Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-05-28

aroused. The reading PUBIC JnOuBht
the "ad" was genuine and It did not
wake from its pleasant dream until
it found that the office mentioned
was the opera house box office.
The soda water season in Chicago
is now on for 1910. During the next
six months some 95,OOO,OOO drinks
will be sold, Of which probably To-
600, 900 will be served to women and
children. Eight million gallons will
be the total consumed. An inspec-
ton of any of the big dispensaries on
any mild or warm day will convince
the observer that much the same
social motive which prompts men 20
patronize saloons moves the women
to bend over the temperance bever-
age.
The soda water depots are the
"chattiert" places in Chicago in the
Summer time. For every three and
half saloons there is one soda
fountain, hence no lack of accommo-
dation for tete tetes.
The question has been raised
whether conviction for grating"
can be brought about in this city,
let the evidence be what it may
The fate of Edward Mccain, police
inspector, argues it is not impossible,
but there have been many other
cases in very recent years which
bred Encouragement. Another one
has Just been recorded.
James p. Connery was indicted a
few weeks ago on the charge Of de-
frauding the city by delivering to it
coal much cheaper and poorer than
that called for in the contract. The
evidence on which the true bill was
based was admittedly very strong.
The Merriam commission found that
the facts we're against Connery. The
evidence was in documentary form
largely. This was backed up by the
word of credible witnesses.
Connery was brought to trial last
week Instead of displaying a will
ingness to get down to the merits of
the case and slft the evidence for the
guilt or innocence Of the defendant,
the latter's lawyers concentrated
their efforts in seeking loophole in
technicalities They found one which
is at least temporarily effective In
delaying the ends of justice.
What happened? The presiding
Judge ruled the case out of court
holding the indictment was faulty be-
cause it alleged that Connery OBJ
tanned certain money from the city
but did not say that the city de-
livered the money to him; also be-
cause the true bill alleged the city
was induced to pay the money, but
failed to declare the money was paid.
There was no disputing the fact
that Connery got the money and that
1t was money out of the city treas
ury The question of justice involved
was whether or not Connery de-
frauded the city in his coal trans
actions. Nobody except lawyer and
his client cared whether there were
enough or too few words in the in
dictment or whether the commas
were correctly placed Anybody
who could read and had a normal
mind could understand what Connery
was accused Of But the case was
thrown out of court, and to bring
Connery to justice he must be in
dicted all over again at considerable
expense.
The next true bill, II there be one,
viii not throw a particle more light
on the charge so far as the public Is
concerned, but 1t may be drafted
more in consonance with the nice
Ideas of technical perfection de-
manded by counsel and court. Then
some day the wheels of justice may
be found grinding away at the fun
damental question OF guilt or inno-
cence.
Miss Rose Platke says she Is not
going to marry Albert Ulmer. She
told Albert so, and instead of getting
down on his knees in supplication,
he observed nonchalantly; ooh,
very we'll; let It go at that.
The two had as nice a looking
marriage license as County Clerk
Haas has issued In recent months
Albert turned It over TO Rose to keep
until they were ready to make use o.
It. Meantime Roses papa got busy
and discovered. according to Rose.
that Alberts weekly wage was $t2
instead OF the prineely SIS she be-
lieved he drew down. Rose told
Albert about the looking up OF his
financial status and his rating by
Papa Platke. She suggested that the
income might not be sufficient TO
carry ON the partnership unless he
had reserve fund for emergencies,
Albert threw out a rather broad hint
that II crisis came both members
OF the firm might contribute 10 the