St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-17
IN THE POLICE COURT.
A Few of the Sensations Brought
Out During the Trials.

The charge against George W. Saw
yer, the well-known saloonkeeper at 4S
Third street south, and who is also the
proprietor of the recently-opened saloon
on NicOllet avenue. of keeping a place
resOrted to by persons of ill-fame, which
was on trial in the municipal court yes
terday, furnished sensation out of the
ordinary run OF events which happen
daily in the municipal court. Before
the case was called for trial. Assistant
City Attorney Hall, who represented
the state, agreed with the counsel for
the defense to accept plea of guilty and
to recommend to the court that the
defendant should be heavily fined.
Both the counsel for the state and
the defense admitted that on
technicality the defendant might be &C
quilted and so represented the case to
Judge Mahoney who was on the crim-
inal bench. The court, however, would
not allow the city attorney to settle the
case and said that if plea of guilty was
entered not only fine would be inflict-
ed. but if the defendant was guilty of
the Offense charged he was not proper
person to hold license to sell liquor.
This was ruling the attorneys had not
expected and the plea of guilty was
withdrawn and Judge MahOney sent the
case to Judge Emery for trial.
When Judge Emery took his seat on
the bench and called the case there was
big crowd in the court room. attracted
by the nature of the evidence which
was known would be introduced. Judge
Emery takes no stock in morbid curlOs-
ity seekers, and before any evidence
was taken he ordered the room to
l.o alao rod Of ounrxrI,nHv fhnco
directly connected with the case and
members of the press. Freeman p.
Lane, who represented the defense,
moved for the dismissal of the case on
the grounds that the complaint charged
that liquors were sold in a licensed sa-
loon, when the license only applied to
the first floor of the building at 4S South
Third street, while the place resOrted
to was On the second floor of the build
ing, and there was no communication
between the first and second floors eX-
cept by dumb waiter.
.'Do they serve drinks on the second
floor by means of the dumb waiter?'
inquired the court.
Eyes, SIR" replied Mr.. Lane. 1--WE
admit that
Your motion Is denied" answered
Judge Emery, land you might as well
go on with the case, as the court cam
not pass upon this matter until it hears
the testimony. 1t would not be right
that the court should do so. and do
not propose to give a decision upon a
case before | hear the evidence"
The first witness called was frankie
Smith, of 81 Washington avenue north,
who was found in the place on Thurs
day night lying in a StupOr, and who
claimed that she had been robbed of a
gold watch and $50 in money. She said
she had gone into the place to get a
drink, and as she was going out she met
two men who made an improper pro-
pOsal to her. She refused to comply
with their requests, but went back into
one of the wine rooms with them to get
another drink. She drank two glasses
of liquor, and the next thing she knew
she was locked upin the central station.
She had been to Sawyer'S place several
times and knew that men and women
went there. and she had overheard con-
versations in the wine rooms which was
unfit for publication.
officer Delno, whose beat included
the premises occupied by Mr.. Sawyer.
described tie wine rooms on the second
floor and testified that the place was
frequented by notorious prostitutes,
ndiIJ va "AlOiu uO hnCW anu
men about town known to the
police as sporting men," Policeman
McKenna cOrrObOrated Officer Delno 8
statement. and said that Sawyer had
told him that he owned the place. When
Capt. Helm entered the court room with
Jessie Tuchile, an inmate of the motor
iOus bagniO at III Second avenue south,
the defense was surprised. Jessie teS-
tilted that she lived in sporting house
and had frequently gone to Sawyer'S
place with other women.
by a sporting house you mean a
house of prostitution, don't you?" in
Quired the attorney for the defense.
Hold on" exclaimed Mr.. Lane. 81
want to protect this witness. If she an
swers yes to that question she conyicts
herself of a crime. l want the court to
explain her rights to her."
"The court will take care that the
witness is protected" replied Judge
Emery, who explained to her that if she
would criminate herself by answering
the question truthfully she might de-
cline to answer. and so state her rea-
sons for not answering. Jessie was
frightened, and for a few moments
conld not understand what was going on.
"YOu have testified that the house
you lived in is a sporting house," said
Judge Emery. "NOw, tell the court
what your definition of that term is"
The question was repeated several
times and Jessie maintained q defiant
silence.
Il want you to say what you mean by
a sporting house. and | will give you
Just about one minute to answer" ex-
claimed the court. Jessie made no reply
and the judge continued: For the
reason that the witness has refused to
answer proper question put to her by
the court, to wit: What do you mean
by sporting house% the court adj
judges the witness guilty of contempt
and sentences her to be confined in the
city prison for three days."
She was taken to the lookup by a
policeman. and the attorney for the de-
Tense gave notice that he wanted her
produced for crOss-eXaminatiOn, but the
Judge refused to allow it. The counsel
was ordered to proceed with the case.
Lilly Reed, of 22l First street south !;
Bessie Mcdonald, of f16 Third avenue.
and Gertie Duval. the proprietor of one
of the resorts on First street, testified
that they had been frequent visitors TO
the place. Several policemen and hack
drivers testified To the bad reputation of
the women who frequented the wine
rooms kept by Sawyer. Jessie Tuchill
sent word to the court that she was pre-
pared to answer the questions put to her
by the court and to apologize for the
contempt she had been guilty of. She
then said she was an inmate of a house
of Ill fame, and that the women whom
she had seen at Sawyer's place
were common prostitutes. The court
then ordered her released from custody.
Fred May. the waiter employed in
the wine rooms. testified that the place