Palisadian., 1925-03-13
COUNTY PROSECUTOR ACTS TO CHECK
INCREASE OF LIQUOR DRINKING AND
PETTINC PARTIES BY YOUNG FOLKS
Ultimatum Follows Conference of Law Enforcement
Heads; Asks Parents to Warn Children; No Favorit-
ism to Be Shown; Wild Parties Must End.

County Prosecutor A. G. Hart has
declared war on all types of alleged
wild parties" that have been and are
being staged by certain element of
the young people in Bergen County.
He promises prompt arrest of all
youthful violators of both sexes re-
gardless of social position, and urges
that the parents warn the children
beforehand and not wait until they
are behind the bars.
The Prosecutors ultimatum came
after a conference between Sheriff
Jack L. Fox, Under Sheriff George P.
Nimmo, United States Commissioner
Arthur M. Agnew, Police Chief Peter
J. Siccardi and Assistant Prosecutor
Charles J. Mccarthy, and Mrs. Will
liam B. Shelton of Leonia, Mrs. Will
liam Rose of Englewood Cliffs and
Mrs. Theodore Van Stone of Hacken-
sack. The women came to see Mr..
Hart as representatives of the Bergen
County Women's Republican Club.
There has been much talk of the
actions of the young folks of late and
several boards of education have de-
MED the use of their schools for
dances on this account. The pocket
flask has become part of the young
mems outfit, improper dancing is a
common sight, cigarette smoking
among the girls has ceased even to
excite comment in their own set, and
no evening is considered complete
without it's auto ride and wayside
petting party.
Speaking of the committee who in
terviewed him and the subsequent
conference, Prosecutor Hart on Mon
day last said:
'sThe committee solicited an inter-
view. 1t was held in my office. Three
ladies of the committee attended, and
were received by the Sheriff, Under
Sheriff, U. S. Commissioner, Chief of
the Motor Vehicle Department, the
Assistant Prosecutor and myself.
Z I'VE reCoiveG-rhern not as represen-
tatives of any particular group, but
as representatives of a large body of
taxpayers.
"They complained about the youth
of the county-both sexes-indulging
in intoxicating liquors at school, fra
ternity and other dances and assem-
blies-as well as upon automobile
prives and 'petting parties
1--WE rendered the utmost of our co..
operation and assistance, but ex-
planned that our aggregate force is so
small-about 40 men-that with their
regular activities they were quite un-
able to police these affairs-that
these Except where they reach the
extreme) constitute violations of the
disorderly act, are cognizable only by
local justices and recorders, and are
wholly local police affairs.
Notwithstanding this, and in order
to stimulate the police, directed four
detectives to intercept all 'petting
parties and intrude-even upon way
side love affairs-to visit at least
once night all dances of our youth,
and to especially watch for those who
may carry liquor I have given them
irrevocable orders to arrest forthwith
all offenders, and to have them COM
mitted to our county Jail if possible
for a period of thirty days.
"This order is to cover the present
spring time, when the young mans
fancy lightly turns to thoughts OF
love- and is to affect all-the rich and
poor, the elite, the nobility and the
mobility. And it is to be hoped that
devoted parents will caution their
children now, and not wait until they
are behind bars to come and plead
that they are the victims of associates
or have been drugged."