Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-02-03
Petitioners REST;
MAY ARGUE TODAY
Liquor License Hearing
Came to an Abrupt End
Monday Afternoon.
JUDGE WANTS BRIEFS
Decision Of Saloons or No Saloon,
May Be Delayed Until
Next Week..
JUDGE WANTS BRIEFS

At $40 o'clock yesterday afternoon
the hearing on the liquor license
iquestion before County Judge c. NJ.
Philpot came to an end so far as
testimony is concerned.
Judge W. d. Jones, representing
nounced that the petitioners would be
willing to rest their case provided
the remonstrants would be willing to
dispense with rebuttal proof. After
short conference on the part of
Attorneys p. NJ. Shaw and w. ID.
Sorrels, for the remonstrants, this
was agreed to.
With this settled, Judge Philpot in
reference to question as to argu-
ment of the case, announced that he
had decided not to hear any speeches
en- the part Of attorneys on eithe:
SIDE, and that HE would require them
TO submit briefs. He said he was
willing at a later time to hear argu-
mant On his rulings, S to the census
of the city and the removal of certain
names from the petition. He said
that personally he would have pre-
ferred to have given immediate rul-
ings on names challenged, but had
thought it not best to persue this
course.
Attorney Shaw informed the court
that il would require at least a week
in which to properly prepare brief
on the case. In this contention, he,
was upheld by Attorney Jones, who
said that it was, possible to dictate
to stenographer more in the course
of two hours than it would be pos
sible for the stenographIer to write
in many hours.
With no decision reached on this
point, as Judge Philpot said he want
ed to follow the best course and
would not insist absolutely upon one
set procedure, HE suggested that the
orneys maet with him Tuesday
morning at o'clock when either
arguments or briefs would be decid
ed upon.
That the petitioners rested the case
suddenly yesterday afternoon, same
as surprise to many people inter-
ested in the case. 1t had been limited
among a few that this course would
be taken, but there had been no defi-
mite decision on this score. or one
thing it was certain, and that it, all
directly concerned with the long
drawn out hearing were heartily
glad that the stage had been reached
whan there was to be cessation OF
testimony. Commencing January II,
with only a few iatermissions, there
has been a steady grind of testimony
day in and day out, and sometimes,
with night sessions to speed the hear
ing to finish.
While there has been diversi-
fled opinion as to the progress OF
the hearing, opinions being based
largely upon which side sympathy
lay, throughout there has been no
definite estimate as to whether the
majority of challenges issued by the
remonstrants. will hold or not, as
Judge Philpot took each challenge
| under advisement and did nd render
rulings upon them at the time they
were made.
The remonstrants, those wishing
the adjustment of the saloon, made
all told, upward Of 1000 challenges
of names, on the ground that many
of those signing do not live in Pine
Bluff, that there were many names
duplicated, that improper addresses
were given and that some minors
had signed the liquor petition.