The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-02-04
RED ONION CASE
Is CONTINUED
-@-
Council Had No Witnesses Ex-
Cepting Policemen.
THEY KNEW NOT A THING
&-
DEaoCRATS PREVENT A WHITE
WASH By REPUBLICANS.
THEY KNEW NOT A THING

The city council met in committee Of
the whole last evening for the purpose
of considering the advisab iIity of revok-
ing the license OF the Red Onion saloon
on Commercial street, where Bruce
johnson. the coIored Republican poil-
clan, shot a man named Burns several
weeks ago. The mayor, in q communi-
cation 70 the council a week ago Mon
day recommended that the place be
closed. Had not the Democratic MEM
bers insisted upon a fair investigation.
the Republican majority would have
disposed Of the matter last evening by
a farcical investigation and white
washed the whole matter then auu
there.
The comedy began by the selection
of Councilman A. J. Davis as chair
man. When It was proposed that the
witnesses be sworn almost half the po-
lice force, which was present, stood
upon its feet. Before the oath was 40
miuistered, It was asked for which side
the chief and his men were to testify.
No one knew, not even the men them
selves. No one knew who subpoenaed
them. No one knew what they were
going to testify to.
No One Knew Anything.
Assistant City Attorney W. H.
Bramel said the first he knew Of the
case was when he entered the council
chamber and saw the police force there
City Recorder John s. CritchIow said
some one placed a note IN his Office
that morning asking him 10 subpoena
the officers and patromen who were
raaarl -la~
know who wrote the request. Judge Q.
W Powers, who was present TO de-
lend the saloon men, said he had not
asked or requested that Chief Lynch
and the others be on hand.
He and Councilman Black saw no es-
pecial reason for going any further. be
cause there were no specific accusations
IN the mayors letter recommending an
investigation and revocation Of the Ii
ce7se. But after while it was thought
advisable TO examine q few Of the wit
nesses.
Chief Lynch asked 10 be examined
nFst on the plea that he had a press
ing engagement to keep. He remained
an hour longer, however. He knew alb
soiutely nothing about the saloon or
me shooting. As compared with Ho-
giles place, ne cid not know whether the /
HE'D Onion was respectable.
his "knoW-nOthing' attitude was a
tip for Detective Raleigh who came
next The only thing he did know was
that Yaney & Frazier conduct q gam
bling room upstairs over the saloon.
Both the chief and the detective said
no complaint had ever been lodged
against the saloon, excepting when
johnson shot Burns.
Postponement Asked For.
Councilman Hartenstein moved to
#alla Errsa y.
weeks 10 permit the assistant city at
torney time 10 get some witnesses who
Knew something about the place. COun-
Gilman NeuhauseD- asked the case be
dismissed then and there. That was
opposed by Councilman Hartenstein.
who said the matter ought 10 be in
vestigated, and IL there was no evil
dence against the saloon, then dismiss
IT. Councilman Neuhausen said the
Two witnesses had proven nothing; it
was apparent to him that the Red !
onion IS as good a saloon as any in
the city. His motion 10 dismiss was
seconded by Councilman Black
Judge Powers said A. Fred Yvey. pro
prietor OF the Wilson hotel had Just
sent word down TO the council that he
was not opposed to letting the saloon
run; that IL did not affect his hotel
Employees Were Non-Committal.
n
motion to dismiss. He did not know T
what the whole police force was there
for, saying that some Of the men who
patrol Commercial street and could
throw some light upon the character Of 4
the place were not present. He said I
he knew that the employees Of the sa-
loon did everything in their power 10 /
cover up the evidence of the shootine-
of Burns by Johnson
councilman Wells said that a riot had +
occurred in the place, and wanted 10 .
know how many men had TO he shot i'm /
a saloon before Il came time TO close
~ up. The police We're present, he said.
evidently in behalf Of the defense. That
was denied by Judge Powers. Then
Councilman Fernstrom said that there 3
Should be an stigati0n; that II the
matter was disposed of then the pa
pers would accuse the Republicans of f.
embarrassing.
The word whitewashing did not seem
10 suit the fancy OF the Republicans
who had favored a dismissal of the
charges, and they began favoriug a
continuance 70 give the city d chance
10 produce its witnesses.
Postponed For One Week.
Councilman HOLIDAY created a sensa-
ton by saying that a man worse than
Bruce johnson, an eE-detectiye, who
Is now q gambler, went TO many of the
members OF the council asking them To
close the saloon. He added.
II have not found one man Of any
standing who favOrs revoking the
lI ense. can find lots Of tin horn gam
pliers who say revoke the license. They
have II in for Bruce Johnson. What,
IN the name of God, have they got id
In for Bruce johnson for2'
No one answered.
After half an hours wrangling, dur
ing which the Republicans who first
favored the application of the white
wash brush turned and voted TO con-
tinue, the whole matter went over for
n week. TO give Assistant City 6ttor-
ney Bramcl am opportunity 90 set some
witnesses who can throw some light
upon the character of the saloon.