Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-23
AGAINST DEFENDANTS
KING ALCOHOL AND LAGER BEEF
CONDEMNED BY A JURY.

A jury of twelve tried and true men re-
turned a verdict of guilty in mock court at
Odd Fellows Hall, on 7th street, last even
ing in the case of the Prohibition Crusaders
versus King Alcohol, alias John Barley
corn and Lager Beer. Mr.. o. B. Hallam of
the District bar presided Representative
A. r. Weber of Ohio was the prosecuting
attorney and Mr.. F. Edward Mitchell of
the District bar appeared as counsel for
the defense.
The case was a most exciting one and
drew large-sized audience. The prosecu-
ton was instigated under the direction of
the Prohibition Crusaders generally in the
District and Eagle Tent No 2, Independent
Order OF Rechabites, and so strong was the
sentiment against the prisoners that 1t was
with difficulty that the judge and the mar
shall kept the audience quiet.
The stage was arranged to represent a
court Of justice, with the judge, attorneys,
clerks, officers, jury and witnesses in their
appropriate places. Promptly upon the
opening of the court the prisoners, Alcohol
and Lager Beer, were brought in by the
marshal and placed in a chair in full view
o. the audience, where they remained quiet
ly throughout the entire procedure, never
evincing or showing any feelings whatever
during the terrible arraignment which fol-
lowed.
Following the empanelin- of the jury
Attorney Weber expressed the hope that
there would be no spirit of levity on tho
part Of counsel for the defendants. In
opening the case Mr.. Weber briefly re-
counted the careers of the defendants and
their co-conspirators in the District, and
charged that they had been directly or in
directly responsible for all the crimes per-
petrated in Washington. The indictment
| had, therefore, been drawn sweeping, IN
| order that the Infamous characters could
| not possibly escape the penalty of their
| misdoings.
eliminating Evidence.
| Seven witnesses were introduced by the
| prosecution, two Of them being ladies
whose testimony was Of the most damag.
ing character. One testified that out of 5O(
prisoners in the District Jail fully ninety
per cent were there because Of the work OF
the prisoners, Alcohol and Lager Beer. Il
1 was al . averred that out Of $50 persons In
found in the prisoners the medium for theil
misfortune and dishonor, and OF 1850 in
/ mates Ct the Government Hospital for the
1 Insane fully Is per, cent We're victims of the
| effects of alcohol and lager beer. Speaking
OF the defendants work in keeping thu
| courts of the District busy, it was also tes
titled to and supported by official reports
fore the Police Court in Washington wa.
absolutely traceable to association with thu
prisoners and cultivation OF their acquaint
i ance.
Il AL times curing the tdhlH8 VI cViuSuct
i there was commingling Of the serious ani
4 the cAmic-a picture of life, with all its in
i tensetv dramatic features. Such scene:
i and feelings were accumulated by the testi
4 mony OF the women, who. pointing to thu
prisoners, charged them with sbeing respon
sible for their sad and unfortunate position!
today. The attorney for the defense sait
that he had no testimony in rebuttal, intim
4 ating that they were in no condition to ap
pear in court. This sally provoked muci
merriment. He made the best defense pos