHRONICLE. On vote of the meet
ing sincere thanks was rendered to the
committee for its labors and to Alfred
Mills, Esq. for legal service. The re-
port was signed by the committee as fol-
lows: Kinsley Twining, Patrick Farley
and John Thatcher. A committee
was then appointed to bring be-
fore the meeting proper resolutions for
action, the chair naming the committee
as follows: Col. E. L. Dobbins, Fred
erick G.. Burnham, George E. VOORHEES,,
E. A. Carrell and 7. B. Ironside. The
resolutions offered by them are in full as
follows.
Resolved. That we have listened With regret
and Indignation to the facts recited in The re-
port read to us tonight; regret that men who
have heretofore borne a good name in this
community should have shown themselves SO
false to the trust committed to them and SO
Indifferent to the welfare of the people among
whom they live; Indignation because after
h tod
man who was under indictment for keeping
a disorderly house. they should commit a
further outrage by refusing to revoke the
license after he had confessed himself guilty
of the crime for which he was indicted.
Resolved. That it Is the sense of this meeting
that the members of the Board of Excise have
forfeited public confidence and shown them
selves unworthy to hold the solemn trust
committed them.
Resolved. That we therefore call on them to
resign that trust and make way for commits
sioners who will recognize the obligation Of
permitting and securing the enforcement of
law and good order,
The resolutions were adopted by de-
cisive vote, but not without general dis
cussion and fair attempt to bring out
the excuse or reason, if any, which the
commissioners offered for their action.
Rev. DIR. Hughes said the men should be
given fair opportunity to explain their
action. DR.. Twining and others said
the commissioners had been approached
in every possible way. but would make
no explanation save the weak attempts in
dicated in the report, their particular de-
Tense being the plea that Conway would
get nothing for his license fee." ''They
have not even devils advocate, said
DR.. Twining, and DR.. Fox strongly en-
dorsed the remark. Facts were brought
out that DR.. Macnaughtan and others
had interviewed the commissioners per-
sonally, with like satisfaction, or lack of
satisfaction.
The vote on the resolutions was unani-
nous save for one weak '.no,' finally
traced to Michael Riley, who, becom-
ing uncomfortable, arose and protested
against the using of the word ssguilty''
when Conway pleaded non vult, which
''did not confess guilt Thereupon,
there was free expression of righteous
indignation. DR.. Twining said the law
on that point had been carefully studied
by the committee and the committees
counsel, that the Conway's plea of non
vult was confession of his guilt, that
every term in the report and resolution
was particularly correct, and the matter
was well understood by the lawyer who
drew the report mot a young man or
pettifogger, either"
Col. Dobbins explained the difference
in the pleas and said that Coaway's plea
was practical plea of guilt. and char
acterized the statement of Riley as 'sa
reflection of a lack of common sense on
the part either of the audience or the
man who made it.
Mr.. Riley said no more.
A very general discussion was also had
as to the effect of the resolutions and the
further action of the citizens, also on the
question of requesting the Board of AL
daryr1n1, tn abolish tho Evoica Cso,4,1,,;s