The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-08-12
Thirty Guests Are Told They
Cannot Leave Cafe Until
6 O'Clock.
FIRST ARE ORDERED OUT
"Gct Out Within Five Minutes
or Be Locked Up!" Shouts
Dwyer.

The fight over the cafe curfew' took !
new turn this morning when Police |
Inspector John +. Dwyer with Capt. |
police station and patrolmen surrounded I
Healy's restaurant at Sixty-sixth street |
and Columbus avenue. Policemen were |
stationed at every door after more than
thirty guests Of the restaurant had de- |
clined to obey the inspectors orders to !
leave. 1t was announced that nobody
would be permitted to enter or leave the |
restaurant until o'clock this morning.
the regular opening hour.
The first order for the guests to leave
the restaurant was given at o'clock
and was followed by a threat to throw
them out bodily IL they did not leave
within five minutes. But at 80 O'Clock
the police changed their tactics and de-
cided to keep everybody within the res
taurant until 6 o'clock, Inspector Dwyer
did not announce what he would attempt
to do II any guests left the place.
Thomas Healy. proprietor of the res-
taurant and president Of the Restaurant
Mems Association. dehed the police at
every turn. He said he was acting in ac-
cordance with the decision of three JUS
tices of Special Sessions who on last FRI
day held that So long as he did no, sell
liquor after O'Clock he had every right
to serve food at any hour he wished
Policies second Raid.
The descent OF the police upon the res
taurant at / o'clock this morning was
their second attempt since that decision
to keep Mr.. Healy from doing business be-
tween l and o'clock In the morning.
Mr.. Healy had announced last evening
that he would keep open after o'clock.
The police, with equal determine ton. had
announced that they would close the
place at ! o'clock. The fight over the
curfew attracted several hundred per
sons to SiXty-sixth street at Columbus
avenue. but only about thirty persons
We're at table when the hour struck I.
Mr.. Healy was smiling and affable. In
spector Dwyer was cool and pleasant. 1t
was apparent that both sides had agreed
to test the law.
Orders Patrons Out.
Promptly at | o'clock a patroiman in
uniform entered Healys and found there
about thirty persons at tables who had
ordered food. He walked by the different
tables saying in "A loud tone. "All patrons
must leave at once"
Mr.. Healy. who had been awaiting the
coming Of the officers. approached him
and said that his guests would not leave
as no liquor was being sold and no law
was being violated. Thereupon the
patrolman left the restaurant and within
a few minutes returned with acting Cap
tain Hart. who walked toward Mr.. Healy
and announced in loud tones:
III your patrons do not leave within
five minutes l shall throw them out
bodily"
Mr. Healy smiled and in equally firm
tones said
III the police throw out OF my res
taurant any OF my guests | shall apply at
once for warrants for their arrest on a
charge OF assault and | also will begin
civil suits against them. Furthermore !
shall advise my patrons to do likewise
Capt. Hart was called outside by a
messenger and shortly reappeared smiling
and somewhat confused, He shook hands
with MIR. Healy and said: IL am sorry
to disappoint you, ! shall not be able to
throw out your patrons"
Threatens to Lock Up Guests.
He left the place and then Inspector
Dwyer appeared. He made a visit to
every table occupied by diners and told
them that they must leave within five
minutes. adding: III you're not out within
that time you'll be locked in for the
night"
Inspector Dwyer then went to MIR.
Healy and told him that the guests would
have to leave. and added:
"If they do not get out I'll have to lock
the doors and leave you and your guests
in until o'clock. the opening hour. l
have received orders to that effect from
the acting Commissioner"
Mr.. Healy laughed quietly and said ::
| That order is more ridiculous than the
first. The idea Of locking up man in his
own place"
Excitement IL Keen.
The inspector also smiled. but said that
| he would carry out his orders. By that
| time the excitement both In and without
| the restaurant was keen. Dwyer and the
policeman took positions at the doors and
| then announced: II am going to lock
| the DOORS
To that Mr. Healy laughed and said:
"You can't do that. because both the
| revolving and the swinging doors lock on
| the inside. l have the keys and you
| haven't"
"AI right" retorted the inspector. NO
| body will be allowed to leave this place
until 6 o'clock"
The inspector stationed two men at each
door. At 1 :45 o'clock Inspector Dwyer
| tried to lock one Of the doors, but MIR.
Healy< grabbed him ana put him outside
| the bGilding. Thereupon the inspector re.
tired to the sidewalk.
He called out the reserves from the
West Sixty-eighth street station and gave
| directions to Capt. Hart to zee that every
exit was watched by at least two police
men. He further directed that no person
be allowed to leave the building.
At 2 o'clock there was a big throng
| outside. Through the windows they
could see the diners within cheerfully
eating their food and drinking soft
| drinks.
! At 2.e0 the restaurant was darkened
suddenly. The diners as suddenly disai,-
peared from the dining room. When