The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-25
CITIZENS ARE AROUSED
THEY ARE DEMANDING THAT MAN.
Tells BARREL HOUSE BE CLOSED.
Meetings Held and Committee OF
Property Owners Appointed to
Push the Matter.

No arrests have been made as yet in
connection with the death OF Lydia Stratton,
and all the persons seen by the coroner
and the detectives so far, have denied any
knowledge of the conditions that surrounded
the woman while she was in a state of semi
consciousness I'm the basement where she
was found by the Dispensary doctors. There
is no doubt in the minds of the police that
the woman was brutality assaulted in her
helpless condition by the negroes who loaf
around the resort and all the officers OF the
law are busy gathering evidence.
Citizens living on Capitol avenue near
Mantel's barrel house are determined, they
say, to have his resort closed They claim
that the negro restaurant in the basement
is a blind. and that beer and other intoxi-
eating liquors are sold there regardless of
the liquor laws. ManteI. they claim, runs
low dive, resort for bold women, black
and white. In the restaurant in the early
hours In the morning, 1t is said drunken
men and women, regardless of color, may be
found, and the resort has an evil reputa-
ton Citizens meetings have been held
and number of property owners in the
vicinity of the Mantel saloon have been
appointed committee to confer with the
. authorities with the object OF having the
saloon closed. The committee Is composed
of w. III. Cooper. 327 North Capitol avenue:
Capitol avenue; Clayton Hildebrand, $50
North Capitol avenue, and Mr.. Cross 129
North Capitol avenue. These claim that
the Mantel saloon Is a menace to their prop
erty and a disgrace to the city. They say
that on two occasions they complained of the
resort and caused the arrest of the proprf-
etor. In one instance he was fine>- d nomi-
nal sum and in the other he was called
before the mayor and released. The time he
was given a hearing before the mayor to
state reasons why his license should not
be revoked, fifteen policemen. the commit
tee claims, testified that they never had had
any trouble with the saloon, and said that
IL was one of the most orderly on Indiana
avenue. 1t Is claimed by the residents in
the vicinity of the Mantel barrel house
in the city OF Indianapolis, and they be-
lieve that Lydia Stratton was murdered in
the basement.
Superintendent Taffe said last night that
he had at different time, heard complaints
about the saloon and had always sent po-
lcemen there to investigate. They invari-
ably reported the saloon one of the best
conducted on Indiana avenue. He says the
case will have a thorough investigation and
that Mantel will be punished If he is found
guilty OF any wrong doing.
The mayor was told of the statement of
citizens near MantePs place.
81 had that man Mantel in and would
have revoked his license had there been
specific evidence" said the mayor These
same men that are complaining We're wit
nesses. and they failed to produce any
specific evidence that Mantel had any
thing to do with the restaurant. Under
those circumstances, what could I DOR
The mayor said there was no evidence,
even, that there was stairway from the
saloon down to the restaurant He said
restaurant was run in connection with the
saloon.