The Penn's Grove record., 1923-05-04
Local BOOtlegger
Finally Convicted
Many Cases Settled By Judge
And Juries At Salem

In the Salem County Court, on We'd
nesday, Harry Gallagher, the notorl-
Gus bootlegger Of Penns Grove, had
his trial before Judge Mecum and a
jury in which a verdict of guilty was
found after a few minutes of dellber-
alton. Gallagher's place was on the
South River Shore and had been OF
much annoyance to the Borough Mar
shals because of the vicious element
which freuuented it and of the high
powered moonshine which he handled.
On March % Gallagher staggered in
to the Borough Hall in an intoxicated
condition and was locked in a cell for
safe keeping. Marshal John G.. Sulll-
van, on one occasion, saw Gallagher
and others in his place throwing dice
to determine which one should pay for
the drinks. On another occasion in
tercepted him on the street with what
he believed to be booze, procured a
search warrant under the Hobart law
from Supreme Court Commissioner
Daniel Y. Summerill, Jr., and with
Marshals Joseph B. Harbeson and
Nelson Munyan searched Gallagher's
place, where they found more than
two gallons of Jump Steady" Whls-
key. Gallagher was held under $1,000
bail for court.
William B. Surran was employed to
defend Gallagher, and at the trial on
Wednesday, made such a sorroW1ul
mess of it that the above verdict guilty
was reached in a brief period. Surran
reminded one of a base drum "full OF
wind, lots of noise, but little real
music" He said all law came down
from Jesus Christ. He probably never
heard of Moses or the Ten Command
ments. Then he read what some one
said about law in the 18th century.
Then probably not being altogether
satisfied with what he had dug up,
read what he said was an article by
Senator Reed, of Missouri, which
treated with the subject of law as
applied to prohibition. The paper
looked like a copy of the minute
Man"
Surran bawled at the Prosecutor,
bawled at the officers and balled up
the whole works, except the jury, who
seemed to be the real object of his
endeavor. Surran said that he was
"always wrong in Penns Grove" If
he continues his present course, he
probably always will be. He said
there was more Licker drank in the
Borough Hall than any other place in
town.
The Prosecutor made scarcely any
reply to the undignified mouthings of
the defense's counsel, but confined his
argument to the law in the case. The
Judge said whether the law was a
good law or not, was no concern of the
Jury. The 18th Amendment is as much
a law as the law against murder and
can be changed only by the vote of
the people. If Gallagher had the
liquor in his possession, he was guilty
of misdemeanor.
On the 23d, the Salem County Court
the case of Harry S. Barber against
Isadore Luterman and James Diver,
trading as the Globe Theater, was
heard. The suit was for a coal bill
furnished the theater in 1921.
Luterman, who is now a resident of
Philadelphia, told how he came to re-
linquish the operation of the theater
and that he had agreed with Diver for
the latter to pay the bill, but admitted
their was no partnership between him
and Diver. At the conclusion of the
plaintiffs case, D. V. Summerill
moved for a direction of a non-suit,
for, by the plaintiffs main witness, it
was established that one existed.
Judge Mecum granted the motion and
the jury so found.
Judge Imposes Sentences
Lawrence Housell, the sixteen year
old lad who plead guilty to setting
fire to the barn of Clinton B. Newell,
in Lower Penns Neck, and burning up
the entire herd of cattle, was SEN
fenced to the State Home for Boys at
Jamesburg.
Jonathan Gould, who had previously
plead not guilty to atrocious assault
and battery and simple assault, re
tracted his plea and plead non vult.
He was not sentenced as the Judge
desires to get some line on the mans
previous character.
In the Salem County Courts, Thurs
dav. Judge Mecum sentenced Lee
smith. colored, of Penns Grove, to not
moro han three nor less than two
years in State Prison on the charge OF
larceny of chickens.
Smith claimed that he stole chickens
for Maurice Myers, who conducts a
meat market at Penns Grove, and the
fcr,er told such a straightforward tale
70 +bn Prosecutor that Myers was in
Jicted. On Thursday morning, upon
,.ooIest Of his counsel, Henry Burt
Ware, he was given a special trial,
W. M+iT nromptlv acquitted by the Court.
Grmi+b declared that when Myers ask
, od r. he could get some chickens for
t eH bn took it to mean to go steal
t tbor, i' # appears at that time Myers
Lad lost about forty chickens and was
ir"u of Smith. The latter has a
ar;snn record for chicken stealing
P PaISTr served two terms before.
ha, NJ MYERS is a meat and poultry
doa I ! Of good standing and asked
G GealG' # f. he had any chickens. Smith
sG1'f his IS brother had some and he
sac Ernno hit them to Mr.. Myers who
ploubtN them alive for his trade. Ihey
pouSH1 70 William Diver.