Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 215, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1911 — WEAST NOT ON HAND WHEN TRIAL WAS CALLED. [ARTICLE]

WEAST NOT ON HAND WHEN TRIAL WAS CALLED.

Poolroom Man Accnsed of Selling Beer Seems to Have Skipped Out —So Word Left Behind. J. J. Wteast, the pool room keener whose joint was raided Sunday noon, is not in Rensselaer and everything points to his having skipped out to avoid prosecution for his alleged blind tiger law violations. When Weast was taken before Squire Irwin following his arrest his bond was fixed at SIOO in each of the three cases and as he was apparently worth more money than that, he was released on his own recognizance, which means that he is personally liable in the sum of the bond. He was last seen at about 9 o’clock Monday morning. His case was set for hearing at 3 o’clock that afternoon, but he was not on hand. Thq Justice, the city marshal, several Witnesses and a number who expected to hear the testimony waited for an hour, but he did not show up and he has not put in an appearance yet this Tuesday afternoon.

By order of Mayor Meyers the poolroom has been closed and the license will be revoked if jt is found that the bottled goods Weast was selling is really beer or contains sufficient alcoholic per cent to make its sale prohibitive or if the other evidence seems conclusive of guilt. The evidence will be turned over to a grand jury and indictments procured that will make Weast liable to prosecution should he be apprehended at any later time. Rev. J. P. Green went to Purdue University Monday to take a couple of bottles of the stuff for analysis. He expected that the analysis would be made that day, but was informed that it would be a couple of days before a report could be made. Charley Saidla, who.has been working in the poolroom for Weast, claims that there is due three weqks’ wages for his services. Other claims are said to be outstanding against him. He has a wife but no children. It the recognizance bond is declared forfeited his poolroom fixtures and stock will be' seized. The 5 barrels of supposed beer continues in storage at the jail and Sheriff Hoover is very ill at ease for fear it will be pronounced a soft drink.