Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-23
Proprietors of Lunchrooms
Respond to Charges.
THREE CASES TRIED TODAY
Sanitary Crusade of Health Depart.
ment Proceeds.
DENIES THE ACCUSATIONS
Manager of Pennsylvania Avenue
Testimony of an Inspector.

Three defendants were arraigned be-
fore Judge Aukam in the District branch
Of the Police Court today charged with
maintaining insanitary and unhealthy
kitchens.
The first case called was that of the
Maryland Quick-lunch Room, located at
zoos Pennsylvania avenue, visited the
10th instant by Inspector Gallagher on
whose report the prosecution was based.
William II. Plummer, manager of the
establishment. appeared as the defend
ant he being represented by Attorney
Arthur Peter.
Inspector Gallagher, the only witness
for the prosecution. described what he
termed the insanitary condition of the
place. naming specifically serving
table, a disabled steam table, a stair
way and garbage cans.
Describes the Utensils.
On the steam table, the inspector tes-
titled. he found number of pots and
cooking utensils which looked dirty and
there appeared to be dirt and grease
on the surface of the table, which ap-
parently came from the boiling over OF
the contents of the utensils found on
the table. He described a flight of stairs
from the kitchen to the basement, the
walls Of which. he declared. were un-
clean and insanitary. In the cellar. the
w
of garbage cans also in an insanitary
condition.:
Counsel for the defense at this point
made a motion for the dismissal of the
charge OF the ground that the section OF
the health regulations under which the
charge was drawn-section . BIS map
plicable. The dismissal was also moved
on the ground that Plummer, the de-
fendant named in the information. is not
the actual owner of the establishment.
h,,t sal
John ]. Noonin is the proprietor of the
lunchroom and Plummer is employed as
manager
The court overruled the first motion.
but said the second exception appeared
to be well taken, and he desired to ex-
anime the law on the subject before
making ruling. He announced that his
decision will be given the f1rst thing TO-
morrow morning. Counsel for the de-
fense noted an exception to the overrul-
ing of the first motion.
Defense Offers Testimony.
1t was agreed that the testimony be
concluded today. and both the defense
and prosecution await the decision of the
court tomorrow morning. THE publicity
given this defendants place of business
as result of the present action of the
health department is costing him any
where from $50 to $75 a day. Attorney
Peter said. land 1 trust we may get in
the testimony showing that the condi-
tions described did not exist in this lunch
ROOM"
Plummer and Noonin manager and pro-
prietor, respectively, of the lunchroon1
were called. Each denied the truthful
ness of the accusations by Inspector Gal
lagher. They asserted that the establish
had been and Is now cleaned and white
washed three times year, and at the
time the inspection took place the en-
ployes were just finishing dinner and
some of the pans and pots were necessar-
lily unclean because of the recent use.
They stated that each pot and pan is
cleaned as quickly as 1t is used. and the
kitchen is always open to inspection OF
customers.
j. w. Staggart, w. H. Dyer. ]. M. Tracy
and L. J. Bremen also testified for the
defense. They said that so far as they
were able to observe the place had always
been clean. and that there is no dirt ex-
cept that, which would necessarily arise
from cooking. which, they stated. SO far
as they knew. W3s Immediately cleaned
up.