Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06
SUNDAY DRINK BARRED
RESULT OF PROSECUTIONS IN
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.

HYATTSVILI.E, Nd, August 5.-Wash-
ingtonians who VISIT this end Of Prince
George county tomorrow may expect to
go dry unless they bring their bottles
in their pockets. The warning given the
saloonkeepers today by States Attorney
Magruder and Attorney Robert w. Wells.
during the hearing of the Bladensburg
cases. as stated in a dispatch in yesterdays
Star, will. it is thought be needed by the
Bladensburg dealers and by persons in the
saloon business in other sections Of the
county.
1t is evident that the states attorney is
in earnest and that he will render assist
ance in the fight of the Anti-Saloon League
against the alleged violators OF the liquor
law. His statement made in Justice Carr
court today aroused the SaloonkeeperS ana
their friends, and some Of the latter imne-
diately started the talk of dragging the
prosecutions into politics, but very little
attention is paid to the threat. 1t is done,
citizens say, for the purpose of diverting
the attention of the county officials who
prosecute them and for no other reason.
In the present crusade against alleged
viola tors of the law, as in other important
matters in the county, the prosecutions
were started by others than the paid Off
GERS of the county. There is sheriff,
deputy sheriff and number OF constables
in the county to look after vtolatorS OF the
law, ana II is an open secret tndt Ino
of some saloons have been practically wide
open all day Sundays. If the front doors
are closed the side doors are in such con-
dition that 1t is merely matter OF a man
having the price of drink to gain admit
lance.
Sunday Patrons From Washington.
1t is said that large number of the Sun
day patrons of the saloons come from
Washington, although there are many men
in the vicinity of this town and Bladens-
burg who are to be seen about them, and
no one is turned away. During recent
months complaints have been made about
the nauseating scenes witnessed in the old
town of Bladensburg Some of them found
their way in the press and attracted con-
siderable notice. One writer told of the
number and various kinds of 'drunks
he had seen on the streets one Sunday, but
no attention seems to have been paid to
the complaints except by the members or
the Anti-Saloon League.
1t has been given out from time to
time that the league would make an effort
to purify the county in the matter OF put
ting stop to the violations OF the lquor
law, but the saloonkeepers had heard of 1t
SO often that they thought the statements
were merely for the purpose of frightening
them There was nobody to give them the
tip and they We're completely surprised
when they learned that the warrants mad
been issued. Then some of them recalled
seeing two Baltimore men in their places,
and these men, they concluded. were get
ting evidence against them. The men were
well dressed and prosperous looking. and
they mingled with the other patrons of the
place, calling for their beer, draught or
bottled goods they felt like having, and
never failed to settle. AT one place they
patronzed the sweat game that was in
operation.
lat first I won, and then 1 lost one Of
the detectives said when explaining his trip
to the prosecuting ofhcer.
The Usual Program.
The anti-saloon detectives remained about
the place two or three hours, and found 1t
as easy matter to spend their money as
they had to get into the places where, they
allege, liquor was sold. One of the detec-
tives told a representative of The Star that
the conditions were about as one would ex-
pect to find them in country saloons. There
was very little evidence of drunkenness
found, although the places We're literally
patroniZed by drinking men.
The penalty upon conviction of a charge
of violating the Sunday law is a fine of from
$50 to $780, or one month in jail. or both.
This particular law, it is stated, applies
only to the Hyattsville and Bladensburg
districts of the county. Other districts,
however, have law covering the offense,
although the penalty is not quite SO severe.
The law in the two districts mentioned Is
law, convictions affecting the property as
well as the person.
IF you want to continue in business"
States Attorney Magruder said to the sa-
loonmen in court today, 'obey the law, and
if you want to cease business continue vio-
lating It,
Long Term of Court Probable.
The sending of so many cases to the grand
jury means that the October term Of the
court this year will probably be a long one.
There are already a number of cases to be
investigated by the grand jury and cases
sent from this end Of the county. In each
case 1t will be necessary for the grand jury
to hear the witnesses. and then the trials
will have to be gone into by the court and
Jury 1t is likely that each case will be
hotly contested and the trials of the twelve
cases may consume a week or more OF the
courts time.
Should success attend the efforts OF the
anti-saloon detectives In other sections Of
the county they may furnish business
enough to prolong the fall Term of the cir
cult court a month or more.