The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-21
JOSEPH PLAYED BILLIARDS.
Elk Groves Latest Sensation is Venti-
lated in Court.
The Crusade OF the Temperance Ladies
Against Saloons-A 'Sport''
at Fifteen.

There is quite crusade going on in the
busy little town of Elk Grove. against
saloons.
There are not many of the latter there,
but those few are being watched closely
by the Women's Christian Temperance
Union of that place, the ladies having de-
termined to make trouble every time the
saloon-keepers step over the chalk-line
drawn around them by the law.
Several weeks ago Mrs. Dixon, one of
the foremost movers in the union, swore
to complaint against John Woods, the
hotel-keeper at Elk Grove. charging him
with permitting Joe Pickett, minor, to
play billiards in his barroom. The trial
of the case came off yesterday in Justice
of the Peace Henry's court. The union
was there in goodly numbers, and the
ladies assisted the prosecution materially
with their contemptuous glances at
Woods and his lawyer, Major Anderson,
and their smiles and mods of approval
when their specially employed attorney.
Chauncey Dunn, scored good point
Assistant District Attorney Buckley was
present. but permitted Mr.. Dunn to do
all the talking for the ladies.
The defendant had called for a jury, so
the case on the law and the evidence, $50
help Them" etc.
G. II. Dixon was the first witness called.
He looked into Woods barroom on the
23d of last July, and saw the Pickett boy
plunking the worries about like a pro-
fessional billiard sharp. In reply to a
question from Major Anderson, Dixon
said he was not aware that young Joe was
in the employ of Woods, nor that both Joe
and his father worked there,
The Major wanted the witness to tell
something about the ladies' crusade, but
Attorney Dunn said that had nothing to
do with whether or not Joe Pickett
played billiards on the 23d of July.
The Major declared, warmly, that he
proposed to "show up the whole bust
ness" 1t was case of spite-work, and
the father, nor any of the relatives of the
boy, acquiesced in the prosecution of
Woods.
The court did not think this would be
material, so another witness was called,
Sam Mackey by name. He also saw
young Joe playing billiards.
Mrs. Mackey also saw the young sport
at play and SO testified. She looked in at
the door purposely, she said.
There's a sort of crusade going on
down there, is there not ?" asked Major
Anderson sharply.
The Temperance Unions hat feathers
bobbed vigorously and Mrs. Mackey,
taking the cue, replied dramatically
"9es !" That was a good one for the
ladies and they famed themselves and
chuckled.
Mrs. Dalrymple, young JoGs grand
ma, was called for the purpose of proving
that the embryo Schaeffer was under Is
years of age-the legal limit for beginners
at billiards and booze. The lady could
not tell how old he was, however, but
thought that he was quite a "kid'' yet
something like IA or Is.
Mrs. Mary K. Hamilton of this city, who
was formerly a school teacher at Elk
Grove, testified that Toe started to school
ID 1888, and that according to her records
he was five years old at that time.
The union nodded approvingIy, famed
itself and smiled in triumphant man
ner.
Mrs. Hamilton, on cross-eXamination,
said she did not recollect how she ascer-
tanned his age, but thought it was from
his brother. She did not know, she said
whether or not her information was reli-
able.
Some more witnesses to the young
ster's skill with the cue testified and then
the prosecution closed.
The only evidence that Woods offered
was that the boy was employed by him
to help around the hotel. Woods said he
could not watch him all the time to see if
he 'monkeyed" with the billiard tables
or not.
Then the attorneys talked. Mr.. Buck
ley opened with a few remarks for the
prosecution. Then Major Anderson told
the jury how thoroughly innocent and
angelic his client was. The union
scowled and looked as sour as an old
maid at another woman's wedding, dur
ing the Majors discourse. But the union
frightened up, smiled expansively and
nodded approvingly while Mr.. Dunn was
telling the jury what monster Woods
was.
The case was submitted to the jury,
and then the ladies had cause to get mad
in earnest.
The jurors would not agree.
Justice Henry kept the wrangling
dozen locked up for tour hours, but it
was all to no purpose. They stood eight
for acquittal and four for conviction, and
declared that ii they stayed there all
winter they could not reach a verdict
They were accordingly discharged.