Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-07-25
w
I'M Lawyers Br0wbeat Downs, the spe
cfal Detective, for Giving Evidence
Axafnt Retail liquor
Dealers.

TIE Police Court proceedings yesterday
morning were of unusual interest, and thoee
who hung on the railing that separates the
saints from the sinHers were more than we'll
paid for the time consumed and the nsuseat-
ing smells that seem to have an abiding place
in the courtroom. The special detective,
Mr.. j. W. Downs, recently appointed 10 the
position OF license inspector, mss been very
Observation-Disclosures or not in yeri6cation OF
the time-hopored legend, "a new broom
sweeps cleap," remains to be seen-but the
result of his labors developed yesterday
morning in four cases against grocery keep
ers, charged with retailing whisky and beer
Without the proper license. The first Gaze
was that Of MIR. ]. McNamars, who was rep
resented by Juslice Pat Winters and Col. Nat
TgyfUr.@ Omcer Downs took me Witness
stand, and Justice Winters conducted the
cross-examination. II was evident from the
be ginning that th. justice intended to make
il not for the witness, and he begun by
asking Mr.. Downs a series Of questions
concerning his own private character, among
them one as to whom and how long he had
been married. The Court Interrupted the
examination, declaring that he would not
allow . policeman's character to be assaulted;
if the attorneys, or anyone else, knew any
thing derogatory 10 The character of any
member of the force, they should make COM
plant 10 writing and present it in proper
form before the Board of P.lice and Fire
Commissioners
Justice Winters insisted that he had the
right before this or any other court 10 break
down the testimony of this or any other wit
nets-his being a policeman did not entitle
him to any more rights than The law accorded
any prive citizen.
The Court announced that il did not pre-
pose to abridge the rights OF the attorneys or
reserve TO the policemen any more privileges
than would be given to citizens, but the ex-
animation must be properly conducted. Mr..
Downs was a regularly-appointed officer, had
given his bond, and his character was we'll
known to the authorities. Complaints had
bsen made by saloon.keepers who paid their
licenses regularly that the grocery-keepers,
who had not taken out the retailers license,
were retailing without let or hindrance, and
Mr.. Downs had been assigned 10 that special
duty. with Instructions to inspsct Tho Iossee
OF every business house in the city, and when
he found the ordinances violated 10 make
prompt report and arrest the parties.
Mr.. Downs sisted to the Court that he had
10 objection to answering any questions JUS
tice Winters or anyone elee saw proper to
PROFOUND, and the exsmioaiion was con-
tipued, resulting in a failure TO make q point
against Bowns's character. Bowps's tesii-
mony bearing directly on the case was 10 the
Fl. ct that McNsmara had told him that be
was selling whisky by retail. Downs then
demanded TO see his city license, and showed
his authority for making the demand. Nc
Namara stated that he had no city license,
but did have United States revenue liceBse;
also that he had quit selling by the drink.
BowEs arrested Mcnamara, but could no.
producs evidence sufficient to convict, and
McNamsra was discharged, with a warning
from the Court to either quit selling by the
drink or take out the proper license.
The other three cases are against James
Cotter, A. G. Wsldron and E. c. Mcneil, the
latter colored. Several witnesses were exam
lined, but nothing ELECTED upon which either
one could be convicted, and all we're die
charged.
A. the conclusion of these cases Judge
MADDEN gave direct orders TO the chief OF
police TO instruct all the members of the
i~rosss u.st<e business house in their re-
spective beats and see that no liquors are
sold Without license. The custom could be
broken up, and he was determined TO do j..
1t wss unfair and unjust for one man TO tie
required 10 pay for the privilege of doing q
thing others are allowed to do without taking
out license.
Shelby Morton, colored, sgainst whom an
old mittimus was held, got in again for strik-
ing a colored brother with a brick. The old
mitinlus was revived, and orders given 10
put a spur on Shelby and turn him on TO
Boss Jewel. of the chain-gang. Z.
George Davis, white, scarcely out OF his
teens, was up for vsgrancy. The Court knew
his history, and felt constrained TO impose a
$40 foe, which he would hold up on condi-
ton ne left town. George promised TO be
of, and wss let go.
The remainder OF the docket consisted Ct
minor o~ffenses, which we're disposed of SO
follows: John Lee, colored, abusive language
and assault with a knife, SO; Sam Nichols,
colored, fighting, So; ]. W.. Lester, SO fo,-
feited, orders 10 arrest him; Robert Black,
white, disorderly and uttering blssphemous
and obseene language, SO; Krekel, white, a
bad csse of squalid vagrsncy, ordered out #
towo; W. T. Corbett and joe RatigsD, white,
drunk ami resisting The officer, s. each; Bob
Jones snd Chris Morris, co!ored, fighting, IS
each; George Foster and John Ryan, white
drunk, 81 each.
Total receipts, $40 each End 156 daya