The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-21
GRAND JURY TOLD
To PLACE LOCK ON
ATLANTIC CITY LID
Supreme Justice Trenchard
Charges Body to Spare None
of the Offenders.
'URGENT AND IMPORTANT
WORK FOR YOU TO DO"
evidence of Many Open and
Flagrant Violations of
the Law"
"HAS CREATED A SCANDAL
MORE THAN STATE WIDE
Refers to Gambling and Some of
the Post Cards That Have
Been on Sale.
Especial to the Evening Star. ]

MAYS LANDING, Aug. q. The fight
against an open Sunday in Atlantic
City and county began in earnest today
when Supreme Court Justice Trenchard
delivered a special charge to the reas-
sembled grand jury. His charge was
not as drastic as expected. Part of 1t
follows:
been called at this time because, in the
Judgment of the court, there Is urgent
and important work for'you to do, and
the prosecutor of this county has evil
dence OF many open and flagrant vio-
lations of the law. several of which he
has disclosed in a published statement
TO the press He needs the aid of the
court and of this grand jury and tho
legal machinery of the State. and that
aid, to the utmost extent, the court pur-
poses to extend to him. He nesds also
the prompt and Jealous assistance of
the grand jury, because adequate pun
ishment cannot be had without indict-
ment
II have, therefore, called you In this
vacation period to give your services
fail him In the full performance of
your duty. Public officials of Atlantic
City and Atlantic county have lately
testified they are powerless to prevent
violations because tho grand jury will
not indict when the evidence is laid
before them. All this has created a
scandal more than Statewide.
"vicious Gambling."
"The prosecutor will now lay the plain
evidence of violations before you. II
80, It Is your duty to indict. 1t is not
for you to try cases or speculate as to
possible defenses; the defense will be
heard by trial juries, to be more
specific.
HE will also lay before you evidence
of gambling In its most vicious form.
Open and notorious gambling has ex-
listed for years In Atlantic City. Faro,
roulette, poker and other games have
been played for high stakes. In some
of those places both sexes have been
allowed. Some have been frequented
by whites, some by blacks. and some
by both. l do not deem 1t necessary
at this time to name names or places
Many have been named with great par
ticularity by the prosecutor in his
statement to the public press.
He says he has evidence of this The
laws of the State denounce as a crime
every form of gambling that will be
presented to you. In gambling cases
all are principals; those who assist are
equally guilty with those who control
and operate. The owner of the prop
erty is also guilty. You should indict
all, whether the persons In control the
player or the owner of the property
who permits the games.
You will indict regardless of tenn
porary closing whenever It has been
shown the property has been used for
gambling during two years past.
None should be permitted to escape,
no matter how influential or powerful
he may appear to be. 1t ought not to
be necessary for me to say more; 1t is
sufficient to say gambling is against
the law and that the law Is supreme.
All gambling is evil, without mitiga-
tion, and demoralizing and peril to
the community permitting it, Gam
bling must and will be broken up at all
hazards and to that end the entire
power of the State, If it must be, will
be furnished.
Bishops Law Violated.
/ can confidently assert gambling In
this county is not above the law and
that now or ultimately the law will
prevail.
Further, from testimony lately given,
it appears Intoxicating liquors have
been sold on Sundays and that the
Bishops law" is violated.
The evidence to be laid before you
will probably plainly show this to be
the common, il not universal, practise
in licensed places in Atlantic City 1t
is entirely unnecessary to repeat that
this also is violation Of the criminal
law that everybody knows. Holders of
licenses in Atlantic City have no spe-
cial privileges to violate the law. The
criminal laws are the same in Atlantic
City as elsewhere. The law is clear,