The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-07-29
NAILED The
COMM|sH'
John 0'Brien Caught by Law
and Order Men Selling
/ Liquor on Sunday.
WARRANT OUT FOR HIM.
Mayor Pagan Much "Grieved"
The Sort of Example the
Reformer Sets to the
Rum Trade. il
WARRANT OUT FOR HIM.

The troubles of Excise Commissioner
John O'Brien, which began shortly after
he gave up the quiet life of a saloonkeep-
er for the glory of an official career and
81 900 emoluments are increasing. A
short time ago the "Commish'' got into
hot water with the Street and Water
Board because an erratic water meter
in his Grand street saloon worked back
ward instead of forward, the figures on
the apparatus decreasing as the volume
of water which poured through it in
creased The Commissioner lost many
hours of sleep explaining that he didn't
know why the meter should cut upBsuch
caper and put him in the position
where people had an excuse for suspect
ing that he had tampered with the ma
chinery.
Now more trouble stares him in the
face, and he will have to do some more
explaining. This time he will do il in a
court of law.
Three or four members of the Law
and Order League spent several hours
on ( Sunday getting evidence against
downtown liquor dealers, visited the
First Criminal Court this morning. They
said that they were interested in an effort
TO have the excise laws observed and
were anxious to swear out warrants for
several offenders.
WARRANTS soUGHT.
julius G. Frank, of 33S Third street,
had a talk with Police Justice Hoos and
Clerk J. p. Mccormick, and lodged
formal complaints against these saloon
keepers
John O'Brien, Excise Commissioners,
Newark avenue and Barrow street.
{ Patrick Mc-Ardle, No. q Exchange
place.
Basford & Glenn, Exchange place.
Charles Reers, No. 45 Montgomery
street
The complaints set forth that the ex-
else laws We're violated by the sale OF
| Intoxicating liquor (beer) on the Sabbath
Day.
The warrants were turned over to Cap
| tain Cody, of the First Precinct, for
execution. Mr.. O'Brien and his alleged
fellow offenders will probably be arrest
| ed before the sun goes down. They Will
give bail for their appearance before
| Justice Hoos in the morning
THE EVIDENCE.
One Of the witnesses to the alleged
violations of the law which Mr.. Frank
says took place, was Robert McCrum,
| who accompanied the Law and Order
| League man to court.
Commissioner O'Brien's saloon on
| Newark avenue. which the complaint
sets forth was open on Sunday, is direct
| ly opposite the saloon of Mrs. Elizabeth
| Sanford, who was put out of business
1 by O'Brien and his colleagues, who have
| refrained so far from making public any
specific reason why they refused to grant
| her a renewal of her license. Mrs. San
ford says that she believes o. Brien work
ed to close up her place so he would have
q monopoly Of the trade in that section.
His receipts, it is said, have nearly
doubled since Mrs Sanford's license was
taken away.
The news that O'Brien was again in
trouble Travelled rapluly, anu SeSetdi
| people went on the still hunt for him
to offer their sympathy and volunteer
! to go on his bond.
The "Commish" could not. be found
by a Jersey City News" reporter.
VERY ANGRY.
1t was said that O'Brien is very much
provoked at the audacity of the temper
ance people in making marker OF him
when there are so many other liquor
dealers in town who will sell liquors on
Sunday.
The temperance crusaders, it is said,
claim that O'Brien should, in his capa-
! city as an official Of reform adninistra-
ton, act as a bright and shining exam
pie to his fellow saloonkeepers by clos
/ ing his barroonls and obey ing the excise
4 laws, which prohibit the sale OF liquos on
/ Sunday.
Mayor Pagan was much grievet over
| his Excise Commissioners perdicament
/ when the news was carried TO his Office
| this afternoon.
1t is rumored silat the sCommisa' has
expressed a belief that he would get
more fun out of living by retiring TO pri-
vate life.