Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-17
BEHIND THE BARS,
c, S,HiggilS, The Saloon NAB, Suffers
q Short Confinement,
Again Arrested ON Complaint OF the
Marshal aud Released ON Bail
What He Says Regard
ing the Matter.

midnight Saturday night the bsr.room o
Mr.. G. S. Higgins closed as usual, and
as usual, his curtains remained tightl!
closed. This being observed by Marsha
Cummings, warrant for Higgins arres
was placed In the hands of an officer, anC
about o'clock Sunday morning 1t wa
served on that gentleman. Mr.. Higgln
was spprehended as he was leaving hi
place of business, and although at first hi
objected to going to police headquarters
he finally submitted, and with number
of friends, accompanied the officer. Ar.
rivlng at the city jail, Marshal Cumming
ordered Higgins placed in cell
This move elected from Higgins 6
strong protest, and he characterized tbs
proceedings as an outrage and perEecu
ton. He was forced to submit, hoE ever,
and was placed behind the bars. A
friend Immediately proceeded to the real.
dence of Judge Stenberg, and In o short
time returned with an order from that
official to haye Mr.. Higgins released on
furnishing bond for $25 for his appear
ance for trial This was Immediately
forthcoming, and after half hours In
generation Mr.. Higgins was again free
man.
The complaint on which the arrest was
made was for keeping his curtains closed
on Friday night. As they were again
closed Saturday night, still third war
rant was Issued on complaint of the mar.
shsl, which was served Sunday morning
Mr.. Higgins again appeared at head
quarters and was again released on $25
ball.
MIR. HIGGINS STATEMENT.
A reporter for the BEE approaches
Mr.. Higgins last night, and gained from
him a statement of his side Of the affair.
Gin the first place." he said, "this
whole affair is persecution. Cummings,
you know, was appointed to his pfeient
posiAon by Chase, and ever since that
time he has Reen fit, for peculiar reasons,
to treat me in wrong manner. Why,
one of his very first official acts was to
try to arrest four Of the proprletors of
gambling houses, leaving the fifth one
free. This act in arresting me fer keep.
ing my curtains shut is entirely In keep.
ing with the policy of persecution which
he has pursued all the way through.
Here is the history of the case all the
way through:
"Marsbal Cummings arrested me on
Friday night for keeping my curtains
down after IL o'clock Thursday night.
He took me up to jail, and had short
talk with Judge Stenberg, who agreed to
Iaon lro,
that l should come up in the
and make arrangements for my
trial. was about to start away when
called me back and asked ma
where j was going. L told him that
Judge Stenbsrg had agreed to take my
personal recognizsnce until morning.
'By c. he exclaimed, Il won't have
that. You must give bonds tonight, or
behind the bars you CO. Then he and
The judge went into long and heated
dispute, ard the upshot was that l was
allowed to go, on personal recognizance.
"On Saturday, Marshal Cummings
procured another warrant for my ARREST,
keeping 1t in his pocket the entire even.
he could easily have found
me at my place of business-untll about
o'clock Sunday morning when he turned
It over to policeman with instructions
to serve it upon me. was taken up to
the Ill, where, after short time, was
released by order of Judge Stsnberg.
This morning as ] was going from home
down to my place of business, was
again met by policeman, and the same
process of arrest and release was gone
through with, because did not have my
curtains pulled up after IL o'clock last
night"
Snow, I want to say right here that
ince Mayor Boyd has Issued his order
have not kept my bar running after mid
night. have not allowed any one to
enter the place except my bartenders.
and have not even gone there myself
after the closing hour. All this talk
about my transferring my bar to the up
per rooms after midnight, and selling
drinks freely there, is not true. l do
sell bottled goods with the meal orders
rom bill of fare, and have bsen ad-
vlsed by my attorneys that l have per-
feet right to do this. Otherwise / have
odd no liquor after midnight sincs the
new order. With regard to keeping my
curtains down, / am advised to do this by
The best legal authorities In Omaha;
,ven the mayor told the reporter for
your paper that he believed ] had o
perfect right to do this. have no de-
ire to evade the law In this matter, and
he judge or jury shall decide me in tho
wrong, am willing to put up my cur |
aims. But / do object to the persecut-
ng, bull-dozlng policy of Marshal Cum.
nings, / have been to good deal of ex-
,ense to put up my establishment, and |
hink | ought to be allowed TO run it &C
ording to business methods, without be-
ng subject to persecution"
THE SUNDAY CLOSING.
In obedience to the mayors order, all |
4 the saloons made show of closing |
yesterday, but it was only a show. AS
much liquor was sold as usual, ind access
o the places was easy. The only change
rom former customs was In keeping tie
Ioors elosed instead of wide open and in
lartially drawing the curtains.
The windows of Higgins bar room
Vere sgain obscured at midnight, and It
! probable that he will again be arrested
his morning.
SIGNIFICANT FACTS.
In glancing over the register at the
ollce court last night, the BEE man dig
overed the following ttems, which have
considerable Significance. when 1t is re.
nembered that the saloons were closed
lst Saturday night at midnight for the
rst time:
Prisoners for breakfast:-Sunday,