The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-07-15

alt iHt 1EhbiF
n,ents OF the writer. and should no. be con.
strued as the Jews of the Edltors.)
An Open Letter to the Citizens of
P~leasantvilIe.
The subject of Carnivals, past and
future, has been on the lips of not a
few during the past weeks, and in the
discussion of that subject considera-
BILE blame has been laid at the door of
the Christian Church. And that is
where some of the blame belongs.
But here are some facts for o to
consider. l am writing this statement
on my own initiative and response
bility.
The last Carnival was known as The
Billy Clark Broadway Shows; and it
reminded me of a broad way spoken
| of in Holy Writ. My first visit to the
place of this Carnival was on the eve
ming of Monday, June Goth, in oompa-
ny with another citizen OF Pleasant
vile. 1t was evident Immediately up
on arrival that in nearly every booth
there was an infraction of the State
law governing games of chance; and
at least two shows that were very de-
grading, judging from the actions of
certain females upon platforms out
side their tents. In fact, there was
not a single thing instructive, educa-
tional, or uplifting in any part of the
show, but rather the opposite. My
attention had been called to one of
the shows, in what was very ppro-
priately called The Devils Garden"
, This show was late in opening, but at
!, about 9 or 9:15 the barker" began to
cry his wares. After the first show
another citizen saw a political leader
OF Egg Harbor Township coming out
OF the show and he asked him what he
had seen in the Garden. He politely
told him nothing, except what you
might see any day down the Shore
Road. Can you imagine men paying
25c to see what they could see any
day for nothing? Perhaps he had a
reason for saying that; for almost
with no provocation he called us
~"snoopers', and told us if we would go
back and shut up the gambling holes
in Pleasantville ne would shut up that
show. Why shut it up if it is only
what n might see any day along the
Shore Road? He named several plac-
es in Pleasantville where he claimed
there is gambling, and among them
was a well-known barber shop. And
when | asked him if he would swear
to what he claimed, he said he would
J moi. Isn't our friends accusation a
challenge to our Mayor or is he look
ing for bigger game?
The carnivals under discussion were
little, if any, financial benefit to the
City; but very d~emoralizing, though
J perhaps our dim eyes for awhile see
it not.
My second visit to the Carnival was,
| think, on Thursday night, when |
saw with my w eyes actual indie
cency and suggestiveness OF the part
of one of the younger girls in "The
Beautiful Hawaiian Village show, as
did two men who were with me. This
show also was late in starting. On
Friday night before he had any paid
audiences, | Went to the barker and
told him not to show that night, that
| had evidence enough to convict him
and two others of lewdness and indie
cency.' There was a hurrying time for
Is or 20 minutes until one of our local
politicians wen to the manager and
~conversed with him a few minutes,
and hen the manager told the barker
to go on with the show. He tried but
got no customers outside a few OF his
runners. | overheard n of the wise
acres of the show say TO the fellow
whom | advised not to show, Punch
his jaw! | didn't care to have that
done; but | walked over close to the
fellow, who suggested it, so as TO give
him the chance to do it if he thought
best to undertake it. But he said not
a word to me. And there was no
|, punching done.
After my first visit to the Carnival
| wrote to Mr.. Gaskill, the County
Prosecutor, and told him what | had
seer and what | thought of the whole
thing. He came over or Thursday
night and looked around, but saw
nothing wrong. OF course, he didn't.
| felt then hat there was no hope OF
any help from that source. But on
Saturday morning n Mr.. Fulmer,
County Detective, interviewed me at
the parsonage. Talking over condi-
lions at the Carnival, W. did not agree
on some questions. He called the
wheel" modified gambling. That is
not what Chief Justice Kalisch calls
them. Mr.. Fulmer further stated that
IL | said so he would bring % or 80
men over on Saturday night and shut
the thing up" and place the blame
where it belonged" He admitted
there had Deer gambling at the Ciga-
rette booths in 5 to / and 10 to /
shots; but he had closed them up
himself. For the presence of this 10
to l shot, said Mr.. Fulmer blamed the
Carnival Committee of the American
Legion, saying that Mr.. Clark had told
him so in presence Of said Committee,
and also that the people of Pleasant
Vile wanted that sort of thing, accord
ing to the Committee.
Concerning the raiding of the Carni-
val on Saturday night | gave Mr.. Full
mer no definite answer, except to say
| could not do it alone. Just after
lunch three persons met and talked
over the matter and decided to pro-
coed with the Complaints and War
rants and take Fulmer at his word;
and, at about 2:30 he was so told over
the phone. He said he would be in
the Prosecutors Office to await the
number of Warrants and the hour they
were to be served. Judge Brown was
called in and told our purpose and
also the promise of the Prosecutors
Office. At about 5 o'clock the County
Prosecutors Office was called again
and the Prosecutors brother answer
ed, saying, Mr.. Fulmer had gone out
and he di1n't know where he had gone