The suburban citizen., 1901-08-10

1t is not always safe to say that the
forfeiture OF collateral for appearance
in the Police Court is evidence OF guilt
1t is an easy matter to prefer a charge
against an individual and although he
may be entirely innocent OF the offense
which he is called upon to answer, i.
must be confessed that there are times
when a superficial view of the circum-
stances surrounding the case seem to
point in the other direction A good
name, however, which is to be preferred
above great riches seldom fails to
prove a reliable offset to slanderous ac-
cusations whatever may be the motive
that prompts them
A week or so ago Mrs. E. Wagner,
proprietress OF the popular Swiss Dairy,
at 4o3 East Capitol street was notified
by the health authorities that she had
violated the law governing the sale of
milk in the District, the specific charge
against her being that formadehyde
lldQ DINl lOullh III AANdAlA oOlu lANlll OllN
of her wagons. The announcement
came as great surprise to Mrs W2g-
ner, whose customers include the best
people in all sections of the city. There
could be no doubt that the chemists Of
the Health Department were honest in
their statements as to the discovery OF
81 ,st tot irr
Mrs. Wagner's excellent reputation, she
was requested to appear before the
Judge OF the Police Court and explain
the circumstances collateral amounting
to ten dollars being required to insure
her presence. OF course she was not
there Her failure to appear, however,
guilt. Mrs Wagner knew that no for
maldehyde had been placed in the milk
or cream sold from her dairy, and con
sequently she decided to forfeit her col
lateral rather than spend an hour among
the roughs who by compulsion and
choice make up the daily gatherings in
the Police Court room A much better
plan, she concluded, would be to set up
a quiet investigation on her own ac-
count
Mr. J. w. Beall Mrs. Wagner's trust
worthy manager, was given charge OF
the case and so well did he conduct it
that few days later the facts we're
brought out For some time the Swiss
Dairy has been buying cream OF Mr..
Charles NJ, Myers, proprietor OF the
WIkersyille Creamery in Frederick
county, Md AS the formaldehyde could
not have been placed in the cream COM
planned OF after it reached Washington
Mr. Beall concluded that the Maryland
dairyman was responsible for the trout
bic in which its use had involved Mrs
Wagner Accordingly, a few days lat
err upon the arrival of the usual con-
signment OF milk and cream at the Bal
timore and Ohio depot, he quietly pro-
ceeded to have a test made, the result
OF which showed the presence OF for
maldehyde in the cream Having thus !
fully cleared the Swiss Dairy from the /
imputaton Of having sold drugged milk |
and cream, Mr.. Beall determined to |
compass the arrest and secure the pun
ishment OF Mr. Myers, which he did by |
requesting the Maryland dairyman to |
come to Washington He came, and !
upon his arrival was arrested, and to |
save himself from being locked up pend
ing hearing of the charge filed against
him forfeited collateral to the amount
of twenty-five dollars. 1t is understood I
that Myers admitted that he used for
maldehyde but excused himself on the
ground that he was not aware of its in
furious effects. He lost twenty-five dol
lars and a good customer by selling
cream to Mrs. Wagner in which the
drug had been used Mr.. Beall at once
cancelled the order for cream from
Myers farm.
The case resulted just as every one
who knows Mrs Wagner and Mr. Beall
expected it would The Swiss Dairy
has wide reputation for the purity OF
the milk and cream sold from its
wagons. Mrs. Wagner has been ex-
tremeIy careful in her efforts to get the
best and believed that the cream which
she'was purchasing from Mr.. Myers was
wholly free from adulteration. Had
she suspected that it contained formal
iehyde her orders would have been in
,tantly discontinued. As no complaint
came to her from any Of her customers
she supposed that the cream obtained