The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
MORAL WAS EXHAUSTED.
WHOLESALE DISMISSAL OF Al
LEGGED OFFENDERs.
Anti-saloon League Presses Hard for
Trial, Hut AcquittaI I'm -Four
Strongest Cases Satisfies Prose-
cutting Attorney Of Its Futility.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelllgencer,
WHATCOM, Jan. N.-Yesterday the
most notable attempt ever made In this
county by the temperance and kindred
forces OF the Anu-Saloon League ended
In complete failure In the line OF legal
coercion. when the prosecuting attorney
requested the superior court to dismiss all
the remaining cases against the saloons
and alleged keepers OF immoral houses, ex-
cept the one then under trial, which II
was agreed to finish. The dismissal OF
this last case this morning was highly
sensational, one Of the Jurors. T.. c. Jenk-
ins, of Lake Samish. resident OF the
county for twelve years, being accused by
Prosecuting Attorney Mead Of stopping
at the house of the woman arraigned last
night and offering to sell out to her.
The accused juror was peremptorily ord
cred arrested by the Judge, and, under
agreement. the rest of the jury was dis
missed. Jenkins Is now in Jail awaiting
his trial on the sensational charge.
Under the Sunday closing law four OF
the leading saloonkeepers of the city were
arrested last week, and under the general
state law a number of alleged keepers OF
immoral houses were also summond to ap-
pear and answer to that effect. The Anti
Saloon League furnished the detectives
from its ranks to prove the charges in
all cases, as their witnesses on the stand
admitted. The vice president Of the local
branch Of the league also acted as assist
ant prosecuting attorney. his services be-
Ing voluntary. Every trial was attended
by court room full Of league people OF
both sexes, who came with the avowed
purpose Of showing their moral support
Of the cause they championed.
In the case OF the first saloonkeeper the
jury disagreed after two days trial and
another day Of wrangling among them
selves. The second saloonkeeper was
acquitted by the jury. Then an alleged
keeper of an immoral house was arraigned
and the jury acquitted her after a few
minutes discussion. Another was ar
raigned and the case threatened to drag
along for a week. Twenty-Five Jurors
were excused for cause, one after another.
The regular panel was exhausted, and the
fact that probably no Juror acquainted in
the slightest with the town could serve,
and that a jury could hardly be secured
In the county, led the prosecuting attorney
to ask for the dismissal of all the remain
ing cases. He stated, in effect, that the
prosecution had brought up its strongest
cases first and when they failed to con-
Wet in them that there was no hope for
the balance; that from the difficulty in
securing the jury in this case. 1t would
be almost impossible to secure one for the
remainder inside the county, and 1t would
be unwise to keep the regular panel here
on expense while the effort was being
made.
The attorney Of the Anti-Saloon League
objected to dismissal of the cases. He
said he represented many citizens who
wished to see the prosecutions pushed
and made quite an argument along that
line.
Judge Hadley informed him that he
could not listen to any suggestions but
those emanating from the prosecuting at
torney's office He went on and paid a
high tribute to the intelligence of the jury
panel and their moral worth and thought
that IL conviction could not be secured
before them in the previous cases, there
were doubts as to better success in the
others and he significantly remarked that
while the Jurors would undoubtedly pun
ish fragrant violations of law, mere
technical violation did not seem to appeal
to their judgment" He coincided with tha
views of the prosecutor, especially in view
of the evident threatened expense. The
case in hand was continued, the sheriff
impressing farmers whom he found on the
streets. till the panel was completed. The
trial was more than half through when
the prosecutor made his statement Of the
jurors alleged venality.
The expenses of conducting the trials
were nearly $50 per day and the county
commissioners, who were responsible for
the bills. helped matters to finish by
suggesting retrenchment in the expenses
of maintaining the moral wave. There
has been no saloon kept its front door
open on Sunday since the agitation began
last fall and the saloons have been orderly
on Sunday. but the leagues detectives
based all their charges on allegations that
the back doors were open.