Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-10-11
THE GREAT DESTROYER.
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.

4 Story with Two sIdes-The Ordeal to
Which n Woman Was subj ected That
Was Disgrace to a Civilized Commu-
nity-How the Police Aid Kumsellers.
A woman stood at the bar of justice,
and by her side two stalwart policemen.
Her name was called and she answered.
Then the judge asked the clerk to read the
charge against her.
"Disorderly conduct on the street and
disturbing the peace" read the clerk.
"Who are the witnesses against the
woman?" asked the judge, and the tive
policemen stepped forward to be sworn.
and one Of them began:
Il arrested the woman in front OF sa-
loon on Broadway on Saturday night. She
had raised great disturbance, was fight
ing and brawling with the men in the sa-
loon, and the saloon keeper put her out.
an awful threat struck at the keeper with
all her force. l then arrested her and
took her to the detention house and
locked her up"
1.-The next witness will take the stand"
said the judge, and the other policeman
stepped up.
II saw the arrest, and I know it to be
just as stated. l saw the woman fighting
as the saloon keeper put her out on the
street. l heard the vile language she used
in the presence of the crowd that gathered
in the street"
Call the saloon keeper. What do you
know of this case?'
."I know dis vomans vas maxim dis
turbance by my saloon She comes there
und she makes trobles uQd she fight nit
, me, und l puts her the door oud l
know her all along. She vas pad vom-
ans"
Turning to the trembling woman the
md lS
madam; have you anything to say In your
own defense"
Eyes, judge" she answered in strange
ly calm, though trembling voice.
81 am not guilty of the charge, and
those men standing before you have per
ing the truth. 1t was they and not who
violated the law. was in the saloon last
Saturday night, but I'll tell you how it
happened.
My husband did not come home from
work that evening and l feared he had
gone to the saloon. l knew he must have
drawn his weeks wages, and we needed it
so badly. l put the little ones to bed, and
then waited all alone through the weary
hours until after the city clock struck
twelve. Then l though the saloons will
be closed, and he will be put out on the
street. Probably he will not be able to
get home, and the police will arrest him
and lock him up 1 must go and find him
and bring him home. l wrapped a shawl
around me and started out, leaving the
little ones in bed; and, judge, l have not
seen them since"
Here the tears came to the woman's
eyes, and she almost broke down, but re-
straining herself she went on:
II went to the saloon where l thought
most likely he would be. 1t was about
twenty minutes after twelve, but the ga
loon, that mans saloon"-pointing to the
saloon keeper, who seemed to want to
crouch out of sight-''it was still open,
and my husband and these two police
men," pointing to those who had SO lately
sworn against her, were standing at the
, bar with their lips still wet with drink,
and the fecks of foam not yet settled in
the empty glasses before them.
Il stepped up to my husband and asked
him to go home with me, but the men
laughed at him, and the saloon keeper Or
dered me out l said, No, want my
husband to go with me- Then | tried to
tell them how badly we needed the money
he was spending and again the keeper
cursed me and ordered me to leave. Then
I confess l could not stand any more, and
said, You ought to be prosecuted for
violating the midnight closing law
''At this the saloon keeper and police
man rushed upon me and put me out into
the street, and one of the policemen
grasping my arm like vice, hissed in my
ear, III get You thirty days sentence
in the workhouse, and then see what you
think about suing people. He called a
patrol wagon, pushed me in, and drove to
the house of detention, and, judge, you
know the rest. All day yesterday l was
locked up, my children at home alone,
with no fire, no food, no mother"
1t was well that the story was finished,
for a great sob choked her utterance, and
she could say no more.
Dismissed" said the judge in husky
voice, and the guilty woman who had SO
disturbed the peace passed out of the
court room.
But what of the saloon keeper who had
violated the law by keeping open after
twelve o'clock at night? And what of the
policemen who violated their obligation
by drinking while on duty, and WHO
threatened an honest woman with a sen
tence in the workhouse if she dared to tell
! the truth! Oh, nothing at all. They
were too guilty to be pioseeuted.-Gn-
tinnati Living Issue.