Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-05-03
Result OF the Temperance Movc-
ment.


When the. recent efforts 10 emf rec the
liquor law in this city were commenced, il
was feared by many that the result might
correspond with that too often experienced
elsewhere. The difficulties in the way Of
securing reliable evidence are so many and
serious that efforts to convict liquor sellers,
even when they are VIGOROUSLY guilty, often
result adversely to justice, causing expense
to the State and Encouragement to the
friends Of law and order. We are happy 10
state that such has not been the case with
the recent prosecutions. The measures
taken to secure positive evidence were well
devised and thoroughly carried out. The
employment Of detectives to ferret out Grim.
inals has been customary with all nations
in all ages Of the world, and is the only
feasible method Of bringing many classes OF
criminals to justice. 1t is often disagree
able duty to perform, but as a necessity, it is
not only excusable but eminently praise
worthy. and those who perform j, success,
fully deserve no ordinary words of praise.
In the instance under consideration, this duty
was skillfully executed by those whose pro,
LESSONS for the temperance cause 60 beyond
mere words, and whose hearts were sufli
ciently in the work to impel the performance
Of most disagreeabe duty in its behalf.
William Siewert was first arrested upon
authorization that he had sold Intoxicating
liquors contrary to law. This, the first case,
was made the test case by the counsel James
Jamison) whom they would all naturally
employ. He contested it with the full force
Of his quibblng ability, but all to no pur-
pose. The evidence was so clear that no
jury ever mpanelcd could do otherwise than
brinG in a verdict of guilty-and this case
had an honest jury. This virtually ended
the contest. The defendant was fined 500
aud costs. Steps have been taken to insure
the payment of this judgment. Adolph
Leytze, Charles Schwartz, V. Il. Biondin,
Edward Rcins, and Bernard Yeager, were
respectively arraigned, and having plead
guilty, finec $50 and costs each. Lange was
arraigned on two counts and attempted q
sort Of defense, bat to no purpose. He was
fined $40 and costs. A considerable portion
of the fines has already been paid, so that
the county is over 800 ahead. This must
put to silence that whisky cry of the Con-
serratire-" expense" v. r. Blondin, hay-
ing failed to pay his fine, is incarcerated in
the county jail, where he will serve out
thirty days unless the fine is sooner paid.
In addition to this, the Grand Jury, at its
session just closed, found true bills against
Adolph Leytze, Y. r. Blondin, Vim. Sicwert
and Bernard Yeager for keeping nuisances
These trials will come off al the next term
of the District Court, in October.
Thus the attempts so far made to enforce
the prohibitory law in this city have proved
entirely successful, not single one Of the
seven liqnor dealers prosecuted, having failed
Of conviction on every count contained in
tho informations. 1t is not difficult 10 en-
force the law ,rhen the Evidence is clear. The
Conservative says that whisky can be OBJ
tanned as easily now as before the prosecu-
tions but this is not true. 1t can be OBJ
tanned, bat not as openly and easily as be-
fere. 1t was not expected that the prosecu-
tons would at once entirely cstop the illegal
sale Of liquor; the enemy we are fighting is
persistent and dogge ed; but a good com
mencement has been made the outer works
of the rum castle have been carried, and
this city has seen practical demonstration
Of the fact that the laws Of Iowa can be en-.
forced without fear or favor.
Let the cravens Of the temperance ranks
now take courage.