The Penn's Grove record., 1921-09-23
The Big Show
At City Hall
Lawyer and Judge" Pull Off a
Battle Royal Which All Heart
lily Enjoyed. Nobody Hurt
Time-Monday night.
Place-Borouph Hall.

bAOhuoy ihSAC'
Peterborough Hall.
Take the unsavory stew of Mac
beth's witches, season it with ipecac,
perfume with ~asafoetida, and you will
get some idea of the highly favored
and sensational show that was pulled
off at the Borough Hall on Monday
night for the delectation of a good
sized audience who had assembled to
hear some cases in the Recorders
Court.
Preceding the big show Clarence
King was brought before the Recor-
der charged with operating his auto
mobile as a jitney within the limits
of Penns Grove without a license.
Lawyer William Surran acted as his
counsel. Two witnesses testified to
having seen King discharge passen-
gers within the Borough limits and
receive money from them.
Put upon the stand the defendant adj
mitted the facts as stated, but Lawyer
Surran claimed that his client wa act
ing within his legal rights. He dis
played no jitney sign on his car and
was on his way from Carneys Point
to the ferry when four persons stop
ped him and he gave them a lift as
far as Railroad Avenue when they
alighted and gave him twenty cents.
He had a right to accept the money;
it was not for fares, but a gratuity.
He had done the same thing himself.
Recorder Edgar could not see it in
that light, however. Carrying these
people in his a and accepting money
from them as they alighted at their
destination was prima facia evidence,
in his judgment, that the car was be-
ing operated for hire without a license
within the Borough limits. He would
impose a fine of $3.50 with $6.75 costs,
amounting in all to 1913.
That's where the ruction began. Sur
ran insisted that there was no evil
dence to hold his client. "This shows
you the kind of justice you get in
Penns Grove and the kind of man you
have for Recorder
Mr.. Edgar came back at him with
the remark that if he was making a
spiel for votes for Council he should
get a soap box and go out on the cor
ner and do it, not in his Court.
Mr.. Surran said they would pay the
fine and costs under protest and carry
the case to another court. "And when
l am in Council you will be the first
man to 60" was his parting shot.
That ended the jitney business for
that night. Nearly every jitney driver
in the Borough was present at the
hearing with a goodly sprinkling of the
general public.
The next cast was nothing out of
the usual order but it didn't wind up
that way.
Mrs. BERTHE Hamilton, of 32d Street.
Carneys Point, had been held upon a
charge of receiving stolen goods, and
her bail was fixed at $500. Lawyer
Surran also appeared for Mrs. Hamil-
ton. The gentleman who offered to
act as her surety said his property was
assessed at $3.50, but the Recorder de-
clined to accept it. Fred M. Riley, of
Tyrone Avenue, then came forward
and said he would also act as the
Woman'S surety.
Then the storm broke and pandemo-
mum reigned. Lawyer Surran was
on his feet and wading knee deep in a
victriolic TRADE on things in general
and was ordered out of Court, but he
refused to go, as he claimed he was
on his own terrain and had an equity
in the Borough Hall the anne as any
other citizen. 1t was the temple OF
Justice and all had a right to be
there. "But justice has been slapped
in the face here tonight"
Recorder Edgar then ordered the
Court room cleared of all persons eX-
cepting the party seeking bail. The
crowd hesitated, surging back anc
forth, evidently loath to go, fearing
they might miss some of the fun.
The Recorder then called upon the
Chief Marshal and his force to cleal
the room. They put in ar appearance
and made a pretence of cleaning
things out, but finally gave it up anc
the crowd backed up against the walls
again waiting for the next move.
Every so often some some woulo
take umbrage at some remark anC
step forward with a chip on his shoul-
der, but nobody came to blows.
The crowd could not understand why
the Court room was ordered cleared
The only riotous demonstration being
made was by the Court and lawyer II
their battle of words, and they were
sure some noisy.
The Mayor finally smoothed out the
runtive condition by taking tht
lady from the hall, the bail being fxeo
at another place.
II is limited that the whole show wa;
nolitical "wool puller," but it is hare
To find the connecting link.