Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1912 — “WHEATFIELD GOES WET.” [ARTICLE]

“WHEATFIELD GOES WET.”

Judge Vurpillat of the Pulaski*, Starke Circuit Rules In Favor of Applicant. The Geo. W. Tilton saloon license application case, venued this county last tail, was tried at Knox last Monday before Judge Vurpillat and resulted in favor of the applicant, Tilton. As soon as a transcript is filed here with the auditor, as we understand the matter, the case will be referred to! the county commissioners at „thelr next session and a license granted. The question at issue was whether Wheatfield? having less than ],- 000 population, was entitled to a saloon though the township voted “wet,” when 1,000 was fixed as the limit by the commissioners, and the comrryssioners held they were not. Tilton appealed to the circuit court wlhe're Geo. O. Stembel, who- with others was opposing the license, took a c-hange of venue and the case was sent to Starke county. Speaking of t)he decision, the Starke County Democrat, says: The case of George W. Tilton vs. George O. Stemibel, et al., venued to 'this courts from Jasper county, was tried before Judge Vurpillat Monday. The case' wag an appeal from 1 the Jasper county;, commissioners and involved the important question of whether a board of commissioners had the right to refuse to grant a liquor license in a township where the population is less than the number fixed by the board (in this case 1,000) in limiting t'he number of saloons, Tilton applied for a license in Wiheatfleld township, but was refused on the grounds that the township had less than a 1,000 irfhabitants. .He appealed tfhe case’ and won on the contention, that the new liquor law was not a prohibitory act. If it. were tihe county commissioners by •their own act could mdke “dry” territory “wet” and “wet” territory “dry.”