The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-02
CLUBHOUSE RIGHTS.
Have they the Authority to Furnish,
Members with Liquor on Sunday

Members with Liquor on Sunday
CASE OF Mr.. WILLIAM KROUsE, STEWARD
OF THE COMMERCIAL CLUB. INDICTED
FOR SELLING LIQUOR ON RECENT SUN
pAY-PLRADs NOT GUILTY AND DEMURS
10 THE INDICTMENT-ARGUM ON IN
sTRuCTIoNs TO THE JURY ASKED BY
COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE. .....fsr.- js
T."
In the Hastings Court yesterday the fol-
lowing gentlemen we're sworn as jury TO
t,y the case OF William Krouse, steward OF
the Commercial Club, charged with selling
jinuor on Sunday at the Clubhouse, corner
o1 Governor and Ross streets William P.
dkins. Presley T. Atkinson. Thomas Boil
ling. John s. Blanton. William al. Bromley,
J. r. F. Burroughs, John j. Greer, Creed
r. Davis, John W. Foster, Allen c. May
uard, J. D. Z. Sleight, and James c.
Wharton.
The following is the law under which
the indictment is drawn:
Chapter 7, $40, Criminal Code: NO bar.
room, saloon, on other place for the sale OF
Intoxicating liquors, shall De opened ana
ne intoxicating bitters or other drink snail
be sold in any bar-room, restaurant. saloon,
or store, or other place, from R -o2eloc ON
each and every Saturday night OF the week
until sunrise OF The succeeding Monday
morning; and any person violating the
provisions OF this section shall be deemed
guilty OF a misdemeanor, and il convicted
Shalt he punished by fine not less than ten
nor more than five hundred dollars, and
shall, moreover, at the discretion OF the
court, forfeit his license: Provided, That
this law shall not apply to any city having
police regulations on this subject. and an
ordinance infcting penalty equal to the
penalty inflicted by this section"
Accused was represented by Messrs. w.
". & Il. II. Crump. They dcmurred to
the indictment.
Defence indicated that in their view the
evidence would show that there was no
such sale as is contemplated in law, and
that this Club is not embraced within the
provisions OF the statute.
STORY OF A CLARET PUNCH.
The witness called by the prosecution was
q gentleman connected with the city gov
ernment, who testified that on Sunday
some weeks ago he went to the Clubhouse,
ordered claret punch, and rendered his
money, but the party in charge stated that
he couldn't receive il, but would charge
j. to his account Of dues. The person
told him that he could not take any money !;
that he could pay it with the regular
monthly dues. Witness is Il member OF that
Club, and the regular dues are 81 per
month. A bill is usually made out against
him running from month to month. one
who is not member and desires to join the
Club has 10 give his name TO member: the
name is posted OH the black board for thirty
DAYS, and then is submitted to vote OF the
Club, and if elected an initiation-fee and 81
per month dues are required OF him. Wit
ness had not yet paid for the drink in qlles-
ton. 1t was not charged on his Dill OF
monthly dues, as he expected it would be.
He did not suppose that the drink was given
him: at the time he expected to pay for 1t.
Was told at the time that it would be charged
with his monthly dues. Upon examining
his bill for dues (paid about the ID or Sd OF
September) he found it was not charged in.
The bill was only for 4 dollar. He bad not
paid for the drink unless it was included in
the dollar. He believed that Mr.. krouse
was in charge OF the bar (refreshnlent-room).
The Judge: Who has the license 10 keep
4 bar there!
MIR. Wise: There is no license.
Witness: No: they are not required TO
have license or Motfett punch.
Mr.. Wise: Who was with you when you
got the drink:
Witness: Judge, can refuse to answer
that?
Judge Under what rule OF law?
Witness: | don't know anything about
the rules OF law; but l would rather not
give the name. 1t is disagreeable to have
this publicity.
The Judge decided that the witness must
answer tue questions il Mr. Wise (the Com
monwealths Attorney desired the lnforma-
| ton.
Mr.. Wise said that he did.
The witness then gave the names or two
gentlemen who went with him there. One
was Il member OF the Club, the other not.
| They drank with him.
FEATURES OF THE CLUE.
To Defence: Witness believed that the
| Club WAS an incorporated institution. Here
the charter and bylaws were shown the
Judge by counsel.l He paid his dues reSu-
larly. The Club is for the merchants to have
place 10 entertain their visitors and coun-
| try patrons. The Chamber OF Commerce
meet i'll the upper story. The Club Is dc.
signed for the promotion OF the commercial
| interests Of the city. Never saw more
orderly and decorous place. No resident
of the city can be invited there by a member
more than once in twelve months. Believe
that on Sunday the doors are opened at . a.
/ NJ. and closed ut ! Z. NJ. On the Sunday
| in question he started TO 20 TO the oar, Dut
was met bya servant, who told INN tnat the
bar was closed, and if he wanted anything
| to 90 upstairs and order it. The Refresh
ment Committee directs what sort OF liquors
ha at ~ they
shall be sold. That was witness's under
standing: he, however, was not in the habit
OF visiting there very frequently. Never
met any but gentlemen there.
FoE DEFENCE.
| Mr.. !. NJ. Nowlin said that he had been
member Of the Club since its organiZa-
ton (Januarv, 1879. 1t has about 200 mem
bcrs, chiefly businessmen OF Richmond
Witness is secretary and treasurer. For
six months after the organization there was
no refreshment department. Mr.. krouSe
is member OF the Club and salaried 9th.
Ger, and makes purchases under the dlrec-
ton of the Committee on Refreshments.
The committee fix prices at enoughto cover
cost OF liquor and dispensing OF same.
Witness held that there was no "sale' oi
liuuor. 1t was Just as il they were messing
together and had agreed upon this plan to
apportion each ones Just eXpenses-not to
make anything or lose anything. No bet
| ting is allowed in the Club. The refresh
| ment-room (bar) was closed on Sunday in
consequence OF notification from Chief
of.Police Poe that they would be indicted.
| There were never any crowds there on Sun
day.
Mr.. Nowiin, in answer to questions OF
Al. hnt he