Omaha daily bee., 1884-07-17
IOWA
How a Woman Battles TO Undo the
Work of Women.

--
HOW IT ISN'T ENFORCED AT MARsHALLTowN.
The enforcement of prohibition, so quickly
and effectively inaugurated here July Sd, when
about half OF our twenty-eight saloons retired
from the business and the other half continued
in the sale of light drinks, cider, buttermilk,
etc., has taken quite a different turn. Com
mencing Saturday q German woman named
Mrs. Mary Blank, keeping q saloon on Third
avenue, started selling beer, doing an immense
business. Her place was n sight worth seeing
by every temperance worker or any one else
Saturday evening. The crowds were larger
than in the afternoon, and n perpetual struggle
was kept up to get near the bar. Men were
often noticed taking
wv GLASSES OF BEER AT ONCE
in their greed to get it and to get ahead of
their numerous competitors, who were crowd
ing and surging to the front. There was some
little.excitement, as was natural. a ~by.stand-
err says that officer Miller came in during the
evening, and was rudely interrogated by the
crowd as to his business, and was informed
that he could have a glass of beer if he want
ed, but if he didn't he ought to get out. The
officer explained that he was in merely from
curiosity, and did not stay. The rus was
kept up all evening, and before closing TWEEN
ty.two kegs of beer We're sold. Marshal Satia
stepped in during the evening and asked Mrs.
Black if she would obey the city ordinance as
to closing at IL. She said she would close at
II, and also stated that the place would be
closed all day Sunday, as the city ordinance
prescribes. AT ten minutes of IL Mrs. Black
closed up, and the place, go far as we could
learn, was kept scrupulously closed during the
Sabbath. Early in the evening a Times-Re.
publican man followed the
CIRcUIToUs TUNNEL
on the hillside that leads to the back door and
hammered a half dozen times on the door,
but finally concluded no one was about the
Premises.
There was o good deal of speculation as to
the motive of this attack on the new law, q
good deal of surprise at the suddenness and
isolated character of the attack, and still more
wonder that the temperance leaders did not
take steps to cut the presumptuous offenders
off short in their career of opposition. No in
formation was fled during Saturday, and but
for Mrs. Blanks respect for the city ordi-
nance, the Sabbath ~mighthave been desecrated
by a mob of all classes.
The belief that Mrs. Blank had been put
forward by the proprietors of
TIL MARSHALL REwERY,
Messrs. George andyFred Bowman, as q test
case gained ground and was confirmed by both
these gentlemen's statements. George Bow
Hlan, Dr., WHO Is nOC now y parnerln tne Drew
cry, said that no was at BArrett's circus in the
afternoon and did not know beer was being
sold until his return in the evening. He said
it was undoubtedly for testing the constitu-
tionality of the law. He thought it was quite
proper the law should be tested at once. 1t
was a matter of vital Importance to the owners
of the brewery. If beer could not be manu-
featured and sold here they wished to know it
as quick as possible, so they could make ar.
rangements to go toasome state where beer
could be manufactured and sold.
THE AMoUNT OF BEER SOLD.
and the amount of money taken in Saturday
was no object to the proprietor. They ad.
mitted they did not care how much or how
little was sold-the test was what they were
after. A gentleman who was at the saloon
said Mrs. Blank was foolish because she did
not charge ten cents a glass and sell in pony
glasses. She could have sold just as much
beer, and would have thus made some money
out of it. But money was clearly not the
object.
A ten o'clock this morning a Times. Repub'
lican reporter stepped into Mrs. Blanks
place on Third avenue and looked around.
The bar room was moderately filled with
drinkers, many of them farmers, and all APP
parently " orkingmen. Mrs. Blank was the
only one behindthe bar and was industriously
handing out
pShNctNhifph n ' "a hLAGps
The reporter stepped up and laid down a
half dollar, and mugs of the fluid were set
down for himself and a gentleman from up
town. The liquor had the peculiar whang of
Bowman's lager, without question. But any
doubt as to its identity was speedily dispelled
by the EMERY of George Bowman himself.
The reporter introduced himself rs a Times
Republican man.
"Yes, l know you are, F" replied Mr.. Bow
man.
81 understand you and Mrs. Blank here be-.
gan selling Saturday and are keeping it up
merely with a view to test the %prohibitory
aw. Isn't that the idea!"
Well, there are a good many ideas going.
We are going to sell beer, however, to Mrs
Blank, and she will sell as long az she can, and
we will furnish the beer. We are going to
sell beer until we are stopped. We have too
much property here to he idle, and we propose
to manufacture and sellif it can be done"
The reporters mission was fulfilled.
The officers and leaders of the temperance
alliance, and Others prominent in the cause OF
prohibition, were soon aware of the violation,
and began to secure evidence for the proper
legal steps. They went at it in a careful man
ner, taking the names of some 20 or 30 men
whom they thought could be relied upon to
testify truthfully and without attempt at
evasion. From tn Sc names seven We're select
ed upon the same principle, and the papers
gOLten out. Dr. WATSON hnn'rts sWOre 10 the
information before Justice HaradOn,
CHARGING MARY BLANK
with selling beer to tho parties named, and at
1890 on Monday a warrant was issued and
placed in the hands of Sheriff McCord for
service. The first count in the information
alleges that NJ Ty Blank the defendant, did,
ION or about the 18th day of July, A. ID. 1884,
sell one glass of beer, the same being intoxi.
eating liquor, TO one ID. ID Clark, contrary TO
the form Of the statute in such cases made
and provided and against the peace and dig
nifty of the state of Iowa." The other six