The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-11-08

the two Cinnamon that on the night of
July 18th, some persons whose names
are unknown to the grand jury, hurled
some stones against the windows of the
building kept by the Cinnamon, and
otherwise disturbed the peace in that
neighborhood, that the next day, July
Is, persistent rumors were aioat In the
township that on that night a number
OF parties would go to the building and
proceed to clean out the establishment.
and that as a result, in the evening OF
that day, large number of people,
many of whom were women and chill
dren and attracted undoubtedly through
curiosity. began to assemble in the
neighborhood of the building referred
to.
1t does not appear that there was any
organized movement to do any damage
to the property or individuals and
nothing In that nature was done, so
far as the evidence shows, except
some people used violent and profane
language. 1t would seem as if the local
authorities could have prevented the
formation OF the crowd had they used
every effort to do so at the beginning,
but as the number of persons Increased
they were unable to dispense them.
Some people were of the opinion that
the local authorities were unwilling to
do anything and really sympathized
with the objects which caused the people
to gather, but we find no evidence of
this. AS the people remained in the
neighborhood, and the local authorities
fearing an outbreak, the Sheriff was
called to disperse the crowd and pre-
vent any disorder which might arise
by reason thereof. He assumed charge
of the situation and appointed number
OF deputies to assist him in preventing
any disturbance. He had no badges,
uniforms or weapons with which to
equip the deputies and the people had
no means of knowing who the deputies
were. except as they would be informed
by them.
The sheriff read the riot act, as pre-
scribsd by law, to the crowd and called
upon them to go to their respective
homes. They did not 60 and after wait
ing short time a fire hose was OBJ
talned and attached to fire plug and
water was turned upon the crowd, which
resulted In their retreating to a safe dis
lance. This angered the people very
much and many threats were made by
them. and the Sheriff as well as his dep
uties were subjected to many insults.
The sheriff wisely refrained from using
firearms or resorting to more active
measures, and finally for the safety of
the two Cinnamon, conducted them to the
county jail, after which the crowd dis
pei sed.
The evidence that has come before Us
has been in the abstract rather than in
the concrete form. Owing to the excite
ment at the time, the witnesses cannot
recall to certainty but a few names
OF persons that they saw and recog
nized in the crowd. At times, there
were personal encounters between
parties in the crowd, and with the ex-
ception of a very few cases, their names
are unObtainable. 1t is impossible to
secure the names of the persons who did
actually make any trouble for the Off
GERS in charge.
1t also appeared that some stones were
thrown at the building, particularly
in the rear, but we have no evidence
as to who actually threw these stones.
1t seems that the whole proceeding was
disgraceful and calculated to diminish
the respect which all persons should
have for the law, yet we do not find
that the purpose which actuated large
majority of the people who were present
and in the crowd, were there for the
purpose of disturbing the peace, but
largely out of curiosity and desire to see
what would be done.
1t is matter Of regret that the oc-
currence should have been so widely
published, which undoubtedly created
the impression that the matter was far
more serious than it really was, and
brought disrepute to the township and
the county. We might add that the
evidence shows that in the crowd of
people were a large number of good
citizens who did no wrong and meant
no wrong and undoubtedly now regret
being there and apparently participant
ing or sympathizing with those who
were inclined to prevent the officers
from maintaining order
1t also appears that the two China
men referred to left the township the
next day and have not returned since
Previous to the night mentioned, there
had alan hQQn off he
character of the house which the China
men kept, some alleging that it was q
disorderly house. We find that the
Sheriff had had the house under sur
veillance for some weeks prior and had
endeavored to secure evidence as to al
legged disorder there. On one occasion
he applied to justice of the peace for
a warrant upon which to raid the prem
ises, but the justice did not think the
evidence was sufficient to issue a war;
rant and declined to do it. While we
realize the weakness of human nature,
and know just how easily feeling may be
engendered against persons by rumors
and statements, yet there was no justi-
fcation for any of the people who con-
gregated on the night In question, and
that the situation did not develop into a
very grave one is matter of congIatu-
lation to the township. After a very
careful and thorough Investigation of
rounding the case. we do not find that
the evidence is sufficient to find indict-
ments, but we do think that the evil
dence at hand discloses a situation
which should be frowned upon by all
good citizens. Had we had evidence
of specific character. whereby with
certainty, we could name the persons
who were urging deeds of violence or
melting others to do so, we should not
have hesitated to find indictments.
We would strongly recommend that
the freehOlders provide the Sheriff with
sufficient badges, uniforms and weapons
so that hereafter. should there be any
occasion for that official to be called
upon to quiet disorder. the deputies
can be properly equipped so as to be
designated and known as officers and be
respected accordingly. We do not be-
lieve that there would have been any
difficulty had the Sheriff been able to
equip his men SO that they could be
| designated, and many of the alterations
which resulted between parties in the
| crowd and the deputies themselves were
caused by the failure of the deputies to
be known as such.
In other matters called to the jury's at
tention seventeen indictments were re-
turned as follows:
George g. Dennis, Mount Holly, as
saulting B. Willard SholI, of Company
E, while in the performance of military
| duty; John Lynn, Mount Laurel, ste l.
| ing chickens from Catherine A. Werner;
| Everard Horner, Willingboro, neglect
of family; Eli W. Brown, Riverton,
atrocious assault on Harold Brown
Emmett Lawson, Cinnaminson, assault
/ ing Isaac Dobson:, Solomon Teitleman,
Harry Doe and John Ewing, Palmyra
| five indictments for the Illegal sale Of
| liquor; Frank E. Shaw, Louis Heberty
Chester, seven indictments for illega
sale of liquor.
After he had approved the final a
counts of several estates in the Orphan
Court. on Thursday, Judge Horner toe
up criminal matters.
Attention was first directed to a ca
presented by William A. Slaughter, cou
ty probation officer, which had referen
to Douglass Fisher, of Retreat.
From the report submitted 1t was show
that Fisher, for frequent violations of t
conditions under which he was parol
and sentence suspended, had spent t
past twenty-three days In the county ia
and the court felt sorry that such prise
, ers could not be made to work thel
Fisher had been placed on probation |