Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-10-29
DecIsIon Reserved In the Craw-
ford Case, and Lawyer Harris
Produces Another CertIorari

ford Case, and Lawyer Harris
Produces Another CerIIOrarI
On charges preferred by Mayor
Hendee, William 8. Crawford, a men,
her of the police force. was given a
hearing last Saturday, October 20, in
the commissioners room at city hall.
The time set for the beginning of the
trial was 1870 in the morning, at which
hour ex.Judge e. l.. Cole, of Atlantic
City. counsel for Wildwood Departme nt
of Public Safety, was present and ready
to open the proceedings for the plaintiff.
tt was announced that J ohm Harris, of
Camden, counsel for Mr.. Crawford,
could not appear until after the arrival
of the express train that morning.
Out of courtesy to the defense MI. Cole
agreed to await the coming of his OPP
ponent. In consequence it vas nearly
II o'clock before the hearing got under
way. The room was filled far beyond
its capacity with an eager and anxious
throng, and many persons besides
tanned the hall and doorways leading
into the commissioners room. AT the
very outset of the examination Mr..
Crawford's attorney made an attack on
the prosecution, claiming that the pro-
ceedings were Observation-Disclosures the
mayors right to preside at the hearing
or to give testimony These objections,
however, though urged so strenuously,
did not prevent the case from being
heard, after it was mutually agreed to
let an exception in the matter be noted
for the defense. The mayors charges
or complaints against William s. Craw-
ford had reference, generally speaking,
to alleged disobedience of orders, me-
glect of duty, and for assuming the
office and duties Of chief of police
against the mayors wishes and public
protest. The presentation of the ease
was outlined under seven separate
headings or counts. The following wit
nesses were called to testify by the
attorney for the plaintiff: Mayor Hen
dee, City Clerk Winterburn, w. s.
Crawford, A. l.. Sherlock, Howard
Cattell and w. Courtright Smith.
Only one witness was summoned by
the defense, namely, G. l.. Cole, the
lawyer In the case. After being duly
sworn Attorney Cole was asked by the
defendants counsel to state definitely
whom he represented. Mr.. Cole
ans Wered very positively: II represent
the Department of Public Safety"
After all the testimony had been taken
counsel for the defense moved that it
be stricken out as being incompetent.
Mayor Hendee ruled that the testimony
stand. John Harris then summed up
for the defense and Judge Cole had the
last say for the prosecution. At the
close of the speechmaking Mayor
Hendee announced that he would re-
serve his decision in the case for the
present, but would take the matter un-
derconsid GRAFTON and render his decision
later, sin writing" After this an
nouncement had been made by the
mayor perhaps the most sensational
development Of the day occurred,
when counsel for Crawford produced
from the profound depths Of his travel
ing bag a writ of certiorsri, previously
granted by Judge Black, of the Supreme
Court, calling in question the validity
of all these proceedings and command
ing that a review be made of them at
the November term Of said Supreme
Court, The serving of this writ came
as a great surprise to every one. One
citizen was heard to say that perchance
there may be such a thing in law as an
anticipated writ of certiorari." II the
VT be in true legal form and valid
the effect will be in this case to post
pone the mayors conclusion upon the
evidence taken at Saturdays hearing
until a review is made by the Supreme
Court and passed upon. Should the
Supreme Court uphold or affirm the
proceedings as regular and legal then
the mayor will be at liberty to render
his decision Immediately thereafter.
10 the meantime it is possible to con-
lecture that the validity of this last
writ of ~certiorari may be called in
question. Therefore, until the lawyers
are done 'sparring for points" and all
the little legal kinks are Strengthened
out the citizens of Wildwood will not
know exactly "where they are at"