Booze Boat

 "A BOOZE BOAT

MILFORD TOWNSHIP NOW HAS FLOATING SALOON ON ST. JOE

Jacob Larman has taken out Dow tax and has started a saloon on a bum boat anchored in the St. Joe River at the Clarksville bridge.

This is possible because this county is wet as is also Milford township.  The Williams county line and the Indiana state line are but a few hundred feet away from the boat.

The public will now watch Milford township with great curiosity, to see what, if anything, will be done in the matter.  The boat is there legally just now, and nothing short of a 'dry Milford' can root it out.

It is centrally located, having reference to several dry towns.  Among these are Edgerton, Hicksville, Newville, Butler, St. Joe, Auburn, Waterloo, etc."

Hicksville Tribune, May 27, 1909, p. 1

"FIRST JOLT

IS GIVEN BUM BOAT BY JUDGE KILLITS OF BRYAN

Property owners along the St. Joe river at Clarksville secured an injunction against the bum boat at Clarksville from Judge Killits court at Bryan last Saturday, and the same was served by a deputy sheriff of Williams county.  Judge Killits is common pleas judge and has full jurisiction.

The complaint says the boat, lights and unseemly noises made the bridge unsafe an damaged surrounding fences, etc.

The boat has been pulled up the river about a mile and has suspended business to date having dealt out wares last Saturday."

Hicksville Tribune, June 3 1909, p. 1