The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-10-22

as DItuItl'u III lIit' lIlDullt lNo
months ago the Municipal League has
begun a crusade against Sunday liquor
selling. Seven saloonkeepers were ar
rested yesterday charged with the Of
fense and it is known that warrants
are out for the arrest of upwards of
score of others. including nearly every
saloonkeeper in the central part of the
city.
Those arrested yesterday on warrants
issued at the instance of Agent Robert
Wilson are as follows: Patrick Nc
Namara and John Tuffy, proprietors of
the Bank hotel on Iackawanna avenue
near Washington; Y. j. Langan, of 36
Lackawanna avenue; Louis Boer,
proprietor of the former Dewey hotel
on Lackawanna avenue: p. +. Durkin,
proprietor of the Grand Central hotel
on Lackawanna avenue; NJ. j. Judge,
of Penn avenue and James j. Padden,
of the corner of North Washington ave-
nue and Phelps street.
The cases against Boer, Durliin
and Judge We're continued until this
morning at 10 o'clock. while the hear
ing in the case against Padden was
continued until Thursday,all on request
of the several attorneys appearing for
the accused. Hearings in the cases
against Mcnamara, Tuffy and Langan
We're conducted yesterday afternoon
before Magistrate Millar, who issued
the warrants.
THE CASES HEARD.
Mcnamara and Tuffy, whose cases
were heard first, We're represented by
Attorney NJ. j. Donohue. while the
leagues interests We're looked after
by Attorney Fred T.. Beers. Fred
Keene and VIM. Clarke, two of the
leagues agents. testified to having vis-
tied the Bank hotel on Sunday October
-, and to having purchased drinks
over the bar. There We're several per-
sons drinking in the place at the time,
they said.
No attempt was made to contest the
evidence offered by the league but At
tOrncy Donohue made an argument in
which he declared that the ordinance
passed by councils, under which the
prosecutions were brought. fixed a
penalty for selling liquor without a
license and not for selling on Sunday.
He further contended that the pro-
ceedings were for the recovery of a
penalty and should have been begun by
summons and not by "a warrant OF an
rest.
In answering Mr.. Donohue. Attorney
Beers read the ordinance which pro-
vides that ANY person or persons
within the city of Scranton who shall
keep any tippling shop. unlicensed
house. room or place hotel. inn or tav-
ern. where wines, spirituous. malt or
brewed liquors are sold, offered for
sale, drunk or given away, in violation
Of any law of this commonwealth shall
be liable to arrest and a fine of not
less than $40 or more than 500 or i'm
default thereof to Imprisonment in the
county Jail for period of not more
than thirty days"
WITHHELD DECISION.
lie contended that the clause of the
ordinance which reads IN violation of
any law OF this commonwealth" covers
selling on sunday and selling to min
orS. Magistrate Millar had announced
before Attorney DOnohue had begun his
argument that he fined each of the de-
PENDANTS $50 but he withdrew this
when he learned that the case had not
been completed. After the arguments
he announced that he would render IL
decision this afternoon at 3 o'clock.
a hearing in the case of r. j. Lam
gan, proprietor of the Columbia hotel,
followed. Mr.. Langm was not repre-
sented by counsel. Messrs. Kcene and
Clarke testified that they had pu'-
chased beer and whiskey over The bar
in his place at 0 o'clock on the night
of Sunday, October IL. There We're
thirteen persons in the place at the
time, they said.
Mr.. Langan made no defense and
+. 4 ,.
charges preferred against him.
II was warned by Mr.. Wilson some
time ago" said he, "and | tried to
comply With the law for a while
Things began to loosen up while
ago and all the saloonmen began to
sell again. It's the first time I've been
arrested for selling on Sunday and
hope you'll make the fine as light as
you can"
Magistrate Millar announced that he
also this afternoon.
WHAT WILSON SAID.
Agent Robert Wilson, when seen by
a Tribune man, said:
The saloon men thought the Mum |
icipal League had gone out of business |
hut they now know that we were
only taking little vacation. The |
Leagues gone up and Wilson's in Chi |
cago,' they said, but they realize now |
that they We're foolish to violate the |
law.
Conditions as regards Sunday sell
ing have, within the past few months, |
became as bad as they ever We're, and |