Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-09-05
SABBATH Decorators PUNISHED.
TweutY.seyen Sunday Riotors in Iail.

Tweuty-seven Sunday Rioters in Jail
Our readers will recall that early in the
season the citizens of Westville organized a
Law and Order League and had the mem
bers of the local fire company qualified as
deputy officers, for the purpose Of enforcing
a decent observance of the Sabbath in that
village. The peculiar necessity which
required this action was the conduct at
certain boat houses which have been erected
along the creek, from Timber creek bridge
to point several hundred yards up the
creek on what is known as the Plumm
tract. Aside from little trouble early in
the season the constituted peace authorities
have succeeded in preserving the peace
there without the active assistance OF the
League, until last Sunday, when the
efficiency of both the township and League
to preserve the peace was severely tested,
and the result proves that Westville posses
ses within herself the requisite means to
enforce the law even to the application of
force
There was ''party' at the Neversink
Boat House, the guests coming down as
early as Saturday night last.
The "party," composed of men and
women, spent the night in revelry, and
when others arrived Sunday morning, the
debauch was continued throughout the
day, until the residents could stand it no
longer.
The Law and Order League was notified,
and after witnessing the actions there the
deputies were called out, and a descent
made ON the place and all the inmates were
placed under arrest, though not without a
struggle, and all loaded into wagons and
brought to Woodbury.. Justice Barnaby
gave preliminary hearing and committed
the lot to Jail for further hearing at ten
o'clock Monday morning. The women
were discharged.
At that hour the Sheriff's Office in the
Jail was crowded with people, and Justice
Barnaby moved the case without delay.
Two of the crowd, Henry Smith and Chas
Beckley were brought from the jail, and
officer Davenport, of Deptford township
being sworn, testified that the whole party
was disorderly inside and outside the club
house, and when told they were under
arrest, defed the officer and his party,
even to the extent of bringing out and
tapping fresh keg of beer. He said they
had been conducting themselves in a dis
orderly manner since their arrival on Sat
urday night until six o'clock Sunday after
noon, the hour of their arrest.
Rev. Horace Webb, of the NJ E. church.
testified that complaint was made, and with
Rev. Martin and Constable Davenport, he
went over to see for himself When within
three squares of the house sounds of revelry
fell on their ears and when they arrived at
the house the scene was beyond description.
The language used, he said, was too vile for
about the yard and house in all states of
intoxication and lewdness.
Rev. VIM. Martin, of the Baptist church,
said the noises could be heard two blocks
away. The women were half drunk and
the men full drunk. They paid no atten-
ton to our party of three, so the deputies
were summoned, and much trouble was
experienced in making the arrests. These
men and women, he said, are a public
nuisance.
In their defense, Smith said some of the
testimony against the house was true and
some was not, neither himself nor Beckley
were there all night. The Justice imposed
fine of $11.50 on each, and committed
them to Jail until paid.
By twos the jewellers were conducted
through the iron door into the presence of
their accusers, and the Justice read the charge
of drunkness and disorderly conduct Otto
Bailor, George Milberger and John Dean
while admitting their presence with the
party, denied the charges, and their fine
was made $3.50 each; Fred Bross was so
drunk that he could not have been dis
orderly had he been so inclined, and as he
was AZ years old, and the head of family
of wife and seven children, was allowed
his liberty on payment of $3.50; the bal
ance of the party" twenty-three in num-
Der, were fined $11.5O each, excepting H.
Braun, who was fined $3.50 and Frank
Dautrich, $14.50, because of extraordinary
resistance to the officers
Herman Bailor, one Of the most pre-
posing of the party, admitted that he was
President Of the Club, whereupon demand
was made for his detention on charge of
maintaining a disorderly house. Joseph
W. Pratt, President of the Westyille Law
and Order League, said the Club was in no
sense respectable place. Upstairs it did
not look or smell like a house, there were
no beds, the chairs and tables were broken,
and the only provision for sleeping was q
few quilts ON the floor. 1t was disorderly
house and a nuisance to the neighborhood,
and if Indictment was necessary to secure
its termination that course would be pur-
sued. Bailor said he would terminate his
connection with the Club at once, and with
that understanding he was released on the
payment of $11.50.
The aggregate of the fines imposed was
$205, (some being reduced later. Several
were paid on the spot, but majority .of
the s'party'' were returned to the care of
the Sheriff to await the arrival of friends,
the last being discharged Tuesday night
Justice Barnaby has turned $136 over to
the County Collector.