The Penn's Grove record., 1921-07-22
Heavy Fines
Under Prohibition
Salem County Treasury Made
Rich By Van Ness Law

Isl FRIDAY, 10Th, was the biggest
day ever held IN Salem County Court.
At Salem, for the trials and convictions
81 breakers Of liquor prohibition laws.
There was a large exhibition Of manu-
featuring utensils and contains. There
were copper boilers and coils for dis
tIlatIons, kettles Of mash IN which the
Choh grew which bitheth like a ser
pent and stingeth like an adder. Then
there were jugs, kegs and bottles con
tanning home breWS. These with more
than a dozen bottles which had been
analysed by a chemist made q dis
play more betting an old time saloon
where mint julep joy used to be dis
pensed.
Judge H. 3. Ware, in imposing the
sentences recited the law and penal
ties. He said the laws were enacted
to be obeyed and enforced. regardless
Of his private opinion as to their
merits OF dement's. The people
IN this country had ben famous Tor
their respect for law, which was diff
ferent in many other countries where
there were uprisings. When proper
complaints T made and convictions
obtained the Court will enforce not
only this but other laws to the letter.
1t IS the Courts privilege, however,
to distinguish between principal and
agent in the imposition of sentence
and also with the ignorant person and
the n with family dependent upon
him. In matters of violation of the
Prohibition Enforcement Act every
one has had ample warning of what
punishment will be dealt out to them
if they disregard the law and in this
they cannot plead ignorance.
During the day fines were imposed
on criminals to the amount of about
5000 and the amount collected for
violations of the Van Ness prohibition
law was about 81, 700.
That will go largely to replace the
loss of license fees from hotels for
merly licensed.
Abe Levitsky and Morris Pew. Jr..
captured last week while about to take
10 quarts of whiskey across Penns
Grove ferry in an automobile packed
in a wash boiler with saw dust, were
judged d~isorderly. Levitsky was fined
$500 and Pew $3.50.
Ewart and Lacy Guilty
William EWart and Edward Lacey.
of Upper Penns Neck Township, were
both found guilty of violation of the
Prohibition Enforcement Act. and ad-
judged d~isorderly persons.
Officers NanMeter and Reeves told
of finding the defendants with William
Cline, colored, at the home of Clinton
Trusty, colored, in z lane off Church
Street, Salem, that when they ap-
preached some empty whiskey bottles
were thrown out a window. Some
whiskey was seized and when ana
lived, according to Druggist McCou-
brie. containd as much as y per cent
absolute alcohol.
Sheriff Brandriff said that he search
ed a house on a farm rented by Ewart
and Lacey in Upper Penns Neck, and
found 200 pounds of brown sugar, 10
empty sugar sacks. l quart malt
liquor, l keg of whiskey. l filter and
filter papers, IL dozen of yeast cakes
on ice, recipe fer making whiskey and
a book showing purchases that had
been made.
The Sheriff also said Ewart also had
a house on Adams Street, Carneys
Point. and there he found a copper
SUN III a ClOSEL NIlNeI q SJdIICdSCs
Real Estate Agent Fleming was
produced to show that Ewart and
Lacey rented the farm, but Mrs. Ew-
art actually signed the check of 500
for the first six months rent.
Harry Miller, a guard at the Road
Camp, near where the farm is located,
testified he had seen the men working
on the place, but they only cultivated
about 8 of the rs acres.
No defense was offered.
Judge Ware said he would find the
men not guilty of the unlawful sale OF
liquor, but guilty of transporting,
storing, manufacturing and having II
possessions. Each were fined $500.
William Huklo vas adjudged guilty
of storing while mule" and fneC
$500. .
William Starting and Percill Ford
colofed. were acquitted Of liquor sales
Cases Dismissed
Several complaints made for viola
ton of the Prohibition Enforcement
Act were dismissed by Judge Ware
for the reason that the defendants
cannot be found. These complaints
were against Frank Mercharlardo
Fortunate Pepperess, Ralph Nlnceh-
tino. Tony Caputa and a mar named
Ciccone, ali of Pms Grove.
Alex Watson, colored, was hneC
$3.50 and costs.
Clinton Trusty, colored, was fined
$500 and cost.
Harry Podesta plead guilty to lar
cen of 500 from the Penn Fruit
Company, and was fined $500 ano
costs and PLACID in charge of Proba-
ton Officer Galloway for two years.
VIM. Caulk, colored, plead to lar
ceny of some provisions from a mer,
chant at Penns Grove for whom he
worked, and was sentenced to foul
months in the County jail and to pa!
the costs.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Mason anC
Marjorie Steward. all colored, were
charged with the same %offense, bu-
Caulk alleged they were not guilty
that he boarded with them and tool
the stolen goods to the house for then
to cook. /.