The New York herald., 1877-11-21
The Board Of Excise Calm
and Confident.
THEY FEAR NOT PROSECUTION,
Victory of the Dealers Over the
Law and Order League.
REMARKABLE COURT SCENE.

better class OF saloon Keepers took place yesterday
Tho battle ground was the Tomos Police Court, and
the combatants half a dozen representative Iiauor
sellers the sido and Counsellor
Mundy, representing tho Law and Order
| League, on tho other The liquor force comprised
the following named pcrsons:--Lorenzo Deimonico
No. % Bond street; William Kramer, Atlantic Garden;
Thomas Stewart. No. John street; Alfred Bial and
John Roster, Park row; Jonn Norton, No. 81 Market
street and James Pigeon, 1853 Chatham street. Tho
Court crowded. Justice Duny acted the
god OF The result Of the engagement WAS 49,
nominous defeat for the prosecution. Through
foreseen tho testimony OF the prosecut-
| ing Witness Amos j. Beecker proved worthless To
the surprise OF almost everybody present it transprcd
that hc ex-convict unpardoned by the Execu.
tive and consequently incompetent to give testimony
IN court OF law The revelation was like bomb
shell. Nobody suspected such thing, perhaps
tho lawyer who drcw out, and one or two
Others rho discovery. Of course had the effect OF
freeing from all the dealers against whom
appeared, there being other witnesses to their
iatlon OF tho Excise law.
THE PROCEEDINGS
Tho FIRST person called Lorenzo Dclmonico, and
here may bc added, TO relieve the anxiety of
vous saloon keepers, OF tho arrested dealers
were confined in the prisoners pen. They all
allowed to sit IN the court proper In the
UelmOnlCO WltneSS blceCKer.
TO having purchased glass Of liquor aud
drank tho samo his premises. No license
had been granted him soil on tho premisca Mr.
Delmonico set up no defence, except that he had
receipt from the Board OF Excise ~ cannot recog-
nizc that" said the magistrate. ~ must mold you in
500 bail" "very well, J" cheertuIly replied tho
noted restaurateur, my bondsman ia here" and In
response the worJs Mr.. Bodloo stepped Toward
and gave the required bail. Tho next case
that OF MIR. Kramer, or tho Atlantic Garden,
against whom similar testimony was given. The
prisoner likewise pleaded receipt from the Board Of
Excise. He met OF with the fate OF his prcde-
ccssor sOnc hundred dollars ball. +" said .he magis-
,rate Iacon,cally, and wealthy Teutonic citzen
stepped forward to justify. Thon followed the
Of Alfred Bal. John Roster, John Norton and Tho
mas Stewart all OF which similarly disposed or
WARS IN A NAMES
Thus fnr all was victory for the Law and Order
League Counsellor Mundys stood at the bar, smiling
approvingly at his valuable witness The latter
no less overjoyod HIS many journeys from saloon
saloon tasks and troubles and his artiui tactics
had not been In vain. Triumph and happiness were
visible in his countenance Although but young
man. not moro than twenty.Jwo he had singuiarly
among his temperance associates that would live
years. Not OF hs shots had missed their mark.
Even the celebrated Dsmonico had iallen victim 10
his skill
Thus felt Mr.. Bleecker wnen the last case. that OF
4 James Pigeon, was called. Was thero anything
| omnous in the Lamey Had the skful marksman AT
last encountered bird which was TO DEFY MS apmun-
tiou? Were his fame and glory take wings and
fly to oblivionf Mr.. Beeckers countcuance gave no
token such thoughts Indeed, he was seen TO smile
! sarcasticaliy when Counsellor DIVER representing
Mr.. Pigeon, advanced to tho front TO give baltic
Surely he gong to fail IN ths the easiest Of
| his shotsf
s.Whal is your name =" quietly asked Mr.. oliver.
