Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-28
TIE BRITT saloon WAR
Detective Abrams Attempt to Pros
scute an Express Agent Falls
to Ground.
Abrams Keg Of Beer Stolen While
the Constable Waited The
Trial.
LeMars Man Gets Verdict Against a
Railroad Company Short
Iowa Specials.
special to mes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Britt. Aug. 28.-The second INSTALL
ment OF the Abrams liquor agitation
took place here last week. AS the
Times Republican has previously in
formed its readers that ii. H. Abrams
superintendent OF the Anti Saloon
League, has been here at in
tervals, accompanied by three or
four assistant detectives, during
the past three weeks. In talk
given in the Methodist church about
week ago, he stated that he and his
detectives had unearthed great
amount of illegal liquor selling here. He
particularly mentioned our drug stores
and those Of Garner, and related in
stances of such illegal sales. He also
gave considera BILE space to number Of
lbootleggers. But his particular case of
violation of law and the one which
should and would be stopped and the
party prosecuted was against one b.
f. Gibson, who handles the United
States Express business. Accordingly
Mr. Gibson was arrested and had his
trial before Hon. H. H. Bush justice
of the peace of Garner. The particular
infringement of the law that was COM
lplained of in this case was that Mr..
Gibson had sold to Mr. Abrams himself
a keg of beer some two weeks ago. At
the trial 1T developed that Mr.. Abrams
under the name of George w. Daven-
port, had sought out Mr.. Gibson and
told him he wanted keg of beer. Mr..
Gibson told him he could get it for him
and gave him printed order, directed
to an Albert Lea firm, to sign, ordering
one pony key Of beer. Mr.. Abrams
signed the order in the name of Daven-
port and gave Mr.. Gibson the
price of the ame.. s115 Mr..
Gibson forwarded the order and
lin due time the keg arrived. Mr..
Abrams called at the express office and
receipted for the keg as G.. w. Daven-
! port and took the same to the house of
James Vickerman, a deacon Of the
Methodist church, of this place. Here
/ the keg was kept in perfect security.
hidden behind the piano, in the parlor,
until the evening before the trial when
4 Constable Corey called for the keg tc
4 take 1t to Garner to insure its presence
lat the trial. Mr.. Corey having some
\ business to transact with the defend
ants attorneys before returning called
4 at their office tying his team OH MAR
lstreet. 1t required his presence in the
office about three minutes to look over
a and approve the bail bond. He then re
turned to his buggy, but the beer ha6
4 flown" and according to the states
witnesses none of them have seen il
!, since. 1t may be we'll. at this time
to state, that the Personal Liberty
4 Club" had a meeting some few hours
Halter, at which refreshments were
served, no expense item of which ap-
Ipears on the books of the club.
( AT the trial the Witnesses for the state
!, testified that the keg looked like beer
keg, the leakings smelled like beer but
whether 1t was beer or tasted like beer
, they were unable to state.
After evidence for the state was adj
lduced the defendant moved for a dis
charge on the ground that the state
had failed to make case. The de-
J Tense claiming that the evidence show
ed that the sale, if one of beer, was
completed and made in Albert Lea
Mimi. and was a legal sale. The poin
was thoroughly argued by County At
torney j. E. Wichman for the state
J land by Bradford and Aldridge for TIL,
defendant and the Justice holding will
the defendant he was discharged. Mr.
!. Bush, who is reported to be one of tn,
best lawyers in northern Iowa. in Civ
. ing his decision, said that he was sorr!
. that he could not find defendant guilty
for he did not believe in this name
. of shipping in beer from outside states
I but that the law was favorable to thu
defendant and he would have to dis
!. charge him.