Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-11
SECRETARY GROSSER
ON TRIAL FOR SELLING
LIQUOR UNLAWFULLY
Official of Sixth Ward Good Govern
ment Club That Indorsed Mayor
Harper Charged with Con-
Quoting Blind Pig

After nearly two hours Of deliberat-
ing, the jury in the case of Arthur
Grosser, secretary of the Sixth Ward
Good Government club, which, Grosser
says, adopted resolutions indorsing the
administration of Mayor Harper, whose
trial on a charge Of conducting a "blind
pig was begun in Police Justice Cham
bers' court, reported that it was unable
TO agree on a, verdict late yesterday
afternoon and was discharged.
Attorney Isidore Dockweiler, a friend
of Mayor Harper's, conducted the de-
fense for the Grossers.
The accused are alleged to have con-
Quoted what one of the men termed d
"speak easy" in the rear of their nur-
sery at 1402-6 Central avenue.
In support of their testimony officers
who made the arrest had four bottles
of whisky which they stated they had
bought from the Grossers.
Patrolnan Kierscey testified he had
visited the place January % and pur
chased 8 bottle of whisky from William
Grosser. The witness said he had re-
turned to the place the following day
and had made two purchases, one from
each of the two Grossers. Another
patrolman testified that he had bought
a bottle of whisky from Grosser Jan
uary %.
One of the arresting officers stated
that he had entered the place and had
three drinks. He bought one drink for
which he paid 10 cents and the other
two were "treats" from one of the de-
PENDANTS. The witness declared that
the man who sold him the drink had
remarked that eff they do not allow us
to conduct a legitimate business we will
do it anyway"
Had Beer for Sale
Ala 1,o
(the witness) wanted any beer to tele-
phone him at any time and he would
sell bottled beer for 81 a dozen bottles.
Patrolman Earl Busse testified that
he and Patrolman Beaumont had Wis
tied the place with a search warrant
and had met William Grosser after the
latter had emerged from the alleged
"blind pig and locked the door. He
told Grosser that he had a search war
rant and asked that the door be opened.
Grosser, he said, replied that he did
not have any keys and the stock in the
room belonged to his brother Arthur.
The officers then told him if the door
was not unlocked it would be broken.
This did not seem to worry William,
and he replied that he did not care.
The door finally was opened with a key
by one of the officers.
About this time, said Busse, Arthur
Crosser appeared and wanted to know
what was the matter. He was told
that they had a warrant to search the
place. When the officers entered they
found a quantity of bottled goods and
a number of demijohns of liquor This
was seized and taken to the police sta
tion for evidence.
Had all the liquor that was seized
been taken to the courtroom there
would have been little space within the
inclosure. AS it was several demijohns
of liquor and some bottled goods were
produced for evidence.
Patrolman Beaumont corroborated
the testimony of the preceding witness
and said that Arthur Grosser stated he
was the proprietor of the place.
Arthur Grosser was the only person
to testify for the defense. He made
statements that were conflicting when
ne said that Hagenbaugh, one of the
arresting officers, was allowed to have
the whisky because the witness knew
him to be a policeman, and he never
charged policemen for drinks when he
was in the liquor business. Later he
said he had known Hagenbaugh for a
number of years but did not know he
was an officer.
Arthur Grosser further stated he was
the owner of the liquor, which he had
bought when he was conducting a
liquor business under a license. He de-
MED that he had sold it and that he
was conducting a retail liquor business.