Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-14
USED FLAG AS
ADVERTISEMENT;
HELD BY COURT
Spring Manufacturer Accused of
Violating Law by G. A. R.
Commander.

on a formal complaint made by Colo
with violating the laws of the State of
New Jersey by using a fac-simile of the
Stars and Stripes as an advertising me-
dunn, George A. Hebb, a spring manu-
facturer of $50 William street, who
was arrested last night, was today. ar
raigned in the First Criminal Court and
held by Judge Hahn in $500 bail to
await the action of the grand jury.
Colonel Mullikin and City Clerk James
F. Connolly, the latter State commander
of the Grand Army of the Republic.
we're 10th present in the courtroom.
Judge Hahn invited City Clerk Connolly
to sit on the bench while the case was
being heard, and Colonel Mullikin told
of the repeated warnings which had
beer given Hebb, all of which the latter
had ignored, even going SO far as to
scnd out some of h Objectionable en-
yeiopes yesterday, when he knew the
case would be on today.
In his defense Hebb pleaded ignor-
ance of the law, n exhibited a letter
from the assistant attorney general OF
the United States, dated April II, 1908.
Upon examination this letter proved to
be a letter from the aforementioned
official advising him to onsult a
lawyer. which Hebb admitted he had
failed to do.
The alleged violation of the State law
consisted in sending out envelopes in
exact facsimile of the national flag
and bearing in the lower left-hand cor
ner the following inscription: Return
in ten days to George A. Hebb, spring
manufacturer, $50 William street,
near station C. r. r. Of n. j. Hebb
was arrested last night by Plainclothes-
men King and Smith. of the First Pre-
cinct. and later paroled by Judge Hahn
for his appearance.
II developed that Hebb. though a
naturalized citizen, was born under the
British flag in Nova Scotia. Judge
Hahn asked him whether or not 1t was
allowed in Canada to send out en-
yelopes bearing a facsimile or the
Union Jack. To. this question Hebb re
plied that he did not know.
Judge Hahn in holding Hebb for a
stated that he was acting only as a
committing magistrate and that he felt
that substantial bail should be de-
manded as a lesson TO others who
might offend in like manner He also
later refused an application by counsel
for a reduction of bail.
When seen after h hearing, STATE
Commander Connolly said:
This ease cannot be given too mucn
prominence. 1t seems plain that Mr..
Hebb was fully cognizant of what he
was doing. as was shown by his refusal
to stop sending out the OFFENDING
envelopes, even after he had been sew
eral times warned. 1t is a matter which
the Grand Army has been trying to get
through for some time-the
putting on the books of a Federal
statute providing p~unishments In, just
such cases. SO far we have been unseuc-
cessful. but this is a violation of a law
of the State of New Jersey and should
be treated as such."A
In telling his story to the court Col
onel Mullikin was visibly moved when
he spoke of h flag n nearly broke
down as he pointed to his Grand Army
button, in telling what authority he
had to tell Hebb to stop mailing the
h~ag-covered envelopes. Colonel Null
liken is secretary OF the Society of the
Cincinnati and is also State adjutant-
general of the G. A. r. on the staff of
state Commander Connolly.