The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27


Belle Benton were arraigned before Po-
lice Judge 8Iogan on the charge of SELL
ing liquor without a license they unre-
servedly pronounced their arrest an
outrage.
Its spite work." said Miss Russell.
IT'S a dirty. mean trick" said Miss
Benton.
Patrolman George Barry testified that
never in all his experience as a hunter
OF blind pigs" had he encountered
more complete facilities for violating
the liquor ordinances than were estab-
lished in the suite Jointly occupied by
Miss Russell and Miss Benton in a Ma
son street lodging house of many in
mates. There are some pretentious bar
rooms In town. he averred. that would
appear as mere groggeries if placed in
direct comparison with the establish
rnent presided over by the defendants
Not only in the matter Of stock and
fixtures, but also in the science Of mix
ology had the ladies evidently stuCied
10 please. They could Ill with neatness
and dispatch any order rendered 10
them. With equal art and expedition
they could draw steam beer or build a
pousse cafe more variegated Of color
than the rainbow. And their prices
We're less prohibitory than the elab-
orateness Of their equipment might
have warranted. OF course, they eXer-
cised necessary discretion in dispensing
their wet goods. and If they had not
been shrewdly deluded into belief that
the complaining witness was plain
citizen with ample pecuniary means
and liberal views he never could have
succeeded in inducing them to sell him
a drink
After the defendants had pronounced
the case spite work and a mean trick,
the court gave them till December to
construct a more logical defense.
Amos Hicks thought he knew enough
OF feminine tricks and manners to carry
him safely through experiences that
less sophisticated squire Of danes might
suffer by, but that opinion faded after
his inning with Miss Bessie Craig. and
now he is willing TO acknowledge that
he has much TO learn Of the moods and
impulses that provoked a certain un-
fortunate Prince Of Denmark to pro-
nounce woman a synonym for frailty.
Mr. Hicks and Miss Craig ate their
Thanksgiving dinner tete-a-tete in his
bachelor quarters at 13 Polk street, and
at the conclusion Of the meal he re-
ouested her to make herself at home
there until he could dispose Of some un-
avoidable business downtown, when he
would return and escort her to a thea
ter. His business delayed him longer
than he had expected, and several hours
had passed when he regained his apart
ments-to find Miss Craig absent, also
his gold watch, a phonOgraph, some Of
his choicest clothing and several less
valuable articles which he had left there
with her
Miss Craig's defense was not ready
for launching when she appeared before
Judge Conlan, and a continuance till
Monday was granted
Judge .Cabaniss dealt automatically
though legally and mercifully with ].
S. Mccullough. who keeps a grocery
store IN the Richmond District and
who was accused Of selling liquor
without a license. Mr.. Mccullough
did not deny that two plainly clothed
policemen purchased a bottle Of
whisky from him. but he objected to
having a conviction entered against
his name on the police records. In
deed. he expressed q willingness to
pay $50 for dismissal Of the case.
we cannot dismiss you, Mr.. Nc
Cullough~ said the Judge, because
there is no question OF your guilt as
charged. although it appears that you
were induced TO sell the whisky by
pitiful story told you by the officers.
However we find a way out by
which neither the law nor your good
name would be sacrificed Instead of
finding you guilty and imposing the
usual fine OF $50 I viii continue your
case one week and reduce your $50
bail to $50 and If you fail to appear
here next Saturday and your bail is
forfeited II viii be your own fault"
In the court Of Judge Mogan a
somewhat similar complaint was
taken under advisement until his
Honor can decide which Of twO con-
nicting sections OF the Penal Code
is most to be respected. l. VI. Walter,
a grocer at California and Devisadero
streets. sold a bottle Of whisky to
Patrolman J. Berry, and when ar
raigned he pleaded ignorance of the
law. He did not keep a bar. he ex-
plained. and as the liquor sold by him
was an unbroken package, he did not
think he was violating any ordinance.
So the Judge gave himself until
Thursday TO weigh the maxim, "Ig-
norance Of the law excuses no one"
against that section of the Penal Code
which declares that in law-breaking
there must exist union or joint opera
tlon OF act and intent"
Judge Fritz dismissed the battery
charge against c. F. Reimer. who at
tackled a man he discovered in the act