The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-26
WAR ON The SPEAK EASIES
Judge GunSter Says Court Nill Find
Some Nay to Stop Illegal Traffic.
COUNTY CONSTABLES SCORED
In Discharging Grand Jury Court Re-
ferred to Saloonkecpers Who DO Not
Intend to Take Ont Licenses.
List of True Bills.

At 3 O'clock yesterday afternoon the
grand jury, having finished its work,
came into court and made presenta-
ton of the remainder of true and ignor-
ed bills, and also several recommended
tions. Judge Gunster came on the
bench in the main court room to re-
ceive the juryS report, and when he
passed upon the batch of papers, he
was about to address the jury when
District Attorney Jones walked before
the bar and said:
May it please the court, the con"
stable of the Twelfth ward of this city,
III his return stated that he is of the
opinion that liquor is sold in that ward
without license, but that he could not
collect sufficient evidence to convict
the persons whom he suspects. Your
honor referred the matter to the dis
trict attorney and it was laid before the
grand jury, but in the absence of any
evidence the bills had to be ignored"
Judge Gunster paused a minute and
then spoke as follows to the jury:
II notice in one of the morning
papers," meaning The Tribune that X
is the intention and purpose of several
of the persons who have been granted
licenses at this term of court, to neg
lect to take their licenses out and,
nevertheless to continue selling liquor.
If that is true it might be well for such
persons to understand that inevitably
they will find themselves on the road to
jail. This court will not tolerate such
schemes ana the persons who attempt
in this manner to evade the law will,
sooner or later. find themselves in the
hands of the law.
IF the constables of the county do
not do their duty, or If the county
detective shall not do his duty, this
court will find a way to check this
disregard of the statutes. The statutes
are not upon the book of this court to
be violated.
"Gf liquor is being sold without IL
cenSe in the Twelfth ward. or in any
other part of this county, the matter
will gravitate in the long run before
this court. or If any number of liquor
sellers who have been granted licenses
neglect to take them out and believe
that they can do so with impunity. let
them understand that the court will be
uElIt lItill II llltS Apply eib t4iC mat
term of license court"
Recommendation of the Jury.
The recommendations of the grand
jury were as follows:
First-That for the better dispatch
of the business and the safety of the
many papers necessarily connected
Herewith. the door between the grand
jury room and the Office Of the dis
trict attorney be changed and removed
to a point in the same apartment more
convenient and direct in cOmmunica-
tion with the grand jury when in ses-
sion. and also the introduction of an
electric bell to be placed in the district
attorneys Office with a button within
reach Of the foreman of the grand jury;
both of these changes would greatly
facilitate the dispatch of the business
and econOmize time and with much less
disturbance and interruption of the
jurys deliberations.
Second-We recommend the placing
of n telephone in the office of the dis
trict attorney. This would undoubted-
ly prove a great saving of time and eX-
pense to many whose duties call them
elsewhere, who have been waiting and
restricted here daily.
Third-We respectfully recommend
the employment of a regularly appoint
ed interpreter under the jurisdiction of
the court. one who is we'll versed in
the English and such other languages
as are spoken by the several nationali-
ties called upon to appear in these
courts. Our experiences during these
sessions teach that the present system
Of prosecutors furnishing their own in
terpreters brings before the grand jury
and the court individuals possibly in
interest or sympathy, hence unreliable,
as Illustrated during these sessions one
who appeared in several cases as in
terpreter was aftcrward indicted on a
serious charge and a true bill found
against him.
Fourth-We suggest that coat and
hat racks be supplied for the use of
prosecutors and witnesses called before
the grand jury.
Fifth-We also suggest that printed
instructions for grand jurors be sup
piled or posted in the grand jury
room.
Sixth-After a thorough and careful
inspection of the county prison we
find all in and about the premises in
good order, nothing calling for special
recommendation other than that we
respectfully recommend the substitu-
tion of substantial iron door to work
on chain and pulleys, and an iron gate
at the rear entrance to the Jail yard
to replace the light wooden door now
serving for this enclosure; also the
proper fitting up of one section Of the
cells In the basement OF the jail for CON
fining prisoners sent there, as we find
in. many Instances where two ana three
prisoners are confined in one cell. We
also recommend that the county com
nissioners be instructed to put down a
stone sidewalk along the jail frontage
on New York street. Also that three
padded cells be provided at the Jail