The herald., 1898-11-16
DRUGGfD and ROBBED
SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST
sALooNKEEPER SCHMIDT
HIS LICENSE IS REVOKED
Says He Is Not Guilty and Will Ask
to Be Given a Chance to
Explain

explain
: Charges Of sensational nature wer
made against H. Schmidt, saloon keeper
before the board Of police commissioner
yesterday, which resulted in the revokn
of his license. Schmidt conducts an es
tablishment at All South Spring street
and from all accounts his business method
have been the subject for some time pas
of no little investigation on the part OF tn
local detective department. On the 2n
of this month John Strawbridge reporte
to the department he had been robbed G
1905 in Schmdt's saloon the night befor
or early the same morning. Detectives j
G. Goodman and Paul E. Flammer wer
detailed on the case and the result of thei
was made known in the TO
lowing report, signed by these officers
which was submitted to the commissioner
yesterday by Chief Glass:
"We have investigated the case and
have found that on the night in ques-
ton Strawbridge had been 'steered'
around town by party of three men
and had driven to several places by
jeff Wilson, hackman. The investi-
cation showed that the victim was not
drunk enough for them to carry out
their designs of robbing him, either
fn the hack or in a saloon about mid
night before the saloon was all closed.
Having failed up to this time, they
persuaded Strawbridge' to again go into
the hack with them to Schmidt's res
idence and get hind to come up town
and open the saloon for them. They
called Schmidt from hisl room and he
dressed and entered the hack and they
all drove to the saloon which he un-
locked and all entered. According to
the statement of Strawbridge and the
admission of Schmidt, the proprietor,
Schmidt served one round of drinks to
the party. They invited Strowbridge
to play cards, but he declined and de-
manded that he be let out of the place
and tried to get out of the front door.
but Schmidt informed him that he
(Strawbridge) could not get out that
way, and deliberately refused him an
exit.
"During this time the steering party
were in a private box in the rear of the
saloon. Strawbridge was alone in front
of the bar with Schmidt, who then
served the second drink to Straw
bridge. Schmidt alone handled this
glass of liquor, and until Strawbridge
drank this he was sober enough and
perfectly able to take care of himself.
He was practically forced to stay and
then took this last drink. After this.
he was taken by one of the party and
led out of the place. This, also, Schmidt
acknowledges. Strawbridge woke up
in the rear yard of the saloon about
a. m. and groped his way out on hands
and knees, to which the appearance of
his clothes gives evidence. Strawbridge
found his way home and was deathly
sick for a week. DR.. Westlake was
called to attend him and said Straw
bridge was under the influence of pow
erful drug and treated him accordingly.
Schmidt's action clearly shows that he
protected his patrons who did this
work. He informed the officers that
he never saw the men who called that
night before, and said he was unable
to give a description of them.
''lf this be SO, it is strange he is so
well known by them and willingly
opened his saloon at a. m. to enable
these people to commit robbery, and
it does not seem plausible that anyone
would get out of his bed and do this
for people he never saw before. The
truth is, Schmidt caters to this class
of people. They can be found in his
place almost any time, and he counten-
ances their work of robbing suckers
at cards.
''ln our efforts to get evidence in this
case, this man Schmidt foiled us in one
instance and convinced us that he
would not assist the officers in their
endeavor to locate the guilty parties.
We believe the man Schmidt as guilty
as the individual who took the money
from the pockets of Strawbridge."
The report caused a sensation ard ;
general expression of disapproval. Com
missioner Wyman was the first to bring th
natter to head. He moved that, in view
If the charges, the license to Schmidt
saloon be declared null and void. Mr.
'reuss seconded the motion, but before it
passage Mayor Snyder suggested that th'
natter be investigated.
Chief Glass said he considered the repor
If the detectives an investigation, ant
hought the board could take no better ac
ion than by revoking the license Th
vas accepted by the board and the Mayo
his objection and the motion wa
passed.
Later in the day, when Schmidt was Wis
tod in bie ca1oo,, H..
lie acknowledged that he had opened hi
saloon at o'clock on the morning of No
'ember I'd, and also that he had given
)arty drink, and that Strawbridge was
member of the party. He explained tina
while getting off the street car at Eight!
md Main shortly after IL o'clock he me
/ party of gentlemen who stopped INN anG
lsked him to return to his saloon and Sc
Up the drinks. He agreed, and the party
IN his invitation went into the saloon.
"Do you know who was in the party be
ides Strawbridge?" he was asked.
NO." he replied, and then as though h,
NEW this to be untrue, he added, "you cal
,ut it that way if you want to-
He was then asked if he knew the charge
would be made against him.
eyes; 1 expected it," he said, "becaus,
refused to pay blood money to the off
,ers who have been investigating the mat
er. They have been around here ever,
lay and have threatened to revoke III,
icense and all that kind of talk. toll
hem that if was guilty of any crime, VIII,
lidn't they arrest me, but I got no salts
action from them"
When questioned as to the insinuation
that the officers of the law had asked hin
or money, he was compelled to say tha
l. L. I..4 4eld e: :... -.