The Penn's Grove record., 1919-01-03
Mayor Fishers Trial
The Jury Disagreed. A Myster-
iOus Motive Turks Unsolved

Lie tTldl OIL u. Albert f1Sner, mayor
OF Penns Grove, upon an indictment
charging him with s-nppressing crime,
took place in the Court House, Salem,
on Tuesday, before Judge Edward C.
Washington.
A large number Of Penns Grove
people were in attendance and the
Court House was crowded, many peo-
pie standing throughout the entire
proceedings.
The indictment of Penns Grove Of
ficials besides the Mayor include the
Chief of Police, Clarence Raymond
Fisher, the Mayors brother; Marshals,
Joseph l.. Money, Cooper Sparks, and
Charles Stiles. The Mayors ease was
taken up separately upon a count in
the indictment charging him with ac-
cepting money to suppress a crime of
which he had knowledge.
Judge Clarence B. Cole, of Atlantic
City and William B. Surran, of Penns
Grove represented the defendant. The
State was represented by Prosecutor
Daniel v. Summerill, Jr.
Several challenges were made be-
fore a jury acceptable to both sides
was selected.
They are as follows:
William Huber, Oldmans.
John Cassidy, Pittsgrove.
jeremiah Osborn, Alloway.
Clinton clearinghouse, Pilesgrove.
Jesse Doughten, Oldmans.
Edward Moore, Oldmans.
David Sweatman, Alloway.
William Prigger, Oldmans.
Harry Osborn, L. A.. Greek.
Inconh CfiloC O1In,orc
Harry M. Green, Oldmans.
William Martin, Upper Pittsgrove.
In opening for the defense Judge
Cole asked that the Indictment be
quashed or the ground that no partic-
ular crime was specified as of record
which could be suppressed; that the
charge mentioned may have been out
lawed as no time was named when it
is alleged to have taken place.
A recess was then taken and the in
dictment was amended showing that
the alleged crime had taken place
within the past six months, and the
motion to quash was denied.
Prosecutor Summerill referred brief
ly to the fact that the defendant was
Penns Groves highest official and had
power by virtue of his office practi-
cally the same as a Justice Of the
Peace. These charges against the de-
PENDANT We're of a grave nature and it
was his sworn duty to probe them.
NThe question at ISSUE" he said "is
whether the moral standing of the
Borough is to be maintained"
The first and most important wit
ness was Fred Campo. He has a
meat market on South Broad Street,
Penns Grove.
His testimony was to the effect that
the Mayor called at his store on a Sat
urday evening early in November to
see about five Italians who were in
trouble over a girl. The next day,
Sunday, the Mayor called again and
witness had the five Italians there.
Their names are Frank Funini, Frank
Quatrocki, John Diplanolin, Petro Con-
troversian, John Ruf1ini. The witness
said the trouble was explained to
these men and the Mayor told them
that for 500 he could fix it up and
"chase the girl out of town." One of
the men, Petro Controversian, then
handed the Mayor 500 in bills which
had been made up between them. He
said about $500 had been raised, but
there was no evidence to substantiate
it. Asked to who else he had told
this story, witness finally said that he
had informed the Sheriff and Thomas
W~addington.
The evidence of the Italians was
given through an interpreter. Each
one admitted knowing the girl in the
case and each n stated the amount
he had contributed toward the fund.
They also denied any wrong doing with
the girl.
Counsel for both sides entered OBJ
iections frequently on technical points.
Judge Cole objected to any statements
from the five Italians as they could not
understand English and had to rely
upon what Campo told them of his
talk with the Mayor.
There was a controversy over what
purpose the money was given for.
Campo testified that it was to fix some
trouble the Italians had got into.
The Prosecutor said it must have
been given for some purpose and de-
PENDANT and Campo must have known
what it was for. Judge Cole said the
Mayor may have had an entirely diff
ferent reason for accepting the money
from that which was in the mind of
those giving it.
The next witness brought to the
stand was Pauline G%uiseppi. She was
a frail little thing and did not appear
to be more than 16 years of age. She
was born in Italy.
Pauline said she lived with her
father in Trenton. She was married
on September 9th last, but only lived
with her husband two weeks when he
brought her to Penns Grove and de-
parted for Camp Dix.
The girls testimony in~criminated all
five of the Italians. She said that she
had been with them and that they had
taken her into the woods on the out
skirts of Penns Grove. 1t was q pitt
full story and she told it with bowed
head and in such a low voice that
scarcely any one could hear it. The
interpreter translated its nature to the
court and jury.
Pauline's mother died about eight
wears ago and she apparently had to