Evening journal., 1914-03-10
VERDICT In
SCREEN LAW
CASE PENDS

That O hard legal battle was anti
cipated by counsel on both sides in
the case of Edward H. McCann. pro-
prietor of the saloon az No. II East
Second street, charged with viola ing
the anti-screen laws by obstru ting
the view of the interior Of his saloon
with screens, blinds or other obstruc-
tions. which came up for trial IN the
Court Of General Sessions this morn
ing. was evident by the fact that so
many of the impaneled jurors we're
challenged on each side that IL was
necessary for Sheriff Brrris to draw
jurors from the spectators in the
court room.
This was also necessitated by the
fact that one jury was out on another
case.
Attorney General Wolcott and Dep
uty Attorney General Chaytor pres
ecuted the case for the state. while
John W Brady and John Malloy rep
resented the defendant. The case
first came before Magistrate Lewis,
by whom the defendant was leld
over for upper court, under $500 bail.
William c. Poole, superintendent of
the Anti-Saloon League, first with SIS
visited McCann's saloon sev raj
times and had made a special inv IS
tigation on January 7. He said the
door TO the saloon had frosted Il IS
panels through which il was impo ST.
bic TO see, and that large sign was
in the window
Mr.. Poole declared that be and
Frank Haley had mea'ure1 the
Z oh nf he afr 4
and up close TO the building, and
found 1t to be feet inches in
height. The pavement sloped down,
the witness said, and from the CEN
tire OF the pavement or near the curb
the sign might be more than six feet
high,
Mr.. Poole said it was impossible to
see over the sign without getting a
step-ladder or standing on tip-toe
Witness said he is feet 10 inches
/ IN eight.
| The Rev George White Dawson. pas
tor OF Asbury NJ Z. Church, testified
that on January he inspected the Nc
Cam saloon and on several other oc-
casions prior to that. His evidence cor
roborated Mr. Poole's testimony.
Frank Haley, special agent OF the
Law and Order Society. who assisted
I Mr.. Poole in making measurements OF
the sign, corroborated the testimony OF
the former witnesses.
Luther NJ. Broadway, who also visited
the saloon on January :, also testified
in corroboration.
Police Sergeant William J.. Massey
testifed that when standing in the
center OF the pavement he could not get
la clear. unobstmctcd view OF the inter
ior OF the saloon. lie did not know the
height of the sign IN the window. An
other witness OF the State, the Rev. 5
NJ. Morgan, was unable to be present
because OF illness, so the State rested.
/ Police Officer William J. Davidson wai
first called for the defense. His dis
trict embraces NIcCann's saloon. He tes
tilted that he could see people in th'
saloon standing at the barr and coulS
also see part OF the bar itself.
Police Officer Charles II. Morrow, whit
is on the same beat with Davidson, ties
titled that Mccain no longer runs tn
saloon. lie stated he could see clearl,
into the saloon and could see about hal
OF the bar and the pool table IN tn
room.
Police Officer Daniel NJ Aiken corrob
lorated the testimony given by Davidson
land Morrow. He stated that he coul'
see into the saloon on January Z.
Police Officer Michael J. McGillon. ties
tilted that he is on that beat, and cal
leasilv see into the saloon. He could So
people drinking at the rear end of tn
bar.
Several citizens who reside in the Vi
cinitv of NeCann's saloon testified tina
thew could easily see into the salool
through the window. All of those wit
ncsses were merchants living in tha
section OF the city.
The defense produced the limit
witnesses allowed them by the law. IN
counsel foy the State and defense the
summed up the case TO the iury. afte
which the body retired.