The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-29
SUNDAY TRADE EXPENSIVE.
Recorder Fined Eli VeruI1i for Sell
ing Liquor on the Sabbath.

ing Liquor on the SabDath.
Eli Veruki appeared in the Police Court
yesterday morning to answer a charge of
selling liquor. in his saloon, at AZ Bar
nard street. on the morning of Sunday.
July g. Veruki was found guilty by Re
corder Hartridge and sentenced TO pay a
fine of 500 or serve thirty days in the
county 1a!l.
Veruki had been placed on the docket
by James HUMPHREYS. once a deputy under
Sheriff Roman. When the case was called
HUMPHREYS was the first witness and testi-
fed that he had been in the barroom twice
on Sunday and had bought and disposed
Of drink on each occasion. He said also
that there were a number of other men in
the bar at the times he bought the drinks
but that he did not know any one Of them,
other than by sight. Some of them he
thought he could recognize if he saw them,
but he was unable 10 call their names or
tell where they could lie found.
The defendant was represented by Mr.
r. L. Colding under whose cross exami-
nation of the witness the apparent animus
that had prompted HUMPHREYS 10 place
Neruki en- the docket was brought out. The
witness stated that he and Veruki had a
failing out in regard to a bill that the sa-
loon keeper claimed was due and that he
disputed This dispute, said HUMPHREYS
combined with the fact that he knew We
ruki was breaking the law aud violating
the ordinances of the city. had led to his
placing the proprietor of the saloon on
the docket.
HUMPHREYS also admitted that he had
gone before Magistrate Nathans and
sworn out a warrant against Veruki,
charging him with a violation of the state
laws in keeping open a tipping house on
the Sabbath. When summoned to appear
1.~c-
rud had given bond and been turned over
to the City Court.
Two Witnesses besides the defendant
himself, We're examined on the part of the
defense and both of them testified that
they had made an effort TO get into the sa-
loon on the Sunday upon which it was
charged that it had been opened and failed
in the attempt. They said it was closed
all that day and their statement in this re-
spect was corroborated by the defendant.
One of the witnesses, thus sworn for the
defense, HUMPHREYS said he recognized as
one OF those who were in the store upon
one of the occasions when he purchased a
drink. There was a bandying of ill-judged
compliments too and fro between the ac-
cused and the prosecuting witness, Neruki
saying that he and Humphries had had a
dispute about money matters, and that the
case had been placed on the docket Only
in spite.
The Recorder, after hearing the tesu-
mony, announced that he found the de-
PENDANT guilty and that he would impose
the punishment that he was in the habit OF
inflictng upon convictions of the offense
with which Neruki had been charged, a
fine of 500 or thirty days in Jail. The Re-
corder further stated that he would carry
out this rufe inf1exibly and that if anyone
was found selling liquor on Sunday and
brought before him, tie malefactor could
expect to pay the fine of 300 Should there
be a second conviction for the same Of
Tense, said the Recorder, the penalty will
be thirty days in jail, without the alterna-
tive of paying a fine.
Mr. Coldng, attorney for the convicted
defendant, gave notice that he would carry
the case by certiorari to the Superior
Court. Veruki hotlY denies that he is gull
ty, while his guIt is as holly affirmed by
HUMPHREYS. The Recorder said that he
was determined TO do what he could 10
break Up the practice of Sunday liquor
selling and that if the infiction of heavy
fines would accomplish the purpose, the il
legal traffic would be stopped.