The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-29
SUNDAY TENNIS IN
NET OF BLUE LAWS
Alderman Digs Up Ancient
Ordinance to stop Racket at
Rutherford Club.
FOUR PLAYERS ARRESTED
Athletes Of the Court Hire Law
yer and Will Fight to
Finish.
FOUR PLAYERS ARRESTED

RUTHERFORD, N. j.. May 2s.-Sunday
tennis and the New Jersey blue laws have
run foul OF each other. The trouble this
time Is between the Rutherford Lawn
Tennis Club and Councilman Sheaf of
1924 Montross avenue. The organization
owns plot Of land next to Mr. Sheafs
and separated by the strip two feet wide
which the forefathers of the town left
between all pieces OF property when the
land was laid out, many years ago. to
permit common passage to all wells and
springs"
The Tennis Club by INDUCING In its
favorte sport on the Sabbath has in
CURED the enmity Of Councilman Sheaf
and he has dug up the enactment OF 1855
which forbids everything on Sunday ex-
cept eating sleeping and going 10 church.
Now this Is perfectly good law despite
Its age. and the police are obliged to en-
force IT,
A week ago Sunday. after Mr.. Sheaf
had taken tho tennis matter to the Town
Council and had failed to get much con
sideration for 1t there. the members OF
the tennis club appeared at the courts
to play as usual. They had scarcely
begun, however. when n squad OF Chief
OF Police George Burnham's men appeared
and arrested four OF the players. A. T.
House. Robert Fishcl. Paul Russell and
Charles Broun.
Inc TOUR were naieu before heCOruer
Lawrence and held for trial on the fol-
lowing Friday on that day the hear
ing WAS postponed again and the men
are out under bail The club has en-
ployed Addison Ely, Rutherford law
year. and proposes to fight Mr.. Sheaf.
his blue laws and everything else to
a finish.
the club and the town father Is the pos
session that atrin of land
Originally the property OF the develop.
ment company which laid out that sec
ton, the ownership OF the land has never
been fixed. Mr.. Sheaf asserts that the
deed to his property gives him the strip,
whereas the tennis club says the land is
common property, half to each.
At first there was a fence on the strip,
right on the edge next to Sheafs lawn.
He demonstrated so vigorously this year
that the fence was torn down and a
slightly one put w. running exactly down
the centre OF the strip. Still. Mr.. Sheaf In.
sis;s that the strip being his a fenc,
has no place In any part Of 1t.
Another complaint Mr.. Sheaf makes
Is that the tennis players are a noisy lot
who disturb his Sabbath peace. He also
says they knock balls over Ia his prop.
erty and then trespass without any COM
junction. The tennis club replies that
some members may have been too bolster.
Gus but That those persons have beer
ousted from the organization. Also they
say there has been very little trespassing
Anyhow both sides are pretty wei
aroused by the situation. Mr.. Sheaf say.
the Sunday tennis must be dispensed with
/ while the players, all of whom are EN-
/ ployed in Manhattan on other days. SAY
they don't intend to be deprived OF tn.
only opportunity for recreation they hay,
| dun ing the week.
The club was formed many years agC
when that portion of NJntross avenu,
| was on the outskirts of town and no
body was bothered. 1t has about fift,
| members, among them some of the leadin,
| citizens OF the town The question o
tennis on Sunday has already crept I'M
\ the town government. Now some of tn,
! churches threaten to take action.