The herald., 1897-09-08
FOUR HUNDRED
Saloon License Revoked bv
the Commissioners
ANOTHER HEARING YESTERDAY
AN OPINION WANTED oNJUsTICE
MORRISON'S DECISION
ANOTHER HEARING YESTERDAY
Arcade Depot Saloon Investigation
Dropped-Big Days Business
Transacted by the Board

After second installment of the hear
ing into the character of the 400" sa-
loon at Main and Fourth streets the
license of l.. Reese was yesterday re-
voked by the police commission by a
| vote of three to two. Mayor Snyder cast
the decisive ballot, the remainder of the
commissioners lining up two for revo-
cation, Messrs. Gibbon and Wyman; two
| for giving Reese another chance, Messrs.
McLain and Preuss. BY this vote one Of
the resorts for the lowest and toughest
characters in the city will be obliged to
close its doors the last day of this month,
not to reopen unless the whole character
of the surroundings is changed to the
| satisfaction Of the commissioners.
A lengthy hearing was given both
sides at the last meeting, but on motion
/ Of Commissioner Wyman the case was
continued for week to allow of further
evidence being produced. Milo M. Pot
| ter of the Van Nuys and Fred o. John
son of the Westminster had meanwhile
actively interested themselves in the
|
to give evidence against the dive which
was injuring the business of their hotels
by the oft-recurring rows precipitated
among it's drunken patrons and the null
sance created by the numbers of lewd
women and their consorts who made the
place their headquarters.
| Mr.. Potter was first sworn, and testi-
| fed that he knew the saloon as rendez-
vous for a tough class; as low an ele-
| ment as there is in Los Angeles. He had
seen men and women entering and leav-
| ing the saloon by both the side and rear
doors at all hours of the night. At least
| one of his guests the son of wealthy
pork packer, had been robbed in the
place. The guests of the hotel were an
| noyed by the noise and fights of the pa
irons of the saloon In these statements
Mr.. Potter was corroborated by. o. I.
Johnson and Fred o. johnson, who COM
| planned bitterly that the guests of the
Westminster were greatly annoyed by
| the actions of the hangers on about the
| saloon. During the past year innumera-
| BILE complaints have been made of the
character of the place.
| Above the saloon is lodging house
which is nothing but brothel. From
the windows of the hotel it was COM
mon sight to see women. take men 10
their rooms and disrobe without taking
the precaution to pull down the curtains.
The frequenters of the saloon were of the
| lowest class. He would not himself OBJ
ject to a first class bar room being con-
Quoted there, as he has no bar in the ho-
tel, but to suffer the place to continue as
| bac hta
justice to surrounding property owners
but an intolerable nuisance.
w. III. Foote. for the past two years
employed as night clerk and watchmar
at the Westminster, told of having seer
women and men entering the place al
all hours. especially after midnight. He
had himself been served with drinks ovel
the bar after 12 o'clock at night. Many
of the patrons of the saloon were of the
lowest type.
Henry e. Eichler, who formerly con-
Quoted the little tamale stand annex
or lunch counter through which access
was gained to the saloon when the from
doors were shut, next testified. The
frequenters of the place were, he said
the most notorious characters in The
city, prostitutes and their male com
panons, etc. Drunken rows were fre.
quent. The little restaurant was while
ne was there, used as a means Of ac
cess to the saloon after closing hours
He had himself purchased drinks fol-
the patrons of the restaurant at the sa
loon bar at all hours from 6 in the morn
ing to in the morning." The saloon wa:
run regardless ox time, after midnigh
and on Sundays. With this the prose
cution rested and the defense took {
hand.
One after another Mr.. Reese called
his witnesses for the purpose of estab
fishing the reputation Of the place an(
himself for peace and quietness. r. L
Kunz, frequent visitor, A. Tetzner
who conducts the cigar stand in from
of the saloon, M. j. Maloney and K. C
Williams, friends of the proprietor, H
T. Ste ebbins, proprietor of a livery sta
BILE near by, j. d. Codori, publisher Of {
liquor dealers Journal. and Otto Silver
burg, Wholesale liquor dealer, all stat
ed that so far as they knew Reese con
Quoted a law abiding place. and tina
personally he was entitled to respec
and credit. None of them. however, hat
ever been in the saloon after 12 o'clock a
night and none knew anything abou
any fights or rows in or near the saloon
nor Of prostitutes and low characters
visiting it. Finally Reese himself wa!
sworn and made his plea for leniency
Whatever had occurred about the place
had happened without his knowledge
and was due to the pestiferous restau
rant connection, which he had CLOSED
and which should never be reopened
"If you gentlemen will look over this
thing this time and give me anothel
chance" said Reese, II will run tha
place like a church." The alleyway il
the rear of his place he said opened ont,
the back doors of all the saloons in tn,
} block, and was used by their patrons
Unfortunately. Personally he was al
innocent as a babe of misconduct OF
breach of the ordinances, and did no
desire to be blamed for his neighbors
shortcomings. Testimony being closed
the commissioners proceeded to consid
er their decision.
An awkward silence prevailed for E
, minute which was finally broken by
Commissioner McLain, who moved tina
the matter again be postponed week
There was no second to this but quicl
reply from Mr.. Wyman, who moved
that the license be revoked. This wa.
seconded by Mr.. Gibbon, who said tha
in his nnin ion there wa = h1It Op o course