Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-20
Bootlegging Rampant and Increas-
Ing in This District
d. S. COMMISSIONER HUNTER TALKS
Disproves Action or Des Moines om-
cial Consuming Decision of Judge
Woolson-Don,s Believe In
ProfessionaI witnesses.
TFrom Fridays Daily.1

EFrom Fridays Daily.]
United States Commissioner f. NJ.
Hunter was seen today relative to the
reported increase in the illegal sale of
liquor in this district and, while he
fully substantiated that assertion yet
he very strenuously denied the state
ment that is quoted as having come
from Des Moines official to the effect
that the authorities are powerless to
.apprehend and punish violators with
out the assistance of professional wit
nesses. The Des Moines official above
referred to also very severely censures
Judge Wpolson for a decision in which
he prohibited the use of said profess
sional witnesses. ''rhe fact of the
whole matter is, said Mr.. Hunter, eve
have reported cases to the authorities
at Burlington but they do not appear
TO take any notice of them. As far as
their not being able to prosecute the
case without the use of professional
witnesses is concerned, we have never
resorted to their use at this place dur
ing my administration. l consider the
criticism against Judge Woolson most
unjust. Judge Woolson was always in
favor of the enforcement of the crimin-
al statute and all he asked was that
I'VE have legitimate complaint and tes-
timony. He merely insisted that the
Office be conducted in a careful and
legitimate manner, and by his decision
put a stop to much fraudulent proce-
dure on the part of professional wit
nesses.
"It is fact,'' continued Mr.. Hunter,
.'that the evil of this Illegal sale of Ii
quor is increasing very rapidly. 1t is
the case right here in Ottumwa as well
as all over the district. Now there is
something causing it. but it cannot be
traced to the decision of Judge Wool
son. For instance: Last December L
received letter from a lady in an adj
Joining county telling me that GER
tain party there was selling liquor to
her 17-year-old son. She said her boy
had come home frequently intoxicated.
A little later, on Dec. 27, received a
communication from business man of
the same place relating practically
the same thing that the mother had
written me- Both of these parties
gave me the names of witnesses whom
the authors of the letters said had
purchased liquor of the dealer in ques-
ton. January i, of the present year,
] reported the case in proper manner
10 the revenue officers at Burlington.
January % j received second letter
from the man who had made the form
er complaint, requesting that the case
be attended TO Immediately as the de-
fendant intended leaving the town. L
also reported that fact to Burlington,
and still there was no response. About
the first OF the present month, the ex-
sheriff of that county called on me
relative to the case and gave me am
other list of witnesses who had bought
liquor of the above mentioned defend
ant. Up to this time no complaint had
been signed or filed against the party
from the revenue Office. Furthermore
! there has not been any other COM
plants filed in this district since Janu-
arys1 A number of complaints have
been reported to my Office, but the re-
suit in each instance has been practi-
cally as the one above stated. The
majority of the complaints we get come
from parents whose boys have been buy
= ing liquor, or from local officers. Some
times they come from one dealer who
has become angered at competitor,
and once in a while minister or re-
liable source in a coal mining districts.
They are always good, or have in the
past proven so, but at present, they
seem to be of no avail.
District Court.