St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-26

mayor, anu lall6u utterly W JUSTLY
single statement. When he left, the
mayor warned Briggs that he would
hold him answerable at law for the
base SANDER he had circulated.
1t seems that well-knowd minister,
who is true friend to Mayor Eustis,
informed his honor Friday evening that
Briggs had come to him and made the
statements above related. The mayor
decided upon his course Of action at
once, and the result of that action ma
terialiZed yesterday afternoon.
Shortly after p. m. Crusader Briggs
walked into the mayors office. With
him was the minister to whom Briggs
had made the statements in question.
Chief of Police Smith. Secretary Man.
nix and the newspaper men were there,
too. Briggs sat in a chair at the side of
the mayors desk, but did not sQuareIy
face his honor. Mayor EuStis broke the
ice. Addressing the minister, his honor
asked him to repeat what Briggs had
told him. The minister did so, and
added that Briggs claimed to have re
ceived mis- information from a saloon.
keeper.
Now, Mr.. Briggs" said the mayor.
.what is the name of the saloonkeeper
who told you that | freQuented house
of i'll fame?"
Briggs shifted uneasily in his chair,
looked around the room, and answered
nervously:
This is a private matter. l don't
care to speak publicly"
pardon me-" replied the mayor;
this is public matter. You have as
sailed the moral character of the mayor
of this city, and he wants to know where
you obtained your information. What
is the name of the saloonkeeper?"
Again tue chief crusader twisted
about, and fused with his fingers, as
he said: 81 refuse to speak in public.
| will talk to you and MIR. -" naming
the MINISTRY. Then Briggs pointed at
Secretary ManniX, and exclaimed in
loud tones:
There's man have heard stories
about, too, aud could"
stop there, Mr.. Briggs" interrupted
the mayor. MIR. Mannix is not on trial.
; 1t is l. l am running this city. Now |
ask you again to tell me the name of
the saloonkeeper who gave you this in
formation;
But Briggs stubbornly refused to talk
until the room had been cleared of
everybody save the mayor, the minister
and himself.
Briggs also admitted that he had re-
peated the story to three or four minis
tiers in strict confidence, but he abSo-
lutely refused to divulge their names.
The three remained together for fif-
teen minutes.
Briggs even then refused at first to
name his informant, but finally he
said:
ut was 'Tooze' Rogers, the proprietor
of the Mint saloon on Washington ave-
nue. north"
Mayor Eustis touched the electric bell
at his desk, and his secretary appeared.
"Send for Mr.. Rogers, of the Mint
saloon," was all the mayor said. Mr..
Mannix dispatched messenger at
once. In less than ten minutes Mr..
Rogers appeared. He entered the office
and took a seat directly opposite Briggs.
Intense silence reigned for moment.
Now, Mr.. Briggs" said the mayor
will you repeat what you have just
told us?''
Briggs, who was growing more and
more nervous, made no response.
''What did you tell us just before Nj.
Rogers came IMP" persisted the mayor.
Briggs caught the arm of his chair
and said in faltering tones: 81 can't
remember the exact words [ used.'
perhaps Mr.. - can" suggested the
mayor to the minister. The minister
thought he could repeat the substance
of what Briggs had said. and he did so g.
'Mr. Briggs has just told u.s." said
the minister, "that Tooze Rogers, the
keeper of the Mint saloon, Informed
him that Mayor Eustis trequented a
certain house of ill-fame in this city,"
did you ever say that to Mr.. Briggs?"
asked the mayor.
mo, sir: never in my life" answered
Rogers emphatically, and as he spoke
he looked squarely and Indignantly at
Briggs.
Did you ever have any conversation
with Briggs about me month ago, in
which the social evil was mentioned, or
III any way alluded to?' pursued the
mayor.
No, sir; did not," was Mr.. Rogers
quick reply. Then liking his eyes on
the now thoroughly abashed Briggs, he
continued:
''Pd like to know what you mean by
telling any such stories about me?'
Briggs remained silent.
Then the mayor took Briggs in hand.
and made him wish he could sink
through the floor.
What have you to say to this, Mr..
Briggs?' asked his honor.
The crusaders hands trembled as he
| fumbled them together, and his voice
shook as he stammered:
"Why-er-er-I may have miSunder-
stood Mr.. Rogers"
The mayor clinched matters at this
point with the following question:
'Mr. Rogers denies that he told you
what you say he did. Now, do you dis
pute him?"
Briggs was cornered. The mayor and
Rogers were both looking HIM in the
| face as he answered in a sheepish tone i:
mo: | don't diSDute him -
Then the mayor sailed into Briggs in
| the following fashion: "This is yerv
serious matter. You have assailea my
character by circulating vile report. l
want to run the SANDER down, and
when l ask you who is responsible for
| stating the StoIp, you say it is Mr.. Rog-
| ers. Now Mr.. Rogers comes before your
| face aud fatty denies that he ever said
anything Of the kind to you or anybody
else, and you cannot dispute him. What
| kind of man are you? AS lar as | can
see, this story begins and ends with
| you. What have you to say for your
self?'
Briggs was desperate by this time.
and muttered something about having
heard the same story from others.
"Who are they? Give me their
Names" quickly interposed the mayor.
Il will not" was the logged rejoin-
der.
What ministers did you repeat this
story to?''
II won't answer that, either" retorted
Briggs sullenly.
Then" said Mayor Eustis, ST will
hold you legally responsible for this
SANDER"
very WE'LL" replied Briggs; 81 am
responsible for my acts. stand ON my
own bottom.''
well, see that you do" rejoined the
mayor. Il propose to call you to ac-
count. You are the head and the front
OF this Law and Order league. and you
pose as one of the men who have the