Evening journal., 1913-12-30
FOUR FINES
FOR LIQUOR
SALE STAND
City Judge Refuses to Make
Decree That Would Punish
Only Club Organization
RENEW TALK OF
TEST CASE HIGHER

Judge Churchmn, in City Court
this morning. refused to reopen the
case of the State vs. The North End
Athletic Club James n. Barr. Robert
wv. Kramer and Daniel p. DuRoss. Of
flcials, each Of whom was fined $50
aud costs yesterday ON a charge of
selling Intoxicating liquors without
license. When Robert c. Harman,
counsel for the defendants, made his
motion today for reopening. the
courtroom was crowded with members
of the club, Law and Order Society
and clergymen. among them being tha
Reys. r. l.. Hoffecker, district super
lintendent of the Wilmington NJ %.
Conference, and the Rev. S. NJ. Mor-
gan.
Following the Courts refusal to re-
open the case, Mr. Hartman left thd
Icourt room In a huff. and when asked
what course he would pursue next,
replied: II have nothing further to
say lt Is an Injustice
When pressed for some inkling OF
what the outcome of the case would
be. Mr. Harman said II was the de-
sire OF those Interested TO have thu
Upper Court pass on the question Of
club selling intoxicating liquors 10
its members. and that Il was easy for
such case TO be brought Further
Questioning revealed the fact that
such course was being thought OF
aud one OF the clubs outside the city
limits would most likely be charged
with such am oflense at the next torm
of Court Mr. Harmnn. while not
naming the club against which some
action may be brought, said he saw
no reason why one club should be
made fish of and another meat"
Mr. Harman contended that tho
members and officers OF the North
End Club were not criminals, and had
, been contributing TO the support of
tile club for years. Such clubs. he
/. said, had existed from time immemo-
/ rial
v While speaking OF the refusal Of
e the Court today. la reopenine the
4 case Mr. Harman said that Judge
J. Churchman had nothing else TO dc
% yesterday but 10 impose the fine, but
he thought the case should have hoer
reopencd today after the explanation
Of the misunderstanding regarding th'
fines had been made 90 him
That the decision OF Judge Churca
man ID imposing hnes "a Nfu0s zell
ing liquors to members has had som
effect on the organization OF sue
y clubs was manifested last evening
q when the annual meeting of the NOrtl
4 End Club was held Instead OF elect
ing officers as WAS customary. it wa.
4, decided by the members that ths
present officers should continue ir
q office for some time.
{ IN court this morning Mr.. Harman
T. Ia making application for a reopen
a ing OF the case said that there ap.
"A peared to be some misunderstanding
- relative to the fines imposed yester-
2 day. Mr. Harman claimed that when
y he conferred with his clients yester-
y day and they agreed to enter a plea
~ of nolle contendre. II was understood
y by them that one fine of $50 would be
- imposed. AS result Of the confer
~ ence such a plea was entered for the
club and as the court fined not only
n the club. but the three officers 500
and costs each, Mr. Harman today
In branded this as unfair and unjust
n Mr. Harman also said that when
1 he told Robert II. Richards, who was
b associated with him in. the case. OF
~ the fines. Mr.. Richards was astounded
,s and as surprised as he was. In order
lx to show that it was a misunderstood
n ing. Mr.. Harman claimed that he ever
m asked the police officers what thu
a costs amounted too and which oiiicei
OF the club should pay the club fine
st Assistant City Solicitor Lynn today
n- said he understood the court had fines
AZ each Of the four defendants and he
q as prosecuting officer was willing e
m drop the other three charges agains
Continued on Page Ten.