Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-18
SIXTY-SIX APPLICANTS HEARD IN A HURRY.
Alderman Cassidy Keeps His Promise and Makes 1t as
Lively as He Can.
THE SECOND AND THIRD WARDS TO BE FINISHED TO.DA Y

Judges Ewing and Magee, sitting as the
Court Of Quarter Sessions, yesterday morn
ing at $50 o'clock began the hearing of the
applications for licenses to sell Intoxicating
liquors at retail, for one year from MAY 1.
Sixty-six applications were inquired into
during the day of Ga hours, which is
especially rapid work.
The petitioners are not so minutely ques-
toned as they were by Judge White in 1889.
Judge White went carefully into the per-
sonal career of each applicant, questioning
him even as to his domestic arrangements,
his family affairs and his own personal
career. Judge Ewing did nearly all the ex-
amining yesterday, he being the President
Judge OF Court OF Common Pleas No. 2.
He revealed a wonderful memory of the
doings OF the License Court in 1888. when
he sat with Judge White.
EVIDENCES OF A GOOD MEMORY.
In large majority of cases he recalled
the applicant and the reputation of his
place, as brought out at that time. He
even remembered minute circumstances of
complaints made, and had no hesitation in
putting them at the witness. He had at
hand memoranda from many sources, the
license lists of the last two years, the speak
easy list and the complaint list furnished by
CHIEF Brown, OF the Department of Public
Safety, and otEer information.
Judge Ewing inquired as to the premises
10 be occupied more carefully than he did as
10 the occupier, though he did not overlook
the personality OF the applicant. He in
sisted. early lii the day, that liquor license
should be given only 10 the keeper of bona
fide hotel or eating house. He held emphat-
icallv that the sale of liquor should be sub
sidiary to the furnishing of meals or lodg-
Ing. he declared that the Supreme Courts
directions, that a mere drinking place
should not be licensed, would govern the
Allegheny County Court. This rule threat
ems to cut off some of the places licensed by
Judge White last year, especially down
town, and promises to grant licenses to
number OF new people. Judge Ewing dis
plays an accurate knowledge of localities
and their histories. He holds that no sa-
looms. not even if kept by careful and honest
landlords should be located in disreputable
quarters.
AN IMPRESSION GAINED.
The questioning and remarks of the Court
yesterday conveyed the impression to men,
bers of the bar generally that there would
be a liberal increase Of the number of
saloons, but that the licenses would be
issued with care, on general lines of policy,
apart from personal favoritism.
Judge Magee listened and watched closely.
His questions usually pertained to the bond
and to the parties who might be financially
backing the applicant. His keen brown
eyes seemed to bore into the inner soul of
the presumptuous applicant and to read his
most secret thoughts.
A feature of the day was The appearance
of Alderman Cassidy, of the First ward,
as witness against a number of the appli-
cants. He had some lively tilts with the
men whom he opposed. and was charged BY
one OF them with interference for a political
reason. The Alderman, however generally
made his point against the applicant.
The attendance was as large as the court
room would accommodate. The uninter-
ested spectators were generally young men,
who looked like loafers. With one excep-
tion, which was caused by mistake in the
printed official list, all the applicants were
prepared to respond when their names were
called.
MANY LAWYERS PRESENT.
r Al L
present nearly all the time. No person ap-
peared for the temperance organizations or
the Law and Order Society. The faces of
Attorneys Yost and Price and of Captain
Wishart were missed. Attorney B. C.
Chrlsty looked on merely as a spectator for
a short time during the afternoon.
AT O'Clock in the morning the bright
but noisy courtroom in the Diamond-Grant
corner OF the second floor was opened, and
In ten minutes all available space outside of
the bar was occupied by ragged, lazy, red
nozed idlers, who binked at the clerks and
court officers with open mouths. The bailiffs
went about arranging chairs and tables.
pushing them backward and forward
without any special object, except
that they might appear to be busy.
Clerk MeGunnegle and assistants hustled
In. pulled open drawers, slapped big court
books about on the desks, united huge pack
ages of documents and unrolled maps TO be
spread before the Judges. Mr.. McGunneele
wore a smile as expansive as the morning
dawn. 1t lighted up the courtroom like an
aureole of electricity. Stenographer Sam
Fullwood appeared early and took his high
seat to report his third session of the License
Court for Allegheny county. What he did
during the times when even the applicants
attorney could not hear what his bashful
and nervous client said, is mystery to ali,
but the pen was kept moving anyway.
MUsT TALK ENGLISH.
Blind Court Interpreter Luty was assisted
to a comfortable chair at the left of the
bench, where he sat all day without being
called upon to assist this court An appli-
cant who cannot talk decent English will
stsnd poor show with the Court, which
seeks to know often how long man has
been naturalIzed.
Among the early arrivals with the bar
were Attorneys Robb, Bremen, Mclean,
Breek, Meyer, Johnston and c. G. Montooth.
Tim OLeary, wearing a polished silk tile
and st. Pstrick's Day smile, was on hand
to pass the time of day and cheer up some of
the nervous applicants on the mourners'
seats. Inside OF the bar were placed two
rows Of chairs to accommodate the appli-
eants. and nearly ell were there at $50
O'Clock.