The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-12
A LICENSE FOR WADE HILL.
His Saloon Good as the General
Run Of Them.

The Board of County Commissioners
spent yesterday hearing the case against
Wade HILL who applied for a renewal of his
saloon license, and against which applica-
ton remonstrance filed. More than
d hundred witnesses were present and the
entire day was consumed in taking testi-
mony, with the result that the license was
granted, the commissioners holding that
Hills saloon was as good as the general
run of saloons 1t was shown that Hill had
been keeping saloon at the corner of Ohio
street and Columbia alley five years end
ing yesterday, and that during the entire
time he had never been arrested for a yio-
lation of a statute city ordinance.
The fight against The renewal of the
license was bitter one. Colonel Eli Ritter
conducted the case attorney for the
demonstrators. The greater number of the
witnesses were those who had signed the
remonstrance. Few of them had ever been
in the saloon, and their testimony was
chiefly concerning the disorderly crowds
which are frequently to be seen on the
street in the neighborhood of the saloon.
Several policemen were placed on the stand
Quigley He stated that he had frequently
visited the saloon, and in "a general way left
OF law common in the saloon.
Did you ever see anything improper in
the saloon?'' asked attorney Joseph Kea-
Ling who was representing Hill
Captain Quigiey intimated that he had.
and he was then asked why he had not
arrested Hill or the guilty parties.
score or more persons living in the i'm
mediate neighborhood of the saloon, some
of whom bad come to offer their testimony
without having been summoned, testified
as to the character of the saloon. Their
testimony was all the Same-that the saloon
was not worse than others, and that to the
best of their knowledge and belief Hill was
a man who tried to keep orderly place
and succeeded far better than many white
men in the same business. Before half of
these witnesses had been heard Mr.. Healing
submit the case without further testimony
and without any elaboration the board de-
cided to grant the license.
Hill thanked the board and immediately
paid over the amount of the license. Dur
ing the five years which he has been in
business a saloon keeper few. arrests
have been made in his saloon, and he has
himself never been arrested. The saloon
has acquired bad name account of its
proximity to the slumS of Columbia alley
ported as having been committed in the
loon that were committed elsewhere. On
one occasion the two bartenderS in the sa-
loon helped the police to arrest two men
robbery several blocks away and it was
reported in one of the papers that the rob-
berry was committed il the saloon.
The reputation of the place outside the
vicinity in which it is located has not been
the best, but when it came to a trial moth
ing could be shown sufficient grounds
for refusing a license, and the commission
ers granted it.
day. He has fitted up a room on the south
side of Ohio street. just west of the canal
and it is said Will open barrel house, if he
gets license. Some of the neighbors who
said a good word for Hill will protest
against the establishment of Sussman's