Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-22
The Anti-Saloon Man Gives
Different Version of the
Affair at Jessup
WAS NOT ATTACKED BY A MOB
Tells of the Search for Liquor and the
Developments Following Story
That Mob Chased Him Out of
Town Is Denied = Threats Were
Made But Not Executed.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Sept. 22.-H. H. Abrams,
of Iowa City, the interchangeable foe of
the saloon in Iowa, who has long been
identified with the work of the State
Anti-Saloon League in the enforcement
of laws, was in the city this week at
tending to some business matters. Mr..
Abrams has been at work in Buchanan
county during most of the year. He
states that he has about dozen cases
pending in court there now against
violators of the liquor laws of the state.
He made statement, for the first time,
Of the facts, from his standpoint, in
regard to the Jessup incident of last
June when 1t was reported he was the
victim of a furious mob.
There are no legal saloons in Blu
chanan county," said Mr.. Abrams. I'm
Independence they are pretending to
operate under petition of consent in
the city. They got someone to search
the grayeyards and make a pretended
census of the city and show over 5000
inhabitants, but a later federal census
showed less than 1000. Their saloons
are therefore operating under state
ment of consent not legal
I'm regard to the incident at Jessup
the facts are 1 was not mobbed. The
story was circulated that 1 demanded
$500 before / would proceed against
the saloons. That is not true. l was
invited to go there, and was asked what
= x1If
cept what they could raise. We set
out to raise $4,000 to fight the saloons
in that county. I spoke on temper
ance several evenings and got the town
stirred up. One day the Methodist
minister called me UP and wanted to
know if / would help search a place
for liquor. The town marshal was
there with warrant. He said it was
all right and proper and he had full au-
thorlty but he did not know how to
proceed. He deputized me as an as
sistant. We went into the place, the
marshal invited those present to go out
and he locked the door and performed
his duty. I did not say word. But
it was told that / went in and -four
ished a revolver and created a scene.
81 was advertised to speak in the
church Sunday evening. on temperance,
but a warning was sent to some of the
people. 1t was declared if I spoke the
church would be torn down and
would be mobbed. The ministers ask
ed if it might not be best to cancel the
date. I told them they could do so
if they wished, but that I was adver-
tised to speak on temperance and
would do so if / had to stand out on
the sidewalk with a gun in each hand.
They said I could go ahead in the
church. spoke to a crowded house,
and there was not a sign of disturb
ance.
formed with the avowed intention of
attacking me. They asked and We're
told right where 1 was-only block
from where they formed. They march
ed past the house and saw me sitting
in the room reading a paper but DID
not modest me. This is all there was
to the Jesup incident.
agents of the brewery interests al
forwards circulated the story that
was run out of town and but for the
GOODNESS of others would have been
harmed. There was no truth in 1T.
Then it was declared that had recelv-
ed money to dismiss suits in Des
Moines and the saloon men had had
for two years a receipt of mine. rms
was all false Does anybody suppose
they would have had such a recelpt
and kept still about it for two years?
81 am still in Buchanan county ana
have been there most of the time since
fighting the illegal sale Of liquors. we
are going ahead with the work and VIII
not be turned aside by circulation OF
falsehoods I know the way IN Whlch
I have been fought all along. | recall
that a detective came to me and offer-
ed me money if I would give up certain
suits and / refused to listen to MIN.
The same man offered my attorney
$500 if he would tell him how he could
get money into my hands for this pur-
pose"