Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-05
WILDNESS MARKS
CLOSING OF BARS
City Jail is Crowded to Utmost Capac-
ity With Intoxicated Men and
Many Are Sent Home,
SEVERAL FIGHTS ARE STAGED
Two Rock Island Women Are Taken
In Custody and Fined This Morn
-Sal0Onmen Close Quietly.

Wild indulgence on the part of hun
dreds of men. and few women, mark
ed the passing of Moline saloons last
night. At II o'clock 81 saloons closed
their doors to remain closed, as sa-
looms. for at least two years.
At midnight all the cells in the city
Jail were filled with intoxicated men
and one man arrested in the morn
ing. was released to make room for
another who was still under the infiu-
ence of intoXicants In the wOman's
department two women were confined.
There was comparatively little dis
turbance, however. Several fights oc-
CURED in various parts of the city, but
none was serious enough TO REQUIRE
calls for the police.
Activity Of the police was MARRIED
ard efficient, officers quick'T GiSpers-
ing the C1cwds that would gather Tom
time TO time.
No trouble was given by saloon
keepers. and when II O'Clock arrived
all closed their doors quietly. Be-
tween II and 1880 one of the city Off
Gals toured the city in an automobile,
passing, with about three exceptions.
every saloon in the city. He found all
of them closed.
Nine men and two women were ar
raigned before Magistrate Frank Gus
tafson in police court this morning on
charges of having been intoxicated
and for disorderly conduct. With one
exception all pleaded guilty.
In addition to those arrested, police
reported that % men were sent home
or taken home by various patrolmen.
Peter Anderson was the only de-
PENDANT who pleaded not guilty. An
derson has been taken home twice by
the police recently, according to their
report, but last night he was arrested
Anderson claims he is i'll. and thus
accounts for a bottle of whisky that
the police found in his pocket last
night They declare that on previous
occasions also he has had a bottle OF
whisky. On his plea of not guilty
Magistrate Gustafson continued his
case five days, requiring bonds of $500
Anderson was unable to furnish this
and was committed to jail
Two Women Lit In.
Ruth Forbes of Rock Island ant
Grace Hall, also of that city, were the
two women arrested. The Hall wOm
ans name is understood to be fcti
tious. She was arrested on Fourth
avenue and Thirteenth street Accord
ing to the police report she was in
toxicated and using bad language Sht
was assessed $3.50 by Magistrate Gus
tafson and made arrangements to pa,
her fine.
The Forbes woman was arrested o,
Fourth avenue and Thirty-fourtl
street. She was charged with beinj
intoxicated and creating a disturb
ance. She pleaded guilty and was as
sessed $11S0. which she made ar
rangements to pay.
Mike Vandersnick of Atkinson
Charles Nelson of South Moline, Ere
Anderson. John Noreen, William
Howell. Jr., and Vic Thornboom. al
OF Moline, were charged with intoxi
cation. All pleaded guilty and wer
released, under suspended fine of S
and costs each. Thornboom wa
promised 50 days in jail if he ap
peared in police court again on
charge of intoxiCation.
THE town is dry now and we'r
going to keep you sober" declared tn
magistrate
George Brackens and Andrew John
son Of East Moline paid $3.50 o
charges of disorderly, conduct. The
got off street car at Thirty-fourt
street and Fourth avegue at midnigh
and created a disturbance, accordin
to the charge against them. They re
fused to move on when ordered to b
patrolman and were arrested. Car
Anderson, living near Sixth avenu
and Thirteenth street, was picked u
by the police with a severe cut in hi
head. He was attended by DR. X. "
"ahlberg. Later ne trId the polio,
he had been attacked by another man
and that he would this morning swea
out a warrant for the others arres,
At noon he had not done so, however
Strict Enforcement
With the closing of the saloons elf,
officials are preparing to see that tn
local option law is strictly enforced
In this connection attention of pool
room proprietnrs, former saloonkeeu
ers and others throughout the cit
who intend to sell soft drinks. Shout
be called to the fact that the Ioca
option law of Illinois provides tina
the sale Of any drink, such as "nea
beer" for which a federal liquor Ii
cense must be obtained. is prohibited
In other words, all soft drinks mus
be actually soft drinks. The state La
provides that federal liquor licens
is in itself prima facie evidence tina
intoxicating drinks are being solo
Most near beer" contains sufficien
alcohol 10 require a federal license
Sale of this will not be allowed