Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-27
WORK FOR THE COURT
Interesting Developments at the
Wholesalers Hearings.
TWENTY-ONE CASES YESTERDAY.
A Transfer of License Made Without the
Courts Consent.
ROW THE EYIDENCE WAS ALL OBTAINED

Yesterday was strictly wholesalers day
at the Twenty-eighth ward police station on
the Southside Ten cases for selling liquor
without license and six cases for violating
the liquor laws were called for hearing
by Alderman Succop. The hearings were
held in Inspector McKelvy's Office, which
was crowded by the prisoners, bondsmen,
witnesses and friends OF those interested.
From the first it looked as though there was
TO be some fun before the last case was
through with, and so it turned out There
was also a number OF surprises which places
q new phase on some of the proceedings,
both as to the manner in which some whole
sale houses are carried on and the manner
of collecting evidence.
Everything went off like clockworl. In
spectOr Mchelvy sat at the right of Judge
Succop and acted as prosecuting attorney.
He had a list of typewriter questions for
the witnesses to be called, and other data for
each case Officers Fanney, Conley, Clin-
ton, Shook and GrIbben acted as detectives
in working up most or the cases.
DRINKS AT THE CITY's EXPENSE.
The officers purchased half pints oi whisky
Al uGdI4N dll lllC uOuSSst bCSANSS S-NtAAS
drinks bv the glass and bottles of beer.
Captain Stewart had charge OF the side
board, and brought out the labeled bottles
when he was called
The sensation of the afternoon was devel-
oped when John PEBBLES case was called.
The latter's place is at No. 80 West Carson
street. Officers Thompson, Clinton, Fan
ner and Conley were sworn and testified
that on November Il they had bought three
bottles of beer and a pint of whisky in the
place, which they drank in the back room.
There were 16 others drinking in the room.
The LIQUOR was bought OF William Amend.
When PEBBLES was put under oath he said
that be had nothing to do with the matter
and that Amend was responsible for selling
the liquor. Mckelvy inquired how that
was, as the license was made out in his
name. PEBBLES then said he got the license.
but Amend has been running
the place. He had intended all
along to transfer the license to Amend and
on November l Amend drew up the papers
TO that effect and was TO pay PEBBLES $3.50
and had paid $50 of that amount. They had
not gone TO court TO make the transfer but
fixed the matter up among themselves.
LITTLE SURPRISE PARTY.
When PEBBLES got through with his testi-
mony Amend was called, and said he had
DCcU running the pldCS Slucc VNdN. Lie LII
Spector quietly turned to Lieutenant Booker
and said: "Please read that warrant to Mr.
Amend" Before Amend was aware of what
was going on the warrant prepared ior the
event was read to him, and he was under ar
rest, and had hearing Immediately. Both
he ard PEBBLES were held for court in $500
bail each
Some further developments are expected
when the case goes to court Inspector Nc
1 Ill. IL.
Of cases where license has been got by one
man who never intended to 90 into the busi-
ness and the court should take hold of the
matter.
When Patrick Lyons case was called, the
witness swore that he had bought whisky
and beer and drank it in the place. The
telI-tale halt-pint bottle was trotted out,
when Lyon exclaimed. "Oh, 1 never put
labels on nv bottles" His merriment
soon changed to chagrin as it was explained
who put the labels on, and he was held Tor
court in the twinkliug of an eye.
Kirk @ Bigham was on hand to defend
Fred Fuchs, of Boggs avenue. The wit
uesses testified to buying beer in the place
and drinking il on the premises. Mr.. Big
nam inquired how they knew II was Fuchs
place, and the answer was given that man
coming out of the place had told them so. Big
ham argued that the evidence on this point
was not clear, and at last the case was post
uoned until Friday at 4 P. NJ. Inspector
NIcKelvv Immediately had subpenas made
out for eight more witnesses in the case.
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT STRUCK 'EM.
Louis Bender, sol Carson street, and
William Ward, 315 Carson street, were con.
f-onted with tales of liquor bought in their
places and were Immediately held for
court. Bernard McGuinness, West
Carson street, was also held for court
as was James Donehue of 1913
Carson street. Officer Gribben. one of the
witnesses in the latter case, made the start
ling statement that he did not know where
Donehue's house is and was never in the
place, although Officer Fanney was just as
sure he had seen Gribben in the place. The
Inspector only smiled and developments
NAV be expected later.
John Swartz, 129 Seventeenth street. had
nothing to say when his case was called and
was held for court along with the others.
Ex-Alderman John Lohrman was called
away from town by sickness and his hear
ing was postponed until tomorrow
afternoon. The following cases
were also postponed until tomorrow
on different excuses: William Padden, Vic
tor Doesch, William Cramer, Henry Ober.
helman, Henry Obernour, Trapp. The In
spectorS did not object TO the postponement
as long as the excuses were legal and when
the hearings were over were well satisfied
with the result.
At the hearing in the liquor cases in the
first district yesterday morning James
Powers, of 70 Sixth avenue; Leopold
Brown, of 22j Webster avenue; George
Gotthart, Of 497 Fifth avenue, and G.. Il.
Neeley, of No. l Sixth street. John Drew.
of No. Grant street. was discharged be-
cause the license was taken out in another