The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-02-02

buy drink of liquor was almost
forced to produce a birth certificate
that is if he looked to be under
the age limit. While the law pro
hibits minors from entering saloons
nevertheless the saloonmen them
selves do not wish to get into
trouble with the authorities through
the medium of "f1y-bobs."
Many saloonmen in Mankato long
ago established the rule not to sell
liquor to minors and of course these
dealers were not doing anything
out Of the ordinary when they de.
clined last night to sell their goods
to those who did not look to be
twenty-one.
The first knockdown on account
of the recent disclosures occurred
last night when one young man,
who was suspected of assisting the
detectives in their "spotting," asked
another young man for cigaret
paper. Having been accommodated the
first young man proceeded to write
the donors name in his notebook,
with the remark, "You don't look
good to me-" The second young man
vgae the suspected spotter blow on
the face, knocking him down. This ex-
citing scene was witnessed by a
number OF young folks in South
Front street place of business.
1t was expected that the warrants
would be served sometime this after
noon.
1t is said that Mallory was accom-
panied to the county attorneys office
by Rev. G. 3. Osgood, executive
secretary of the Men and Religion
Movement, when application was,
made for the complaints.
County Attorney ]. w. Schmitt was
kept busy this morning issuing more
complaints that were signed by
Frank Maloy Clerk of Court Bates
put in a portion of the afternoon
preparing the warrants. Most of the
complaints charged parties with sell
gin cigarets. They are: John Doe,
Richard Roe, Charles Mitchell, John
O'Brien, Charles H. Jones, Clarence
Peterson. B. R. Vandervort and Mil
Ter & Hildenbrand are charged with
having cigarets in stock. Gus Peter
son is charged with having sold
liquor to minor on January %. 1t
is reported that this particular mi
nor was employed to enter the sa-
loon for the purpose of obtaining
the liquor so that he could have the
complaint. The law prohibiting MI
nors from entering saloons-not to
mention their procuring liquor there
in-is plain. The penalty is a fine
of not less than $40 nor more than
io;1 IN
twenty-five days.
Penalty for Selling Cigarets.
The penalty for selling cigarets is
not more than $50. This also applies
to those who may be convicted of
permitting cigaret smokers to fire.
quent a room for that purpose.
No attempt has ever been made
in Mankato to enforce the law pro-
hibiting the sale Of cigarets and the
persent wholesale action comes as a
complete surprise.
How Game is Worked.
1t is said that youths have been
sent into a number of saloons for
the purpose of purchasing whisky
that might be used against the deal
ers. In most instances the saloon
men were "wised-up'' to the game
and declined to sell the liquor to the
boys. Several amusing stories are
related by saloonmen who describe
how boys approached them with the
story that mother was sick and she
wanted the whisky for medicinal pur.
poses. One saloonman who was ap-
pealed to in this way filled a bottle
with whisky and remarked that he
would accompany the boy home. At
that the lad made a dash for the
street and succeeded in escaping the
saloonman's boot.
The defendants were served with
warrants this afternoon. They were
arraigned in court and all pleaded
not guilty. Their cases were set for
certain days-from February l to s..
(From Mondays DaiIy.)
There was a rumor afioat today