The Indianapolis journal., 1886-11-27
A BAIT THAT DID NOTALLURE
The Liquor Dealers Unsuccessful At
tempt to Entangle the Police.
The Commissioners Inform Them, However,
that the Laws Will Be Enforced With
out Their Advice or Assistance.

When committee of twelve from the Liquor
Leagues Protective Association, so called, ap-
peared before Police Commissioners Murphy and
Schurmann, at the station house, yesterday
afternoon, those gentlemen knew that trouble
was brewing. On last Tuesday morning Mr..
Murphy received a note from the committee
stating that they wanted conference with the
board. Mr.. Murphy arranged a meeting for
their benefit that afternoon, but Mr.. Schurmann
was out of the city, and the conference was post
poned until yesterday afternoon Messrs.
Murphy and Schurmann had been in waiting
half an hour. and it was after 4
o'clock when the committee appointed by
the association, headed by John Huegele, walked
into the room. Among the men composing the
delegation were Edward Schmidt, l. D. Bremen,
John Huegele, Jacob Wachstetter, Louis Ess-
mann, P. H. McNelis, and Albert Lieber. Mr..
McNelis acted as spokesman for the committee,
and stated that they wished to present a com
munication for the consideration of the board.
''We," said Mr.. McNelis "do not represent all
the liquor men in Indianapolis, but we do repre-
sent majority of them, and, as law-abiding
citizens, we have come here to offer you our
assistance in enforcing the laws" The ecommuni-
cation presented was as follows:
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 26.
To the Metropolitan Police Commissioners Tndianap.
olis Ind.:
Gentlemen-The undersigned respectfully show that
the liquor dealers of Indianapolis whom they represent
in this communication. have in good faith determined
to their best endeavors to comply with the laws
governing the sale of intoxicating liquors In view,
however, of the special steps taken by the Superr-
tendent of Police, by your authority to single out
these laws for enforcement while others allowed
to be violated with impunity, would beg leave to
respectfully submit the following inquiries for the
information of the police.
Why is not the Sunday law enforced equally in all
cases. and we especially and respectfully note the fol-
lowing classes of business interests where it is openly
violated: Groceries, CIGAR and tobacco stores barber
shops livery stables, street railroad bakers and
fectoneres drug stores in the sale of cigars liquors
ETC.; railroads for switching and like purposes; omni
buses, backs and newspapers.
We would inquire why the law is not enforced at all
times against gambling, houses of illfame and also
against drug stores which, without license habituay
retail intoxicating liquors2
If is answered that you are not informed of the
voators referred to, suggest that the public is in
formed of them and that you fully informed of
them you are or were of volators of the
laws governing the sale Of Intoxicating liquors. We
would still further suggest that if the diligence
be exercised in the enforcement of the liquor law it
would develop the necessary information upon this
point.
In no spirit of actious opposition to your late ac
ton of petty spite but with sincere desire to
the laws enforced indiscriminately and impartiay,
submit these interrogatores hoping they will be
met in the candid spirit.
JOHN HUEGLE. ALBERT LIEBER.
P. III. MCNELIS LOUIS ESSMANN.
JACOB WACHSTETTER. |. ID. BREMER
EDWARD SCHMIDT.
When Mr.. Snyder, the secretary of the board,
had finished reading the petition, Mr. McNelis,
addressing Mr. Murphy, asked what action the
board would take. ITO convince you" said he,
''that thelaw is not justly enforced, will read
Won LIST of coll nnH fOoR Hn0I
ers, who violated the law yesterday" and he
read list of twenty names OF persons who, the
committee claimed. had violated the law all day
THANKSGIVING.
"Wil you let US have that list to COPY" asked
Mr. Murphy.
''No," replied Mr. McNelis, eve don't want it
copied, but we will leave it with you"
'Can you furnish evidence that these saloon
Mr. McNelis said the committee could, and the
Commissioners then gave them to understand
that they would be wanted TO do 30.
I'VE want to know" said John Huegele,
whether you intend to enforce all laws. or
whether there is discrimination to be made
against the saloons We want an answer, and
an immediate one to our queries"
Mr.. Murphy, at this point. saw that the object
of the visit was to bulldoze the board, and, with
a flushed face, he said 'This board as it always
has been, is in favor of enforcing all the laws,
but we propose to be the judges against whom
we shall proceed first and the class we have de-
cided to proceed against is the liquor-sellers,
who continually violate the law. You came for
the purpose of getting us in hole, and we will
answer your questions at our leisure"
"Let me have that list Of names" said Mr..
McNelis and as he stuck the paper in his pocket,
remarked: This board isn't going to do any
thing for us, and they shall have none of our
assistance in enforcing the law Il
The committee then retired, expressing the
hope that they would soon receive an answer to
their inquiries. The Commissioners informed
them that the communication would be answered
in writing at an early date.
After the meeting Messrs. Schurmann and
Murphy stated that it was evident that the OBJ
ject of the call was to attempt to the board
into letting up on the enforcement of the law.
They are in hole themselves" said Mr..
Murphy, ''and they came up to get US into one,
too but they failed
Said Mr.. Schurmann: II was in favor of Civ
Ing them written answer right there, and in it
telling them that we were to be our own Judges
as to what cases needed attention first and that
we found, upon investigation, that they were the
very ones that needed it most We will prepare
written answer to their document out of court
esy, and it will be answered in a few lines. Aft
er that we shall pay attention to the Liquor
Dealers Association. We know our business,
and do not care for any of their help or advice :"
After the conference with the Police Commits
sioners the committee from the Liquor-dealers'
Protective Association went to Squire John
sons court and swore out warrants for the ar
rest OF three saloon-keeperS and two cigar sellers
for violating the law on Thanksgiving Day. On
the advice Of the Squire the warrants were
turned over to the Criminal Court, and will be
served through the sheriffs Office to-day.
Trial of Liquor Law Violators.
The arresting officers, Bruce and Pope, testi-
fed before the Mayor yesterday that VIM. Hid.
of the corner of Blake and Michigan street, sold
three drinks after IL o'clock. The customers
were Councilman Howes. ex-Councilmau Shep-
herd and Michael Farrell. AS Patrolman Bruce