Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-22
Liquor Board
Waits Ruling on
BottIeCIubs
Test Case Is Now
Pending in Court
In Prince Georges

The Prince Georges Liquor
Board has moved to relieve itself
Of criticism Of continued after
hours bottle club operations. in
the county.
Board Inspector Robert Beall
reported he had received several
complaints that such clubs are
operating at all hours and that
some Of them are making illegal
liquor sales.
Mr.. Beall said the public ap-
parently does not understand
that the question of whether
after-hours clubs can legally
operate in the county is sched-
uled to be thrashed out in the
court
He reminded the board at a
meeting yesterday that the
county Sheriff'S Office attempted
to halt operation of the Tyre
Club in Coral Hills after the
county commissioners adopted an
ordinance requiring bottle clubs
to close at 2 am.
Ordinance Attacked.
The Tyre Club attacked the
validity of the ordinance in its
request that law enforcement
authorities be prohibited from
interfering with it's business. The
court granted the clubs request
and ordered a hearing.
Alderic Sturtevant. counsel to
the county commissioners. was
called into the liquor board hear
ing at Upper Marlboro.
He explained that the hearing
date has not been set because
the Tyre Clubs attorney. j.
Frank Lillard. jr.. has asked for
a continuance until February.
Board members remarked that
Mr.. Lillard. a county Republican
delegate, is due to attend the
States 30-day legislative session
next month. The board ;ndi-
Gated it would try to have the
case heard as quickly as possible
and emphasized that the matter
is one for law enforcement au-
thorities rather than a liquor
board problem.
Dealers Warned.
In other business, the board
warned county liquor dealers
that they will be summoned be-
fore the board If any alcoholic
beverages are sold in containers
holding less than a half pint.
A half pint is the smallest
amount that can be sold legally
in the county.
The question came before the
board at it's meeting in Upper
Marlboro when Inspector Robert
Beall produced a bottle stamped
at the bottom to indicate that
it held two-fifhs Of a pint.
A State tax stamp on the side
of the bottle was marked, how
ever, as one-sixteenth gallon or
one-half pint.
The bottle was labeled I'm
perial Reserve California Sherry
Wine" ThS label also bore the
name of the Dixie Wine Co..
Richmond, Va.
Mr. Beall said he believes that
a large number of such bottles
have been distributed in Prince
Georges but that he is convinced
that the liquor dealers who sold
them had made an honest mis-
take
COD. Deliveries Banned.
COD. deliveries of all alcohol
ic beverages except beer and
light wine are illegal within the
municipal boundaries of Hyatts-
vile. the board ruled.
The vote officially banning
deliveries was unanimous. The
motion was offered by Board
Member Brooke Kirby.
Sale of alcoholic beverages ex-
cept beer and light wine, is
banned by statute in HyattSville,
the liquor board attorney, Ed
ward LoveleSs, said. The courts
have ruled, he said, that the
place of delivery is the place of
sale, and therefore GOD. de-
livery is illegal.
County law enforcement off,
Gals said the ban will be en-
forced.
1--WE will abide by the liquor
boards ruling" said Police Chief
Vincent s. Free, land will make
arrests whenever such violations
are found"
Chief Deputy Sheriff Ellis G.
Duley said I'VE will enforce the
liquor board ruling"