The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-21
SPECIAL RUM COURT
SWAMPED AT Finish
1900 More Cases Before Jury
Than When 1t Convened
June 6.
BORST ADMITS FUTILITY
1000 Complaints to Be Win
moved Out Between Now
and Fall.
BORsT ADMITS FUTILITY

Gov. Miller's attempt to clear the
criminal calendar in New York county
of cases of alleged violations Of the
Mullan-Gage laws will end tomorrow
with approximately $4,000 liquor COM
plants still awaiting submission to the
Grand Jury, 1900 more than awaited
action on June 6. when Justice Borst
convened the Extraordinary Term of
the Supreme Court at the Governor
direction.
With the adjournment Of the Ex-
traordinary Term tomorrow, there
will be no further trials Of liquor cases
until fall, except in those instances
where defendants are held without bail.
BY that time it is expected a great
many more cases will have been added
to the calendar. Justice Borst will re-
turn to his own department, trying a
case in Ballston Spa, Saratoga county.
on Monday.
Yesterday he told reporters that no
Judge could be expected to hear all the
liquor cases now pending in New York
county. He said prohibition will be
difficult to enforce unless more than one
court hears these cases.
The apparent failure Of the Extraordi-
nary Term to make Roadway against
the accumulation of cases, apparently
did not dampen the optimism OF Joab
II. Banton. Chief Assistant District At
torney, who said there would be win
Al. Ill to- =
fore they are presented to a Grand
Jury in the fall. He will move for the
transfer to General Sessions OF cases
now pending in the Supreme Court.
Seventy per cent. OF the cases tried
in his court resulted in convictions. JUS
tice Borst said. The exact figures we're
not available yesterday.
During June the Grand Jury consii-
cred 426 booze cases, and returned los
indictments. In the first twenty days
of July, 1873 cases were considered ana
SO indictments were returned
The extra burden OF work put upon
the already busy County Clerks office
by the provisions of the Mullan-Gage
prohibition enforcement law drew
statement of protest yesterday from
County Clerk William r. Schneider.
The State Legislature passes laws,
out MAKE no prOVlslOnS 10 Jake care
OF the results OF those laws" he said
For instance, holders OF liquor per-
nits must file them with the Offices OF
the Clerk OF the country they live I'm.
Here In New York county no less than
5000 have been filed to date, and II
takes the time OF one man alone to
stamp these certificates and put them
In a safe place. There has been no
time to index them or make them access
sible to inquirers. II would take until
the end OF the year to do this, with the
help available.
Policemen also are filing copies OF
search warrants, and returns reporting
liquor seized. OF these 1900 have been
filed since April IL, and for the pur-
pose OF making decent records they are
chaotic. Most Of them do not State the
names OF the persons involved, merely
being made out against the place or
the property seized, as. for instance.
People against such and such an adj
dress. or People against fourteen pints
of whiskey.' I have applied to the Board
OF Estimate for an appropriation fos
additional clerks. but have been turned
down. The situation Is serious"