The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1919-04-25
WHISKEY CASES BRING
TO MIND POLITICAL EVILS
Elizabeth City Has Its Filth and Disorders Probably
Because Of The Rotten Methods of Its
Selfish Political Bosses

4 nunlU0I VI gases Ill I4C IGO-
corder's Court in this city Tues
dav morning did not result in
much of triumph for the police
department in trying to break
np the illicit sale of whiskey in
Elizabeth City, but in all the
cases there was evidence that
there is plenty of liquor being
sold in Elizabeth City and that
much of the traffic centers in the
district on Matthews street be-
tween Poindexter and Martin
streets.
In this locality one finds livery stab
les. pool rooms and pop shops frequent
cd by the vulgar herd. There are a lot
of decent folk doing business in the
same neighborhood, but the decent ones
never seem to lift a finger or raise a
voice against the other class and it is
in that locality that one finds most
evidences of drunkeness and "boot-
nf the neighborhood by the looks of
the class of buns who lounge around
the various resorts, seeming to have
no other occupation than waiting for
a drink.
The cases Tuesday morning grew out
of the arrest of Whit Wilson, a motor
ious booze f1end and generally worth
less fellow who runs a cook-shop on
South Poindexter street. Wilson was
charged with having sold a quart of
whiskey to two old fellows, Whitson and
Haskett Both testified to having pur-
chased a quart of whiskey between
them, paying Wilson therefor $40.
When examined by the police and
Prosecuting Attorney Sawyer after his
arrest Wilson told them that he had
bought the whiskey for Whitson and
Haskett, from Mckinley Sawyer who
runs a pool room on Matthews street.
He said that he had made other pur-
chases from Dewey Hayman, a waiter
in the Busy Bee Cafe, and from D.
Walter Harris, the City Tailor. War
rants were sworn out against the three.
When placed on the witness stand
Tuesday morning Wilson swore he had
never bought any whiskey from Mr..
Harris or had, any conversation with
him about whiskey. He stoutly main
tanned however that he had made pur-
chases of Dewey Hayman and McKin-
ley Sawyer, stickingsto his declaration
thru a grueling cross examination. But
his almost insane accusation of Walter
Harris on Monday, followed by his con-
Trajectory statement under oath Tues
day discredited his whole testimony
and all three cases were thrown out
of court. Mr.. Harris says he had re-
Gently bawled Wilson out over an ac-
count and that Wilson had sworn to
get even with him."
Wilson was sentenced to six months
on the roads for his transaction with
Whitson and Haskell. He took an
appeal.
1t was brought out in the trial that
Chief of Police Holmes found a guam
tity of whiskey bottles in the rear of
the pool room which is operated jointly
by James Barkley and Mckinley Saw
yer. It was also brought out in the
trial that much drunkness is observ-
ed in frequenters of that pool room
and that fist fights occur there. There
was fight there Monday.
This Reminds Me
All of this recalls that at a meet
ing in May 1918, the Board of Alder
men adopted and published the fol-
lowing resolution
"Whereas the Board of Aldermen in
regular session on May II, 1918 felt
it THEIR DUTY TO GOD and in re-
sponse to the desire of the people of
the town to discontinue the pool rooms
in the town after January 1, 1919; We
now further IN ORDER TO SAVE
THE BOYS OF THE TOWN FROM
BECOMING GAMBLERS, ask the
board of trustees of the Y. M. C. A.
to discontinue the use of pool tables"
Previously the Alderman had served
notice that all pool room licenses would
be revoked. But they haven't been re-
voked and there are more pool rooms
in Elizabeth City to-day than ever.
In view of the fact that a campaign
Tor the election Of a New Board of
Aldermen is under way it is well for
voters to pause here and question why
the pool rooms were never closed; es-
pecially in view of the fact that the
Aldermen last May were so impressed
with their DUTY TO GOD and their
desire to SAVE THE BOYS Of the
town, that they even asked the Y. M.
c. A. to discontinue pool tables under
the clean, refined, Christian influences
Of that institution?
1 am going to bring up few remind
ers, because it all has to do with the
rotteness of politics in Elizabeth City
which tolerates so many evils.
In the spring of 1918 the Mack Saw
yer family had acquired complete con-
troll Of the business of the Owens Shoe
GO. The Owens Shoe Co. was occupy
ing crowded quarters on Main street
and needed a larger store.
One of the best stands for a shoe
store on Main street was occupied by
James Nash as a pool room. Nash
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