Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-07-25
spencer,s saloon Shut Up.

| SUCuCCT . oofOOn ohios OPs
The notorious saloon of Albenus Spen-
Ger, on the Maryland side of the river
Immediately opposite Harper's Ferry,
was closed last Thursday night, Spencer's
license having been revoked by Judge.
Keedy in Hagerstown that day.
The objections of the people OF that
section were expressed in petition signed
by Randolph Peacher to Judge Keedy to
revoke the license, and the Judge fixed
a hearing for last Thursday. Attorney
T. A. Poffenberger represented the pc
titioners and Ernest Hoffman and w. J.
Witzenbacher appeared for Spencer.
Many witnesses testified as to the dis
orderly conduct, indecency, rioting, swear
ing and foul language, gambling and other
offenses about the place. 1t was shown
that it was scarcely safe for persons to
pass along the county road, and women
were offended and insulted by the sights
about the place and the improper con-
duct OF those who frequented the saloon;
gambling and crap shooting were carried
on In open view along the road near the
saloon; men and women got whiskeY
and beer at Spencer's and drank it on the
road; young ladies passing that way
were accosted by drunken men. Among
those who testified againstthe place were
Edward Moore, Mrs. Moore, Randolph
Peacher, John Miller, Mrs. Miller. Mrs.
Cady, Mrs. Reynolds, Miss Riffey, c. E.
Miller, Charles Virtz, and others. twas
also shown that the negro Welcome got
from the saloon the revolver with which
he killed the Italian there on July 4th.
Spencer testified that he had kept a
saloon for 81 years, and said that he tried
to keep within the bounds of the law,
though he admitted that there was gamb-
ling and disorder about the place. He
declared that a half dozen officers could
not have controlled the crowd on the 4th
of July. A dozen or more witnesses test
flied for Spencer, and said that he tried
to conduct an orderly place, but most OF
them admitted that they had seen gamb-
ling about the place and that drunken
men were usually about, one witness
acknowledging that his wife had been in
suited as she passed by.
After hearing the testimony, Judge
Keedy announced his decision-that ne
would revoke the license. He stated that
although some of the witnesses testified
that the saloon was conducted in an or
derby manner, the testimony was over
whelming that the drunkenness, gamb-
ling and immoral conduct in that vicinity
was due directly to the existence of this
saloon, and the place had become null
sance to the community.
In accordance with the law, an order
was thereupon issued revoking the IL
cense, and the saloon was closed up the
same evening.
The closing Of this saloon is great
victory for decency and order in this en-
tire section. Since Jefferson county has
become dry, Spencer's place had become
the headquarters for the roughs and toughs
who find their most congenial surround
ings in liquor saloon, and it dealt out
death and destruction through a wide
territory. The elimination OF the dis
order and turbulence came on the 4th OF
July, when riot took place there, re-
sulting in the murder Of two persons,
and sufficient evidence was thereupon
produced to justify the court in revoking
the license and removing the plague spot
that has been such menace to three or
four counties.