The herald., 1896-08-27
THE Old FIGHT Renewed
Long Beach Tangle Up in
Court Again
Legal TINE EXPIRES TODAY
The Roscoe Train Wrecker Finds
a Champion
GOODSENSEIF NOT GOODLAW
A Salvation Lassie Working 10 "Kid
Thompson's Behalf
Twelve Suits Brought by Santa Monica
Contractor for Compensation
GOODSENSEIFN NOT GOODLAW
A Salvation Lassie Working in "Kid !"
Thompson's Behalf
Twelve Suits Brought by Santa Monica
Contractor for Compensation
Martin AguIrre Gets cIubbed-An AIbino Boy
In Court-A Suit Full Of Prunes.-Spii-
mans Case Again Con.
tinusd-Notes

Considering that Long Beach is small
place, with limited population, it is
wonderful how it has got tangled up in
the law courts with all the completeness
as to detail that might only be expected
from much larger city.
The case of w. H. Mintzer versus w.
Schilling, E. C. DEMO, ]. c. Dun, K. AL
mino and G. w. Cosaboom these gentle
men forming the board of trustees Of
Long Beach, came up again yesterday in
department two. The phase of the case
sought to be enforced was the issuing af
a peremptory writ of mandate compel
ling the trustees to canvass the votes
polled at the recent special election.
which was held to determine whether
the city should disincorporate or not.
There were 129 votes cast for disincor-
poration and 121 against such action,
and, very naturally. the disincorpora-
tionists wanted to have the benefit of the
election, but the trustees. who were op
posed to the measure, helped the opposi-
ton faction in it's fight by refusing to
canvass the returns.
The difficulties of the seaside resort
Of the Prohibition party as displayed
against the temperance party. There is
one saloon at Long Beach which has ex-
listed under high license, this solitary
drinking shop contributing to the city
treasury $400 per annum. 1t has served
the purposes Of the moderate drinkers
while enlarging the city funds, and has
not been the means by which the propri-
eties have been In any way outraged.
Notwithstanding, the ProhibitionistS
cried for the determination of the saloon,
and the feeling that was generated re-
suited in a petition signed by siXty-one
electors which was presented to the
trustees asking that a special election be
held to decide whether the city be disin-
corporated or not. The idea of the op-
posers of the Prohibition element was
and is, if successful in the fight, to incor-
porate as a city of the sixth class and re-
turn to office high license trustees.
But the Prohibition element, albeit
pledged to high moral reform, has not
disdained to use technical weapons in
the legal fight. 1t can scarcely be doubt
ed that If the election had resulted in a
Prohibition victory, the votes would have
been duly canvassed; failing in that the
LITee fTOnlDltlOn trustees refused TO Inl-
I'LL that duty.
The point of Importance that had to be
decided yesterday was whether the sig
natories to the petition asking the trus-
tees to appoint a time for special election
were all qualified electors 1t seemed
rather late in the day to raise the ques-
tion but it was one worth fighting over
Today the time set by law within which
decisive action with regard to an cleo
tion expires and so it was imperative
that the matter be settled one way or the
other
There were twenty-three witnesses
from Long Beach in court but as oppos-
ing counsel stipulated that fifty-three
names appended to the petition We're
qualified voters the court held that the
petition was valid enough as 1t had the
required one-quarter of the vote of the
city signed to it.
A motion to dismiss having been de-
MED, the court intimated that an order
would be made that the peremptory
writ issue, tendays' stay being granted
to permit the defendant board time to
perfect its appeal to the supreme court.
Meantime the thirty legal days have
expired. Is Long Beach an Incorporated
city or have its municipal clothes been
torn away from it? Quien sabe!