Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-26

toxicated.. To this Attorney McNett
objected and the court sustained the
objection. His testimony agreed with
that Of Mr.. Garner as regarded the
Rosen murder and the open town ls-
sue and the witness said the city gov
eminent was improved after the last
election On cross examination ne
told Senator Cosson that there was
some agitation at the time OF the
Rosen murder and that since then the
conditions have been better. He said
that there was some talk about the
open town issue in the last campaign.
AS to the issue on which Phillips was
elected over SHUTS, he said that
some said it was due to the open town,
issue. while others said 1t was due to
the personal popularity Of Phillips.
Sax Valuable Witness.
Valuable testimony for the defense
was given by ]. B. Sax. The witness
told of knowing the mayor very well
for number of years, and of having
had official dealings with him. He said
he saw the mayor frequently in pass
ing the city hall to and from home to
his place Of business, and that al
ways some salutation passed between
them and often a short conversation.
He testified to much the same evil
de1lce as did Mr.. Garner and Won
Schrader as to the time and condl-
tons relating to the Rosen murder.
and Smoky Row and the reputation OF
the latter. He stated he was out OF
the city at the time of the murder but
returned in two weeks and that the
agitation was somewhat subsidized. He
said there was great deal of feeling
and perhaps one OF the issues In the
last campaign was the "open town"
against the cid on He said he had
paid more attention since the last
election to city matters than prev
iously and he believed the city much
cleaner and improved morally. The
he said apparently takes an
active interest in municipal analrs
He recalled the street flushing incl
dent and said the merchants on Main
street were much gratifed by the
action of the mayor in flushing the
streets.
The witness was then asked about
South Market street. He said it had
been known as Battle Row" and that
a number of saloons were formerly
located on the street in the block from
Main street to the bridge. Upon the
Of Attorney McNett he re-
lated in his own words an incident
showing the attitude Of Mayor Phillips
as to permitting saloons to open on
South Market street after they we're
closed By the revocation petition.
Mr.. Sax said in part:
After notice was given that no
would be permitted to operate
On South Market street in the district
known as Battle Row. Mrs kensey
Jordan. who owned the building i'll
which had been operated the Corn Elk
change saloon, came to me and asked
If would interest myself in her behalf
with Mayor Phillips. and did so. |
presented the matter to the mayor,
using my powers to intercede for the
as widow and an old resident.
/ told the mayor how the building had
Tor years yielded it's owner $1,000 an
nual rent as a saloon and If 1t had
to be rented for another purpose it
would not bring more that $500 or $500
This would seriously interfere with
Mrs. Jordan's livelihood and fol
lowed that line Of pleading. me
mayor listened to me patiently and ex-
pressed his sympathy for Mrs. Jordan.
but having promised to stop. the sa'
oons from engaging in business in
hat district. he refused to grant the
request"
Senator Cosson asked the witness
# he understood that Mr., Phillips had
power to stop the saloons there, and
after some direct and cross question
ng. the witness said he thought so.
Asked if he thought the Phillips adj
has been better than the
Suits government, he said he thought
as whole it had, although he stated
hat he thought the impression re-
sarding it was that Mr.. Suits had
given the city good administration.
He understood the town was more
vide open in 1907 and that he did not
know of any effort by the mayor to
lose down gambling and other houses.
&. G. Keefe on Stand.
E. G. Keefe was the first witness
called this morning ana teStlHeu W
never having seen the mayor drunk
,r under the influence of liquor He
lad taken drink on occasions with
he mayor He said he saw the street
flushing work done. but no signs OF
MODIFICATION on the part of the mayor.
lie referred to the mayor as courage
,us but did not think him insulting. He
said he never had heard of Phillips
,eing intoxicated except what he had
cad in the papers.
Tells Of Raid.
Officer l.. L. Lightner told OF his
beats since being on the force and OF
aiding a place at the corner OF Mar
on and Main streets with Captain
Mier some two years ago. He mad
10 knowledge of any gambling or
,awdy house running since the mayor
,losed them down at the time OF the
Rem Lane incident. He repeated the
,rder of the chief as to closing and
Keeping closed all such places. the
policemen find. and thought it was
oven At the time of the Lane trouble.
lie said he did not know of any under
world women operating on his beat
,.r. II, do6pod oon,hHnp on cross