Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-05-06

SAVING A LIFE
to drive away dull care and put to flight
the Greene county "blues." One young
man more desperate than tn" rest took the
broad ground that they would die before
their time unless revolution was effected. |
One night when the good Prohibition peo- |
p,e had all retired meeting was held with |
closed doors, and it was resolved to organ |
ize the "Waynesburg Life Insurance AS
sociation," and thus erioy all the
rights and privileges of club. A COM
mittee was appointed to drSft constitu-
ton and bylaws for the government
Of the proposed club, ard submit the
same to the best lawyer in the town,
with instructions to make Slch necessary
changes as would stand legal test when
the prohibition people madn war upon the
association. In less than fCrty-eigbt hours
all was arranged A president secretary
and treasurer were selected and a large
membership enrolled, all agreeing to faith
fully abide by the oorstitation. An in
itation fee of twenty-five cents was
charged. One Hundermnrk, a typical
Dutchmau, WAS employed es butler, and
portion of his house on one of the back
streets rented for the use OF the associa-
ton. The treasurer had several hundred
brass checks made on which was stamped
the initials of the association: wv. L. |.
A." They were sold for 5 cents each. and
were good for the purchase Of one glass Of
beer, a sandwich, piece Of cheese, or
] cigar. This was all the association had to
'saSs,aend to all who would join the associa-
s snr 49, az or four articles, principal
" y' the t' beer, it was sFsae Nd p,S,enE
life
The membership grew rapidly, and no one
was fined for non-attendance. Almost
every night the boys of the town saved
their lives in the little club room from
seven p. m. until the early hours Of the
morning when they would wend their way
home with only the weight Of the beer and
the odor of the good Dutchman's cheese
resting upon them. The members of the
club were clever aud sympathizipg When
a stranger visited the town and was
suffering for drink he was given the priv
ilege of taking policy in the Waynesburg
Life Iaeurance Association. He would be
taken 10 the ante-room of the club, his .
name would be Immediately presented for l
membership, and in no case, if he was :
properly recommended, would he be /,
"black balled," unless the butler made
report of "short" on the stock of beer. On
being notified of his election a member
was required to sign the constitution
and pay 25 cents. He was then ready
to do business with the treasury in the
purchasing of checks, and subsequently to /,
his hearts content and the satisfaction of i
his hearts desire for beer and cheese he
was privileged to order from the butler az
long rs his supply of chips held out, 1t
was not long until nearly every person in 7
the town who loved glass of beer occa- {
became member Of the associa-
ton.
The temperance people caught on and :
they brought suit sgainst Mr.. Hunder- !
mark for selling intoxicating drinks with '
out license. Bail was promptly furnished,
and when The case came mp in Court o !
majority OF the prominent members of the 5
association were called as witnesses. Dis I
trict Attorney Huss in questioning one Of
the witnesses asked him 10 name out some
of the freuuenters of the place.
"Almost every person in the town who
ever takes drink is on the roll, an Z
swered the witness. q
''You will please answer my question. .
Name some of them?" retorted the attor- y
ney.
The witness began by naming a number a
of Der sons who were sitting around the
counsel tables, and among them some Of
Mr.. Huss' best political and personal
friendq. The witness hsd a remarkable
memory ard was going to give all of the
district attorneys friends away, when be
was halted with: That will do; that will =
do; quite sufficient, sir"
1t was not long until the case went 10 ,
the Jury, and the latter being largely Of +
the temperance persuasion, Mr.. HundeI-
mark was found guilty. =
The attorney for. Mr.. Hundermark i'm /
mediately asked for suspension of SEN
tence, and made motion for new trial
on the ground that the Waynesburg Life
Insurance association was o regularly or
ganized club, and that il had o perfect
right under the law to sell to its own men,
bers, and that Mr.. Hundermark, as butler
OF the association or club, could not be r
convicted. A new trial YVES granted, and e
the case rests. The district attorney does /
not consider it worth while TO bring the |
case up, as the commonwealth will surely q
be defeated. G
The wanesburg Life Insurance Associa- 4
ton ia still in existence. Over and above
the expenses of rental aud the salary Of
Butler Hundermark il has snug little
sum in the treasury. 1t is extremely
doubtful whether any one would take out
a license in Waypesburg under the Brooks
law or not, even were il possible to secure
the same from Judge Inghrsm. gbe Life !
Insurance Association is coed enough for ,
the beer drinkers of Wsynesburg. IL
There was Cleveland club organized in {
Waynesburg few months ago. Itwas in
corporated by the courts This was also I
to be beer organization, but as there was q
some disagreement among the members, I
and as the field was already covered, the
Cleveland club remains only in name.
''The officers Of the waypesburg Life
Insurance club might give some Of the
Knocked saloonkeepers o few pointers" {
remarked gentleman from the county Of
Greene this morning, ''but for goodness I
sake don't say gave this away. / an I
member of the club. When you come to I
Yt1v - L