New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-08-17
Session Held IL, Hansn,ors-
ton Film House With
" oman as Justice and
Iosc, Leaders as Jurors
From a Special Correspondent


to-day as advertised, with Mrs. Helen
Long Rodgers occupying modestly the
position Of Chief Justice Cupid. Editor
Thomas Bancroft Delker, the proprie.
tor of "The South Jersey STAR and
Harmonious leading widower, ard
Lew Coniey, the Babe Ruth of southern
New Jersey, were advocates. 1t is pos
slble that at some time In the United
States more thoroughly farcical
scene has been enacted by serious
minded people whose intentions are
of the best. Possible, but not likely.
The court got through with half a
dozen cases this afternoon, and Editor
Delker announced another session for
tomorrow. 1t was largely Editor Del
ker's own fault that more business was
not done at the first sitting. The
editor got on his feet to make a speech
OF welcome at the morning session, and
by the time he sat down again lunch
was due. There was no holding Editor
Delker. 1t was his day ana hour and
he made the most of it.
The proceedings we're supposed to
begin at O'Clock, but it was nearly
mailing signs, prepared by Russell
Montgomery, the local artist, to the
outside Of the Palace Motion Picture
| Theater. Then, when Editor Delker
came to assemble his jury he found
that Cupid and couple of Jurors were
missing. Mrs. Rodgers was found in
her husbands jewelry store. Mrs.
Theodore Dongan,. one Of the missing
jurors, sent word that she was cooking
her husbands dinner, but she'd be
along after while. Ex-Sergeant Harry
c. Culshaw, the other missing juror.
continued missing until the afternoon.
Jurors Among Missing
The selection of alternate jurors
occupied Editor Delker's time for a
busy few minutes. Then he announced
that Mrs. w. G. Baker would take the
place of Mrs. Dongan, and Chief of
Police Henry Mottola, who injudi-
ciously poked his head inside the door
to see that the law was being obeyed.
was bounced upon and made to serve
as the other member Of the jury.
Thus, as finally instituted, the board
which sat on the first days cases was
made up of Mrs. Helen Long Rodgers
as Chief Justice Cupid; Mrs. Theodore
Dongan, who breezed in little late
but ready for anything that might
eventuate; Mrs. Clyde Smith, wife Of
the superintendent Of the Hammonton
shoe factory; Mrs. A. r. E. Bontier,
Editor Delker's private secretary;
Jerry Patten, retoucher, who repre-
sented the single men; j. Lewis O'Don-
nell, telegraph operator and chairman
tee for Atlantic County; Edward II.
White, local business man, and the
Chief of Police.
The setting was chaste and simple.
Inside the tin-lined walls Of the Palace
Motion Picture Theater the jury gath
cred and were seated on chairs in front
of the screen. Light was provided by
single nitrogen electric bulb, draped
by an extension wire over a piece of
scantling nailed to the screen in front
of the organ. The light was hung inn
mediately over Mrs Rodgers's head.
The atmosphere was provided by one
of Russell Montgomery's masterpieces,
a red heart pierced by n black arrow,
which was nailed in q prominent place
under the light.
Sinking Individual There
There were no thronging spectators
of officer Nick Pascetti, the sergeant
alarms, consisted mainly in carrying
kilograms to Editor Delker and collect
ing 10 cent messenger fees from Lew
Coniey. One or two curious minded
individuals dropped in, and sinking
furtively around the rear of the thea
ter was one mysterious male. lit
afterward developed he is the sole ap--
plicant to the union who has honored
the occasion with personal WISH.
This party spent much Of his time m
quiring for the reporter OF New OK
paper, through the medium of which
he. first learned of the existence OF the
Lovers Cooperative Union.
He did not say why he sought this
particular person, but there was sin
lister CLEAN in the candidates eyes
and Officer Nick Pascetti kept him I'M
der close observation. There Will 90
no newspaper men beaten up while
Officer Nick Pascetti is on the job.
The rest Of the party was made up
of reporters and photographers. AT
noon, after the bulk of the New York
delegation arrived, there were more
newspaper people in the theater than
there were representatives OF any
other line Of activity. Including the
judge, jury, advocates and the lone !,,
bewildered candidate, the press stih
outnumbered the rest.
Editor Delker, who wore collar and
tie and q boiled shirt for the occa-
sion, began his address Of welcome
with a reference to the manner in
which the scheme had originally been
promoted. He was careful to explain
that at first it was "a joke, pure and
simple" He did not say when it
stopped being joke.
No Marrying Done
Editor Delker was at some pains to
explain that it was not the intention
of the Lovers COOPERATIVE Union to
marry off the candidates, but merely
to introduce what seemed suitable hus-
bands to what seemed suitable wives.
Then, he continued, it would be up to
them to do the rest.
ave don't select a wife or hus-
band, we merely select correspon-
dent" said Editor Delker, taking great
care not to accent the wrong syllable
in the final word.
Then Editor Delker proceeded to
read to the jury and the reporters q
number of letters he had received.
These, he said, would go to show that