The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-19

Walsh made his statement to the coroner. mo,
sir. did not alter the written statement OF
Walsh replied the witness. Meek was sus-
pended during the Investigations. Both the
Meek and Ballard incidents have been known to
the Police Commissioners for some time"
On redirect questioning, Captain Lang said
he did not go to Billiards. to show the sights.
Rabbi Messing was next called to the stand to
wedding On the Goth Of July, last year. we'd
ding was at Reichwein's Hail. It was Sunday
evening, and tho festivities were held by the Hun
garan societies. Singing. dancing. eating and
drinking were INDUCED in. An officer came to
Us and said that Superintendent Lang had told
him to stop the dancing. He came to see the
superintendent, who told him that as the place
was public and open to every one. dancing could
not go on. Witness could not say that the at
tendants were restricted to invited guests.
There was considerable noise. Dancing stopped,
but the other wedding festivities went on.
Z. Deitch, the gentleman who preferred this
charge, said that he was present at the wedding
at Reichwein's 1t was strictly private, as the
friends interested wished no one but invited
guests admitted to the hall. After Rabbi Mes
stag had seen Superintendent Lang he under
stood that they could do anything in the way of
enjoying themselves except dancing
Smith Myers. who boards at the Bates House,
and is about there great deal on Sundays tes-
titled that he never experienced any trouble in
getting drink at the Bates or Denison House
bars on that day. He could not, on cross-exam-
inatiou, give the names of the barkeepers. He
was in the bar of the Bates last Sunday but did
not drink. Several of his friends did drink.
Among them were candidates Sheriff Carter
was among them. Some took drinks and others
cigars There is no use Disgusting the fact"
said he, these saloons are open every Sunday.
was at the Denison House. one night during
the Legislatures session, when an officer came
and made an arrest"
John w. Kern, Reporter of the Supreme Court.
who once boarded at the Bates Hoase CHIEFLY in
the year 1885, said, for awhile durAgy3he Legis
lature the Bates's bar was closed two or three
Sundays. After that it was open, apparently
without hindrance He did not know anything
about the other saloons. He could not say as to
hack-way entrances, but thought the Denison
House could be reached in that manner. Re-
Gently, he had no personal knowledge of Sunday
liquor selling, as he did not board at the Bates,
but while he was there the fact that liquor
could be had at the bar was notorious among
the guests.
Attorney Span stated that several gentlemen,
naming them, wanted to certify as to the Bal
lard incident. He heard that they had been
summoned, but refused to answer. It was his
wish therefore, that these men be brought in
under attachment The Commissioners, on the
advice of Mr.. Byfeld, decided that they did not
have the power to attach the gentlemen.
John Holtzmau, who is frequently about the
Bates House on Sunday, said that he knew the
bar there sold liquors on that day He did not
think it was his business to give any informa-
ton in regard to this violation or to make afida-
Wit against the seller. This was on cross-exam-
similarly by Mr.. Kern and Mr. Myers. Mr..
Hoffman got drink himself, but he would not
like to tell VINO was with him unless the Com
missioners said so.
Superintendent Lang was recalled TO inspect
the affidavit of Ollie Grau, an inmate of the
Ballard house, made in relation to his visit at
that place He said he had seen it before. Com
missioner Murphy had shown it to him. He ad-
mitted being there, but denied the other charges.
Nor did he admit the contents to Thomas Cot
trell, then q police commissioner. He did not
say three or four bottles of beer were drunk in
the house at the time. He knew of only one
bottle being drunk, and the beer was being
poured out as he came in. No one of his party
remained at the house. To his attorney, Mr..
Elam he said the contents of the affidavit were
not true. except to the simp fact of his being
there. To Mr. Spaan ne replied that there was
no formal investigation of the charges hereto
fore. He was willing to have one, but nothing
was done beyond the Commissioners calling his
attention to the charges and receiving his admis-
sion that he was there.
Charles Feller, ieweler, stated that ne was
out night before last with couple of Eastern
drummers. About'l o'clock in the morning they
went to the Denison and got drinks. After that
to the Bates and then to Junes They were at
the latter place about 2 o'clock in the morning,
and they drank at each place. Hs told Dir ELAN
that hs went down to Charley Cooper, on his own
motion. and gave him the facts. Mr. Cooper
drew up the charges against the Superintendent,
and he signed them. He did this because he did
not think the law was being observed. It was
morally his duty to DO SO. He never made COM
plants to the grand jury or other officers. There
had been no trouble between him and Superin-
tendent Lang He, the latter, removed two off
GERS off the beat where his store u.s. One of them
is brotherin law of witness. and he. at the re-
quest Of citizens, came to Superintendent Lang,
who refused to put the men back on that beat
Thomas Cottrell testified that in 1885 he was
one OF the police commissioners, and he identi
fed the Greer affidavit as one filed in August.
1t came by mail and was handed me by Mr. Sny-
der. Ispoke to Mr.. Lang about it, and hs ad-
mitted that SO far as being there was concerned
it was true. Afterwards he explained that two
gentlemen from Florida wanted to see the sights,
and for that reason he accompanied them. I'm
der cross examination, Mr.. Cottrel said he con-
tinued on the board for some time afterwards.
For certain reasons the board concluded to pig
eon-hole the complaint. Other parties besides
Mr. Lang didn't want it investigated.
AS a matter of accommodation Captain Eli F.
Ritter was called for the defense. He had given
attention to the morals of the city and enforce
ment of the laws He did not think the laws
had been very well enforced. Witness had
taken pains to inquire as to who is responsible
for the laxity. Superintendent Lang showed
willingness to enforce the laws impartially. The
saloon laws had, he thought, been observed more
generally than under previous administrations
what loosely observed now. He knew, as a mat
ter of current information, that the saloons were
violating the laws To Commissioner Downing,
Captain Ritter replied that he thought the re-
sponsibility rested with the board, as Captain
Lang showed disposition to enforce the laws
He did not obtain this idea from the Superin-
tendent, but from what had been reported in the
newspapers
Capt Thomas Colbert of the force said that.
in his Judgment de did not think Superintendent
Lang enforced sufficient discipline over the men,
Over few Of the force he has exercised a good
control, but not over all. In some cases he has
manifested good Judgment in the management
of the men; in others not. He spends great
deal Of his time in the city court in the morn
ings In some cases he helps the prose
cutting attorney prosecute; in others he ap-
pears a witness On cross-examination
he said he would not say whether the Superin.
tendent ought to do this. For some time the
Superintendent treated the witness very we'll.
but for the past FIVE months he had never con-