Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-10

and he might get q license next year. In
stead of following this advice, he returned
home and was doing business at the old
stand that evening.
What has been said of these two houses
applies, so far as the open front door, easy
access, and delivery OF the liquor by brew
ers and wholesale dealers are concerned, to
probably dozen others. Small kitchen
speak-easies are conducted besides and they
are numerous. Many of them are con-
Quoted by men formerly employed, in Moor.
strike, being out Of work, they buy half
barrel of beer and deal it out
on the quiet, making enough. money
to keep their roofs over their heads. This
class is not expected to be permanent
factor in the business, but they are violat-
ing the law Just the same. The business OF
the town before the strike was good, and
the place seemed prosperous. But now the
bulk of the mill employees are non-residents
who take their wages to spend where they
reside. The legitimate dealers in all
branches OF business are suffering In conse-
quence, and the successful speak-easy man
seems to be the only one making any
money.
Question Often Asked.
The question will naturally suggest itself,
why do not the proper officers stop this
illegal business? The same question has
frequently been asked by the law-abiding
element of Sharpsburg.
Under the law the proper officer is the
borough constable. Since the Brooks law
illegal dealers, all told, have been returned
to the county court, although several have
been running since 1886. In that time
there have been three constables. The
present one is Fred Seiferths,
an ex-policeman of the borough.
He knows that the business is
going on, it is alleged, but there are rea-
sons given by him why he does not make
proper returns. One is that he is afraid to
do so for fear of personal injury, and the
other that be cannot get sufficient evidence
to convict. While there is no doubt that
he has some foundation for the former rea-
son, few people of the town will take any
stock in the latter They believe he does
not make an earnest effort to secure evil
dence, and even stronger suggestions are
made.
The policemen of the town are we'll aware
of what is going on, too, but they can do
nothing unless there is disorder in the
houses. They claim they can't get evidence
because everybody knows them, and on
their approach the speak-easy people sup
press operations. The burgess can do
nothing, because there is no law under
which he can proceed except to enter an
information, and he cannot do that without
evidence, which he finds it impossible to
obtain. Some time ago the burgess decided
to follow the plan used in the cities by
raiding the speak-easies on warrants
charging them with being disorderly
houses, but the borough's attorney
advised him that it would be ille-
gal, and prevented such proceedings.
Colored Men Prepared to Kick.
Since the murder of Jerry Buckley by two
colored men from Moorhead's Mill three
weeks ago, the licensed saloons of Sharps-
burg have, at Burgess Loyd's request, re-
fused to sell to the colored men who have
taken the places of the striking puddlers in
the mill This was done to prevent repe-
tition of the trouble that resulted in the
murder. The saloons have all observed the
request, but the colored men have
decided to insist upon their rights.
suit against Nicholas Schmidtchen, one of
them. Even the speak-easies have refused
to sell to the colored men, and when they
went over to the adjoining borough of Etna
for liquor they were refused by the licensed
dealers there.
There is much. speculation among the
better class Of Sharpsburg people as to
what can be done to stop the speak easy
business among them. 1t was stated yester-
day that unless other means are soon found
several of the towns prominent men will
engage q private detective at their own ex-
pense to secure evidence and prosecute every
man doing business without license.