The Indianapolis journal., 1896-01-20
single-Handcd He Has Attempted 20
Keep i'm Check the Most Defiant
saloon Keepers fin the state.
AN HONEST OFFICERS STORY
FINALLY FORCED TO FIGHT SPOT
TIERS WITH sPoTTERs.
Light Thrown the Dark Ways OF
from Ministers OF the City.


est in the saloon war in this city is stili
intense and will remain so until the cases
already filed have been decided. Every fact
that has any bearing the situation Is
listened to and talked about everywhere
Not before for years has any like deter
mined effort been made TO enforce the laws
against the saloons. The present city
officers were elected on law and order
platform. For years the law violators hero
have had their own way, everything h-.f
been free and, of course, when an attempt
was made to enforce the law many diff
culties presented themselves. The Incidents
that led up TO the present trouble are per-
haps best told in the words Of City Marshal
James II. Sparks.
when ] was elected he says. Il prom
ised my friends and the men who gave me
their votes that would do my duty without
fear or favor. I would do everything in my
power to enforce the laws. without perse-
cution or discrimination against any class
of citizens. The most trouble / have had
has been with the saloons. The manner in
which they have carried on business had
been disgrace to the town. 1 notified ev-
cry one that they would have TO obey the
law, and that would not modest them in
any way IL they obeyed. For several
months after i took my Office they obeyed
| the law without any question They kept
| closed all day Sunday and had all obstfuc-
| tions to view removed from the front. so
| that you could see clear through All the
| poker and crap games were shu down. and
saloon keeper and bartender walked around
town or spent the day in the country.
II am the only regular policeman Shell
| byville has, and that's enough, as long as
there are no violations Of the law The first
| open break was made last Forth OF July,
when one saloon man near the center of
| town fitted up back room in the second
| story and tapped beer there. When | went
| after them the crowd escaped. told the
proprietor that ne would have TO stop II,
| and he promised faithfully that he would
| A number Of affidavits were filed. but every
case save one was thrown out in the Cir
| cult Court on appeal. One case Is stiil pend
ing in the Bartholomew Circuit Court. one
| affidavit was thrown out because IL charged
| that the beer was sold, bartered and given
away to a little girl. Every week after
that failure they became more bold. and,
! although have managed to keep the front
1 doors closed at illegal hours, knew they
were violating the law
SPIES on HIS MOVEMENTS.
'sThen they set spies on my movements
| and I have not been able, except I'm a very
few cases, to get in the same square with
saloon without all OF them knowing II.
| and OF course, when l got into the neigh
borhood everything quiet as a church
| yard at midnight. One of their spies fol-
| lows me home every night. and after ] go
to bed ne will go back up town, and in
few minutes all will be running in full
blast. I remember one night I'm particular
made the rounds OF the streets where
there were saloons after IL o'clock. ard
everything was dark and quiet. with no one
home after midnight, but l did not so 10
bed. About half past II i went back uP
town, AMI the first few saloons 1 passed
were brightly lighted. but before 1 get
up town everything was dark again.
Some time ago i put twenty men out or
a saloon after II o'clock at nigat. Every
| and not one told the truth. In another
place i peeped through window one San-
day and saw four boys drinking beer. These %
boys also refused 10 swear TO the truth be-
fore the grand jury. My failure 10 make a
conviction In any CT the common methods
made the saloon men bold. and, feeli-g
that they were secure II | was alcne when
| / discovered them. they became careless 4
short time ago. after the theater was over,
/ approached a saloon brilliantly Lighted az
1880 o'clock. and when turned the corner
noticed an officer OF the city standing ~
front. The oficer disappeared. and in =
second the lights Of the saloon were cut,
and ii was impossible 90 see within.
Eyes, / alone am responsible for tbs
employment OF detectives. o. sSotte.s. -
the saloon men call them, and II II was
TO do over l would do the same. 7 was
forced by the difficulties I'm the way 10 en-
ploy them. l have been offered indirectly
all manner OF promises. | have been
threatened with dangers or numerous kinds
IL persisted in trying 10 enforce the Law.
/ have been accused Of selling out 10 the
saloon men ard gamblers. clone an
powerless To do the amount of work that
| is necessary In this city. I am biamcd
for importing spoilers The saloon men.
OF course, do not want their business .n-
terfered with number OF good people
who do not understand the situation IN
which / am placed blame RE. I told the
saloon men last sumner that II they did
not obey the law l would work 20 convict
them If i had TO bring men from New
York
SPoTTERS AGAINST sPoTTERs.
Spoilers! why, FOR months the saloons
have had spoilers out watching the law
officers. and now that the law needs spot
ters why shouldn't they use them? The
saloons nave employed ten spoilers to my
one They have used every means TO In
, timidate me: even threatened TO boycott a
railroad IL the agent did not keep me out
OF the office. where could watch the side
and back of a saloon. have even applied
/ TO the local fire insurance board for help.
A number OF saloons are in buildings with
| large number OF additions attached One
OF them has lead pines which conduct the
| beer more than one hundred feet 90 room
| not covered i'm the license, where beer Is
| tapped and sold on illegal days. In order
| 10 reach this room an outside frame stair
| way was built. the steps were padded with
| excelsior and covered with carpet. IL had
been built contrary 10 the fire limit ordi-
| nance and yet when I called the atten-
tion OF the fire board TO the violation u
world do nothing
The police board a number OF times
has asked the Council for authority 20 en-
ploy extra police in tire OF need. With
. the exception of some big day when many
people were i'm town, all help was refused.
They would not think OF putting extra men
on on Sunday after II O'Clock at night
All these things forced me 90 bring de-
! tectives Simpson and Weiriek here 20 as
! sist I am alone TO blame for their en-
ployrnent Notwithstanding the opposition
il has brought out, 1 feel that 1 on
the right side of the question and Of the
law, and there I intend 20 work until every
.aloon is compelled 10 obey the law as
other branches OF business are required "a
do. I am glad 10 know that the good peo-
pie OF Shebyville are standing az my back
10 give support 10 me and my deputy. Mr.
Van Way"
) The ministers OF the city from their pull
pits this morning issued a call 90 their
I hearers and the good people 10 stand by
: the officers I'm their efforts 10 enforce the
: law. Rev. j. II. It. Iathrop. OF the Fir,
, NJ T.. Church, said he had few words "a
E | say OF good citizenship. OF Christian cltI-
zenship. He said: An epicai moment "a