The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-08-10
'CONNOL[Y'S COMPLAINT.
Testimony Of the Alder
men as to Why He Did
Not Get His. License.

Charles J. Roe, as Supreme Court Com
missioner, took testimony this morning
on the application of James M. Connolly
for writ of certiorari to remove into.
the Supreme Court for review the action
of the Aldermen in refusing to give him a
license for a saloon at Monmouth street
and Railroad avenue. William H. Speer
and Robert Carey appeared for Connolly
and John NJ Queen represented the city.
City Clerk O'Donnell was the first wit
ness and he testified to the action of the
Aldermen in refusing the license and the
subsequent proceedings in connection
Herewith. In reply to questions by Coun-
sellor SSpeer, Mr.. O'Donnell said no re-
monstrance had been filed against the
granting of the license. The Board, he
said, never filed any reasons for refusing
license Mr.. Speer asked him if he re-
membered the case OF Michael Reddy of
No. 217ls Washington street, whose appli
cation was refused. Mr.. Queen objected
and Mr. Speer dropped that line of ques-
tioning
Continuing, Mr. o'Donnell said he re-
fused to take. a second application for a
license from Connolly because he had no
authority to do so.
to reconsider the refusal three Alder
men asked why the license was refused
but no one answered. AS far as he knew
no remonstrance against Connolly had
been filed with the Excise Committee.
Aldermen Dittmar, Cookson, Murphy,
Mcbride and Farrell comprised the Ex-
else Committee. Aldermen Mcbride,
Farrell 10th and Ehrhard were liquor
dealers. Alderman Murphy was a bar
tender. Only a few applications includ-
ing Connolly's, had been refused this
year. Remonstrances were filed against
two saloons, yet they were licensed.
Mr. Speer asked Mr.. O'Dannell if he re-
membered the case of man named Tiet-
jen. of No. All Summit avenue, near
Alderman MuIler's saloon. Application in
this case was refused Mr.. Speer asked
if he had heard that it was refused as
a joke.
Mr. O'Donnell said that he heard it was
a joke. Mr. Speer conducted his examina-
rolled the city clerk. He objected to Mr..
Speer's manner and the young lawyer
smoothed him down.
Alderman Charles NJ. Fichtl, the next
witness, said when the attempt to recon-
slider the refusal was made he went to
several Aldermen who voted against Con-
but none of them could tell Even City
Clerk O'Donnell would not tell.
Alderman Erhardt. who is himself sa-
| loon keeper could not tell and Alderman
Ritter said he did not vote because he
did not want to vote wrong. Erhardt
eventually had to admit that he had to
Witness Ritter testified that he should
not let politics go so far because,
when man was elected Alderman; he
should be the Alderman of the whole
/ people and not of any parity
Alderman Dittmar testified in the same
strain. He too. tried to get some infor-
nation as to the reasons the Aldermen
had for refusing Connolly a license but
could get no definite information
James M. Connolly was the next wit
ness. He told how he had applied for
a license and had been refused. He said
that he had always conducted an orderly
place and there had never been COM
plant against his saloon He said that
Alderman Murphy came to him ana warm
ed him that he was on the wrong side
of the house, politically, and If he did
license.
Alderman Maxwell said that he knew
nothing against Connolly until last fah
when he read in the public print that his
saloon was resort for repeaters and
colonizers. He denied that he had any
definite knowledge upon the subject and
say He denied that he told the Excise
Committee of the Aldermen that he would
produce proof that Connolly's place was
the resort of repeaters and colonizers.
He denied that anyone had told him to.
vote against giving Connolly a license.
Witness Maxwell said that Connolly did
all he could to defeat him when he ran
for Alderman last spring.
Mr. Speer hen asked witness if he did
not run behind the ticket. and. Mr..
Queen objected.
Witness denied that he made UP his
mind to get square with Connolly. This
was all he had against Connolly. He
admitted he did not know whether the
men arrested in Connolly's place were ac-
quilted. He denied that when he ran for