The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-25
CHILDREN WHO GET DRUNK
Nine Year Old Tot Tells, in Gutter
Language. of Buying whisky.

Chicago. Dec. 25=Seven small boys,
the only witnesses in the prosecution OF
a saloon keeper for selling liquor to
minors before Justice Richardson yes
terday afternoon, gave testimony re-
garding their own depraVity and fond
ness for liquor and gambling that start
led the justice and the spectators Some
Of the urchins were only 9 years old,
and none of them was over 16, but they
freely stated that they often got intOX-
icated and We're inveterate pool play
The defendant. Valentine Yeske. was
accused by the Citizens league of main
tanning a kindergarten for drunkenness
and vice in his saloon, 200 Archer ave
nue.
Attorney Hayward. who prosecuted
for the Citizens league, declared that
the resort was one of the vilest in Arch
er avenue and that its active head was
Joseph WOlskie, but the license was in
Yeske's name. and the latter was made
defendant. He was fined $50 and costs
and held to the criminal court in $500
bonds after the evidence had been all
heard
Little John Bahreski was the first
witness. He said he was years old,
but he did not look it, though from
his own statements he had been drunk
several times.
DE las time gets a jag on said
the infant, me an Tom Kais gets a
dime Civ us by guy, and We goes an
buys a pop bottle full er Whisk from
Wols1ie- Den we goes out in de alley
al 4I1AlNS IL All up
What did you do then?" asked At
tOrney Hayward.
Il. dunno Went ter sleep. [ guess.
Sum IN TUX little Tom home
The other baby inebriate would have
been a witness. but the Citizens league
found him too small and too ignorant to
give tangible evidence.
Il alters goes into Yeske's place said
Henry Walsh 9 years old, when he took
the stand ''Dey alters sells me booze
ef wants it. I have been drunk i'm
dere a good deal"
DO you go home when You are
drunk2" inquired Mr.. Hayward.
Nit this guy. / sleeps 1t off in the
alley or in chair. The old man would
lam me if I went home jagged
TOefl WaynOrOwcz admitted to being
nearly IS bad as his name. Although he
Is only IS years old, he boasts of being
an expert pool player
It's a cinch for me to get boozy''
he explained "All I have to do is to
lay for a mark and skin him a few
games. De house gives checks on de
game, and when We play for dem, why,
1 wins"
Justice. Richardson asked what checks
We're, and it was explained that they
asked:
And who are these marks you win
drinks from ?"
why. de udder bows" said ToefI
'tDey spends all der dimes in dere, any
way, and I tink dey like ter play wild
me. Dey learns lots about de game,
kus I'm q good player
Four other boys testified that they
had several times been intoxicated in
Yeske's place and had been allowed to
play pool there. None of these boys
were over 16, and one Of them was bare
" IL Justice Richardson was indig-
nant After hearing a lame defense, he
held the saloon keeper to the grand jury
and administered the largest fine allow
able.
Another saloon keeper. A. Burton, 10
East Chicago avenue, was held in $500
bonds by Justice Kersten for selling liq-
uor to minors. The prosecution was
conducted by Attorney Hayward for
the Citizens league, and the evidence
brought out a pathetic story.
Walter SanstrOm a little light haired
orphan of Is years, was one of the wit
nesses- SanstrOm is being held for
theft, and he attributes his downfall to
Buttons saloon. He stated that he got
drunk in the place repea tedly and spent
all his earnings there. The other day
he was half stupefied and very hungry
and stole a horse blanket, which he sold
he says, to get something to eat He
has been living on the streets sleeping
in the Railways and sheds and seemed
weak and i'll.
i think we had better send Sanstrom
to the brideWell for awhile" said the
justice He viii be given food there
and taken care of for awhile. After
ward we Will see"