Evil Doers Quake

EVIL DOERS QUAKE Mayor Hatch, of Camden, Starts in to Wipe Out Speak-Easies FIRST RAID A SUCCESS Fines Imposed by Recorder Nowrey for Operating Gambling Machines. Sunday Sellers Hope to Escape Mayor Cooper B. Hatch is making life miserable for evil doers in Camden. After waging relentless warfare on Sunday liquor sellers and seizing all the gambling machines in saloons and cigar stores, he is now clearing out speak-easies. The first raid was made yesterday afternoon, when Captain Stanley, Sergeant Hyde, Detective Painter and Policeman Shaw swooped down on Mrs. Mary Mahan's house, at 1062 South Front street. They found nearly enough liquor there to stock a saloon. There were two cases of bottled beer, five gallons of whisky, a large quantity of California wines, and other "wet" goods. This was all confiscated and was sent to the City Hall, together with Mrs. Mahan and a young girl. For some time past Mayor Hatch's private dectectives have been gathering evidence against speak-easies and disorderly houses in different parts of the city, and several more arrests will be made. The saloonkeepers arrested about ten days ago for operating slot machines in their places were arraigned yesterday before Recorder Nowrey. Maurice Hertz, of Locust street and Kaighn avenue, was the first to be tried. He was represented by former Judge Howard Carrow. The complaints against Hertz charged him with operating nickel-in-the-slot gambling machines on July 2 and 9. Harry Williams, one of Secretary Gibboney's detectives, who was employed in the recent Sunday liquor crusade, testified that he played "The Owl" in Hertz's saloon on July 9. He lost five cents on the red but hit the black and quit even. On cross-examination Williams refused to tell by whom he was employed, and Recorder Nowrey would not compel him to answer. Detective Fields swore that he was with Williams in Hertz's place, and also played the slot machine. Police Captain Stanley said he found four of the slot machines in Hertz's place when he made the raid. At this point Judge Carrow moved to dismiss the complaint, as it was dated in the year "189." Decision was reserved, and the other complaint was taken up. Judge Carrow wanted this set aside on the ground that it did not specify the premises where the law was alleged to have been violated. Recorder Nowrey overruled the motion. Detective Graper said he played the slot machine at Hertz's saloon on Sunday, July 2. On cross examination he refused to give his address, but said he worked for Mayor Hatch. He didn't know, he said, whether he was on the city pay roll. David B. Kaighn and other Kaighn avenue residents testified that they never saw slot machines in operation in Hertz's place, but had seen them standing in the office. Hertz, in his own defense, said he was agent for the slot machines, and those found in his office were samples to be examined by prospective purchasers. Recorder Nowrey sentenced Hertz to pay a fine of $50 and costs. Judge Carrow gave notice that he would appeal the case, but the Recorder refused to permit Hertz to depart without paying the fine. Peter Kelly, of Eighth street and Ferry avenue, was also convicted and paid his fine. John Keefe, of Haddon avenue and Carman street, and Marshall Hutchinson, of Ninth and Walnut streets, pleaded guilty and were fined $50 and costs each. There were about seven more cases, which Recorder Nowrey adjourned until next Wednesday. The 130 saloonkeepers rounded up in the recent crusade against Sunday liquor selling were in high glee yesterday over the discovery of a law that they hoped would save them from punishment for their alleged misdoings. This law was passed in 1874, and makes it unlawful to prosecute any person by indictment for violations of the liquor laws in municipalities where city ordinances provide punishment for such offenses. As the Supreme Court has set aside the Camden excise ordinance, the saloonkeepers hoped to escape further prosecution. City Counsel Bleakly, after looking up the matter yesterday, said: "A house in which the unlawful sale of liquors is habitually made is an indictable nuisance, although there is a city ordinance prescribing penalty for such sales. Such traffic is not only a breach of the city law, but is also forbidden by the State law." This decision was made by Judge Van Syckel in 1880, in the Court of Errors and Appeals, and was reaffirmed in 1888. It is now a State law. The Excise Commission, at its regular meeting next Wednesday evening, will probably adopt a substitute ordinance against Sunday liquor selling to conform to the city charter, under the Supreme Court's decision setting aside the old ordinance.