We should not be surprised to find that news of beer deliveries to Arizona would make headlines. The news is rather sketchy though. We hope Tucsonans were prepared for disappointment just in case the beer didn't arrive.
From the Arizona Daily Star, June 13, 1916:
COURT FORCES ROADS TO TAKE SHIPMENTS FOR PERSONAL USE
Will Tucson thirsty ones get their cool beer this summer?
A surge of hope thrilled through the breasts of numerous lovers of the amber bubble water when a telegram announcing that the federal court at Kansas City had issued an order compelling railroads entering Arizona to accept shipments of intoxicants for personal use arrived in Tucson. The information was contained in the following telegram from Schiller Brothers, who have recently been soliciting mail orders of intoxicants from Arizona and guaranteeing delivery:
“We secured federal court order compelling Santa Fe to ship by freight to Arizona. Your shipment forwarded yesterday. Will secure federal court order compelling Fargo express to transport goods beginning June 19. Notify your friends to send us their orders. Guarantee immediate shipment and deliver by freight. We are the only firm having this privilege.
“Schiller Brothers.”
It is hoped by Tucsonans who have been yearning for the sudsy stuff this hot weather that the information contained in the wire is gospel truth, but a lot more will be convinced when the shipments actually arrive and are safely delivered.
The news of the federal court order appears to have escaped the regular news gathering associations. The Bisbee Review, however had the story Sunday morning, as follows:
“KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 10.—The federal court today ordered the transportation companies to deliver beer and whiskey ordered from Schiller Brothers for personal use.
“This message was received last evening by the Review and if true, it clears up a great amount of advertising done by the Kansas City liquor firm and much other speculation indulged in during the past few weeks in every section of the state of Arizona.
“Judging from the brief message, received from Kansas City, the decision will affect all shipments of liquor for personal use into the state. The complaining company, some weeks ago, advertised for business in the state of Arizona and guaranteed delivery. They at once mandamused the transportation companies and, according to the telegram, the federal court granted the application.
“If the decision is as broad as it promises to be the transportation companies will have some definite court action to base their acceptance of liquor for delivery in the state. The Santa Fe officials, recently in Prescott, declared their line would not accept liquor until the federal court had decided the matter.
“Detailed information as to the effect of the decision is eagerly awaited throughout the state.”
The Star Sunday morning published an exclusive story to the effect that railroad attorneys in conference at Los Angeles had refused to take the risk of accepting shipments on their own initiative and would await a court order compelling them to do so. Apparently they were in ignorance of such an order as referred to in the story and telegram. None of the local railroad traffic officers in the city knew of the reported court order yesterday.
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In other news of the day, it's hard to put a man on trial when he has met his maker. As the story suggests, we must assume he answered to a higher authority.
Tollner Departs From Court’s Jurisdiction
Douglas Man Under Indictment on Serious Charge Is Dead
The case against Gottfried Zollner, who was indicted by the federal grand jury on a charge of luring girls to Arizona on the promise of employment, will not be tried in the federal court today as had been scheduled, for Zollner died last week in Douglas, and his faults, whatever they may have been, will be passed on by a higher court.
Tollner was indicted together with Charles Hofelt on this charge, and the trial of Hofelt will be held today or tomorrow. The men lived at Douglas and are alleged to have brought girls from the middle states on the promise of employment. The case of Hofelt will be a hard fought one.
