Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1903 — GOT SOME BEER, THAT’S ALL. [ARTICLE]

GOT SOME BEER, THAT’S ALL.

Ministers Take Officers To Roaoy'a Soft Drink Piaca and Gat Samples. —Other Raida. A rather exciting episode of the closfng hours of show day is said to have taken place Saturday night, the facts as near as we can learn being about as follows: The license for the Rosenbaum saloon expired on June 20, but since that time the place has been kept running as a soft drink establishment, it is clamed, and about regular saloon hours k'ept. The place has been under suspicion all along, and it is said that a great many barrels of “mineral water” have been shipped in here for the proprietor. Show day hundreds of people were seen filing in and out of the building, and the Rensselaer ministers thought that all could not be seeking soft drinks, when there were so many other places where they could be secured. About 10:30 p. m., Revs. Royce and Hall—Rev. Cochran being detained at home by indisposition of his wife—got the marshal, night-watch and one or two of the special police and went down to “Rosey’s place.” Two men and two women —said to have been show people—were seated at a table, drinking, and had some bottles of “mineral water” or something else on the table before them. The ministers asked them what they were drinking? “Well,” said one of the men, “we bought ginger ale.” The show people saw that “something was doing” and prepared to take a quiet sneak. The ministers asked them if they (the ministers) might have the “ginger ale,” and they replied, “yes,” and got out. Rev. Royce picked up one bottle and started to pass it to Marshal Abbot when “Rosey” grabbed the bottle and got away with it. Rev. Hall, however, tucked the other bottle under his coat and it was brought away. It was taken to the deputy prosecuting attorney, sampled, and pronounced common, every-day beer. It is claimed that the place has not even a government license, and that in addition to prosecution by the local officers, the federal grand jury will be given a chance to pass judgment on the matter. Soon after this matter was over the ministers accompaned by the officers went down near the depot to raid a house of alleged bad repute, but it is supposed the woman had been given a “tip” in some way, and the birds had all flown.