The Penn's Grove record., 1919-02-21
Policemen all Convicted
Evidence Mainly From Criminals
and Others Awaiting Trial

Chief of Police, Clarence r. Fisher,
of PennS Grove, was convicted in the
Salem County Court last Friday of re-
ceiving money to suppress crime.
The charge against the chief was
that he received $50 on two occasions
to get Pauline Guisseppi, aged 10
years, out of the jurisdiction of the
County and State, because it was al
legged py her that five men had assault
ed her and they feared arrest.
The facts in the case have been
gone " pretty thoroughly in the
Record since the charge vas made and
our readers our fully informed in the
matter. No new evidence whatever
was brought out at the trial that has
not been printed previously.
Chief Fisher denied that he ever re-
ceived the money and that he knew
that a crime had been committed, but
a local Justice of the Police declared
that he was present at a hearing when
the girl was charged with being a COM
mon nuisance and a street walker and
evidence then limited to the fact that
the Italians had been with her on sew
eral occasions.
The Chief declared that the whole
case was a frame-up by Fred Campo,
a local butcher, and his friends to get
him for some alleged grievance
Before the jury was drawn there
was a motion by Judge Cole to quash
the Indictment on the ground that the
Chief is alleged to have received
money to suppress. a crime, but the
records do not show that one has ever
been committed. This motion was de-
MED.
Another motion was that evidence
as TO one of the counts should be sup
pressed for it was the contention of
Judge Cole that counts No. l and No
2 are two distinct and separate
offenses and under the law two indict-
ments, if any lat al >, should have been
found.
Prosecutor Summerill held that
count No. 2 was a continuation of
count No. l and both together they
constituted the crime alleged to have
been committed.
Judge Waddington. also denied this
motion
The defense, conducted by Judge
Cole, of Atlantic County, tended to
show that Campo was ware that a
crime had been committed by his fell
low-countrymen, and instead of doing
as a. good citizen should and bring it
to the attention of the authorities, he
actually handled the money alleged to
have been paid the Chief to suppress
the crime
Judge Cole asked Campo if he had
not made the statement that he pro-
posed to send the Fishers to State
prison, and to this he said mo"
Campo admitted that any man who
took the Italians money did not do as
promised should be in State prison.
Constable Washington, of Salem,
was put on the stand by the defense
to show that Campo had told him
mayor Fisher and his brother, the
Chief, are in partnership and working
together in this matter. The Mayor
nearly $780,, and paid the prin-
cipal aud even the interest, and | am
going to see that the two are sent to
State prison.
Campo said the note story was true,
but he never added about State prison.
After the case had gone to the jury
Frank Funini, one Of the Italians who
is alleged to have assaulted the Guis-
girl, Was dIIcSleu 1OI Sdliidl
abuse and held in $500 bail by Justice
Smith.
Yesterday, Thursday after being
out an hour, the jury in the cases of
Chief Fisher and Marshals Charles
Stiles, Joseph L. Money and Cooper
Sparks, brought in a verdict of guilty
of accepting money from Albert
Adams and Ruth Williams to sup
press crime.
The only important witnesse were
Albert Adams, colored, a convicted
criminal now doing time, and Ruth
Williams, in jail under indictment for
keeping a house of ifl-repute.
All the defendants were before the
Court this morning with Attorney
William B. Surran to arrange bail and
petition for a new trial.
When Penns Grove folks visit Sa-
lem they are asked: ''Have you seen
Ruth Williams palatial apartment and
heard her Victrola in the County Jail.