The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-27
BAR MEN INDICTED
LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE KEPT
ITS PROMISES.
MORE ARE TO FOLLOW.
FOURTEEN PREsENTMENTs BY THE
GRAND JURY.


GERS Escaped This Time-Indict-
ments So Worded That Conviction
Means Forfeiture of Licenses.
More Cases to BE Investigated.
League VIII Continue TO Collect
Evidence-SaIoon Men VIII Proba-
bly, Demand Jury Trials.
Out Of twenty special presentments re-
turned by the grand jury yesterday aft
ernoon, fourteen were for violations Of
the Sunday law. Saloon keepers, dry
goods men. fruit dealers and one soda
water dealer were indicted, but nothing
was done with the druggists. The grand
jury wrestled for three hours with cases
presented by the Law and Order League
and at O'Clock had not near finished
the list. There are more charges to be
brought up against druggists, green gro
GERS and others who are said to violate
the law for the proper observance of the
Lords day.
Bench warrants were signed by Judge
Falfigant. for the arrest of those indicted
and they will be served to-day. Seven of
the indictments returned on evidence pro-
duced by members of the Law and Or
der League were kept secret. The Off
crs fear that these people who are small
dealers in fruit might skip if they learned
that they had been indicted
In the case of saloonkeepers the indict-
ments were made to read that these Iii
censed proprietors" of tipping houses
had violated the Sunday closing law.
The indictment worded in this way. it is
said, leaves no alternative for the pre-
siding judge but to revoke the license
upon conviction. This is a matter that
has not probably occurred to the barroom
men. One saloon man said he had no idea
of pleading guilty 40 the charge, but will
demand a jury trial and fight the indict-
ment to the end. 1t is understood that
most of those who have been indicted will
do the same thing, it, in fact, all do not.
In the event of jury trial there are ex-
pected to be some sensational develop
ments.
The grand jury will meet again Friday
TO consider other cases that the Law and
Order League have worked up. Mr.. ]. ".
McGillis stated that there are many more
against whom indictments will be obtain
ed, and that fourteen is not the leagues
continue to bring cases to the attention
of the grand jury whenever there are any
violations, and say that they mean to
close up everything on Sunday. Mr.. Nc
ellis, A. S. Canuet and Thomas Gracen
appear on most of the indictments as the
prosecuting witnesses.
George c. Schwarz is charged with
having his place open on Jan. 20; Neil
Gildea on March II; William Diers on
Tcv M. nj Tah Z
These men are all named as licensed
keepers of "tippling houses"
The Georgia Brewing Association is
charged with doing business on March
"a, the same being Sunday
Mr.. Paul Conida. proprietor of candy
and soda water stores, is alleged to have
had his place of business open on March
il.
Marcus Wolowelsky is alleged to have
sold one handkerchief on Feb. /.
The fruit dealers indicted are charged
with selling chewing gum and fruit. and
there are several who are yet to be heard
from These were all of the indictments
returned on informa ton furnished by
members Of the Law and Order League.
Not one-third of the witnesses subpoe-
naed were present. but only one of those
who did not appear on time was arrested.
Frank Williams, a negro employed by
by Deputy Thompson and taken to the
witness room. He was supposed to know
something about the Sunday business
done by Bull street saloon man, and the
Law and Order people thought him
Waterman. Williams denied all knowl-
edge Of this form of occupation to a men,
Der of the league in the witness room
and was not presented to the jury. To
a representative of the Morning News
faA haf he ca
days to watch for the Law and Order peo-
pie, and prevent their entrance into the
bar.
Mr.. McGillis was frequently before the
grand jury during the afternoon, and
stated during one Of the intermissions that
his presence invariably caused the jurors
to smile. Mr. McGillis told the jury that
the police did not see the violations be-
cause they were afraid If they did they
would lose their jobs. Foreman Sheldon
asked the Law and Order man why he
didn't docket the officers who did not do
their duty, and the witness said he had
no desire to imperil them.
One web known young man appeared
before the body to tell what he knew of
the Sunday business of a certain down
town saloon. He proved a very unsatis-
factory witness, and no bill was returned
against the liquor man. The witness was
asked his name by Foreman Sheldon, and
gave it in full.
What do you know about IS saloon
being open on Sunday?" asked the fore
man.
II don't know anything at all about it,"
he answered
do you know anybody that goes in that
saloon on Sunday"
81 do not"
''Hsve you ever been in there?"
II have on week days"
"If you have never been in the bar on
Sunday. and do not know anyone who
has, what did you come here for?''
you viii have to answer that question.
i came because was subpoenaed."
The witness is excused" said the fore
man in disgust.
r. L. Poythress was indicted for cheat
ing and swindling. The Hilton & Dodge
Lumber Company is named as the prose-
cutor. II Is charged that the defendant
represented that he had a large number
of cypress trees and on this statement
obtained SIS.
John c. Cloker was indicted for de-
cefving as to a lien with the same firm
prosecuting. II Is claimed that Cloker
sold 1875 cypress trees on Howelrs Island,
claiming that they were not encountered.
II Is held that 5000 was secured by this
false representation.
Two indictments each were returned
against Harry Anterior and Frank Kir-
destein. They are charged with being
rs