The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-07
OPENING
OF COURT !
Violations of the Liquor Law in Maha-
nOy City.
CONSTABLES PUT ON The STAND.
Their Examination Failed to Bring Out
Any Evidence or knowledge OF vio-
lations-other Matters Con-
sidersd and Disposed of
by the Judges.

Pottsville March Court room No. 1
was crowded this morning with lawyers,
jurors, prosecutors, defendants and witnesses
for the opening Of the last winter term of
Criminal Court. There are four hundred
cases to be disposed of and the Judges will
be kept busy for the next two weeks
Judge Savidge, of Sunbury, will assist
Judges Bechtel and Koch.
1t was confidently expected that Judge
Bechtel would pass sentence this morning in
the case of the old board of County Com
missioners found guilty of misdemeanor in
Office, but the court announced no decision
Argument on the motion for new trial was
heard on Friday last. 1t is rumored that the
three judges disagree. Judges Bechtel
! Pershing and Koch were in consultation at
the court house this morning. and it was
l0:3O before Judges Bechtel and Koch made
their appearance upon the Bench, thirty
minutes late. 1t is rumored that the Com
missoners case was under consideration and
that they reached no final agreement. The
decision is looked for any day
1t is understood that the case against the
present Board of County Commissioners will
be called for trial on Wednesday morning.
coNsTABLEs QUESTIONED.
! Charles A. Snyder Esq, created little
sensation this morning when he notified the
Clerk of the Courts to examine the five Con
stables of hahanoy City together, as his
client, T. J. Joyce, desired to show that
liquor selling was habit INDUCED in on
Sundays by the saloonkeepers of that bor-
ough. The request was complied with.
Joseph Russell, 1st ward constable, was the
first examined by Mr.. Snyder. He said he
had no knowledge of any one selling on
Sunday. He had seen an article in the
Black Diamond on Sunday, stating that
liquor was sold on Sunday but had not in
vestgated the charge and he made no
monthly investigation before coming to
court. Judge Koch asked why he had not
made the examination and the Constable
answered that he did not think he was re-
quired to. Judge Koch told him to look the
matter up and report at tho next term of
court He ais read the Constable lecture
and asked if any prosecutions had been
brought, and how many were charged with
selling on Sunday. Russell replied that one
suit was pending and four or i've are charged
with violating the law.
Constable Kleindentz Second ward, said
he asked T. j. Joyce for information and
couldn't get it. He answered Judge Koch
by saying he looked for den" in his
ward, but couldn't find it,
Constable NJ. S. Geiger, 3rd ward, stated
that he sued an Italian for violating the law
and had subpoenaed Joyce as witness
joyce didn't appear and tho case fell
through. The Constable said he didn't
know that fire company sold pretzels and
gave beer with them at ball. He admitted
he was given ticket and told to go to the
ball, but he went to Minersville that day and
didn't get back until after the ball
Constable John Leitenbsrger, 4th ward,
swore he made persor Vi examination. He
answered that he had 1 o knowledge Of any
rows, side issues or she s, or violations of
the Sunday law.
Constable Daniel George, of the 5th ward,
was positive there were no violations in his
ward, so far as he could discover He knew
of no selling on Sunday and no side shows in
saloons.
Mr.. Snyder: All right. Wen sec about
that later.
At this the matter ended for the present.
Joyce was not on hand when called.
RECORDS LOST.
Messrs. Whitshouse and Ulrich applied to
Judge Bechtel for an order to secure copy
OF the opinion in the case of the Common
wealth against Thomas McGrath Director OF
tho Poor, filed March 10TH 1886 1t dev eloped
} that the opinion recorded in the case is miss
ing and cannot be found on file. Judge
Bechtel didn't sec that the opinion had any
. thing whatever to do with the case of the
present County Commissioners. lie was
positive it had no bearing whatever Msssrs
Whitehouse and Ulrch politely disssnted
from the courts opinion and insisted upon
their request.
MINOR NOTES.
) Judge Bechtel handed down the following
decisions
William Reynolds, Treasurer Blythe town
ship, Martin Murphy, Treasurer Cass town.
5 ship, bonds approved.
Schuylkill Trust Company vs. First Ma.
' tional Bank Of Mahanoy City; the rule OBJ
! tained to show cause why the satisfaction OF
the 50 900 mortgage ON the property Of Mary
Bast, of Schuylkill Haven, by the bank
should not be stricken from the record wa
a made absolute.
+ The rule to show cause why the licsns,
D granted to Bartholomew Fell, of Girard vile
e should not be revoked was discharged.
In tho case Of William Oates, by his father
John, against p. & r. C. & l. Co., suit fo
f damages, the demurrer was overrulsd anC
defendants given leave to plead by mention
ing the receivers as cO-dsfendants.
L The saloon license granted TO John COwell
d Of the Fourth ward, was transferred to hi
: brother, Joseph. Judge Bechtel said tha
S had not the testimony shown that Joseph is
e brother Of Johns and a man of fitness ant
IS intelligence, the contention that he had bu
= recently been naturalized and as to othel
o points the court might have opposed thu
transfer. Another important feature is tn,
fact that John intends opening school,
In the case of Sabilla Davis VS.. Martir
y and Margaret Davis the latter was declared
e the only one liable in the action.
2, By Judge Koch: The motion to have tn,
/ costs of the proposed public road view il
}. MahanOy township paid by the county viii
Is bo decided when the official report of tn,
viewers is disposed of by the court. Judg,
Koch said that under the Acts of 1887 anl
1891 the court has discretion over the costs.
k Joseph H and Edward German, the latte
). Of Mshanoy City had their motion for ney
Is trial in the suit against them by the Amsri
can Construction Company allowed. TIL
Germans were sub-contractors on pipe lin
10 for tho Schuylkill Haven Water Company