Putnam patriot., 1914-12-18
LICENSE GRANTED
County Commissioners Decide Samuel
 Smith Suitable Person
Appeal laken ;. Hearing n Bar Library

After a heafing on the remonstrauce against the grinting ot a liquor license to Stmuel smith, proprietor of smith $ cafe, on south Main street, Monday morning, the County Commissioners, Messrs. Hall, smith and Davis, after a conference of about five minutes, deei- ded that Mir. smith was "a suitable person 10 have a license and stated that they would grant him one, Law l yer, Carpenter who appeared in sup i port of the rem0nstrance, gave notice of an appeal and is allowed ten days to make the appeal effective. The license i will not be granted until either the time of appeal elapses without It's be- l ing perfected, or if perfected, until the matter is heard by the Superior court. ! The hearing lasted two hours. All of the evidence was put in by Lawyer l forrey for Mir. smith, Mir, Carpenter | relying on matter brought out in cross ] examination. lie cross examined at length on the death Of Joseph Dubois, who fell in the saloon, October 3rd, breaking his neck, and it was practi. eally on this incident that he based his argument that MT. smith was not d suitable person to be licensed, stating also that Putnam already had too many licensed places.
 Mir. Smith was the first witness called. He stated that he had been in business in Putnam since a year ago last April. .He had been in the liquor business for from twelve to fourteen years, for the past four years being a proprietor. He was first in Norwich, then Wilimantic, and from there came to Putnam. He said he ran a good, clean place, dii not allow any loafers or gambling. Had been away for the past two weeks a good deal helping friend fix up a place in Jew ett City. On cross examination he told of the Dubois incident when the man fell in the saloon and broke his
 
 When he came in towards evening Du. bois was lying in the storeroom with some straw under his hend. Lnter he had bis bartender summon a doctor. He did not admit anY liability for the occurrence but said he had made n payment to the widow. lie was not interested in any other business, was an American citizen and voter. No complaints had ever been made against him and he had never been arrested In ! his life.
 Sergeant Patrick Hayes of the police force said that Ithe place was a good one and had good reputation. He had had no complaints about 1t and heard no noise inIthere when he pass 1 ed by on his beat. It was his opinion that 1t was much better than under | the former licensee.
 Miss Inez Hoyle, who owns the building where the place is llocated, said that she lived over the saloon and 1t was very quiet. She would never know by any sounds that 0there was a saloon there. It was conducted much better than when MT. Chapdelsine had it. She admitted the rent wss good part of her income and she depended upon 1t for living
 Judge J Harry Mann said that the place had a good reputation. He had never heard any complaints from it. He knew Mir. Smith and considered he had good reputation. He did bus mess with the proprietor in the insur. ! ance line.
 Judge James A. Shay, Judge of Pro bate and of the police court of WiIli- mantle, testified that while MT. Smith was in that city he bore good pefso- nal reputation and had the name of keeping good place. Frank P. Fen ton, town clerk and treasurer Of Willi. mantle, also so testified.
 A. $. Macdonald, prosecuting attor- ney of the city of Putnam, stated that he had received no complaints against the place.
 A. A. Houghton said that he had been in the place several times to col feet rent. Saw no chairs nor loafers Thought the place had good reputa' ton and that Mir. Smith was suita ble man to have license.
 
 Wilfred Caisse. bartender, said tn, place was run clean. That mo drinks were sold 10 intoxicated persons anc that no loafefs were allowed. Asked regarding the Dubois incident he saic that he was back of Inc bar when Du bois came in and ordered pony beer
 He might have been drinking but h. saw no signs of intoxication. He saw him fall. AfteTward heard him sa, that he would like 10 sit down ant that he would be all right in a few
 minutes. This was about o'clock
 He was taken into the storeroom ant
 seated in chair. He forgot aboa
 him and forgot to tell MT. smith abou
 him when he first came. He teie phoned for Dr. Perry al Nr. smith
 request and later went to the doctor house.
 George Brissette, cook in restanr ant at The north end Of The block, stat ed that Dubois came into the kiteheI where he was at. work about quaTle
 oi two. He might have had drink 0