The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-28
Jersey Grand Jury Disobeys
Courts Instructions to
Put Lid on Allan
tic City.
FORT MAY CALL ON TROOPS
Attorney Generals Office Says Gov.
ernor Has Authority to Garry
Out Threat Made Yes
terday.

Atlantic City, n j.. Aug. 27,-The
action Of Governor Fort in issuing a
proclamation to the people Of New
Jersey threatening 10 send troops into
this famous resort to enforce the state
liquor laws unless the people of At
lantc City observe the law caused a
sensation to-day among the residents
and the thousands of summer visitors
Close on the heels Of the governors
proclamation another sensation was
sprung al Mays Landing, the county
seat of Atlantic county. when the
grand jury absolutely refused to obey
the Instructions OF the court to return
indictments against excise yiolators
Justice Thomas W Trenchard, who
had been requested by Governor Fort
to sit with the county Judge was so
ineensed at the action Of the grand
jury that he instantly discharged Il
with severe reprimanl.
What the result Of the governors
proclamation will be remains to be
seen, hut 1t Is freely predicted that 1t
will be much more diflcult to pur-
chase liquor in this seaside resort next
Sunday than on any other sabbath in
the history Of the town. Some of those
who have been prominent In the pres
ent trouble believe the governor has
no authority to send soldiers into the
county unless the sheriff admits he Is
powerless to enforce the laws of tho
state. They point out that there Is M
rotlng. that the whole town Is order
~ and that business Is proceeding as
usual. Assistant Attorney General
Gaskill, who Is here assisting Coun-
~ Prosecutor Goldesburg in the ex-
Else cases. says the governor can call
out the troops although it is an un-
usual proceeding. The governors
power to declare martial law. he says
cannot be questioned.
Prominent officials and all the hoteI
men who WELD great influence in the
city decline to publicly discuss the
now turn OF affairs Some of the
smaller hotel men and saloon keepers
say they do not know what they will
do next Sunday but Will be guided by
what the mayor and the sheriff say.
The situation is in the control Of these
two officials, they say. and If they send
out word to close they will do so. II
Is claimed by county officials and the
people of Atlantic City are in favor oi
an open sunday.
The break between the county cour
and the grand jury is receiving more
attention than the proclamation o.
the governor. The controversy be
tween the court and the grand jury
Mtarted a week ago. Prior to that tn,
days here investigating the excis,
question. At the hearings of the com
mission Mayor Stoy. Sheriff johnson
and others practically told the investi
gators that they would not enfore tn,
excise laws because the sentiment o
the people was against them. 1t ais,
brought out that the grand juries o
the county refused TO bring indict
inents for the same reason. The evi
dence was so startling that II was i'm
mediately laid before the governor
who requested Justice Trcnchard {,
sit with Judge Highbee In Atlant
county and take charge of the matter
The grand jury was summoned las
week and brought in Indictment
against two alleged gamblers and ad
jonrned until to-day without consider
ink any excise cases. A hotel mayor
atty campaign has something to d.
with bringing about the present situ
tlon. Mayor Stoy Is candidate 70
reelection.
The Rev. u. d. Bonne. a member O
the states Crimes association. said.
'There'll be bloodshed in Atlanti
City yet II this thing keeps up. IT.
not such joke as some people seen
to think"