New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-30
CLOSED TO THE POLICE.
THE EXCISE LAW APPARENTLY ENFORCED

history OF the CITY mas the EXCISE law Deen ehio''"
on Sunday vigorously as it has been carried out
within the last month, and especially on yesterday
Certain is 1t that there were bare-iaced viola
tons of the law yesterday. Liquor could be had ior
the seeking and many sought it,; but opportunities
had to be found to avoid the police ana
side doors were entered in every The bars at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel, the Hoffman House. the
Astor House and all the leading hotels were closed
and deserted, but the business OF
neighboring restaurants was greatly increased
The police were everywhere vIgilant, and they sue
ceeded at last. in keeping the liquor traffic out Oh
sight. On one occasion, TRIBUNE reporter, VINO
had just emerged from bar where severa
men were drinking, almost ran against
policeman, and tho two fell into con-
versatIon. The policeman declared Win
emphasis that in his precinct there was not
solitary liquor saloon open. Just then man came
staggering along in the rain and as the disgusteu
policeman turned sadly away he murmured'
That's fellow that hasn't got over last nights
load"
Various devices were in use by the DAT
keepers to avoid the vigilance of the po-
lice Above Fourteenth-st. the favorite dodge
was to send out somebody to keep careful watch OF
the polceman's doings and to report his coming In
time to clear away all signs of drinking.
in others, child. In this way drinks could be sold
with impunity to persons who were known. AL
some places not so much care was taken to avoid de-
lection, and an occasional arrest the result
Along parts of Third and Sixth ayes. stranger might
have had some difficulty i'll finding place III when
to quench his thirst but to any one acquainted
with the places in the neighborhood the matter
was easy enough 1t was necessary only 10
wait till poiceman's back was turned
and then to slip quietly into side door to OBTAIN
any LIQUID that gh he desired To those initiated
lquor conld be obtained ut nearly every place
that is usually open on Sunday. NeVerthc-
less there was an unwonted quictude prevailing
generally and upOn the face of things there was
marked change in the Sunday observance. Alter
dark the difficulties in the way OF the thirsty were
not so great. as the concert halls were open ana
other facilities for drinking within their reach
Below Fourteenth-st. policemen in uniform and
policemen in disguise were intent. a TRIBUNE re-
porter was assured on carrying out the law against
the sale of liquor. lie was assured that not
n dram-shop was open and not hotel
bar was accessible. The reporter began his
wandering at SixtlI-ave. and FOurtccnih-st.
As lie passed Kehoe's Hotel, he saw man
come out at the side door. smack his lips, wipe
them with his handkerchief, look happy AMI 20 ms
wav The next point Of interest was the Prince
Street Ponce Station. Captain Mcdonnell was
standing on tue steps and replied in this way to the
reporters questions:
"All the liquor places in the precinct are closed,
or else the proprietors have out their plants
These are often their wives, who give tho word
when policeman or suspected person comes along,
and the door - locked on the inside We have no
authority 10 break door IN ; 80 we are barred cut
in this way. All tho liquor-scllers, however have
been badly frightened by Recorder Smyths $50
fines. thirty DAYS IMPRISONMENT and the rcvokine
of their licenses They have to fight SO shy that
the little money they take in evenings does not
nav their gas bills. Some of thcm
are even going out of the business.
The new Excise law is a most excellent one for the
purpose. and # carried ont it viii put complete
stop to sunday liquor selling"
Just then a woman, bruised and bleeding, was
brought 10 the station. She was drunk and fell
in front Of a street car man said who had accom-
aritd her "Oh pshaw! She isn't drunk the
captain rejoined, and the woman was taken inside.
Three or four men were seen TO 60 iuto and come
ont of n llduor-shop across the road. Eve been
watching these fellows" was the captains remark.
"Dd YOU see how quickly they came out lhcy
didn't have time to gel, drink. That convlnce'
me the place j. clO.ed.'
Al tbo Mercer Street Station not an arrest had
been made late in the afternoon. "Our Vigorous
work last Sunday has frightened the iquor-SciicFs'
tine sergeant said. They think We
mean business, and they don't find
any fun IN the thng. We have men out IN clti-
zens' clothes and they are watching these fellows
sharpiy | live down in the Sixth (the Elizabeth
street Statioul the worst precinct III the city Tor
drinking The police are clearing out sunday
louor srl ing there. ! know one who keeps pros
pcrous place al walker and Centre sts, aud he bad
had large Sunday trade. met hun TINS morning
on tn street. He had his fishing tackle with hun
and told me that les was going a-hshlng as sunday
linn gcll dangerous
pcnsive. lie had shut up his place. lie sald mat
he did not want to run the risk OF making Il
few dollars and then be lined heavily nv Recorder
SMITH and rs likely or not be imprisoned, at the
same tllno losing his license lio SAID that be would
have stopped selling before on sunday II others
would. He was afraid that II he closed bis Gus
toners would 20 els where on week days.
Az the reporter reached the southeast corner OF
Prince and Mulberry sts., tat mddle-aged
woman caine out of liquor shop, with white
pitcher under her shawl lie spoke of the fact TO
the sergeant at the desk IN the Mulberry Street STA
uon " II you'll maze COMPLIANT Slid the SER
geant, III arrest the bartender" The sergeant
DID not think it his duty TO do nything without
formal complaint. a.
Sixth Prcclncu said that only one arrest had been
made, "a very unusual thing, he added, as We
have been making at least SIX or seven on
one cxcIso prisoner to-day. Tho hQuor-sellcrs are
very tImid. They don't like Recorder Smytls fines
and the loss Of their licenses. Not IA man we nave
sent down has escaped and some are doing tmI'y
dayS imprisonment. In all my experionce-and |
have lived this city all my life nave
NOT before seen the streets of New
York 50 quiet Sundays as now; 1t Is
over four weeks since this systematic Work OF clos
ING tbcss places began, and the result IT, striking.
The only places that keep open have their peep
holes and gndcs, and behind these the proprietor
stands No one can enter the place TO get drink
unless he is known TO the lIquOr-sellcT."
The Eldrdge-st. police Afforded great
exception TO all this by making twenty arrests up
p M, all for exposing liquor ior sale. IHe ser
Qeant SAID that he could account Tor this only Dy
the fact that the places were open and The arrests
were made. On the previous sunday cl&ht arirslS
were made and twcntv-iour the week before. Sew
eral OF the men arrested yesterday had been brought
up before They don't seem 10 be terrified TIC
sergeant said ,
throughout all the streets below Fourtcentl-st.'
where drunkenness would be apt TO be met Win, III
Greene Wooster, Blocker, Houston, MuiDcrIy'
Mott Elizabeth sts and the Bowery, the reporter
did not encounter an nebTiated person, unless inc
woman ken To the Prince Street Station was drunk
Sln ,as 90 nncean that t Mah dangerous 10 attempt