Celebrating History: Things are heating up in Havre

Emily Mayer

The events of 1918 spilled into 1919, according to the February 8, 1919 issue of The Havre Plaindealer.

C. W. “Shorty” Young’s cases were moving forward. The Plaindealer printed a very lengthy article pertaining to the upcoming District Court year. In part, it reads:

DISTRICT COURT WILL OPEN TERM NEXT WEEK

So-Called “Shorty” Young Cases Are Set for Trial

Monday morning the February term of the district court begins for Hill county with the usual list of criminal and civil cases down upon the calendar for trial. In the number of criminal cases set the list is unusually long but this is because the seven hundred odd so-called “Shorty” Young cases appear upon the list. These cases will probably attract the most interest throughout the county and city. They have gained added interest because of their history since the informations were filed and because of certain statements in some so-called reform circles during the election campaign last fall. It also will be recalled that the state attorney general’s office elected to handle these cases which were brought by the former county attorney, and Assistant Attorney General Grorud was scheduled to appear at the time twenty of the cases were set for trial last fall. When the time came it was given out that Mr. Grorud had missed his train and the cases were continued indefinitely at his request although it was never explained why the cases were not continued until the next day or some later date of that same term of court. Some three hundred and sixty of the cases charge violation in the Mint saloon of certain statutes regulating wine rooms while the remaining three hundred and sixty odd cases allege that the ground glass front in the saloon was an obstruction of the view in violation of other statutes pertaining to saloons. Throughout the county is generally expected these cases will afford some vindication of certain statements made by some noisy self-styled reformers during the election campaign last fall.

Another case set down for trial at this term which will attract considerable attention is that of the state against A. A. Grorud which is up on appeal from justice court. It will be recalled that following the Border saloon raid the assistant attorney general was haled into court on a charge alleging the taking of property without due process of law, and his conviction and fine followed at the trial in the lower court. That an official in his position should get into such a predicament occasioned considerable amusement at that time.

Prohibition in Montana was underway, and one of its side effects was the (supposed) closing of saloons. Saloon owner Pat Yeon had closed his Board of Trade establishment, but the large safe in the building was getting some attention from the City Council, who were looking at options to keep city records and documents safe. One option was to build a new vault, another option was to rent the safe from Mr. Yeon for $400, and a third option was to rent one for a lower price in Great Falls but the vault was found to be much inferior to that of Mr. Yeon’s. The decision went back to committee for consideration.

Another worry on the City Council’s minds was the size of the jail. The City was renting space at $75 per month plus expenses running $100 to $150 per month, and it was felt it would be more economical to build a new jail rather than incur more expense to what everyone knew would be an increase of incarcerated persons due to Prohibition.

Returning soldiers and the aftermath of The Great War was also making news. A well-known former Havre resident’s actions in France made for an incredibly lengthy column in the Plaindealer. Captain L. N. Fournier had written a letter to his Havre friend, Harry L. Short, about his time in France. The Plaindealer prints:

In a stirring account of American achievements on the battlefields abroad he exposes to a degree not revealed in any of the other dispatches which have appeared in the newspapers how near to collapse was the morale of the French before the Americans turned the tide of battle in France. He won his own bars as captain in a bitter engagement from which he led his company out after all the officers with which they went in had been lost.

Bills were being introduced in the Montana Legislature regarding the care of returning soldiers. Locally, a new group had been formed regarding our returning warriors.

MEETING OF BUREAU ON MONDAY EVENING

Membership is Announced by Judge W. B. Pyper

The first meeting of the local Bureau for Returned Soldiers and Sailors will be held in Judge Pyper’s office at 8 Monday evening. This bureau is formed to work as its name implies in connection with the federal employment service and was organized by Judge Pyper in accordance with instructions received from the Great Falls office of the federal employment service. The membership of the bureau is composed of a representative from every organization or distinct interest in the community to establish a point contact with all to help in the work of caring for those who return from offering their lives to their country. Through such a representative bureau it is believed that the co-operation of all the citizens in the work can be more easily accomplished. At the meeting Monday night Judge Pyper will preside as the local representative of the federal employment service. The membership of the bureau as announced by Judge Pyper follows:

Mayor McKenzie, Men of Havre.

There is more news in the February 8, 1919 issue, but more on that next week!