The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-05-22

Three Witnesses Called Before the
Grand Jury Decline to Testify.
They Are Called into Court and
I Are Each Fined Twenty-Five Dol
| lars and Sentenced to Five Days
i'm Jail-On the Plea of the De-
PENDANTS Delay i'm the Execution
OF the Courts Mandate.
There was stir in social clubs
yesterday and this morning OF un-
usual interest. Indeed, it verged on
| the sensational as the report
spread that three witnesses called
before the Grand Jury had refused
to disclose how beverages were dis
pensed at the Elks Club and had
been assigned to Jail and fined S25.
The three members of the Elks
Club who had declined to answer to
queries of the Grand Jury, S. o.
Williams and A. S. Hardin, deputies
in the office of the Clerk of Caddo
Parish, and Barrow Seay, were
summoned into court and each was
fined by Judge John r. Land $25
and sentenced to five days in Jail.
Before this order of the court was
executed there was an intercessiOn
at which Attorneys J. M. Foster and
John ID. Wilkinson appeared on be-
half of the witnesses named who
pleaded for time in order to inquire
into the law under which the court
proceeding was based. The court
fixed II o'clock this morning for a
hearing and suspended the execu-
ton of the penalty imposed on the
three witnesses.
This morning the representatives
,Of the three witnesses and Judge
Land held private conference, al
which there was discussed and re-
viewed the action Of the court,
when the attorneys reached the
|conclusiOH that the three wit
fDesses held in conten pit of court
could testify without ineriminat-
ing themselves, and on teslifying
would be relieved of the contempt
of court. Following this announce
ment the court room, which was
Icrowded, was soon emptied, and the
witnesses were called to the Grand
Jury room and answered the que
| ries which they had refused TO an
swer the day preceding.
This proceeding was somewhat
extraordinary, in view of the fact
that the Grand Jury had already
obtained information which pre-
lsumably they were seeking and had
acquired from other members OF
the Elks.
In this proceeding the court was
lcOnfrOnted with serious issue, but
Judge Land did not hesitate in his
duty. In passing judgment on the
witnesses then in contempt he de-
kclared: Il would resign from the
bench, quit my job, before I would
| show any discrimination between
an organization of this sort and the
individual violator of the prohibi-
ttion and blind tiger laws of this
city, and base my determination
Iupon the case of State vs.. The Pick
wick Club of New Orleans"
n is such words and such a stand
that compel respect and obedience
Ito law.
In the pending inquiry the Off
cials of the club were excused from
testifying for the reason that it was
mot desired they should incriminate
themselves and by refusal to testify
to be put in contempt of court.
1t is held that members of the
lclub may testify without their in
Termination, but it is not the MEM
bers who are to be held account
able, if there have been violations
Iof the law, but the management of
the club. It is also held that the
Iclub could dispense beverages as is
done at the Pickwick and other So
cial clubs in New Orleans, but this
is disputed on the grounds that a
club which obtains a revenue
license for the dispensing of intoxi-
eating liquors within it's walls, is
not exempt by reason of that fact,
Jas it is unlawful in prohibition ter
ritory. II is also held that the club
is not in contravention of law when
the money obtained from beverages
dispensed to its members only is re-
tanned in the clubs treasury and is
|expended for legitimate expendi-
lures and in liquidating debts and
other obligations.
However, these suggestions or be-
liefs can only be settled in the
IcOurse of legal proceedings should
indictments be found against any
lone of the club who may be helG
Irresponsible.
In the inquiry jnto the violation