The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-03
DINNIN WAS SLATED
FIRST LOCAL ARREST UNDER THE
NEW NICHOLSON LAW.
He VIII Test the Music-Box Section
City Attorney Considering Eject
Road House.

There were few bitches i'm the workings
of the Nicholson law yesterday Most of
the men in the business expressed a desire
to obey IL. One prominent saloon man was
heard to say that the better class of sa-
loon keepers. independent of a brewery,
were pleased with the law, for 1t does away
with late hours and selling upon Sunday.
With a knowledge that their neighbors have
to obey, the independent saloon keepers do
not feel called upon to violate any laws in
order to keep their customers. Sam Dinnin,
proprietor Of the saloon at Washington and
Delaware streets, was the only one to place
himself in open defiance to the law and his
ultimatum was against that section pro-
hibiting music boxes in places where liquor
is sold. Dinnin refused to stop his music
box and he asked to be arrested, saying he
wanted to test the question in the courts.
While he was at police headquarters con-
sulting superintendent Powell about the
matter, a warrant was being procured for
his arrest and later he was slated by Ser
geant Kurtz and patrolman Bolen charged
with maintaining music box in a saloon.
This is thought to have been the first ar
rest made under the new law and perhaps
Dinnins name may go down to posterity on
court records as the defendant in a case of
Importance. He proposes to contest that
section of the law prohibiting music or any
devices of amusement in a saloon.
The city authorities are undecided re-
garding {he road houses and their relations
to the law. The city attorney has been con-
sidering this road-house phase of the law
and, his opinion Is expected to-day. The
Nicholson law makes no mention OF road
houses and summer gardens. but 1t says
liquor shall be sold only in a specified room
fronting on the street Pending construc-
ton from Mr.. Scott the beer gardens and
road houses did big business last night.
At Kisseps place on North Capitol avenue
trees A band furnished music and the new
law seemed to make no difference at the
place The same was true of The other
places of the kind. 1t is said the proprietors
Of these places will contest any effort TO
confine sales to one room on the ground
and there is nothing in the law which speci-
fies where the liquor shall be drunk.
A committee of men interested in the new
law called upon the County Commissioners
Yesterday in search of information. Attor-
ney Henry Spaan led the delegation. Albert
Lieber asked regarding those saloons which
were granted licenses last winter, without
IL being specified that restaurants or pool
bles could be maintained II was thought
that this privilege should be inserted in the
original licenses. The Grand Hotel Com
pany c. F. Kissel John Huegele and Joseph
Schaub fulfilled the law by specifying in
their licenses that they wished TO maintain
restaurants and pool tables. but permission
TO do so was not recorded. They asked a
correction in their licenses. All the matters
raised were referred TO Mr.. Brown. attor-
new for the commissioners, and this MORN
ING there will be another meeting at which
in is thought there may be some new light
thrown upon the law.