Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-23
DENIES HAVING
SOLD TO INDIANS.
Firm Alleged to be Implicated in
Liquor Traffic Declares That
Such Was Not Case.
BOTH MEMBERS WERE IN CITY
As Soon as News Reached Salt Lake
One Went to Price TO Inyes.
tigate Matter.

| --------
An article from a correspondent Vof
the News at Fort Duchesne, charg-
ing that there had been a general orgie
at that place last Sunday, by band
! of drunken Indians, has created a good
deal of stir IN this city The charge
was made that the liquor had been sold
! by the firm OF LOwenstein a Nichols
and that while attending some OF their
races the Indians became wildly M
toxicated and fred hundreds Of shots,
although nobody was hurt
j. r. Nichols Of the above named firm
was met by News representative at
the Hotel Wilson this morning and In
teryiewed regarding the alleged orgie
II seems that both members OF the
firm were here in Salt Lake when the
alleged liquor selling and drunken
round up took place. MIR Lowenstein
at once took the train and went to Price
TO ascertain the true facts In the case,
Mr. Nichols made the following state
monti 1.-THE firm Of Lowenstein n Mich
OILS are merchants doing business on
what is known as the strip" two miles
from Fort DuChesne, on the Uintah
reservation. The nearest railroad point
Is Price, 100 miles away, and the near
est other point where liquors can be
had is Nernal, 20 miles away. / have
been in business the last time down
there one year, but spent five years
there from 1883 TO 1898 in the same line
Of business, viz: general merchandising,
hotel feed corral and saloon.
TN 1887 or 1883, | forget which, the
Utah Legislature passed an act pro-
hibting the sale Of liquors within 10
miles OF the Ulntah reservation. At
the request Of many Of the best clti-
zens the county commissioners of the
county granted me permission to sell
beer, Wines and liquors, for which pri-
yilege ! paid them. and we pay now $50
a month, into the county treasury.
There Is much travel In that section,
and the stages stop at our place, and
we furnish accommodations to travel
ers. Our store Is within a few rods
Of the reservation.
This Is not the first charge
that has been made against us.
While | was here in May last
a half-breed Indian came to the store
in a drunken condition from Vernal
and made good deal OF disturbance.
firing two shots into the ceiling. An
account of 1t appeared in the Vernal
paper to which ! replied, and when the
matter was explained that he did not
obtain his liquor at our place a proper
retraclion was madg71a no
Il emphatcally deny ever having sold
any liquor to Indians or of permitting
any OF my employees to do so. II is true
that white men purchase liquors and
1t Is quite probable that they resell It
10 Indians, This Is unfortunately the
case near all Indian reservations. As
soon as / saw the accusation In the
News my partner went TO Price
where he has a merchandise store and
telephoned over 10 our place regarding
the matter and here is his reply just
received
Here MIR. Nichols showed the News"
man the following telegram from Mr.
Luwenstein:
IL have talked with Benny through
the telephone lie knows of no trouble;
everything is as good as when you
left"
While the reporter was talking with
Mr. Nichols, MI Lowensteln came In
on the u. 4 r. @. train from Price and
showed another telegram just received
as follows.
Talked to Ben. situation the same
to date Signed, SAM STEIN"
Mr., Nichols made the further state
ment that L. s. Marshal Ben Haywood
stopped and took dinner at their place
the day before yesterday, He referred
the reporter to several well known
citizens of Salt Lake as to his standing
and character.
Judge j. r, Mcconnell was interview
ed and said Il have known Tom
| Nichols for about 10 years. My head
| quarters were formerly az Fort Du.
chesne whore for a number Of years
WAS United States commissioner; after
wards ! was at Nernal engaged In the
| practise of the law, at present / am
| engaged IN mining. / knew Mr. Mich
| OILS at the Fort when he was there years
ago engaged in business and have
| known him at Price and l do not hesi-
| tate TO say that | do not believe he ever
! sold q drop of liquor to an Indian In
| hls life, nor do | believe any reputable
| citizens OF Fort Duchesne or of Uintah
county can ever establish case against
him, The citizens are with him and
have begged him TO stay. While the
firm OF Lowenstein a. Nichols are per,
mitted to sell intoxicating drinks to thu
public, I do not believe they have evel
disposed OF II IN person or through
their employees to Indians
Maj. III. r. Myton. who was Inllar
agent AZ Fort Duchesne and white
Rocks agencies for four and one-hall
years, was then introduced, who said
During the dime | was indian agent at
the t'intah and Ouray agencies, | pre-.
sumo / prosecuted more persons fol
selling liquor to Indians than all the
other agents put together. While al
Fort Duchesne | employed detectives
to watch Mr., Nichols store and Other
places TO learn II liquor was being solo
10 the Indians and in no instance did
discover that II was being doncs by
Nichols or his employees, | regarded Mr.
Nichols as perfectly straight | hav,
not been down there recently and d,
not know anything about the charges
! Il. la, tI.te