The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-05
NOT ALWAYS SO LIBERAL
STUCKMEYER'S EFFORTS TO PROSE-
CUTE LOCAL GROCERY KEEPERS.
Did Not Want Them to Deliver ANY
Goods on Sunday Mornings
Justice Court Records.

Charles H. Stuckmeyer, city clerk can
didate for reelection, who plays second
fiddle in the Democratic campaign has
made much in his public speeches of the
''liberal-ty" of the Taggart regime and
has talked real fast and loud against what
he terms the spy" system of enforcing
the laws, This kind Of talking to the gall
lery has been very effectual when the
crowds were made up mostly of thirsty
henchmen who had to sit through the
laborious piece spoken by the three
| candidates waiting for syndicate beer to
flow, but there are others who know some
thing about Mr. Stuckmeyer's having once
| assumed the role he now denounces, and
| they do not take kindly TO his honeyed
words.
! Some time ago there was a movement on
foot to close the retail grocery stores on
Sunday. Mr.. Stuckmeyer was one of the
moving spirits in that enterprise. A great
many cases were commenced in the court
of Justice Daniels. Justice Daniels is now
out of office. All his old books are in the
hands Of Justice Clark. Justice Daniels's
State docket No. 2 docket of criminal
cases), at Page 112. contains the record Of
the case against Joseph II. Keller, who
was clerk in South-side grocery.
Stuckmeyer filed an affidavit charging
that young Keller had unlawfully engaged
in his usual occupation on Sunday, and
did then and there sell to one
handkerchief at and for the price of 10
cents" For this crime against the peace
and dignity of the State of Indiana Keller
was fined 81, and COSTS amounting to $14.S5
including Stuckmeyer's witness fee of 81
were taxed up against him. The case was
appealed to the Criminal Court The
Criminal Court record, Docket II, Page
206 shows that Judge Willard F. Cox
overruled a motion to quash, and that the
case was subsequently tried by a jury,
which returned q verdict of not guilty. a
number of other cases in which Stuck
meyer was either the prosecuting witness
or otherwise interested were appealed to
the Criminal Court. They still remain on
the docket, but have never been taken up.
Justice Daniels, Judge Willard f. Cox
and Prosecuting Witness Stuckmeyer were
all Democrats.
Justice Daniels's docket shows nine other
cases in which Stuckmeyer was a witness.
Where he was not the States witness he
claimed his fees. Fees of States witnesses
are taxed up without being claimed, but
where minor witnesses are introduced to
prove the facts fees are not taxed up for
them unless they claimed.
In the nine other cases that Stuckmeyer
was interested the defendants were COM
PEELED by their employers to work on sun
day or lose their situations. The affidavits
Stuckmeyer made in these cases show that
the defendants were found at common
labor"-selling and delivering goods to sun
dry persons on Sunday If the drivers of
the delivery wagons had not been COM
PEELED by their employers to work on Sun
day they would doubtless have not been
guilty of 'desecrating the Sabbath" the
crime with which they are charged in
Stuckmeyer's affidavits for their arrest
Following is a list of the cases shown by
Danies's State Docket No 2:
Henry KrauI, affidavit for arrest by L.
H. Pittman; charge found at common
labor" Stuckmeyer claimed fee of $l.l0.
Appealed. Never prosecuted in the Grim
inal Court.
Hugh O'Connell, affidavit by stuckmeyer;
charge, found at common labor; Stuck
meyers fee of 81 taxed. Appealed Never
| prosecuted in Criminal Court.
Dick Clayton, affidavit for arrest by
Stuckmeyer. Record incomplete. Stuck
meyers fee of 81 taxed against defendant.
Joseph Fisher delivering and selling
goods on Sunday" Affidavit by Pittman.
Stuckmeyer's fee of 81 the only one taxed.
! Case venued to Justice Johnstons court.
James Schmitker, or Schnitker, deliver
| ing goods on Sunday. Affidavit by Charles
! IL. Stuckmeyer. Stuekmeyer $ lee OF Sl,Z0
! taxed. Venued to Justice Habichs court
| Frank Stevenson. common labor, selling
| and delivering goods on Sunday. Two
! days fees, amounting to 50 40 taxed up for
! Stuckmeyer. Appealed to Criminal Court.
/ Never prosecuted above
Charles Goungman, or Youngman, COM
mon labor on Sunday. Affidavit for arrest
| by Charles II. Stuekmeyer. Stuckmeyer
! fee of $1.10 taxed. Appealed to Criminal
Court. Never disposed of. ,.-.,.
Ira Foxworthy, common labor Afhdayit
| by Stuckmeyer. His fee OF Sl.lO taxed.
Nenued TO Johnstons court
Dick Cayton, con. non labor. Affidavit
| by Stuckmeyer. His fee of Sl.lO taxed
| Venued TO Justice Johnstons court.
At the time that Charles II. Stuckmeyer
was so actively engaged in running down
| the drivers Of delivery wagons who We're
| compelled to deliver the necessities of life
TO large number of families, the widest
| kind of a policy was extant with regard
10 other Sunday law vioAators. The town
was VIGOROUSLY wide open. Mr..
Stuckmeyer's present fulsome praise OF
policy of 'liberal-ty" is inconsistent with
l his record. shown up by these cases.