Wichita eagle., 1890-02-23
FIVE DOLLARS AND COSTS.
The Jury's Verdict Against the Spickard-
vile Crusaders.

TRENTON. Mo, Feb. 22.-''We find the
defendants guilty and impose line OF -
and costs in each case" That was the ver-
dict of the jury in the case OF the Splckafd-
Vile crusaders.
Great excitement attended the hearing
of the case today. To accommodate the
large number of ladies who were IN attend
ance. Justice Shauklin held court in the
court house and the room was crowded 10
its full capacity. The feeling was intense
on both sides, the opposing attorneys at
times barely escaping fistic encounters and
at one time it looked as if a general row
would occur.
When court had been formally opened
Justice Shanklin announced his opin-
ION on the question raised just be-
fore adjournment yesterday. He held
that no evidence could be introduced
going to show that the destruction OF the
saloon was the abatement OF a puoic
nuisance Private parties could not abate
a public nuisance unless some lndlVlduaI
rights were infringed. This had the effect
of taking the wind from the sails OF the
the defense and the announcement OF the
decision was greeted with distinct Signs
of disapproval Justice Shanklin restored
order and the introduction OF evidence py
the prosecution was begun.
w NJ DruStow, editor of the Spickards-
Vile Gazette and confirmed leader OF the
movement before the case got into the
courts, was the first witness. he ad-
mitted having witnessed the destruction
of the saloon but could not swear that the
defendants were among the crusaders.
His dislike to swearing to anything dam
aging to the defense was evident ana he
was dismissed and the other witnesses
were called by the state but they, too: had
very short memories L. {. Cooks, a bar
ber- was an unwilling witness also. lie
said he had been told that he would be
hoycotted and his business ruined il he
testified against the crusaders. len other
witnesses, all of short memories, testified
and then the state rested.
Judge Hall, chief counsel for the de-
fense, stated that the decision rendered at
the opening of the court destroyed the
value of the testimony that he had IN
tended to introduce He would present
no witnesses.
Prosecuting Attorney Knight then be-
gan his speech for the state. de said he
had been iusulted yesterday at the mass
meeting by being hissed by persons hostile
to the prosecution at the Instance OF Judge
Hall. He had no fear OF being in
suited today, he said, because he was IN d
court of Justice and not meeting called
to defythe law and TO urge its fraction.
Judge Hall was on his feet in a minute.
He objected eXcitedly TO Mr.. Knights re-
marks and denied their truth, at the same
time shaking his fist under Mr.. hnlghts S
nose. Mr Knight. contlnuiog, SAID that
the Judge had lied when he accused him of
having perjured his oath of Office in not
enforcing the law against non-hcensed
liquor sellers. Judge Hail again rose TO
his feet, this time with his chair in his
hand, and with threatening gesture at
Mr. KNIGHT denied that he had ever made
the court room became intense aud the
Justice was obliged to call on the
constables to assist him III restoring
order Finally the excitement was
subdued and Mr.. Knight proceeded with
his argument. He asked the judge as a
matter Of privilege that be be allowed to
defend his name and character from the
charges made against him ard being
granted the permission entered into a long
defense. which WAS frequently interrupted
by Kisses from the ladies' He said the
ladies had taken the law into their hands
because one boy had been found drurk III
the saloon. At this phrase, Ida L. Blair
district organizer of the ". {. Il. L.,
sprang eNcitedly to her feet and eX.
claimed: God save us"
God save that woman reiterated Mr.
Knight, ''She's got fits
This passage at arms again produced
great excitement and il was some minute.
before quiet was restored. Continuing Mr.
knight said that he noticed in yesterday:
procession a man who not long siucC
had become security on the bond o
one of the most noted female characters o
The town That showed the hypocrisy o
the whole crusade, he said. Again the ex
citement broke out, and all the attorney
for the defense were on their feet In a min
ute with objections. The justice, after re
storing order. warned Mr.. Knight 10 keel
TO the record thereafter. Soon afterward
be concluded his remarks.
The defense submitted their case with
out argument, and the case was immedi
ately given TO the jury. The jury WAS on
from until o'clock. and finally returne
the verdict given above. The announce
1nent of the verdict was received in silence
The defense gave notice OF appeal.
ORGANIZED AT PLATTsBURG.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Feb. 22.-The Time:
Plattsburg. Mo-. special says: The ten
perance crusaders have effected an organ
ization in this county. A mass meetln
was held here today at which was repre-
sented every township in the county. Th
Lsthrop crusaders were present and occU
pied prominent positions. Banker j. n
Boksrt called the meeting TO order and {,
City Attorney Eramus Hall presided
Speeches were made by several prominel
men, and committees We're appointed. {
go TO the drug stores and forbid them {
sell liquor in violation of the law. It wa
determined TO raid those who 90 not bee
the warning.
PROMINENT MAN TURNS MuRDEREe
PARKERSBURG, ". Va, Feb. eth
murder OF Wade Thompson. at Ceredo.
reported here. The murderer is Sam Prat
a neighbor of Thompson and one OF IL
most reputable men IN the state.