Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-28
CRUSADE AGAINST
SUNDAY SHOWS
BEGUN BY POLICE

- a
will lock up the men Who are running
them.
I'm the first place. said the sheriff,
Il will send my own men out next
Sunday, and I'll not only close up any
theatre open, but I'll lock up the men
responsible-not in the police station,
but in the Newark street Jail. I am
mot doing this on snap judgment; | am
acting openly, fairly and souarely in
this matter, and I'm going to play the
game on the level.
IF they want to defy the law" con-
tinued the sheriff, that's up to them.
And I'm not going to direct my atten-
ton to the small places only, but to the
larger theatres-all alike. My counsel
Is to hold consultation with the prose-
cutor, SO that there shall be no delay
on the legal end of the matter"
In reply to queries regarding the sa-
looms, the Sheriff said that for some
weeks past he had not received any
complaints.
After my warning some time ago to
the police" said the Sheriff, they seem
to have done their duty on that score.
What ] am particularly after, how
ever" declared Sheriff Harrigan with
emphasis, ARE these so-called 'fxers.'
II ever l lay my hands on them, I'll
fix them-in the Newark street JAIL
1t is understood that the 'ixers' the
Sheriff refers to are men making a
practise of using alleged knowledge of
threatened prosecutions for gain
when the time comes" concluded
the Sheriff, "I1l get after any open
saloons that may be reported"
All the moving-picture houses and
theatres, with the exception of Wald-
mann's, the Arcade. the Newark and
those in the Second Precinct We're open
yesterday.
The charge cannot be made under the
city ordinance, according to Frank A.
Boettner, who is acting al counsel for
twenty-one of the local moving picture
who form the Moving Picture
Mems Protective Association, because
of the decision in the test case against
Martin Singer. The Supreme Court
ruled that the ordinance was defective.
Under the vice and immortality act,
commonly called n of the blue laws"
q fine of 81 is provided for each viola
ton n each charge will have to go to
the Grand Jury.
Each manager had protected himself
by getting a permit signed by three
elected justices of the peace permitting
moving picture shows to be open on
Sunday. They had obtained these on
the suggestion of their counsel. No
arrests were made and the per-
mits were not asked for by the police.
Those who had purchased tickets for
last nights performance at Waldmann's
were refunded their money by Mana
ger Lee Ottolengui.
Il learn from the newspapers that |
intend to defy the sheriff by keeping
Waldmann's Theatre open Sundays"
said Mr.. -O~ttolengui. This is incorrect.
| am not going to defy the sheriff. I
am not going to defy anybody. l want
to do business legally. I want to obey
the law. For twenty-one weeks I have
been giving Sunday night performances
and nobody has questioned the legality
of the act. 4 thought I was acting
within my legal rights. Now the cues
ton arises: rs it legal to keep open
Sunday nights Since there is a doubt
about it / have ordered the theatre
closed tonight. 1 want to have the
point settled. Ii it isn't legal 1 win
close the theatre Sunday nights; if it
lS 4 Whi kcCp opeH. Dut 1 ain not
defying anybody"
Martin Singer, proprietor of a nickle
odian at s31 Market street. the case
against whom has BEEN ruled on by
the Supreme Court and who is regard
ed as spokesman for the local protec-
tive association, said that the open
ing of the moving-picture theatres
next Sunday would depend on the out
come Of whatever complaints the police
may make,
I'VE will probably keep open next
Sunday" Singer said. I'VE have OBJ
tanned pictures suitable for Sunday cx-
hibitions 'portraying Biblical history
and other suitable subjects. All films
are censored by a board in New York.