The Penn's Grove record., 1917-08-03
C0LORED RACE RIOTING
Too Much Booze and Freedom
Causes Trouble

The l~aw-abiding. respectable people OF
the borough of Penns Grove may not
appreciate the task nor care particul-
arly to undertake it. but they must
eventually awake to the fact that there
are plague spots in the borough limits
that must be eliminated. even if the
most drastic means have to be used.
1t will not do to sit snugly in com
Portable homes and rely upon the oriin-
airy procedure of the law and the eff
forts of the borough authorities How
ever efficiently they may do their prrt.
it is very important That they should
have the earnest cooperation of every
citizen who has the interests of Pcnns
Grove at heart.
East st. Louis and Chester have had
their bitter experience and there are
mutterings in Penns Grove that may
mean an outbreak mt any time. Occur
rences the past week justify this warn
ing. This unrest among our people is
not a pleasant thing to contemplate. but
it is Il duty that develops upon the
Record the b~orough's best means of
publicity, to make these things known.
1t is a matter of news and very imporg-
ant news to every good citizen.
Last Saturday night there was con-
gregated in a house at No. - Smith
avenue a crowd of about fifteen negro
men and women. The front of the
place is supposed to be a tailor shop,
but as a matter of fact the place has
been running for some time as Il speak
easy. gambling joint and house of ques-
tionable virtue. Shameful to relate.
there were white men in the house on
the night in question. The Record is
making no guesswork in this matter.
The whole baleful story is made up
from sworn statements. Sensational
undertaking has no part in it.
The menace to Penns Grove comes
from the fact that nearly all of these
colored men and women are recent ar
rivals from the South and they with
others of their kind are taking the lib
erty allowed them here, which they did
not enjoy below Mason and Dixon's line
for. license, and that is sure to make
trouble.
Toward midnight the bunch having
boozed up to the reckless point that
generally follows such occasions. began
an orgie that nearly resulted in muir
der and landed the whole crowd in the
lookup.
The scene now changes to Squire
Dulfy's Court in the lookup on Oak
street. On Monday night the prisoners
were given a hearing and the whole
hideous story was laid bare under the
Sqnire's rigid %grilling.
Albert Adams was the first prisoner
brought to the bar. The charge against
him was keeping a disorderly house.
selling beer and whisky and running a
house of ill-repute. His wife. Maggie.
was the principal witness against him.
She was a pitable sight. Her left eve
was closed and bandaged and her left
hand had been badly cut.
The defendant admitted all the
charges. but said his wife was to blame
for everything. He said one of the
party. called "~Froggy," struck Maggie
with Il beer bottle which cut her up so
badly. But she drinks and makes too
free with 'Froggy' and whenever she
drinks beat her up. Why. Judge. I've
lone everything for that woman. Why
| even let her take in washing.''
Maggie swore she and Alb,t were
legally married at Hopewell, Va, but
she was in Jail at the time.
Beer was sold there for 15c a bottle
and whisky for Zoe a drink. but the
Squire said it must be the "tom-cat''
variety. unfit even for commercial pur-
poses.
Sam Johnson. allan "Slim.' 6 fit. 4 in.
tall. was charged with ''cutting" the
game of crap, or in better English tax
ms the toll. The others were charged
with various ~alfenses and were fined
from $40 to So and costs. They were
Bill Mitchell. Margaret Darlington.
Charles McLain, al. Morgan. Jim Jack
son. Walter Brown. Tbos. Dennis and
Pearl. his wife, Albert Carey and Mag
gle Adams.
Albert Carey told a seemingly straight
story. stating that he had neither gam
bled nor drank ANYTHING in the place.
Carey You are fined 50 and costs
for lying" said the Squire. You know
You had drinks there and that they were
paid for" Carey then thought better
of it and remembered that he did have
some drinks and his fine was RENTED
Maggie Adams was a valuable witness
and her cuts and bruises proved That
she had been on the spot when the
events occurred. which she was describ-
ing. Her husband told several bad
things about her but she didn't seem to
min that and owned up to them all
very frankly.
Aams. the alleged proprietor. did not
fare so well. Squire Duffy gave him a
soaring excoriation that must have
tingled under his ebony skin. He was
lined $50 and costs and given the al
formation of 80 days in the county iail
or to leave Penns Grove inside of three
days never to return under penalty of
having the full sentence carried out and
then being held for the Grand Jury. He
choose to pay his fine and agreed to
get rid of his belongings and get out.
NEGRO ours UP TWO CITIZENS
Hardly had this affair been legally adj
1nGfn1 uthnn .a.afIa.