Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-10-29


Payne said the club was still in exist
ence, and had some eighteen members,
He was unable to name them over.
Payne said that there was no presi-
dent nor janitor, but that he was the
secretary and treasurer. From the
answers received from Mr.. Payne, re
garding the formality of joining the
club, it was evident that it was not
nearly as hard to obtain membership
in the club as it was to join some of
the secret orders where one black ball
will keep a member out. Payne said
he had been convicted of forgery in
the United States court, and had
served term in the State Prison
for it. ..-.- ----
Jacob Adams came on the stand to
say that he was member of the club
and had been since very short time
after the organization of the club.
He said he, with the other members of
the club, enjoyed the privilege of help
ing himself to beer, and contributing
to the box such sums of money as he
saw fit. Mr.. Payne, he declared, had
no control over the funds thus con-
tributed. He merely acted for the
club in the purchases of beer. He also
said that he had heard the trouble,
politically, between Austins and
Payne. When the beer came, it was
taken down cellar by some of the
members of the club, aud racked off
in bottles.
On cross-examination Mr.. Adams
said he was opportuned to join tie
club by some friends, and he accepted
the invitation. He thought he paid
81 for an iniation fee and expected it
went for beer, He did not know all
the members of the club, some of them
being strangers to him.
VIM. A. Walla ce followed Mr.. Adams.
He went over the organization of the
club, as had Mr.. Payne, while he was
on the stand. He never knew Mr..
Payne to dispose for his own gain any
liquor or beer.
During the examination of this wit
ness facts were brought out over and
over again, and Prosecutor Logue
called the attention of the Court to it.
Judge Hoagland said it seemed that
there was disposition upon the part
of the counsel to prolong the case,
and he wanted it understood that mat
ters should move along more lively.
Levi Kerins joined the club with the
| idea of having place to procure beer
when he wanted it. He liked beer
better than he did to pay for it for
he admitted he was not one of the
"chip up'' sort, his averages not being
more than two cents per bottle. He
declared he had heard Austin say he
would get square with Payne, owing
to some political contest.
Jesse Hand, a neighbor of Mr.. Payne,
said that the house was quiet and he
never knew of any disturbances there.
Justice of the Peace Phillip K. Wells
said he was frequently at Payne's
house and knew of no diserderly or il
legal proceedings carried on there.
Never knew beer to be sold there. He
knew Of bad blood between the Austins
and Payne. ~, re a.,,,.rF.-
THURSDAY MORNING,
Willis Brooks was called by the de-
fense in continuation of the Payne
case this morning, and he testified
that he was a member of the club, but
was not present at the organization.
He did not know how many members
there were in the CLUB. He knew that
Mr.. Payne was an officer of the club.
He gave testimony similar to that of
the other witnesses, as to the conduct
ing of the business of the club. Upon
cross-examination Mr.. Brooks found
cred about considerably under the
sharp questioning of the Prosecutor,
particularly when the business mat
ters of the club were referred to, and
he left the stand with considerable
pleasure, apparently.
Robert Naylor said he was frequent
visitor at the house of Payne. His
visits were usually of business nature
and he had been there upon political
errands. The house was orderly and
we'll conducted. He had never seen
any beer or whiskey sold there. Dur
ing the last Mayoralty contest there
was somewhat bitter political feeling
between Payne and the Austins.
While some considerable efforts were
made by the defense to have the wit
ness prove that the Austin's had hos
tile feelings against Payne, the effort
failed signally.
A number of witnesses were called
who said they were neighbors of
Payne, and declared that the place
kept by Payne was very orderly and