The Penn's Grove record., 1920-09-17
Judge ReIIstab Tells Grand Jury
at Trenton All VioIators
Should Be Indicted.
ATTACKS HUGE PROFITS.
Places Gains In Trenton District as
Running Into Mlllions-Says Spirit
of Lawlessness is
Prevalent.

S N~A ASNhSu tiN ~ -
lators of this law can be brought to
the bar of justice, the contempt which
these violatOrs of this federal law are
defiantly showing, will spread to a
contempt for all law, federal and
state" Federal Judge John Rellstab
told the members of the new federal
grand jury when they convened.
Judge Rellstab told the jurymen
they were assembled at a time when
the spirit of lawlessness is manifest
ing itself with unusual virulence. A
continuation of present conditions, he
declared, will result in that class of
citizens who, more or less frequently
for n cause or another, live on the
b0rderland where virtue meets vice,
@eing drawn into the whirlpool of the
latter "and become the culture of more
aggravated problems in a sociology
which will have to be solved by the
very conservators of the peace, who
now decline to aid in the enforcement
of this federal law because it does not
meet with their approval"
Judge Rellstab charged that the
present widespread disregard of the
prohibition law can be accounted for
only on the idea that a conspiracy is
at work to violate the act. 1.-The evil
consequence of such concerted action
requires an earnest effort to bring all
the participants to the bar of justice,
unless we are prepared to say that on
this subject the criminals are our mas
ters. The inordinate gains hat are
being made and that can be made by
the violators of this law have made
them bold in their operations, and evil
dence is not wanting that indicates
that hundreds of thousands of dollars,
some say even millions, have been
made in this district since the prohibit
ton amendment wen into effect"
Some of these gains, the judge in
sisted, have been used to make viola
lions easier, and detection more diff
cult, and to dissuade officials charged
with enforcing the law from fulfilling
T.neir duty.
Judge Rellstab said it was not con-
tennplated by the federal act to provide
the entire enforcement machinery and
he said there are not enough enforce
ment officers to properly cover a single
one of the more populous counties. He
continued that with such ~handicaps as
inadequate federal machinery because
of insufficient appropriations to prop
erly police the entire state, and Jack of
cooperation by those in the state
charged with suppression of lawless-
ness, it is no wonder that prohibition
violations are becoming more numer-
Gus.
He said that no excuse is offered for
any official who may be guilty of aid
ing the criminal and o~bstructing the
administration Of justice, and old the
Jury that If evidence before 1t war
rants it to indict the officials. He
cautioned the jury not to overlook
those who are making inordinate gains
in selling liquor.
Put in YOU graphing hooks and
produce the crooks who are engaged in
this nefarious work. said the court,
sand remember also that it makes no
difference as to the guilt of the partici-
pants in this crime. whether they ac-
tually traffic in Intoxicating liquors or
whether they aid or abet the actual
traffickers.
1.-THE duty Of the hour is to honestly
and impartially enforce the national
prohibition act, so far as it is possible,
to bring TO the bar every violater of
this law, both great and small"
Unlawful Liquor Traffic.
Supreme Court Justice Parker re-
Gently advised Prosecutor Hart of Ber-
gen county that it was proper and adj
visable to indict hotel and saloon keep
ers who are selling intoxicating bev-
erageS without a state license, and that
H. suitable cases injunction proceed
ings should be brought in the Chan
Gerry Court, as authorized by the Vol
stead act. Prosecutor Hart has there
fore taken steps to put an end to the
Illicit traffic in liquor in his county,
and announced that he will not only
proceed in accordance with Justice
Parker's Instructions, but will take ad-
vantage of the statute passed about
twelve years ago to meet conditions III
Atlantic City and take action against
the heads of municipalities who fail to
do their duty when notified that the
law is being violated in their commu-
mites.
Following the advice given to Mr..
Hart, Prosecutor Wolverton of Cam
den county raided the saloons in Cam
den and vicinity and made several hun
dred arrests under indictments found
by the grand jury. Nearly 1000 in
dictments were returned as the result
of evidence presented by he rosecu-
tor following Investigations made by
his detectives. Most Of the parties ar
rested were put under bail to await
trial. and the next term of the Cam
den County Court is likely to be a busy
one unless the defendants enter pleas
OF guilty.
nNMorris and Ocean counties, also.
steps have been taken to abate the
scandal resulting from open defiance