Pleasantville weekly press., 1909-10-16
JUSTICE TRENCHARD'S CHARGE
DOES NOT SPARE vIOLATORS

Justice lrenchards ScathIn9 charge to
the October Grand Jury follows:
There can be no excuse for failure to
enforce the law in Atlantic City. 1t
matters not what public sentiment there
may be. Certainly under our form of
government, where the people make the
laws, no condition can make the law
breaking defensible.
A refusal of the grand jury to ndict
all offenders breeds contempt for the ad-
ministration Of justice, which is a fore
runner of anarchy and tends TO the de-
struction of civil liberty.
When, in addition to refusal thus to
perform its duty the grand jury boldly,
in open court, defends law breaking, as
once happened here, it invites mob rule,
OF which | shall hereafter speak, l am
informed that there will be presented
evidence tending to show that the Mayor
of Atlantic City, head of the police de-
partment, after notice, has neglected to
performa his duty.
The law declares whenever the Mayor
shall be notified, by personal delivery to
him OF writing signed by the attorney
general that there exists in his city places
named where there is open, continued and
notorious violations of the crimes act,
by persons occupying such places, it shall
he his duty to take immediate and eff
cient measures by arrest, raid or other
wise to stop such violations and bring
the offenders to justice. 1t further pro-
vides that if the Mayor shall neglect or
refuse for ten days after such notice to
perform such duty, he shall be guilty
of misdemeanor.
If the evidence shows such notice and
such neglect or refusal an Indictment
should follow.
No individual is compelled to accept
public Office. But having accepted 1t,
and sworn to perform his duties as they
are defined by law or abide by such con-
sequences of non-performanee as the law
provides.
Sunday Ball is Scored
There will be laid before YOU evidence
tending to show that there is or was
maintained in Atlantic City an inclosed
place where Sunday baseball was per-
sistently played and exhibited, and that
it was continued after the players were
arrested and fined. Such habitual viola
tion of law makes the keepers of the
place and those m control guilty of the
maintenance of disorderly house If such
exhibitions result in an annoyance or
disturbance of the public, it is indictable
as a nuisance.
The prosecutor of the pleas will pres
ent to you evidence Of gambling in
various forms and in various places in
Atlantic City.
Much of it relates to gambling houses
conducted so openly as to be notorious.
The prosecutor tells me that he will ex-
hibit to you as evidence the faro and
roulette tables, the chips and other
gambling instrumentalities seized in raid
ing the houses. That he will show you
the actual money in large sums which
the gamblers were using in their play.
Such evidence will not justify, but re-
quires indictments at your hands.
In such cases all concerned are princi-
pals. Those in control. those who par
ticipate and assist and the owner of
the premises who knowingly rents them
for such use, and should be indicted.
Danger in Mob Rule
1t will also be your duty to investigate
a riot which occurred in Atlantic City on
the night of September IA last.
There will be evidence tending to show
that state detectives employed by the
prosecutor of the pleas in the stppres-
sion of gambling were mobbed on the
public streets by large body of rioters,
some of whom were armed with revolv-
ers and clubs. The prosecutors men were
purused through five city blocks by the
mob and finally sought refuge in their
hotel, into which they were pursued by
policemen who arrested some of them.
Many shots were fred and the windows
and doors of the hotel were demolished,
and young lady in nearby hotel shot.
The prosecutor tells me that the evil
dence tends to show that this mob was
melted and led by two members of the
Atlantic City police force.
When the attack is made by those
whose sworn duty it is to support the
government it is matter of gravest
import.