The times., 1897-06-06
FIGHT AGAINST A LICENSE
Hearing in the Nelligan Athletic
Park Application.
Temperance Workers Appear In OPP
position-D -Disorderly Doings at
the Park Denied.

One of the most important cases that
has come before the attention of the
excise board, was heard yesterday When
the application of Daniel w. Nelligan, for
license to sell liquors at the international
Athletic Park, came up for consideration
by the hoard. Saturday week ago there
was hearing aud the scene presented
was lively in the extreme. Person ties
flew thick and fast, and the excise board
might have been timers dt a talking match
rather than guardians of the good order
of the District.
Yesterday morning before the case came
up Chairman johnson nouified all The
interested parties that the board was
III no mood for repetition of its cx-
pefience of the week previous, and that he
did not wish to hear any matters discussed
but those relative to the case.
There has been vigorous crusa de against
the application of Mr.. Nelligan by thevarious
temperance societies of the city, and rep
rcsentativeS from all of them were on hand
Yesterday A gent Shoemaker, OF the Anti
saloon League, had charge OF the tem-
perance interests. Mrs La Fetra spoke
for the Woman 5 Rescue League, Mrs. Platt
protested in the name of the w. c. L. . J,
Mr. John Sherry appeared on behalf of
Little Fails Lodge of knights Templar, Mr..
j. g. Hurst appeared for his own interests,
and Rev. Dr. johnson, pastor OF the Metro
politan NJ. E. Church, made vigorous
speech against granting license to Mel
ligan.
Attorney Enhg assisted AIT. Shoemaker,
and President John b. Clark, of the Inter
national Park Amusement Company, and
Lawyer Sullivan looked after the interests
of the applicant
A letter was read from Mr. J. c. Hurst, in
which he denounced the scenes and Incl
dents he alleged had occurred at the
park in unmeasured terms. In answer to
his letter, President Clark read a letter
he had received from the president of the
Great Falls Electric Railway, who is also
a large property owner in the section
adjacent TO the park. That gentleman
said that he had instructed the con ductors
along the line TO make observations Of
the crowds frequenting the park, and they
had all reported there had never been such
scenes as had been charged by Mr.. Hurst.
President Clark further said that the re-
ports of the police officers were oil
of a good character, and that the protests
In the main came from temperance societies,
whose crusade was against the sale OF
intoxicants in general. He sad tfat the
park is now under the control of the
League of American Wheelnen, ana that
of itself was sufficient guarantee Of its
respectability.
An affidavit was offered in evidence
from the steward of the club refutiqg
every charge made by Mr.. Hurst and
Lawyer Sullivan became severely caustic
in Lis remarks OF the charges made. Mr.
Shoemaker endeavored To extract some in
formation from Daniel Heihgan, the appii-
can't. but be was cut short by Chairman
johnson, who did not think the questions
had any bearing upon the case, and re
fused to hear them. Mr. Nelligan made
statement ia his own behalf in which he
said ne had repeatedly obtained licenses
from the board, and that In his entire ex-
periencc as ssloonkeeper not one pro-
test had been offered against an aprii-
cation OF bis until the present case came
up.
The board took the matter under ad
visenent, and VIII announce its decision
some tire during the coming week.