Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-07-10

Sheriff Peter Bonde and deputies
raided the stands of a Lake Lillian
picnic on the Fourth of July, ar
rested John Signal on the charge
of keeping an unlicensed drinking
place and brought in seven half
barrels of the fiery liquid, a beer
pump and an outfit of beer glasses.
Signal pleaded guilty before Judge
Muller Friday and was fined $50
and costs amounting in all to
$66.OO. The sheriff is awaiting an
order from the court to pour the
beer into the sewer and sell the
kegs and appurtenances to the high
est bidder.
. The raid was spectacular affair,
and it is safe to say that never be-
fore has there been as much excite
ment at Lake Lillian as there was
for little while last Thursday af-
ternoon at about four O'Clock. The
annual Fourth of July picnics held
for the benefit of the drinking pop
ulation in the country tributary to
Lake Lillian have been notorious
for years. Usually fights have en-
sued and disgraceful scenes enacted.
Sheriff Bonde had determined to
put a stop to the practice. Deputy
John S. Anderson of Atwater and
A. P. Brandt, a detective who had
been sworn in as a deputy, were
detailed to attend the picnic and
report to the sheriff at Willmar if
any attempt were made to sell in
toxicants.
There were two picnics held on
the shores of Lake Lillian. The
Norwegian Methodist church had
their celebration on the south shore
of the lake in Hemming Anderson S
grove and there was a large crowd
Of the best element in attendance
there. On the north side, at John
Signals place, a dancing platform
had been erected with an innocent
lemonade stand near by. About
thirty yards farther west in the
thicket was another stand. The do
ings at the church picnic were in
full blast at noon, while on the
other side. preparations were being
made for entertaining large crowd
later in the afternoon and evening.
A steam launch was plying tks,
waters of the lake under command
of Capt. Gabriel>on, stopping at
the landings near the two gather
ings. A. P. Brandt, the detective,
had no trouble to buy drinks early
in the day, and was awaiting a fa-
vorable opportunity to send word
to his chief. His presence had ex-
cited some suspicion, however, and
while he was standing on the pier
he was pushed into the water by
one Of those interested in the man.
agement of the picnic. Brandt
managed to pull his assailant into
the water also, and a scuffle ensued
in which it was attempted to duck
Brandt, but he landed on his antag-
onist SO hard that he gave up the
attempt. Loud boasts were made
that if Sheriff Bonde or Crawford
came out they would be harshly
dealt with. Deputies Brandt and
Anderson then left for the opposite
side of the lake and communicated
with the sheriff at Willmar. Armed
with the necessary warrants, Sheriff
Bonde with his deputies A. c..
Crawford and Alf. Gilbertson en-
gagged Harold Handy to take them
out in his new Rambler. They
left Willmar at 2::45 and arrived at
Lake Lillian a little before four,
making the % miles in about an
hours time. They stopped at A. E..
Anderson's place to confer with the
deputies a minute or two and then
proceeded up the lake shore with
all the speed the machine could
muster. The crowd at the picnic
saw what the game was and cheered
Justify as the big red machine spun
along, followed by Deputy Ander
sons rig, his horse going at a furi-