Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-07-15
TELLS HOW To
END GAMBLING
Prosecutor Stricken, in State
ment to Press, on Wheels
of Fortune
UP TO THE CITY POLICE
Says New Brunswick Has no
CarnivaIS and no Gambling
as a Result

Declaring today in a statement to
the press, that where the local Of
ficials lack sufficient backbone to
perform their sworn duty. his office
will act, Joseph f.. Stricken, prose-
cutor of MiddleseX county. again
gives his views on the question of
the operation of gambling devices
used as a source of profit in the
conduct of carnivals.
AS a remedy to this form of evil.
the prosecutor suggests that all ci-
ties follow the example set by the
city of New Brunswick where no Ii
censes for carnivals are issued He
declares that with the coming of the
carnivals he receives complaints
from people who desire to see the
law enforced, and in a city the size
of Perth Emboy, where there is in
existence a police department of
substantial size. the prosecutor
ought not to be called upon to draw
upon his moderate staff of three Of
ficers to do patrol duty.
The statement follows:
my position on the question OF
running gambling devices which
seem to be the chief source of profit
in the conduct of so-called carnivals,
has often been expressed. but since
the press of this city requests my
reiteration on this subject, ! Will
again give my views.
"Regardless of my personal in
clinations l am obliged to deal with
this subject from the viewpoint of
sworn official. The mere fact that
local officers have in their mistaken
generosity and sentiment for the or
ganizations conducting entertain
ments for what they consider laud-
able purposes permitted the law to
be violated. does not and will not
change my attitude during the per-
lod that | am under retainer from
the county of Middlesex. 1t is hard
to conceive the large number of
people who expect the greatest fidel-
ity on the part of a lawyer toward
his individual client, but who are
willing that his duties should be be-
trayed when serving the public.
THAT it is the duty of the local
authorities to suppress all violations,
gaming and otherwise, is matter of
common knowledge. However, the
fact remains that whenever these So
called attractions are licensed by the
mayor it is freely intimated that the
local authorities are willing to see
the law of gambling violated. pro-
vided the prosecutor will give his
assent. As a result, application is
frequently made to me for permit
to run wheels at carniVals. 1t is
astounding to find that these appli-
cations come from highly respect
able and well meaning citizens, VINO
l. he n
makes the laws and hence is free TO
enforce or not enforce them as be
sees fit. The laws of this state are
enacted by the legislature and when
once on the statute books it becomes
the duty of every police official,
whether he be mayor or a member
of the committee on police, chief or
patrolman, to enforce these laws.
This as a legal proposition is not
novel and the supreme court in the
case of State VS.. Castle 66 Atlantic
Exporter, page 1863, held that an
indictment would lie against tho o.
ice commissioner Of the City OF
Newark with failure 70 inquire into
the neglect and omission of police
officers under their control to sup
press certain resorts and gaming
houses, and to discipline and punish
such of the officers as were guilty
of neglect of duty.
Approaching the subject from a
practical point of view, whenever
the coming of a carnival is an
rounced many INGREDIENTS register
their protests basing the same upon
injury to their business, making the
claim that they are unable to com
pete with the catch-penny devices
operated at these entertainments.
Complaint also comLs and very
properly so, from people with an m
herent desire to see The law OBJ
served. These complaints ought to
he disposed of locally, end in Perth
Amboy, where there is in existence
police department of substantial
size, the prosecutor ought not to be
called upon to draw upon his mod
crate staff of three officers TO do
ratrol duty
"As the most practical remedy
would suggest that the example set
by the city of New brunswick be
(Continuec on page %
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