The Washington times., 1894-10-19
JOHN SHEA ON TRIAL.
Charged with Keeping an Unlicensed Bar
room-If Convicted He Must
Go 10 Jail

Go to Jail.
The case against John Shea, charged with
maintaining an unlicensed bar, was yester-
day morning brought up in the police court
for a jury trial. Shea only few months ago
was pardoned by the President while serving
n Term In the workhouse for a similar viola
ton of law, and the case yesterday was
alleged as the second offense, conviction for
which is imprisonment in Jail.
Prosecuting Attorney Pugh called the case
up, and Col. Christy and Lawyer O'Neil,
ATTORNEYS for the defense, asked that the case
90 over, because they had not enough wit
nesses, but this Judge Miller declined to do,
saving that he would give time for summon
ing sufficient witnesses for defendant.
Sergt. Daley was the first witness put upon
the stand. He stated that on Sunday evening,
September 16, about $50 o'clock he sent
Eugene Mercer, colored man, into Shea's
grocery store, at 625 Maryland avenue south
west, with an empty bottle and quarter to
get some whisky. Mercer had previously
been searched by witness and two colored
men; no other bottle being found on his per-
son. In addition Sergt. Daleys bottle was
marked on the side and also on the cork for
Identification. In the course of five minutes
the colored man came out of Sheas with the
bottle full of whisky. On cross-exam1natlon
Daley said that no conversation was had as to
what remuneration Mercer was to receive for
his work. The whisky was placed in evidence
and passed around to the jurymen.
Eugene Mercer the next witness, said that
on Sunday September 16..he went into Shea's
place twice during the day. The first was
about ! o'clock in the afternoon, when he
| paid cents for a winegiass of whisky, and
| the second was at O'Clock In the evening,
when he bought half-pint flask. Mrs. Shea
! had waited upon him both times and had
| gotten the liquor from a small sldeboard In
/ the dining-room.
Martha Brooker a resident of Sheas court
was next called. She swore that she had also
| been in SheaS place and purchased whisky +,
! but could not with certainty name the time.
| Margaret Lewis. another colored girl, tes-
titled that she had given money to friend
with instructions to buy some liquor at the
store of the defendant and he had returned
! with the desired fluid.
Sam Newton testified TO having seen Mercer
searched and corroborated Sergt Daley
statements concerning the giving of the flask
| to Mercer.
At this point Lawyer Christie argued tc fine
| court that the prisoner should not be hello re-
! sponsible for the crimes OF his family, and
asked that the decision of the case be wrested
from the jury. Judge Miller overruled this,
| saving that the license was given to the man
and he was responsible for the character OF
the place. Shea was then placed on the stand.
In the beginning OF his testimony ne denied
point blank that he had ever sold allowed to
be sold, or had any liquor for sale on the
premises. He said that Mercer had never
been TO his house. and furthermore that be
did not want him ever TO come. He said Mer-
Ger was pimp and frequented Kelly's, oppo-
siue TO his, a very tough place. He also de-
MED all the statements made by the witnesses
for the prosecution.
The last witness called was Mrs. Marion
Waters daughter of the defendant and his
next door neighbor. She denied that there
was ever any beer or other intoxcants sold at
the place. On September colored mar
she knew as Eugene came into the private
entrance of her fathers place and asked fol
whisky Her mother refused, saying that she
had none to sell. He produced bottle. but
went away with it empty. Witness was posi-
tive that no liquor had been sold on the place
since February 6.
This closed the testimony for the day, and
the judge respited the jury until to-day for 6
further hearing OF the case.