Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-09-01
BLOOD! BLOOD!!
Columbia Makes a Close Shave
Meetze Defies the Clonstables
and Governor - Monday
May Bring Forth Blood.
GreenviIle Daily News.

the police and dispensary officers
avoided q most serious conflict.
It seems that since the original
package houses opened their doors
here, the dispensary officials and
the attorney general have been
laying traps for the agents. So
far they have steered clear of them; !;
but yesterday two boys visited
both of W. B. Meetze's esta-
blishments and the eldest upon
enquiry, representing himself as
"twenty-ope and past" bought
half pint bottle Of whiskey.
This boy, whose name is Fuller,
then went to the attorney generals
office and made affidavit that he
"a minor, only 19 years of
age) had bought liquor from
Meetze. Mr.. Meetze heard of this
and anticipating trouble, had a
warrant issued last night and
caused the boys arrest for perjury,
bringing forward witnesses to prove
that he had told him that ne was
81 years of age.
This morning the constable, pro-
ceeding in accordance with the
plan, went before magistrate
and got out warrants against Meetze
for selling liquor to miLors.
Armed with these, they went to
Meetze's Market street place
to arrest him. He was prepared
for them and ordered them away.
He is known to be determined
man and they promptly retreated
to secure the assistance of the
police aud magistrates constables.
When these appeared upon the
scene, Meetze warned the
constables on their peril not TO
cross the door sill. They accord
ingly hung back, but after
|
considerable parleying Meetze
finally told the policemen and
magistrates constables that he bad
sent arms away and that they could
come and take him by physical
force, if they wanted to.
They then accordingly entered
and struggle ensued, Meetze
determined to force them to eject
him by force, resisted like q lion
and it was some time before they
succeeded in forcing him out and
not then without some bloodshed,
one man having his head cut open
with a billy which q policeman
had dropped. The establishment
was then turned over to the liquor
constables, who closed it, and
Meetze was taken before a
magistrate, giving bond for his
appearance to answer to the charge
against him.
He then went to his Main street
establishment. Here a few
minutes later the constables
appeared to close the place.
Meetze, in the meantime, had
boldly defied them, threatening to
kill the first man that attempted
to enter. Things grew interesting,
squally in fact.
Alarm was on the faces of
constable, tipstaffs. etc., gathered
around the door, and messengers
were sent to the governor for
advice. HE orders were. to close
the place but Meetze wac like
the rock Of Gibralter. Squarely
in front of the open door, he
promised death to the first man
that attempted to enter. The siege
lasted for hours, everyone expect
ing the clash to come at any
minute, but no efforts were made
TO enter and wien the hour for
closing (e o'clock) came the
besieged quietly closed his doors
and went home.
1t was a signal defeat for the
dispensary people. The governor,
is said, advises the constablesi to
let things remain as they are until
Monday.
What will happen then no one
knows.
This is not Meetze's first stand
off.
While Tillman was governor be
opened a beer stall at the fair
grounds during the State fair in
open defiance Of tie dispensary
law and concluded to sell after
being warned by Governor TIllman
in person to desist. He ordered
Tillmam to leave him alone and
threatened to kill any one who
interfered with him.
THE s. G. COLLEGE.
The Outlook for a Fine At