Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-08
TALK ON RUM AND POLITICS.
Judge Scott i'm Omen Court Finds OPP
nOrtMnitN TO neNNnII His Fnte.

! Judge Scott in Ouen Court Finds OPP
portunity to BewaiI His Fate.
In the trial of Mrs Tennie Richardson s
suit against Henry Boss, saloon proprietor
/ wherein she seeks So 900 damages on the
allegation that the defendant sold liquor to
| her husband, Sherman Richardson, after he
had become an habitual drunkard Judge
Scott found opportunity to bewail his politi-
cal fate, indicating that he would have been
re elected but for opposition from the sa-
Icon element
For nearly half an hour Judge Scott talked
as rapidly as his vocal organs and flow of
vocabulary would permit. 1t came about
through an objection filed by the plaintiffs
attorney to testimony on the part Of the de-
fcnse tending to show that the husband OF
the plaintiff had frequented many other ea-
Icons besides the one kept by Bons. Judge
Scott held that it made no difference il
Richardson had drank in thousand saloons
that would not relieve the defendant from
responsibility or permit him to be discharged
from further obligation on payment of the
e-thousandth part of whatever damage re-
suited from such sale of liquor. In render
ing this decision Judge Scott said in part:
"A saloon keeper sells liquor to the minor
or the drunkard at his peril. Take away
from the saloons their political power and
the decisions under the Socumb law would
all be one way-against the saloons. But
let man go out on the street and say
anything against the saloons and he couldn't
be elected constable, or, if by chance elected
he couldn't give bond. Saloons outweigh the
churches for influence. welding more polit-
cal power than the combined clergy of
Omaha, backed by all the strength of the
various congregations.
"If any preacher in Omaha will enter his
pulpit and express fully his honest opinion
of the saloon, l will cheerfully contribute to
his salary for a year. But none of them
will do it-they dare not do it.
Its all politcs-but I'm not complaining
for I'm out of politics now"
At the end of Judge Scott's exhaustive
essay of rum and politics the attorney for
the defense entered formal exception to the
ruling of the court, and the testimony pro-
ceeded.
One of the most important witnesses for
the plaintiff was her 12-year-old son, John.
The little fellow is exceptionally bright and
he withstood the tedious siege on the wit
ness stand in a manner that would do credit
to an adult
In substance the lad told how he had as
sisted his father in his work and how he had
watched him go to Bons' saloon and spend
his money for drink; how he had become
heplessly nebriated and how he had been
brought home late at night by companions
The boy told his story in a straightforward
manner, entering fully into the shocking de-
tails, yet showing filial reverence. Another
boy, James Kitchen also assisted Richard
son in his work-the sale of egetables--and
he told practically the same story as that re
lated by the son of the alleged inebriate.
Mrs, Richardson has given her testimony.
Her attitude is that of a heartbroken wife
and mother, scantily clothed and poorly fed
On the witness stand she told in detail the
story of her sorrow, but had nothing harsh
to say against her husband He was good
to met was the liquor that was bad" is
the substance of her evidence. Richardson
is not estranged from his family but 1t ia
said by the plaintiff that he is rendering no
assistance in this suit.
The defense sets forth that if Richardson
is an lhebriate he was not made so at Bons'
saloon, and that he is not even known there
by name. 1t is admitted that he may have
dropped in there and purchased drinks the
same as any other customer might do, but
that he was never known as a frequenter OF
the place and that effort was ever made
to induce him to spend any money there
Grand Jury AdiOurns SATURDAY,.
The indications are that the United States |