The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-09-15
MORRIS GETS
THE PROBE.
Sussex and Warren Also In
CURED Into BY State Ex-
cise investigators.
RATHBUN TELLS OF EXCISE CASE

dU DoNef IOr Une questioning or officials
of Morris, Sussex and Warren coun-
ties. There we're present Commissions
ers F'iske, Backus, Appleby, Howe, Rice
and Smith.
Prosecutor Rathbun was the first
Morris county witness called. He read
a statement telling that from January
l. 1906, to the May term of 1908, there
we're eighty five excise cases consid-
cred by the grand jury, forty-five In
dictments found and forty cases
passed. OF those indicted thirty four
were convicted, five acquitted while
four ran away. One case was not tried
and another accused has not been ar
rested on account OF illness. The law
he said is generally we'll enforced and
lately he had been getting a list Of all
who pay government tax ia the county
including druggists. He believed that
in Madison the law was we'll observed.
with no selling on Sundays. He appre-
hended that there was some selling in
of the parts county with meals and.
could notsee why a man should be de-
MED glass of liquor with a meal ug-
less the sale is illegal per Sc.
He was complimented for his papes
on the excise law, Commissioners Fislxe
saying it was the best found in the
state In answer to question the
prosecutor said he had received infOr-
nation of roulette wheel at Mount
Arlington near the Breslin but no sell
ing there. He had acted before the
Governor. He had had intimations
that one hotel in Morristown was sell
ing on Sundays but had not heard OF a
row at Aliens on Nolan's Point on
Labor bay. He thought the beer arks
the greatest evil in the county and
thought that the law should be
amended so that having in possession
would be proof of guilt, also that all
sellers be obliged to take out licenses.
Judge Rice thought the Massachu-
setts' law which the prosecutor referred
to radical and puritanical.
Judge Mills said that there are IA
licensed places in twenty-four munich
palities, of which tine court grants 92.
There are II hotels of which the court
licenses So saloons number 26, nine
being licensed by the court 38 whole
sale licenses, seventeen by court
license and three clubs licensed by the
court in Morristown and township.
Judge Mills told of his practice in
granting licenses said the Bishops
law satisfies the people and they want
it enforced. The people oppose all
Sunday selling even with meals.
A letter from County Clerk Voor-
hees said there are no powers of attor-
ney filed and the applicants pay their
own fees.
Sheriff Shaw said he had never had
an excise complaint in the nearly three
years he had held office. Fines during
that time amount to S4,575. He made
no Investigations but acted on COM
plants. Mayor Fiske said Mount Ar
lington became good three weeks ago
but enquired as to conditions before
that. The Sheriff said he had no per-
sonal knowledge of conditions but
uinety per cent of any SUNDAY selling
was to guests. He was asked about
second offenders and pointed out two
cases where men had been sent to jail
for excise violations. In answer to in
terrogatories by Mr.. Backus he de-
clared that he conducted his Office as
an administrative Office and although
he considered himself the chief peace
officer did not consider the excise laws
called for his investigation. He had
no deputies nor means to employ
them.
He knew of no gambling at Lake
Hopatcong or of Illegal selling there
except as he had heard in general
way. He believed that the county
would go dry on test vote but Mount
Arlington would stand for Sunday sell
ing. OF the eight grand juries he had
picked but one hotel man, one distiller
and one bother in the whole number
Detective Brennan said he had made
some excise Investigations since taking
office. He was shown two BOTTLES pur-
porting to contain whiskey purchased
one at the Mansion House, Morris
town, and one at the U, S. Hotel on
Sunday, August %.
Chief of Police Johnson said condi-
tions are good in Madison. There are
two hotels, one grocery and one bot
tier licensed. Last year there were
l78 arrests for drunkenness and dis
order.
Mayor Bennell said that conditions
in Morristown are generally good and
he considered the appointed excise
board more satisfactory than licensing
by the board of aldermen.
Excise Commissioner Adam sad
Morristown has five hotels, five saloons
and nine wholesale places. The places
are segregated in the center Of the
town where they are under police over
sight. No back rooms have been
reported and the law is observed. He
knew Of no Sunday selling. When
shown the bottles he said he did not