The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-03-28
''WHY?"
SAYS MURPHY.
Chief Of Police Sees No
Reason for Anti-Sun-
day Liquor Cru
sade.
GRAND JURY BE -----D.
Poopoohs for the Present
ment on Crime Cannot
Suppress Craps or
Anything Else.
GRAND JURY Be I'D.

The presentments of the Grand Jury
handed up on Wednesday and published
yesterday caused great deal of comment
yesterday, especially among saloon men
those who permit gambling in their places
of business and patrons Of the same The
charge that police officials are guilty OF
either criminal ignorance or criminal neg
ligencer in not enforcing the law against
such places and the Sunday excise law IN
general has caused much Indignation IN
police circles, but The officials are reti-
cent about talking for publication.
All that President Tilden would say
was:-.s.So far ss know the laws against
gambling ef all sorts are being thorough-
ly enforced AS to violations of the Sun
day excise law, don't go into SALOONS on
Sunday, ard consequently know nothing
about such violations
Chief Murphy was equally as uncofa-
municative on the subject.
81 have too much to do.'' he said, to
waste time in discussing what fhe Grand
Jury says about the police. There is 10
question but that crime is being commit~
ted all the time but it is held in check
as we'll as we can hold it. When we get
information of violations of law we in
vestjgate them. A great many such cases
have reached the Grand Juryfthrough our
efforts"
'sWiIl crusade against Sunday closing
cf saloons be inauguratede' the Chief
was asked.
The only reply he would vouchsafe on
that subject was the asking Of the ques-
tion, "Why2.
The Chief refused to discuss the subject
any further.
That's all I've got to say he said.
Dr. McGili said
81 can only say that Where any viola
tion of law is brought I'd the attention OF
the Police Commissioners the Chief OF
Police is Immediately notified. Speaking
for myself, Individuality I always investi-
gate any complaint that is made to me
Of violation of law in respect to gambling
or any other crime-that is. If it is a
bona fde complaint. The Commissioners
cannot afford to investigate every anony-
nous complaint. Many such complaints
are received from persons who make wild
and absurd charges believe that the
city has been freer of crime during the
past two years than ever before in its
history Several notorious gamblers who
thought they were so thoroughly en-
trenched that they could not be brought
to justice were apprehended through the
efforts of the Board preceding the pres
ent one.
"As to violations of the Sunday excise
law" continued the Doctor, 1--WE cannot
send our policemen into the saloons and
make them drunk by testing and drink
ing liquor in getting evidence. They d
quickly tell the Board. if brought up on
charges of intexication, that they were
sent into the saloons and made to drink
by the Board kIf some of the good tenn
perance people viii get proper evidence
of Sunday excise violations we'll arrest
the offenders. The last Board was es-
Ipecially active in pushing the law against
the sale of liquor to minors. The mem
bers used every means in their power tc
enforce all the laws. The Board com.
pared favofably with any other Board in
the history of the city.
'aAs to crap shooting by boys, it is i'm
possible to stamp that out with our pres.
ent force, We'd have to have a mar
continually on every block