The record-union., 1893-11-10
John Steers HoodIum Resort and
Dance House.
Residents Testify to the Sunday Night
Orgies There During the
Past Summer.


of Oak Park.
1t will be remembered that, in conse-
quence of complaints made by the people
there, the Supervisors some weeks ago
revoked Stems license. Steen demanded
a hearing, however, and the Supervisors
suspended the order of revocation until
Steen could be heard. it being held that
he was entitled to such hearing.
Steen appeared before the board yester-
day accompanied by his counsel, e. G.
Hart. Assistant District Attorney ]. c.
Jones conducted the prosecution.
HooDLUN RESORT.
W. C. Curl was the first witness called
by the prosecution, and the one who
swore to the complaint against Steen. He
tes titled that the saloon is on the road
travelled by children going to and from
school, and is within about hundred
yards of the chapel. The place has been
the resort of hoodlums and peace dis
turbers, and the scenes in and about the
place have been so disgraceful that ladies
were obliged to go far out OF their way In
returning from church in order TO avoid
passing Stems place.
"Have you seen any ladies there?"
asked Mr.. Jones.
81 have seen creatures with dresses on
and hats, such as ladies wear, but | could
not say they were ladies'" replied the
witness.
Curl further testified that during last
summer the scenes enacted about Stems
dance hall by male and female hoodlums
were of the most disgraceful and scandal
izing character.
On the 18th of September, one of the
dates mentioned in the complaint, wit
ness saw Sieen behind his bar, but on the
other dates he was not certain that Steen
was present
On cross-examination witness stated
that Stems place was not specially OBJ
jectionable year ago, but became SO
during the past summer. On the 2lst of
October there was a row in the vicinity
and
SHOTS WERE FIRED.
Witness learned, at the time the COM
plant was filed, that Steen was at home,
but had been absent about week.
Since the license was revoked, witness
said, there was music in Stems saloon
one Sunday afternoon, and witness wife
told him she saw persons dancing inside.
There has been dancing at picnics on
Sundays in other parts of the park.
HEARD HALF MILE OFF.
The petition from residents of Oak
Park asking for the revocation of Steen's
license was then read, and it was shown
that many of the signers live from quar-
ter to half-mile from the saloon.
Witness said the signers to the petition
affixed their names thereto because they
had heard the noises and disturbances at
their homes half-mile away.
In response 10 an inquiry, witness said
one man who had been arrested out there
was released through the intervention of
a person connected with Stems place.
HEARD FOUL LANGUAGE.
J. S. McMahon, Justice of the Peace at
September and the 18th Of October there
were disturbances at Steen's place. The
Constable told him that gam bling game
was about to be opened at Steen's saloon
one night, and he swore in a couple of
deputies to suppress any game that might
be started. Witness went over and staid
several hours, but no attempt was made
at gaming while he was there.
- On the 1st of October witness was in
Steen's place and saw men and women
passing to and from the saloon and dance
hall adjoining. There was some foul
language used by man and woman in
witness presence After witness went
home that night pistol shots were heard
in the direction OF Steen's place.
Generally speaking. witness would say
that Steen's place had been conducted in
an orderly manner. Since the license
was revoked witness had not heard of
any dances in Stems place.
REPUTATION OF THE SALOON BAD.
Samuel Locke, who resides at Oak
Park, testified 10 having heard loud
noises coming from the direction OF
Stems place. He was not present when
any OF the disturbances complained of
occurred. The reputation of the saloon
is bad in that neighborhood.
SHOUTING AND YELLING.
John Beck swore that he was awakened
on two Sunday nights by shouting and
yelling and the discharge of firearms in
the vicinity of Stems saloon. Latterly
there has been no trouble there. The
reputation of the place is bad.
DIsGRACEFUL PROCEEDINGS.
Constable Lightfoot of Oak Park said
he was at Steen's saloon one night dur
ing dance. He testified to certain dis
graceful scenes between men and women
in front of the saloon and alongside the
electric car track. Steen was not present
at the time.
On another occasion there was a big
row there, and witness was assaulted
while trying to quell the disturbance
The man who was managing the dance
there told witness that it was the worst
place he had ever got into, and promised
him that he would never again enter the
place. One man whom witness arrested
got away from him while he was strug-
Cling with another tough. The repufa-
tion of Stems saloon is bad in the neigh
borhood.
]. s. Bogus testified TO the use of foul
language and disturbances by visitors to
Stems place. The reputation of the
saloon is bad.
A DAMNABLE HOLE.
Constable Lightfoot further testified
that one Sunday afternoon since Steen's
license was revoked there was music and
dancing in Stems place. accompanied by
loud talk, shouting and boisterous con-
duct. He warned Steen at the time that
the people there would not stand such
open defiance of public sentiment.
Witness said he was opposed to the
presence Of any saloon within Oak Park.
He had travelled extensively, and Steen's
place was the worst and most damnable
hole he had ever got into.
MORE OF THE SAME SORT.
c. A. Bailey said the men and women
who went TO Stems dance hall on Sun
day nights conducted themselves inde-
Gently, swearing and using foul Ian
guage.
Several other residents of Oak Park
gave similar evidence, showing the Steen
place to have been conducted IN a dis
reputable manner.
on THE OTHER SIDE.
a Mr.. Maginnis, who resides on the
Louisiana Tract, testified for the defense
that he had never witnessed any disturb
anee in Stems saloon, although ne had
been there occasionally. Hewas at home,
half mile away, on the dates specified
In the complaint charging Steen with
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