Camden Policemen Raid a Sunday Liquor Seller

CAMDEN POLICEMEN RAID A SUNDAY LIQUOR SELLER Swoop Down on a Saloon Where Three Men Were About to Quench Their Thirst With Foaming Lager Beer. Other Violations Reported Despite the vigorous crusade of the Camden County Law and Order League and the heavy penalty imposed by Judge Armstrong last week, when he sentenced several Camden saloonkeepers to State prison and the county jail for Sunday liquor selling, some liquor dealers continued to violate the law and defy the authorities yesterday. The police were on the alert, and swooped down on one saloon, where they said they found several men about to quench their thirst with beer. The place raided was the saloon of Henry Hayes, at 824 South Third street. The raid was made by Captain Stanley, Sergeant Hyde and Policemen Cunningham, Nowrey, Weaver and Harvey, on a warrant issued by Justice Stackhouse, on complaint of Mrs. Ida Buckingham, of 25 North Second street, a member of the Salvation Army. The proprietor, Robert Forbes, John McKenna and William Ivins, who were in the barroom at the time, were taken in custody. Hayes was given a hearing at once by Justice Stackhouse. It was testified that on July 8 James Buckingham, husband of the complainant, went into Hayes' saloon and bought several glasses of beer. When he got ready to leave Hayes declined to let him go, saying the police were watching on the outside. Buckingham swore he was kept a prisoner for over two hours. "Judge, can't I sue Hayes for falsely imprisoning my husband?" asked Mrs. Buckingham, at this point. Captain Stanley was then sworn, and testified that he saw six colored men come out of Hayes' gate while he was waiting for an opportunity to make the raid, and then McKenna, Forbes and Ivins went in and he followed them. This was a signal to the policemen in waiting, who jumped an adjoining fence, and, pushing their way by the person tending the back door. When they entered Hayes was back of the bar. Captain Stanley said Hayes had three glasses of beer in his hand, and placed them in front of the men just as the policemen came in. "I got between the men and the beer and the officers took charge of the barroom," said Captain Stanley. "I know it was beer because I tasted it. That is something I have not done for over twenty years." Sergeant Hyde and the policemen corroborated Captain Stanley as to the facts of the raid and two of the policemen testified that it was beer which Hayes placed on the counter. When McKenna, Forbes and Ivins were asked if they had anything to say Mrs. Hayes tried to stop them from testifying. Chief of Police Foster threatened her with arrest and as she would not desist he put her out of the hearing room. McKenna was the only one of the three to testify. He said he ordered the beer, but did not have time to pay for it before the policemen came in. Hayes denied selling beer to Buckingham on July 8. Captain Stanley then made a charge against Hayes of selling liquor yesterday and he pleaded not guilty. He was committed in default of $500 bail. The other three prisoners were held in their own recognizance to appear when wanted as witnesses. The reports of the captains and sergeants of police to Chief Foster last night show that six saloonkeepers in the southern part of the city were selling liquor yesterday. FIRST DRY SUNDAY IN HALF A CENTURY Gloucester City Saloonkeepers Dispensed Soft Drinks or Closed Their Places For the first time in fifty years Gloucester City experienced a dry Sunday yesterday. The sentence of several Camden saloonkeepers to imprisonment for Sunday liquor selling had its effect and at last the Camden County Law and Order League crusade against violators of the excise laws is bearing fruit. "Positively no intoxicating liquors sold to-day. All kinds of soft drinks for sale, and birch beer on draught," was the sign displayed on many of the summer gardens along the Gloucester City beach yesterday. The hotelkeepers had their doors thrown wide open so that all who passed could see what was going on inside. Many of the liquor dealers, instead of dispensing "soft" drinks to the thirsty, closed their saloons and went away for the day. There were a number of Law and Order agents about looking for evidence of Sunday liquor selling, but they met with little success.