The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-02
NORTH DAKOTA
BIG BEER SEIZURE.
ST 800 Worth of Intoxicants Taken
in Raid Of Officers at
Bismarck.
Brewery Companies May Have to
Take Stand in the Matter
of Resubmission.
Special to The Journal.


Bismarck, N. D.. Feb 1.JInjunctional
papers in liquor case were served on F..
G. Patterson, proprietor of the Northwest
hotel, and A. E. McGahey, who is alleged
to have been selling liquor in the. base
ment of the hotel. The raid was made
by Sheriff WEIGH and his deputies on pa
pers issued by States Attorney Regis
ter. Several persons were found drink
ing beer.
A consignment of beer valued at 81 500
was seized at the 500 station by Sheriff
WEIGH and Chief of Police Ritchey, act
ing on complaint filed by States Attorney
Register and an injunction order signed
by Judge Winchester. A search warrant
was served on Agent Arnold of the 500
road and the beer found in cases in the
cellar. Half a dozen drays were called
into service and the beer was hauled
off to the courthouse for storage.
The beer was consigned to the Val
local consumption, although no informa-
ton was obtained as to any consignee
| brewery, and was probably intended for
other than the brewing company. This is
| the largest quantity of liquor ever seized
in the city under, the prohibition law.
and perhaps the largest ever. seized in
! the state.
May Have to Show Colors.
The seizure may. result in bringing the
breWeries and liquor men to the aid of
/ the resubrnission cause In this state The
|resubmissionists have complained that the
liquor men did not take enough interest
in the cause of resuhmission and have
not furnished either moral or material
support. 1t has been said the liquor men
did not care whether North Dakota was
open or closed so far the state laws
covering the sale Of liquor are concerned
/ since they sold nearly if not quite as much
liquor as If there were no prohibition law
and, more than that, had the advantage
of receiving cash with the order in the
majority Of cases.
There will probably be legal fight as
}, a result Of the raid. The action was
, brought under the injunctional provisions
, of the prohibition law, which provides fol
a the issue Of a search. warrant ! by the
II court to the sheriff or officer who make:
: the raid, and, if liquor is found, injunc
, tfOnal process Is served, to prohibit The
further sale of liquor on the premises TO
a year. The liquor found is seized ant
taken into custody of the officials, and i
f finally destroyed upon an order Of tn
+ court, if the action in which it is seize,
holds. ... ,e
If legal action is brought, it will b
! to determine whether the shipment o
: goods by a railroad company can be in
= terfered with and prevented by the law
= of state, and features of the interstat
commerce law will enter. 1t is not likel
+. tnaC the brewing company Will submit t
Q the seizure and destruction of the liquc
: without a fight, as it would establish
!. precedent that would end much Of tn
y liquor business in the. state.
Some Provisions of the Law.
OF the phase regarding shipments (
J. !lquor into the state, the statute pre-
S Vides that ANY officer, agent or employ
Is of a railroad company, express compan
= or other common carrier, who shall with
d this state knowingly receive, carry or de
20 liver any Intoxicating liquors to or IL
e any person to be sold in violation of til
n chapter shall be deemed guilty of mi:
e demeanor and on conviction there of sha
lie be fined not less than 500 nor more tina
,r $500 and be imprisoned in the county ia
not more than sixty nor less than thir'
days" ~t ~ -- -,t'.i@
rs Other sections of the law forbid II
IN importation of liquor under severe pei
e. alties and the maintaining of club hous
I'd or the adoption of any shift or devil
~ whatever to evade the penalties of tt
~ law. -...~.-.
Id A test legal case on the points involv
S. will be interesting all over the state.