Drinking in court, hunting polar bears and a Grey Cup: Calgary's historic headlines 50, 75 and 100 years ago today

100 Years Ago in the Calgary Herald ‘I don’t want to have the spectacle here of having the chief of police in the witness box taking a drink of whisky out of a bottle.’ A strange court case in Calgary 100 years started when several taxi drivers were charged with illegally selling liquor. A number […]

A strange court case in Calgary 100 years started when several taxi drivers were charged with illegally selling liquor. A number of plainclothes police officers had investigated the matter by calling for a taxi and then successfully asking if the drivers could obtain liquor and selling it to them. When the case went to court, counsel for the prosecution asked the police chief — who was testifying — if he could say for sure if the bottle that was delivered in one case was "intoxicating." The chief said he believed it was, based on what arresting officers had told him. Counsel then suggested the chief should taste the liquid in question, but the Magistrate overseeing the case said it wasn't necessary. "I don't want to have the spectacle here of having the chief of police in the witness box taking a drink of whisky out of a bottle. I don't like it all," Magistrate Sanders said. Read More