San Francisco Call, Volume 102, Number 137, 7 December 1917 — ABSINTHE PUTS CAFE LICENSE IN DANCES [ARTICLE]

ABSINTHE PUTS CAFE LICENSE IN DANCES

J. B. De Maria, proprietor of Caesar’s Grill, 129 Columbus avenue, must appear before the police commission Monday night and show cause wh.v his license should not be revoked for having absinthe in his possession in violation of the pure food law. De Maria and a waiter. Lawrence Gallien, were arrested last night by Policeman Draper Hand and Corporal Fred Biermann of the morals squad and -released on $5OO bail each. The police continued a search today for a quantity of the forbidden liquor which De Maria unsuspectingly told a woman detective attached to the morals squad he possessed. A dozen quart bottles were seized at De Maria’s home, 964 Union street. Francis Smith, a waiter, today began serving six months in the county jail because he went into a saloon and bought a. 25-cent flask of whisky for two soldiers, making no profit by the transaction. He was sentenced by Police Judge John J. Sullivan. For selling liquor to sailors in uniform, August Johnson was sentenced to six months in jail by Judge Sullivan today. Federal and military officials raided the barber shop and tailor shop at 20 Montgomery street and found seventyfive lockers rented to soldiers and sailors, so they could change their uniforms for civilian attire and obtain liquor. Tho officers arrested M. Bonetto, the. barber; Frank Lehman, the tailor, and J. H. Cason, J. M. Toney and V. Marinoff, employes. It is charged Bonetto tented the lockers for $1 a month and that Lehman provided the clothing. Bonetto was held to answer today by United States Commissioner Francis Kruil. The others were released on their own recognizance. Bonetto said he was ignorant of any violation of the law and that he had been renting lockers to enlisted men ever since 1912. Frank Aullsio, another barber, who was not in the shop when it was raided, was arrested in the court room today, where he came as a spectator, and was held on $5OO bail. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Colston presented the cases before Kruil.