The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-24
THE EXCISE WAR.
Mr.. MUNDy's WITNESS AGAIN TO TESTIFY
THE Law AND ORDER LEAGUE PREPARING II

MR. MUSDy's WITNESS AGAIN TO TESTIFY
THE Law AND ORDER LEAGUE PREPARING TO
STAND BIZ HIM-sTATEN ISLAND JUSTICE.
Nothing remarkably unusual marked the progress
OF the excise war yesterday. On being INTERCEPTED
by HERALD reporter in the afternoon, Mr.. William
II. Mundy, counsel for the Law and Order League,
stated that outsias Of two OF violation of
the Excise law, reported against Roster Bal no ad
said that there fourteen against tho firm
above named tor OF which they have been indicted
and for another they are under bail 10 answer
dicment. Their offence as charged is that OF selling
liquor 10 be drunk on the premises without having
hotel license.
In regard to the question that has arisen as TO
whether the ex-convict, Amos j. Becker Is not, I'M
der tho revised code OF procedure, competent Wit
ness, Mr. Mundy. referring to tho section relating
thereto. said
'The old law was that party victed OF felony,
could not testify, but under 1t he not bound
answer questions tending to degrade or crimsnato
him. In the code both OF these provisions have
been modified tar to make Blocker a compe-
tent witness, although under it no would be COM
PEELED to answer questions cross exam nation that
would elicit tho of his having been convicted OF
felony In any suit brought against the liquor
dealers he - = competent witness. under tnat
section OF the revised CODE and the only the de-
fence could make OF his former mprsopmen would
be TO. II possible. impeach his integrity. OF the
suit o ths latter have no fears, as know Blocker
TO be now anexcmplary young man. In proof OF this
would state that during tho present week party in
and bride him into silence Tnis party offered
him $500 II he would leave the city and suggested to
him at the time that he tBleeker) could account for
MS suddenly leaving by pretending that one
Of his relatives was sick IN Philadelphia.
nsnd TO n. n aSso. the party ALLUDED
tempt he has made at bribery. the Law and order
League as well as myself have the utmost confidence
IN BECKER, We intend TO stand by him, come
what will. We will, OF course continue 70 use him
witness In the liquor cases.
TOUGH STATEN ISLAND.
sour hardest work Is, Ana, ON Staten Island,
where the people in many localities, and even the
justices courts are under the control OF run. have
Just returned from Mariners Harbor, where went TO
prosecute SUIT Tor damages, the pIalnnf being the
wife drunkard, and the defendant party who has
been selling him liquor for the years. Ihe
damages Lard $780, and three Justices Try
the case, the law requiring that number where the
damages claimed exceed $500. The neghbors have
subscribed sufficient sun Tor tho plaintiff (who is
very poor 10 prosecute the suit. To-day the plaintiff
had all her Witnesses present and was prepared 70
10 trial. when tile counsel Tor the defendant asked for
Adjournment. consented thereto provided the
defendant would conform 10 the rule-namely, TO fur
nsh au AFFIDAVIT showing the absence Of a material
witness ana also give security. When he found that
insisted ON the rule, he instead OF complying
with it. appealed TO one OF the justices to have the
Court adjourn the case on its own motion. Tho
Justice who was addressed SAID IL would be personal
inconvenence to HIM he Justce) 10 adjourn the
.lendant then asked the Justice If It WAS not
abuse Of his discretion adjourn pur-
pose of enabling the defendant to avoid tae well
established rule, and he answered that he had
the power and was going 10 do H. then
asked II the adjourned day The plaintiff
sick or Unable TO 30 TO trial whether the Court
would extend similar courtesy TO her. but the JUS
tice refused to make that condition Of granting
the elendant's adjournment In other words, the
pluintlr must be prepared at all times to 60 TO trial.
while the defend ant can procure an adlournmelt
without even conforming 10 the rules have drawn
ftpntn hp n Al n tAd Arpnyh n
Staten Island, requesting the Supreme Court 10 trans
fer the trial 81 cases GU that island to Brooklynn
THKER BED QUESTION.
In answer to summons tue Excise Board
large number OF liquor dealers 10 their Office in
gated to what steps they had taken to qualify them
selves Tor receiving licenses IN complying with the
requirements Of the law. Their Observance OF tho
ordinance demanding each store to have accommodate
t0n for man anu BEAST VIII Oh Is interpreted 10 mean
That they must have nj least three beds IN II, WAS
made the principal point OF inquiry. This investga-
ton made al request Of the Society Tor the
Prevention of Crime insist tnat the
struction the LIQUOR dealers put ON the law
Is faulty ana their compliance with IL Is imperfect
The society's representatives hold that cot Is
ped and cannot be used pretext tor evading the
law They claim that the bed Indicated in the statute
must DO such could be put 10 use In any hotel
be provided with mattresses, blankets quilts ana
all the appointments OF first class dormitory iurn-
ture. They accordingly demand That the Excise Com
missl0Ders make this Interpretation Of the law ana
attend 10 IT'S strict enforcement The commissioners
however. expressed an opinion yesterday at variance
with that oil the society. They believe tnat they have
power to put q construction the law which II
does literally point The ordinance calls tor
three beds, aud the liquor dealers al liberty pro-
such they think III and provide for them what
ever kinds Oi mattresses and covering they choose
As OF The Commissioners stated, they scould no
prescribe what kind OF beds anu bed clothes
liquor dealers should get than they could prescribe
what kind OF clothes they were 10 wear. -
EXCISE ARRESTS
William NJ. Waite, an agent for the Society for the
Prevention OF Crime, caused the arrest Of three liquor
Bieecker street; henry T. Wol Of No 347 Blocker
street. and William Ii. Stauf OF No 662 Hudson street,
Mr. Waite visited each oil these places the evening
previous and bought liquor IN Them He asked TO
Their licenses, ana as they were unable 10 produce
them he preferred charges against these men OF selling
liquor without license They wero held II 500 bail
each TO answer by Judge Morgan.
WORK BROOKLYN.
Captain Oliver Cotter, Agent OF the Temperance
brotherhood OF Christian Churches. yesterday pre-
ierreu several complaints OF violations vi the Excise
law against Brooklyn liquor dealers before the Board
OF Excise Of that CITY, Captain Coer's chief witness
against the dealers Frank s. MiddieDrooK, who
testified number ol TO having
entered the saloon by OF tho side door,
called for yhiskcy, tasted II and paid for II.
Mr.. Schonenfnn, dealer, testified IN his behalf
that he had taken out Eotel license and kept
taurant and dining saloon; he denied most positively
having sold lido ebrook any liquor over tho bar
sunday. John W. Kern, also q dealer, testined TO
Keeping an Inn aud boarding house; he too denied
selling Captain Cotter's witness any liquor the day
IN question. Both u tue above were dismissed
number OF olncr cases were adjourned Tor the pur-
pose oil enabling the accused TO get witnesses.