The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1914-02-24
HOSE BOYS PRESENT
A COURT Of ERRORS
Annual Social Of Independents
Proves Laugh Pr0Voker.

Independent Hose company sus-
tained its reputation as "a genial host
on Monday evening when more than
200 men of the town were entertained
at its annual social A program of
instrumental music was rendered by
J. Fred Runyonis orchestra and
buffet supper served. Then came the
surprise of the evening
Curtains that had screened the
front of the room parted and revealed
court room. The court was dub
bed the Court of Errors Upon
the inscription Justice dispensed
WITH while another inscription read
Justice tampered with S" and a third
was IS Justice 81
With a gray wig and dundrearies
ID. Farrand Sturgis was judge, George
G. Smith was prosecutor and c.
Franklin Wilson and j. Fred Runyon
were counsel for the accused Will
lam X. Muchmore presided at the
door of the Jail over which was dis
played welcome" William Estler
Was clerk, William H. Frapwell,
court crier and Campbell Voorhees,
and Frederick M. Day constables.
Stephen c.. Griffith was first hailed
before the bar on charge of being
a nuisance at a fire" His actiyi-
ties as a member of Resolute Hook
and Ladder company were described
and he plead guilty and was fined
SITS and committed until the fine
was paid.
Then John R. Burr was arraigned
for stealing a saw mill. Mr.. Burr
had set up in his defence that he
took the mill from Willis X. Howell
and intended giving it to John A. H.
Hopkins in order that that gentleman
might "saw wood for awhile He
was pronounced guilty and sentenced
to pay a fine of $50 and saw a cord
of wood.
Then came Joseph Hinchman, presi-
dent of the board of education,
charged with failure to send his
children-of which he has none-to
school because he considered the
buildings unfit. After several wit
nesses had testified against him the
Jury returned a verdict of guilty
and he was sentenced to pay "a fine
of 800 and go to school every day
for month.
Prosecutor of the Pleas Charlton
A. Reed was tried for obtaining
money under false pretenses and
though a defense of insanity was of
fered he was found guilty and thrown
into Jail.
pleaded guilty to breaking and enter
ing into politics and he was com
naited for thirty days.
John B. Vreeland, charged with be.
ing a suspicious character, was ad-
judged guilty by the jury despite his
bringing as witnesses for his defense
three of the local clergymen. Thir-
ty cents fine and a sentence to at
tend church Sunday was his lot.
Alderman Clifford Mills, M. D., ac-
cused of kidnapping chicken plead
guilty and entered a defense that it
was a rooster He was sentenced to
pay fine of 5000 and to "roost in
the pen until it was paid"
This closed the criminal docket and
on the call of civil suits Henry Arm
strong and Anderson NJ Guerin were
presented before the court to settle
o horse deal. Mr.. Armstrong was re-
turned a verdict of thirty cents dam.
ages against Mr.. Guerin after DR.
Henry w. Dustan had testified to
knowing nothing about the case.
The witnesses called from the audi
ence for the various cases helped
along the fun by the droll stories
they told regarding the respective
defendants, Dr. Alfred A. Lewis be-
ing particularly amusing with his ex-
PLANTATION of Prosecutor Reeds "in-
sanity"
Mr.. Smith spoke feelingly of the
death of Eugene Carrell, and then
called upon the company's chaplain,
the Rev William Russell Bennett;
also the Resolutes' chaplain, the Rev.
Ralph B. Urmy, d. D.; together with
the Rev. Philemon F. Sturges, the
Rev. Charles B. Scovil and j. Frank
Lindsey, of Plainfield, all of whom
responded in happy vein.