The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-01-28
J. 0. HARRIS IS
FOUND NOT GUILTY
OF CONDUCTING
UNLICENSED SALOON
Kelliher Man is Given Clear Bill bv
Jury in the Bemidji Municipal
Court.
JURY OUT ONE HOUR
AND THREE-QUARTERS
Accused of Violating State Law Dec.
IS; Indian Officer Makes
Complaint.

j. O. Harris, proprietor of the
hotel at Kelliher, was this afternoon
found not guilty of conducting an
unlicensed drinking place by a Jury
in the municipal court.
The jury returned a verdict at
12:45 o'clock, after being out one
and three-quarter hours.
Judge D. H. Fisk, who was recent
ly appointed by Mayor William Nc
Cuaig to relieve Judge A. M. Crow
ell who is seriously i'll at the hospi-
tai, presided at the trial.
Arrested Dec. 20.
Harris was arrested Dec. 20 on
complaint of Special Government
Agent ]. P. Brandt on a charge of
running an unlicensed drinking place
at Kelliher, Dec IS He was re-
leased on 5000 bonds and the case
was continued to yesterday.
26 Men Examined.
The case was called yesterday
morning and the jury was selected
after 26 men had been examined. The
jury was sworn in shortly before
five O'Clock yesterday afternoon. The
members of the jury were A. B. Pal
mer, John Hoganson, Kenneth Nc
Iver, c. Hammond, Matt Phibbs, Will
liam Bagley, Ted Getchell, E. H.
Gerard, Homer Maynard, Ed Fol-
stad, w. E. George and Dan Simons.
County Attorney Graham NJ Tor
rance represented the state in the
case and Attorneys A. A. Andrews
and Henry Funkley represented Har-
ris.
Collects Protection Fund.
John Brady, village constable of
Keiiiher for the past two years, was
the first witness called by the state.
He testified to receiving orders from
the city officials to collect monthly
money from the proprietors of the
soft drink parlors, so-called, in Kel-
liner. He testified to collecting $35
each month from July 1 Of last year
to Dec. 1. The money, he stated,
was to pay for fines, for his salary
and the balance was paid into the
village.
Make N oComplaint.
Brady further testified that at va
rious times he had gone into the soft
drink parlor of Mr.. Harris and had
seen empty glasses which resembled
beer and whisky glasses. In the
cross examination he testified that
the funds he collected were in the
nature of licenses and that he col
lected from six different places. He
stated that he had never heard the
citizens of Kelliher make any com
plaint against the Harris soft drink
parlor and that he had made no ar
rests for violation of liquor laws
during the past six months.
Dressed as Lumberjacks.
Adolph Reed of Little Falls, Fed
eral officer, who had been working
,"under cover" was the next Witnes:
called by the state. He testified tt
going to Kelliher on the evening o.
Dec. IA and that on Dec. Is he, will
another officer, went to the Harris
soft drink parlor, asked for some
thing strong to drink and were give1
what he called whisky. He statet
that he did not drink the liquor bu
took it in his mouth and spit it ou
when the bartender was not looking
He and the other officer were dress
ed as lumberjacks, he stated.
Court Until 6 P. M.
Peter Wenzel of Little Falls, ais
a government officer working 'unde
cover" was the next witness on tn
stand. He testified to accompany
ing Reed on his trip to Kelliher an
related his experiences there. H
testified to securing somethln
strong, which he called whisky, a
the Harris soft drink parlor.
The court was adjourned at 81
O'Clock last evening until nine o'cloc
this morning.
Harris is Witness.
This morning in the court afte
Wenzel had been cross examined, M
Harris was called as the only Wi
ness for the defense. He told OF n
troubles with Indian agents and
his paying money to Brady. Il
stated that the president Of the villag
council had come to him, saying ths
Brady was going to- quit unless h
was paid a salary.
For Village Good.
"I told him." said Mr.. Harris, "thf
would rather, with other peopl
give little money toward Brady
salary so that Kelliher would hav