The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-21
NO MUSHROOM
CLUBS |: { 6; IN CITY
Justice John Says the Sunday l
Law Shall Not Be .Eyaded.
MAKES POSITIVE STATEMENT A ]! n l
Ii Was Delivered Yesterday While He
Was Hearing q Case Of
Keeping Disorderly
House.
MAKES POSITIVE STATEMENT.

War on tho saloon Sunday clubs. which
has been much discussed since the
Sunday closing edict went out from
Judge Witt in Hastings Court the other
day, was declared by Justice Crutchfield
in Police Court yesterday. He declared
fatty that whiskey men ars not allowed
to sell on Sunday and the mushroom
clubs, which are planned to take the
place Of the open Sunday. shall not.
Further, he said the proprietors of these
mushroom clubs need expect no mercy
from him.
From the bench he said!
THE whiskey men can't sell liquor on
Sundays and the clubs shall not unless
they are legitimate. These mushroom clubs
will get very little mercy at my hands.
When they get in here lawyers need not
apply will convict the owners Of such
clubs every chance get. If we are go
ing to have law and order on Sunday we
are going to have It. If the men who
pay licenses can't sell on Sunday, no one
else SHALL
BLOW TO CLUBS.
This edict from the first court before
which violators of the law are brought
may mean the deathblow Of the Sunday
club schemes. SO fondly nursed by the
saloon men of the city since the Sunday
closing order has been so rigidly en-
forced. It now seems not only possible
but probable that the saloon men OF the
city, or at least most of them, Will give
l1p the club schemes and depend entirely
upon relaxation of vigilance by the
police to resume Sunday business.
Justice Crutchfield's attitude on this
question was made known through the
medium Of q charge against four negroes
OF maintaining a disorderly place at NO 20o
South Second Street In court yesterday
it developed that this place is occupied
nv the recently chartered Rudolph Social
Club. the charter of which specifies the
purposes OF tho club as being for read
ing-room, for such games as the club
may permit, and for the selling OF food
and drink Tho drink end Of it, accord
ing to the evidence yesterday, seems to
have been the strongest feature
This club has been in existence at this
place for some weeks. There have been
frequent complaints from the nelghbors
and on Sunday afternoon the matter was
reported to Captain Angle, OF the Second
Police Precinct. He dstailed Police
men Schlief and Bryant on the case ana
they went over to watch operations.
Within a few hours they counted elghty
four persons who went in and out OF
the place they heard loud noises OF talk
ing and shouting inside and there were
several disturbances on the street among
men who had come from the club.
On the witness stand Policeman
Schlief declared that the place was
crowded and jammed with drunk and
sober negroes all afternoon and late at
night. The rush was so great that ne
himself saw drinks (whiskey) passed out
of the windows to negroes waiting in the
ward. and anoge,ner he added it was
about the most disorderly thing he had
ever witnessed. He counted forty-seven
men in the bar-room and yard at one
time. and considering the fact that the
membership is only thirty-tour. he TOOK
it for granted that the sale of wh1skey In
the place is general to whoever happens
to come.
MR.. GLENN'S PLEA.
On the strength Of the information he
and Mr.. Bryant gathered, Captain angie
ordered them to swear out warrants.
charging the officers of the club with
conducting a disoroerly and ill-governed
house. These officers are John Willis.
John Price, John White and William
Baker. All were in court yesterday when
the case came to hearing.
Councilman Harry Glenn. who ap-
reared for the negroes, stated that the
charter for the club had been issued IN
April by Judge MINOR III the Houi =,
Law and Equity and that the club could
produce its papers showing membership
and everything necessary
THE four negroes who were arralgned
Yesterday will y come up again next
Saturday. Then further witnesses as TO
the charac ter Of the place will be pro-
duced. both for the defense and the prose-
cltion. They have been released In bail
of s1co each to make their appearance
o., Saturday.