"Amos J. Bleccker," promptly responded e. ~sr-
| i,r.,y
/ "At No 534 HUDSON street. New York"
"How long, may ask. have you lived thcres''
| "rwo ana a balf years."
| "Whcrc were you oornf"
"Come, come, Uninterrupted Justice Duffy ssthis cx.
animation will lead to no,ning. Ny time Is valuable
Counsellor. Connne yourself TO the liquor question
| she EXPLOSION
| awe shall be brie Your Honor" mildly answered
the lawyer. with knowing look.
"Now;, Mr. Bleocksr, were you ever convicted Of
! Tho wi,ness pale and his lips closed nrmly.
The noisc and confusion instantly subsidized, and the
mc-honorcd pin might have been heard drop had
somebody lot IL TALL All eyes were turned 10 the Wit
ness.
| pcrccpIblc shiver ran through tho tall tramo Of
| the young his lips grew hvid. He was cv-
IDENTIFY ~ deep mental suffering. AZ length he broke
but II WIS n that caused him greater enort 10
speak than ever before did volumes. II came with
live conviction. The word tho simple "Yes.'
i rhe strain was ended The bombshcll had exploded.
| Tho work OF destruction was over, aud .whie add
tonai evidence OF guit might be elected nothing iur
ther could create such sensation. the principal
prossSu'as wns. ny young rsoroS %Sn ,S Si good
catc of ministers, a youth OF unimpeachable
character, engaged 10 business whore rectitudo OF
past life was OF vital importance, had publcy con-
| fcsscd himself an ex-convct. Could astontsnmen DO
greater, sensation more sensationaly
"Werc you pardoned by the GoveSnorT continued
the lawyer, merclessly.
| "Did you serve your full tinc ~
can but the comm dtaton allowed conyicts."
"wncro were you imprsonedT
"ln the Penitontiary."
AZ this point Counsellor Mundy who mad yet
hardly recovered IRON tho surprise, broke In and
"Your Honor, desire TO state that no one present
! Is surprised or shocked than myself at this
revelation. 4 knew absolutely nothing vi II. never
tor u moment suspected 1t. Mr. Beccker was recon
| mcndcd 10 me Us young man Of uncxccptionabe 10
character, and can bring minister's OF the Gospel
testify that he has Tor two ycars at least been up
right and honorable man. He is a college graduate.
never dreamed Of such thing nave moth, ng moro
TO say, only the work in which am engaged wnl
nevertheless, 90 on"
the witness testified as II in trance, but when tho
course referred to his good character during the past
| two years, his eyes nled w,in Tears.
Now" continued Mr. Mundy, I'm view OF the dis
closures already made. advise Mr. BleecScr, as his
counsel, not to answer any further questions u they
| tend 10 criminate or degrade him.
| THE LIQUOR VICTORIOUS
The young took the advice and declined answer
| ing any iurther intcrrogntorics
Nrhis compcls me- said Justice Duffy, ITO discharge
all tho persons held Ia bail on the testimony OF Mr.
| BlcscKer, ana so order"
Tho broad smiles that wroathed tho facos oi tho
1 shortly before gloomy liquor dealers wcrc syinbohc
OF the ieong In their DrenstS Aud thus ended tho
nrst battle between the Law and order League and
the liquor dealers.
| What the crime was for which Mr.. Blceckcr served
n sentence in tho Penitcntiary was not disclosed.
When spoken on the subject ovincod mucn agi-
tal,on. at viii be death kncll to my iatnor aud
| mother,u no tcarfuliy said srney knew nothing OF
| tins before. was away from home at tue time did
| inc wrong, ana God knows have tried 10 atone for
AxftMl IA luAaVX hat "a
| come TO light. oh, Godi oh, Godl" Aud the un
| fortunate young man hurried away.
WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS THINK.
! Tho EXCISE Commissioners do not appear to bc M.
pronensiyo OF Indictment by tho Grand Jury. nowitn-
standing Judge DAVIS, sharp charge 10 TINT body on