Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-28

ATLANTIC CITY. August &-''ShaIl
the laws Of the state be obeyed?" is the
question Gov. Fort put up to Atlantic City
yesterday.
At the SUMMER capital" Sea Girt. the
governor issued a startling proclamation.
declaring that, il need be, he will order
out the militia to enforce the laws against
selling liquor on Sunday. against gam
bling and other vices.
He declared. in so many words. that the
moHey-making greed here has blocked the
laws ordinary machinery, that three
members of the county's grand Jury.
whom he named. own saloons here and
wfllfully violate the law, and that other
grand jurors sympathize with them.
Grand Jurors Defy Governor.
On the heels of the governors procla-
nation another sensation was sprung at
Mays Landing, the county seat of At
lantic county, when the grand jury abso-
lutely refused to obey the courts in
structions to return indictments against
Thomas w. .Trenchard whom Gov. Fort
asked to sit with the county judge, was SO
angered by the grand jury that he in
stantly discharged 1t with a severe repri-
mand.
Then Foreman Joseph Salus declared At
lantic county's independence of the states
laws. He posed as Ajax defying the Jer-
sey lightning.
The grand jury's foreman is president of
the Business Mems League of Atlantic
City. He retorted, speaking as coolly as
had the judge.
The governors proclamation ran:
''The sheriff has made no effort to en-
force the laws relative to selling liquors
on Sunday. The chief of police will make
no effort to enforce those laws or the laws
against gambling and immoral houses and
lewd women unless SO ordered by the
mayor. and the mayor refuses to SO order.
Therefore. /, as governor OF the state. pro-
pose to see that the laws are enforced. and
power to remove delinquent officers and to
otherwise enforce the laws.
May Call Out Militia.
Two methods suggest themselves as
a remedy when the officials refuse and
the courts Of law are powerless to pun
ish the wrongdoers.
First, call out the militia and police
the city with soldiers and close up the
illegal places by the military arm of the
state. This amounts to declaring mar
tial law.
Second, call the legislature together
to grant an appropriation to cover the
cost Of the military in case Of its being
called out or to enact legislation to
place the drawing of all turies in the
hands of an Independent commission.
duty, and also to authorize the gov
ernor or the courts to remove, after
hearing, officials who willfully and posi-
lively refuse to do their duty.
IF a successful effort Is not made by
the officials and citizens OF Atlantic City
to enforce the Sunday law against the
sale Of liquor, beginning Sunday next,
August 30. 1 hereby by this public state
ment notify the citizens OF the state that
l shall, forthwith. issue a proclamation
calling an extraordinary session OF the
legislature of the state"
Three Indictments Found.
The grand jury was in session at Mays
Landing when the governor Illuminated
his proclamation there. Justice Trench
ard took his seat on the bench with
County Judge Higbee. County Prosecutor
Goldenburg was reinforced by Assistant
Attorney General Gaskill. The grand
jury filed in and handed up three in
dictments, two OF tin-hOrn gamblers: one
of q woman.
Said Justice Trenchard coldly:
Il notice that you have not presented
any indictments for the Illegal sale Of
liquor Sunday. The assistant attorney
of the county have informed the court
that they have placed before the jury
evidence which justifies indictments in
such cases.
LAS no indictments have been found.
this seems to be an indication that this
grand jury has failed in the performance
of it's duties. The court is forced to say
that, considering the instructions of the
court the state of the law and the evil
dence presented, you grand jurors have
failed in the performance OF your duty
and have violated your oaths to the state
of New Jersey.
You are discharged for the term
without the thanks of the court