The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-02
CAPITOL" OF
MAYMART FALLS
The Illicit Saloon Near Lake Lodore
Raided and Contents Confiscated
by Acting County Detective Ed
ward Neary-Tim Brady, the
Keeper, and Companions Take to
the Woods.


The village of Waymart. which was
stirred as never before a few weeks
ago, when the dead body of Edwin
Schoonover was found, was agitated
again Yesterday, though this disturb
snce was less severe, but marked by
more excitement. when Constable
Edward Neary, of this city, who is
acting county detective of WAYNE
county. brought about the downfall
of the Capitol of Waymart"
The Capitol of Waymart." as IL
has been styled. was an Illicit saloon,
the reputed owner of which was one
Tim Brady, not from the confines of
Waymart, but who halls from some of
the big cities Brady selected the
spot on which the "Capitor' stood to
carry on his illegal traffic because he
believed the residents in that vicinity
were. in the expressive language of
Chuck Conuors. easy marks" The
place was just outside the limits of
the grove at Lake Lodore. and Brady
sized it up as "cinch'' to catch the
thirsty crowd that might accompany
an excursion which would not dispose
of any able bodied refreshments on
an error of judgment. both as to the
idea of the "easiness" of the marks"
that he thought were about Waymart
and the belief that he could conduct
the unlicensed place with impunity
He did not reckon on the fact that one
Lafayette Smith abided in Waymart
and that Lafayette was the village
policeman, z good and proper man
when it came to enforcing the law. 1t
might he said as explanatory. that
Lafayette pronounCes the first syla-
hle of his name as Lay--Layfayett
Smith--a circumstance that he will
remind YOU of, should you make the
error of saying La -fayette.
Lafayette. as CHUCK" Connors
would say further. got next" to the
fact that the "Cspitol'' was doing a
fourishing business. This was on
Wednesday, and when he was sure of
his ground, he took means to suppress
the business and end the career of
the capitol" He notified Acting
County Detective Neary, who went
to Waymart yesterday morning ON
the first train that would take him
there. Policeman Lafayette was on
hand to meet him and guide him to
the scene of the active spcakeasy.
SeCretlve AS Was Lafayette and as cir
cumspect as he showed himself to ne
in approaching the work of eXtinc-
tion, the neWs leaked out that he was
ON the trail of the proprietor of the
"capitol," and when the pair reached
the one-stcry hotel. no one was within,
hut in the distance could be seen four
n n
atioss tn" fields to the refuge which
the woods offered to the flying men.
Detective Eeary nor Policeman
lafayette did not follow the chase. for
tho reason that the leaders of the
wild run had too great lead: hut
they devoted themselves to completing
the last chapter of the career of the
capitol"
The capitol" as stated before, is II
one-story building. over the doorway
is the sign that caught the passing
eye, while over one window the humor
Of the joker of the party was eX-
pressed in the word bedroom" and
over another in the word wash
room" Inside there was a counter
that Contrived to do duty as a bar,
hut there was no fancy glassware or
dccanters wisely kept for show"
There were beer kegs, plenty of them
hut they were mostly empty. There
were Whiskey casks a few and num-
ber Of boxes of cigars. Outside beer
barrels We're heaped on each other,
evidence OF the thriving business that
made the capitol flourish during its
brief but profitable existence.
The officers thought that possibly
the proprietor" and his associates
would have more respect and fear for
the United States revenue laws. even
If they did laugh defiance at the local
authorities, but though the place was
carefully searched, no revenue license
could he found-either for the sale of
tquor or cigars. This fact was borne
In mind by County Detective Neary,
Who so acquainted the deputy United
States marshal at Scranton.
The contents of the hotel were con-
fiscated and taken to Honesdale. In
the meantime, District Attorney At
kinson, of Wayne county will prepare
evidence against the parties charged
with running the place and indict-
ments against them will be presented
at the next grand jury at Honesdale.
The downfall of the capitol is a
big feather in the cap of Policeman
Smith, who always endeavors to full
fli the duties of the Office which he
has sworn to serve with fidelity.