Attempt Made To Abolish Police Justice Post
By JOHN E. Gil. LIES,
lVilice justice
A review of the history of the Farnr. ngdale Police Court
involves a period extending from the incorporation of the
Village in 1904.
The office of Police Justice was formally established in 1910
by referendum which was passed by a vote of 47 to 32. It
appears that the question of establishing the position in 1910
was not exactly the burning issue of the day. Prior to 1910
the administration of justice in the community, which incidentally
was then part of Queens County was conducted by a Justice
of the Peace whose Court considered matters of a civil, as well
as of a criminal nature.
Adolph Bausch was the then Justice of the Peace and held
that office until 1911, at which time the first election of Police
Justice was held, and Hubert C. Weiden was elected.
A review of the dusty archives in our Village Hall indicates
that during this early period petit larcenies involving thefts
of potatoes, truancy matters, minor assaults and public intoxication,
seem to occupy much of the Court's time.
An interesting entry in Judge Weiden's book involving a charge
of public intoxication occurring in 1915 was as follows: " Defendant
arrested. Locked up overnight. After looking him over
the following morning he appeared and explained that the Fish
Markets at Promised Land had shut down, and that he had been
on his way to New York City. His appearance spoke for himself,
and I told him that if he ever applied for another night's
lodging at the Farmingdale Lock- up, he would get six months
at Blackwells Island. I gave him a good l e c t u r e ."
Again in 1915 in one of the first violations of the then Motor
Vehicle Law, a motorist was charged with driving without lights,
and was immediately brought before the Judge. The head
lamp of his automobile was exhibited by the motorist and the
Judge noted in his docket " a s the lamp was still warm to the
touch, I suspended sentence."
In 1915, the Village was scarcely populated and perhaps the
new office of Police Justice was adversely affecting the economy
of some of its citizens, for a referendum was held to abolish
the position. The position, however, was retained by a vote of
132 in favor as against 75 opposed.
Charles Budell defeated Hubert C. Weiden and was elected
to the position of Police Justice in 1915, and re- elected in 1919.
In 1923, George Carl successfully ran for election and held
the post until 1927, at which time Hon. Willis B. Carman was
elected.
Judge Weiden enters the history of the court again by thereafter
being re- elected to the position and held same until
his death, at which time Judge Carman was appointed and thereafter
continued to hold the office for 28 1/ 2 years.
In 1960, upon Judge Carman being elected to the District
Court of Nassau County, John E. Gillies was elected to the
position and re- elected on two occasions, his present term of
office expiring in 1969.
The character of the Court dramatically changed with the
enactment of the County Government Law and the creation of
the Nassau County District Court System in 1938.
The office of Justice of the Peace throughout the County
was abolished, and the jurisdiction of the Village Police Justice
limited to violations of Village Ordinance and violations of
Vehicle and Traffic Laws committed within the Village with the
exception of driving while intoxicated.
Upon the election of Judge Gillies the population growth of
the Village had reached its peak, and as a matter of convenience
to the public the first night Court sessions were originated.
The office of Village Prosecutor was established, an appointive
position presently held by Robert M. Callahan, a Farmingdale
attorney.
The bulk of the court's work is concerned with violations
of the Vehicle and Traffic Laws, and in the year 1966, the Court
disposed of over 5,000 individual cases.
All those associated with the work of the court a r e keenly
aware that to the average citizen his sole introduction to judicial
process during his lifetime will be the local Traffic Court,
and for that reason a bona fide attempt is made to conduct the
work of the court in a courteous and dignified fashion.
From a financial point of view the Court has always been
more than self- sustaining, but we prefer to measure the success
of the Court by the correction of faulty driving habits rather
than by the amount of fines levied and collected.
The court has cooperated and will extend its cooperation
with the Nassau County Traffic Safety Council as well as Safety
Councils of a Federal and State level.
The Police Justice is ably assisted in the performance of
# his duties by the Assistant Police Justice, Charles J. Cronin,
of Farmingdale. The administrative work of the Court which
involves numerous and detailed reports of each individual case
to the State Offices is administered by the Court Clerk, Jeanette
Runge.
by John E. Gillies
Police Justice
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Award 542,900 Construction Contract At College
Governor R o c k e f e l l e r announced
the award of a $ 542,900
contract for the construction of a
one- story Service Group Building,
and the replacement of stacks
on the heating plant at the State
U n i v e r s i t y Agricultural and
Technical College at Farming-dale.
The project is to be completed
early in 1968.
The b u i l d i n g will contain
electrical, mechanical, paint and
carpentry workshops, as well as a
warehouse and a garage for the
campus maintenance vehicles.
At the present time $ 3.5
million worth of construction is
under way on the campus to complete
a Classroom/ Laboratory
B u i l d i n g , and Administration
Building and outdoor physical education
facilities, as well as
alterations and modernization
work at Hooper and Lupton Halls,
Governor Rockefeller p o i n t ed
out.
The $ 18 million expansion program
for the Agricultural and
Technical College at Farming-dale
is p a r t of the physical
development program now under
way for the State University of
New York. Directing this program
is the Construction Fund,
a p u b l i c benefit corporation
established by the 1962 Legislature
upon the recommendation
of Governor Rockefeller to ex-p
e d i t e the c o n s t r u c t i o n facilities
to meet the State University's
Master Plan requirements.
DATE BOOK
SATURDAY, APRIL 1
9 p. m. to 1 a. m. - VAC Dance,
Sons of Italy Hall.
MONDAY, APRIL 3
8 p. m. - Reorganizational Meeting
Village of Farmingdale.
8: 3U p. m. - Meeting of Farming-dale
Columbiettes at K of C
Hall.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5
8 p. m. - Public Hearing Farmingdale
Village Zoning Board
of Appeals re Morris Karp
and son petition.
8 p. m. - School District # 22
budget hearing at Weldon E.
Howitt J r . High School.
Secretarial Science students at the Farmingdale College develop proficiency by
competing with time. There are foui branches of secretarial education open to
students at the college: advertising, industrial, legal, and medical. In each, the
language and procedures characteristic to the field are taught.
8S Thursday, March 30, 1967
students taking a breather at the Farmingdale College Memorial 0* k l'ia/ a, a gift
ID I he college at 1 arnrngdale from the \ linn li Association. There are more tlian
10,1) 00 Stale University at Farmingdale alumni and over 70 per cent of them reside on
Long Island.
Farmingdale Observer Supplement
