Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-03-04
SIXTY DAYS ATDEIRO|T
Started Blind Pig in Ithaca -SklpS
Home and Returns.
PLEADS GUILTY IN COURT.
Circuit Judge X. S. Scarf Gave Him $500
Fine and 90 Days at Detroit.

A,warrant was issued some time ago
forl the arrest of Clarence Fowler of
Ithaca, who was charged with selling
five pints of beer. Before the warrant
was served Mr.. Fowler absented him
self from Ithaca and the warrant re-
manned i'll the possession of the officer.
Tuesday il became known that the much
wanted man had returned home, and
the officer Immediately got busy with
the result that the gentleman was found
secreted in his home. He was taken
before Justice Myers, where he pleaded
guilty to the charge as read, and We'd
nesday, the following morning, was
taken before Circuit Judge Kelly S.
Searl for sentence.
The judge as will be seen by his
charge which appears in full is deter.
mined that blind pigs will not become
popular in Gratiot county. In address
ing the prisoner the judge said:
The Court: Mr.. Fowler, you may
stand up. You have been convicted
by your plea of guilty of the offense
of unlawfully selling certain spirit
uous and Intoxicating liquors. to-wit.
beer, in this county on the date
charged in the information here and
it now becomes the duty of the court to
pass sentence upon YOU. In my talk
Utf \ taA 20 ho I q
the extreme limit was 80 davs in Jail
or the House of Correction. but upon
looking the statute over i find / was
mistaken and that the extreme limit
is six months. not 80 davs, hut
will not give you that in view of the
fact that you have pleaded guilty and
in view of the fact that you have a
family and three children. and also
take into consideration the fact that
Won never have been convicted of
any crime before. But it does appear
bv your admission that you shipped
into town a sugar barrel of bottles of
beer; 1T was sent TO YOU by express
and sent as beer and you say it was
beer. You sold five bottles of this beer
TO one person and am informed hy
other people, although you did not
admit that, that you sold other
bottles of il to other people. Now
that is what is commonly known as
running blind pig" and The people
of this county have determined that
blind pigs shall not be run in this
county, and the court is also de-
termined to aid the people in seeing
that that is carried out Ii the or
binary processes of the court are not
sufficient to stop this kind of bust
ness. the extraordinary processes
will be resorted to. and You might as
well understand and all others. who
are inclined to sell liquor unlawfully
in this county, that it Is serious
offense and may be dealt with very
severely. For the first offense you
might be sent to Jail for six months
and fined 500 and costs For the
second offense you could be fined $500
and imprisoned for a period of two
years This ought to be lesson to
you to quit this kind of business when
you get through serving your sem
tence The court hopes that YOU will
reform and become a good citizen.
Personally i have no feelings against
you whatever. Will be- glad to as
sist you in any way l can when you
come out, but it is nv duty as judge
of the conrt to deal rather severely
with you in view of the fact that /
propose to stop the running of blind
pigs in Gratiot county. Since the first
of Nav there have been eight or nine
people sent tn Jail for violation of the
local option law in this county and in
Clinton and there will be more of them
and the sentence will be more severe
unless this is stopped. So far no SEN
tence has exceeded 80 days but in your
case think / ought to go above that
The persons that have been sentenced
before. have been druggists or men
that have given iiquor to some of
their chums or something of that kind.
This is the first case where sales have
been made from some place which
was apparently being run as blind
pig for the selling of beer or liquor
The sentence of the court in YOUR
case is that you. pay fine of S75. and
the cost of this prosecution hereby
taxed bv me at S25. and that YOU be
and remain confined in the Detroit
House of Correction from and after
this date for period of 80 days
That is only half as long as l might
send you. That is all.