Weekly journal-miner., 1916-06-14
SLEUTH ADMITS VIOLATION OF
 BOOZE LAW
METHODS EMPLOYED IN ATTEMPTS TO SECURE EVIDENCE BARED IN JUSTICE COURT.
(From Saturdays Dsiiy)

Frankly admitting tGat they had themselves frequently been guilty ot the same charges on which they had caused many to be arrested, testify ing as to the many hypocritical meth ods they had employed in endeavor- ing to secure evidence of bootlegging against local men and bringing to light the expense the county IS being put to in seeking this evidence, Charles c. Cooper and s. c. Bryant, employees of the Thie1 Detective Agency, were the principal witnesses yesterday dur ing the preliminary hearings ot Sidney Birch. Robert Birch and Stanley Priestley on charges of violating the State prohibition amendment. The hearing of the charges against Sid Birch and Priestly. filed jointly. occu- pied the greater part of the day Tn Justice McLane's court and was con tinued until 10 o'clock this morning. The hearing of Bob Birch was started during the afternoon and was also continued until this morning.
 During the searching cross-examina- tions by Attorney R. E. Morrison, for the defense, Cooper and Bryant were forced to show their hands and di- vulged many of the intricate plots by which they lad sought to gain cvi- dence against the Birch brothers, and employees of the cafe.
 Frequent iilts occurred between Morrison and Deputy County Attor- ney Joseph Morgan, handling the prosecution, and Justice McLane was forced several times to request the two attorneys to cease wrangling.
 Cooper was the first witness called bv the State. He said that he had been sent nere by the Tkiel agency to secure evidence against alleged bootleggers and had arrived in Pres cott about April 10th last, Bryant fol lowing him a day later. Cooper told of having spent practically every day, up to the latter part of May, in Birch Bros cafe ;n an effort to secure evi- dence against Sid and Bob Birch and their employees. He told of having become acquainted with P:iestly and of having often purchased ginger ale, or. as he termed it, ''genake." He said that after drinking six or eight glasses of ginger ale he had felt slightly intoxicated
 On cross-examination by Morrison, Cooper admitted that when ne came to Prescott he had posed as an eN- cowpuncher and pretended to want to go into the cattle business near here and settle down. Morrison at this point bitterly scored the charac- ter of the witness for starting Tn his investigations by telling an untruth. Cooper explained this by saying that he could not very well have stated his real business and had claimed to be a cattleman as lie mad been raised on ranch and had some knowledge Of the business.
 Cooper several times evaded an swers to Morrison's questions and the attorney demanded that he be less insulting and answer the question puf to him" Morgan suggested that Nor rison also be Hess insulting" and the court ordered them both to cease Guarreling and proceed with the case. Cooper again told of the effect that the alleged the ginger ale purchased from Priestly mad on him. but said that he had never been so intoxicated but what he knew what he was doing. He said he did not know what the in gredients of the ginger ale were, oth- CT than that Priestly had poured something from two different bottles into the glass Sometimes, he said, the drink affected him and other times it did not. but always 1t tasted like ginger ale. When asked if he knew positively whether Sid Birch was one of the proprietors of the place, Coo per replied in the negative, saving that he had only been told that such was the case He denied ever having been offered by. or of having pur chased. any drink from Sid Birch.
 Have you ever been guilty of giv, ing away liquor while you were ir Arizona:" asked Morrison.
 Cooper said he had.
 ITO whom:' asked the attorney.
 The investigator told Of having giv en whiskey to Charles Van Tine and \. B. Noxon. whom he later cause; to be arrested for the same offense and to Jimmie Britton. Joe Hobbs Bryant and "Old Man Cooper" He told or hdNlHS hhNllcd several oi tii' men to his room in a local hotel anC of there giving them whiskcy. claim ing that he did so to get better ac quainted in order to secure evidence against Birch Bros He also told O having purchased liquor from som' Of the men and of having given it tC others.
 At this point Morrison arose ant demanded that a complaint be flct against Cooper for violating the Stat, prohibition amendment and that h, be served with a warrant before h. left town. The court announced tha the matter was up to the district al torney's office and Morrison thel turned t9 Morgan and made the sam demand Morgan appeared to con sider the subject Q huge joke bu Morrison was insistent.
 The county attorneys office Ina never yet refused to issue complain when an offense justified it, sal Morgan.
 Then l demand that a complain for this man be issued said Morri