New Britain herald., 1926-12-13
JERSEY BLUE LAW
 SQUABbLE TODAY IS MORE COMPLEX
Man Arrested Yesterday Today Asks Arrest Of Those Who
 Arrested Him
CLAIMS THEY TOO, WERE
 YI0LATORS OF STATUTE

ter Men Who Had Been Forced
 to Close Down on Sunday - All
 Classes, Even Reporters and Pho
 tographers, Are Affected - Epi-
 denic Spreads to Woodbridge.
 Irvington, N. J.. Dec. 13 LP - Complaint was filed today against Ernest P. Biro, counsel. and also against employees of the Stanley Fabian Theatrical corporation, who yesterday assisted police in their wholesale arrest of violators of the blue law.
 Each Accuses Other
 The complaint was filed by John o. Miller, Irvington lawyer. appear ing for Herbert krutschnitt, man. ager of a gas-fiIling station. Krutt- schnitt was one of the 100 persons arrested yesterday, and 1t was on his complaint that ten newspaper reporters and photographers were taken into custody.
 Muller argued that Biro and his men violated the 72 year old stat ute by their activity in gathering evidence yesterday. Recorder Stod- dard said he would not consider the complaints against Biro and the theatcr employees until after yester- days cases have been disposed Of.
 Fines Imposed
 Charges leading to the arrest of the 9S persons yesterday were dis posed of as follows today:
 Fines of $2 each were imposed on 61 persons, six of whom pleaded not guilty but who were held guilty by Recorder Stoddard.
 Bond bail of s2 each was for feited by 23 persons who failed to appear for the hearing.
 Trial by jury was demanded by four employees of the Public Service corporation charged with driving busses and vehicles through the streets. Their cases will be heard on December 2l.
 The cases of ten who pleaded not guilty were postponed.
 All Classes Affected
 The offenders, arrested yesterday. represented almost every occupa- ton but those specifically exempt ed by the law. The group contained 10 newspaper reporters, who had some trouble convincing the police they were working, filling station proprietors, street car conductors. motormen, druggists, barbers. boot blacks and others. Three of the re- porters, one a woman, refused to give bail and were accordingly placed in a cell. Later their indig- nation cooled. however, and they Sained their freedom through so bills.
 Police cooperated fully with the men. one detective being assigned to each with his pockets filled with complaint blanks. A sys- tematic survey of the town of 50,- 900 persons was made. and the ar rests made without classification as to nature of the offense. aside from it's being "gainful." The law also prohibits amuscments, but no ar rests were made for violation of this clause.
 Merchants Leave Signs
 Many arrested merchants placed zigns on the doors explaining they had been arrested, but would re- turn shortly. This they did and business thrived. One restaurant owner telephoned police early in he morning, requesting that he be arrested carly" as he was too pussy around noon. He was accom- nodated.
 Little escaped the detectives and heir helpers. The Elks' club was invaded, and a young man arrested IS he played popular airs on vio- in for the amusement of members. Icrbert Kruttschnitt. who operates l gas filling station opposite police leadqUartcrs. was arrested so many ines that finally after each sale le trudged his way across the 'treet to post his bail. It was upon lis complaint that the reporters were taken into custody.
 Charles Bechtold. Alex Sabo, John Warner and Louis Goiding. of the theaters, were the prime movers in the campaign. They arrived in town early, MT. folding proceeding to arrest the lriver of the bus that carried him rom Newark. By noon more than 70 arrests had been made.
 Ministers whose protest caused he closing of theaters and the re- ultant crusade yesterday declined 0 comment. Ernest Biro. counsel or the Fabian theaters, whose charged the clergy nen of New Jersey with discrimi- lating against motion picture thea CTS in enforcing the blue law" aid the law would be as complete y enforced as possible. however.
 Spreads to Woodbridge
 Woodbridge. N. J.. Dec. 13 Pi- m attempt to inaugurate Sunday movies in violation of the vice and act of 1854 was halted i 'esterday by a delegation of min sters who called upon Nathan