The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-15
Evidence of Policemen at Excise
Commissioner Hearing Tended
to Modify Original Reports.
PUZZLED HOW TO PROCEED.
Saloonkeeper Lenhart Testified
That He Abandoned WinerOOms
One Application for a
License Refused.

Excise Commissioner SeIbert's investisa-
ton into the management of certain saloons
In the Central District. particularly for the
purpose of getting Information about fhe
wineroom evil. brought out interesting
facts yesterday morning.
One dealer stated under oath that he had
abolished his winerooms since the Anti
Wineroom Crusade had been In progress.
Police officers who testified seemed. In q
measure. not to understand what construc-
ton to place upon the term ''wineroom,"
and their statements on the stand had q
tendency to modify their reports to their
superiors.
Mr. Seibert conducted the cross-examina-
ton in each case. while Attorney John NJ
Wood carried on the direct inquiry. Tho
questions were earnest and incessant, and
their nature indicated that Mr.. Seibert de-
signs to collect general information con-
cerning conditions existing in various neigh
borhoods. Many witnesses were required
to draw rough plans of their saloons. In CT
der to present q distinct idea Of the location
Of partitioned rooms.
John 3. Saila. who has saloon at NO.
800 Easton avenue, was the first witness
You're charged" said Attorney Wood,
with having winerooms In your establish
ment, screened from public view. What
have you to sayT' MIR. Salla explained
that he has partitioned waiting rooms"
that are frequented by young and old per-
sons Of good repute. Officer Barry cor
roborated the testimony.
Abandoned His Winerooms.
Il have abandoned my winerooms since
last November" said Louis N. Lenhart, who
has q saloon at No. 2S32 Easton avenue,
and who was the next witness. Ever
agitation the rooms have not been used.
the partitions are still there. but the doors
are open. There Is a hallway, from the
rear entrance, with a room on either side.
The rooms are not used any more
f. w. Teutenberg, q neighbor OF the re-
spoudent, testified that Lennarots saloon Is
now conducted in compliance with The law
and that he had not seen any women In
there for several months. He had never
seen any women in there at any time. but
some months ago he heard that women had
been there. He gabe Lenhardt q good rep
utation.
Omcer Barry said he had seen women so
into the saloon several months ago, but not
recently. They mad escorts. ana, SO far as
he knew, they were not disreputable Otficer
Massey in general agreed with Barry, but
added that the wineroom is still IN the
said the saloon is operated in an orderly
manner. He described the partitioued
room.
Henry Comrades said that he has no
wineroom in his saloon al No. 2s2S Easton
avenue. A room in the rear Of the saloon,
he said. Is occupied by q Tom Ferris. He
drinks are sold only at the counter. Of
fcer Barry and Michael Lamb restified
that Comrades is complying with the law.
Off1cer Massey expressed the opinion that
the room could be used as q wineroom.
Salo0nkeeper Maher Testines.
James Maher next took the stand. He
has saloon at No. 2sol Wash street. He
establishment. divided from the saloon
proper by partition and provided with
chairs and tables. This room; he said, is
freQuented by women. who come with their
escorts and remain as long as they please.
He considered the room public. in that q
person could stand IN one end of II and see
to the other. Officer John p. Fitzgerald,
who reported q wineroom In the saloon
corroborated Maher's statement He as
serted that he had reported the room ac q
wtneroom because he thought the term TN
piled any room screened from view from
the saloon proper.
Adolph waliner. proprietor Of the saloon
two rooms partitioned from the saloon. One
Is q dining-room and the other a billiard
room. Eight tables are in the dining-room.
lunch therein to respectable men and wo-
men. principally members Of a benevolent
society that meets upstairs Messrs. Teu-
tenbers and Foley again took the stand and
testified that the saloon Is being operated
according to law.
Oficers Barry and Massey stated that the
sS is beng properly conducted M
the place. Barry answered that Police Cap
tains had issued instructions to report ev-
cry screened room frequented by men and
women. Massey. questioned as to his inter-
probation Of the term "wineroom." replied
that he would report any screened room
Theodore Secke Of No. 33M Park avenue
place. each provided with two tables. He
serves lunch, he said, for parties and church
festivals; also for families. Ofacer James
l1rfIvz IA11 vn1< - ~ ala
frequented by respectable women who come
with escorts He had reported the place be-
cause he construed the term wineroom to
room. He thought these rooms are not OBJ
jectionable. Ofacer John O'Hara confirmed
this statement
one Application Refused.
George Halbmeyer. who has a saloon at
the southwest corner of Park and Compton
avenues, described one partitioned room,
which, he says. Is frequented mostly by
clared, members Of a bowling club. some-
times order drinks. which are served to
them in the bowling alley" Ohicer James
wineroom. but the place. in his opinion. il
frequented by respectable men with their
wives. and sometimes with their children.
whaien and received this reply: LAST night
walked into this room. The bartender
was in there with a young lady. The door
the Impression that any partitioned or
screened room where liquors are sold IL a
wineroom"
John Meiicen Of No. s2u Caroline street
explained the location OF two partftioned
rooms in the rear Of his saloon Onicers
Dennis Calvin and Patrick Muldarig gave
Melicen a good reputation. Calvin stated
that one Of the rooms would be objection
able II the proprietor were disposed to be
careless of the law.
Chief Deputy Thompson yesterday refused
to issue an application for opening q saloon
at No. 1901 Market street, owing to protests
made by Father James Thomas Coffey pas
tor Of st. Johns Church. and property own
ers Of the locality.