Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-28

While on the witness stand in be-
half of the defense Tuesday, in the
co%nfiscation hearing brought by the
state against the plant and equipment
of the Montana Brewing company,
Walter II. Jensen, one Of the eve = 8
proprietors, was asked by A.. ii. Angst
man. assistant attorney general, II II
were not true that he had tried to
arrange with a special state prohibit
ton officer for permission to manu-
facture beer with more than the legal
alcoholic content.
On direct examination, Mr.. Jensen
explained the method by which the
product of his plant was tested for
alcoholic content. 1t was on cross
examination that Mr.. Angstman asked
him about a conference with Eugene
Van Vert. head of the state law en-
forcement department., which the as
sistant attorney general fixed as TAX
ing place in the Star hotel, 'on or
about April 4, 1922"
Jensen Denies Language
did you have OCCASION" said MIR.
Angstman to Mr.. Jensen, "On or about
April i to meet Mr.. Van Vert in room
IL of the Star hotel and that you
stated to him in substance the follow
ing: We can't market near beer. A
man will take a drink of it and it fills
him up We have to put a little life
into it or it won't sell. We want to
make an arrangement with you so that
we can leave IN a little alcohol. If We
cannot, We will have to close down.
There is a scare on now and | will
keep the per cent down for awhile,
but after things quiet down we will run
~ IN annfhnr GrQro rnlnns on
you can say the word and we will
close down
Il will ask you if you did not so
state this to Mr.. Van Vert in that
language or in substance continued
Mr.. Angstman.
Not in that language or in sub
stance" replied Mr.. Jensen. Part of
it l did say. l asked Mr.. Van Vert
if it wouldn't be better to market near
beer or beer containing . per cent or
less instead of letting people drink this
moonshine around here. Mr.. Van Vert
said it might be better, but as an of
ficer he was expected to enforce the
law"
Beer Better Than Moonshine
Il told him." continued Jensen. that
l understood his position absolutely.
AS far as my saying that | was 60
ing to cut down the alcoholic content
while the scare was on and then raise
it up / never said anything of the
kind. / did not suggest n arrange
ment, but asked if it was not the best
idea for the country at large to have
low percentage beer on the market in
stead of moonshine whisky. Mr.. Van
Vert then said that he was an officer
of the law and that the people desired
enforcement"
G. J. Seibel. the brewmaster, upon
whom the search warrant was served
when the brewery was seized June 9
was then questioned regarding an al
legged conversation he had on the eve
ming of June II with Fred A. Brady, a
state enforcement agent. 1t was al
legged by the state that Seibel, in talk
ing to the agent. said that beer con-
tanning less than . per cent alcohol
denied that he had made such a state
ment to Brady. but did speak to him
about near beer. saying that he didn't
th!nk the government would kick if il
had 30 per cent alcohol.
Or. Easton Star Witness
Seibel. unsolicited by counsel 70,
either side. after he left the witness
stand. turned to the court and said,
Il would like to say before the court,
if there is any blame on anybody, i,
was through my W negligence, il
any such stuff was sent out" Seibel
then tool his place with the specta-
tors.
The star witness for the defense was
DR.. c. F. Easton of Butte. who said
he had had 33 years experience as ar
analytical chemist, and that he hac
qualified as an expert witness in 15C
liquor cases. The doctor testified rela.
tive to his analysis of six bottles OF
product from the brewery and produced