Philadelphia Inquirer, July 28, 1899View transcription
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. Among the seizures were six bottles of 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 detectives have been gathering evidence against speak-easies in private 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 not compelled to answer 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.
Jerry Williams, one of Secretary Gibboney's detectives, 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 first play of the machine, he said. On cross-examination Williams refused to tell by whom he was employed, and Recorder Nowrey could not compel him to answer. Detective Fields swore that he was with Williams in Hertz's place, and also played the slot machine. In addition, the detective said he found four of the slot machines in Hertz's place when he made the raid.
The defendant made a motion to dismiss the complaint, as it was dated in the year "189." Decision was reserved, and 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.
Hertz swore that he played the slot machine at Hertz's saloon on Sunday, July 2. On cross examination he refused to say whether he was at the saloon for Mayor Hatch. He didn't know, he said, whether he was on the city pay roll.
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 getting a room adjoining the office, and found in his office were samples to be examined by prospective purchasers.
Recorder Nowrey saw fit to fine 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 Michael Hertz, at 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 30 saloonkeepers rounded up in the recent crusade against Sunday liquor selling were in high glee yesterday over the discovery of a last year's law that would save them from punishment for their alleged misdeings. This law was passed in May 1899, and provides for punishment of any person by indictment for violations of the liquor laws in municipalities where there are no excise ordinances against retail such offenses. As the Supreme Court has set aside the Camden excise ordinance, saloonkeepers hoped to escape further prosecution.
City Councilor Bleakly, after looking up the law, said yesterday: "A house in which the unlawful sale of liquors is habitually made is an indictable nuisance at common law and under the ordinance prescribing penalty for such sales. Such traffic is not only a breach of the city law, but is also forbidden under State law." This decision was made by Judge Van Syckel in 1880, in the Court of Common Pleas. The law was reaffirmed in 1888. It is now a State law.
The Excise Commission, at its regular meeting this afternoon or evening, will probably adopt a substitute ordinance against Sunday liquor selling to conform with legal requirements, with the Rail Court's decision setting aside the old ordinance.
First Raid a Success
Mayor Hatch, of Camden, starts in to wipe out speak-easies. 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. Among the seizures were six bottles of 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 detectives have been gathering evidence against speak-easies in private 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 now compelled to answer 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.
Jerry 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 first play of the machine, he said. On cross-examination Williams refused to tell by whom he was employed, and Recorder Nowrey could not compel him to answer. Detective Fields swore that he was with Williams in Hertz's place, and also played the slot machine. In addition, the detective said he found four of the slot machines in Hertz's place when he made the raid.
The defendant made a motion to dismiss the complaint, as it was dated in the year "189." Decision was reserved, and 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.
Williams swore that he played the slot machine at Hertz's saloon on Sunday, July 2. On cross examination he refused to say whether he was at the saloon for Mayor Hatch. He didn't know, he said, whether he was on the city pay roll.
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 getting a room adjoining the office, and those found in his office were samples to be examined by prospective purchasers.
Recorder Nowrey saw fit to fine Hertz $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 Michael Hertz, at 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 30 saloonkeepers rounded up in the recent crusade against Sunday liquor selling were in high glee yesterday over the discovery of a last year's law that would save them from punishment for their alleged misdeeds. This law was passed in May 1899, and provides for punishment of any person by indictment for violations of the liquor laws in municipalities where there are no excise ordinances against such offenses. As the Supreme Court has set aside the Camden excise ordinance, saloonkeepers hoped to escape further prosecution.
City Councilor Bleakly, after looking up the law, said yesterday: "A house in which the unlawful sale of liquors is habitually made is an indictable nuisance at common law and under the ordinance prescribing penalty for such sales. Such traffic is not only a breach of the city law, but is also forbidden under State law." This decision was made by Judge Van Syckel in 1880, in the Court of Common Pleas. The law was reaffirmed in 1888. It is now a State law.
The Excise Commission, at its regular meeting this afternoon or evening, will probably adopt a substitute ordinance against Sunday liquor selling to conform with legal requirements, following the court's decision setting aside the old ordinance.
