Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-12-25

Sunday afternoon; that they got no other liz.
uor after this from any person whaleyer that
they started to go to his home In Long Rapids
went around by the water works mill; came
out by the poor house. When they got there 1t
was concluded that he, Olsen, had better go
home with Gulllckson and stay until next morn
ing, and they came down Chisholm street, and
he, Olsen, stopped at @. Kramer's and left Gull
dickson In the wagon. When he came out from
Kramers, Gullickson and wagon were gone
The other evidence showed that Gullickson had
followed the street down TO the docks, and there
fell from the dock and was drowned. Elder
Wang. Norwegian minister testified that he
met Olsen and Gullickson about two o'clock,
when they were leaving Gjoruds saloon, and
they were very drunk.
In short the plaintiffs evidence tended to
show that the defendant, through his bartend-
err, gave to these two intoxicated men, on Sun
day, several drinks, then put into these drunk
en- mems hands this pint of whisky, and that
defendant himself, knew of their getting this
pint OF whisky when intoxicated. The only ex-
cuse Gjorud offered for this was that the whis-
ky was ordered on Friday, Olsen swearing he
did not remember of so ordering this pint OF
whisky on Friday. This evidence of the plain
tiff was scarcely contradcted.
The law of this State is that If liquor dealer
gives, sells, or furnishes liquor TO an intoXcat
ed person, and that liquor contributes to his in
toxication, and while thus intoxicated he loose'
his life or receives other injuries which cuts of
the means of support of wife, then liquor seller
is liable for all the damages and 1t makes NJ
difference If other liquor dealers may have alsC
have furnished liquor to intoxicated person.
There was no way in which a jury could b'
honest and escape from finding against defend
ant. The jury were intelligent and honest men
and were bound under their oaths to render q
verdict according to the law and the evidence
have tried good many contested cases, anC
will say that In my Judgment the evidence wa
as conclusive In this case as any case eve
tried IL Is just as certain as fate that If GjoruC
had obeyed the law and kept his saloon closed
on this Sunday, that Mrs. Gullickson and he
four snail childden would now be living will
| her husband.
IL these papers have been mlsled about thu
facts, they should correct their mistakes, but l
their object is to create sympathy for this man
WHO has thus made this woman widow, ant
these children orphans, then all respectable
and good citizens should see to 1t that thell
influence be kept down to the lowest point
Talk about our jury system Is very cheap these
days, but when such talk is INDUCED in with re
spect 10 case of this kind, against as honest
and as intelligent jury us the one that tried
this case, it becomes burlesque.
much prefer trying these law suits IN Court
but whenI see an attempt to injurc honest PEG
pie. and especially honest jury men. and at tho
same time create public sympathy for Otto
Gjorud, the defendant in case, feel IL my du
ty to give the public the facts as they exist. The
admittedIfacts in this ease make complete ease
of action against Giorud, and all the abuse OF
and fault finding with the jury cannot change
them. If any one should find fault with this YER
dict 1t is the plaintiff as she was only allowed
$1,000 If the law is not right, repeal it, but ask
the Legislature to do this not the jury.
Perhaps ifthis mode OF c eating public opin-
ion in favor of defendants in this case OF ac-
ton, Is kept up, IL would not be bad plan 10
Investigate and see If in addition TO being liable
for these damages, the defendant Is not also
guilt of manslaughter. ,...,
j, ID. TURNBULL.