Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-13
POLICEMEN DEFEND,
MANY ATTACK SALOON
Conflicting Testimony on
Character of Place Run by
Sigmund Needles

For the second time IN the history OF
the cafe at Ridge and Girard avenues.
the police of the Nineteenth and oxford
streets police station came to its rescue
and In their testimony sought 20 show
that the place Is conducted In an orderly
manner and declared that patrons, In
leaving the place, created no disturb
ance. although residents of the neighbor-
hood complai ined that they did.
The present owner OF the license, Sig
mund Needles. today appeared before
Judges Shoemaker and Vessel. in the
License Court, to defend his place
against a remonstrance filed by the Re-
tail Liquor Dealers Association, which
was signed by residents OF Girard ave-
nue. who live directly across the street
from the place. ON Monday the remon-
strants testified that their sleep was dis
turbed by the singing and music In the
cafe and that occasionally parties. In
leaving the place, acted In dsorderly
manner on the street Detectives employ
ed by the association also testified
against the license. They said they visit
ed the place and observed young couples,
apparently under twenty-one years of
age, being served intoxicating beverages
Two girls, professional cabaret singers,
were employed to entertain the patrons
with songs and they we're seen drinking
with men after singing
But all the charges q disorder were
absolutely and fatty denied by Needles
and the police witnesses. from Lleuten-
ant Samuel Little, in charge OF the dis.
trict, TO the patrolman on whose beat
the cafe is located. gave the place an
excellent reputation. Similar testimony
was given two years ago by the police
when the Law and Order Society at
tackled the place. then under the man.
agement of a man named Carroll when
virtually the same charges of disorder
were made The court at that time
warned CARROLL that If the place was
not better conducted he could expect to
lose his license.
ITS hard to tell whether girls are
young or old because OF the way they
Dress" commented Sergeant Christy,
when cross-questioned by William w
Roper, representing the remonstrants
about the age Of tho majority Of the fe-
male patrons to the place. ITO look
at some of them you would think they
were very young. but when you come
to investigate, they are older than !
am, sometimes" The sergeant appeared
to be about forty years OF age.
Lieutenant Little and the policemen
also blamed the "camoufaged" faces OF
the girls for the assertion that some of
them were under twenty-one years OF
age who were served liquor in Need
less place,
Dr. Saul w. Newmayer, of 1884 Gil
rard avenue, was called by Mr. Roper
to give his version Cf the manner in
which the cafe was conducted. The
doctor said he had never been in the
place, nor had he paid any strict at
tention to those who visited It, but he
was annoyed continuously by the music
He has been kept awake until O'Clock
In the morning. he said, because of the
noise and music he heard from Needless
place lie said he had intended buying
the property he lived in, but because
of the cafe he changed his mind. and Il
now going to move from the neighbor-
hood.
Judge Vessel was very anxious to
know what the previous license courts
had ordered when remonstrances were
presented against Wolf and Carroll
Needles said he did not know what
order was made, but d. Clarence Glib
honey. president OF the Law and order
Society, informed the Judges that Car
roll. who sold out to Needles. had
agreed 10 cut out the cabaret feature
but continue the dancing. Since Needles
came into possession Of the license
eight months ago he has revived the
cabaret, and continued the dancing also
Judge Vessel directed License Clerk
Robert Carney to procure the records OF
the two previous remonstrances and
present them to the court before fna
disposition is made OF the present case