Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-19
PREs.URE PUT ON The LID
Pslios Take an Active / ald in the Sunday
Closing Movement
SEVERAL WHO OPENED UP ARE ARRtsTID
One Party, who RIGS Up n Bar I'm an
ola Bank vault, DeRes Detec-
ton Tor a Time, but Finally
Comes 20 Grief.

The Sabbath day Of being good" and
obeying the laws Of the land regarding the
closing Of their places Of business on that
day, was enough and too much for a few
~ Omahas liquor dispensers. The voluu-
tary action OF a week ago was repeated by
"a large share Of the clty's saloonkeepers
Sunday, but the almighty dollar and
bleeding heart for the sufferings of the
thirsty made a limited number oblivious of
The Slocumb law and the warnings Of Chief
Of Police Donahue. In fact, in one in
stance the duty Of the thirst-destroyer
toward citizens with a dryness, was held
so obligatory that q big bank vault was
utilized IN which to carry on the unlawful
business, In order that It might be safely
protected from the greedy efforts of the
vigilant police 70 destroy r. so far as
The annals Of the Omaha police depart
ment record, Il is the FIRST time in the his
tory Of the city that saloon has been in
full operation in the bowels of vault
hid from inquisitive ones by thick and
mighty walls and the door opened only
by combination.
Such place was found In the old Mid
land state bank quarters at Sixteenth and
California streets. now occupied by l.. II.
Peterson as a saloon. When the plan Of
closing his saloon on Sunday became tire
some 70 the proprietor he bethought him
self TO make use Of the big, useless vault
ioorn l5x15 feet in dimensions, believing It
would surely be a "safe" place in which
TO tako in a few nickels unseen and UNI
molested.
scheme IN Discovered.
Accordingly Peterson fitted up the room
with a bar, cash register, and a full line
OF bottled goods ranging around the walls.
In order TO get customers inside the build
ing. the lunch stand at the back of the
saloon started up for a blind, in case the
police should peer in the door. All day
long oil went well, and many sales were
rung up on the cash register.
But, alasl In the evening Sergeant Cook
began nosing around with his squad, con-
sisting Of Patrolmen l. A. Smith, Waters
and Russell. Cook gained entrance to the
building. but his questions were met fairly
and with evident truth Cook was sure
there was something doing. though, and
decided 70 investigate thoroughly, when he
was saved further trouble by the faint
tinkIe Of the cash register bell coming from
the vault door. The cat was out of the
bag, and after half-dozen loafers had
been chased out Of the place the propre-
tor was hauled off 20 TAIL.
Equally innocent was the appearance Of
Henry Blohm's place, Sixteenth and Mich
olas streets, a little later in the night, but
presently Cook succeeded in getting some
one on the inside ia open the door, and
when the sergeant got his big foot over
the threshold it was all off. Blohm denied
no was the proprietor, but while Cook was
busy telephoning for the wagon he sneaksd
out of the door and got as far as across
the street before he was again caught.
Patrolmen Reidy, Waters and Russell
aided in this raid. About a dozen men
were found drinking in the place
Raids start I'm Afternoon.
The raiding of saloons found open began
at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. when Detec-
tives Dunn and Patullo swooped down on
the emporium Of booze owned by Michael
Minikus, at Twentieth and Pierce streeta.
Mjnikua was found in charge and also
greatly In his cups, so the additional charg
of being drunk was placed after his name
al the station. Shortly after dark Patrol
man L. "A. Smith discovered the law being
broken on his beat at Thomas Harris sa-
loon, Sixteenth and Cass streets. the re-
suit being Hart was locked up.
Each of the saloonkeepers was charged
with keeping a disorderly house, instead ri
keeping open on Sunday, as is usually the
charge. The police feel they cannot fail 10
DO something with that charge when the
ether might not be sustained. Bonds IN
each case was fixed at 500 and all hut one
Of those incarcerated secured their release
None of the inmates Of the saloons raided
was arrested except those intoxicated. thor
names merely being taken by the police.
The action of the police Sunday in ap
plying so strietfa remedy met with the
greatest indignation on the part OF the vic
tins. and others who, while they hat
needed the warning and kept their door,
locked fast, still deprecated the strenuous
action and scored the Slocumb act. Sail
one, while being taken to the station L
be locked up: That's what a man gets
How many and many policemen haven't
put on this force, and this is my reward.
But II he was heard he was not Needed
Another, though not himself a breaker o
the law, bewailed the suffering caused tn,
poor and homeless hobo" wandering abou
the chilly streets, because his favorit,
haunts smiled no welcome 20 him as h