The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-11
STRAY BEER BOTTLES.
The Junk Dealers Corner Them in
Large Quantities.

Two innocent empty little beer bottles
lay on the floor of the Police Court yes
tcrdsy morning.
They were Of the kind that many OF
the habitues have daily association With
and they recognized them as old familiar
friends. but just what part they were TO
take In the days proceedings aroused a
Tot Of curiosity.
They v-aro two oiif cr eo-rrf, tnc.tsqnd
registered bottles that the brcwcries Of
Richmond have sent out in the last
twelve months past, which did not return
as was intended.
That IS. the two breWeries here have
already recovered 10000 bottles from the
junk shops Of the city and the work Of
recovery IS stin under way.
II is against the law for anyone 10 buy
registered bottles and the law requires
that every junk dealer IN the city make
daily report 10 the Chief OF Police Of
his purchases yet 7OOoO had been found
I'm their possession to-date and not a
mothers son of them has ever reported
bottle bought
Tho two bottles resting so costly to-
gother cheek by jowl on the cool -rano-
lithic OF the Police Court noor this morn
ing. were part OF thousands that were
hamod away yesterday from the junk
shop OF Clarence a. Cosby and were
there As sample and 20 make q test
case
The counsel for the Brewing Companies
stated that the junk dealers had acted
very fairly about the matter. ana that
Mr.. Cosby especially $50. that he believed
the junk dealers We're laboring under the
impression that they were not expected
90 reuort bottles CO. the Chief OF Police.
and that Il would De unfair 10 Mr. Cos
by 10 prosecute him ON the double charge
Of falling 10 keep books and reporting !
daily 20 the chief and Illegally buying |
the bottles when every other junk dealer |
was just as culpable
The law says that the fine for buying |
registered bottles shall be SOC bottle |
for the first onense and 81 a bottle and /
not over five dollars a bottle for the j
second oifense. or twelve months I'm jail
IL is easily seen that 70 90 bottles AT
~e each would bring handsome reve-
nue. into the city. and the face OF Ser
gesnt Thomas. who handles the finances
oi the court grew radiant 1T The very !
thought OF IT, hut the counsel asked thai
Mr.. Cosby be only fined for the two bot
ties. so that 10 would be an object lesson.
ana establish In tho minds Of other deal
ers what their duty lis in regard IL re-
porting bottles to the chief.
The Police Justice announced that the
law would be strictly enforced and an
dealers fined hereafter for not reporting
such purchases daily as required by the
law
Nearly every junk dealer in tho city
was present In the Court and the case
created much interest As soon as the
case was over the brewers and counsel
started out 10 corral other thousands
Of nimble bottles that had so numerous.
IS skipped away
CHIEF ~ Police Howard said this morn
Ing that there Was great laNity among the
Junk dealers in reporting their daily pnr.
'hases and showed me number Of rc-
PORTS Of the day that were blank and
lnly contained the signature OF the deal
r. q show that he had purchased moth
ng Cor the past twenty-four hours that
.hould be reported lie said that II the
unk dealers did no more business than
8 reported 70 him they would all starve
D a year i
He advocates strict enforcement Of
he law and thinks Il would greatly les
en- stealing In the city. y