Evening journal., 1914-01-02
LICENSE COURT
HITS STARKEY
Unsupported Testimony, or
Any Other That is Paid for,
is Held TO Be VaIueIeSS
SLEUTH WAS
SHADOWED BY RIVALS

MEDIA. Pa, Jan. 2-"No licenses
will be taken away on unsupported
evidence furnished by detectives or
persons paid to procure It" said
Judge Broomall yesterday. This state
ment was made during argument on
the application for the license Of
Simon Bruner for the Steamboat
Hotel, foot Of Market street, Chester,
Evidence from witnesses like Lottie
Howard who spends three-lourths of
her time in Jail for drunkenness, will
be given no consideration, and that
furnished by detectives very little
more. Judge Broomall said. In
cases. he continued. "where only
such testimony is produced. the qres-
tion of necessity may be shown, and
this will be given proper considera-
ton"
The decision, coming almost at the
beginning of the fight against the
Chester saloons by the No-License
League, came as a shock to the latter.
The League was depending almost en-
tirely on evidence in these cases that
could be furnished by people who had
been employed to obtain it,
The fight against granting the IL
cense Of Simon Bruner for the Steam
boat Hotel practically narrowed down
to a fight between detectives for
either side. The credibility Of Cyrus
A. Starkey, a detective in the employ
of the No-License League, was at
tackled by operators from the Law and
Order Society of New Jersey. They
testified that Starkey in nine days
visited only one saloon in Chcster;
that he spent his time in running
around with a woman and that he
spent the nights November %, % and
27 in the Dorchester House, Arch
street, Philadelphia, with Z woman
other than his wife. They also tes-
titled that Starkey had been employed
several times in similar investiga-
tons, and each time disappeared be-
fore the cases came up in court
DENY Robbing His Office.
These witnesses were the subject of a
severe attack made by \ b. Geary,
chief counsel for he No-iicense League
lie questioned them until they denied
that thew had broken into his private
office during his absence. He also ae.
cused them of stealing papers from hi.
lOnice. The detectives denied any con
lnection with the robbery.
Following the decision OF Judge
Broomall, the court took \ recess e
give the attorneys for the No-Licens'
! League an opportunity TO cXpunge paic
/ testimony. This viii shorten the hear
inos. That Delaware county will b'
dry ior perhaps fortnight, however
lnow seems certainty. The Chester
leases are only well started. and the 1871
licenses expire at II o'clock Saturda,
might The court has stated that n.
licenses will be granted or extended unit
lall evidence for all the Licenses has oeel
heard argued and reviewed. This WI
he the first time in history that Della
ware county entire has gone dry.
After the recess the application &
Thomas Robinson. for the Madiso
House. Twelfth street and ProvidenC
avenue, was taken up. and John 2
IGwvnn. Of Swarthmorc, 20 years oil
testified that be GOT beer in the Mad
son House in February, August an
| September. Many witnesses were cal
ed to show that strangers were accon
modatcd with meals and lodging at Il
place. however.
In an effort to make good I'll
threat TO call white ribhoners an
signers to circumstances, John
Hannum. chief attorney for IL
Liouor Dealers Association, bega
calling a long list of women of tn
class. who had been suhpoenae
There was no response until ate
many had been called. when n
name Of DR.. Anna Broomail, a form'
president of the Wcman's Medici
College. and sister of Judge Williai
p. Broomall. was called. She test
fed that she had signed the gener'
remonstrance because she was ol
posed to the sale Of liquor anywher
, She had never seen any drunkenness
in the vicinity of the Robinson Hote
Chester. but had observed it nea
Evans place
Faces Two Witnesses.
George Nugent. proprietor or IN
Lincoln Hotel. northeast corner
Second and Market streets faced bi
two witnesses. Starkey and Dr WI
liam Wood. The former testified th'
fbore was a back room in Nugent
Mace where white and colored won
en we're served. and he had see
drunken men get drinks there ID
| Wood had seen drunken men in froI
of the hotel.
Several Witnesses testified tnat NJ
gents hotel was necessary tor IN
| ( accommodation of the public, especia
INV the colcreG public.