Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-28
jFNSEKS MEETING With DRY
AGENT BROUGHT OUT IN court
Brewery Owner Asked by State Attorney If 1t
Were True He Tried to Arrange With Van Vert
for Higher Percentage Beer; Language Denied

"a mild sensation when he announced
that his tests had revealed that none
of the LIQUID contained more than one
half of one per cent of alcohol. The
witness said, from his analysis, that he
could not understand how the product
tested by DR.. Thomas Walker. which
ran from SO to 400 per cent alcohol.
could have come from the same brewing
watts.
Court Orders New Analysis
Plainly out of sorts with the testi-
mony that did not seem to be touching
upon the basic facts, Judge ]. B. Leslie
halted the proceedings after Mr.. Jen-
sen had been questioned and announced
10 counsel that he had voluntarily pre-
pared an order, which, if carried out
with the consent of both sides, would
aid the court in determining the issues
involved in the hearing. Judge Leslie
made the implication that he was dis
satisfied with the evidence showing the
wide variance in analyses of the two
samples Of beer" purported to have
come from the same brewery, and he
told counsel that he wanted to get at
the truth of the matter.
The order of the court, which was
accepted by counsel for both after a
short discussion. instructed Sheriff Bob
Gordon or one of his deputies to go to
the brewery and select atrandom six
bottles of beer, and that they be taken
to DIR. Walker for analysis. The order
further included the understanding that
DIR. Easton should be present and CO.
operate with DIR. Walker in making the
tests.
Brewery Is Visited
Counsel for the defense at first OBJ
jected to the order on the grounds that
their chemist desired to leave this
morning for his home. When it was
suggested by DIR. Walker that he and
DIR. Easton could complete the neces-
sary analyses by late Tuesday night,
the defense set forth that DR.. Easton
could not make satisfactory tests with
out his Instruments. 1t was finally
agreed that counsel for both sides
should get together and arrive at some
satisfactory arrangement.
At the adjournment of the hearing.
counsel for both sides. accompanied by
Deputy Sheriff Fred Houtari, left i'm
mediately for the brewery to obtain
the bottles of liquor. 1t was expected
Tuesday afternoon that the analyses
would be completed by midnight Tues
day and that the result would
Nv lduN IN Soutl WhVh IL hCdh-
ing resumes this morning. =
The state closed its case shortly be-
fore II o'clock following the calling
of Brady and John Metcalf, internal
revenue agent. and several Great Falls
soft drink parlor proprietors to the
stand.
Called it Cerea! Beverage
Brady. who testified on the first day
of the hearing. told the court that the
caps on bottles of liquor purchased by
HIM at soft drink p%arlors were Of plain
description. Metcalf testified that he
had purchased samples of the brewery
product and that he had seized a ship
ment enroute to Gilman. The state
sought to have liquor seized in transit
introduced as evidence but Judge Les
lie refused to allow it's admittance.
Three soft drink parlor proprietors.
Fred Fischel. Chris Rowland and Sid
Willis. gave testimony that they had
been selling the brewery product as
near beer. They also spoke of il ms
cereal beverage which was the name
assigned to the product by Mr.. Jensen.
He said he did not like to speak Of il
as near beer. Two proprietors who
testified Monday said they had sold
the product under the name of near
beer. The state testimony was wound
up with the questioning of Harold
Murphy. a trucker. who said he checked
several cases of beer to Gilman.
Interest in fhe hearing was not as
great on the second as it was on the
first day. The courtroom was only
partly filled, the majority of those
present being witnesses or having
some other part to play in the hearing
It is not definitely known lust how
soon the hearing will be completed. bu,
it is thought that today will bring j,
to an end.