Ocean County , NJ History

from New Jersey Courier 8 Feb 1924 Whiskey, of the Chatsworth "block and fall" variety, is blamed for the death of William Chamberlain, 68 years old, cranberry picker on the bogs of the Applegate Land and Improvement Company near Chatsworth. The man died at his home after being stricken on Sunday morning. It was said by Chatsworth residents that he had been in a drunken party the night before. Another man is seriously ill from th effects of some of the same hooch, Chatsworth residents say. He is Harry Anderson, another cranberry picker, who is well known in that vicinity. Chamberlain is survived by a widow [....illegible...] unfortunate that bootlegging around Chatsworth has been rampant for some time, and it is expected that action will be taken to clean up that vicinity.

from New Jersey Courier 26 Oct 1923 One man was killed and four others are known to have been wounded in a fight between Atlantic Highlands rum-runners, smugglers, and a crew of high-jackers, from Newark, who are alleged to have held up and robbed the rum-runners ar various times of both rum and cash. The fight was on last Saturday night. Frank Laconti, of Newark, found near the scene of the battle with a bullet through his abdomen, afterward died at the Monmouth Hospital, Long Branch. Six other men are under arrest, as follows: Henry Butterfield, G. Butterfield and George Nettiger, all of Atlantic Highlands. They are held in $5000 bail each. Henry Butterfield suffers a bullet wound through his left shoulder. His condition is not serious. They are held on charges of atrocious assault and battery with intent to kill. David Laconit, brother of the dead man, Robert Snyder and Alfred Bacmeister, all of Newark, are held in $1000 bail each as material witnesses. Laconti stood behind a