Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1884 — PROHIBITION IN IOWA. [ARTICLE]

PROHIBITION IN IOWA.

An Important Liquor Law Decision at Clinton. [Clinton (Iowa) dlspatoh to the Chicago Inter Ocean.] Judge Hayes, in the District Court, announced an important decision in a liquor case under the lowa law on a habeas corpus petition, At Davenport Saturday John Pfeiffer was convicted before a Justice of the Peace of Muscatine County for the illegal sale of liquor and sentenced to a fine of $75 and costs. He was committed until paid. The prisoner was released by Judge Hayes, who decided that the Justice had no jurisdiction; that, as the law provides penalties for the sale of liquor beyond the statutory limit of SIOO fine and thirty days’ imprisonment, Justices or such officers can only act as committing magistrates. The decision in effect takes all liquor cases to the district courts of the State for trial on indictment by grand juries.