The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-06
TEAR DOWN
SALOON OF
GlROLAMI.
Loses His License for.
Selling on Sunday.
SUPREME COURT
WITH JUDGE WITT
His Decision Was Sustained
by That Body Yesterday.
PROPERTY is BOUGHT
BY Mr.. L. M. WILLIAMS
is Understood That II Will Be Torn
Down in Short Time-GiroIami to
Get Out by Conference.-The
Story ofHow His License
was Lost by Violation Of
the Law.
PROPERTY is BOUGHT
BY Mr.. L. M. WILLIAMS

morning sustained tho ruling OF Judge
Witt. Of the Hastings Court. and refused
to grant writ OF error in the case Of
the Commonwealth against Andrew Girol-
ami. they sealed the fate for good and all
OF a saloon In the First District which.
1t is claimed, has for years been trouble
to the police Department. AS result
there will be In the city Of Richmond
next Monday just one saloon less. for
Glrolami will be given until next satur-
day In which to close out his business and
dispose Of his large stock Of wines, whis-
keys and beers and his bar fixtures.
SOIL. HIS REAL ESTATE.
Within an hour after the action OF the
Supreme Court became known Girolami
disposed Of his real estate holdings at
the corner Of Fifteenth and Franklin
Streets for small fortune. 1t is under
stood he will lift his stakes and leave
Richmond, but where he will go is not
known.
The property, two brick shacks. one OF
which mas fo.- years serv sd as bars'
room, and the other as an oyster house,
were sold to L. NJ. Williams for $4,000.
II is said they will shortly be torn down,
but Mr. Williams said last night that no
plans had been made as yet.
LICENSE REVOKED.
The action of the Supreme Court In sus-
tanning the ruling of Judge Witt brings
to a close the last chapter Of what has
been the most celebrated case of its kind
In the city for a number of years, being.
as it was, one OF the few instances where
a saloon license has been revoked for a
violation of the Sunday-closing law. 1t
certainly was the first case Of its kind to
ever be taken as high as the Supreme
Court. and naturally the precedent estab-
lished is quite important and will cut con-
siderable of figure In future cases, in
the event any are brought up.
Patrolman Wiley, attired In citizens
clothes. entered the saloon OF Girolami on
Sunday morning some six mon this ago. just
after Judge Witt had issued a statement,
warning the bar men that in case of
conviction for violation of the Sunday
Law he would revoke the license, thereby
compelling them to retire from business.
The officer was Just about to be fur
n1shed with a drink when some one
tipped the bartender off as to who he
was. He failed to get the drink. but on
tho evidence he had seen he reported
Girolami for selling on Sunday. In the
Police Court this testimony was strength
ened by the evidence of two negroes, who
swore they purchased whskey at the place
on the day In question. Judge Crutch-
field rendered verdict of guilty and i'm
posed heavy fine on the defendant sa-
loon man.
TECHNICAL FLAW.
AS result of this conviction, Judge
Witt true to his word, issued rule
against Glrolami. calling upon him to
appear in the Hastings Court on a GER
tain date and show cause why his IL
cense should not be revoked. When the
day came around 1t was discovered that
there was a technical flaw In the legal
papers. and postponement was taken
+ for probably month, during which time
The saloon at Fifteenth and Franklin
Streets continued to do thriving busi-
ness.
Finally the case was heard, Mr.. L. O.
Wendenburg. appearing for Girolami, and
Commemorative Attorney Richardson
representing the court The evidence OF
the Police Court was partially rehearsed,
after which both counsel submitted
lengthy arguments. Mr.. Richardson con-
tending that the testimony proved con-
clusively that the Sunday law had been
violated and that tho defendant was not
fit and proper person to have LIQUOR
license.
CLERK HELD RESPONSIBLE.
Mr.. Nvendenburg submitted that his
client was not responsible for the viola
tion of the law. the liquor having been
sold by his clerk without his knowledge
or consent. The clerk had been dis
charged for his indiscrotion, all of which
proved conclusively that Glrolami was
endeavorlng to live up to the letter OF
the law and was n proper person to
handle spurious and malt liquors,
Judge Witt reviewed tho evidence In
the case at some length, finally revol-
ing the license of the defendant, stating
that it had been proven concluslvely to
his mind that the law had been yio-
lated. and that Grolami was not fit
person to hold n saloon license.
Mr., NNendenburg gave notlce of appeal,
and the case found Its way to the Su-
lpreme Court on writ OF error, with
the aforesaid result
HE MUST RETIRE.
A ECommonwealth's Attorney Richardson
said yesterday afternoon that Glrolaml
would be given until next Saturday in
which to retire from business, after
which time he will be reported for sell
ing without license.
The action of thu Supreme. Court in
sustaining Judge Witt created no sur
prise among tho City Hall court Off
c!als. as 1t had been confidently ex-
pected. Only once, 1t is said. since
Judge Witt has been on the bench has
'.the Supreme Court reversed one OF his