The Sting Operation at Squier’s Saloon

Last Sunday morning, a couple of representatives of the native race appeared in town drunker than 'biled owls.' They had kissed the neck of the susceptible bottle numerous times, and the rosy nectar tangled their legs into bow knots, made supple their spines, and made them generally obnoxious. While in this unsavory condition, they came within range of Deputy Sheriff Gilliam’s vision and that peace officer ran them in. Whisky drinking among the aborigines is discounted by law, and the framers of the code were particular to provide a severe penalty against any person furnishing intoxicants to Indians. Two bottles were taken from the Indians, and D. D. Squier recognized them as ones he had filled for a white man. Monday morning the same individual, a man named Chas. Waters, walked into Squier’s place for his morning nip, and Squier put up a job to ensnare him. He plied him with questions and fluid until the unsophisticated Waters gave himself away. Andy Connor coming in, Squier introduced him to Waters as a man engaged in selling liquor on the sly to Moses Indians. By this time word had been sent to Deputy Gilliam, who took a position behind the door and heard enough to convince him that Waters was guilty. The officer put his claws on the astonished man and locked him up in Squier’s cellar. At 9 o'clock he was taken before Squire Whitman, where he plead not guilty. The Indian testified that he had come into town from Rockford Sunday with a bottle of whisky; that he had drank it and that the prisoner had first got his bottle refilled and afterwards got him another bottle. Squire Whitman, feeling it necessary to make an example of the prisoner, assessed on Waters a fine of $100 and costs. Sheriff Gilliam, hearing some hints of lynching, took him down to Cheney Monday afternoon and lodged him in the county jail.