The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-30
FINE AND IMPRISONMENT.
SEVERE PENALTY THREATENED
OFFENDERS HI JUDGE AUSTIN.
Against saloon keepers Who Sell
Liquor to Minors-The Case OF

"A fine Of 800. imprisonment for a
period Of sixty days and forfeiture OF
license viii be the penalty imposed upon
the next saloonkeeper found guilty OF vio-
iating the law which prohibits the sale
or liquor to minors" said Justice Austin
10 Post-Inselligencer reporter yes,er-
day afternoon.
Now that Justice Austin has expressed
himself SO openly on the much-mooted
question. much interest viii be conferred
on a case that viii be tried in his court
tomorrow. The magistrate called ar po-
lice headquarters Sunday afternoon and
ordered the release of E. ]. Nicholson. a
l5-year-old boy who was arrested last
week in the vicinity OF Pike street on the
charge OF intoxication. and was found
guilty on Saturday. The boy after his
arrest persistently refused to divu,ge the
name Of the saIoonkeeper who sold the
liquor, and the justice decided 10 keen
him inearcerated in the city prison until
such time as 4 confession would be forth
coming. The radical measures adoptetf
by Justice Austin to obtain the informa-
ton had the desired effect. as yesterday
the Nicholson boy made a clean breast
OF everything. and, 1t /. said. he impil-
vicinity OF Pike street.
One or more warrants will be issued this
morning by Justice Austin, and the prose-
cution will be conducted by City Attorney
De Bruler, who is heartily in sympathy
with the position taken by the magistrate.
Justice Austin while at police headouar-
tiers yesterday said:
THE practice OF certain saloonkeepers
In selling liquor to minors must be dis
cOnfirrfa.i and T intend ~ do ayarvth{po
In my power TO punish every saloonkeeper
who is In the habit OF violating the law
/ want the saloonkeepers. brewers, and
in fact, everybo else concerned to I'M
derstand that the extreme penalty will
be imposed by me in every case wherein
the saloonkeeper charged with the offense
Is convicted. In the other case tried in
my court the accused safoonkeeper was
found guilty. but the penalty imposed
WIS extremely light for reasons which I
believed would result in ali OF the saloon
keepers living up to the strict letter Of
the law. When the case l REFER to was on
trial. a committee representing the Sa-
ioonkeepers' Association and local brew
ers called on me and promised faithfully
that they would take the responsibility
OF seeing that there would be no further
violations of the law if / would agree to
impose a light penalty I believed at the
time that, IL the promises made to me
would be fulfilled. 1t would be the best
solution OF the problem and also sup
press the evil, but l have since learned
that the law has been violated as much
as ever since that time, and / now pro-
pose to fine. imprison and drive out of
business every saloonkeeper who is tried
before me and found guilty"
The police court authorities decline to
make known the name or names OF the
sasoonkeeper or saloonkeepers who the
Nicholson boy claims sold the liquor, but
the case or cases Will be prepared by the
city attorney this morning and the trial
will take place tomorrow.
The mother and brother of the youthful
offender called upon Justice Austin yes
terday, and with tears in their eyes p.ead-
Ell for the boys release. The ma gistrate.
after thoroughly satisfying himself that
the boy would be brought into court when
the case is called, ordered his release
The parents are thoroughly aroused over
the actions of the saloonkeepers in selling
the boy whisky. and will testify that their
son is Only 10 years old.