moral character who is a registered pharmacist under the laws of this state, and lawfully and in good faith engaged in the business of a druggist in his county, and who in his judgment can be entrusted with the responsibility of selling such liquors for the purposes aforesaid in the manner hereinafter provided. In order to obtain a druggist permit under this act, the applicant shall file in the office of the county judge of the county wherein he is doing business, not less than thirty days prior to the hearing thereof, a petition signed by the applicant and twenty-five reputable freeholders, having the qualifications of electors of the town, village, township or ward of any city, and twenty-five reputable women over twenty-one years of age, who are residents of the town, village, township or city wherein such business is located: provided. however, that when the number of freeholders having the qualifications of electors residing within the town, village, township or ward shall not exceed forty, and when the number of reputable women over twenty-one years of age, who are residents of the town, village, township or city, shall not exceed forty, then the petition of the applicant signed by seventy per cent of such number of qualified men and women as reside within the town, village, township or ward, shall entitle the applicant to the permit. All petitions shall set forth:
1. The town, village, city or township, and particular place therein wherein such business is located, and that the applicant is a person of good moral character, and does not use intoxicating liquors as at beverage, and can be entrusted with the responsibility of selling the same.
2. That said applicant is a pharmacist as aforesaid, and is lawfully and in good faith engaged personally in the business of a druggist, as the proprietor thereof, at the place designated in the petition, and well versed in the profession.
3. That said applicant has, in his said business, exclusive of intoxicating liquors and fixtures, a stock of drugs, if in any city, of the value of at least one thousand dollars, and if elsewhere, of the value of at least five hundred dollars.
Before any such petiton shall be heard, or any permit issued to such applicant, he shall publish for at least thirty days next prior thereto, a notice in some newspaper in the town, village, township or city where such business is located, or if none is published therein. then in some paper of general circulation in the county, stating the time and place set by said judge for the hearing of such petition. The applicant shall be required to prove the truthfulness of each and every statement contained in such petition, and the state's attorney of such county shall, and any other citizen of the county may appear and cross-examine the witnesses of the applicant, and may introduce evidence in rebuttal of the evidence offered by the applicant. If satisfied that the signatures of such petition were signed by such persons, and that such petitioners are freeholders or citizens of such town, village, township, city or ward as above expressed, and that the statements in such petition are true, the county judge may in his discretion grant a permit to the applicant to sell intoxicating liquors for medicinal, mechanical and scientific purposes only; and such permit shall be recorded upon the journal of the county court, and a certified copy thereof shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the store wherein said business is carried on before it shall be of any validity. Before such permit shall be of any validity, such
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