The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-01-02
Liquor Men Appear
Before City Council
From Mondays paIlv.

Never was the lobby or the city
council chamber more closely pack.
cd with spectators than Il was this
afternoon. All available standing
room was taken un The police
adopted special precautions to keep
the crowd from interfering with the
city officers in their transaction OF
business. The police station on the
left side of the building was kept
locked and under guard and only
those were admitted who had special
reasons for being allowed among the
officers, for, as Is well-known, the
police station communicates directly
with the council chamber. where the
meetings are held.
The question ut issue was whether
the licenses OF three saloonkeeper.
Frank j. Mettler. John Hagen and
Frank LorenZ, all OF whom had
been convicted OF disobeying the
law in the sale of their beverages,
should be revoked.
Mayor Meyer called the meeting
10 order shortly before two o'clock,
and announced that the meeting
had been called 20 give the three
saloon-keepers a chance TO show
cause why their licenses should not
be revoked.
City Attorney Schaub said that
each of these should be heard sep
arately lie said the licensees ought
10 have the last word OF the
argument.
Mayor Stops an Argument.
Attorney Ivan Bowen believed that
those who had the responsibility OF
fastening guilt on the parties should
have the closing argument. Mayor
Meyer stopped the argument over
this point and called on City Clerk
Bates also read the reports OF the
licensees appear for n hearing on
the question OF revocation. Clerk
Bai1 salso read the reports OF the
Chief of Police Eli Klugherz. OF
service on the licensees.
Attorney S. b. Wilson appeared
for Messrs. Hagen and Mettler. He
had several petitions applying 10 ali
three licenses. The petitions asked
that the licenses be not revoked on
the ground that the licensees had
been sufficiently punished already
u was contended that the revocation
of the licenses would be excessive
punishment. The petitions were
signed by over 100 names. and were
placed on file.
Mr.. Wilson said that the licensees
were ready TO present their wit
nesses 10 show that the licensees
wera men OF proper character 10
have licenses. II this was proven
Mr.. Wilson said. there would be no
occasion for the revocation Of the
licenses. If the evidence should
prove that these men were repeat.
edly violating the law, then the
council might revoke the licenses.
Mayor Says. "Sit Down."
There was n discussion between
Attorney Bowen and Attorney vii
son over the question OF final ar
gument. Sit down." cried the may
or. The crowd yelled The mayor
threatened TO put out any disorder
~ persons.
Frank J. Mettler was called to tn,
stand and testified that In the fifteer
years he had conducted n saloon n
Mankato he had run an orderl,
Tlace. according TO his understand
Ing of tho law. and that he ha,
given his bartenders instructions /,
comply with the law In all things
lie admitted that he had been con
victed OF selling liquor to a mino
on October II. At that time. Mr.
Mettler said. stranger had gon
into his saloon and bought a bottl
OF beer, and that two men wit
him had taken pop. The man re
turned later. according to Mr.. Met
tiers testimony. and bought NOR
bottles of liquor. putting them int
suit case. A warrant was late
sworn out for his arrest. chargin
him with selling liquor to minors.
Promised TO ee Good.
mr. Mettler testified that at hi
trial on the charge of which h
was found guilty. two boys were Of
the stand and admitted that the,
had stolen money to buy the liquo
with. Those boys. Mr.. Mettler. test
fed. were the witnesses on who's
testimony he was convicted. Mr.
Mettler declared his willingness q
obey the law in every way IL hi
license was not revoked.
Mr.. Mettler declared that the boy
had told him that they had stolel
the liquor out OF the mans suit case
On cross-examination Mr.. Mettler ad
mitted that he had been convicte,
in 1898 OF keeping his saloon opeI
on Sunday. He admitted severa
other indictments for selling iiquo
TO minors. He denied having beer
found guilty of this charge previous
~. however.
Dan Couehlan was called to tn,
witness stand 20 testify as to MI
Mettlers character and fitness I,
conduct a saloon. as were also Ere,
Heinze. sAlbert He'll and Chief o
Police Klugherz. All four witnesse
declared that Mr.. Mettler had con
Quoted an orderly saloon.